The Incredible Story of a Ball Turret Gunner Forced to Land a Crippled B-17 Bomber During WWII

The Start of Big Week

In early 1944, the U.S. Eighth Air Force prepared to launch one of its largest bombing efforts of World War II. Known as “Big Week,” this series of missions aimed to destroy German aircraft production and bring the enemy’s air force into a direct fight. The air battles that followed stretched across the skies of Europe and led to heavy losses on both sides.

One mission stood out from the rest, not because of the number of planes or the size of the target, but because of what happened to a single B-17 Flying Fortress. The bomber, called Ten Horsepower, was involved in an incident that showed the danger crews faced in the skies and how quickly the situation could turn deadly. A ball turret gunner was forced to do something unheard of—take control of the plane and try to fly it home.

Delayed Takeoff and Bad Luck

On the morning of February 20, 1944, Ten Horsepower was set to fly with the 351st Bomb Group as part of a massive raid targeting factories in Leipzig, Germany. These factories produced fighter planes used by German forces to defend against Allied bombers. The mission was part of Operation Argument, the official name for Big Week.

While preparing for takeoff from Polebrook Airfield in England, Ten Horsepower ran into trouble. One of the aircraft’s wheels became stuck in the soft mud, causing a delay. By the time ground crews freed the bomber, it was nearly an hour behind the rest of the group. The crew, led by pilot Second Lieutenant Clarence Nelson and co-pilot Flight Officer Ronald Bartley, had to increase speed to catch up. They finally rejoined the formation but had to take a different position—at the back of the low group formation, which was often the most dangerous spot.

Under Attack Near Leipzig

After flying over the Netherlands and into Germany, the group neared Leipzig. As they approached the target, the bombers faced bursts of flak, though it wasn’t especially accurate at that point. Then things quickly changed. A group of over 40 German fighters was spotted ahead. They approached fast, using head-on attacks—an effective method learned from experienced German pilots. The goal was to hit the cockpit directly, disabling the aircraft by killing the pilots.

In one of the first enemy passes, a German fighter fired a cannon shot that entered Ten Horsepower’s cockpit window. The shot killed co-pilot Bartley instantly and then bounced off an armored plate, hitting Lieutenant Nelson in the face. Nelson, although badly wounded, managed to trigger the bailout alarm before falling unconscious.

Chaos Inside the B-17

With both pilots out of action, the bomber began to spiral downward. Bombardier Joe Martin responded to the alarm, jettisoned the bombs, and bailed out. At this point, it seemed the plane would be lost. But inside the bomber, another crew member made a different choice. Sergeant Carl Moore, the top turret gunner, decided not to bail out.

Moore moved forward through the aircraft toward the cockpit. Perhaps he saw the two wounded pilots still in their seats and felt he had to try to save the aircraft. Whatever the reason, he reached the controls and began trying to fly the B-17—despite having no formal pilot training.

A Gunner Takes the Controls

Moore managed to level the aircraft and stop the dive. With adrenaline and basic knowledge from watching the pilots, he began to stabilize the bomber. Still surrounded by enemy fighters and over hostile territory, he had to keep the plane steady while deciding what to do next. With little chance of linking up with the group and no real guidance, he did the only thing he could—fly west and try to make it home.

Inside the aircraft, the rest of the surviving crew worked together. They provided support, helped check the damage, and tried to locate friendly territory. Slowly, the badly damaged bomber made its way back across Germany, then the Netherlands, and finally toward the English Channel.

A Risky Landing and Survival

Moore kept flying until the bomber crossed back into Allied airspace. Eventually, he spotted an airfield in England. With help from the radio operator, who relayed instructions from the ground, Moore brought the aircraft in for a rough but successful landing. The surviving crew members made it out alive.

Sergeant Carl Moore, a gunner with no flight experience, had saved an entire bomber crew by taking control of Ten Horsepower. His actions during that mission became one of the most remarkable stories of Big Week.