chefed

[ChefEd]

B-17F WImpy
B-17F-27BO-41-24585
Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: High
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 15 JAN 1944
Mission Number: 3
This Aircraft: 3
Target: Perugia, Italy, Airfield

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Current Mission	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt, Landry Velez	3	0	0	RTD	1
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt, Santino Richards	3	0	0	RTD	0
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt, Aarav Hoover	3	0	0	RTD	3
Bombardier	2nd Lt, Roberto Ford	3	0	0	RTD	0
Engineer	T/Sgt, Finnegan Fields	3	1	0	RTD	0
Radio Op / Waist	Sgt, Paul Nielson	3	0	0	RTD	0
NT / Waist	T/3rd, Ari Watkins	3	0	0	RTD	1
Ball Turret	T/4th, Tobias Mace	3	0	0	RTD	1
Left Waist / NT	S/Sgt, Tripp MacDougal	3	0	0	RTD	0
Tail Gunner	T/4th, Kingsley Griffin	3	0	0	RTD	0
Crew Chief	S/Sgt, Josia Stanton	1		0	Skill +0

Bomb Run: Off Target, 4 %

Casualties: None

Damage: None

Peckham Points: None, Ready next day

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft:

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Me-109	3	3	0	0	0	0

Claims:
Claimed / Awarded / Probable
None

Awards: None

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
Rain. More rain, Even more rain. Let’s not even talk about the mud. The endless quagmire of mud. It is everywhere, and in everything. The only time there is respite is at 20,000 feet.

The Dodge 4x4 dropped us off at Wimpy, to be met by a new face. A Staff Sergeant, we had never seen, was waiting at our hard stand. He presented a respectful, yet casually experienced salute, identifying himself as S/Sgt Josia Stanton. He is our new crew chief, replacing Sgt Brown. Caesar and I looked briefly at each other. In that moment we read the same thing on each other’s face: not a good omen.

I let S/Sgt Stanton lead this morning’s pre-flight walk around. He knows what he is talking about. He clearly had enough time to go through Wimpy’s logs, commenting here and there about even the most minor of details. Maybe not such a bad omen.

We took our turn to roll out into the queue for takeoff. This flying in the rain is for the birds. At least we will be above the weather once at altitude.

“It’s going to be a bumpy ride, boys. Hold on.” Passing through the low hanging rain clouds, the old girl began shimmying and shaking. Felt like our fillings would be shaken loose.

Once above the rain, flying smoothed out, and the sun was shining.

“Check weapons.” The brief rattle of the .30s and .50s were heard as each man ensured his guns were operating to his satisfaction.

We didn’t see our first Hun until we were crossing the front lines. A solitary Me-109 was making an approach from 10:30 high, when intercepted by our escorts.

The Apennines were passing below us, mostly shrouded in clouds, with an occasional peak peering through to remind us they were there.

The IP was about 20 to 25 minutes away when a shocked voice called out that Junkyard Dog’s wing was on fire and dropping out of formation. Moments later another voice cried out that their outer wing separated from the plane, putting her into an uncontrolled dive. Two chutes were reported.

The crew’s regular sparse chatter was now absent, save comms between me and bombardier 2Lt Ford.

With the IP behind us, and the target looming, it was noted how we were not being hampered by enemy aircraft. Even the flak was light, and ineffectual.

With no enemy aircraft or flak to impede us, 2Lt Ford was still unable to find the target. He blamed the low and thick cloud cover. (I wasn’t buying it.)

We had made the turn for home when Jerry reappeared to us. A pair of Me-109s came diving in, to be driven off by our escorts, again.

Our little corner of the sky remained clear until after recrossing our lines. A few errant enemy fighters tried to make their way into the formation, only to be driven off by the combined gunnery of the bombers.

We were in final approach when we were diverted. As we pulled up and away to rejoin the pattern, we could see Pleasant Surprise lying belly down in the mud.

We finally touched down and made our way to the hard stand. Three down, twenty-two to go.

Submitted by,
1Lt Landry Velez, Pilot
B-17F Wimpy
80th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

[ChefEd]

B-24D Bottoms Up
B-24D-10-CO-42-40257
Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Middle
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 15 JAN 1944
Mission Number: 3
This Aircraft: 3
Target: Perugia, Italy, Airfield

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Current Mission	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Romeo Clayton	3	0	0	RTD	0
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Caesar Woodward	3	0	0	RTD	0
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt Arthur Alstott	3	0	0	RTD	0
Bombardier	2nd Lt Noe Parra	3	0	0	RTD	0
Engineer	T/Sgt Clarence Patterson	3	0.5	0	RTD	0
Radio Op / Waist	T/4th Travis Kauffman	3	0	0	RTD	1
NT / Waist	S/Sgt Kamil Fisher	3	0	0	RTD	0
Ball Turret	Sgt Calvin Huang	3	0.5	0	RTD	0
Left Waist / NT	T/4th Caleb Compton	3	0	0	RTD	0
Tail Gunner	Sgt Damari Early	3	0	0	RTD	0
Crew Chief	S/Sgt, King Solis	1		0	Skill +0

Bomb Run: On Target, 40 %

Casualties: None

Damage:
Rubber Rafts
Superficial X1

Peckham Points: 11 Points, Ready Next Day

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Me-109	7	3	1	2	1	0
Fw-190	2	0	0	1	0	1
Me-410	1	1	0	0	0	0

Claims:

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Navigator	1	0.5	0
Bombardier	1	0	1
Top	1	0.5	0

Awards: None

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
“Where’s Coop?”, I asked Cpl Gross. “Sir?” “Where is he?” “Not here, sir. He was transferred.” “When? Why wasn’t I notified?” “Don’t know sir. S/Sgt Solis is inside, sir.” “Solis?” “Yes, sir. Showed up this morning, saying he was our new chief.” “Call him.” “Yes, sir.”

A minute later S/Sgt Solis appeared through the escape hatch. Presenting a regulation salute, Solis presented himself, “Sorry, sir. Didn’t expect you for another ten minutes.” Returning his salute, “What happened to Cooper?” “I wasn’t told sir. I received orders from S-1 to report to Bottoms Up, and take over as crew chief, sir.” “Very well. You up to speed?” “I think so, sir.” “You don’t need to punctuate everything with ‘sir’.” “Yes, sir.” “So, what’s what?” S/Sgt Solis walked through the repair log with Lt Woodward and me, as we walked around the plane.

Sgt Solis’ report was clear and concise, covering only what was necessary. Startup and rollout went smoothly. We lined up like a bunch of ducks awaiting our turn to takeoff. Ahead, we watched the #2 on Bonkers start to smoke then catch fire. She immediately veered away to the right, away from the stream of bombers reaching for altitude. Moments later we watched Jersey Bounce follow suit and veer out of the stream.

Caesar turned to me with a quizzical look. “Got me, not a good start,” I replied to his unspoken inquiry. No sooner had the words escaped my mouth Sgt Early, in the tail, called out that his turret lost power. It looked like the Gremlins were working overtime. “Early, see what you can do. Keep me apprised.” “Yes, sir,” came the reply.

We headed roughly north by northwest, as we headed to our target. The weather was rainy, with low overhead, and limited visibility. We finally broke through the clouds, continuing to altitude.

With the front lines nearing, Sgt Early reported the turret power was FUBAR, and he would have to traverse manually. “I’ll try to keep our nose to the enemy Sgt.” “Thank you, sir,” was followed by a suppressed chuckle.

Once we crossed our lines, we faced a light but continuous assault from the enemy. Alone Bf-109 came head on, only to be driven off by our escorts. A few more 109s looked like they were eyeing us but were driven off by the bombers around us. A short time later another Bf approached from 12 high, again to be driven off by our escorts.

Approaching the IP our escorts were making quite a display, weaving back and forth, creating a very comfortable protective blanket.

We were at the IP when another three BF’s attacked from our front. Escorts drove off the Bf at 12 high. Lt Alstott cracked open the cockpit of a BF at 1:30 [earning a half kill]. The final BF came in at 9. Mutually we all missed.

Flak was light, as predicted, and quite inaccurate.

I turned control over to Lt Parra. Either through skill, or a lot of luck, Lt Parra was able to glimpse the target at just the right moment to drop our load. Analysis showed 40% on target. Good show.

The Squadron made their turn to rejoin the Group. Enemy fighters could be seen just outside of gun range. They seemed uncoordinated, just weaving, and wandering at a distance.

Finally, three of their big guns turned in and headed for us: a pair of Butcher Birds, and a Hornet. Escorts drove off the Me-410 with little effort.

Lt. Parra, manning the nose gun, shredded the left wing of one of the FWs. We watched the pilot bail. [Lt Parra was denied any credit.] The remaining FW missed us as we missed him.

Sgt Huang, in the ball, noted that Knockout was dropping out of the formation. He did not see any smoke or fire. Just a slow and controlled descent.

With the front lines passing below, another trio of Bf-109s made their attacks against us. This was when we took our first damage. Escorts drove of one BF. The second, attacking from 1:30 struck the bomb bay. Later we would find out our rafts were shredded. The remaining BF dove at us from near straight down. Exchange of fire was ineffective.

The second BF came around again from 9 o’clock. This time defensive fire raked the enemy’s fuselage, shattering the canopy and windscreen. The BF turned over, seemingly out of control. [T/Sgt Patterson, engineer, received half a kill.]

Weather upon landing was no better, or worse, than it was this morning. We landed safely.

I turned Bottoms Up over to S/Sgt Solis.

As we climbed into our ride, Sgt Early called, “Thank you, sir.” “For what?” “Keeping your promise.” The crew erupted in laughter.

Later, at the O Club, we heard multiple accounts of a rash of Gremlin activity in the Group. Some even surmised saboteurs.

Submitted by,
1Lt Romeo Clayton, Pilot
B-24D Bottoms Up
78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

[ChefEd]

B-17F Wimpy
B-17F-27BO-41-24585
Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Low
Aircraft Position: Middle / TEC
Mission Date: 20 JAN 1944
Mission Number: 4
This Aircraft: 4
Target: Istre / Le Tube, France, Airfield

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Current Mission	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Landry Velez	4	0	0	RTD	1
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Santino Richards	4	0	0	RTD	0
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt Aarav Hoover	4	0	0	RTD	4
Bombardier	2nd Lt Roberto Ford	4	0	0	RTD	1
Engineer	T/Sgt Finnegan Fields	4	1	0	RTD	0
Radio Op / Waist	Sgt Paul Nielson	4	0	0	RTD	0
NT / Waist	T/3rd Ari Watkins	4	0	0	RTD	1
Ball Turret	T/4th Tobias Mace	4	0	0	RTD	1
Left Waist / NT	S/Sgt Tripp MacDougal	4	0	0	RTD	0
Tail Gunner	T/4th Kingsley Griffin	4	1	0	RTD	0
Crew Chief	S/Sgt Josia Stanton	2		0	Skill +0

Bomb Run: On Target, 20 %

Casualties: None

Damage:
Left tail plane root 1X 25
Rudder 1X 10
Radio 10

Peckham Points: 45, Ready next day

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft:

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Fw-190	15	9	3	2	0	2
Me-109	3	1	1	1	1	0
Ju-88	2	2	0	0	0	0
Me-110	2	2	0	0	0	0

Claims:

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Tail	1	1	0
Top	1	0	1
Ball	1	0	1

Awards: None

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
Escorts earned their pay today.

Can’t speak for any other crews, but when the escorts drive off over 60% of enemy fighters, and only one of the remaining enemy fighters hits us, that is a good day. Half of the enemy fighters we faced were near the target. The Spits drove off 8 of those 11. (2Lt Richards is trying to finagle a case of Scotch for them.)

The weather was miserable, still. Several of the crew have gone to Sick Call, complaining of trench foot, of all things. Our feet are never dry.

Our climb to altitude was bumpy, as we passed through the rain clouds. Once above the weather it was smooth sailing. Would have been a nice jaunt if it weren’t for Gerry.

With the Italian coast behind us, away from our defensive flak, we were bounced upon by three waves of enemy fighters. By our count, we faced a single Junkers 88, and six Focke-Wulfs. Our little friends with the 325th FG, drove off three aircraft. We shot down two (both claims denied, but probables awarded) and damaged the remaining two, with no damage suffered to us. In the final wave 2Lt Ford’s .30 cal jammed.

Once out of range of the German fighters, we went unmolested until we were about 40 minutes out from the target. During that lull 2Lt Ford cleared the jam of the nose gun.

About 40 minutes out a single Bf-109 came in from 9 high. T/Sgt Fields, top turret, gave him a warm welcome. The 109’s fire was ineffective, and he did not return.

With the IP behind us we encountered flak, but no enemy aircraft near us. From the tail T/4th Griffin cried out that Reign of Fire just disappeared in a fire ball. He and T/4th Mace, in the ball, saw no chutes. I had Sgt Nielson radio to lead that we were slipping into the vacated TEC.

Some of the flak over the target was uncomfortably close, with negligible damage. Despite the close calls with the flak 2Lt Ford was able to drop 20% on target.

Making a sharp turn back over the Sea, we were swarmed by 10 enemy fighters. As stated, 8 of those were driven off by the Spits from Corsica. Of the remaining two, only one was able to get any hits on us. We took damage to the left tail plane root, and the rudder. Sgt Nielson reported over the intercom that the radio was “kaput”.

Once out of range of the enemy fighters, it was clear sailing again, as we flew south back to base.

With our final turn toward land a pair of Bf-109s tried to get their last licks in. A Lightning out of FG 1 drove off one. The remaining 109, making a pass from 12 high, was raked by Lt Ford, with his nose .30, shredding the fighter’s left wing. As a result, the enemy’s firing was off, and we took no hits. In a masterful display of aerial gunnery, T/4th Griffin, in the tail, took a passing shot at the 109. His fire completed the work of Lt Ford, severing the left wing from the enemy fighter. No chute was spotted, as the enemy plane careened out of control. Giffin received full credit for the kill. (Much deserved, as there were no bombers behind us who could make the claim.)

Naples was passing on our right when a final pair of Fw-190s made an approach against us. Lightnings from FG 1 drove them off.

Landing was good, even in the rain.

After the mission debrief, I spoke with the Group M.O., about 2Lt Hoover. Aarav has been increasingly distant over the past week, or so. During this mission he needed to be asked multiple times, every time, for any information. On the ground, he has been reclusive, and seen to be drinking in excess at the O-Club. The Group M.O has grounded Lt Hoover indefinitely. If he improves, he will consider reinstating him for flight duty. Until that time, he will be assigned to various ground duties.

Submitted by,
1Lt Landry Velez, Pilot
B-17F Wimpy
80th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

[ChefEd]

B-24D Bottoms Up
B-24D-10-CO-42-40257
Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Middle
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 20 JAN 1944
Mission Number: 4
This Aircraft: 4
Target: Istre / Le Tube, France, Airfield

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Current Mission	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Romeo Clayton	4	0	0	RTD	0
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Caesar Woodward	4	0	0	RTD	0
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt Arthur Alstott	4	0	0	RTD	0
Bombardier	2nd Lt Noe Parra	4	0	0	RTD	0
Engineer	T/Sgt Clarence Patterson	4	1.83	0	RTD	0
Radio Op / Waist	T/4th Travis Kauffman	4	0	0	RTD	1
NT / Waist	S/Sgt Kamil Fisher	4	1.5	0	RTD	1
Ball Turret	Sgt Calvin Huang	4	0.5	0	RTD	2
Left Waist / NT	T/4th Caleb Compton	4	0	0	RTD	1
Tail Gunner	Sgt Damari Early	4	0	0	RTD	0
Crew Chief	S/Sgt King Solis	2		0	Skill +0

Bomb Run: Off Target, 0 %

Casualties: None

Damage: None

Peckham Points: None

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Fw-190	9	2	2	4	2.83	0
Ju-88	2	1	0	1	0	1

Claims

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Top	3	1.33	1
Right Waist	2	1.5	0

Awards: None

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
Good defensive gunnery, even if the review board disagreed.

No enemy aircraft came near us until approaching the target. The Luftwaffe seemed to unleash their full fury on us in the target zone. We encountered no other enemy fighters at any other time on this mission.

First off, a pair of Junkers 88. Brits Spits drove off one, while T/Sgt Patterson shot down the second.

Right on their tails came a trio of FW-190s. S/Sgt Fisher shot down the first. T/Sgt Patterson damaged the second, we missed the third. Either of the two surviving fighters scored any hits on us.

A duo of FW-190s right on the heels of the first three attacked. Sgt Early damaged the first, with a passing shot. The second was shot down by T/Sgt Patterson.

Flak was as advertised, but inaccurate.

The buzz of enemy activity unnerved Lt Parra, as he completely screwed the pooch, scoring a big fat goose egg.

Pulling away from the target, four more Fw-190s attacked. Two were driven off by our escorts, with our defensive gunnery shooting down the remaining pair. T/Sgt Patterson and S/Sgt Fisher each got full credit for their kills.

No more enemy fighters were encountered for the rest of the mission.

Submitted by,
1Lt Romeo Clayton, Pilot
B-24D Bottoms Up
78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

[ChefEd]

B-24D Bottoms Up
B-24D-10-CO-42-40257
Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Low
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 26 JAN 1944
Mission Number: 5
This Aircraft: 5
Target: Udine, Italy, Airfield

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Current Mission	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Romeo Clayton	5	0	AM	RTD	0
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Caesar Woodward	5	0	AM	RTD	0
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt Arthur Alstott	5	0.5	AM	RTD	0
Bombardier	2nd Lt Noe Parra	5	0	AM	RTD	0
Engineer	T/Sgt Clarence Patterson	5	3.33	AM	RTD	0
Radio Op / Waist	T/4th Travis Kauffman	5	0	AM	RTD	0
NT / Waist	S/Sgt Kamil Fisher	5	1.5	AM	RTD	0
Ball Turret	Sgt Calvin Huang	5	0.5	AM	RTD	2
Left Waist / NT	T/4th Caleb Compton	5	1	AM	RTD	2
Tail Gunner	Sgt Damari Early	5	1.33	AM	RTD	0
Crew Chief	S/Sgt King Solis	3	0	0	Skill +0	0

Bomb Run: On Target, 40 %

Casualties: None

Damage:
Superficial X9 18
Bomb Controls 10
Top Guns Out 20
Ball Turret Out 20
Windows X1 10
Rafts Destroyed 10
Nose Wheel Out 25

Peckham Points: 113 Peckham Points, Two ( 2 ) Day to Repair

Landing: Safe, -2 drm for damaged nose wheel

Enemy Aircraft:

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Fw-190	16	6	5	3	2.33	0
Me-109	3	1	1	0	0	0
C205	3	2	0	0	0	0
Re2005	1	0	0	1	1	0

Claims:

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Top	1	1	0
Right Waist	1	1	0
Tail	1	0.33	0

Awards:
Air Medal
Pilot 1st Lt Romeo Clayton
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Caesar Woodward
Navigator 2nd Lt Arthur Alstott
Bombardier 2nd Lt Noe Parra
Engineer/TT T/Sgt Clarence Patterson
Radio Op T/4th Travis Kauffman
Right Waist S/Sgt Kamil Fisher
Ball Turret Sgt Calvin Huang
Left Waist T/4th Caleb Compton
Tail Gunner Sgt Damari Early

Promotions:
None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
Intelligence predicted aerial opposition for most of the flight, to and from the target. They were pretty accurate.

The first forty-five minutes were pretty quiet. Then hell broke loose. Our path took us right up the center of the Adriatic. We were passing Ancona, Italy on our left, and Zadar, Yugoslavia, on our right. We were swarmed by six FW-190s and a single Macchi C.205 Veltro. Escorts drove off four of the interlopers, leaving three 190s for us to face. 2Lt Parra damaged one of the FWs, while Sgt Early claimed an FW at 6 o’clock, shattering the enemy’s tail surfaces. A chute was observed. None of the surviving FWs hit us.

We were making our right turn to target when five more enemy fighters attacked. Four FW-190s and another Macchi C.205 attacked. Escorts were only able to drive off a single FW. Flight Engineer T/Sgt Patterson sheared the German fighter’s left wing off. No chute was observed.

The second FW stitched us pretty good. Hits to the waist jammed up the ball turret, rendering it useless and trapping Sgt Huang inside. The O2 system was damaged. The rate of loss gave us about 40 minutes of oxygen left. Enough to get to the target. [Lady Luck was used to change and Engine Fire to Superficial.] All other hits were minor.

The remaining enemy fighters’ fire was way wide.

Approaching the target, we were left alone by the enemy fighters. Flak, however, found us. Upon landing we discovered the flak hit took out our rubber rafts. It would have been alarming if we had known then, since our entire flight had us over water. Despite Bottoms Up being buffeted by flak, Lt Alstott put 40% on target.

Pulling away from the target, we dropped below 10,000 feet, before we started feeling the effects of hypoxia. As were leaving the formation rockets streamed past us, to no effect.

As we reached our new altitude, we were relieved to find we still had an escort. That came in handy as a pair of Bf-109s and a Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario attacked. Our escort drove off one of the 109s.

Left Waist T/4th Compton clipped the remaining 109. Right Waist S/Sgt Fisher shot down the Reggiane, by striking the fighter’s fuel tank, and setting it ablaze. A chute was observed. While targeting the Reggiane one gun jammed in the top turret.

Back out over the Adriatic, flying alone, with just our escort, we encountered five Fw-190s and a pair of Bf-109s. Our escort drove off two of the 190s and one of the 109s. We exchanged fire with the remaining enemy fighters, giving as well as we received.

Our defensive fire hit all of the oncoming enemy, shooting down one of the FWs, setting its engine on fire. A chute was observed.

Between the remaining 10 and 109, we took damage to the nose wheel, hits to the bomb controls, the windscreen, the nose wheel, our electrical system (superficial), and taking out the top turret guns.

The skies remained quiet as we progressed down the Adriatic with our shepherd.

Making our right turn to base a mismatched trio of the enemy attacked. An Fw-190, a Bf-109, and a C.205 wheeled into us. The C.205 was driven off. The remaining duo made a half-hearted attack, being so close to our lines. Neither hits us, then made their escape.

When we touched down, we discovered we had taken damage to the nose wheel. It locked down, but we had no steering control. Combining braking, rudders, and throttle manipulation, Lt Woodward and I were able to maintain control of the bomber, as we decelerated.

Submitted by,
1Lt Romeo Clayton, Pilot
B-24D Bottoms Up
78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

[ChefEd]

B-17F Wimpy
B-17F-27BO-41-24585
Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: High
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 26 JAN 1944
Mission Number: 5
This Aircraft: 5
Target: Udine, Italy, Airdrome

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Current Mission	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt, Landry Velez	5	0	AM	RTD	1
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt, Santino Richards	5	0	AM, PH	RTD	1
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt, George Sheets	2	0	AM	RTD	0
Bombardier	2nd Lt, Roberto Ford	5	0	AM	RTD	1
Engineer	T/Sgt, Finnegan Fields	5	1	AM	RTD	1
Radio Op / Waist	Sgt, Paul Nielson	5	0	AM	RTD	0
NT / Waist	T/3rd, Ari Watkins	5	0	AM, PH	RTD 29 JAN 44	0
Ball Turret	T/4th, Tobias Mace	5	0	AM	RTD	1
Left Waist / NT	S/Sgt, Tripp MacDougal	5	0	AM	RTD	1
Tail Gunner	T/4th, Kingsley Griffin	5	1	AM	RTD	0
Crew Chief	S/Sgt, Josia Stanton	3			Skill +0

Bomb Run: On Target, 50 %

Casualties:
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Santino Richards – LW, RTD
Right Waist T/3rd Ari Watkins – LW, RTD 29 JAN 44

Damage:
Superficial 2X 4pts
Light Wound 2X 4pts
Rudder Hit 10pts

Peckham Points: 18, Ready next day

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft:

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Fw-190	5	2	1	1	0	1
Me-110	3	1	0	2	0	2
Me-109	1	0	0	1	0	1
G.55	1	1	0	0	0	0
Re2005	1	1	0	0	0	0
C205	1	1	0	0	0	0

Claims:

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Top	2	0	2
Ball	1	0	1
Right Waist	1	0	1

Awards:
Air Medal
Pilot 1st Lt Landry Velez
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Santino Richards
Bombardier 2nd Lt Roberto Ford
Engineer/TT T/Sgt Finnegan Fields
Radio Op Sgt Paul Nielson
Right Waist T/3rd Ari Watkins
Ball Turret T/4th Tobias Mace
Left Waist S/Sgt Tripp MacDougal
Tail Gunner T/4th Kingsley Griffin

Purple Heart
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Santino Richards
Right Waist T/3rd Ari Watkins

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
We were unmolested until we gut about three-quarters of the way up the Adriatic. A pair of Bf-110s attacked. One was driven off by escorts. The second foolishly tried to make an attack from directly below us. T/4th Mace, in the ball turret, said it was like shooting a range target. The enemy fighter just seemed to hang there, as he pumped .50 cal rounds into it. Mace’s rounds sheared the tail off the fighter, leading to an uncontrolled dive. No chutes were observed.

Making our turn toward the coast a Bf-109 and a Fiat G.55 Centauro attacked. The Fiat was driven off by our escorts. .30 cal rounds from the nose and the .50 cal rounds from the top turret hammered the 109. The .50 cal rounds from the top turret shattered the cockpit, killing the pilot.

Crossing the coast an Fw-190 and a Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario attacked. The Sagittario was driven off by our escorts. The FW was targeted by the right waist and ball gunners. The right waist rounds shredded the left wing control surfaces, forcing its pilot to bail out.

Flak scratched the nose, as we passed through the flak belt.

Lt Ford must have ice in his veins. Flak burst in his face, and he still dropped 50% on target.

We didn’t encounter any more enemy fighters until back out over the Adriatic. We faced three Fw-190s and a Bf-110. Two of the 190s were driven off. The remaining 190’s rounds lightly wounding our Co-pilot Lt Richards and Right Waist gunner T/3rd Atkins.

As the Bf-110 attacked, T/Sgt Finnegan, top turret, fired into the enemy fighter’s fuselage splitting open the cockpit, and killing the crew.

S the remaining 190 made it’s second pass T/Sgt Finnegan placed a few rounds into its nose, causing negligible damage.

Halfway down the Adriatic an FW-190 and a Macchi C.205 Veltro. The Veltro was driven off, while the 190 missed us.

Landing was safe.

T/3rd Atkins is expected to return to flight duty, in about three days, pending approval from medical for his concussion.

After debrief Lt Richards and I had to quell a minor mutiny. The review board denied all four claims for the crew. In our five missions we have submitted claims for 11 enemy fighters. My crew has been awarded only 2 kills. I wouldn’t blame them if this continues.

