Why Was This B-17 Gunner Able To Survive A 28,000ft Plunge Into The German Forest?
World War Chronicles
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Why Was This B-17 Gunner Able To Survive A 28,000ft Plunge Into The German Forest?
On November 29, 1943, 19-year-old tail gunner Eugene "Gene" Moran survived an impossible fall after his B-17 Flying Fortress, "Ricky Ticky Tavi," was shredded by German fighters over Bremen. During the brutal dogfight, Moran was severely wounded, with both arms broken and his parachute destroyed. When the tail section of the aircraft severed at 28,000 feet, Moran was pinned inside the spinning wreckage.
In a freak occurrence of physics, the tail section’s aerodynamic properties and a descent through dense pine trees in Syke, Germany, slowed the impact enough for him to survive. Despite an exposed brain injury and multiple fractures, he was saved by a Serbian prisoner-of-war doctor who repaired his skull with a piece of a mess tin. Moran spent 17 months as a POW, survived the infamous "Black March," and eventually returned to Wisconsin. He lived a quiet life as a mail carrier, passing away in 2014 at age 90.
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Why Was This B-17 Gunner Able To Survive A 28,000ft Plunge Into The German Forest?
World War Chronicles
161 views
Why Was This B-17 Gunner Able To Survive A 28,000ft Plunge Into The German Forest?
On November 29, 1943, 19-year-old tail gunner Eugene "Gene" Moran survived an impossible fall after his B-17 Flying Fortress, "Ricky Ticky Tavi," was shredded by German fighters over Bremen. During the brutal dogfight, Moran was severely wounded, with both arms broken and his parachute destroyed. When the tail section of the aircraft severed at 28,000 feet, Moran was pinned inside the spinning wreckage.
In a freak occurrence of physics, the tail section’s aerodynamic properties and a descent through dense pine trees in Syke, Germany, slowed the impact enough for him to survive. Despite an exposed brain injury and multiple fractures, he was saved by a Serbian prisoner-of-war doctor who repaired his skull with a piece of a mess tin. Moran spent 17 months as a POW, survived the infamous "Black March," and eventually returned to Wisconsin. He lived a quiet life as a mail carrier, passing away in 2014 at age 90.
We don't glorify war. We remember the men who fought it.
New documentaries every week.
👉 Subscribe here: @worldwarchronicles-f9v
#WWII #WW2 #WorldWarII #MilitaryHistory #WarHistory #HistoryDocumentary #WWIIBattles #SecondWorldWar #PacificWar
#WWII #WW2 #WorldWarII #MilitaryHistory #WarHistory #HistoryDocumentary #WWIIBattles #SecondWorldWar #PacificWa