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Started By
Message
Have you ever known a fighter pilot that was shot down….
Posted on 4/22/24 at 5:18 pm
Posted on 4/22/24 at 5:18 pm
…but survived.
It seems like it would be (obviously) terrifying.
It seems like it would be (obviously) terrifying.
Posted on 4/22/24 at 5:20 pm to dakarx
quote:
My grandfather in WWII.
What's the story?
Posted on 4/22/24 at 5:21 pm to Tempratt
My brother in law in Vietnam. Eventually flew for and retired from Delta
Posted on 4/22/24 at 5:21 pm to Tempratt
Knew a gunner on a B 26 shot down over Italy spent rest of war in German POW camp.
Posted on 4/22/24 at 5:22 pm to Tempratt
Plenty did in WWII
They would carry a picture with a few days of beard growth in their flight suit which they could use to forge identification if they were shot down and landed in friendly territory to help get them smuggled out. I have my grandfather’s picture he had that he thankfully didn’t have to use.
They would carry a picture with a few days of beard growth in their flight suit which they could use to forge identification if they were shot down and landed in friendly territory to help get them smuggled out. I have my grandfather’s picture he had that he thankfully didn’t have to use.
Posted on 4/22/24 at 5:27 pm to dietcoke7
Knew a pilot on a B26 shot down over Germany. He landed in a field with a broken leg and the local citizens ran up to him with clubs, pitchforks, etc to kill him, as they were pissed that he was bombing their country. A German Army patrol made it to him just in time and held off the citizens at gunpoint, and took him to a POW camp. He and one other of his crew survived the war.
Posted on 4/22/24 at 5:30 pm to Tempratt
Yes. Charles Davidson. Houma ,La. . Charles Davidson with control yoke of A-20G "Hell'N Pelican" 42-85786
Not a fighter pilot. Wasn’t shot down. Ran out of fuel. Good story anyway.
formation ran into bad weather and "Hell'N Pelican" ran low on fuel to the west of Madang. Davidson offered McKenna the chance to bail out, but he responded "Lieutenant what are you going to do?" Davidson said "I'm going in with the ship." and McKenna said in reply "Let's go." This was one of 37 aircraft lost on "Black Sunday" when the 5th Air Force suffered its greatest operational loss of the war.
Lowering the flaps, this aircraft force landed into kunai grass near Amaimon. During the crash landing at 5:15pm, the propellers were bent back and the left wing leading edge was damaged from an impact with a small tree while skidding over 300 meters. Both were unhurt in the landing and spent the night with the aircraft, behind enemy lines.
Fates of the Crew
The next morning, the A-20 and crew were spotted by a P-47 Thunderbolt, which dropped them a message, but it landed too far away to retrieve. Later, a flight of six A-20 flew overhead and dropped notes, but again they were unable to be found. Later, a single A-20 dropped a note that read "Food on the way", plus a radio, rations, lifeboat and first aid kit. Everything was recovered except for the radio. Although both were alive, their families were notified they were missing in action.
At 16:00, a Stinson L-5 from the 25th Liaison Squadron photographed the intact A-20 from the air. Also, dropped a note to the crew with a map indicating their location and instructing them to to walk to the crash site of A-20 "Lady Constance". Both departed southward in the last afternoon with improvised backpacks made from their parachutes. Camping for the night, a rain storm flooded the area and fouled their weapons and ruined their compass.
During the morning of April 18, a Japanese patrol of ten soldiers passed nearby. After waiting for them to pass, they returned to the A-20, and camped at the edge of the jungle near the wreck. On April 19, a pair of Japanese aircraft strafed the wreck once and departed.
Dropped another note, they were instructed to clear a runway for an L-5 to land to rescue them. Working during the day in shifts. Again and the following day, a pair of Japanese aircraft returned to strafe the wreck. Trying to help clear the kunai grass, an L-5 dropped a incendiary bomb, but it failed to ignite and rains put out fires lit on the ground. Again on April 22, a P-40 dropped a incendiary, but the ground was too wet to burn.
After Australian trips captured Madang, the crew were instead instructed to walk to the Gogol River, 1.5km away. Before departing, Davidson removed the Douglas logo from the control yoke. It took them two days to reach the river through difficult vegetation, then floated down the Gogol River in a life raft, passing many crocodiles and monitored from above by an L-5.
On May 1, 1944 they spotted the HMAS Matafele and were taken aboard and transported to Madang Airfield. An L-5 arrived to transport both to Gusap Airfield, returning both to duty. Davidson had a beard after two weeks in the jungle.
Afterwards, Davidson was assigned another A-20 which he never named. On October 11, 1944 McKenna died as a passenger aboard B-25D 41-30525.
Salvage
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) planned a training exercise "Operation Venture One" to salvage an A-20 wreck as a training exercise, using a CH-47 Chinook from No. 12 Squadron with assistance from Michael Claringbould. Assembling at Amberley Airfield on September 11, 1984 the team departed for PNG. 1 Air Depot (1 AD) C. O. Tom Kelly was tasked with disassembly of the wreck. Departing on September 14, the team flew to Daru Airfield and then onward to Jackson Airport.
