Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 44-6183 breaks up in mid air after being hit by flak over Linz in Austria on July 25th 1944



by jacksmachiningreveng

11 comments

  1. Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 44-6183 was on a mission with the 342nd Bomb Squadron 97th Bomb Group to bomb the [Eisenwerke Oberdonau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenwerke_Oberdonau) steel mill in Linz on July 25th 1944. Shortly before bomb release the aircraft took a direct flak hit and went down in flames before breaking apart.

    Copilot Robert L. Clark, Navigator David L. Lipow, Engineer John A. Johnston, Ball Turret Gunner Edgar P. Leonhard and Waist gunners Richard O. Jones and Thomas E. Hammond were killed in action while the other four crew members survived to be taken prisoner.

    Testimony from Radio Operator Garnel C. Lockemy:

    >After a dive, the plane’s gas tanks exploded. We were blown out of the plane, after my chute opened, I could see three other chutes under me. Our pilot Capt. Murphy said he saw seven chutes. A report my Mother received from 15th Air Force Hqd. said five chutes were reported.

    >After I landed, which was in woods there was a great deal of rifle fire very close around. If this may help you, I was shot at when I was about 150-200 feet from the ground. The reason I say that I was shot at, was that a bullet broke one of my shroud lines, there were a great deal of SS men around there.

    >After, I was taken prisoner by the Germans and taken to a small out-post. Our plane was very close by, the horizontal stabilizer was in the out-post’s yard and I sat down on it. The plane had most of it tail section missing, the engines were gone and so was most of the wings, the remains of the plane was on its belly and it was split open on its sides.

  5. Living near Linz it’s crazy too see this kind of footage!

  8. Wow is all I come up with while thinking about the survived men and what they went through.

  9. Now the pilot of Boeing’s fortress
    He’s a man with plenty of guts
    But after he’s flown a few missions
    He’s either shot down or he’s nuts

    When you go out on a mission
    And the flak hits a tank that holds gas
    Roll back your seat and start jumping
    To hell with the crew, save your ass!

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