During war the million-to-one chance of something happening is not uncommon. It occurred at least three times to the North Irish Horse while in battle. Here's one such occasion. During the battle for the Oued Zarga mountains in Tunisia, the regiment came under constant air attacks. As usual, when fighting in the mountains, the 6-pdrs were loaded with H.E. By chance, a shell from an attacking Messerschmitt went right up the gun's barrel, causing it to fire - the operator suffered a broken left shoulder as he was in the way of its recoil. The start of an interesting thread perhaps?
At the overloon museum there is a sherman tank which was knocked out by a 50mm shell which penetrated the barrel of the main gun just as a shell was leaving the breech!
Thank you Morse - we can now chalk up two instances. Does anyone know about the tank that alledgedly knocked out a submarine?
Gerry, I know it's been a while since you posted the above, but I would really like to know about that tank which took out a sub. Anymore info would be great. Marcus
Million to one? What about the American GI that landed on D-Day and fought his way off the beach in his company. After a week or more when they had chance to rest the Padre found him and broke the news that his brother had been killed and was buried at the new war cemetery. Obviously the lad broke down and the padre offered to go with him to visit his brothers grave. They followed the directions, found the grave, upon which the lad broke down in tears. The Padre finally found out that the fresh grave was that of the GI's other brother who they had not heard was killed. The original brother killed was in another cemetery. Or the American para ready to jump on D-Day not checking his parachute whilst everyone else was. When asked why by the accompanying journalist he pointed out the factory inspectors label and said he knew the parachute was correctly packed. The journalist still could not understand why. Whereupon the para explained the factory inspector who had checked his parachute was his own mother. What are the chances, of all those thousands of chutes inspected in dozens of factories, reaching the inspectors son in the front line? One day i shall track down that book again.
What about the B-17 (F, I think, can't remember the BS or BG) that took a cannon shell hit/s in the main spar and, upon taxiing in from landing, lost enough speed to reduce the lift on the wings and cause the wingtips to drag on the ground?! I'll have to check one of my books at home to substantiate that. Cheers Andy
