WWII Forums Quiz Part I

Did he aim it like a rifle and end up with burns?

 

Did he aim it like a rifle and end up with burns? and at this point it is a free for all so do not wait for me.

 

Did he intend to knock out a tank in front of him but hit a tank behind him, by aiming it wrong?

 

OK, OK, OK guys. I'm going away for a few days ( hooray ! they all cheer ) so here's the answer.

The PIAT had a fearsome reputation among British soldiers for its recoil or 'kickback'.
Fusilier Jefferson, an aggressive individual, picked up the PIAT and advanced on the enemy tanks, firing from the hip .

The 'Barrack-room talk' concerning this feat of arms unanimously agreed that he should have got the VC just for 'firing the bloody thing from the hip' - let alone actually knocking out a tank with it.

My source for this is the book 'Cassino - The Hollow Victory' by John Ellis.

PzJgr - you were fast with the easy bit but Mr Oudshoorn got the difficult bit. He's getting married too, so I think he deserves to set a question !

Stevin . . . . . ?

 

But I missed the barrack room talk....

 

Don't split hairs, Stevin - this is an opportunity - go for it ... !

 

but...but...

Ok, In the 8th Air Force there was a bomber crew that earned 2 MOHs on one day! The crew as a whole won 2 MOH, a DFC, Silver star and 7 Purple Hearts.

Q is basically; Tell me the story; which crew, date and why did they earn the 2 MOHs?

 

Bugger. I've got this as well. Just have not read it in a while.

 

*bump*

 

What is this *bump* stuff?

 

Hello, I just got back from a long weekend away and drove past the hill where this happened.

It must be the 351st Bomb Group, 510th Bomb Squadron's 'Ten Horsepower ' ( 42-31763 ) on a mission to Leipzig, 20th February 1944.
It's a complex story : basically a flak shell entered the cockpit via the starboard windscreen, killing the co-pilot and seriously wounding the pilot.

The bombardier assumed command, ordered a bail-out, and bailed out himself. But the ball-turret gunner & engineer, Sgt Archibald Mathies, regained control of the aircraft. Together with navigator Walter Truemper and other crewmembers, they decided to try to regain England.

Despite minimal flying experience, these men brought the 'plane back to Polebrook. As the pilot was alive but unconscious, Mathies & Truemper decided to attempt a landing while the others bailed out over the home base.

Meanwhile, Commander of the 351st, Eugene Rohmig, took off in another B17 to attempt to guide the stricken 'Ten Horsepower' in. This wasn't possible ; ordered to abandon the aircraft, Mathis & Truemper refused, determined to try to save the pilot.

Tragically, on trying to land for the third time, after turning over Glatton Airfield,the aircraft hit Denton Hill, just off the A1 road, killing all on board.

Mathies and Truemper were awarded posthumous MOH's, the other crew members received the awards listed by Stevin and I haven't got time to find the names just now !

 

Now that is true heroism!

Otto, thankyou for the bump news.
S!

 

I don't-this quiz is great and i think we should make it a bit easier to access by creating a new thread yes-for sure-everyone, keep up the support of this fantastic thread...

 

Definatly a good idea. A coupleof us mentioned that a couple of pages back. You could do several running at once each with different catagories.

 

Yeah-that's a good idea-have several with different subject matters-absolutely....it caters for everyone's interests then....