12-28-2013, 11:14 AM
THAT explains it!
There are several interesting accounts that I have read about the "shuttle" missions that took place fom bases in England to bases in the USSR. MOST of the missions went to Poltava, until a German He-177 shadowed an American formation there. That night the Germans launched a several hour raid on the airfield that resulted in many B-17s and P-51s destroyed.
During the resultant dispersal of US aircraft to other airfields, the US pilots/aircrews had the opportunity to meet many Russians. The almost universal observation was the friendliness of the people there. One US airman noted that despite the obvious near-total destruction of the surrounding area due to recent battle, the people were "the friendliest, singing-est and dancing-est people" he had ever seen.
There are several interesting accounts that I have read about the "shuttle" missions that took place fom bases in England to bases in the USSR. MOST of the missions went to Poltava, until a German He-177 shadowed an American formation there. That night the Germans launched a several hour raid on the airfield that resulted in many B-17s and P-51s destroyed.
During the resultant dispersal of US aircraft to other airfields, the US pilots/aircrews had the opportunity to meet many Russians. The almost universal observation was the friendliness of the people there. One US airman noted that despite the obvious near-total destruction of the surrounding area due to recent battle, the people were "the friendliest, singing-est and dancing-est people" he had ever seen.
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