OLD " 666"
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Added: 3 years ago
From: bbottlezigzag
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  • FYI: ~Wonderfully reenacted! While great aviation-writer MartinCaidin's account of this epic WW2 Pacific-sector flight may have been over-blown, -it nevertheless remains most interesting that so-called '666' was, without burden of bomb-load, smartly converted into an awesome true "FlyingFortress" bristling with armament which dismayed an armada of seventeen(yes- 17) fiercely attacking Jap-fighters, that could not prevent the valiant airmen achieving their vital photo-reconnaissance objective.!!

  • This is what america was built on, men like that are not forgotten.

  • this deboss

    

  • Awsome story love history channel

  • Zimmer got at least 6 medals in WWII. Belief it or not he kept his amazing military career as a secret until his daughters, then in highschool, found by chance one of his medals. He was deeply hurt buy sarnoski's death and forever wondered why he survived and sarnoski didn't

  • I read zimmer's biography published recently. His military career in WWII would make a great war movie. And it wouldn't be needed to make anything up. He flew the b17 in a way that the military thought to be impossible. This mission is just one example of it. Even how he recruited his men: reminds me a bit that movie "The dirty dozen". By the way, in this mission not all the mgs were used at the same time. Some were kept on the floor so that, if one jammed, could be quickly replaced

  • Anyone interested in this video should check out KensMen.com, the online home of the 43rd BG. This video is one of the most accurate accounts of that particular mission, but it tells nothing of the context in which it happened. The air war in the South Pacific was literally and figuratively the polar opposite of Europe. Visit the KensMen site, or the 22nd BG site, and you'll get a sense of the primitive, scrounging existence the crews endured down there in '41 and '42. It's astonishing.

  • They are heroes, everyone of them.

  • Joseph Sarnoski was my great uncle. My dad has his medal of honor

  • Old 666

    Old 666, B-17E 41-2666 was a World War II B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber which was assigned to the 43rd Bomb Group in 1943 and was the aircraft piloted by Lt. Col. (then Captain) Jay Zeamer on the mission that would earn him and bombardier Joseph Sarnoski each a Medal of Honor, and every other member of the crew a Distinguished Service Cross.

    HideHistory

    By 1943, Old 666, tail number 12666, had suffered heavy battle damage and had gained a reputation as a cursed bomber, often coming bac

  • I read this article from a book published many years ago.

    The pilot of the Old 666 was a co-pilot for so many missions, that eventually he was so relaxed during heavy flack attacks, he would put on a WWI helmet and fall asleep while being flaked.

    No one would give him command, so he scrounged a plane and made a crew of misfits.

    The misfits fixed up the plane and then the base commander tried renege on the deal and take the plane.

    He and his misfit crew holed up in the plane with small arms

  • @navyclock You're thinking of Martin Caidin's account in his book Flying Forts. Unfortunately his account is riddled with mistakes and hyperbole. I was fortunate to get to know know a few of Zeamer's crew, including Herb Pugh, Bill Vaughan, and Ruby Johnston, as well as J.T. Britton, the co-pilot on the MoH mission featured in the video. They all scoffed at many parts of Caidin's account of them. Caidin deserves praise for highlighting an historic mission, but his hyperbole disserves them.

  • Not too many men of this calibre around nowadays, There are a few but alot harder too find.

  • Too bad so many brave white men gave their lives in that war so that America could be made multi-racial, multi-cultural. I'm sure if they knew what would become of America they wouldn't be so willing to give their lives.

  • The 5 Nazi left on earth don't like the video, it is otherwise epic

  • @crayzzriggs Yes, when they speak about removing the dead and injured after landing, at 7:23.

  • Whomever DISLIKED this should be embarrassed!!!!

  • A new video has been added to my favorites.

  • The 4 who Disliked this story should probably go with them on their next Sortie!

  • @crayzzriggs -- "posthumously" means "after death"...Joe Sarnoski (the bombadier) died, but was awarded the Medal of Honor. The pilot (Jay Zeamer) was the one who was wounded but thought dead. He survived and was awarded the Medal of Honor.

    I hope that helps!

  • God bless them all

  • awesome story!

  • Heroes All

  • My dad & his four brothers were all in WWII - my dad the only one still living -their cousin a nurse @ Pearl Harbor. I truly believe that one of the greatest generations this country has ever been blessed with was the men & women that fought in WWII. This video shows the stuff that they were made of - character, bravery, ethics, morals & a willingness to give their all for America & their fellow soldiers. ALL of these men on this plane were hero's - thank God America had them & others like them.

  • Regardless of anything else the second cop should be instructed how to react to citizens with a modicum of civility. Whether he was right or wrong in his actions he displayed the city's police department in a very poor light.

  • Makes u wonder.

  • They don't make 'em anymore like the crew members of "Old 666".

  • i have seen this episode 500 times and it still almost brings me to tears to think that his last thoughts were that he had to protect his friends no matter how much it hurt or how hard it was to complete the process

  • @TheYeaters

    I did cry.

  • how did sarnoski find the power to control twin fifty cals after being almost blown in half.  WoW talk about resolve.

  • in the name of death

  • Think the Japs back then would go back to base, say there's a flying demon they failed to slay...

  • Gave me chills and pride to be an American. Our brave soldiers are in the twilight of their years. Let's thanks them once again!

  • jay z was on 12666 go figure lol

  • My Dad was infantry and fought across France, under Patton.. It was men like these that we owe so much. I'm proud to be a Vet from the Vietnam era.This vedio was an inspiration.

  • My Dad was infantry and fought across France, under Patton.. It was men like these that we owe so much. I'm proud to be a Vet from the Vietnam era.This vedio was an insperation.

  • Awesome video!

  • why don't we jail the politicians who fail diplomacy and send the people to war in the first place. Who are the one sending our people to war? It's not the people who want war, it's their leaders. Glorifying war is ridiculous.

  • @service2others- This video isn't about glorifying war - it's about honoring bravery of the men on this plane & sharing that bravery with the generations that followed. Not too many of us today could do what our soldiers in WWII did - we're all too comfortable in our lives & not willing to sacrifice. These men were not like that - they WERE willing to give their lives to save the lives of other American soldiers. As long as there is greed in this world, we'll have war, but DON'T knock these guys

  • @service2others -- Against tyranny, "successful" diplomacy is "slavery," and "unsuccessful" diplomacy means a war for freedom. You'd like to jail those who fight for freedom....no thanks.

  • Amazing American Heroes - Wow!

  • when men were men and some still are, eh! Now we have a lotta coddled Momma boys. Please donate to the USO for our now MEN!

  • My Dad was a waist gunner on a B-17. Shot down over Berlin and spent 22 months is a German prison camp. He was 18.

  • @texascat2 You liar! That was MY dad. You're adopted! Just kidding everyone, this is my brother. I'm proud of the old man, he was a true hero. Imagine being in that tin can at 50,000 feet freezing your ass off while taking flak, and shooting at German fighters. The captain stayed with the plane until he was sure the entire crew made it out. They were on their 10th mission. He went to prison camp weighing 166, and went to R&R in Hawaii weighing 119.

  • @MrHomeChef They told me "YOU" were adopted!

  • @texascat2 HaHaHaHa! We could both go to Floris today after not being there since Grandpa died, and they'd ask both of us if we were relatives of Glens! I look just like dad's cousin Bernard, and you look like a combo of dad and Dillon.

  • @MrHomeChef Only better looking!

  • America's greatest generation....I wish I could have thanked them all....

  • @sjp092 Very true. Great comment!!

  • Lt. Joseph Sarnoski's Medal of Honor, and other memorabilia, is on display at the Carbondale, Pa. public library.

  • This is great. My Dad was an RAAF Spitfire pilot in Borneo and escorting top cover to bombers was essential. Thanks heaps.

  • Lt Col Zeamer is a true hero in every respect...and the crew were also heros. Makes me proud to have served in the USAF

  • Mission Accomplished! It doesn't get any better than that. We are very fortunate to have the audio and video footage of these heroes!!

  • Hey, ton of lard73z28, so answer my question: "Tell me one thing BO has done to strengthen our nation's military capabilities or improve our foreign relations. The leaders of other countries laugh at him and, in effect, at all of us."

    You know you can't so I do feel sorry for you. Enjoy your Kool-Aid.

  • @altooname :

    Wow, xenophobic much?

  • @altooname Well, let's see: He hasn't invaded two countries without making plans about what to do after our troops are in them, getting 6,000 of them killed and over 20,000 wounded. He's stepped down our operations in Iraq and actually paid attention to Afghanistan. Do you actually KNOW anyone who lives in another country? I guarantee that 99% of people in other countries want Obama re-elected. You probably voted for GWB twice. Enjoy your Kool Aid.

  • @RoyCohnJr I was deployed for Desert Storm and my wife is Iranian, so don't preach to me about something so far above your knowledge level. You're right about other countries wanting BO re-elected but not for any reasons you're capable of imagining. Our current President is the least qualified person ever in the Oval Office, and his plunging poll numbers prove more people including voters who were fooled by him are waking up. Btw a hair dryer will remove those BO-Biden stickers from your Kia..

  • @altooname Well, let's see: He hasn't invaded two countries without making plans about what to do after our troops are in them, getting 6,000 of them killed and over 20,000 wounded. He's stepped down our operations in Iraq and actually paid attention to Afghanistan. Do you actually KNOW anyone who lives in another country? I guarantee that 99% of people in other countries want Obama re-elected. You probably voted for GWB twice. You insult all veterans with your ignorance.

  • WOW! Well, the B-17 was one tough plane! My Uncle flew one in 8th AF!

  • 50 cal's..can you imagine the little japs wondering what the fuck they'd run up against? jay zeamer and his crew had nuts the size of bowling balls.

    this story is an inspiration on so many levels...the plane that can take this abuse, the guys who rigged it with 'a few extra guns', the pilot and crew...all deserve our gratitude and admiration.

  • The price of FREEDOM is Blood and Guts...pity Democrats have none of either...leaves it to the rest of us....arm up because Democrats have let the enemy into our space at home...they have become the enemy of freedom...wake up...much damage has been done in just two years...what a mess...Cloward & Pivens...impeach democrats who encourage the enemies.

  • Great piece of history.

  • When men were men, and the President of the Unite States didn't apologize to the world for our greatness.

  • amazing...God bless these guys.

  • God bless these men, every one of them and ALL who served America and the Allies so faithfully. We can never repay them for what they have done. I am sorry to see so many of them pass every day.  What a loss for us.

  • @friscoamm

    Ditto - good words!

  • This was 1 bad ass aircraft.

  • BTW here's 666's entry on Joe Baughers' incredible site of military aircraft serial numbers: " 2666 (43rd BG, 65th BS, *Lucy*) flown on mission which earned Jay Zeamer and Joseph Sarnoski the Medal of Honor Jun 16, 1943, Bougainville".

  • @altooname Actually the plane's serial number was 41366. I have a copy of Jay Zeamer's flight log. And the plane never received a nickname or nose art. They just called it "Ol' 666." It wasn't a priority for them, in addition to the fact that they were flying as often as Zeamer could manage. He was SOO of the 65th after April '42, so he got to fly pretty much as often as he wanted. Which was a lot. That's why the nickname the *crew* received was the "Eager Beavers."

  • Ack, my fingers got tangled up. 412666. What's ironic is that after doing all the work to fix that plane up—they dragged it from a dead pile at the end of Seven-Mile Strip in Port Moresby for the trimetrogon cameras they needed for photo mapping—they barely got a chance to fly it before this mission scattered them to the winds.

  • All this comparison between Democrats this and Republicans that is basically meaningless because there are good Americans on both sides. Unfortunately, and you can't dispute this, we have a totally unqualified incompetent in the White House making a mockery of generations of military dedication and sacrifice. Tell me one thing BO has done to strengthen our nation's military capabilities or improve our foreign relations. The leaders of other countries laugh at him and, in effect, at all of us.

  • @altooname what is up with you idiots.. this is history & all you want to do is play politics & try to blame BO for yet another thing GO AWAY

  • @altooname what is up with you idiots.. this is history & all you want to do is play politics & try to blame BO for yet another thing GO AWAY You insult all veterans

  • My brother-in-law just passed away at 92. He few with the 8th AirForce in a B25.He told us about flying in flak and even had a piece that hit his plane and was imbeded into the fusalage. I hope the new generation would read about real heroes.But a lot of them are just interested in drugs , in a world with out reality.

  • Just another reminder of what Independance Day is all about! May God Bless them and theirs, always....

  • Hah, take that your Jap Rat Bastards..........

  • "... tell him he's full of shit"  lol

  • Incredible... I don't think they can do that today ...

  • Wow.......how GREAT they were!!! Too bad the kids today don't have a CLUE, nor seem to care.....and that MAKES ME SICK!!! CJ (USCGR)

  • that was my grandpa in the copilot seat! its good to have part of their story here...

  • why don't we hear stories of MEN AND WOMEN performing their duties like this, about our heros of today?

  • @scottyintahoe because the US doesn't use b-17's anymore, duhhhhh

  • @scottyintahoe  because our socialist goernment doesnt want you to know, and the donkey ass fa66ot liberal media is controled by the socialists, so good luck getting to the truth about anything these days

  • God Bless America !!

  • It's often the hell raisers and the renegades who make the best fighting men. This is a wonderful story of heroism, courage and sacrifice

  • A fabulous story!!!!

  • even with a name like 666 God still watched over them

  • @ntrnate they only survived because they kicked some ass, not "god"

  • @ntrnate 'God' had nothing to do with it. It was the skill of the crew, your comment diminishes their effort.

  • @Sp4rt4n4tor NO dont fucking start dont argue that shit here ya'll people have fucked up enough videos on the web i dont care if your a atheist or not. Dont care if it offends you take your god damn arguments some fucking where else.

  • @valcan321

    Whats your problem with the truth?

  • @Sp4rt4n4tor The 'truth" as you put it is your opinion entirely. I am tired of pages upon pages of BS between two freaking groups.

    Atheist and true believers.

    Whether its on a science blog or on youtube or for gods sakes a freaking porn site these groups are the baine of any person who just wants to gain knowledge.

    I appologise if i was rude but i dont want another BS argument on whether i should believe one arrogant egocentric asshole over a true believe when neither cares what i think

  • And we still have the same dedicated men and women today... too bad we now have Commander in Chief that's a lying Chicken Ass Dickhead!

  • @Nincumpoopie Hey, haven't your heard? Dubya is no longer president.

    Do try to keep up, won't you?

  • Son of a bitch! Watching this great video makes me feel even prouder and more patriotic then I normally do.

  • That's one heroic crew!

  • Should show and teach this kind of History in school today. These guys are the real heros, They had what it takes to get things done

  • I only wish that these stories were told to the current and future generations everyday at school to show what it took to build and protect this country and what real heroes our parents were and what a bunch of pantywaist bedwetters we have for leaders now!

  • @LPFOMOCO1 no doubt true, ive seen it my self, im 51 this month and what i was taught in school is not what the last few generations seem to think happened, they have no clue. not all are this way but its far and few in between, im glad youtube has all of this , you could never be bored

  • Out F@%ing Standing!!

  • Amazing story! Good thing they had added the extra armament!

  • Fantastic heros! Our anti-american communist democrats of today would spit on these guys. It's a shame what this country has come to.

    Remember November! Vote all of the commies (anyone with a "D" by his name) and RINO's out. Vote out anyone who has made a career out of being a senator or congress critter. Vote for term limits.

  • @AirstripBum you're an idiot. To associate democrats with anti-americanism is ridiculous. The fact you don't see that makes you worse than a commie IMHO, it makes you sort of an old school fascist. There are plenty of dems that are fighting and dying for our country at this very moment. Don't think you right-wingers have the monopoly on pariotism or anything else because you DON'T.

  • @AirstripBum I served proudly in the USAF, flying tankers, KC135s in South East Asia. I eventually retired as Lt Col.

    You Airstrip Bum should be ashamed of yourself. I'm a Liberal Democrat and will match my love of country with anyone.

    You are a crank and show NO respect. I' sure there were no Dems on those 17s...yeah right.

  • @dennisafrompa Colonel, I'm a retired 747 capt and C-130 capt, civilian, not military. I think we will both agree that the Democrats of 1941/45 do not in the least resemble the Dhimmocrats of the current era. My father, who was a lifelong Democrat and a WW I veteran, would be absolutely appalled at what passes for a Democrat these days.

  • @AirstripBum You really ought to be ashamed of yourself, politicizing the bravery of these airmen. But I guess a sense of shame is so 20th-century.

  • @AirstripBum haha you must really be a bum??Do you know what communisom is??Its when the country controlls where you work,what you buy,what churches you go to,what religion,so on,how is that our country??And why should we vote the republicans in??The only time the change/do anything is when its close to election time so they can get re-elected.jackass posting stuff about our country in a bad when on this of all videos!!

  • Tail number was the aircraft's serial number it would read 41 for the year it was built, but the 4 wasn't always applied.

  • wtf is this narrator its not phil crowly

  • They recorded entirely new narration for export. I prefer the US narrators all-caps delivery. "JOE SARNOWSKI, HIS HANDS SLICK WITH BLOOD, GRIPS THE TRIGGER OF HIS MACHINE GUN ONE LAST TIME!"

  • Was this on Dogfights? If so which season...?

  • season 1

  • The Greatest Generation !

  • Exellent amazing men

  • What an unbelievable hero. Search the net and read about this guy - he was amazing.

  • Thanks for your comment,Whopeyerabbit-found an excellent site(think it was called"American Valour",or something similar),before I uploaded this video,wanted more in-depth information,and wanted to spell the names correctly! Brave lads,Knocks me out everytime I watch it.Cheers!

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