Someone must have been praying and being prayed for...
Navigator - Harry C. Nuessle
Bombardier - Ralph Burbridge
Engineer - Joe C. James
Radio Operator - Paul A. Galloway
Ball Turret Gunner - Elton Conda
Waist Gunner - Michael Zuk
Tail Gunner - Sam T. Sarpolus
Ground Crew Chief - Hank Hyland
B-17 in 1943
A mid-air collision on February 1, 1943, between a B-17 and a German fighter over the Tunis dock area, became the subject of one of the most famous photographs of World War II. An enemy fighter attacking a 97th Bomb Group formation went out of control, probably with a wounded pilot then continued its crashing descent into the rear of the fuselage of a Fortress named "All American", piloted by Lt. Kendrick R. Bragg, of the 414th Bomb Squadron. When it struck, the fighter broke apart, but left some pieces in the B-17. The left horizontal stabilizer of the Fortress and left elevator were completely torn away. The two right engines were out and one on the left had a serious oil pump leak. The vertical fin and the rudder had been damaged, the fuselage had been cut almost completely through connected only at two small parts of the frame and the radios, electrical and oxygen systems were damaged. There was also a hole in the top that was over 16 feet long and 4 feet wide at its widest and the split in the fuselage went all the way to the top gunners turret.
Although the tail actually bounced and swayed in the wind and twisted when the plane turned and all the control cables were severed, except one single elevator cable still worked, and the aircraft still flew - miraculously! The tail gunner was trapped because there was no floor connecting the tail to the rest of the plane. The waist and tail gunners used parts of the German fighter and their own parachute harnesses in an attempt to keep the tail from ripping off and the two sides of the fuselage from splitting apart. While the crew was trying to keep the bomber from coming apart, the pilot continued on his bomb run and released his bombs over the target.
When the bomb bay doors were opened, the wind turbulence was so great that it blew one of the waist gunners into the broken tail section. It took several minutes and four crew members to pass him ropes from parachutes and haul him back into the forward part of the plane. When they tried to do the same for the tail gunner, the tail began flapping so hard that it began to break off. The weight of the gunner was adding some stability to the tail section, so he went back to his position.
The turn back toward England had to be very slow to keep the tail from twisting off. They actually covered almost 70 miles to make the turn home. The bomber was so badly damaged that it was losing altitude and speed and was soon alone in the sky. For a brief time, two more Me-109 German fighters attacked the All American. Despite the extensive damage, all of the machine gunners were able to respond to these attacks and soon drove off the fighters. The two waist gunners stood up with their heads sticking out through the hole in the top of the fuselage to aim and fire their machine guns. The tail gunner had to shoot in short bursts because the recoil was actually causing the plane to turn.
Allied P-51 fighters intercepted the All American as it crossed over the Channel and took one of the pictures shown. They also radioed to the base describing that the empennage was waving like a fish tail and that the plane would not make it and to send out boats to rescue the crew when they bailed out. The fighters stayed with the Fortress taking hand signals from Lt. Bragg and relaying them to the base. Lt. Bragg signaled that 5 parachutes and the spare had been "used" so five of the crew could not bail out. He made the decision that if they could not bail out safely, then he would stay with the plane and land it.
Two and a half hours after being hit, the aircraft made its final turn to line up with the runway while it was still over 40 miles away. It descended into an emergency landing and a normal roll-out on its landing gear.
When the ambulance pulled alongside, it was waved off because not a single member of the crew had been injured. No one could believe that the aircraft could still fly in such a condition. The Fortress sat placidly until the crew all exited through the door in the fuselage and the tail gunner had climbed down a ladder, at which time the entire rear section of the aircraft collapsed onto the ground. The rugged old bird had done its job.
Wow that is an amazing piece of flying to land that wreck, just shows the skill of the pilots and the strength of the airframe, no wonder they called it the flying fortress.
It was amazing how much punishment the B17 could take and still remain in the air. Have a look in Google Images using 'B17 battle damage'.
I will be in LA (for a day before heading to Denver) in May and am hoping to visit the Lyon Air Museum, in Santa Ana, if I can possibly find the time, where they have a B17G "Puddy Duddy". Alternatively, if I miss out in LA, whilst in Cleveland in June, I will try to get to the National Museum of the USAF in Dayton instead, to see the "Memphis Belle" and two other B17 versions. Unfortunately, I only have two weeks in the US this trip, due to work commitments, so my time is limited. If not this trip, definitely next year on my way to Stellafane 2015.
I went to the Steve F. Udvar-Hazy Centre (an annex of the Smithsonian) last year, whilst in Washington, and was hoping to see the B17 there, but they didn't have one. I was so hoping to see one that trip. Mind you, what they did have was absolutely amazing. They did have the B29 Super Fortress, the Enola Gay. I was quite surprised by how large it is, as it dwarfed everything around it.
G'Day All,
I know this has nothing to do with B17 but I just finish a book call The Lancaster Boys .It is about the Aussie in Bomber Command it is a good read ,it makes you realised what these boys when through and the fear before every flight wondering if this was their last flight.
They only cost a few thousand to build. These days, a bit on condensation in the wrong spot can bring down a B2 bomber... $1 billion worth of scrap... Phew!
They only cost a few thousand to build. These days, a bit on condensation in the wrong spot can bring down a B2 bomber... $1 billion worth of scrap... Phew!
Maybe so Rom, for its day, the B17 was "fairly accurate", with it's daylight bombing, as opposed to the Lancaster night raids, which were less accurate. But the B2 can put a bomb right up your jacksy! Such is the pinpoint accuracy these days, with guided bombs.
I recently read a very interesting book called "Decision over Schweinfurt", which was about the early days of US 8th Air Force daylight bombing campaign. It certainly was a easy way to lose men and aircraft, as they didn't have fighter air support, which cost them dearly. It was a turkey shoot for the Luftwaffe, until the B17 had fighter air cover.
I have just read this book "A Higher Call" - one of the best reads I have had for a while. If it does not bring a lump to the back of your throat the final chapter, then you might not be human.
A famous story that. Stigler led a most extraordinary life. He was also one of the pilots who later flew the Me-262, the first operational jet fighter, with the equally famous Adolf Galland.
I was so hoping to see one that trip. Mind you, what they did have was absolutely amazing. They did have the B29 Super Fortress, the Enola Gay. I was quite surprised by how large it is, as it dwarfed everything around it.
