B-17's that took a beating
- Thread starter B-17engineer
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #2
B-17engineer
Colonel
I have a lot more if you want to see
luftwaffemesserschmitt
Airman
- 59
- Sep 12, 2006
cool picktures would love to see more !
jou got information what hit the bomber ? (FLAK,fighters)
jou got information what hit the bomber ? (FLAK,fighters)
- Thread starter
- #4
B-17engineer
Colonel
(In order)
1. THe first one was struck by a .88mm shell
2.was a 2 cm flak hit
3. 20mm shell by a Fw-190
4. was a 20mm cannon shell too and then caught fire when landing. All crew survived
5. THere is no info on that one but I would say a .88 shell.
1. THe first one was struck by a .88mm shell
2.was a 2 cm flak hit
3. 20mm shell by a Fw-190
4. was a 20mm cannon shell too and then caught fire when landing. All crew survived
5. THere is no info on that one but I would say a .88 shell.
- Thread starter
- #5
B-17engineer
Colonel
Later ill add some more i got some things to do today
5 oclock i will post more
5 oclock i will post more
- Thread starter
- #7
B-17engineer
Colonel
seesul
Senior Master Sergeant
The 2nd Bomb Group
Plane 38078 on Mission 279
to Debrecen, Hungary
Marshalling Yards on
Sept. 21 1944.
The Flight Crew Story
This raid produced one of the great flying fortress survival stories of the war 2nd Lt Guy M. Miller and crew of "Sweet Pea" were approaching the target when an 88mm antiaircraft shell slammed into the plane's mid-section. exploded, and nearly tore the Fortress in two. Huge sections of the waist on both sides instantly disappeared, control cables were cut, electrical and communications systems went powerless and silent.
Half of the bombs fell out of the bomb bay, the lower turret was jammed with the gunner inside, and the explosion blew deadly debris in all directions. The left waist gunner, Elmer H. Buss was killed instantly. The right waist gunner James F. Maguire, had multiple wounds but was saved by his back pack parachute, serving as a flak suit, saving his life. The tail gunner , S/Sgt. James E. Totty, was mortally wounded and died on the airplane. The radio operator, S/Sgt Anthony Ferrara was peppered like buckshot with shrapnel fragments in the chest.
The stunned crew started its battle for survival. Lt. Miller and his copilot Lt. Thomas M. Rybovich struggled for control of the airplane and begin assessing what they had left to do it with. Most of the control cables were cut and his major control was through use of the engines, which miraculously, were undamaged.
Lt. Miller thought about ordering bail out, but decided against that when he learned he had one dead, three wounded, and one stuck in the ball turret.
The wounded were gathered in the radio room for first aid. The bombardier/
gunner S/Sgt Robert R. Mullen came back from the nose section and helped
Sgt. Gerald McGuire, UTG, bring the mortally wounded S/Sgt Totty from the
tail to the radio room. McGuire did finally succeed in freeing Cpl William F.
Steuck from the ball turret. Later it was learned that turret was resting on
three safety fingers which were all that kept the turret from falling out of the
airplane, with Steuck inside. There were still six bombs hung up in the racks
and Mullen climbed into the bomb bay and released them one by one with
a screw driver.
Against seemingly impossible odds. Lts. Miller and Rybovich now faced the reality of trying to nurse their mangled airplane and its battered crew across several hundred miles of enemy territory and almost 600 miles back to base. Navigator, 2nd Lt. Theodore Davich, plotted a course, and the pilots very gingerly set what was left of "Sweet Pea" on the long trek homeward. (This account is set out in "Defenders of Liberty" but I thought it such an outstanding achievement for this crew I would repeat it here.)
source: Second Bomb Group
Plane 38078 on Mission 279
to Debrecen, Hungary
Marshalling Yards on
Sept. 21 1944.
The Flight Crew Story
This raid produced one of the great flying fortress survival stories of the war 2nd Lt Guy M. Miller and crew of "Sweet Pea" were approaching the target when an 88mm antiaircraft shell slammed into the plane's mid-section. exploded, and nearly tore the Fortress in two. Huge sections of the waist on both sides instantly disappeared, control cables were cut, electrical and communications systems went powerless and silent.
Half of the bombs fell out of the bomb bay, the lower turret was jammed with the gunner inside, and the explosion blew deadly debris in all directions. The left waist gunner, Elmer H. Buss was killed instantly. The right waist gunner James F. Maguire, had multiple wounds but was saved by his back pack parachute, serving as a flak suit, saving his life. The tail gunner , S/Sgt. James E. Totty, was mortally wounded and died on the airplane. The radio operator, S/Sgt Anthony Ferrara was peppered like buckshot with shrapnel fragments in the chest.
The stunned crew started its battle for survival. Lt. Miller and his copilot Lt. Thomas M. Rybovich struggled for control of the airplane and begin assessing what they had left to do it with. Most of the control cables were cut and his major control was through use of the engines, which miraculously, were undamaged.
Lt. Miller thought about ordering bail out, but decided against that when he learned he had one dead, three wounded, and one stuck in the ball turret.
The wounded were gathered in the radio room for first aid. The bombardier/
gunner S/Sgt Robert R. Mullen came back from the nose section and helped
Sgt. Gerald McGuire, UTG, bring the mortally wounded S/Sgt Totty from the
tail to the radio room. McGuire did finally succeed in freeing Cpl William F.
Steuck from the ball turret. Later it was learned that turret was resting on
three safety fingers which were all that kept the turret from falling out of the
airplane, with Steuck inside. There were still six bombs hung up in the racks
and Mullen climbed into the bomb bay and released them one by one with
a screw driver.
Against seemingly impossible odds. Lts. Miller and Rybovich now faced the reality of trying to nurse their mangled airplane and its battered crew across several hundred miles of enemy territory and almost 600 miles back to base. Navigator, 2nd Lt. Theodore Davich, plotted a course, and the pilots very gingerly set what was left of "Sweet Pea" on the long trek homeward. (This account is set out in "Defenders of Liberty" but I thought it such an outstanding achievement for this crew I would repeat it here.)
source: Second Bomb Group
Attachments
wilbur1
Tech Sergeant
What happened to the plane below them? it looks like the bombs are dropping on it? cool story seesul
wilbur1
Tech Sergeant
sorry seesul just realised wrong pics
- Thread starter
- #11
B-17engineer
Colonel
It was bombs in that picture good story seesul
- Thread starter
- #12
B-17engineer
Colonel
seesul
Senior Master Sergeant
wilbur1
Tech Sergeant
That bottom one looks like the prop went through it b17 ?
seesul
Senior Master Sergeant
I guess so
wilbur1
Tech Sergeant
Man, could you imagine being in that plane trying to get home. Not only is it falling apart, but you got some crazy guy trying to shoot at you also 
God i wanna try it
God i wanna try it
seesul
Senior Master Sergeant
Man, could you imagine being in that plane trying to get home. Not only is it falling apart, but you got some crazy guy trying to shoot at you also
God i wanna try it
never in my life!
wilbur1
Tech Sergeant
Yeah would be scary, but still imagine what joe was thinking when it was happening one brave individual
- Thread starter
- #19
B-17engineer
Colonel
me 2
seesul
Senior Master Sergeant
Yeah would be scary, but still imagine what joe was thinking when it was happening one brave individual
yes, here are two pics of the rests of his b-17 and the picture of the grave of his 2 fellows that weren´t so lucky...
