Shadows lengthen on an autumn afternoon in 1944 as B-24 Liberators, returning from a raid, safely cross the English coast above a tranquil Suffolk estuary. Beneath them, an air-sea rescue amphibian prepares to disembark a fortunate airman, rescued earlier following ditching in the North Sea.

These B-24s are from the 329th Bomber Squadron of the 93rd Bomb Group. Known as the “Traveling Circus”, the 93rd B.G. was the oldest serving B-24 Group, and flew more missions than any other in the Eighth Air Force.