Submitted by,
1Lt Landry Velez, Pilot
B-17F Wimpy
80th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

[ChefEd]

B-17F Wimpy
B-17F-27BO-41-24585
Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: High
Aircraft Position: TEC
Mission Date: 29 JAN 1944
Mission Number: 6
This Aircraft: 6
Target: Ferrara, Italy, Marshaling Yard

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Current Mission	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Landry Velez	5	0	AM	RTD	1
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Santino Richards	5	0	AM, PH	RTD	1
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt George Sheets	2	0	AM	RTD	0
Bombardier	2nd Lt Roberto Ford	5	0	AM	RTD	1
Engineer	T/Sgt Finnegan Fields	5	1	AM	RTD	1
Radio Op / Waist	Sgt Paul Nielson	5	0	AM	RTD	0
NT / Waist	T/3rd Ari Watkins	5	0	AM, PH	RTD	0
Ball Turret	T/4th Tobias Mace	5	0.5	AM	RTD	2
Left Waist / NT	S/Sgt Tripp MacDougal	5	0	AM	RTD	2
Tail Gunner	T/4th Kingsley Griffin	5	1	AM	RTD	0
Crew Chief	S/Sgt Josia Stanton	3		0	Skill +0

Bomb Run: On Target, 30 %

Casualties: None

Damage:
Rudder Controls 10
Superficial 1

Peckham Points: 11, Ready next day

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft:

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Me-110	2	1	0	1	0.5	0
Me-109	1	0	1	0	0	0

Claims:

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Ball	1	0.5	0

Awards: None

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT

Santino and I may have a mutiny on our hands. The crew (perhaps rightfully so) claim they have been the subject of bias by Intelligence. In our first five missions the crew has only received credit for 2 of 11 kills made on three of those.

At the end of this mission the crew now believes there is a conspiracy between Intelligence and the Luftwaffe. We observed swarms of enemy aircraft attack our formation, yet only three attacked Wimpy. Those attacked only after we bombed the target. The crew believes they are now being denied opportunity. Personally, the fewer enemy aircraft we see the better.

Wimpy was left alone all the way up the Adriatic. The only action was abreast of Rimini when we lost rudder control. Followed shortly by enemy rockets passing through the formation

Approaching the target flak found us. We took one burst that cracked a few port side viewing panes.

Once out of the flak a pair of 110s and a single 109 attacked us. Escorts drove off one of the Zerstörers. The remaining 110 was clipped by the ball and tail guns, with the killing blow by T/4th Mace, in the ball turret. His rounds shore off the right wing of the 110. Two chutes were spotted.

T/Sgt Fields and Radio Op Sgt Nielson hit the 109 coming in from 6 high. Just enough to ward of the 109 pilot.

After this bout with Gerry, we were unmolested the rest of the way back down the Adriatic.

Landing was a little dicey. Without rudder control, we used the engines to compensate for a slight cross wind as we landed.

Gunnery Review gave T/4th Mace a half credit for his kill of the Zerstörer. Sgt Nielson related later that Mace, under his breath, when leaving the post flight interrogation, muttered something along the lines, “ ’Bout time [expletive].”

Santino and I will need to keep a close eye on the crew if they keep getting slighted by the Review Board.

That evening I checked in on 2nd Lt Hoover. He seemed okay, but still averted looking me in the eye as we spoke. I will check with the Group M.O. tomorrow on his opinion of Aarav, and if he might be able to return to flight status.

Submitted by,
1Lt Landry Velez, Pilot
B-17F Wimpy
80th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

[ChefEd]

B-24D Bottoms Up
B-24D-10-CO-42-40257
Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Middle
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 29 JAN 1944
Mission Number: 6
This Aircraft: 6
Target: Ferrara, Italy, Marshalling Yards

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Current Mission	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Romeo Clayton	6	0	AM	POW	0
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Caesar Woodward	6	0	AM	POW	0
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt Arthur Alstott	6	0.5	AM	POW	0
Bombardier	2nd Lt Noe Parra	6	0	AM, PH	KIA	0
Engineer	T/Sgt Clarence Patterson	6	3.83	AM	POW	0
Radio Op / Waist	T/4th Travis Kauffman	6	0	AM	POW	0
NT / Waist	S/Sgt Kamil Fisher	6	1.5	AM, PH	KIA	0
Ball Turret	Sgt Calvin Huang	6	0.5	AM	POW	2
Left Waist / NT	T/4th Caleb Compton	6	1	AM	POW	2
Tail Gunner	Sgt Damari Early	6	1.33	AM	POW	0
Crew Chief	S/Sgt King Solis	4		0	Skill +0

Bomb Run: DNB

Casualties:
Bombardier, 2Lt Noe Parra, KIA
Right Waist, S/Sgt Kamil Fisher, SW, KIA

Damage: Total
Aircraft shot down by flak, fuel fire

Peckham Points: Infinite

Landing: None

Enemy Aircraft:

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Fw-190	10	9	0	1	0.5	0
Me-109	2	2	0	0	0	0

Claims:

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Top	1	0.5	0

Awards:
Purple Heart
Bombardier, 2Lt Noe Parra, KIA
Right Waist, S/Sgt Kamil Fisher, SW, KIA

POW Medal
Pilot, 1st Lt Romeo Clayton
Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt Caesar Woodward
Navigator, 2nd Lt Arthur Alstott
Engineer/TT, T/Sgt Clarence Patterson
Radio Op, T/4th Travis Kauffman
Ball Turret, Sgt Calvin Huang
Left Waist, T/4th Caleb Compton
Tail Gunner, Sgt Damari Early

Promotions:
None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
Bottoms Up was supposedly in the safest position in the formation: Middle / Middle.

As the formation flew north, the crew was beginning to think they had it made. Twelve enemy aircraft tried to attack Bottoms Up on its flight up the Adriatic. Only one of those made it through the fighter screen and that was shot down.

Even rockets were fired through the formation, and they missed by a mile.

On final approach to the target flak found Bottoms Up. One burst sent shrapnel into the skull of Right Waist Gunner, S/Sgt Kamil Fisher. A second burst penetrated the skin of the bomb bay and punctured one of the wing fuel tanks. The leaking fuel caught fire forcing 1Lt Clayton to hit the bail out alarm. S/Sgt Fisher could not bail out and went down with the bomber. Of the remaining nine crewmen, 2Lt Parra’s parachute streamered. Lt Parra did not survive. The remaining eight crew were captured, and interned for the duration.

[ChefEd]

B-17F Wimpy
B-17F-27BO-41-24585
Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Low
Aircraft Position: Middle / Lead
Mission Date: 7 FEB 1944
Mission Number: 7
This Aircraft: 7
Target: Pontassieve, Italy, Marshalling Yards

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Missions	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Landry Velez	7	0	AM	RTD	1
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Santino Richards	7	0	AM, PH	RTD	2
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt George Sheets	4	0	0	RTD	0
Bombardier	2nd Lt Roberto Ford	7	0	AM	RTD	1
Engineer	T/Sgt Finnegan Fields	7	4.5	AM	RTD	0
Radio Op / Waist	Sgt Paul Nielson	7	0	AM	RTD	0
NT / Waist	T/3rd Ari Watkins	7	1	AM, PH	RTD	0
Ball Turret	T/4th Tobias Mace	7	2.5	AM	RTD	3
Left Waist / NT	S/Sgt Tripp MacDougal	7	0	AM	RTD	0
Tail Gunner	T/4th Kingsley Griffin	7	2.5	AM	RTD	0
Crew Chief	S/Sgt Josia Stanton	5		0	Skill +0

Bomb Run: DNB

Casualties: None

Damage:
#3 Engine Fire, Extinguished 35
Fire Extinguisher 25

Peckham Points: 60, Ready next day

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft:

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Bf-110	220000

Claims: None

Awards: None

Promotions: None

The mood of the crew matched the dark and brooding weather. Via the grapevine I discovered the crew found out about the memo from the Squadron XO. All the enlisted crew averted their eyes in my presence, acting like children who knew they were naughty, but hadn’t yet been discovered. Even after being informed that they would get the kills they had been denied, their overall mood had been dour for days. To top it off, three of my crew, plus three from another crew, have been restricted to base. Apparently the six were involved in an “altercation’ at the Bar Ruocco. Now the whole squadron was banned from that bar until the owner had received full restitution for the damages to the establishment. At the rate the men’s paychecks were being docked, it would take about two, maybe three months or more, between the six, to pay off the damages. Lt Ford passed the hat amongst the crew’s officers. I will check with the XO if we can donate it to the ‘cause’. Anonymously.

AFTER ACTION REPORT
We were back to being wet. And cold. Everything was damp. No one relished flying at 20,000FT with damp underwear. Every hope was the suit heaters would dry them out. The command crew would just have to suffer.

The crew had mixed feelings about the expected light resistance, there and back. On the one hand, they would have minimal, if any, opportunities to shoot down more of the enemy. On the other hand, a milk run would be nice. One more mission closer to home.

We were just out over the Adriatic, with Pescara approaching on our left, when #3 engine started coughing. Fields dropped out of the top turret to check his board. As he was doing so #3 belched black smoke, the plane bucked, and flames shot out through the cowling. We hit the extinguisher for #3. It worked the first time, extinguishing the flames. The prop was feathered.

We only had a few moments to decide what to do. Abort and head home or drop our bombs and remain in formation. Santino and I looked at each other and nodded. I called on Lt Ford to drop the bombs. We were to remain in formation and lend our guns to the defensive box.

The skies were empty of the enemy until we were on approach to the target. At the IP Griffin and Fields noted a B-17 straggling a few miles behind. Too far to identify. As our whole squadron was accounted for, we assumed they were from the 79th, or another squadron in the Wing.

Shortly after passing the IP rockets streamed through the formation. No hits.

Flak was light as expected, and inaccurate, both going into and exiting the target.

Once we passed the flak belt, on egress, a pair of bf-110s made eyes at us. Our guardians in the 82nd FG made them rethink approaching us.

We had made are big turn back toward the Adriatic when Wongo dropped out of formation. I had Lt Sheets, operating out of the radio room, notify the squadron we were sliding into the lead, replacing Wongo.

The formation was just making its final big turn to head back down the Adriatic when another barrage of rockets streamed through the squadron. Again, wide of us.

Even with the poor flying and ground conditions, we landed Wimpy safely.

Submitted by,
1Lt Landry Velez, Pilot
B-17F Wimpy
80th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

Time to see the XO.

[ChefEd]

B-24J Bit o’ Lace
B-24J-15-CF-42-99776
Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Low
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 7 FEB 1944
Mission Number: 7
This Aircraft: 1
Target: Pontassieve, Italy, Marshalling yards

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Missions	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Damien Carroll	1	0	0	0	0
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Donald Costa	1	0	0	0	0
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt Dan Crimson	1	0	PH	0	0
Bombardier	2nd Lt Reid Bush	1	0	0	0	0
Engineer	T/3rd Walter McClain	1	0.5	0	0	0
Radio Op / Rt Waist	T/3rd Quentin Mains	1	0	0	0	0
NT / Rt Waist	S/Sgt Kalel Burgess	1	0	0	0	0
Ball Turret	S/Sgt Conor West	1	0	0	0	0
Left Waist / NT	Sgt Zahir Edmonson	1	0	0	0	0
Tail Gunner	T/3rd Jayden Dawson	1	0	0	0	0
Crew Chief	S/Sgt King Solis

Bomb Run: On Target, 40 %

Casualties:
2nd Lt Dan Crimson, broken right femur, 8 weeks recovery

Damage:
Serious Wound 5
Superficial X2 4

Peckham Points: 9 Peckham Points, One ( 1 ) Day to Repair

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Bf-109	3	2	0	1	0.5	0
Bf-110	2	1	1	0	0	0

Claims

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Top	1	0.5	0

Awards:
Purple Heart
2nd Lt Dan Crimson

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
No doubt it has been said before, but “Sunny Italy?”. Anything but. It has been rainy, wet, and cold since we arrived.

We were informed at this morning’s mission briefing we could expect very light enemy opposition. It was pretty accurate, with our only exposure to enemy aircraft being while we were over land.

The only aircraft we could see, other than the Group bombers, were our escorts from the 82nd FG, until we were approaching the target.

We had just passed the IP, when control was turned over to 2nd Lt Bush, for the run in. Three Bf-109s began attack runs on Bit o’ Lace. Fighters from the 82nd swooped in and drove off two of the interlopers. T/3rd McClain, in the top turret, smoked the third. While we were scanning the skies for more enemies a voice over the intercom called out that Kicking Horse was going down in flames. Multiple voices counted the chutes. The count ended at nine.

Flak was indeed light, in and out of the target, and fairly accurate. They seemed to have a bead on us but kept just missing us. [DRs of 3, and 3, and …]

As soon as Reid released our bombs, he relinquished control back to me. (Addendum: Later report from Intelligence indicated we dropped 40% on target.)

The Italian coast was looming when a pair of Bf-110s made an appearance. Our escorts were able to drive off one of them. Though we took some chunks out of the remaining enemy fighter, he was able to get a few rounds into us. All the damage to the aircraft was minor. However, navigator Crimson took a round to the right leg. (Addendum: The round ended up breaking his femur. He will be laid up for about 8 weeks.)

Once past the coast we saw no more enemy aircraft.

Landing was good.

Submitted by,
1Lt Damien Carroll, Pilot
B-24J Bit o’ Lace
78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

[ChefEd]

B-24D Curve Ball
Squadron: 7th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Middle
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 14 MAY 1942
Mission Number: 1
This Aircraft: 1
Target: Primary: Myitkyina Airfield; Secondary: Myitkyina Bridge



Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Mission	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Kaden Brophy	1	0	0	RTD	0
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Amari House	1	0	0	RTD	0
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt Edmond Olszewski	1	0	0	RTD	0
Bombardier	2nd Lt Elian Garza	1	0	0	RTD	0
Engineer	T/Sgt Cash Pierce	1	0	0	RTD	0
Radio Op / Rt Waist	Sgt Aydin Leonard	1	0	0	RTD	0
NT / Rt Waist	S/Sgt Manuel Biggs	1	0	0	RTD	0
Ball Turret	Sgt August Parker	1	1	0	RTD	0
Left Waist / NT	Sgt Blake Blackwood	1	1	0	RTD	0
Tail Gunner	S/Sgt Javier Löfgren	1	0	0	RTD	0
Crew Chief	T/Sgt Clinton Turner	1		0	0

Bomb Run: On Target, 40 %

Casualties: None

Damage:
#3 Engine Supercharger 55 [Gremlins]

Peckham Points: 55 Peckham Points, One ( 1 ) Day to Repair

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
A6M	18	4	6	5	2	3
Ki-43	3	0	3	0	0	0

Claims

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Ball	2	1	1
Top	1	0	1
Navigator	1	0	1
Left Waist	1	1	0

Awards: None

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
The Japanese Army Air Force must have known it was our first mission. It felt like they threw up every fighter at their disposal. We fought off 21 enemy fighters, 18 of them in and around the target area. Even with limited escort coverage, we showed we were no pushovers: Escorts drove off 4 enemy fighters, we damaged another 9, and we claimed 5 shot down.

Flak around the target was light, and inaccurate.

Lt Garza, going by the numbers, dropped 40% on target. Beers on me.

With the worst behind us, 30 minutes before landing #3 supercharger quit. Glad the Gremlins weren't active before the target.

Submitted by,
1Lt Kaden Brophy, Pilot
B-24D Curve Ball
10th AF, USAAF

[ChefEd]

B-17F Wimpy
B-17F-27BO-41-24585
Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Middle
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 11 FEB 1944
Mission Number: 8
This Aircraft: 8
Target: Toulon, France, Harbor Facilities

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Missions	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Landry Velez	8	0	AM	RTD	2
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Santino Richards	8	0	AM, PH	RTD	2
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt George Sheets	5	0	AM	RTD	0
Bombardier	2nd Lt Roberto Ford	8	0	AM	RTD	2
Engineer	T/Sgt Finnegan Fields	8	5.5	AM	RTD	0
Radio Op / Waist	Sgt Paul Nielson	8	0	AM	RTD	1
NT / Waist	T/3rd Ari Watkins	8	1	AM, PH	RTD	0
Ball Turret	T/4th Tobias Mace	8	2.5	AM	RTD	3
Left Waist / NT	S/Sgt Tripp MacDougal	8	0	AM	RTD	0
Tail Gunner	T/4th Kingsley Griffin	8	2.5	AM	RTD	0
Crew Chief	S/Sgt Josia Stanton	6		0	Skill +0

Bomb Run: On Target, 14 % [OOC: Rolled natural 11, with subsequent roll 3d6 (1 + 2 + 4) X 2]

Casualties: None

Damage: None

Peckham Points: None, Ready next day

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft:

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Bf-110	3	1	0	2	0	2
Bf-109	1	0	0	1	1	0

Claims:

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Top	1	1	0
Ball	1	0	1
Bombardier	1	0	1

Awards:
Air Medal
Navigator, 2Lt George Sheets

Promotions: None

AAR To Follow

[ChefEd]

B-24D Bit o’ Lace
B-24D-53-CO-42-40408
Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Low
Aircraft Position: Middle / Lead
Mission Date: 11 FEB 1944
Mission Number: 8
This Aircraft: 2
Target:

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Missions	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Damien Carroll	2	0	0	0	0
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Donald Costa	2	0	0	0	0
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt Winchester Lee	2	0	0	0	1
Bombardier	2nd Lt Reid Bush	2	0	0	0	0
Engineer	T/3rd Walter McClain	2	1.17	0	0	0
Radio Op / Rt Waist	T/3rd Quentin Mains	2	0	0	0	0
NT / Rt Waist	S/Sgt Kalel Burgess	2	0.5	0	0	0
Ball Turret	S/Sgt Conor West	2	0	0	0	0
Left Waist / NT	Sgt Zahir Edmonson	2	0	0	0	0
Tail Gunner	T/3rd Jayden Dawson	2	0	0	0	0
Crew Chief	S/Sgt King Solis				Skill +0

Bomb Run: On Target, 60 %

Casualties: None

Damage:
Bomb Bay – Bombs, N/E
Right Wing – #4 Engine, Superficial

Peckham Points: 2 Peckham Points, One (1) Day to Repair

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Me-210	2	1	0	1	0.83	0
G55	1	0	0	1	0.33	0
Ju-88	1	1	0	0	0	0

Claims

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Top	2	0.67	0
Right Waist	1	0.5	0

Awards: None

Promotions: None

AAR To Follow

[ChefEd]

B-17F Wimpy
B-17F-27BO-41-24585
Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: High
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 15 FEB 1944
Mission Number: 9
This Aircraft: 9
Target: Verona, Italy, Marshalling Yards

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Missions	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Landry Velez	9	0	AM	RTD	2
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Santino Richards	9	0	AM, PH	RTD	3
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt George Sheets	6	0	AM	RTD	0
Bombardier	2nd Lt Roberto Ford	9	0	AM	RTD	2
Engineer	T/Sgt Finnegan Fields	9	6	AM+	RTD	0
Radio Op / Waist	Sgt Paul Nielson	9	0	AM	RTD	0
NT / Waist	T/3rd Ari Watkins	9	1	AM, PH	RTD	0
Ball Turret	T/4th Tobias Mace	9	3	AM	RTD	2
Left Waist / NT	S/Sgt Tripp MacDougal	9	0	AM	RTD	1
Tail Gunner	T/4th Kingsley Griffin	9	3	AM	RTD	0
Crew Chief	S/Sgt Josia Stanton	7		0	Skill +0

Bomb Run: On Target, 20 %

Casualties: None

Damage:
Left Wing Root X1 25
Right Wing Root X1 25
Left Flap Inop 10
Superficial X2 2

Peckham Points: 62 Points, Ready next day

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft:

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Fw-190	4	1	2	1	1	0
Bf-109	3	2	0	1	0.5	0

Claims:

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Top	1	0.5	0
Ball	1	0.5	0
Tail	1	0.5	0
Left Waist	1	0	0

Awards: None

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
[OOC: IRL - House undergoing major renovations. Currently in demolition part. Cannot focus on the narrative. Cheers.]

Submitted by,
1Lt Landry Velez, Pilot
B-17F Wimpy
80th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

[ChefEd]

B-24D Bit o’ Lace
B-24D-53-CO-42-40408
Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Middle
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 15 FEB 1944
Mission Number: 9
This Aircraft: 3
Target: Verona, Italy, Marshalling Yards

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Missions	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Damien Carroll	2	0	0	0	0
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Donald Costa	2	0	0	0	1
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt Winchester Lee	2	0	0	0	1
Bombardier	2nd Lt Reid Bush	2	0	0	0	0
Engineer	T/3rd Walter McClain	2	1.17	0	0	1
Radio Op / Rt Waist	T/3rd Quentin Mains	2	0.5	0	0	1
NT / Rt Waist	S/Sgt Kalel Burgess	2	0.5	0	0	0
Ball Turret	S/Sgt Conor West	2	0.5	0	0	0
Left Waist / NT	Sgt Zahir Edmonson	2	0	0	0	0
Tail Gunner	T/3rd Jayden Dawson	2	1	0	0	0
Crew Chief	S/Sgt King Solis

Bomb Run: On Target, 30 %

Casualties: None

Damage: None

Peckham Points: 0 Peckham Points, One (1) Day to Repair

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Fw-190	5	3	0	2	2	0
C.205	2	1	0	1	0	1

Claims

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Top	1	0	1
Right Waist	1	0.5	0
Tail	1	1	0
Ball	1	0.5	0

Awards: None

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
[OOC: IRL - House undergoing major renovations. Currently in demolition part. Cannot focus on the narrative. Cheers.]

Submitted by,
1Lt Damien Carroll, Pilot
B-24D Bit o’ Lace
78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

[ChefEd]

B-17F Wimpy
B-17F-27BO-41-24585
Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Low
Aircraft Position: Lead
Mission Date: 17 FEB 1944
Mission Number: 10
This Aircraft: 10
Target: Anzio Beachhead, Italy, Supply Dump

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Missions	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Landry Velez	10	0	AM+	RTD	3
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Santino Richards	10	0	AM+, PH	RTD	3
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt George Sheets	7	0	AM	RTD	0
Bombardier	2nd Lt Roberto Ford	10	0	AM+	RTD	2
Engineer	T/Sgt Finnegan Fields	10	7.33	AM+	RTD	0
Radio Op / Waist	Sgt Paul Nielson	10	0	AM+	RTD	1
NT / Waist	T/3rd Ari Watkins	10	1	AM+, PH	RTD	0
Ball Turret	T/4th Tobias Mace	10	3	AM+	RTD	2
Left Waist / NT	S/Sgt Tripp MacDougal	10	0	AM+	RTD	2
Tail Gunner	T/4th Kingsley Griffin	10	3	AM+	RTD	1
Crew Chief	S/Sgt Josia Stanton	7		0	Skill +0

Bomb Run: On Target, 9 %

Casualties: None

Damage: Minor, superficial

Peckham Points: Two, Ready next day

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft:

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Bf-109	6	1	0	4	0.83	2
Fw-190	3	3	0	0	0	0
Bf-110	3	2	0	1	0.5	0
Me-109(I)	1	0	0	1	0	1

Claims:

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Top	4	1.33	1
Ball	1	0	1
Tail	1	0	1

Awards:
Air Medal
Pilot 1st Lt Landry Velez, 2nd Award
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Santino Richards, 2nd Award
Bombardier 2nd Lt Roberto Ford, 2nd Award
Engineer/TT T/Sgt Finnegan Fields, 2nd Award
Radio Op Sgt Paul Nielson, 2nd Award
Right Waist T/3rd Ari Watkins, 2nd Award
Ball Turret T/4th Tobias Mace, 2nd Award
Left Waist S/Sgt Tripp MacDougal, 2nd Award
Tail Gunner T/4th Kingsley Griffin, 2nd Award

Promotions:
None – All passed over

AFTER ACTION REPORT
In and out, back by lunch. Famous last words, no doubt. It was a short but busy flight. We were flying lead, low squadron. No sooner were we at altitude than we were at the IP and heading to the target.

We cannot recall if we faced more enemy aircraft on other missions, but we did know that we hadn’t encountered so many over such a short time span. We were under attack from the moment we cross the front lines until after we re-crossed them and were over Allied territory.

Escorts were good, but even they couldn’t keep up with the onslaught. We faced 14 direct enemy attacks, with escorts stopping 7 of them. Of the 7 that got through, T/Sgt Fields accounted for 4 of them. Even with the barrage of enemy aircraft they caused no damage to Wimpy.

With the IP coming up a full flight of four Bf-109s attacked. Escorts claimed one. 2Lt Sheets, manning the nose gun (straddling 2Lt Ford) missed the 109 coming in from 12. T/4th Mace, in the ball, smoked a 109 at 12 low, setting its engine on fire. He reported the pilot bailed out. He was not awarded a credit for the kill. T/Sgt Fields’ for from the top turret sheared the wing off the third 109 that got through the escort screen. No chute was reported. T/Sgt Fields was credit with half a kill.

Flak was very heavy. Even with the intense assault from the ground, we only took a few punctures of the aircraft skin, in the waist. Sgts Watkins and MacDougal had a few choice words when the plane received unwanted ventilation at their station. Something along the lines, “Isn’t it cold enough up here?!”

2Lt Ford claimed he got a good bead on the target. Intelligence, on the other hand, didn’t agree and gave hm credit for about 9% on target. [Rolled a 2, followed by 1+2+6 X 1 for a total of 9%!]

Pulling away from the target, the flak was still heavy, but not as intense in its duration. We took no further damage.

Just as the flak let up, bombs fell through the formation. We went unscathed.

Shortly after the aerial bombs, a duo of Fw190s with a straggling Italian Bf109 attacked. Our escorts drove off the pair of 190s, leaving the lonely Italian. T/Sgt Fields tore off a wing of the errant 109. The pilot was seen bailing out. T/Sgt Fields was denied credit for the kill, receiving a probable instead.

Crossing back over our lines we faced three Bf110s, a pair of 109s, a pair of Junkers 88, and a sole Fw190. Escorts drove off a pair of 110s, the 190, and one of the Junkers. T/Sgt Fields continued his outstanding marksmanship, downing one of the 110s, for only a half credit. In an outstanding effort, tail gunner Griffin made a passing shot at one of the 109s, shredding a wing, and sending it into an uncontrolled spin. Unfortunately, the review board didn’t see it his way, and denied any credit. The remaining 109 had its cockpit chewed up by T/Sgt Fields, who got a one-third credit for that kill.

The remaining Junkers 88 was zeroed in on by our ball gunner T/4th Mace, 2Lt Sheets, and T/3rd Watkins. Watkins missed, with Mace and Lt Sheets having their guns jam. It made no never mind as the Junkers missed, and departed.

After that it was the descent to base and waiting our turn in the pattern. S/Sgt Stanton was pleased that he had minimal repairs to do.

Submitted by,
1Lt Landry Velez, Pilot
B-17F Wimpy
80th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

[ChefEd]

B-24D Bit o’ Lace
B-24D-53-CO-42-40408
Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Hight
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 17 FEB 1944
Mission Number: 10
This Aircraft: 4
Target: Anzio Beachhead, Italy, Supply Dump

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Missions	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Damien Carroll	4	0	0	0	0
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Donald Costa	4	0	0	0	1
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt Winchester Lee	9	0	AM	0	1
Bombardier	2nd Lt Reid Bush	4	0	0	0	0
Engineer	T/3rd Walter McClain	4	1.67	0	0	0
Radio Op / Rt Waist	T/3rd Quentin Mains	4	0.5	0	0	0
NT / Rt Waist	S/Sgt Kalel Burgess	4	1	0	0	0
Ball Turret	S/Sgt Conor West	4	0.5	0	0	0
Left Waist / NT	Sgt Zahir Edmonson	4	0	0	0	0
Tail Gunner	T/3rd Jayden Dawson	4	2	0	0	0
Crew Chief	S/Sgt King Solis

Bomb Run: On Target, 60 %

Casualties: None

Damage:
Superficial 2
Rubber Rafts 10
Left Aileron, N/E 5
Rubber Rafts 5
Autopilot Mechanism Inoperable 10
Pilot Compartment Heat Out 10
Engine Fire Extinguisher inoperable 10
Right Aileron Inoperable 10

Peckham Points: 62 Peckham Points, One ( 1 ) Day to Repair

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Bf-109	10	4	2	2	0.5	1
Fw-190	9	4	2	1	0.5	0
Me-410	1	0	0	1	1	0

Claims

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Top	2	0.5	1
Right Waist	2	0.5	0
Tail	1	1	0

Awards: None

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
The skies were finally clear. The ground, however, was another story. The ground was so saturated it could absorb no more water, and there was nowhere left for it to run off too. Getting to the plane was an adventure. The 4x4, even at slow speed, was swerving, slipping, and sliding its way to the hard stand. It seemed half of the time we were driving sideways.

