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Post by limburger59 on May 20, 2023 16:19:21 GMT -8
to post 4 Aug 23 To unlock 6 Aug 23 Turn in AAR's no later than 19 Aug 23 Next mission to post 18 Aug 23
MISSION DATE: 12 Jan 44 Mission 2 Pisa, Italy - Marshalling Yard MISSION # 2TARGET: Pisa, Italy - Marshalling Yard Bombing Altitude: 20,000 feet Mission Brief: The flight path avoids a certain vertically challenged tower, so stay on the designated route. Map: FORMATION:HIGH | 79th SQDN |
| MID | 80th SQDN |
| LOW | 78th SQDN | LEAD: | She Devil (rwillems01)
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| LEAD: | Lucky Lady
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| LEAD: | Bottoms Up | TAIL: | Express Delivery (randomcanadian)
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| TAIL: | Pride of the Wolverine
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| TAIL: | Flat Foot Floogie
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WEATHER:
Takeoff: Poor Target: Good Landing: Good GAZETTEER
In Zones 6 & 7 Italian fighters, flown by Italian pilots who stayed loyal to the ideals of Fascism, the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana, may be encountered. Both TFT and QOTS players may use - Table 5-3SB - found on Steve Dixon's website, to possibly run into them. Zone | Modifier (QotS) | Weather/Resistance (TfT) | Fighter Cover | 2 Liberated Italy | -2 | 100% Clouds / Light | Good | 3 Liberated Italy / Tyrrhenian Sea | -2 | 100% Clouds / None | Good | 4 Tyrrhenian Sea
| -1 | 50% Clouds / Moderate
| Fair | 5 Tyrrhenian Sea | X | 50% Clouds / None
| Fair | 6 Tyrrhenian Sea | -2 | 50% Clouds / Light | Fair | TARGET ZONE 7 Outbound: Tyrrhenian Sea Inbound: Italy FLAK: Outbound: Medium Inbound: None | 0 | 50% Clouds/Moderate Target: Slightly Obscured TFT: Bombing Manually
| Fair | 6 Tyrrhenian Sea | -1 | 50% Clouds / Moderate | Fair
| 5 Tyrrhenian Sea | X | 50% Clouds / None
| Fair
| 4 Tyrrhenian Sea | -2 | 50% Clouds / Light | Fair
| 3 Tyrrhenian Sea/ Liberated Italy | X | 50% Clouds / None
| Fair
| 2 Liberated Italy | -2 | 50% Clouds / Light
| Fair
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Emergency Landing on Corsica: Engineers are creating runways on Corsica that can handle heavy bombers, but as of today there only is a RAF fighter base. (-2 landing DM for short runway) If landing on Corsica your bomber will be broken up for spare parts and your crew will take 5 days to return to base, via Sardinia and Sicily. Shot Down: Over Water (if you didn't drown): Zone 4 or greater: you are captured Zones 3: you are rescued by the Royal Navy Over Land: German controlled Italy: roll 1d6: 1=rescued by Italian family, but cannot be returned until Allied advance reaches Pisa. 2-6= Captured & POW. ( Read about the crew of Ileen Lois.) Calendar since last Mission:7 Jan 44 Mission 1 Mostar, Yugoslavia - Airdrome 8 Jan 44 Non-Operational Day 9 Jan 44 Mission Aborted enroute to Zara, Yugoslavia (stress!)10 Jan 44 Non-Operational Day - Heavy Rain 11 Jan 44 Non-Operational Day - Heavy Rain 12 Jan 44 Mission 2 Pisa, Italy - Marshalling Yard
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Sparhawk
80th Bomber Squadron
Posts: 332
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Post by Sparhawk on Aug 4, 2023 6:39:16 GMT -8
Gentlemen of the 80th Squadron,
Today we are off to Pisa to continue to degrade the Reich.
Taking the lead will be 1LT Hughes in the Lucky Lady. The tailing bomber will be 1LT Morrow in the Pride of the Wolverines.
Do us proud and fly well.
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Post by crushedhat on Aug 4, 2023 8:16:37 GMT -8
For the 78th Lead: Bottoms Up, (ChefEd) Tail: Flat Foot Floogie (Grondeaux) Garfield, Paul, Cpt, USAAF, XO, 78th (H) Bomb Squadron
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Post by andy254 on Aug 5, 2023 14:48:14 GMT -8
“Your mission today takes you close to where the fighting on the ground is taking place, and so you can expect to run into some German aircraft that may be heading to, or returning from supporting their troops,” begins Maj Harlan Beech, 509th BG S2 as SSgt Dewbury points out the location on the big wall map. “But, as their primary focus is the ground fight, any interference with your mission should be light.” Continuing, the S2 says, “Your next encounter with the Luftwaffe will be off the coast near Rome. Expect that to be a bit more intense. You’ll probably encounter few patrols as you make landfall, with the greatest concentration over the target. On your trip home, plan on the same interactions.”
“An added consideration, those Eye-Ties who stayed loyal to the Fascist cause are located around the target. So, don’t be surprised see some Axes on the Axis aircraft.” Maj Beech pauses for a response to his attempt at humor.
Hearing none, The S2 moves on. “Flak on target ingress will be of moderate intensity. We don’t expect the Nazis to expend precious ammo on airplanes that have already dropped their bomb. Speaking of bombs, make darn sure you don’t mistakenly place any on the leaning tower!”
“Weather at takeoff will be less than ideal. But Metro says it will improve as the mission progresses. While they’re predicting good weather over the target and hear at Giuli upon landing. That news is tempered by forecast low level clouds that may interfere with identifying the target.”
“Your escort for this mission will be P-38s of the 1st FG. This is our first time working with them, so we’re not sure what to expect other than that they will be with you all the way there and aback.”
“If you run into trouble, there’s an RAF fighter base on Corsica (Zone 5).” SSgt Dewbury points it out. “Due to the short runway your bomber will likely be a loss, but at least you won’t fall into enemy hands,” Maj Beech explains. “Otherwise, the Rn will be on lifeguard duty of the southern Italian coast.” The sound of SSgt’s Dewbury’s pointing tapping the map is clearly audible.
“If you go down over Nazi controlled Italy, we’re not sure what to expect. While some of the population might be willing to help, as I pointed out earlier, others are still ardent fascists. As always, if you end up a POW, remember the Fighting Man’s Code to try to escape, as well as the Geneva conventions only require you to provide name, rank, and serial number.”
“Maj Stockwell,” Beech says by way of relinquishing the podium.
After slowly walking up to the podium, the S3 addresses the assembled officers.
"To stress Major Beech's remarks and to clarify your mission, it is not to finish the job that nature and bad builders began and bring the tower down." He paused, expectedly getting a stiff silence as Maj Beech's attempt to lighten the moment had. "Hmm ... tough crowd," Stockwell added, which did elicit a response from some of the assembled officers.
"Railroads are the veins that keep the Axis warmachine going. By successfully bombing the Pisa Marshalling Yard, you will be at least slowing down the rate of transit of troops and equipment to and from the front line.
"Ingress takes you out in a southwesterly direction, missing the front line and taking you out over the Tyrrhenian Sea. With a course change to northwest, you follow the coastline up until Corsica. A northerly step and then a quick change to northeast gets you on your approach.
"Coming into Pisa from the southwest, you will be almost flying directly up the River Arno. The marshalling yard and neighbouring central station is on your right to the south of the river. The major landmarks are on your left and to the north of the river. As long as you know the difference between left and right, you cannot go far wrong.
"Anyway, your bombardiers are trained to work equipment that can get bombs dropped into a pickle barrel from 20,000'. Well, that's if you believe the advertising hype on the Norden bomb sight." If Stockwell was intending to shock, there was some audible gasps to show some level of success.
"For your egress, there are two quick turns that get you heading southwest again. Once over the Tyrrhenian, it's on a parallel course to the ingress, then a northeasterly vector once you're behind the front line and bringing you back to Foggia."
"This is a longer run than the last one. Opposition is a bit heavier but the P-38 escorts should thin down the Axis air forces or even get them off your back. I have every confidence in them doing so. I hope to see you all back safely in time for dinner.
"Good luck up there. I wish I was going with you."
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Post by superbee on Aug 6, 2023 6:21:44 GMT -8
79th Bomb Squaadron - Mission Formation Assignments
Mission #2: Pisa, Italy
Lead bomber: She Devil
tail end Charlie: Express Delivery
The 79th is the "high" squadron this mission.
Good luck !
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Post by campsawyer on Aug 6, 2023 6:52:19 GMT -8
B-17F Double Bomb (B-17F-100BO 42-30333) Pilot: 1st Lt Paul Flores Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron Formation/Position: Middle/12 Mission Date: 12 Jan 44 Mission Number: 3Missions This Bomber: 2 Base: Guilia, Italy Target: Pisa, Italy - Marshalling Yards Crew | Current Mission | Previous Claims | This Mission | Stress | Status | Pilot 1st Lt Paul Flores | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Sanders | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Bombardier 2nd Lt Gonzales | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | KIA | Navigator 2nd Lt Edwards | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | KIA | Engineer T/Sgt King | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | RTD | Radioman T/Sgt Ramirez | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Ball Gunner Sgt Roberts | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | RTD | PWG Sgt Scott | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | SWG Sgt Smith
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | KIA | Tail Gunner S/Sgt Thomas | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | RTD |
Bomb Run: On On Target: 60% B-17 Damage: 5 Hits Peckham Points: 51 Repair Time: Routine Maintenance Crew Chief: S/Sgt Steve Taylor, average Landing: Safe E/A | Encountered | Destroyed | Probable | Damaged | Intercepted | FW-190 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | MC-205 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | RE-2005 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ME-110 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ME-210 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Confirmed Claims: 1 Casualties: 3 Bombardier 2nd Lt Gonzales | KIA | Navigator 2nd Lt Edwards | KIA | SWG Sgt Smith
| KIA |
Award/ Promotions Requests: 0 After Action Report OutboundAfter the briefing we left and boarded the Double Bomb and began pre-flight checks. We noted the low clouds and sporadic rain for take-off, but all went well when we finally got in the air. Heading out over the Tyrrhenian Sea clouds thinned and uneventful until we headed back in to occupied Italy. We encounter an FW190 and C205 approaching the target. A P-38 jumped the FW-190 and he moved off his attack on us, but the C205 pressed his side attack Sgt’s King, Roberts and Smith opened fire on him. Roberts looks to have hit it as we saw smoke and it dove off. Roberts saw it go down and though he had a kill but no other reports of seeing it go down. We moved into the target and lined up for the bomb run, but the flak started with no effect on the plane. Lieutenant Gonzales flipped the auto pilot and following the lead plane went in for the run on the yards. We felt the lift when the bombs were released, and control came back to the cockpit. We banked southwest and started to reform on the lead as we check he results. We could see good hit patterns on the rail yards. (Lucky roll for 60%) InboundWe did not have much time to analyze the results as we were targeted by more fighters. Another FW-190 and RE-2005 lined up for the attack. Help came from another P-38 took on the FW-190. The RE-2005 pressed and Sgt King and Smith engaged, but he still pressed his attack, luckily his shots missed, and he flew off. But we were still not done as two ME-110’s targeted us. King and Smith took one and Sgt Thomas going after the 6 o’clock ME-110. Thomas hit the ME-110 and saw it go down, but no confirmation. The second was hit by King, but still pressed his attack scoring two hits, one being a walking hit. 2nd Lt. Edwards was wounded in the hip with a shell fragment and Sgt Smith was hit in the clavicle and was out of action. We took damage to the right wing and tail, but nothing more critical. The second pass was from the 10:30 position and took aim at the nose. Sgt King was able to hit him, and he went down. This was clear as the ME-110 went straight down. We patched up Edwards and Smith and prepared for the rest of the flight home. We were still subject to another attack in zone 6 with 2 ME-210 coming in for us. A P-38 tangled with one but the other can in at 130H. Lt Gonzales and Sgt King engaged but missed and the ME-210 opened up on the nose. 20mm shells hit the plexiglass on the nose and side, hitting Gonsales and Edwards. We lost contact with them. A second hit on the waist hitting Sgt Smith killing him instantly. The ME-210 curved around and attacked the from the 3 o’clock position. This time King was at the target and hit him, although no credit was given. But the damage was done, three dead and shot up nose of the plane. We continued back to Foggia without incident and landing safely. Ambulances raced to the plane but they we took late and were turned into hearses for the three comrades. 1st Lt Paul Flores, Pilot, 80th BS, 509th BG, 15th AF
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mpgutis
80th Bomber Squadron Commander
Posts: 316
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Post by mpgutis on Aug 6, 2023 7:21:32 GMT -8
Mission date: 12 Jan 44 Target: Pisa, Italy - Marshaling Yard Mission/Bomber: 2/2 B-17F Vampire Vamp 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group (H), 9th Air Force Formation: Middle Squadron Position: Middle
Position: Name (Mission) (Kills) Awards Pilot: 1LT Edward Ross (1) (-) Co-Pilot: 2LT Jerry Cohen (1) (-) Bombardier: 2LT James Reilly (1) (0) Navigator: 2LT Russell Smith (1) (0) Engineer: TSG David Atkins (1) (0) Radio Operator: SGT Louis Marconi (1) (0) Ball Gunner: SGT Alan Michaelson (1) (0) Port Waist Gun: SGT Reese Simons (1) (0) Starboard Waist Gun: SGT Kenneth Sawatski (1) (0) Tail Gun: SGT Raymond Sills (1) (0)
Crew - PH, posthumous
Over the target, just after bomb bay doors were opened, a large flak burst was observed to hit the aircraft resulting in a large explosion. No parachutes were observed.
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Post by wolverinetoddy on Aug 6, 2023 13:55:30 GMT -8
B-17 Name: Pride of the Wolverines (2) Crew Commander: 1st Lt. HR Morrow Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group Formation: Middle Position: Tail
Mission Date: 12 Jan 44 Mission #: 2 Target: Pisa, Italy - Marshalling Yard
Position: Name (mission #) {Claims After} Status Pilot: 1st Lt. HR Morrow (2) {0} Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. H Whiting (2) {0} Bombardier: 2nd Lt. F Farland (2) {0} Navigator: 2nd Lt. M O’Donnell (2) {0} Engineer: MSgt. L Aldrich (2) {0} PH Ball Gunner: Sgt. A Blake (2) {0} PH Radio Oper.: Sgt. A Casterline (2) {0} Pt Waist G: Sgt. R Eldridge (2) {0} PH Stbd Waist G: Sgt. L Hall (2) {0} PH Tail Gunner: Sgt. M Laffin (2) {2}
Bomb Percentage: 60%
Bomber Disposition: Superficial Damage (5 Peckham Points)
Casualties: n/a
Claims (BY TYPE): Attacked: (8:109, 1:190, 0:110) Damaged: (4:109, 1:190, 0:110) Destroyed: (2:109, 0:190, 0:110) M Laffin: 109, 109
Special Note: N/A
Mission Description: File by 1st Lt. HR Morrow
Four days ago we were tapped to file tail position to Zara. Shortly after take off the mission was aborted and we came right back to base. I suppose at least we got some practice at getting into formation.
Since that day Sgt. Laffin has know that we were going to fly tail for the next mission and spent hour after hour at the firing range practicing. He spent so much time and so much ammo out there that the range officer told him that if he didn’t down any fighters this next mission, he would have his stripes.
Today the squadron took off without incident and settled into formation more smoothly. We hugged the Italian coast just off short all they way up to Pisa. Hall claims he saw that famous tower on the way in.
As we approached the target zone a 109 came at us from the rear. Laffin shot him down. In the target zone we were attacked by four 109s. Laffin shot down one of them too. Then a 190 came at us and Laffin got a piece of him too. Farland had been practicing too and was right on target.
We were chased away from Pisa by a few more 109s. We caused minor damage to them and they scraped up the paint a little.
We arrived safely back at base. A solid outing for the Pride. On target, minimal damage, no casualties, and Laffin gets to keep his stripes.
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Post by limburger59 on Aug 6, 2023 20:37:25 GMT -8
B-24 BONES Spare assigned to the 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group Low Squadron – Middle MISSION DATE: 12 JAN 44 MISSION # 2 TARGET: Pisa, Italy - Marshalling Yard
CREW from the Spare Pool Position – Rank NO MISSION CREDIT - Mission Aborted Pilot: 1LT Al Sotelo Co-Pilot: 2LT Armino D'Angelo Navigator: 2LT Daryl Wyck Bombardier: 2LT Curtis Wetmore Engineer/TT: S/SGT Brent Cantrell Radio Op: S/SGT Bart Masterson Ball Turret: SGT Jeb Lampe Right Waist: SGT Duke Callen Left Waist: SGT Collin Cordell Tail Gunner: SGT Gus Nespor
Bomb Run: DNB
Casualties: None
B-24 Damage: Mechanical Failure: Suit Heating System (10)
Peckham Points: 10
Disposition: Safe Landing at Foggia
Attackers: 0 Award/Promotion Requests: None
AFTER ACTION REPORT (QOTS - B-24 Variant):
A Spare Crew flying a Hanger Queen
OUTBOUND: Soon after assembly, it was noticed that the Suit Heating system throughout the bomber was on the fritz. After ten minutes of futile trouble shooting we returned to base, very disappointed.
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Keltos
Multiple Squadrons
Posts: 459
Member is Online
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Post by Keltos on Aug 7, 2023 11:56:16 GMT -8
After-Action ReportB-24D-10-CO-42-40219 – “Kicking Horse”78th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force
Commander: 1st Lt. V. HarlowMission Date: 12 January 1944 Mission Number: 2 Mission of this bomber: 2 Formation: Low Position: Middle/TEC from 5 Zone Target: Pisa, Italy Target Type: Marshalling Yard Bomb Run: On Target - 50% CREWPosition | Rank - Name | Missions | Mission Kills | Total Kills | Awards | Status | Stress Point | Pilot | 1st Lt. Victor Harlow | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| RFD | 0 | Co-Pilot | 2nd Lt. Elmer Gibson
| 2 | 0 | 0 |
| RFD | 0 | Bombardier | 2nd Lt. Homer Miller
| 2 | 0 | 0 |
| RFD | 0 | Navigator | 2nd Lt. Norman Burch | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| RFD | 1 | Engineer | S/Sgt Arthur McLane | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| RFD | 0 | Radio Op. | T/Sgt Tony Stevens | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| RFD | 0 | Ball Gunner | S/Sgt Ramon Furtado
| 2 | 0 | 0 |
| RFD
| 1 | Port WG | Sgt Milton Flint
| 2 | 0 | 0 |
| RFD
| 0 | Starboard WG | Sgt Dean Stoddart
| 2 | 0 | 0 |
| RFD | 0 | Tail Gunner | Sgt Dale Lindberg
| 2 | 1.66 | 1,66 |
| RFD
| 0 |
Crew Chief: S/Sgr Richard Weiner (Average Joe) - 2 missions
E/A Encountered
Type | No. | Intercepted | Destroyed | Damaged | Fw-190 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | Me-109 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | Me-110 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Me-210 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Ju-88 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Total | 19 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
Claims:
- Sgt. D. Lindberg: 1 Me-109 claimed . 1/3 credit awarded - Sgt. D. Lindberg: 1 Me-109 claimed . full credit awarded - Sgt. D. Lindberg: 1 Fw-190 claimed . 1/3 credit awarded - Sgt. R. Furtado: 2 Me-109 claimed . no credits awarded Damage: —Peckham Points: 0 pts - overnight maintenance Casualties: —Awards: — AAR (flown with TFT)
Foggia Airbase: Despite poor weather we had a good take-off and assembly. Zone 2-3 Outbound: Nothing to report Zone 4 Outbound: Radio message received by Flat Foot Floogie that had to abort the mission due to heavy damages received from GAF fighters. Zone 5 Outbound: Moved to vacant TEC position. Zone 6 Outbound: Nothing to report Zone 7 Outbound/Inbound (Target Zone): Attacked by 2 Jerrys waves while approaching Tuscany coasts. First wave was ineffective, 2 Fw-190 were driven off by escort, the last one moved away with no hits. Second wave were more aggressive: 1 Fw-190 and 1 Me-109 were driven off by our little friends, a Fw-190 went down after some hits from tail guns (passing shot) set engine on fire. Last Fw-190 was damaged (left wings aleiron and flaps) and escaped after almost grazing our left wing. Flak of medium intensity without causing damage. As we approached the IP, Navigator Burch noticed that the bombardier 2nd Lt. Miller was lying unconscious at his station. Burch took the bombardier's position while S/Sgt McLane took Miller to the Radio compartment rendering him aid. Despite the situation and Burch very little experience, the bomb drop occurred correctly and with a very good result: luck or a newly discovered talent? Moving away from the target, Flak was non existent. We were attacked by two waves but 3 Jerrys found the P38s in their course while a Me-109 moved away without hitting us and taking damage and a Me-110 escaped when our hits damaged its right wing. Zone 6 Inbound: 2 Me-109s and a single Fw-190 attacked us. The Fw-190 was engaged by the escort fighters, while a Me-109 hid in the clouds after missing us, and the last Me-109 was shot down by the joint shots from the tail guns and ball turret Zone 5 Inbound: 2nd Lt. Miller recovered and wanted to return to his post. Zone 4-3 Inbound: Nothing to report. Zone 2 Inbound: Attacked by 3 Me-109 and 1 Fw-190: Fw-190 was driven off and 1 Me-109 walked away after no shots from us damaged him and without hitting us. Last 2 Me-109 were shot down by our machine guns, no parachutes were seen coming out of the two planes that crashed to the ground. Foggia Airbase: Landed safely. 2nd Lt Miller was taken to the hospital for checks after he fell ill on board, the doctor said it should be nothing to worry about and that he would definitely return to base the next day We were attacked by many enemy fighters but without taking any damage, this was due to the expertise of the escort fighters but also due to the low accuracy and courage of the enemy fighters. Probably the Luftwaffe is sending new recruits into combat ( the dice brought out many "green pilots") -------------------------------------------------
Victor Harlow, 1st Lt, USAAF, Commanding B24D: Kicking Horse B-24D-10-CO-42-40219 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
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Post by limburger59 on Aug 7, 2023 13:05:26 GMT -8
B-17F HIGH BALL Spare assigned to the 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group High Squadron – Middle MISSION DATE: 12 JAN 44 MISSION NBR. 002 TARGET: Pisa, Italy – Marshalling Yard
CREW from the Spare Pool Position – Rank (Current Mission) Pilot: 1LT Phillip Mantell (2) KIA Co-Pilot: 2LT Larwrence Penziki (1) KIA Navigator: 2LT Brent Sherwood (2) MIA (rescued) Bombardier: 2LT Keith Steele (2) POW Engineer/TT: S/SGT Wes Woods (2) KIA 1x FW-190 destroyed Radio Op: S/SGT Art Lepicovsky (2) POW + SW Ball Turret: SGT Lance Arrigo (2) KIA ½x C205 destroyed Right Waist: SGT Derek Trevellick (2) POW Left Waist: SGT Troy Espinosa (1) KIA ½x C205 destroyed Tail Gunner: SGT Joe Bob Watson (2) KIA
Bomb Run: DNB – destroyed during Bomb Run
Casualties: S/SGT Art Lepicovsky was seriously injured during landing after bailout. He was saved by Luftwaffe doctors and will be transferred to a POW camp when recovered. Six crewmembers KIA
B-17 Damage: Flak BIP removed High Ball’s tail
Peckham Points: total
Disposition: Shot down over Pisa
Attackers: 5 4x FW-190: 1 Destroyed, 2 Driven Off 1x C205 (Italian): 1 Destroyed Total Enemy Aircraft: Kills = 2 Confirmed, Probables = 0, Damaged = 0, Driven Off by Escort = 2
Award/Promotion Requests:
AFTER ACTION REPORT (QOTS):
A Spare Crew flying a Hanger Queen
OUTBOUND: In Zone 4, gunners on High Ball successfully shot down both bandits who attacked her.
TARGET ZONE 7: With the assistance of Aggressive Little Friends, two of the three Butcher Birds that attempted a run at High Ball were driven off.
Unfortunately the P-38s could not deter the Flak. A BIP ripped off the tail of High Ball and only four chutes were spotted floating to earth.
The Red Cross reported that three crewmembers were rounded up. 2LT Keith Steele and SGT Trevellick are already enroute to Germany. S/SGT Art Lepicovsky was seriously injured landing on the rooftops of Pisa. An artery was cut, and only the quick actions of Luftwaffe doctors saved his life. He will remain in a hospital in Pisa for the foreseeable future. No information was available on a possible fourth survivor.
Addendum: Weeks later news was received that 2LT Brent Sherwood was rescued by an Italian family. He was moved a number of times around Pisa to avoid German searches and remained in the suburbs until 2 SEPT 44, when units of the U.S. 5th Army liberated the city. Soon after that he was returned to the U.S.. After a long visit at home he was transferred to the 8th AF. After the war LT Sherwood returned to Pisa and made Isabella Venneri his bride.
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Post by Grondeaux on Aug 7, 2023 13:44:40 GMT -8
B-24D Flat Foot Floogie 78th Bombardment Squadron Bomber Position: Low Squadron, TEC Mission Date: 12 January 1944 Mission #: 2 Aircraft Mission #: 2 Target: Airdrome, Pisa, Italy Bomb Loadout: M64 500 lb. GP bombs Crew (Mission) Pilot: 1LT Adam MacIntosh (2) Copilot: 2LT William Spooner (2) Bombardier: 2LT Raymond Anderson (2) Navigator: 2LT Frank Wells (2) Engineer: TSGT Edward Palarski (2) Ball Turret Gunner: SGT Bruce Wabsis (2) Left Waist Gunner: SGT James Hewlett (2) Right Waist Gunner: SSGT Kyle Dummer (2) Tail Gunner: SGT Eugene Hendrickson (2) Crew Chief: SGT Ralph Reckowski Bomb Run: DNB, mission aborted Casualties: TSGT Edward Palarksi, broken sternum/inflamed heart (SW) 2LT Frank Wells, brain hit (KIA) SGT James Hewlett, ruptured carotid artery and jugular vein (KIA) Attackers: 5
| Spotted | Destroyed | Damaged | Driven off by Escort | ME-109 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | FW-190 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Claims: SGT Eugene Hendrickson: 1 x ME-109 Credits: SGT Eugene Hendrickson: 1/3 x ME-109 Award/Promotion Requests: none In Hospital/Recovery: TSGT Edward Palarksi, RTD 10 February Aircraft Damage: 111 Peckham points (2 x KIA, 1 x SW, top turret guns, bomb bay doors, backup hydraulic pump, aileron controls, intercom, bomb release mechanism (mechanical), 3 x superficial) AFTER ACTION REPORT – Using TFT (Variants used: TFT Axis Fighter Aircraft Add-on Module, Jasta 6’s Table 5-3 Placement Variant, Variant Tables for Take-Off and Mechanical Failure, Bruce Peckham’s German Fighter Pilots variant, Fuel Tank Fires, Seriously Wounded Bail Out, On the Subject of Bombs, my variation to Nolan Bryant’s Crew Chiefs, Combat Fatigue) Our mission is uneventful until we are out over the Tyrrhenian Sea, where we are pounced on by five Germans: three 109s and a pair of Fw-190s. Our accompanying P-38s chase off one of the FWs, but we are subjected to multiple attack runs by the remaining quartet. Their first pass shoots out the intercom system and the aileron controls. The second pass is devastating, with a 109 ace (he came close enough we could see the kill markings on his tail) getting walking hits on the Floogie’s fuselage. Wells takes one in the head, Palarski has his guns shot out and takes some shrapnel to his chest, and Hewlett is hit in the neck and rapidly bleeds out. It is no consolation that Hendrickson manages to down one of the 109s on its third pass. We take stock of our situation. Two dead, one seriously wounded, no top turret guns, no intercom…. Doesn’t seem like much of a decision to make; we’re aborting. We notify LT Clayton in Bottom’s Up and turn for home. A couple of Lightnings tag along. When we try to dump the bombs into the sea below, we find that the bomb bay doors won’t open. Doors be damned, we decide to drop them anyway. We then discover that they won’t release [mechanical failure rolled in Zone 2]. Anderson eventually gets them to drop, shredding the thin metal of the bay doors. We fire off flares and our touchdown is more or less routine, despite the aileron controls being out. The Floogie is chased down the runway by fire trucks and an ambulance. Fortunately, there’s no need for fire trucks. Palarski is loaded onto a stretcher and taken off to surgery. I catch up with the docs later and find he’ll make a full recovery but will be out of action for a month or so. Not just one, but two letters for me to write. I need a drink. More than one. 1LT Adam MacIntosh, Command Pilot B-24D Flat Foot Floogie 78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF
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rhreiss
79th Bomber Squadron XO
Posts: 151
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Post by rhreiss on Aug 7, 2023 13:58:32 GMT -8
AAR
B-17F All In (Mission #2) Pisa, Italy - Marshalling YardB-17F All In (Mission #2) Crew Commander: 1LT George Gill Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group Formation: high Position: Middle TARGET: Marshalling Yard Crew Position | Rank | Name | Mission # | Prior Awards | Kills Awarded | Status | Pilot | 1LT | George Gill | 2 |
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| RFD | Co-Pilot
| 2LT | 2LT Ed Cole | 2 |
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| RFD | Bombardier
| 2LT | Louis “Buck” Newso | 2 |
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| RFD
| Navigator | 2LT | 2LT Myril Hoag | 2 |
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| RFD
| Engineer | S/SGT | Roy “Beau” Bell | 2 | | | RFD | Radio Operator | S/SGT | Vern Kennedy | 2 |
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| RFD
| Ball Gunner | SGT | SGT Russ Van Atta | 2 |
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| RFD
| Left Waist | SGT | Julius “Moose” Solters | 2 |
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| Right Waist | SGT | Alfred “Roxie” Lawson | 2 |
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| Tail Gunner | SGT | Ralph “Red” Kress | 2 |
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Crew Chief S/SGT Fred Johnson (Average) skill 0 (+1 post mission) Bomb Percentage: on-target, 20 Bomber Disposition: Ready for duty Bomber Damage: 2 X superficial damage right wing flap Radio Left elevator Pilot compartment window Peckham Points: 42 Crew Chief Pre Mission Report: No Mechanical Failures on this mission. Ground crew random events: none Post Mission Repairs: mission. Excellent work on the repairs of your ship after today’s mission. Your Crew Chief receives one Skill Point. Landing: safe landing at Giulia Enemy Aircraft: Encountered: 5
| Bf-109 | Fw-190 | Me-410 | Re2005 | Totals | Escort Intercept |
| 4
| 1 |
| 5 | Undamaged |
| 1 |
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| 1 | Damaged |
| 2 |
| 1
| 3 | Probable/Denied |
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| Destroyed |
| 1
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| 1 |
Casualties: none Claims: S/SGT Bell & SGT Lawson claimed kill of Fw-190 (awarded shared credit with another B-17) Awards: none AARThe crew was ready for this mission after the delay from the aborted mission and the rain delay. The ground crew took advantage of the extra days to get the All In fully ready for the mission. OUTBOUNDTake off and joining the formation went smoothly despite the bad weather. And no enemy activity was observed on the flight to the target area. TARGET AREA
As we reached the target area and approached the IP. We were engaged By two FW190’s And a ME410. Our fighter escorts ran off one of the FW190s and the ME 410. Beau (TT) and Roxie (RW) engaged the Fw190 @ 3?H both hitting it. The left wing broke off and fuel tank exploded with no chute was observed. While making our bomb run a flak burst took out the right wing flap That shook the All In and challenged Buck’s aiming skills, He was on target but only assessed as 20% effective. Just after the flak burst Russ (BT) and Red (Tail) reports that the High Ball lost it tail and they only counted four chutes. After bomb release we took a flak hit that took out the radio. While Vern was uninjured, he was badly shaken when the guts of the radio were blown out of it in front of him. As we rejoined the formation at the RP three Fw190s tried their luck. Our fighter escort chased one off. Buck (Nose) and Beau (TT) both hit the Fw-190 at 12/H damaging left wing flap right Wing aileron. He missed and broke off the attack. Moose (LW) says he hit the one at 3/H but it stitched us taking out a window in the cockpit, taking the Left elevator out of action and doing superficial damage to the nose and midsection. That Fw190 also broke off his attack after that one pass. INBOUNDThe krauts continued to harass us as we started back to base. The escorts chased off a Fw190 but a Re2005 at 3/H got past them and Beau (TT) and Roxie (RW) engaged and claimed hit its right wing. They were effective enough that it missed and broke off the attack. Shortly afterwards the escorts ran off another Fw190. That was followed by an Fw190 attacking from a vertical dive. Beau (TT) and Vern (Radio) tried to hit but they and the Fw190 all failed to hit anything. The rest of the flight was without incident. Safe Landing at Giulia Fred our crew chief was not happy that we returned his plane with damage but says it will be ready to go after quick repairs. 1LT George Gill, Pilot Commanding B-17F All In 79th BS, 509th BG (H), 8th AF
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Post by wolverinetoddy on Aug 7, 2023 18:23:26 GMT -8
B-17 Name: Pride of the Badgers (2) Crew Commander: Captain WW Robinson Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group Formation: Middle Position: High
Mission Date: 12 Jan 44 Mission #: 2 Target: Pisa, Italy - Marshalling Yard
Position: Name (mission #) {Claims After} Status Pilot: Capt. WW Robinson (2) {0} Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. J Van Door (2) {0} PH Bombardier: 2nd Lt. C Lefler (2) {0} PH, DFC Navigator: 2nd Lt. W Sloat (2) {0} Engineer: MSgt. A Bissett (2) {1} Ball Gunner: Sgt. E Dean (2) {0} Radio Oper.: Sgt. I Cooper (2) {0} PH Pt Waist G: Sgt. S Hatfield (2) {0} Stbd Waist G: Sgt. J Lewis (2) {0} Tail Gunner: Sgt. W Towney (1) {4} PH
Bomb Percentage: 50%
Bomber Disposition: Ball Turret, Tail Heat, Tail O2, Starboard Tailplane Root. Navigation Equipment, Starboard Wing Root, Control Cables, Starboard Elevator, Superficial Damage (132 Peckham Points)
Casualties: I Cooper: SW – 3 days in hospital J Van Dorn: LW – 2 days in hospital W Towney: LW, FB – 1 day in hospital
Claims (BY TYPE): Attacked: (8:109, 0:190, 1:110) Damaged: (1:109, 0:190, 1:110) Destroyed: (5:109, 0:190, 0:110) A Bissett: 109 W Towney: 109, 109, 109, 109
Special Note: I Cooper: PH J Van Dorn: PH W Towney: PH
Mission Description: Filed by Captain WW Robinson, pilot commanding
Following the last mission, Sgt. Towney has joined us as the new tail gunner. He is from some little town way up north that none has ever heard of. He joined the crew boasting of his ability to shoot a running deer at a thousand yards and other tall tales.
VD and I were walking back from the briefing to hear the end of another one of Towney’s stories. Lewis laughed at him “Will if you are such a good shot, how about we put a little wager on it this mission?”
“Ok, Towney” replied beaming at the crew. “If I shoot down nothing. I buy all the drinks tonight. If I shoot down fighters, I get a free week of drinks for every German I knock down.”
Hands were shaken and we mounted up.
We turned to the northwest and headed up the Italian coast. The Luftwaffe jumped us almost immediately. In Zone 3 we were attacked by a pair of 109s. Towney shot down one.
Another paid of 109s in Zone 4. Towney shot down one.
As we approached the target more 109s. Towney shot down one.
The flak guns beat the plane up pretty good including wounding both Towney and Van Dorn.
Lefer was right on target again and we turned for home.
More fighters attacked as we turned away from the target. Undeterred by his heat being out and his wound, Towney shot down one more.
Luckily for the plane and the crew’s wallets the rest of the flight home was quiet.
I looked down at Towney on the stretcher before the medics took him off. “Son if you keep shooting like that the war will be over before the 4th of July.”
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Post by limburger59 on Aug 8, 2023 11:00:12 GMT -8
B-17F STAR EYES Spare assigned to the 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group Middle Squadron – Middle MISSION DATE: 12 JAN 44 MISSION NBR. 002 TARGET: Pisa, Italy – Marshalling Yard
CREW from the Spare Pool Position – Rank (Current Mission) Pilot: 1LT Nate Sutherland (2) Co-Pilot: 2LT Ian Narragon (1) Navigator: 2LT Winchester Lee (2) Bombardier: 2LT Roman Dirigo (2) Engineer/TT: S/SGT Emile Putman (2) Radio Op: S/SGT Brent Wickie (2) Ball Turret: SGT Keith Turgeon (2) Right Waist: SGT Bob Grehan (2) Left Waist: SGT Ralph Taylor (1) Tail Gunner: SGT Tony Marshall (2)
Bomb Run: On Target 30%
Casualties: None
B-17 Damage: None
Peckham Points: 0
Disposition: Safe Landing at Giulia
Attackers: 0 Total Enemy Aircraft: Kills = 0 Confirmed, Probables = 0, Damaged = 0, Driven Off by Escort = 0
Award/Promotion Requests: None
AFTER ACTION REPORT (QOTS - Beery):
A Spare Crew flying a Hanger Queen
No bandits came near, thanks to the escorts, the defensive gunnery of the 509th, and the safety of the Middle Squadron.
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Post by caodwolf on Aug 8, 2023 17:47:50 GMT -8
B-24D: BONKERS Pilot: 1Lt. J Sweeney Assignment: 15th Air Force, 509th Bomber Group, 78th Squadron Mission Date: 12-Jan-1944 Mission No.: 2 Mission this Bomber: 2 Target for Today: Pisa, Italy - Marshalling Yards Squadron Position: Low Result: On-Target 20% The flight to target was uneventful until we approached the target, Marshalling Yards at Pisa Italy. There three waves of 20 enemy fighters harassed us all the way in. It felt like forever to ordnance release.
A great many were driven off by our fighter coverage but we did engage a few knocking down two. The Nose gun jammed, probably overheated as Lt. Heim does not fire in bursts. That boy needs remedial gunnery drills.
A Waist Gunner was wounded and will require up to a month in the hospital. Bombs were dropped on-target.
The Germans engaged on the inbound as well.....took a couple structural hits.
Landed back at base.
Over and out....
Position | Rank | Name | Missions Flown | Kills this Mission | Total Kills | Awards | Status | Pilot | 1Lt | J. Sweeney | 2 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Co-Pilot | 2Lt | G. Derk | 2 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Bombardier | 2Lt | M. Heim | 2 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Navigator | 2Lt | S. Corcoran | 2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | --- | OK | Top Turret/Engineer | Sgt | J. Engel | 2 | 1 1/2 | 1 1/2 | --- | OK | Radio Op | Sgt | R. Kaufmann | 2 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Port Waist | Sgt | B. Fox | 2 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Stbd Waist | Sgt | B. Mentz | 2 | --- | --- | --- | OK-SW | Ball Turret | Sgt | D. Turnick | 2 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Tail Turret | Sgt | J. Clark | 2 | --- | --- | --- | OK |
Sgt. Mentz - Waist Gunner. RTD: 12-Feb-1944
None
FTR | Spotted | Driven-Off | Damaged | Not-Damaged | Claimed - Credited | ME-109 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 1 - 1 | FW-190 | 16 | 10 | 2 | 3 | --- | ME-410 | 2 | --- | 1 | 1 | 1 1 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | TOTALS | 30 | 19 | 5 | 7 | 1 - 1 |
-SW (1) -Port Aileron damaged -Nose Gun jammed (later fixed) -Bomb Bay doors damage -Numerous superficial hits
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Post by medic1 on Aug 9, 2023 9:34:32 GMT -8
B-24D Valkyrie (B24D-CF-42-52116)Pilot: 1st Lt Ken Shipman Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron Formation/Position: Middle/Low Mission Date: 12 Jan 44 Mission Number: 002 Missions This Bomber: 1 Target: Pisa, Italy - Marshalling Yard
Crew/Position/Rank
| Current Missions | Previous Claims
| Mission
| Stress Points
| Status | Pilot 1st Lt Ken Shipman
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | RTD | Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Mark Ridley
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Bombardier 2nd Lt Phil Avery
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Navigator 2nd Lt Sergio Pendas
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Engineer T/Sgt Tom Bankston
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Radioman S/Sgt George Redman
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Tunnel Gunner Sgt Kent Conlin
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | PWG Sgt Walt Whitney
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | RTD | SWG Sgt Dave Trevisano
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | RTD | Tail Gunner Sgt Carlos Morales
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | RTD |
Bomb Run: DNB On Target: N/A B-17 Damage: 0 Hits Peckham Points: 0
Repair Time: Routine Maintenance Crew Chief: S/Sgt Steve Yates, average Landing: Safe at GiuliaE/A Encountered:
E/A | Encountered | Destroyed | Probable | Damaged | Intercepted | Bf-109 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Bf-110 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | C-202 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | C-205 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Fw-190 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | G-50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | G-55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | He-112 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | IAR-80 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Re-2000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Re-2001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Confirmed Claims: 0 Casualties: 0 Award/ Promotions Requests: 0
After Action Report(using QOTS): The terrible weather was on the Axis side today as Valkryie became bogged down in the mud and we couldn’t get free and take off.
Miserably, we watched the squadron take off without as we tried in vain to free ourselves, to no avail.
1st Lt Ken Shipman, Pilot Commanding, 78th BS, 509th BG, 15th AF
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rhreiss
79th Bomber Squadron XO
Posts: 151
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Post by rhreiss on Aug 9, 2023 16:47:37 GMT -8
AAR
Arkansas Traveler (Mission #2) Pisa, Italy - Marshalling YardB-24D Arkansas Traveler (Mission #2) Crew Commander: 1LT Floyd Speer Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group Formation: Low Position: Middle TARGET: Marshalling Yard Crew Position | Rank | Name | Mission # | Prior Awards | Prior Kills
Awarded | Status | Pilot | 1LT | Floyd Speer | 2 |
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| RFD in 5 days | Co-Pilot
| 2LT | George McQuinn | 2 |
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| RFD in 5 days | Bombardier
| 2LT | Johnny Marcum | 2 |
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| RFD in 5 days
| Navigator | 2LT | Pat Tobin | 2 |
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| RFD in 5 days
| Engineer | S/SGT | Sam Harshaney | 2 | | | RFD in 5 days | Radio Operator | S/SGT | John Whitehead | 2 |
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| RFD in 5 days
| Ball Gunner | SGT | Bill Trotter | 2 |
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| RFD in 5 days
| Left Waist | SGT | Harry Kimberlin | 2 |
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| RFD in 5 days
| Right Waist | SGT | Joe Glenn | 2 |
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| RFD in 5 days
| Tail Gunner | SGT | Dave Short | 2 |
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| RFD in 5 days
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Crew Chief T/SGT Bob Patrick (Good) (skill +1) Bomb Percentage: on-target, 8% Bomber Disposition: broken up for spare parts Bomber Damage: auto pilot 10 Fuel leak 10 5 x superficial damage 10 Peckham Points: 30 Crew Chief Pre Mission Report: No Mechanical Failures on this mission. Ground crew random events: none Post Mission Repairs: NA Landing: safe landing at Corsica Enemy Aircraft: Encountered: 5
| Bf-109 | Me-210 | Fw-190 | C205
| Totals | Escort Intercept | 1 |
| 1 |
| 2 | Undamaged |
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| Damaged | 1 |
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| 1
| 2 | Probable/Denied |
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1
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Casualties: none Claims: Me-210 S/SGT Harshaney & SGT Short (awarded shared kill with another bomber) Awards: none AARS/SGT Harshaney has been taking advantage of the time between missions to work with T/SGT Patrick and his ground crew recognizing that we have an experienced crew chief who can teach him a lot about maintaining the Arkansas Traveler during missions. T/SGT Patrick spent the extra days making sure the plane was 100% ready for this mission (No Mechanical Failures for this mission). OUTBOUNDAs we headed out over the Tyrrhenian Sea, we observed enemy fighters observing our formation from a distance keeping well away from our escorts for a short while. Towards the end of the flight up the coast we fheard the Flat Foot Floogie call out that they were aborting the mission and then heard chatter that a B-17 from 79th had taken over TEC, which didn’t make sense. But our tail gunner reported that there was a bomber flying in the TEC spot. TARGET AREAAs we entered the target area our escorts chased off a Fw190 but missed a C205 at 3/Lv. S/SGT Harshaney (TT), SGT Trotter (BT), and SGT Kimberlin (LW) all engaged hitting the left wing. The fighter missed us and continued out of sight. That was followed by another wave. Once again, the escorts chased off one a Me109, two got through. A Me210 came staring at us at 6/H and SGT Short (Tail) and S/SGT Harshaney (TT) riddled both wings sending the fighter spinning down, no chute observed. SGT Trotter (BT) hit the left wing of a Me109 coming at us in a vertical climb and it in turn hit us taking out the auto pilot and doing superficial damage to the left wing and fuselage. As we made our bomb run we had a couple of flak burst close by doing more superficial damage to the left wing and fuselage, and starting a fuel leak. With the plane shook by the flak and sudden loss of the auto pilot 2LT Marcum just amanged to stay on target but was only assessed as 8% effective. After the bomb release we tok more superficial damage to the ring wing. At the RP the formed an extra tight formation, so tight we saw one near mid-air in front of us, everyone got sorted out. INBOUNDAs we started back, 2LT Tobin and S/SGT Harshaney reported that with the fuel leak we had enough fuel to comfortable reach the RAF base on Corsica but not enough to make it back to the base. I reported we were leaving the formation in Zone 5 to head to Corsica. Landing at Corsica was a nail biter but we got the plane on the ground and the crew walked away with no injuries. We should be back at base in 4 to 6 days. 1LT George Gill, Pilot Commanding B-24D Arkansas Traveler 78th BS, 509th BG (H), 8th AF
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GaryK
79th Bomber Squadron
Posts: 236
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Post by GaryK on Aug 10, 2023 2:54:49 GMT -8
After Action report: (using TfT) (Optional rules: Crew-chief effects; Crew Stress; Jasta 6 German Pilot Quality; Peckham’s Random Event Variant Table; Axis Aircraft 1942-45).
Please note: this AAR was written by 2Lt. Ralph Long, ranking officer remaining in the crew of Blitz Buggy.
We were all a little more nervous at the length of this mission, but the skipper’s positive outlook gave us confidence that we could see it through.
Mission: Things were quiet after takeoff until west of Rome, when several bandits – all FW190s – swooped in on us.
While this was the first time that we’d worked with this P-38 squadron, they were excellent, chasing off all but two aircraft of the two groups that attacked us.
Unfortunately, while the one diving in from above missed, the one directly behind us riddled us with shells. I heard the skipper complain that the ailerons and rudder were now stiffer, and then Ward came on the com to tell us that the radio was totalled.
Our tormentor came in again from dead ahead, hitting us again, but not seriously. Perez reckoned that he’d hit the Jerry, but obviously not enough to put him off his aim.
Things went quiet until over Pisa, when a mixed group of 109s and 190s homed in on us. Our escorts did their job again, with only the bandit coming in from vertically above us remaining.
The remaining 109, however, paid us back for the escorts’ skill. His burst nailed us solidly, and the plane immediately began to dive and roll left. I could also hear screaming coming from the pilots’ compartment.
Heading aft, I saw Perez supporting Woody as he moved out of his seat, while also trying to hold the bomber level. Looking at the skipper, his head was a mess, and he was at least unconscious, if not worse. Ward arrived from the radio room to help the yelling Woody back there where his wound could be dealt with.
Perez and I got the skipper out of his position, unfortunately confirming that he was dead as we did so, judging by the blood and brains left on his seat.
Perez immediately took control of the plane fully, and got us back straight and level. Long was still giving instructions to get us back on target, oblivious to the situation. Perez commented over the com, “I have control now – both pilots are out of the game – keep it simple!”
I stayed with Perez in the co-pilot seat, to help him keep us on course until the bombsight autopilot was engaged.
With the fighters gone, the flak opened up, and one accurate hit put several holes in the plane, but appeared to have done nothing serious.
“Great work, Perez – hold this course,” Long said encouragingly. This was followed by the bombsight taking over, then “Bombs away – no they’re not! Hang on… Bombs away!” Long added that one of the many hits we’d taken must have clipped the bomb release controls.
As soon as the bombs were gone, Perez took command of the aircraft. “Mr. Long, please get up here and relieve Mr. Brooks. Sir, please take your normal station and get us on course for home. Bert, get down here and take over my position. You’re on engine and fuel controls unless you’re needed in the top turret.”
Perez was controlled in his demands, and his matter-of-fact attitude transmitted itself to the rest of us. I plotted a minor course correction to get us back into the exact spot in the squadron’s formation, and Perez managed to follow my instructions precisely.
After Long joined Perez as co-pilot, Ward informed us that Wood was comfortable, with the bleeding slowed and pain dealt with through morphine. Sadly, it was Ward’s opinion that the co-pilot would probably lose his right foot due the extensive damage it had suffered.
Thankfully, the trip back to Foggia was quiet. A couple of threats appeared en-route, but our escorts were again on the ball, and nothing got close enough for us to have to defend ourselves. Perez continued to fly skilfully, also helping Ward with advice on keeping the fuel balance and engine revs within limits.
With the radio out, we had no way of contacting base, or our squadron, about our situation. Perez had Ward fire one yellow and two red flares as we orbited the airfield, waiting for the rest of our squadron to land. Eventually, we got a green flare from the tower and runway controller, so we entered the most dangerous part of the flight – the landing. Perez was as calm and controlled as he had been since taking over a few hours earlier. He kept up a running commentary to Ward on the engine controls, as well as asking Long for a bit more help with the heavy flying controls, especially as the right flap refused to deploy. We hit the ground pretty hard, bounced twice, but ended up with all three wheels on the runway. There were cheers from around the plane as Perez turned us towards our hardstanding.
When we stopped, Long called me up to the pilots’ compartment.
“I... I can’t move, guys,” Perez stuttered bleakly. His hands were locked tightly around the control yoke, with his fingers white – which matched the colour of his face. We encouraged him with statements about how well he had done getting us all home. After a minute, he burst into tears, released the yoke, and threw up between his legs.
We helped him to exit the plane, where we found one stretcher with Woody on it, unconscious, and another with a blanket over poor Don.
Long and I handed the shaking Perez over to the medics as well, as we bade a final farewell to our plane’s commander.
It’s fallen to me, as the ranking officer left in the crew, to write the letters home about our two pilots, and handle the post-flight administration.
After such an encouraging mission a few days ago, reality has hit back hard. All the stories of the speed at which things can change on these missions have now been proved to us.
Unfortunately, Ward was correct in his prognosis on Woody: we soon got word that our co-pilot had had the remains of his right foot amputated, and would be evacuated back to the USA for rehabilitation. We all managed a sad reunion in the Base Hospital before they flew him home, and drank to the memory of our deceased skipper.
Perez was discharged next afternoon, but continues to have sunken, hollow eyes and an expression that can’t hide the stress he suffered having to take over the plane.
I’m not sure when our next mission will be, but new flight crew will be needed, so I will have to speak to Capt. Shea to get the positions filled.
War is hell.
2Lt Carl Brooks, Ranking Officer B-17F-80BO-42-30008 "Blitz Buggy" 79th (H) BS, 509th (H) BG Addendum: For his actions in taking over the plane after the pilots were incapacitated, Perez has received an immediate promotion to T/Sgt from our Squadron Commander. Also, after discussion, the Group CO has recommended T/Sgt Perez receive the Distinguished Service Cross. The final decision on that now rests with HQ 15th AF.
For a full mission history of "Blitz Buggy", plus my three aircraft in the previous war, please see my (GarySK) post in the Tarmac forum
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tomt1999
80 Bomber Squadron XO
Posts: 142
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Post by tomt1999 on Aug 10, 2023 6:49:46 GMT -8
15th AF Mission 2 AAR B-17 Junkyard Dog Pilot: 1st Lt William Binford Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group Missions This Bomber: 1 Formation/Position: Middle Mission Date: 12 January 1944 Mission Number: 2 Mission Target: Pisa Marshaling Yard CREW MEMBER MISSION # CLAIMS TODAY Pilot 1st Lt William Binford 2 0 0 Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Casey Batson 2 0 0 Bombardier 2nd Lt Michael Gray 2 0 0 Navigator 2nd Lt Thomas Tinney 2 0 0 Engineer S/Sgt Saul Rosenburg 2 0 0 Radio T/Sgt Jack Smith 2 0 0 Ball Gunner Sgt Donald Brooks 2 0 0 Port Waist Sgt Peter Wold 2 0 0 Starb Waist T/Sgt Lawrence Hobart 2 0 0 Tail Gunner Sgt Taki Papadopoulos 2 0 0 Bomb Run: 30% On Target: ON B-17 Damage: none Peckham Points: 0 Repair Time: Routine Maintenance Crew Chief: Landing: SAFE E/A Encountered: E/A TYPE ENCOUNTERED DESTROYED PROBABLE/DENIED DAMAGED INTERCEPTED Bf-109 0 Bf-110 0 Fw-190 5 Ju-88 0 Me-410 0 He-163 0 Me-262 0 Ta-152 0 TOTALS 5 Confirmed Claims: 0 Casualties: 0 Award/ Promotions Requests: 0 After Action Report (using QOTS): Easy run into the target. Saw one 190 but it was driven off by P38s. Flak over target was ineffectual. Leaving target, was jumped by three waves of one one fighter each including an Italian a/c. One 190 was driven off, two other a/c fire ineffectual. Landed safely at base.
BINFORD
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Post by crushedhat on Aug 10, 2023 10:31:31 GMT -8
B24D: Laid Back Lady Pilot: Capt Paul Garfield Squadron: 78th (H) Bomb Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group MISSION DATE: 12 Jan 44 MISSION NBR. 2/This Bomber 2 TARGET: Pisa, Italy - Marshalling Yard SECONDARY TARGET: POSITION: Low Squadron, Middle
Crew Position – Rank (Current Mission) [Previous Kills] Pilot: Capt Paul Garfield, (2) [0] Co-Pilot: 2LT Elliott Peterson, 22, (2) [0] Bombardier: 2LT Charles (Charlie) Martell, (2) [0] Navigator: 2LT Bruce Ellison, 27, (2) [0] # Engineer: TSgt Michael Newton, 20, (2) [0] **# Radio Operator: Sgt Daniel (Danny) Garson, (2) [0] Ball Turret Gunner: Sgt Joseph (Joe) Blaston, (2) [0] ** Port Waist Gunner: Sgt Peter Carson, (2) [0] Starboard Waist Gunner: Sgt Donald Davila, (2) [0] # Tail Gunner: Sgt Douglas (Doug), Richard, (2) [0] * * = 1 Kill This Mission # = Shared Kill This Mission
Fighters Encountered: Fw 190 5=2KIA, 3 to P-38 (1 Green) Me 109 1=1 to P-38 Me 110 6=4KIA, 2 to P-38 (1 Ace, 2 Green) 12
Claims: Only credited kills reported here Navigator: 2LT Bruce Ellison: Fw 190 Engineer: TSgt Michael Newton: Fw 190 Starboard Waist Gunner: Sgt Donald Davila: ½ Fw 190
Bomb Run: On Target, 60%
B-24 Damage: Superficial x2 (4), Nose Turret Power: Mechanical Failure (20) Peckham Points: 24 Peckham Points, AC ready 13 Jan 44.
Casualties: None
Landing: AC and crew safe at Giulia
Awards/Promotion Requests: None
Sitting Out: None
In Hospital: None
Completed 25 Missions: None
After Action Report: (Flown using TFT)
“Uh, Cap’n, sir?” Sgt Doug Richard’s voice conveys confusion, though he’s not so confused as to forget to add ‘sir’ at the end of hius sentence as required by his RA command pilot. “I think a Fort just took over Floogie’s spot in the tail.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Sgt!” Capt Paul Garfield fires back. “There aren’t any B17s in h 78th.”
“No. Richard’s right…sir,” Tsgt Michael Newton confirms the tail gunner’s report. “I saw her drop down from above…sir. She had the 79th’s insignia.”
“Damn bunch of reserve amateurs,” Garfleld mutters under his breath. Leave it to them to screw up this man’s Army.”
This mission was FUBAR form the get go. We lost two aircraft before even getting started, with Valkyrie never getting off the ground and Bones aborting before we were out of sight of Giulia.
As we drew nearer the front lines (Zone 2) a lone Me 109 made for us, but was driven off by the escorting P-38s. Then, as we approached the coast (Zone 3) our fighter escort started to thin out.
Over the Tyrrhenian Sea (Zone 4) the boys from the 1st FG chased away an Fw 190. Flat Foot Floogie, flying tail, reported they were aborting. To my surprise, though I suppose I shouldn’t be considering most of these planes are being flown by men with no real appreciation for discipline and organization, a B17 from one of the other squadrons swooped down to take over the tail position (Zone 5).
Nearer the target (Zone 6) the Luftwaffe made another attempt at the formation, though no EA made through the formation’s fire to reach us.
The air over the target (Zone 7) was lousy with Krauts, though I understand some had it worse than us. First, Rockets were fired into the formation, one exploding off our nose. While it was unsettling, it did no appreciable damage, though I’m sure TSgt Mason will disagree. That was followed by a trio of Me 110’s. The P-38s chased one off and, our luck seeming to turn, we managed to flame the other two. This was followed by another three 110s, with similar results, though we did sustain some light damage. Flak was hardly a problem and I guess my talk with 2LT Martell after his dismal performance last mission must have worked as he managed to put 60% on target this time.
Target egress was pretty much a repeat of ingress, replacing the trios of 110s with pairs of 190s – one each wave to the 1st FG, one each wave to the Lady. After seeing the first two waves take a beating, the third wave slunk off.
Back over the Tyrrhenian Sea (Zone 6) we saw enemy fighters forming up, but none attacked us. Then Arkansas Traveler reported they were diverting to Corsica (Zone 5). A bit further on (Zone 4) we encountered another group of EA that had no stomach for the fight.
Afte that, things were uneventful until, upon our landing approach, Sgt Richard had a bit of a problem getting out of the tail turret, the power having mysteriously failed. It looks like I need to have another talk with TSgt Mason. Otherwise, both crew and plane will be ready to fly again tomorrow.
Paul Garfield, Capt USAAF, commanding B24D Laid Back Lady 78th (H) Bomb Squadron
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Post by limburger59 on Aug 10, 2023 11:31:07 GMT -8
B-17G: GREAT EXPECTATIONS: B-17F-75BO 42-18544 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group Middle Sqdn - Middle MISSION DATE: 12 JAN 44 MISSION # 2 (2nd mission this bomber) TARGET: Pisa, Italy - Marshalling Yard Bomb Run: On Target - 60% CREWPosition | Rank | Name | Current Mission | Previous Kills | Claims Today
| Confirmed Today
| Status | Stress | Notes | Pilot | 1 LT
| Peter "Pip" Dickins
| 2
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| Copilot | 2 LT
| Matthew Pocket
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| Bombardier | 2 LT | Abel Magwich
| 2
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| Navigator | 2 LT | Clive Pumblechook
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| LW
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| Engineer | S/SGT | Joe Gargery
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| Radioman | S/SGT | Luke Wopsle
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| 1+0 |
| Ball Gunner | SGT | Bentley Drummle
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| PWG | SGT | Henry Hubble | 2
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| SWG | SGT | John Wemmick
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| Tail Gunner | SGT | Mick Jaggers
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Casualties: 2LT Abel Magwich: SW – Broken sternum/inflamed heart – Invalidated Home 2LT Clive Pumblechook: LW – Forearm grazed – RTD 15 JAN 44 S/SGT Joe Gargery: SW – punctured abdomen – Invalidated Home
B-17 Damage: FROM EXTREME COLD: PCG Permanently Broken (10) FROM FLAK: Superficial x2 (2) S. Wing Root (25) FROM GERMAN ROCKETS: #3 Engine Superficial (5) FROM FW-190: Superficial x3 (3) FROM Re2005: Superficial x1 (1) Light Wound x1 (2) Serious Wound x2 (10) Radio destroyed (10) S. Outboard Fuel Tank – Self Sealed (10) P. Wing Root (25)
Peckham Points: 103 – Two days to repair – RTD 15 JAN 44
Crew Chief: S/SGT Julian San Sebastian (Status: Average Joe)
B-17 Disposition: Safe at Giulia
Attackers: 10
| # | Claimed Destroyed
| Confirmed Destroyed
| Probable | Damaged | Run Off
| Bf-109 | 0 |
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| Bf-110 | 0 |
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| FW-190 | 6 |
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| 2 | 1 | 1 | Ju88 | 0 |
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| ME-210 | 2 |
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| 2 | Re2005 | 2 |
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| 1 | TOTALS
| 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Award/Promotion Requests: Purple Heart: 2LT Abel Magwich, 2LT Clive Pumblechook, S/SGT Joe Gargery In Hospital: Everyone is flying AFTER ACTION REPORT (Target for Today - Joe Carter's Variant)
Three Days earlier: Mission Aborted enroute to Zara: It was a rough and unfruitful trip on 9 Jan 44. Fortunately the weather was too miserable for the Luftwaffe. Unfortunately our Engineer seemed unable to handle the uncertainty and stress of the mission, and spent the rest of the evening in the bar. (+1 Stress) I need to watch him once the bullets start flying in earnest.
OUTBOUND – ZONE 4: Four FW-190s took an unhealthy interest in our bomber. Three made it past the escort, but they all missed us. What did damage us was the Extreme Cold – with two of our guns freezing up. In Zone 5 SGT Wemmick successfully repaired his cheek gun, but the Radio Room gun was busted for the duration of the mission. TARGET ZONE 7: A rocket exploded beneath our starboard wing, removing some of the cowling from engine #3, yet the engine kept humming along. Flak was a bit closer, damaging the starboard wing root. Both incidents didn’t distract our Bombardier from putting 60% of our bombs in the designated target zone. Leaving Pisa, two out of three waves of bandits had a grudge against our B-17. The first wave featured a Butcher Bird which got past our Little Friends. He did superficial damage to us, but limped away as a Probable with more damage than he dealt to us. In the second wave our Ball Gunner damaged another Butcher Bird, leaving an Italian Re2005 with a bad attitude to make three passes on us. We figure he must have run out of ammunition because he had our number – wounding three, putting a hole in the fuel tank (which eventually self sealed), and scattering pieces of the radio all over that compartment. INBOUND – ZONE 6: Two ME-210s barely began their run at us when the P-38s jumped all over them. GIULIA: Safe landing. The crew behaved professionally, and the nervousness of SGT Gargery will no longer infect them as the SGT is being invalidated home.
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Keltos
Multiple Squadrons
Posts: 459
Member is Online
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Post by Keltos on Aug 11, 2023 13:45:20 GMT -8
After-Action ReportB-17F-100BO 42-30399 – “Irascible Girl”79th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force
Commander: 1st Lt. H. SimmonsMission Date: 12 January 1944 Mission Number: 2 Mission of this bomber: 2 Formation: High Position: Middle Target: Pisa, Italy Target Type: Marshalling Yard Bomb Run: Off Target - 10% CREWPosition | Rank - Name | Missions | Mission Kills | Total Kills | Awards | Status | Stress Point | Pilot | 1st Lt. Henry Simmons | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| RTD | 1 | Co-Pilot | 2nd Lt. Jerry Taylor
| 2 | 0 | 0 |
| RTD | 0 | Bombardier | 2nd Lt. Matthew Mallard
| 2 | 0 | 0 |
| RTD | 1 | Navigator | 2nd Lt. Bruce Mullins | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| RTD | 0 | Engineer | T/Sgt Tim Burkey | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| RTD | 0 | Radio Op. | S/Sgt Paul Stewart | 2 | 0 | 0 | PH | LW | 0 | Ball Gunner | Sgt Matthew Whalen
| 2 | 1.33 | 1.33 |
| RTD
| 0 | Port WG | Sgt George Buck
| 2 | 0 | 0 |
| RTD
| 0 | Starboard WG | Sgt Harvey McGinty
| 2 | 0 | 0 |
| RTD | 0 | Tail Gunner | Sgt Michael Bolden
| 2 | 1 | 1 |
| RTD
| 1 |
Crew Chief: S/Sgr Richard Weiner (Average Joe) - 2 missions
E/A Encountered
Type | No. | Intercepted | Destroyed | Damaged | Fw-190 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 5 | Me-109 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Me-110 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | G-55 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Ju-88 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Total | 20 | 9 | 4 | 6 |
Claims:
- Sgt. M. Bolden: 1 Fw-190 claimed - full credit awarded - Sgt. M Whalen: 1 Fw-190 claimed - full credit awarded - T/Sgt T. Burkey: 1 Me-110 claimed - no credit awarded - Sgt. M Whalen: 1 Me-110 claimed - 1/3 credit awarded Damage:
- Right Wing no effect: 10 - Navigator Heat out: 10 - Right tailplane: 25 - Superf. x6: 6 - LW x1: 2 Peckham Points: 53pts - overnight maintenance Casualties:
- S/Sgt Paul Stewart: LW - forearm cut - RTD Awards:
- Purple Heart: S/Sgt Paul Stewart AAR (flown with TFT)
Foggia Airbase: Good take-off and assembly. Zone 2 Outbound: Top turret power failure prompt repaired by Eng. T/Sgt Burkey. Zone 3 Outbound: Nothing to report. Zone 4 Outbound: Attacked by two waves of FW-190. In the first wave there was 1 fighter damaged and escaped into the clouds, 2 intercepted by the escort while the last fighter, although damaged, scored a few hits irreparably damaging the Navigator's heat compartment system. The same fighter made a second pass, but without taking further damage and without hitting us, it moved away. In the second wave two Fw-190s attacked us from 12 o'clock but 1 was intercepted as it approached and the other caused no damage and continued on its course to hunt for more bombers. Instead, the two tail Fw-190s were shot down by hits from tail guns and the Ball turret. Zone 5 Outbound: Navigator moved to Radio room to avoid frostbyte. Zone 6 Outbound: Nothing to report Zone 7 Outbound/Inbound (Target Zone): Upon entering the target zone, the ship was rocked by a nearby explosion that caused no damage; it was probably a German bomb dropped from above. We were then attacked by 3 Me-110s that did not have much luck, as one was immediately intercepted by a P38 while the other two were shot down by our shots. The medium flak caused some damage with no effect to the right wing. Although the navigator tried to manage the course from the radio room, the bomb drop was not accurate. Turning the bow toward the base, we did not observe flak; we were attacked by two Ju-88s that were taken over by escort fighters. Zone 6 Inbound: Attacked by 4 Fw-190s: two were damaged and abandoned the attack, one was intercepted while the fourth avoided our shots and came close causing much damage to the ship. On its second pass it was damaged and interrupted the attack by moving away. Zone 5 Inbound: Nothing to report. Zone 4 Inbound: We were attacked by two Fw-190s, but they were intercepted by the escort. A Fiat G55 "Centauro" of the Italian ANR (National Republican Air Force) although damaged by our shots, tried to approach us but missed us and continued its course disappearing into the clouds. Zone 3 Inbound: Nothing to report. Zone 2 Inbound: The Navigator returned to his station as soon as we descended to 10,000 ft. Foggia Airbase: Landed safely. S/Sgt Paul Stewart was medicated trackside and discharged immediately afterwards. Today we had our baptism of fire! This war will still be long and difficult. -------------------------------------------------
Henry Simmons, 1st Lt, USAAF, Commanding Commanding B-17F: Irascible Girl B-17F-100BO 42-30399 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
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Post by mrkillabee on Aug 12, 2023 9:03:39 GMT -8
limburger59,Sparhawk,crushedhat,andy254,superbee,campsawyer,mpgutis,wolverinetoddy,Keltos,Grondeaux,rhreiss,caodwolf,medic1,GaryK,tomt1999,mrkillabee,Coinich,caodwolf,blaird,medic1,wolverinetoddy,blaird,colbourne66,mpgutis,blaird,limburger59,Sparhawk,crushedhat,andy254,superbee,campsawyer,mpgutis,wolverinetoddy,Keltos,Grondeaux,rhreiss,caodwolf,medic1,GaryK,tomt1999B24-D: T-TAILED BATHTUBPilot: 2LT Edward Llyod Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron Formation/Position: Low(Bomber#16) Mission Date: 7 Jan 44 Mission Number: 002 Missions This Bomber: 2 Target: Pisa, Italy - Marshalling Yard Crew member | # Missions | TOTAL CLAIMS
| TODAY'S CLAIMS | Confirmed Claims
| Stress | Status | Pilot: 2LT Edward Llyod | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Co-Pilot: 2LT Vincent Wolfe
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD
| Bombardier: 2LT Matthew Palmer
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Navigator: 2LT Brian Hoffman | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Engineer: S/SGT Larry Walhen | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD
| Radio Operator: S/SGT Flyod Morgan
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD
| Ball Gunner: SGT Billy Wheeler
| 2 | 0 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | RTD
| Port Waist: S/SGT Vernon Hicks
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD
| Starboard Waist: SGT Herbert Hansen
| 2 | 0 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | RTD
| Tail Gunner: SGT Matthew Bennett
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD
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Bomb Run: Off On Target: 0% B-24 Damage: 0 Hits Technical issues: Rudder Peckham Points: 10 Landing: safe Repair Time: Routine Maintenance Crew Chief: S/Sgt Steve Fonzarelli, average AAR:Despite a bad weather on the base, the T-TAILED BATHTUB takes off without difficulty and after heading south-west, fits perfectly in the formation in the 16th place of the lower cell. Radio exchanges reported German aircraft equipped with rockets en route to intercept the formation. Once over the coast, the rudder again showed signs of malfunction. After heading northwest, the T-TAILED BATHTUB experienced a localized weather episode characterized by a sharp drop in temperatures. The upper turret and right flank MGs were frozen. Fortunately, the escort assigned to the formation manages to contain enemy fighters. If the MG of the upper turret is quickly operational, Sgt Hicks' MG will only be operational on the way back. Arriving on the target area, the aggression of the enemy becomes more palpable. The escort has a lot to do to contain Italian aircrafts. Although the Flak is not very important, the bombing is totally ineffective. The return, over the Tyrrhenian Sea, takes place without any particular worries. It was only when the T-TAILED BATHTUB arrived over Italy at about 100 km from Loggia that it was attacked in its 6h by a Ju88C-6 presumably piloted by a very experienced officer. Billy Wheeler (BT) and Matthew Bennett (TT) open fire simultaneously and hit the heavy enemy aircraft which explodes in a great ball of fire. The landing is done without incident
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kfan
79th Bomber Squadron
Posts: 13
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Post by kfan on Aug 12, 2023 12:00:33 GMT -8
B-17F "Slammin' Sally" 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Commander: Major William James Mission Date: 12 JAN 44 Mission Number: 2 Bomber Mission: 2Formation: High Position: Mid
Target: Pisa, Italy Target Type: Marshalling Yards Bomb Run: On Target - 60% Crew:Position | Rank and Names | Missions | Mission Kills | Total Kills | Awards | Status | Pilot | 1 LT Alan Schneider | 2 | 0 | 0 | None | Okay | Co-Pilot | 2 LT Dennis Baxter | 2 | 0 | 0 | None | Okay | Bombardier | 2 LT Lewis Walton | 2 | 0 | 0 | None | Okay | Navigator | 2 LT Oscar Shepherd | 2 | 1 | 1 | None | Okay | Engineer | S/SGT Bernard Mathews | 2 | 0 | 0 | None | KIA | Radio Operator | T/SGT Nathaniel Swenson | 2 | 0 | 0 | None | Okay | Ball Gunner | S/SGT Garry Wyatt | 2 | 0 | 0 | None | Okay | Port Waist | SGT Oscar Albright | 2 | 0 | 0 | None | Okay | Starboard Waist | SGT Bob Hanna | 2 | 0 | 0 | None | Okay | Tail Gunner | SGT Lonnie Bishop | 2 | 1 | 1 | None | Okay |
Enemies Encountered:Type | No. | Intercepted | Destroyed | Damaged | FW-190 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 1 | Me-109 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
Damage: Engineer KIA, Tail - right tail plane damaged Peckham Points: 35 AAR (TfT used for mission)
The inbound flight was uneventful. The bombing run went well with a good look at the yards, the payload landed mostly on target. After the run, all hell broke loose. The flak was significant but the bomber avoided any damage. A barrage of enemy rockets came from out of nowhere, but thankfully all missed the mark. Suddenly the sky was swarming with FW-190s. The P-38s knocked out a few of them before one of the bastards took out Bernie, our engineer and top gunner. It was clear he was killed in action. The same FW-190 came back for more and our navigator unleashed a burst and got his revenge. A short time later a ME-109 showed up but was chased off by a friendly fighter. Lastly, another swarm of three FW-109s appeared and one was taken down by our tail gunner. Overall, a good bombing mission that was on target. A couple of 190s were shot down but none of it makes up for the loss of our engineer. The mood is somber as the young men lost their first crew member.
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Post by caodwolf on Aug 12, 2023 17:37:27 GMT -8
B-17F: Dam Yankees Pilot: 1Lt. B. Pease Assignment: 15th Air Force, 509th Bomber Group, 80th Squadron Mission Date: 7-Jan-1944 Mission No.: 2 Mission this Bomber: 2 Target for Today: Pisa, Italy - Marshalling Yards Squadron Position: Middle Result: On-Target 40% Shortly after take off a FW-190 screaming in from a vertical dive raked us from stern to bow. The only damage was the Nose Gun which took a direct hit. It's out of action.
There was no Flak and only a couple of German fighters were engaged over target. Ordinance was dropped with good effect.
Landed back at base.
That is all....
Position | Rank | Name | Missions Flown | Kills this Mission | Total Kills | Awards | Status | Pilot | 1Lt | B. Pease | 2 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Co-Pilot | 2Lt | D. Horton | 2 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Bombardier | 2Lt | J. Pate | 2 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Navigator | 2Lt | E. Swan | 2 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Top Turret/Engineer | Sgt | G. Burdash | 2 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Radio Op | Sgt | D. Wallace | 2 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Port Waist | Sgt | K. Duke | 2 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Stbd Waist | Sgt | E. Frisbie | 2 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Ball Turret | Sgt | J. Quain | 2 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Tail Turret | Sgt | G. Fancher | 2 | --- | --- | --- | OK |
NoneNone
FTR | Spotted | Driven-Off | Damaged | Not-Damaged | Claimed - Credited | FW-190 | 4 | 3 | --- | 1 | --- | ME-109 | 1 | 1 | 1 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | TOTALS | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | --- |
-Nose Gun knocked out.
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jasta6
78th Bomber Squadron
Spring is here and summer is close behind... It is Cruise Season!
Posts: 277
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Post by jasta6 on Aug 13, 2023 3:54:17 GMT -8
B-24D "Stupid Dragon" Serial #: B-24D-145-CO 42-41210 Code: 06 Pilot: 1Lt. Moeses I. Horst Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group, 15th US Air Force, Castellucio Airfield Squadron Position: Low Formation Position: #16 (Middle) Mission Date: 12th January 1944 Mission Number: 2 (Aircraft Mission #1) Target: Pisa, Italy - Marshaling Yards POSITION/RANK/NAME
| # Missions | TOTAL CLAIMS | TODAY'S CLAIMS | Confirmed Claims | Crew Status | Notes: | Pilot 1Lt. Moeses I. Horst | 0 | - | - | - | RTD | 1st Mission for crew and plane | Co-Pilot 2Lt. Slavisa J. Mackoff | 0 | - | - | - | RTD |
| Bombardier S/Sgt Mantra K. Hart | 0 | - | - | - | RTD |
| Navigator 2nd Lt. Gary Z. Scarbro | 0 | - | - | - | RTD |
| Engineer (TT) T/Sgt. Ernestor L. Pasiak | 0 | - | - | - | RTD |
| Radio Operator S/Sgt. Reny O. Scaccia | 0 | - | - | - | RDT |
| Ball Gunner Sgt. Evan F. Wiman | 0 | - | - | - | RTD |
| Port Waist Gunner Sgt. Jonny F. Brim
| 0 | - | - | - | RTD
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| Starboard Waist Gnr. Sgt. Duncan C. Freeland | 0 | - | - | - | RTD |
| Tail Gunner Sgt. Wilbern I. Perez | 0 | - | - | - | RTD |
| Crew Chief: S/Sgt. Alfred (Al) Falso [Ave. Joe]
| 1 | Hard Stand: | #26 |
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* Mission Note: No mission credit for crew or aircraft as the "Stupid Dragon" and crew had to Abort due to an engine fire on the Taxi way.Bomb Load: 12x 500lbs AN-M84 General Purpose Bombs Bomb Run: Aborted, DNB Crew Chief Report: S/Sgt. Alfred (Al) Falso [Ave. Joe] Hard Stand: #26 Pre Mission Repair status: (2D6=7; Standard Mechanical Rolls this mission) Post Mission Repairs & Crew Chief Experience roll: (2D6=5; Good Work on Aircraft repairs, 0.5 Experience Point)B-17 Damage: 40pts. Engine #4 once again caught fire, this time as we were on the taxi way. Mechanical Issues: #4 Engine malfunctioned, over heated causing a fire. Random Events: None Repair Time: over night to repair, returns to service on January 13th 1944. Replacement Bomber: None Landing: N/A E/A Encountered: 0 EA Claimed:Claims: | Aircraft: | Confirmed: | None | - | - |
Enemy Aircraft:Type | Encountered | Destroyed | Probable | Damaged | Intercepted
| None | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Casualties: None Recuperating:POSITION/RANK/NAME
| # Missions
| TOTAL CLAIMS | TODAY'S CLAIMS | Confirmed Claims | Crew Status | Notes:
| None
| - | - | - | - | - | -
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Award/ Promotions Requests:none Replacements:
None After Action Report ( game system - TfT): Once again the crew is disappointed as we had a second engine failure before we even got started!?...”
-- Pg 2 -- Mission Debriefing
1st Lt Horst, 78th BS Pilot MISSION #1 (Groups 2) Date: January 12th, 1944 Target: Pisa, Italy, Marshaling Yards Plane: B-24D-210 "Stupid Dragon" Position: Low Cell / (#16) Altitude: 20,000feet 12x 500lbs AN-M64 Fragmentation Bombs Mission Report C04M02 -210
O/B Zone 1: Engine #4 Over heated, on the taxi way, while awaiting our takeoff. Had to pull off to the side and await the squadron to get airborne before the recovery tractor could take the " Stupid Dragon" back to the hard stand. 1st Lt. Moeses HorstPilot of, " Stupid Dragon" (B-24D-145-CO 42-41210) 78th BS, 509th BG(H), 15th USAAF. Foggia, Italy- Station 164 (Circle)
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Post by wolverinetoddy on Aug 13, 2023 17:10:02 GMT -8
B-17 Name: Pride of the Buckeyes (2)
Crew Commander: 1st Lt. SS Carrol Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group Formation: High Position: Middle
Mission Date: 12 Jan 44 Mission #: 2 Target: Pisa, Italy - Marshalling Yard
Position: Name (mission #) {Claims After} Status Pilot: 1st Lt. SS Carrol (2) {0} Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. D Lewis (2) {0} Bombardier 2nd Lt. GS Smith (1) {0} Navigator: 2nd Lt. D Troxel (2) {0} Engineer: MSgt. H Langdon (2) {4} Ball Gunner: Sgt. H Huffman (2) {0} Radio Oper.: Sgt. C Thompson (2) {0} Pt Waist G: Sgt. V Cromwell (2) {0} Stbd Waist G: Sgt. AD West (2) {0} Tail Gunner: Sgt. W Ingersoll (2) {1} PH
Bomb Percentage: 0% Bomber Disposition: Superficial Damage (8 Peckham Points)
Casualties: W Ingersoll: SW – 14 days in hospital
Claims (BY TYPE): Attacked: (1:109, 6:190, 0:110) Damaged: (1:109, 3:190, 0:110) Destroyed: (0:109, 3:190, 0:110) H Langdon: 190, 190, 190
Special Note: W Ingersoll: PH
Mission Description: Filed by 1st Lt. SS Carol, pilot commanding
Lewis and I were walking back from the briefing and I stopped a few hundred yards away from the briefing and took a deep breath. It was a beautiful morning in Italy and the Pride of the Buckeyes sat there in the sunshine looking as magnificent as ever. Such a plane.
Lt. Smith from Bellefontaine is our new bombardier and has settled into the crew nicely. We took off and got into formation without incident and headed off up the Italian coast.
The outbound flight was quiet until we started to approach Rome. Three of the dreaded FW 190s attacked us. On their first pass Langdon knocked down one of them. On their second pass Langdon knocked down a second one. The Germans missed us entirely.
We were jumped my more 190s as we approached the target. Langdon got one more and they missed us again. Smith was off target today. First mission jitters I suppose.
As we turned for home a single 109s dove at us out of the sun. Langdon tried for number four, but missed. The 109s shot into the tail wounding Ingersoll. Cromwell patched him up for the ride home.
Other than some ineffectual rockets being lobbed at us, the rest of the flight home was quiet.
The doctors say that Ingersoll is going to need a couple of weeks in the hospital. They credit Cromwell’s first aid with preventing him from dying on the way home. Upon hearing this the entire crew volunteered to give up their day off for extra first aid training.
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Post by rcastillo on Aug 14, 2023 6:11:42 GMT -8
Mission Reports for B-17F The Reluctant Dragon and B-24D Louisiana Belle
B-17F The Reluctant Dragon 79th Bombardment Squadron Bomber Position: High Squadron, Middle Mission Date: 12 January 1944 Mission #: 2 Aircraft Mission #: 2 Target: Marshalling Yard @ Pisa, Italy
Pilot 1LT Curtis E. LeMay (2) Bombardier 2LT Alex Black (2) Navigator 2LT Glenn Dean (2) Co-Pilot 2LT Tom Landry (2) Engineer T/SGT Dennis Browning (2) Radio Operator SGT Maurice Stein (2) Ball Gunner SGT Allen Harrison (2) Port Waist SGT Gene Jackson (2) Starboard Waist SGT Frank Valentine (2) Tail Gunner SGT Roger Leonard (2)
Bomb Run: On Target 95%
Casualties: None
Enemy Aircraft Claims: Bombardier 2LT Alex Black 1x Me-110
-End of Report-
B-24D Louisiana Belle 78th Bombardment Squadron Bomber Position: Low Squadron, Middle Mission Date: 12 January 1944 Mission #: 2 Aircraft Mission #: 2 Target: Marshalling Yard @ Pisa, Italy
Pilot 1LT James Stewart (2) Bombardier 2LT Paul Gibbs (2) Navigator 2LT Elbert Garner (2) Co-Pilot 2LT Jim Hampton (2) Engineer T/SGT Ivan Jacobson (2) Radio Operator SGT Clifton Buckley (2) Ball Gunner SGT Alfred Paul (2) Port Waist SGT Norman Conner (2) Starboard Waist SGT Duane Hoover (2) Tail Gunner SGT Henry Olson (2)
Bomb Run: On Target 30%
Casualties: None
Enemy Aircraft Claims: None
-End of Report-
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Post by sdpoulter on Aug 14, 2023 9:46:53 GMT -8
B-17F Betty’s Bucket 80-BO-42-29966
Pilot: 1st Lt Gavin Dees
Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Formation/Position: Middle/Middle
Mission Date: 12 Jan 44
Mission Number: 002
Missions This Bomber: 2
Target: Pisa Italy-Marshalling Yards
Crew/Position/Rank Current Missions Previous Claims This Mission Stress Points Status
Pilot 1st Lt Gavin Dees 2 0 0 0 RTD
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Juan Nash 2 0 0 0 RTD
Bombardier 2nd Lt Jack Doyle 2 0 0 0 RTD
Navigator 2nd Lt Ed Carpenter 2 1 1 0 KIA
Engineer T/Sgt Morse Krieger 2 0 0 0 RTD
Radioman S/Sgt Joseph Murch 2 0 0 0 RTD
Ball Gunner Sgt David Burnham 2 1 1 0 RTD
PWG Sgt Duncan Edwards 2 0 0 0 RTD
SWG S/Sgt Jose Harris 2 0 0 0 RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Clayton Jacobs 2 0 1 0 RTD
Bomb Run: On Target
On Target: 30%
B-17 Damage: 8 Hits
Superficial x 5
Port Wing-wing root, aileron, outboard fuel tank rupture
Peckham Points: CAT-E
Repair Time: N/A
Landing: N/A- Bail Out over Zone 3 Italy
E/A Encountered:
E/A Encountered Destroyed Probable Damaged Intercepted
Bf-109 4 0 0 0 0
Bf-110 2 1 1 0 0
Fw-190 6 1 0 0 0
Confirmed Claims: 2
Sgt. Burnham (Ball Gunner) 1 x Bf-110
Sgt. Jacobs (Tail Gunner) 1 x Fw-190
Casualties: 1 Navigator Ed Carpenter KIA
Award/ Promotions Requests: 0
After Action Report (using QOTS):
Outbound
Our second mission on this tour did not go so well. We took off in poor weather and managed to make it into the air and form up with the others. We had no contact until Zone 7 on the outbound leg. We encountered a wave of 2 Bf-109’s, one 6 low and the other 6 high. Fighter cover was able to drive off the 6 low bandit. The top turret and tail guns both fired at the 6 high 109 and missed. The 109 returned fire and hit us in the port wing for wing root damage. He came back around and this time missed and then broke off.
Flak over the target was medium and we luckily avoided any flak hits. We lined up to drop our bombs and I handed over the controls to Bombardier 2nd Lt Doyle who then released bombs over the target and we hit with 30% and confirmed with secondary explosions.
INBOUND
We turned for home without any flak. We then encountered 2 Bf-110’s, one at 3 low and the other at 6 low. Starboard waist gunner fired at the 3 low 110 and missed. The ball turret gunner fired at 110 6 low and destroyed him. 3 low 110 fired and hit with 3 shell hits, two superficial and one on the port wing aileron making it inoperable. The 110 came around for second attack at 12 high. The nose gunner fired and hit damaging him. The top turret fired and missed. The 110 fired and missed then broke off. The next wave was a Fw-190 at 12 high and a Bf-109 at 1:30 level. Fighter cover drove both away.
Zone 6 we did not encounter anyone.
Zone 5 we did not encounter anyone.
Zone 4 we encountered a Bf-109 at 6 high but he was driven off by fighter cover.
Zone 3 we encountered a wave of 5 Fw-190’s at 12 high, 1:30 high, 3 high, 6 high and 9 high. Fighter cover drove off the 12 high and 1:30 high 190’s. The port waist gunner fired at the 9 high 190 and missed. Starboard waist gunner fired at the 3 high 190 and missed. Top turret fired at the 6 high 190 and damaged him. The radio room missed but the tail gunner hits and destroys 6 high 190. The 9 high 190 fires and misses then breaks off. The 3 high 190 fires and hits with 3 shell hits. Port wing outboard fuel tank is hit and ruptures creating fire. The crew has to bailout over Italy. Everyone successfully bails out except the Navigator Ed Carpenter who perishes with the plane.
Report Submitted by: 1st Lt Gavin Dees Pilot in Command of Betty’s Bucket.
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