The Greatest Generation fought WW II.

No heat inside thin aluminum skin - and it was the only thing between you and a 20,000 foot free-fall. Finicky engines that quit at the worst times, primitive de-icing that didn’t always work, jammed machine guns, battle damage - they handled all of it in the aircraft they flew.

B-29 'Doc', one of just three B-29s still flying

B-29 'Doc', one of just three B-29s still flying

B-29 'Doc', one of just three B-29s still flying

B-29 'Doc', one of just three B-29s still flying

You saw this if you were trying to shoot down a B-29

You saw this if you were trying to shoot down a B-29

B-29 'Doc', one of just three B-29s still flying

B-29 'Doc', one of just three B-29s still flying

B-29 'Doc', one of just three B-29s still flying

B-29 'Doc', one of just three B-29s still flying

B-17G - bombardier's position

B-17G - bombardier's position

B-17G Flying Fortress in flight. This aircraft Nine-O-Nine crashed in 2019.

B-17G Flying Fortress in flight. This aircraft Nine-O-Nine crashed in 2019.

B-17G

B-17G

Consolidated B-24J Liberator 'Witchcraft'

Consolidated B-24J Liberator 'Witchcraft'

B-25J Mitchell 'Heavenly Body'

B-25J Mitchell 'Heavenly Body'

B-25 Mitchell 'Tondelayo'

B-25 Mitchell 'Tondelayo'

P-51D Mustang cockpit

P-51D Mustang cockpit

Messerchmidt Bf-109

Messerchmidt Bf-109

Vintage flight - Soviet Yak 11, Supermarine Seafire, Messerschmidt Bf-109, P-51D Mustang

Vintage flight - Soviet Yak 11, Supermarine Seafire, Messerschmidt Bf-109, P-51D Mustang

Nakajima-built A6M Zero

Nakajima-built A6M Zero

Yak-9U

Yak-9U

Consolidated Vultee BT-13B Valiant

Consolidated Vultee BT-13B Valiant

Consolidated Vultee BT-13B Valiant

Consolidated Vultee BT-13B Valiant

P-51D Mustang

P-51D Mustang

Douglas C-47 Skytrain

Douglas C-47 Skytrain

B-25J Mitchell after bomb drop

B-25J Mitchell after bomb drop