Royal Air Force Station Wendling, England

November 25, 1944; 5:15a.m.

Since August 1943, The British Royal Air Force’s (RAF) station at Wendling, near Norfolk, England, has served as the home of the US Army Air Forces Eighth Air Force, 392nd Bombardment Group. On Nov. 25, 1944, the 10-man crew of the B-24 Liberator bomber affectionately known as “Freddy” gather for their morning flight briefing at the 576th Bomb Squadron’s headquarters. It’s 5:15am. This briefing is special for Freddy’s crew. In a few hours they will cruise at 21,000 feet over hostile territory on their 35th…and final mission. The ...