The U.S. Army Air Force’s 15th Air Force ‘Frantic Joe’ Task Force used Poltava Air Base, in Soviet Ukraine, to conduct what they called ‘shuttle bombing’ of Germany.  It was called Operation Frantic.

The U.S. Army Air Force’s Combat Camera Unit put together this propaganda film showing the first time use of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers from Soviet Ukraine. Prior to that, Consolidated B-24 Liberators had been used. What the film doesn’t show is the 21JUN1944 German attack which destroyed the B-17s on the ground, in fact, the U.S. kept that loss a secret until July 1949!

Part one:

Film also shows North American P-51B Mustangs, Bell Airacobras, Yaks (Yakovlevs) and Douglas C-47s.

Part two:

Part three:

Part four:

Germany bombs the shit outta Poltava: Germany destroys U.S. bombers in Ukraine, kept secret until 1949!