Week in History aug 7
“This Week in History” is a weekly recounting of historical events which shaped today’s U.S. Air Force. On Aug. 4, 1944, the 8th Air Force launched radio-controlled B-17 Fighting Fortresses rebuilt as drones to carry 20,000 pounds of TNT explosive against V-1 flying bomb sites in Pas de Calais, France during Operation Aphrodite. Operation Aphrodite lasted until Jan. 27, 1945 when Gen. Carl Spaatz sent an urgent message to Gen. James Doolittle saying “Aphrodite babies must not be launched against the enemy until further orders.” (U.S. Air Force photo)