[Taillenschütze in der Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 2. Weltkrieg]

Die Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress ist ein viermotoriger schwerer Bomber, der in den 1930er Jahren für das United States Army Air Corps entwickelt wurde. Obwohl Boeing den Auftrag verlor, weil der Prototyp abstürzte, war das Luftwaffenkorps von Boeings Konstruktion so beeindruckt, dass es 13 weitere B-17 zur weiteren Bewertung bestellte. Die B-17 wurde hauptsächlich von den Luftstreitkräften der Vereinigten Staaten bei der strategischen Präzisionsbombardement-Kampagne des Zweiten Weltkriegs gegen Deutschland eingesetzt. Die B-17 nahm auch in geringerem Umfang am Pazifikkrieg zu Beginn des Zweiten Weltkriegs teil, wo sie Luftangriffe gegen Japan durchführte.

Robert Yarnall Richie (1908-1984) arbeitete als freier kommerzieller und industrieller Fotograf für viele große Unternehmen, darunter in der Automobil-, Luftfahrt-, Chemie-, Bergbau-, Erdöl-, Eisenbahn-, Schifffahrts-, Stahl- und anderen Industriezweigen, sowohl in den USA als auch in Übersee. Die Sammlung, die sich in der DeGolyer Library der Southern Methodist University befindet, enthält Unternehmens- und Industriefotos, die Richie zwischen 1932 und 1975 gemacht hat. Die Digitalen Sammlungen der Zentralen Universitätsbibliotheken der Southern Methodist University (CUL) umfassen die digitalen Bibliotheken und Online-Digitalen Sammlungen der sechs Zentralen Universitätsbibliotheken. Zu unseren laufenden Projekten gehört die Erstellung digitaler Sammlungen mexikanischer Fotografien, Lokomotiven, texanischer Geschichte, Kunst und Geldscheine und vieles mehr.

World War II was a period of rapid technological advancement in the field of aircraft, and these advancements have continued to shape the development of aircraft in the years since. There were significant advances in aircraft design, such as the use of swept wings and the development of more advanced aircraft materials, such as aluminum alloys and plastic composites. These advances allowed for the construction of stronger, lighter aircraft that was capable of higher speeds and greater maneuverability. Biplanes, which have two main wings stacked one above the other, were largely obsolete by the time World War II began in 1939. They had been largely replaced by monoplanes, which have a single main wing, by the start of World War II. The main advantage of monoplanes is that they are typically faster and more maneuverable than biplanes due to their streamlined design. In addition, monoplanes are able to carry a greater load for their size, making them more suitable for use as bombers and transport aircraft. However, biplanes were not completely abandoned during World War II. Some biplane designs, such as the British Hawker Hurricane and the Soviet Polikarpov I-153, saw limited use as fighters. In addition, biplanes were used in a number of other roles, including training, observation, and light transports. One of the major developments in aircraft technology during World War II was the use of jet engines, which allowed for faster and more powerful aircraft. The first jet aircraft, the German Heinkel He 178, made its first flight in 1939. However, it was not until after the war that jet aircraft became widespread. During World War II, a number of aircraft were produced in large quantities to meet the demands of the war. Here are some examples of some of the most massively produced aircraft of World War II: The Soviet Union's Ilyushin Il-2 was a ground attack aircraft that was produced in tremendous numbers, with more than 36,000 being built. It was heavily armed and armored, making it a formidable opponent on the battlefield. The German Messerschmitt Bf 109 was a mainstay of the German air force and was produced in large numbers, with more than 35,000 being built. It was used as a fighter, interceptor, and ground attack aircraft, and saw action on many fronts during the war. The American Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was a heavily armed and armored fighter that was produced in large quantities, with more than 15,000 being built. It was used extensively in Europe and the Pacific and was known for its durability and long range. The British Supermarine Spitfire was a highly regarded fighter that was produced in large numbers, with more than 20,000 being built. It saw action in many theaters of the war and was known for its agility and handling.

Richie's work is significant for its artistic qualities as well as documentary information. Richie may be best known for his oil production and aviation images in such areas as Texas, Louisiana, the Gulf of Mexico, and Saudi Arabia. Richie had work published in the magazines Fortune, Time, Life, Scientific American, and National Geographic, and in other publications. He also contributed photos to annual reports for Fortune 500 companies such as General Motors, U.S. Steel, Gulf Oil, and Phelps Dodge. Richie was an avid pilot, and his life work includes thousands of aerial photographs taken worldwide, as well as many photos of aircraft and other aviation-related subjects. Many of his photos are collected in the Robert Yarnall Richie Photograph Collection, held by the DeGolyer Library at Southern Methodist University. The SMU archive contains corporate and industrial photographs made by Richie from 1932–1975. Many are online, and available at the SMU Central University Libraries Flickr site, at Flickr's The Commons area with no known copyright restrictions.