WWII Statistics
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A great article to state the volume of aircraft and men that went into battle or died at home training to go to war. Article is below pics of airplanes 0 -
I read that. I instantly thought of the old man that worked behind me on the brown and sharpe single spindle automatics. He was a side gunner and told me how cold it got and how on one of his 25 missions they dropped their payload and hit a friendly plane. 0 -
Flying Clay Disk wrote:I thought this one interesting...In 1942-43 it was statistically impossible for bomber crews to complete a 25-mission tour in Europe. ...
I guess Dad was a statistically impossible person. He completed (3) 25-mission tours and an additional 13-missions of a 4th...all in Europe. Total of 88 missions total. All in a B-17. (42-45, he enlisted in '41)
Though, he was one of only two who survived from his training class.
A grim fact...in 1944 they were running so low on parts they were cannibalizing B-17's for parts. One of the B-17's Dad was on crashed at Ridgewell returning from Germany. It tore the wing off. They rebuilt it with two wings from a different model B-17. It was the idea of a crew chief by the name of Frenchy. The plane was renamed Frenchy's Folly. Everyone was afraid to fly on it so Dad volunteered. There were people climbing over each other to volunteer after that. His reputation for surviving at that point had people thinking if the Germans hadn't killed him after all he'd been through luck was on their side. He flew on that plane back to the US in 1945, and then crewed on it to AZ where it was demolished. It was one of the few B-17's to make it back to the states from Europe. I've posted pictures of this plane here before.
It was the stuff legends are made of, but I guess so was he.
cool story!
recently at work they made me the Group Leader. I think they're nuts. I like the story so much I'll call my team Frenchy's Folly in honor of your dad's B17. ...and they won't know what the hell I'm talking about.0 -
FCD, you probably already read this, but thought I'd share it anyway. Not a whole lot too the article, but it's neat to see that picture, with the bomber it in it's original livery.
https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-39997-big-mike-aka-frenchys-folly/
Edit: Found a couple more pics.
"B-17 Flying Fortresses, including nicknamed "Frenchy's Folly", of the 381st Bomb Group at Laun-Couvron, France, May 1945. is the foremost of a large group of 381st Bomb Group aircraft at Station A-70, at Laun-Couvron in France, during Operation Revival, May 1945. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'No 10. May 4 or 5, 1945. Station A-70 Laun-Couvron, France (sometimes called Crepy-Couvron). Liberated prisoners of war from Stalag Luft No. I, Barth, Germany. 381st Bomb Group planes, Frenchy's Folly in foreground. Jim Tobin."0 -
Thanks SF for the great stories about your Dad truly amazing
same for all the rest who shared stories of there family .
I can not watch a war movie with thinking of the brave men and women who gave so much and some all to protect us
also I can not even fathom what every one went thru . prayers for all of them who never came back and you who served0 -
Fantastic article, thank you for sharing it with us. I truly was hinged on every word... Really!!! Thank you again 0 -
While we paid a great price they pale in comparison to Russian losses in WWII. For every ONE American that lost his life EIGHTY Russian soldiers died. 80% of German losses in men, equipment, resources were consumed fighting the Russian Army.
ln addition Russia had MORE soldiers KILLED in WWII than we had in enlisted in uniform in ALL the branches of service COMBINED.. About ELEVEN MILLION. The Germans also killed SIXTEEN MILLION Russian CIVILIANS. Russia lost MORE people in WWII than ALL the people in Europe on BOTH sides COMBINED :!:0 -
Great article, thanks to you for posting and thanks to your Dad for his extraordinary service. 0 -
My Dad was in the pacific on an aircraft carrier 3 -
The U.S. and allies fought a winning war at a huge cost of life. Don't see anyone these days capable of doing the same.
Don't really see anyone capable of fighting a TRADE WAR and winning. Many of the Trade War Troops would be scared of getting a paper cut. :shock:0 -
That's a cool story & the personal nature of it to FCD makes it even better. 0 -
Wow, your dad was a legend. The story of how Big Mike morphed into Frenchy and how blessed your father was to survive all that.
So many unsung hero stories and amazing things we may never know surrounding the D day invasion mission and war in Europe.
You should write a book about this story.3 -
wpageabc wrote:Wow, your dad was a legend. The story of how Big Mike morphed into Frenchy and how blessed your father was to survive all that.
So many unsung hero stories and amazing things we may never know surrounding the D day invasion mission and war in Europe.
You should write a book about this story.
+1 - Sir.
Much Respect to your Father.3 -
So frenchy from frenchy's folly is actually my 101 year old grandfather Charles Barber. I grew up hearing his stories and told me it was the 1 of the beat experiences of his life. He's in pretty great shape for being 101 lol. He talks about the war a lot. And these pictures and acknowledgement means so much to my family and I. My grandpa was and is a truly amazing person. He always had to fix something! He grew up very poor in the country outside New Orleans in a house that only spoke French. He was a simple man that loves to talk and always put himself last. Thank you to all who wrote on this thread! I will share it with my family. I actually have a tattoo that says frenchy's folly.if anyone knew my grandpa or was part of this please contact me!