Take off was fairly routine. We had a clean join up with the squadron, then the group, as we climbed to altitude. As we reached altitude, we encountered a pair of Fw-109s and five Bf-109s. Our escorts drove off the 190s, and one of the 109s.

Our defensive gunnery exchanged hits with the four remaining marauders. On their first pass two of the enemy missed and did not return. On that first pass we took damage to the rubber rafts (later discovered), the autopilot mechanism and the pilot compartment heat. A number of hits were of no consequence. Two of the 109s made second passes. Big mistake. Both suffered hits that set them on fire.

Flak over the target was as predicted. We lost the engine fire extinguishing controls, and the right aileron.

Even with the hits on Bit o’ Lace Lt Bush was able to drop an estimated 60% on target. As we left the target, Bit o’ Lace dropped altitude below 10,000 feet.

On egress from the target, we were attacked by another pair of Fw-190s and another fivesome of Bf-109s. Escorts drove off the pair of 109s as well as one of the 109s. None of the four remaining 109s hit us. We did stitch up a pair of the 109s, but not enough to knock them down.

With the front lines passing below us, the enemy threw five more fighters at us, four Fw-190s, three 109s, and a single Me-410. Some of our escorts stuck with us when we dropped out of formation. They drove off three of the 190s and a 109. Defensive fire took over. The remaining 190 and the 410 were shot down quite handily. Flt Engineer McClain tore the wing from the 190, and tail gunner Dawson hit the 410’s fuel tank, blowing it up. The remaining 109s missed and were missed, as we exchanged fire.

Landing was better than takeoff. With several hours of sunlight, the field had dried up a bit.

Submitted by,
1Lt Damien Carroll, Pilot
B-24D Bit o’ Lace
78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

[ChefEd]

B-24D Bit o’ Lace
B-24D-53-CO-42-40408
Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Low
Aircraft Position: Middle, TEC
Mission Date: 22 FEB 1944
Mission Number: 11
This Aircraft: 5
Target: Regensburg, Germany, Prufening Aircraft Factory

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Missions	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Damien Carroll	5	0	AM, PH	0	0
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Donald Costa	5	0	AM, PH	0	1
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt Winchester Lee	10	0	AM+, PH	0	1
Bombardier	2nd Lt Reid Bush	5	0	AM, PH	0	0
Engineer	T/3rd Walter McClain	5	1.67	AM, PH	0	0
Radio Op / Rt Waist	T/3rd Quentin Mains	5	1.16	AM, PH	0	0
NT / Rt Waist	S/Sgt Kalel Burgess	5	1	AM, PH	0	0
Ball Turret	S/Sgt Conor West	5	1.5	AM, PH	0	0
Left Waist / NT	Sgt Zahir Edmonson	5	0	AM, PH	0	0
Tail Gunner	T/3rd Jayden Dawson	5	2	AM, PH	0	0
Crew Chief	S/Sgt King Solis

Bomb Run: On Target, 50 %

Casualties:
KIA
1st Lt Damien Carroll
2nd Lt Donald Costa
2nd Lt Winchester Lee
2nd Lt Reid Bush
T/3rd Walter McClain
T/3rd Quentin Mains
S/Sgt Kalel Burgess
S/Sgt Conor West
Sgt Zahir Edmonson
T/3rd Jayden Dawson

Damage: Total, Shot Down

Peckham Points: 321 Peckham Points, Total Loss
(Points for accumulated damage, discounting being shot down.)

Landing: Shot Down

Enemy Aircraft

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Fw-190	12	2	6	2	0.33	1
Bf-109	8	5	0	2	1.33	0
Ju-88	2	1	0	1	0	0
Me-210	1	1	0	0	0	0
Re.2005	1	1	0	0	0	0

Claims

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Ball	2	1	0
Right Waist	2	0.33	1
Radio Op	1	0.33	0

Awards:
Air Medal (All Posthumous)
1st Lt Damien Carroll
2nd Lt Donald Costa
2nd Lt Winchester Lee, 2nd Award
2nd Lt Reid Bush
T/3rd Walter McClain
T/3rd Quentin Mains
S/Sgt Kalel Burgess
S/Sgt Conor West
Sgt Zahir Edmonson
T/3rd Jayden Dawson

Purple Heart (All Posthumous)
1st Lt Damien Carroll
2nd Lt Donald Costa
2nd Lt Winchester Lee
2nd Lt Reid Bush
T/3rd Walter McClain
T/3rd Quentin Mains
S/Sgt Kalel Burgess
S/Sgt Conor West
Sgt Zahir Edmonson
T/3rd Jayden Dawson

Promotions:
None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
As predicted by intelligence, Bit o’ Lace encountered the first enemy opposition over the Adriatic, passing San Marino. A single Bf-109 and an Re.2005 were driven off by escorts.

At the foothills of the Alps a pair of Bf-109s and an Me-210 were all driven off by escorts.

Once over the Alps, Black Maria dropped out of formation, and Bit o’ Lace slid back not the TEC position. Bit o’ Lace was immediately set upon by a pair of Fw-190s and a single Me-109. Escorts drove off one of the 190s. Defensive gunnery drove off the remaining 190 and shot down the 109 in a ball of fire.

In the target zone Bit o’ Lace met her match. Up to this point the bomber had only faced eight enemy aircraft, of which 6 had been driven off by escorts. Over the target Bit o’ Lace faced sixteen more enemy fighters where only four were intercepted by escorts.

The first encounter was a foursome of Fw-190s and a Bf-109. The 109 was driven off, leaving the 190s for the bomber’s crew to fend off. S/Sgt Burgess, manning the nose turret, shot down the 190 he faced. T/3rd McClain, in the top turret, damaged a second 190. The remaining pair shot up Bit o’ Lace. These two aircraft killed left waist gunner Sgt Edmonson outright, and seriously wounding pilot 1Lt Carroll, and S/Sgt Burgess. Damage to the aircraft included the loss of the tail guns, the radio room heat, the tail O2, and the rubber rafts in the bomb bay.

A second wave of enemy aircraft was a pair of Fw-190s. Defensive gunner damaged both enemy fighters. Damage was severe enough to one of the Focke-Wulfs that it lost control and crashed into the radio room. T/3rd McClain and 2Lt Lee were both killed in the collision.

Immediately following the collision, flak struck the right wing, adding insult to injury, as the plane dropped out of formation from the collision.

Tail gunner T/3rd Dawson extricated himself from the tail position and moved to take over the left waist. With half of the crew dead or seriously wounded, co-pilot 2Lt Costa was left to himself to manage and control the stricken bomber.

Doing his best to hold the fort, 2Lt Costa passed control to bombardier 2Lt Bush. Showing, once again his mastery of the position, bombardier Bush dropped 50% of the plane’s bombs on target, in five mission he had a 48% success rate.

Due to the damage to the bomber, and the loss of heat and oxygen through much of the aircraft, 2Lt Costa brought the bomber below 10,000FT.

Clear of the target a pair of 190s and another single 109 attacked. Still under the umbrella of the escorts, two of the enemy were driven off. S/Sgt Burgess shot down the remaining 190, having set the fighter on fire.

The condition of Bit o’ Lace was so severe 2Lt Costa decided to dead reckon toward Switzerland. With his navigator dead, and his bombardier tending to the wounded, it was all guess work.

At greatly reduced speed and altitude, Bit o’ Lace took advantage of the last of her fighter cover as the formation flew back to Italy. A single escort was able to drive off a Junkers 88. A second 88 and a 109 were left for what remained of the bomber’s defensive gunnery. S/Sgt West, in the ball, shot down the remaining Junkers. The remaining 109 missed and departed.

Now, completely alone, Bit o’ Lace was faced with a foursome of 190s and a single 109. S/Sgt Burgess made quick work of the 109, coming in from twelve high. Not enough guns were available to cover all the incoming fighters. That was telling. An uncovered 190 at 1:30 low fired its cannon into the right-wing root of the bomber, destroying the wing spar. The wing folded up and over the bomber, putting her into an Uncontrolled dive. The plummeting bomber entombed the entire crew, taking them all with her as she plunged to the earth below.

[ChefEd]

B-24D Pistol Packin’ Mama (Spare Pool Aircraft)
B-24D-20-CO-41-24207
Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Low
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 22 FEB 1944
Mission Number: 11
This Aircraft: 2
Target: Regensburg, Germany, Aircraft Factory

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Missions	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1Lt William Hopkins	2	0	0	RTD	0
Co-Pilot	Capt Bruno Pierce	1	0	0	RTD	0
Navigator / NT	2Lt Rodney Towsey	5	0	AM	RTD	0
Bombardier	2Lt Edwin O'Brien	5	1	AM	RTD	0
Engineer	S/Sgt Jason Glasser	2	0.83	0	RTD	0
Radio Op / Rt Waist	S/Sgt Brent Wickie	7	0	AM	RTD	0
NT / Rt Waist	Sgt Ralph Taylor	7	1	AM, PH	RTD 24 FEB 44	0
Ball Turret	Sgt Gavin O'Callahan	7	3.83	AM	RTD	0
Left Waist / NT	Sgt Rodney Lazenby	4	0	PH	RTD 22 MAR 44	1
Tail Gunner	Sgt Tony Marshall	6	0	AM	RTD	0
Crew Chief	S/Sgt Elmer Hoffman

Bomb Run: Off Target, 0 %

Casualties:
Left Waist – Sgt Rodney Lazenby, SW, Broken right ulna
Right Waist – Sgt Ralph Taylor, LW, Facial laceration

Damage:
Bomb Bay Doors Inop - 10
Superficial X7 - 14
Serious Wound - 5
Light Wound - 2

Peckham Points: 31 Peckham Points, One ( 1 ) Day(s) to Repair

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Fw-190	13	2	4	3	1	2
Bf-109	4	1	1	1	1	0
Bf-110	2	0	1	2	1	0
Me-410	1	1	0	0	0	0

Claims

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Bombardier	3	1	2
Ball	1	1	0
Right Waist	1	0	0

Awards:
Purple Heart
Sgt Rodney Lazenby
Sgt Ralph Taylor

Air Medal
2Lt Edwin O’Brien
2Lt Rodney Towsey

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
Thanks to Capt Pierce, the members of this crew got another chance to fly. Sergeants Taylor and Lazenby are probably wishing they had stood in bed, as both were wounded after the bomb run. 2Lt O’Brien was quite chagrined about his bombing performance, zero, zilch on target. However, he will be buying rounds at the O-Club tonight, as he got a kill and two probables, firing the nose gun.

Capt Pierce could have taken the left seat, but gave it to me, as he only needed flight time, to maintain flying status. He will definitely get a round from me tonight.

We did not meet up with any enemy fighters until recrossing the Italian coast, outbound. A trio of Fw190s attacked, with one driven off by our escorts. We drove off one, and got our paint scratched by the remaining fighter. He came around again, with misses on both sides.

With the coast receding behind us, and Alps looming in the distance, another trio of Focke-Wulfs attacked. Better escort coverage drove off two fighters this time. We drove off the last one but lost the top turret to an ammo feed jam.

S/Sgt Glasser took the respite of passing over the Alps to clear the jam and was ready to go for the other side.

Mama was unmolested from the Alps to the target. Approaching Regensburg another trio of 190s attacked. Escorts were nowhere to be seen. The first FW attacked from 3 high, missed, and did not return. The remaining two were both shot down by Lt O’Brien, in their first and second passes, however, he would only get credit for one.

Flak was heavy, but off target, doing little more than aerate the right wing.

Lt O’Brien took control of the plane, preparing to drop our load. When the bomb bay doors were actuated to open, nothing happened. (Later inspection indicated they actuators were damaged by enemy rounds.) S/Sgt Glasser and S/Sgt Wickie manually opened the doors, and Lt O’Brien pickled them. We were way off target.

Leaving the target we were accosted by a pair of Bf-109s. Sgt Lazenby, left waist, shot down one, the other was peppered by S/Sgt Glasser in the top turret, driving it off.

A second wave comprised of a single FW and a pair of 109s attacked. Lt O’Brien shot the FW down, and most disappointingly was denied this kill, as well. Escorts drove off one of the 109s, with the last one missing us, continuing its dive and disappeared below.

The next 40 minutes were busy. We faced four Fw-190s, a pair of Bf-110s, and an Me-410. The 410 was the only enemy fighter the escorts were around to drive off. One of the FWs wounded both of our waist gunners on a single pass. No other damage was sustained. Finally, with the Alps rising before us, the pair of 110s attacked. Sgt Taylor, with blood in his eyes from the facial laceration, and Sgt O’Callahan, in the ball, tagged one of them. It erupted in a ball of fire, with no chutes observed. Only Sgt O’Callahan received credit for the kill.

Once passed the Alps had no more enemy fighters tried to attack us.

Submitted by,
1Lt William Hopkins, Pilot
B-24D Pistol Packin’ Mama (Spare)
78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

[ChefEd]

B-17F Wimpy
B-17F-27BO-41-24585
Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Middle
Aircraft Position: Middle / Lead
Mission Date: 22 FEB 1944
Mission Number: 11
This Aircraft: 11
Target: Regensburg, Germany, Prufening Aircraft Factory

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Missions	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Landry Velez	11	0	AM+	RTD	3
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Santino Richards	11	0	AM+, PH	RTD	4
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt George Sheets	8	0	AM	RTD	0
Bombardier	2nd Lt Roberto Ford	11	1	AM+	RTD	2
Engineer	T/Sgt Finnegan Fields	11	9.33	AM+	RTD	0
Radio Op / Waist	Sgt Paul Nielson	11	0	AM+	RTD	1
NT / Waist	T/3rd Ari Watkins	11	4	AM+, PH	RTD	0
Ball Turret	T/4th Tobias Mace	11	3	AM+	RTD	2
Left Waist / NT	S/Sgt Tripp MacDougal	11	0	AM+	RTD	2
Tail Gunner	T/4th Kingsley Griffin	11	3	AM+	RTD	1
Crew Chief	S/Sgt Josia Stanton	8		0	Skill +0

Bomb Run: On Target, 30 %

Casualties: None

Damage:
Right Elevator
Superficial X1

Peckham Points: 11, Ready next day

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft:

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Fw-190	19	11	5	1	1	0
Bf-109	6	3	0	1	0.5	0
Bf-110	4	3	0	1	1	0
Me-210	2	1	0	1	0.5	0
G.55	1	1	0	0	0	0

Claims:

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Right Waist	2	1.5	0
Top	1	1	0
Bombardier	1	0.5	0

Awards: None

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
It wasn’t our time today. The number of missing planes, and empty places in the mess attested to the difficulty of the Regensburg raid. We came through with no wounded, and barely a scratch to Wimpy. The crew displayed no elation to their good fortune. Not that they felt an obligation to suppress it, but because it was another day. Another day they faced the uncertainty of combat, and came through, knowing that tomorrow, or the next day, they would face it again, and again.

We were set on fairly consistently from San Marino outbound, to San Marino inbound. Escorts drove off about 60% of our attackers, while we shot down or damaged almost half of those that got through the escorts defensive screen. All in all, only 4 of 32 enemy aircraft got to us unopposed. A good day.

Kudos to 2Lt Ford for putting 30% on target and getting half a credit on a Bf-109.

Much gratitude to our "Little Friends".

Submitted by,
1Lt Landry Velez, Pilot
B-17F Wimpy
80th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

[ChefEd]

B-24J Kipling’s Error (Spare)
B-24D-10-CO-42-40220
Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Low
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 22 FEB 1944
Mission Number: 11
This Aircraft: 1
Target: Regensburg, Germany, Aircraft Factory

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Missions	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1Lt Herman Mickelsen	1		0	0	0
Co-Pilot	2Lt Lester Braun	1		0	0	0
Navigator / NT	2Lt Brandon Patrick	1	0.5	0	0	0
Bombardier	2Lt Barney Healey	1	0	0	0	0
Engineer	S/Sgt Willie Sims	1	4	0	0	0
Radio Op / Rt Waist	S/Sgt Theo Morris	6	0	AM	0	0
NT / Rt Waist	Sgt Willie Wilkins	1	0.5	0	0	0
Ball Turret	Sgt Marty Tracey	2	0.5	0	0	0
Left Waist / NT	Sgt Gerlad Potemkin	1	0	0	0	0
Tail Gunner	Sgt Bret Ackerman	1	0.5	0	0	0
Crew Chief	S/Sgt Isaac Gibbs

Bomb Run: Off Target, 0 %

Casualties: None

Damage:
Flap Controls 10
Superficial X3 6

Peckham Points: 16 Peckham Points, One ( 1 ) Day to Repair

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Fw-190	15	5	1	4	2	1
Me-109	11	2	2	7	3.5	2
Me-110	4	2	0	2	0.5	1
C.205	1	0	0	1	0	1
G.55	1	1	0	0	0	0
Ju-88	1	0	0	0	0	0
Me-109(I)	1	0	1	0	0	0
Me-210	1	0	0	1	0	1

Claims

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Top	5	4	0
Navigator	4	0.5	3
Tail	2	0.5	1
Ball	2	0.5	1
Right Waist	2	0.5	1

Awards: None

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
Truly, it must have been someone’s idea of a practical joke. Cobbling together a crew with basically NO experience, and sending them on a marathon mission, to Regensburg, Germany. However, as it worked out, no one was injured, and our plane was barely scratched, despite facing about 35 enemy aircraft enroute.

We joined the elephant walk from our hardstand to the end of the runway. Reaching the runway, we slowed just enough to make the turn and immediately made our takeoff roll out. We lifted sluggishly into the Italian winter skies, eventually joining up with the squadron, then with the group.

Skies were mostly clear…of clouds and enemy aircraft. We encountered our first enemy fighters over the Adriatic, across from San Marino. Our escorts drove off a pair of FW-190s, leaving a third for us to fend off. Nervous gunners, and an apparent green enemy pilot left us all unscathed.

We did not see another enemy fighter until we were crossing the Italian coast, east of Venice. A solitary FW made an approach but was driven off by our vigilant escorts.

Once clear of the Alps we faced a solo BF-110 trying to sneak up on us from directly below. Again, our escorts did the job, intercepting the enemy and driving him off.

Munich was passing on our left when we noticed a warning indicator for the flaps. Now was not the time to test them.

With the IP approaching the Luftwaffe decided to provide a very hot welcome. In a very short time, we faced four BF-109s, a trio of FW-190s, a BF-110 and an ME-210. What escorts that were there, they were only able to drive off a single 109. Of the remaining eight enemy fighters, we shot down five of them, and damaged two more. The crew only received a joint two kills for their efforts.

Clear of the fighters we were hit superficially by the flak. That (apparently) was enough to throw off 2Lt Healy, on his first combat mission.

Coming off the target, and heading for the RP, we faced another ten enemy fighters. Our escorts were a little better this time around, driving off three of the enemy. We shot down another five enemy planes, damaging one more. We took no damage, and the crew was awarded two and a half kills.

For the rest of the flight, we faced eleven more enemy fighters. Our escorts were absent, leaving us to fight off most of the intruders. Not until we were past San Marino were the escorts’ presence felt. We shot down four more enemy fighters and damaged two more. Another one and a half kills to our score.

We fell into the pattern, waiting for the more damaged aircraft to land first.

The men were quite chatty once we hit the ground. They had shot down fifteen enemy aircraft, or so they thought. The review board only credited them with six, with six probables. Disappointing, but with a bright spot. S/Sgt Sims was credited with four kills on his first combat mission.

Submitted by,
1Lt Herman Mickelsen, Pilot
B-24J Kipling’s Error
78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

[ChefEd]

B-24J Next Objective
B-24J-15-CF-42-99776
Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: High
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 7 MAR 1944
Mission Number: 12
This Aircraft: 1
Target: Certaldo, Italy, Marshalling Yard

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Missions	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Alexis Vaillancourt	1			RTD	0
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Arlo Perot	1			RTD	0
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt Callahan Quinn	1	0		RTD	1
Bombardier	2nd Lt Cory McIntyre	1	0		RTD	0
Engineer	T/Sgt Abraham Leeker	1	0		RTD	0
Radio Op / Rt Waist	T/Sgt Bruce Woodward	1	0		RTD	0
NT / Rt Waist	Sgt Reese Giles	1	0		RTD	1
Ball Turret	T/3rd Tristen Townsend	1	0.5		RTD	1
Left Waist / NT	Sgt Brendan Burgess	1	0		RTD	0
Tail Gunner	T/3rd Finnley Griffith	1	0		RTD	1
Crew Chief	S/Sgt King Solis	9			Skill +0

Bomb Run: On Target, 50 %

Casualties: None

Damage:
Tail O2
Tail Suit Heat
Superficial X2

Peckham Points: 24 Peckham Points, One ( 1 ) Day to Repair

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Fw-190	2	1	0	1	0.5	0

Claims

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Ball	1	0.5	0

Awards: None

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
Next Objective and her crew were in Italy for two weeks before their first combat mission. Nothing in their training prepared them for the conditions. They could deal with the cold, but the wet and the mud were new to them all. They were miserable from day one.

To compound their personal misery from the weather, the crew was experiencing something akin to shock. They had arrived a few days after the raid on Regensburg, Germany. The empty seats in the mess halls. The torn and damaged aircraft. The empty hardstands. The general weariness apparent on the faces of men and officers.

Though civilly welcomed to the squadron, few of the squadron would discuss the raid. Those who did discuss it did convey how difficult the mission was, while clearly avoiding any details of the experience.

For two weeks the crew of Next Objective acquainted themselves with the base, and the surrounding area, when what little time they had allowed it. The bulk of their time was in training, along with two scrubbed missions.

Next Objective slid from side to side as she trundled down the runway. The B-24 was difficult enough to fly, without Mother Nature throwing in her weight.

Finally airborne, the bomber made her way to join up with the Squadron, then the Group. It took everything Lieutenants Vaillancourt and Perot had to keep the bomber in formation as they climbed through the angry and roiling clouds. The Group finally arrived at their cruising altitude. Most of the flight at this altitude was in sunshine, but a few areas of dark and thick clouds placed themselves into the Group’s flight path.

The bomber and her crew made their way to the target. The entire flight was over Italy. That was good, as much of the crew, it turned out, had little swimming skills. The bad part was the entire flight was over mountains, leaving few if any places to set down, if necessary. In the event they might need to land, the low cloud cover would conceal any of the mountains in their path until too late.

Lt McIntyre, bombardier, kept a running monologue of what he could see (mostly couldn’t see) below and ahead of them. He frequently interjected his doubts about hitting the ‘pickle barrel’ once they reached the target.

With Spoleto below we saw a few enemy fighters harassing the rest of the Group, but not Next Objective. None of the crew complained.

We finally passed the mountains, exposing the hills, and a few promontories of Tuscany.

As we approached the target Next Objective was still ignored by the enemy fighters. Lt McIntyre did not complain. He maintained complete focus, never moving from the eye piece of the bomb sight. The predicted light flak did not affect him. He kept his focus. Even with this focus, his continuing monologue did not cease. He kept calling out “Clouds… clouds… farms… clouds…” Lt Quinn kept feeding location to Lt McIntyre. Lt McIntyre, with a single syllable stopped Lt Quinn’s feed of information. “Clouds… clouds… CLEAR… target… AWAY.” The bomber immediately lifted as her load left the aircraft. Lt McIntyre returned control of the bomber to the flight deck.

Not until we reached the RP did any enemy fighters seem to take any notice of us. A pair of Focke-Wulfs attacked. The first made a head on approach. He was driven off by our escorts. The second made a diving attack from directly above us. T/Sgt Leeker, in the top turret missed the intruder. The FW peppered the tail of the bomber. On that pass he took out the tail gunner’s heat and O2.

The intruding FW made a second pass from directly behind. This slow approach gave our tail and ball gunners an easy target. Each got hits on the bandit. The review board credited T/3rd Griffith’s fire from the tail a half credit for tearing the wing from the enemy fighter. Griffith and Townsend did not see the enemy pilot bail out.

Once this wave of enemy fighters passed, T/3rd Griffith reported his heat and O2 out. I signaled the lead plane we were dropping out, and heading below 10,000FT.

At that altitude we spent the entire return flight in the clouds, being buffeted and tossed about the entire flight back.

Once on the ground, I told S/Sgt Solis I will give him and his men a case of beer, after they finished with Next Objective. Besides the damage, they would have the unenviable task of cleaning out the vomit left behind by the crew, due to the rough ride home.

Submitted by,
1Lt Alexis Vaillancourt, Pilot
B-24J Next Objective
78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

[ChefEd]

B-17F Wimpy
B-17F-27BO-41-24585
Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: High
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 7 MAR 1944
Mission Number: 12
This Aircraft: 12
Target: Certaldo, Italy, Marshaling Yard

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Missions	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Landry Velez	12	0	AM+	RTD	2
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Santino Richards	12	0	AM+, PH	RTD	4
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt George Sheets	9	0	AM	RTD	0
Bombardier	2nd Lt Roberto Ford	12	1	AM+	RTD	1
Engineer	T/Sgt Finnegan Fields	12	9.33	AM+	RTD	0
Radio Op / Waist	Sgt Paul Nielson	12	0	AM+	RTD	2
NT / Waist	T/3rd Ari Watkins	12	4	AM+, PH	RTD	0
Ball Turret	T/4th Tobias Mace	12	3	AM+	RTD	3
Left Waist / NT	S/Sgt Tripp MacDougal	12	0	AM+	RTD	1
Tail Gunner	T/4th Kingsley Griffin	12	3	AM+	RTD	2
Crew Chief	S/Sgt Josia Stanton	9		0	Skill +0

Bomb Run: On Target, 30 %

Casualties: None

Damage: None

Peckham Points: None, Ready next day

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft:

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Bf-110	3	2	0	1	0	1
Fw-190	1	1	0	0	0	0
Bf-109	1	1	0	0	0	0

Claims:

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Ball	1	0	1

Awards: None

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
The weather. What more can be said about it? Lousy.

Not a cake walk, but this mission was easier than most. The only enemy fighters we encountered enroute to the target were driven off by our escorts. Flak was light and ineffective. Lt Sheets dropped a respectable 30% on target.

Frustrating to the crew were the rockets lobbed through the formation as we made for the RP. “Cowardly Curs” was the mildest of epithets thrown by the crew at the pilot who fired the rockets at us. Frustrating that we could not fire back.

We were about a third of the way back to Foggia when a trio of Bf-110 Zerstörers attacked us. Our escorts drove off two of the enemy, while T/4th mace made short work of the third. Despite the 110 blowing up in a great ball of fire, Mace was denied any credit for the kill.

Submitted by,
1Lt Landry Velez, Pilot
B-17F Wimpy
80th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

Santino looks a bit wound up, after the last mission. I will drag him out to town to blow off some steam tonight. Hopefully that will relax him a bit.

