11 March 1945: A thousand Allied bombers dropped more than 4,000 tons of explosives on Essen, Germany--one of the last major raids of the war in Europe.

ILLUSTRATIONS: (1) 767th BS, 461st BG B-24Js prepare to release their bombs over Essen, Germany. (2) A Fw-190D attacks a 459th BG B-24J over Germany. (3) 34th BG B-17Gs in formation high above Germany en route to Essen. (4) 91st BG B-17G "Shoo, Shoo, Shoo Baby" leads the high squadron to Essen, Germany. (5) 100th BG B-17Gs on the Essen mission. (6) These 306th BG B-17Gs were among the 1,000 that hit Essen. (7) 326th BS, 92d BG B-17G "City of Ft. Worth" returns to England after the Essen raid. (8) 337th BS, 96th BG B-17Gs plow through heavy flak over Essen.