ArtKramr
February 6th 04, 02:17 PM
It was the 4th of June 1944. We had been hitting targets on, around and behind
the Normandy beaches. On that morning we lost one plane on take off. It
crashed and burned. The entire 4,000 pound bomb load exploded setting off the
full fuel tanks and all the MG ammo in the belts. The miraculous thig was that
there were only two fatalities, both were gunners. They were S/sgt Boyd
Pauling and S/sgt John Strauss. .Four men suirvived that horrendous fiery
crash. Two never never flew again due to injuries but the other two eventually
returned to flying duty and one of them flew right through to VE Day. It was
miracle of survival and courage in the midst of death and destruction.
..
Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
the Normandy beaches. On that morning we lost one plane on take off. It
crashed and burned. The entire 4,000 pound bomb load exploded setting off the
full fuel tanks and all the MG ammo in the belts. The miraculous thig was that
there were only two fatalities, both were gunners. They were S/sgt Boyd
Pauling and S/sgt John Strauss. .Four men suirvived that horrendous fiery
crash. Two never never flew again due to injuries but the other two eventually
returned to flying duty and one of them flew right through to VE Day. It was
miracle of survival and courage in the midst of death and destruction.
..
Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer