Why Technical Sergeant Robert E. Orlosky replaced aircraft parts before they broke during WW2 — and achieved 129 consecutive bomber missions without a single mechanical failure. This World War 2 story reveals how one ground crew chief's "wasteful" maintenance philosophy created the most reliable B-17 in the Eighth Air Force. June 8, 1944. Technical Sergeant Robert E. Orlosky, ground crew chief, RAF Rattlesden, England. A newly arrived B-17G Flying Fortress sat on the hardstand. Orlosky made a decision that morning: he would replace engine components, hydraulic seals, and electrical parts before they reached their rated service life. Every technical manual said this was wasteful. Other crew chiefs called it obsessive. They were all wrong. What Orlosky discovered that morning wasn't about following maintenance schedules. It was about preventing failures before they happened in a way that contradicted everything the Army Air Forces taught. By the end of April 1945 — after missions through Big Week, D-Day, and the Battle of the Bulge — other crew chiefs started studying what Orlosky had done. And their aircraft stopped failing. This technique spread through the 447th Bomb Group as engineering staff analyzed Milk Wagon's maintenance records, crew chief to crew chief, proving that one mechanic's obsessive attention to detail could achieve what was considered impossible: 129 consecutive combat missions without abort. The B-17 nicknamed Milk Wagon — with its ridiculous cow nose art — set a record for the Third Air Division that was never matched. 🔔 Subscribe for more untold WW2 stories: @WWII-Records 👍 Like this video if you learned something new 💬 Comment below: What other WW2 tactics should we cover? #worldwar2 #ww2history #ww2 #wwii #ww2records ⚠️ Disclaimer: This is entertainment storytelling based on WW2 events from internet sources. While we aim for engaging narratives, some details may be inaccurate. This is not an academic source. For verified history, consult professional historians and archives. Watch responsibly.