Lt. Walt Foster-Lead Bombardier, 456th Bombardment Squadron Laon /Athies Airfield, France December 16, 1944. This photograph was taken after Lt. Foster had completed his tour of duty and just before he boarded a troop transport, leaving his close friends and colleagues behind, to return home. Although it had been less than a year since he had flown his first combat mission on February 3, 1944, the change in Lt. Foster's appearance reflects the effect the war and loss of good friends had on him. Bombardiers saw things other combat crew members did not. Exposed and vulnerable in the Plexiglas nose of the B-26, bombardiers were often killed or injured when a flak burst came too close. Lead Bombardiers were responsible on the run to the target for a flight, box and/or group of up to 36 combat aircraft, depending on their experience and record. If they took too long to lock on the target, they exposed all aircrew to more flak; if they missed the target, they risked injuring civilians or friendly forces --- as flak exploded around them. Although Lt. Foster had just turned 23 when this photograph was taken, he seems much older.