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Joined: Nov 2003
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Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 28,867 |
If someone knows how to transfer the photos from an email, I will send this email to them so others can see the photos.
A real miracle - from WWII
B-17 "All American" (414th Squadron, 97BG) Crew
Pilot- Ken Bragg Jr.
Co-pilot- G. Boyd Jr.
Navigator- Harry C. Nuessle
Bombardier- Ralph Burbridge
Engineer- Joe C. James
Radio Operator- Paul A. Galloway
Ball Turret Gunner- Elton Conda
Waist Gunner- Michael Zuk
Tail Gunner- Sam T. Sarpolus
Ground Crew Chief- Hank Hyland
In 1943 a mid-air collision on February 1, 1943, Between a B-17 and a German fighter over the Tunis dock area, Became the subject of one of the most famous photographs of WW II. An enemy fighter attacking a 97th Bomb Group formation went out of control,
Probably with a wounded pilot, then continued its crashing descent Into the rear of the fuselage of a Flying Fortress named "All American", Piloted by Lt. Kendrick R. Bragg, of the 414th Bomb Squadron.
When it struck, the fighter broke apart, but left some pieces in the B-17. The left horizontal stabilizer of the Fortress and left elevator were completely torn away. The two right engines were out and one on the left had a serious oil pump leak. The vertical fin and the rudder had been damaged, The fuselage had been cut almost completely through Connected only at two small parts of the frame,
And the radios, electrical and oxygen systems were damaged. There was also a hole in the top that was over 16-feet long and 4 feet wide at its widest; The split in the fuselage went all the way to the top gunner's turret.
Although the tail actually bounced and swayed in the wind And twisted when the plane turned and all the control cables were severed, Except one single elevator cable still worked, and the aircraft miraculously still flew!
The tail gunner was trapped because there was no floor connecting the tail to the rest of the plane. The waist and tail gunners used parts of the German fighter and their own parachute harnesses In an attempt to keep the tail from ripping off and the two sides of the fuselage from splitting apart.
While the crew was trying to keep the bomber from coming apart, The pilot continued on his bomb run and released his bombs over the target.
When the bomb bay doors were opened, The wind turbulence was so great that it blew one of the waist gunners into the broken tail section. It took several minutes and four crew members to pass him ropes from parachutes And haul him back into the forward part of the plane. When they tried to do the same for the tail gunner, The tail began flapping so hard that it began to break off. The weight of the gunner was adding some stability to the tail section, so he went back to his position. The turn back toward England had to be very slow to keep the tail from twisting off. They actually covered almost 70 miles to make the turn home. The bomber was so badly damaged that it was losing altitude and speed and was soon alone in the sky.
For a brief time, two more Me-109 German fighters attacked the All American. Despite the extensive damage, all of the machine gunners Were able to respond to these attacks and soon drove off the fighters. The two waist gunners stood up with their heads sticking out through the hole in the top of the fuselage To aim and fire their machine guns. The tail gunner had to shoot in short bursts because the recoil was actually causing the plane to turn.
Allied P-51 fighters intercepted the All American as it crossed over the Channel And took one of the pictures shown. They also radioed to the base describing that the appendage was waving like a fish tail And that the plane would not make it and to send out boats to rescue the crew when they bailed out.
The fighters stayed with the Fortress, taking hand signals from Lt. Bragg and relaying them to the base. Lt. Bragg signaled that 5 parachutes and the spare had been "used" So five of the crew could not bail out. He made the decision that if they could not bail out safely, then he would stay with the plane to land it.
Two and a half hours after being hit, the aircraft made its final turn To line up with the runway while it was still over 40 miles away.
It descended into an emergency landing and a normal roll-out on its landing gear.
When the ambulance pulled alongside, it was waved off because not a single member of the crew had Been injured. No one could believe that the aircraft could still fly in such a condition. The Fortress sat placidly until the crew all exited through the door in the fuselage and the tail gunner had climbed down a ladder, at which time the entire rear section of the aircraft collapsed.
This old bird had done its job and brought the entire crew home uninjured.
"Only Christ is the fullness of God's revelation." Everyday Hunter
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Joined: Nov 2011
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,413 |
Thank you for sharing this.
SCI Life Member DAV Life Member NRA Life Member North American Hunt Club Life Member
Your true character shows in your conduct
You cannot solve a problem at the same level of awareness that created it - Einstein
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,441
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,441 |
Maybe this will help with your picture quest.
https://www.google.com/search?q=b-17+all+american+(414th+squadron+97bg)&biw=1093&bih=545&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwiFyOyawcrLAhVM7yYKHbuAAhEQsAQIJg#imgrc=w4q36L9STG-GXM%3A
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Oct 2007
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2007
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~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Oct 2007
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,441 |
Just took this part of OP story and googled
B-17 "All American" (414th Squadron, 97BG)
Several pics.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,933 |
Location Western NC, after alot of other places
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 56,160 Likes: 14 |
Last edited by DigitalDan; 03/18/16.
I am..........disturbed.
Concerning the difference between man and the jackass: some observers hold that there isn't any. But this wrongs the jackass. -Twain
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7,956 |
That don't look so bad.
Yeah right. I couldn't imagine flying in that damaged airplane for 2 minutes and those guys did it for for over 2 and a half hours!!! And at times under fire! Great story, thanks for posting it.
Fall seven times, stand up eight.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Posts: 3,366 |
Yes, a true miracle .......
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Posts: 7,437
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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μολὼν λαβέ
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2005
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Amazing! Thanks for sharing.
Not a real member - just an ordinary guy who appreciates being able to hang around and say something once in awhile.
Happily Trapped In the Past (Thanks, Joe)
Not only a less than minimally educated person, but stupid and out of touch as well.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Yep...incredible story. Seen that email about 5 years ago making the rounds.
You only live once, but...if you do it right, once is enough.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Keep the Wind in your Face, Sun at your Back, & Silhouette in Shadows Know guns, know peace, know safety No guns, no peace, no safety
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Oct 2011
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A true testament to it's namesake!
I have read that these machines would fly with the wings shot off!
To bad the military can't build planes like this now.
Paul
"I'd rather see a sermon than hear a sermon".... D.A.D.
Trump Won!, Sandmann Won!, Rittenhouse Won!, Suck it Liberal Fuuktards.
molɔ̀ːn labé skýla
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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My cousin Gene flew B-17's in WWII. Go to mission #19. kwg
https://100thbg.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=247:lazzari-crew-history&catid=25:group-history&Itemid=581
For liberals and anarchists, power and control is opium, selling envy is the fastest and easiest way to get it. TRR. American conservative. Never trust a white liberal. Malcom X Current NRA member.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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The unflappable Fort! One hell of a ship.
molɔ̀ːn labé skýla
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