World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
12 Jan 2011 01:36:51 PM

"WHY THE FLAK WAS SO THICK, YOU COULD WALK ON IT"

WHAT IS FLAK?

Flak: (Fliegerabwehrkanone) Anti-aircraft The term flak became known specifically to mean anything shot into the air, in the air defense role against enemy aircraft, flak units were made up of much larger caliber guns.

FLACK AHEAD:

For example the famous 88mm fired a shell 21 lb.in weight a gun crew could fire between 15 to 20 rpm.
German targets were protected by hundreds or thousands of guns, of all calibers.
Over 20,000 88mm flak guns were protecting the Third Reich itself. Batteries stretched
across the bomber route into the Reich's
industrial heartland some belts were 20km
thick.
The German air defense was made up of
20mm, 37mm, 88mm, 105 and 128mm anti-aircraft
artillery and anything else that could fire
lead into the air.
The system was backed up with radar, search-
lights and luftwaffe fighters. It has been estimated it took 4,000 rounds to shoot down one allied bomber flak batteries might fire over 20,000 rounds in a few minutes.

OVER THE IP:

The bombers ran into flak thousands of rounds
were fired into and ahead of the formation
Aircraft were damaged by flak in the wings, vertical stabilizers, engines, fuselage
undersurfaces, the crew could become casualties from flak hitting from underneath and the sides of the aircraft.
Damage could come from parts of other bombers that were hit by flak and shrapnel. Exploding shells at altitude, these fragments
could be just as lethal as bullets.

It took courage and guts to fly a bombing mission, face fighters and flak, and the return trip face the same things again, where does a nation get such men.
It is always the brave who die, the soldiers.

2.  Bill says:
16 Jan 2011 04:52:07 PM

Enemy A/C sighted at 08:29hrs w/continued attacks until 09:40hrs. Flew through flak to
target.

Damage to A/C from flak, bullet holes to fuselage, wings, tail,#3 engine supercharger
inoperative, #1 engine leaking oil and prop governor also inoperative.
Battle damage, interphones out, two gunners wounded, top turret operating on emergency power.

Weather -41 below, cloud clear to 5/10th

Made 180 degree right echelon turn w/group
return to England.

This is a factious report, but combat over
Germany was real, to the men of the 8th AF

3. Bill says:
2 Feb 2011 10:03:55 AM

"THE GREATEST GENERATION"

"Glitter Girl" falling behind group, last
seen leaving formation.
Damage to a/c # 1 engine trailing smoke, #2 engine feathered, #3 on fire, #4 still running. Damage from flak and fighters.
Unable to answer calls over radio, no chutes seen.

BoxCar Willie, loosing altitude last seen entering cloud formation, lost contact, fate unknown.

Fool's Paradise two engines damaged from flak and fighters, last seen trying to keep up with formation, but falling behind, fate unknown.

This was not a real combat report, but to the men of the 8th Air Force, combat over Germany was real.
The sacrifices and heroism of brave men and women, who fought World War II, should never be forgotten.

4. Ken says:
26 Feb 2011 02:57:36 PM

Would like to find someone with information about a B-17G, "Paradise Lost", down over Germany on it's first mission. Two crewmembers bailed out, the rest were lost. The plane was stationed at Snetterton Heath, England. My wife had a relative on-board.