Near Villers Bretonneux in France, around 6:40 PM on this day in 1918, two Sopwith Camels were shot out of the sky three minutes apart. They were brought down by a red Fokker Dr.I triplane flown by Rittmeister Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen, his 79th and 80th aerial victories. Less than 24 hours later, he would be dead.
He was 25 years old.
On April 16, 1945, a 22 year old B-17 pilot flew his 35th and final mission of WWII. The target was the dock facilities near Royan, France. He was flying a ship named Royal Flush, tail number 97296. Not that it made the history books, it was just another mission. But I'm glad he made it back. He was my dad.
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I'm confused. Where does the beagle with the machine gun-equipped flying doghouse fit into the story?
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