Monday, September 28, 2015

My God, what a hero!-----B-29: Phosphorus burned through his flesh to the bone. His body on fire, he stumbled into the cockpit

B-29: Phosphorus burned through his flesh to the bone. His body on fire, he stumbled into the cockpit:
"...Erwin was afraid the bomb would burn through the metal floor into the bomb bay.
Completely blind, he picked it up and feeling his way, crawled around the gun turret and headed for the copilot’s window. 
800px-Red_Erwin_1995His face and arms were covered with ignited phosphorus and his path was blocked by the navigator’s folding table, hinged to the wall but down and locked.
The navigator had left his table to make a sighting.
Erwin couldn’t release the table’s latches with one hand, so he grabbed the white-hot bomb between his bare right arm and his ribcage. 
In the few seconds it took to raise the table, the phosphorus burned through his flesh to the bone. 
His body on fire, he stumbled into the cockpit, threw the bomb out the window and collapsed between the pilot’s seats.
The smoke cleared enough for Simeral to pull the B-29 out of a dive at 300 feet (91 m) above the water and turn toward Iwo Jima, where Erwin could be given emergency treatment.
His crew members extinguished his burning clothes and administered first aid, but whenever Erwin’s burns were uncovered, phosphorus embedded in his skin would begin to smolder.
Although in excruciating pain, he remained conscious throughout the flight and spoke only to inquire about the safety of the crew. 
Once at Iwo Jima, medical personnel didn’t believe he would survive..."

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