Posted by JerryS on March 13, 2012 at 22:11:09 from (98.80.88.198):
Back in the fall I posted some photos of a B-17 that was making a tour stop in our town. This week was a similar event, but this time they had a B-17 plus a B-24 and a P-51. I persuaded an older friend to go to the display with me, as he had flown some 33 combat missions in both bombers---about half and half in each. I asked him on how many of those 33 missions had his plane been hit. His answer: “All of them.” His hits were all from flak, not MEs. He said that they flew different altitudes each day to keep the Germans guessing on how to time the fuses on their AA rounds. He was a top turret gunner on both planes. My friend Lenard, (shown in the photos) jokes that he still owes the government for two planes that he was unable to return. One of those he and his crew crash landed in a hostile zone in France. They immediately set the plane on fire, with dramatic visual results. He said that probably prevented nearby German troops from bothering to search for survivors. They found their way to the American lines the next day. The second occurrence was when they were returning from France over the Channel with an engine of their 24 on fire from hits. As soon as they crossed the English coastline they bailed. These are just random shots of all three planes. The P-51 is actually running and taxiing for takeoff in this photo (what a great sound that engine made) but the camera stopped the prop. That strange-looking tube protruding from the belly of the B-24 was pointed out to me by Lenard, who described it as a “relief valve”. The other end of the tube came up inside the cabin of the ship, and the guys used it to “relieve” themselves in flight. He said they used it a lot over Germany to give Hitler a little something extra. Lenard and I attend the same church. We found that we have something else in common: his great-great uncle and my great grandfather served side-by-side (H Company, I Company) in the 19th Louisiana Infantry back during the Great Unpleasantness.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - On the Road with Dave Gohl: Auction Musings - by Dave Gohl. I was thinking the other day about all the auctions I've been to in the last few years. There've been many. Some have been very good, some have been well, disappointing to say the least. But no matter how good or bad auctions may be, we always seem to stay until the item we've come for or are interested in is on the block. I've been to some auctions near and far. I think the furthest has been the Two Cylinder 7 in the Amana Colonies last year. Lots of stuff, lots of people. I've also atten
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
1964 I-H 140 tractor with cultivators and sidedresser. Starts and runs good. Asking 2650. CALL RON AT 502-319-1952
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
