Harold Plunkett Returns To The B-17

John Jacob H’s RKBA Commentary ^ | 08/21/10 | John Jacob H’s RKBA Commentary

[Copernicus]

Here at JohnJacobH Blog we have followed the adventures of Harold Plunkett, WWII Ball Turret Gunner with great admiration.

CLICK LINK HERE and HERE and HERE

We are glad to see he remains air worthy in this, his latest episode aboard the legendary B-17.

[Copernicus]

Do you think this guy,as an unmarried teenager in a bomber over Europe, ever thought he would be climbing out of a wheelchair to fly in the same plane some 70 years later?

I would "retweet" this but I do not know how.

Best regards to all,

[DaxtonBrown]

My dad flew tailgunner in B-24s out of Spinnazola Italy.

[DownInFlames]

It took a lot of guts to fly in WWII. Alot of servicemen did not return.

[FlyVet]

It certainly did. Several missions they lost 50 bombers x crew of ten = 500 empty chairs that evening. But, the commanders were good about filling those empty chairs at the chow hall in a hurry, to lessen the shock. 25 missions required, and the crews knew the math, that they were unlikely to survive 25 missions.

Back in the early 80's I took a hop from Loring AFB ME to Homestead AFB FL on a KC-10. They did a refueling mission on the way, I think it was Alabama ANG F-16's.

They came out of a cloud bank, four little dots that got bigger, and bigger, and bigger, until they were recognizable as fighters, relentlessly coming in......

It gave me a knot in my gut because I had read so much about what those WW II bomber crews had gone through.

[exit82]

We lost 60,000 airmen over Europe in WW2.

Small guys were assigned to the ball turret, because it was so cramped in there.

If a fighter shot out the ring gear that held the ball to the plane, you were a goner. There was no room for your chute in the ball.

[South Dakota]

The B-17s that came home safely had my Dad to thank.

He was a tech sargeant in the 5th service corp.
Keep the show on the road

[gonzo]

"...My dad flew tailgunner in B-24s out of Spinnazola Italy..."

My thanks to your Dad and his twin-.50's! Stay well .................. FRegards

[stboz]

My father-in-law was a waist gunner on 24s.

All hail the Mighty Eighth!

[rockinqsranch]

My dad, recently deceased at age 88 was also a tailgunner in B-24’s, but in the Navy in the South Pacific.

[DaxtonBrown]

Dad didn’t talk much about it, said it was the end of the war. But I counted up the causalties for his group and one out of six crews were either captured or killed.

[stboz]

Pretty well the same here. His job was to pull the safety-pins om the bomb load and shoot at the 109s and F-Ws.

[stboz]

He did say he saw a few Me-262s....they were scarey.

[DaxtonBrown]

[Pretty well the same here. His job was to pull the safety-pins om the bomb load and shoot at the 109s and F-Ws.]

Dad was building a 109 model when he died. I need to complete it.

[smokingfrog]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnsLE-Uo3WI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe36UMRkRbk

“Uncle Jack” featuring Gary Sinise

http://www.sleepingdogtv.com/reel/Uncle-Jack.aspx

[Copernicus]

"Uncle Jack" is a really great video!

Best regards,