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Cover for secret missions
HISTORY / by Peter Kaššák
“Little friends“, as bomber crews used to call their fighter cover, were essential
part of most bombing raids flown by USAAF in Europe. Since North American P-51
Mustang fighters entered service, operational range was not a problem anymore.
Fighter pilots might operate all the way to and back from target, protecting bomber
formations from enemy fighter attacks, and also fulfill strafing missions including
liquidation of any aircraft, vehicles, locomotives and carts, ships and small storage
buildings located on the ground. But few of the Fighter Groups had privilege to join
special Secret Missions to enemy occupied territory. Two of these took place in
Slovakia in 1944.”
Lend-Lease
HISTORICAL REFLECTION / by Jan Bobek
“Our individual understanding of historical events is often shaped by fragments of
stories passed down from those closest to us. There are various accounts of the Red
Army's arrival in Prague in May 1945. My grandmother, for instance, recalled see-
ing Soviet armored vehicles with white stars—American stars. She also mentioned
how, after the fighting had ended, their crews washed their vehicles in the local
creek, using luxurious women's underwear. I’m not sure what kind of unit it was,
but the fact that the Red Army didn’t have time to repaint their American vehicles
seems, to me, a reflection of the chaotic nature of the war effort in its final days. For
my ancestors, the sight of the Soviets using American equipment was a surprising
revelation.“