In the spring of 1943, U.S. Air Force Majors Gail Craven and John Egan of the 100th Bomb Group were sent to Britain to participate in the Allied war against Nazi Germany.In June, the 100th Bomb Group dispatched a squadron of B-17 bombers from RAF Thorpe Abbotts to perform day bombing missions to destroy military targets in Bremen, Germany.Despite the use of advanced Norden bombsights, the bombers were unable to identify the target and the mission was aborted.The 100th Bomb Group was forced to move through heavy anti-aircraft fire and was subsequently attacked by Luftwaffe fighter pilots.The failure of this mission resulted in the destruction of three aircraft and the loss of thirty lives.