And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Rear turret of Short Stirling I heavy bomber BF517 of 75 Squadron riddled with holes after being attacked by a night fighter near Duesburg - 27th April 1943
At least five hits (maybe a lot more) from explosive shells with heavy fragmentation. Probably 37 or 40MM. Poor SOB probably never knew what hit him as the attack came in from the starboard quarter then slid in to the "6" and hosed him with 12.7MM . Rudder left. Rudder right and hold the trigger down. Lucky they got that one home. The Nacht Jager must have been low on ammo.--Ray
My dad was a B-17 pilot with the 8th Air Force. 35 combat missions over Europe. Bad enough when you can see the bastards coming in daylight. Sit back there in that turret for hours staring into the black of night hoping you get a chance to return fire? No. Just...no. Send me back to the infantry.
Did a very cool thing once. Brought a bomber into London International Airport, Ontario for an air show back in '86 or so. Old fart came around gave each of the crew a coupon for 1 Free Drink. Turns out it was to the Royal Canadian Air Force Association Quonset hut at the end of the runway. Turns out they were all bomber crews. B-24 Bomber crews. I stayed all night listening to their stories. Most mileage I ever got out of "1 Free Drink".
At least five hits (maybe a lot more) from explosive shells with heavy fragmentation. Probably 37 or 40MM. Poor SOB probably never knew what hit him as the attack came in from the starboard quarter then slid in to the "6" and hosed him with 12.7MM . Rudder left. Rudder right and hold the trigger down. Lucky they got that one home. The Nacht Jager must have been low on ammo.--Ray
ReplyDeleteRugged way to spend your youth.
ReplyDeleteMy dad was a B-17 pilot with the 8th Air Force. 35 combat missions over Europe. Bad enough when you can see the bastards coming in daylight. Sit back there in that turret for hours staring into the black of night hoping you get a chance to return fire? No. Just...no.
ReplyDeleteSend me back to the infantry.
The Germans had that Lichtenstein Radar that worked very well on the ME110 night fighters. They chewed up a lot of British bombers at night.
DeleteDid a very cool thing once. Brought a bomber into London International Airport, Ontario for an air show back in '86 or so. Old fart came around gave each of the crew a coupon for 1 Free Drink. Turns out it was to the Royal Canadian Air Force Association Quonset hut at the end of the runway. Turns out they were all bomber crews. B-24 Bomber crews. I stayed all night listening to their stories. Most mileage I ever got out of "1 Free Drink".
ReplyDelete