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Started By
Message
re: It’s 1943, you’ve been assigned to the 8th Air Force…
Posted on 3/20/25 at 5:08 am to Nome tiger
Posted on 3/20/25 at 5:08 am to Nome tiger
quote:
www.492ndbombgroup.com
From this blog and very related to this thread.
quote:
As the Group was appraoching Munich, the Smith Crew 906 took a direct hit. A flak shell had penetrated right through the ball turret and into the plane. It bounced off the ceiling and laid on the floor. It had already killed the ball gunner and would have killed the whole crew were it not for the fact that it didn't go off. A severed oxygen line caught on fire, but extinguished itself when the oxygen bottle ran out. The crew threw out the unexploded flak shell and took off with their crippled ship for Switzerland.
also...
quote:
Haag Crew 611 was flying 42-95230 when they were shot up. Four of the men were killed on the spot. With the plane on fire, the remaining 6 men were able to bail out before the plane exploded. One of them had to strap on his chute while he was free-falling from the plane. Luckily for him, he had it in his hand when he was blown out.
This post was edited on 3/20/25 at 5:14 am
0
Posted on 3/20/25 at 5:37 am to Darth_Vader
Tail or Ball Gunner
I wonder if they could get out if the plane was going down though, or did you just have to eat it.
I wonder if they could get out if the plane was going down though, or did you just have to eat it.
Posted on 3/20/25 at 6:54 am to Darth_Vader
Why not nose gunner?
Posted on 3/20/25 at 6:56 am to Darth_Vader
Whatever job you had in the B 17, you probably wanted your affairs in order before you made it to England. Your chances of making it to 25 missions was extremely limited....unless Jimmy Stewart was your commander
Posted on 3/20/25 at 7:09 am to Darth_Vader
which ever is fastest to the bailout door!
Posted on 3/20/25 at 7:18 am to Darth_Vader
I have to go with radio operator. Slightly more aircraft between you and the Luftwaffe depending upon the angle of attack. Bit, it would not matter much against a 20mm shell.
Plus, I recall that the radio operator had the easiest egress through the bomb bay. I think that I have the bailout procedures in the old Impact series.
Plus, I recall that the radio operator had the easiest egress through the bomb bay. I think that I have the bailout procedures in the old Impact series.
Posted on 3/20/25 at 7:18 am to dukke v
quote:
B-17
quote:
I’m there to defend my country and kicks JAP arse.
B-17 was pretty much a European theater plane.
Posted on 3/20/25 at 7:26 am to Darth_Vader
Radio operator no doubt. Wow great pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Truly the greatest generation. No way in hell 'Merica is able to stomach the loss of life which was encountered during the war.
Truly the greatest generation. No way in hell 'Merica is able to stomach the loss of life which was encountered during the war.
This post was edited on 3/20/25 at 7:27 am
Posted on 3/20/25 at 7:35 am to Darth_Vader
quote:
It’s 1943, you’ve been assigned to the 8th Air Force…
quote:
as an enlisted machine gunner on a B-17. Being enlisted, you can’t be a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, or bombardier. Here’s your choices:
Is this one of them, what they call, a hypothetical, or did something happen overnight with time and space?
This post was edited on 3/20/25 at 7:36 am
Posted on 3/20/25 at 7:35 am to Darth_Vader
Those brave men sacrificed everything so we could have trans kids and George Floyd statues 
Posted on 3/20/25 at 7:38 am to Darth_Vader
Between being in a B-17 over Europe or being in a sub in the Pacific, idk which one would be more terrifying to be in.
Posted on 3/20/25 at 7:39 am to TutHillTiger
Lots of skewed numbered being thrown around in here. Those bombing runs into Europe would have been absolutely terrifying, I’d still take radioman.
Highest casualty rate for US Servicemen in WWII was in fact the very unheralded submarine service. Another little known fact, 56% of ALL Axis tonnage sank at sea was due to US submarines. 5.6 million tons. Submariners made up approximately 1% of WWII naval personnel.
Highest casualty rate for US Servicemen in WWII was in fact the very unheralded submarine service. Another little known fact, 56% of ALL Axis tonnage sank at sea was due to US submarines. 5.6 million tons. Submariners made up approximately 1% of WWII naval personnel.
Posted on 3/20/25 at 7:43 am to Darth_Vader
I remember reading at one point that in 1943 it was safer to be an infantryman in a foxhole than in a B-17 over Europe
Posted on 3/20/25 at 7:46 am to Darth_Vader
Waist. I want to die standing up.
Posted on 3/20/25 at 7:56 am to Darth_Vader
quote:
Ball turret gunner
That was my grandfather's job during the war.
Posted on 3/20/25 at 8:01 am to Darth_Vader
Tail gunner.
Posted on 3/20/25 at 8:02 am to CoachChappy
quote:
That was my grandfather's job during the war.
My wife’s grandfather was a co-pilot. Flak exploded close by and injured him (mostly his legs) and the pilot. Made it back home. Got put in a cast from his waist to his feet after surgery.
Posted on 3/20/25 at 8:13 am to Darth_Vader
D_V
Have you built a B-17?
If so, add some pics please.
Have you built a B-17?
If so, add some pics please.
Posted on 3/20/25 at 8:16 am to Darth_Vader
My grandfather was a bombardier on a B-17. His plane was shot down over Germany and he suffered burns to his face when trying to get out of the downed plane. Spent some time in a POW camp. I still have the letter they wrote his wife saying the plane went down and no one was seen jumping so he is most likely dead. Powerful stuff for me.
Posted on 3/20/25 at 8:26 am to Darth_Vader
Waist gunner for sure. No way I could ever fit in the ball turret even as a 20 year old.
This post was edited on 3/20/25 at 8:31 am
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