Restorers Working On The Most Invincible Bomber Of WWII Are Uncovering Its Incredible Secrets

As the skies over Europe flash and burn with the aerial battles of World War II, one battered bomber makes its way doggedly back to base. With only one working engine and a bullet-riddled fuselage, Flak-Bait looks to be reaching the end of its life. But fate has decreed that this American plane will defy the odds to complete more than 200 missions. And, now, decades later, restorers are finally uncovering its secrets.

The infamous Flak-Bait

Today, Flak-Bait is famous for flying more sorties than any other active American bomber during World War II. But that wasn’t due to any lack of effort on the enemy’s behalf. Over the course of the plane’s two-year career, the Axis forces bombarded it with anti-aircraft munitions, leaving little more than a battle-scarred shell.

Sustained pressure

Flak-Bait, though, just kept on flying. Although it suffered damage that would have sent a lesser plane crashing to the ground, this indomitable bomber returned from battle time and time again – only to dive straight back in. Then the war was over, and the record-breaking craft was seemingly consigned to the past.

Coming back to life

Broken up into parts, Flak-Bait spent almost 70 years as a shadow of its former self. But in 2014 experts from America’s Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, or SNASM, took on the task of bringing it back to life. And over the following weeks and months, an incredible story began to emerge.

Middle of the war

When Flak-Bait was first assembled in 1943, the United States was already deeply embroiled in World War II. Two years earlier, Japanese forces had launched a surprise attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, leaving thousands dead and decimating the Pacific Fleet. With that, the Americans joined the conflict that was raging across the world.