For this trip, after taxiing into position, the ground crews topped off the tanks.  We would need every drop. With a maximum take-off load, we barely got the heavily loaded Liberator off the ground.

After forming up over the base, we joined up with the other groups and we began our longest mission thus far in the war. As the group made its way across France, the 'Buffalo' wasn't attacked until the Wing neared the La Rochelle's dock yards.  A single FW-190 made an ineffective 12 high head-on pass while our gunners were equally ineffective.  Minutes before the bomb run, a lone ME-109 attacked from 2 o'clock low and missed while our gunners were equally inept.  These were the only two enemy fighters we encountered during the entire mission.

As the group flew through the flak barrage, the 'Buffalo' was very lucky.  Just when I thought we were clear of the flak, we felt a small jarring from behind. Flak shrapnel damaged the tail gunner's oxygen system.  Luckily, no fire resulted but the hit caused Lt. Stackpole to release the bomb load too soon.

I think we caught the Germans off-guard as we continued to fly south-by-southeast instead of turning around for England. The trip across southwestern France and then across the Mediterranean to Algiers was uneventful. We finally touch downed in Maison Blanche air base after over 7 hours and traveling over 1200 miles in the air. - Capt. Rick Loomis

MYSTERY LADY (Langtot crew)
Take-off and rendezvous went as with out a hitch. First 150 miles there were no E/A fighters seen. Around 180 miles out we saw a group of 7-8 FW 190's skirting the flight. Just as they broke to attack the upper squadrons, our little friends dropped in to chase most of them off. As the Germans pass through the B-24's we drew ones attention, which came in from 12 O'clock high. This was his mistake, Bradshaw (manning the Nose gun) was hot and sawed off his prop, as Montell reported seeing it disintegrating as the FW 190 spiraled out of control.

At around the half waypoint (Zone 5) we saw two more FW 190's. Again our little friends helped out by chasing the 12 High E/A and spooked the other as he missed us by a mile. Now thing from here on out got hot. In the next 100 miles no less than nine fighters attacked us.

Right after the FW's hit us (Zone 6) we were jumped by three Me 110's, guess the waited till we were with out escort to get into the fray. We were pinched from 12, VD and 6 O'clock positions. The forward Me 110 peppered the nose, only leaving a hand full of fist size holes. Sadly, the one from our six hit the tail hard killing Montell. We didn't here another word from him after this attack. The one from above missed us trying to avoid one of the other Me 110's as they crisscrossed over us. This Me just continued on down threw the formation, and we didn't see him again. Not so for the other two, they saw fit to give it another go. Again, their mistake. Both Bradshaw and Pemmida lined them up as they returned and sent both diving smoking. Franks saw one on flames and he thought he saw a chute from it.

Continuing on (Zone 7) we ran into three more Me 110's working their way up the Bombardment Groups. Franks smacked on hard in the cowling, causing it to blow oil and a nice big plum of white smoke. (FBOA-2). Pemmida was hot today as he smoked his second Me 110 coming in from our 9 O'clock Level. As it dropped under up Green (in the Waist) thought he saw the wing separate from the aircraft. The third Me 110 did get in peppering us hard taking out my control of the elevators completely.

As we passed the IP the fighters peeled off to get out of the way. But out of the way of what! Out of the Flak over the target, that's what.
Flak was not necessarily heavy but it as accurate as "Heck". After about two minutes of the stuff, and thinking we were clear of the worst of it one of those ground-pounding Krauts nailed "Mystery Lady" just aft of the bomb bay. Thank God for little miracles. But the waist was ripped apart leaving nothing alive or working. With the elevators out and the "Lady's" belly torn open, I had order the jettison of our eggs. We were dropping and dropping fast. Martin and I fought hard to level her back out. Yet with a heroic effort by Martin, we leveled the "Lady's" nose back to the horizon. Now we had a hard decision to make, as to continue on to Algiers or return to the 8th. Turning back meant fighting our way back through over 300 miles of German fighters, or continuing on and pray we can stay aloft and not crash land, God knows where. If we crashed on the way we were dead men. If we turned back for home, with no other B24s to take the attention of the E/A fighters off us, we were most certainly dead men. So I made the decision to soldier on to Algiers.

