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.

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.

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

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.

Austrian civilians stroll past pieces of B-17 "Old Folks" where it came to rest in the village of Muhlbach.

The HMS Arawa returned dozens of survivors of the Linz mission to Italy from Odessa in the Soviet Ukraine.

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.