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I just got goose bumps and nearly spilled my coffee!! Welcome FrenchysGranddaughter! Hearing that your granddad is still with us puts the P back in Pride for this son of a WWII veteran!
Please give your grandfather a tight hug and a crisp salute from me!6 -
+1Brookwood said: I just got goose bumps and nearly spilled my coffee!! Welcome FrenchysGranddaughter! Hearing that your granddad is still with us puts the P back in Pride for this son of a WWII veteran!
Please give your grandfather a tight hug and a crisp salute from me!
Thanks for chiming in, FrenchysGranddaughter. Glad you stopped by.3 -
A thread worth it's salt. Good stuff as a lot of us have family ties who were in the war. 0 -
Fabulous thread. I beg you both to write this story. Get together and compare stories, details, anecdotes - and write it.
To all of you, if you get the chance to get a ride on a B-17, please do. It is a goosebump-raising experience. The sound of those engines from inside is simply visceral, and the view peering out of the nose from the bombardier's seat will give you the willies when you think about how it was back then. Then there's the sight of the two suicide positions: ball turret and tail gunner. Indescribable emotions.
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Followup: Both my parents were Army. Mom was in Special Services stateside and Dad drove deuce and a half in Belgium. He was with the Big Red One during the Bulge, and the only war story he ever told me was about the night during the Bulge when he had a load that absolutely had to get to the Front, it was so bitterly cold that his truck's radiator froze while the engine was running. He pushed it until the engine was glowing red and when he finally got his load there, it seized up into a solid mass. 3 -
My father in law’s half brother died in a bomber shot down over Europe. He had no wife or children and his siblings were much younger. They knew almost nothing about him or his service. There are thousands like Bud who’s story will never be told.
If your dad or other family members life history is know, it is a true blessing.
Some gave all.3 -
Thank you everyone! I actually have a video of myself talking to him about frenchy's folly. He does have some dementia but he also has many moments of clarity especially from that time frame. He often times understands what your saying but can't think of the right words. But I. The video I posted on Facebook inappropriate Facebook group dedicated to Ridgewell where he was stationed. The group is called 381st bomb group at Ridgewell in WW2 ....u can also just search Frenchy's folly and find the group and many other people that have talked about the crew and Big mike. I even found a woman who's dad worked on Frenchy with my grandpa!! So many people gave me content!!!!!
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https://m.facebook.com/groups/399578866799565?view=permalink&id=2791114150979346. This is the Facebook group link
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My father was in the Air Force and was a navigator on the B-17’s. I have several photos taken from the inside of a b-17 on missions. I still have most of his flight uniforms and other stuff. He never spoke much about his flying time in the service.
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great story"s and family history
thank you for posting . they truly were the amazing or "greatest generation" as they have been called
I will always be humbled by the effort and sacrifices made by so many , from the beginning of this country fighting for our independence . and ever sense to keep it . to well beyond my time , I was lucky enough to have been born into such a great country0 -
FCD, it sounds like your pappy might have had some feline DNA, 9 lives and all. What a lucky son of a gun! 0 -
My dad made 76 flights in a cargo plane, going over the Himalayas from India to China. Never saw a Jap fighter.
But they called the route "The Aluminum Highway" because, on a clear day, the pilot could navigate by seeing the shiny aluminum of all the C46s that had crashed. My dad was lucky to live through it. The mountains in the pass they flew through were at 17,500 feet.3 -
To the guy that said me and clay should come together and make a story I totally agree lol. But the whole if you get a chance to ride on a b17 I'd take the opportunity. So here's another crazy story back in October my mom got tickets for my mom stepfather sister and grandpa to go to the Baltimore airshow and paid $800 to ride on the flying fortress. Well literally I kid u not the WEEK before my entire family were to be on that plane it crashed :(. Leaving all of us feeling blessed but also guilt because by saying that it's almost like saying those on bored that day weren't blessed and my mom especially has had trouble using the word blessed. But at a kid we kid ride in a b17 I think I might have been my grandpa's but I don't remember a lot. Idk what happened to frenchy's folly I'd love to know where he's at!
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It was I who suggested the writing and the ride. I've done both, and you can take it from me how cathartic both experiences were.
I was privileged to share my B-17 ride with a man who had been a radio operator on them in WWII. (BTW, they fly all former B-17 crewmen for free.) They sat him at his former crew seat, and I watched him mentally living those days again during our flight.
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Wow! This thread is outstanding! So many times I hear war stories and wonder if they are really true, but this one comes to life with all the pictures, etc. But when Frenchy's granddaughter suddenly appeared I almost fell off my chair! 3 -
Hi everyone,
I love reading the stories about Frenchy's Folly. My grandfather was ground crew in the Triangle L and was recognized for his artistic ability, as a result, his unofficial job became painting the nose art. He, like I am sure everyone else involved in the project, was very proud of Frenchy's Folly and I heard a great deal about it growing up. This photo is my grandfather painting the nose art on Frenchy's Folly.6
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