| ...AFTER ACTION REPORTS...
Mission 16 - Tours, France
MISTRESS JANE (McCoy crew)
25 Aug 43: 42-29917-DT MACR: Mistress Jane was last seen going down
in flames with her port wing on fire. Seven chutes were seen to deploy from
the plane. No further information is known at this time. French underground
reports they have one crewman they are trying to help evade. At least 4
other crewmen were seen to be taken by German troops after landing.
HARRIET'S CHARIOT (Klippert crew)
The low clouds over the runway had us all hoping the brass would scrub the
mission but the take-off flare killed that hope. We turned onto the active
runway and revved up to full throttle and lurched down the runway. The
'Chariot' staggered into the air and we went up into the clouds and burst
out 15,000 feet later into sunshine. Everybody's was noticeably relieved
when we got into formation in clear sky's.
Jerry hit us over France- a couple of FW190's got through the escorts and
put a hole in our left wing-our bombardier shot pieces off the lead Fw and
neither of them came back. The escorts must have picked them up in back of
the formation.
On the bomb run we picked up some flak-the port wing fuel tank took a hit,
but it must have self-sealed. Our tail again got peppered with holes for the
3rd mission in a row-but nobody got hurt. We made a good bomb run-right on
the money.
Just before we recrossed the Channel more FW's hit us. This time out top
turret gunner sent one away with smoke coming out of his engine. The landing
was a little better than takeoff...at least this time we had all four
engines.
1Lt Klippert
PEGGY SUE (O'Conner crew)
We formed up okay, making sure that we got through the thick cloud over the
base in one piece. Jerry didn't bother us much until we got over the target.
There the flak did a number on us, but not before a crazy bastard in a 190
got through the formation and set my flight deck alight.Turns out he hit our
oxygen, and all I could see were flames. We got that sorted out, but it
meant we were n for a helluva trip on the home leg. 10 000ft may be warmer,
but Jerry thrives down there too. Anyhow, we got most of our eggs on the
target and turned for home. Flak got us again, but mostly superficial. With
the coast in sight a 109 latched onto us and peppered us. The starboard wing
root, rudder and aileron all took hits. I checked in with the crew, and
that's when we noticed that Sgt Krengel wasn't answering. He took a round to
the gut, and that was it for him. We're sending his personal effects home to
his wife.
ACES HIGH (O'Neill crew)
We were attacked non stop from all the way to the target and back. Luck
was on our side and nothing too serious was hit on the aircraft. We did
loose our radio and rubber rafts, and the tail gunners heat. We dropped down
to 10 000 and fought our way home. Unfortunately they hit the skipper badly,
looks like he will get a first class ticket back home. The crew will miss
him.
Respectfully
A White (co-pilot)
Aces High
BAD HARE DAY (Roberts crew)
What a doddle! Took off well. Saw no fighters until the target zone when 2
waves came at us. We missed and they missed. Flak missed, we didn't. Harker
got a good 40% on target. We caught another wave of 190's as we cleared the
target. Greenbaum managed to ding one pretty well and he and his buddies
bugged out. Our landing was spot on. Feels good to be flying again.
DIXIE JEAN (Jefferson crew)
We took off with no issues at assembly. we just had a feeling that luck
was with us to day, can't explain just did (started mission with 1 rabbits
foot). First two waves of enemy fighters were chased off by our little
friends and accompanying B-24s. We felt our luck was getting better (rolled
box cars twice gaining a second Rabbits Foot).
Flak was of no effect and our bomb run was good, with 30%
on target.
Then coming off the target things went south. A lone 109
chopped up our port wing with two hits. The first hit was between the
inboard fuel tanks and the wing root. Nixon was sure he hit the fuel tank as
he saw fuel leaking from the root area (Fuel tank hit - altered by 1st
Rabbits Foot to a Wing root). Though there was no other leakage after the
hit. But his second hit was square on the outboard fuel tank (used second
rabbits foot but rolled same result - Fuel leak). We thought for sure we
were done. Adams, our Flight Engineer, was able to transfer quit a bit of
the fuel to the inboard tank. Taft was able to destroy this fighter on his
next pass.
