Mission 28: Ploesti, Romania

[limburger59]

to post 16 AUG 24
To unlock 18 AUG 24
Turn in AAR's no later than 31 AUG 24 
Next mission to post 30 AUG 24

MISSION DATE: 5 May 44   
MISSION # 28
TARGET: Ploesti, Romania - Unirea Spreantza Oil Refinery
Bombing Altitude: 24,000 feet

Briefing: 
Map: 

FORMATION:

HIGH	78th SQDN		MID	79th SQDN		LOW	80th SQDN
LEAD:	Laid Back Lady		LEAD:	Pecatonica		LEAD:	Bonnie
TAIL:	Dixie Bell		TAIL:	All In		TAIL:	The A Train

WEATHER:
Takeoff: Good
Target: Good (but Smoke Pots)
Landing: Good

GAZETTEER
In Zones 10 through 12 Romanian fighters may be encountered. 
Both TFT and QOTS players may use  - Table 5-3SB - found on Steve Dixon's website, to possibly run into them.

Due to the enemy concealing the targets with Smoke Pots the bomb run is at a -1 for QOTS. (-2 for TFT)

Zone	Modifier (QotS)	Weather/Resistance (TfT)	Fighter Cover
2  Adriatic Sea	X	50% Clouds / None	Good
3  Adriatic Sea	X	50% Clouds / None	Good
4  Yugoslavia	-2	50% Clouds / Light	Good
5  Yugoslavia	X	50% Clouds / None	Good
6  Yugoslavia	X	50% Clouds / None	Good
7  Yugoslavia	X	50% Clouds /None	Good
8  Yugoslavia	X	50% Clouds / None	Fair
9  Bulgaria / Romania	-1	50% Clouds /Moderate	Poor
10 Romania	X	50% Clouds / None	Poor
11 Romania	0	50% Clouds /Moderate	Poor
TARGET ZONE 12 Romania FLAK: Outbound: Heavy x4 Inbound: Heavy x1	0	50% Clouds / Moderate Target: Completely Obscured TFT: Bombing Manually	None
11 Romania	-2	Haze/Light	Poor
10 Romania	X	50% Clouds / None	Good
9  Romania / Bulgaria	X	50% Clouds / None	Good
8  Yugoslavia	X	Haze / None	Good
7  Yugoslavia	X	Haze / None	Good
6  Yugoslavia	X	50% Clouds / None	Good
5  Yugoslavia	X	50% Clouds / None	Good
4  Yugoslavia	-1	Haze / Moderate	Good
3  Adriatic Sea	X	50% Clouds / None	Good
2  Adriatic Sea	X	50% Clouds / None	Good

Emergency Airfield: Neutral Turkey is 200 miles (4 zones) from Ploesti, but the closest airport that can handle your heavy bomber is an additional 100 miles (6 zones total) to Istanbul.  Assume Light (QOTS -2) resistance from enemy fighters if you're making the run to Turkey.
        
Shot Down:  
Over Water (if you didn't drown):
        Zones 2 to 3: you are rescued by the Royal Navy
Over Land:
        Over Turkey = Interned
        Over Romania = Captured      
        Over Bulgaria = Captured
        If you have to bailout over Yugoslavia roll 1d6 for each surviving Crew member.
            1 Missing in Action (MIA) in the rugged snow covered mountains and never heard from again.
            2-3 Captured by a German Patrol = POW.
            4 Escaped aided by Partisans unless it is the Target Zone, then POW.
            5-6 Escaped aided by Partisans.
    Escaped aided by Partisans: Two options:
            1) Historical Option: When you return to Italy, your wounds will be treated, you will be debriefed and you will be sent back to the US. You know too much about the partisan locations, resources and operations.
            2) Game Option: If you are really attached to a crewman, roll 2d6 and multiply that by the zone you are in. That is how many days it will take to get you back to the 509th.

Calendar since last Mission:
02-May-44   27 Larissa, Greece - Marshalling Yard
03-May-44   Non-Operational Day
04-May-44   Non-Operational Day
05-May-44  28 Ploesti, Romania - Unirea Spreantza Oil Refinery

[tomt1999]

For the 80th Bombardment Squadron, Mission 28:

LEAD

Bonnie (w/Dickins crew)

TAIL

The A Train

[crushedhat]

“Ploesti. Again.” Those words by 509th S2 Maj Harlan Beech are enough to generate a buzz in the briefing room. The S2 waits until SSgt Dewbury shouts, “AT EASE!” before continuing.

“Intelligence says the Luftwaffe is getting spread thinner and thinner. Still, I’m not going ot lie to you and say this will be easy. But, it shouldn’t be as hard as before.” Tere are a few dissenting comments before Dewbury again calls the room to order. Then, picking up his pointer, he takes up station by the big wall map.

“You should first encounter EA when entering Yugoslav airspace, near Ploce. It is expected to be light. By the time you reach Targu Jiu Jerry will have been tracking you long enough to have an idea of your flight path, so expect resistance to be heavier. Then, when you change course it will take some time for Fritz to regroup. We expect that to happen near Pitesti.” SSgt Dewbury indicates the named cities on the map. “It will also be a concerted effort, as will the defense of the target itself. By the way, you can also expect to see some EA with Romanian markings on them.”

“On the plus side, it means that by the time you’re on your way home, most of the German fighters will be on the ground rearming and refueling. Expect minor interference around Slatina. Unfortunatley, the Germans know where you’re headed and will concentrate their final effort near the coast at Niksic.”

“Flak on target ingress will be heavy, despite ammunition shortages. And, we expect you will receive flak on target egress as well. Though limited fuel means they probably won’t chase you out over the Adriatic.”

“Metro is predicting good weather, here at Giulia, and over the target, although we expect Jerry to use smoke pots again to make target acquisition harder.”

“You escort will again be P-51s of the 52nd FG, though they’ve been given a secondary list of interdiction targets to hit on the way in.”

“Should you run into trouble, and can’t make it home, Neutral turkey is 200 mile SSE, with the airport an Istanbul another 100 miles. Of course, you’ll be interned for the duration of the war.” Seeking to discourage those who may view internment as a desirable alternative to flying more missions, the S2 adds, “Even though you’re not POW, don’t assume the Turks are friendly. Remember your duty.”

“Under the Fightin’ Man’s Code!” someone shouts out.

“Ahem, yes.” Maj Beech’s face reddens. “Kust be aware you’ll be making that run without escort.”

“If you can’t make it back home, at least try to make it to Yugoslavia where the Partisans may be able to help you. The Royal Navy will be on Lifeguard duty in the Adriatic.”

“If you end up a POW, I need not remind you about the Fighting Man’s Code thanks to our learned friend.” Maj Beech gestures to the man who spoke earlier, eliciting laughter form the group and it now being the heckler’s turn to be red-faced.

AS the laughter dies down, Maj William Stockwell, 509th S3 takes the stage. “Ploesti again,” he echoes the S2’s opening line. “But, we’re taking a different approach this time. Your rouote is designed to leave the Germans guessing as to where we’re headed. Hopefully this will cause them to marshall the bulk of their remaining aircraft in the wrong area.”

“After they’ve hit you at Targu Jiu, you’ll execute a turn to the target. This should buy you some time before Jerry’s figured out his mistake.”

“The IP is a church.” SSgt Dewbury taps the map. “You’ll be bombing from Angels twenty-four. After the bomb run, it’s a straight shot back home. Aa Maj Beech said, no point in trying to deceive Jerry about where you’re headed then.”

“Also, as the Two said, the powers that be have tasked the 52nd with some additional missions. So, keep your weapons clear and your formations tight. Lastly…”

The room erupts in, “GIVE ‘EM HELL!”

[crushedhat]

For the 78th, for Mission 28
Lead: Laid Back Lady (crushedhat)
Tail: Dixie Bell (rcastillo)
Garfield, Paul, Maj, USAAF, XO, 78th (H) Bomb Squadron
(OOC - if assigned Lead or Tail, please submit your mission early in case someone else needs to take over those positions.)

[wolverinetoddy]

For the 79th Squadron:

Lead: Pecatonica
Tail: All In

Gentlemen, its a long one today so keep an eye on those fuel gauges.
I will be leading the squadron today from the Pecatonica, so keep up!

[wolverinetoddy]

B-17 Name: Pecatonica (4)
Crew Commander: 1st Lt. SJ Phillips
Squadron: 79th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group
Formation: Middle
Position: Lead

Mission Date: 5 May 44
Mission #: 28
Target: Ploesti, Romania - Unirea Spreantza Oil Refinery

Position: Name (mission #) {Claims After} Status
Pilot: 1st Lt. SJ Phillips (4) {0} PH: 2
Co-Pilot: Major WW Robinson (17) {0} SS, AM: 3, PH: 2
Bombardier: 2nd Lt. O Guernsey (4) {2} PH
Navigator: 2nd Lt. A Bean (4) {0} PH
Engineer: MSgt. I Clapp (4) {4} PH
Ball Gunner: Sgt. C Hart (4) {1}
Radio Oper.: Sgt. C Gunkel (4) {0} PH
Pt Waist G: Sgt. P Phinney (4) {0}
Stbd Waist G: Sgt. M Sheehan (4) {1} PH: 2
Tail Gunner: Sgt. H Turner (4) {3} PH: 3

Bomb Percentage: 10%

Bomber Disposition: Rudder, Port Flap, Engine #2, SW Heat, Port Wing Root, Superficial Damage (101 Peckham Points)

Casualties:
M Sheehan: LW – 2 days in hospital
H Turner: KIA

Claims (BY TYPE):
Attacked: (5:109, 0:190, 2:110)
Damaged: (1:109, 0:190, 1:110)
Destroyed: (1:109, 0:190, 1:110)
O Guernsey: 109
I Clapp: 110

Special Note:
M Sheehan: PH
H Turner: PH

Mission Description: Filed by 1st Lt. SJ Phillips, pilot commanding

I walked back from the mission briefing with Major Robinson. The major will be leading the squadron from our cockpit today. I must admit after the chewing out we all got a couple days ago; I was not overly thrilled to have him with us today. I will say one thing for the major though, at least he lets me fly my airplane and lead my crew.

We took off without incident and the squadron formed up nicely behind us. During the long trip to Ploesti it was pretty quiet. The escorts did their job and kept the enemy away.

Until we arrived in the target zone. The enemy was waiting to jump us beyond the range of the escorts. We were attacked by a trio of 109s and a 110. Guernsey got one of the 109s and they caused minor damage to the plane.

The flak was exceptionally heavy today. We were hit at least eight times. Sheehan was wounded and Turner was killed. Then Engine #2 tried to run away from us. The major got it feathered and we continued with the bomb run. Guernsey hit the target and we turned for home.

Sheehan’s heating system was all shot up leading him to quickly volunteer to take over the tail guns. We encountered three more enemy fighters on the way home. Clapp got one of them.

We arrived safely back at base and successfully landed on our three engines. A better bomb run today at a cost to the Pecotonica. The crew took Sgt. Turner’s death hard being the first man in the crew to die. Now I need to figure out what to say to his mother.

[mpgutis]

Mission date: 5 May 44
Target: Ploesti, Romania - Unirea Spreantza Oil Refinery
Mission/Bomber: 28/14
B-17G The A Train
80th Bombardment Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group (H), 15th Air Force
Formation: Low Squadron
Position: TEC

Position: Name (Mission) (Kills) Awards
Pilot: 1LT Dirk Ellington (14) (-) PH, AM x2
Co-Pilot: 2LT Edward Reese (14) (-) AM x2
Bombardier: 2LT Reed Williams (14) (3) DFC, AM x2
Navigator: 2LT Mark Ventura (14) (1.83) PH x2, AM x2
Engineer: SSG Stanley Ruzinski (14) (5) PH, AM x3
Radio Operator: SGT Fred Conway (14) (0.5) AM x2
Ball Gunner: SGT Malcolm Kovacs (14) (2.66) AM x2
Port Waist Gun: SGT Randy Peterman (14) (1.0) PH x2, AM x2
Starboard Waist Gun: SGT Vincent Meoli (14) (3) PHx4, AM x2
Tail Gun: SGT Sheldon Thomas (14) (4.74) PH, AM x2

Bombing: On target, 40%

Damage: 97 PP
Superficial x13: Fuselage x5, Starbord wing x1, Pilot's compartment x1, Bomb bay x3, Port wing x1, Starboard wing root x2
2x Light Wound
Starboard outboard engine knocked out
Port cheek MG jam
Tail MGs jam then unjammed
Tail O2 system
Fuel transfer pump hit but continued functioning
Starboard waist heater

Casualties:
SGT Randy Peterman - LW, bullet graze to abdomen, 2 days
SGT Vince Meoli - LW, bullet graze to chest, 2 days

Enemy Aircraft: Encountered / Destroyed / Credited
FW-190: 7 / 1 / 1
Me-109: 5 / 2 / 1
Me-110: 3 / 0 / 0

Awards:
SGT Randy Peterman - PH
SGT Vince Meoli - PH

Flown with TFT

Ploesti. Scuttlebutt was right. And not just Ploesti, but low squadron and Tail End Charlie. I haven't seen the crew this keyed up since our first mission. We all wished the damn Russians would put on some speed and capture the damn place.

