B-17 flying fortress units of the MTO

Although the Fifteenth Air Force was dismissed as "minor leaguers" by the Eighth Air Force, strategic bombers from this outfit had done a "major league" job on axis targets in southern Europe following its formation in Italy in 1943. And the heavy bombers employed by the Fifteenth were of course the venerable B-17 and B-24.

At its peak strength, the Fifteenth's B-17 force comprised six groups of four squadrons each, all controlled by the 5th Bomb Wing.

Having been a part of the Fifteenth Air Force in 1944, author Bill Hess provides an account of "his air force".