Author Topic: About B17s during the war (Read 1272 times)

USRanger · « **Reply #15 on:** February 06, 2008, 12:31:22 PM »

There was an obituary in yesterday's paper in this small town I live in. He was a B-17 tail gunner in WWII. He was shot down on his 32nd mission(thought they only flew 25), captured, POW for awhile, then escaped off a POW train headed from France to Germany. He lived with the French Underground for months before finally getting across the channel back to England. He had lots of combat awards.

Wow. Wish I'd known about him sooner. I'd have loved to have met & talked with him. I've never had the opportunity/privilage to hear first hand from someone who actually went through it(the air war of WWII). In a town of 9,000 I wish I'd heard of him sooner. Usually, everyone knows everything about everybody:lol . Hearing it first hand and seeing the look in their eyes as they recall has GOT to be so much more incredible than watching some documentary.

AquaShrimp · « **Reply #16 on:** February 06, 2008, 12:37:50 PM »

Dolittle bumped up the 25 mission Tour of Duty during the war, because experienced crews were needed to help train and protect the rookie crews. Some bomber crews ended up flying 35+ missions.

colmbo · « **Reply #17 on:** February 06, 2008, 02:28:12 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by AquaShrimp
Dolittle bumped up the 25 mission Tour of Duty during the war, because experienced crews were needed to help train and protect the rookie crews. Some bomber crews ended up flying 35+ missions.

8th AF was 25, 30 and finally 35 missions needed to complete your tour. 15th AF tour was 50 missions.

Ack-Ack · « **Reply #18 on:** February 06, 2008, 02:51:26 PM »

This is the story of my girl friend's uncle that served on B-24s and tell the story of his internment by the Swiss and his escape. Unfortunately, he passed away a few months ago before I could ask him about some of his other stories.

Charles Cassidy of the 303rd Bomb Group

ack-ack

999000 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 06, 2008, 04:20:36 PM »

I think the history channel "dogfights" told of a single B17 on a recon mission in the Pacific that shot down like 10 planes in one mission....maybe somebody else has the details.
~~999000~~

Ack-Ack · « **Reply #20 on:** February 06, 2008, 04:54:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by 999000
I think the history channel "dogfights" told of a single B17 on a recon mission in the Pacific that shot down like 10 planes in one mission....maybe somebody else has the details.
~~999000~~

Don't recall the name of the B-17 but I believe it was the most heavily armed B-17 in the Pacific, with something like 19 guns mounted on it.

ack-ack

helbent · « **Reply #21 on:** February 06, 2008, 05:04:52 PM »

I think you guys are referring to the "All American" 17 kills 1 sortie.

999000 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 06, 2008, 05:07:18 PM »

Heck I never got 17 kills in a B17 cheating with the aimbot!!!
~~999000~~

hubsonfire · « **Reply #23 on:** February 06, 2008, 05:31:13 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ack-Ack
Don't recall the name of the B-17 but I believe it was the most heavily armed B-17 in the Pacific, with something like 19 guns mounted on it.

ack-ack

Old 666, IIRC

AquaShrimp · « **Reply #24 on:** February 06, 2008, 05:34:24 PM »

So if the crew claimed 19 planes shot down, in reality they only destroyed two.

sullie363 · « **Reply #25 on:** February 06, 2008, 09:43:37 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by 999000
I think the history channel "dogfights" told of a single B17 on a recon mission in the Pacific that shot down like 10 planes in one mission....maybe somebody else has the details.
~~999000~~

~~Yeah even the pilot got a kill using a .50 mounted directly infront of him.~~

AquaShrimp · « **Reply #26 on:** February 07, 2008, 04:35:21 AM »

But who confirmed the kills? Was there ever any wreckage found?

dBeav · « **Reply #27 on:** February 07, 2008, 06:05:58 AM »

VansCrew, and the rest of you for that matter, go here http://www.loc.gov/vets/ and use the resources available to share those stories with the Library of Congress.