Our newest original design commemorating America's efforts in World War II is packed with historical references.
- The four bombers used in Europe in WWII — the B-17 “Flying Fortress,” the B-24 “Liberator,” the B-26 “Marauder,” and the B-25 “Mitchell.” (Note: There was one service test B-29 named "Hobo Queen" flown around British airfields in early 1944 as part of a disinformation program, but the B-29 was not flown in combat in Europe.)
- Map of European Theater (Africa, Mediterranean, and Europe)
- Text at the bottom, "Daytime Precision Bombing" — The American strategy of conducting bombing raids during daylight hours was riskier than the British practice of night bombing but allowed for greater accuracy and proved more effective.
- The crosshairs of the Norden bombsight, a key element of the daylight bombing campaigns
- Bomber crews were initially required to complete 25 missions to earn a rotation home. However, due to high casualty rates, this was later increased to 30 missions.
- The Memphis Belle—More on the Memphis Belle from the National Museum of the United State Air Force:
"This famed aircraft was the first US Army Air Forces heavy bomber to return to the United States after completing 25 missions over Europe.
"The Memphis Belle was a B-17F heavy bomber assigned to the 324th Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, at Bassingbourn, England, during the early part of the USAAF strategic bombing campaign. Between November 1942 and May 1943, the Memphis Belle and its crew flew 25 bombing missions, including strikes against targets in Germany, France, and Belgium.
"At the time, the odds of completing a 25-mission tour and going home were small. During the Memphis Belle’s tour, the Eighth Air Force averaged one bomber lost every 18 sorties (one sortie equals one aircraft flying one combat mission).
"Although the Memphis Belle was damaged on several combat missions, the crew beat the odds and completed their 25th mission on May 17, 1943. The crew then returned home for a war bond tour across America."
According to the museum, "The Memphis Belle was not the first USAAF heavy bomber to finish 25 missions—it was the first to complete 25 missions over Europe and return to the US. A small number of heavy bombers finished their 25th missions before the Memphis Belle . . ."
The magnet: Printed in the US on thin, flexible magnet.
Size: 3.25″ × 1.94″