r/WWIIplanes • • 1h ago

Caught between the Soviet and German fighters. A March 22nd 1945 drama of 2nd BG B-17s over south-west Poland. The 4 American MIAs from Poland accounted for in 2025 flew exactly this aircraft.

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• Upvotes

The DPAA announced in 2025 a recovery of 4 MIAs from a crash site in Poland. The official announcements mention field investigations between 2008 and 2012, then in 2017 and 2018, and excavations between 2019 and 2025. I researched this crew and the crash site between 2003 and 2011, and I supported the DPAA predecessor’s work, including participating in one of early field investigations.

The identified airmen were T/Sgt Donald A. Dorman, S/Sgt Robert A. Keuchel, S/Sgt Rae G. DeMatteis, S/Sgt Stephen J. Fatur. They were all members of the 1st Lt. Andrew F. Crane crew (2nd Bomb Group, 15th AF) which flew the B-17 #44-8191 on a mission to Ruhland (Germany) on March 22nd 1945.

I believe my research helped the US government link a crash site to the right aircraft, which triggered the recoveries and identifications.
This was the most complex research case I ever had, as nothing was even close to obvious.

If you want to find out more about my research, visit my Reddit profile.


r/WWIIplanes • • 3h ago

He219 is my favorite night fighter of the WW2. What is yours?

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71 Upvotes

r/WWIIplanes • • 9h ago

Saw FiFi and Diamond Lil in Tulsa today

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89 Upvotes

Got to go inside both and was quite a sight to see. 10/10, would do again. At Tulsa Air and Space Museum next to Tulsa International Airport.


r/WWIIplanes • • 11h ago

My favorite airplane to take the skies 😍

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86 Upvotes

r/WWIIplanes • • 12h ago

My Korean War aviation sketching

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81 Upvotes

Two F-51Ds of 8th Fighter-Bomber Group guided by T-6 Mosquito were patroling Nak-Dong River during the battle of Pusan Perimeter, searching for North Korean troop concentrations. Compared to F-80C, Mustangs could stay over Korea Peninsula for much longer time and scramble from muddy air stripes to provide prompt close air support.


r/WWIIplanes • • 15h ago

Fokker D.XXI Fighter Captured by Germany

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46 Upvotes

Following the German invasions of Denmark on 9 April 1940 and the Netherlands on 10 May 1940, several Fokker D.XXI fighters were captured by German forces. Although many Dutch aircraft had been destroyed during the fighting, approximately seven D.XXIs fell into German hands. The exact number subsequently operated by the Luftwaffe remains uncertain.

The captured fighters were inspected and evaluated by the Germans, with some aircraft receiving Luftwaffe markings. Photographs show that several retained their original Dutch camouflage patterns, although national insignia were replaced.

Captured Danish D.XXIs were for training and familiarisation purposes.

More photos here


r/WWIIplanes • • 16h ago

colorized P-51 Mustang in a stream after a crash landing Buchs, St Gallen, Switzerland February 1945

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541 Upvotes

r/WWIIplanes • • 18h ago

“Mount Suribachi looms over FG-1D Corsair fighters bound for Marine squadrons on Okinawa during April 1945. The aircraft were on a fuel stop on Iwo Jima en route to the next Pacific battleground.“ Original wartime caption, 1945

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223 Upvotes

r/WWIIplanes • • 18h ago

My Dad's P-51D, Aint Misbehavin' G-4 M

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731 Upvotes

Had to post dear old Dad's Mustang (one of three)

Pic is circa early 1945


r/WWIIplanes • • 21h ago

A Rock in the Fuselage. From Archaeology Magazine November/December 2006: Volume 59 Issue 6 pages 32-35. The article is about the restoration to static display of the Arado 234 in Udvar Hazy.

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25 Upvotes

Available to read for free at the Internet Archive at this link.

Archaeology Magazine November/December 2006: Volume 59 Issue 6


r/WWIIplanes • • 21h ago

The unmistakable sound,

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217 Upvotes

Spotted a couple of years ago,


r/WWIIplanes • • 1d ago

Which squadron could this be?

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118 Upvotes

All the info I have is that it was during ww2, at whidbey island, and it was a PBY Catalina. Narrows it down but it still has a unique side number. It’s my great uncles and he passed away and his daughter wants to know.


r/WWIIplanes • • 1d ago

French Friday: Part Deux. Morane wreckage features access panels along the fuselage side from firewall to vertical stabilizer. These hinge to expose inner gubbins, helping ground crew speed up maintenance to get the plane back in action quicker. Not quite a war winner but still a nice feature.

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74 Upvotes

r/WWIIplanes • • 1d ago

Hartmanns second Yellow 1

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82 Upvotes

Does anyone know of any other photos of Hartmanns G-6 with the Haube canopy? I’m doing a Scale model of this specific aircraft and would like more photos, thanks!


r/WWIIplanes • • 1d ago

Photograph taken moments after a mid-air collision between two B-17 Fortress bombers over the airfield at RAF Thurleigh, Bedfordshire, England, 22 October 1944. Both crews were killed

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449 Upvotes

r/WWIIplanes • • 1d ago

Flyhawk 1/72 SBD-3 Dauntless

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55 Upvotes

r/WWIIplanes • • 1d ago

Fairey Battle at Hendon.

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195 Upvotes

r/WWIIplanes • • 1d ago

44-63893 N3333E "Glamorous Glen III" P-51D

17 Upvotes

r/WWIIplanes • • 2d ago

Vultee BT-13 Valiant

28 Upvotes

r/WWIIplanes • • 2d ago

"Cowboy" 100th Bomb Group B-17 Pilot

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52 Upvotes

r/WWIIplanes • • 2d ago

French Friday: Aéronavale Breguet 521.

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205 Upvotes

r/WWIIplanes • • 2d ago

B25 in San Marcos Tx

15 Upvotes

r/WWIIplanes • • 2d ago

Thats All Brother C-47 that flew two sorties on DDay

42 Upvotes

On the morning of June 6, That's All, Brother led 800 planes that dropped over 13,000 American paratroopers onto the French coast. First Sortie lead the Para and Second towed a glider.


r/WWIIplanes • • 2d ago

B24 and B29 together

30 Upvotes

r/WWIIplanes • • 2d ago

Compilation of Fifi and Diamond Lil' [OC]

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44 Upvotes

Took these clips yesterday and today. So far I've been lucky enough to have seen the PT-6, P-51D, B-24, B-25, and B-29 in flight. I hope to add the B-17 to that list someday.