Artillery Missiles

[floydragsdale]

Artillery missiles inflicted more casualties on troops than any other type of weapon according to statistics relating to the fatalities and injuries in WWII.

Wounds caused by shrapnel were usually more severe than injuries from small arms fire.

A Soldier on the battlefield, advancing across an open field, soon discovered how wicked exploding artillery missiles were. Suddenly a shell exploded and he would be covered with blood and flesh from a squad member next to him.

German 88 mm artillery pieces were the most feared and respected of all other weapons, by American Soldiers. In about six to eight seconds, an experienced German 88 gun crew could go from anti-aircraft fire to anti personnel fire.

Thus when the German 88 guns were firing on American planes a G.I. knew how much time he had to dash from here, to there.

A Soldiers trained ear could distinguish the different sounds between artillery shells going overhead, or ones that would explode near by.

If it was going to be in his vicinity, there was almost no time to react to it. Yet, that’s how come a Soldier learned to hit the dirt faster than on the double.

The safest place to be during an artillery barrage was hunkered down in a foxhole, however that wasn't always possible

Floyd,
424th Regiment

[connie]

Floyd,

Thank you. As with all your posts, this addition to the board by you is appreciated. You take us there as only those who have been there can.

Connie

[hogcoach]

My father Leo Croft (424) said that late in the war there were a lot of duds. I later talked to a Jewish lady that worked in a munitions factory and she said they tried to sabotage the shells. Dad also said the German 88 was really a good weapon. David

[connie]

This contains unique insights worth bringing to the surface on the board again... Thanks, David!

[floydragsdale]

Indeed, the German 88 was an exellent weapon. A good German Gun Crew could take it from anti-aircraft fire to anti personnel fire in six to eight seconds.

During the Bulge Campaign, when American planes were flying over-head, a Soldier knew that he had no more than six to eight seconds to run from here to there before those darn 88 missiles began to explode around him. It was easy to determine if a missile was just passing overhead, or not, by the sound it made. A missile that was going to explode nearby had a shrill, whiz-bang, noise to it. There was no time to hit the ground before it exploded.

A French citizen invented that artillery piece and tried to sell it to the French Government; with no results. The British Government wasn’t interested in it either. Also, the U.S. Government didn’t want it. However, Hitler knew a good deal when he saw it and he bought the plans from the Frenchman who invented it. All three Governments who turned their backs on that weapon paid dearly for their decision. - - - This is a story one is not likely to read in the paper, or hear and see by watching the Idiot Tube, yet, it's a true piece of information.


Floyd

[connie]

Interesting stuff, Floyd. You saw and experienced 88 fire. Did you ever, post hostilities, get to see one of these up close?

Connie

[floydragsdale]

This dummy doesn't understand the question, Connie!.

Sorry for my stupidity. It finally sank into my thick skull. Yes, I did see some of those artillery pieces up close. However, not being in an Artillery organization, I didn't examine it very close.  Nevertheless,those of us who had been on the receiving end of their firing knew that it was one heck of a weapon. Example; one G.I. was coming up to our battle station from Co. HQ.He was advised not to tarry when he reached to crest of Schnee Eifel. Yet he walked as if he was on a Sunday afternoon stroll, as he approached us. Then BANG, an exploding 88 missile sent him reeling head over heels. He picked up his helmut and flew into our Bunker as if he had been shot out of a gun. While gasping for air he discovered a large hole in his helmut and fell over in a dead faint. A miracle happened,  he wasn't wounded, however he got the you know what scared out of him.  That was no way to get acquainted with German 88 Artillery fire.  The Germans would fire that weapon at just one Soldier who was out in the open.

[connie]

Floyd,

Sorry my wording was confusing. Glad you were able to figure out what I was getting at despite that. Enjoyed your real life account. Since the fellow escaped with his life, there is humor to the account-- as well as a strong reality check. Wonder if he told the story to his grandkids...

It is amazing that they would fire such a heavy-duty weapon in the direction of a single person!