It’s hard to tell if that’s flame or just gushing fuel. The lack of smoke would seem to indicate fuel, and the hole in the left wing inboard of the #1 engine would seem to confirm it. I’d say that at this point it would be difficult to declare the bird “destroyed”. Some allied aircraft kept flying after suffering devastating damage.
Gut-wrenching to look at this and now at the moment it’s taken, three young men fighting to stop fascism are about to die.
mezenrius13
My wifes grandfather was a squadron commander in the 409th (flew 66 missions) amd knew the pilot. Said it was a flak round into the bomb bay and that he believed the plane exploded shortly there after.
TGMcGonigle
It’s hard to tell if that’s flame or just gushing fuel. The lack of smoke would seem to indicate fuel, and the hole in the left wing inboard of the #1 engine would seem to confirm it. I’d say that at this point it would be difficult to declare the bird “destroyed”. Some allied aircraft kept flying after suffering devastating damage.
MartyVanB
more on the plane https://www.warhistoryonline.com/featured/22-gut-wrenching-images-of-bombers-that-didnt-make-it-home.html
ryandinho14
Gut-wrenching to look at this and now at the moment it’s taken, three young men fighting to stop fascism are about to die.
mezenrius13
My wifes grandfather was a squadron commander in the 409th (flew 66 missions) amd knew the pilot. Said it was a flak round into the bomb bay and that he believed the plane exploded shortly there after.