media-413463.jpg FRE 4779 Lieutenant Arthur W Mack and Lieutenant Francis M McCullagh of the 306th Bomb Group examine a cannon hole in their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Four Leaf Clover". Passed for publication 12 Jan 1944.

Printed caption on reverse: 'Fortress Returns From Toughest Day Raid "Raked From Tail To Nose". Some of the fiercest air battles of the war were fought yesterday, January 11, when Fortresses and Liberators attacked vital targets in North-West Germany in great strength. Swarms of fighters came up to challenge them, the defences including planes trailing bombs on long cables, rocket planes and rocket flak. One of the Fortresses, "Four Leaf Clover", reached home raked from tail to nose and from wingtip to wingtip. Not one of its engines escaped damage and one of them was on fire when, with half of its rudder shot away, it landed by automatic pilot. Three crew-members, the top-turret gunner, tail-gunner and radio-operator were injured. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Lt. Arthur W. Mack, left, of 4550-161st Street, Flushing, N.Y., and Lt. Francis M. McCullagh, of 1040-57th Street, Brooklyn, N.Y., examine the hole made by a 20mm cannon shell in the outer tip of the left wing of the plane during yesterday's (January 11) raid on North-West Germany. IRV 263808. 12-1-44-Y.' Censor no: 299752. On reverse: Associated Press and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

Corrected unit from 379th Bomb Group to 306th Bomb Group following correspondence with 379th BG researcher Mervyn Wilson.
Named airmen in photo belong to 306th BG.