Duchess of Weaselskin

Bayfield, Colorado - The late afternoon monsoons continue here in Southwest corner of Colorado. South of Durango a few miles near the Animas Airpark a lightning spark started a fire that burned over 500 acres.

And our victory garden continues to grow as seen in the photo on the left. We even had a few Pine Siskins caught resting in our birdbath this week. That is the image on the right.

Our Hearts and thoughts go out to those victims of the Aurora, Colorado Theater shooting of a few days ago. A senseless killing that many are left wondering . . . "Why did this happen?"

Tell the GOP Congress, "Stop the obstructionism!"

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100 Years Ago Today - 23 July 1912

Oregon - One hundred years ago today, 23 July 1912, out of Medford, Oregon, the Medford Mail Tribune, we discover more about the "Bull Moose" party and Colonel Teddy Roosevelt.

Bull Moose Is Vigorous, Says Colonel Teddy, New York, July 23, 1912 -- Pepper Colonel Roosevelt enthusiastically greeted his workers when he arrived at progressive headquarters with the following, "I see the bull moose is a very vigorous animal. The new party is the people's party. It is a protest against the corruption and insincerity controlling both the dominant parties. Our party differs from those existing in that it will be the party of equal opportunity."

Colonel Roosevelt goes on to say, "I think Barnes, Penrose, Guggenheim and Company made a poor swap when they exchanged the delegates from California for the complete electoral vote of California. They made another bad bargain when they exchanged the electoral vote of Massachusetts for two Massachusetts delegates to the convention at Chicago."

"Barnes and Murphy are willing to divide things in New York, each to take half, But we intend to take the state from both and also to take the nation from the bosses. We intend that the government shall become what it was intended to be -- a government of equal opportunity for all where all shall have the same treatment and not be forced to seek their rights through the employment of a boss or through a party organization," says Colonel Roosevelt.

On the second page of this same newspaper was the headlines of "Bull Moose In South Is White." The story came out of Jackson, Mississippi, July 23, 1912 -- "Following the cancellation of plans for a progressive republican convention to be attended by both white and negro republicans it was announced here today that the progressive party in Mississippi is to be soley a white man's party. It is understood that Senator Dixon of Montana. Colonel Roosevelt's campaign manager urged Lily Whitism." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

NW Okie's Corner

Bayfield, Colorado - Does anyone out there know when most of the trees were planted on the grounds of the "Castle On the Hill" (also known as Northwestern Normal School), in Alva, Woods county, Oklahoma Territory?

The photo on the left is a photograph that my grandmother, Constance Estella Warwick McGill had saved in her photo collections. It was taken 22 January 1901. I left it as a large image file so that others with high broadband connections might zoom in and see what relatives they could find among the Northwestern Normal School group of January 1901.

I believe that both grandma Constance Estella (Warwick) McGill and grandpa Wm. Jacob McGill and a few other McGill's are in this photo. Behind the group posed in front of "Castle on the Hill," I counted at least eight young trees. See if you count any more.

We know that the history of the Castle on the Hill (Northwestern Normal School), in Alva, Woods County, Oklahoma Territory, was dedicated on March 9, 1900 by the president of the school, James Ament. The cost of the structure was about $100,000. It began as a vision in 1895 when a bill was introduced in 1895 for the purpose of establishing a Normal School in the growing rural city of Alva and the county of "M" (Woods) county, in the Northwest corner of Oklahoma Territory.

The committee appointed to to sell the idea of this normal school were: S. L. Johnson, chairman; H. L. Ross, secretary; W. F. Hatfield, editor of the Alva Pioneer; James Kelley, editor of the Alva Republica; C. C. Hudson, editor of the Alva Review; A. H. Andrews, city attorney, and Jesse J. Todd.

We also know that the "Castle on the Hill" burned to a shell of itself March, 1935, and was rebuilt. The Castle stood where the Jesse Dunn building stands today, looking North down College Avenue (6th Street) on Oklahoma Blvd. To read more information and view old "Ranger" albums of Northwestern State Normal School CLICK this LINK.

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Pendleton County, (West) Virginia - Period of Indian War

Pendleton County, WV - This week we discover more about the History of Pendleton County, (West) Virginia, written in the early 1900's by Oren Frederick Morton. This week we take on more of the history of the "Period of Indian War" in that region. I know we have talked about Virginia and the Indian Wars in the colonies before, because back then Virginia and West Virginia were not divided into two states and one in the same.

Oren Frederick Morton through his documents and records tells us the History of Pendleton County, West Virginia, in Chapter VI, "Period of Indian War" that Jefferson states the Indian claims in the valley of Virginia were purchased "in the most unexceptionable manner."

The few Shawnee and Tuscarora tribesmen were at peace with the whites until 1754. To that date the Shawnees remained on the South Branch. They often visited the homes of the settlers and in this way learned to speak English quite well. When the Shawnees appeared at a house they expected something to eat and were not backward in letting the fact be known. The Indian was himself very hospitable. He therefore expected something set before him, just as he was won't to provide the best he had when a stranger came to his own cabin. To boil their venison a hunting party would sometimes borrow a kettle, but they would bring some meat in return for its use.

The feeling between the settler and the native was not cordial, though. The former would sooner do without the visits of the red man. The latter was not al all pleased with the persistent pressure of the tide of colonial settlement.

Chief of the little band of Shawnees, Killbuck, was an Indian of much ability and strong mental power. Peter Casey, a pioneer of Hampshire, once promised him a pistole if he would catch his run away slave. The chief found and brought back the negro, but Casey quarreled about the reward, knocked down the Indian with his cane, and went back on his word. When Killbuck in his old age was visited by a son of Casey, he did not forget to tell the son that he ought to pay his father's debt.

We know that the English and French were rivals in America. They had already fought three colonial wars, and a life and death struggle for supremacy was now on the point of breaking out. The weak, scattered settlements of the French beyond the Alleghanies were let alone by the Indians was because of the difference in habits between the French and English pioneer. The French came not to clear the land but to trade for furs, and made himself a native when among the Indians, and if a trapper he took an Indian wife. The hunting ground were let alone and the Indian was benefited by the articles he received in return for his pelts.

But the English colonist had his own wife, and he felled the trees and cleared the ground as he came along. The game was scared away and the Indian had to fall back before him. The Englishman did not go to the same pains to win and keep the will of the red man. Thus the Frenchman had much the greater influence.

In the fall of 1753 the Shawnees on the South Branch were visited by Indians from the Ohio river, who urged them to move out to their country. The invitation was accepted and the removal took place abruptly the following spring. The Shawnees now sided with the french and with dire result to the border settlements. By the defeat of Braddock in 1755, the frontiers of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia were left totally exposed, and during the next four years the entire line was harassed by raiding parties of the enemy. Sometimes the Indians acted alone, and sometimes they were accompanied by French soldiers. The damage inflicted was very great and it was done by a comparatively small number of warriors. To make matters worse white miscreants would disguise themselves as Indians and commit depredations on their own account.

For aiding and abetting the Shawnees and trying to mislead the Cherokees, one Hugh McNamara was committed in April, 1753. Only a few months after the defeat of Braddock Washington reports 71 persons killed or missing within a few days and crowds of fugitives flying throughout he Blue Ridge.

It was in 1756 Virginia appropriated money for the building of 23 forts, comprising a chain extending from the great Cacapon in Hampshire to the Mayo in Halifax.

Washington was sent to the frontier with his headquarters at Winchester. He was not given enough troops to cover his line of defense and his men of one county were not willing to aid in protecting another. His letters give a vivid idea of the distressful times and show his irritation in having too weak a force. Washington writes under date of 15 April 1756:, "All my ideal hopes of raising number of men to search the adjacent mountains have vanished into nothing."

A week later Washington writes, "I am too little acquainted with pathetic language to attempt a description of the people's distresses." Two days later he adds, "Not an hour, nay, scarcely a minute passes that does not produce fresh alarms and melancholy accounts." In another letter Washington states, "The deplorable situation of these people is no more to be described than is my anxiety and uneasiness for their relief. Desolation and murder still increase."