The CH-47 departed on September 17 to relocate the crash site, included passengers S/L Rick Lunburg, Michael Claringbould and Bruce Hoy, curator of modern history at the PNG Museum. They surveyed the area from the air to locate the wreck. On September 18, five team members were landed to disassemble the aircraft. When it proved too heavy to lift, the engines were removed and finally air lifted the fuselage to Madang Airport on October 1 and made a second trip for the ground crew and engines.
Loaded aboard the HMAS Tarakan, the aircraft was transported to Brisbane arriving in November 1984. Afterwards, transported to Amberley Airfield for storage and restoration.
Restoration
This aircraft was restored by the RAAF at Amberley Restoration Facility by a team led by Denis Doggett between 1984-1996. The restoration also used parts salvaged from other A-20G Havoc wrecks salvaged from Papua New Guinea. The aircraft was meticulously restored to static condition.
During 1985 312th Bombardment Group (312th BG) reunion, Michael Claringbould presented former pilot Davidson the original flight yoke from the aircraft as a gift.
During a ceremony on September 12, 1996, the A-20 was officially handed back to the Papua New Guinea government. In attendance was former pilot Charles Davidson, and his wife Thelma Davidson.
Since the restoration, stored at Amberley Airfield pending the completion of suitable display facilities for the PNG Museum in Port Moresby. It is viewable by appointment or special occasions at the RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre.
Memorials
McKenna passed away in 1975. He is buried at Saint Joseph Cemetery in Lockbourne, OH at Saint Teresa.
Davidson passed away on July 7, 2011. He was buried at Saint Francis de Sales Cemetery #2 in Houma, LA.
Not a fighter pilot. Wasn’t shot down. Ran out of fuel. Good story anyway.
formation ran into bad weather and "Hell'N Pelican" ran low on fuel to the west of Madang. Davidson offered McKenna the chance to bail out, but he responded "Lieutenant what are you going to do?" Davidson said "I'm going in with the ship." and McKenna said in reply "Let's go." This was one of 37 aircraft lost on "Black Sunday" when the 5th Air Force suffered its greatest operational loss of the war.
Lowering the flaps, this aircraft force landed into kunai grass near Amaimon. During the crash landing at 5:15pm, the propellers were bent back and the left wing leading edge was damaged from an impact with a small tree while skidding over 300 meters. Both were unhurt in the landing and spent the night with the aircraft, behind enemy lines.
Fates of the Crew
The next morning, the A-20 and crew were spotted by a P-47 Thunderbolt, which dropped them a message, but it landed too far away to retrieve. Later, a flight of six A-20 flew overhead and dropped notes, but again they were unable to be found. Later, a single A-20 dropped a note that read "Food on the way", plus a radio, rations, lifeboat and first aid kit. Everything was recovered except for the radio. Although both were alive, their families were notified they were missing in action.
At 16:00, a Stinson L-5 from the 25th Liaison Squadron photographed the intact A-20 from the air. Also, dropped a note to the crew with a map indicating their location and instructing them to to walk to the crash site of A-20 "Lady Constance". Both departed southward in the last afternoon with improvised backpacks made from their parachutes. Camping for the night, a rain storm flooded the area and fouled their weapons and ruined their compass.
During the morning of April 18, a Japanese patrol of ten soldiers passed nearby. After waiting for them to pass, they returned to the A-20, and camped at the edge of the jungle near the wreck. On April 19, a pair of Japanese aircraft strafed the wreck once and departed.
Dropped another note, they were instructed to clear a runway for an L-5 to land to rescue them. Working during the day in shifts. Again and the following day, a pair of Japanese aircraft returned to strafe the wreck. Trying to help clear the kunai grass, an L-5 dropped a incendiary bomb, but it failed to ignite and rains put out fires lit on the ground. Again on April 22, a P-40 dropped a incendiary, but the ground was too wet to burn.
After Australian trips captured Madang, the crew were instead instructed to walk to the Gogol River, 1.5km away. Before departing, Davidson removed the Douglas logo from the control yoke. It took them two days to reach the river through difficult vegetation, then floated down the Gogol River in a life raft, passing many crocodiles and monitored from above by an L-5.
On May 1, 1944 they spotted the HMAS Matafele and were taken aboard and transported to Madang Airfield. An L-5 arrived to transport both to Gusap Airfield, returning both to duty. Davidson had a beard after two weeks in the jungle.
Afterwards, Davidson was assigned another A-20 which he never named. On October 11, 1944 McKenna died as a passenger aboard B-25D 41-30525.
