STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM

[ArtKramr]

Strafing as if in a Dream

It was a rare mission for us. Marauders were never meant to be thrown around at
low level at high speed. And this was a low-level mission. We were to bomb a
military target in a small city. Then we were to go down on the deck and
strafe. It was the first strafing mission we had ever flown since we left
flying school in the States. But this time it was for real. Unlike bombing from
10.000 feet, this was on the deck and we would actually see close up those who
we were shooting. This, for us, was war in a whole new light.

We did our bomb run then turned hard and dropped down fast to line up with the
target area for strafing. I had charged my .50 Browning with two fast strokes
earlier and now I cooked off a few rounds to make doubly sure it was clear. It
was.

We were now approaching the main street of the town. It was deserted. Not a
car. Not a person. No one. I started firing shooting up the street, when
suddenly in the distance I saw what looked like an old woman, a little boy and
a dog trying to make it across the street as we approached. "Damn" I thought.
"Why the hell couldn't they stay under cover where they were?" I instinctively
lifted my thumbs away from the triggers and stopped shooting. When we had
passed well clear of them I commenced firing. I hoped that none of the planes
that came after us had hit them.

On landing I spoke to our tail gunner Greigo. "Hey Greigo, did you see that old
lady, kid and dog crossing the street?" Greigo shook his head. "No sir. Never
saw anybody. Streets were clear". "Hey Bo. Did you see them?" No sir. Sure
didn't" " Hey Bob, Paul, did you guys?" "Nope Art, never saw anybody down
there".

I remember them clearly to this day. Is it possible that I saw them and no one
else did? I know they were there. I remember every detail. Yet there is that
lingering doubt. When I think back to that day it was like moving in a dream
through a fog of remembrance that persists in lingering always.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------
------

Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

[Aerophotos]

you are like brooks.. you claim all people are liars now?

and you have any direct hard evidence that art is a liar?




"John K. Marshall" wrote:
>
> Art,
>
> Do you really have absolutely nothing else to do with your life than to seek
> pitifully some attention in newsgroups by posting the same old stories over and
> over?
>
> In case you haven't noted yet, you have made yourself the laughing post of this
> group a long time ago with your attitude. You are on a par with the Tarverbot
> and Morris434 for credibility.
>
> You could do a big service to the memory of who you were and what you have done,
> and that would be to stop making a fool of yourself here. If you don't have
> enough respect for yourself, then do it for the memory of your comrades. They
> don't deserve to be associated with this kind of buffoonery.
>
> John

-

[ArtKramr]

>Subject: Re: STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM
>From: Aerophotos
>Date: 3/1/04 11:56 PM Pacific Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>you are like brooks.. you claim all people are liars now?
>
>and you have any direct hard evidence that art is a liar?
>
>
>
>
>"John K. Marshall" wrote:
>>
>> Art,
>>
>> Do you really have absolutely nothing else to do with your life than to
>seek
>> pitifully some attention in newsgroups by posting the same old stories over
>and
>> over?
>>
>> In case you haven't noted yet, you have made yourself the laughing post of
>this
>> group a long time ago with your attitude. You are on a par with the
>Tarverbot
>> and Morris434 for credibility.
>>
>> You could do a big service to the memory of who you were and what you have
>done,
>> and that would be to stop making a fool of yourself here. If you don't have
>> enough respect for yourself, then do it for the memory of your comrades.
>They
>> don't deserve to be associated with this kind of buffoonery.
>>
>> John
>
>-

Note that neither of them have never been in combat. We are seeing the result
of cowardly jeaousy.


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

[Bernardz]

In article >,
says...
> Art,
>
> Do you really have absolutely nothing else to do with your life than to seek
> pitifully some attention in newsgroups by posting the same old stories over and
> over?
>
> In case you haven't noted yet, you have made yourself the laughing post of this
> group a long time ago with your attitude. You are on a par with the Tarverbot
> and Morris434 for credibility.
>
> You could do a big service to the memory of who you were and what you have done,
> and that would be to stop making a fool of yourself here. If you don't have
> enough respect for yourself, then do it for the memory of your comrades. They
> don't deserve to be associated with this kind of buffoonery.
>
>
> John
>
>


Art alright.