Takeoff was not an issue. Hell, we were the last aircraft off the ground and we easily slotted into the tail end spot.

Zones 2 - 10: Nothing to report.

Zone 11: Bombs dropped by some German airplane above us fell but missed us.

Zone 12 (Target): Once again, some bombs fell past us but missed us. The flak was heavy and we sustained a superficial hit to the fuselage. The bomb run went well an we put an estimated 40% into the target box.

Zone 12 (Inbound): The flak moderated but we took a superficial hit to the port wing. Again, bombs fell on the formation but missed us once again.
     A pair of FW-190s at 10:30 Low and 1:30 High and an Me-109 at 6:00 Level attacked us. The chin turret MGs jammed at that point. The first 190 got a superficial hit on the fuselage, came around 3:00 High, missed, and broke off. The other 190 was claimed by the Bombardier and Top Turret. The 109 off the tail got a LW on the Starboard Waist Gunner, hit the port flap, got two superficial hits on the fuselage, one on the pilot's compartment, one on the port wing, and one on the bomb bay, a LW ib the Port Waist Gunner, and knocked out the starboard outboard engine. He came around at 10:30 Level, was damaged, missed and broke off. Without the bomb load, we were able to stay in formation on three engines.

Zone 11: The Tail Gunner managed to unjam his guns.

Zones 10 - 5: Nothing to report.

Zone 4: Things got real dicey with three waves of enemy aircraft. The first wave was an FW-190 at 9:00 High that the escorts intercepted. Me-109s attacked at 3:00 Low and 6:00 Level. The Starboard Waist claimed the the first one. The one off the tail missed and broke off.
     The second wave was four FW-190s at 12:00 Low, and 1:30 High that the escorts dealt with. One at 3:00 Level was damaged but still got hits on the fuel transfer pump but it wasn't knocked out but did not out the tail oxygen system. He came around at 10:30 High, missed, and broke off. One at 9:00 High got a superficial hit on the fuselage and hit the starboard wing root. He came around at 1:30 High and an escort got him. An Me-109 at 6:00 Level, got superficial hits on the fuselage, bomb bay, and radio room, knocked out the Starboard Waist heat, hit the port wing outboard fuel tank but it sealed, and hit the starboard wing root. He came around at 9:00 High and was claimed by the Top Turret.
     The last wave was three Me-110s at 12:00 Level, 6:00 Low, and climbing from below, and an Me-109 at 6:00 Level. The climber got a superficial hit on Port Wing then climbed out of sight, The one off the nose missed and broke off. The last two off the tail were chased off by the escorts.

Zone 3: With the damaged oxygen and heating systems we dove quickly to get to warmer and oxygen rich air.

Zone 2: Nothing to report.

Landing was without a problem. It was a rough mission but we had made it safely home.

Dirk Ellington, 1LT
Aircraft Commander, The A Train
80th Bombardment Squadron

[crushedhat]

B24D: Laid Back Lady LLS
Pilot: Maj Paul Garfield
Squadron: 78th (H) Bomb Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
MISSION DATE: 5 May 44
MISSION NBR. 28/This Bomber 26
TARGET: Ploesti, Romania - Unirea Spreantza Oil Refinery
SECONDARY TARGET:
POSITION: High Squadron, Lead


Crew
Position – Rank (Current Mission) [Previous Kills]
Pilot: Maj Paul Garfield, (26) [0] LC LC
Co-Pilot: 1LT Elliott Peterson, (26) [0] LC
Bombardier: 1LT Charles (Charlie) Martell, (26) [9] LC * SW – IH 16 May 44
Navigator: Navigator: 1LT Bruce Ellison, (25) [6 1/2] LC
Engineer: MSgt Michael Newton, (26) [40 2/3] LC LC
Radio Operator: SSgt Daniel (Danny) Garson, (26) [0] LC
Ball Turret Gunner: SSgt Joseph (Joe) Blaston, (26) [18 5/6] LC LC *
Port Waist Gunner: SSgt Peter Carson, (26) [7 2/3] LC
Starboard Waist Gunner: Sgt Allen Wentz (4) [1 5/6]
Tail Gunner: SSgt Douglas (Doug), Richard, (26) [25 5/6] LC LC ****
* = 1 Kill This Mission
# = Shared Kill This Mission

Fighters Encountered:
Fw 190 5=2 to P-51, 3 Undamaged (1 Ace)
Me 410 1=1 KIA
Me 210 1=1 KIA (1 Green)
Me 109 7=4 KIA, 2 Damaged, 1 Undamaged (2 Ace, 3 Green)
14

Claims: Only credited kills reported here
Ball Turret Gunner: SSgt Joseph (Joe) Blaston: ½ Me 109
Tail Gunner: SSgt Douglas (Doug), Richard: Me 210, Me 109

Bomb Run: DNB

B-24 Damage: Superficial x2 (4), SW x1 (5), Pilot Compartment Heat Out (10), Window x1 (10), #4 Engine: Superficial (15+5), Suit Heat system Out: Mechanical Failure (10), Nav Equipment Out (10), Instruments – Elevators: Mechanical Failure (10)
Peckham Points: 79 Peckham Points, AC ready 6 May 44.

Casualties: Bombardier: 1LT Charles (Charlie) Martell, (26) [9] LC * SW – IH 16 May 44

Landing: AC and crew safe at Giulia

Awards/Promotion Requests:
Bombardier: 1LT Charles (Charlie) Martell: Purple Heart 2nd award
Navigator: Navigator: 1LT Bruce Ellison: Air Medal 4th Oak Leak Cluster

Sitting Out: None

In Hospital: Bombardier: 1LT Charles (Charlie) Martell, (26) [9] LC * SW – IH 16 May 44

Completed 25 Missions:
Pilot: Maj Paul Garfield
Co-Pilot: 1LT Elliott Peterson
Bombardier: 1LT Charles (Charlie) Martell
Navigator: Navigator: 1LT Bruce Ellison
Engineer: MSgt Michael Newton
Radio Operator: SSgt Daniel (Danny) Garson
Ball Turret Gunner: SSgt Joseph (Joe) Blaston
Port Waist Gunner: SSgt Peter Carson
Tail Gunner: SSgt Douglas (Doug), Richard


After Action Report: (Flown using TFT)
“Don’t you die on me!” 1LT Buce Ellison tells 1LT Chalres Martell as Ellison holds a compress against Martell’s chest. Using his free hand to key his mike, he says, “Charles got hit. Bad.” Turning his attention back to his crewmate in the nose, Ellison whispers, “Why’d ya hafta go and fly one more mission just for me? You’d be home safe right now.” While Ellison asks the question, he knows he would have done the same for Martell were their roles reversed. You don’t fly twenty-five mission together without developing a special bond. As the blood starts to ooze between his fingers, Ellison repeats, “Don’t you die on me.”

For most of us, this was an unnecessary mission, flown just to see 1LT Ellison through his twenty-fifth since he missed one. Perhaps 1LT Martell wishes he’d decided otherwise, but I doubt it.

It started out easy enough with Lady slipping into the lead position for the high squadron. This being Lady’s twenty-sixth mission as well, she started showing her age. Over the Adriatic (Zone 3) the power for the ball turret went out. Luckily, MSgt Newton was able to solve the problem and get it working again in short order. Turned out to be a bad fuse. While we saw some EA near Ploce (Zone 4), none bothered us.

That wasn’t to be the case as we neared Targu Jiu (Zone 9). Just as our escort hit its nadir all hell broke loose. Three waves of EA hit us. First up were an FW and a pair of 109s, one Romanian. What fighter cover remained was busy elsewhere, leaving us to fend for ourselves, which we did rather well, flaming one 109 and sending the other off trailing smoke in exchange for no damage to us. This run of luck wasn’t to last.

The next wave had three 1`09s and an Me 210. While we did well, downing two of the 109s and the 210, Jerry got his licks in this time. 1LT Martell got hit in the chest, taking him out of action. The #4 engine got hit, but kept running. The bigger problem was that we lost heat to the pilot compartment. Thankfully the third wave, consisting of a pair of FWs and a 109 didn’t do any damage. But then again, neither did we. Without cabin heat I saw no point in trying to continue the mission and informed the squadron we were aborting and jettisoned our bombs. As we dropped out of formation and turned for home some EA gave us a quick once over, but decided to go for those still in the game.

Here's where Lady really started showing her age. AS we headed back over Yugoslavia (Zone 8) the rest of the crew lost their heat due to a failure of the system. Fortunately, by now we were at an altitude where it wasn’t needed. A little further on (Zone 70 and he ball turret power blew another fuse, which was quickly replaced.

While we experienced sporadic ground fire all the way to the coast, none hit us. Then near Niksic (Zone 4), we ran into some more EA. By now we’d picked up a couple of Little Friends who chased off two FWs, leaving us to contend with an Me 410 and a 109. While we put paid to both bandits, it wasn’t before they’d ruined 1LT Ellison’s equipment, which made the rest of our flight home a bit dicier, and longer.

Despite the problems of flying over water with no working navigation instruments and 1LT Martell’s chest wound, the rest of the flight back would have been uneventful were it not for the fourth mechanical failure of the mission. As we began our landing approach (Second turn in Zone 1) the elevator controls went out. Still, 1LT Petterson and I managed to get Lady onto the tarmac. She’s earned her trip home, as have the rest of the boys.

Doc says 1LT Martell will pull through, but he’ll need about ten days before he can be transported home. The others have all requested ten days leave so that they can return to the States the same way the arrived in Italy, together. I’ve offered to stay on a few more missions to get Sgt Wentz settled in with a new crew and plane. Then I’m on to a staff position and hopefully my own squadron command. (OOC – the 78th will need a new XO. If anyone is interested in giving it a try, let crushedhat or caodwolf know, otherwise I’ll continue on. In any event, I’ll need a new airplane and crew).

Paul Garfield, Maj, USAAF, commanding
B24D Laid Back Lady
78th (H) Bomb Squadron

[limburger59]

B-17G: BONNIE (Spare in lieu of Great Expectations) 
    80th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group

    Low Sqdn - Squadron LEAD Bomber
MISSION DATE: 5 MAY 44 
MISSION # 28 (16th this bomber)
TARGET: Ploesti, Romania

Bomb: On Target  40%

CREW

Position	Rank	Name	Current Mission	Previous Kills	Claims Today	Confirmed Today	Status	Stress	Notes
Pilot	CAPT	Peter "Pip" Dickins	25				RTD		♣♣
Copilot	2LT	Guy Tipton	6				RTD		Temp from Spare Pool
Bombardier	1 LT	Jack Dawkins	21				RTD	2	♣
Navigator	2 LT	Daniel Webster	10	1.33			RTD		Temp from Spare Pool
Engineer	S/SGT	Mike Dixon	23	3.83	1	.5	RTD	1
Radioman	T/SGT	Luke Wopsle	25	2			RTD	3	♣♣
Ball Gunner	SGT	Leslie Sampson	6	2.5			RTD		Temp from Spare Pool
PWG	S/SGT	Henry Hubble	24	.33			RTD		♣
SWG	SGT	Julius Hernandez	1				RTD	1	Temp from Spare Pool
Tail Gunner	S/SGT	Dave Donners	23	2			RTD	2

Casualties: S/SGT Dave Donners: LW - torn flexor - RTD 13 May 44

B-17 Damage: 
Superficial x4 (4)
Light Wound (2)
P. Wing root (25)
P. Tail plane root (25)

Peckham Points: 56

Crew Chief: T/SGT Julian San Sebastian (Status: Dedicated)

B-17 Disposition: Safe at Giulia 

Attackers: 12	#	Claimed Destroyed	Confirmed Destroyed	Probable	Damaged	Run Off
Bf-109	5
Bf-110	0
FW-190	3			1
ME-210	4	1	.5
C205	0
Re2005	0
TOTALS	12	1	.5	1	0	0

Award/Promotion Requests: 
    Air Medal - Fourth Oak Leaf Cluster for 25 Completed Missions: Captain Peter "Pip" Dickins, T/SGT Luke Wopsle
    Air Medal - First Oak Leaf Cluster for 10 Completed Missions: 2LT Daniel Webster

In Hospital/Not Flying Today: Everyone on Full Duty

AFTER ACTION REPORT (Target for Today - Joe Carter's Variant)

       Ploesti...

