Poor B17

[CAP1]

You're making jokes, but if there was someone in that ball turret, they were certainly killed. Not to mention, anyone else who could have been hit in the fuselage.

from the looks of that, everyone aft of the cockpit bought it..............

<<S>> to them

[Dragon]

That's brutal, glad I only fly in cartoon planes.

[Die Hard]

That was a kill. That Fortress was still flying, but I don't think anyone was alive to land it. War is brutal.  


For every two HE puffs you see on the fuselage there would be an armor piercing round between them; Jerry used mixed ammo belting, usually one HE/M, one HE/T (tracer) and one AP. Those 20 mm AP rounds would have gone straight through the length of the fuselage and out the other side. Nasty.

[Reaper90]

I would bet that, given this bird was separated from the formation and apparently trying to make it home before being pounced by the 110, she was probably already shot up pretty badly before this vid starts. The lack of any return fire would seem to back this up. It's likely some or most of the crew were already out of the fight, and it appears that there are two bailouts at 0:36 sec and 0:38 sec into the film. Possibly (hopefully) some/most/all of the remaining crew were already out of the plane.

Regardless,  to all of the brave guys who went up in those giant targets. If I had been around then I can't say I would have been happy about drawing a short straw and winding up in a bomber.....

[Die Hard]

That clip is part of a longer German gun camera reel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqjs5NzKSxg

[CAP1]

That clip is part of a longer German gun camera reel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqjs5NzKSxg

dunno if i'm missing something....but none of those buffs looked to be returning fire?

[Die Hard]

Probably the poor quality of the film and compression of the video. I did see a lot of (what I think were) tracers in one of the clips showing an attack on a box formation of 17's. The stragglers had already been shot out of formation and were probably hurting bad.

[Ack-Ack]

If you noticed, the Bf 110 was also targeting the engines that powered the back up hydraulic and electrical systems after taking care of the tail gunner.  In any event, I seriously doubt that Fortress made it home.  Hopefully those that were able to bail out (if any did) were able to parachute to safety and at least sit out the rest of the war in a POW camp.

That footage shows goes to show brutal the air war was over Europe, something like 1 out of every 4 crewman killed.


ack-ack

[KgB]

pfft.  shame on you!

I second that, gunners are probably dead

[Ripsnort]

Listen to 8 minutes of a ball turret gunner who survived:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRWrAP_b3vY

[FYB]

Listen to 8 minutes of a ball turret gunner who survived:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRWrAP_b3vY

I love listening to Veterans, they seem so knowledgeable, wise and great stories. Man, i'd give my dream of becoming a U.S. Marine just to have my Great Uncle back.

R.I.P. 1915 - 2006 
He'd wake up in the middle of the night cursing and waving his fists around. Always wondered what he was dreaming about.

[uptown]

That is a fascinating interview. That man went through hell over there. You could hear it in his voice. That whole generation of men and women are true treasures. I salute their incredible bravery and service.

Let us not forget  

[Die Hard]

Listen to 8 minutes of a ball turret gunner who survived:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRWrAP_b3vY

Thank you for posting that 

[minke]

I'd expect them to be dead,didnt see much in the way of return fire.

That said, it took a lot of rounds (in AH my 110 would be a lawndart)

 Maybe it was a noob and his shade.

[CAP1]

Listen to 8 minutes of a ball turret gunner who survived:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRWrAP_b3vY

wow........