A last-minute swap saved this airman’s life during WWII bombing run
By: Claire Barrett | Published: 2026-02-25 20:44:30 | Source: www.militarytimes.com
The day began ominously.
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It was Friday the 13th when the airmen of the 451st Bomb Group of the 15th Air Force based in Castelluccio, Italy, gathered in an ancient wine cellar which housed Group Operations.
“Gentlemen, our target today will be … Vienna,” Ed Ryan later recalled in Veteran Voices Magazine. Audible groans could be heard throughout the cellar. Experienced crewman knew how well…
