Curiosity Stream

The Massive Air War Before D-Day

By late 1943, World War II had reached a critical turning point. The Allies launched an intensive strategic bombing campaign against Nazi-controlled Europe, targeting refineries, factories, and industrial infrastructure essential to the German war effort. Each day, hundreds of B-17 Flying Fortresses took off from bases in England and southern Italy, flying deep into heavily defended airspace where anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters posed constant threats. In War Wrecks: The Last Flight of the Calvi B-17, historians and investigators explore the aircraft and missions that defined this brutal phase of the air war. As we reflect on the legacy of World War II and the approach of the D-Day anniversary, we remember the extraordinary scale of sacrifice across both land and air. Watch now on Curiosity Stream