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I would like to dedicate this one to those crewmen who recently died in the tragic accident that downed a venerable B-17, and a P-63 Kingcobra.
It is a bit late for Remembrance Day, but please consider this such.
This began with the finding of a picture of the B-17 'The Fox'. I still find the internet so very incredible for finding information.
Vixyy
It is a bit late for Remembrance Day, but please consider this such.
This began with the finding of a picture of the B-17 'The Fox'. I still find the internet so very incredible for finding information.
Vixyy
Category Story / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 111 x 120px
File Size 215 kB
Brave men indeed.
I'm not sure I understand the crew list though, the log details suggest the plane returned to the US but the POW's suggests some of the crew were captured?
"The crew sometimes voted on who left the crew."
What a horrible thing to have to do, and how the person selected must have felt.
And the mention of the ghosts reminds me of something I read from someone who had to flee for their life during the 1990's Bosnian war, along with others they found themselves hiding in what had been the scene of a previous massacre, during the night they felt a comforting presence and whispered voices reassuring them that all would be well and indeed enemy soldiers passed by but didn't enter, the others had heard and felt it as well. In the morning they left and reached safety.
I thought that was rather moving.
I'm not sure I understand the crew list though, the log details suggest the plane returned to the US but the POW's suggests some of the crew were captured?
"The crew sometimes voted on who left the crew."
What a horrible thing to have to do, and how the person selected must have felt.
And the mention of the ghosts reminds me of something I read from someone who had to flee for their life during the 1990's Bosnian war, along with others they found themselves hiding in what had been the scene of a previous massacre, during the night they felt a comforting presence and whispered voices reassuring them that all would be well and indeed enemy soldiers passed by but didn't enter, the others had heard and felt it as well. In the morning they left and reached safety.
I thought that was rather moving.
The aircraft was shot down. My take on this would be, it was salvaged after the war and sent home. Some of the crew were taken prisoner, and the others made it back to our side, and then returned to duty.
I met a man who was a tail gunner once (in my younger days) and he was removed after five missions because he had the habit of holding the triggers down and expending all of his ammunition in the first fighter wave. He told me they were supposed to be conservative so they could defend going and coming back again. The crew voting might have known of one of their own with a young wife or child, and more been looking after him.
And that is a very stirring story. I have no doubt it happened.
Vix
I met a man who was a tail gunner once (in my younger days) and he was removed after five missions because he had the habit of holding the triggers down and expending all of his ammunition in the first fighter wave. He told me they were supposed to be conservative so they could defend going and coming back again. The crew voting might have known of one of their own with a young wife or child, and more been looking after him.
And that is a very stirring story. I have no doubt it happened.
Vix
Oy. Ye touch a subject or three with me here. #1, when it comes to bombers of WWII i make the claim there was none better than the B-17. Arguments can be made and I fully support them... from both sides... because I know of the Lancaster very, very well. Because #2, there was a reason B-17's bombed in the day and Lancaster's at night. Lancaster's had already tried to bomb during the day and the results were both catastrophic and unsustainable. Slow moving, very lightly armored, very lightly defended (two turrets and nothing but .307 bullets against cannon and .50 cals of the enemy)... and not very maneuverable when fully loaded (they carried a LOT more payload than a B-17)... they were shot all to hell and back when trying to bomb in the day. #3, it was well decided that round the clock bombing was the only way to win and so the Yanks got the bloody job of daylight bombing because the B-17's had better armor and armament while the Brits were dang good at night bombing already.
As for the dedication... I am still not over what has happened. I WALKED inside that B-17... long time ago. I didn't know the pilot as he was different when I saw the bomber at an airshow. I feel like a bit of me has been lost. And those pilots are volunteers... fellas doing what they love and dedicating their time to remember those that flew those grand ol' beauties. I cannot hurt enough for their loss.
As for the dedication... I am still not over what has happened. I WALKED inside that B-17... long time ago. I didn't know the pilot as he was different when I saw the bomber at an airshow. I feel like a bit of me has been lost. And those pilots are volunteers... fellas doing what they love and dedicating their time to remember those that flew those grand ol' beauties. I cannot hurt enough for their loss.
Very good story, through Dad being a "crazy" bush pilot because he could get a Piper Super Cub on floats do things not thought possible. So I got to meet a number of WWII Airmen one of them was a Tuskegee Airmen that lived in Bellingham at the time. Others were bomber or cargo pilots or crew along with a few fighter jockeys in different aircraft... they all said getting back on the ground with no holes in themselves made it a good mission... it was a great mission when the aircraft landed on it's own gear with all engines still running!
It's a very touching story you've written for such a harrowing period in time.
Your account of the benevolent ghosts at the end remind me of a report of a haunting among commercial aircraft, where a pilot who died in the crash of Eastern Air Lines flight 401 is said to appear to passengers and crew. Warning them if there was a mechanical fault with the aircraft.
Your account of the benevolent ghosts at the end remind me of a report of a haunting among commercial aircraft, where a pilot who died in the crash of Eastern Air Lines flight 401 is said to appear to passengers and crew. Warning them if there was a mechanical fault with the aircraft.
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