German Scientists Examined A Mustang’s Drop Tanks —Then Realized How It Reached Berlin And Back

The American strategic bombing campaign over Europe is dying. Not from lack of courage—the men of the Eighth Air Force have that in abundance. Not from lack of bombers—B-17 Flying Fortresses roll off production lines by the thousands. The campaign is dying from a simple, brutal mathematical reality: the bombers can't reach Germany's industrial heartland and return with acceptable losses.