Mace’s anger at being denied a clear kill was visible, however, learning his lesson from the last time he was denied credits for kills, he kept his mouth shut.

[ChefEd]

B-24J Next Objective
B-24J-15-CF-42-99776
Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: High
Aircraft Position: Middle / TEC
Mission Date: 11 MAR 1944
Mission Number: 13
This Aircraft: 2
Target: Toulon, France, Submarine Repair facilities

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Missions	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Alexis Vaillancourt	2	0		RTD	0
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Arlo Perot	2	0		RTD	0
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt Callahan Quinn	2	0		RTD	1
Bombardier	2nd Lt Cory McIntyre	2	0		RTD	1
Engineer	T/Sgt Abraham Leeker	2	0		RTD	0
Radio Op / Rt Waist	T/Sgt Bruce Woodward	2	1		RTD	0
NT / Rt Waist	Sgt Reese Giles	2	0.5		RTD	2
Ball Turret	T/3rd Tristen Townsend	2	1.5		RTD	0
Left Waist / NT	Sgt Brendan Burgess	2	0		RTD	0
Tail Gunner	T/3rd Finnley Griffith	2	0		RTD	2
Crew Chief	S/Sgt King Solis	10			Skill +0

Bomb Run: On Target, 40 %

Casualties: None

Damage:
Left Aileron
Superficial X1

Peckham Points: 12 Peckham Points, One ( 1 ) Day to Repair

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Fw-190	11	3	3	4	2	1
Me-109	3	1	0	0	0	0
Ju-88	2	0	1	1	0	0
Me-110	2	1	0	1	0.5	0
C.205	1	1	0	0	0	0
Me-410	1	0	1	0	0	0

Claims

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Ball	2	1	0
Top	2	0	1
Nose	1	0.5	0
Right Waist	1	1	0

Awards: None

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
A fairly long flight, mostly over water. We encountered enemy fighters at every point predicted by intelligence.

As soon as we passed the front lines we faced a Bf-109 and a Macchi C.205. Both were driven off by our escorts.

Once past Corsica we faced the German air force again. Enemy fighters could be seen buzzing the rest of the squadron but ignored us.

On approach to the target, we faced five FW-190s in two waves. Escorts drove off two and we shot down one. The other two were clipped by our defensive fire, enough to throw them off. Neither made follow up passes.

Flak was on target, hitting both ailerons, taking out the port one.

Ignoring the enemy flak hits 2Lt McIntyre repeated his monologue from the last mission. He did not flinch, reinforcing our opinion he has ice water in his veins. That icy demeanor played well as he was credited with 40% on target.

Pulling off of the target, and heading for the RP, another two waves with five enemy aircraft attacked. Escorts provided no assistance. We downed two of the enemy and damaged the other three. As before, we took no damage from the enemy fighters.

Back out over the Ligurian Sea and heading toward Corsica we were again ignored by the enemy fighters.

With Corsica coming up, Betty Anne signals she is dropping out of formation. I had ‘Sparks’ signal Lead that we will slide into TEC, to replace Betty Anne.

It seemed the Germans saved the best for last. Just before entering friendly air space, two more waves of enemy with eight enemy fighters attacking. Our escorts reappeared, driving off three of the enemy. Our defensive fire knocked down three more and damaged the remaining two. Tail gunner Griffith informed us he lost one gun to a jam during the first wave. During the second wave he reported number two gun also jamming. He was not a happy camper. We took no hits from the enemy fighters.

The landing was clean.

Submitted by,
1Lt Alexis Vaillancourt, Pilot
B-24J Next Objective
78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

[ChefEd]

B-17F Wimpy
B-17F-27BO-41-24585
Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Low
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 11 MAR 1944
Mission Number: 13
This Aircraft: 13
Target: Toulon, France, Submarine Repair Facilities

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Missions	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Landry Velez	13	0	AM+	RTD	3
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Santino Richards	13	0	AM+, PH	RTD	4
Navigator	2nd Lt George Sheets	10	0	AM	RTD	0
Bombardier	2nd Lt Roberto Ford	13	1	AM+	RTD	1
Engineer	T/Sgt Finnegan Fields	13	10.83	AM+	RTD	0
Radio Op	Sgt Paul Nielson	13	0	AM+	RTD	3
Right Waist	T/3rd Ari Watkins	13	4	AM+, PH+	KIA	0
Ball Turret	T/4th Tobias Mace	13	3	AM+	RTD	3
Left Waist	S/Sgt Tripp MacDougal	13	0	AM+	RTD	2
Tail Gunner	T/4th Kingsley Griffin	13	4.5	AM+	RTD	3
Crew Chief	S/Sgt Josia Stanton	10		0	Skill +0

Bomb Run: On Target, 40 %

Casualties:
T/3rd Ari Watkins - KIA

Damage:
Superficial X4 4
Right Cheek Gun 10
KIA 10

Peckham Points: 24 Peckham Points, Ready next day

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft:

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Fw-190	5	3	0	0	0	0
Bf-109	2	0	0	2	1.5	0
Ju-88	2	0	0	2	1.5	0

Claims:

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Top	2	1.5	0
Tail	2	1.5	0

Awards:
Purple Heart
T/3rd Ari Watkins – Second, Posthumous

Air Medal
2Lt George Sheets – Second

DFC Requested
T/Sgt Finnegan Fields – 10 Confirmed Kills

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
We finally had clear skies. Well, about as clear as March can be. Clear enough to make flying easier, especially on another long mission. Today, we returned to Toulon.

As we approached the French coast, we were feeling pretty good. Not an enemy aircraft in sight. Feeling pretty lucky.

Our luck did not hold out long. We faced three FWs in two waves, prior to the flak belt. Our escorts were on the ball and drove off two of the bandits. Our defensive gunnery, though missing by a mile, was enough to throw off the Hun’s attack, and he did not follow up with another.

Flak was as predicted, moderate, if not accurate. We took a few pellets to the airframe, causing little more than unwelcome ventilation.

Lt Ford remained unperturbed by the buffeting flak and enemy fighters. Intelligence reports that he put about 40% on target.

Flak was lighter on egress, and less accurate, missing us by a wide margin.

As we exited the flak belt, we were attacked by a pair of 190s and a pair of 109s. Escorts were sparse. One of the FWs was driven off, and we tattooed the remaining fighter. T/Sgt Fields riddled the enemy cockpit. Despite the riddling, the enemy pilot seemed uninjured. [Later, T/4th Mace commented the cockpit probably looked like a cartoon, with a string of bullet holes shaped like the enemy pilot.] The cockpit hits were enough to rattle the German, and he missed widely, and did not return.

The remaining pair of Bf-109s did not fare as well as the Focke-Wulf pilot. Both were shot down. T/4th Griffin, in the tail, ripped open the 109’s right wing, sending it into a spiral. No chute was observed. The last 109’s pilot was not as lucky as the 190. T/Sgt Fields ripped open the enemy cockpit like a can opener. The pilot was clearly KIA.

Ever alert on the homeward leg, the crew still managed to appreciate, and comment on, the vistas of the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas, as well as the stark landscape of Corsica.

Naples was passing to our left, with the coastline ahead of us when we were jumped by a pair of Junkers. Only a few moments earlier we watched the escorts we had driving off the enemy fighters while still at a distance. We thought we were home free.

Defensive gunnery missed the first Junkers. He, however, did not miss us. He stitched us from nose to tail. The enemy shells striking the waist killed T/3rd Watkins with shell fragments to the face. T/Sgt Fields continued his mastery of target acquisition by shooting down the second Junkers. His rounds struck the enemy’s fuel tank, igniting it, and engulfing the aircraft. No chutes were seen.

The offending Junkers came around for a second pass, this time from 6 high. All guns bearing on the enemy hit the fighter. However, T/4th Griffin’s defensive fire made the coup de grace, ripping open the enemy’s left wing, sending the fighter into an earthward spiral. No chutes were seen.

Once we were clear of the enemy, and the coast crossing below, S/Sgt MacDougal reported the death of Watkins.

Fields shot off a flare on final approach. An ambulance was waiting for us when we hit the hard stand.

Submitted by,
1Lt Landry Velez, Pilot
B-17F Wimpy
80th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

Postscript
Ari Watkins wasn’t the first crewmember we lost, but he was the first KIA. It hit hard, as we had all been together since the States, except for Lt Sheets, who joined us for mission 5, to Udine.

T/Sgt Fields, on 11 Feb 1944, achieved Ace Status, over Toulon. Today, 11 Mar 1944, one month to the day since our last foray to Toulon, T/Sgt Fields achieved Double-Ace Status. Over Toulon.

Most of the crew is showing signs of stress, especially Lt Richards. I am hoping we have a long gap between missions, to allow them to unwind a bit, before they unravel.

[ChefEd]

B-24J Next Objective
B-24J-15-CF-42-99776
Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: High
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 15 MAR 1944
Mission Number: 14
This Aircraft: 3
Target: Steyr, Austria, Ball Bearing Plant

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Missions	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Alexis Vaillancourt	2	0		RTD	0
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Arlo Perot	2	0		RTD	0
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt Callahan Quinn	2	0		RTD	1
Bombardier	2nd Lt Cory McIntyre	2	0		RTD	0
Engineer	T/Sgt Abraham Leeker	2	0		RTD	0
Radio Op / Rt Waist	T/Sgt Bruce Woodward	2	1		RTD	0
NT / Rt Waist	Sgt Reese Giles	2	0.5		RTD	2
Ball Turret	T/3rd Tristen Townsend	2	1.5		RTD	0
Left Waist / NT	Sgt Brendan Burgess	2	0		RTD	0
Tail Gunner	T/3rd Finnley Griffith	2	0		RTD	2
Crew Chief	S/Sgt King Solis	11			Skill +0

Bomb Run: DNB

Casualties: None

Damage:
Prop Feathering Controls 10

Peckham Points: 10 Peckham Points, one ( 1 ) Day to Repair

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft: None

Claims: None

Awards: None

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
Flying conditions were bad. There was no relief from the clouds, wind, and rain. As the Yugoslav coast came into view, gremlins struck. Prop feathering controls quit. Sgt Leeker came down from the top turret and began troubleshooting. He informed us that he could not find or repair the problem in flight. Not wishing to take an unnecessary risk once we encountered the enemy, I decided to abort. We dropped out of the formation and made the turn back to Giulia. Still over the Adriatic we dropped our payload and continued our flight home. Landing good, despite the conditions.

Submitted by,
1Lt Alexis Vaillancourt, Pilot
B-24J Next Objective
78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

[ChefEd]

B-17F Wimpy
B-17F-27BO-41-24585
Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Middle
Aircraft Position: Middle / Lead
Mission Date: 15 MAR 1944
Mission Number: 14
This Aircraft: 14
Target: Steyr, Austria, Ball Bearing Plant

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Missions	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Landry Velez	14	0	AM+	RTD	4
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Santino Richards	14	0	AM+, PH	RTD	5
Navigator	2nd Lt George Sheets	11	0	AM	RTD	1
Bombardier	2nd Lt Roberto Ford	14	1	AM+	RTD	1
Engineer	T/Sgt Finnegan Fields	14	10.83	AM++, DFC	RTD	0
Radio Op	Sgt Paul Nielson	14	0	AM+	RTD	3
Right Waist	Sgt Collin Cordell	6	0	AM	RTD	0
Ball Turret	T/4th Tobias Mace	14	3	AM+	RTD	3
Left Waist	S/Sgt Tripp MacDougal	14	0	AM+	RTD	3
Tail Gunner	T/4th Kingsley Griffin	14	4.5	AM+	RTD	2
Crew Chief	S/Sgt Josia Stanton	11		0	Skill +0

Bomb Run: On Target, 40 %

Casualties: None

Damage:
Superficial X2 2
#2 Engine Supercharger 25

Peckham Points: 27, Ready next day

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft:

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Bf-110	4	2	1	1	0	1
Fw-190	2	0	0	0	0	0
Bf-109	2	0	0	0	0	0

Claims:

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Top	1	0	1

Awards: None

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
Even with the long flight into Austria, we only encountered 8 enemy fighters. Two of those were driven off by our escorts, and we claimed one, which was denied. The remaining five all missed us, as we did most of them. Poor shooting, all around.

Over the target we faced a trio of Bf110s. Escorts drove off one, Sgt Fields in the top turret, shot down one [later, credit denied], and one damaged by Sgt Mace, in the ball turret.

Once clear of the enemy fighters, flak found us. They seemed to target our port wing. The flap was rendered useless, and #2 engine was set afire. We extinguished the fire and proceeded into our bomb run. Just ahead of us, Cat’s Meow, flying lead, disappeared in a great explosion and ball of flame. What was left could not be described as an airplane.

Undeterred by the explosion, resulting turbulence, and rain of debris, Lt Ford succeeded in dropping 40% on target.

Once passed the target we notified the flight that we would take over as lead.

We were immediately set upon by a pair of enemy fighters. No damage dispensed by either side.

Crossing out of Austria into Yugoslavia another pair of enemy fighters attacked. One was driven off by our aggressive little friends. Th remaining fighter and our gunners did little more than fire off salutes to each other.

The rest of the flight home was quiet.

