Bad Clown - Completed 25 on the last mission of the war
Jun 25, 2023 15:22:47 GMT -8
rhreiss likes this
Post by limburger59 on Jun 25, 2023 15:22:47 GMT -8
B-17G Name: Bad Clown (25th mission)
Crew Commander: 2LT Hershel Martin
Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Formation: High
Position: Middle
TARGET: Pilsen, Czechoslovakia - Skoda Armament Works
Position: Name mission # Prior Awards & Confirmed Kills
Pilot: CAPT Hershel Martin (25) PH, AM+++
Co-Pilot: 2LT Jim Henry (12) PH, AM+
Bombardier 2LT Ryan Puorro (19) PH, AM+ .5
Navigator 2LT Ryan Eccles (18) AM++ .5
Engineer: MSG Merrill May (25) AM+++ 3.8
Radio Operator: T/SGT Jack Bolling (22) PH, AM+++
Ball Gunner: MSG Merrill May (25) PH, AM+++ 2.3
Port Waist: SGT Les Powers (20) PH, AM++ 1.3
Starboard Waist: SGT Joe Marty (20) PH, AM++
Tail Gunner: SGT Len Gabrielson (18) AM++
Bomb Percentage: on-target, 30%
Bomber Disposition: Ready for duty at overnight repairs
Bomber Damage:
engine fire extinguishers
#4 turbo-supercharger
right-wing ailerons
right wing gun
superficial damage x 1
Peckham Points: 56
Casualties: none
Landing: Safe at Sudburry, England
Enemy Aircraft: Encountered / Driven Off / Damaged / Claimed / Awarded / Probable
FW190 1 1
Me163 1
Claims: none
Awards:
Air metal (oak leaf cluster):
CAPT Hershel Martin
MSG Merrill May
MSG Merrill May
SGT Les Powers
Promoted to S/SGT: Les Powers & Joe Marty
AAR
Knowing that the war will be over soon the crew was generally in a good mood helped by the good weather. But not wanting to jinx the mission there is no discussion of post war plans just concentration on getting everything ready. No one wants to go down on what could be the last mission.
OUTBOUND
With the good weather we took off and joined the formation without incident. Flight to the target area was without incident.
TARGET AREA
No fighters were up when we entered the target area and the flak on the bomb run was ineffective. Bombs away on the signal from the pathfinder and were assessed as on-target with 30% effectiveness.
After we reached the RP a Fw190 was driven off by the guys from the 20FG but a Me-163 came in at a vertical dive. We were hit 4 times taking out the engine fire extinguishers, damaging the right-wing ailerons, taking out the right wing gun and doing superficial damage. Fortunately, no one was injured.
INBOUND
Right after leaving the target area we lost the #4 turbo-supercharger, but we were able to feather the engine and stay with the formation. The rest of the trip home was uneventful. With a safe routine landing despite the engine and aileron damage.
We all were relieved to be back on the ground after more excitement than we wanted on what we found out was our last combat mission. With the promotions to S/SGT for Les Powers & Joe Marty there was even more to celebrate.
CAPT Hershel Martin, Pilot Commanding
B-17G Bad Clown
79th BS, 509th BG (H), 8th AF
Crew Commander: 2LT Hershel Martin
Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Formation: High
Position: Middle
TARGET: Pilsen, Czechoslovakia - Skoda Armament Works
Position: Name mission # Prior Awards & Confirmed Kills
Pilot: CAPT Hershel Martin (25) PH, AM+++
Co-Pilot: 2LT Jim Henry (12) PH, AM+
Bombardier 2LT Ryan Puorro (19) PH, AM+ .5
Navigator 2LT Ryan Eccles (18) AM++ .5
Engineer: MSG Merrill May (25) AM+++ 3.8
Radio Operator: T/SGT Jack Bolling (22) PH, AM+++
Ball Gunner: MSG Merrill May (25) PH, AM+++ 2.3
Port Waist: SGT Les Powers (20) PH, AM++ 1.3
Starboard Waist: SGT Joe Marty (20) PH, AM++
Tail Gunner: SGT Len Gabrielson (18) AM++
Bomb Percentage: on-target, 30%
Bomber Disposition: Ready for duty at overnight repairs
Bomber Damage:
engine fire extinguishers
#4 turbo-supercharger
right-wing ailerons
right wing gun
superficial damage x 1
Peckham Points: 56
Casualties: none
Landing: Safe at Sudburry, England
Enemy Aircraft: Encountered / Driven Off / Damaged / Claimed / Awarded / Probable
FW190 1 1
Me163 1
Claims: none
Awards:
Air metal (oak leaf cluster):
CAPT Hershel Martin
MSG Merrill May
MSG Merrill May
SGT Les Powers
Promoted to S/SGT: Les Powers & Joe Marty
AAR
Knowing that the war will be over soon the crew was generally in a good mood helped by the good weather. But not wanting to jinx the mission there is no discussion of post war plans just concentration on getting everything ready. No one wants to go down on what could be the last mission.
OUTBOUND
With the good weather we took off and joined the formation without incident. Flight to the target area was without incident.
TARGET AREA
No fighters were up when we entered the target area and the flak on the bomb run was ineffective. Bombs away on the signal from the pathfinder and were assessed as on-target with 30% effectiveness.
After we reached the RP a Fw190 was driven off by the guys from the 20FG but a Me-163 came in at a vertical dive. We were hit 4 times taking out the engine fire extinguishers, damaging the right-wing ailerons, taking out the right wing gun and doing superficial damage. Fortunately, no one was injured.
INBOUND
Right after leaving the target area we lost the #4 turbo-supercharger, but we were able to feather the engine and stay with the formation. The rest of the trip home was uneventful. With a safe routine landing despite the engine and aileron damage.
We all were relieved to be back on the ground after more excitement than we wanted on what we found out was our last combat mission. With the promotions to S/SGT for Les Powers & Joe Marty there was even more to celebrate.
CAPT Hershel Martin, Pilot Commanding
B-17G Bad Clown
79th BS, 509th BG (H), 8th AF