This is the B-17 my Uncle was shot down in bombing Kiel. June 13 1943. He was going after the sub pens.
Captain Rawlinson. The only survivor from the Klo-Kay. He visited all the families of the crewmen after the war to let them know what happend to their boys. He was the only survivor of the Klo-Kay. Became a POW. Please read his account below.
What you have just read is the account of Capt Rawlinson from June 13 1943. My Uncle shown underlined above, Charles E Schultheis, was tailgunner this day. He was a pilot as noted in the text. The lead ship must have rated officers at all posts. My uncle got the tail position. Granted I could not speak with him I was able to get this information after years of searching. My mother was a great source as she had his wings and a locket he had sent to her when he arrived in Europe.
My other uncle. Edward Schultheis fought the war in the PTO. He is still alive but does not talk about the war. Only once did he describe working on the planes that used the carriers. He was also a torpedo mechanic. He has never flown in a plane since WW2 because he said all pilots are hotdogs and crazy.
Rawlinson claims the enemy fighter fire probably killed my uncle before the explosion. Rawlinson said he could feel the shells hitting his armor plate behind his seat.
Oddly enough, here I am playing a German u-boat game stationed in Kiel Germany.
The gentleman in the middle is my Uncle Charles or Chippie as my mother called him. I believe this B-17, Rainier, was his command but I have not gotten postive proof of this.