Trapped Ball Turret Gunner Story

[shooshoobaby]

In His Book , Andy Rooney tells the story of a Ball Turret Gunner on a
B-17 that was trapped. The B-17 had to Belly in at the Base , killing
the Gunner.
Anyone know the Gunner's name , Pilot , Bomb Group , B-17 Serial #
and Date???
Any Help Appreciated.
Cheers,
Mike

[lampie]

Mike,
Theres a photo of this incident in Donald Millers book.
It also mentions the event in the text somewhere but I'm not sure what details, if any, are given.
All the best,
Nige
www.56thfightergroup.co.uk

[RSwank]

Nige,

In Donald Miller's book Masters of the Air, this incident is discussed on pages 121 and 122. He pretty much follows the narration that Andy Rooney gave in his book "My War", pages 99 to 100 except for an important difference. In Andy Rooney's narration, he places the incident as occurring after a return from Regensburg, "The Eighth Air Force had a disastrous day when it bombed Regensburg deep inside Germany and I was at a base waiting to interview some of the fliers when they came back." This would seem to place the incident in August or later of 1943, after either the 17 Aug 43 Schweinfurt/Regensburg raid or maybe after the 2nd raid on 14 Oct 43.

In Miller's account, the incident does not mention Regensburg and he puts it in the chapter of the book which is discussing events in 1943 more or less chronologically. It would appear to take place sometime around May 43. Neither Rooney nor Miller mention an actual base (or bomb group) where the incident took place, the actual date or any crew names. If there is a picture in Miller's book, could you give the page number?

The incident also was used in a TV show on the History Channel here in the US called WWII in HD, The Air War. It may have been used in an earlier History Channel show on Ball Turret Gunners. There is a video of a bomber doing a wheels up crash landing that may have been used on the TV shows, but it could not be this incident as the entire crew of that plane survived the crash.

See a discussion here:

http://forum.armyairforces.com/Trapp...y-m207454.aspx

[lampie]

Hi.
Interesting link, thankyou.
The text in Miller's book almost matches verbatim some sections of the text quoted in the link.
There isn't a page number for the photo, but its image number 29 in the paperback version I have.
The section of the national insignia shows the red border, which would place the incident July-43 onwards. For a rough timeframe, 4thFG received the order to replace the red border with a blue one in November 43.
As for where the incident occured I don't know.
Millars book states that Rooney flew as part of the "Writing 69th" with the 306th at Thurleigh, but that no guarantee the incident involves a 306th BG aircraft.

Hope this helps,

Nige
www.56thfightergroup.co.uk