"The Way It Was, |
November 1943 - May 1945" |
| 8th Air Force 401st Bombardment Group (Heavey) |
R.D. McCord Crew
612th Bomb Squadron |
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| 8th Air Force, 401st Bomber Group Part 1 |
| These videos are dedicated to my Uncle Charles Kirkman (radio operator gunner serving 32 combat missions) the last surviving crew member of the Ice Cold Katy and the brave men of the 401st bomber group that defended our freedom during WW II. The average survival rate for airmen on combat missions was 16 missions. |
| Ice Cold Katy: | Aircraft Data | Charles Kirkman | Crew | Combat Missions |
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| 8th Air Force 401st Bombardment Group (Heavey) |
R.D. McCord Crew
612th Bomb Squadron |
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| 8th Air Force, 401st Bomber Group Part 2 |
| After one mission over Germany Uncle Charles related that he counted over 200 holes in the right wing due to enemy anti aircraft fire, and was too tired to count the holes in the left wing. |
| Ice Cold Katy: | Aircraft Data | Charles Kirkman | Crew | Combat Missions |
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| 8th Air Force 401st Bombardment Group (Heavey) |
R.D. McCord Crew
612th Bomb Squadron |
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| 8th Air Force, 401th Bomber Group Part 3 |
| Uncle Charles sent mission radio reports back to their England base using a morse code key while getting holes blown in their airplane at an altitude of over 30,000' in a non-pressurized airplane with temperatures in excess of 30 degrees below 0. Many crew members suffered severed frost bite and froze to death due to the severe temperatures. |
| Ice Cold Katy: | Aircraft Data | Charles Kirkman | Crew | Combat Missions |
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| 8th Air Force 401st Bombardment Group (Heavey) |
R.D. McCord Crew
612th Bomb Squadron |
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| 8th Air Force, 401st Bomber Group Part 4 |
| The 401st Bomber Group was based in Deenethorpe, England. |
| Ice Cold Katy: | Aircraft Data | Charles Kirkman | Crew | Combat Missions |
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