Issue 44.13
There was almost no such thing as a Flying Fortress because the first model 299 crashed on its second official flight. This happened not because of this plane’s failing but because of human error. Someone neglected to remove the fasteners in the controlling surfaces of the tail. According to Army Air Corp rules that should have been the end of that bomber but some people saw that this plane was truly great. Many high up in military decisions thought that we could do just as well with much cheaper planes. Even after a few B-17’s were purchased, many in high places thought that four engine bomber should be used for coastal surveillance. It is true that early models of the Fortress could not have stood up to the beatings of the German Luftwaffe. The ground pounders who made decisions were sure that the B-17 would be useless against enemy shipping. The war in North Africa proved the worth of the fortress against enemy shipping. Many of the ships that were trying to supply the German armies in North Africa were sunk by the Fortresses.
The Forts hit a large supply ship in an Italian port. This ship was loaded with ammunition because the explosions was felt at the bombing altitude and nearby ships were also sunk and there was nothing left of the ship except a deep hole and pieces of steel sent out in a mile radius.
Author Martin Caidin writes about a P-38 pilot that got lost in North Africa and landed at the wrong field. When he found his mistake, it was too late for the Germans took him as prisoner and they had a first class P-38.
The Americans didn’t know this so a German pilot became proficient flying that P-38. When American bombers were on a mission to Italy they often had stragglers due to battle damage or mechanical problems. These stragglers were happy to have an American P-38fall in with them and escort them home. Without an escort: and without the protection of the group, the bomber was vulnerable from attack by enemy fighters. This German pilot used this American need to his advantage. He found a Fortress straggler and flew along side of it. He waved and the bomber crew men waved back. The German eased in behind the unsuspecting bomber guys and opened up with caliber .50’s and 20 mm cannon. At such short distance, the bomber went down. He had to make sure there were no survivors and then went home.
The next day, the German found another crippled American Fortress and with the same procedure, he shot down number two bomber. This went on until he had shot down eight Flying Forts, but number eight had some survivors. American interrogators were surprised too at the story the crew men had to tell. Now the Americans had to figure a way to get the German. All of the American P-38 pilots were told of the plan so that an unwary American would not get shot down by mistake. The Americans had converted some B-l7’s into gunships. These planes carried no bombs but had double the number of machine guns and much ammunition. This ship acted like a straggler and was picked up by the German. The German flew along side the gunship Fortress and when waves were exchanged, the American gunners opened up and shot the German P-38 down. The German was lucky enough to get into an inflatable life raft called a dingy.
When the American circled, the German stood up and shook his fist. That German survived the war.
The Americans could have machine gunned him as he did so often to Americans.
Sam Wyrouck can be contacted at 801-707-2666.