On September 28, 1757, Washington writes these words, "The inhabitants of this valuable and very fertile valley are terrified beyond expression."

By 1757 there were 1873 tithables in Augusta. The following year (1758) the number had fallen to 1386, showing that the rangers who had been sent to watch the frontier, many of the people had fled to places of greater safety.

It was 1756 that three bloody battles were fought i Hampshire and on January 4 of that same year WAshington thus writes of the weak settlements in Pendleton, "I have now ordered Capt. Waggoner with 60 men to build and garrison two others (forts) at places I have pointed out high up the South branch." August 16, Washington makes this further report, "We have built some forts and altered others as far south on the Potomac as settlers have been molested; and there only remains one body of inhabitants at a place called Upper Tract who need a guard. Thither I have ordered a party."

In February of 1757, Jacob Peterson, living on North Mill Creek near the Grant line lost six children by capture, one of them soon a afterward escaping. On May 16, 1757 the Indians killed Michael Freeze and his wife, who lived close to Upper Tract. On March 19, 1758 there was bother and more destructive raid upon the Upper Tract settlement. Peter Moser, who lived opposite the mouth of Mallow's Run, was Shot dead while unloading corn at his crib. Nicholas Frank and John Conrad were also killed, George Moser and Adam Harper were wounded, and John Cunningham and two other persons were captured. These casualties happened the same day, though it is not certain that all of them took place at Upper Tract.

Captian Jacob Seybert

Perhaps it was the tragedy at the Freeze home that led to the commissioning, March 16, 1757, of Jacob Seybert as the first captain of militia for what is now Pendleton county. Captain Seybert had come from Frederick county, Maryland, four years earlier. He was one of seven brothers, natives of the very town in Germany that gave birth to Martin Luther. some of these settled in the Shenandoah valley. Moses Seybert, a brother to the captain, sold the farm he owned and went to Guilford courthouse, North Carolina, about the time the war of the Revolution broke out. he was still there at the time of the battle between Greene and Cornwallis, and the family had to stay in the cellar while bullets were flying. Seybert hurried away and sought a new home in the natural fastness of the Fort Valley within the Massanutten. He thought an armed force not likely to disturb him here.

Fort Upper Tract and Fort Seybert appear to have been built in 1756. One places this fort near the house of John S. Harman, but in view of the killing of Moser this would not seem probable. Another view places it on the very brink of the river a mile above Harman's. This spot is very advantages, being at the angle of a bend in the river and the opposite bank much lower. The river bluff is steep and a ravine affords some protection on two other sides. The enclosed space is however very limited. A building once stood here and the foundation may easily be traced. But it disappeared before the recollection of any person now living. The spot lies a mile south of Upper Tract village and on the west bank of the river.

Fort Seybert stood on what is was the house yard of William C. Miller, who lived a fourth of a mile south of the Fort Seybert post office. There was a circular stockade with a two-storied blockhouse inside. The diameter of the stockade was about 90 feet. According to the practice of the day, the wall was composed of logs set in contact with one another and rising at least ten feet above the ground. There was a heavy gate constructed of puncheons for going in or out. The blockhouse stood near the center of the circle, and was apparently about 21 feet square.

The defense of Fort Upper Tract was in trusted to Capt. James Dunlap, who had commanded a detachment in the Big Sandy expedition. A band of French and Indians appeared in the valley, and on April 27, 1758, they captured and burned the fort and killed 22 persons, including Dunlap himself. The names of the slain were as follows: Captain John Dunlap, josiah Wilson, John Hutchinson, Thomas Caddon, Henry McCullom, John Wright, Thomas Smith, Robert McNulty, William Elliott, Ludwig Falck and wife, Adam Little, Brock, John Ramsay, William Burk, Rooney, William Woods, John McCulley, Thomas Searl, James gill, John Gay, and one person unknown.

Fort Seybert Attack 28 April 1758

The tragedy at Fort Seybert took place on the following day, April 28, 1758. There were survivors to return from captivity and relate the event. The account they gave had been kept very much alive by their descendants in the vicinity. In the course of a century and a half some variations have indeed crept into the narrative.

