'Flying Coffin' wreck from World War II found in Italy

'Flying Coffin' wreck from World War II found in Italy
(Image credit: Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty)

A World War II aircraft unofficially known as a "Flying Coffin" has been found in Italy.

The heavy bomber Consolidated B-24 Liberator earned its nickname when crew members found it difficult to fly, thanks to its "stiff and heavy controls," Discovery News reports. Since Liberators had just one exit per plane, it was "almost impossible to reach the rear from the flight deck when wearing a parachute," hence the "Flying Coffin" designation.

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Meghan DeMaria

Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.