Salvage
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) planned a training exercise "Operation Venture One" to salvage an A-20 wreck as a training exercise, using a CH-47 Chinook from No. 12 Squadron with assistance from Michael Claringbould. Assembling at Amberley Airfield on September 11, 1984 the team departed for PNG. 1 Air Depot (1 AD) C. O. Tom Kelly was tasked with disassembly of the wreck. Departing on September 14, the team flew to Daru Airfield and then onward to Jackson Airport.
The CH-47 departed on September 17 to relocate the crash site, included passengers S/L Rick Lunburg, Michael Claringbould and Bruce Hoy, curator of modern history at the PNG Museum. They surveyed the area from the air to locate the wreck. On September 18, five team members were landed to disassemble the aircraft. When it proved too heavy to lift, the engines were removed and finally air lifted the fuselage to Madang Airport on October 1 and made a second trip for the ground crew and engines.
Loaded aboard the HMAS Tarakan, the aircraft was transported to Brisbane arriving in November 1984. Afterwards, transported to Amberley Airfield for storage and restoration.
Restoration
This aircraft was restored by the RAAF at Amberley Restoration Facility by a team led by Denis Doggett between 1984-1996. The restoration also used parts salvaged from other A-20G Havoc wrecks salvaged from Papua New Guinea. The aircraft was meticulously restored to static condition.
During 1985 312th Bombardment Group (312th BG) reunion, Michael Claringbould presented former pilot Davidson the original flight yoke from the aircraft as a gift.
During a ceremony on September 12, 1996, the A-20 was officially handed back to the Papua New Guinea government. In attendance was former pilot Charles Davidson, and his wife Thelma Davidson.
Since the restoration, stored at Amberley Airfield pending the completion of suitable display facilities for the PNG Museum in Port Moresby. It is viewable by appointment or special occasions at the RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre.
Memorials
McKenna passed away in 1975. He is buried at Saint Joseph Cemetery in Lockbourne, OH at Saint Teresa.
Davidson passed away on July 7, 2011. He was buried at Saint Francis de Sales Cemetery #2 in Houma, LA.
This post was edited on 4/22/24 at 5:44 pm
Posted on 4/22/24 at 5:31 pm to Tempratt
I met Scott O'Grady a few years back thru some former USAF pilot buddies.
Posted on 4/22/24 at 5:36 pm to Tempratt
quote:
Have you ever known a fighter pilot that was shot down….by Tempratt…but survived.
Yes. Old next door neighbor was shot down in Vietnam. When I knew him, he was an air traffic controller. Had another acquaintance’s father who was shot down in Korea and then spent several years in a prison camp.
This post was edited on 4/22/24 at 5:37 pm
Posted on 4/22/24 at 5:38 pm to Tempratt
My great uncle when he was with the Flying Tigers in ww2. The local Chinese helped him evade capture and return to base. I still have the old newspaper clipping about it.
Posted on 4/22/24 at 5:38 pm to Tempratt
My wife’s 1st cousin was a Apache pilot. His backseat got shot while they were hovering to protect another Apache that did get shot down. This was during the first desert storm.
Posted on 4/22/24 at 5:41 pm to Larry Birdleggs
quote:
My grandfather in WWII.
What's the story?
Not sure, like many he wouldn't talk about it much, Grandmother said he was shot down somewhere over Europe, shot his plane to shite, he lost some fingers to machine gun fire through the cockpit before bailing out. Last time I talked with him was around '78 (I was 11-12). She was French, not sure if her immigration was related to that or not, but imagination could easily conjure up a good story to put the pieces together.
Posted on 4/22/24 at 5:42 pm to Tempratt
No, but my paternal grandfather was a flight instructor for the bombers in Kansas during WWII and crashed a private plane in the late 80's suffering burns but was ok. He lived to 91 years old and ate McDonald's for breakfast every day.
Posted on 4/22/24 at 5:42 pm to Tempratt
Not shot down, but my doctor did have to eject out of his F-16. Has the ejection seat in his waiting room.
Posted on 4/22/24 at 5:44 pm to Tempratt
quote:
Have you ever known a fighter pilot that was shot down….
Yes...
quote:
…but survived.
Maybe
quote:
and was definitely used as propaganda to invade Iraq?
Sho' nuff. I'll never forgive the establishment for gaslighting Scott Speicher stories. Absolutely fricked up to run his family through that wringer, again.
Posted on 4/22/24 at 5:56 pm to Tempratt
Great uncle in WWII. He was a turret gunner in submarine bomber. Lost his best friend.
Posted on 4/22/24 at 6:13 pm to Tempratt
Friends Dad in Nam. I remember him coming home after being released from POW camp. He was not the person I remembered. I have the utmost respect for him and his family
Posted on 4/22/24 at 6:13 pm to Tempratt
Yes a WWII pilot that was shot down over belgium and was a guest of the reich for 3 years.
knew both of a tomcat crew that got sammed in iraq
and I knew scott speicher
knew both of a tomcat crew that got sammed in iraq
and I knew scott speicher
Posted on 4/22/24 at 6:13 pm to Tempratt
My Dad knew Jefferson DeBlanc.
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