[ 457th Bomb Group Message Board ]
Posted by David Burbo |
Posted by Alan Morton Plane s/n 42-97899, piloted by Lt John F. Angier, was hit by a couple bursts of flak as they approached the target at Hamburg. The entire right wing was on fire and the #3 engine fell away from the plane. They dove down trying to extinguish the fire and leveled off for a few minutes before it exploded. Some chutes were seen. Howard Lang's chute failed to open. (See John Angier's story of this mission in "Black Puff Polly" by Roland Byers) Just as a matter of interest: as a former Flight Engineer like Lang, the Engineer's position was a precarious position immediately behind the Pilot and Co-Pilot. The Engineer's gunner's standing position was in the Top Turret. In order to operate the Top Turret the Engineer had to fly in the turret WITHOUT his chest pack parachute on, which he laid on the floor next to his turret. The likelihood the Engineer could not find his chute as the aircraft went into a dive to blow out an engine fire is REALITY. At this point, if the aircraft exploded the Engineer would have been blown out of the aircraft without his chute. This scenario is more likely fact than suggesting Lang's chute failed to open because of a chute malfunction.
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Posted by Alan Morton Boy are YOU lucky! I spoke to Don Osborne the Left Waist Gunner Osborne will be at the upcoming Reunion in Pensacola Beach, Cheers, Alan
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Posted by Alan Morton Have you personally tried to get in touch with any of the following The crew was as follows: Could be that the above surviving crew members (POW'S) Ironically, Pilot Angier is a Life Member of the 457th BG Association. What I'd like to find for you is a photo of the Angier crew! Cheers, Alan
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