Today in World War II History—Aug. 17, 1943

B-17 Flying Fortress bombers of the US Eighth Air Force over Schweinfurt, Germany, 17 August 1943 (USAF photo)

75 Years Ago—Aug. 17, 1943: US Seventh Army takes Messina, and Allies secure Sicily, taking 160,000 POWs.

US Eighth Air Force sends 376 B-17 & B-24 bombers to Schweinfurt and Regensburg in Germany; 60 bombers are lost.

RAF sends 596 bombers to Peenemünde, Germany, bombing rocket installations for the first time.