by Jim Bina
July 15, 2015 – A new museum exhibit will debut during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015 highlighting the history of the 345th Bombardment Group, one of the most distinguished bomber units of World War II. Known as the Air Apaches, the 345th BG helped perfect the technique of low-level bombing and strafing in the Pacific Theater. Their heavily armed B-25 Mitchell bombers blazed a warpath from Australia north to the Japanese islands.
Because each aircraft used the advanced K-21 rear-facing aerial camera, their exploits also produced some of the most dramatic photographs of the air war. The new exhibit uses many of these images to illustrate the devastating blows the Air Apaches inflicted upon the Imperial Japanese forces; dropping demolition and fragmentation bombs backed up by a torrent of .50 caliber machine gun fire. Artifacts and videos tell the stories of the brave crews who flew these unforgiving, tree-top level missions. A special area of the exhibit honors those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
The public is welcome to attend the opening ceremony and be amongst the first to view the displays on Tuesday, July 21st, at 11 a.m. in the EAA AirVenture Museum’s Telling Gallery.
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