Submitted by,
1Lt Landry Velez, Pilot
B-17F Wimpy
80th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

[ChefEd]

B-24J Next Objective
B-24J-15-CF-42-99776
Squadron: 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Middle
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 20 MAR 1944
Mission Number: 15
This Aircraft: 4
Target: Bolzano, Italy, Marshalling Yard

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Missions	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Alexis Vaillancourt	3	0		RTD	0
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Arlo Perot	3	0		RTD	0
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt Callahan Quinn	3	0		RTD	1
Bombardier	2nd Lt Cory McIntyre	3	0		RTD	0
Engineer	T/Sgt Abraham Leeker	3	0		RTD	1
Radio Op / Rt Waist	T/Sgt Bruce Woodward	3	1		RTD	0
NT / Rt Waist	Sgt Reese Giles	3	0.5		RTD	3
Ball Turret	T/3rd Tristen Townsend	3	1.5		RTD	0
Left Waist / NT	Sgt Brendan Burgess	3	0.5		RTD	0
Tail Gunner	T/3rd Finnley Griffith	3	0.5		RTD	2
Crew Chief	S/Sgt King Solis	12			Skill +0

Bomb Run: On Target, 30 %

Casualties:
2Lt Callahan Quinn, SW, Pierced abdomen, Survived surgery, RTD 10 weeks

Damage:
Superficial X2 4
Serious Wound 5

Peckham Points: 9 Peckham Points, One ( 1 ) Day to Repair

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Fw-190	10	4	1	1	0.5	0
Me-109	3	2	0	0	0	0
Me-110	3	2	0	0	0	0
Me-109(I)	2	0	0	2	0.5	1

Claims

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Top	1	0	0
Right Waist	1	0	1
Tail	1	0.5	0
Left Waist	1	0.5	0

Awards:
Purple Heart
2Lt Callahan Quinn

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
The mission was pretty routine, heading up the Adriatic. Passing Rimini to our left a lone 109 stuck its head out, and promptly driven off by our escorts.

With the Italian coast approaching we faced five Fw-190s and a trio of Bf-109s. A single 190 was driven off by escorts, leaving the rest for us. We shot down three of the enemy and damaged the four remaining fighters. We suffered no notable damage. However, 2Lt Quinn, working out of the radio room, took a round to the belly. Lt McIntyre moved to the radio room to administer first aid to Quinn. McIntyre stopped the bleeding, made Quinn as comfortable as he could, and returned to the bombardier’s position.

We were unmolested until we hit the foothills of the Dolomites. There, a trio of 190s and a trio of Bf-110s attacked. Escorts reappeared and drove off five of the enemy. The remining fighter, in a vertical climb missed us, and continued on after he passed through the formation. On this attack our ball turret guns jammed.

Flak over the target was present but inaccurate. T/3 Townsend continued his attempts to unjam his machine guns. Which was beneficial as we faced no enemy fighters.

With the inaccurate flak and lack of enemy fighters, 2Lt McIntyre was able to drop 30% on target.

After release of our bomb load T/3 Townsend called out the ball turret guns were unjammed.

Passed through the flak again and were confronted by a trio of 109s. Two were driven off by our escorts, leaving the last for our top turret. Both missed each other.

Once past the RP Lt McIntyre moved back to the radio room and kept Lt Quinn company and as comfortable as possible.

We faced no more enemy fighters as we headed back to Giulia.

We fired off a flare indicating wounded crew and landed in order as directed.

Lt Quinn was carted off to hospital.

Submitted by,
1Lt Alexis Vaillancourt, Pilot
B-24J Next Objective
78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

The next day I was informed that Lt Quinn survived his surgery and would require about three months of recovery time. He is our first loss to the crew. I will be requesting from personnel a permanent replacement.

[ChefEd]

B-17F Wimpy
B-17F-27BO-41-24585
Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: High
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 20 MAR 1944
Mission Number: 15
This Aircraft: 15
Target: Bolzano, Italy, Marshalling, Yard

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Missions	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Landry Velez	15	0	AM++	RTD	4
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Santino Richards	15	0	AM++, PH	RTD	5
Navigator	2nd Lt George Sheets	12	0.5	AM+	RTD	1
Bombardier	2nd Lt Roberto Ford	15	1.5	AM++	RTD	1
Engineer	T/Sgt Finnegan Fields	15	11.33	AM+++, DFC	RTD	0
Radio Op	Sgt Paul Nielson	15	0	AM++	RTD	3
Right Waist	Sgt Collin Cordell	7	0	AM+	RTD	0
Ball Turret	S/Sgt Tobias Mace	15	4.33	AM++	RTD	2
Left Waist	S/Sgt Tripp MacDougal	15	0.5	AM++	RTD	2
Tail Gunner	S/Sgt Kingsley Griffin	15	4.5	AM++	RTD	1
Crew Chief	S/Sgt Josia Stanton	12		0	Skill +0

Bomb Run: On Target, 40 %

Casualties: None

Damage:
Left Waist Heat Out 10
Tail O2 Out 10
Bomb Release Mechanism Out 10
O2 System Out 10
Intercom Out 10
Left Outboard Fuel Leak 10
Right Outboard Fuel leak 10
Superficial X4 4
Forced landing at satellite field CAT-E

Peckham Points: Total, CAT-E

Landing: Forced landing at satellite field

Enemy Aircraft:

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Bf-110	6	1	1	4	1.83	0
Fw-190	5	2	2	1	1	0
Bf-109	3	0	1	1	0.5	0
Me-210	2	2	0	0	0	0
Me-109(I)	1	0	0	0	0	0
C.205	1	1	0	0	0	0
Re.2005	1	0	1	0	0	0

Claims:

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Ball	4	1.33	0
Left Waist	3	0.5	0
Top	2	0.5	0
Bombardier	1	0.5	0
Navigator	1	0.5	0

Air Medal
1Lt Landry Velez, 3rd Award
2Lt Santino Richards, 3rd Award
2Lt Roberto Ford, 3rd Award
T/Sgt Finnegan Fields, 4th Award
Sgt Paul Nielson, 3rd Award
T/4th Tobias Mace, 3rd Award
S/Sgt Tripp MacDougal, 3rd Award
T/4th Kingsley Griffin, 3rd Award

Purple Heart
None

Promotions
T/4 Tobias Mace promoted to S/Sgt
T/4 Kingsley Griffin promoted to S/Sgt

AFTER ACTION REPORT
The crew was feeling a bit superstitious this morning. Wimpy is one of only a few original aircraft left in the squadron.

The Italian coast was looming up when we encountered our first enemy aircraft. First, a trio of Bf-110s attacked. Escorts drove off one, the second was damaged, and the third shot down by T/4 Mace. We took no damage.

A second wave of three Bf-110s attacked. Our gunnery splashed all three into the Adriatic.

Once the last of the Bf-110s were shot down, a pair of Bf109s and a lone Re.2005 attacked. We splashed one of the 109s and damaged the Sagittario. Again, no damage was sustained.

We had just passed Treviso when we faced a pair of Fw-190s. One was promptly shot down by a hail of bullets from three of our positions. The second was also riddled, but only damaged. In exchange, S/Sgt Griffin lost O2 in the tail. Once clear of enemy fighters, I had him move to the Radio compartment and hook in there.

On approach to the IP a single Bf-109 attacked. Our defensive gunnery threw him off, and he left without causing any damage.

We took some minor damage from the flak.

2Lt Ford noted an issue with the bomb release mechanism. I sent S/Sgt Griffin to the bomb bay to manually release our load. He reacted swiftly, and on Lt Ford’s “Go”, S/Sgt Griffin was able to release the bombs quickly. Intelligence analysis noted about 40% on target.

Coming off the target, and heading to the RP, a lone 190 and a C.205 attacked. The Italian fighter was driven off by our escorts. The 190 took out the heat for S/Sgt MacDougal, in the left waist. I had Sgt MacDougal come up to the pilot compartment.

Passing Venice, we faced a pair of Me-210s, an Fw-190, and a Bf-109. The first three were driven off by our escorts. We missed the 109, but he raked us good.

His pass took out the plane’s O2 system, the intercom, and punctured both the left and right outboard fuel tanks. T/Sgt Fields’ estimates were that we would have just enough fuel to get over the front lines to Allied territory. I had 2Lt Sheets plot us a course to the first fighter field.

With heat and O2 out, we dropped out of formation, to below 10,000FT. I had S/Sgt Griffin return to the tail, and S/Sgt MacDougal return to the waist.

We encountered no more enemy fighters.

Sgt Nielsen radioed our situation to the field at Madna, housing the 52nd FG.

T/Sgt Fields worked with Lt Richards on milking every ounce of fuel we had, to make it to Madna. A short field, we ended up running off the end of the runway, for what it was. We were slowing down quite enough, that when the gear collapsed, the crew did not get bounced around too much. Wimpy, however, won’t fly again.

We got back to Giulia sometime in the wee hours of the next day.

Need to requisition a new bird.

Submitted by,
1Lt Landry Velez, Pilot
B-17F Wimpy
80th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

[ChefEd]

End of "Wimpy"

Too early for the breakfast crowd. 1Lt Landry Velez and his co-pilot 2Lt Santino Richards walked into the officer’s mess, and straight to the kitchen. Waving off the curious cooks and assorted kitchen staff, Velez and Richards helped themselves to a couple of fresh cups of coffee, so they thought, a loaf of bread, and a plate of butter, then headed out to the dining area, all in one non-stop motion.

Once seated they, as if on cue, both exhaled. Landry took a cautious sip of the hot coffee. “Shit. Leftover from last night. Frigging engine oil. But it’s hot”, as he took another sip.

Santino took a whiff of the steaming mug as if he just stepped in something malodorous. Showing clear signs of disgust, “Yeah. At least it’s hot.”

The two sat quietly for a few minutes, as they slathered fresh local butter on the white slices of bread. After taking big bites, “Well, that almost makes up for that coffee. Almost”, quipped Santino.

The two men sat eating their buttered bread, and suffering through the sludge someone erroneously called coffee. As they sat and ate, the kitchen and dining staff began to set up the mess for breakfast. Landry and Santino ignored or warned away anyone that came near them.

“Lan,” Santino directed to Velez. Velez looked up at Richards. “Fifteen missions, and I was never so scared as that last hour.” Landry responded with a simple nod of understanding.

---

Twenty-four hours earlier the two young officers and their crew, aboard the American B-17 “Wimpy” were flying in formation up the Adriatic Sea, toward their target at Bolzano, Italy.

Less than an hour after the Group formed, “Wimpy” and her crew were in frequent action against enemy fighters, almost two hours of action. Though none of the crew were injured, damage by the enemy incrementally took out all of the heating and oxygen systems on the plane. To compound it the intercom was also knocked out.

Lt Velez moved his crew around to open heating and O2 connection points, until they could clear Italy, and drop below 10,000FT.

As the Group was recrossing the Italian coast, and back over the Adriatic, a lone Italian Bf-109 raked the bomber from wingtip to wingtip. This final enemy pass knocked out the rest of the heating and oxygen. The worst was yet to be noticed.

The enemy’s attacking pass punctured both the port and starboard outboard fuel tanks. Fortunately, no fire resulted. It became readily evident that they would not have enough fuel to get back to Giulia.

The prospect of landing in the Adriatic was unacceptable. Nor was the prospect of falling into the hands of enemy troops.

Lt Velez, after leaving the formation, and dropping below 10,000FT, ordered anything not nailed down to be tossed overboard. Everything. Weapons, ammunition, oxygen bottles, anything not vital to flying of the bomber was discarded.

2Lt Sheets calculated, with constantly changing fuel numbers provided by T/Sgt Fields, they had a good chance at reaching one of the friendly fighter fields north of the Foggia complex.

Lt Velez kept the bomber on a slow and steady descent that was expected to bring the plane to earth just over the coast. Lt Richards and T/Sgt Fields worked in tandem to control engine functioning and suitable fuel flow to the engines. The rest of the crew remained at their stations to keep an eye out for enemy aircraft.

Sgt Nielson made radio contact with fighter control. The bomber was directed to a field in some place called Madna, home of the 52nd Fighter Group. Lt Sheets noted the location and gave updated directions to the flight crew.

Nearing the coast, Lt Velez directed the crew to their crash positions. He ordered Sgt Nielson to radio ahead that they would only be able to make a single attempt at landing.

Those who could see outside the stricken bomber watched as the bomber slowly descend toward the waves below. Soon the coast flashed below at over a hundred miles per hour. Still descending.

Finally, Lt Velez called out “Brace!”

“Wimpy” was gliding into a landing on the short runway. Full flaps, almost at stall speed. Velez and Richards muscled the plane to the ground and as soon as the speed was low enough, they both threw their weight into hitting the brakes. The fighter revetments at first sped by like a picket fence. Soon, but not soon enough for the crew, the plane began to slow as it neared the end of the runway.

With brakes still applied “Wimpy” rolled off the end of the runway into the rough fields beyond. With a spine jarring jolt both main landing gear gave way. The bomber pitched into the hard Italian soil finally sliding to a stop.

“Everyone out!”, screamed T/Sgt Fields. The tanks may have been empty, but fumes were still flammable.

The ten-man crew of B-17 “Wimpy” clambered out of the aircraft, and ran or stumbled to a safe distance, as crash crews raced up the bomber. The men just stood there for a few minutes. Silent. Focused on the wreckage that had been their home, these many months.

A six-by and a jeep drove up to the crew. A lieutenant asked for the pilot and was directed to Lt Velez. They spoke briefly. Lt Velez ordered the men into the six-by and the officers piled onto the back of the jeep.

A short drive later they were deposited at HQ for a quick debrief, some hot chow, then a ride back to Giulia.

Sometime after nightfall they departed Madna. After an uncomfortable ride back to Giulia, the crew arrived for their main debrief around 2am. Several hours later they were all released back to their quarters.

Lt Velez and Lt Richards, instead, headed to the officer’s mess. Neither could or would be able to sleep. Yet.

---

“If this ever gets back to my wife, you’re all dead men,” Santino whispered. “Not me”, replied Landry.

The two officers continued to eat their breakfast of bread and butter and suffer through their cups of ‘coffee’. Soon other officers of the Squadron began to filter in for breakfast. Many spotted “Wimpy’s” officers and went over with their well-wishes for making it back. The well-wishing crowd soon dispersed.

“I am heading over to S-4, to see what they have available for us. After lunch, have the men go over to hospital for checkups, you too. I’ll go as soon as I am done with Capt Pierce.” “Roger.”

The two men quietly shook hands and separated to their tasks.