        I ordered, begged, cajoled the three members of the original crew that completed their 25th mission over Larissa to go home to their loved ones, especially now that today's target was revealed. That left three surviving members of the maiden flight of the Great Expectations to continue the legacy.

        Was being assigned the Squadron Lead an honor or the final nail in the coffin?

        Ploesti...

Outbound - Zone 9: Once our escort began to dwindle the Luftwaffe pounced. We faced three waves of fighters, totaling nine bandits. Somehow we came out of the scrum with inconsequential damage while one bandit limped away trailing smoke. (Used a Lady Luck's Smile to avoid being crippled.)

Target Zone 12: Again, three waves, but the enemy went after other bombers for the most part. We did take some damage, including a wound to our Tail Gunner, and this time our Engineer knocked a 210 out of the skies.

Flak was intense yet we were untouched as our bombs hit the refinery.

Inbound: Nothing to Report. (The last saved Lady Luck's Smile was used to prevent a Mechanical Failure.)

We survived! T/SGT Wopsle will head home immediately, but I will fly one more mission, as I believe that I owe it to S/SGT Hubble to get the last man from the original crew cobbled together back in Dalhart, Texas to his mama.[/i

[rhreiss]

B-17F All In
Commander 2LT Don Heffner
79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
28 combat missions flown
status RFD
MISSION # 28
TARGET: Ploesti, Romania - Unirea Spreantza Oil Refinery
Formation: middle
Position: tail

Crew Position Rank Name Combat Missions Flown Awards confirmed Kills Status
Pilot 1LT Don Heffner 17 AM+++,PH RFD
Co-Pilot 2LT Lewis 'Lew' Riggs 3 RFD
Bombardier 2LT Billy Sullivan 14 AM+ RFD
Navigator 2LT Jake Wade 7 AM, PH RFD
Engineer S/SGT Roy Hughes 12 AM+, PH 2.33 RFD
Radio Operator T/SGT Vern Kennedy 23 AM+++,PH 1 RFD
Ball Gunner SGT Albert 'Al' Hollingsworth 3 RFD
Left Waist SGT Ernesto 'Big Ernie' Lombardi 3 0.5 RFD
Right Waist SGT Emil "Hill Billy" Bildilli 7 AM RFD
Tail Gunner SGT Ewald "Ernie" Pyle 15 AM+, PH 2.75 RFD



                                        experence skill modifier level Reroll any result of a Mechanical Failure,
Crew Chief T/SGT Fred Johnson 27 1 Meticulous but all repairs take an extra day.

Enemy Aircraft: Encountered: 10
                          Me-109 Fw-190 Me-110 Me-210 Me-410 Ju88C-6 TOTAL
Escort Intercept         1           1                                                     2
Undamaged                           2                                                      2
Damaged                               3                                                      3
Probable/Denied                                                                             0
Destroyed                  1            1                   1                                3

Crew Chief Pre Mission Report: Standard mission and chances for Mechanical Failures.
Bomb Results: on-target 42%
Bomber Damage: Superficial Damage
Peckham Points: 1
Landing: Safe landing at Giulia Airfield
Bomber Disposition: Overnight maintenance

Casualties & status:

Claims:
SGT Hollingsworth & SGT Lombardi Me109 Approved = Full Credit Awarded
S/SGT Hughes & T/SGT Kennedy Me210 Shared - 1/2 Victory Credit Awarded
2LT Sullivan Fw190 Shared - 1/2 Victory Credit Awarded

Awards:
SGT Pyle Air Medal

Promotions:

AAR

OUTBOUND

We were able to take off without any problems and take our position as Tailend Charlie for the squadron. We encountered our first resistance in the vicinity of Targu Jiu. First we think was a JU 88 lobbed rockets into the formation from our 6, they missed us but we could see the flak burst. That was followed by a pair of Me 109’s and a Me 210. Our fighter escorts took care of one of the 109’s. Al and Big Ernie shot up the other Me 109 with no chute observed. Roy and Vern combined to take the wing off the Me 210 sending it out of sight. Finally for FW 190s attacked, with our little friends taking care of one of them. Our gunners managed to hit the other 3 doing enough damage that they all missed and broke off their attacks.

TARGET AREA

Once we were in the target area we encounter more resistance. We are attracted by a trio of FW 190s. In all the confusion our gunners missed 2 of their fighters who in turn missed us and broke off their attacks. Billy managed to dock the 3rd FW 190 out of the sky. He had to scramble to get ready to take over for the bomb run as we hit the IP. In addition we were rocked by Flak doing some superficial damage but he was able to be on target and assessed at 42% coverage. Hike after bomb release was ineffective and no fighters attacked us as we were informed that the RP and started home.

INBOUND

as we started home we observed a B-17 liking the formation strange markings. Our attempts contact it went unanswered and then it disappeared as the formation linked up with her escorts for the trip home. The rest of the flight back to the base was uneventful with a safe landing at Giulia Airfield.

T/SGT Johnson reports that All In will be ready after routine overnight maintenance.


1LT Don Heffner, Pilot Commanding
B-17F All In
79th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF

[ChefEd]

B-17G Sunny Side Up
B-17G-20BO-42-31473
Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Middle
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 5 MAY 1944
Mission Number: 28
This Aircraft: 12
Target: Ploesti, Romania - Unirea Spreantza Oil Refinery

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Mission	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	2nd Lt Mylo Boyle	10	0	AM+, PH	KIA	0
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Jaiden Frye	10	0	AM+, PH	KIA	0
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt Abdullah Kane	10	4.33	AM+, PH	KIA	1
Bombardier	2nd Lt Braxton MacAulay	1	0	PH	KIA	0
Engineer	S/Sgt Magnus Matthews	10	3	AM+, PH	KIA	0
Radio Op	T/Sgt Gael Deadmon	10	0	AM+, PH	KIA	1
Rt Waist	T/3rd Blake Stanton	10	1	AM+, PH	KIA	0
Ball Turret	T/3rd Nigel Harrell	10	2.83	AM+, PH	KIA	0
Left Waist	T/3rd Erik Templeton	10	0.5	AM+, PH	KIA	0
Tail Gunner	T/3rd Miles Rowland	10	3.5	AM+, PH	KIA	0
Crew Chief	S/Sgt Josia Stanton	24			Skill +0

Bomb Run: DNB

Casualties: Entire Crew KIA
Pilot 2nd Lt Mylo Boyle
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Jaiden Frye
Navigator / NT 2nd Lt Abdullah Kane
Bombardier 2nd Lt Braxton MacAulay
Engineer S/Sgt Magnus Matthews
Radio Op T/Sgt Gael Deadmon
Rt Waist T/3rd Blake Stanton
Ball Turret T/3rd Nigel Harrell
Left Waist T/3rd Erik Templeton
Tail Gunner T/3rd Miles Rowland

Damage: Total, Aircraft crashed and exploded

Peckham Points: Infinite

Landing: N/A

Enemy Aircraft: None

Claims: None

Awards:
Purple Heart – All Posthumous
Pilot 2nd Lt Mylo Boyle
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Jaiden Frye
Navigator / NT 2nd Lt Abdullah Kane
Bombardier 2nd Lt Braxton MacAulay
Engineer S/Sgt Magnus Matthews
Radio Op T/Sgt Gael Deadmon
Rt Waist T/3rd Blake Stanton
Ball Turret T/3rd Nigel Harrell
Left Waist T/3rd Erik Templeton
Tail Gunner T/3rd Miles Rowland

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
Bomber Sunny Side Up, B-24G (B-17G-20BO-42-31496) crashed on take-off. The bomber cleared the runway perimeter, then dove suddenly to the ground. Upon impact the bomber’s payload exploded, destroying the aircraft, and killing all aboard.

[kageyone]

Something has happened with my Google Sheets and I can't share my mission.

Angel on my Shoulder, 80th BS has assumed the lead in Zone 10 OB went down over the target after bombing with electrical system shot out.

Bombs 30% on target

9 crew POW, 1 KIA

[rhreiss]

Aug 18, 2024 20:52:21 GMT -8 kageyone said:

Something has happened with my Google Sheets and I can't share my mission.

Angel on my Shoulder, 80th BS has assumed the lead in Zone 10 OB went down over the target after bombing with electrical system shot out.

Bombs 30% on target

9 crew POW, 1 KIA

I am having the same problem with embedding google sheets.

[tomt1999]

MISSION DATE: 5 May 44
MISSION # 28
TARGET: Ploesti, Romania - Unirea Spreantza Oil Refinery
Bombing Altitude: 24,000 feet

DUCK SOUP B-17G-45BO-42-97236
Group 509
Squadron 80

CREW
1LT Roland "Rollie" Howell - Pilot - Missions: 3
2LT Ludomir "Woz" Wozniak - Co-Pilot - Missions: 3
2LT Glen "Woody" Woodard - Bombardier - Missions: 3
2LT Bernard "Barney" Trasdale - Navigator - Missions: 3
TSGT Victor "Vic" Summers - Engineer - Missions: 3 KIA
SGT Walter "Sparky" Moody - Radio Op - Missions: 3
SGT Francisco "Frank" de la Cruz - Ball Gunner - Missions: 3
SGT Lyle "P.O." White - Port Waist - Missions: 3
SGT Samuel "Coop" Cooper - Starb Waist - Missions: 3
SGT Janus "Yawn" Swoboda - Tail Gunner - Missions: 3

BOMBING OFF target, 5%

CASUALTIES
Tech Sgt Victor Summers of Golden Colo. - KIA; gunfire

CLAIMS & PROMOTIONS
None

ENEMY A/C
         SAW  D/O DAM DEST
FW190     9    0   2   0
Me109     2    0   1   0
Me109 RO  3    0   0   0
Me110     3    1   1   0
------------------------------------
TOTAL    17    1   4   0


DAMAGE:
RADIO 10pp
ENGINE #2 SF 5pp
TAIL: SF 1pp
BBDR HEAT 10pp
ENG KIA 10pp
SF 3pp
ENGINE #2 OUT 25pp
TOTAL PECKHAM PTS: 64 - ready tomorrow

AAR

A long, hard, busy and deadly mission. We lost our friend, crew mate and 

engineer Vic Summers.

We took off and assembled without incident. All the way to Bulgaria it 

was quiet. Over Bulgaria we saw two waves of enemy fighters, but they 

were headed somewhere other than where we were.

Over Romania, the radio conked out but our radio op "Sparky" Moody was 

able to fix it. Immediately after this, and still over Romania, three 

190s came at us from 3, 9, and 12 o'clock high. We damaged one. Their 

fire was ineffective, although engine #3 began making a strange sound 

that persisted throughout the mission, but did not suffer in performance.

Over the target we were hit by pieces of a B-17 above us somewhere. 

Tore off the cooler on the #2 engine. We watch the temperature gauge 

slowly climb on the engine for the next 75 miles.

Two Romanian fighters engaged us at this time. One was ineffective, 

the other made three passes at us, tearing us up and resulting in 

the death of Engineer Victor Summers, TSGT. We received a total of 

12 shells during these attacks.

Following the Romanian attack, four 190s came at us. All four took 

wild shots and left, probably because we were approaching the edge 

of the flak corridor.

The flak was as intense as we have seen. We were shaken up quite 

a bit as the aircraft reacted to the explosions all around us but 

we did not receive any damage.

The smoke pots completely obscured the target, so we dropped when 

our lead ship did. If we got more than 5 percent I'd be surprised.

We turned for home and just as we hit Romania, the #3 engine began 

seriously overheating. We feathered it and crossed our fingers. 

Boosting the other engines to compensate, we managed to hang on 

to the formation.

Jerry came out to play when we hit Yugo. Three Me110's lumbered up 

to us from below. One was driven off by the escort, one was damaged 

by the ball gunner and one attacked unscathed. No matter: no damage 

done by any of the three.

After that we crossed the Adriatic and landed safely at Giulia. We 

made sure they took care of Vic when they got him out of the turret. 

It's a mess in there.

1LT Rollie Howell
"Duck Soup"

[Grondeaux]

B-24J-40-CF 42-50498 Suzy Q 
78th Bombardment Squadron
Bomber Position: High squadron, middle. Squadron Lead from Zone 12 IB
Mission Date: 5 May 1944
Mission #: 28
Aircraft Mission #: 7
Target: Refinery, Ploesti, Romania

Crew at Mission Start

Position	Rank	Name	Missions	Credits	Stress	Awards	Notes
Pilot	2LT	Ira Gleason	3		1
Copilot	2LT	Gordon Wiggins	3		1
Bombardier	2LT	Floyd Cobb	3		0
Navigator	2LT	Harold McBride	3		0
Nose Turret Gunner	SGT	Carl Heller	3		0
Flight Engineer	SSGT	Clarence Maddox	3		0
Ball Turret Gunner	SGT	Alton Pope	3	1	0
Left Waist Gunner	SGT	Ernesto Alvarez	2	0.33	1		Replacement
Right Waist Gunner	SGT	Lyle Riley	3		0
Tail Turret Gunner	SGT	Archibald Brockner	3	1	0		Replacement

Crew Chief: SGT Clyde Clemens (27 skill points; roll every zone)

Bomb Run: Off target, 9%

Casualties: none

Attackers: 11

Type	Spotted	Destroyed	Damaged	Driven Off by Escort
ME-109	2	1	1	0
FW-190	6	0	5	1
ME-110	2	0	1	1
IAR-80	1	0	1	0

Claims: SGT Carl Heller, 1 x ME-109

Credits: SGT Carl Heller, 1 x ME-109

Award/Promotion Requests: none.

In Hospital/Recovery: none

Aircraft Damage: 12 Peckham points (control cables, 1 x superficial)

AFTER ACTION REPORT – Using TFT (Variants used: TFT Axis Fighter Aircraft Add-on Module, Jasta 6’s Table 5-3 Placement Variant, Variant Tables for Take-Off and Mechanical Failure, Bruce Peckham’s German Fighter Pilots variant, Fuel Tank Fires, Seriously Wounded Bail Out, On the Subject of Bombs, my variation to Nolan Bryant’s Crew Chiefs, Combat Fatigue, Chris Riches’ Enhanced Fighter Attacks (Simple Version)
-----------------------------------------------------
With Hartley still recovering from whatever intestinal bug he contracted on the Larissa mission, I opt to move Heller into the nose turret and assign a replacement, SGT Alvarez, to left waist.

Take-off and squadron assembly is uneventful. The polka dot-embellished assembly ship Heavenly Body makes assembly easier. But it kind of looks like a flying clown car.

Outbound
Zones 2-7: Nothing to report for us.

Zone 8: Heller calls in that his turret has lost power.

Zone 9: A pair of ME-110s show up. One is taken on by a 52nd FG Mustang. The remaining one takes some damage from us and misses us before flying off. Heller gets the power restored to the nose turret.
Major Garfield in Laid Back Lady radios that he’s aborting due to battle damage, and drops out of the squadron lead position.

Zone 10-11: LT Diel in Angel On My Shoulder assumes squadron lead.

Target Zone (12)
As expected, the air over Ploesti is swarming with enemy fighters. We’re attacked by four FW-190s in two waves on our run-in to the target. We get some hits on them, and they miss us.
The flak doesn’t miss us, but it’s nothing serious.
“I can’t see a damn thing,” notes Cobb right before he releases our bombs. “Smoke screen worked this time.”
As we pull off our bombing run, Angel On My Shoulder goes down. The parachute count says most, if not all, of her crew makes it out. I radio that I’m taking over the lead position.
A mixed trio of a ME-109, a FW and an IAR-80 jump us. Heller takes down the 109, and the other two are driven off by our fire.

Inbound
Zones 11-5: Nothing to report for us.

Zone 4: A 109 and a 190 have a go at us. The 190 is driven off by a P-51. We trade fire with the FW. He misses.

Zones 3-2: Nothing to report.

Landing: Routine.

V/r,
2LT Ira Gleason, First Pilot
B-24J Suzy Q
78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF

[caodwolf]

B-24J:  Lovely Ladies


Pilot: 1Lt. M Kucek
Assignment:  15th Air Force,  509th Bomber Group, 78th Squadron
Mission Date: 5-May-1944
Mission No.: 28
Mission this Bomber: 3
Target for Today:  Ploesti, Romania -  Unirea Spreantza Oil Refinery
Squadron Position:  High
Result:   ABORT  (Mission count)
 

As soon as we entered Yugoslavian airspace the German fighters struck.    In one  swoop a FW-190 destroyed the Norden Bombsight,  a suit heater, caused a couple of light wounds  and the intercom system was blown apart.    Losing the intercom was the last straw as I elected at first  to remain in formation and drop upon the leader but without internal communication on a mission deep into enemy territory...this was to much. It certainly didn't help that I too was slightly wounded...lost a toe.  

Aborted, dumped the bomb load into the Asiatic Sea and returned to base.  I'll be in the infirmary for two weeks.

Over and out....

Crew Manifest

Position	Rank	Name	Missions Flown	Kills this Mission	Total Kills	Awards	Status
Pilot	1Lt	M., 'Slim' Kucek	8	---	---	AM,PH	OK-LW
Co-Pilot	2Lt	S. McDonald	8	---	---	AM	OK
Bombardier	2Lt	D. Grahek	3	---	---	---	OK
Navigator	2Lt	C. Stesney	5	---	---	AM	OK
Top Turret/Engineer	S/Sgt	D. Baker	8	---	1	AM,PH	OK-LW
Radio Op	Sgt	D. Hilferty	5	---	---	AM	OK
Chin Turret	S/Sgt	D. 'Pritz' Prutzman	8	1	3	AM	OK
Stbd Waist	Sgt	M.  Abrabat	3	---	---	---	OK
Ball Turret	Sgt	J. Lauer	8	---	4	AM	OK
Tail Turret	S/Sgt	T. 'Stretch'  Herbon	8	---	1	AM,PH	OK-LW

 

Convalescing

2Lt  S Zell. Navigator,                RTD: 20-May-1944
Sgt. Al Weiss. Waist Gunner:      RTD  10-May-1944
Sgt  B Peterson, Radio:              RTD  20-July-1944
S/Sgt B Burgess.  Bombardier:   RTD  28-May-1944
1Lt. M  Kucek,  Pilot:                   RTD 19-May-1944

Medals / Promotions

Air Medal


2Lt.  C Stesney
Sgt.  D Hilferty


Purple Heart

1Lt. M Kucek
S/Sgt  T Herbon
S/Sgt  D Baker

Fighters Encountered

 

FTR	Spotted	Driven-Off	Damaged	Not-Damaged	Claimed - Credited
FW-190	4	1	1	2	---
ME-109	11	5	2	3	1     1
C-205	2	2	---	---	---
JU-88	2	2	---	---	---
---	---	---	---	---	---
TOTALS	19	10	3	5	1       1

B-24J Damage:

* 56 *

-Norden Bombsight hit
-Waist Gunner Suit heat out
-Rafts destroyed
-LW  (3)
-Intercom out

[sparky]

B-17G  Beach Bum  Mission #28  Target Ploesti Romania Unirea Spreantza Oil Refinery
May 5, 1944  Formation..Low, Middle...Bomb Run  DNB

Mission # ( )  Previous Kills [ ]  Kills this Mission { }

Pilot... 1st Lt Ken Day (4)
Co-Pilot... Rick Miesner (4)
Bombardier...2nd Lt Marvin Johnson (4)  [ ]
Navigator...2nd Lt James Redmond (4)    [1/3]
Engineer...S/SGT John Ridings (4)          [2/3]
Radio...S/SGT Lester Smith (4)              [1/3]
Ball Turret...SGT Jerry Cassano (4)         [1]
Port Waist...SGT Nathan Isbell (4)           [ ]
Starboard Waist...Bill Pilgrim (4)            [1/3]
Tail Gunner...Timothy Conover               [1 1/3]


After action Report

Beach Bum took off and joined formation with 
no problems.
Zones 2-5 were routine through 50% cloudy skies.
As we entered zone 6 our instruments indicated that
fuel was not being transferred between tanks.
Engineer Ridings investigated the problem and 
reported that the bearings had gone out on the 
fuel transfer pump and it couldn't be repaired
in flight. He reported that he was able to transfer
some fuel using the hand pump. We were only halfway
to the target, or only 25% of the round trip. We had only
burned approximately 25% of our total fuel, 1/8th of the 
fuel in each wing, meaning Ridings was not able to transfer 
much fuel. If we had any more fuel problems, or 
encountered any unexpected headwinds during the
rest of the mission I was concerned that we could lose
the aircraft. Not wishing to risk losing the aircraft or crew,
I made a command decision to abort the mission.
We turned around, jettisoned the bombs once over the sea
and landed safely at base.

Respectfully submitted by 1st Lt Ken Day

[limburger59]

B-24D TEMPTACIOUS
        Spare assigned to the 78th Bomber Squadron, 509th Bombardment Group
High Squadron – Middle
MISSION DATE: 5 May 44
MISSION # 28
TARGET: PLOESTI, Romania

CREW from the Spare Pool
Position – Rank                                      (Current Mission)
Pilot: 1LT Tobias Tanner                                    (7)
Co-Pilot: 2LT Andrew Doherty                            (9) AM                                        LW
Navigator: 2LT Oliver Curtis                              (7)[.33]
Bombardier: 2LT Charles Freya                          (7)[1] PH                                     LW
Engineer/TT: S/SGT Irvin Marshall                     (12) [6.25] AM DFC “Ace”              LW
Radio Op: S/SGT John Gallows                          (10)
Ball Turret: SGT Jason Ash                                 (8)[1] AM
Right Waist: SGT Kaiden Williams                       (11) AM                                       LW
Left Waist: SGT Merle Hawkins                           (3)                                              SW-DOW
Tail Gunner: SGT Evan Fryberger                       (5)[.5]      1x Bf110 destroyed       LW

Bomb Run: Off Target = 0%

Casualties: SGT Merle Hawkins: SW-DOW - Abdominal wound - Died in Surgery
            2LT Andrew Doherty: LW - torn glut - RTD 13 May 44
            2LT Charles Freya: LW - foot cut - RTD 7 May 44
            S/SGT Irvin Marshall: LW - leg cut - RTD 9 May 44
            SGT Kaiden Williams : LW - torn gastrocneminus - RTD 5 June 44
            SGT Evan Fryberger: LW - Thigh cut + Frostbite to left ear - RTD 11 May 44

B-24 Damage:
Superficial x15 (30)
S. Wing Root (25)
S. Rudder x2 (20) inop
P. Rudder x1 (10)
Waist PWG Heat out (10)
Tail Gunner Heat out (10)
Tail oxygen (10)
Rubber Rafts (10)
Mechanical Failure: #2 engine Turbo Supercharger out (10)
Light Wound x5 (10)
Serious Wound (5)

Peckham Points: 150- RTD 11 May 44

Disposition: Lands safely at Giulia

Attackers: 12
        7x FW-190: 1 Damaged (FCA), 1 Driven Off by Escort

        4x Bf-110: 1 Confirmed Destroyed, 1 Probable (FBOA), 1 Damaged (FCA), 1 Driven Off by Escort
        1x Bf-109: 1 Damaged (FCA)

Award/Promotion Requests: Purple Heart (posthumous): SGT Merle Hawkins
        Purple Heart: 2LT Andrew Doherty, 2LT Charles Freya, S/SGT Irvin Marshall, SGT Kaiden Williams, SGT Evan Fryberger
        Air Medal - First Oak Leaf Cluster for 10 Completed Missions: S/SGT John Gallows

        Air Medal for 5 Completed Missions: SGT Evan Fryberger

AFTER ACTION REPORT: (QOTS - B-24 Variant)

A Spare Crew flying a Hanger Queen

We were a crew pulled out of the Spare Pool to fly three missions together. The third pitch almost struck us out.

Outbound - Zone 4: Two E/A were both stopped by our escort before we could pull our triggers.

Zone 9: Two more E/A and this time our defensive gunnery damaged both.

Zone 11: This time the defensive gunnery of other bombers in the formation kept the bandits at bay.

TARGET ZONE 12: Now it was our turn to take damage. Three FW-190s all hit us while they were untouched. Wounds to our Co-pilot and S. Waist Gunner seemed the most significant, while the starboard wing root was compromised. Then the Flak started and three bursts near our Tail shredded the rudders, wounded our Tail Gunner, and knocked out his heat along with damaging his oxygen. The Bomb Run was was, and our Bombardier insists it was the Flak that threw his aim off, not the smoke pots. Shrapnel then perforated our now empty Bomb Bay, holing the rubber rafts.

Three more 190s were waiting for us to clear the Flak zone, and we damaged one while having another in return walk hits from our nose to our tail. This wounded three more of the crew, one seriously.

Inbound - Zone 11: Though both our gut-shot Waist Gunner and Tail Gunner were complaining of the lost of heat I elected to stay in formation until we left the hunting grounds of the enemy. Two 110s tried their luck with us. Our Tail Gunner destroyed one.

Zone 10:We left the formation and descended to 9000 feet. Found out after we reached Italy that our Tail Gunner had developed frostbite, but SGT Fryberger stated it was worth it to have the chance to shoot down that 110.

Zone 4:The #2 Turbo Supercharger failed on us, but as we were already below 12,000 feet our performance was unaffected.