The attacking party was composed of about 40 Shawnees led by Killbuck. There was a vague statement that one Frenchman was among them. This force was doubtless in contact with the one that wrought the havoc at Fort Upper Tract, it was probable that Killbuck took an independent course in returning to the Indian country. The only mention of Upper Tract in the Fort Seybert narrative was that an express was sent there for aid, but turned back after coming within sight of the telltale column of smoke from the burning buildings.

The number of persons "forting" in the Dyer settlement was perhaps 40. Very few were men, several having gone across the Shenandoah Mountain the day previous. Some of the women of the settlement appear to have been away. There was a fog shrouding the bottom of the South Fork on this fateful morning, and the immediate presence of the enemy was unsuspected.

There is the story about the wife of Peter Hawes going out with a boy named wallace to milk some cows. While following a path toward the post office they were surprised by two Indians and captured. Mrs. Hawes was said to have had a pair of sheep shears in her hand and to have attempted to stage one of the Indians with the shears. It may have been the same one who sought to tease her, and whom Mrs. Hawes pushed over a bank. Reappearing after his tumble, the maddened redskin was about to dispatch the woman, but was prevented by his laughing companion who called him a squaw man.

William Dyer had gone out to hunt and was waylaid near the fort. His flintlock refused to prime and he fell dead pierced by several balls. The presence of the enemy known,Nicholas Seybert, a son of the captain and about fifteen years of age, took his station in the upper room and mortally wounded an Indian who had raised his head from behind the cover of a rock in the direction of the spring.

With the collapse of the French power in America in 1760, the Indian peril became less acute, and although raiding parties came from the Greenbrier and destroyed settlements to within a few miles of Staunton, there was no no explicit account of any further attack upon Pendleton. yet the Indians prolonged the war on their own account. It was 1764 that a respite was given to the frontier. The red men were required to give up their captives, and of the 32 men and 58 women and children thus restored to their Virginia homes, it is more than probable that some belonged in this county. A number of these, taken when quite young and who had nearly or quite lost the recollection of their parental home, were very unwilling to part with their dusky friends and had to be brought away by force.

Sometimes the Indianized person refused to give up the wild life. Isaac Zane, taken when nine years old, lived with the Indians ever after, but never forgot his mother tongue. He married the sister of a Wyandot chief and reared a large family. The boys were true Indians, but the girls married white men and became fine women. Mary painter, taken front he Shenandoah in 1758, at the age of nine, lived with the Indians until 1776. She was found among the Cherokees by a man named Copple, who had likewise been a prisoner. By a well meant deception he induced her to go back with him to her people. She married Copple and they lived a while on the Painter farm near Woodstock, but yielded to the "call of the wild," and end West.

During the ten years of peace there was recorded in the deed book of the county a conveyance of 200,000 acres of land from the Iroquois, Delaware, and Shawnee Indians. The date of the transaction was November 4, 1768, and the tract lay in the angle between the Ohio and Maongahela rivers. Among the signatures were those of governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The payment was to be made i blankets, shirts, stocking, ribbon, calico, serge, thread, gartering, strouds and callimoncoe; also in knives, needles, tobacco, tongs, brass kettles, powder, lead, gunflints, vermillion and finally ten dozen jewsharps View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

20 June 1873 Tidbits Of News

Richmond, VA - We take you back to the Summer of 1873, and to the news that appeared in The Daily State Journal, out of Richmond, Virginia, Friday evening, 20 June 1873, Vo. V, No. 191.

Telegraph Summary -- "The opera house, court house and other prominent buildings at Burlington, Iowa, have been burned. Loss $400,000. Insurance $140,000. The total number of buildings burned were forty-nine. Four squares were burned over.

"The exports of petroleum from Philadelphia to foreign ports during last week amounted to 2,138,002 gallons, making a total of 27,562,50 gallons since the 1st of January. A large number of vessels are now loading with oil along the Schuylkill and Delaware.

