452nd heavy bombardment group, 728th squadron
Posted on 10/12/2010 6:23:06 PM PDT by nuconvert
Somewhere on the vast World Wide Web is a recount of that mission. My memory is like a old reel to reel wire recorder, broken and in need of replacement parts that are no longer available...
I always envied the helmets and grenades of the Germans. My dad wouldn’t let me wear the helmet, I had to stick with the helmet liner from our forces for mine.
452nd heavy bombardment group, 728th squadron
Thanks, nuconvert, great link!
Great picture!
Your brother in law got off easy—some of those guys didn’t get released by the Russians until the mid 50s.
Of the 90,000 Germans captured at Stalingrad, less than 6000 returned to Germany after the war and most of them only survived because they collaborated with the Soviets while in prison camps. I had the unusual experience of having 2 uncles who fought on opposite sides during the war-one uncle fought for the USA in North Africa while the other fought for the German Army and was captured in Russia in 1944. He was released from Soviet captivity in 1950.
Whatever. There were millions of worthless turds among the “greatest generation” just like there are even more millions of selfish jerks among the Most Selfish Generation. Our current Congress is made up mainly of the Most Selfish Generation.
I imagine that you’re right about there not being many E models left in 1944, especially still flying combat missions.
Interestingly, although the “G” was the last model built, almost 2/3s (8,600) of all B-17s built were that model. And it was not even introduced until September, 1943. A remarkable testament to the ramped up manufacturing power we had as the war progressed.
Ping
You know, I looked at that title and scratched my head. I couldn't make heads or tails of it until I saw your post.
Thanks for nailing the author for his pc illness.
Pictures to remember and honor our fathers and grandfathers.
Just curious, did your brother fly much after the war? Flying is probably more fun without the Luftwaffe trying to kill you.
B4L8r
Thanks for the ping, ETR. Great post, nuconvert!
Loved the one of the tank rolling right over the heads of the guys in the trench, and of course, “Easter Eggs for Adolph.”
My father was a B-24 pilot in the 15th Air Force. He never flew after the war, except as a commercial passenger. At one family dinner we asked him why he didn’t continue with aviation. His reply was “I didn’t think the airplane would ever amount to much”.
My Dad the Visionary. He died in 2001 at 80.
LOL... He came home got married, had kids and worked to support them like most of the other Vets. He worked for a fuel distributor in a small FResno county town eventually buying the company and going broke. I had another brother and one sister serve plus 2 brothers-in-law. One BiL did own a Areonica(sp) in the late 40s and he was a Navy gunners mate in many south pacific battles. He died of alcoholism in his 50s...
#19 was terrifying. I would not have wanted to be one of the guys in that trench with one of those monsters going over me.
“Loved the one of the tank rolling right over the heads of the guys in the trench”
yeah, that was really something!
You must be proud.
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