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Randy
6/25/2009 1:56:26 AM | Hello,
Just came across your great website. I have it book marked and will do further study of it.
Thought you'd be interested in a gallery I set up some time ago. It's quite a number of "bomb fall plot" images. These used to belong to a deceased relative of mine.
Fortunately, I was able to scan the entire collection a few years ago and put them up on the web.
http://www.pbase.com/dwerbil/bomb_plot_gallery
You'll notice, with cookies enabled, you can set the viewing size. Some of these images are quite dramatic with numerous bomb cluster on their way down.
Most all of the 120 images are with the 301st Bomb Group. Looks like there were a number of shared targets.
When at the gallery, note photos number 7 and 7a. They're of a bomb mission to South Vienna industrial area. Two flak towers are visible. One tower appears to be opening fire on the bombers above. The other tower is for ranging. Photo 7a has a couple links below the image showing present day photos of the flak towers.
Each image has a caption below. I've added details where I could. If you have relative information on this images, please drop me a email.
Thanks for looking.
Randy
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Jackie
6/25/2009 7:55:23 PM | This is a nice collection and it was nice to share with our group.Thank you....
I was wondering if a collection like this existed for the 401st?
Jackie
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Randy
6/25/2009 10:28:38 PM | Thank you, Jackie for your reply. Glad to post here of the gallery. It needs to 'get around' the web.
The past few years it's been on the internet, I've received a few emails from veterans that flew on some of these missions. One was a pilot of a 17 and was shot down. They were able to do a controlled landing in friendly French territory. All survived, and it took two weeks to make it back to their squad.
In as far as photos like this for the 401st -- not that I know for sure, but I reckon most all bomb mission had some sort of similar recon photos taken. In my recent posting of this gallery, I've yet to see bomb plot images that approach the detail that these have. The original prints measured 9 by 9 inches.
Upon opening the box full of originals, one could really notice the aged smell that old photographs give.
While scanning these images over several weeks, it was difficult at times to not get emotional while thinking of the tremendous drama of history captured with the camera.
The images portray the last moments of life for the unseen victims 25,000 feet below. Numbers of the bomber crews were injured or were shot down. Many were MIA.
Randy
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