April 24, 1944 was a busy day for the Swiss, with the arrival of 14 American bombers, all but one being B-17s. In this Dubendorf line-up is B-17G 42-31669 Shoo Shoo Baby of 303 BG.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Boeing B-17E / B-17G Flying Fortress - СШАUSA - 1941

Another B-17F from 305 BG, but this time 364 BS, which landed at Dubendorf on September 6, 1943, was 42-3434 So What. According to Swiss sources present at interrogation, crew morale was very low and one of the pilots was on his first mission. One Swiss considered that the crew had deliberately flown to Switzerland.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Boeing B-17E / B-17G Flying Fortress - СШАUSA - 1941

Eight American bombers landed in Switzerland on July 11, 1944, from a raid on targets in the Munich area. They included B-17G 42-37976 Manchester Leader of 92 BG, with 45 missions and five fighters to its credit. The weathered appearance is the result of No 1 engine losing oil, but some damage was sustained from Swiss anti-aircraft fire.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Boeing B-17E / B-17G Flying Fortress - СШАUSA - 1941

One of four Fortresses which landed safely in Switzerland from the Stuttgart raid on September 6, 1943 was B-17F 41-24592 Madame Butterfly from 305 BG, 366 BS, with more than 20 mission symbols on its nose. With fuel gauge flashing red, it was escorted into Dubendorf by a Swiss fighter. It flew to Burtonwood for scrapping on September 1, 1945.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Boeing B-17E / B-17G Flying Fortress - СШАUSA - 1941

Death of a B-17; many were broken up in Switzerland after the war, with useful parts salvaged. This is an early aircraft wearing the interim white bar markings with a red surround.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Boeing B-17E / B-17G Flying Fortress - СШАUSA - 1941

An unidentified Liberator is escorted in to a landing in Switzerland by a Swiss Messerschmitt Bf 109. On another occasion, one of four Swiss Bf 109s escorting a USAAF bomber into Switzerland was shot down by an American Mustang.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Consolidated B-24H / B-24J Liberator - СШАUSA - 1943Messerschmitt Bf.109G - ГерманияGermany - 1942

P-47D Thunderbolt 42-26063 Jean was one of two which crashed in Switzerland on October 15, 1944. From 50 FG, it was damaged by two Swiss Bf 109s and on approach to make a belly-landing was fired on by anti-aircraft guns. The P-51B was salvaged and taken to Dubendorf, where it was scrapped after the war.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Republic P-47 Thunderbolt - СШАUSA - 1941

The 8th Air Force’s No 4 FG lost two Mustangs on July 19, 1944. P-51B 42-106438 of 335 FS, based at Debden, was escorting bombers on an Augsburg raid when it was attacked by Bf 109s. With engine overheating, the pilot chose to land on a small grass runway at Ems without damage. The Mustang was dismantled, taken to Dubendorf, reassembled and test flown on August 1, 1944, in the Swiss marks J-900. On October 20, 1945, after the American markings had been reapplied, its USAAF pilot flew the aircraft back to Burtonwood, beating-up the main Zurich station en route.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51 Mustang - СШАUSA - 1940

P-51 Mustang 43-24853 Little Ambassador of 52 FG, 15th Air Force, was damaged, over Germany on February 22, 1945, and with the engine out of oil belly-landed on a sandbank in the River Rhine at Rheintal. It was salvaged and taken to Dubendorf where it was scrapped after the war.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: North American P-51 Mustang - СШАUSA - 1940

B-24 Liberators parked at the Swiss Air Force base at Dubendorf, near Zurich, where many of the USAAF bombers landed. Various unit markings may be seen; Bomb Groups identifiable are Nos 44, 93, 98, 389, 392, 445, 446, 448, 453,459 and 466. The picture was probably taken after the war when a number of aircraft were being prepared for return to Burtonwood, Lancashire.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Consolidated B-24H / B-24J Liberator - СШАUSA - 1943

B-24H 42-7519 of 93 BG was the first Liberator to land in Switzerland when it arrived at Dubendorf on January 7, 1944, escorted by four Swiss D-3801 fighters, following a raid on Ludwigshafen. It was returned to Burtonwood on October 8, 1945.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Consolidated B-24H / B-24J Liberator - СШАUSA - 1943

American mechanics, assisted by Swiss, worked on aircraft to be returned after the war. The machines went to Burtonwood, Lancashire, where all were subsequently scrapped. B-24J 42-99813 Sleepy Time Gal of 464 BG, 777 BS, arrived at Dubendorf out of fuel from a raid on Munich on July 19, 1944; it was one of those returned.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Consolidated B-24H / B-24J Liberator - СШАUSA - 1943

B-24G 42-78458 of 454 BG arrived at Dubendorf with two damaged engines on February 27, 1945. These were repaired, or probably replaced, by cannibalising other damaged B-24s, enabling ’458 to be flown to Burtonwood on September 22, 1945.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Consolidated B-24H / B-24J Liberator - СШАUSA - 1943

Following a raid on Munich on July 12, 1944, in which 24 of 1,402 were lost, nine USAAF bombers landed in Switzerland, while another crashed. Four were B-17s. B-24H 42-52559 Miss Fortune of 467 BG, 788 BS, one of five Liberators, landed at Dubendorf. Others flew in to Payerne, Altenrhein and Basle, and one crashed at Fideris. Miss Fortune flew back to Burtonwood on October 11, 1945.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Consolidated B-24H / B-24J Liberator - СШАUSA - 1943