Medic1 - Multiple squadrons

[medic1]

B-17G VICIOUS VIXEN 5-BO-44-22727

Pilot: Capt. Dan Shantz
Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force
Formation/Position: Low / Middle,
Mission Date: 18 June 44
Mission Number: 078
Missions This Bomber: 17
Target: Hamburg Germany - Oil Plant

NAME/POSITION	MISSION#	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot Capt. Dan Shantz	23	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 1st Lt Mike Morland	23	.5*	0	RTD
Bombardier 2nd Lt Paul Resniak	10	0	1	RTD
Navigator 2nd Lt Tom Kassel	4	0	0	RTD
Engineer S/Sgt Curt Mercado	9	4	0	RTD
Radio Operator T/Sgt Bruce Woodside	13	0	0	RTD
Ball Gunner S/Sgt Ed Kostnaro	10	4	0	RTD
PWG S/Sgt Curtis Horsburgh	4	0	0	RTD
SWG Sgt Duncan Markland	4	0	0	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit	9	2	0	RTD

Observer/ RR MG: *2nd Lt Mike Morland ½ credit RR MG mission 067
Bomb Run: On

On Target: 20%
B-17 Damage: 7 Hits
Nose x 1
-chin MG inoperable (20)
Pilot’s Compartment x 1
-top turret MG inoperable, engineer LW (22)
Starboard Wing x 1
-landing gear inoperable (25)*
Bomb Bay x 1
-superficial (1)
Waist x 1
-superficial (1)
Tail x 2
-superficial x2 (2)
*Additional Damage from Landing with Main Landing Gear Inoperable (83)
Peckham Points: 154
Repair Time: 5 days – 23 June 44
Crew Chief: S/Sgt Manny Manzano, average, modifier +0.

Landing: Safe at Sudburry, England

E/A Encountered: 0

A/C TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	2	0	0	0	1
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	8	1	3	0	1
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	2	0	0	0	1
Me-163	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	12	1	3	0	3

Confirmed Claims: 1
2nd Lt Paul Lesniak 1 x Fw-190
Casualties: 1
S/Sgt Curt Mercado – hand cut. Treated and RTD
Award/ Promotions Requests:
PH S/Sgt Curt Mercado
Air Medal (2nd Award) - 2nd Lt Paul Lesniak, S/Sgt Ed Kostanaro
Promotion review - S/Sgt Ed Kostanaro

After Action report(using QOTS):
Zone 1: We took off in the perpetual morning gloomy weather but formed up after breaking through the clouds into the bright sun above it.
Zone 2-6: Nothing to report.

Zone 7: Other than some light, inconsequential flak, nothing to report.
Zone 8: Nothing to report.
Zone 9: Goering’s Goon’s were on hand to greet us with three 190 choosing to key on us. Two ran into our little friends and Mercado did his best to dispatch the last to Valhalla, the fighter limping away trailing heavy smoke. His fate couldn’t be determined and is listed as probable.
Zone 8: Two 410 attacked from head on and rear, with the one at 6:00 falling to a Mustang. The other failed to hit us and we replied in kind.
The fighters cleared as the flak started bursting all over and we took a hit in the tail section which Talking Spirit reported as minor.
The hit jostled us a bit, but Lesniak was able to hit the target for 20% and we turned for the rally point.
INBOUND
The flak wasn’t quite as bad after the target, but still a bit stiff. Thankfully, none found us. Goering’s Goons weren’t so accommodating as five 190 swarmed us from around the clock, only one diverted by P-51’s.
Mercado again had a claim denied at interrogation but Lesniak took one on at 12 high and fired a long burst that caused pieces of it to fall off and the pilot to bail out. The stricken fighter then turned over and dived towards the ground below.
Zone 7: We encountered some light flak that didn’t cause any concern. But a 109 gave us our worst beating in a while. Two started to attempt to knock us down, but one fell to a Mustang on his way in. The remaining 109 came at 12 low and evaded our fire while lighting us up with three hits to our empty bomb bay, a hit to Mercado’s turret rendering his MG’s useless and lightly wounding him, then for good measure also hitting the chin turret MG’s, knocking them out as well.

 
He returned at 6 level and hit us again with two minor hits to our tail and waist section. Not satisfied with that, he circled back to strike us again despite Kostanaro scoring direct hits on the him. This time he hit our right landing gear with a cannon round that Kostanaro reported as having left it a useless mangled mess. The fighter broke off trailing smoke and we hoped that he never made it home.
Zone 6-2: Nothing to report.
Zone 1: I sent Horsburgh to the bomb bay to see if he could manually lower the damaged wheel strut, but it refused to budge. We raised the ball turret and got Kostanaro out and then had the crew brace for a crash landing as we fired off a yellow flare to signal the field of our severe damage. We decided not to fire a red as well since Mercado’s cut wasn’t serious and he wanted the ambulances to treat the more serious casualties rather than waste time on him.

Figuring that landing with one wheel down was better than none, we came in with our airspeed as low as possible without stalling and gingerly touched down. However, the right wing dipped faster than anticipated and the wingtip bent as we let a shooting star trail of sparks trailing behind. The drag started to pull us to starboard and there was some additional damage to the port wheel strut as we fought to keep from ground looping and becoming a fireball.

We finally stopped and the first vehicle to reach us had our agitated ground crew chief, S/Sgt Manny Manzano, who began cussing up a storm at what we had done to ‘his plane’ as others arrived and began the process of getting it moved and facilitate repairs.

“Blame the Krauts!” Moreland growled back and we made our way to post mission interrogation.

All said and done, Mercado was treated, released and Vicious Vixen will fly again. Our scowling crew chief figures five days before that will happen though.

Capt. Dan Shantz, Pilot Commanding, 79th BS

[medic1]

B24D-CO-42-72991 INCENDIARY SUE

Pilot: 1st Lt Joe Waldron
Squadron: 78th Bombardment Squadron (Composite), 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Formation/Position: Middle / Middle
Missions This Bomber: 20
Mission Date: 18 June 44
Mission Number: 078
Mission Target: Oil Plant, Hamburg, Germany

CREW	MISSION #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot 1st Lt Joe Waldron	20	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Dave Arnock	20	0	0	RTD
Bombardier 2nd Lt Tony Romsberg	20	2	0	RTD
Navigator 2nd Lt Ken Hamilton	20	2	0	RTD
Engineer S/Sgt Roy Stelmach	20	8	0	RTD
RO T/Sgt Roger Druce	20	0	0	RTD
Tunnel Gunner Sgt Bill Kadlec	20	5.5	0	RTD
PWG Sgt Thomas Cantrall	11	1	0	RTD
SWG S/Sgt Jim Muzzarelli	5	0	0	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Clay Shipman	11	0.5	0	RTD

Bomb Run: On
On Target: 30%
B-24 Damage: 4 Hits
Nose x 1
-superficial (2)
Port Wing x 2
-aileron, N/E (5)
-wing root (25)
*#2 engine mechanical failure (25)
Waist x 1
- superficial (2)
Peckham Points: 59
Repair Time: Overnight maintenance
Crew Chief: S/Sgt Jay Decker (mod base =0)
Landing: Safe at Sudburry, England
E/A Encountered:

E/A TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	2	0	0	0	2
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	6	0	1	0	5
Ju-88	1	0	0	0	1
Me-410	0	0	0	0	0
Me-163	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	9	0	1	0	8

Confirmed Claims: 0
Casualties: 0

Award/ Promotions Requests:

AM (1st awarded) S/Sgt Jim Muzzarelli
Promotion to Captain - Joe Waldron
Promotion to 1st L t- Dave Arnock, Tony Romsberg, Ken Hamilton
Promotion to M/Sgt Sgt Roger Druce
Promotion to T/Sgt Roy Stelmach
Promotion to S/Sgt Bill Kadlec

After Action Report (using QOTS):

Zone 1: It was dark and drizzling when we took off, but all formed up without any problems. .
Zone 2-6: Nothing to report other than Dragon Lady having to abort early due to an engine fire and shutdown.

Zone 7: Encountered some light flak, but it all burst well away from us.

Zone 8: Nothing to report.

Zone 9: The #2 engine sputtered, coughed and quit. Efforts to restart failed and we increased power to try and keep up with the squadron, but it was a just a matter of time before we were left behind. A 190 started to dive on us but was swept away by a P-47.
Zone 8: By this point we had fallen behind the others and had attracted two 109. But our little friends had hung around to help out and chased them off.

The flak was heavy as advertised at the mission briefing and we were hit in the waist and nose sections, both minor strikes. Despite the flak that knocked us about, Romsberg put 30% onto target.
INBOUND

The flak was trying its best to knock us down and succeeded against Easy Money as we witnessed a wing separate and the bomber fell towards the earth. Centrifugal forces kept all but one of her crew from escaping the crippled ship. Past the flak, two waves of fighters came by deciding to take advantage of a straggler.
1st wave – Two 190 came in one behind the other from 10:30 high, with the rear fighter falling to a Lightning Rider. The other 190 traded shots with us on repeated passes, and on his third was thumped hard by Stelmach’s MG’s. He limped away but it was doubtful he made it back to his base.
2nd wave – A lone Ju-88 that was lining us up to possibly drop some sort of explosives on us but was deterred from doing so by another one of our little friends.
Zone 7: : As we were slowly catching up to the squadron but still lagging behind, some flak unit concentrated their efforts on us and hit an aileron but didn’t hamper its operation.

Three 190 noticed us, but before they could get near us were taken on by more P-47’s.
Zone 6-2: Nothing to report other than we had finally caught up to the squadron.
Zone 1: The weather was far better as we returned and landed without any complications.

The ground crew is busy going over Incendiary Sue and finding the cause of our engine failure. They assure me that she will be ready for the next one.

Some other good news is that our wounded waist gunner Malinowski is due to be cleared for flying duty and may be able to rejoin us by the next mission.

1st Lt Pilot 1st Lt Joe Waldron, Pilot Commanding, Incendiary Sue, 78th BS

[medic1]

B24D-CO-42-72991 INCENDIARY SUE
Pilot: Capt. Joe Waldron
Squadron: 78th Bombardment Squadron (Composite), 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Formation/Position: Low / Middle
Missions This Bomber: 21
Mission Date: 5 July 44
Mission Number: 079
Mission Target: Gilze Rijen, Holland - Airfield

CREW	MISSION #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot Capt. Joe Waldron	21	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 1st Lt Dave Arnock	21	0	0	LW
Bombardier 1st Lt Tony Romsberg	21	2	1	RTD
Navigator 1st Lt Ken Hamilton	21	2	0	RTD
Engineer T/Sgt Roy Stelmach	21	8	0	RTD
RO M/Sgt Roger Druce	21	0	0	RTD
Tunnel Gunner S/Sgt Bill Kadlec	21	5.5	0	RTD
PWG Sgt Thomas Cantrall	12	1	0	RTD
SWG S/Sgt Jim Muzzarelli	6	0	1	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Clay Shipman	12	0.5	0	RTD

Bomb Run: On
On Target: 30%
B-24 Damage: 4 Hits
Superficial x 1 (2)
Nose x 2
-superficial x 2 (4)
Pilot Compartment x 1
-co-pilot, LW (2)
Peckham Points: 10
Repair Time: Overnight 
Crew Chief: S/Sgt Jay Decker (mod base =0) [Excellent work on repairs +1 to mod]
Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England
E/A Encountered:

E/A TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	12	2	2	2	3
Bf-110	1	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	0	0	0	0	0
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	0	0	0	0	0
Me-163	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	13	2	2	2	3

Confirmed Claims: 1
1st Lt Tony Romsberg 1 x Bf-109
S/Sgt Marcus Malinowski 1 x Bf-109
Casualties: 1
1st Lt Dave Arnock, LW – torn flexor extensor muscle. RTD 12 July 44

Award/ Promotions Requests:

PH 1st L t- Dave Arnock

After Action Report (using QOTS):

Zone 1: The weather co-operated for once and we took off without any complications. After the squadron had formed up, we set course for Gilze Rijen in the lead.
Zone 2: Nothing to report. 

Zone 3: Encountered some light flak, but it wasn’t of any concern as it was inaccurate and well away from us.

Zone 4: The Krauts greeted us as we entered the target zone, apparently unhappy with our visit. Three 109 fanned out (7:30 high, 9 level [green pilot] & 1:30 high) unopposed by any of our escorts. Incendiary Sue shook as the gunners commenced firing. Stelmach saw his tracers damage the 7:30 as he raked its length while Cantrell saw the one at 9:00 go down, but this was awarded to some other bombers gunner at interrogation.

The 1:30 put two into us with one wounding Arnock, leaving him in some discomfort but not in danger. The Kraut returned at 9 level, but Stelmach badly crippled him and he limped away in some difficulty. 

The flak failed to find us, but Romsberg had no such problem with the target, dropping for 30%.
INBOUND

Jerry continued to harass us as two more 109 (1:30 level & 4:30 low) and a 110 (4:30 low) made it through our sparse escort screen. We traded shots with them but the only damage was light to one of them.
Zone 3: We sailed through some light flak and shortly after saw two would be 109 assailants who were chased off by Spitfires before they could start anything. Nice of the RAF to join the party.

Zone 2: Five 109 decided to give us a go and they spread out for an attack (VD, 4:30 high [green pilot], 3 low, 12 level & low). A Spit tangled with the 3:00 and Malinowski hit the 4:30’s engine and along the port wing root and fuselage. A second burst and the fighter became engulfed in flame causing the pilot to bail out.

Romsberg scored hits on the on the 12 low and the end of the wing came off. It turned over on its back and spun out of control.

The 12 high retaliated with two hits to our nose section, both being minor. He returned for another run at us, but nothing was resolved and we went our separate ways.
Zone 1: We fired off a red flare as we approached the field, and after we had stopped helped a belligerent and cussing Arnock into an ambulance.

Other than Arnock’s forced week off, it was a good run. Romsberg celebrated his promotion by hitting the target and dropping a 109. Malinowski celebrated his return to duty by also downing a 109.

Our damage was relatively light and Sue should be raring to go tomorrow if need be.

Capt. Pilot 1st Lt Joe Waldron, Pilot Commanding, Incendiary Sue, 78th BS

[medic1]

B-17G VICIOUS VIXEN 5-BO-44-22727

Pilot: Capt. Dan Shantz
Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force
Formation/Position: High / Middle
Mission Date: 5 July 44
Mission Number: 079
Missions This Bomber: 18
Target: Gilze Reijn, Holland - Airfield

NAME/POSITION	MISSION#	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot Capt. Dan Shantz	24	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 1st Lt Mike Morland	24	.5*	0	RTD
Bombardier 2nd Lt Paul Resniak	11	1	1	RTD
Navigator 2nd Lt Tom Kassel	5	0	0	RTD
Engineer S/Sgt Curt Mercado	11	4	.5	RTD
Radio Operator T/Sgt Bruce Woodside	14	0	.5	RTD
Ball Gunner S/Sgt Ed Kostnaro	11	4	1	RTD
PWG S/Sgt Curtis Horsburgh	5	0	0	RTD
SWG Sgt Duncan Markland	5	0	0	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit	10	2	0	RTD

Observer/ RR MG: *2nd Lt Mike Morland ½ credit RR MG mission 067
Bomb Run: On

On Target: 30%
B-17 Damage: 0 Hits
Peckham Points: 0
Repair Time: Routine Maintenance
Crew Chief: S/Sgt Manny Manzano, average, modifier +0.

Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England

E/A Encountered: 5

A/C TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	3	2	0	0	1
Bf-110	1	0	0	0	1
Fw-190	1	1	0	0	0
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	2	0	0	0	0
Me-163	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	5	3	0	0	2

Confirmed Claims: 3
S/Sgt Ed Kostanaro 1 x Bf-190
2nd Lt Paul Lesniak 1 x Fw-109
T/Sgt Bruce Woodside .5 x Bf-109
S/Sgt Curt Mercado .5 x Bf-109
Casualties: 0
Award/ Promotions Requests:
Air Medal (1st Award) - 2nd Lt Tom Kassel, S/Sgt Curtis Horsburgh, Sgt Duncan Markland
Air Medal (2nd Award) - Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit
Promotion review - Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit

After Action report(using QOTS):
Zone 1: We took off and formed up without incident and gremlins.
Zone 2: Nothing to report.

Zone 3: Other than some light, inconsequential flak, nothing to report.
Zone 4: Two 109, one an Ace, and a 110 appeared and were set to take us on, but some boys from the RAF decided to tackle two of them, including the Ace. Kostanaro fired several bursts and the remaining 109 made a steep climb and exploded. That made him an  Ace.

Shortly after, a 109 in a diving attack ran into a hail of lead from Woodside who sprayed his approach path and hit him hard several times, then took further damage from Mercado. They were both awarded an equal share of the victory.

The flak missed us but Lesniak kept his head through it all to drop for 30%.

INBOUND
A 190 roared towards us from 1:30 and Lesniak fired a short burst that impacted the engine. The front of the fighter burst into flames and plummeted to the ground. The pilot failed to get out.
After that, we sailed along without further opposition.
Zone 3: Some light flak that didn’t pose us any problems.

Zone 2: Nothing to report.
Zone 1: We circled the field as the damaged bombers fired off flares to signal that they had wounded or mechanical damage and were given priority landing status.

Sweaty Betty was force to belly flop due to damaged main gear, and after the runway was cleared the others came in one by one. We came in last as we hadn’t even had our paint scratched.

Our ground crew will be able to knock off early tonight after our milk run. Morland and myself need another one of these before we can go home. Somehow, I doubt that the Krauts will let us off that easy.

Capt. Dan Shantz, Pilot Commanding, 79th BS

[medic1]

B-17G VICIOUS VIXEN 5-BO-44-22727

Pilot: Capt. Dan Shantz
Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force
Formation/Position: Middle/Middle
Mission Date: 12 July 44
Mission Number: 080
Missions This Bomber: 18
Target: Munich, Germany - City Area

NAME/POSITION	MISSION#	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot Capt. Dan Shantz	25	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 1st Lt Mike Morland	25	.5*	0	RTD
Bombardier 2nd Lt Paul Resniak	12	1	1	RTD
Navigator 2nd Lt Tom Kassel	6	0	0	LW
Engineer S/Sgt Curt Mercado	12	4.5	0	RTD
Radio Operator T/Sgt Bruce Woodside	15	0.5	0	RTD
Ball Gunner S/Sgt Ed Kostnaro	12	4	2	RTD
PWG S/Sgt Curtis Horsburgh	6	0	0	SW/IH
SWG Sgt Duncan Markland	6	0	0	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit	11	2	1	RTD

Observer/ RR MG: *2nd Lt Mike Morland ½ credit RR MG mission 067
Bomb Run: On

On Target: 30%
B-17 Damage: 15 Hits
Superficial x 3 (3)
Nose x 1
-navigator LW (2)
Port Wing x 4
-superficial (1)
-flap inop (10)
-wing root (25)
-aileron inop (10)
Starboard Wing x 2
-superficial (1)
-#3 engine out, prop feathered (35)
Bomb Bay x 2
-superficial x 2 (2)
Waist x 3
-oxygen N/E (5)
-RWG SW (5)
-PWG heat out (10)
Peckham Points: 109
Repair Time: 2 Days
Crew Chief: S/Sgt Manny Manzano, average, modifier +0.

Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England

E/A Encountered: 5

A/C TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	0	0	0	0	0
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	8	3	1	1	1
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	3	0	2	1	0
Me-163	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	5	3	0	0	2

Confirmed Claims: 3
S/Sgt Ed Kostanaro 2 x Fw-190
Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit 1 x Fw-190
Casualties: 2
2nd Lt Tom Kassel LW-leg cut, treated & RTD
S/Sgt Curtis Horsburgh SW/IH-groin cut, inflamed bladder.

Award/ Promotions Requests:
Air Medal (5th Award) - Captain Dan Shantz, 1st Lt Mike Morland
Air Medal (3rd Award) - T/Sgt Bruce Woodside
PH - 2nd Lt Tom Kassel, S/Sgt Curtis Horsburgh

After Action report(using QOTS):
Zone 1: As we lifted off, both Morland and myself were acutely aware that no matter what happened today, this would be our last mission. We were on our 25th mission – the only members left of the original crew. We took formed up without incident.
Zone 2: Nothing to report.

Zone 3: Encountered some flak as we crossed over the coast. Although light, a close burst sent 3 pieces into us. Two struck in the bomb bay but thankfully didn’t detonate our payload, another striking Horsburgh’s oxygen controls for little effect.
Zone 4-7: Nothing to report.
Zone 8: More light flak encountered but we safely sailed through it.
Zone 9-10: Nothing to report.
Zone 11: Goering’s flying goon squad finally figured out where we were headed and came out to intercept us in two waves:
1st wave – one 190 (3 low) and a 410 (VC). Kostanaro thought that he had become an Ace by taking out the 410, but it was credited to some other crew. The 190 removed our port flap and circled around to take another run from 6 low. Kostanaro, believing himself to be an Ace, hit the 190’s wing roots and caught fire, it went into a spin and entered the clouds below, lighting its entry point briefly.
2nd wave – three 190 (12 low. 6 level, 1:30 low [green pilot]). A P-38 tore into the 6:00 and the 12:00 missed us and moved on. The remaining fighter, although clearly an inexperienced pilot slammed three rounds into us, one hit severely wounding Horsburgh in the waist. He tried to add to the damage from 1:30 low, but again Kostanaro’s well aimed fire hit its spinner and prop. A second burst must have hit the pilot as the 190 fell out of control, the pilot never attempting to get out.
As the flak started bursting all over, Markland moved Horsburgh to the radio room and made him as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.
Lesniak somehow identified the target through the soup and dropped for 30%.

INBOUND
We took two hits from the flak on the way to the rally point. One hit destroyed Markland’s heating controls and forced him to plug into the port waist side.

After we had cleared the flak, a 190 (6 high) and two 410 (7:30 level & 12 low) came calling. Kostanaro damaged the 410 off our rear portside, but the 190 hit us and swung around for another try from our 12:00 where Lesniak took some pieces off of him. Although heavily damaged, the 190 dropped into the clouds below, fate unknown.

The other 410 wounded Kassel in the leg and circled to run at us again from the same location. Kostanaro fired a burst and the starboard engine exploded in clouds of black and white smoke. This fighter also escaped into the clouds.
Zone 8-10: Nothing to report.
Zone 7: The German’s weren’t willing to let us go yet, determined to make my last mission a memorable one. Three 190 (12 low, 9 low, 1:30 level [Ace]) fanned out and made their runs. Two of them missed us and went onto other bombers while Lesniak damaged the 12 low. Despite the damage, the Kraut showed some nerve and returned fire, walking hits across both of our wings. He hit the port wing root and jammed the aileron, then knocked out the #3 engine forcing us to feather the prop. But as he passed by the tail, Talking Spirit flamed his tail and the pilot bailed out.
Zone 6-5: Nothing to report.

Zone 4: Some harmless flak. Nothing else to report.
Zone 3-2: Nothing to report.
Zone 1: We circled the field fired off flares to signal that we had wounded and mechanical damage and were given priority landing status. After we had rolled to a stop, both Morland and I just sat there, exhausted. We wanted to get out and check on both Kassel and Horsburgh, who was the worse off, but we were spent.

It has been a long haul to 25 missions. A grind really. But we had somehow lived through it, although time will tell how this whole experience will affect us.

But its time to get to interrogation, talk to the ground crew and get to the hospital to check on my wounded crew.
The bar had better be fully stocked tonight.

Capt. Dan Shantz, Pilot Commanding, 79th BS

[medic1]

B24D-CO-42-72991 INCENDIARY SUE
Pilot: Capt. Joe Waldron
Squadron: 78th Bombardment Squadron (Composite), 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Formation/Position: High / Middle
Missions This Bomber: 21
Mission Date: 12 July 44
Mission Number: 080
Mission Target: Gilze Rijen, Holland - Airfield

CREW	MISSION #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot Capt. Joe Waldron	21	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 1st Lt Dave Arnock	21	0	0	LW
Bombardier 1st Lt Tony Romsberg	21	3	2	RTD
Navigator 1st Lt Ken Hamilton	21	2	0	RTD
Engineer T/Sgt Roy Stelmach	21	8	2.5	RTD
RO M/Sgt Roger Druce	21	0	0	RTD
Tunnel Gunner S/Sgt Bill Kadlec	21	5.5	2	RTD
PWG Sgt Thomas Cantrall	12	1	0	RTD
SWG S/Sgt Jim Muzzarelli	6	1	0	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Clay Shipman	12	0.5	3.5	RTD

Bomb Run: Off
On Target: 0%
B-24 Damage: 16 Hits
Superficial x 5 (10)
Nose x 1
-bombsight (10)
Port Wing x 2
-superficial (2)
-landing gear break (10)
Starboard Wing x 1
-flap (10)
Bomb Bay x 2
-superficial (2)
-rafts (10)
Waist x 1
-superficial (2)
Tail x 4
-superficial x 2 (4)
-heat system (10)
-port elevator (10)
Peckham Points: 80
Repair Time: Overnight
Crew Chief: S/Sgt Jay Decker (mod base =1) [Excellent work on repairs +1/2 to mod]
Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England
E/A Encountered:

E/A TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	8	0	0	1	3
Bf-110	3	1	1	0	0
Fw-190	17	8	2	2	2
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	2	0	0	0	2
Me-163	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	1	1	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	31	10	3	3	7

Confirmed Claims: 10
Sgt Clay Shipman 3.5 x Fw-190
T/Sgt Roy Stelmach 1.5 x Fw-190, 1 x Me-262
1st Lt Tony Romsberg 2 x Fw-190
S/Sgt Bill Kadlec 1 x Bf-110, 1 x Fw-190
Mission Note Worthy:
1st Lt Tony Romsberg achieved Ace status
Sgt Clay Shipman 3.5 confirmed victories
T/Sgt Roy Stelmach downed 1 jet fighter
Casualties: 0
Award/ Promotions Requests:

After Action Report (using QOTS):

We took off and formed up without any problems. Everything seemed fine as we past over some light flak, meeting five krauts in zone 5, two falling to escorts, one to Shipman with Stelmach damaging another.

Two 410 were surprised by our P-38’s before they could try anything. After that we were pretty much left alone, with the exception of some more light flak. And that changed very quickly.

First, the turbocharger for #2 engine gave up the ghost. Just after that we had a running battle with four 109 who destroyed the heating controls to the tail, damaged the port brake and scored numerous other hits. The best that we could do was a probable.

We had a lively discussion about aborting, but I decided that we were so close to the target that we’d leave the formation and continue. If we got into any real trouble, I figured that Switzerland wasn’t all that far off.

Entering the target zone, we were down to 8.000 feet and falling behind thanks to the failed supercharger. Two 190 harassed us, but we showed them our teeth by downing one and the other was a probable.

While the flak didn’t find us, the weather hid the target and Romsberg was unable to drop anything on target. I was thinking about that time that we should have aborted.
INBOUND
As we were fending off two 190, something flashed by at an impossible speed – a Me-262 German jet! It circled and came at us from 3H. Somehow, Stelmach managed to place some accurate fire into the it, pieces of the jet were torn off by his machine guns and both of its engines quit. The pilot jettisoned his canopy and bailed out (rolling six’s rule!).

One of the 190 attacked three times and damaged the tail port elevator before falling to Shipman’s tail guns. The last 190 scored several hits and rendered the right-wing flap useless before taking heavy damage from Stelmach and disappeared into the clouds.

Being alone and at lower altitude, we continued to take flak, which was inaccurate, and continued to attract fighters.

We fought off three 110, knocking one and possibly two of them down. Later, more flak alerted six 190 as to our location. It also brought a Spitfire to our aid who engaged one of them, an Ace. They made repeated attacks and we were able to damage a couple and take out two, with another as a probable.

The cycle of flak and fighters continued until we crossed the coast and were over the channel. During that time, we incurred damage by fighters that destroyed the bombsight and life rafts while claiming another 190.

With extreme relief we sighted our airfield and fired off flares to signal our battle damage and landed safely.

That was a mission and a half! It was long and draining. We battled a horde of flak and fighters and missed the target. On the plus side, we took out and damaged many of the Reich’s dwindling precious fighter force, including a 262 jet. And everyone came back in one piece.

Capt. Pilot 1st Lt Joe Waldron, Pilot Commanding, Incendiary Sue, 78th BS

[medic1]

B-17G VICIOUS VIXEN 5-BO-44-22727

Pilot: Capt. Dan Shantz
Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force
Formation/Position: Low/Lead
Mission Date: 23 July 44
Mission Number: 081
Missions This Bomber: 19
Target: Creil, France - Airdrome

NAME/POSITION	MISSION#	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot Capt. Dan Shantz	26	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Jack Clark	1	0	0	RTD
Bombardier 2nd Lt Paul Resniak	13	2	0	RTD
Navigator 2nd Lt Tom Kassel	7	0	0	RTD
Engineer S/Sgt Curt Mercado	13	4.5	1	RTD
Radio Operator T/Sgt Bruce Woodside	16	0.5	0	RTD
Ball Gunner S/Sgt Ed Kostnaro	13	6	2	LW
PWG Sgt John Karic	1	0	0	RTD
SWG Sgt Duncan Markland	7	0	0	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit	12	3	1	RTD

Bomb Run: On

On Target: 75%
B-17 Damage: 2 Hits
Pilot’s Compartment x 1
-superficial (1)
Waist x 1
-ball gunner LW (2)
Peckham Points: 3
Repair Time: Overnight
Crew Chief: S/Sgt Manny Manzano, average, modifier +0.

Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England

E/A Encountered: 26

A/C TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	16	3	1	3	4
Bf-110	1	0	0	0	1
Fw-190	4	0	1	0	1
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	5	1	1	0	1
Me-163	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	26	4	3	3	7

Confirmed Claims: 4
S/Sgt Ed Kostanaro 1 x Bf-109, 1 x Me-410
S/Sgt Curt Mercado 1 x Bf-109
Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit 1 x Bf-109
Casualties: 1
S/Sgt Ed Kostanaro LW-leg cut, treated RTD
Award/ Promotions Requests:
PH - S/Sgt Ed Kostanaro
Mission Notes: S/Sgt Curt Mercado achieves Ace status, 2nd Lt Paul Lesniak places 75% of payload on target.

After Action report(using QOTS):
Note – This was one of those missions where the dice rolled the crews way almost every time. The German dice took the day off.
Zone 1:The weather was its usual dreary rain and dark clouds on takeoff. We formed up without any incident and after the squadron had formed up behind us, we headed to France.
Zone 2: Nothing to report.

Zone 3: Encountered some coastal inaccurate flak as we crossed over the coast.
Zone 4: Goering’s Goons swarmed us in two waves, and Vicious Vixen shook as our gunners fired at the incoming fighters. So much for the weather grounding these guys.
1st wave – Five 109 with a Mustang chasing one off. Lesniak damaged one at 12 high that returned fire with a wide burst and left in a hurry. Kostanaro hit the wing roots of another, the wing shearing off from the fuselage and it corkscrewed towards the earth. Talking Spirit hit another at 6 level hit head on in the engine and saw pieces falling off as the pilot bailed out.
2nd Wave – Six 109 spread out to come in from around the clock, with some P-51’s cutting down Their numbers by two. Kassel damaged one and Mercado stitched another fighter’s engine and along the port wing root and fuselage. It dipped and headed for the ground trailing fire and black smoke. No chute was seen.
Zone 5a: I started feeling picked on as another two waves of German Superman came at us.
1st Wave – Two 190 and two 410. Some little friends arrived to chase off one of each, making it a little more manageable. Mercado hammered one and knocked pieces off of it. It left in great difficulty but disappeared into the clouds and was denied at interrogation.
2nd Wave – Three 410 were up next. Talking Spirit heavily damaged one at 6 low, but it was the tracers from Kostanaro’s MG’s that caused the fighter to exploded in an angry orange fireball. Everyone missed the others and they replied in kind.
Zone 5b: Goering’s flying goon squad only sent one wave of three 109 and a 110 against us. Some Mustangs were still shepherding us and tore into a 109 and the 110. Lesniak managed to damage one before they cleared out as the flak started up.
As thick as the soup was over the target, Lesniak managed to sight it in and dropped for a whopping 75%!

INBOUND

The Luftwaffe took advantage of the lack of flak and came at us again in two waves.
1st wave – Two 109. One traded shots with us and quickly left for other bombers while the other, in a diving attack hit us in the cockpit and waist, lightly wounding Kostanaro. He returned again at 6 level, but nothing was decided from it and he too, left.
2nd Wave – Two 190 high above us. Apparently, they both dropped bombs on us and missed. Mercado and Markland both reported seeing the bombs whiz by, just missing our starboard wing.

Zone 4: Nothing to report with the exception of some light flak.
Zone 3-2: Nothing to report.
Zone 1: We left the sunny skies and dropped through the clouds into the same lousy weather that we had taken off in and landed without any problems.

A very successful mission, that, despite the amount of “grounded” fighters we ran into, we hadn’t suffered any significant damage. Kostanaro’s leg was basically a scratch. After a couple of stiches, he joined us in the bar.

Capt. Dan Shantz, Pilot Commanding, 79th BS

[medic1]

B24D-CO-42-72991 INCENDIARY SUE
Pilot: Capt. Joe Waldron
Squadron: 78th Bombardment Squadron (Composite), 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Formation/Position: Middle / Middle
Missions This Bomber: 22
Mission Date: 23 July 44
Mission Number: 081
Mission Target: Creiel France - Airdrome

CREW	MISSION #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot Capt. Joe Waldron	22	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 1st Lt Dave Arnock	22	0	0	RTD
Bombardier 1st Lt Tony Romsberg	22	3	0	RTD
Navigator 1st Lt Ken Hamilton	22	2	0	RTD
Engineer T/Sgt Roy Stelmach	22	8	0	RTD
RO Civilian Life Reporter	1	0	0	RTD
Tunnel Gunner S/Sgt Bill Kadlec	22	5.5	0	RTD
PWG Civilian Life Photographer	1	0	0	RTD
SWG S/Sgt Jim Muzzarelli	7	0	1	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Clay Shipman	13	0.5	0	RTD

Bomb Run: On
On Target: 30%
B-24 Damage: 0 Hits
Peckham Points: 0
Repair Time: Overnight Routine Maintenance
Crew Chief: S/Sgt Jay Decker (mod base = 2) 
Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England
E/A Encountered:

E/A TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	0	0	0	0	0
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	3	0	0	0	2
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	1	0	0	0	1
Me-163	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	4	0	0	0	3

Confirmed Claims: 0
Casualties: 0Award/ Promotions Requests:

After Action Report (using QOTS):
Waldron assembled his crew under the wing of Incendiary Sue.
Normally he didn't do this sort of thing the day before the mission. He preferred to let them have the day off and do whatever they wanted to relax and be ready for what may come the next day.

Aware of the change of routine, they began to pepper him with questions. 

Waldron motioned them quiet and he withdrew a sheet of paper from his shirt pocket.

“I've been trying to think about how to best break this to you. But tomorrow isn't going to be just a normal mission for us. And - hell, I'll just read it.

"Memo To: Captain Joe Waldron and 1st Lt. Jack O'Donnell.
Subject: Life Reporters

Captain Waldron and 1st Lt O'Donnell,
Bomber Command has requested that the 78th host two Life Magazine photographers and reporters for the next Mission, sortie # 81.
In turn, your bomber and your crew has been selected to accommodate this request. They will document and photograph all aspects of the mission:

a. Mission Planning
b. Bomber prep
c. Mission Briefing
d. Mission flight
e. Mission debrief

The Life Photographer will occupy the Port Waist Gun position and the Life Reporter will lodge in the Radio Room. He'll pop out from time to time using spare ox tanks they will supply. You'll be short one .50 cal for the mission.

I realize this is bullshit, but orders is orders. Keep these guys occupied and bring them back in one piece. Show them how the Flying Boxcars gets the job done by taking the war to enemy at 25,000 feet.

That is all.
Cpt. J Pottsville
XO 78th

The crew of stood silent digesting this little tidbit. Finally, Druce the radioman spoke up.

“What kind of horseshit is this?! And Why Us? Does the CO, XO or both hate us that much to saddle us with this assignment?"

Waldron couldn't blame Druce or any of his crew for feeling the way that they felt at this moment. He knew how he'd feel if he was told to stand down and let someone fly his plane and crew.

“I know that we've been given the short straw on this one. Yes, it's a raw deal, but the orders come from above the old man. Maybe somebody hates the 78th and that's why our Squadron was chosen. As for how we came to be chosen for this, it doesn't matter. An order is an order and we have to follow this one, no matter how much - or little that we think of it.”

“So I have to dance from side to side and man both waist guns?” Malinowski spat. “I can tell you one thing skipper, if that photographer gets in my way while I'm trying to get to a gun I'm tossing his sorry ass out the window.”

“Malinowski,” Waldron said sternly, his eyes burning into the other man's, “That photographer is a citizen of the United States, operating on a US bomber. He will be wearing a uniform of the United States Army Air Corps. That means that he is on the same side as we are. I expect everyone in this crew to look out for both of them as they would for anyone else in this crew. Besides, the port waist MG will be replaced with the photographer's camera.”

“Easy for you to say sir, you aren't being left behind to sweat it out worrying about your buddies and if they'll make out okay without you.” said Cantrell, who had stayed silent until now.

Waldron was at a loss for words. All I could think to say was “I'm sorry Tom. And to you, Roger. I'm sure that the two Crews were picked at random and that this isn't personal. Anyways, it looks like their Jeep is coming now. So let's all pull together and work with them.

“I ain't doing s***.” Druce said. “One last thing, Skipper. Ask that reporter if he knows how to operate a radio. I'm going to pray to God while you’re gone that you guys don't need me on this one, because there isn't going to be anyone to call out a mayday if needed.” He turned away.

Zone 1: The two civilians from life had all their gear in place early and didn’t hold us up, allowing us to keep to schedule. Despite the bad weather we took off at our assigned time and formed up without any issues.
Zone 2: Nothing to report.

Zone 3: A little light flak that caused the two guys from life some anxious moment’s, never having been expose to any before.

Zone 4-5a: Nothing to report.

Zone 5b: Two 190 decided to single us out, but one was picked off by a P-51 before it was able to close.
The other approached from 6 low, but we just swapped bullets without any damage to one another.
The flak started to pop off, but it was all well away from us. Although the weather here was just as bad as we had experienced on takeoff, Romsberg was able to find a hole in it and the Life Photographer claimed that he had some good footage of our bombs landing on target.

INBOUND

Two Waves met us on the way out, with the first wave of two E/A getting chased off by our little friends.
The second wave was deterred by formation fire, the Photographer reporting that he had some great footage from this exchange as well.
Zone 4: A little bit of flak, but nothing else to report.

Zone 3-2: Nothing to report.

Zone 1: We landed almost last as we had not incurred any damage or injuries. At our hardstand Druce and Malinski were there with the ground crew to welcome us back.

The two guys from Life were ecstatic with the results and footage that they had accumulated, Druce and Malinski were ecstatic that we had completed the mission safely without them, and the ground crew were ecstatic that they would be knocking off early as all they had to do was routine work.

Me, I was ecstatic that it was a milk run and the two guys from Life made it made it back. I hate to think of what would have come down on us if we had lost one or both of them.

Capt. Pilot 1st Lt Joe Waldron, Pilot Commanding, Incendiary Sue, 78th BS

[medic1]

B-17G VICIOUS VIXEN 5-BO-44-22727

Pilot: Capt. Dan Shantz
Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force
Formation/Position: High/Middle – TEC from zone 2 outbound
Mission Date: 4 Aug 44
Mission Number: 082
Missions This Bomber: 20
Target: Peenemunde, Germany - Luftwaffe Experimental V-Rocket Station

NAME/POSITION	MISSION#	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot Capt. Dan Shantz	27	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Jack Clark	2	0	0	KIA
Bombardier 2nd Lt Paul Resniak	14	2	1	RTD
Navigator 2nd Lt Tom Kassel	8	0	0	RTD
Engineer S/Sgt Curt Mercado	14	5.5	1.5	RTD
Radio Operator T/Sgt Bruce Woodside	17	0.5	0	RTD
Ball Gunner S/Sgt Ed Kostnaro	14	8	1	RTD
PWG Sgt John Karic	2	0	0	RTD
SWG Sgt Duncan Markland	8	0	1.5	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit	13	4	1	RTD

Bomb Run: On

On Target: 60%
B-17 Damage: 14 Hits
Superficial x 5 (5)
Pilot’s Compartment x 2
-superficial (1)
-co-pilot KIA (10)
Port Wing x 2
-wing root (25)
-#1 engine (35)
Starboard Wing x 1
-aileron, inop (10)
Bomb Bay x 1
-rafts destroyed (10)
Waist x 1
-superficial (1)
-ball turret inop (10)
-PW MG inop (10)
Peckham Points: 112
Repair Time: 1 day
Crew Chief: S/Sgt Manny Manzano, average, modifier +1.

Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England

E/A Encountered: 

A/C TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	14	2	0	0	4
Bf-110	1	0	0	0	1
Fw-190	19	3	1	0	7
Ju-88	1	0	0	0	1
Me-410	1	1	0	0	0
Me-163	1	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	37	6	1	0	13

Confirmed Claims: 6
S/Sgt Curt Mercado .5 x Me-410, 1 x Bf-109
Sgt Duncan Markland .5 x Me-410, 1 x Fw-190
2nd Lt Paul Lesniak 1 x Fw-190
S/Sgt Ed Kostanaro 1 x Bf-109
Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit 1 x Fw-190
Casualties: 1
2nd Lt Jack Clark KIA-Shattered skull, part of head blown off
Award/ Promotions Requests:
PH Posthumous - 2nd Lt Jack Clark
Mission Notes: Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit achieves Ace status

After Action report(using QOTS):
Zone 1: The foggy conditions created a challenging take off, but luckily there weren’t any crashes or collisions. But Sweaty Betty had to abort due to an engine failure, and we found ourselves taking their place as Tail End Charlie.
Zone 2-5: Nothing to report.

Zone 6: Encountered two 109 with one engaged by an escort. Nothing came of the other fighter except a waste of ammo between him and ourselves.
Zone 7: Some light flak, otherwise nothing notable.
Zone 8: Nothing to report.
Zone 9: Goering’s flying goon squad consisted of two 190 and a 410. Mustangs chased off the 190’s and Mercado and Markland tag teamed the 410 as their fire set an engine on fire and snapped off a wing. One chute was seen.
Zone 10: Nothing to report.
Zone 11: Four 190 closed in with only one having to tangle with a little friend. Lesniak took out one at 1:30 low as he scored hits that caused the pilot to jettison his canopy and bail out, but his parachute did not open. Mercado nailed another at 6 high, but his claim was denied at interrogation. The other fighters made quick runs and moved off to other targets.

The flak was heavy, and while we came through it with one hit to a wing root, the crew of Pecatonica weren’t so lucky as they lost a wing and spiraled out of control. Only two men were able to get out.

Lesniak extracted a small measure of revenge for them as he turned in another excellent drop, placing 60% on target.

INBOUND

The flak was much lighter after our turn for the rally point, but Goring’s Goons decided to gang up on us with three waves of fighter’s once we were clear of it.
1st wave – Six 109 came in around the dial and things looked tense. A P-51 took out one, and somehow, with all the lead flying around, only Kostanaro was able to score. His bursts set the fighter at 9 low on fire, engulfing it in flame. It flipped over and dropped towards the ground.
2nd wave – Three 109 with a 110 (Ace). Mustangs jumped in to help out and diverted a 109 and the 110. Nothing came of the last 109 attack.
3rd wave – Two 190, with one falling to an escort. We swapped lead with the remaining goon and he left quickly.
Zone 10: A Ju-88 was above us, possibly lining us up to drop some bombs, but he was chased off before he could attempt anything.
Zone 9: Two 190 and one of those Jet fighters, a Me-163. Markland hit a 190 at 7:30 along its fuselage and port wing root, causing it to explode. The other 190 fired and left. No one could track that rocket fighter as it roared in impossibly fast. It blasted a burst into our waist section and knocked out the ball turret, trapping Kostanaro inside, rendered the port waist MG useless and a minor hit before it streaked over us and was gone.
Zone 8: Encountered two more waves.

1st wave – Three 109, one chased off by a P-51. Mercado hammered one at 6 high, shearing off a wing. The last 109 came in from 12 high and destroyed our life rafts and hit poor Lt Clark in the head, removing a portion of it and his brains. Returning at 3 low, he again evaded our fire while hitting us with another two, one blasting off an aileron. He wasn’t satisfied with his handiwork and circled around again. He must have noticed that our belly gun wasn’t working as he came in at six low and struck us twice more, knocking out the #1 engine, which we were able to feather the prop. After that, he departed, probably out of ammo.

2nd wave – Five 190 with two chased off by little friends. Two fired and missed and one hit us for minor damage. As he was circling for another run, he was jumped by a P-51.

Zone 7: Light flak and more fighters in the form of two 190. Talking Spirit became an Ace when he plastered one at 6 high and caused it to fall out of control like a falling leaf. The other 190 hit us twice and returned, hit us again and left.

Zone 6: Two more of Goring’s Goons appeared. One turned away to dance with a Mustang and nothing came out of the attack by the other.
Zone 5-2: Nothing to report.
Zone 1: Fired off flares and landed, exhausted from the run and gun mission.

We had been roughed up pretty good on this one. The German’s gave as well as they got, costing us a young man who was only on his second mission.

