MISSION 72 - WOLLERSDORF AARs
316th BS (LEAD)
FOUR OF A KIND, Lead flight, Lead aircraft
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VENGEFUL HARLOT, Lead flight, Left aircraft
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Damage repairable in __ days for aircraft to be available
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- 2nd Lt. Gary Tines, Pilot, Vengeful Harlot, B17G-10-VE 43-8870, 316th Bomb Squadron, 88th Bomb Group (H)
BALTIMORE QUEEN, Lead flight, Right aircraft
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- 1st Lt. Gary Sanderson, Pilot, Baltimore Queen, 316th Bomb Squadron, 88th Bomb Group (H)
GINGER SNAP, Second flight, Lead aircraft
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Bombed target, 30%. Returned with damage to the control cables and to the starboard wing root and no casualties. Claims: 1 Fw-190 by Lt. McClain.
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We sighted German fighters deep inside Yugoslavia, and they stayed with us from that point all the way to the target and back, finally breaking off for good as we passed the Austrian border. But the Krauts seemed reluctant to press home an attack on our formation - Col. Lamb was constantly on the radio telling us to close it up, and the P-38s were especially active.
Flak was encountered over the target, but it was not very accurate. Lt. McClain again put our bomb load on target.
Three 190s hit us head on as we crossed the Austrian frontier on the way home, putting a few holes in our ship but causing no real damage. Lt. McClain exploded one as it banked to come around for a second pass, and the other two broke off and dove away from our formation.
The remainder of the flight home was uneventful.
- Capt. Harold Snakenburg, Pilot, Ginger Snap, 316th Bomb Squadron, 88th Bomb Group (H)
BILOXI BEAUTY, Second Flight, Left aircraft
Mission Synopsis:
Did not bomb target. Aborted mission due to battle damage from enemy fighters over Yugoslavia (zone-3). Left formation and returned to base with fire damage to the to nose compartment oxygen system, damage from 20mm shell holes to the cockpit and 1 crewman killed. Claims: 1 Me-109 by SSgt. Bray.
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It started out fine, clear day and good flying. Once we crossed the Yugo border though a pack of 109s jumped us, I don't know where the fighters were but we didn't get any help this time, must have been busy. SSgt. Bray nailed one of them with the top gun and it blew up right over us, an almighty thump let me tell you. A couple of the others missed and blew right past us, but this one bastard put a couple of shells into the front of the Beauty, next thing I know Parks was slumped over dead and they were screaming about a fire up front. The Bombardier got the fire put out but the oxygen was out for the whole nose, we had to drop out of formation and so far from the target, I made the decision to abort the mission. We turned around and didn't see a fighter on the way home. Poor Parks, guess I better write something to his wife.
- 1st Lt. Jimmy Carlson, Pilot, Biloxi Beauty, 316th Bomb Squadron, 88th Bomb Group (H)
ASH CAN, Second flight, Right aircraft
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Bombed target, 0%. Returned with Number two engine and the radio inoperable, flak damage to both wing roots (2 port & 1 starboard), and numerous superficial damage to compartments (92 damage points), and 1 light casualty. Claims: 1 FW-190 by Sgt. Logsdon.
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After the Milk-Run this turned into an eye opener. Toughest mission since my New Guinea days. Ran into 4 Fw-190s as we hit coast but fighters drove off 3 while fourth tore up radio room wounding operator, damaging gear and killed the radio. The 190 turned around for 2nd pass at 9 high that would have stitched us bow to stern if a P-38 hadn't dove on him and blew him up.
Arriving over target a wave of fighters was driven off by box fire. A 2nd wave of 5 Fw-190s then fell on us though escorts drove off one. A 12 high plane blasted our #2 engine dead while a 10:30 high, a 6 high and vertical diver all missed us. Logsdon killed a Fw as it flew over us and prop easily feathered. A 3rd wave of 4 Bf-109s came in but 2 driven off by P-38s and the 2 left both missed.
Flak was moderate but a near hit below damaged wing roots on both sides. Our bombs ended up in a plowed field unfortunately. Turn around saw 2 waves of fighters but none got through defensive fire around us.
As we neared the coast a group of fighters was seen but was driven off by our boxes fire again. Landed without incident.
