The alternative was a thin chance of reaching the UK. With three seriously injured aboard, he rejected bailing out or a crash landing. Still partially dazed, Lieutenant Brown began a slow climb with only one engine at full power. When he regained full consciousness, the B-17 was miraculously level at less than 1,000 feet. The last thing oxygen-starved Brown remembers was reversing a steep turn, becoming inverted, and looking "up" at the ground. Each time a wave of attackers approached, he turned into them, trying to disrupt their aim with his remaining firepower. Charlie Brown figured the only chance of surviving this pitifully unequal battle was to go on the offensive. Lieutenant Brown took a bullet fragment in his right shoulder. The tailgunner was killed and all but one of the crew in the rear incapacitated by wounds or exposure to the frigid air. The bomber's 11 defensive guns were reduced by the extreme cold to only the two top turret guns and one forward-firing nose gun. Oxygen, hydraulic, and electrical systems were damaged, and the controls were only partially responsive. The number three engine was hit and would produce only half power. Coming off target, Lieutenant Brown was unable to stay with the formation and became a straggler.Īlmost immediately, the lone and limping B-17 came under a series of attacks from 12 to 15 Bf-109s and FW-190s that lasted for more than 10 minutes. Before "bombs away," Brown's B-17 took hits that shattered the Plexiglas nose, knocked out the number two engine, damaged number four-which frequently had to be throttled back to prevent overspeeding-and caused undetermined damage to the controls. The bombers began their 10-minute bomb run at 27,300 feet, the temperature: negative 60 degrees. He and his crew of Ye Olde Pub were to become participants in an event probably unique at that time in the air war over Europe-a mission that would remain shrouded in mystery for many years. It was 21-year-old Charlie Brown's first combat mission as an aircraft commander with the 379th Bomb Group, the target an FW-190 factory at Bremen, Germany. 20, 1943, was a typically cold, overcast winter day in Britain as 2d Lt. It survived because of an enemy's act of chivalry. Pilot Charlie Brown landed the B-17 'Ye old Pub' safely in UK, but too badly damaged to fly 1 KIA, 4 injured.ī-17 42-3167 ‘Ye Olde Pub’ FO-S/B 527th BS/379th BGīrown's B-17 was perhaps the most heavily damaged bomber to return from combat. He escorted the plane to the North Sea & then saluted and flew away. Crew turned for home when discovered by Lt Franz Stigler of JG 27/6. B-17F Ye Olde Pub 42-3167 FO-S 527th BS/379th BG - Franz Stigler ME109 JG/27/6īadly damaged by AAA & fighters on raid to Bremen Dec 20, 1943.
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