Now out of formation, we drew more attention than my crew liked, yet it wasn't the whole of Göreing luftwaffe. They were also chasing the rest of the Bombardment Group as well. The first 15 minutes (Zone 9/turn 1) or so the Krauts must have thought we were finished as they left us alone. But then they started to come around. We were jumped by three Me 109's at around 25 miles past the drop point (Zone 9/turn 2). Pemmida toasted the one from 12 high, as he flamed 109's engine and blew him up as it passed by us. This shook the second Me 109 skirting in on our 12 O'clock level. As he veered to miss his wingmate, his shot went wide to our right. There third Me 109 brought he attack to the rear of the "Lady" and shattered the starboard flap. Pressing their attacks, the two remaining Krauts returned from the 6 & 1:30 clock positions with minimal effects. Putting in around 40 – 50 new holes in our Starboard Wing and the Nose.

At around 75 miles past the drop zone (Zone 10/turn 1) we attracted a Me109 and a Me 110. The 109 decided to play chicken and bared down from 12 O'clock level. Peppering the flight deck and once again the Starboard Wing. Leaving large holes everywhere but in any vital systems. At least we thought till we landed. It turned out this must have been when the brake lines were severed. Knocking out the "Lady's" brakes. The Kraut Me 110 came from above diving too fast to hit us. They chased us for the next 10 miles or so putting around another 50 holes in the US Governments property. Smashing the instrument panel taking out all our flaps. On their last pass, Pemmida chewed up one more, hi fourth, kraut plane. The Me 109 descended from 9 O'clock high and took the brunt of Pemmida's shot in the cockpit. I saw the canopy explode as the 109 rolled over to get a large fan shot at us. No doing, Harri's shot silenced the 109's guns and the Krauts career. The last we saw him, he was tumbling to mother earth.

This was the last enemy action we saw for the rest of the trip (Zone 10/turn 2 to Zone 12/turn 2). Now we just had to find the Algiers airfield. This took a while, but Ballickie spotted our BG's Liberators on the ground and we headed in that direction. As mentioned earlier we soon found that one of the wing hits took out our brakes as we touched down.

Thank goodness this place is flat. It took about another 150 – 200 feet to stop this brakeless, flapless, wounded bird (2D landing roll of 10 –7 = 3). This is a sad day for the "Lady" as she lost three good men today. I'm just thankful for a stone hard crew and a first class copilot. I know I would have never been able to get her back on my own.
1st Lieutenant Erik Langtot
200th BG - 207th BS "Mystery Lady" B24 (E) 43-00203

ACES HIGH (O'Neill crew)
Maison Blanche air base was a sight for sore eyes after our epic 7 hour flight. Why HQ made us fly all the way to africa is anyones guess, but we are grateful to have made it in one piece ... more or less. The Germans tried to intercept our formation at several points along our route and we encountered moderate resistance. Our gunners were kept quite busy and ammunition became a concern toward the end of the mission. Our bombardier took a piece of shrapnel in the leg, though nothing too serious (He should be back with the crew in about a week). We managed to hit the target with a good percentage of our bombs, which for our part at least makes up for this rather unorthodox mission.

BOBBI JO'S BOYS (Poulos crew)
Things went fine on takeoff though we had to double and triple check to make sure one of our crew was with us as he (jokingly we think) threatened to desert as he has become much too attached to an English lass.  I was please with our forming up and our formation.  I think we kept our formation pretty tight.  We didn't see too many fighters on the way in.  The little friends kept them off our back for as long as they could.   Just before the target zone we were jumped by a couple 110's  Robby sawed a few good chunks off him just as he began firing.  He turned away smoking but under control and still managed to put a couple holes in our port wing.  Thank God for the inventor of self sealing fuel tanks.  

Over the target zone a couple 190's twisted by from 1:30 and 10:30  we missed and so did they as they continued on through the squadron.

The flak seemed to all be targeted behind us.  we just missed it.  but from listening to Robby the rest of the 207th was getting clobbered.  He said the new guys in Mystery Lady really were clobbered he saw chunks fly after a hit on their waist section and they dropped out of formation.  We're all hoping they make it down ok.  Robby said Terri G. was whacked around too, and there was some very close to Flying Buffalo's tail.

We managed to put about 30% of our eggs in the basket.  Not happy about that.  We could do so much better.   Have done much better. 

After the Run we were attacked by a lone 109 at 12 high.  he managed to hole our nose and missed in a successive at! tack from 9 high.

