The B17 "Hang the Expense III" from the 100th BG after being hit by flak over Frankfurt on January 24,1944.
The blast blew the tail gunner, S/Sgt. Roy Urich, out of the plane.
He was seeing falling from the sky and through the bomber formation still sitting in his gunner seat and holding the handles to his twin .50's.
Just before the blast, he bent over to talk on his radio. This was the exact time that the blast hit the plane. He was knocked unconscious and fell from the plane. He managed to gain consciousness as he was falling and deployed his parachute.
Upon landing on the ground he was captured and taken to a POW camp. He suffered only a gash to the top of his head.
The plane landed safely and no other crew was injured. (Pre Max era) #ww2 #bombers #zerofoxtrot #stayzero