Bomb Rack

Bomb Rack was an 9.5x13 inch-size free magazine-newspaper produced by the 20th Air Force for United States Army Air Forces airmen serving at AAF bases on Guam, Tinian, and Saipan in the months following World War II. Although serious articles occasionally appeared within, Bomb Rack's tone was often light-hearted and humorous with numerous photos and pin-ups, as well as a full page of locally drawn cartoons. Sports were covered extensively, as were topics important to airmen at the time such as education and returning to the United States as quickly as possible. The exact number of issues published is unknown, but copies were distributed at least between October 7, 1945 to January 21, 1946 and ran through number 16. Bomb Rack's length was eight pages, but sometimes also included a one-page bulletin containing official information. Unlike the Air Force's official histories from the time that focused on operations, manpower, and so forth, periodicals such as Bomb Rack provide a glimpse of everyday life in the Air Force.