SHOOT GRIEGO SHOOT

SHOOT GRIEGO SHOOT

It was our first mission. We didn't know what to expect, but we expected the
worst and were ready for anything. And sure enough we got it. When you are the
newest crew in a squadron you always get stuck back in the tail end Charlie
slot…number 6 in the low flight. What's bad about that? Well for one thing
fighters approaching from 6 O'clock low hit you first because you are right in
their sights first. Secondly, you are burning more fuel than anyone else
because you have to do more throttle jockeying just to stay in formation. Well,
all went well at first. No flak, Sky was clear. We were hoping for a milk run.
Paul had completed his crew check. We had all tested our guns. The sky to the
East over Germany looked good all the way. Then we heard the intercom click on
followed by silence. We all knew that was our tail gunner Emilio Greigo because
he always clicked the intercom open than figured out what he wanted to say. It
took a second or two. Then in a calm, almost indifferent voice he intoned, "
P-51 at 6 O'clock flashing his wing lights" What the hell was that we wondered?
We didn't have to wonder long as we all felt machine gun rounds hitting us.
What Griego had identified as a P-51 was in fact an ME 109. And the flashing
wing lights were the ME's guns firing. "SHOOT GRIEGO SHOOT" we all yelled at
Griego. We were all shaken and swung our guns around looking for the ME. He
passed under us and was gone. Griego wasn't the first gunner ever to have
mistaken a 51 for an ME. From the front view they look an awful lot alike
especially with that hanging air scoop under the nose. And those holes that ME
put in us we displayed proudly as our baptism of fire and our red badges of
courage.

But this was a day that poor Emilio would never live down to his dying day.
For 40 years after, every time we all met we would all say to Griego, "P-51 at
6 O'clock flashing his wing lights" and bust into laughter. Griego would blush
red, lower his eyes and shyly say. "Aw you guys". Griego is long gone now. But
wherever he is now, I am sure he is still looking for that P-51 coming at us
low at 6 O'clock flashing his wing lights
Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

(ArtKramr) wrote in message ...
SHOOT GRIEGO SHOOT

It was our first mission. We didn't know what to expect, but we expected the
worst and were ready for anything. And sure enough we got it. When you are

(snip)

Art,
Your short-term memory must be failing, you've posted this before.
But since the details haven't changed I guess your long-term memory is
still intact. Keep the memories coming.

Howard Austin

Subject: SHOOT GRIEGO SHOOT
From: (Howard Austin)
Date: 12/12/03 1:35 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:

(ArtKramr) wrote in message
...
SHOOT GRIEGO SHOOT

It was our first mission. We didn't know what to expect, but we expected
the
worst and were ready for anything. And sure enough we got it. When you are


(snip)

Art,
Your short-term memory must be failing, you've posted this before.
But since the details haven't changed I guess your long-term memory is
still intact. Keep the memories coming.

Howard Austin


I have? I checked my website and it was nowhere ot be found I looked and so did
Bob Mckellar and he also thought it had been posted before but neither one of
us could find it. Where aand when did you see it?. Do you remember?. Thanks for
the heads up.

Regards,




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

(ArtKramr) wrote:

Art,
Your short-term memory must be failing, you've posted this before.
But since the details haven't changed I guess your long-term memory is
still intact. Keep the memories coming.

Howard Austin


I have? I checked my website and it was nowhere ot be found I looked and so did
Bob Mckellar and he also thought it had been posted before but neither one of
us could find it. Where aand when did you see it?. Do you remember?. Thanks for
the heads up.

Regards,

Arthur Kramer

I agree...I know that I've read it before, but it must not have
had the same subject line. I have all posts back to the summer of
1997 and it's not there with that subject line.

-Gord.

"I'm trying to get as old as I can,
and it must be working 'cause I'm
the oldest now that I've ever been"

"ArtKramr" wrote in message
...
Subject: SHOOT GRIEGO SHOOT
From: (Howard Austin)
Date: 12/12/03 1:35 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:

(ArtKramr) wrote in message
...
SHOOT GRIEGO SHOOT

It was our first mission. We didn't know what to expect, but we
expected
the
worst and were ready for anything. And sure enough we got it. When you
are


(snip)

Art,
Your short-term memory must be failing, you've posted this before.
But since the details haven't changed I guess your long-term memory is
still intact. Keep the memories coming.

Howard Austin


I have? I checked my website and it was nowhere ot be found I looked and
so did
Bob Mckellar and he also thought it had been posted before but neither
one of
us could find it. Where aand when did you see it?. Do you remember?.
Thanks for
the heads up.

Regards,


You have posted it to ram several times, Art; but that doesn't hurt
anything. Keep them comming.

ArtKramr wrote:

Subject: SHOOT GRIEGO SHOOT

I have? I checked my website and it was nowhere ot be found I looked and so did
Bob Mckellar and he also thought it had been posted before but neither one of
us could find it. Where aand when did you see it?. Do you remember?. Thanks for
the heads up.

Yes you did Art.

When?? I'm sorry, but you're just asking too danged
much of me on that!


SMH

Subject: SHOOT GRIEGO SHOOT
From: Stephen Harding
Date: 12/12/03 7:46 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:

ArtKramr wrote:

Subject: SHOOT GRIEGO SHOOT

I have? I checked my website and it was nowhere ot be found I looked and so
did
Bob Mckellar and he also thought it had been posted before but neither one
of
us could find it. Where aand when did you see it?. Do you remember?. Thanks
for
the heads up.

Yes you did Art.

When?? I'm sorry, but you're just asking too danged
much of me on that!


SMH


Sorry 'bout that guys. Mea Culpa. (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

Who cares? I haven't read it before, so haven't many fresh lurkes to the
RAM. Just post what You mean that is interesting and don't bother about
comments of "short term memory". I am 32 Years old and it happens to me,
too, and my girlfriend that is 2 years younger constantly repeats stories
))))

Strap on, bombs away!

Nele

NULLA ROSA SINE SPINA

ArtKramr wrote in message ...
Subject: SHOOT GRIEGO SHOOT
From: Stephen Harding
Date: 12/12/03 7:46 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:

ArtKramr wrote:

Subject: SHOOT GRIEGO SHOOT

I have? I checked my website and it was nowhere ot be found I looked and
so
did
Bob Mckellar and he also thought it had been posted before but neither
one
of
us could find it. Where aand when did you see it?. Do you remember?.
Thanks
for
the heads up.

Yes you did Art.

When?? I'm sorry, but you're just asking too danged
much of me on that!


SMH


Sorry 'bout that guys. Mea Culpa. (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