Landing in this God forsaken place was bouncy and hairy but we made it down.   After a long haul the 207th is here. From the scuttlebutt, I'm hearing I'm not liking why we are here. 
Submitted  Maj. Alex Poulos  Commanding the 207th

BATTLEWAGON (Hughes crew)
We never made it to the target. It was almost as if they were laying in wait for us. I have not seen so many dogged attacks. It took twenty of the Hun bastards to take us out of the mission though! We lost some damn fine friends, too. Ross and Valentine deserved better. Dwyer, Reese, Lofton and Harper are headed home. The ground crew chief says our girl can be repaired. Small consolation though. How we're going to rejoin the squadron in Africa is anyone's guess.

Addendum:

TERRI G (Gerber crew)
Take off went w/o a hitch though we sweated some having so much fuel and the bomb load.  Plus our personal effects.

Fighters early on were driven off by little friends.  We were jumped by three 109's over the target zone.  One hit us from 12 high.  He put a hole in our nose and one in our starboard wingtip.  He came around from 130 level and hit our starboard wing root once.  When he came in a third time at 6 level he paid for his cockiness.  Our Tail Guns shredded him.

Then came the flak.  We took a a total of 6 hits.    Our port rudder was holed.  I saw a hole appear in #2 but she ran on fine.   A hole appeared in our waist section.  #4 suddenly began to runaway but we managed to feather it.  A chunk was taken out of our port wing.   And finally our tail turret was hit taking out Dave's guns. 

After all that bouncing around, John still managed to put about 20% on target.  

As we came off the target, a 109 jumped us from 12 high.  Andrew clipped his wing and the Kraut shot, missed and limped away.

The rest of the flight was long and nerve wracking as I kept waiting for #2 to seize up.  I'm still waiting to hear what the mechanics have to say.

We landed fine.  Now to figure out why we are in this desolate place. 
 1st Lt. Jeff Gerber

CACTUS ROSE (Harrison crew)
Cactus Rose was last  seen off the coast of France being attacked by 4 Me109's ..a tremendous explosion occurred  and the B17 was seen to explode destroying itself and 2 nearby ME109's , 2 chutes were seen to come from the falling me109's .No chutes from last known position of Catcus Rose .Intel section has guessed that the main bomb load was hit and detonated when ! hit by the enemy fighter. All crew are assumed KIA at this time ,Please notify all next of kin of crew  at once in compliance with reg 165/56.34 section 15 .
Captain Forest
G3 section

SCATTER MAGIC (Dollins crew)
Scatter Magic was last seen battling through waves of enemy fighters over the target when flak appeared to hit her and she exploded. No chutes were seen. All crew are assumed KIA at this time. Please notify all next of kin of crew at once in compliance with reg 165/56.34 section 15 .
Captain Forest
G3 section

DANCING QUEEN (Reivers crew)

FIGHTING IRISH (Lee crew)
Fighting Irish and Miss Ruthie collided near the target area. Fighting Irish was seen to leave the formation and veer into Miss Ruthie's port wing. The wing came off and both planes fell apart. One chute was seen.
Captain Forest
G3 section

MISS RUTHIE (Jackson crew)
Fighting Irish and Miss Ruthie collided near the target area. Fighting Irish was seen to leave the formation and veer into Miss Ruthie's port wing. The wing came off and both planes fell apart. One chute was seen.
Captain Forest
G3 section

PEGGY SUE (O'Conner crew)
Jeez, fellas! If we ever get to fly this far again, it'll be to the moon! Like THAT'LL ever happen, eh?? We couldn't have asked for a tougher mission, I reckon, not just because of the distance. It's mentally tiring having to keep keyed up for so long. We barely managed to get off the ground back in England, what with a full fuel load and all, but it wasn't too bad until the French coast. We got jumped by a single 109 at 12 high, the bastard putting two shells into the flight deck. One went straight between Lt O'Conner and myself, the other exploding and hitting Murphy. He'll be fine, though, just a few fragments in his forearm. He's at the Doc now, and it looks like he'll be flying again in a day or so! Anyhow, Krengel got the Kraut when he came in for another attack. Good thing was, though, that we seemed to put almost every bomb on target! No opposition after that, and the only excitement was landing. Damned rocky, if you ask me!
Lt Marion Sweeney
Co-pilot Peggy Sue