"Albert B. Williams, a soldier indicted for murder at Fort Niagra, and who has been in jail for two years, pleaded guilty of manslaughter, and has been sentenced to the Albany penitentiary for one year and pay a fine of $500.

"The farmers and laborers of Skelbyville, Ind., and vicinity, held a meeting Staruday and passed resolutions condemning the congressional salary grab, railroad monopolies, and the moneyed aristocracy.

The large tannery of Weets & Statton, about four miles from Addison, Steuben county, New York, was nearly destroyed by fire on Monday evening. Loss $15,000, insurance $10,000.

"The United States steamer Plymouth, has arrived at new York from a four years' cruise in the Mediterranean.

"Receipts from internal revenue on the 18th were $401,897.64.

"The ship Dorris from New Providence to Halifax N.S., had on board six cases of yellow-fever, and buried one at sea.

"Information has been received at the war department that the legislature of Texas has passed resolutions commendatory of colonel Mckenzie's late pursuit and chastisement of the Kickapoo Indians.

"A dispatch from on board the steamship Great Eastern dated at noon yesterday reports that up to that hour 443 miles of cable had been paid out. The Great Eastern was then in latitude 53.20 and longitude 20.36. "George P. Evans has been arrested in New York for bigamy, and also on a civil suit brought by P. R. Barnwell, for $10,000 damages, and lodged in the Tombs. He is charged with having three wives living - viz: Almira Davis, daughter of wealthy Boston parents; a daughter of David N. Badger, of Boston, and also a daughter of Mr. Barnwell, the prosecutor. He was about eloping with another young lady when overhauled.

"A New York grand jury have found an indictment against Charles A. Dana, of The Sun, for libel, on the complaint of W. H. Kemble.

"The National division of the Sons of Temperance commenced their twenty-ninth annual session in New York yesterday. Almost every state is represented. The delegates include several colored men. The annual reports show a flourishing condition of the order. The session will last several days. A grand reception came off last night at the academy of music.

"The majority of the finance committee of the Cortes favor the abolishing of the law granting pensions to members of the Cabinet and placing them upon the same footing with other functionaries.

"The sentence of the court in the case of Susan B. Anthony was a fine of $100 and the costs of prosecution. She is not to stand committed till the fine is paid. Before the sentence Miss Anthony said she desired and demanded the full rigor of the law.

At a secret meeting of the place commissioners of New York yesterday, it is said a resolution was adopted that claims of colored citizens be recognized by the appointment of twenty-five able-bodied colored men as patrolmen of the police department. The commissioners will not say yet whether the resolution was or was not adopted.

"There were eighteen bids for gold yesterday, amounting to $4,210,000, at from 115.26 to 115.88 ½. The amount sold was $2,000,000, which went at 115.26 to 116.88 ½.

"The census of 1870 discloses the fact that the average annual earnings of the people of the United States do not exceed $800. Of the employed classes the average annual wages and earnings is $1,000; of those who receive salaries the average is $1,500, and in the learned professions the annual average is $2,500. This census is said to demonstrate that the people of the United States make more money per capita than the people of any other country."

West Virginia -- Serious Charge Against Pastor, Wheeling, June 20, 1873 - "Rev. Mr. Lanspe, of this city, pastor at Zion's church, teacher of German in the public schools, was arrested yesterday for an attempted rape on a girl twelve years old, one of his scholars. He denies the charge and has given bail."

Kentucky -- Outlaw Arrested, Owingsville, June 20, 1873 - "The outlaw named Hagan has been arrested here. He gives eighty names of a band of robbers working between Pendleton county, Ohio, through Kentucky, Virginia and North Carolina."

Wisconsin -- Woods On Fire, Milwaukee, June 20, 1873 - "Burning woods have stopped the trains between Big Cedars and Escambia." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Summer of 1873 - White Sulphur Springs Surroundings

White Sulphur Springs, WV - In The Daily State Journal, of Richmond, Virginia, dated 20 June 1873, page 1, there was an article concerning the surroundings of White Sulphur Springs, written by a New York traveling correspondent that mentioned on June 19th gave the readers a complete description of the surroundings of this popular and favored resort, and the adjacent resources for enjoyment and pleasure.

