Monsters from Mars, or Forts from Seattle, either way
Official caption: “Giving them the appearance of Monsters from Mars, the vapor trails left by these B-17 Flying Fortresses of the U.S. Army 8th AF leave their marls in the sub-stratosphere. Vapor trails left by Flying Fortresses of the U.S. Army 8th AF leave their marks in the sub-stratosphere. The curved trails were made by the fighters accompanying the B-17’s. The deadly .50 Cal. Machine guns, bristling from the leading Fortress, are plainly visible against the light reflected from the contrails.”
Note the fighter top cover. U.S. Army A.A.F. photo No. 26566 A.C. LC-USZ62-107648
That B-17 was assigned to the 390th Bomb Group, as identified by the J on the square background (see https://pimaair.org/visit/museum-aircraft/boeing/b-17g/ You’ll have to expand the screen to see the Square J.) I know this because my first missile wing was the 390th SMW, and the squadron I was assigned to still used the WWII squadron patch.