I’ve tapped another young man fresh from the States to fly co-pilot, 2nd Lt David Shaw

Capt. Dan Shantz, Pilot Commanding, 79th BS

[medic1]

B24D-CO-42-72991 INCENDIARY SUE
Pilot: Capt. Joe Waldron
Squadron: 78th Bombardment Squadron (Composite), 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Formation/Position: Low / Middle
Missions This Bomber: 22
Mission Date: 4 Aug 44
Mission Number: 082
Mission Target: Peenemunde, Germany - Luftwaffe Experimental V-Rocket Station

CREW	MISSION #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot Capt. Joe Waldron	23	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 1st Lt Dave Arnock	23	0	0	RTD
Bombardier 1st Lt Tony Romsberg	23	5	0	RTD
Navigator 1st Lt Ken Hamilton	23	2	1	RTD
Engineer T/Sgt Roy Stelmach	23	11.5	0	RTD
RO M/Sgt Roger Druce	22	0	0	RTD
Tunnel Gunner S/Sgt Bill Kadlec	23	7.5	0	LW/RTD
PWG Sgt Thomas Cantrall	13	1	0	RTD
SWG S/Sgt Marcus Malinowski	15	3	1	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Clay Shipman	15	4	1	RTD

Bomb Run: On
On Target: 30%
B-24 Damage: 12 Hits
Superficial x 2 (4)
Nose x 1
-superficial (2)
Flight Deck x 1

-superficial (2)

Port Wing x 1
- wing root (25)
Starboard Wing x 2
-superficial (2)
- wing root (25)
Bomb Bay x 1
-superficial (2)
Waist x 2
-tunnel gunner LW
-PWG MG inoperable (10)
Tail x 2
-superficial x 2 (4)
-heat system (10)
-port elevator (10)
Peckham Points: 95
Repair Time: Overnight
Crew Chief: S/Sgt Jay Decker (mod base =1) [Excellent work on repairs +1/2 to mod]
Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England
E/A Encountered:

E/A TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	2	0	0	0	2
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	11	2	2	0	5
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	2	1	0	0	1
Me-163	1	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	16	3	0	0	8

Confirmed Claims: 3
1st Lt Ken Hamilton 1 x Fw-190
S/Sgt Marcus Malinowski 1 x Me-410
Sgt Clay Shipman 1 x Fw-190
Casualties: 1

S/Sgt Bill Kadlec – thigh cut. Treated & RTD

Award/ Promotions Requests:

PH S/Sgt Bill Kadlec
AM (3rd Awarded) S/Sgt Marcus Malinowski, Sgt Clay Shipman
Promotion Review:
S/Sgt Marcus Malinowski
Sgt Clay Shipman

Mission Note Worthy:
Took over as squadron lead zone 7 inbound
Sgt Clay Shipman achieved Ace status

After Action Report (using QOTS):

Zone 1: We lifted off into the wild blue yonder with a full crew, we were happy to have the experience of babysitting life reporters and leaving two crew behind as we had to do last mission. As more bombers lifted off and started to form up, Filthy McNaughty experienced an engine fire and aborted.
Zone 2: The 78th was off to a bad start. Now, Dragon Lady, who was in the lead, suddenly dropped out of formation without any communication. Four chutes were seen and Witch’s Tit took over as lead. Two zones, down two bombers.
Zone 3-5: Nothing to report.
Zone 6: A 109 tried to move in on us, but he was turned away by a little friend.
Zone 7: Some light flak encountered, but we sailed through without any losses.
Zone 8: We watched as Witch’s Tit had an engine catch fire. They radioed that they were aborting and Winged Fury took over as our lead. We still haven’t achieved the target zone and the squadron is now down three bombers.
Zone 9: Two 190 with two 410 singled us out, but one of each were intercepted by P-51’s.
The other 110 approached from 1:30 low and ran into a hail of fire from Malinowski, going down in flames. We just swapped bullets without any damage to one the other 190
Zone 10: More fighters, but they were driven off by some fine formation fire.
Zone 11: At the IP one 109 started a diving attack, but a mustang tore into him and we moved on into the heavy flak.
We took a hit in each wing, one striking a wing root. Through it all, Romsberg managed to dial in the target despite the knocking about we took, and dropped for 30%.

INBOUND

After the turn, the flak smoothed out a bit and we were out of it and into the fighters again. Two 190 met us but were split up by our escorts. Nothing came of the spat we had with the one that made it to us.
Zone 10: Nothing to report.
Zone 9: A 163 Komet came at us with such incredible speed that the pilot had no time to adjust his fire, missed us and was gone in a flash.
Zone 8: Two 190 ripped into us, one with a diving Jerry hitting a wing root. He circled back and came in at 6 high where he exploded as Shipman became an Ace. Lt Hamilton took out the other at 1:30 low.
Zone 7: A little ineffective flak was encountered. Winged Fury announced they were leaving formation due to a heating system failure. We wished them good luck and took over as lead, the third such change this mission.
Shortly after, five 190 decided to try and make it a fourth lead change as they targeted us. Two mustangs helped out by engaging two of them, the remaining three coming in from different clock positions. The attacker from 10:30 high walked hits along our length, lightly wounding Kadlec and hitting some control cables. He returned for another try but was intercepted by a Mustang.
Another 190 hit us three times, knocking out our right waist and tail MGs before this action was concluded.
Zone 6-2: Nothing to report.

Zone 1: We managed to land without any mishaps and rolled to our hardstand. Inspecting the damage, the ground crew are going to be putting in some long hours, but assure us that she’ll be ready to fly tomorrow, if need be.

Kadlic was treated and released for normal duties.

Capt. Pilot 1st Lt Joe Waldron, Pilot Commanding, Incendiary Sue, 78th BS

[medic1]

B-17G VICIOUS VIXEN 5-BO-44-22727

Pilot: Capt. Dan Shantz
Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force
Formation/Position: Middle/Middle – Lead from zone 5 outbound
Mission Date: 11 Aug 44
Mission Number: 083
Missions This Bomber: 21
Target: Brest, France - Coastal Batteries

NAME/POSITION	MISSION#	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot Capt. Dan Shantz	28	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt David Shaw	1	0	0	RTD
Bombardier 2nd Lt Paul Resniak	15	3	0	RTD
Navigator 2nd Lt Tom Kassel	9	0	0	RTD
Engineer S/Sgt Curt Mercado	15	7	1	RTD
Radio Operator T/Sgt Bruce Woodside	18	0.5	0	RTD
Ball Gunner S/Sgt Ed Kostnaro	15	9	0	RTD
PWG Sgt John Karic	3	0	0	LW
SWG Sgt Duncan Markland	9	1.5	0	LW/RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit	14	5	0	RTD

Bomb Run: Off

On Target: 0%
B-17 Damage: 3 Hits
Nose x 2
-superficial (2)
Waist x 1
-both gunners LW (4)
Peckham Points: 06
Repair Time: Overnight
Crew Chief: S/Sgt Manny Manzano, average, modifier +1.

Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England

E/A Encountered:

A/C TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	0	0	0	0	0
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	4	1	0	1	1
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	0	0	0	0	0
Me-163	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	4	1	0	1	1

Confirmed Claims: 1
S/Sgt Curt Mercado 1 x Fw-190
Casualties: 2
Sgt John Karic LW-Torn gluteus muscle. RTD 18 AUG 44
Sgt Duncan Markland LW-cut shoulder. Treated and RTD
Award/ Promotions Requests:
Oak Leaf Cluster to Air Medal - 2nd Lt Paul Lesniak, S/Sgt Curt Mercado, T/Sgt Bruce Woodside, S/Sgt Ed Kostanaro
Promotion Review - S/Sgt Curt Mercado, T/Sgt Bruce Woodside, S/Sgt Ed Kostanaro

After Action report(using QOTS):
Zone 1: The weather decided to cooperate and we enjoyed excellent visibility as we climbed and rendezvoused, then headed for Germany.
Zone 2-5: Nothing to report.

Zone 6: Encountered two 109 with one engaged by an escort. Nothing came of the other fighter except a waste of ammo between him and ourselves.
Zone 7: Some light flak, otherwise nothing notable.
Zone 8: A lone 190 was our only opposition that turned into a nonevent until the flak. We incurred two hits in the nose section that had a definite effect on our drop, which was a complete miss.

INBOUND

The flak was more or less the same intensity, but all of it was away from us. Two 190 came at us from 12 high and level, with the high one getting bounced by a P-47.
The remaining 190 took heavy fire from Mercado. At first it shuttered, then the wing started to flap a bit before shearing off and it spun out of control.
Just before the coast, another 190 strafed us. He managed to wound both waist gunners before taking damage on a second attack and bugging out.
Zone 7: More fighters, but all were driven off by some fine formation fire.

Zone 6: We could only watch as the Luftwaffe worked over our lead bomber, Peach Fuzz, who had the Old Man at the helm. A fire spread rapidly and we counted 10 chutes deploy.

I had Woodside radio the recovery boats with the position praying that the Navy would find them all in time. 

Flying in the number two position, we took over as the lead.
Zone 5-2: Nothing to report.
Zone 1: Fired off flares to signal that we had wounded and landed.

I knew that both Karic and Markland were fine as far as their wounds went, so I skipped the hospital and rushed over to operations and waited for word on Major Wentworth and his crew. It wasn’t great. Only the Major and three others were picked up alive.

Capt. Dan Shantz, Pilot Commanding, 79th BS

[medic1]

B24D-CO-42-72991 INCENDIARY SUE
Pilot: Capt. Joe Waldron
Squadron: 78th Bombardment Squadron (Composite), 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Formation/Position: High / Middle
Missions This Bomber: 23
Mission Date: 11 Aug 44
Mission Number: 083
Mission Target: Brest, France - Coastal Batteries

CREW	MISSION #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot Capt. Joe Waldron	24	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 1st Lt Dave Arnock	24	0	0	RTD
Bombardier 1st Lt Tony Romsberg	24	5	0	RTD
Navigator 1st Lt Ken Hamilton	24	3	0	RTD
Engineer T/Sgt Roy Stelmach	24	11.5	0	RTD
RO M/Sgt Roger Druce	23	0	0	RTD
Tunnel Gunner S/Sgt Bill Kadlec	24	7.5	1	RTD
PWG Sgt Thomas Cantrall	14	1	0	SW/IH
SWG S/Sgt Marcus Malinowski	16	4	0	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Clay Shipman	16	5	0	RTD

Bomb Run: On
On Target: 30%
B-24 Damage: 11 Hits

Superficial x 2 (4)
Nose x 2
-superficial (2)
-bombardier’s oxygen, N/E (5)
Port Wing x 3
- superficial (4)
-aileron N/E (5)
Bomb Bay x 1
-bombs, N/E (5)
Waist x 1
-PWG SW (5)
Tail x 2
-superficial (2)
-port elevator inoperable (10)
Peckham Points: 42

Repair Time: Overnight
Crew Chief: S/Sgt Jay Decker (mod base =1) [Excellent work on repairs +1/2 to mod]
Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England
E/A Encountered:

E/A TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	0	0	0	0	0
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	6	1	0	0	1
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	0	0	0	0	0
Me-163	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	6	1	0	0	1

Confirmed Claims: 1
S/Sgt Bill Kadlec 1 x Fw-190
Casualties: 1

Sgt Thomas Cantrell, SW/IH – broken radius

Award/ Promotions Requests:

PH Sgt Thomas Cantrell

After Action Report (using QOTS):

Zone 1:We had good weather on take off and all formed up without incident.
Zone 2-7: Nothing to report except some light flak was encountered crossing the coast.
Zone 8: Four 190’s with two at 6 low (one a green pilot) and the other two at 3 level and low. An escort chased off one at 6 low and Kadlec ripped some lethal fire into the green pilot’s FW, it falling out of control in a spin.

The 3 low hit us twice in 3 attacks, knocking out our port tail elevator and striking our payload, which thankfully didn’t detonate in the bomb bay.

The fighters cleared out as the flak filled the sky, and Romsberg stayed cool throughout and dropped for 30%.

INBOUND

After the turn, the flak found us twice, both minor hits. After we came out of it, three waves of fighters appeared to try and block us. The first was driven off by formation fire.
The second consisted of one 190 who raked us for 7 hits over three strafing runs. He did some damage, the worst of it severely breaking Cantrell’s arm.
The third wave was again a single 190 at 10:30 level which decided nothing by either side.
Zone 7-2: Nothing to report.

Zone 1: We set off a red flare as we circled, touching down on our turn of priority landings .

They tell me that the damage to Cantrell’s arm is so severe that he needs some reconstruction surgery and will be heading home. It won’t be such a boisterous crew in the pub tonight.

Our new gunner is some kid from some small place in Ohio, Frank Dixon. I don't plan to get to know. No matter what happens next mission, it'll be my last.

Capt. Pilot 1st Lt Joe Waldron, Pilot Commanding, Incendiary Sue, 78th BS

[medic1]

B24D-CO-42-72991 INCENDIARY SUE
Pilot: Capt. Joe Waldron
Squadron: 78th Bombardment Squadron (Composite), 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Formation/Position: Middle / Middle
Missions This Bomber: 24
Mission Date: 27 Aug 44
Mission Number: 084
Mission Target: Esbjerk, Denmark - Airfield

CREW	MISSION #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot Capt. Joe Waldron	25	0	0	POW
Co-Pilot 1st Lt Dave Arnock	25	0	0	POW
Bombardier 1st Lt Tony Romsberg	25	5	0	KIA
Navigator 1st Lt Ken Hamilton	25	3	0	KIA
Engineer T/Sgt Roy Stelmach	25	11.5	0	KIA
RO M/Sgt Roger Druce	24	0	0	KIA
Tunnel Gunner S/Sgt Bill Kadlec	25	8.5	0	KIA
PWG Sgt Frank Dixion	1	0	0	KIA
SWG S/Sgt Marcus Malinowski	17	4	0	POW
Tail Gunner Sgt Clay Shipman	17	5	0	KIA

Bomb Run: DNB
On Target: N/A
B-24 Damage: 3 Hits

Port Wing x 1
- superficial
Bomb Bay x 1
-bombs, N/E (thanks to a rabbit’s foot)
Flight Deck
-instruments; electrical system
Peckham Points: To infinity and beyond
Repair Time: Not Gonna Happen

Crew Chief: S/Sgt Jay Decker (mod base =1) [Excellent work on repairs +1/2 to mod]
Landing: SPLAT!
E/A Encountered:

E/A TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	3	0	0	2	1
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	6	0	0	0	0
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	0	0	0	0	0
Me-163	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	3	0	0	2	1

Confirmed Claims: 0
Casualties: 10

POW - Capt. Joe Waldron, 1st Lt Dave Arnock, T/Sgt Marcus Malinowski
KIA - 1st Lt Tony Romsberg, 1st Lt Ken Hamilton, T/Sgt Roy Stelmach, M/Sgt Roger Druce, S/Sgt Bill Kadlec, Sgt Frank Dixon, S/Sgt Clay Shipman
Award/ Promotions Requests:

PH Posthumous -1st Lt Tony Romsberg, 1st Lt Ken Hamilton, T/Sgt Roy Stelmach, M/Sgt Roger Druce, S/Sgt Bill Kadlec, Sgt Frank Dixon, S/Sgt Clay Shipman

After Action Report (using QOTS):

"Well, isn't this just peachy!" Druce complained as he jumped out of the Jeep and walked towards their bomber, Incendiary Sue.

"This is as close to a milk run as we're supposed to get for your 25th mission, and I'd be finishing my tour with you guys if it wasn't for those damn life reporters bouncing me for that mission to Creiel."

"Them's the breaks." Romsberg laughed at him. "Serves you right for not being born under a lucky star like me."

" Yeah. We'll be back home and drunk as skunks by the time you fly your next one." Hamilton needled him.

