This one photo from World War II is one of the most unforgettable: The B–17G Wee Willie (LG–W 42–31333) is seen going down on April 8, 1945. Direct flak hit the bomber near the root of its port wing tore the wing completely off. Eight crew members died in fear as the plane fell in a terrible scene. Robert Fuller was the only pilot to escape with his chute. Later he was captured and was a prisoner of war.
Wee Willie’s damage tells the story clearly. The stabilizer, and also the edges of the port engines, had been burning for some time – the canvas had mostly been scorched off. In this image you can see the helplessness of facing flak, an 88mm gun from the ground, there was no way of fighting back.
On better days Wee Willie and its crew stood as a bastion of strength. The B-17 was the oldest in the 91st Bomb Group when it was lost: the bomber had flown 129 missions. Unfortunatley, this was the final combat loss for the group in the war and Wee Willie only acquired a new crew before it did.
This photo is a powerful reminder of the risks faced by aircrews during World War II and the sacrifices they paid while in the skies.