Around 100 miles from the target we were jumped by three
fighters, with one driven of by fighters and one destroyed by Taft. The
third on hit Adams in the arm and hit the Starboard wing root. Taft waxed
the 109 on its next time around. Giving him three kills for this flight.
All other waves were deterred by our little friends. But
that fuel leak was more than ever on our mind. As we held our breath we
nursed her home running out of fuel on our approach for landing. I really
don't need any more luck missions like this again.
E/A Claimed; Lieut. William Taft 3x Me109s Destroyed
Respectfully,
Lieutenant Jefferson
200th BG(V) 207th BS
SATAN'S LITTLE SISTER (DeFilippo crew)
We saw plenty of Germany fighters on this mission; we couldn't manage to hit
any of them. I have the boys checking the guns, since they repeatedly froze
up when we needed them. We saw flak over the target but it was ineffective
and we dropped about 30% of our bomb on the target area.
After leaving the target we got mauled by a pair of
Me110s. They shot the tail up real good; I'm amazed that Sgt Riffle was not
wounded. We took hits to the port and starboard rudders, tailplane root,
control cables, superficial damage to the tail and bomb bay. Later just
before we hit the coast we were jumped by a pair of Fw190s, they caused
superficial damage to the nose, radio room and tail.
1Lt Art DeFilippo
SHOOT HIM! (Redd crew)
Our first mission, and the boys weren't looking forward to it because
everybody was giving us the heeby-geebies about being in the Dead Man's
Slot. Everything went smooth for a couple of hours. Beautiful skies, no
Krauts, until Zone 6. Five 190s jumped us like indians jumped Custer. Hits
all over the ship, including the port elevator and starboard wing flap being
completely blown away. Plus a bunch of other shit we didn't realize until
later. "Shit" is the appropriate word, because the bird flew like a big, fat
turd after that. Certainly not the swift and maneuverable B-24H we were
looking forward to. Flak missed us, but I had too much of a handful keeping
the bird in a straight line to actually hit the target. Thankfully we
encountered only minimal resistance on the return trip. All the boys came
back with the pieces they left with, so I ain't complaining. Sure beats what
the last plane in the Dead Man's Slot experienced. Crew Chief Report:
Replace port elevator, starboard wing flap, starboard control cable,
starboard wing root spar and autopilot. (136 Peckham Points)
REICH BUSTER (Salyer crew)
Well, takeoff and assembly went well. Thing were pretty quit into the
target. Two FW190's did show up but one was chased away by our little
friends and the other was blown to hell by 2nd Lieut. Marr and Sgt. Howie.
When we were getting into position for the bomb run a few fighters, 109's I
think, they were dispatched by "Terri G II's" tail gunner. While tracking
the enemy fighters they hit the pilot compartment. Sending a large chunk
into Lieut. Williams lower skull, just above the spine. He went limp.
Then we got into the flak guns range. It wasn't too heavy, but accurate. Two
burst hit close accomplishing around five hits. Most were superficial, with
two solid hits in the tail. Taking out the heat in Sgt. Heron's suit heater,
along with his guns too. These hits bounced us around quit a bit, I don't
know how the bombs did not ignite right in the bomb bay hold. I swear I
heard them bouncing of each other more than once. This being true there is
no wonder we missed the target completely.
Coming of the target we were met by all of the Luftwaffe’s aircraft in the
area. Being engaged by no less than three waves. The first wave of four
Me109's peppered us hard. Taking out the radio, blasting the bomb bay and
thrashing our inboard port fuel tank causing a disconcerting leak. SSgt.
Pavo moved quickly to transfer fuel to our starboard tanks. Jerry's return
attack did little to no damage. During these attacks Lieut. Monteiro and
MSgt. Moye shot down one Me109 each. Since Sgt. Heron's guns were destroyed
he moved to the starboard waist. With the fuel and radio out, Heron elected
for us to stay information and take his chances with frost bite. Second and
third waves were both a lone 109 hitting us with many rounds but he doing no
real damage.
In the next 50 miles we encountered two more waves of enemy aircraft. Two
109's came in and they both missed us. The 109's were followed by three Me
110's and one of them walked us from head to toe. Wounding both ourselves (Liuet.
Salyer) and Sgt. Heron. Sgt. Heron got his revenge by damaging this fighter
on its next pass.
