STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM

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

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

-

Subject: 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

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

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

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

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

Subject: 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

"ArtKramr" wrote in message
...
Subject: 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?

Subject: 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: 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