[ninthaquila]

Pilot: 1LT Richard Archer
Plane: B-17G-90BO-43-38476 Fortunate Sons
Squadron, Group: 79th, 509th

High Squadron, Lead

Primary Target: Ploesti, Unirea Spreantza Oil Refinery
Secondary Target: NONE

Mission Date: 5 MAY 1944

Mission Number: 28-12

Position	Rank/Name	Medals	Mission Number	Previous Credits	Mission Credits
Pilot	1LT Richard Archer	DSC AM+ PH+	11	0	0
Co-pilot	2LT Isaac Blackburn	AM+ PH	11	0	0
Bombardier	2LT Fred Fuller	DFC+ AM*++ PH++	11	10, 14x0.5	0.5
Navigator	2LT Lawrence Monroe	AM+ PH	11	1	0.5
Engineer	T/SGT Alex Kozmenski	DSC DFC AM++++	11	3, 17x0.5	1, 0.5
Radio Operator	S/SGT Allen Kirby	AM+ PH	11	2x0.5	0
Ball Gunner	SGT Samuel Carter	DFC AM*+	11	11, 10x0.5	1, 0.5
Port Waist Gunner	SGT Ray McKenzie	AM+ PH	11	5x0.5	0
Stb. Waist Gunner	SGT Charles Flanagan	AM+ PH	11	1, 2x0.5	0
Tail Gunner	S/SGT Matthew Wolf	DFC+ AM*++ PH+	10	12, 13x0.5	1, 0.5

I do not count FCAs and tally FBOAs separately. Combined FD are shared between gunners that managed to get FBOAs


Bomb Run: 30%

B-17 Damage:
Rudder, damaged
Engine #2, oil fire, extinguished and feathered
Parachute ripped
Small number of holes in port wing (3 superficial)
Ball Turret malfunction, fixed in flight (gremlins)
Heat malfunction to all suits (gremlins)
Top Turret Malfunction (gremlins)


Crew Casualties:
none

Claims:
2LT Fuller - 1 probable BF109
2LT Monroe - 1 shared BF109
T/SGT Kozmenski - 1 confirmed BF109, 1 probable BF109
SGT Carter  - 1 probable FW190, 1 confirmed BF109
S/SGT Wolf - 1 shared BF109, 1 confirmed ME110

Peckham Points: 100

Landing: Safe Landing

Promotions/Awards:
Distinguished Flying Cross to S/SGT Wolf, for achieving a combined total of 20 credits (13 confirmed, 14 probable/shared)



After Action Report

The Gremlin Airforce was out in full force today, and they managed to hit three times in a single mission.
Crew chief is always chewing me out when the enemy fighters shoot up his plane, but if his crew makes errors in the wiring, he pretends to know nothing about it.


REPORT - CONFIDENTIAL

TBD

Signed,

1Lt Richard Archer
B-17G-90BO-43-38476 Fortunate Sons
509(H)BG/79SQ

[ChefEd]

B-17G Barbara Jean
B-17G-20BO-42-31496
Squadron: 80th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
Squadron Position: Low
Aircraft Position: Middle
Mission Date: 5 MAY 1944
Mission Number: 28
This Aircraft: 1
Target: Ploesti, Romania - Unirea Spreantza Oil Refinery

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Mission	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Christopher Sweeney	1	0			0
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Levi Paris	1	0			1
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt Willis Salazar	1	0			0
Bombardier	2nd Lt Kash Rangel	1	0			0
Engineer	T/Sgt Rowan Petersen	1	0			0
Radio Op / Rt Waist	T/3rd Ulises Cardenas	1	0			0
NT / Rt Waist	T/3rd Flynn Pryor	1	0.5			0
Ball Turret	T/3rd Omar Mace	1	0			0
Left Waist / NT	S/Sgt Wayne Bonilla	1	0	PH	RTD 3 JUN 44	0
Tail Gunner	T/3rd Darwin Valdovinos	1	0			1
Crew Chief	S/Sgt Josia Stanton	24			Skill +0

Bomb Run: On Target, 30 %

Casualties:
S/Sgt Wayne Bonilla, RTD 3 JUN 1944

Damage:
Superficial 8X 8
Chin Guns Out 20
Bomb Controls Out 10
Ball Heat Out 10
Left Waist Heat Out 10
Right Waist Heat Out 10
Tail Heat Out 10
Intercom Out 10

Peckham Points: 88 Peckham Points, One ( 1 ) day(s) to repair

Landing: Safe

Enemy Aircraft:

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Fw-190	9	3	4	1	0.5	0
Me-109	7	1	6	0	0	0
IAR.80	1	0	1	0	0	0
Me-109(Ro)	1	0	1	0	0	0

Claims:

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

Awards:
Purple Heart
S/Sgt Wayne Bonilla

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
Cloud cover made form up a bit tricky, but we slotted ourselves into our position in the box without difficulty.

The flight was quiet until we enter Bulgarian airspace. A barrage of rockets was fired through the formation. No damage was observed.

Râmnicu Vâlcea was passing on our left when all hell broke out. For the next hour it was non-stop. Most of the enemy fighters we faced occurred from here through the target area and beyond. The number of enemy planes seemed endless. Wave after wave with many multiple passes against us.

The attacks from the first wave hit our left inboard fuel tank, which self-sealed, and took out our intercom. As that 190 passed by T3 Valdovinos, already aware of the 190 before the intercom went out, was able to damage the enemy as it passed behind us. An accompanying 109 was tagged by 2Lt Salazar, from the cheek position. Top turret jammed on that pass, and subsequently was beyond clearing without an armorer.

A second wave attacked, without causing us any additional damage.

Into the target area two more waves of enemy attacked. We took no more damage but did clip most of the enemy aircraft.

The enemy fighters disappeared as we hot the flak belt. Flak was heavy as predicted and hammered us. Nothing important was hit, and we pressed on.

2Lt Rangel was able to put 30% on target, even with the rocking of the plane from the enemy fighters and flak.

On egress flak was still heavy but fell short of us.

Two more waves of enemy attacked. An FW in the first wave struck the left wing root, and seriously injured waist gunner Bonilla. Waist gunner Pryor would have to do double duty and cover both sides of the bomber. Difficult without intercom. The FW’s wingman came in for a second pass, this time from the left. T/3 Pryor, manning the left position shot down the incoming FW, shattering the enemy’s cockpit and killing the pilot.

The next wave caused no damage to us, as we did clip one of the enemy fighters.

About 30 minutes after the last fighter left, the gunners in the rear reported they lost suit heat. We dropped below 10,000FT.

With the Adriatic in view, the Luftwaffe had a partying gift. Three waves of enemy fighters descended on, as we were flying alone. So, they thought. As the enemy attacked, our escorts, unseen by the enemy, dropped down on the attackers. Of the seven enemy fighters, our escorts drove off four. We damaged the remaining three, with only the loss of our bomb controls.

Approaching home, we fired off our flares indicating wounded aboard, and took our turn to land.

S/Sgt Bonilla is expected to be grounded for about four weeks.

Submitted by,
1Lt Christopher Sweeney, Pilot
B-17G Barbara Jean
80th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF, USAAF

[superbee]

B17G Hi Line     79th Bomber Sqdn     509th Bombardment Group

Mission #28 (2)    5 May 44     Ploesti, Romania (oil refinery)

Post mission status: bombed (but missed) the target, landed safely at Gulia, one casualty, moderate battle damage

Pilot: 1Lt Ken Meade     Lead (middle) Sqd

Bomb run: 0%

		Missions Flown	enemy aircraft destroyed	awards	status after mission
pilot	1Lt Ken Meade	2	0		Fit For Duty
copilot	2Lt Jim Boyd	2	0		FFD
navigator	2Lt Robert Schilling	2	0		FFD
bombardier	2Lt Mike Kraft	2	0		FFD
flight engineer	S/Sgt Al Seaver	2	1/2		FFD
radio operator	S/Sgt Jon Angelino	2	0	PH	KIA
ball turret gunner	Sgt Sid Natvig	2	0		FFD
port waist gunner	Sgt Zach Cameron	2	1		FFD
starboard waist gunner	Sgt Sal Verducci	2	1/2		FFD
tail gunner	Sgt Jeff Cantrill	2	0		FFD

Casualties: 1 S/Sgt Jon Angelino (KIA)

Aircraft damage: 101 Peckham pts. (7 flak hits)

• Rudder hit x2: 30
• Port wing root hit:35
• Control cable damage: 15
• autopilot mechanism inoperable: 10
• Radio room fatality 10
• Starboard wing – superficial damage 1

Bomber status: 2 days required to repair damage (available for combat flight 8 May 1944)

Axis fighters encountered: 2 (rolled "light resistance" on the Jasta 6 variant table !)

Claims: 1 (Me109 – Sgt Zach Cameron)

	encountered	intercepted by escorts	destroyed by B17 gunners	FCA	FBOA
Me109	1	0	0	0	0
FW190	1	0	1	0	0
totals	2	0	1	0	0

Awards / Promotions:

• Purple Heart: S/Sgt Jon Angelino (posthumous)
  

Mission narrative

    A pall hangs over the aftermath of this mission, as our crew suffered its first fatality.

    Just prior to starting the bomb run we had a brief encounter with two German fighters. Sgt Cameron destroyed one EA from his port waist station; the other broke off its apparently ineffective     head-on pass and continued through the squadron without returning.

    When the radio operator did not respond to an intercom status check after this skirmish, I directed Sgt Cameron to check on him (the radio operator). Cameron discovered S/Sgt Jon Angelino     lying dead on the radio compartment floor, his head horribly damaged by a single bullet wound. (A victim of friendly fire, actually.)

    Flak over the target was accurate and intense, causing significant but non-lethal damage to the bomber. When it was discovered that the autopilot mechanism was not functioning (damaged     by flak) all hope for an accurate bomb run over the smoke-obscured target was lost.

    The crew was very quiet on the long, uneventful trip back to our base in Italy. I hurried to my quarters after debriefing in order to write a letter of condolence to Sgt Angelino's parents.

    (rolled up “light resistance” at the start of this mission yet still suffered a casualty.)


1Lt Ken Meade
Pilot, B17G Hi Line

[patchall]

Let's see...having some trouble embedding from Google...looks like it's a ongoing problem. 


B17G 42-31599 "The Filthy Hag"

79th BS Position Middle/Middle

DATE: 5 MAY 1944 MISSION:2 TARGET: Ploesti, Romania - Unirea Spreantza Oil Refinery


Position                                  Missions Kills this Mission Total Kills                   Status
Pilot 2LT William Hamilton            2                                                               RFD

Co-Pilot 2LT Harold Hilliard           2                                                              RFD

Bombardier 2LT Joseph Riley       2                                                               RFD

Navigator 2LT Thomas Whiffen     2                                                               RFD

Engineer T/SGT Vernon Jarbeau    2         0.5 kills this mission 0.5 kills total    RFD

Radio S/SGT Salvatore Williams     2                                                              RFD

Ball Gun SGT Carl Tutein               2         1 kill this mission    1kill total            RFD

Port Waist SGT Damien Bishop     2         0.5 kills this mission 0.5 kills total     SW -neck laceration 1 week

Stbd Waist S/SGT Paul Barbier     2                                                                RFD

Tail SGT Rufus Falk                      2                                                                 RFD



BOMB RUN OFF TARGET 0%

CREW CASUALTIES

SGT Damien Bishop - Lacerated Neck - 1 week recovery RTF 13 MAY

DAMAGE - 14 points - negligible

AIRCRAFT STATUS - - Ready

CREW CHIEF Horace Tyler (ROOKIE -1 DM to Repairs and Maintenance) - 2 missions served

AAR
Completely different morning briefing today. On the day we bombed the marshalling yard in Greece there was some grousing and cat-calling when they announced the target. Not today. As soon as the Colonel said, “Ploesti” and pulled the curtain on the map, the whole room went quiet. That was something else…watching all the old sweats clam up. If these old timers who’ve been up dozens of times have the yips, then we’d better be on the ball.



No trouble taking off or forming up. We tucked ourselves into the middle of the middle. Any Germans who wanted a piece of the Hag would have to come through quite a bit of hate to get us. But damned if they didn’t try! A big mess of 109s came at us right as we hit the Yugoslav coastline. They must have some snitches in boats in the Adriatic. Not my department. Boys fought ‘em off all right. Gunners said they’d potted a couple. We’ll see what the big foreheads at Interrogation say.



