Author Topic: Col. Robert Morgan, RIP  (Read 248 times)

Offline Fridaddy

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Col. Robert Morgan, RIP
« on: May 16, 2004, 12:15:37 AM »
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - , commander of the famed Memphis Belle B-17 bomber that flew combat missions over Europe during World War II, died late Saturday of complications from a fall, his wife said. He was 85.
 

Morgan was hospitalized April 22 with a fractured neck after falling following an air show at Asheville Regional Airport, said Carole Donnelly, spokeswoman for Mission Hospitals, where Morgan was treated.


His condition had been deteriorating in the last week or so, and Morgan was taken off life support systems, his wife, Linda, said. His wife, two daughters, a close family friend and two ministers were at his side when he died, she said.


A native of Asheville, Morgan became famous as the pilot of the Memphis Belle, which flew 25 combat missions over Germany and France during World War II. Morgan co-authored a book about some of his experiences, "The Man Who Flew the Memphis Belle," with Ron Powers.


Morgan and three other members of the Memphis Belle's crew were made honorary colonels of the state of Tennessee in 2000.


The crew completed its 25th bombing mission during World War II on May 17, 1943. It was a historic number; the Belle was the first heavy bomber in the European theater to last 25 missions, the magic number to be sent home.


"Twenty-five doesn't sound like much until you start flying them," Morgan later said.


Morgan and his crew were assigned to the plane Sept. 1, 1942. The pilot named the craft after his wartime sweetheart's home town.


The Belle flew to England in late September and departed on its first bombing mission on Nov. 7.


In the next six months, the Belle flew missions over France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. She was struck by flak, 20mm cannon shells and machine gun bullets. Every major part of the plane was replaced at least once, including the engines (nine times), both wings, tails and main landing gears. Four of the plane's crew of 10 died during combat.


According to Army records, the plane flew 148 hours, dropping more than 60 tons of bombs, all on daylight missions.


"Some of them were pretty rough missions. The Luftwaffe (the German air force) boys would sometimes fly into their own flak to get at us. They were mean devils, I tell you," said top turret gunner Harold Loch of Green Bay, Wis.


There were many close calls: engine fires, bullet holes, confrontations with fighter planes. Somehow the Belle always made it back to base when other planes went down.


Morgan said he and his men never talked about crashing or dying.


"Every time we were going to fly, we gathered in a huddle and we just told ourselves that if only one plane was coming back, it was going to be ours," he said.


The exploits of the Belle were brought to later generations by a 1990 film, "Memphis Belle," that told a heavily fictionalized version of the bomber's 25th and final mission.

Offline Nefarious

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Col. Robert Morgan, RIP
« Reply #1 on: May 16, 2004, 12:24:11 AM »
:(

I'll raise my beer for him...
There must also be a flyable computer available for Nefarious to do FSO. So he doesn't keep talking about it for eight and a half hours on Friday night!

Offline SunTracker

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Col. Robert Morgan, RIP
« Reply #2 on: May 16, 2004, 12:30:13 AM »
What sad news.  Coincidentally, I am going to North Carolina today.

Even more coincidental, is that he died two days short of the anniversary of his last bombing mission (may 17th).

Offline B17Skull12

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Col. Robert Morgan, RIP
« Reply #3 on: May 16, 2004, 01:11:17 AM »

A Truely truely sad day for america
II/JG3 DGS II

Offline DiabloTX

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Col. Robert Morgan, RIP
« Reply #4 on: May 16, 2004, 05:12:54 AM »


RIP and thanks for help keeping the world free.
"There ain't no revolution, only evolution, but every time I'm in Denmark I eat a danish for peace." - Diablo

Offline beet1e

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Col. Robert Morgan, RIP
« Reply #5 on: May 16, 2004, 06:04:26 AM »


Is there a prayer thread to go with this?

Offline WilldCrd

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Col. Robert Morgan, RIP
« Reply #6 on: May 16, 2004, 06:08:39 AM »
Godpeed
Crap now I gotta redo my cool sig.....crap!!! I cant remeber how to do it all !!!!!

Offline BUG_EAF322

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Col. Robert Morgan, RIP
« Reply #7 on: May 16, 2004, 06:10:46 AM »
no war  ever was so right to fight for.
they did the job.

Offline Captain Virgil Hilts

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Col. Robert Morgan, RIP
« Reply #8 on: May 16, 2004, 09:54:11 AM »
"I haven't seen Berlin yet, from the ground or the air, and I plan on doing both, BEFORE the war is over."

SaVaGe


storch

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Col. Robert Morgan, RIP
« Reply #9 on: May 16, 2004, 10:28:43 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by beet1e


Is there a prayer thread to go with this?


*sniff*



They leave us at the rate of over one thousand per day now.

Offline Maverick

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Col. Robert Morgan, RIP
« Reply #10 on: May 17, 2004, 12:18:25 AM »
A notable warrior has gone. RIP, fair skies and tailwinds forever.

DEFINITION OF A VETERAN
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Offline GtoRA2

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Col. Robert Morgan, RIP
« Reply #11 on: May 17, 2004, 12:37:56 AM »


Sad day.