Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: Jester on February 25, 2004, 10:43:00 PM

Title: World War 2 Trivia (#11)
Post by: Jester on February 25, 2004, 10:43:00 PM

On July 4, 1942 the newly formed 8th AF made the first strike by American aircraft against enemy airfields in France.

Something VERY extraordinary happened during this raid -  name it.

Title: World War 2 Trivia (#11)
Post by: Bodhi on February 25, 2004, 10:54:50 PM

They flew unecorted

Title: World War 2 Trivia (#11)
Post by: Nod on February 25, 2004, 11:26:31 PM

The historic first combat mission the Army Air Force flew against the Germans, out of England in World War Two, took place on the Fourth of July 1942.

General Ira Eaker thought it fitting to schedule our first raid on America's Independence Day, so he borrowed six of the RAF's Douglas A-20 Bostons the Yanks had been training in and, along with the help of six British crews, sent them out to attack Luftwaffe airfields located in Holland.

The group of twelve A-20s split up into four groups of three and each attacked a separate target. The worst problems faced the group attacking the airfield at DeKooy. The second plane in this group, the A-20 flown by Capt. Charles C. Kegelman, took a direct hit in its right engine, knocking off its propeller. Momentarily losing control, Kegelman's right wingtip hit the ground and ripped off, then his belly hit the ground. Miraculously, he bounced back into the air, regained control and made it back to his base at Swanton Morley with his crew unscathed. This extraordinary mission resulted in the DSC for Kegelman and a DFC for each member of his crew.

I have a poster of it on my wall....

Title: World War 2 Trivia (#11)
Post by: Steve on February 26, 2004, 01:41:28 AM

Wow Nod, I'd never heard that.  Amazing.  Thanks for posting the details!

Title: World War 2 Trivia (#11)
Post by: humble on February 26, 2004, 12:09:06 PM

http://www.stenbergaa.com/stenberg/index.html?item232.html

Title: World War 2 Trivia (#11)
Post by: Rasker on February 26, 2004, 05:46:20 PM

during the Korean War someone bounced a P80 or a F9F Panther off the ground at a very shallow angle and made it back to base; Im thinking it was the Panther, just because it came from the Ironworks.

Title: World War 2 Trivia (#11)
Post by: icemaw on February 26, 2004, 07:40:11 PM

Quote

Originally posted by humble
http://www.stenbergaa.com/stenberg/index.html?item232.html

Tons of great art on that link thanks =S=

Title: World War 2 Trivia (#11)
Post by: Jester on February 27, 2004, 12:46:04 AM

Capt. Kaegleman's strikeing the ground while attacking a flak tower and then making it back to base safely.

Now you know why those damn A-20's are so hard to shoot down! :D

Congrats! :aok