Years ago a family friend was sitting around telling us all one of his
wartime adventures. His wife jumped in and stated that he had told her
something quite different before. He looked at her and said "yes but I
thought it would be better to tell it this differently this time".

Old soldiers tale are bit like fishing stories.



--
The bouncer causes more fights then anyone at the bar. Yet the roughest
bars are those without a bouncer.

Observations of Bernard - No 49

[Bob's Your Uncle]

Someone had to say it. Amen.
"John K. Marshall" > wrote in message
...
> Art,
>
> Do you really have absolutely nothing else to do with your life than to
seek
> pitifully some attention in newsgroups by posting the same old stories
over and
> over?
>
> In case you haven't noted yet, you have made yourself the laughing post of
this
> group a long time ago with your attitude. You are on a par with the
Tarverbot
> and Morris434 for credibility.
>
> You could do a big service to the memory of who you were and what you have
done,
> and that would be to stop making a fool of yourself here. If you don't
have
> enough respect for yourself, then do it for the memory of your comrades.
They
> don't deserve to be associated with this kind of buffoonery.
>
>
> John
>

[George Z. Bush]

I long ago parked Art in my killfile when I got tired of reading his ranting and
raving about his personal biases and prejudices. If his stories bother you that
much, put them (and him) where the moon never shines and move on.

I'm not the one who keeps his stories alive by continually arguing with
him.....you are. Try it....you might come to like it. It'll surely help keep
your blood pressure down at an acceptable level.

George Z.



John K. Marshall wrote:
> Art,
>
> Do you really have absolutely nothing else to do with your life than to seek
> pitifully some attention in newsgroups by posting the same old stories over
> and over?
>
> In case you haven't noted yet, you have made yourself the laughing post of
> this group a long time ago with your attitude. You are on a par with the
> Tarverbot and Morris434 for credibility.
>
> You could do a big service to the memory of who you were and what you have
> done, and that would be to stop making a fool of yourself here. If you don't
> have enough respect for yourself, then do it for the memory of your comrades.
> They don't deserve to be associated with this kind of buffoonery.
>
>
> John

[Dave Holford]

ArtKramr wrote:
>
> {EXTRACT FROM} Strafing as if in a Dream
>
>
>
> We were now approaching the main street of the town. It was deserted. Not a
> car. Not a person. No one. I started firing shooting up the street, ....




Art, not havin "been there" I am curious as to why you would shoot up an
empty street - surely there were better targets to shoot up?

Dave

[ArtKramr]

>Subject: Re: STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM
>From: John K. Marshall
>Date: 3/1/04 11:47 PM Pacific Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>Art,
>
>Do you really have absolutely nothing else to do with your life than to seek
>pitifully some attention in newsgroups by posting the same old stories over
>and
>over?
>
>In case you haven't noted yet, you have made yourself the laughing post of
>this
>group a long time ago with your attitude. You are on a par with the Tarverbot
>and Morris434 for credibility.
>
>You could do a big service to the memory of who you were and what you have
>done,
>and that would be to stop making a fool of yourself here. If you don't have
>enough respect for yourself, then do it for the memory of your comrades. They
>don't deserve to be associated with this kind of buffoonery.
>
>
>John
>
How many missions did you fly?


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

[Tarver Engineering]

"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
...
> >Subject: Re: STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM
> >From: John K. Marshall
> >Date: 3/1/04 11:47 PM Pacific Standard Time
> >Message-id: >

> >You could do a big service to the memory of who you were and what you
have
> >done,
> >and that would be to stop making a fool of yourself here. If you don't
have
> >enough respect for yourself, then do it for the memory of your comrades.
They
> >don't deserve to be associated with this kind of buffoonery.

> How many missions did you fly?

What did you do to this kook Marshall, Art?

Do you think his anger is caused by having nothing better to do than
download your posts?

