The aircraft had taken three direct hits over Berlin, causing it to lose electrical and hydraulic power as well as the #3 engine. The engine threw its prop on the return flight, and engine #2 shut down shortly later. On final approach to a small dirt airfield in Allied-occupied Belgium the #4 engine also quit, but the plane made it to the ground safely with less than 50 gallons of fuel remaining.
That was some pilot and crew.
ReplyDeleteThat would have been one hell of a ride down !!!
DeleteI doubt modern aircraft could survive and operate with that kind of damage given their complexity and reliance on computers. Sometimes simple and rugged save the day.
ReplyDeleteThe A10 Warthog comes to mind. They have been known to land with one wing.
DeleteThat's a major "Holy Shit!!"! Not your day to die.
ReplyDelete---Fuckin' Real Men in them days-----
ReplyDeleteMost were just boys. Better men than us...
DeleteGuys out there saving the world with every last one of ‘em having a pair as big as church bells! Doubt there was one man in there older than 23. How far western man has fallen, sigh.
ReplyDeleteWe have raised a generation of soft, comfort-seeking Americans. "“Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.”
ReplyDelete