Comments on: Bizarre B-17 Collision Over the North Sea During World War II http://www.historynet.com/bizarre-b-17-collision-over-the-north-sea-during-world-war-ii.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bizarre-b-17-collision-over-the-north-sea-during-world-war-ii From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:00:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Gary Miller http://www.historynet.com/bizarre-b-17-collision-over-the-north-sea-during-world-war-ii.htm#comment-324153 Gary Miller Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:19:52 +0000 #comment-324153 Great story. My dad was in the 94th Bomb Group, flying 34 missions as a B-17 pilot. He talked very little about his experiences, just saying it was what had to be done. After he passed away in 2002, I was looking at things he kept from the war years. He had his original parachute(signed by all his crew) his baretta side arm, a gauge from a German Messerscmidt 262 jet fighter, a German SS helmet, SS cremonial dagger, and his mission logs. But what put a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye, was a small scrap of an old napkin with my dad's handwriting on it... "22 December 1944, Bad Day, Lost my crew" My mom told me that after circling to form up, one of the engines caught fire and the one next to it was losing power. With a full load of bombs and fuel they had to bail out. They first dropped the bomb load into the English Channel then raced to get out. Two crews chutes failed, 3 drowned, and then the cruelty- the plane exploded killing 3. Only the tail gunner and my dad survived. Like your collision story, and my dad's, are just small pieces of that gigantic war, done by ordinary men who never looked for rewards. They were silent heroes carrying painful memories for over fity years. Love you, dad Gary Great story. My dad was in the 94th Bomb Group, flying 34 missions as a B-17 pilot. He talked very little about his experiences, just saying it was what had to be done.

After he passed away in 2002, I was looking at things he kept from the war years. He had his original parachute(signed by all his crew) his baretta side arm, a gauge from a German Messerscmidt 262 jet fighter, a German SS helmet, SS cremonial dagger, and his mission logs.

But what put a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye, was a small scrap of an old napkin with my dad's handwriting on it…
"22 December 1944, Bad Day, Lost my crew"

My mom told me that after circling to form up, one of the engines caught fire and the one next to it was losing power. With a full load of bombs and fuel they had to bail out. They first dropped the bomb load into the English Channel then raced to get out. Two crews chutes failed, 3 drowned, and then the cruelty- the plane exploded killing 3. Only the tail gunner and my dad survived.

Like your collision story, and my dad's, are just small pieces of that gigantic war, done by ordinary men who never looked for rewards. They were silent heroes carrying painful memories for over fity years.

Love you, dad

Gary

]]> By: Cindy Goodman http://www.historynet.com/bizarre-b-17-collision-over-the-north-sea-during-world-war-ii.htm#comment-310020 Cindy Goodman Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:04:58 +0000 #comment-310020 Ms. Flatley, I am the editor of the newsletter for the 100th Bomb Group, of which Glenn Rojohn and William MacNab were members. I would like your permission to use this fine article in our quarterly newsletter. We are a non-profit group and I would give you and WWII Magazine credit. Please contact me. Thank you, Cindy Goodman Editor Splasher Six Webmaster:100thbg.com Ms. Flatley,

I am the editor of the newsletter for the 100th Bomb Group, of which Glenn Rojohn and William MacNab were members. I would like your permission to use this fine article in our quarterly newsletter. We are a non-profit group and I would give you and WWII Magazine credit.

Please contact me.

Thank you,
Cindy Goodman
Editor Splasher Six
Webmaster:100thbg.com

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