Historical Photos

Adolf Hitler (top right) and his middle school classmates in Linz. The year is 1900, and Hitler is 11 years old. The future leader of the Third Reich spent about nine of his first 18 years in and around Linz, and he forever considered it his hometown.

An 88-milimeter anti-aircraft gun defending Linz from aerial attack. The gun crew was largely comprised of members of the Hitler Youth.

Judith Ann, B-24 #44-49771, was the first of fifteen bombers shot down over Linz on April 25, 1945. The crew bailed out and spent the rest of the war as guests of the Soviets.

B-24s of the 451st Bomb Group transit Linz. The group lost two B-24s to enemy fire over the target, and seven of its airmen were killed in action.

Twisted tracks and destroyed rail cars testify to the effectiveness of the April 25 raid.

First Lieutenant Bill Shreve effects an emergency landing at Pecs, Hungary, after sustaining heavy damage over Linz. First Lieutenant Vahan Marderian's shattered B-24 is visible at lower right. Both crews finished the war in Soviet custody.

The tail section of B-17 "Old Folks" comes to rest in Muhlbach, Austria, after sustaining heavy damage over Linz. First Lieutenant Dick Schwarz, the badly wounded pilot, bailed out only a few hundred feet above the ground and was quickly captured.

Ellsworth Croissant dons a heated suit and parachute for a training flight in the United States. The heated suit kept the airmen from freezing to death in their unpressurized aircraft flying nearly five miles above the Earth.

The tail section of the C-45 transport aircraft carrying Ellsworth Croissant and six others where it came to rest on a farm in Wisconsin. All aboard were killed.