US and Soviet Officers at Tail Gun of B-17 Flying Fortress, Poltava Airfield, June 1944

October 2, 2025 - Reading time: 4 minutes

Soviet Lt. Vorozheev and USAAF Staff Sgt. Summers at the tail gun position of a B-17 Flying Fortress, Poltava Airfield, June 1944.

WWII photo of Soviet Lt. Vorozheev with USAAF Staff Sgt. Thomas Summers at the tail gun position of a B-17 Flying Fortress at Poltava Airfield during Operation Frantic, June 1944.

This World War II photograph shows Soviet Lieutenant Vorozheev of the Red Army and USAAF Staff Sergeant Thomas Summers standing by the tail gun position of a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber at Poltava Airfield, Ukraine, in June 1944.

The image captures a moment of Allied cooperation during Operation Frantic, the shuttle bombing program that allowed US bombers to strike German targets and land at Soviet-controlled airfields. The B-17, a cornerstone of the American strategic bombing force, was stationed at the 169th Special Purpose Air Base in Poltava as part of these joint missions.

Operation Frantic and the Poltava Air Hub
In 1944, the Soviet Union opened three Ukrainian airfields—Poltava, Mirgorod, and Piryatin—to American forces for shuttle bombing raids. These operations not only extended the range of Allied air power but also strengthened wartime cooperation. While American crews flew combat missions, Soviet units handled ground defense and anti-aircraft protection.

Allied Symbolism at the Tail Gun
The tail gun position of the B-17 was a symbol of the bomber’s defensive strength, guarding the aircraft’s most vulnerable rear sector. The presence of both Soviet and American servicemen by this installation underlines the shared responsibility for keeping these aircraft battle-ready.

Symbol of Unity
The Poltava Air Hub represented a rare moment of direct US-Soviet collaboration. Posing together by the tail gun of a Flying Fortress, Vorozheev and Summers embodied the military partnership that contributed to weakening Nazi Germany’s hold on Eastern Europe.

Technical photo data:
📍 Location: Poltava, Ukraine, USSR
📅 Date: June 1944
📝 Event: US-Soviet cooperation at 169th Special Purpose Air Base during Operation Frantic
📷 Author: US Air Force Museum