“All right boys! Let’s drop some eggs on Dracula!” Nobody laughed. I thought it was damned funny though. I tried to keep the mood light as we came into the target because it was nothing like Greece. Every Jerry fighter in the world was in the sky and the flak was so thick you could walk on it. Every gun on the ship was firing when someone called out “Rockets!” on the intercom. Next thing I knew, we’d been kicked in the ass by the Devil’s grandma. Everyone was screaming, especially the new Port Waist gunner we pulled into our fort. Can’t even remember his name. Damien…something. Anyhow, we’re out of formation, flak is bursting all around, 110s are lobbing shots into us. Riley’s cussing a blue streak since he missed the leader’s drop in the, ah, excitement. We dropped our eggs but I don’t think we got ‘em nearly where they was supposed to go.



No trouble on the way back. The boys got Bishop (That was his name!) patched up all right and the docs say he should be back in a week or so. I’m getting worried about that Port Waist position. We’ve had someone get hurt on each run. Can’t get the smell of blood out of the waist…maybe I’m just imagining it.

[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 APR 1944
Mission Number: 28
This Aircraft: 17
Target: Ploesti, Romania, Unirea Spreantza Oil Refinery

Crew

Position	Rank / Name	Missions	Kills	Awards	Status	Stress
Pilot	1st Lt Alexis Vaillancourt	15	0	AM++, PH+	RTD 24 MAY 44	0
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt Arlo Perot	16	0	AM++, PH	RTD 6 JUN 44	1
Navigator / NT	2nd Lt Callahan Quinn	12	3	AM+, PH+	RTD 2 JUN 44	3
Bombardier	2nd Lt Benjamin Galardi	14	0	AM++, PH+	RTD 24 MAY 44	2
Engineer	T/Sgt Abraham Leeker	16	6.33	AM++	RTD 2 JUN 44	1
Radio Op	M/Sgt Bruce Woodward	16	1.5	AM++, PH	MIA	1
Rt Waist	Sgt Walter "Wally" Heath	14	0.5	AM++	RTD 6 JUN 44	0
Ball Turret	T/3rd Tristen Townsend	16	5	AM++, PH	RTD 6 JUN 44	2
Left Waist	T/Sgt Brendan Burgess	16	0.5	AM++, PH	MIA	3
Tail Gunner	T/Sgt Finnley Griffith	16	2	AM++	RTD 24 MAY 44	1
Crew Chief	S/Sgt Dan Hitchcock	3			Skill +0

Bomb Run: On Target, 60 %

Casualties: None

Damage: Total

Peckham Points: Total

Landing: Shot Down over the Yugoslavia coast, on return to Giulia

Enemy Aircraft

Type	Encountered	Driven Off	Damaged	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Fw-190	10	0	3	6	4	1
Me-109	4	0	1	4	2.5	1
Me-110	3	0	0	3	2.5	0
Fw-109(R)	1	0	0	0	0	0

Claims

Position	Claimed	Awarded	Probable
Top	6	4.5	1
Ball	4	2.5	1
Navigator	4	2	0
Tail	1	0.5	0
Right Waist	1	0.5	0

Awards:
Air Medal
1LT Alexis Vaillancourt, 3rd Award

Purple Heart
2LT Callahan Quinn, 2nd Award
2LT Benjamin Galardi, 2nd Award

Promotions: None

AFTER ACTION REPORT
[OOC: A lot to write up on this one. Just a recap, for now.]

Zone 9
Wave One: Rockets through formation, no damage taken
Wave Two: Three Bf-109s, two shot down, no damage taken

Zone 11
Wave Two: One FW-190, one Bf-109, damaged, no damage taken
Wave Three: Three FW-190s, two shot down, lost aileron controls

Zone 12
Wave One: One FW-190 shot down, one Bf-109 shot down, minor damage taken
Wave Two: Three FW-190s, two shot down, one damaged, fire extinguisher system knocked out

Engineer achieves ACE status
Ball Turret Gunner achieves ACE status

Flak: No hits, no damage taken

Bombing On Target for 60%

Wave One: One FW-190 damaged, no damage taken
Wave Two: Three Bf-110s all shot down, no damage taken
Wave Three: Three FW-190s, one shot down, one damaged, Navigator and Bombardier received minor injuries

Zone 8
Gremlins knocked out Nose Turret power

Zone 7
Nose Turret power restored

Zone 6
Gremlins knocked Ball Turret power

Zone 5
Ball Turret power restored

Zone 4
Wave One: Two Bf-109s, one shot down, one damaged. The damaged 109 knocked out #4 engine, which caught fire. With fire extinguisher system out, crew bailed out.

Pilot, Safe, Escaped
Co-Pilot, Safe, Escaped
Navigator, Safe, Escaped
Bombardier, Safe, Escaped
Engineer, Safe, Escaped
Radio Op, Safe, MIA
Right Waist, Safe, Escaped
Ball Turret, Safe, Escaped
Left Waist, Safe, MIA
Tail Gunner, Safe

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

======
Post mission debriefs

Lt Vailancourt

11 MAY 1944

Returning from Ploesti, B-24 Next Objective was attacked by a pair of Bf-109s. One 109 was shot down by defensive gunnery, the second was damaged. Despite the damage to the Messerschmidt, the second Bf-109’s pilot fired on, hit, and set afire to engine #4. The engine fire suppression system was knocked out in an earlier engagement this mission. With the aircraft on fire, Lt Alexis Vaillancourt, pilot, ordered the crew to bail out.

Lt Vaillancourt was the last to exit the ship, as it crossed the Yugoslav coast. Lt Vaillancourt survived the bail out landing in the Adriatic. Within a few hours he had been rescued by an RN PT boat. As Lt Vaillancourt was being brought on board the craft was attacked by a German Bf-109, strafing the vessel. The engines were damaged, and the radio knocked out. The boat’s crew drove off the enemy fighter.

The PT Boat drifted a few hours before the crew could bring her into a secluded cove on the Yugoslav coast. Without their radio, the boat’s crew could not signal for help. After two days the engines were repaired enough for the boat to hobble back to safe port in Italy.

After a day of slow headway, the boat made port at Bari. Two days later, after a debrief and medical checks, Lt Vaillancourt was returned to Giulia on 10 MAY.


===
18 MAY 1944

SUBJECT: Debriefs From Repatriated Crew Members Of B-24 ‘Next Objective’, 78th BS, 509th (H) Bomber Group

BRIEF: ‘Next Objective’ crashed near the Yugoslavian coast on 15 APR 1944, with an engine on fire from enemy action, while returning from a bombing mission to Ploesti, Romania.

CREW:
Second Lieutenant Benjamin Galardi, Bombardier
Technical Sergeant Abraham Leeker, Engineer
Technical Sergeant Finnley Griffith, Tail Gunner

DEBRIEF:
PART ONE:

The Group was less than an hour out from the target when rockets were lobbed through the 78th’s squadron box. No damage was taken by ‘Next Objective’. Shortly thereafter three ME-109s attacked from 12, 3 and 9. Ball Gunner T/3 Townsend shot up the 109 coming in from 9, causing the enemy pilot to bail out. Navigator 1Lt Callahan Quinn, manning the nose turret, flamed the 109 attacking from 12 o’clock, which killed its pilot. The last 109, a Romanian, was missed, and missed the ‘Next Objective’.

The Group was making its last major course change for the target when ‘Next Objective’ was attacked, again. The first set of enemy fighters were an FW-190 and another Romanian ME-109. Lt Quinn and T/3 Leeker each hit the 190, causing enough damage for it to miss and leave the scene. T/Sgt Griffith sent the enemy fighter on its way by taking a passing shot, as it dove from 12 to 6. No damage was caused or taken in the exchange.

On the heels of the previous exchange, three FW-190s attacked. The first 190, from 3 high, missed, and was missed. The second FW, attacking from 9 high, took out the aileron controls. When this fighter returned T/Sgt Brendan Burgess, left waist gunner, and T/Sgt Leeker shot up the enemy. Sgt Leeker’s hits were the coup de grace shooting up the enemy’s wing, sending it out of control. No chute was spotted.

Passing the IP an FW-190 and a Romanian ME-109 attacked. Sgt Leeker shot off the FW’s wing, no chute was seen as the plane spiraled to the ground below. The 109 was damaged, but still managed to hit the bomber, but causing no damage to affect performance. As the 109 came around again, Lt Quinn’s fire shattered the enemy’s cockpit, killing the pilot.

The next round of fighters was a trio of FW-190s. On the first pass Sgt Leeker shot off another fighter’s wing, with no chute spotted. On this pass, the last 190 knocked out the fire suppression system. This 190 came around again from 10:30 low. Lt Quinn and T/3 Townsend combined to shoot down the fighter. Once again, no chute was observed.

The fighters cleared the skies as the Group passed through the flak belt. Flak was observed to be heavy, but not particularly effective. ‘Next Objective’ took no damage.

2Lt Galardi was able to drop about 60% on target.

Flak was again heavy, but it seemed with less ardor, on egress from the target.

Passing the flak belt, a single FW-190 attacked. Lt Quinn and Sgt Leeker left him with a smoking engine.

Following the Focke-Wulf, three ME-110s attacked, from 12, 6 and below. All three were shot down. Lt Quinn and Sgt Leeker, once again, combined to shoot down another enemy fighter, this time by destroying wing control surfaces and shattering the cockpit, killing the crew. The remaining two 110s were shot down by T/3 in the tail, and T/3 Townsend in the ball. Both crews were seen bailing out.

The enemy was not done with ‘Next Objective’. Three more FW190s attacked. Two were damaged, the third escaped unharmed. The second FW peppered the nose of the bomber, lightly wounding Lts Quinn and Galardi. As this fighter came around for another attack from 1:30 low, defensive fire shredded its right wing and set its fuel tank on fire. The pilot was seen bailing out. During this exchange the nose guns jammed. Lt Quinn was able to clear the jams in short order.

The skies were clear the next hour or so, During the flight over Yugoslavia both the nose and ball turrets lost power. The crew were able to restore power to both immediately.

With the Adriatic in sight a pair of ME-109s attacked. Sgt Griffith shot up the nose of the 109 at 6, sending it into a steep dive to the ground, with no chute observed. The remaining 109 hit #4 engine, setting it on fire. With the fire suppression system out, Lt Vaillancourt ordered the crew to abandon the bomber.

All ten crew were observed to safely bail out of the bomber, with Lt Vaillancourt believed to exit last, as that was his intention.

PART TWO:

Upon Lt Vaillancourt telling the crew to bail out, and the alarm being set off, Lt Quinn and I opened the nose gear escape hatch and bailed out. We were immediately scattered. Once my chute was deployed, I scanned around looking to see how many chutes I could see. I counted at least eight chutes, including my own, but wasn’t totally sure.

Once on the ground, I hid my chute and went into hiding. From my vantage point I scanned as far around as I could to see if any of the crew or the enemy were in the area. Nothing.

Once the sun set, I headed west, as best as I could, keeping to tree lines and depressions. With the last quarter of the moon visible, there was enough light to find my way, but still dark enough, I had hoped, to remain unseen. As dawn approached, I sought a suitable place to bed down for the long day ahead. I found a small copse of trees, with dense underbrush. A crawled in and tried to make myself as inconspicuous as possible.

I found myself being prodded awake by a farmer. Apparently, my small stand of trees was actually a tangle of grape vines, part of a vineyard. Given a thorough once over, the farmer directed me toward a cluster of buildings a few hundred yards away. He placed me in a root cellar, where I found Sergeants Griffith and Leeker.

Between us three, we accounted for all ten crew bailing out. We could not account for the whereabouts of the other seven crew members.

How long we were in the cellar, we do not know. Food and water were brought at irregular intervals. One day the farmer brought in another man, who questioned us in broken English. After a brief interrogation they left. We waited what seemed like several more days when the two men returned. The second man indicated we were to follow him. Outside of the cellar it was dark. In the darkness of the waning moon, we saw at least two other men. There may have been more, but we weren’t sure. We spent the next three or so weeks travelling by night from place to place. We were eventually handed off to several RN sailors and an officer, in some secluded cove. We travelled by patrol boat through the night, until we reached Bari. After several days of medical exams and interrogations, we were sent back to the 509th for final disposition.

