Art Kramer

ART KRAMER'S WWII STORIES

Strafing as if in a Dream

It was a rare mission for us. Marauders were never meant to be thrown around at low level at high speed. And this was a low-level mission. We were to bomb a military target in a small city. Then we were to go down on the deck and strafe. It was the first strafing mission we had ever flown since we left flying school in the States. But this time it was for real. Unlike bombing from 10.000 feet, this was on the deck and we would actually see close up those who we were shooting. This, for us, was war in a whole new light.

We did our bomb run then turned hard and dropped down fast to line up with the target area for strafing. I had charged my .50 Browning with two fast strokes earlier and now I cooked off a few rounds to make doubly sure it was clear. It was.

We were now approaching the main street of the town. It was deserted. Not a car. Not a person. No one. I started firing shooting up the street, when suddenly in the distance I saw what looked like an old woman, a little boy and a dog trying to make it across the street as we approached. "Damn" I thought. "Why the hell couldn't they stay under cover where they were?" I instinctively lifted my thumbs away from the triggers and stopped shooting. When we had passed well clear of them I commenced firing. I hoped that none of the planes that came after us had hit them.

On landing I spoke to our tail gunner Greigo. "Hey Greigo, did you see that old lady, kid and dog crossing the street?" Greigo shook his head. "No sir. Never saw anybody. Streets were clear". "Hey Bo. Did you see them?" No sir. Sure didn't" " Hey Bob, Paul, did you guys?" "Nope Art, never saw anybody down there".

I remember them clearly to this day. Is it possible that I saw them and no one else did? I know they were there. I remember every detail. Yet there is that lingering doubt. When I think back to that day it was like moving in a dream through a fog of remembrance that persists in lingering always.

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