It wasn't till around 75 miles to base that we were attacked again by three
109's. Two of them with HIGHLY decorated tails, aces I presume. Two aircraft
were chased off by our gunners, the last ace hit the waist with a
devastating hit. This shot mangled Sgt. Heron's lower right arm. Doc said he
most likely will loss his arm. Upon this Jerry’s return MSgt. Moye plastered
him claming a probable for Heron. There were no further encounters after
this wave. With Gods grace we made it back with the fuel saved by SSgt. Pavo
and he also helped me land the bomber when we made it home.
BATTLEWAGON (Hughes crew)
The eighth mission for Battlewagon had us dodging and juking all over,
causing the formation behind us to scramble to keep up. We lost some oxygen
and the radio, and a lot of superficial holes over the old girl, but we hit
the target and then fought our way back home. No beers for the little
friends tonight though!
FLYING BUFFALO II (Loomis crew)
The first half of the mission was a milk-run as we encountered no e/a
all the way to the target. During the bomb run, flak was accurate as it took
out the starboard aileron, knocked out the tunnel gun, and put some new
holes in the waist compartment. Lt. Stackpole's aim was good and we left the
enemy's runway cratered. After the rally point, four ME-109s attacked that
wounded Sgt. West, shattered a few of the flight deck windows, and holed the
nose compartment and fuselage. Our gunnery was poor as only Sgt. Crawford
managed to hit one of the 109s. The group then met up with the withdrawal
support P-38s but a single FW-190 still was able to attack head-on but it
missed us after Lt. Stackpole severely damaged it. After this point, no
further e/a were encountered.. - Capt. Rick Loomis
SACRAMENTO SUE (Knotts crew)
The Flight Crew Did A bang Up Job Getting Sue ready for this mission.
Takeoff was as smooth as silk and no gremlis were found in the ship. our
only contact with Jerry was in the target zone with the flack being so heavy
you could almost walk on it. But, that did not swerve our bombadier from his
duties puttin 30% of our eggs in the pickel barrel. on the way out from the
target we were jumped by 2 waves of 2 109's in each wave the top turret and
tail gunner each shot down 1 fighter each and our ball turret damaged the
other 2. after that our return filght was unevetfull and made a safe landing
in England.
BOBBI JO'S BOYS II (Poulos crew)
Take off was textbook in spite of the crappy weather. Forming up was a
little sloppy. We didn't encounter a fighter until over target thanks to the
Little Friends. Then they hit us. The first wave everybody missed and the
krauts went on through. The next wave of 109's Killed our Radio Operator
when a 20mm shell went through his head. Our radio was also knocked out in
that pass. Our nose turret is a wonderful addition!!! With those twin
fifties, Hullis ripped big chunks out of a 109 from 12 high sending it down
in flames. On the next pass he banged one up pretty heavy. During the first
pass Davis killed another 109 in the top turret. The next wave peppered our
starboard rudder and put some holes in the port wing and waist but missed
anything important. During the bomb run flack managed to further hole our
port wing and starboard rudder. Diller managed to put a decent number of
eggs in the basket Wagner reported he saw one hanger go up.
Coming off the run more 109's jumped us and the nose guns
downed another!!! Our waist gun damaged one and sent him crawling home after
he missed w/ his shots. On the way home around Zone 3 some got through the
fighters and a 190 holed our bomb bay pretty well. On his next pass Davis
took some pieces out of his tail and threw off his aim.
We saw no more enemy. Landing was cranky w/o our radio
and poor weather but we made it down in one piece.
I recommend (H) models be lead planes with a twin fifties
ace in the nose section. They degrade performance somewhat but the firepower
in the nose makes up for that in spades!
Submitted
Maj. Poulos
TERRI G II (Gerber crew)
Take off was a challenge. We had trouble finding the squadron and had a few
near misses but finally did form up. Not the best start. Just after we
crossed the coastline of France some 109's got through the Fighter cover and
hit us hard. One took out both #1 and #3 engines and caused a fuel leak. I
had to immediately jettison the bombs and pull out of formation. One the way
back we were attack by three waves total. Andrews got one from the waist and
Needer damaged two. they managed to put some superficial holes in the nose,
bomb bay and rudder. We landed without incident.
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