Welcome to the WWII Forums! Log in or Sign up to interact with the community.

B17 turret gunner Milton Lange: Fixing problems on an 8-inch catwalk 24,500 feet above the ground

Discussion in 'Western Europe' started by PzJgr, Mar 1, 2010.

  1. PzJgr

    PzJgr Drill Instructor

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2000
    Messages:
    8,386
    Likes Received:
    890
    Location:
    Jefferson, OH
    Milton Lange knows the term "taking flak" - as a B17 turret gunner in the 305th Bombardment Group he saw his share of flying metal. Flak was the bane of the bomber's existence. Crews had flak jackets, much like bullet-proof vests, and they proved useful: One of the officers took a piece of flak to his chest and fell silent. Crew members rushed to help him, only to learn that shrapnel had cut the line of his radio set. In 1944 and 1945 bombing gear was not automated, but manual - problems had to be fixed with tools while the bomb bay doors were open, tens of thousands of feet above the ground.

    Taylor Daily Press: Taking flak: WWII gunner, bombardier shares his story
     
    Slipdigit likes this.
  2. Bootie

    Bootie Member

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2008
    Messages:
    48
    Likes Received:
    3
    That took some serious courage!
     
  3. GI546

    GI546 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    Messages:
    130
    Likes Received:
    3
    wow.
    thats incredible courage.
    i would never hav been able to do that.
     
  4. Steve Petersen

    Steve Petersen Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2010
    Messages:
    192
    Likes Received:
    17
    I got a chance to walk over one of those catwalks. Yikes!

    Wonder if they had safety harnesses?
     
  5. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2009
    Messages:
    9,082
    Likes Received:
    2,474
    Another case of the ordinary man doing extraordinary things. None of these guys were "ordinary" as far as I'm concerned.
     
    surfersami likes this.

Share This Page