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More from *zulumike

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January 25
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Camera Data

OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO.,LTD
C2000Z
10/5000 second
F/4.5
19 mm
100
Jun 11, 2002, 4:59:41 PM
Paint.NET v3.5.10
Shop For This Camera
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:iconzulumike:
The German oil supply was tight throughout the war, and was a controlling factor for German military operations. During 1944, the chief source of supply, and the only source for aviation gasoline, was 13 synthetic plants throughout Germany. Thus synthetic oil targets became the highest priority targets in 1944 during WW II. Even without much help from the Luftwaffe, these targets would become very deadly due to the “dreaded 88’s”.

Merseburg’s Leuna I.G.Farbenindustries was to be one of the most dangerous targets of the War. The 14th Flak Division responsible for protecting Leuna had 28,000 troops, 18,000 RAD personnel, 6,000 male and 3,050 female auxiliaries, 900 Hungarian and Italian 'volunteers', 3,600 Russian Hiwis, and 3,000 others, thus making up a total of 62,550 persons. As the most heavily defended industrial target in Europe, Leuna would become so dark from flak, German smoke pots, and exploding oil tanks that the pilots had difficulty in viewing their target as the rear bombers came into the target area.

Leuna bombing from May 12, 1944 to April 5, 1945 cost the Eighth Air Force 1,280 airmen. In three separate attacks by the Eighth, 119 planes were lost and not one bomb fell on the Leuna works

From the first attack to the end, production at Leuna averaged 9 percent of capacity. There were 22 attacks on Leuna, 20 by the Eighth Air Force and 2 by the RAF. Due to the urgency of keeping this plant out of production, many of these missions were dispatched in difficult bombing weather. Consequently, the order of bombing accuracy on Leuna was not high as compared with other targets. To win the battle with Leuna a total of 6,552 bomber sorties were flown against the plant, 18,328 tons of bombs were dropped and an entire year was required.

Credits: the B-17 model is from "Wings of Power". The sky BG is from mayyang.com
Artwork edited Pianter 12, GIMP, Piant.net and VUE. Thanks for Looking. Cheers, Mike
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:iconwarrior1944:
~warrior1944 Feb 8, 2013
Woha! Thats awesome!
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:iconzulumike:
*zulumike Feb 8, 2013  Hobbyist Digital Artist
Thanks warrior, appreciate it.

No bomber crews never wanted to hear their morning briefing's mission was Luena.
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:iconmobiusonedt:
~mobiusonedt Feb 4, 2013
You know the funny (well not haha funny( thing is that as the German's lost ground, the Anti Aircraft defenses became more concentrated, making the bomber crews' job even more dangerous.

Awesome picture. Highlights how costly the daylight bombing campaign in Europe was.
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:iconzulumike:
*zulumike Feb 4, 2013  Hobbyist Digital Artist
Thank You, glad you like the artwork.

At one time, I think Hitler told Speer to build more 88's since the Luftwaffe's aircraft had fell to defend Germany.

The sacrifice was high on both sides.
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:iconfocallength:
*focallength Jan 28, 2013
Nice work. Used to know someone whose father was a B-17 commander.
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:iconzulumike:
*zulumike Jan 28, 2013  Hobbyist Digital Artist
Thank You.

My dad was a WW II flight instructor during the War. He got me interested aviation. Met several of his friends who were pilots. They were all polite and never really talked about it much. They were the "Greatest Generation".
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:iconfocallength:
*focallength Jan 28, 2013
I never met my friend's father, but he showed me photos from his dad's time in the USAAF and his father's plane, "Little MIss Mischief" was featured on the cover of the original Squadron "B-17 In Action" and is one of the marking options on the Revell "Pro Modeler" 1/72nd scale B-17G kit.
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:iconzulumike:
*zulumike Jan 28, 2013  Hobbyist Digital Artist
That is a good piece of history and tribute. Thanks for sharing.
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:iconfocallength:
*focallength Jan 29, 2013
You're welcome.
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:iconchaos-sandwhich:
~chaos-sandwhich Jan 28, 2013  Hobbyist Traditional Artist
bomber crews have gotten a lot of criticism over the years, but as your description illustrates , they did one hell of an important job
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