America Tried To Beat German Fighters — And Accidentally Froze Its Pilots To De@th

Описание: Discover the untold story of how the Eighth Air Force faced an unexpected challenge during World War II that removed more men from duty than enemy action. In the skies over Germany during 1943, B-17 Flying Fortress crews encountered temperatures reaching sixty degrees below zero at high altitude. The electrically heated flight suits designed to protect them contained a critical flaw that caused complete failure, leaving airmen exposed to conditions no human could survive. This WWII documentary explores how Colonel Malcolm Grow, a decorated veteran who had served with the Russian Army in World War I, identified the crisis and developed lifesaving solutions including improved heated suits, enclosed waist gun windows on the B-17G model, and specialized protective equipment. Featuring the remarkable story of John Luckadoo of the 100th Bomb Group, known as the Bloody Hundredth, who completed twenty-five combat missions and later became the last surviving pilot from his unit. Learn how the lessons learned during these desperate months transformed military aviation forever, leading to the pressurized crew compartments found in the B-29 Superfortress and every combat aircraft since. From the Second Schweinfurt Raid on Black Thursday to the innovations that saved countless lives, this historical documentary reveals how ordinary servicemen and dedicated medical officers overcame bureaucratic obstacles to solve problems that were costing lives every mission. The Eighth Air Force suffered over 47,000 casualties during the war, and this is one chapter of their sacrifice that deserves to be remembered.