[jpfatfingers]

B-17-G / DAMNED YANKEES / 79th BOMBER SQDRN
DATE: 05-5-44 / MISSION: # 28
FORMATION: Middle Middle / TARGET: Ploesti Romania - Oil Refinery

Position	Rank	Name	Missions Completed	Kills This Mission	Total Kills	Awards	Status / Fit for Duty
Pilot	1st Lt.	Joey Dimaggio	2			Purple Heart	Lt Wnd / FFD
Co-Pilot	2nd Lt.	Mickey Mantle	2			Purple Heart	Sr Wnd / Out 1 Wk
Bombardier	2nd Lt.	"Babe" Ruth	2	1 ME 109	2		FFD
Navigator	2nd Lt.	Louie Gehrig	2	1 ME 109	1		FFD
Engineer	T / Sgt	"Yogi" Berra	2				FFD
Radio	T / Sgt	"Sparky" Lyle	2		0.5		FFD
Ball Gunner	Sgt	Ronnie Guidry	2				FFD
Pt Waist Gunner	Sgt	"Lefty" Gomer	2				FFD
Stbrd Waist Gunner	Sgt	"Goose" Gossage	2				FFD
Tail Gunner	Sgt	"Catfish" Hunter	2		0.5		FFD

BOMB RESULTS: Babe & Louie combined to deliver 30% on target despite multiple hits from heavy flack and Jerry's smoke pots
BOMBER DAMAGE: 8 total hits - 5 Superficial Damage, plus Tail Rudder (1), Pilot Compartment (1 / wnd pilot & co-pilot), Radio Rm (1 / intercom out)
PECKHAM POINTS: 32
LANDING: Safe landing at main base
BOMBER DISPOSITION: Repairing Rudder damage & intercom system; checked for oil leak in Eng #2 but finding negative - ready for next mission
CASUALTIES & STATUS: Lt. Dimaggio sustained flesh wound to right arm (FFD) & Lt. Mantel sustained wound to left thigh (out 1 wk), both from ME 109 attack
CLAIMS: Lt. Ruth - 1 ME 109 / Lt. Gehrig - 1 ME 109
AWARDS: Purple Hearts to both Lt. Dimaggio and Lt. Mantle
PROMOTIONS: None

AAR
Smooth sailing from takeoff and out over the Adriatic, but upon crossing the Yugo coastline (Z4), Yogi calls out an oil leak on Eng 2 (RE 11) from his top turret. Mickey and I check all gauges & instruments; all are green and thankfully the leak stops after 5 min (dr 1). Noted in log to have crew chief check that. It's quite skies until Z 11 when we encounter 3 ME 109's. Our fire misses as does theirs, but Catfish gives one of them a parting shot (FBOA) from his tail guns as he passes through. We enter the target zone (12) and are bounced by a swarm of bogeys – 3 109’s and a 110. Our defensive fire is ineffective but much of theirs is not. We take hits from a 109 to the PC, wounding me (slightly in the right arm) and Mickey (seriously in the left thigh) who is in great pain and unable to continue flying. The 110 tags us with 3 hits from below – 2x in tail both SD and 1 in the bomb bay, thankfully also SD. Both come around for a 2nd pass with the 110 trading misses with us and the 109 pilot meeting his maker courtesy of Louie’s port cheek MG for his first kill. Upon approaching the refinery, we are greeted with heavy flak that hits us 2x in the Stbrd wing (both SD), 1x in tail (rudder) and 1x in radio room (ko’s the intercom system). Despite that and Jerry’s smoke pots, Babe is still able to deliver 30% of our load on target and we watch flames erupt below from the hits. From there it’s quite skies back to the Yugo coast, so we take advantage to dress Mickey’s leg wound which thankfully looks to be a clean pass through missing the artery and lay him out in Sparky’s radio room for the trip back. However, Bogeys are waiting at the coast. P 51’s are able drive away a FW 190 and ME 109, but a 2nd 109 gets through at 1:30 Lvl. His bad, since Babe makes short work of him with the chin turret’s twin 50’s, notching up his 2nd kill. I’m able to land us without any issues and have the ambulance waiting to rush Mickey to the hospital for treatment. I follow along later where my right arm flesh wound is dressed and am pronounced fit for duty. I’m able to track down Mickey who has been treated and now resting comfortably thanks to a nice dose of morphine and attention from some pretty nurses. Doc says he’s real lucky and if all goes well, Mickey should be fit for duty in about a week. Both of us will be receiving Purple Hearts as well.
Respectfully submitted by 1st Lt. J. Dimaggio

[kageyone]

"B-24J-155-CO 44-40269 ""Orange's Other Crate II"" airframe mission #1 (Consolidated Turret)
78th BS FORMATION: High
DATE: 5 May 44 MISSION # 28 TARGET: Ploesti, Romania - Unirea Spreantza Oil Refinery"


Position Rank Name                    Missions Complete Kills this Mission Total Kills Awards          Status Fit for Duty
Pilot 1st Lt Ab Orange                    14                                                                  AM, PH                FfD
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Basil Tottenham     15                                                                  AMx3                   FfD
Bomb 2nd Lt Ben Virden                13                                                                   DFC, AMx2, PHx2  FfD
Nav 2nd Lt Will Anderson               1                                                                                                FfD
Engr/TT T/Sgt Benedict Jackson ACE 11                             3 / 2.5 prob   8.5         AMx3                   FfD
Radio/PtW T/Sgt Frank Dunn         15                                .5 / .5 prob      1          AMx3, PH             FfD
Ball T Sgt Brandon Smith                1                                                                                                 FfD
Pt W/Nose S/Sgt Donald Stroll      12                                                       1.5         AMx2                  FfD
Stb W Sgt Aaron Beaton                4                                      0.5              1                                      FfD
Tail T Sgt Tate Reynolds                 1                                       1                1                                      FfD
5 / 3 prob 25

Enemy A/C Intrcptd B-24 Hits FBOA - FCA - FCAB - Destroyed Claims - Probable - Confirmed
Ju-88 x2           2
Bf-109 x5         2            6                         - 2 - 3 -                                1 -   - 1
Bf-109 x7 Rom               2                      1 - 1 - 2 - 4                             5 - 3 - 2
Bf-110 x2                                                  -  - 1 - 1                                1 - - 1
FW-190 x8                     3                        - 3 - 2 -                                  1 - - 1
Flak 1

TOTALS x24      4           12                    1 - 6 - 8 - 4                             8 - 3 - 5

BOMB RUN: 40%
CREW CASUALTIES & STATUS
Sgt Jake Bender (BallT, 8 missions, 4.5 kills, AM, PH) - SW, broken rib, inflamed heart, RtD May 14

DAMAGE: 55 points / 10x superficial = 20 / 1x Tailplane = 25 / Stbd Flap = 10 /
A/C DISPOSITION: Repairs and maintenance over night
28 B-24-J Oranges Other Crate II - Sheet1.pdf (69.12 KB)CREW CHIEF: T/SGT Darrell Ball +1 Modifier to repairs and maintenance, 9 missions

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
AM Oak Leaves - Lt B Tottenham, Sgt F Dunn

PROMOTIONS:

AFTER ACTION REPORT
"- I’m getting a little tired of breaking in new aircraft. This is #3 and I’d like it to take us to the end of my tour.
- Action started when we crossed the coast in the form of a couple of Junkers and a couple of 109s, none of which got past our top cover.
- It got hot over Romania. We were attacked by 2 Romanian 109s and took them both out. Then 2 110s,1 driven off and one destroyed.
- We avoided unwanted attention until the target zone. First, 3 more Romanian a/c were driven off by our fire. Then a FW-190 made a couple of ineffectual passes. Finally, 3 more FWs were driven off. Flak was close and bombs were on target in spite of the conditions.
- Turning off the target, 2 more Romanians attacked off our 3; one went down on their first pass, the other on his second pass. We then noted rockets exploding in the formation. Next we were bracketed by 3 190s.We exchanged fire to little effect and they came by for a second pass when we took out 1 of them.
- Any hopes of respite vanished when 3 109s came at us from above. 1 was quickly discouraged, but the other 2 were persistent and good. One of them punched a lot of holes in our a/c, and the other was destroyed on his third pass.
- Thankfully we were ignored by the enemy when exiting Yugoslavia and we landed without incident. A combination of good gunnery by my crew and good luck got us back as we were attacked by 24 enemy a/c. We claimed 8 and 5 were confirmed. Chief says The Crate will be ready overnight and took little damage given the attacks we faced. Best of all, my crew came home without a scratch."
Respectfully Submitted by 1st Ab Orange

Using TFT (Variants used: TFT Axis Fighter Aircraft Add-on Module (personal modification to not mix German and allied fighters. If a (I), (R), or (H) comes up, all fighters in that wave are the same nationality.) /Chris Riches' Variant Table for Mechanical Failure / Bruce Peckham’s German Fighter Pilots variant / Fuel Tank Leaks / Axis Aircraft Hit Effect Multipliers / Claiming Destroyed, Probable and Damaged Aircraft / Crew Chiefs/Jasta6 GAF Placement Variant / 509th Wound and Recovery)

[rhreiss]

Chute the WorksChute the Works 79th BS manages to make it back to base with engine out, nose blown off (flak burst in nose section) before bomb run, and other damage. Did not Bomb. CAT-E. Two crew KIA, two wounded.

Will post full AAR when issue with Google Sheets resolved.



B-17G Chute the Works
Commander 1LT Leslie 'Les' Scarsella
79th Bomber Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group
4 combat missions flown
status CAT-E flak damage BIP in Nose
MISSION DATE: 5 May 44
MISSION # 28
TARGET: Ploesti, Romania - Unirea Spreantza Oil Refinery
Formation: middle
Position: middle



Crew Position Rank Name Combat Missions Flown Awards Kills

credited Status

Pilot 1LT Leslie 'Les' Scarsella 4 LW-2 weeks
Co-Pilot 2LT Charlie English 2 PH RFD
Bombardier 2LT Alex ‘AK’ Kampouris 4 KIA
Navigator 2LT James 'Jimmy' Outlaw 4 0.5 KIA
Engineer T/SGT Paul Gehrman 4 RFD
Radio Operator T/SGT George ‘Whitey’ Moore 4 RFD
Ball Gunner S/SGT Jake ‘JK’ Mooty 4 RFD
Left Waist SGT Bernard "Bernie" Fleming 4 RFD
Right Waist SGT Warren "Vegas" Crouch 4 RFD
Tail Gunner S/SGT Gus Brittain 4 3.5 LW-5 days

experience skill modifier level
Crew Chief SGT Gene Schott 4 0 Average Joe

Detached/ Convalescing Crew
Crew Position Rank Name Combat Missions Flown Awards confirmed Kills Status
Left Waist SGT Frank McCormick 1 PH RTD on 5/15/44 msn 32
Right Waist SGT Billy ‘Kid’ Myers 1 PH RTD on 5/8/44 msn 29


Crew Chief Pre Mission Report: Standard mission and chances for Mechanical Failures.
Bomb Results: DNB
Bomber Damage:
Right tail plane root hit 25
pilot LW 5
Tail gunner LW 5
Radio gun jammed 10
Radio No Mayday. 10
Control Cables 1 hit 10
RWing #3 engine out 25
Rwing SD 5
Rudder 2xhits 20
SDx3 3
BIP nose 100
Navigator KIA 10
Bombardier KIA 10
Compartment Heat 10
Norden Bombsight 10
Chin turret 20
Navigation equipment inoperable 10
Bomb controls inoperable 10
Oxygen Supply 10
Peckham Points: CAT-E Flak Burst in Nose 308

Landing: Safe landing at Giulia Airfield
Bomber Disposition: CAT-E Flak Burst in Nose

Casualties & status:
1LT Scarsella LW 2 weeks
2LT Kampouris KIA
2LT Outlaw KIA
S/SGT Brittain Lw 5 days

Claims:
SGT Crouch Fw190 Denied - No Credit Awarded
S/SGT Brittain Me410 Approved = Full Credit Awarded
S/SGT Brittain Me109 Approved = Full Credit Awarded
S/SGT Brittain Me109 Approved = Full Credit Awarded

Awards:
1LT Scarsella Purple Heart
2LT Kampouris Purple Heart
2LT Outlaw Purple Heart
S/SGT Brittain Purple Heart


AAR
Provided by Co-Pilot 2LT Charlie English


OUTBOUND

We took off and joined the formation without any problems. The first part of the flight to the target was uneventful until we reached the Bulgaria / Romania border area. Then an unknown enemy fighter launched rockets into the formation from our 6. We could see the bursts but no damage. That was followed by a Fw190 at our 12. Paul didn’t claim any damage but it missed us and broke off the attack.



TARGET AREA

Once in the target area, things got interesting. A pair of Fw190s and a Me410 started things off. Paul dinged the Me410 at our 12, it missed us and Gus finished it off with a passing shot as it went by with a chute observed as the pilot bailed out. AK hit the Fw190 also at our 12 doing enough damage that it missed us and disappeared. Vegas one of our spare crew members shot up the left wing of the second Fw190 at our 3 and saw a chute as it started its’ descent. They were followed by a Fw190 and a pair of Me109s. Paul once again hit the Fw190 at our 12 causing it to miss and break off the attack. Gus in the tail shot the right wing off the Me109 at our 6 with no chute observed. The final Me109 got a free shot attacking in a vertical dive but must have been a green pilot as he missed wide. Things were looking good as we hit the IP and started our bomb run. Then we were rocked by multiple flak bursts. We took a couple near the tail with hit the Right tail plane root hit and hit Gus in the head knocking him out of a few minutes. Another sent shrapnel into the cockpit hitting Les in the hand. The final one burst inside the nose compartment killing AK and Jimmy and blowing the nose section completely away and knocking us out of formation as we fought to regain control. Fortunately that got us out the flak, but we were attacked by a Fw190 at our 12 and a Me109 at 10:30 Low. Paul hit the Fw190 causing it miss and JK did the same to the Me109. After that we were able check on crew status. It took Gus a while to answer groggily but he said he didn’t need help.



