Friendly Backup: 3 WWII USAAF Escort Planes You Should Know

The US Army Air Forces escort fighters provide a protective umbrella above its bomber aircraft to prevent bomber losses during critical combat missions. The USAAF’s strategic bombing campaigns have greatly benefited from the use of escort airplanes, such as the P-47, P-38, and P-51. Their agility and in-flight abilities significantly reduced heavy bomber losses for the US Military in the 1940s.