An excellent account - 424th Regt. in the B.O.B

[floydragsdale]

It's Sat. evening, with snowy, cold weather here in the Midwestern U.S.A. A good reminder of the B.O.B. days in Belgium. Read
the story attached to this link to get an idea of what it was like in those days. I was there & remember those days as though it happened just a little while ago.

Floyd


www.battleofthebulgememories.be/fr/stories/us-army/649-424th-infantry-regiment-106th-infantry-division.html

[connie]

Hi, Floyd,

Thanks for pointing this account out. I had read it before, but it helps to have the scene validated by someone else who was there. And I began reading it again with new eyes. I could picture that spot around the Salm River described there. We went through some of that territory together.

Did you witness the allied planes on the 23rd, too?

I need to re-read some of my dad's accounts to again and pinpoint where he was that day. I know he experienced the same feelings described here when he witnessed the sky filling with planes coming in from the west. But if I recall correctly the air attack he witnessed, during this time when the Germans had pushed the troops back so far, occurred around Christmas Day.

It is interesting to begin to knit together individual accounts and to begin to see the broader picture.

I guess for those of us who weren't there, this takes a while.

So glad you take the time to share your first hand experience.

Thanks!

Connie

[floydragsdale]

Hi Connie

I remember the day when the skies cleared and our planes filled the sky, from one end to the other. If my memory is correct, there were 36 planes in a group. I think they were B17 Bombers (Flying Fortress). Hundreds of them filled the sky.

German 88 anti-aircraft fire was devastating on them. My minds eye can still visualize some of those Bombers falling earthward after being hit by shrapnel. A tail section, an entire wing, or a plane breaking in two pieces sent them spinning to the ground.

We watched as some of the crew-members bailed out of their disabled planes and floated earthward.

There was always a race ,between us and the German Soldiers, to see who could pick those downed Airmen up.

The date was several days before Christmas 1944.

Also, I well remember the fighting we did in did in and around Manhay and Vielsalm. Our battalion suffered many causalities in both places.

Welcome back, Connie,

Floyd

[connie]

Floyd,

Your description of the appearance of the allied planes (long about December 23) followed by the German anti-aircraft fire takes joy to horror in rapid succession. Dad saw the incoming airborne reinforcements a couple of days later and, weary and beaten back, spoke only of the euphoria of seeing the clear sky filled with a scene that gave new hope. I don't think that from his vantage point he saw planes being downed... What a horrible, helpless feeling to witness this...

You spoke of Vielsalm and Manhay, too. I know when you were about to pull out of the surrounded goose-egg in Vielsalm, dad was with a handful of men trying to make their way to this area with truckloads of fuel. I read that things were mired a bit and retreat was looking impossible, when a freeze set in allowing that retreat. Were you aware of the mud and the freeze and it's importance at the time?

Connie
PS It's good to be back (and feeling well)!