Little friend takes big brother home.

In article ,
(ArtKramr) wrote:

The recent thread on "most beautiful things" has brought back many memories. We
were flying a maximum effort (56 Marauders) heading East into Germany We were
in the number two slot in the high flight flying deputy lead. Way in the
distance I saw a tiny spot coming toward us As it came closer I saw it was a
single B-17. When it came even closer I saw that it had one engine shut down
and the prop feathered. Another engine smoking but operational. And above and
to one side of the B-17 was a lone P-51 flying top cover taking the wounded
B-17 home. I got a bit choked up and wanted to applaud but knew no one would
hear me. As the B-17 passed us I examined it as best I could. I saw no gunners
in the waist window or anywhere else. Had they bailed out? Were they dead or
wounded? Had the pilot bailed the whole crew out and was taking the B-17 home
alone? When we got back to base I went to the A-2 guys and asked about that
B-17. But as usual A-2 officers only ask questions they never answer them. I've
thought of that B-17 and that P-51 every now and again over rhe past 60 years
and wonder if they ever made it home. I guess I'll never know, but that first
sight if the lone B-17 and that lone P-51 covering is a sight I never will
forget. I still get choked up thinking about it.


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


Art,

I've heard or read that single aircraft were at an extreme disadvantage
over Germany. You're without the supporting fire from your formation
and multiple attackers could concentrate on just a single bomber. In
just that situation, having that P-51 along would make a huge diference
in both your percieved and actual changes of returning home. I hope
both AC made it home without further incident.

--
Dana Miller

Subject: Little friend takes big brother home.
From: Dana Miller
Date: 10/31/03 9:35 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:

In article ,
(ArtKramr) wrote:

The recent thread on "most beautiful things" has brought back many memories.
We
were flying a maximum effort (56 Marauders) heading East into Germany We
were
in the number two slot in the high flight flying deputy lead. Way in the
distance I saw a tiny spot coming toward us As it came closer I saw it was a
single B-17. When it came even closer I saw that it had one engine shut down
and the prop feathered. Another engine smoking but operational. And above
and
to one side of the B-17 was a lone P-51 flying top cover taking the wounded
B-17 home. I got a bit choked up and wanted to applaud but knew no one would
hear me. As the B-17 passed us I examined it as best I could. I saw no
gunners
in the waist window or anywhere else. Had they bailed out? Were they dead or
wounded? Had the pilot bailed the whole crew out and was taking the B-17
home
alone? When we got back to base I went to the A-2 guys and asked about that
B-17. But as usual A-2 officers only ask questions they never answer them.
I've
thought of that B-17 and that P-51 every now and again over rhe past 60
years
and wonder if they ever made it home. I guess I'll never know, but that
first
sight if the lone B-17 and that lone P-51 covering is a sight I never will
forget. I still get choked up thinking about it.


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


Art,

I've heard or read that single aircraft were at an extreme disadvantage
over Germany. You're without the supporting fire from your formation
and multiple attackers could concentrate on just a single bomber. In
just that situation, having that P-51 along would make a huge diference
in both your percieved and actual changes of returning home. I hope
both AC made it home without further incident.

--
Dana Miller
..

Exactly right. That B-17 was a sitting duck trying to go home alone like that.
To see that a single P-51 broke away and fell in with the B-17 as top cover to
escort him home was an act of bravery and human coincern for a brother
fllier that gets me choked up every timeIthink of it.Now included I have
gotten quite a bit of e-mail as well as comments on this NG about that story,
Even got some posts from Germany and one from Scotland and another from
Australia. It is a story that every military flier with battle experience can
personally relate to. And it seems to touch just about everyone who reads it
..My only regret is that my attempts to locate the P-51 pilot through A-2 had
no success. I would like to have bought him a drink A big one. Thanks for your
comments. I appreciate it.

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