"Coming in on a wing and a prayer..." long ago

In the depths of World War II, the Army Air Force bombers returning from raids over Nazi Europe sustained terrible losses.  Many with heavy damage would barely get their crews home. 
When they made it home to a safe landing, the crews knew they were "coming in on a wing and a prayer."
My Dad was a technical artist for Consolidated Aircraft in Fort Worth, working on those bombers, the B-24 Liberators.
Thus my birth announcement, drawn by Dad--that is a B-24 Liberator engine on the stork.
My fascination with aircraft began early.