[ArtKramr]

>Subject: Re: STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM
>From: "Tarver Engineering"
>Date: 3/2/04 8:32 AM Pacific Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>
>"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
...
>> >Subject: Re: STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM
>> >From: John K. Marshall
>> >Date: 3/1/04 11:47 PM Pacific Standard Time
>> >Message-id: >
>
>> >You could do a big service to the memory of who you were and what you
>have
>> >done,
>> >and that would be to stop making a fool of yourself here. If you don't
>have
>> >enough respect for yourself, then do it for the memory of your comrades.
>They
>> >don't deserve to be associated with this kind of buffoonery.
>
>> How many missions did you fly?
>
>What did you do to this kook Marshall, Art?
>
>Do you think his anger is caused by having nothing better to do than
>download your posts?
>
>


It ain't all bad. Everytime I get a flame the hits on my website leaps up. It
used to be that Brooks brought me the most hits but now he has been knocked out
of first place by Marshall who has pulled in 2,000 hits on my site in a very
short time, And with these hits comes very nice e-mails thanking me for the
website. As of this moment I have 47,543 hits. I should hit 50,000 in less
that a week or so. providing Marshall and Brooks don't desert me. There is also
a guy named Ragnar and another guy named Bob'sYour Uncle. But they have both
been a terrible disappointment. They yield up almost zero. But every little
bit helps. (sigh)


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

[Tarver Engineering]

"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
...
> >Subject: Re: STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM
> >From: "Tarver Engineering"
> >Date: 3/2/04 8:32 AM Pacific Standard Time
> >Message-id: >
> >
> >
> >"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> >Subject: Re: STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM
> >> >From: John K. Marshall
> >> >Date: 3/1/04 11:47 PM Pacific Standard Time
> >> >Message-id: >
> >
> >> >You could do a big service to the memory of who you were and what you
> >have
> >> >done,
> >> >and that would be to stop making a fool of yourself here. If you don't
> >have
> >> >enough respect for yourself, then do it for the memory of your
comrades.
> >They
> >> >don't deserve to be associated with this kind of buffoonery.
> >
> >> How many missions did you fly?
> >
> >What did you do to this kook Marshall, Art?
> >
> >Do you think his anger is caused by having nothing better to do than
> >download your posts?
> >
> >
>
>
> It ain't all bad. Everytime I get a flame the hits on my website leaps up.
It
> used to be that Brooks brought me the most hits but now he has been
knocked out
> of first place by Marshall who has pulled in 2,000 hits on my site in a
very
> short time, And with these hits comes very nice e-mails thanking me for
the
> website. As of this moment I have 47,543 hits. I should hit 50,000 in
less
> that a week or so. providing Marshall and Brooks don't desert me. There is
also
> a guy named Ragnar and another guy named Bob'sYour Uncle. But they have
both
> been a terrible disappointment. They yield up almost zero. But every
little
> bit helps. (sigh)

Perhaps they are widely killfiled.

[ArtKramr]

>Subject: Re: STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM
>From: "Tarver Engineering"
>Date: 3/2/04 9:59 AM Pacific Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>
>
>"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
...
>> >Subject: Re: STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM
>> >From: "Tarver Engineering"
>> >Date: 3/2/04 8:32 AM Pacific Standard Time
>> >Message-id: >
>> >
>> >
>> >"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> >> >Subject: Re: STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM
>> >> >From: John K. Marshall
>> >> >Date: 3/1/04 11:47 PM Pacific Standard Time
>> >> >Message-id: >
>> >
>> >> >You could do a big service to the memory of who you were and what you
>> >have
>> >> >done,
>> >> >and that would be to stop making a fool of yourself here. If you don't
>> >have
>> >> >enough respect for yourself, then do it for the memory of your
>comrades.
>> >They
>> >> >don't deserve to be associated with this kind of buffoonery.
>> >
>> >> How many missions did you fly?
>> >
>> >What did you do to this kook Marshall, Art?
>> >
>> >Do you think his anger is caused by having nothing better to do than
>> >download your posts?
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>> It ain't all bad. Everytime I get a flame the hits on my website leaps up.
>It
>> used to be that Brooks brought me the most hits but now he has been
>knocked out
>> of first place by Marshall who has pulled in 2,000 hits on my site in a
>very
>> short time, And with these hits comes very nice e-mails thanking me for
>the
>> website. As of this moment I have 47,543 hits. I should hit 50,000 in
>less
>> that a week or so. providing Marshall and Brooks don't desert me. There is
>also
>> a guy named Ragnar and another guy named Bob'sYour Uncle. But they have
>both
>> been a terrible disappointment. They yield up almost zero. But every
>little
>> bit helps. (sigh)
>
>Perhaps they are widely killfiled.
>
>

There are obviously many who read their stuff but just ignore it. Figures.


