media-413603.jpg FRE 4919 Major James G. McDonald, Lieutenant-Colonel Elliott Vandevanter Jr and Major Preston Piper of the 385th Bomb Group examine maps.

Passed for publication 26 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Youth Of The Flying Fortresses. USP/224I-42a-62a. Principal Flying Officers at this youthful Flying Fortress station - (left to right) Major James G. McDonald of Boston, Group Operations Officer who, at 29, is the "old man" of the outfit; Lt. Col. Elliott Vandevanter Jr. of Washington D.C., Group Commander, aged 26, and his deputy, Major Preston Piper, of Santa Anna, Calif., who is only 27.' Censor no: 285531.

On reverse: Keystone Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Press caption for image series: YOUTH OF THE FLYING FORTRESSES. Little Americas are springing up all over Britain, each notable for the eager enthusiasm of young men typifying the youth of America imbued with the spirit to bomb and fight the Germans until the Nazi Menace is overcome and peace once again restored. Here in these ‘Little Americas’ a great bomber force has been built up and the enemy has felt the weight of this great air might in the daring daylight raids which are carried out almost daily. Rarely a day goes by without a might armada of Flying Fortresses streaming out with a great roar from their bases in Britain to wreck the enemy’s war machine. It is the youth of America that is so capably commanding these formidable new weapons of aerial warfare. Most of the crews were mere schoolboys at the outbreak of war. The spirit of these lads is refreshing- it is one of courage and determination to win out whatever the odds. Our cameraman- American War Correspondent, Samuel Goldstein, paid a visit to the Flying Fortress “Kindergarten” station, which is a complete unit of youth. The principal flying officers of the station are two “old men” of 39- the oldest members. While the “baby”-already a captain is 20. The commanding officer, Col Vandevanter, who has flown Fortresses through the battles over the Philippines, Java and Australia and has led his unit on numerous missions over Germany and occupied Europe, is just 26. His deputy Major Preston Piper of Santa Anna, Calif is 27. Major Piper led this group in the highly successful raid over Regensburg, Germany and heroically rescued most of his crew in the Fortress “Lulu Belle” when he was forced to ditch in the Atlantic, after being damaged over Bordeaux on a return mission from Africa. USP/2241 Keystone Press Agency. 25 Sep 1943.’ Roger Freeman Collection

Corrected group from 395th BG to 385th BG and other inaccuracies in the caption.