The correspondent made a lengthy communication that nine out of ten of all the visitors tot he "White Sulphur Springs," will pronounce the scenery which surrounds them, vastly more grand and beautiful than any within sight of Saratoga; the climate more pleasant, and the air more salubrious; while the mineral waters are equally or more beneficial, in a greater number of maladies, than those renowned New York springs.

The New York correspondent also mentioned the opportunities for hunting and fishing, in this Greenbrier country, are much finer than are those of Saratoga. He also mentioned, "While it is unquestionably true, that the artificial or artistic attractions of the New York springs may surpass those of Virginia, the latter have vastly the advantage in natural attractions and scenery; being elevated some two hundred feet above tide-water, surrounded with the most picturesque mountain scenery near the western slope of the great Appalachian chain, on the Chesapeake and the Ohio railroad, and in the valley of Howard creek, near its confluence with the Greenbrier river; kate's mountain near by on the south; the Greenbrier mountains about one mile to the west; with towering peaks of the Alleghany mountains about a half a dozen miles to the east and north."

And they have the further advantage of being nearly in the centre of the great "Virginia Springs region," so visitors can go in a few hours, as they may wish; having the Hot, Warm and Healing Springs from thirty-five miles to the north; the Sweet and Sweet Chalybeate, sixteen miles to the east; the Salt and the Red Sulphur, the one twenty-four, the other forty-one miles to the south; and all of them easily accessible by railroad or by comfortable stages, over good roads back in those days of the nineteenth century.

The correspondent told of how Colonel Peyton kept a stall of splendid saddle horses, and fine driving horses at all times.

Lewisburg, the county seat of Greenbrier county, was a thriving, handsomely-located town, some nine miles drive froth White Sulphur, on a good turnpike road and was a place of attraction and affording a pleasant drive, which was enjoyed by the guests and patients to the Springs. It was in the Springs region, they had salubrious and invigorating air, and the most agreeable temperatures, cool at morning and evening, and at not time oppressively warm. The thermometer ranges during the summer were between 60 degrees and 70 degrees, rarely attaining a greater height than 85 degrees at any time of the day. The atmosphere was so elastic and invigorating as to enable invalids to take exercise in the open air without inconvenience of fatigue.

The Red or Sweet Chalybeate Springs, of which G. L. Peyton & co. were proprietors, had made improvements for the season.

The New York correspondent stated towards the end of the article, "If those men owning lands in the vicinity of the Springs, would give more attention and care to raising grapes and other fruits, including berries, there is no doubt but that they would find it profitable and realize a ready and handsome return for their labor; and the same would be true in regard to truck gardening and early vegetable; as large quantities are required for the thousands of visitors at this popular resort." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Senators In 1873 Virginia Return Back Pay

Virginia - How many times do we talk about Congressmen returning their back pay? In the Summer of June, 1873, there was an article. "Senators Who Have Returned Their Back pay, concerning just that sentiment, in The Daily State Journal, dated 20 June 1873.

The complete list of 1873 senators who had returned their back pay were: henry B. Anthony, Rhode Island; Thomas F. Bayard, Delaware; Zachariah Chanler, Michigan; Eugene Casserly, California; Reuben E. Fenton, NY; W. Ferry, Michigan; T. D. Frelinghuysen, NJ; Hannibal Hamlin, Maine;Daniel D. Prat, Indiana; CArl Schurz, Missouri; John Scott, Pennsylvania; Charles Sumner, Mass.; Allen G. Thurman, Ohio; and Henry Wilson, Massachusetts. Fourteen in all.

The above list showed that 8 of the 49 republicans; 3 of the 7 liberal republicans; and 3 of the 17 democrats in the senate at the time of the vote on the salary question, had returned their pay to the Treasury.