"I can't even think about going home," Dixon said glumly. This is only my first mission."

"Don't worry kid," Shipman said slapping Dixon on the back. "They say the Germans are all but beat and the war will be over by Christmas."

" You guys are talking as if we've already finished our tour. We still have to survive this mission. It's bad luck to be carrying on the way you guys are." Kadlec noted.

"Stop being such a worrywart, Bill. We'll be back before you know it and packing our bags." Stelmach tried to lighten things up with a friendly jab to his ribs.

"I have a bad feeling that we're tempting fate talking like this."

"It'll be okay, you'll see. Time to mount up."

Incendiary Sue came under attack shortly after we had reached the IP. One moment she was there fighting them off, then the next she just seemed to drop out of the sky. Only three chutes were seen.

As reported by crew members of B-24 Hit Parade

[medic1]

B-24J CF-44-40430 HIT PARADE
Pilot: 1st Lt Tim Whitlock
Squadron: 78th Bombardment Squadron (Composite), 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Formation/Position: Middle / Middle
Missions This Bomber: 24
Mission Date: 27 Aug 44
Mission Number: 084
Mission Target: Esbjerk, Denmark - Airfield

CREW	MISSION #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot 1st Lt Tim Whitlock	1	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Andy Murrell	1	0	0	RTD
Bombardier 2nd Lt Tom Garbelsky	1	0	0	RTD
Navigator 2nd Lt Steve Lund	1	0	0	LW/RTD
Engineer S/Sgt Ray Rizzo	1	0	0	RTD
RO S/Sgt Troy Berrick	1	0	0	RTD
Ball Gunner Sgt Johnathon Driscoll	1	0	0	RTD
PWG Sgt Hal Lassen	1	0	0	RTD
SWG Sgt Josh Middleton	1	0	0	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Drew Taginski	1	0	0	RTD

Bomb Run: On
On Target: 20%
B-24 Damage: 4 Hits

Nose x 1
-navigator LW (2)
Port Wing x 1
- superficial (2)
Flight Deck x 1
-superficial (2)
Tail x 1
-superficial (2)
Peckham Points: 8
Repair Time: Overnight

Crew Chief: S/Sgt Jay Decker (mod base =1) [Excellent work on repairs +1/2 to mod]
Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England
E/A Encountered:

E/A TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	2	0	2	0	0
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	1	0	0	0	1
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-210	1	0	0	0	1
Me-163	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	4	0	2	0	2

Confirmed Claims: 0
Casualties: 1

2nd Lt Steve Lund, LW - slight concussion, treated and RTD
Award/ Promotions Requests:

PH 2nd Lt Steve Lund

After Action Report (using QOTS):

Zone 1: We were a nervous bunch flying on our first mission. We had fine weather on take off and all formed up without incident.
Zone 2-7: Nothing to report.

Zone 8: The weather wasn’t ideal, but we were confident that we’d find a hole in the soup. Once we reached the IP, the radio came alive with the shouts of “Fighters!”

Hit Parade shook as our gunners opened fire at targets as they presented themselves, supporting other bombers as we ourselves were left alone.
“There goes Incendiary Sue!” Lassen called out.
There wasn’t any distress call, and she seemed to just start to fall out of the sky.
“Their electrical must be out!” Rizzo yelled.
“Watch for chutes!” I instructed the crew. We only saw three.
Then the fighters cleared out and we had to endure flak for the first time – and it was scary stuff. But we did manage to find a break in the clouds and Garbelsky proved that he had stayed awake in training as he dropped a respectable 20% on target. Pretty decent given the conditions.
INBOUND
After the turn, the flak found us twice, one wounding Lund who claimed that his hard head had deflected a piece shrapnel.
After we came out of it, two waves of fighters appeared to try and block us. The first, one 190 was flamed by a Mustang that was coming at us at 12 low.
Two 109 and a 210 arrived in the second. The 210 was chased off by escorts and Driscoll hit a 109 hard as it climbed towards us. It disappeared down into the clouds and couldn’t be confirmed. Lassen clipped the last 109 at 9 high who returned fire and hit us twice for little damage. He returned for another go but was heavily damaged by Rizzo and disappeared into the clouds.
Zone 7-2: Nothing to report.
Zone 1: After we landed and had finished with the debriefing, I ran over to the hospital to check on Lund. He had a slight concussion but had already been released by the time that I’d gotten there.
Overall, it was a good mission, marred by the loss of Incendiary Sue. Both Rizzo and Driscoll feel cheated, both claiming that there was no way the fighters they had hit could have made it back to their airfields. I told them that they should just be happy that we came back to ours and let it go at that. Besides, it’s damn near impossible to say which fighter was downed by which gunner, or whether bombers or friendly fighters were responsible?

We’re told that the damage to our plane is light and that she’ll be ready to fly tomorrow if needed.

1st Lt Tim Whitlock, Pilot Commanding, Hit Parade, 78th BS

[medic1]

B-17G VICIOUS VIXEN 5-BO-44-22727

Pilot: Capt. Dan Shantz
Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force
Formation/Position: Low/Middle 
Mission Date: 27 Aug 44
Mission Number: 084
Missions This Bomber: 22
Target: Esbjerg, Denmark - Airfield

CREW	Mission #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot Capt. Dan Shantz	29	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt David Shaw	2	0	0	RTD
Bombardier 2nd Lt Paul Resniak	16	3	0	LW
Navigator 2nd Lt Tom Kassel	10	0	0	RTD
Engineer S/Sgt Curt Mercado	16	8	0	RTD
Radio Operator T/Sgt Bruce Woodside	18	0.5	0	RTD
Ball Gunner S/Sgt Ed Kostnaro	16	9	0	RTD
PWG Sgt John Karic	4	0	0	RTD
SWG Sgt Duncan Markland	10	1.5	0	LW/RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit	15	5	0	RTD

Bomb Run: Off
On Target: 5%

B-17 Damage: 4 Hits
Nose x 1
-bombardier, LW (2)
Waist x 3
-superfical x 2 (2)
-RWG, LW (2)
Peckham Points: 06
Repair Time: Overnight
Crew Chief: S/Sgt Manny Manzano, average, modifier +1.

Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England

E/A Encountered:

A/C TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	1	0	0	0	1
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	5	0	1	0	1
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-210	3	0	1	0	2
Me-163	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	9	0	2	0	4

Confirmed Claims: 0
Casualties: 2
2nd Lt Paul Resniak LW-Torn gluteus muscle. RTD 30th AUG 44
Sgt Duncan Markland LW-cut thigh. Treated and RTD
Award/ Promotions Requests:
PH 2nd Lt Paul Resniak
PH Sgt Duncan Markland
Air Medal (2nd Awarded)- 2nd Lt Tom Kassel, Sgt Duncan Markland
Air Medal (3rd Awarded)- Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit

After Action report(using QOTS):
Zone 1: Fine weather on takeoff. No incidents or gremlins were encountered and we formed up and headed out.
Zone 2-7: Nothing to report.

Zone 8: We only encountered one 190 on the way in past the IP, and he was quickly dispatched by some little friends. The flak found our range and we took three hits, one lightly wounding Resniak. By the time that he recovered his seat and managed to salvo our payload, we were almost past the target area. It appears that we only had 1 bomb onto the outer edge of the airfield.

INBOUND

The flak was kinder to us after the turn. At the rally point we encountered two waves of fighters totalling five aircraft, three getting chased off by our escorts with a fourth run off on a second attack. Markland was lightly wounded during the exchange, and Kostnaro scored a probable.
Zone 7: Three 210 came after us, but those boys from the 20th FG were hungry and feasted on two of them. Despite his wound, Lesniak manned the chin turret and claimed the remaining Kraut (denied at interrogation).

Zone 2-2: Nothing to report.

Zone 1: Fired off flares to signal that we had wounded and landed without any issues. 

Not a very productive mission for us. Two wounded and we missed the target. The only positives to take away from this is that both Resniak and Markland will be fine and our damage to the Vixen was light.

Capt. Dan Shantz, Pilot Commanding, 79th BS, 509th BG, 8th AAF

[medic1]

B-17G VICIOUS VIXEN 5-BO-44-22727

Pilot: Capt. Dan Shantz
Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force
Formation/Position: Low/Middle 
Mission Date: 10 Sept 44
Mission Number: 085
Missions This Bomber: 23
Target: Stuttgart, Germany - Marshalling Yard

CREW	Mission #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot Capt. Dan Shantz	30	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt David Shaw	3	0	0	RTD
Bombardier 2nd Lt Paul Resniak	17	3	0	RTD
Navigator 2nd Lt Tom Kassel	11	0	0	RTD
Engineer S/Sgt Curt Mercado	17	8	0	RTD
Radio Operator T/Sgt Bruce Woodside	19	0.5	0	RTD
Ball Gunner S/Sgt Ed Kostnaro	17	9	0	RTD
PWG Sgt John Karic	5	0	0	RTD
SWG Sgt Duncan Markland	11	1.5	0	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit	16	5	0	RTD

Bomb Run: On
On Target: 30%

B-17 Damage: 2 Hits
Starboard Wing x 1
-superficial (1)
Tail x 1
-tail turret inop (20)
Peckham Points: 21
Repair Time: Overnight
Crew Chief: S/Sgt Manny Manzano, average, modifier +1.

Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England

E/A Encountered:

A/C TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	0	0	0	0	0
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	7	0	1	0	4
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-210	0	0	0	0	0
Me-163	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	7	0	1	0	4

Confirmed Claims: 0
Casualties: 0
Award/ Promotions Requests:
Air Medal (1st Award) - Sgt John Karic

After Action report(using QOTS):
Zone 1: It was a dicey take off in the English pea soup. Although challenging, we managed to lift off and rise through it to form up without a collision.
Zone 2: Nothing to report.
Zone 3: Some light inaccurate flak from coastal batteries encountered.
Zone 4-8: Nothing to report.

Zone 9: Two waves of Goring’s Goons greeted us over the target area:
1st wave – Two 190 with one getting run off by a Mustang. The other came in from 12 high and Resniak fired several short bursts with some effect and forced the fighter to break away, damaged. Its fate was unknown and was noted as a probable.
2nd Wave – Driven off by formation fire.
The fighters cleared out as the flak was thrown up to greet us. Resniak was able to drop 30% onto the Marshalling Yard despite the buffeting around we had from it.

INBOUND

The flak was more or less the same intensity to the rally point and struck us twice. A close burst sent shrapnel into the tail section rendering the tail turret useless, narrowly missing Talking Spirit. I ordered him leave the tail and take over the radio room MG.
Five 190 came at us with three getting bounced by our Johnny-on-the-spot escorts. The remaining 190’s swapped pot shots with us and we all went our separate ways.
Shortly after that Mercado observed a strange B-17 trying to join our formation. I’ve heard that the Krauts used captured forts to trail squadrons and report their positions, but this is the first one that we’ve come across. Since the markings weren’t of any unit of the 509, I ordered our gunners to fire on it.
It rapidly left formation.
Zone 8-2: Nothing to report.

Zone 1: The weather had improved by the time that we had returned and we landed safely.

Except for some flak damage, this was a milk run. I can’t say enough about the fine work of our escort’s, the boys of the 20th FG, and told the crew that if they run into any of them, pay for their drinks.

Capt. Dan Shantz, Pilot Commanding, 79th BS,509th BG, 8th AAF
[/div]

[medic1]

B-24J CF-44-40430 HIT PARADE
Pilot: 1st Lt Tim Whitlock
Squadron: 78th Bombardment Squadron (Composite), 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Formation/Position: Low / Middle
Missions This Bomber: 2
Mission Date: 10 Sept 44
Mission Number: 085
Mission Target: Marshalling yard, Stuttgart, Germany

CREW	MISSION #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot 1st Lt Tim Whitlock	2	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Andy Murrell	2	0	0	RTD
Bombardier 2nd Lt Tom Garbelsky	2	0	3	RTD
Navigator 2nd Lt Steve Lund	2	0	0	RTD
Engineer S/Sgt Ray Rizzo	2	0	0	RTD
RO S/Sgt Troy Berrick	2	0	0	RTD
Ball Gunner Sgt Johnathon Driscoll	2	0	0	RTD
PWG Sgt Hal Lassen	2	0	0	RTD
SWG Sgt Josh Middleton	2	0	0	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Drew Taginski	2	0	0	RTD

Bomb Run: On
On Target: 60%
B-24 Damage: 2 Hits
Bomb Bay x 1
-life rafts (10)
Tail x 1
-starboard rudder (5)

Peckham Points: 15

Repair Time: Overnight

Crew Chief: S/Sgt Jay Decker (mod base =1) [Excellent work on repairs +1/2 to mod]
Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England
E/A Encountered:

E/A TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	9	2	1	0	5
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	5	1	0	0	4
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-210	0	0	0	0	0
Me-163	1	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	15	3	1	0	9

Confirmed Claims: 3
2nd Lt Tom Garbelsky 2 x Bf-109; 1 x Fw-190
Casualties: 0

Award/ Promotions Requests: 0
Mission Notes: 0
2nd Lt Tom Garbelsky downs 3 fighters, dropped for 60%

After Action Report (using QOTS):

Zone 1: We were a nervous bunch flying on our first mission. We had fine weather on take off and all formed up without incident.
Zone 2: Nothing to report.

Zone-3: At the coast we had some light flak and shortly after that, two 190. One was chased off by a P-51 while the other tried a head on attack and ran into some devastating fire from Garbelsky, who removed a wing and sent it down in a flaming spiral.

It was a good omen of things to come.
Zone 4: Nothing to report.

Zone 5: A single 109 that was taken out by a little friend before he could try and cause us harm.
Zone 6-7: Nothing to report.
Zone 9:Things heated up in the target zone with two waves of fighters trying to block our way.

1st Wave – One of those 163 rocket fighters roared in at us from 3h at such incredible speed that no one could train a gun on him. He also out distanced a couple of pursuing Mustangs as he managed a hit to the bomb bay area, destroying the life rafts.

2nd Wave – An unseen attacker lobbed a rocket at us that struck in the tail, causing minor damage to the right rudder.

The flak was worrisome but ineffective as far as taking damage from it, but Garbelsky caused some major damage of his own with an outstanding drop of 60!

INBOUND

After the turn, the flak was again an annoyance that had to be endured, as were the two waves of fighters.
1st Wave – Three 109. One was eliminated by a little friend; one was tagged by Lassen but denied later at interrogation and Garbelsky had his second of the day.
2nd Wave – Three 109. Mustangs put the run on two of them, but Garbelsky again hammered home devastating hits to the remaining fighter that forced the pilot to bail out.

Zone 8: Three 190 appeared but all had to scramble away for their lives as the boys from the 20th FG gave chase.

Zone 7: A lone 109 who ran afoul of our vigilante escorts.

Zone 6: Nothing to report.

Zone 5: An unidentified aircraft fired a rocket at us but it passed by harmlessly.

Zone 4: Nothing to report.

Zone 3: Light flak at the coast.

Zone 2: Nothing to report.

Zone 1: The weather was much improved on landing, which was a piece of cake.

All told, it was a very satisfying mission with Garbelsky having a banner day, bagging three Krauts and nailing the target for 60%.

We know they won’t all be this good or easy, but we’ll enjoy the ones that are.

1st Lt Tim Whitlock, Pilot Commanding, Hit Parade, 78th BS

[medic1]

  

B-17G VICIOUS VIXEN 5-BO-44-22727

Pilot: Capt. Dan Shantz
Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force
Formation/Position: Middle/Middle
Mission Date: 9 Oct 44
Mission Number: 086
Missions This Bomber: 24
Target: Stuttgart, Germany - Marshalling Yard

CREW	Mission #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot Capt. Dan Shantz	31	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt David Shaw	4	0	0	RTD
Bombardier 2nd Lt Paul Resniak	18	3	0	RTD
Navigator 2nd Lt Tom Kassel	12	0	0	RTD
Engineer S/Sgt Curt Mercado	18	8	0	RTD
Radio Operator T/Sgt Bruce Woodside	18	0.5	0	RTD
Ball Gunner S/Sgt Ed Kostnaro	18	9	0	RTD
PWG Sgt John Karic	6	0	0	RTD
SWG Sgt Duncan Markland	12	1.5	0	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit	17	5	0	RTD

Bomb Run: N/A DNB – Dropped Leaflets
On Target: 100%

B-17 Damage: 3 Hits
Starboard Wing x 3
-superficial (3)
Peckham Points: 3
Repair Time: Overnight
Crew Chief: S/Sgt Manny Manzano, average, modifier +1.

Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England

E/A Encountered:

A/C TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	2	0	0	0	2
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	4	0	0	0	4
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-210	0	0	0	0	0
Me-163	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	6	0	0	0	6

Confirmed Claims: 0
Casualties: 0
Award/ Promotions Requests:
Air Medal (1st Award) - Sgt John Karic

After Action report(using QOTS):
Zone 1: The typical lousy weather reflected the crew’s mood as we lifted off. Here we are, risking a collision to be glorified letter carriers.
Zone 2: Nothing to report.
Zone 3: Some light inaccurate flak from coastal batteries encountered.
Zone 4-5: Nothing to report.

Zone 6: More flak encountered with a chunk of German metal hitting the right wing.
Zone 7: Nothing to report.
Zone 8: More flak, but it all was off the mark.
Zone 9: Vicious Vixen shook as shrapnel struck the starboard wing.
“The Krauts seem to be a bit perturbed about our visit.” Shaw drawled, “Very rude hosts.”
“They can’t even see us and they still manage to toss this stuff up and hit us.” Shantz commented.
“You wanted to know when we were over Stuttgart, Skipper.” Kassel radioed. “We’ll be over the outskirts – Now.”
“Lesniak. Drop the leaflets now before we get to the target. We’ve come a long way to deliver these things. I don’t want to waste any in the fires that’ll be raging after the bombs hit.”
“Why do I get the feeling that I’m just supplying the German people with some badly needed toilet paper?” Lesniak groused. “Leaflet bombs away.”
Several fighters were massed to oppose us, but some exceptional formation fire kept them at bay. When the flak scattered any other fighters hanging around, we were struck again twice more, both to the right wing. Although the area was overcast, Kassel informed me that his calculations showed that we were now over Stuttgart, and I instructed Lesniak to deliver the mail. I figured that there wasn’t any sense in dropping them in the target area and have them get burnt up. That would just defeat the purpose of the whole thing.
INBOUND

The flak was more or less the same intensity to the rally point but we came through it all right. Two 109 turned from heroes of the Reich to cowards of the county as our little friends tore into them.
Zone 8: A 190 dared to test our fighter screen, and found them not lacking in their diligence.
Zone 7: Encountered another flying goon of Herr Goering that met a sad end thanks to a Mustang rider.

Zone 6-4: Nothing to report.
Zone 3: Two 190 showed up, but the boys of the 20th FG were true to their word of staying with us all the way, and gave them the bum’s rush.
Zone 2: Nothing to report.

Zone 1: We landed without a hitch and made our way to our hardstand.

This was almost a mirror image of last mission - except for some light flak damage, this was a milk run. And again, as last mission, I can’t say enough about the fine work of our escort’s.

Capt. Dan Shantz, Pilot Commanding, 79th BS,509th BG, 8th AAF

[medic1]

B-24J CF-44-40430 HIT PARADE
Pilot: 1st Lt Tim Whitlock
Squadron: 78th Bombardment Squadron (Composite), 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Formation/Position: High / Middle
Missions This Bomber: 3
Mission Date: 7 Oct 1944
Mission Number: 0856
Mission Target: Schweinfurt, Germany - Ball Bearing Plant & Cycle and Clutch Works

CREW	MISSION #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot 1st Lt Tim Whitlock	3	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Andy Murrell	3	0	0	RTD
Bombardier 2nd Lt Tom Garbelsky	3	3	0	RTD
Navigator 2nd Lt Steve Lund	3	0	0	RTD
Engineer S/Sgt Ray Rizzo	3	0	0	RTD
RO S/Sgt Troy Berrick	3	0	0	RTD
Ball Gunner Sgt Johnathon Driscoll	3	0	0	RTD
PWG Sgt Hal Lassen	3	0	0	RTD
SWG Sgt Josh Middleton	3	0	0	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Drew Taginski	3	0	0	RTD

Bomb Run: On
On Target: 30%
B-24 Damage: 3 Hits
Nose x 1
-auto pilot (10)
Waist x 2
-superficial (14)
Peckham Points: 14
Repair Time: Overnight

Crew Chief: S/Sgt Jay Decker (mod base =1) [Excellent work on repairs +1/2 to mod]
Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England
E/A Encountered:

E/A TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	10	0	1	0	8
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	2	0	0	0	2
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	2	0	0	0	2
He-162	1	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	15	0	1	0	12

Confirmed Claims: 0
Award/ Promotions Requests: 0
Mission Notes: 0
Squadron led by a Pathfinder. Dropped “window,” leaflets and bombs.

After Action Report (using QOTS):

Zone 1: We’re getting used to taking off in the perpetual lousy weather, and we formed up without any incidents.

Zone 2-5: Nothing to report.

Zone 6: At the coast we had some light flak that sent some shrapnel into the auto pilot and rendering it useless. Good thing that we’re relying on a pathfinder to toggle our payload.
Zone 7: Nothing to report.
Zone 8: More flak encountered with nothing hitting us. What did hit us was one of those new-fangled jets the Germans have. While our escorts chased off two 109, they simply couldn’t match the speed of the He-162 that made a beeline for us. It managed two hits into our waist section, narrowly missing both Lassen and Middleton. All gunners tried to get a bead on the jet, but nothing doing. I hope that we don’t run into any more of them in the future!
Zone 9: Three 109 came at us at the IP. Two came in abreast in frontal attacks with one falling to a P-51 on the way in. The other missed us and moved off while the remaining 109, flown by an obviously green pilot, made an attempt at our 6 high. He ran into a hail of lead from both Taginski and Rizzo, dropping down into the clouds below (listed as a probable). The flak cleared away the fighters and the waist gunners went back to tossing leaflets. Garbelsky toggled our payload on cue with the pathfinder and estimated 30% on target.

INBOUND

After the turn, the flak was again an annoyance, as was a single 190 that turned into a nonthreat thanks to a little friend. Both waist gunners later informed me that they were so busy trying to get all of the leaflet’s outs (which we didn’t) that they ignored the 190, instead trusting the rest of the crew to alert them when we had incoming.

Zone 8: Some harmless light flak. The waist gunners continued to toss out leaflets whenever we were over population centers.

Zone 7: More light, ineffective flak encountered, as were two 109 that were engaged by Mustangs.

Zone 6: Little friends again played good Sheppard and chased off a lone 190.

Zone 5: Nothing to report.

Zone 4: Two 410 that never had a chance to open up on us as they were engaged by escorts. They were followed by three 109 that experienced the same outcome.

Zone 3-2: Nothing to report.

Zone 1: The weather was much improved on landing, which was a piece of cake.

1st Lt Tim Whitlock, Pilot Commanding, Hit Parade, 78th BS

[medic1]

B-17G VICIOUS VIXEN 5-BO-44-22727

Pilot: Capt. Dan Shantz
Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force
Formation/Position: Low/Middle
Mission Date: 6 Nov 44
Mission Number: 087
Missions This Bomber: 25
Target: Bottrup, Germany - Synthetic Oil Refinery

CREW	Mission #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot Capt. Dan Shantz	32	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt David Shaw	5	0	0	RTD
Bombardier 2nd Lt Paul Resniak	19	3	0	RTD
Navigator 2nd Lt Tom Kassel	13	0	0	RTD
Engineer S/Sgt Curt Mercado	19	8	0	RTD
Radio Operator T/Sgt Bruce Woodside	19	0.5	0	RTD
Ball Gunner S/Sgt Ed Kostnaro	19	9	0	RTD
PWG Sgt John Karic	7	0	0	RTD
SWG Sgt Duncan Markland	13	1.5	0	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit	18	5	0	RTD

Bomb Run: DNB
B-17 Damage: 5 Hits

Superficial x 1 (1)
Nose x 2
- superficial (1)
-bomb controls (10)
Radio Room x 1
-superficial (1)
Tail x 1
-turrett/guns inop (30)
Peckham Points: 43
Repair Time: Overnight
Crew Chief: S/Sgt Manny Manzano, average, modifier +1.

Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England

E/A Encountered:

A/C TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	1	0	0	0	1
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	0	0	0	0	0
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	3	0	0	0	2
Me-163	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	4	0	0	0	3

Confirmed Claims: 0
Casualties: 0
Award/ Promotions Requests:
Air Medal (1st Award) - 2nd Lt David Shaw

After Action report(using QOTS):
Zone 1: Once again we lifted off into the gloomy English skies, but all managed to form up without incident.
Zone 2: Other than the formation flying a tight box, nothing to report.
Zone 3-4: Nothing to report.
Zone 5: Some light flak encountered without any damage incurred to plane or crew.

Zone 6: We had a lone 109 appear at the IP, but he was chased off by a couple of thunderbolts.
The flak was intense and knocked out the tail guns and bomb controls, robbing Lesniak of the ability to toggle our payload with the pathfinder.
INBOUND

The flak wasn’t as severe on the way out, but the damage had been done. Regardless, we able to keep pace with the rest of the squadron despite still laden with our payload.

Three 410 came at us after we had cleared the flak field with two taken out by P-47’s. The remaining Kraut came in at 12 low and put a couple of holes in us. He swung around for another try but an escort had other ideas and ended his flying career.
Zone 5: Sweaty Betty announced they were dropping out of formation due to an oxygen problem. They had been flying as Tail End Charlie, and, despite our lack of tail guns, were confident that we could cover the formations rear and fell back into the vacated position.
Zone 4-2: Nothing to report.

Zone 1: We fired off some yellow flares to let the tower know that we had a problem. We let everyone else land first before we came in with our payload intact. Obviously it ended well for all concerned.

It was disappointing that we weren’t able to bomb the target, but the Vixen will be ready to try again come whenever the next mission is.

Capt. Dan Shantz, Pilot Commanding, 79th BS,509th BG, 8th AAF

[medic1]

B-24J CF-44-40430 HIT PARADE
Pilot: 1st Lt Tim Whitlock
Squadron: 78th Bombardment Squadron (Composite), 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Formation/Position: Middle / Middle
Missions This Bomber: 4
Mission Date: 7 Oct 1944
Mission Number: 087
Mission Target: Schweinfurt, Germany - Ball Bearing Plant & Cycle and Clutch Works

CREW	MISSION #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot 1st Lt Tim Whitlock	4	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Andy Murrell	4	0	0	RTD
Bombardier 2nd Lt Tom Garbelsky	4	3	1	RTD
Navigator 2nd Lt Steve Lund	4	0	0	RTD
Engineer S/Sgt Ray Rizzo	4	0	1	RTD
RO S/Sgt Troy Berrick	4	0	0	RTD
Ball Gunner Sgt Johnathon Driscoll	4	0	1	RTD
PWG Sgt Hal Lassen	4	0	1	RTD
SWG Sgt Josh Middleton	4	0	0	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Drew Taginski	4	0	0	KIA

Bomb Run: On
On Target: 30%
B-24 Damage: 11 Hits
Superficial x 2 (4)
Port Wing X 3
-superficial x 2 (4)
-aileron (10)
-#2 engine (20)
Starboard Wing X 1
-flap (10)
Bomb Bay X 2
-superficial x 2 (4)
Waist x 2
-port rudder (5)
Tail x 1
-gunner KIA (10)
Peckham Points: 67
Repair Time: Overnight

Crew Chief: S/Sgt Jay Decker (mod base =1) [Excellent work on repairs +1/2 to mod]
Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England
E/A Encountered:

E/A TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	0	0	0	0	0
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	11	4	0	0	5
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	0	0	0	0	0
He-162	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	11	4	0	0	5

Confirmed Claims: 4
2nd Lt Tom Garbelsky 1 x Fw-190
S/Sgt Ray Rizzo 1 x Fw-190
Sgt Jonathan Driscoll 1 x Fw-190
Sgt Hal Lassen 1 x Fw-190
Casualties: 1
Sgt Drew Taginski KIA; decapitated
Award/ Promotions Requests: 1
PH Posthumous Sgt Drew Taginski

After Action Report (using QOTS):

Zone 1: Another mission, another takeoff in dismal conditions. Everyone made it up through the soup and we were off to bomb Germany.

Zone 2-4: Nothing to report.

Zone 5: At the German border the flak guns popped off and we were rocked by a devastating hit near the tail which removed Taginski’s head, our first crew casualty. I ordered Middleton to man the tail guns and Lassen to cover both waist MGs.
Just after the flak, a 190 attempted to take a run at us but couldn’t make his way past our escorts.
Zone 6: Two waves of fighters swarmed us at the IP. Out of the eight of them, only two were deterred by our escorts. Garbelsky, Rizzo and Driscoll each claimed the three leftovers of the 1st wave. In the second, one fighter made repeated runs that caused only minor damage, but his luck ran out when Lassen set him on fire, forcing the pilot to bail out.
The flak was the most terrifying that we’d encountered in our short time flying combat missions. Of the four hits we suffered, the #2 engine was struck but continued to function and an aileron was flapping uselessly and eventually flew off to fall somewhere, hopefully causing some Kraut below some aggravation if not an injury.
Garbelsky kept his eye on the pathfinder and dropped on Que for 30%, or so we’ve been told.

INBOUND

After the turn, the flak was a mere annoyance rather than the heavy carpet we had come through getting to the target. Two waves of fighters were waiting beyond it, eager to rip into us, but both deterred by our little friends.

Zone 5: Other than some harmless flak, nothing to report.
Zone 4-2: Nothing to report.

Zone 1: The weather was still dismal at Sudbury, but we landed without any hiccups and made our way to our hardstand.

The mission cost us Taginski, a cheerful kid from some small-town USA. We’ll miss his humour and jokes. Now I have to write his young wife and folks. I hope to God I’ll never have to write another after today, but somehow, I doubt it.

I’ve already tapped some fresh from the States recruit for Tag’s replacement, a Sgt Shane Delano.

