60,000 Pounds of Frozen Bombs Fell in the Wrong Place

It's February 20, 1944. Day One of Operation Argument, a dangerous attempt to destroy Hitler's aircraft factories. After a vicious attack by nearly two dozen enemy fighters, a damaged B-17 Flying Fortress plummets through 18,000 feet over Nazi Germany.

In the cockpit, Lieutenant William Lawley fights the control wheel with torn-up hands, barely able to see through his injuries. His copilot is slumped forward on the yoke, forcing them into a steeper dive.

The altimeter spins like a clock gone mad, but Lawley, dizzy from blood loss, doesn't have the strength to move his crewmate. Behind him, his men are too wounded to bail out. In the cargo bay, 60,000 pounds of frozen bombs have effectively turned them into a missile.

Planners predicted 18% losses daily.

And Lawley refuses to become part of this statistic.


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