How a "Rejected" Pilot and Cursed Bomber Became WWII's Greatest Legend | Old 666 Story

June 16th, 1943. Captain Jay Zeamer fights to keep his B-17 bomber airborne while 20mm cannon shells tear through both wings. His copilot is unconscious. Five crew members are wounded. The bombardier is dying. They're 400 miles from base over enemy waters.

By every standard, they should abandon the plane. But Zeamer refuses. This is the true story of Old 666 — the cursed B-17 bomber that became a legend, and the crew of misfits who flew the most decorated single mission in WWII history.

🎖️ WHAT YOU'LL DISCOVER:
• How a "rejected" MIT engineer became a Medal of Honor pilot
• Why everyone refused to fly bomber #666 — until Jay Zeamer saw opportunity
• The impossible modifications that turned Old 666 into the most heavily armed B-17
• The suicide reconnaissance mission over Bougainville that no one would volunteer for
• 40+ minutes of aerial combat against 17+ Japanese Zero fighters
• How 450 bullet holes and catastrophic damage couldn't stop one determined crew
• The engineering miracles that kept Old 666 flying when it should have disintegrated
• Why this single mission earned more medals than any other in American military history

⚔️ THE CREW OF OLD 666:
Captain Jay Zeamer Jr. - Pilot (Medal of Honor)
Lieutenant Joseph Sarnoski - Bombardier (Medal of Honor, posthumous)
Lieutenant Ruby Johnston - Navigator (Distinguished Service Cross)
Plus 8 more heroes who refused to quit

THE MISSION BY NUMBERS:
• 450+ bullet holes sustained
• 20+ cannon strikes absorbed
• 17+ Japanese Zeros engaged
• 400 miles flown with catastrophic damage
• 2 engines destroyed, 1 barely functional
• 0 hydraulics remaining
• 10 lives saved (1 KIA - Lieutenant Sarnoski)
• 11 major medals awarded (most decorated single mission)

This is more than a survival story. It's about preparation defeating impossible odds. It's about a crew of misfits who became brothers. It's about sacrifice, courage, and the triumph of the human spirit.

🏆 WHY THIS STORY MATTERS:
Jay Zeamer's modifications to Old 666 influenced bomber design for decades. The lessons from this mission are still taught at military academies today. The crew's courage earned them a place in history — two Medals of Honor, five Distinguished Service Crosses, and eternal respect.

Lieutenant Joseph Sarnoski gave his life completing the mission. Captain Jay Zeamer flew seven hours with a mangled bomber, refusing to abandon his wounded crew. Together, they proved that determination, preparation, and brotherhood can overcome any obstacle.

📚 SOURCES & RESEARCH:
This video is based on official military records, Medal of Honor citations, crew member testimonies, engineering reports, and historical documentation from the National Archives. All events depicted are historically accurate.

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