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

[L. P. LePage]

"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
...
> >Subject: Re: STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM
> >From: Aerophotos
> >Date: 3/1/04 11:56 PM Pacific Standard Time
> >Message-id: >
> >
> >you are like brooks.. you claim all people are liars now?
> >
> >and you have any direct hard evidence that art is a liar?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >"John K. Marshall" wrote:
> >>
> >> Art,
> >>
> >> Do you really have absolutely nothing else to do with your life than to
> >seek
> >> pitifully some attention in newsgroups by posting the same old stories
over
> >and
> >> over?
> >>
> >> In case you haven't noted yet, you have made yourself the laughing post
of
> >this
> >> group a long time ago with your attitude. You are on a par with the
> >Tarverbot
> >> and Morris434 for credibility.
> >>
> >> You could do a big service to the memory of who you were and what you
have
> >done,
> >> and that would be to stop making a fool of yourself here. If you don't
have
> >> enough respect for yourself, then do it for the memory of your
comrades.
> >They
> >> don't deserve to be associated with this kind of buffoonery.
> >>
> >> John
> >
> >-
>
> Note that neither of them have never been in combat. We are seeing the
result
> of cowardly jeaousy.
>
>
> Arthur Kramer
> 344th BG 494th BS
> England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
> Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
> http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
>
I have spent the last year reading all I could find about the PTO. EVERY
person of any nationality should read the sacrifices that the
Americans,Australians, British, Indian, Japanese, etc put up with in that
war. It was a endeavor that would be impossible today because of the lack of
sense of national pride and honor that existed during that period of
history. I can only say I am PROUD of every vet that lived in and thru a
war, they are my heroes.
Art - Your one

[ArtKramr]

>Subject: Re: STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM
>From: "L. P. LePage"
>Date: 3/2/04 4:28 PM Pacific Standard Time
>Message-id: <vE91c.463075$na.1096648@attbi_s04>
>
>
>"ArtKramr" > wrote in message
...
>> >Subject: Re: STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM
>> >From: Aerophotos
>> >Date: 3/1/04 11:56 PM Pacific Standard Time
>> >Message-id: >
>> >
>> >you are like brooks.. you claim all people are liars now?
>> >
>> >and you have any direct hard evidence that art is a liar?
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >"John K. Marshall" wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Art,
>> >>
>> >> Do you really have absolutely nothing else to do with your life than to
>> >seek
>> >> pitifully some attention in newsgroups by posting the same old stories
>over
>> >and
>> >> over?
>> >>
>> >> In case you haven't noted yet, you have made yourself the laughing post
>of
>> >this
>> >> group a long time ago with your attitude. You are on a par with the
>> >Tarverbot
>> >> and Morris434 for credibility.
>> >>
>> >> You could do a big service to the memory of who you were and what you
>have
>> >done,
>> >> and that would be to stop making a fool of yourself here. If you don't
>have
>> >> enough respect for yourself, then do it for the memory of your
>comrades.
>> >They
>> >> don't deserve to be associated with this kind of buffoonery.
>> >>
>> >> John
>> >
>> >-
>>
>> Note that neither of them have never been in combat. We are seeing the
>result
>> of cowardly jeaousy.
>>
>>
>> Arthur Kramer
>> 344th BG 494th BS
>> England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
>> Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
>> http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer
>>
>I have spent the last year reading all I could find about the PTO. EVERY
>person of any nationality should read the sacrifices that the
>Americans,Australians, British, Indian, Japanese, etc put up with in that
>war. It was a endeavor that would be impossible today because of the lack of
>sense of national pride and honor that existed during that period of
>history. I can only say I am PROUD of every vet that lived in and thru a
>war, they are my heroes.
>Art - Your one
>
>

Let us never forget the past and our absent friends. Thank you. I appreciate
the kind words.


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer