Real-life extreme weather condtions

I love the new MS weather. They do a much better job now simulating icing conditions. If you don't use the pitot heat, carb heat, and de-icers, you will be in trouble. But after reading "Fate Is the Hunter" by Ernest K. Gann, it can't compare to the real thing. Mr. Gann describes two situations where he was a co-pilot of a DC2 and DC3. He describes two really extreme weather conditions:1) What is it like flying into a thunderstorm in a DC3? He says that when it hit, he instantly started losing 1500 fpm despite full power. Then in another instant he was ascending at 1500 fpm. He put his gear down, pointed the plane downward, and still he ascended. The Artificial Horizon then tumbled and was useless. Hail hit, and the rain and the thunder was deafening. As sudden as it started, then it just stopped. He landed successfully after it was over.2) What is it like flying into extreme icing conditions in a DC2? He says that the propellor blades accumulated ice, causing the whole ship to vibrate. He could not get the ice off (they sprayed alcohol on it). His airspeed quickly dropped from 170 to 120. A solid sheet of ice formed on the wings (they had de-icers, which were rubber boots, but they did not work). Eventually the ice was 4 inches thick. The rudder froze. He had to cut the fuel mixture to force an engine backfire to clear the ice from the engine openings. The windshield became coated with solid ice so he totally lost his forward view. With zero visibility and losing altitude, he dropped below 4,150 feet, which was the summit of a peak in the Blue Ridge mountains which they were flying. The airport he was going to land in had too low of visibility, so he had to land at Cincinati. He only had 30 gallons of fuel left after he successfuly landed.Just thought folks may be interested in reading this. It is amazing in both cases that he came out alive.Happy New Year,PapaTango