What did the men who flew the missions know about the results they achieved?
In the summer of 1944, as the Allied air offensive over Europe intensified, the 2nd Air Division began publishing a unique weekly report for the men who carried the war into the skies over occupied Europe.
TARGET: VICTORY described itself as “a report of, by and for Combat Flying personnel.” It was created specifically for the officers and men of the division’s fourteen Heavy Bombardment Groups, flying B-24 Liberators, and five Fighter Groups, flying P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs.
From 16 July 1944 through 16 May 1945, 34 issues were produced at Headquarters, 2nd Air Division. Each four- or six-page issue brought the air war to the crews in a remarkably direct way, combining combat photographs, bombing-accuracy reports, mission results, and commentary on recent operations.
These were not reports written decades later by historians. They were produced during the war, for the men who were flying it.
The pages of TARGET: VICTORY reveal how combat crews and their commanders measured success—from photographs taken during strikes to assessments of bombing accuracy and the results of individual operations. Together, the 34 issues provide a vivid contemporary record of the 2nd Air Division’s accomplishments during the pivotal months from D-Day to V-E Day.
For today’s researchers, historians, veterans’ families, and anyone interested in the World War II Eighth Air Force, this collection offers a rare window into the air war as it was being fought and experienced.
The purpose of the publication was stated clearly in the opening issue. Maj. Gen. James P. Hodges, Commanding General of the 2nd Air Division, wrote:
“This publication is dedicated to getting bombs on the target and is for Officers and men of Combat Crews who are directly responsible for accomplishing this objective. I have always felt that the more combat crews know about the results they accomplish, the better they will be able to perform the dangerous tasks that are set for them.”
More than eight decades later, TARGET: VICTORY allows us to see those results through the eyes of the men who were there—and to better understand the extraordinary effort behind the missions that helped bring the war in Europe to an end.