1st Lt Tim Whitlock, Pilot Commanding, Hit Parade, 78th BS

[medic1]

B-17G VICIOUS VIXEN 5-BO-44-22727

Pilot: Capt. Dan Shantz
Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force
Formation/Position: High/Middle
Mission Date: 10 Nov 44
Mission Number: 088
Missions This Bomber: 26
Target: Cologne, Germany - Butzweilerhof Airfield

CREW	Mission #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot Capt. Dan Shantz	34	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt David Shaw	7	0	0	RTD
Bombardier 2nd Lt Paul Resniak	21	3	0	RTD
Navigator 2nd Lt Tom Kassel	15	0	0	RTD
Engineer S/Sgt Curt Mercado	21	8	0	RTD
Radio Operator T/Sgt Bruce Woodside	21	0.5	0	RTD
Ball Gunner S/Sgt Ed Kostnaro	21	9	0	RTD
PWG Sgt John Karic	9	0	0	RTD
SWG Sgt Duncan Markland	15	1.5	0	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit	20	5	0	RTD

Bomb Run: On
On Target: 50%
B-17 Damage: 3 Hits

Starboard Wing x 2
-wing root (25)
-flap         (10)
Tail x 1
-superficial (1)
Other Damage
-top turret & ball guns froze up and broke (40)
Peckham Points: 76
Repair Time: Overnight
Crew Chief: S/Sgt Manny Manzano, average, modifier +1.

Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England

E/A Encountered:

A/C TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	5	0	0	0	5
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	0	0	0	0	0
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	0	0	0	0	0
Me-163	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	5	0	0	0	5

Confirmed Claims: 0
Casualties: 0
Award/ Promotions Requests:
Air Medal (1st Award) - 2nd Lt David Shaw

After Action report(using QOTS):
Zone 1: We had a smooth take off without incident and climbed through the dark English sky to the bright blue above it.
Zone 2-5: It was a quiet flight until some light flak as we entered German airspace.
Zone 3-4: Nothing to report.
Zone 6: As we neared the target area, flying at 26,000 ft over Germany in November, it was cold! We could feel it through our electric gloves and socks. The thermometer on the cockpit instrument panel read -40 degrees, and test firing all weapons, it was revealed that both the top and ball MG’s had frozen up.
Thankfully, our little friends compensated for our diminished firepower by chasing off three 109 that were attempting a run from the squadron’s rear.
The flak then came bursting up from the clouds, but it wasn’t our time yet and Lesniak dropped on Que with an outstanding effort of 50%!

INBOUND

The flak still couldn’t find us on the way out, and two 109 didn’t fair much better as they were tripped up by Mustangs.

Zone 5: Flak is a wild card in the air war, much like a single bullet in a game of Russian Roulette. And we had been through some pretty hairy stuff in and out of the target, but Lady Luck landed on the side of the Germans at the border and we took hits to a wing root, tail and lost a flap as well to it.
Zone 4-2: Nothing to report.

Zone 1: We landed as we had taken off, without incident – but in much better weather.

Overall, a satisfying mission. Lesniak again exceling at his profession. I’m going to have to get him a 48 hour pass.

XO Capt. Dan Shantz, Pilot Commanding, 79th BS,509th BG, 8th AAF

[medic1]

B-24J CF-44-40430 HIT PARADE
Pilot: 1st Lt Tim Whitlock
Squadron: 78th Bombardment Squadron (Composite), 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Formation/Position: Low / Middle
Missions This Bomber: 5
Mission Date: 10 Nov 1944
Mission Number: 088
Mission Target: Schweinfurt, Germany - Ball Bearing Plant & Cycle and Clutch Works

CREW	MISSION #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot 1st Lt Tim Whitlock	5	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Andy Murrell	5	0	0	RTD
Bombardier 2nd Lt Tom Garbelsky	5	4	0	SW/IH
Navigator 2nd Lt Steve Lund	5	0	0	RTD
Engineer S/Sgt Ray Rizzo	5	1	0	RTD
RO S/Sgt Troy Berrick	5	0	0	RTD
Ball Gunner Sgt Johnathon Driscoll	5	1	0	RTD
PWG Sgt Hal Lassen	5	1	0	RTD
SWG Sgt Josh Middleton	1	0	0	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Shane Delano	4	0	0	RTD

Bomb Run: DNB
On Target: 0%
B-24 Damage: 1 Hits
Nose x 1
-bombardier SW (5)
Peckham Points: 5Repair Time: Overnight

Crew Chief: S/Sgt Jay Decker (mod base =1)
Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England
E/A Encountered:

E/A TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	0	0	0	0	0
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	2	0	0	0	2
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	3	0	0	0	3
He-162	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	5	0	0	0	5

Confirmed Claims: 0
Casualties: 1
2nd Lt Tom Garbelsky – Broken rib, inflamed heart. IH
Award/ Promotions Requests: 0
AM (1st Awarded) 1st Lt Tim Whitlock, 2nd Lt Andy Murrell, 2nd Lt Tom Garbelsky, 2nd Lt Steve Lund, S/Sgt Ray Rizzo, S/Sgt Troy Barrick, Sgt Jonathan Driscoll, Sgt Hal Lassen, Sgt Josh Middleton

PH 2nd Lt Tom Garbelsky

After Action Report (using QOTS):

Zone 1: Once again we took off into the all too common dark skies of an English morning. Still, we managed to formed up without any complications.

Zone 2-4: Nothing to report.

Zone 5: The German’s put up some light flak which didn’t pose any problems.
Zone 6: Two waves of fighters tried to take runs at us, but our Mustangs didn’t come along for a sight seeing tour and quickly had them on the run.
The flak posed stiffer resistance, and on the bomb run Hit Parade was rocked seconds before the Pathfinder dropped. Garbelsky collapsed while Lund was thrown from his seat. Before Lund could react, we had passed the target.

INBOUND

After the turn, the flak continued in its intensity, but less accurate, Garbelsky was in a bad way and we still had our bombs onboard. One wave of fighters was driven off by formation fire.

Zone 5: Other than some harmless flak, nothing to report.
Zone 4-2: Nothing to report other than the jettisoning of our payload over the channel.

Zone 1: The weather was much improved, but our mood hadn’t as we fired off red flares over the field. We were met by an ambulance upon landing and we watched mutely as Garbelsky was whisked away to the hospital. His war was over and we had lost our second man in two missions.

Our new bombardier is 2nd Lt Nate Turcotte. We can only hope that he proves as competent as the man he’s replacing.

1st Lt Tim Whitlock, Pilot Commanding, Hit Parade, 78th BS

[medic1]

B-17G VICIOUS VIXEN 5-BO-44-22727

Pilot: Capt. Dan Shantz
Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force
Formation/Position: Middle/Middle
Mission Date: 23 Dec 44
Mission Number: 089
Missions This Bomber: 27
Target: Ehrang, Germany - Railroad Marshalling Yard

CREW	Mission #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot Capt. Dan Shantz	35	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt David Shaw	8	0	0	RTD
Bombardier 2nd Lt Paul Resniak	22	3	0	RTD
Navigator 2nd Lt Tom Kassel	16	0	0	RTD
Engineer S/Sgt Curt Mercado	22	8	0	RTD
Radio Operator T/Sgt Bruce Woodside	22	0.5	0	RTD
Ball Gunner S/Sgt Ed Kostnaro	22	9	0	RTD
PWG Sgt John Karic	10	0	0	RTD
SWG Sgt Duncan Markland	16	1.5	0	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit	21	5	0	RTD

Bomb Run: On
On Target: 20%
B-17 Damage: 1Hit

Starboard Wing x 1
-superficial (1)
Peckham Points: 1
Repair Time: Overnight
Crew Chief: S/Sgt Manny Manzano, average, modifier +1.
Pre-Mission Prep status: (2D6=10; No Effects this mission)

Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England

E/A Encountered:

A/C TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	2	0	0	1	1
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	3	0	0	0	3
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	0	0	0	0	0
Me-163	1	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	6	0	0	1	4

Confirmed Claims: 0
Casualties: 0
Award/ Promotions Requests:
OLC to AM Captain Dan Shantz
AM (2nd Awarded) - Sgt John Karic
Promotion Review - Sgt John Karic

After Action report(using QOTS):
Zone 1: We took off into the ugly rainy sky and formed up, then headed for Germany.
Zone 2-5: Nothing to report.

Zone 6: We encountered another of those Nazi wonder weapons, a 163. It rocketed towards us easily out distancing our escorts and was so lightning fast the gunners had no chance of drawing a bead on him. His great speed actually worked against him as he was unable to properly target us and he flashed by only having put a hole in a wing.

The flak was ineffective and we dropped on the pathfinder’s mark, for about 20%.

INBOUND

The flak still couldn’t find us on the way out, and two 190 didn’t have any success either as they were both chased off by Mustangs.
A second wave of two 109 saw only one making it past our little friends, and he was damaged by some accurate fire from the nose. It might have made the Kraut a little jumpy as his burst was well off the mark.

Zone 5: A 190 came along, but again, our P-51’s were all over him and he went down in flames.
Zone 4-2: Nothing to report.

Zone 1: We returned safely, landing as we had taken off, in what seems to be perpetual dark clouds and rain.

Except for a few anxious seconds with a 163, this was almost a milk run. The ground crew will be knocking off early tonight.

XO Capt. Dan Shantz, Pilot Commanding, 79th BS,509th BG, 8th AF

[medic1]

B-24J CF-44-40430 HIT PARADE
Pilot: 1st Lt Tim Whitlock
Squadron: 78th Bombardment Squadron (Composite), 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Formation/Position: High / Middle
Missions This Bomber: 6
Mission Date: 23 Dec 1944
Mission Number: 089
Mission Target: Ehrang, Germany - Railroad Marshalling Yard

CREW	MISSION #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot 1st Lt Tim Whitlock	6	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Andy Murrell	6	0	0	RTD
Bombardier 2nd Lt Tom Garbelsky	1	0	0	RTD
Navigator 2nd Lt Steve Lund	6	0	0	RTD
Engineer S/Sgt Ray Rizzo	6	1	0	RTD
RO S/Sgt Troy Berrick	6	0	0	RTD
Ball Gunner Sgt Johnathon Driscoll	6	1	0	RTD
PWG Sgt Hal Lassen	6	1	0	RTD
SWG Sgt Josh Middleton	6	0	0	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Shane Delano	2	0	0	RTD

Bomb Run: On
On Target: 30%
B-24 Damage: 2 Hits
Port Wing x 2
-superficial (2)
-wing root (25)
Peckham Points: 27
Repair Time: Overnight

Crew Chief: S/Sgt Jay Decker (mod base =1)
Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England
E/A Encountered:

E/A TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	2	0	0	0	1
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	3	0	1	0	2
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	2	0	0	0	2
He-162	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	1	0	1	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	8	0	2	0	5

Confirmed Claims: 0
Casualties: 0
Award/ Promotions Requests: 0

After Action Report (using QOTS):

Zone 1: Another mission, another take off in ugly English weather. When this war is over, I’m going to live somewhere hot and sunny.

Zone 2-5: Nothing to report.

Zone 6: Two waves of fighters opposed us at the IP. The first was a 410 that never made it past our escorts. The second had two 109 and a 262. One 109 was forced to turn away by a P-51 while the other made an ineffective pass. The 262 roared in and hit the port wing root. He circled ang came in from 12 high. Somehow, Rizzo was able to get a burst of fire into him, and smoke emitted from its port engine. The Jet immediately veered off and made for the clouds. We don’t know enough about these new fighters to say that his damage was enough to take him down, so it gets listed as a probable.

Our newby toggler was able to ignore the flak and dropped on the Pathfinder, hitting for about 30%.

INBOUND

After the turn and once past the flak, two 190 and a 410 greeted us. After our P-51’s had their fun, we only had to deal with one 190. He came in at 1:30 low and was heavily damaged from the accurate fire from the ball turret. The fighter dropped through the clouds, fate unknown.
Shortly after that encounter, another 190 braved our escorts – and failed.Zone 5: Other than some harmless flak, nothing to report.

Zone 5-2: Nothing to report other than the jettisoning of our payload over the channel.

Zone 1: Landed safely.

S/Sgt Decker has his ground crew already working on Hit Parades damaged wing and insures me that she’ll be ready to fly tomorrow if need be.

1st Lt Tim Whitlock, Pilot Commanding, Hit Parade, 78th BS

[medic1]

B-24J CF-44-40430 HIT PARADE
Pilot: 1st Lt Tim Whitlock
Squadron: 78th Bombardment Squadron (Composite), 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Formation/Position: Middle / Middle
Missions This Bomber: 7
Mission Date: 24 Dec 1944
Mission Number: 090
Mission Target: Frankfort, Germany - Landing Field

CREW	MISSION #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot 1st Lt Tim Whitlock	7	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Andy Murrell	7	0	0	RTD
Bombardier 2nd Lt Nate Turcotte	2	0	1	RTD
Navigator 2nd Lt Steve Lund	7	0	0	RTD
Engineer S/Sgt Ray Rizzo	7	1	0	RTD
RO S/Sgt Troy Berrick	7	0	0	RTD
Ball Gunner Sgt Johnathon Driscoll	7	1	0	RTD
PWG Sgt Hal Lassen	7	1	0	RTD
SWG Sgt Josh Middleton	7	0	0	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Shane Delano	3	0	0	RTD

Bomb Run: DNB
On Target: 00%
B-24 Damage: 4 Hits
Nose x 1
-bombardier equipment (10)
Starboard Wing x 3
-superficial (2)
-flap inoperable (10)
-aileron inoperable (10)
Peckham Points: 32
Repair Time: Overnight

Crew Chief: S/Sgt Jay Decker (mod base =1)
Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England
E/A Encountered:

E/A TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	3	1	0	0	1
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	0	0	0	0	0
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	0	0	0	0	0
He-162	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	3	1	0	0	1

Confirmed Claims: 1
2nd Lt Nate Turcotte 1 x Bf-109
Casualties: 0
Award/ Promotions Requests: 0

After Action Report (using QOTS):

Zone 1: Taking off into the gloomy skies only added to our dark mood of flying a mission on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, the Krauts have proved by their push into the Ardennes that they are interested in a Christmas Truce, so this trip really is necessary.

Zone 2-6: Nothing to report other than some light flak.

Zone 7: At the IP, an undetected Kraut fired a rocket at us the hit the right wing and removed the flap.

Then the flak destroyed our bombing controls, denying Turcotte the ability to drop on the Pathfinders mark. We tried to drop manually, but found ourselves well past the target and I decided to refrain from dropping on helpless civilians. I, at least have a little bit of Christmas spirit and goodwill to my fellow man during the season, even if the Krauts don’t.

INBOUND

After the turn, the flak hit the right wing twice more, rendering the aileron useless to add to the lack of a flap.
Three 109 roared towards us with one getting chased off by a little friend. Turcotte took out his frustration of not having dropped our payload on a hapless green pilot coming in at 12 high. His fire raked the 109 and sent it down in a spiral, trailing a long tail of smoke and flames.
Zone 6: We dropped out of formation due to the weight of our undropped ordnance. Some flak gunners fired a few shells but missed, and thankfully didn’t attract any roaming fighters.

Zone 5-2: Nothing to report other than we successfully dropped our payload harmlessly into the drink.

Zone 1: Our landing caused a bit of drama as we overcompensated for the lack of a starboard flak and aileron (I rolled a 3) and we pulled a ground loop.

A disappointing outing that left no Christmas cheer. The only bright spot was Turcott downing a 109. All of my Christmas spirit will be in a 26 oz bottle tonight.

1st Lt Tim Whitlock, Pilot Commanding, Hit Parade, 78th BS

[medic1]

B-17G VICIOUS VIXEN 5-BO-44-22727

Pilot: Capt. Dan Shantz
Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force
Formation/Position: Low/Middle
Mission Date: 24 Dec 44
Mission Number: 090
Missions This Bomber: 27
Target: Frankfort, Germany - Landing Field

CREW	Mission #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot Capt. Dan Shantz	36	0	0	RTD
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt David Shaw	9	0	0	RTD
Bombardier 2nd Lt Paul Resniak	23	3	.5	RTD
Navigator 2nd Lt Tom Kassel	17	0	0	RTD
Engineer S/Sgt Curt Mercado	23	8	.5	RTD
Radio Operator T/Sgt Bruce Woodside	23	0.5	0	RTD
Ball Gunner S/Sgt Ed Kostnaro	23	9	0	RTD
PWG Sgt John Karic	11	0	0	RTD
SWG Sgt Duncan Markland	17	1.5	0	RTD
Tail Gunner Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit	22	5	0	RTD

Bomb Run: On
On Target: 60%
B-17 Damage: 1Hit

Waist x 1
-right MG inoperable (10)
Peckham Points: 10
Repair Time: Overnight
Crew Chief: S/Sgt Manny Manzano, average, modifier +1.
Pre-Mission Prep status: (No Mechanical Issues this mission)

Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England

E/A Encountered:

A/C TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	5	1	1	0	3
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	2	0	0	0	2
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	1	0	0	0	1
Me-163	1	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	9	1	0	0	6

Confirmed Claims: 1
1st Lt Paul Lesniak & T/Sgt Curt Mercado each awarded ½ credit Bf-109
Casualties: 0
Award/ Promotions Requests: 0

After Action report(using QOTS):
Zone 1: We took off into another gloomy English sky and formed up, then headed for Germany.
Zone 2-6: Except for some light flak it was a pretty quiet flight.

Zone 7: Goering’s Goons showed that they still had a fighting spirit rather than Christmas spirit as three waves greeted us.

1st wave – Two 109 and a 410 that were all chased off by our P-51 escorts.

2nd wave – We must be jinxed! We encountered our third rocket fighter in three missions. The 163 zoomed by so quick, even he couldn’t adjust his fire accordingly and zipped off for home.

3rd wave – Fended off by formation fire.

The flak popped off and the fighters cleared out. I could hear Lesniak grumbling about why the need for a Pathfinder when he could clearly see the target himself. Despite his misgiving of no longer being a bombardier, he dropped with the Pathfinder for an estimated 60% and we turned for the rally point.
INBOUND
The flak sent a small chunk of German steel into our waist section and rendered our right MG useless when it struck the barrel and bent it.

Another two waves of Goering’s Flying Goon Squad greeted us after the flak field.

1st wave – Three 109 with Mustangs tackling one that was clearly flown by an Ace. Lesniak and Mercado concentrated their fire on another coming in from 12 level, their tracers slamming into him, raking the engine area. The 109 shuddered noticeably and, probably as an instinctive reaction, the pilot immediately yoked into a starboard turn presenting a larger view of his exposed undercarriage. The gunners continued to pump rounds into him and he exploded in flame and a wing snapped off resulting in him spiraling down out of control.

There’s one Kraut that won’t be home for Christmas.

Kostanaro took on the last 109 and saw his burst knock some pieces off. The fighter flashed by and was picked up by Talking Spirit as it past the tail, losing more pieces. It’s doubtful that he made it home for Christmas either.

2nd wave – Two 190 that the target hungry boys of the 459th FG feasted on.
Zone 6: A little light flak that posed no problems.

Zone 5-2: Nothing to report.

Zone 1: We returned safely, and while the landing was in what seems to be perpetual dark clouds and rain, our mood was bright and cheerful. We had a successful drop, bagged a Kraut, another listed as probable and the ground crew had little to do but routine maintenance.

We gave the ground crew their Christmas present by pitching in and getting the Vixen ready for her next mission, then all knocked off for some bottled Christmas spirits.

XO Capt. Dan Shantz, Pilot Commanding, 79th BS,509th BG, 8th AF

[medic1]

B-17G Belle of the Brawl (B-17G-90BO 43-38476)

Pilot: 1st Lt Beau Bellows
Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force
Formation/Position: Low/Middle
Mission Date: 24 Dec 44
Mission Number: 090
Missions This Bomber: 27
Target: Frankfort, Germany - Landing Field

CREW	Mission #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot 1st Lt Beau Bellows	1	0	0	POW
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Fred Brackett	1	0	0	POW
Bombardier 2nd Lt Bart Hudson	1	0	1	POW
Navigator 2nd Lt Clifford Lafferts	1	0	0	POW
Engineer T/Sgt George Capparelli	2	0	0	POW
Radio Operator S/Sgt Edward Vasquez	1	0	0	POW
Ball Gunner Sgt Simon Rickard	2	0	0	POW
PWG S/Sgt Paul Haggerty	2	0	0	POW
SWG Sgt Karl Holzer	1	0	0	POW
Tail Gunner S/Sgt Chris Gatto	1	0	0	POW

Bomb Run: DNB
On Target: 0%
B-17 Damage: 5Hits

Superficial x 1
PC x 1
-window N/E
Port Wing x 1
-#2 engine out and feathered
Starboard Wing x 1
-inboard fuel tank; fire
Tail x 1
-tailplane
Peckham Points: To infinity and beyond
Repair Time: Never. Collected as scrap and used in the German war effort.
Crew Chief: S/Sgt Manny Manzano, average, modifier +1.
Pre-Mission Prep status: (No Mechanical Issues this mission)

Landing: More of a splat

E/A Encountered:

A/C TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	0	0	0	0	0
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	2	1	0	0	1
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	1	0	0	0	0
Me-163	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	0	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	3	1	0	0	1

Confirmed Claims: 1
1st Lt Bart Hudson 1 x Fw-190
Casualties: 0
Award/ Promotions Requests: 0

After Action report(using QOTS):

On the bomb run, Belle of the Brawl was observed to take a flak hit to a fuel tank that resulted in the wing catching fire. The pilot appeared to keep control as the crew bailed out and ten chutes were counted.

As reported by XO Capt. Dan Shantz, 79th BS

[medic1]

B-17G VICIOUS VIXEN 5-BO-44-22727

Pilot: Capt. Dan Shantz
Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force
Formation/Position: High/Middle
Mission Date: 15 Jan 45
Mission Number: 091
Missions This Bomber: 29
Target: Ingolstadt, Germany - Marshalling Yard

CREW	Mission #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot Capt. Dan Shantz	37	0	0	LW
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt David Shaw	10	0	0	SW/IH
Bombardier 2nd Lt Paul Lesniak	24	3.5	0	RTD
Navigator 2nd Lt Tom Kassel	18	0	0	RTD
Engineer S/Sgt Curt Mercado	24	8.5	0	RTD
Radio Operator T/Sgt Bruce Woodside	24	0.5	.5	RTD
Ball Gunner S/Sgt Ed Kostnaro	24	9	0	RTD
PWG Sgt John Karic	12	0	0	LW
SWG Sgt Duncan Markland	18	1.5	.5	SW/IH
Tail Gunner Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit	23	5	1	RTD

Bomb Run: On
On Target: 30%
B-17 Damage: 24Hits

Superficial x 7 (7)
Nose x 2
-superficial (1)
-SC MG inoperable (10)
Pilot’s Compartment x 2
-pilot & co-pilot wounded (7)
-top turret MG inoperable (20)
Port Wing x 3
-superficial (15)
-#2 engine out (35)
-aileron, N/E (5)
Radio Room x 1
-superficial (1)
Bomb Bay x 2
-superficial (1)
-doors, superficial (1)
Waist x 1
-both gunners wounded (7)
Tail x 6
-superficial x 3 (3)
-gunners suit heat out (10)
-turret guns inoperable (20)
-turret guns, N/E (5)
Peckham Points: 148
Repair Time: 2 Days
Crew Chief: S/Sgt Manny Manzano, average, modifier +1.
Pre-Mission Prep status: (No effects this mission)

Landing: Safe at Sudbury, England

E/A Encountered:

A/C TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	7	0	1	1	1
Bf-110	4	0	0	0	3
Fw-190	4	2	1	0	1
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	0	0	0	0	0
Me-163	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	1	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	16	2	2	1	5

Confirmed Claims: 1
S/Sgt Charlie Talking Spirit 1 x Fw-190
M/Sgt Bruce Woodside & Sgt Duncan Markland each awarded ½ Fw-190 credit
Casualties: 4
Capt. Dan Shantz LW - foot grazed, treated & RTD
2nd Lt David Shaw SW - cracked temporal bone. Two weeks hospital then IH
Sgt John Karic LW - torn flexor muscle. 1 week & RTD 22 Jan 45
Sgt Duncan Markland SW - broken scapula. Four weeks hospital then IH
Award/ Promotions Requests:
PH - Capt. Dan Shantz, 2nd Lt David Shaw, Sgt John Karic, Sgt Duncan Markland
AM (2nd Award) 2nd Lt David Shaw

After Action report(using QOTS):
Zone 1: We had an ugly take off in a sleet filled sky. It was a wonder that we didn’t have any accidents and were able to find each other and form up.
Zone 2-7: Nothing to report.

Zone 8: Goering’s Goons appeared in four 190. Our escorts only managed to deter one of them, the remaining three coming in on our six and a green pilot mentored by an Ace at 3 high.

Talking Spirit opened fire with a very long burst at the tail attacking Fokker and observed many strikes on the starboard wing and fuselage. An explosion occurred in the wing and it immediately caught fire. The pilot bailed out safely.

The green pilot acted as a decoy, shielding the Ace behind him, who put a hit into the nose. He circled around and came at us again from 6:00 and hit us with another three, rendering the tail guns and Talking Spirit’s heater suite controls useless as well as knocking out the #2 engine, which we successfully feathered.The Kraut wasn’t finished and returned again at 6 low where Kostanaro tore some piece’s off of him. The last we saw of him he was heading for the cover in the clouds in some difficulty.

The green pilot returned at 4:30 high and ran into the combined lead that Woodside and Markland spewed at him. The rookie Kraut exploded and we were clear of fighters.

Zone 9: Nobody would have blamed us for aborting at this point, but I can be a stubborn SOB and decided to press on despite the dangers of a lone bomber invading Germany. I had Woodside radio the squadron that we were dropping out and descended to 9,000 feet for Talking Spirits sake, who was now in the radio room working its MG. On three engines with our speed somewhat hampered by our payload, some light flak popped off but we sailed through it. 

Three 109 with a 110 took advantage of our situation and the fight was on. A climbing 109 took some damage from Kostanaro but continued to attack, walking hits along our fuselage. He wounded both waist gunners, Shaw and myself, destroyed the right cheek MG and hit the tail guns a second time. As the Kraut circled around, I ordered Talking Spirit to get Shaw, who was in a bad way, into the radio room and make him comfortable, then relieve Mercado in the top turret who would help me at the controls. 

Before any of that could take place, another 109 at 6:00 took out the top turret MGs and placed a few other holes in us. Repeated attacks from these fighters resulted in more hits, but finally they left us, probably because they had expended all of their ammo.

With the top turret, tail and right cheek guns out, my decision to press on wasn’t looking so hot at this point. Mercado was now assisting me flying our crippled bomber deeper into Germany and Talking Spirit was covering both waist MGs while in the radio room. Markland was moved into the radio room while Karic gave a game effort to help in the waist despite a painful wound since there wasn’t anywhere to place him.
Zone 10: A 262 and a 109 gleefully strafed us repeatedly, but thankfully only causing minor damage, before moving on. The flak gunners took their shots as well as we slowly moved into our bombing run. Lesniak proved he still had his bombing skills and found a hole in the cloud cover to drop for 30%.

INBOUND

With our speed improved we tried to get out of Dodge, but Goring’s Goons weren’t letting us just leave without having a say in it. Four 109 tackled us, with a Mustang dropping down to help out and engaged one of them.
Kostanaro and Lesniak both claimed one (and both denied at interrogation) while the remaining 109 made three runs at us but could only hit us once.

Zone 9: A little light flak that posed no problems.

Zone 8: Encountered more light flak but no fighters.
Zone 7: Flak and three 110 that were chased off by some passing P-51s.
Zone 6: More light flak encountered, but no hits taken.
Zone 5-2: Nothing to report.

Zone 1: We approached the field and fired off red and yellow flares to alert the ground to our condition. Damage aside, with Mercado’s help at the controls we made a textbook landing. The ambulances were waiting for us and Shaw, Karic and Markland were loaded in while I was able to limp into it without any help.

I was treated and released, Karic will enjoy the nurse’s company for a couple of weeks while Shaw and Markland will receive treatment and at some point be sent to the States for further rehabilitation. I’ll wait until our next mission to see if I need to replace Karic, but I’ve tapped 2nd Lt Josh Chulack (3) and S/Sgt Derek Trevellick (2) from the spare crew roster to fill in our other needs.

S/Sgt Manzano and ground crew are working on the Vixen and will have her in flying in about two days.

XO Capt. Dan Shantz, Pilot Commanding, 79th BS,509th BG, 8th AF

[medic1]

B-24J CF-44-40430 HIT PARADE
Pilot: 1st Lt Tim Whitlock
Squadron: 78th Bombardment Squadron (Composite), 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Formation/Position: Low / Middle
Missions This Bomber: 8
Mission Date: 15 Jan 1945
Mission Number: 090
Mission Target: Ingolstadt, Germany - Marshalling Yard

CREW	MISSION #	CLAIMS	TODAY	STATUS
Pilot 1st Lt Tim Whitlock	8	0	0	KIA
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Andy Murrell	8	0	0	KIA
Bombardier 2nd Lt Nate Turcotte	3	1	.5	KIA
Navigator 2nd Lt Steve Lund	8	0	.5	KIA
Engineer S/Sgt Ray Rizzo	8	1	1	POW
RO S/Sgt Troy Berrick	8	0	0	POW
Ball Gunner Sgt Johnathon Driscoll	8	1	1	KIA
PWG Sgt Hal Lassen	8	1	0	KIA
SWG Sgt Josh Middleton	8	0	0	KIA
Tail Gunner Sgt Shane Delano	4	0	0	KIA

Bomb Run: On
On Target: 30%
B-24 Damage: Yes
Superficial x 4
Flight Deck x 1
-superficial
Starboard Wing x 4
-superficial x 3
-inboard fuel tank fire & explosion
Tail x 2
-right rudder, N/E
-tailplane
Peckham Points: Think of a number between infinity and infinity, then double it
Repair Time: Never

Crew Chief: S/Sgt Jay Decker (mod base =1)
Landing: In many, many pieces
E/A Encountered:

E/A TYPE	ENCOUNTERED	DESTROYED	PROBABLE/DENIED	DAMAGED	INTERCEPTED
Bf-109	2	1	1	0	0
Bf-110	0	0	0	0	0
Fw-190	4	2	0	0	2
Ju-88	0	0	0	0	0
Me-410	0	0	0	0	0
He-162	0	0	0	0	0
Me-262	3	0	0	0	0
Ta-152	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	9	3	1	0	2

Confirmed Claims: N/A
Casualties: 8
Award/ Promotions Requests:
PH Posthumous:
1st Lt Tim Whitlock
2nd Lt Andy Murrell
2nd Lt Nate Turcotte
2nd Lt Steve Lund
Sgt Jonathan Driscoll
Sgt Hal Lassen
Sgt Josh Middleton
Sgt Shane Delano

After Action Report (using QOTS):

Hit Parade was attacked by enemy fighters on the inbound leg of the mission after successfully bombing the target. A fuel tank was hit and her wing was seen to be on fire before she exploded. Only two chutes were observed.

As reported by a member of the 78th BS

On May 2 1945, S/Sgt’s Ray Rizzo and Troy Barrick would be found alive when Stalag Luft I was liberated by Russian forces.