Many bomber crews that crashed in occupied Europe, or were shot down would eventually find themselves in prisoner of war camps, the infamous Stalags. It is estimated that 10,000 allied aircrew were incarcerated in P.O.W’s camps during the second war.

Spending years in a POW Camp was the result
if shot down. (right)

All bomber crews in the R.A.F. and the U.S. 8th Air Force knew the very high risks involved in their bombing missions over Germany. It was estimated by Bomber Command that 3 crews in every 10, would on average not survive to their tours end. Whether bombing by day or night the risks became incredible, hundreds of planes and crews were lost never to return home. With ever increasing risks and facing death at every moment, the brave and courageous crews of the bombers were never deterred… they would never shrink from their duty or to the loyalty that bound them in their Fight for Freedom!!!

With the drastic losses of allied bombers and crews, the R.A.F and the U.S. 8th Air Force decided that it was imperative to cut these phenomenal losses by using escort fighters to accompany the bombers to all targets in Europe. Thus, the P51-D Mustang became a legend to it's heroic pilot's and to the bomber crews they protected, with it's high performance, superb handling, long-range, and devastating firepower..6x30 calibre machine guns firing 1880 rounds per minute, it delivered a knock-out punch to the Luftwaffe, and became champion of the skies over Europe. For every 1000 bomber raid into Germany including 700 escort fighters, a total amount of 10,700 air crew were used on any one day, and every day as long as the bomber offensive lasted, hence the importance of fighter protection was paramount for the safety of the bomber crews, and aircraft.

In March 1944, the air war took Captain Ian Ross and his Lancaster crew on several missions over occupied Europe, the orders from Bomber Command were as always…. "Destroy all and every target given". So it was that the crew were ordered to attack and bomb Stuttgart on the 1st, Clermont Ferrand, France on the 10th, again to Stuttgart on the 15th, Frankfurt on the 18th and 22nd, Berlin on the 24th, Essen on the 26th.

It was necessary for Bomber Command to constantly switch targets for the bomber crews in an attempt to divert the enemy night fighters, which caused many losses.