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.
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Belle of Maryland of the 94th Bomb Group after sustaining flak damage over Braunschweig, 1 November 1944
Dan, his story has been extensively recorded by various organizations and his son, a professional historian, has put together a large archive of recordings and documents for family history.
Absolutely agree, read it years ago and passed it on to a man in Florida who lived in a neighboring RV park. He flew in B 17's in the 8th out of England. He was shot down over Belgium, evaded capture with the help of a Belgium priest, returned to England and went right back to flying missions. Incredibly brave men.
My Dad was a B-17 air frame mechanic stationed in Australia and New Guinea. His company departed for Australia on Dec 9, 1941 aboard a troop ship. Didn't return home until spring 1946.
One of my uncles was shot down in a B-17 over Germany in 1944. He was a waist gunner. He spent the rest of the war as a guest of the Luftwaffe.
As far as the American Air Museum in Britain reports, Flak was NOT involved in ruining this mighty bird:
Delivered Cheyenne 16/10/43; Gr Island 28/10/43; Memphis 1/11/43; Assigned 410BS/94BG Rougham 11/11/43; while parked 12/1/44, three ground crew were working, T/Sgt Roland Grout, Sgt John Leasie & Cpl Jim Moroney, when an explosion occurred behind cockpit controls which set up a blaze, eventually extinguished (3 Returned to Duty); Salvaged 6/10/44, eventually parts used to get the equally damaged FRENESI back into operations; BELLE OF MARYLAND.
A friend’s father flew with the Mighty 8th. He’s a three war veteran and at 101 still going strong.
ReplyDeleteBless him! I hope stories and history of his experiences have been recorded.
DeleteSend along my best, please.
Dan, his story has been extensively recorded by various organizations and his son, a professional historian, has put together a large archive of recordings and documents for family history.
DeleteIt brought them back and unless it was their last mission, they had to get in another plane and do it again.
ReplyDeletewhat crew occupied that area, if any ?
ReplyDeletethis diagram might be useful.
DeleteIt does not show the area needed to house the giant brass balls of the men who crewed these ships.
https://www.joshuanava.biz/aircraft/images/1856_77_64-boeing-b17-bomber.jpg
That is a cool drawing, thanks for sharing it
DeleteThx. I had framed Wylam plans on my bedroom walls when a boy.
DeleteThose widows just aft of the damage is the cockpit occupied bt the pilot and co-pilot.
ReplyDeleteThat would make for a VERY cold return trip....
ReplyDeletebottom of the picture shows a date of 1-14-44.
ReplyDeleteI hope they renamed her Lucky Belle.
ReplyDeleteMore men were KIA/WIA in the Mighty Eighth than in all of the USMC campaigns in the Pacific Theater.
ReplyDeleteTo less effect. Maybe if they'd concentrated on Mustangs before B-17s and B-24s...
DeleteEconomy of force is still a thing in military tactics.
a good read is "Masters of the Air"/Mitchell
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely agree, read it years ago and passed it on to a man in Florida who lived in a neighboring RV park. He flew in B 17's in the 8th out of England. He was shot down over Belgium, evaded capture with the help of a Belgium priest, returned to England and went right back to flying missions. Incredibly brave men.
DeleteMy Dad was a B-17 air frame mechanic stationed in Australia and New Guinea. His company departed for Australia on Dec 9, 1941 aboard a troop ship. Didn't return home until spring 1946.
ReplyDeleteOne of my uncles was shot down in a B-17 over Germany in 1944. He was a waist gunner. He spent the rest of the war as a guest of the Luftwaffe.
Nemo
air POW's taught and received college courses&credits.
DeleteThat would be why a lot of pilots used to say, "if it ain't Boeing, I'm not going"
ReplyDeleteAs far as the American Air Museum in Britain reports, Flak was NOT involved in ruining this mighty bird:
ReplyDeleteDelivered Cheyenne 16/10/43; Gr Island 28/10/43; Memphis 1/11/43; Assigned 410BS/94BG Rougham 11/11/43; while parked 12/1/44, three ground crew were working, T/Sgt Roland Grout, Sgt John Leasie & Cpl Jim Moroney, when an explosion occurred behind cockpit controls which set up a blaze, eventually extinguished (3 Returned to Duty); Salvaged 6/10/44, eventually parts used to get the equally damaged FRENESI back into operations; BELLE OF MARYLAND.
Source:
https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/aircraft/42-31289
OTOH, the same source supports the battle damage explanation.
Deletehttps://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/media/media-408512jpg