Reluctant Allies: The United States Army Air Force and the Soviet Voenno Vozdushnie Sily 1941-1945,
Abstract
The mutual struggle against Adolf Hitler's Germany linked the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as allies in the great common cause. Few distinctly military projects were attempted. An arrangement of aerial maneuvers code-named FRANTIC comprised the largest and most complete such program. This was the only direct combat cooperation between the American and Soviet war efforts. The United States Army Air Force conducted FRANTIC as an extension of the Combined Bomber Offensive (CBO) in Europe. The 8th and 15th Air Forces flew hugh fleets of powerful B-17 Flying Fortresses deep into central Europe to blast German war materiel and military bases, then continued east to land in the Ukraine. Soviet troops (many of them women), serviced and protected the Army Air Force units, which rearmed and flew of to hit more targets enroute to their home stations. These shuttle operations occurred for several reasons. FRANTIC employed unique methods to achieve its ends, and it provided the only real example of large-scale USA/USSR joint military operations in World War II.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA169037
Entities
People
- Daniel P. Bolger
Organizations
- University of Chicago