- 1st Lt. Steve Cable, Pilot, ASH CAN, 316th Bomb Squadron, 88th Bomb Group (H)
399th BS (MIDDLE)
LUCY QUIPMENT, Third flight, Lead Aircraft
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- 1st Lt. Steve Gibson, Co-pilot, Lucy Quipment, 399th Bomb Squadron
EL TORO, Third Flight, Left aircraft
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- 1st Lt. Del Madrid, Pilot, El Toro, 399th Bomb Squadron
GRIN 'N BARE IT, Third flight, Right aircraft
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- 1st Lt. Ignatious Ellsworth, Pilot, Grin 'N Bare It, 399th Bomb Squadron
317th BS (HIGH)
TULE LAKE SAMURAI III, Lead flight, Lead aircraft
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- Capt. Lt. Ken Shimizu, Pilot, Tule Lake Samurai II
CONQUEST, Lead Flight, Left Wingman
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- 1st Lt. Michael Nobel, Pilot, Conquest, 317th Bomb Squadron
SALLY WRAITH, Lead flight, Right aircraft
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- 1st Lt. Sanford Pheleps, Pilot, Sally Wraith, 318th Bomb Squadron
TALLEST CROW, Second Flight, Lead aircraft
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- Capt. Trey Azagthoth, Pilot, Tallest Crow
TAILS A'DRAGGIN', Second flight, Left Wingman
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- 1st Lt. Harry Flashman, Pilot, Tails A'draggin', 318th Bomb Squadron
399th BS (HIGH)
THUNDERMUG, Third flight, Lead aircraft
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- TSgt.. Chantry, Radio Operartor, Thundermug, 399th Bomb Squadron\
MAWIMAZO, Third flight, Left aircraft
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LAURALEE II, Third flight, Right aircraft
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- Capt. Bill Hearn, Pilot, Lauralee, 399th Bomb Squadron
318th BS (LOW)
ZEBRA'S REVENGE, Lead flight, Lead Aircraft
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- Major Mick Mikula, Pilot, Zebra's Revenge, CO 318th Bomb Squadron
IRON MAIDEN, Lead flight, Left aircraft
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- 2nd Lt. Buck Buds, Pilot, Iron Maiden, 318th Bomb Squadron
AUSTIN NIGHTS, Second flight, Right aircraft
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JOLLIE ROGER, Second Flight, Left aircraft
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- 1st Lt. Jeff Dodge, Pilot, Jollie Roger, 318th Bomb Squadron
LOADED DICE, Second flight, Left aircraft (TAIL-END CHARLIE)
Mission Synopsis:
Bombed target, 30%. Left formation over
Yugoslavia (zone-3) and returned alone. Landed with cockpit heating
system inoperable, fire damage to the tail compartment oxygen system, minor
damage to the Bombardier's oxygen system, to the control cables, to the
starboard wing, to the tail plane and with 2 casualties and 1 case of frostbite.
Claims: 1 Me-109 shared by Sgts. Lapointe and Bohannon.
Mission Narrative:
Take off and rendezvous with group went smoothly. Our plane drew "Tail End Charlie" duty this mission. Sgt. Lapointe's briefing with the enlisted men stressed keeping a strong watch for any enemy fighters coming from the rear as we could expect increased enemy activity from this area. The briefing indicated that fighter cover would be out in force today and we picked up quite a bit of cover at the rendezvous point.
Flying over Yugoslavia the crew reported frequent bandit contacts, but the fighters were on their toes today and not one enemy fighter made a direct pass on us. As we crossed over into Austria the chatter on the intercom was nothing but bandit contacts. No less than three waves of enemy fighters made their runs on us. The P-38s flying cover chased a few off but at this point the enemy fighters held a numerical advantage. One pass of 109s from 12 o'clock knocked out our cockpit heat and I found out later killed Sgt. Cronin and seriously wounded Sgt. Murphy in the waist compartment.
Flak from the target area punched some holes in the wing, knocked out our radio and cut Sgt. Withrow's oxygen supply in the tail. He had to put out a small fire caused by the bursting oxygen line. When the waist gunners didn't report in, Lt. Richie sent Sgt. Bohannon back to check and that's when we found out about the casualties. To stay in formation Lt. Richie ordered Sgt. Withrow to move up and take over manning the waist guns. It was a risk Lt. Richie was prepared to take. Giving up the tail gun position to stay in formation this deep inside enemy space.
The squadron turned on the IP and made our run in. Lt. Greiner called bombs away and we veered off to the rally point. Sgt. Placencia estimates a 30% coverage on the target.
As we rallied the enemy set up for more attacks,
but the tail gunners of our squadron mates covered our six as best they could.
I don't know how they knew we were lacking in firepower in that area because our
ship to ship radio was out. Perhaps the lack of tracers from our gun told
them all they needed to know. A second wave began to make a run on us, but
as they did Sgt. Lapointe reported a squadron of Mustangs appeared on their six
in pursuit and persuaded the majority of the enemy aircraft to roll and dive for
the deck. However, A solitary 109 maintained his attack angle from six
o'clock high, but flipped over and spun wildly downwards on fire. Both
Sgt. Lapointe and
Sgt Bohannon are claiming a kill on this enemy aircraft as they both feel they
really poured some lead into him.
It was really starting to get cold in the cockpit as we crossed over the Austria/Yugoslavia border. Lt. Richie was beginning to shiver and had me take the yoke while he monitored the gauges. The crew reported no more enemy contact as we flew over Yugoslavia. Our fighter cover was still with us so just before we left Yugoslavia, Lt. Richie ordered Sgt. Withrow back to the tail gun and ordered me take us down to 10,000 feet. He was really shivering at this point and said he couldn't feel his feet. We dropped out of formation but were able to stay within sight of the group. Some flak bursts appeared low and to the right of us before we crossed over to the Adriatic. Fortunately, we saw no more enemy fighters as we headed home.
Lt. Richie and I brought the plane down and landed
without incident. The medics are taking Sgt. Murphy and Lt. Richie off to the
hospital.
They are telling Sgt Murphy he has a million dollar wound and won't need his 50
missions to go home, just some long recoup time in a hospital. They asked me how
long was Lt. Richie was without heat and I told them at least four hours.
They also asked me about my condition, but I told them aside from needing a few
cups of hot coffee with some whiskey I felt okay. The medics think Lt.
Richie is going to lose some toes due to the length of time he was exposed to
the cold. Another million dollar wound.
- 2nd Lt. Randy Martinson, Co-Pilot, Loaded Dice, 318th Bomb Squadron