Art Kramer

ART KRAMER'S WWII STORIES

The War Was Over: Death On The North Sea Gunnery Range

It was on the 31st of May, 1945. The USAAC had established a gunnery range in the North Sea, It was known as the Blankenburghe gunnery range. We flew many missions there attacking a load of target rafts moored in the North sea. We would come in low and shoot up the rafts. After enough planes had made their passes the rafts were just a bunch of floating sticks and we would head for home while the rafts were replaced for the next strafing mission. This allowed all the gunners to fire their guns including the pilot who would bring his package guns to bear. On this mission Harrell Foxx was at the controls. And as far as anyone can figure they made their pass and then continued to dive right into the North Sea. There were no survivors. We will never know what actually caused the crash. Some say it was target fixation. Others claim it was just the low altiiude treachery for which the Marauder is so famous. But one thing we do know and that just because the war ended, it didn't mean those in the Army Air Corps would ever get safely home. On this mission there was Foxx, Robinson, Malchiodi, Dmitri, Doyle, Dunn and Stout. Lest we forget.

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