A little OT

[VMF 214]

www.garfieldsteamhouse.org/History/WWII ... -Story.php

[LoBaron]

Wow. Great story.

[JeffroK]

Great picture, but something of the attached story is wrong.

"The turn back to England was slow" - No raids were made from England to Tunisia on 1/2/43, more likely 12th Air Force Raids from Algeria/Morocco.

"Allied P-51 fighters intercepted the All American as it crossed over the Channel" - While its possible A-36's escoted it home, they would not be anywhere near the channel.

Too much reliance on Oral histories 60 years after the event.

Further detail on this aircraft
Boeing B-17F-5-BO Fortress
24406 (97th BG, 414th BS) damaged over Tunis Feb 1, 1943 in collision with Fw 190 during
mission to Bizerte, landed safely. Repaired and continued to fly missions. Salvaged Mar 6, 1945.

[CV 2]

No, its true. A look at the aircraft on the ground shows clearly its in Africa. Also, on the letter at the top it says "somewhere over North Africa" but in the text it says it was taken over the channel. Me thinks the story was probably a re-print from a newspaper article that was written at the time with places either mistakenly assumed by the writer, or intentionally changed for propaganda by the air corps brass to gain support for continued use of sac bombing.

[Nikademus]

the story is recounted in Shores 'Fighters over Tunisia'

2/1/43

'Ten B-17's of the 97th BG raided Tunis, German and Italian fighters rising to give battle.'

'an FW-190 firstly rammed one B-17, shearing off the left section of the tail unit, then crashed head on into another of the bombers, both bomber and fighter crashing. Although theorectically aeronautically impossible, the first B-17 managed to fly back to base and land safely.'

[Atilla60]

Amazing story. Thanks for sharing.

[Shark7]

And you wonder why they are so hard to shoot down in game. [;)]

[VMF 214]

My pleasure. Was sent to me by a old high school friend. I would not have wanted to be the tail gunner, or any of them for that matter. To put yourself mission after mission in a position to be your last. All service men and women are brave but I consider bomber crews to be among the bravest. [&o]

[Shark7]

ORIGINAL: VMF 214

My pleasure. Was sent to me by a old high school friend. I would not have wanted to be the tail gunner, or any of them for that matter. To put yourself mission after mission in a position to be your last. All service men and women are brave but I consider bomber crews to be among the bravest. [&o]

I'd have to say submariners rank right up there with them. I can't imagine sealing myself in a metal tube below the sea.

[Bobdina1]

Great story thanks for sharing.

[mikkey]

Amazing, thanks for sharing.