97th Bombardment Group paintings, 1942

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 97th Bombardment Group return to base after their first strategic mission against occupied Europe, August 17th, 1942. U.S. Art Art Collection.
Respected artists deployed across the globe on assignment to Life Magazine during World War II to capture images of Americans at war. Among them was Peter Hurd, noted for his portraits and southwestern landscapes. In the late summer and autumn of 1942, he traveled to the United Kingdom to paint airmen of the 97th Bombardment …