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Thread: Two Incredible Photos

  1. #1

    Default Two Incredible Photos

    While researching several B-17s, I came across the story of 711th BS 447th BG B-17G-10-BO "Ol' Scrapiron" (serial # 42-31582). "Ol' Scrapiron" was named in honor of Lt. Robert C. Stevenson, who was killed on his first mission over Germany. Tragically, this aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision near Koblenz, resulting in the loss of eight members of the crew. The tail gunner, Byron Schlag, was the only member of the crew able to bail out and, amazingly, the ball-turret gunner (Ed Shibble) survived the 27,000 foot fall trapped in the ball turret.

    The event was caught on camera and corroborated by the 93rd Wing, 34th Bomb Group, and 487th Bomb Group.

    You can read more about "Ol' Scrapiron" at the following site, which includes the photos I've attached below.

    http://www.447bg.com/42-31582.htm

    Here are the photos:





    A third B-17G was involved ("Snake Bit" serial # 43-38042), but the pilot managed to nurse the damaged aircraft back to its base in England.


  2. #2

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    Incredible photos and story.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  3. #3

    Thumbs up

    Amazing stuff!
    How Lucky was that Ball Turret gunner.

  4. #4

  5. #5

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    Amazing story, thanks for sharing

  6. #6

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    That anyone survived is amazing.

    "He is wise who watches"

  7. #7

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    If your number comes up you lose! if your number don't come up you win.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  8. #8

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    That is truly amazing, particularly the survival of the ball-turret gunner.

  9. #9

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    while i enjoy seeing these combat pics it always pains me to see such as these and know youre literally looking at the moment of death for those men frozen in time. i guess it serves as a poignant reminder of the terrible cost of war. anybody know the fate of the bolser crew b17? from its attitude in the pic and the evident wing damage it doesnt look good, but b17s have been known to survive worse.

  10. #10

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    Another historical picture revealed in our local newspaper recalls a bombing mision over heavily defended chemical industry in Blechhammer (now town of Blachownia, 40 km east of my place) on June 13th, 1944. You can see a photo taken by another crew showing the moment of explosion of Lt. Lokker's Liberator due to flak fire.
    Contemporary local community preserves the memory of the valiant flyers and a local Park in nearby city, Kędzierzyn Koźle is named in memory of the 15th USAAF Fleet.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	B-24 over KK.jpg 
Views:	49 
Size:	30.0 KB 
ID:	158346
    <img src=http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=2554&dateline=1409073309 border=0 alt= />
    "We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."

  11. #11

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    Very moving pictures.
    Thinking of the lives lost and the families of those men always brings home the price paid for war..
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  12. #12

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    Quote Originally Posted by milcoll73 View Post
    while i enjoy seeing these combat pics it always pains me to see such as these and know youre literally looking at the moment of death for those men frozen in time. i guess it serves as a poignant reminder of the terrible cost of war. anybody know the fate of the bolser crew b17? from its attitude in the pic and the evident wing damage it doesnt look good, but b17s have been known to survive worse.
    I understand completely, Phillip. It's probably the historian in me... but I'd prefer that we not forget, despite the tragic nature of war. Or maybe because of it.

    In the case of the Bosler crew, the results were not good:

    B-17G-100-BO (Serial # 43-38971) unknown name MIA 3-23-45

    Mission #150 March 23, 1945 B-17G 43-38971 B/A Missing in Action Holswickede, Germany, flak and mid-air collision.

    This plane was hit by flak just after bombs away and three to four feet of the left wing tip was torn away. The plane peeled away from the formation to the left and collided with a B-17 from the 447BG. That 447BG plane was in a three plane element flying with the 487BG that had been on a collision course with the 34BG on the bomb run. These three planes had also just released bombs and were peeling away when the collision occurred. Both planes crashed. Two chutes were seen but it uncertain from which plane they came. Crashed Hamm. With 18BS. Pilot: Bolser. Missing Air Crew Report # 13598. 9 Killed in Action.

    KIA BOLSER MYRON A (P) 2 LT 18 O-777096 10 AVON KS
    KIA MAILLARD ROGER E (CP) F/O 18 T-5011 10
    KIA LANCASTER HOMER B (N) F/O 18 T-134826 11 ECKHART MINES MD
    KIA ESHLEMAN JAY D (Tog) SGT 18 33501052 10 QUARRYVILLE PA
    KIA JERRIS THOMAS W (TT) S/SGT 18 32674898 9 ROCHESTER NY
    KIA HECKMAN JOHN M (R) S/SGT 18 15359109 10
    KIA STAMOS DONALD S (BT) SGT 18 39419699 10 ACAMPO CA
    KIA FROST RUSSELL D (TG) SGT 18 36752634 9 DEERFIELD IL
    KIA PEGG ALBERT O (WG) SGT 18 39726438 9 SAN PEDRO CA

  13. #13

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    Quote Originally Posted by Nightbomber View Post
    Another historical picture revealed in our local newspaper recalls a bombing mision over heavily defended chemical industry in Blechhammer (now town of Blachownia, 40 km east of my place) on June 13th, 1944. You can see a photo taken by another crew showing the moment of explosion of Lt. Lokker's Liberator due to flak fire.
    Contemporary local community preserves the memory of the valiant flyers and a local Park in nearby city, Kędzierzyn Koźle is named in memory of the 15th USAAF Fleet.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	B-24 over KK.jpg 
Views:	49 
Size:	30.0 KB 
ID:	158346
    Thanks for finding this! To the men who never returned.

  14. #14

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    Quote Originally Posted by fast.git View Post
    I understand completely, Phillip. It's probably the historian in me... but I'd prefer that we not forget, despite the tragic nature of war. Or maybe because of it.

    In the case of the Bosler crew, the results were not good:

    B-17G-100-BO (Serial # 43-38971) unknown name MIA 3-23-45

    Mission #150 March 23, 1945 B-17G 43-38971 B/A Missing in Action Holswickede, Germany, flak and mid-air collision.

    This plane was hit by flak just after bombs away and three to four feet of the left wing tip was torn away. The plane peeled away from the formation to the left and collided with a B-17 from the 447BG. That 447BG plane was in a three plane element flying with the 487BG that had been on a collision course with the 34BG on the bomb run. These three planes had also just released bombs and were peeling away when the collision occurred. Both planes crashed. Two chutes were seen but it uncertain from which plane they came. Crashed Hamm. With 18BS. Pilot: Bolser. Missing Air Crew Report # 13598. 9 Killed in Action.

    KIA BOLSER MYRON A (P) 2 LT 18 O-777096 10 AVON KS
    KIA MAILLARD ROGER E (CP) F/O 18 T-5011 10
    KIA LANCASTER HOMER B (N) F/O 18 T-134826 11 ECKHART MINES MD
    KIA ESHLEMAN JAY D (Tog) SGT 18 33501052 10 QUARRYVILLE PA
    KIA JERRIS THOMAS W (TT) S/SGT 18 32674898 9 ROCHESTER NY
    KIA HECKMAN JOHN M (R) S/SGT 18 15359109 10
    KIA STAMOS DONALD S (BT) SGT 18 39419699 10 ACAMPO CA
    KIA FROST RUSSELL D (TG) SGT 18 36752634 9 DEERFIELD IL
    KIA PEGG ALBERT O (WG) SGT 18 39726438 9 SAN PEDRO CA
    thanks for the info chris!!! we are of two minds about not forgetting. thats why i collect what i collect (militaria). i used to like setting up public displays as reminders to people until it got to be too difficult.



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