The Memphis Belle flying back to the US after its 25th
mission over Germany.

On May 17, 1943, the crew of the Memphis Belle, one of a group
of American bombers based in Britain, became one of the first
B-17 crews to complete 25 missions over Europe and return to
the United States.

The Memphis Belle performed its 25th and last mission, in a
bombing raid against Lorient, a German submarine base.

Lt General Jacob Devers (center) shakes hands with one of
the crew of the Memphis Belle before she flew back to the
US in 1943.

   
Visitors gather for a private viewing of the Memphis Belle, a Boeing B-17 ‘Flying Fortress,’ at the National Museum of the
US Air Force 2018.

On May 1, 1960, a U-2 flight piloted by Francis Gary Powers
disappeared while on a flight over Russia. 

With no small degree of pleasure, Khrushchev pulled off one
of the most dramatic moments of the Cold War by producing
not only the mostly-intact wreckage of the U-2, but also the
captured pilot-very much alive.

Francis Gary Powers (center) sits accused in Moscow’s Hall
of Columns, during the opening of his espionage trial, 17
August 1960. (AP)

Francis Gary Powers (1929 – 1977)

On April 28, 1988, a seemingly routine, 35-minute flight from
Hilo to Honolulu turned into terror when an 18-foot-long
section of the upper fuselage suddenly tears off Aloha
Airlines Flight 243.

The explosive decompression and roof loss sweep flight
attendant Clarabelle “C.B.” Lansing off the Boeing 737,
sending freezing winds of hurricane force through the
cabin, leaving passengers in the first five rows of the
plane completely exposed to the sky.

Miraculously, Captain Robert Schornstheimer landed the
plane in Maui with no further deaths.

The bizarre incident happened about 20 minutes into the
flight from Hilo International Airport to Honolulu, at 24,000
feet with 95 passengers and crew members on board.

Captain Robert Schornstheimer       
      
      
         
       

On April 18, 1942, 16 American B-25 bombers, launched from
the aircraft carrier USS Hornet 650 miles east of Japan and
commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle,
attacked the Japanese mainland.

The now-famous Tokyo Raid did little real damage to Japan
(wartime Premier Hideki Tojo was inspecting military bases
during the raid; one B-25 came so close, Tojo could see the
pilot, though the American bomber never fired a shot)—but
it did hurt the Japanese government’s prestige.

LT. COL. JIMMY DOOLITTLE (left) WITH TOKYO RAIDERS.

SANDY KOZEL