The most powerful bomber in history, the B-17 flying fortress, before it crashed
Second Lieutenant John Bosko was flying his seventh mission on August 24, 1944. He was reasonably seasoned as far as bomber commanders went but was unaware of his target’s macabre reputation. His crew and machine from the 327th Bomb Squadron, 92nd Bomb Group, were en route to the well-defended Merseburg oil refineries in Germany’s heartland from their base in East Anglia. His plane was a veteran of almost 60 missions and had gone through all of them relatively undamaged. Snake Hips and her crew were about to be put to the ultimate test. As the 92nd Bomb Group made its run over the target, the flak bursts began to rattle Snake Hips until a loud explosion shook the aircraft. Smoke filled the cockpit, and fuel sloshed around in the bomb bay. Bosko was shocked to learn from the co-pilot that three bombs had just rolled off the starboard wing. There was a gaping hole in the right side of the fuselage extending from the bomb bay through the radio compartment. Also, a large sec...