FRE 1156
IMAGEBy downloading this image, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions
Lieutenant Stanley Stedt, a bombardier of the 306th Bomb Group, rides a bomb across the aerodrome at Thurleigh. His fellow airmen sit atop ammunition for B-17 Flying Fortresses. Image stamped on reverse: 'Sport and General.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication '9 Jul 1943.' [stamp] and '273717.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'THE DEFENSIVE POWER OF FLYING FORTRESSES. The extremely heavy defense of the Flying Fortresses has enabled them to fight their way through to targets like Huls and Kiel in the face of the most intensive fighter opposition aerial warfare has ever seen. The result of these and other encounters has been the destruction of more than 1100 enemy aircraft. Formations of Flying Fortresses have an average of 12 1/2.50 calibre machine guns per plane (which can be manned simultaneously by the usual crew of ten). 27046: A crew of a Flying Fortress outside the 46,000 rounds of ammunnition, enough to service a flight of Fortresses and a bomb load for one machine. S. & G. G.C.'
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units

- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
![Lieutenant Stanley Stedt, a bombardier of the 306th Bomb Group rides a bomb. Image via BL Davies Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Planet News.' [stamp] Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICAN 8TH AIR FORCE IN BRITAIN DEMONSTRATES HUGE FIRING POWER OF FORTRESSES AND THUNDERBOLTS - REMARKABLE NEW GUNSIGHT HELPS GUNNERS. American 8th Air Force in Britain demonstrates the huge firing power of its Flying Fortresses and Thunderbolt fighters at an air station "somewhere" in England". The Flying Fortress, with](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-379030.jpg?itok=8f2lEPus)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-?
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Locations
![A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-379028.jpg?itok=zmglI2BR)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford