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Post by limburger59 on May 15, 2023 19:01:25 GMT -8
to post 9 FEB 24 To unlock 11 FEB 44 Turn in AAR's no later than 24 FEB 24 Next mission to post 23 FEB 24
MISSION DATE: 20 March 44 MISSION # 15TARGET: Bolzano, Italy - Marshalling Yard Bombing Altitude: 23,500 feet - There are peaks in the Bolzano (Zone 9) area that exceed 10,000 feet. Mission Brief: Map: FORMATION:HIGH | 80th SQDN |
| MID | 78th SQDN |
| LOW | 79th SQDN | LEAD: | Double Bomb |
| LEAD: | Laid Back Lady |
| LEAD: | Irascible Girl
| TAIL: | Miss Holly
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| TAIL: | The Schmoo
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| TAIL: | Invadin Maiden
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WEATHER:
Takeoff: Poor Target: Good Landing: Good GAZETTEER Expect Coastal Flak batteries.
In Zones 6 through 9 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 Adriatic Sea | X | 100% Clouds/None | Good | 3 Adriatic Sea | X | 100% Clouds/None | Good | 4 Adriatic Sea
| -2 | 100% Clouds/Light | Good | 5 Adriatic Sea | X | 50% Clouds/None | Good | 6 Adriatic Sea/Italy Coastal Flak: Light x1 | -1 | Haze/Moderate | Good | 7 Italy | X | 50% Clouds/None
| Good | 8 Italy | -1 | Haze/Moderate
| Good | TARGET ZONE 9 Italy FLAK: Outbound: Medium x3 Inbound: None | -2 | 50% Clouds/Light Target: Slightly Obscured TFT: Bombing Manually
| Good | 8 Italy | 0 | Haze/Heavy
| Good | 7 Italy | -2 | 50% Clouds/Light
| Fair | 6 Italy/Adriatic Sea Coastal Flak: Light x1 | -1 | Haze/Moderate | Fair | 5 Adriatic Sea | -2 | Haze/Light | Fair | 4 Adriatic Sea | -2 | 50% Clouds/Light | Fair | 3 Adriatic Sea | X | 50% Clouds/None | Poor | 2 Adriatic Sea | X | Haze/None | Poor |
Emergency Airfield: None Shot Down: Over Water (if you didn't drown): Zone 5 or greater: roll a d6: 1-4 = captured, 5-6 = rescued by fishermen, passed on to Partisans, eventually returned to base and reassigned to the U.S. (You know too much about the Partisans.) Zones 2 to 4: you are rescued by the Royal Navy Over Italy: captured Calendar since Last Mission:
15 March 44 Mission 14 Steyr, Austria - Welzergenswerk Ball Bearing Plant 16 March 44 Non-Operational Day 17 March 44 Non-Operational Day 18 March 44 Mission Aborted enroute to Bolzano, Italy (thunderstorms) 19 March 44 Bad Weather - Mission Scrubbed 20 March 44 Mission 15 Bolzano, Italy - Marshalling Yard
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tomt1999
80 Bomber Squadron XO
Posts: 142
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Post by tomt1999 on Feb 7, 2024 17:11:11 GMT -8
80th Squadron Positions 015 Bolzano
TAIL Miss Holly LEAD Double Bomb
DeLozier
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Post by superbee on Feb 8, 2024 7:29:35 GMT -8
79th Bomb Squadron - Mission Formation Assignments
Mission #15: Bolzano, Italy (Marshalling Yard)
Lead bomber: Irascible Girl
tail end Charlie: Invadin Maiden
The 79th is the low squadron this mission.
Good luck !
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Post by crushedhat on Feb 8, 2024 17:35:47 GMT -8
For the 78th, for Mission 15 Lead: Laid Back Lady (crushedhat) Tail: The Schmoo (GRondeaux) Garfield, Paul, Cpt, USAAF, XO, 78th (H) Bomb Squadron (OOC - if assigned Lead or Tail, please submit your mission early incase someone else needs to take over those positions.)
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Post by andy254 on Feb 9, 2024 13:39:21 GMT -8
“Another one up the Adriatic,” Maj Harlan Beech begins the S2 portion of the mission briefing. “Though you’ll be flying much closer to the coast. Which means more likely interference from the Luftwaffe, as well as the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana. Expect to be picked up as you near Arcona.” SSgt Dewbury indicates the location along the route on the big wall map. “From there, you’ll likely be dogged to the target and back until you’re clear of the land. The Luftwaffe may actually follow you out into the Adriatic for a hundred miles on your way home. Intel indicates the heaviest concentration of EA won’t be over the target, but instead in the vicinity of Pila and Padua - Venice.” Maj Beech’s comments are accentuated by the tapping of SSgt Dewbury’s pointer.
“Flak on target ingress will be moderate and, due to ammunition constraints, we don’t expect any flak on egress. However, you will experience flak from coastal batteries both outbound and inbound near Pila.”
“Escort duties for this mission are being split between the 1st FG and the 325th FG. The P-38s of the 1st will be with you to and through the target. The Lightnings will hand you over to the Jugs south of Venice, with the P-47s of the 325th seeing you the rest of the way home.”
“There are no emergency airfields along the route. If you run into trouble north of Arcona you can try for Yugoslavia and hope to fall into partisan hands. Just remember to give them your cooperation, but not too much as we aren’t sure whether they’re communist sympathizers. Also, bear in mind you won’t have any escort and could run into EA operating out of German held territory (OOC – Light Resistance in the last turn, and see Rules/Optional Rules/Optional Rules Index/Bailing Out and Escaping Capture). The RN will be on Lifeguard duty south of Pila. If you end up in the drink north of there, hope you meet up with some friendly fishermen. In any event, if you end up guest of the Reich remember your obligations under the Fighting Man’s Code, and your rights under the Geneva Conventions.”
Closing his briefing folder, Maj Beech segues to the S3 portion with, “Maj Stockwell.”
"The Bolzano Marshalling Yard is the latest part of Mussolini's train set that HQ want us to stomp on. Our ingress is a straight line from forming up to preparing for final approach and our egress is a parallel route back."
Dewbury is this time running his pointer up and down the route on the board.
"Imagine it being like a football pitch and entering each zone is like crossing a crucial yard line. We want the Luftwaffe and their Diehard Italian Sidekicks to wonder if we're going to feint left or right. We'll be going right down the middle with the little friends trying to get the enemy players before they can block or bring you down. Unlike a game of football, you'll also have terrain in your way. Specifically, some part of the Italian Alps that exceed 10,000 metres. The Marshalling Yard is in the eastern part of the city. Once you've achieved touchdown with your bombs, you'll be turning around and getting straight back.
"Resistance is sporadic. On the way in, the little friends should deal with most of it. On the way out, resistance is heavier. They will not be taking kindly to what you have left behind you in Bolzano. Also, our little friends are not as experienced. Your crew have a certain set of skills in operating 50-cal machineguns. These may be put to use.
"I look forward to seeing you back here tonight. Good luck up there in the wild blue yonder".
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Post by medic1 on Feb 11, 2024 6:38:09 GMT -8
B-17F INVADIN’ MAIDEN 5-BO-44-30823 Pilot: 1st Lt Franklin MarksSquadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group (H) 15th Air ForceFormation/Position: Low/TailMission Date: 20 March 44 Mission Number: 015Missions This Bomber: 15Target: Bolzano, Italy – Marshalling Yard
Crew/Position/Rank | Current Mission | Previous Claims | This Mission | Stress Points | Status | Pilot 1st Lt Franklin Marks | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Ted Masini | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Bombardier 2nd Lt Craig Kellici | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Navigator 2nd Lt Tom Cassidy | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Engineer S/Sgt Curt Mercado | 15 | 10.5 | 0 | 2 | RTD | R/O T/Sgt Bruce Woodside | 15 | 2 | 0 | 1 | RTD | Ball Gunner S/Sgt Ed Kostanaro | 15 | 10.5 | 0 | 1 | RTD | PSW Sgt Noreno Costa | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | RTD | SWG Sgt Mark Riley | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | RTD | TG Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit | 16 | 8 | 0 | 1 | RTD |
Bomb Run: OnOn Target: 30%B-17 Damage: 2 Hits Nose x 1 -superficial (1) Starboard Wing x 1 -aileron N/E (5) Peckham Points: 6Repair Time: overnightCrew Chief: S/Sgt Steve Yates, (+2 modifier)Landing: Safe at GiuliaE/A Type | 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 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Fw-190 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | G-55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Ju-88 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Me-410 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | IAR-80 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Ju-88 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Re-2001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | TOTALS | 13 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
Confirmed Claims: 5 S/Sgt Curt Mercado 1 x Fw-190 S/Sgt Ed Kostanaro 1 x Fw-190 Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit 1 x Fw-190 Casualties: 0 Stress Points after mission: 0 Award/ Promotions Requests: 2 AM (1st Award) Sgt Mark Riley Promotion Review S/Sgt Curt Mercado 1iSfvlTl1-6 T/Sgt Bruce Woodside 1-6 S/Sgt Ed Kostanaro 1-6 Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit 1-6 After Action Report Zone 1: The weather was its usual gloomy self, but we took off without any issues, the gremlins seemly on a day off. We broke out of the clouds into the bright sunlight above and formed up, assuming our position as rear guard for the squadron.
Zone 2-3: Nothing to report.
Zone 4: We saw some bandits massing behind us, but the strength of our Lightning escorts must have made them think twice about their options and they just turned away.
Zone 5-8: Nothing to report.
Zone 9: Things began to heat up as two 190 decided that we were the weak spot. One was turned away by an escort while the other swooped in from 6 high. Mercado scored hits that caused the pilot to jettison his canopy and bail out, but his parachute failed to open.
The flak cleared out both little friend and enemy alike, the carpet of explosions rocking us as the nose and right wing took some minor damage. Through it all, Kellici remained focused and dropped for 30%.
INBOUND
Turning for the rally point the lack of flak gave five 190 a chance to pounce on us. The P-38s took offense to Goring’s Goons ganging up on us and jumped in to cut the numbers down to two. The intercom buzzed as gunners called out where Jerry was or where he was going. Talking Spirit tagged one as it passed the tail from 10:30, his first burst catching the 190 in the tail and rear fuselage. It shuddered noticeably and, probably as an instinctive reaction, the pilot immediately yoked into a starboard turn, giving Talking Spirit an even greater advantage and his second burst hitting the engine and cockpit. The fighter caught fire and headed for the earth miles below.
A second wave of two fanatical Italians loyal to the Reich tried their luck, but the 205s were overwhelmed by escorts and only one escaped.
Zone 8: Some enemy fighters were spotted, but a strong presence by P-47s must have scared them off.
Zone 7: Nothing to report.
Zone 6: Four 190 were prowling far from the coast and jockeyed into position for an attack. The Jugs took care of two of them. In the quick fire fight with the remaining two, Kellici swatted one down, but his claim would be denied later. He was fine with that saying he knew he got him.
Zone 5-2: Nothing to report.
Zone 1: Landed safely and taxied to hardstand.
A successful and satisfying mission all told. We successfully defended the squadrons rear bagging three krauts, nailed the target and only had a few scratches on the old girl. 1st Lt Franklin Marks, Pilot Commanding, 79th BS, 509th BG (Heavy), 15th AF1-6·1-6·1-6·1-6
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mpgutis
80th Bomber Squadron Commander
Posts: 316
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Post by mpgutis on Feb 11, 2024 7:07:26 GMT -8
Mission date:20 March 44 Target: Bolzano, Italy - Marshaling Yard Mission/Bomber: 15/1 B-17G The A Train 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group (H), 15th Air Force Formation: High Squadron Position: Middle
Position: Name (Mission) (Kills) Awards Pilot: 1LT Dirk Ellington (1) (-) PH Co-Pilot: 2LT Edward Reese (1) (-) Bombardier: 2LT Reed Williams (1) (1.5) DFC Navigator: 2LT Mark Ventura (1) (0) Engineer: SSG Stanley Ruzinski (1) (1.5) Radio Operator: SGT Fred Conway (1) (0) Ball Gunner: SGT Malcolm Kovacs (1) (0) Port Waist Gun: SGT Randy Peterman (1) (0) Starboard Waist Gun: SGT Vincent Meoli (1) (1) PH Tail Gun: SGT Sheldon Thomas (1) (0.25)
Bombing: On target, 94%
Damage: 35 Peckham Points Superficial (x8): Fuselage (x2), Port Wing (x1), Nose (x1), Bomb Bay (x1), Tail (x2), Radio Room (x1) P/CP Heating System Starboard Waist MG Jammed Wounds: P (LW), Starboard Waist (SW) Repair in 2 days
Casualties: 1LT Dirk Ellington - LW, chest graze SGT Vince Meoli - SW, broken rib, inflamed lung (2 days in hospital)
Enemy Aircraft: Encountered / Destroyed / Credited FW-190: 15 / 4 / 3.5 Me-110: 5 / 0 / 0 Me-109: 4 / 0 / 0 Ju-88: 1 / 1 / 1 G.55: 1 / 0 / 0
Awards: 1LT Dirk Ellington - PH 2LT Reed Williams - DFC SGT Vince Meoli - PH
Flown with TFT
Well, we're here in the big war. We've heard all the horror stories but the entire crew was anxious to get on with it and get our first one under our belts. The weather is what we've heard, lousy. But the forecast over the target and for landing was good. To be honest, my biggest concern was assembly in the soup that was sitting over this part of Italy. Fortunately, takeoff and assembly went without a hitch.
Zones 2 - 5: Nothing to report.
Zone 6: A pair of Me-110s attacked at 3:00 Low and 6:00 Low but were handled by the escorting fighters.
Zone 7: Nothing to report.
Zone 8: We noticed a lone B-17 shadowing the formation. We had heard it was a captured one flown by the Germans to get our altitude and airspeed.
Zone 9 (Target): Inbound from the IP we encountered no enemy aircraft. The flak was moderate and we took two superficial hits, one on the fuselage and one on the port wing. The bomb run itself went almost perfectly and Williams put an estimated 94% of the eggs in the basket. That wouldn't be the last of his accomplishments, though.
Zone 9 (Intbound): The flak disappeared after the target but that was the only good news. A Ju-88 at 6:00 Low and a G.55 at 6:00 High attacked. The escorts got the low attacker and the Tail Gunner and Ball Turret claimed the Ju-88.
Zone 8: Leaving the target zone, all hell broke loose. We were hit with three waves of enemy aircraft. The first was five FW-190s at 12:00 High, 3:00 High, 6:00 High, 9:00 High, and 10:30 High. The escorts got the last one. The Top Turret claimed the one off the nose and the Starboard Waist the one off that side. The one off the tail was damaged but still managed to knock out the heat in the cockpit before he broke off. The one off the port wing missed and broke off. The second wave was three Me-110s at 12:00 Level, 10:30 Low, and 6:00 Low. The escorts took care of the one off the nose. The one at 10:30 was damaged, missed, and broke off. The one off the tail was damaged, missed, and broke off. The third wave was four Me-109s at 12:00 Low, Level, and High, and 10:30 Level. The one level off the nose was disposed of by the escorts. The one off the nose high missed and broke off. The one off the nose low scored superficial hits on the nose, fuselage, and bomb bay and one that grazed my chest. The wound was painful but not debilitating. At that point, the Starboard Waist MG jammed and would remain jammed. That guy came around at 3:00 High, was damaged, and broke off.
Zone 7: At that point, we were past the high peaks of the Alps and we descended to 10,000 feet because we had no heat up front. I let the Co-Pilot fly the aircraft as I needed to attend to the wound on my chest.
Zone 6: Three more waves of enemy aircraft jumped us. A lone FW-190 took a run at us off the tail level, but the escorts forced him off. Next, three FW-190s attacked at 6:00 Level, 1:30 Level, and 12:00 High. The escorts got the one at 1:30. The one off the nose was claimed by the Top Turret and Bombardier. The last one scored Superficial Hits on the Radio Room and two on the Tail and seriously wounded the Starboard Waist Gunner. He came around at 3:00 High and was claimed by the Top Turret. Three more FW-190s came at us from the same directions. Once again, the one at 1:30 was driven off by the fighters. The other two were damaged, missed, and broke off.
Zone 5: Three more FW-190s attacked at 12:00 High, 10:30 High, and 3:00 High. The Bombardier claimed the first one and the escorting fighters dealt with the other two.
Zones 4 - 2: Nothing to report.
Despite the wound, I took over for the landing and, while not the best, was at least safe.
After the intel de-briefing I headed to the hospital and got a few stitches for my trouble. Sergeant Meoli has a broken rib and inflamed lung and will be in the hospital for at least two days. Hopefully we'll have him back for the next mission.
1LT Dirk Ellington Aircraft Commander, The A Train 80th Bombardment Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group (H), 15th Air Force
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tomt1999
80 Bomber Squadron XO
Posts: 142
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Post by tomt1999 on Feb 11, 2024 8:11:02 GMT -8
015 BOLZANO 20 March 1944 80th BS, 509th BG B-17G-20BO-42-31564 "Mississippi Queen"
CREW 1LT Leslie "Cap" West - Pilot - Missions: 7 | Claims: | Awards: AM 2LT N.D. "Brains" Smart - Co-Pilot - Missions: 7 Claims: Awards: AM 2LT Robert "Frenchie" Orleans - Bombardier - Missions: 7 Claims: Awards: AM 2LT Ben "Benny" Weinstein - Navigator - Missions: 7 Claims: Awards: AM S/Sgt David "Sparks" Krieger - Radio Op - Missions: 7 Claims: 0.5 Awards: AM M/Sgt Felix "Pappy" Pappalardi - Engineer - Missions: 7 Claims: Awards: AM S/Sgt John "J.B." Brodsky - Ball Gunner - Missions: 7 Claims: Awards: AM Sgt Jay "New Guy" Piper - Port Waist Gunner - Missions: 6 Claims: 0.5 Awards: AM Sgt Bill "Billy" Ruhlmann - Starboard Waist Gunner - Missions: 7 Claims: Awards: AM Sgt Ned "Tex" Pepper - Tail Gunner - Missions: 7 Claims: Awards: AM
BOMBING - OFF 0%
CLAIMS S/Sgt John "J.B." Brodsky, Ball Gunner - 1x Me110
CASUALTIES 2LT Robert "Frenchie" Orleans, Bombardier - Severe Wound; bullet lodged in brain, dies later in surgery 2LT Ben "Benny" Weinstein, Navigator - Severe Wound; abdomen; also dies in surgery Sgt Jay "New Guy" Piper, Port Waist Gunner KIA; decapitation Sgt Bill "Billy" Ruhlmann, Starboard Waist Gunner KIA chest: shattered ribs, ruptured aorta.
AWARDS/PROMOTIONS Purple Heart (posthumous): 2LT Robert Orleans 2LT Ben Weinstein Sgt Jay Piper Sgt Bill Ruhlmann
ENEMY AIRCRAFT A/C ENC D/O DAM DEST Me109 10 3 4 0 FW190 3 0 1 0 G44 IT 3 0 2 0 C205 IT 5 1 1 0 Me110 3 1 0 1 Re2005 2 0 1 0 TOTALS 26 5 9 1
DAMAGE tailplane 25 light wound 2 serious wound 15 (3x) KIA 20 (2x) Superficial hits 5 Landing gear 25 radio out 25 TOTAL 117
Cat-E on landing
AAR A black, busy day for The Queen. We lost four crew members and crashed the ship at Guilia.
We were hit with 26 enemy aircraft, bombs from above and two instances of rockets plus received damage by flak. We took a total of 14 hits from e/a/c and expended 41 boxes of ammo.
Take-off was effected with no problems. About 90 minutes over the Adriatic, five 109s came in on us. Three were driven off, but the other two came around twice, nicking our tailplane and knocking out the radio in the process.
Off Ancona, two salvos of rockets came tearing through the formation, but did not hit us.
In the target zone, we were immediately hit by flak, taking out the port landing gear. Then three Italian G44s attacked. We damaged two of them and they sped off, to be followed by three Germans in one 109 and two 190s. One of them raked the waist, hitting both gunners, one severely.
I sent the radio op to the waist to administer first aid. He stabilized the light wound, but the other wound was much more severe. All he could do was apply a tourniquet and administer morphine.
Bombing was off target - we didn't see where the bombs hit because of incoming e/a and evasive action.
Three Italian C205s tried their luck to no avail, then three 109s swung into us. One of them walked his shells from fore to aft with terrible effect. The Bombardier and Navigator were both severely wounded (and later both died in surgery) and the port gunner, already lightly wounded, was killed when a shell took off the top of his head. The rudder was also mangled by cannon fire at this time.
During the third wave, a 190 hit the waist, killing the already severely wounded starboard gunner. We now had no waist guns and no nose guns.
Finally clearing the target, we encountered a C2005 who went round-and-round us several times, only getting a superficial hit on the pilot's compartment. Scared the you-know-what out of us in that compartment.
With two hours to go to get home, three Me110's came to play. One was driven off, one had inferior gunnery and one became victim to our ball gunner. Our only kill, it gave us a measure of revenge for the injuries we sustained to the crew.
On the last inbound leg, we encountered 3-4 more fighters who didn't want to tangle with us too much.
We landed hard at Guilia with the gear up and skidded to a halt off the runway. Everyone was shaken up pretty bad both physically and mentally. The ambulances met us at the ship and carted off our buddies. Of the two wounded men, Bombardier Frenchie Orleans died in the ambulance, and Navigator Benny Weinstein died on the operating table soon after arriving at the base medical facilities. "Mississippi Queen" is Cat-E and we need four new crew. And a drink.
2LT Les West cmdg
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Post by blaird on Feb 11, 2024 9:44:07 GMT -8
B-17: Johnny B Good Commander: 1LT Phillip Andrews Squadron 80th Squadron MISSION DATE: 15 March 1944 MISSION NBR. 014 Formation/Position - High / Middle TARGET: Bolzano, Italy - Marshalling Yard Flown with Queen of the SkiesPos | Rank | Name | Awards | Current Mission | Total Claims | Claims this mission | Status | Pilot | 1LT | Brad Johnson |
| 1 | N/A |
| RTD | Co-Pilot | 2LT | John Campbell |
| 2 | N/A |
| RTD | Bombardier | 2LT | Eric Masterson |
| 2 | 0 |
| RTD | Navigator | 2LT | Leroy Rose |
| 2 | 0 |
| RTD | Engineer | S/SGT | William "Wild Bill" Jordan |
| 2 | 0 |
| RTD | Radio Operator | S/SGT | Theo "Morris Code" Morris |
| 7 | 0 |
| RTD | Ball Gunner | S/SGT | Joseph "Joey" Zaballa |
| 2 | 0 |
| RTD | PWG | SGT | Greg Sturn |
| 2 | 0 |
| RTD | SWG | SGT | Kevin Drake |
| 2 | 0 |
| RTD | Tail Gunner | SGT | Richard O'Connor |
| 2 | 0 |
| RTD |
Fighters Encountered
| Bf-109 | FW-190 | ME-110 | Undamaged | 3 | 0 | 0 | Fighter Cover | 1 | 2 | 0 | FCA -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | FBOA -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Fighter Destroyed | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bomb RunOff Target 0% Casualties2LT John Campbell - KIA SGT Kevin Drake - SW DamageSuperficial x1 Starboard Wing Root x1 Peckham Points:
41 Landing:Safe at Awards:None Take OffTake off went smooth as butter, as I joined the crew of the Johnny B Good on our first mission, along with a replacement radio operator while SGT Alverson was in the hospital recovering from his wounds Zone 2-8Nothing to report Zone 9We got jumped by four Bf-109's our little friends drove one of them off. Masterson, Jordan, Zaballa, and Sturn all missed their shots, but we got lucky only one of the four 109's placed their return fire into Johnny. The first hit was superficial, the second hit, instantly killed LT Campbell. The 109 then circled back around, Masterson and Jordan both missed again, but this time so did the 109. Then the flak started, I got my first taste over the coastal batteries but this time was much heavier. SGT Drake was blown across the waist as the Johnny was hit by flak, he was alive, but in bad shape. With the josteling of the aircraft from the flak, we completely missed the target with our bombs. Wild Bill dropped out of the turret and into the co-pilot seat to help handle the Johnny for the return trip. Then it was time to go home. The flak missed us on the return flight, but the fighters were waiting. a pair of FW-190's, but this time our little friends were there and none of them got through to us. Zone 8-7Nothing to Report Zone 6The coastal flak hit us as we headed back to sea, and we watched the starboard wing strain as the root was damaged. Zone 5-2Nothing to report After LandingWe got the Johnny B Good back to base, S/SGT Jordan has more combat mission hours in the pilots chair than I do at this point following my first mission, and was of tremendous aid in getting the Johnny B Good back to base. This was his second time aiding in the landing of a damaged aircraft after the loss of LT Johnson over Styer, and now LT Campbell over Bolzano. SGT Drake survived the flight, but the flight surgeon is sending him home for recovery. Report Filed by, 1LT Phillip Andrews, Johnny B Good, 80th Bombardment Squadron (H), Pilot Commanding Mission Flown with Limburger's Variant Tables for Take-Offs and Mechanical Failures Aircraft History
Mission Number | Aircraft | Pilot | Target | Bombing % | Status | 1 | Johnny B Good | 1LT Brad Johnson | Styer Austria Ball Bearing Plant | DNB | 1LT Brad Johnson - SW-DOW SGT Jacob Alverson - SW | 2 | Johnny B Good | 1LT Phillip Andrews |
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Crew Status Position | Rank and Name | Return Date | Radio Operator | SGT Jacob Alverson | 27 April 1944 |
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Post by Grondeaux on Feb 12, 2024 7:47:27 GMT -8
B-24J The Schmoo78th Bombardment Squadron Bomber Position: Middle squadron, TEC Mission Date: 20 March 1944 Mission #: 15 Aircraft Mission #: 6 Target: Marshalling yard, Bolzano, Italy Bomb loadout: 250 x M41 20 lb. fragmentation bombs (10 x 500 lb. clusters) Crew at Mission StartPosition | Rank | Name | Missions | Credits | Stress | Awards | Notes | Pilot | 1LT
| Steven Canyon
| 5 |
| 0 | AM |
| Copilot | 2LT
| Ryan Ballard
| 5 |
| 0 | AM |
| Bombardier | 2LT | Paul Zeller
| 5 |
| 4 | AM | | Navigator | 2LT | Gary Corrigan
| 5 |
| 0 | AM | | Nose Turret Gunner | SGT | Timothy Richmond | 5 | 0.83 | 0 | AM | Replacement
| Flight Engineer | TSGT | Henry Cupp
| 1 |
| 0 |
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| Ball Turret Gunner | SGT | George Adkins | 2 |
| 0 |
| Replacement
| Left Waist Gunner | SGT | Sven Olafsson | 5 | 0.5 | 0 | AM |
| Right Waist Gunner | SSGT | Luigi Marconi
| 5 |
| 2 | AM |
| Tail Turret Gunner | SGT | Julian Graves
| 5 | 1.33 | 0 | AM | Replacement |
Crew Chief: SGT Montgomery Scott (27 skill points; roll every zone) Bomb Run: On target, 50% Casualties: 1LT Steven Canyon, MIA 2LT Ryan Ballard, POW 2LT Paul Zeller, rescued by fishermen/partisans and returned to the US 2LT Gary Corrigan, MIA SGT Timothy Richmond, POW TSGT Henry Cupp, POW SGT George Adkins, rescued by fishermen/partisans and returned to the US SGT Sven Olafsson, MIA SSGT Luigi Marconi, POW SGT Julian Graves, MIA Attackers: NoneClaims: none Credits: none Award/Promotion Requests: none In Hospital/Recovery: none Aircraft Damage: At the bottom of the Adriatic 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, Chris Riches’ Enhanced Fighter Attacks (Simple Version), Chris Riches’ Random Events table) (Events subsequently reconstructed from interviews with 2LT Paul Zeller and SGT George Adkins, along with reports from the Swiss Red Cross.) The Schmoo had an uneventful flight to Bolzano. Coastal flak was sporadic. No Axis opposition was experienced over the target, and the aircraft was unharmed by flak. SGT Adkins reports that the bombing result appeared to be good. Shortly after making the bomb drop, the aircraft experienced the failure of engine number four. Extremely cold air was reported in Zone 8 inbound, freezing the ball turret and tail turret guns. Adkins was subsequently able to clear the ball turret jam. The Schmoo experienced a complete electrical system failure over Zone 5 inbound. Lieutenant Zeller states that he does not believe Lieutenant Canyon was able to exit the aircraft before it impacted the water. Adkins stated that he believes nine crew were able to exit, but that it appeared one parachute failed to open. Zeller and Adkins were both rescued by Italian fisherman, sheltered by partisans, and successfully transported to Allied-controlled territory, whereupon they were transferred to United States pending reassignment. The Swiss Red Cross reported that 2LT Ryan Ballard, SGT Timothy Richmond, TSGT Henry Cupp, and SSGT Luigi Marconi were rescued by German forces and transported to Stalag Luft I. 1LT Steven Canyon, 2LT Gary Corrigan, SGT Sven Olafsson, and SGT Julian Graves are listed as missing in action, and presumed dead.
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Post by toddrcpa on Feb 12, 2024 11:13:42 GMT -8
B-17 G: Rajun Cajun
Pilot: 1LT Tobias "Tobee" Garon
Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group, 15th Air Force, USAAF
Squadron/Formation Position: Low
Mission/Plane: 3/3
Target: Bolzano, Italy - Marshalling Yard
Mission Date: March 20th, 1944
We took off with no mishaps and climbed toward the assembly point. This is when things took an ugly turn, we got lost in the clouds and became disorientated. By the time we got everything straightened out the formation had proceeded to the target without us. The navigator got our bearings on landmarks around the base and we landed without incident. I am currently sitting in my tent waiting for the CO to return so that he can have a little pow wow with me. I can hardly wait for that. It is so embarrassing getting lost in the clouds and forced to abort the mission.
1st Lt. Tobias "Tobee" Garon
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Post by limburger59 on Feb 12, 2024 12:59:23 GMT -8
B-17F BONNIE Spare assigned to the 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group High Squadron – Middle MISSION DATE: 20 March 44 M MISSION # 15 TARGET: Bolzano, Italy
CREW from the Spare Pool Position – Rank (Current Mission) Pilot: 1LT Frederick Rodgers (3) Co-Pilot: 2LT Ian Narragon (3) Navigator: 2LT Daniel Webster (3) Bombardier: 2LT Benjamin Sherman (2) Engineer/TT: S/SGT Matthew Lowe (6) [.83] AM Radio Op: S/SGT Zander Burger (5) Ball Turret: SGT Wallace Wells (4) Right Waist: SGT Woodrow Neal (1) Left Waist: SGT Sidney Beck (5) Tail Gunner: SGT Wesley Snipes (5) PH
Bomb Run: On Target 30%
Casualties: None
B-17 Damage: None
Peckham Points: 0
Disposition: Lands safely
Attackers: 4 3x Bf-109: 2 Driven Off 1x FW-190: 1 Driven Off
Award/Promotion Requests: Air Medal for 5 Completed Missions: S/SGT Zander Burger, SGT Sidney Beck , SGT Wesley Snipes
AFTER ACTION REPORT (QOTS-Beery):
A Spare Crew flying a Hanger Queen
Our escort only let one bandit make a run at us, and what seemed like a rookie pilot missed us and disappeared into the clouds.
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Post by crushedhat on Feb 12, 2024 14:59:40 GMT -8
B24D: Laid Back Lady LLS LLS Pilot: Capt Paul Garfield Squadron: 78th (H) Bomb Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group MISSION DATE: 20 Mar 44 MISSION NBR. 15/This Bomber 14 TARGET: Bolzano, Italy - Marshalling Yard SECONDARY TARGET: POSITION: Middle Squadron, Lead
Crew Position – Rank (Current Mission) [Previous Kills] Pilot: Capt Paul Garfield, (14) [0] LC Co-Pilot: 2LT Elliott Peterson, (14) [0] LC Bombardier: 2LT Charles (Charlie) Martell, (14) [4 1/2] Navigator: Navigator: 2LT Bruce Ellison, (13) [2 2/3] Engineer: TSgt Michael Newton, (14) [18 2/3] LC Radio Operator: Sgt Daniel (Danny) Garson, (14) [0] LC Ball Turret Gunner: Sgt Joseph (Joe) Blaston, (14) [10 1/3] LC Port Waist Gunner: Sgt Peter Carson, (14) [2 1/3] Starboard Waist Gunner: Sgt John Ringle, (8) [1/2] Tail Gunner: Sgt Douglas (Doug), Richard, (14) [10 5/6] LC * = 1 Kill This Mission # = Shared Kill This Mission
Fighters Encountered: None
Claims: Only credited kills reported here None
Bomb Run: DNB
B-24 Damage: Suit Heat System Failure: Mechanical Failure (10) Peckham Points: 10 Peckham Points, AC ready 21 Mar 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)
The propellers are still rotating as Capt Paul Garfield jumps down onto the tarmac under Laid Back Lady. Watching from the sideline, TSgt James Mason braces himself for the coming storm. Mason’s preparation is not unwarranted as, coming up to his nose, Garfield throws his hat down and begins to lay into Lady’s crew chief. Mason’s team cringes as the irate Capt unloads a profanity laced stream of invective. Lady’s crew smiles. Relieved that they are not the target.
The show continues until the arrival of the 6x6 prompts 2LT Elliott Peterson to cautiously intervene. “Sir, our ride’s here.”
Garfield delivers a few last lines then turns and begins to stomp off, only to turn back and retrieve his discarded hat. As Lady’s crew piles into the 6-by, Mason reverses roles, tearing into his own team.
Another disappointing mission as the failure of the suit heat system, the second time in as many missions, causes an abort. We were barely 100 miles into the mission when we dumped our bombs into the Adriatic and turned back to Giulia. To say the least, I let TSgt Mason know my thoughts on the so-called maintenance being performed. Given that this problem doesn’t seem to be confined to our crew, I recommend that all leave for 78th Squadron maintenance personnel be cancelled until the situation improves.
Paul Garfield, Capt USAAF, commanding B24D Laid Back Lady 78th (H) Bomb Squadron
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Post by kozzackkelt on Feb 12, 2024 15:29:34 GMT -8
B-17G: MISS BURKE COUNTY (B-17G-664VK-43- 23001) Pilot: 2LT. John Osipoff Missions for this bomber:4 Squadron: 80th BS / 509th BG Formation/Position: High Mission Date: 2o March 1944 Mission Number: 15 Target: Bolzano, ITALY / Marshalling Yard
CREW (missions) {StressPts} E/A Wounds Pilot: 2LT. John Osipoff (4) {} LAS Co-Pilot: 2Lt. R. Ransom Morrison (4) {} LAS Bombardier: 2Lt. Michael McRae (4) {} [B%: 0-50-40-0] POW Liberated May, 1945 Navigator: 2Lt. Will Vincil (4) {} LAS Engineer: Sgt. Diego Santiago (4) {} [++++] LAS Radio Operator: Sgt. Byron Metcalf (4) {} LAS Ball Turret: Sgt. Zander Holtman (4) {} POW Died in Captivity P Waist Gunner: Sgt. Pete Iverness (4) {} POW Liberated May, 1945 SB Waist Gunner: Sgt. Vince Boyardee (4) {} Rescued by Partisans, Returned to States Tail Gunner: Sgt. George Gainer (4) {} LAS
BOMB RUN: DNB Target: 0%
Enemy Aircraft Encountered: 0 0xFw190, 0xMe109, 0xMe110, 0xMe210, 0xMe410
E/A Damaged: 0 E/A Probable: 0 E/A: Destroyed: 0 E/A Driven off by Fighter Escort: 0
Condition of B-17G ~ MISS BURKE COUNTY: Destroyed. Bomber hit by flak, resulting in outboard wing fuel tank igniting. Fire began to spread. Crew bailed out. MISS BURKE COUNTY crashed and exploded in the sea.
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Post by kozzackkelt on Feb 12, 2024 15:54:22 GMT -8
B-17G: PRIDE OF MANITOWOC (B-17G-4923SL-43- 23186) Pilot: 2LT. Tomasz Gadzynski Missions for this bomber: 1 Squadron: 80th Formation/Position: Middle Mission Date: 20 March 1944 Mission Number: 15 Target: Bolzano, ITALY / Marshalling Yard
CREW (missions) {StressPts} E/A Wounds Pilot: 2LT. Tomasz Gadzynski (1) {} Co-Pilot: 2Lt. James McCoy (1) {} Bombardier: 2Lt. Gregory Floros (1) {} [B%: 20] Navigator: 2Lt. Michael Quintin Stephenson (1) {1} Engineer: Sgt. David Russell (1) {} 1xMe109 Radio Operator: Sgt. Barry Manchester (1) {} Ball Turret: Sgt. Steve Cole (1) {} PWG: Sgt. Lorenzo Manicotti (1) {} SWG: Sgt. Herb Nelson (1) {1} SW: Broken right humerus (2-3 months non-combat duties) Tail Gunner: Sgt. Jack Winslow (1) {1}
BOMB RUN: ON Target: 20%
Enemy Aircraft Encountered: 19 3xFw190, 12xMe109, 4xMc205, 0xMe110, 0xMe210, 0xMe410
E/A Damaged: 4 E/A Probable: 3 E/A: Destroyed: 1 E/A Driven off by Fighter Escort: 8
Condition of B-17G ~ PRIDE OF MANITOWOC: Fuel Transfer Pump Malfunction, Suit Heaters Malfunction, Port wing inboard fuel tank leak, Engine 4 oil leak, 11xSuperficial hits ( Report of maintenance crew chief Dustin Rhodes ) Repairs or replacements, routine maintenance and inspections will be performed.
Mission AAR: Take off was on time and smooth in poor weather. PRIDE OF MANITOWOC formed up with squadron at High level. There were no encounters with E/A until reaching designated. On approach to target, we were not hit by flak. Lt. Floros hit target with estimated (based on photo evidence), 20% of our bombs. At this time, suit heating system malfunctioned. Left formation and descended to 7ooo' altitude. A number of Luftwaffe '109's, 190's and what we think were Italian Mc205's found us down at low altitude. Our fighter escort did assist us on inbound flight. Enemy gunfire did damages to port wing fuel tank and number 4 engine, broke arm of one of our waist gunners, Sgt. Nelson. Landed safely. Sgt. Nelson taken to medical. SSgt. Rhodes, maintainance supervisor, said PRIDE OF MANITOWOC should be ready for next mission.
Respectfully Submitted,
Tomasz Gadzynski, 2LT, USAF Pilot- B-17G PRIDE OF MANITOWOC 80th BS / 509th BG Foggia, Italy
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Post by campsawyer on Feb 12, 2024 18:00:36 GMT -8
B-17F Double Bomb (B-17F-100BO 42-30333) Pilot: 1st Lt Paul Flores Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron Formation/Position: High/7 (High Lead) Mission Date: 20 Mar 44 Mission Number: 20 Missions This Bomber: 15 Base: Guilia, Italy Target: Marshelling Yards, Bolzano ItalyCrew | Current Mission | Previous Claims | This Mission | Stress | Status | Pilot 1st Lt Paul Flores | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Sanders | 15 | 0 | 0 | 1 | RTD | Bombardier 2nd Lt Thompson | 13 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Navigator 2nd Lt Cox | 13 | 0 | 0.3 | 0 | RTD | Engineer S/SGT King | 12 | 5.3 | 0.3 | 0 | RTD | Radioman T/Sgt Ramirez | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RTD | Ball Gunner Sgt Roberts | 15 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0 | RTD | PWG Sgt Scott | 15 | 0 | 0.3 | 0 | RTD | SWG Sgt Brown
| 13 | 1 | .5 | 0 | RTD | Tail Gunner S/Sgt Thomas | 12 | 5 | 2 | 0 | RTD |
Bomb Run: On On Target: 40% B-17 Damage: Superficial Wing hitsx2, Strbd Aileron, Strbd Wing Root, Tail Control Cables Peckham Points: 79 Repair Time: Overnight repair Crew Chief: SSGT Steve Taylor, dedicated Landing: Safe E/A | Encountered | Destroyed | Probable | Damaged | Intercepted | FW-190 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | ME-109 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | ME-110 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | RE-2005 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Confirmed Claims: SSGT King 1.5 ME109, SSGT Thomas 3 ME109, LT Thompson .5 ME109, SSGT Brown .5 ME109 Casualties: 2nd Lt Sanders | LW - grazed left tight, checked and bandaged by flight surgeon upon return - no hospital time - RTD |
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Award/ Promotions Requests: Purple Heart - 2nd LT Sanders After Action Report OutboundAfter the mission briefing we drove out through the rain to the plane. The rest of the crew was already there and we started our pre flight crew discussion. "We go from Tail end Charlie to Lead Bomber for the high group", I started with. This time the LT's Thompson and Cox as well as SGT King groaned that they will need to be in the gunsights. I pointed to King and said, "You are the one that needs to keep a close forward eye and call out anything, Cox and Thompson are going to be busy getting us to the target and lining up the plane for the bomb run." SGT King had a nervous smile after that. I did say to all others to be alert as we will be going up the coast and the Germans will have a good change to try to jump us. SGT Taylor said the plane has checked out and he personally checked the bomb release, so this mission should not have an issue. SGT King went over the engines with him as well. We boarded the plane and got to our mission positions to start our preflight checks. Sanders and I did the log preflight but were quickly ready to go as we would be in the early takeoffs. Takeoff when well and no issue with the plane. We began to circle and started to form up our group behind us. Showers and low cloud kept us vigilant that we did not run into each out. We get the call that we are to head out and LT Cox begins to coordinate with the other lead navigators to kept on target. Weather starts to improve and the rain stops but we still have thick clouds and it stays this way for a little over an hour. No encounters with German fighters with all this weather. The clouds continue to thin our and we are into hazy skies after another hour. I call to the crew to be ready and call out anything you see as this is where we will probably get hit first. We start to pass over the coast of northern Italy and light flak starts up, but the fire is inaccurate and the bursts miss us by a wide margin. But then several call come out that fights are approaching from above. Three FW190 and an ME109 press an attack on us. A P-38 drives off one FW190 but the rest keep coming in. The ME109 presses from 12 level and LT Thompson and SGT King go after him. I see the ME 109 hit and the wing rip off. Two FW190's try to sandwich us from the 9H and 3H positions SGT Brown and Scott go after them and drive them off before they can damage us. One FW190 makes a second pass but SGT Roberts picks him up and drives him off. A second wave comes in right after we drive off the first, this time one FW190 and three ME109's coming in at 12, 6 and a vertical dive. SGT King picks up the 12H and damages its starboard wing and drive him off without taking damage. LT Thompson takes on one ME109 but the nose gun jams and he misses, luckily the ME109 missed too. In the Tail SGT Thomas drives off a ME109 without taking damage and SGT Ramirez fires from the Radio Room at the ME109 coming straight down. Both he and the 109 miss each other. On a second pass SGT King drives off one of the ME109s attacking from 6 o'clock while SGT Roberts and SGT Thomas knock out the engine of the other ME109. Once again be drive them all off before they can score hits. But it is not over, a third wave of fighters approach, a lone ME109 and two ME110's coming in level and low. SGT King takes on the ME109 approaching from the 12 level position and fires a burst and a large explosion occurs. He must have hit the fuel tank or some volatile location. I had to bank slightly to avoid the debris. SGT Brown and SGT Roberts team upon the 3 level ME110 damaging it and driving it off. SGT Thomas rips into the ME110 attacking from the rear, downing it. That ended the action over the coast, eleven German fighter engaged with four knocked out and seven damaged without us getting hit. Hope this continues to be our good day as we head into occupied Italy. The next hour to the target is uneventful, we are on full alert only to have nothing come at us and we reach Bolzano. The weather is decent with a slightly obscured target as we approach. LT Cox and the other navigators have put us right in position for a good run and we have full run before the target. But as we get in range the flak opens up on us. It it start accurate and we have two close explosions that cause damage to the plane. The port aileron is hit as well as a wing root. SGT Scott visually checks the damage and can see holes in the aileron as well as the rear wing root, but it is firmly attached. Flak debris also hit the tail but we have some damages cables but nothing that hampers flying. We continue the run and LT Thompson lines up and watches for the signal from Laid Back Lady. A few minutes pass the bombs are away and it looks like a good run, I have the crew keep an eye on the explosions and figure about 40% hit. We then begin the turn back home. InboundAfter the turn the flak starts again but it is much lighter this time. No effect and damage from the flak this time, but this was just the start as we have four ME 109s coming for us. But just as we see them, several more planes appear behind them, P47s to our rescue. The ME109s don't see them until it is too late and two ME109's go down and a third is damaged. The last one climbed rapidly and SGT King watched as he started dive on us. He call to SGT Ramirez to line up on him, both fired and damaged the ME109, but it was enough to force him to miss. We continue back on out line out of Occupied Italy and the German fighter have responded to our attack. This time we have five FW190s and an ME109 coming at us. Our fighters are tied up with other German fighters but one manages to drive off on FW190. We still had to face four and the ME109. They close on use from the port and starboard sides at once and two others from 12 and 6. All guns engage and damage four on the first pass and still the Germans miss us on their attacks. In the second pass a lone FW190 comes in 130 L and LT Cox, SGT Roberts and SGT Brown team up to knock out the last FW190. We make it to the coast before we are engaged again. Light Flak hit us first but it is inaccurate and we pass out to sea, but two ME110's with an ME109 start a new attack on us. P47 fighters help out and drive the three Germans away, but the second wave of a FW190 and an Italian RE2005 approach. A lone P47 takes on the FW190 and SGT King and SGT Brown take on the RE-2005 damaging him and forcing him to miss. The last wave has two FW190s and an ME109 attacking from the front. An ME109 in the 1030 position scores two hits as LT Cox cannot drive him off. One hit is superficial damage, but one round enters the cockpit and grazes the thigh of LT Sanders and he is ok to continue as copilot. A FW190 coming in at 12H is destroyed by SGT King as his wing rips off. The last FW190 is damaged by SGT Brown and drives him off. A second pass by the ME109 from 9H is taken on by SGT King and SGT Scott damaging and driving the ME109 away. We continue back over the see and we spot fighter to our rear but they are engaged with the P47 and don't want to head to far south in the liberated territory of Italy. They fire some air to air rockets that miss widely of us. As we get farther and farther south we feel safer and safer from any attacks. We land with no issues and LT Sanders is treated for his wound and will be submitted for a Purple Heart. Regards, 1st LT Paul Flores, Pilot, 80th BS, 509th BG, 15th AF
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Post by wolverinetoddy on Feb 12, 2024 18:41:18 GMT -8
B-17 Name: Pride of the Badgers (15) Crew Commander: Captain WW Robinson Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group Formation: Low Position: Middle
Mission Date: 20 March 44 Mission #: 15 Target: Bolzano, Italy - Marshalling Yard
Position: Name (mission #) {Claims After} Status Pilot: Capt. WW Robinson (15) {0} SS, AM: 3, PH: 2 Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. GS Hoyt (6) {0} AM, PH: 2 Bombardier: 2nd Lt. AN Robinson (3) {1} Navigator: 2nd Lt. W Sloat (15) {2} AM: 3, PH: 4 Engineer: MSgt. A Bissett (15) {4} AM: 3 Ball Gunner: Sgt. E Dean (15) {8} DFC, AM: 3 Radio Oper.: Sgt. I Cooper (14) {2} AM, PH: 4 Pt Waist G: Sgt. E Parker (4) {1} PH Stbd Waist G: Sgt. J Lewis (14) {1} AM: 2, PH: 4 Tail Gunner: Sgt. W Towney (14) {8} AM, PH: 3
Bomb Percentage: 30%
Bomber Disposition: Tailwheel, Engineer O2, Copilot O2, Port Tailplane Root, Port Elevator, Tail Heat, Nose O2 Fire, Superficial Damage (171 Peckham Points)
Casualties: WW Robinson: SW – 10 days in hospital E Parker: KIA
Claims (BY TYPE): Attacked: (5:109, 4:190, 1:110) Damaged: (1:109, 2:190, 0:110) Destroyed: (2:109, 2:190, 1:110) Dean: 190, 110, 109 Sloat: 190 Cooper: 109
Special Note: WW Robinson: AM, PH E Parker: PH W Sloat: AM A Bisset: AM, promoted to First Sargent E Dean: AM, promoted to Staff Sargent
Mission Description: Filed by 2nd Lt. GS Hoyt, acting commander
I am writing this AAR for Captain Robinson who is convalescing in the hospital currently.
We took off without incident and settled into formation. In the back right in front of Tail End Charlie where the Captain likes to watch the squadron from.
Outbound over Zone 4 we were attacked by four 190s. On the first pass Dean got one of them. Two missed entirely and the last one shot up the pilot compartment. When the bullets stopped flying around, I looked over at the skipper to find him slumped over the controls.
“Bisset, get down here and help the Captain!” I commanded. Bisset came down to apply first aid to the Captain. In the meantime, the 190 came around for second pass and Sloat blew him out of the sky.
With the Captain patched up as best we could, the men carried him back to the waist where he could lie down. Bisset took the pilot’s seat and Parker came up to man the top turret.
It was quiet the rest of the way to the target. The flak guns missed us and Lt. Robinson was on target.
We turned for home and were greeted by a single 110 in Zone 8. Dean shot him down.
In Zone 7, five 109s swooped in on us. Dean and Cooper both got one each. One 109 hit the pilot compartment and killed Parker.
Another of the 109s shot up the nose starting a fire. “Fire, fire!” announced Sloat on the intercom. Lt. Robinson grabbed fire extinguisher and tried to put the fire out. No good. Sloat handed him a second one. Robinson turned it on the fire and put it out. With the O2 system out up front, Bisset and I took the plane into a steep dive looking for some thicker air to breath. We leveled off at 10,000 feet.
Luckily the Luftwaffe were not interested in a single bomber and we were able to sneak home without further attacks.
We arrived at the field a few minutes ahead of the group thanks to our unplanned dive. I shot the red flare and asked for an emergency landing. We came in hard and the ambulance was waiting to the Captain to the hospital.
The docs are saying he will be back in about 10 days. Now I need to go write Sgt. Parker’s wife a letter.
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rhreiss
79th Bomber Squadron XO
Posts: 151
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Post by rhreiss on Feb 12, 2024 18:54:23 GMT -8
509th BG, 15AF MISSION # Bolzano, ITALY / Marshalling Yard MISSION DATE: 20 March 44 B-24J Bama Beauty (Mission #12) Crew Commander: 2LT George McQuinn Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group Formation: Middle Position: Middle (Lead after Z6 outbound) TARGET: Marshalling Yard Crew Position | Rank | Name | Mission # | Prior Awards | Prior Kills Awarded | Status | Pilot | 2LT | George McQuinn | 14 | AM+ |
| RFD | Co-Pilot
| 2LT | Howard Mills | 10 | AM |
| RFD | Bombardier
| 2LT | Johnny Marcum | 14 | AM+ | .25 | RFD
| Navigator | 2LT | Pat Tobin | 14 | AM+ | .25 | RFD
| Engineer | S/SGT | Sam Harshaney | 11 | AM++, PH | 4.33 | RFD | Radio/ RW | S/SGT | John Whitehead | 14 | AM+ | 1 | RFD
| Ball Gunner | SGT | Bill Trotter | 14 | AM+, PH | 2.16 | RFD
| Left Waist | SGT | Harry Kimberlin | 14 | AM+ | 1.5 | LW-RFD
| Nose Gunner | SGT | Tommy Thompson | 9 | AM | 4.58 | RFD
| Tail Gunner | SGT | Dave Short | 14 | AM+ | 1.16 | RFD
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Crew Chief T/SGT Bob Patrick (Good) skill +1 14th mission Crew Chief Pre Mission Report: Standard mission and chances for Mechanical Failures.
Bomb Percentage: on-target, 50% Bomber Disposition: Ready after overnight repair and maintenance. Bomber Damage: Right Rudder 1 hit SGT Kimberlin light wound Peckham Points: 12 Landing: Safe landing at Giulia Airfield
Enemy Aircraft: Encountered: 6
| Me109 | Fw190 | Me110 | Me210 | Me410
| Re2005 | TOTAL | Escort Intercept | 1 |
| | | | | 1 | Undamaged |
| 1 | | | | | 1 | Damaged
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| 1 |
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| 1 | 2 | Probable/Denied
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| 1 |
| | | | 1 | Destroyed |
| 1 | | | | | 1 |
Casualties: Claims: FW190 SGT Thompson Denied - No Credit Awarded FW190 SGT Thompson & SGT Trotter Approved = Full Credit Awarded Awards: PH SGT Kimberlin AM SGT Thompson for achieving ace status
AAR
OUTBOUND After a much appreciated 72 hour pass for the crew everyone was ready foe this mission. T/SGT Patrick and the ground crew had the Bama Beauty patched up and it was hard to tell all the damage from the last mission. We were able to take off and join the formation without incident. Something that can be difficult with this bad weather. As we approached the Italian coast, Laid Back Lady had problems and had to abort. We slid into the lead position for the remainder of the mission.
TARGET AREA Once in the target area we had no fighters go after us as we approached the IP. Once we started our bomb run the flak was ineffective and Johnny had a good run being assessed as on-target for 50% effectiveness. No flak and no fighters as we reformed at the rally point and started back to base.
INBOUND As soon as we departed the target area we were jumped by 6 fighters, the escorts took care of Me109. A Fw190 attacked at our 12 and SGT Thompson smashed the cockpit sending it into a spiral down. We didn’t have enough gunners to engage the FW190 at our 1:30 but it was closing too fast and missed us. T/SGT Whitehead hit the FW190 at our f3 for a fuel leak and it missed us and disappeared. Two fighter attacked at our 6. S/SGT Harshaney damaged the wing of the Re2005, which missed us and broke off the attack. SGT Short dinged the FW190 at our six but it hit us damaging the Right Rudder and grazing SGT Kimberlin’s leg. When it tried a reattack at our 1:30, SGT Thompson & SGT Trotter turned it into a fireball. The rest of the trip back to base was uneventful. We had a good landing. The medics patched Harry’s leg and he is ready for the next mission. T/SGT Patrick says the Bama Beauty will be ready after overnight repair and maintenance. We got word that the gunner review awarded one of the kill claims making SGT Thompson an ace.
1LT George McQuinn, Pilot Commanding B-24J Bama Beauty 78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF
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Keltos
Multiple Squadrons
Posts: 459
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Post by Keltos on Feb 13, 2024 2:04:10 GMT -8
After-Action ReportB-17F-100BO 42-30399 – “Irascible Girl”79th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force
Commander: 1st Lt. H. Simmons Mission Date: 20 March 1944 Mission Number: 15 Mission of this bomber: 15 Formation: Low Position: Lead Target: Bolzano, Italy Target Type: Marshalling Yard Bomb Run: On Target - 50% Lady Luck Smile #: 1 (used during this mission to avoid Pilot KIA)CREWPosition | Rank - Name | Missions | Mission Kills | Total Kills | Awards | Status | Stress Point | Pilot | 1st Lt. Henry Simmons | 15 | 0 | 0 | AM++ | RTD | 0 | Co-Pilot | 2nd Lt. Jason Ponder
| 4 | 0 | 0 | PH | LW | 0 | Bombardier | 2nd Lt. Arthur Bowers
| 4 | 1 | 1 | PH | KIA | 0 | Navigator | 2nd Lt. Edwin Leblanc | 7 | 0 | 1.83 | AM / PH | LW | 0 | Engineer | T/Sgt Tim Burkey | 15 | 3 | 9.5 | AM++ / DFC | RTD | 0 | Radio Op. | S/Sgt Paul Stewart | 15 | 0 | 0 | AM++ / PH+ | RTD | 0 | Ball Gunner | Sgt Matthew Whalen
| 15 | 1.33 | 5.49 | AM++ | RTD
| 0 | Port WG | Sgt George Buck
| 15 | 0 | 2 | AM++ | RTD
| 0 | Starboard WG | S/Sgt Harvey McGinty
| 15 | 1 | 1.33 | AM++ / PH | LW | 0 | Tail Gunner | S/Sgt Mark Withley
| 9 | 0 | 0 | AM | RTD
| 0 |
Crew Chief: T/Sgt Richard Weiner (the Dedicated) - 15 missions
E/A Encountered
Type | No. | Intercepted | Destroyed | Damaged | Fw-190 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 4 | Me-109 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 3 | Me-110/Me-410 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | C-205 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | G-55 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Total | 37 | 11 | 9 | 7 |
Claims:- T/Sgt T. Burkey: 1 Fw-190 claimed - full credit awarded - T/Sgt T. Burkey: 1 Fw-190 claimed - full credit awarded - Sgt M. Whalen: 1 C-205 claimed - half credit awarded - S/Sgt M. Withley: 1 Me-109 claimed - no credit awarded - 2nd Lt. A. Bowers: 1 Me-109 claimed - full credit awarded - Sgt M. Whalen: 1 G-55 claimed - half credit awarded - Sgt M. Whalen: 1 Me-410 claimed - 1/3 credit awarded - T/Sgt T. Burkey: 1 Me-109 claimed - full credit awarded - S/Sgt H. McGinty: 1Me-109 claimed - full credit awarded Damage:
- Superficial x7: 7 - Engine #1 out: 25 - Right Waist gunner heat inop: 10 - Starboard inboard fuel tank self-sealed: 10 - Stairboard Wing n/e: 10 - Stairboard Aileron inop: 10 - Bombs control inop: 10 - Right landing gear inop: 25 - Light Wound x4: 8 - Serious wound x1: 5 Peckham Points: 120pts - two days repairing time - rtd on 22 march 1944 Casualties:
- 2nd Lt. Arthur Bowers: KIA (LW+SW) - 2nd Lt. Jason Ponder: LW cracked rib - 3 weeks in hospital, RTD on 11 April 1944 - 2nd Lt. Edwin Leblanc: LW leg cut, RTD - S/Sgt Harvey McGinty: LW thigh cut, RTD Awards:
- AM 2nd OLC: 1st Lt. Henry Simmons, T/Sgt Tim Burkey, S/Sgt Paul Stewart, Sgt Matthew Whalen, Sgt George Buck, S/Sgt Harvey McGinty - PM: 2nd Lt. Jason Ponder, 2nd Lt. Arthur Bowers (posthumous), 2nd Lt. Edwin Leblanc, S/Sgt Harvey McGinty Promotions:
- T/Sgt Tim Burkey promoted to M/Sgt rank - Sgt Matthew Whalen promoted to S/Sgt rank - Sgt Sgt George Buck promoted to S/Sgt rank AAR (flown with TFT)
Giulia Airbase: Poor weather, despite this take off and assembly were ok. Zone 2-3 Outbound: Nothing to report. Zone 4 Outbound: Two Jerrys (Me-110 and Me-109) tried to attack us but were intercepted by P38s. Zone 5 Outbound: Nothing to report. Zone 6 Outbound: Coastal light flak approaching northern italian coast but no damage reported. Attacked by 2 Fw-190s (one was destroyed) and a Me-109 driven off by escort fighters. Zone 7 Outbound: Nothing to report. Zone 8 Outbound: A german fighter passed closed to us and narrowly avoided a collision. Zone 9 Outbound/Inbound (target Zone): As soon as we entered the area we were attacked by 2 Fw-190s, which preferred to attack other bombers, 1 G-55 of the ANR which was intercepted by a P38 and a Me-109 which attacked us head-on, hit us causing damage to engine #1 (propeller safely feathered), some surface damage without effect and the wounding of Sgt McGinty who suffered a graze wound to the left thigh; On the second pass, the German fighter was less accurate and preferred to move away. A second wave of enemy fighters: 2 Me-109s (1 of them shot down) and an Italian C-205 "Veltro" also shot down was harmless. The Jerrys seemed to go on forever: we were attacked by an Fw-190 and a C-205, both harmless, and 1 Me-109 that dodged our shots and managed to hit us, knocking out the heating system, the aileron of the right wing and some superficial damage. But on the second pass he found no escape from our blows, falling into flames. The flak in the vicinity of the target, although intense, did not cause any damage and allowed us to carry out a good bomb drop. The departure from the bombed target was uneventful, neither the flak nor the Jerrys bothered us. Zone 8 Inbound: The Luftwaffe suffered the blow because we were attacked by a considerable number of fighters. After about half an hour of fighting, the situation was of two enemy fighters shot down, but we suffered damage to the bomb control system and minor injuries to the Navigator and the Bombardier, plus a large number of holes throughout the nacelle. Zone 7 Inbound: I descended to 10,000 feet and out of formation to prevent the crew from freezing with damaged systems. Zone 6 Inbound: A few rounds from Coastal Flak caused damage to the inboard fuel tank (self-sealed) and surface damage with no effect on the right wing. Attacked by 4 Fw-190s (two of them intercepted by the escort) and 1 Me-109, all damaged, they moved away. A second wave of 2 Fw-190 e 1 Me-410 attacked us head-on and at 3H. The escort managed to drive away one Fw-190 while the second escaped after being heavily damaged. The Me-410 fired a few bursts that hit and killed the 2nd Lt. Bowers. Sgt Whalen avenged his comrade by shooting down the enemy plane on its second pass. Zone 5 Inbound: Attacked by 1 Me-109, destroyed by T/Sgt Burkey, and 1 Me-410 intercepted by the escort. Zone 4 Inbound: Two Me-110s were intercepted by escort fighters. We were then attacked by 3 Me-109s: we shot down one and damaged another. While the third preferred to go away after seeing the fate of his comrades. Zone 3-2 Outbound: Nothing to report. Giulia Airbase: We fired yellow and red rockets as we approached the airstrip. We circled around it until the other bombers landed. Our landing, without a landing gear and with damaged controls, was quite difficult but, thanks also to the good weather and the condition of the runway, he managed to touch the ground and stop the ship without causing further damage to equipment and crew. The ambulance approached and the doctor could only confirm the death of Lieutenant Bowers, while Lieutenant Leblanc and Sergeant McGinty were treated directly on the spot. Lieutenant Ponder was taken to the hospital for a few weeks. It was a long and hard mission. Our nerves were sorely tested, and the loss of Arthur was a source of sadness for all of us.-------------------------------------------------
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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Keltos
Multiple Squadrons
Posts: 459
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Post by Keltos on Feb 13, 2024 5:01:37 GMT -8
After-Action ReportB-24J-1-CF-42-64086 – “Black Shadow”78th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force
Commander: 1st Lt. M. Armstead Mission Date: 20 March 1944 Mission Number: 15 Mission of this bomber: 3 Formation: Middle Position: Middle Target: Bolzano, Italy Target Type: Marshalling Yard Bomb Run: On Target - 40% CREWPosition | Rank - Name | Missions | Mission Kills | Total Kills | Awards | Status | Stress Point | Pilot | 1st Lt. Mitch Armstead | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| RTD | 0 | Co-Pilot | 2nd Lt. John Webb
| 3 | 0 | 0 |
| RTD | 0 | Bombardier | 2nd Lt. John Griffis
| 3 | 0 | 0 |
| RTD | 0 | Navigator | 2nd Lt. Charles Rutherford | 3 | .33 | .33 |
| RTD | 0 | Engineer | S/Sgt Colin Jones | 3 | 0 | .5 |
| RTD | 0 | Nose Gunner | Sgt Dennis Lindsay | 3 | 0 | 1.5 |
| RTD | 0 | Ball Gunner | Sgt Erik Sinnott
| 3 | 0 | 0 |
| RTD
| 0 | Port WG/Radio Op. | S/Sgt Lee Hanson
| 3 | 0 | 0 |
| RTD
| 0 | Starboard WG | Sgt Fred Campbell
| 3 | 0 | 0 |
| RTD | 0 | Tail Gunner | Sgt James Rivera
| 3 | 0 | 1.5 |
| RTD
| 0 |
Crew Chief: S/Sgt John Ziegler (Average Joe) - 3 missions
E/A Encountered
Type | No. | Intercepted | Destroyed | Damaged | Fw-190 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Me-109 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Me-210 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Re-2005 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | C-205 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Total | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Claims:
- 2nd Lt. C. Rutherford: 1 Me-109 claimed - 1/3 credit awarded Damage:
- Superficial x1: 2 - Radio failure: 10 Peckham Points: 12pts - overnight maintenance Casualties: --Awards: -- AAR (flown with TFT)Giulia Airbase: Take off and assembly were ok. Zone 2-3 Outbound: Nothing to report. Zone 4 Outbound: Radio failure; repairing attempts were unsuccessful. Zone 5 Outbound: Nothing to report. Zone 6 Outbound: Coastal flak caused no damage. Zone 7-8 Outbound: Nothing to report. Zone 9 Outbound/Inbound (Target Zone): No Jerrys attacked us and flak was ineffective. Good bomb run completed. No flak nor GAF while turning home. Zone 8 Inbound: Attacked by 3 Fw-190: escort intercepted and chased them. Zone 7 Inbound: Nothing to report. Zone 6 Inbound: Coastal flak while living italian coast was ineffective. Attacked by a lone Fw-190 that was intercepted by a P38 of the 1st FG. Zone 5 Inbound: Nothing to report. Zone 4 Inbound: Attacked by 3 Me-109s: the first moved away discouraged by our barrage while another was intercepted by the escort. The last one, although damaged, managed to hit us, causing only a few holes and paint stripping. On its second pass, it was shot down. Zone 3-2 Inbound: Nothing to report. Giulia Airbase: Landed safely. ------------------------------------------------- Mitch Armstead, 1st Lt, USAAF, Commanding Commanding B-24J: Black Shadow B-24J-1-CF-42-64086 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
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Post by drewshotsfan on Feb 13, 2024 11:28:12 GMT -8
THE TALKIN' TEXAN MISSION 3 (Group Mission 15 – Bolzano, Italy)
B-24D: The Talkin’ Texan (B-24D-150-CO 42-41227) Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron (The Flying Boxcars), 509th Bombardment Group Middle Squadron – Position 8 MISSION DATE: 20 March 44 MISSION NBR: 15 TARGET: Bolzano, Italy – Marshalling Yards
CREW *Awards* (Missions completed) [Claims] {Stress} <Other notes> Pilot: 1LT Benjamin C. CRISP (3) Co-Pilot: 2LT Martin M. JAWORSKI (3) Bombardier: 2LT Kenneth P. ALGER (3) [0-0-2] {1} Navigator: 2LT Stephen S. SOMERS (3) [0-0-1] Engineer: S/SGT William DOLAN (1) [0-0-0] <Temp replacement for Mission 3 only> Radio Operator: T/SGT Randall J. PERDUE (3) Ball Gunner: SGT Joseph T. GUERRERO (3) [2-0-1] Port Waist: SGT Michael K. CAMARILLO (3) [0-0-1] Starboard Waist: SGT Virgil O. GOODMAN (3) [0-0-0] <Joined crew on Mission 3 from replacement pool> Tail Gunner: SGT Clyde T. SHARP (3) [0-0-1]
BOMB RUN: Off target (0%)
LANDING: Good
CASUALTIES: 1 2LT Alger – Anoxia but fit for duty
DAMAGE (PECKHAM POINTS): Mechanical failure - #4 engine malfunction and fails to restart (25)
TOTAL PECKHAM POINTS: 25 = Repaired overnight
CREW CHIEF: SGT William HILL: Average. Starting skill points: 33, current skill points: 26
CLAIMS: Destroyed [0]
CLAIMS: Damaged [0]
Driven off by Fighter Escort: 1 Bf109, 1 Bf110
CLAIMS EVALUATION BOARD DECISION: NA Approved Destroyed: [0]
Approved Damaged: [0]
Denied Destroyed: [0]
Denied Damaged: [0]
MISSIONS COMPLETED: 3 MISSIONS ABORTED (NON-COMBAT): 0
Award/Promotion Requests: None
In Hospital: 0
AFTER ACTION REPORT “The Talkin’ Texan’s” third mission, a flight up the Adriatic at 23,500’ to the railway marshalling yards in Bolzano, South Tyrol in the Italian Dolomites. Take off in poor weather and find station as position 8 in the high cell, and the 78th is the middle squadron for today.
ZONE 6 Outbound Some light flak crossing the coast south of Venice, but nothing to trouble us.
ZONE 9 – Target zone Medium flak on the way in to the target, but we weren’t hit. We inexplicably lost power to the #4 engine on the bomb run. She failed to restart, but we managed to maintain formation because we dropped our bomb load soon after this gremlin hit us. Target was slightly obscured with 50% cloud cover. Our bombs were observed to be off target, possibly due to losing the engine on the run in to target. Well, that’s the excuse that 2LT Alger, our bombardier, gave!
No flak on target egress, as per the briefing.
Zone 8 Inbound Spotted two Luftwaffe fighters, a Bf109 and a Bf110, but they were driven off by our fighter escort. The Lightnings of the 1st FG have done an excellent job so far, as these two enemy aircraft were the first we have seen all mission.
Zone 6 Inbound Flak re-crossing the coast near Venice, but it was light and inaccurate.
Zone 2 Inbound Bombardier fails to check in. Navigator discovered issues with his oxygen mask. Due to 2LT Somers prompt action, 2LT Alger was soon ok again. We were also starting our descent into Giulia, so everyone came off oxygen after this issue.
Good landing back at base. A shame we missed the target with our bombs because this was a milk run. Our gunners didn’t have to fire a shot, we dodged the flak and enemy aircraft were conspicuous in their absence. We thanked S/SGT Dolan for covering for our own engineer, S/SGT Eagle, who is due to return to duty in two days. Worryingly, this is our third mechanical issue in as many missions. Is it because “The Talkin’ Texan” is an old bird, or is SGT Hill, our crew chief, not doing his job properly? Is our real life talking Texan going to need to have more than a few words?
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Post by limburger59 on Feb 13, 2024 12:55:01 GMT -8
B-17F BUTCHER'S DAUGHTER Spare assigned to the 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group Low Squadron – Middle MISSION DATE: 20 March 44 M MISSION # 15 TARGET: Bolzano, Italy
CREW from the Spare Pool Position – Rank (Current Mission) Pilot: 1LT Harvey Taplyn (5) Co-Pilot: 2LT Eugene Bates (2) Navigator: 2LT Dennis Sutton (3) Bombardier: 2LT Vernon Gray (1) Engineer/TT: S/SGT Emile Putman (8) [1] AM 1x 109 destroyed Radio Op: S/SGT Frederick Simmons (1) Ball Turret: SGT Earl Williamson (1) KIA Right Waist: SGT Kaiden Williams (4) Left Waist: SGT Amir Sexton (1) Tail Gunner: SGT Tony Marshall (7) AM
Bomb Run: Off Target 10%
Casualties: SGT Earl Williamson: KIA
B-17 Damage: Superficial x5 (5) KIA Wound (10) Tailwheel damaged (10) Instruments: Engine Fire Extinguishers inop (10)
Peckham Points: 35
Disposition: Lands safely
Attackers: 7 6x Bf-109: 1 Destroyed, 1 Probable (FBOA), 2 Driven Off 1x FW-190: 1 Probable
Award/Promotion Requests: Air Medal for 5 Completed Missions: 1LT Harvey Taplyn Purple Heart (posthumous): SGT Earl Williamson
AFTER ACTION REPORT (QOTS-Beery):
A Spare Crew flying a Hanger Queen
OUTBOUND: Zone 5: A FW-190 tried a vertical dive on us to avoid our escort. He was damaged by our Top Turret and disappeared into the clouds below. Count that as a Probable.
TARGET ZONE 9: Four 109s were converging on us. Our Little Friends stopped one, the Top Turret had a definite confirmed kill, Starboard got a Probable, but in exchange the bandit at 12 o'clock low walked hits across our belly, killing our Ball Turret Gunner. We discovered when we were back on the ground that that German had also damaged the wiring for our engine fire extinguishers, which fortunately we did not have to discover the hard way.
Bomb release seemed to be a fraction too early.
INBOUND: Zone 7: Two 109s made a run at us. The rookie lost to the P-38s, while the Ace hit us in the tail, damaging the Tail Wheel.
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rhreiss
79th Bomber Squadron XO
Posts: 151
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Post by rhreiss on Feb 13, 2024 13:48:55 GMT -8
509th BG, 15AF MISSION # 15 Bolzano, Italy - Marshalling Yard B-17F All In (Mission #15)Crew Commander: 1LT George Gill Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group Formation: Low Position: Middle TARGET: Marshalling Yard Crew Position | Rank | Name | Mission # | Prior Awards | Kills Awarded | Status | Pilot | 1LT | George Gill | 15 | AM+, PH |
| RFD | Co-Pilot
| 2LT | Don Heffner | 4 |
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| RFD | Bombardier
| 2LT | Billy Sullivan | 1 |
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| RFD | Navigator | 2LT | 2LT Myril Hoag | 15 | AM+,PH
| 1.5 | RFD | Engineer | S/SGT | Roy Hughes | 4 |
| 1.5 | RFD | Radio Operator | S/SGT | Vern Kennedy | 15 | AM+
| 1 | RFD
| Ball Gunner | SGT | SGT Russ Van Atta | 15 | AM+
| .5 | RFD
| Left Waist | SGT | Julius “Moose” Solters | 15 | AM+
| .5 | RFD
| Right Waist | SGT | Jim Walkup | 7 | AM | .66 | RFD
| Tail Gunner | SGT | Ewald "Ernie" Pyle | 2 |
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| RFD
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Crew Chief T/SGT Fred Johnson (Dedicated) 15th mission skill 2 Crew Chief Pre Mission Report: No Mechanical Failure rolls during this mission. Bomb Percentage: on-target, 40% Bomber Disposition: T/SGT Johnson reports the All In will be ready after routine overnight maintenance Bomber Damage: Peckham Points: Landing: safe landing at Giulia Airfield Enemy Aircraft: Encountered: 2 | Me109 | Me110 | Fw190 | Re2001 | Me210 | G55; | TOTAL | Escort Intercept | 1 | |
| 1 | | | 2 | Undamaged |
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| | |
| | Damaged |
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| | | |
| Probable/Denied
| | | | | | | | Destroyed |
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Casualties: Claims: Awards: AM Oak leaf cluster: 1LT Gill, 2LT Hoag, S/SGT Kennedy, SGT Van Atta, SGT Solters Promotions: S/SGT Kennedy to T/SGT SGT Van Atta to S/SGT AAR Our new bombardier 2LT Billy Sullivan, showed up just in time for the aborted mission on the 18th. He is still getting settled in and used to our battle rhythm. Myril’s face is still covered in red welts from the last mission but they are slowly healing. Our tailgunner SGT Ewald Pyle, has been with us for a couple of weeks now and has adapted to his nickname of Ernie. OUTBOUND we were able to take off and join up with formation without incident, although all the mud made things a little tricky getting lined up for takeoff. Nothing significant report on the outbound flight, light flak is cross the coast was an effective. TARGET AREA Once in the target area, we didn’t encounter any fighter resistance on the way to the IP. There is medium intensity flak on the bomb run but it was ineffective. 2LT Sullivan made his first bomb run a good one being on target and assisted 40% effectiveness. As we were forming up at the RP our little friends ran off in Re2001 that was showing interest in us. INBOUND As the formation started our flight back to base our escorts ran off a ME109 it was attempting to make a pass at us. As we passed over the coastline there was light ineffective flak and after that a routine flight home in a safe landing. T/SGT Johnson says the All In will be ready after routine overnight maintenance. We are over the halfway mark at 15 missions for the All In and are five remaining original crew members. In addition Vern and Russ received promotions which gave the crew something else to celebrate. 1LT George Gill, Pilot Commanding B-17F All In 79th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF
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Post by kkirch22 on Feb 13, 2024 17:01:59 GMT -8
AAR FOR ANGRY ARI, B-17G-20BO-42-31598Aircraft Commander: 1st Lt. Kyle Kirch. Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group. Low Squadron - Middle. MISSION DATE: March 20, 1944. MISSION NUMBER: 15 (This bomber: 2). TARGET: Bolzano, Italy – Marshalling Yard. Repairs and Maintenance: Rolled: 10. NO MECHANICAL FAILURE ROLLS THIS MISSION Crew: (Prior missions) - [Prior kills] - {Stress Points} Pilot: 1st Lt. Kyle Kirch (1) {0} Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Andrew Walker (1) {0} Bombardier: 2nd Lt. Joe McChesney (1) [0] {0} Navigator: 2nd Lt. Richard "Dick" Roden (1) [0] {0} Engineer: T/Sgt. Roy Schultz (1) [0] {0} Radio Operator: S/Sgt. Brent "The Wickster" Wickie (7) [0] {0} Ball Gunner: Sgt. Lais Laifeng (1) [0] {1} Port Waist: Sgt. Tom Settler (1) [0] {2} Starboard Waist: Sgt. Matthew Gabriels (1) [0] {2} Tail Gunner: Sgt. Ned Green (1) [0] {0} Bomb Run: ON/30% Casualties: NONE Crew Chief: Sgt. Geoff Culver (The Rookie). Damage: NONE! Peckham Points: 0, Overnight servicing. Landing: Safe Claims: N/A Award/Promotion Requests: N/A Currently In Hospital: Eli Stone (1) [0] {1}. Return to duty 15 MAY 1944. AFTER ACTION REPORT NARRATIVE:(Using QotS with Beery's Module.) Another great job from Gulliver in keeping the plane in top shape, even though we had two false starts the past week on this mission and some unneeded wear on the airframe. Despite the poor weather, takeoff from base went without a hitch. We proceeded towards the target zone and encountered some enemy fighters over the sea, but the lone 109 who dove in on us at 12 O Clock High was promptly dispatched by our Little Friends. Over zone six we encountered some light and very inaccurate flak, no hits on the bomber thankfully. Over zone 8 is when our luck really seemed to start shining, as two enemy fighter waves jumped the formation and BOTH were chased off by the aerial gunnery of the rest of the 79th before they could even get close to our bomber! Flying in over the target was eerily easy as well with a total lack of fighter cover and not a speck of flak to be seen anywhere. 2nd Lt. McChesney lined us up for a beautiful bomb run and got 30% of our drop on the target despite the mild lack of visibility! After turning around things were still pretty clear, although by now it seems the flak batteries had woken up and started belching into our formation but none of the shells managed to hit us. The way home was nearly as uneventful as the flight there! In zone 6 we were jumped by another flight of enemy aircraft and just like before they were all driven off by the formation before they could close in on us. After that it was a smooth flight back to base and a gentle touchdown on the airfield and off to the debrief. I’m counting myself extremely lucky, I don’t expect to have another mission that easy again for a while and it almost makes me wonder what lady luck has in store for us in the future…
- 1st Lt. Kyle Kirch, 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bomb Group.
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Post by limburger59 on Feb 14, 2024 14:50:52 GMT -8
B-24D: BONES Spare assigned to the 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group Middle Squadron - Middle MISSION DATE: 20 MARCH 1944 MISSION NBR. 15 TARGET: Bolzano, Italy – Marshalling Yard
CREW from the Spare Pool Position – Rank (Current Mission) Pilot: 1LT Herman Mickelson (2) LW Co-Pilot: 2LT Armino D'Angelo (2) SW Navigator: 2LT Giuseppe Patrizzio (3) LW+LW+KIA Bombardier: 2LT Charles Freya (1) LW+LW 1x E/A destroyed Engineer/TT: S/SGT Joseph Viya (2) SW-DOW 3x E/A destroyed Radio Op: S/SGT Philip Potter (1) KIA Ball Turret: SGT Thomas Gardner (1) SW-DOW Right Waist: SGT Nathan Herskrowitz (4) [1] SW+KIA Left Waist: SGT Isaac Schulmann (1) LW+SW-IH Tail Gunner: SGT Archibald Brockner (1) LW 1x E/A destroyed
Bomb Run: DNB
Casualties: 1LT Herman Mickelson LW – injuries sustained in crash – RTD 24 MAR 44 2LT Armino D'Angelo SW – broken femur from crash – RTD 20 MAY 44 2LT Giuseppe Patrizzio LW+LW+KIA – light wounds from combat, then killed in crash 2LT Charles Freya LW+LW forarm cut in combat + concussion in crash – RTD 29 MAR 44 S/SGT Joseph Viya SW-DOW – broken sternum & inflamed heart suffered in crash – died of injuries S/SGT Philip Potter KIA - temple pierced in combat, died instantly SGT Thomas Gardner SW-DOW – shattered leg in crash – died in surgery SGT Nathan Herskrowitz SW+KIA broken facial bones in combat, broken back from crash SGT Isaac Schulmann LW+SW-IH – torn arm in combat, broken scapula in crash – invalidated home SGT Archibald Brockner LW – torn abdominal muscles in crash – RTD 20 APR 44
B-24 Damage: Superficial x9 (18) Light Wound x4 (8) Serious Wound (5) KIA (10) Structural N/E (5) Radio out (10) Control Cables x1 (10) Navigator’s Equip inop (10) P. Aileron out (10) P. Landing Gear out (25) Instruments hit: Flaps out (10) Mechanical Failure: Electrical Suit Heating System (10) Crash Landing (105+)
Peckham Points: 246+ CAT-E
Disposition: Crash Landing (modified landing roll of -1)
Attackers: 17 12x Bf-109: 3 destroyed, 4 Probable, 0 Damaged, 4 Driven Off 5x FW-190: 2 destroyed, 1 Probable, 2 Damaged, 0 Driven Off
Award/Promotion Requests: Purple Heart (posthumous): 2LT Giuseppe Patrizzio, S/SGT Joseph Viya, S/SGT Philip Potter, SGT Thomas Gardner, SGT Nathan Herskrowitz Purple Heart: 1LT Herman Mickelson, 2LT Armino D'Angelo, 2LT Charles Freya, SGT Isaac Schulmann, SGT Archibald Brockner AFTER ACTION REPORT - Flying QOTS variant for B-24s + Jasta6’s GAF Placement Variant:
Spare crew assigned to a Spare Bomber
OUTBOUND – Zone 6: Nothing to report. (Actually a Random Event resulted in a Mechanical Failure, knocking out the Suit Heating system, starting in Zone 7.)
Zone 7: It started getting cold and our Engineer discovered that an unrepairable electrical fault had fried the bomber-wide Electrical Suit Heating system. The decision was made to abort the mission, and we turned around descending to 9500 feet.
Our Bombardier and Navigator began looking for a target of opportunity for our bombs. Unfortunately, before they found one we were discovered all alone over Northern Italy. The bombs were jettisoned and we traded shots with the lone Bf-109. It seemed that he took more damage than we did, but we knew the real damage was that bandit radioing our position to all the Luftwaffe airdromes in the neighborhood.
Three more 109s soon showed up. Again we traded shots, and we seemed to get the better of the exchange as one bandit went down in flames, while the other two limped away as Probables. We thought most of the damage we suffered was minor, but in hindsight, the loss of our flaps and the left landing gear occurred at this time and led to the eventual crash of Bones. We did lose the Radio during the scrum and that prevented us from calling for help.
INBOUND - Zone 6: More German fighters in two waves. These were the FW-190 Butcher Birds and they lived up to their nickname, killing our Radio Operator and wounding four other crewmembers. Our Navigator had his equipment destroyed, but in retrospect that only postponed the crash landing at Giulia. Our gunners hit all five bandits while they made multiple passes at us, destroying two.
Zone 4: Two groups of 109s intercepted us, but fortunately some little friends found us first and they fought off half of the E/A. Our gunners had a will to live and flamed two of the attackers, with another staggering northwest trailing smoke.
GIULIA: We were coming in fast as our flaps would not deploy. The wheels touched down and the Port landing gear collapsed. We started a ground loop, tore off the wing, and then there was a flash. We quickly went from one KIA and four wounded to five dead and the survivors all injured... All because of bad wiring in the Suit Heating System.
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ChefEd
78th Bomber Squadron
Posts: 471
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Post by ChefEd on Feb 14, 2024 18:24:17 GMT -8
B-17F Wimpy B-17F-27BO-41-24585 Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group Squadron Position: High Aircraft Position: Middle Mission Date: 20 MAR 1944 Mission Number: 15 This Aircraft: 15 Target: Bolzano, Italy, Marshalling, Yard CrewPosition | Rank / Name | Missions | Kills | Awards | Status | Stress | Pilot | 1st Lt Landry Velez | 15 | 0 | AM++ | RTD | 4 | Co-Pilot | 2nd Lt Santino Richards | 15 | 0 | AM++, PH | RTD | 5 | Navigator | 2nd Lt George Sheets | 12 | 0.5 | AM+ | RTD | 1 | Bombardier | 2nd Lt Roberto Ford | 15 | 1.5 | AM++ | RTD | 1 | Engineer | T/Sgt Finnegan Fields | 15 | 11.33 | AM+++, DFC | RTD | 0 | Radio Op | Sgt Paul Nielson | 15 | 0 | AM++ | RTD | 3 | Right Waist | Sgt Collin Cordell | 7 | 0 | AM+ | RTD | 0 | Ball Turret | S/Sgt Tobias Mace | 15 | 4.33 | AM++ | RTD | 2 | Left Waist | S/Sgt Tripp MacDougal | 15 | 0.5 | AM++ | RTD | 2 | Tail Gunner | S/Sgt Kingsley Griffin | 15 | 4.5 | AM++ | RTD | 1 | | | | | | | | Crew Chief | S/Sgt Josia Stanton | 12 | | 0 | Skill +0 | |
Bomb Run: On Target, 40 %Casualties: None Damage: Left Waist Heat Out 10 Tail O2 Out 10 Bomb Release Mechanism Out 10 O2 System Out 10 Intercom Out 10 Left Outboard Fuel Leak 10 Right Outboard Fuel leak 10 Superficial X4 4 Forced landing at satellite field CAT-E Peckham Points: Total, CAT-E Landing: Forced landing at satellite field Enemy Aircraft:Type | Encountered | Driven Off | Damaged | Claimed | Awarded | Probable | Bf-110 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1.83 | 0 | Fw-190 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Bf-109 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | Me-210 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Me-109(I) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | C.205 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Re.2005 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Claims:Position | Claimed | Awarded | Probable | Ball | 4 | 1.33 | 0 | Left Waist | 3 | 0.5 | 0 | Top | 2 | 0.5 | 0 | Bombardier | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | Navigator | 1 | 0.5 | 0 |
Air Medal1Lt Landry Velez, 3rd Award 2Lt Santino Richards, 3rd Award 2Lt Roberto Ford, 3rd Award T/Sgt Finnegan Fields, 4th Award Sgt Paul Nielson, 3rd Award T/4th Tobias Mace, 3rd Award S/Sgt Tripp MacDougal, 3rd Award T/4th Kingsley Griffin, 3rd Award Purple HeartNone PromotionsT/4 Tobias Mace promoted to S/Sgt T/4 Kingsley Griffin promoted to S/Sgt AFTER ACTION REPORTThe crew was feeling a bit superstitious this morning. Wimpy is one of only a few original aircraft left in the squadron. The Italian coast was looming up when we encountered our first enemy aircraft. First, a trio of Bf-110s attacked. Escorts drove off one, the second was damaged, and the third shot down by T/4 Mace. We took no damage. A second wave of three Bf-110s attacked. Our gunnery splashed all three into the Adriatic. Once the last of the Bf-110s were shot down, a pair of Bf109s and a lone Re.2005 attacked. We splashed one of the 109s and damaged the Sagittario. Again, no damage was sustained. We had just passed Treviso when we faced a pair of Fw-190s. One was promptly shot down by a hail of bullets from three of our positions. The second was also riddled, but only damaged. In exchange, S/Sgt Griffin lost O2 in the tail. Once clear of enemy fighters, I had him move to the Radio compartment and hook in there. On approach to the IP a single Bf-109 attacked. Our defensive gunnery threw him off, and he left without causing any damage. We took some minor damage from the flak. 2Lt Ford noted an issue with the bomb release mechanism. I sent S/Sgt Griffin to the bomb bay to manually release our load. He reacted swiftly, and on Lt Ford’s “Go”, S/Sgt Griffin was able to release the bombs quickly. Intelligence analysis noted about 40% on target. Coming off the target, and heading to the RP, a lone 190 and a C.205 attacked. The Italian fighter was driven off by our escorts. The 190 took out the heat for S/Sgt MacDougal, in the left waist. I had Sgt MacDougal come up to the pilot compartment. Passing Venice, we faced a pair of Me-210s, an Fw-190, and a Bf-109. The first three were driven off by our escorts. We missed the 109, but he raked us good. His pass took out the plane’s O2 system, the intercom, and punctured both the left and right outboard fuel tanks. T/Sgt Fields’ estimates were that we would have just enough fuel to get over the front lines to Allied territory. I had 2Lt Sheets plot us a course to the first fighter field. With heat and O2 out, we dropped out of formation, to below 10,000FT. I had S/Sgt Griffin return to the tail, and S/Sgt MacDougal return to the waist. We encountered no more enemy fighters. Sgt Nielsen radioed our situation to the field at Madna, housing the 52nd FG. T/Sgt Fields worked with Lt Richards on milking every ounce of fuel we had, to make it to Madna. A short field, we ended up running off the end of the runway, for what it was. We were slowing down quite enough, that when the gear collapsed, the crew did not get bounced around too much. Wimpy, however, won’t fly again. We got back to Giulia sometime in the wee hours of the next day. Need to requisition a new bird. Submitted by, 1Lt Landry Velez, Pilot B-17F Wimpy 80th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF
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Post by kageyone on Feb 14, 2024 22:43:09 GMT -8
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ChefEd
78th Bomber Squadron
Posts: 471
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Post by ChefEd on Feb 15, 2024 13:20:34 GMT -8
B-24J Next Objective B-24J-15-CF-42-99776 Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group Squadron Position: Middle Aircraft Position: Middle Mission Date: 20 MAR 1944 Mission Number: 15 This Aircraft: 4 Target: Bolzano, Italy, Marshalling Yard CrewPosition | Rank / Name | Missions | Kills | Awards | Status | Stress | Pilot | 1st Lt Alexis Vaillancourt | 3 | 0 | | RTD | 0 | Co-Pilot | 2nd Lt Arlo Perot | 3 | 0 | | RTD | 0 | Navigator / NT | 2nd Lt Callahan Quinn | 3 | 0 | | RTD | 1 | Bombardier | 2nd Lt Cory McIntyre | 3 | 0 | | RTD | 0 | Engineer | T/Sgt Abraham Leeker | 3 | 0 | | RTD | 1 | Radio Op / Rt Waist | T/Sgt Bruce Woodward | 3 | 1 | | RTD | 0 | NT / Rt Waist | Sgt Reese Giles | 3 | 0.5 | | RTD | 3 | Ball Turret | T/3rd Tristen Townsend | 3 | 1.5 | | RTD | 0 | Left Waist / NT | Sgt Brendan Burgess | 3 | 0.5 | | RTD | 0 | Tail Gunner | T/3rd Finnley Griffith | 3 | 0.5 | | RTD | 2 | | | | | | | | Crew Chief | S/Sgt King Solis | 12 | | | Skill +0 | |
Bomb Run: On Target, 30 %Casualties: 2Lt Callahan Quinn, SW, Pierced abdomen, Survived surgery, RTD 10 weeks Damage: Superficial X2 4 Serious Wound 5 Peckham Points: 9 Peckham Points, One ( 1 ) Day to Repair Landing: SafeEnemy AircraftType | Encountered | Driven Off | Damaged | Claimed | Awarded | Probable | Fw-190 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | Me-109 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Me-110 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Me-109(I) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.5 | 1 |
ClaimsPosition | Claimed | Awarded | Probable | Top | 1 | 0 | 0 | Right Waist | 1 | 0 | 1 | Tail | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | Left Waist | 1 | 0.5 | 0 |
Awards: Purple Heart2Lt Callahan Quinn Promotions: None AFTER ACTION REPORTThe mission was pretty routine, heading up the Adriatic. Passing Rimini to our left a lone 109 stuck its head out, and promptly driven off by our escorts. With the Italian coast approaching we faced five Fw-190s and a trio of Bf-109s. A single 190 was driven off by escorts, leaving the rest for us. We shot down three of the enemy and damaged the four remaining fighters. We suffered no notable damage. However, 2Lt Quinn, working out of the radio room, took a round to the belly. Lt McIntyre moved to the radio room to administer first aid to Quinn. McIntyre stopped the bleeding, made Quinn as comfortable as he could, and returned to the bombardier’s position. We were unmolested until we hit the foothills of the Dolomites. There, a trio of 190s and a trio of Bf-110s attacked. Escorts reappeared and drove off five of the enemy. The remining fighter, in a vertical climb missed us, and continued on after he passed through the formation. On this attack our ball turret guns jammed. Flak over the target was present but inaccurate. T/3 Townsend continued his attempts to unjam his machine guns. Which was beneficial as we faced no enemy fighters. With the inaccurate flak and lack of enemy fighters, 2Lt McIntyre was able to drop 30% on target. After release of our bomb load T/3 Townsend called out the ball turret guns were unjammed. Passed through the flak again and were confronted by a trio of 109s. Two were driven off by our escorts, leaving the last for our top turret. Both missed each other. Once past the RP Lt McIntyre moved back to the radio room and kept Lt Quinn company and as comfortable as possible. We faced no more enemy fighters as we headed back to Giulia. We fired off a flare indicating wounded crew and landed in order as directed. Lt Quinn was carted off to hospital. Submitted by, 1Lt Alexis Vaillancourt, Pilot B-24J Next Objective 78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF The next day I was informed that Lt Quinn survived his surgery and would require about three months of recovery time. He is our first loss to the crew. I will be requesting from personnel a permanent replacement.
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wouter
79th Bomber Squadron
Posts: 14
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Post by wouter on Feb 15, 2024 14:00:18 GMT -8
B-17F Six Nights in Telergma 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Low Aircraft Position: 17 Mission Date: 20 March 1944 Mission Number: 15 This Aircraft: 5 Target: Bolanzo, Marshalling Yard
Crew Position: Rank / Name - Missions (Kills) / Awards Pilot: 1LT James 'Jim' Waggoner - 5 Co-Pilot: 2nd LT Alf Pelka - 5 Bombadier: 2nd LT Jerome McLaughlin - 5 Navigator: 2nd LT Irvin R. Lifson - 5 Engineer: S/SGT John M. Graves - 5 Radio Operator: SGT George Powell - 5 Ball Gunner: SGT Samuel Kozemchok - 3 (1 Kill) Port Waist: SGT James J. Woods - 5 Starboard Waist: SGT Ernest Philips - 5 Tail Gunner: SGT Floyd F. Daugherty - 5
Bomb Run: On target, 5% Landing: Safe Casualties: None Peckham Points: 112 (Oxygen out in Tail and Pilot section, 1 Aileron inoperable, 2 fires extinguished, 7 superficial hits) Bomber ready 22 March '44
Enemy Aircraft Type Encountered / Driven Off / Damaged / Claimed / Awarded ME109 17/ 11 /6 / 0 claim / 0 Awarded ME110 3 / 1 / 1/ 1 claim / 0,5 VC Awarded FW 190 3 / 1 / 2/ 0 claim / 0 Awarded
Claims Position / Claimed / Awarded Ball Gunner / 1 / 0,5 Awarded
Awards None
AFTER ACTION REPORT Using TfT, Mandatory rules + optional rules 'Limburger Variant Mech Failures', Ilmarainen 'More Detailed Bomb Run Procedures', Joe Osentoski 'Alternate Damage Tables'
Heard from a friend in the 340th -stationed here until last January, but now in Naples. They don't have krauts to worry about, but an erupting volcano! Luckily we're on the other side of the Boot. 5th mission today, off to Bolanzo. Outbound: Found ourselves in an extra tight formation. Whenever we saw EA, our little friends took care of them. Above target, Flak caused fire in the tail and cutting off oxygen. Fire was quickly put out but we descended below 10.000 ft. With the bird shaking, our bomb run wasn't our best I'm afraid. Inboud: Flying out of formation, we now really kicked the hornets nest. Far more ME109's were now upon us, and our little friends had trouble taking care of the mall. One jerry blasted in the pilot compartment, another fire that was quickly extinguised. Kozemchok, now on his 3rd mission is sure he shot down a ME110 at 3o'clock low. Flak on the way back caused damage to one aileron, but over sea we didn't encounter anymore EA and we landed safely in Giulia.
Submitted by
1Lt James Waggoner B-17F Six Nights in Telergma
79th BS, 509th BG, 15th AF, USAAF
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Post by caodwolf on Feb 15, 2024 14:03:10 GMT -8
B-24J: PLEASANT SURPRISE Pilot: 1Lt. R. Solsky Assignment: 15th Air Force, 509th Bomber Group, 78th Squadron Mission Date: 20-March-1944 Mission No.: 15 Mission this Bomber: 3 Target for Today: Bolzano, Italy - Marshalling Yards Squadron Position: Middle Result: On-Target: 40% For once a mission that went to plan. Get to target, bomb the target, and get back home. Mission accomplished !
German resistance overall was light with most driven off by our Little Friends.
Bombs were dropped on target with good effect. Landed back at base.
Over and out....
Position | Rank | Name | Missions Flown | Kills this Mission | Total Kills | Awards | Status | Pilot | 1Lt | R. Solsky | 3 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Co-Pilot | 2Lt | F. Pienta | 3 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Bombardier | 2Lt | C. Steinwedel | 3 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Navigator | 2Lt | M. Wagner | 3 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Top Turret/Engineer | TSgt | J. Visentin | 3 | --- | 1 | --- | OK | Radio Op | TSgt | R. Surovick | 3 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Chin Turret | Sgt | B. Mentz | 5 | --- | --- | AM | OK | Stbd Waist | Sgt | R. Huff | 1 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Ball Turret | Sgt | B. Unger | 3 | --- | --- | --- | OK | Tail Turret | Sgt | T. Herbon | 1 | --- | --- | --- | OK |
Sgt. T Croker - RTD: 22-March-1944
Sgt. B. Mentz- Air Medal
FTR | Spotted | Driven-Off | Damaged | Not-Damaged | Claimed - Credited | ME-109 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | FW-190 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | --- | ME-110 | 4 | 4 | --- | --- | --- | C-205 | 2 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | TOTALS | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | --- |
-#4 Engine hit - superficial damage
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