ubject: The most frightening intercom message...
From: (Dav1936531)
Date: 7/6/2004 11:35 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:

From: (ArtKramr)
Date: 7/5/04 10:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id:

It was March 14, 1944. The mission was to the optical plants at Bad
Kreuznach. We were fully loaded with Eight 500 pound bombs. Suddenly the
intercom came alive and our waist (radio) gunner, Bo Taylor choked
out....FIRE
IN THE BOMB BAY. FIRE IN THE BOMBAY. FIRE IN THE BOMB BAY.....I still hear
his
voice in my dreams.
Arthur Kramer

And.....?? What's the rest of the story? Details...we want the details. Did
the
plane explode and kill you all?
Dave


I opened the door in the bomb bay bulkhead and was faced with a bomb bay full
of dense smoke. So dense I couldn't see a damn thing. I ordered the bomb bay
doors be opened to clear the smoke. It was opened and the smoke cleared. But
the 180 mph relative wind rushing through the bomb bay fanned a flame in some
electrical wiring, which is what I was looking for. I gave the flames a shot
from the fire extinguisher and waited to make sure it was extinguished. No
luck. It burst into flames again fanned by the relative wind. Gave it another
shot. No luck. The wind kept the flame alive. I ordered the bomb bay doors be
shut to block out the wind and as the bomb bay began to fill with smoke I gave
flame another hit. That did it. The fire was out. We flew the mission
successfully and returned home. Willie went into the shop for repairs. But for
years afterward every time I saw an open flame I thought of Bo calling out
"Fire in the Bomb bay" Even now as I fall asleep at night I can till hear Bo's
voice calling out, " Fire in the bomb bay". It has only been 60 years since
that day over Bad Kreuznach. Maybe in a few more years I'll have forgotten
about that incident altogether.

PS. Sorry for the slow response. I am no longer subscribed to this NG and only
look in every now and again.

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