Post by rhreiss on Mar 29, 2024 14:09:52 GMT -8
509th BG, 15AF Mission 17 Skpolje, Yugoslavia - Marshalling Yard
MISSION DATE: 26 March 44
B-24J Bama Beauty (Mission #15)
Game notes:
One lady luck smiles in hand from prior mission
509th BG, 15AF Mission 17 Skpolje, Yugoslavia - Marshalling Yard
MISSION DATE: 26 March 44
B-24J Bama Beauty (Mission #15)
Crew Commander: 1LT George McQuinn
Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Formation: Middle
Position: Middle
TARGET: Marshalling Yard
Crew Chief T/SGT Bob Patrick (Good) skill +1 17th mission
Crew Chief Pre Mission Report: Standard mission and chances for Mechanical Failures.
Bomb Percentage: Off-target, 0%
Bomber Disposition: Ready after overnight repair and maintenance.
Bomber Damage:
2 x Superficial Damage 4
Rubber rafts 10
Norden Bombsight 10
Pilot Compartment no effect 5
Bomb Bay no effect 5
Radio Room no effect 5
ball turret inop gunner trapped 20
1 hit left rudder 10
Top turret power temp out 5
Tail gun power temp out 5
Peckham Points: 79
Landing: Safe landing at Giulia Airfield
Enemy Aircraft: Encountered: 12
Casualties:
Claims:
Fw190 S/SGT Harshaney and SGT Thompson Denied
Awards:
AAR
OUTBOUND
Took off without any problems and with the weather it took a little longer than normal to asembl;e the formation. As we did our systems checks, a Top Turret power failure was discovered but Sam got everything working ok as we headed out over the Adriatic Sea
As we approached the Pristina area, Dave reported that the tail gun controls were not working. Right on cue a Me109 attacked at our 12. Both Sam and Tommy scored hits, the Me109 missed and did Dave’s attempt at a passing shot. Just before we got to the target area Dave reported the tail gun problem was fixed. Will need to talk to our crew chief about these power issues when we get back.
TARGET AREA
Once in the target area, we were attacked by 3 Fw190s. The guys from the 82FG took care of one. Tommy in the nose turret traded shots with the one at our 12, with all involved missing, as did Dave’s try at a passing shot. Sam in the top turret hit the Fw190 at our 9, but the Fw190 pressed the attack and scored multiple hits on us, breaking off after the one pass. Along with the superficial damage we took hits to pilot compartment, bomb bay, radio room for no effect, had our rafts shot up, a hit to the left rudder and had our bombsight knocked out. The most serious damage was to the ball turret. It was knocked out of action and jammed so that Bill was trapped in it.
There was medium intensity flak but it did hit us. With the bombsight out Johnny released when we saw everyone releasing their loads but missed the aim point.
After the bomb run the fight attacks resumed but the Lightings did their share to keep them off us. They intercepted a Me109 and a Me-410. They were followed by a pair of Fw190s with the Lightings picking one off while Sam and Tommy claimed the second one. For the finale a second pair of Fw190s made a run at us, once again out little friends took care of one while Sam and Tommy damaged the second at 1:30 H damaging it enough that it missed and broke off the attack.
INBOUND
As we departed the target area and started back to base our escorts ran off a pair of Ju88C-6s. After that it was a quite flight back to base. The crew tried without success to get Bill out of the ball turret. We had to do the landing with him stuck in the turret. Fortunately, it was a good landing and once down the ground crew got him free. Bill was shaken by the incident, and I told our senior NCOs John and Sam to keep an eye on him for the next couple of days. Bob has been a good crew chief, so I made it a point of emphasis and asked him to pay extra attention to the controls/power for the turrets and tail gun. He assured me he would and that the Bama Beauty would be ready for the next mission after overnight repair and maintenance.
1LT George McQuinn, Pilot Commanding
B-24J Bama Beauty
78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF
MISSION DATE: 26 March 44
B-24J Bama Beauty (Mission #15)
Game notes:
One lady luck smiles in hand from prior mission
509th BG, 15AF Mission 17 Skpolje, Yugoslavia - Marshalling Yard
MISSION DATE: 26 March 44
B-24J Bama Beauty (Mission #15)
Crew Commander: 1LT George McQuinn
Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Formation: Middle
Position: Middle
TARGET: Marshalling Yard
Crew Position | Rank | Name | Mission # | Prior Awards | Prior Kills Awarded | Status |
Pilot | 1LT | George McQuinn | 17 | AM++ | RFD | |
Co-Pilot | 2LT | Howard Mills | 12 | AM+ | RFD | |
Bombardier | 2LT | Johnny Marcum | 17 | AM++ | .25 | RFD |
Navigator | 2LT | Pat Tobin | 17 | AM++ | .25 | RFD |
Engineer | S/SGT | Sam Harshaney | 14 | AM++, PH | 5.83 | RFD |
Radio/ RW | T/SGT | John Whitehead | 17 | AM++ | 1.37 | RFD |
Ball Gunner | SGT | Bill Trotter | 17 | AM++, PH | 3.03 | RFD |
Left Waist | SGT | Harry Kimberlin | 17 | AM++ | 2 | RFD |
Nose Gunner | SGT | Tommy Thompson | 12 | AM+ | 5.08 | RFD |
Tail Gunner | SGT | Dave Short | 17 | AM++ | 1.16 | RFD |
Crew Chief Pre Mission Report: Standard mission and chances for Mechanical Failures.
Bomb Percentage: Off-target, 0%
Bomber Disposition: Ready after overnight repair and maintenance.
Bomber Damage:
2 x Superficial Damage 4
Rubber rafts 10
Norden Bombsight 10
Pilot Compartment no effect 5
Bomb Bay no effect 5
Radio Room no effect 5
ball turret inop gunner trapped 20
1 hit left rudder 10
Top turret power temp out 5
Tail gun power temp out 5
Peckham Points: 79
Landing: Safe landing at Giulia Airfield
Enemy Aircraft: Encountered: 12
Me109 | Fw190 | Me110 | Me210 | Me410 | Ju88C-6 | TOTAL | |
Escort Intercept | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | ||
Undamaged | 1 | 1 | |||||
Damaged | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
Probable/Denied | 1 | 1 | |||||
Destroyed |
Casualties:
Claims:
Fw190 S/SGT Harshaney and SGT Thompson Denied
Awards:
AAR
OUTBOUND
Took off without any problems and with the weather it took a little longer than normal to asembl;e the formation. As we did our systems checks, a Top Turret power failure was discovered but Sam got everything working ok as we headed out over the Adriatic Sea
As we approached the Pristina area, Dave reported that the tail gun controls were not working. Right on cue a Me109 attacked at our 12. Both Sam and Tommy scored hits, the Me109 missed and did Dave’s attempt at a passing shot. Just before we got to the target area Dave reported the tail gun problem was fixed. Will need to talk to our crew chief about these power issues when we get back.
TARGET AREA
Once in the target area, we were attacked by 3 Fw190s. The guys from the 82FG took care of one. Tommy in the nose turret traded shots with the one at our 12, with all involved missing, as did Dave’s try at a passing shot. Sam in the top turret hit the Fw190 at our 9, but the Fw190 pressed the attack and scored multiple hits on us, breaking off after the one pass. Along with the superficial damage we took hits to pilot compartment, bomb bay, radio room for no effect, had our rafts shot up, a hit to the left rudder and had our bombsight knocked out. The most serious damage was to the ball turret. It was knocked out of action and jammed so that Bill was trapped in it.
There was medium intensity flak but it did hit us. With the bombsight out Johnny released when we saw everyone releasing their loads but missed the aim point.
After the bomb run the fight attacks resumed but the Lightings did their share to keep them off us. They intercepted a Me109 and a Me-410. They were followed by a pair of Fw190s with the Lightings picking one off while Sam and Tommy claimed the second one. For the finale a second pair of Fw190s made a run at us, once again out little friends took care of one while Sam and Tommy damaged the second at 1:30 H damaging it enough that it missed and broke off the attack.
INBOUND
As we departed the target area and started back to base our escorts ran off a pair of Ju88C-6s. After that it was a quite flight back to base. The crew tried without success to get Bill out of the ball turret. We had to do the landing with him stuck in the turret. Fortunately, it was a good landing and once down the ground crew got him free. Bill was shaken by the incident, and I told our senior NCOs John and Sam to keep an eye on him for the next couple of days. Bob has been a good crew chief, so I made it a point of emphasis and asked him to pay extra attention to the controls/power for the turrets and tail gun. He assured me he would and that the Bama Beauty would be ready for the next mission after overnight repair and maintenance.
1LT George McQuinn, Pilot Commanding
B-24J Bama Beauty
78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF