The USAAF initially relied on the box formation of B-17 to provide enough concentrated machine gun fire to protect them from Luftwaffe fighters. The theory was flawed as the Luftwaffe pilots in their Me109's ang Fw190's soon learned which angels to attack from ripping into the bombers.

After heavy losses the tactics were changed with close escort by initially P-47 Thunderbolts and P-38's Lightening. Due to range limitations or agility neither were ideal. The introduction of the P-51 Mustang with drop tanks solver both the range and agility issues. The Mustang was a superb fighter and an idea escort, bomber losses fell steeply as Luftwaffe losses grew steeply. To the bomber crews the Mustang was known as "Little Friend"

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