The Memorial Day airshow at the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, New York is always spectacular. This year was no different. There was a wide variety of aircraft on display, including a number that were Second World War warbirds. Here are two – a B-17 Flying Fortress and a P-40 Warhawk done up in Flying Tigers colors. Take a good look at the all-metal scheme on the B-17. That was to save weight by not applying paint, and also to entice the Luftwaffe to find them and come up and duel.  Luftwaffe combat losses were so heavy, and the requirement of keeping so many fighters back in Germany on defense so onerous, that the USAAF had almost total air superiority by D-Day.

Marc DeSantis

All images copyright MGD Research Company, LLC.