The Oddest Weapon America Ever Sent to War

Video Description

Elmer Gedeon had always been fast. On the baseball field, he was a natural, sprinting across the outfield, stretching for impossible catches. Speed had earned him a spot in the Major Leagues. Now, it was the only thing keeping him alive. Flak bursts exploded around his B-26 Marauder as it hurtled toward its target over Nazi-occupied France. The air was thick with black smoke; each burst like a fastball whizzing past his head. Below, the German bomb site he aimed to destroy came into view. It was time to make the play. The bomb bay doors groaned open, releasing their payload. A second later, an explosion rocked the plane. Fire spread across the controls, creeping toward his flight suit. His co-pilot was already gone. But Gedeon stayed at the controls, gripping the yoke, fighting for every inch of air. He was used to sliding into home with the game on the line. But there were no cheers, no teammates waiting at the dugout. Only the burning sky ahead, and the ground rushing up to meet him. - 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. -