Hi all.
My Dad was a b-26 pilot and flew 52 missions over Germany. He was in the 9th AAF 391st bomb group. He has shared many stories about the b-26 and it was a very dangerous airplane to fly until the pilot grew accustomed to its characteristics. It turned out to be one of the most survivable bombers in the war. He has a picture of one b-26 that landed and the fuselage where the waist gunner sat was gone. Unfortunately so was the gunner. The hole was so large the tail gunner couldn't get across it to the main fuselage and had to sweat out the flight back and also the landing not knowing weather the tail would separate from the rest of the plane or not. The plane got the surviving crew home safely.
One of the planes he flew had the nose art of a duck that was flying backwards. The planes name was "The Swoose". The duck didn't care where he was going only where he had been. This is where I got my call sign from.
We sit in our comfortable "cockpits" at home while the real crews had to endure well below freezing cockpits over Germany in the winter. Because the heat came off of the exhaust system they couldn't use it when in combat for fear of carbon monoxide poisoning in case of battle damage to the system. On one mission the oil was so cold he actually lost an engine but was able to restart it and make it back to base. He lost altitude with the engine out and it was real uncomfortable to be below the formation when they had their bomb doors open and approaching the target. LOL.
Just thought I would share some of the stories he told me. I wish he could tell me more but unfortunately he passed a few years ago. If you have a WWII vet in the family or know one take time to hear some war stories from them. You will not be sorry you did. For more info on the 391st visit
http://www.391stbombgroup.com. My Dads name was Norman Sherwood and his picture is in the crew pictures.
Hope to see you in the virtual skies
,
Gary "Swoose Sherwood
