A aviation & planes forum. AviationBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » AviationBanter forum » rec.aviation newsgroups » Military Aviation
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old March 2nd 04, 05:40 AM
ArtKramr
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM

Strafing as if in a Dream

It was a rare mission for us. Marauders were never meant to be thrown around at
low level at high speed. And this was a low-level mission. We were to bomb a
military target in a small city. Then we were to go down on the deck and
strafe. It was the first strafing mission we had ever flown since we left
flying school in the States. But this time it was for real. Unlike bombing from
10.000 feet, this was on the deck and we would actually see close up those who
we were shooting. This, for us, was war in a whole new light.

We did our bomb run then turned hard and dropped down fast to line up with the
target area for strafing. I had charged my .50 Browning with two fast strokes
earlier and now I cooked off a few rounds to make doubly sure it was clear. It
was.

We were now approaching the main street of the town. It was deserted. Not a
car. Not a person. No one. I started firing shooting up the street, when
suddenly in the distance I saw what looked like an old woman, a little boy and
a dog trying to make it across the street as we approached. "Damn" I thought.
"Why the hell couldn't they stay under cover where they were?" I instinctively
lifted my thumbs away from the triggers and stopped shooting. When we had
passed well clear of them I commenced firing. I hoped that none of the planes
that came after us had hit them.

On landing I spoke to our tail gunner Greigo. "Hey Greigo, did you see that old
lady, kid and dog crossing the street?" Greigo shook his head. "No sir. Never
saw anybody. Streets were clear". "Hey Bo. Did you see them?" No sir. Sure
didn't" " Hey Bob, Paul, did you guys?" "Nope Art, never saw anybody down
there".

I remember them clearly to this day. Is it possible that I saw them and no one
else did? I know they were there. I remember every detail. Yet there is that
lingering doubt. When I think back to that day it was like moving in a dream
through a fog of remembrance that persists in lingering always.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------
------

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

  #2  
Old March 2nd 04, 03:33 PM
Dave Holford
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default



ArtKramr wrote:

{EXTRACT FROM} Strafing as if in a Dream



We were now approaching the main street of the town. It was deserted. Not a
car. Not a person. No one. I started firing shooting up the street, ....





Art, not havin "been there" I am curious as to why you would shoot up an
empty street - surely there were better targets to shoot up?

Dave
  #5  
Old March 2nd 04, 05:43 PM
ArtKramr
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Subject: STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM
From: "Tarver Engineering"
Date: 3/2/04 8:32 AM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:


"ArtKramr" wrote in message
...
Subject: STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM
From: John K. Marshall

Date: 3/1/04 11:47 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:


You could do a big service to the memory of who you were and what you

have
done,
and that would be to stop making a fool of yourself here. If you don't

have
enough respect for yourself, then do it for the memory of your comrades.

They
don't deserve to be associated with this kind of buffoonery.


How many missions did you fly?


What did you do to this kook Marshall, Art?

Do you think his anger is caused by having nothing better to do than
download your posts?




It ain't all bad. Everytime I get a flame the hits on my website leaps up. It
used to be that Brooks brought me the most hits but now he has been knocked out
of first place by Marshall who has pulled in 2,000 hits on my site in a very
short time, And with these hits comes very nice e-mails thanking me for the
website. As of this moment I have 47,543 hits. I should hit 50,000 in less
that a week or so. providing Marshall and Brooks don't desert me. There is also
a guy named Ragnar and another guy named Bob'sYour Uncle. But they have both
been a terrible disappointment. They yield up almost zero. But every little
bit helps. (sigh)


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

  #6  
Old March 2nd 04, 06:59 PM
Tarver Engineering
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"ArtKramr" wrote in message
...
Subject: STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM
From: "Tarver Engineering"
Date: 3/2/04 8:32 AM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:


"ArtKramr" wrote in message
...
Subject: STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM
From: John K. Marshall

Date: 3/1/04 11:47 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:


You could do a big service to the memory of who you were and what you

have
done,
and that would be to stop making a fool of yourself here. If you don't

have
enough respect for yourself, then do it for the memory of your

comrades.
They
don't deserve to be associated with this kind of buffoonery.


How many missions did you fly?


What did you do to this kook Marshall, Art?

Do you think his anger is caused by having nothing better to do than
download your posts?




It ain't all bad. Everytime I get a flame the hits on my website leaps up.

It
used to be that Brooks brought me the most hits but now he has been

knocked out
of first place by Marshall who has pulled in 2,000 hits on my site in a

very
short time, And with these hits comes very nice e-mails thanking me for

the
website. As of this moment I have 47,543 hits. I should hit 50,000 in

less
that a week or so. providing Marshall and Brooks don't desert me. There is

also
a guy named Ragnar and another guy named Bob'sYour Uncle. But they have

both
been a terrible disappointment. They yield up almost zero. But every

little
bit helps. (sigh)


Perhaps they are widely killfiled.


  #7  
Old March 2nd 04, 07:03 PM
ArtKramr
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Subject: STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM
From: "Tarver Engineering"
Date: 3/2/04 9:59 AM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:


"ArtKramr" wrote in message
...
Subject: STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM
From: "Tarver Engineering"

Date: 3/2/04 8:32 AM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:


"ArtKramr" wrote in message
...
Subject: STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM
From: John K. Marshall

Date: 3/1/04 11:47 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:

You could do a big service to the memory of who you were and what you
have
done,
and that would be to stop making a fool of yourself here. If you don't
have
enough respect for yourself, then do it for the memory of your

comrades.
They
don't deserve to be associated with this kind of buffoonery.

How many missions did you fly?

What did you do to this kook Marshall, Art?

Do you think his anger is caused by having nothing better to do than
download your posts?




It ain't all bad. Everytime I get a flame the hits on my website leaps up.

It
used to be that Brooks brought me the most hits but now he has been

knocked out
of first place by Marshall who has pulled in 2,000 hits on my site in a

very
short time, And with these hits comes very nice e-mails thanking me for

the
website. As of this moment I have 47,543 hits. I should hit 50,000 in

less
that a week or so. providing Marshall and Brooks don't desert me. There is

also
a guy named Ragnar and another guy named Bob'sYour Uncle. But they have

both
been a terrible disappointment. They yield up almost zero. But every

little
bit helps. (sigh)


Perhaps they are widely killfiled.



There are obviously many who read their stuff but just ignore it. Figures.


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

 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Dream Airplane poll Bob Babcock Home Built 39 December 24th 04 03:20 AM
Dream Airplane poll Bob Olds Home Built 1 November 19th 04 05:35 AM
Rehoboth man realizes dream to fly restored B-24 Otis Willie Military Aviation 0 October 30th 03 09:09 PM
STRAFING AS IF IN A DREAM ArtKramr Military Aviation 0 September 2nd 03 04:30 AM
Your fancy schmancy dream machine David O Home Built 58 August 8th 03 11:14 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:28 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 AviationBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.