The American Soldier Who Turned a Plane into a Flying Tank in WW2

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The German column was advancing toward the overwhelmed American troops. The panzer grenadiers were aboard armored vehicles and flanked by Panther tanks. The vanguard had already clashed with the American GIs and cornered them near a bridge. There was no way out for them.

The Germans, slowly but steadily, made their way into the broken Allied lines, which, outnumbered, were in dire need of air support. But it was not possible, both parties had suspended air operations due to the intense fog.

But, then, the unthinkable happened. The GIs, battered and exhausted, were about to surrender when the skies cleared and heard an aircraft approaching. One of the German gunners from the rear then noticed how a boring old L-4 Grasshopper reconnaissance monoplane raced through his comrade’s lines as if it were making a bombing run.

Before the German could realize what was happening, he fell to the ground with a concussion. Then came the sound of thunder and the emerging smoke from several of the armored vehicles that were now in flames.

He stumbled and rose, only to hear the distant cheering from the GIs. As the Grasshopper got away, the German turned to the sky in amusement when he realized what had just happened: his lines had been decimated by six bazookas mounted on a silly little plane.

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As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Docs sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect. I do my best to keep it as visually accurate as possible. All content on Dark Docs is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas. -

[Gunners_Mate_Guns]

Lt. Colonel Carpenter was the sort of man that nearly all of us can only aspire to be.

[larryyoung]

A courageous citizen soldier. A patriot of the best kind. A noble man.

[Historyfreak-fo]

From teaching history, to making history. Good show!

[mawnkey]

Dude literally turned a wooden flying washing machine in to the first A-10. Absolute legend.

[sisleymichael]

What the brave Major did distinguishes the difference between victory and defeat. His spirit, attitude, tenacity, all hallmarks of American fighting men. That example of saving the men under the bridge? That is a real hero.

[kennethcohagen]

Thank you for your service, and may you rest in peace. You’ve earned it!

[cag]

Wow...just speechless...the greatest generation...my pop and mom were part of it..they had amazing ways about them...im 71 years old...i still have questions i want to ask...

[althomas]

It's sad that a man who taught history, isn't mentioned in high school history.

[MDR-hnyz]

My grandfather was a gunner in B-24’s with the US 8th Air Force during WW2. After the war, he became a history teacher in NY. He lived to be 92 and even until his last days loved telling stories about all kinds of history, including WW2.

[kirtroguestar]

The man is a teacher that can. As a history teacher, the man CHANGES history.

[troubadour]

I'm British and so grateful to American heroes like this gentleman who helped to free us from tyranny. God bless you

[lordofthehouseofstormcrows]

Oh the ingenuity during war. The man with nothing to lose will fight harder than the man whos afraid to die

[whodapple]

Mad Major needs to be retold as a movie!

Rest In Peace... we are grateful for your bravery and service!

[oculusangelicus]

What an incredible man! He saw his fellow soldiers fighting the fight and dying, all while he sat nice and cozy, unmolested n his piper aircraft. He then decided he was going to watch, no more. The fact that he was able to mount bazookas on his plane and actually hit something he was trying to hit is a feat in and of itself! He deserves to be remembered and honored for his willingness to lay his life on the line to help support his brothers in arms on the ground! What a honorable and worthy man to be used as a role model and proclaimed a hero by subsequent generations. Thank you, Major, for your hard work, your willingness to fight, it can be said that all of the men in WW2 who fought for freedom can be called the greatest Generation. But there are also men and women who, today, fight the fight and stand in opposition to tyranny and despotism. These men and women are also great and honorable men and women who deserve to be remembered!

[tomeickhorst]

I’m glad some one finally did a video on this man. I have read his story a couple years ago

[richardcline]

A sad way for such a heroic man to die. What he did saved countless American lives and deserved the Medal of Honor.

[shallah]

WWII saw a different breed of hero. Those men of a caliber that the world will probably never see again.

[shall]

This is the exact battle we reenact each Columbus Day weekend at the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, MA.

The restored Rosie the Rocketer flies overhead and blows up tanks!

[TerryFoster-crcp]

Men like him won that war.. When you said which army he was with PATTON came to mind.. The gentleman that said he should have gotten, the metal of honor was correct...no regard for personal safety... Good story DOC.

[jamesbickle]

Just watched this and learned that Carpenter, "The Mad Major" was born in our small school district in Edgington Illinois! Why didn't this guy getting more attention? This is the type of story that everyone can be inspired by?