Mr. Corbett was understood to have given his back pay towards building of the Washington monument. The total amount of "back pay" returned tot he Treasury was $192,017. Thirty-four, and the number of senators and representatives who had declined to receive it was 46. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

1912 - Women of Ohio Seek Aid In Fight For Vote

Pasadena, California - In the Medford Mail Tribune, 23 July 1912, via Pasadena, California, there was an article concerning a women of Ohio seeking aid in fight for the vote.

It was the leaders of the woman suffrage movement in California were appealing to their supporters who won their fight last fall to aid the women of Ohio in their battle for the ballot.

Mrs. Seward Simons, one of the prominent club women of Southern California, had issued a call for aid, drawing attention to the fact that the women of this state were greatly assisted in their campaign by their eastern sisters. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Special B-17 & Her Crew In 1943

America - Remembering back to 1943 and World War II, we received this information from Homer Hawkins concerning the Special B-17 and her crew in 1943. It was a mid-air collision of 1 February 1943, between a B-17 and a German fighter over the Tunis dock area, became the subject of one of the most famous photographs of World War II.

An enemy fighter attacking a 97th Bomb Group formation went out of control, probably with a wounded pilot then continued its crashing descent into the rear of the fuselage of a Fortress named All American, piloted by Lt. Kendrick R. Bragg, of the 414th Bomb Squadron. When it struck, the fighter broke apart, but left some pieces in the B-17. The left horizontal stabilizer of the Fortress and left elevator were completely torn away.

The two right engines were out and one on the left had a serious oil pump leak. The vertical fin and the rudder had been damaged, the fuselage had been cut almost completely through connected only at two small parts of the frame and the radios, electrical and oxygen systems were damaged. There was also a hole in the top that was over 16 feet long and 4 feet wide at its widest and the split in the fuselage went all the way to the top gunners turret.

Although the tail actually bounced and swayed in the wind and twisted when the plane turned and all the control cables were severed, except one single elevator cable still worked, and the aircraft still flew - miraculously! The tail gunner was trapped because there was no floor connecting the tail to the rest of the plane. The waist and tail gunners used parts of the German fighter and their own parachute harnesses in an attempt to keep the tail from ripping off and the two sides of the fuselage from splitting apart. While the crew was trying to keep the bomber from coming apart, the pilot continued on his bomb run and released his bombs over the target.

When the bomb bay doors were opened, the wind turbulence was so great that it blew one of the waist gunners into the broken tail section. It took several minutes and four crew members to pass him ropes from parachutes and haul him back into the forward part of the plane. When they tried to do the same for the tail gunner, the tail began flapping so hard that it began to break off. The weight of the gunner was adding some stability to the tail section, so he went back to his position.

The turn back toward England had to be very slow to keep the tail from twisting off. They actually covered almost 70 miles to make the turn home. The bomber was so badly damaged that it was losing altitude and speed and was soon alone in the sky. For a brief time, two more Me-109 German fighters attacked the All American. Despite the extensive damage, all of the machine gunners were able to respond to these attacks and soon drove off the fighters. The two waist gunners stood up with their heads sticking out through the hole in the top of the fuselage to aim and fire their machine guns. The tail gunner had to shoot in short bursts because the recoil was actually causing the plane to turn.

Allied P-51 fighters intercepted the All American as it crossed over the Channel and took one of the pictures shown. They also radioed to the base describing that the empennage was waving like a fish tail and that the plane would not make it and to send out boats to rescue the crew when they bailed out. The fighters stayed with the Fortress taking hand signals from Lt. Bragg and relaying them to the base. Lt. Bragg signaled that 5 parachutes and the spare had been "used" so five of the crew could not bail out. He made the decision that if they could not bail out safely, then he would stay with the plane and land it. Two and a half hours after being hit, the aircraft made its final turn to line up with the runway while it was still over 40 miles away. It descended into an emergency landing and a normal roll-out on its landing gear.

When the ambulance pulled alongside, it was waved off because not a single member of the crew had been injured. No one could believe that the aircraft could still fly in such a condition. The Fortress sat placidly until the crew all exited through the door in the fuselage and the tail gunner had climbed down a ladder, at which time the entire rear section of the aircraft collapsed onto the ground. The rugged old bird had done its job. View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe