When Two B17s Flew Piggyback

Lt Glenn Rojohn of the 8th Air Force’s 100th Bomb Group was flying his B-17 Flying Fortress on a raid over Germany. What happened next is a story of bravery and skill that defied the odds.
You can read more in Cyndi Rojohn's excellent book, "The Piggyback Flight Pilot's Journey" published by Fulton Books.
Also please check out the 100th Bomb Group's excellent site www.100thbg.com for more historical references on this and other stories of daring and heroism.
We would also like to thank Benson's Grandpa and Holden Hathcock, our patreons that sponsored this video and appear as extras. If you too would like to appear as an extra in one of our videos, please check out our patreon at / yarnhub

[@toast6494]

"Hans..." "What?" "There's a B34..."

[@danishkfd]

Lol

[@user-kn9db6pw7v]

ha-ha-ha)))

[@shoebill3810]

"What are you doing step bro?"

[@somerandomdude712]

@@shoebill3810 its more "What are you doing step B17?"

[@cheesekimbap7777]

WTF HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, MY STOMACH HURTS BECAUSE OF THIS🤣🤣🤣

[@lamhkak47]

And that's how more B-17s are made

[@AceMontage]

r/cursedcomment

[@piotrekszczepanski5125]

OOooHhhhHH. I think you just bust my bomb bay! And my rear gunner!

[@33rdswifty82]

Im gonna pretend i didnt see anything

[@tagalaseimonlorenzom.11hum79]

"Shoots your bullets, my dude!"

[@colonelstriker2519]

Piotrek Szczepanski coming in your rear

[@banana_in_a_tuxedo]

Just noticed that at 2:09 you put 9 bullet holes on the plane called the "nine lives". Cool little detail

[@jaypolas4136]

Hahaha yess

[@-thanawat-8296]

frrrr

[@clickersaway1260]

I saw it to

[@HiVizCamo]

And at 6:24 on the reunion tarmac, here comes a little visitor.

[@milomoli2830]

And the final number of the timestamp is even 9!

[@williamakerley5468]

Not only did I know Glenn Rojohn, but he was a friend. I recall the evening he quietly recounted this story to me while we sat on a patio in Florida. I was astonished (and remain so to this day)...b -

[@karenhenningsen4671]

INFO on Nine Lives www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/6139

[@HanzTheODST]

Lucky man

[@danielhayes3607]

Is the b for bullshit?

[@themoocow7718]

That’s pretty amazing. Were you neighbors?

[@JaxHappy1]

@@danielhayes3607 bro Wuts ur problem

[@theycallmeJacko]

That day Germany discovered the existence of the fearful B-34

[@sarahkatherine8458]

Now I understand why the rule 34 is 34.

[@kriegscommissarmccraw4205]

@@sarahkatherine8458 its b-17 plus b-17 though

[@Saipan2297]

Bb34

[@Saipan2297]

@@kriegscommissarmccraw4205 Works either way though

[@EnzoLay_TheUmbraPonyGuardian]

@@sarahkatherine8458 GODDAMMIT XDDDDD

[@benjaminhackett8896]

"Any errors are *entirely* our own." Now that's integrity.

[@Vespyr_]

Made me subscribe right there and then.

[@dalliskal4827]

Same

[@Prokerboss]

No, the errors are by the Swiss cameraman filming the dogfight.

[@mateo12375]

666th like, had to take the shot

[@huggleskuishy]

Tegridy

[@-thanawat-8296]

“We’d like to express our sincere thanks to Captain Rojohn’s daughter for helping with the facts” The fact that you got his daughter is amazing

[@wherebanana8585]

My Dad was a ball turret gunner, trained in B-24's but saw combat in B-17's. Made 28 missions with the 401st Bomb Group was shot down on his last mission, spent 1 year as a POW of the Nazi's. Lost him 2 years ago at the age of 91 and he was a tough ol'bird and i miss him very much. Enjoyed your video very much.

[@T1A4437]

What bomber of regiment did he fly

[@fal3881]

The best part of every war fact "Dont shot, they cant fight anymore"

[@ironbomb6753]

Yes, that point is often not mentioned.

[@naverilllang]

Well, strategically, it's better to let them crash. Prisoners and intact enemy technology are always good to have.

[@justinmcginty6815]

It's worth mentioning. The Germans were human

[@TheOriginalShakuraz]

And millions of german civilians got perished by an act of cruelty. After the Wehrmacht capitulated, they slaughtered another 2 million civilians in the "Rheinwiesenlager".

[@AChunkyDog]

@@justinmcginty6815 Lots of examples of Germans protecting allied pilots.

[@timorouw5555]

'B-17's are known for their resilliance' *laughs in warthunder*

[@TheCrowOfJudgement]

GENERAL KENOBI

[@timorouw5555]

@@TheCrowOfJudgement you are a bold one

[@orcabeast8006]

There’s the comment I was looking for

[@martijntraas5321]

I can relate to that #warthunder

[@polarjet1833]

*laughs in figured out the tactic to take out the enemy’s and not eat shit except for if they hit your tail*

[@pizzaman5169]

My Dad was in the Philippines during WWII. My Mother was a Rosie-the-riveter & she built tail sections of B-17's & P-38's.

[@beans6699]

Thats cool

[@Hammerhea64]

My Birth father was a medic on troop evacuation trains and committed Suicide in 1948 from all the bodies he helped with that drove him to it and my mother built radios for military communications.

[@ArousedRat1]

@@Hammerhea64 my grandfather was a cook on a merchant marine ship any my other grandfather was on the USS Washington.

[@screamingpencil]

My dad was a tail gunner in Halifax and Lancaster bombers, 434 squadron. He said one time after they landed, he walked around the plane and counted over a hundred bullet holes.

[@pizzaman5169]

@@screamingpencil Our next door neighbor flew the Memphis Belle for a while. That would be a rush.

[@resolute123]

"any errors is entirely on our own." You guys just got my subscribe vote. Finally, an infographic that takes responsibility and takes accuracy seriously.

[@Eclipse-lw4vf]

And with old stories like this, you can only got on written reports and stories handed down, meaning it’s very well possible there are inaccuracies.

[@neilsonsmith7214]

Same

[@quixak7209]

If I was a German. I would be like, what kinda weird ass biplane is this.

[@hyxterioo5173]

After seeing German weaponry/vehicle designs from WW2, like the Die Glocke (idk if it was even real- its still really fucking weird tho), not even that would seem weird to me.

[@collinwood6573]

Imagine two b-52s getting stuck together; a 16 jet engine biplane.

[@jeffvader811]

@@hyxterioo5173 There are weirder German aircraft that are actually real.

[@seantaggart7382]

I would be like Man the USA strats are amazing As I'm being downed

[@quixak7209]

KillstreakGaming 374 cool

[@keenislander9897]

*ahem* Animation: very cool Story: crazy and cool Results: epic pilots

[@bp_cherryblossomtree723]

YamHub is *SOOOO* underrated

[@bestamerica]

hi K... ' not coool... not good computer animation

[@ToeCutter454]

sadly they don't make American's like this anymore... too many liberal ideals shoved down their throats in public schools...

[@a.l9566]

Quantum Uncertainty Workshop wait *W H A T*

[@JeanLucCaptain]

Movie critics: omg SUCH TYPICAL HOLYWOOD BULLSHIT! there's no way that happened!

[@alanjm1234]

A similar collision happened in Australia between two Avro Ansons. The top plane lost it's engines in the collision, but had operational controls. The bottom one still had operable engines. Between them the pilots landed the two one on top of the other. And one plane was repaired and flew again!

[@cyndirojohn4542]

The Rojohn, Leek, and Piggyback Flight families thank YarnHub and its viewers for your support over this past year.

[@glennadavissr1700]

Maybe I'm just old. This brought tears to my eyes as well as pride in my heart. These two, as well as the others who survived and those who didn't, are truely all hero's.

[@marynurdoch3187]

I must be old too, this story made me cry!

[@davidscott2821]

For goodness sake....what's all this crying about?

[@dr.barrycohn5461]

Yeah, you are just old! But, so am I.

[@waboem]

I myself am 17, but this did the same to me. Knowing there is a big chance you'll die, but sticking with your brothers in arms. That's beautiful

[@waboem]

@another turtle luckily most non SS soldiers were just soldiers fighting for their country, and most honoring white flags, surrender and not shooting on unarmed people

[@marcosbravo9645]

One can only imagine a German seeing the planes locked in the sky through his binoculars and wonder in awe what mechanical atrocity the British are unleashing to the fatherland.

[@justinpipes85]

"Whatthefuck! Kinda biplane is this!!?"

[@arya31ful]

And that's how Hitler decides to sped up development of his batshit Wunderwaffes.

[@cyndirojohn4542]

They thought it was a superjet

[@screwy0u744]

@MrKalashnik0va it's not really British they are from USA planes British doesn't have any b planes.

[@mrticatcs658]

@@screwy0u744 Britain had the Lancaster and wellington , but the b17 is american

[@FactionTheGods]

My grandfather was a waist gunner in the Nine Lives, he was one of the casualties. Always enjoy seeing the story being shared.

[@BATANGGALAa]

Salute to your heroic gradfather

[@jonathanvandagriff7515]

This is one of the coolest animations I've ever seen... It's like a hybrid of cartoon and 3D. Loved it!

[@damianpetestudios2456]

This is what i like little ww2 stories not that known

[@bartman9400]

Look fro the Japanese i400 submarine or check out higher call for more lesser known story’s all true

[@comradeelmo7562]

You wanna hear something badass? Look up USS Boris vs U-405. Absolutely nuts.

[@comradeelmo7562]

* USS Borie. Autocorrects stupid

[@captainpegs0740]

@@comradeelmo7562 link?

[@comradeelmo7562]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Borie_(DD-215)

[@TheTruePopeFrancis]

My grandmothers cousin was a witness to the Piggyback Ride. His name was Ralph Christiansen and was the Co-Pilot of the B-17 “Lucky Lassie”, in the 100th bomb group, 418th bomb squadron.

[@imnotgoodatanything8244]

That’s interesting. By great great great grandfather was the inventor of the first rocket launcher

[@krisjay1558]

@@imnotgoodatanything8244 Very interesting. My grandfather was a cook at a hospital.

[@leopinty5103]

@@krisjay1558 How interesting, my grandmother is a medic in the coastguard.

[@christisking1316]

@@leopinty5103 Very interesting, My late Father was an Armouror in the 15th- Whilst loading Bombs on a B-24, He accidentally knocked out one of the observers windows in the plane!? The Base Commander chewed my Dad out, and accused Him of working for the Germans!? ( True Story)🤣🤣☠️

[@whatnotbutter7470]

My great grandfather was a gunner’s mate for th 16 inch guns of USS West Virginia

[@chirho100]

The B-34 is an amazing aircraft, strikes fear in the hearts of their enemies.

[@user-xu2pi6vx7o]

And their own crews.

[@alvinjames470]

Good job on landing both planes and respect to the Germans who did not shoot at the planes locked together.

[@trentallman984]

For all their evil, they treated most POW's well, and wouldn't shoot a man in a parachute. Of course when compared to the Japanese everyone looks better.

[@frecatorDementa]

The evils of German soldiers are greatly exagerated in modern media.

[@msaa1125]

@@frecatorDementa true. except for all those genocides. those were pretty bad

[@frecatorDementa]

@@msaa1125 Those were almost exclusively the SS, not the general soldiery

[@aquila4460]

@@frecatorDementa Ah yes, the clean Wehrmacht. No, the Wehrmacht a) participated heavily in the genocide, especially on the eastern front, and b) willingly and knowingly fought to prolong this genocide.

[@vee1766]

"9 months later, the B34 was born. Coincidence ? I think not"

[@imadrifter]

Yes. This 👆

[@x5x]

if you mean the ventura, it looks more like a baby of a b-17 (nose) and a b-24 (rear)^^

[@thegrimhorseman]

@@x5x I think he's talking about the numbers, 17+17=34

[@seguntunde6741]

This Is the comment I was looking for 😁😁😁

[@justinpipes85]

@@x5x whoosh.

[@loliprotectionservices9953]

Mustang: daddy, mummy how was I born? The little skipper: .... Nine lives: ....

[@cigarpringles1890]

Cursed

[@VintageStatue]

How the b24 was made

[@StuckOnAFireHydrant]

@@VintageStatue I understand the joke but historically speaking just so you know: technically it would be the other way around since people have joked that the b24 was the box the b17 came in because it was so much bigger.

[@gamergaming6604]

It accidental

[@andya857]

LOL!!!!....

[@YouAwakeYet]

WOW!!! Beyond incredible!!! Shout out to pilot for his airmanship and the copilot for sticking through to the end.... Unbelievable

[@dougrippe33]

The “Little Skipper” was once the aircraft that my grandfather was a crew member of. From what I’ve researched regarding the missions he flew, the last one was on 12/5/44 and they then started flying “The Little Sweetheart” A/C 532. Amazing how I stumbled across the video and how close it could’ve been my grandfather involved with this. If anyone is interested, Milton Brucker 100th Bomb Group, he was the bombardier.

[@gavinrojohn9351]

I'd say he was lucky to not have been involved in this incident

[@galenfultz5411]

My father in law George Klare a B-17 navigator was also shot down that day. He survived and was imprisoned at Stalag Luft 1

[@kimcatacutan8980]

Rojohn, Leek, and some of the other crew members were POWs at Stalag Luft I.

[@lilibethmaderia8585]

Damn😯

[@jmstowe]

My cousin was also shot down was also sent to Stalag Luft I, They may very well have met,

[@jmstowe]

@Jack Willard The men in Stalag Luft 1 were liberated by the Russians in 1945.

[@nerowulfee9210]

Random german AA officer: "Okay, thats enough pervitin for today"

[@ispartacus1337]

Ah I see you're a man of culture as well

[@maus-chanuwu1244]

Other german AA officer: we should stop drinking beer *beer drinking intensifies*

[@gerritbeckmann6071]

Haha 😂 😂

[@justinpipes85]

This comment should be number one.

[@exeous8205]

I understand this joke, *I'm glad that i do!*

[@brokenbridge6316]

This was an extraordinary story. My compliments to the pilots and their efforts in this most unusual day.

[@DamnControl5]

I love the speed of the planes in this animation. It is spot on. Not too fast not too slow.

[@wallywheezer8256]

The worst thing about this channel... ...is how severely underrated you guys are. Your videos are phenomenal and the animation enforces it. Keep up the great work!!

[@jerryjuutalainen1783]

I'm disappointed in their animation to be fair. Soo many models are not period correct or have wrong models.

[@blazerocker1734]

@@jerryjuutalainen1783 In this case I'd rather have faster vids over more-detailed vids.

[@jerryjuutalainen1783]

@@blazerocker1734 honestly if they want to focus on the stories and cut down on the animation i'd be fine with it too. a couple of pics soo the avg person gets the idea of where it happened and to/with what is enough.

[@jumpinjojo]

Wally Wheezer Who underrated the channel??

[@0_169]

@@jerryjuutalainen1783 bruh underrated

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

I just appreciate how well done Yarn's animations and narration is, they're always top notch in quality

[@meowmiator4875]

Hello there

[@Hectopath2006]

Ah yes, the new Justin Y. again. It's a shame that you get so much unnecessary hate.

[@TheGuyThatsNotFunny]

Ah yes, you again isn't it?

[@gojirajr3133]

I have never seen this guy

[@sovietyunyun7566]

I see you everywhere

[@topphatt1312]

This channel has to be one of the most binge-able channel on KZbin, every single video they release is short, sweet, and super entertaining.

[@ericyell898]

Wow, thats amazing!! Thank you guys for your service, and all service personnel for your service.

[@nymalous3428]

I'll be telling my WW2 history class about this, those middle-schoolers will never believe it!

[@cyndirojohn4542]

The details of the incident and Primary Source Documents many historians never saw are in the book. Kim Leek Catacutan posted the link

[@terrysnyder3599]

Wait, that's still allowed!

[@christopherg2347]

3:00 "How do the engines look on your side?" "Uh, I see 3 working 1 burning on my side. What about yours?"

[@noneck3099]

.." Got 4 working on my side.......we're all good!......................................................hang on a minute"

[@rickyelich3908]

CharlieRobloxKerbal Not if they had used up eight of them already . Some planes had survived 70 - 100+ missions . The bombing schedule towards the end of the war was intense ( ie : Big Week ). The allies lost almost 60,000 airmen . Can’t remember the US losses . It was not a career that guaranteed a long life span , that’s why they are all heroes .

[@berkleyhuffman48]

@CharlieRobloxKerbal I feel like the German's should have returned the plane to the British, I know why they wouldn't and probably didn't but like. Plane might actually have had 9 lives (aka, surviving 9 crashes)

[@deathsheadknight2137]

@@rickyelich3908 hey it was worth it to burn all those civilians at Dresden.

[@sebastianchavez577]

@@deathsheadknight2137 WHAT, innocent people being unfortunate casualties in a city that was targeted because of its strategic importance to the enemy!? Man war is so wacky like that.

[@rickeymitchell8620]

This is story that begged to be told. Thank you for doing so! Job very well done sir!

[@chefbrett2269]

Awesome!!! New favorite channel! Thank you for the history lesson! Always learn, and support the armed forces. Thanks from America Brothers. 🇺🇸

[@corey8704]

Now we wait for Sabaton to make a song about this one.

[@anthonystark3959]

I already heard the boss singing

[@rpllieb]

I'm retired now after building airplanes. Never did work on a B-17. Too young. 🍼 The B-17 is a fabulous aircraft. My very favorite 🤗

[@rpllieb]

Thank you 😊

[@monkeyman3823]

*b-34

[@themoocow7718]

What kind of airplanes did you build?

[@cryptedz9860]

the fact that he animates it makes it entertaining not a boring documentary

[@sytseth]

This channel had a big potential, they already passed that! It’ll only get better!!

[@TheJessC]

It sure will. They got me to subscribe. This is the first video I've seen.

[@Yarnhub]

@@TheJessC Thanks and Welcome !

[@pot8os]

the only unrealistic things are the characters

[@lilkris3008]

Yes well on its way to becoming... the 5th Channel

[@Likeusb1]

@@Yarnhub These videos are so fun to simply watch. I loved the one where a church was converted to a hospital.

[@sethjansson5652]

Boeing engineers: aah, just as planned...

[@campkira]

how do youplan the second plane.... the reasosn why they suvived is to the 9 live take all the impact..

[@beacher50_]

@@campkira its a joke ya *stoopid*

[@whyle5318]

The boeing engineers KNEW that this would happen. They planned for this. They hoped.

[@Schzercro]

They planned for them to have a fun time.

[@SephirothRyu]

The beautiful mating ritual of the B-17.

[@oldman7452]

Nerves of steel to accomplish that. Amazing story and to think that there are many more left untold/unknown stories.

[@stevenrapp177]

Watching these videos makes me sentimental about the grandfather I never met who flew B-17's over Germany. He managed to successfully land a B-17 missing the entire tail in Germany, saving his entire crew aside from the tail gunner. They were hidden in a small village for a few weeks and were safely rescued by the Allies. He never went back into Germany, but my grandmother (also in the USAF) delivered a letter to the people of the village from my grandfather thanking them, so he is now considered a war hero in a tiny German village.

[@stuka8700]

I like how on the scene where the "Nine Lives" is hit at 2:07, it's hit nine times

[@kevinshen9391]

Oof all 9 lives had been killed

[@APersonOnYouTubeX]

OH NOO

[@ltghostriley6057]

@Ernesto Britos 9

[@quited579]

hahah

[@UtubeIhave]

Hey that’s ironic

[@artificernathaniel3287]

Only thing that would have been better would have been to show the defensive machine gun fire from the bombers, visually demonstrating why a packed formation was actually defensive.

[@Aethgeir]

Agreed!

[@1998marijn1998]

Yes it seemed very confusing to me why that had any defense at all

[@calebjlee2685]

Oooooh they could fight back. At first I was confused why bunching together was better

[@addanametocontinue]

Agreed. I forgot that these bombers have defensive guns, so I was initially wondering why they even bothered maintaining a "defensive" formation other than to take turns getting shot at.

[@ablemagawitch]

@@addanametocontinue These planes were called "Fortresses" due to the number of guns and gunners they had on each air plane. When in formation, they had fields of fire that didn't shoot into their own "friendly planes"(friendly fire isn't) and that they filled in holes created by limitations of the other plane's gunner placements. Plus added additional guns & gunners to cover the same area for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th 5th, etc fighter plane in the squadron attacking. You belly gunners top dome gunners, tail gunners, nose gunners and you had gunners on each side. All with anti-aircraft guns 30 caliber and 50 caliber rounds shooting at planes that were prop propelled meaning they moved way slower than jets. Making not hits to vital parts of the enemy fighters possible but also of shooting the pilots themselves through the sides and canopies. There was a hell of a lot of steel and lead in the air, besides the planes of both sides..... So a plane could accidentally fly into string of fire that was missed another plane. This comment is buried but I could type multi-screens about these gun arrangements and what the air crews faced. There was also a different degree of chivalry and outright Mercy for the poor soul, where when someone was going down, they didn't strafe the parachutist. If any of the crew managed to bail out. Look for the German BF 109 that spared and guarded a B 17 back home to it was safely over the channel on Yarn Hub(maker of video) kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqGke4eLh8aff68 That is before we even talk about the escort fighters which would fly with them part of the way, then have to land and refuel and reload the guns (often getting make shift repairs to get them back up) since bombers carried more fuel (IE LONG RANGE) and our fighters would join back up with returning bombers to help deal with any and all the German planes that if they didn't attack and/or know they were there on the way in (which would also have to land to refuel and reload guns) , on their return trip , the Germans sure would have had the Bombers Fleet location broadcast to all air units and anti air batteries in range. There is document proof of soldiers taking down a plane with Lee Nnfield .303 Bolt action rifle from the ground, saving the Allied fighter pilot in damage plane in the dog fight. Also. As they say in the air force, "it is unwise to eject out of plane in an area you just bombed..." So any bomber crew having to bail out, that it was sometime better for them to parachute and be captured to receive medical help than wait for the time it would take to fly back over friendly territory. Shitty choice but between certain death and possibly living but in the hell of P.O.W. Camp, some crew had trust in the German Soldiers' Humanity. Which is often swept to the side in the whole Germans=Nazis and Nazis are fucking evil.... over simplification of the actualities of war. See also the Christmas day cease fire where in WW1 they sung carols and even played soccer(football) with each other instead of shooting at each other on Christmas one year. But that gets into another long post about another historical event I hope you research and any others who stumble on this post.

[@dhy5342]

I met Glenn Rojohn, the pilot involved, at a local airshow. Very unassuming and humble.

[@someguardsman]

Great story Yarnhub, thank you for telling their story!

[@thememebandit6767]

The top gunner on nine lives: what the hell is going on Bottom gunner on a little skipper: what t...

[@ClingyCrab]

What about the belly gunner on the top plane?

[@undeadfredlive3837]

@@ClingyCrab You mean the top gunner of the bottom plane now?

[@LucidFL]

Nobody: Nobody:

[@brianstabile165]

American Eagle the bottom gunner on the little skipper:Sir we are attached

[@mariroserusso3230]

@@ClingyCrab He died on impact when the top plane hit the ground.

[@wolfygrl24]

My grandfather was a tail gunner in a B-17, I can’t recall how many missions he flew on but he was very lucky to have made it through all of them and the war. I always enjoyed when he would tell stories of what he went through. He ended up writing a memoir of his time in the war before he passed away.

[@AverageAlien]

There are alternate realities where you dont exist....probably

[@ryanjanusz8736]

Might that memoir be available to the public? I promise theres no twisted reason, I'd really just like to keep the history alive and see a glimpse of what he saw. My grandpa fought too and his memoir was left to my uncle (1 of 2 sons), but as an airman himself he never talked abt what he did over there to us, and I never got to see the journal.

[@jmullentech]

@@ryanjanusz8736 ^ Had the same question here. Kinda curious if it's "It Only Takes One: Memoirs of a Tail Gunner". Regardless, I would love to read it!

[@CrusaderSports250]

@@jmullentech would be an interesting read as the life of the tail gunner was often a short one, tail end Charlie as we (here in the UK) referred to them, my grandfather worked as a lorry driver helping to build the heavy bomber runways around Norfolk and Suffolk, living in a caravan with his wife and three young daughters (the middle one was my mum), they lived on both British and US airbases, preferring the US ones as food was often available that was unobtainable, (tinned peaches, oranges, proper tinned ham ), the Americans seemed to have food in abundance (to a seven year old girl), things would take a turn for the worst whenever they had to shift to a British base as everything was in short supply and it was back to ration books, the British flew at night and the Americans flew in the day and mum always said she thought that was brave of them to fly in the day, and it explained why they carried so many guns, the British aircraft carried more bombs but not so many guns, in the late sixties /early seventies mum would tell me about her life at that time but later on rarely spoke of it, unfortunately those memories are now lost to us, I should write down what I remember lest they be lost completely.

[@rickyelich3908]

Ryan Janusz Well , retrieve it for the sake of history !! This knowledge is disappearing as each veteran dies off .

[@jaymerino1912]

my grandmother flew b17s at the start of the war before the Ferry command. the all women crew would set the bomb sights and drop dummy rounds on the way to Florida and California. they were never recognised till decades later. she always told me how rugged these planes were. RIP.

[@LK-bz9sk]

What an incredible story. Glad I found the real history channel over here.

[@F-Man]

Never knew this story! Incredible airmanship and heroism.

[@mikeloghry9521]

Neither did I

[@blackorange5091]

Meanwhile, in War Thunder: 2 planes barely touch wingtips - EXPLOSION OCCURS

[@robertbalazslorincz8218]

BANG

[@cardiv5zuikaku944]

I remember when playing User mission when the mission is B-17 flying home after bombing run, one B-17 goes down and hit me, aand there goes my wing

[@ducc995]

Can relate. I was flying my A-36 Apache when I collided [barely] with a friendly plane, don't remember which.

[@Upright901]

Was looking for this comment

[@NoOneAlive_]

So true.

[@conq3097]

One of the best channels on KZbin!

[@raiyanabdurrajjaque3351]

this video coming to my youtube recomendations was the best thing that ever happened

[@a_lexine]

--reads title-- excuse me, but *_WHAT_*

[@digitalnomad9985]

Nostalgia for the biplane era is all well and good, but things can be taken too far!

[@a_lexine]

@@sharkapologist well then, consider me extremely impressed

[@professordanfurmanek3732]

Former pilot. What a truly remarkable and inspiring event!! This would indeed make a wonderful Hollywood movie!!

[@cyndirojohn4542]

The Rojohn family has been trying for a film. Hope someday soon

[@clearcreek69]

A book about the incident would be nice too. A Higher Call is a good book by Adam Makos

[@cyndirojohn4542]

J Johnston. The Piggyback Flight Pilot's Journey on Amazon. Thank you for your interest

[@shiny4984]

I know you said "so dark you couldn't see the sky" and you show an almost perfectly visible sky the same frame, but i'm not complaining since this is some top shelf stuff

[@williamlynn6084]

Incredible and horrific piggyback ride under enemy fire such skill and well made B-17 a day they will not soon forget. Great story and Thank you for sharing it.

[@_Matsimus_]

The most beautiful plane on earth

[@TinoStheReal]

Nope. 109 is the Sexiest

[@ME-qo2yj]

Nah p 51 mustang or a 10 warthog

[@TinoStheReal]

nah p51 are not nice in my opinion. The only Time i like them is when they turn into a big fireball caused of a sexxy MK108 30mm shell of a sexxyyy 109

[@seth047]

Messerschmitt BF109 is best looking in my opinion. especially the box like canopy, really gives it a nice look. But it’s my opinion, so you can have your own take.

[@thomaszumr371]

Nah, Ta-152

[@tofu985]

now this is what i call quality from above

[@mustanggun]

Amazing story. Thank you for tell it. Heroic warriors

[@farty84]

I love this channel so much. This is the sort of stuff that keeps me going on 3D modelling. I have been subscribed for a little bit now, maybe late last year, and this is by far my favourite video (and i think also the first video of yours i found). Keep up the good work 👍

[@rayaso6036]

Is no one going to talk about during the reunion a cat was parachuting down

[@Kai-ky3le]

yeah

[@danyal5288]

?

[@aramis839]

Ye a saw that to? Wonder what it resembled?

[@iamthepersonwhoasked5639]

Watch more of their episodes u will get used to the cat

[@useless3796]

Its his mascot

[@jeffreylindsey1757]

The fact that one half of the crews of the two B-17s (10 out of 20) survived is amazing in itself. That is some heroic and skillful flying. Never knew this took place. They didn't call that the greatest generation this Country has seen for nothing! Thanks for the video.

[@OneBiasedOpinion]

This is a testament not only to the skills of all crew involved, but of the spectacular engineering of the B-17. They were incredibly tough machines and could take an astounding amount of damage before being brought down.

[@PhantomBrads]

0:14 dude he said it was so dark you couldn't see the sky great job on animating that

[@dh4913]

I like how he said "No" in a very serious manner

[@johnarmenta2199]

Fantastic video!! I the opportunity of a lifetime, so I took it. I purchased front-seat tickets - the bomber positions - for me and my brother to fly on a restored B-17 last year. $750 each - TOTALLY WORTH IT!! In real life, that machine is incredibly small, compared to what you may think. Everything is cramped. That plane had one purpose: deliver those bombs! Everything else, even the men, was expendable. It was 20 minute minute flight "there and back", and I 'll never forget it. The rumbling, the shaking, the vibrations, the wobbly take off and the bouncy landing. And I gained a whole new appreciation for WWII, and what we asked of our men back then. Many of them were late teens, early 20's, flying over enemy territory, risking their lives - absolute heroes! Every one of them!!

[@roadtrain_]

Those planes had a bigger goal than just 'deliver those bombs'. B-17's were made to bring their crews back home, they were incredibly resilient.

[@HDL_CinC_Dragon]

I did this too a couple years ago and it was absolutely worth it. Sitting in the front gunner position was an amazing experience. Such amazing and impressive machines! Fun anecdote about our flight: The plane had a loose wire on the starter for one of the engines so we were sitting on the tarmac while one of the ground guys on a ladder was literally knocking on it with a hammer trying to figure out why it would only try to start for an instant on each knock. At first they were thinking the solenoid was going, hence the "percussive maintenance", but eventually figured out it was simply a loose wire. It was really funny to me listening to the pilots above us and the ground guy going back and forth coming up with ideas. I love these birds and I will forever be in awe of them!

[@thecocktailian2091]

Out of Arizona Im guessing? Id love to sign up for a ride. Ill take the top turret though.

[@shackman9566]

Thank you again always, always good.

[@adotintheshark4848]

They were actually mating, and a year later they were the proud parents of a pair of Cessna 150s.

[@vincentgao6027]

So basically When when a adult plane and another adult plane likes each other very much they create a little plane baby

[@mecate818]

And a b 25 pops out

[@voltsiano116]

When a mommy bomber and a daddy bomber love each other VERY much...

[@ii_existinq2958]

@@mecate818 or b-29

[@ClingyCrab]

@张静 Imagine giving birth to a child bigger than you

[@daviddonaghy7568]

Vincent Gao That's where P-47s come from.

[@therealcapalot]

The greatest history channel ever

[@thetheandthe6371]

Can’t disagree with that

[@jurassicdano3695]

How did you put this comment 14 minutes ago if it was released 11 minutes ago what the heck

[@jiemileng7745]

@@jurassicdano3695 IKR

[@jiemileng7745]

Don't forget Oversimplified 😁. They are both great History channels.

[@flipmanlet8982]

True

[@jdion79]

i love the visual style you use. also, great storytelling and research. this was amazing.

[@jdion79]

I'm starting to see why there's such an aesthetic difference from this video to the latest one. Both are beautiful and the ones in between. You should do a retro video haha!

[@welshpete12]

A remarkable story, one I had never heard before !

[@dreamingfoxtrot]

6:23 Anybody saw a cat coming down in a parachute?

[@Shadow-sq2yj]

That's sort of an Easter egg, read his about page.

[@Shadow-sq2yj]

@Hearts Why? Not? you didn't see it?

[@jameskimble6133]

We’ve even trained many officers cats to bail when they need to !

[@thinkablebaileylim6168]

Yes

[@justarandomperson282]

Yes

[@NukeFinity]

My grandad was punished and send to the east front after playing cards with an shot down English pilot in the Normandy. Instant of arresting him he and his colleagues just played cards with him.

[@bobstadelmayer8402]

My wife's grandfather was in an airborne unit that took part in Normandy. Gliders would land behind enemy lines transporting troops. He was one of the men being transported. Their glider was hit, killing the pilot and co-pilot. He managed to crash land the craft, but was severely injured. A German soldier happened to find him and patched him up (luckily it was a medic), before high tailing out of there (the Allies we advancing). Glad he learned that not all Germans were bad people, since I'm of German descent.

[@hellatze]

@@bobstadelmayer8402 mu grandad nuke the korea back in ww2. That was wild day as the plane chased by american.

[@dr.barrycohn5461]

That's very cool. Hopefully, I gather he survived as you are here to tell the tale.

[@dameerfaadhil4455]

@@hellatze u gave me a stroke

[@szexmaster]

And did he survived the eastern front?

[@karlhungus5554]

Amazing story and superb animation!

[@kenc9236]

Thank you Cindy

[@aaaaaa-nl9ut]

In War Thunder, the planes will break into pieces when they touch each other

[@winniechua4585]

When will they let ppl do this i wanna b that biplane

[@nicholasescobedojr6087]

Ya they do

[@midgarw6775]

In war thunder they break apart when they touch the air.

[@Death-bd1tl]

@@midgarw6775 they break apart after lift off

[@CecilioSprayetti]

That is being fixed in the upcoming patch, you can actually do what they did in this video ingame now lmao

[@johnnyk.2911]

My father in law piloted a B-17, he since has passed away. This story was amazing and left me in awe.

[@danieldonovan7166]

This takes Areosmith's Pump album cover to a whole new level!

[@jonathanyoung5780]

Always held those who served in those times at the highest respect and gratitude. Its no wonder their called The Greatest Generation.

[@themegaforce810]

Great video. I believe the saddest part of this event was Rojohn’s ball-turret gunner, Staff Sgt. Joseph Russo. He was stuck in the ball-turret position below the B-17 and the crew were unable to crank him in. Rojohn said the most painful part of the flight was hearing SSgt. Russo saying his Hail Marys over the intercom "Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death.” Co-pilot Leek later said "I could not help him, and I felt that I was somehow invading his right to be alone.”, so he took his intercom off. It wasn’t just Leek and Rojohn in The Little Skipper, Russo was in there too, waiting, and destined to die.

[@johnarmenta2199]

The ball turret gunner position was the most dangerous one on the B-17.

[@seantaggart7382]

@@johnarmenta2199 yeah

[@kevinbuda7087]

Wow...what men they were.

[@justarandomguylol6481]

Sad.. May he rest in peace... 😢

[@shermantankstudios9086]

It was a nice touch to have the Yarnhub cat parachute into the reunion of the two bomber crews at 6:23

[@nunyurbyznes7611]

Amazing story, providence was with those men!

[@paulwilkinson4073]

If I get a cat I’m calling him yarnie not joking

[@Alex-qh5ll]

...and then that cat would tell you historical facts and stories.

[@paulwilkinson4073]

Alex hahahahahah I hope so

[@Al_Ares]

Wha about 'Al-Yarn-ul-hub', It would sound eastern.

[@paulwilkinson4073]

Aluminium Mechanics ok why not? 😂

[@reginald7143]

not if i do it first

[@m10tankdestroyer94]

Imagine just vibin' somewhere a German coast and see a weird 8 engine bi-plane fly over you 😂😂

[@zombieo_43]

Like "the fuck? Thought we stopped using those years ago??"

[@YataTheFifteenth]

"Holy scheiße and I thought our engineering was odd"

[@SoshoKozadokaGojiraChargedUp]

"The Fuck is that?"

[@sharonwhiteley6510]

What an outstanding feat of flying and bravery.

[@johnykes]

this channel is addictive

[@jaden6685]

Why is this channel so underrated?

[@jumpinjojo]

MyDixieRekt Who underrated the channel??

[@jockellis]

You show a “tight” formation where the planes were so far apart as to be specks in the distance. A B-17 radio operator told me of having a prop from another plane cut through the upper fuselage during a fighter attack . Gave him a bit of a fright.

[@BerserkersBattle-816]

Wow! These are men of tremendous courage and real hero's! I love this true story!

[@charlesreinhart803]

Thank you for your bravery

[@conradovillegasalvarado6392]

This channel just keeps getting better and better!