The Story of A WWII Gunner’s 4-Mile Plunge Trapped in a B-17 Tail

On November 29, 1943, more than 300 B-17 Flying Fortress bombers of the U.S. Army Air Forces flew toward Bremen, a heavily defended industrial city in northern Germany. The city was an important target, home to shipyards, factories, and military installations. Thick clouds covered the sky, and freezing temperatures gripped the airmen as they prepared for one of the war’s most dangerous bombing raids.

Among them was Eugene “Gene” Moran, a 21-year-old tail gunner aboard a B-17 named “Rikki Tikki Tavi.” As the aircraft gained altitude, he braced himself for what was to come. German air defenses had been strengthened, and every crew member knew they were flying into a deadly trap. The bombers approached their target, but before they could release their payload, the attack began.

German Fighters Strike

The radio crackled with a warning—enemy aircraft were approaching. A formation of Messerschmitt Bf 110s, equipped with powerful rocket weapons, tore through the sky. The bombers held formation as the first wave of rockets exploded among them. One B-17 nearby was struck directly, bursting into flames and breaking apart in midair.

As the surviving aircraft pressed on, more enemy fighters, including Bf 109s and Focke-Wulf Fw 190s, moved in. Moran gripped his machine gun, firing at the incoming attackers. The bomber’s gunners fought desperately, but the enemy planes were relentless. One by one, bombers were hit and spiraled down in flames. “Rikki Tikki Tavi” took damage, but the crew stayed on course, determined to complete their mission.

The Bomb Run and Further Attacks

Despite the intense battle, the surviving bombers reached Bremen. As the bomb bay doors opened, anti-aircraft fire from the ground filled the sky with deadly bursts. The aircraft shook violently, but the crew held their positions. When the bombs were released, the city below was engulfed in explosions.

The bombers turned for home, but the danger was far from over. German fighters returned, determined to cut off the retreating formation. “Rikki Tikki Tavi” was isolated from the others and became an easy target. Bullets and cannon shells ripped through its fuselage. Wilbert “Peewee” Provest, the ball turret gunner, was struck and went silent. Moran himself was hit, his arms shattered, but he kept fighting.

A Fall from 20,000 Feet

The bomber could no longer stay in the air. A final attack tore its tail section apart, sending Moran tumbling through the sky, still inside the wreckage. Spinning uncontrollably, he fell nearly 20,000 feet before crashing into a dense forest. Somehow, he survived the impact, though his body was broken and his strength nearly gone.

Local villagers and German soldiers found him and took him to a prisoner-of-war camp. A Serbian doctor performed emergency surgery, attaching a metal plate to his skull. Though he survived, the experience left scars that would never fully heal.

Life After the War

Moran returned to the United States after the war, but the memories of that day haunted him. He struggled with the physical and emotional toll of his ordeal. In 2022, his story was detailed in the book Tailspin, preserving his incredible survival for future generations. His experience was not only a story of resilience but also a reminder of the horrors of war and the value of peace.