Missions by the Numbers

This book includes mission summaries of 187 combat missions flown by the 485th Bomb Group, a 15th Air Force B-24 group stationed in Italy during WWII. Included are stories written by several members of the group that tell the complete story of a mission from the minute the coded message was received until the mission was completed. Also included is the story of a gunner who was shot down and captured and the story of a crew that struggled to make it safely through the Brenner Valley, known as "flak alley", with severe battle damage. There are 20+ photos in this book, including several photos of bomb strikes, damaged B-24s, escort fighters and reconnaissance photos, as well as maps and charts. There is reference information on group losses and bomb types, and a sample of a pilot's "flimsy" (secret plan for the mission) and much, much more.