US and Soviet Technicians Service B-17 Flying Fortress Engine at Poltava Airfield, June 1944
October 2, 2025 - Reading time: 5 minutes
USAAF and Soviet technicians perform maintenance on a B-17 Flying Fortress engine at Poltava Airfield during Operation Frantic, June 1944.
This World War II photograph shows American and Soviet aviation technicians performing joint maintenance on the engine of a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber at Poltava Airfield, Ukraine, in June 1944.
In the image, USAAF Sergeants John M. Bassett and Michael Cajolda work alongside Soviet technician Leonid Boykov, highlighting the close cooperation between the Allies at the 169th Special Purpose Air Base. The aircraft pictured was part of the shuttle bombing program known as Operation Frantic, which allowed American bombers to strike German targets and land at Soviet airfields.
Operation Frantic and Poltava Air Hub
In early 1944, the Soviet Union granted the United States access to three airfields in Ukraine—Poltava, Mirgorod, and Piryatin—collectively known as the Poltava Air Hub. These bases were used for shuttle bombing raids against Nazi-occupied Europe. While the American aircraft were serviced and refueled, Soviet units provided ground security and air defense.
Technical Cooperation in Wartime
The photo illustrates not only military collaboration but also technical exchange. American heavy bombers like the B-17 Flying Fortress were advanced machines unfamiliar to Soviet mechanics, while Soviet expertise in field conditions helped streamline servicing. Working side by side, the technicians embodied the Allied partnership that was essential to sustaining shuttle bombing missions.
Symbol of Allied Unity
The maintenance of this B-17 at Poltava symbolizes the cooperation between two very different wartime systems—USAAF’s strategic bombing force and the Red Army Air Force’s ground support doctrine. Despite political and cultural differences, both sides recognized the shared goal: defeating Nazi Germany.
Technical photo data:
📍 Location: Poltava, Ukraine, USSR
📅 Date: June 1944
📝 Event: Joint US-Soviet maintenance of B-17 bomber during Operation Frantic
📷 Author: US Air Force Museum
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