The bomber crews of the US Eighth Air Force rightfully earned their place in aviation history through heroism and devotion to duty, becoming one of the most highly decorated organisations of WWII with 17 Medal of Honor recipients and 66 Distinguished Unit Citation awards. But, with almost 6,000 heavy bombers lost, the cost of victory had come at an enormous price – only one in three airmen had survived the air battle over Europe.

In this evocative piece, Richard Taylor recreates a brief moment of reprieve as deep overnight snow temporarily grounds the Mighty Eighth during the bitter winter of 1944. With the morning sunlight glinting across the snow-covered landscape, a B-17G Flying Fortress of the 398th Bomb Group stands quietly near the perimeter of RAF Nuthampstead, awaiting the thaw that will allow the flying to begin again.