INBOUND

As we headed back we were able to do a manual bomb dump and it was clear with the damage we couldn’t keep up with the formation, but we could at least keep altitude to make it easier to get help from our little friends once they showed up. Things were quite (other that the wind noise and cold from the missing nose) until we were approaching the coast near Niksic. We were jumped by four Fw190s and a Me109. Our little friends showed up in time to take care of two of them. Gus shot up the cockpit of the Me109 at our six with no chute observed. Paul damaged the Fw190 also at our 6 causing it to miss and break off the attack. JK hit final Fw190 also at our 6 but it hammered us Taking out our radio (no mayday), two hits on the rudder, knocking our #3 engine, hitting the control cables, a hit to the right wing for no effect, and others hits for superficial damage. It tried a reattack but was unsuccessful.

Once over base Les polled the crew to see who wanted to bail out and who wanted to stay for the landing. Paul said he preferred the odds staying for the landing and Gus said he didn’t want to jump with his head hurting. The rest of the crew agreed so we fired off the flairs for wounded and major damage. Les and I managed to put her down safely, but it was a near thing.

Les was hauled off the surgery, flight surgeon says he will probably loose a finger and need a couple of weeks to recovery before his flight status is known. Gus has some skin scraped off his head and a concussion, 5 days before he is cleared. With the nose gone and all the other damage Chute the Works is done, declared CAT-E and maintenance says we were lucky to make it back.



I plan on recommending Les for a Distinguished Flying Cross for bring a bomber with this level of damage home and landing it safely while having limi9ted use of one hand.



2LT Charlie English, Co-Pilot
B-17G Chute the Works
79th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF





Award Recommendation for

Crew Members Name: Leslie 'Les' Scarsella

Crew Members Rank: 1LT

Mission Number: 28 - Ploesti, Romania - Unirea Spreantza Oil Refinery

Mission Date: 5 May 1944

Award Requested: Distinguished Flying Cross

Award Paragraph: Why should this crewmen receive this award: While on a mission to Ploesti, Romania 1LT Scarsella’s plane was hit by multiple flak bursts blowing of the nose compartment, damaging other components, wounding crew members including himself in the hand causing loos of a finger and limiting his ability to use that hand. After regaining control of the aircraft he was able to navigate back to base while out of formation and without aid of a navigator. While returning to base his bomber suffered addition damage from fighter attacks including loss of an engine, damage to control cable and other control surfaces. He was able to safely land the aircraft which had sustained enough damage to be completely unrepairable an automatic CAT-E.

Rank and Name Requesting this award:

2LT Charlie English, Co-Pilot
B-17G Chute the Works
79th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF

[daveh]

80th Bombardment Squadron
Bomber Position: Low Squadron,
Mission Date: 5 May 1944
Mission #: 28
Mission Alt. 24,000
Target: Unirea Spreantza Oil Refinery


Crew:
Pilot-1Lt Michael Smyser
Co-Pilot- 2Lt JT Thomas
Navigator-2Lt Chase Lester
Bombardier- 2Lt Brian Borden
Engineer-S/Sgt Alex Timmerman
Radioman-S/Sgt Tyler Albright
Ball Turret Gunner-Sgt Lucas Hardwick
Port Waist Gunner-Mark Alvarez (Killion out for 6 weeks with injury)
Starboard Waist Gunner-Bubba Giroux (Blanchard out for 6 weeks with injury)
Tail Gunner-Sgt David Hodo

System used: Target For Today
Bombing Accuracy: 40%
Enemy Aircraft Claimed 7 (Hardwick-2 1 ME190, 1 FW190 both confirmed) (Timmerman-1 FW190=confirmed, 3 ME109= 1 approved, 1/3 Credit, 1 Denied) (Hodo 1 Me109= 1/2 credit)
Enemy AC Confirmed Kill :4 2/3
Damage Points: 62
Debrief:
Take Off was routine-no issues. Flight was uneventful until we arrived over Yugoslavia, we were jumped by 2 FW190s, 300low and 1200 level. Hardwick had the krauts number and shot his cockpit to shreds-down he went, no chute seen from our 190. The other was driven off-he got some hits on us but nothing serious. Over Romania things got hairy, as we were attacked repeatedly by Me109s. Hodo claimed one attacking at the 600 level but it was denied and he only got 1/2 credit. Hardwick got his second confirmed of the day when he knocked the wing off of one-we saw a chute. Timmerman claimed 2 Me109s but was credited for 1 and 1/3. We took a great number of hits but again nothing serious (our right wing was hit and our brakes on that side were out-but we did not know that till we landed) There must have been at least 6 109s coming after us-but we got through em. As we approached the target area, we were attacked by a pair of FW190s, 900 high and 300 level. They shot us up pretty good but were driven off. A lone Me109 at 1200 high came right at us, Timmerman got the better of him and had another confirmed kill. As we arrived over the target, Flak was heavy, we were hit but no serious damage. Somehow we stayed on target, dropped our bombs and headed for home. Another 109 attacked us, Timmerman claimed him, but it was denied. The flight back was uneventful. Upon landing, I was surprised when the right side brakes were out-luckily, we had enough room to stop the plane using the right brakes and some gentle braking. The aircraft will be ready to Fly by tomorrow am.

This is also marks SSgt Alex Timmermans 5th kill(he has racked up 5 and 2/3 aircraft.

Micheal Smyser

[GaryK]

Cam4 - 028.xlsx (43.84 KB)

Best I can do until the embedding of Google documents is fixed.

After Action report: (using TfT)
(Optional rules: Crew-chief effects; Crew Stress; Jasta 6 German Pilot Quality; Peckham’s Random Event Variant Table; Axis Aircraft 1942-45).

Ploesti - again. Silence and whispered grumblings as the target and route were revealed. We, and the other Groups, have lost a lot of friends pummelling this target, but I suppose the strategic thinking is that we need to deny the Nazis their only source of fuel, and make them dependent on synthetic gas.

Mission: A textbook take-off, and no trouble forming up the Group was followed by a relatively quiet outbound trip. As intel predicted, we did have some action as we crossed the Yugoslavian coast, but the two FW190s were dealt with by the Mustangs before they got near us.

Intel were correct again as we made the turn near Targu Jiu, with another two 190s homing in on us through the much thinner fighter cover. Both were ahead of us, one level, one slightly above. Walcott winged the one at our altitude with the chin turret, causing the Jerry to miss, then head away home.

Magic couldn’t hit the one above us, but he also missed and swung round to approach from behind us. The familiar cursing as Haley missed his opportunity shot on the bandit was soon followed by a cheer when he was more accurate as the 190 came in again – almost sawing its tail off, which sent it spinning downwards, with the pilot abandoning the plane almost as soon as it was hit.

It was a bit lively over the target zone. It started with a Butcher Bird ahead and above us, with one Me109 behind and above, and a second coming directly down on us. While our new ace, Magic, was having a bad day with his guns – missing the one at twelve high, Haley connected with the 109 in our six, and Southey even managed to clip the speedy one above us as he closed in.

The diver missed, as did the one ahead of us. The latter then manoeuvred into our port bow area. The one behind us managed to put a shot into us, but without any serious damage. He then decided that it was time to go home!

At that low position, the remaining 190 was subject to fire from four gunners. One of them clipped the Jerry’s port wing, but Crawford, in the ball turret, riddled the plane’s rear fuselage, which broke the 109’s back. No escape for the pilot this time.

This was followed by a far less dangerous pairing – a couple of Me110s. I really don’t know why they keep sending these things up. They are very slow compared to the single-seater fighters, and I think even I could hit one of these as a gunner! Both were below us, one off our starboard side, one directly behind. Both ended up smoking wrecks within half a minute as Crawford and Haley dealt with them giving both gunners their second claim of the day.

We took a couple of hits from flak as we ran in on the refinery. One definitely affected the aileron controls, as they became very stiff; the other shot just put a hole in the radio room.

Despite the smoke, Walcott got the bombs on target, and was pretty happy with that. Unfortunately, there was more flak as we turned for home, and an explosion ahead and below us had him yelling that he’d been hit.

Mack came on shortly after, saying that Herschel had shrapnel in his thigh. He’d made him as comfy as possible, and stuck some field dressings around the metal sticking out of the bombardier’s leg. Herschel broke in to say that he was fine, but it was tricky moving about. I told Mack to cover all the gun positions in the nose, but prioritize the chin turret.

No fighters appeared as we left the target zone, but there were a few loud thumps as Jerries above us dropped bombs on our formation – none were effective.

It was a real quiet trip home – there was some resistance over the Yugoslavian coast again, but nothing that came near us.

Soon after, we touched down smoothly at home base (despite the stiff aileron controls) after a surprisingly quiet trip to one of the most dangerous targets we’ve hit.


An ambulance was waiting for Walcott, but he came hobbling into the Club later in the evening with a crutch under one arm. The docs had released him, but he’s on ground duty for a week to allow his left thigh to heal, to ensure that he can move around the cramped nose area

So – he gets an oak leaf for his Purple Heart, but the big news was that Haley – after a really slow start, has downed enough Jerries to be considered an Ace! His turn to buy the beers, but nice to see him smiling, rather than cursing!!

It wasn’t all good news. Our, and the other B-17 squadron’s relatively quiet runs were contrasted with the massive losses of the 78th’s Liberators. Dozens of young men that will never see their home again. It does make me wonder when our luck will run out. We’ve had a couple of close calls, but it can’t last forever.



1Lt Louis M. Marlowe, Pilot Commanding
B-17G-55DL-44-6507 "Lucky Patch"
79th (H) BS, 509th (H) BG

For a full mission history of "In Like Flynn", "Blitz Buggy", plus my three aircraft in the previous war, please see my (GarySK) post in the Tarmac forum

[campsawyer]

[caodwolf]

B-17G:  Honey Bun



Pilot: 2Lt. D. Diluzio
Assignment:  15th Air Force,  509th Bomber Group, 80th Squadron
Mission Date: 5-May-1944
Mission No.:  28
Mission this Bomber: 3
Target for Today:  Ploesti, Romania -  Unirea Spreatza Oil Refinery
Squadron Position:Low
Result:   On-Target:  30%
 

2Lt.  D  Diluzio takes over as the Pilot of the Honey Bell since Pilot 1Lt B Harrison's mental state has benched him for the considerable future.   The crew was apprehensive about the mission to Ploesti given the 80th is occupying the Low Squadron.   But overall resistance was light and Flak while heavy was ineffective.

Bombardier 2Lt  A Tharpe dropped our eggs on target but later was seriously wounded in the head.  He will be out of action for quite sometime.


That is all....    

Crew Manifest

Position	Rank	Name	Missions Flown	Kills this Mission	Total Kills	Awards	Status
Pilot	2Lt	D. Diluzio	13	---	---	AM,PH	OK
Co-Pilot	2Lt	J. Boyer	1	---	---	---	OK
Bombardier	2Lt	A. Tharpe	12	---	2	AM, PH (2)	OK-SW
Navigator	2Lt	J. Labelle	4	---	---	---	OK
Top Turret/Engineer	Sgt	R. Reese	2	---	1/2	---	OK
Radio Op	S/Sgt	K. Whitmore	16	---	---	AM	OK
Port Waist	S/Sgt	J Dix	6	---	---	AM	OK
Stbd Waist	S/Sgt	J. Shoemaker	12	---	1	AM, PH	OK
Ball Turret	S/Sgt	M. Lesjack	20	1	6 ACE	AM (2)	OK
Tail Turret	S/Sgt	K. Taylor	15	---	1	AM	OK

 

HOSPITAL


S/Sgt W Comerota   RTD:  15-May
2Lt J Pate                RTD:  1-June
2Lt M Yezzi              RTD:  15-May
2Lt.  A Tharpe         RTD:  12-June



KIA

None


WIA

2lt.  A Tharpe

Medals / Promotions

Purple Heart

2Lt. A Tharpe

Fighters Encountered

 

FTR	Spotted	Driven-Off	Damaged	Not-Damaged	Claimed - Credited
JU-88	2	---	1	---	1       1
FW-190	4	2	1	1	---
C-205	3	2-	---	1	---
---	---	---	---	---	---
---	---	---	---	---	---
TOTALS	9	4	2	2	1       1

B-17G Damage:   * 21 *  

-Port Wing Flap
-SW (1)