Recent content by Vitamin-P

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    The WWII Ace that wasn't a Pilot

    S/Sgt. Benjamin Franklin Warmer III flew 50 missions as waist gunner on B-17s with the 348BS, 99BG. On 5-Jul-1943, the 15AAF sent three heavy bombardment groups to carpet bomb Gerbini Aerodrome. They were met by more than 100 Me-109, FW 190, and Macchi 202 fighters. The Group was awarded a PUC...
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    Options to save a trapped ball turret gunner in a bomber wheels up landing

    Andy Rooney did, indeed, write such a story. I believe I read, somewhere, that Mr. Rooney admitted that he did not witness the event he wrote about. No one has produced any documentation of such an incident. The National Museum of the United States Air Force calls it an "urban legend." However...
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    Comment by 'Vitamin-P' in media 'The Goon'

    41-24183 "The GOON" flew with the 14AF 308BG 374BS in China. The "16 Rising Sun flags" were the work of the Army Air Force's bomber-gunner "Ace of Aces," T/Sgt. Arthur Benko. Benko scored another two aerial victories before he was MIA after bailing out near Hong Kong on 15-Nov-1943 during the...
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    Boeing B-17 on a ramp in Germany picture question.

    The first 8AF heavy bomber to complete 25 missions was B-24D 41-23728 "HOT STUFF" of the 93BG 330BS, which accomplished the feat on 7-Feb-1943. It crashed in Iceland returning to the USA. The next 8AF heavy bomber to complete 25 missions was B-17E 41-24577 "HELL'S ANGELS" of the 303BG 358BS...
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