B24 Bomber Shot Down
This plane was nicknamed "Brief". It had taken off from Angaur Airfield, Palau Islands flying on a bombing mission against anti-aircraft installations on Koror, Palau Islands. Whilst over its target, the B-24 was hit by anti-aircraft fire. The dramatic moment was caught by cameras from the plane above. The B-24's fuselage fell in a twisting spiral until it crashed. Out of the 10 crew members on board, 9 were killed in the crash except the Navigator, 2nd Lt Wallace F. Kaufman. However, in a twist of fate, he was captured by the Japanese and executed.
There was in fact a myth that it was an American bomb striking the wing of the B-24 from above. However, a cleaned up version of the film was analysed and it showed that whilst stacks of bombs were falling from above, the wing was in fact struck from below.
Bobo LaTuque says
This plane was not brought down by anti-aircraft fire; a falling bomb from a plane above it struck— and went through— the left wing root, causing the wing to lose integrity and simply fall off.
Resolution Man says
I am SO pleased that that was cleared up......no bomb, after all !.....and all these years I thought it was an errant bomb from above !........................I have seen this clip countless times......as we all have !
alexanthros900 says
On this occasion my comment does not apply, as the bombing raid was carried out on a military target. ..........But so often I have seen photographic reports of a bombers return from raids against foreign cities, where the rear gunner or other members of the returning party were killed. and great sympathy was expressed for them. but on reflection, it does make me wonder whether some sympathy should be reserved for the thousands of innocent civilians blasted into oblivion by these same returning Planes. What benefit to the war effort was there in the slaughter of masses of innocent people, [ carried out by both sides.]
If I was a member of a bomber crew, I would be inclined to think I was part of an unnecessary mass murder campaign against humanity.
alexanthros900 says
On this occasion my comment does not apply, as the bombing raid was carried out on a military target. ..........But so often I have seen photographic reports of a bombers return from raids against foreign cities, where the rear gunner or other members of the returning party were killed. and great sympathy was expressed for them. but on reflection, it does make me wonder whether some sympathy should be reserved for the thousands of innocent civilians blasted into oblivion by these same returning Planes. What benefit to the war effort was there in the slaughter of masses of innocent people, [ carried out by both sides.]
If I was a member of a bomber crew, I would be inclined to think I was part of an unnecessary mass murder campaign against humanity.