"....... I'm going to die today......". "I'm going to die today," he said. We had just left the briefing tent and Lt. Jones (not his real name) walked along with me. His comment came as a shock. "No you're not," I said. He shook his head in despair and choked out " I have a wife and a kid and I'm...

After 58 years, this still burns my ass We were coming home from a mission. After bombs away Griego in the tail reported we had one bomb hung up in the bomb bay. It was hanging by the front shackle, the arming wire had been pulled out and the impeller was spinning. We had a live bomb in out bomb...

Hi Dave, I finally located my copy of THE NAVIGATORS' INFORMATION FILE (1943) to look up the oxygen mask designations. The demand mask was listed as the latest in 1944 was called the A-10.It is the one we used in combat. The "spit bag" mask we used in training was continious flow and had to be set...

In an 8 to 1 decision the scotus kicked Bush on the ass for his trashing of the Bill of Rights. It is about time Bush was placed on the slippery slope he so well desreves. Thank you SCOTUS. Even the neocons have had enough of him Arthur Kramer 344th BG 494th BS England, France, Belgium, Holland,...

Trump fires Bush over the Iraq war. Don't ya love it? (grin) Arthur Kramer 344th BG 494th BS England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany Visit my WW II B-26 website at: http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

Bombs away as the sun falls low in the sky. http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer/norden.htm Arthur Kramer 344th BG 494th BS England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany Visit my WW II B-26 website at: http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

SHOOT GRIEGO SHOOT It was our first mission. We didn't know what to expect, but we expected the worst and were ready for anything. And sure enough we got it. When you are the newest crew in a squadron you always get stuck back in the tail end Charlie slot…number 6 in the low flight. What's bad...

Guess it was all they figured he could handle. And when he went AWOL they didn't even bother to come after him. They figured he wasn't worth the trouble. And it turns out they were right. Arthur Kramer 344th BG 494th BS England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany Visit my WW II B-26 website...

The destruction of the Bridge at Verberie. Precision bombing at its best. http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer/bridge.htm Arthur Kramer 344th BG 494th BS England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany Visit my WW II B-26 website at:

Those who are interested in P-51's might do well to go to Google, type in Dudley Henriques, then scan down to his P-51 report. What a treat. A first hand account of flying the plane that destroyed the Luftwaffe. Dudley never flew combat but he served miliatry aviation and our country with his...

HENRY V We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition: And gentlemen in England now a-bed Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles...

Sept. 7-12 Las Vegas NV. Boardwalk Hotel. Arthur Kramer 344th BG 494th BS England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany Visit my WW II B-26 website at: http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

I don't know much about Spits other than how they perform as fighter cover. But I am curious about the concept of " Long Range" as applied to Spits. I had never heard that phrase during the war.Is it a phrase only used on this NG or is it a commonly used term about a special class of Spits?. And...

The recent thread on "most beautiful things" has brought back many memories. We were flying a maximum effort (56 Marauders) heading East into Germany We were in the number two slot in the high flight flying deputy lead. Way in the distance I saw a tiny spot coming toward us As it came closer I saw...

We gotta get rid of turbines, they are ruining aviation. We need to go back to big round engines. Anybody can start a turbine, you just need to move a switch from "OFF" to "START," and then remember to move it back to "ON" after a while. My PC is harder to start. Cranking a round engine requires...

IN REMEMBRANCE OF WILLIE THE WOLF Willie was war weary when we got him. His first crew completed their tour of duty and went home. Then we came, fresh from the US and yet to fly our first mission. Willie's scars brought home the reality of where Willie had been and where we had yet to go. He was...

Bob's Story Paul, Bob and I were in a repple depple in the English midlands (Hanley, Stoke on Trent) waiting to join the 344th as a replacement crew. We all roomed together as pilots, copilots and bombardiers did.. One evening I entered the room to find Bob sobbing and shaking, wracked with tears...

An officer in the U.S. naval Reserve was attending a conference that included admirals from both the U.S. Navy and the French Navy. At a cocktail reception, he found himself in a small group that included personnel from both navies. The French Admiral started complaining that whereas Europeans...

Nuff said. Arthur Kramer 344th BG 494th BS England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany Visit my WW II B-26 website at: http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

My website just exceeded 60,000 hits and growing. thanks to all who visit there. All are welcome. Arthur Kramer 344th BG 494th BS England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany Visit my WW II B-26 website at: http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer