Target for Today...
200th Heavy Bombardment Group (virtual)
8th Air Force
United States Army Air Forces

Group Stats

Mission 7
German Industry at Amsterdam, NE
18 January 1943
(Mission due 17 October 2004)

FIGHTER COVER EXPECTED

Flight Log Gazetteer

FLYING BUFFALO (Loomis crew)
Amsterdam . . . One more time until we get it right . . . And it was deja vu all over again as we were the low squadron once more.  As the old saying went, "Ours was not to question why, ours was to do or die".  The boys didn't mind doing their duty, it was the dying part they objected to.

Right off the bat as soon as we entered enemy air space, the low squadron was met by the Luftwaffe but luckily they missed us while Lt. Stackpole damaged one of the attacking FWs.  There was almost a mid-air collision but the crippled fighter swerved away at the last second and we narrowly avoiding hitting each other.

Approaching the target, a couple of fighters damaged the port wing flap, the port rudder, the starboard wing root, and the bomb controls.

Flak was ineffective and despite having to drop the bombs manually, Lt. Stackpole did a superb job of hitting the target. After the run, the fighters ignored us until we reached the coast where a pair of FWs damaged the engineer's O2 system and put more holes in the plane.

No further enemy attacks occurred and we returned to base without incident.
Capt. Rick Loomis

BIGAST BOYD (Jamison crew)
Amsterdam, didn't we just do that? And we got tail end charlie too!? It started off well enough and it was clear sailing until we saw the coastline. We got jumped by 5-190s in succession and they almost did the trick. A Thunderbolt drove off one but couldn't get any more of them to chase him and we couldn't seem to hit the side of the barn. We took hits everywhere. I remember bullets flying all through the cockpit and taking out banks of instruments and shattering the windshield. That shore made the trip cold as hell and even louder than before. The ass end of the plane was wiggling all around probably from hits on the tail surfaces and we had a big hole in the starboard wing from a cannon shell.

Before I could get the "Bird" to settle down, we were on the IP. Our bombardier lined up for a good run then large caliber flak started to bust all around. It was large, accurate, and thick. To hell with that medium intelligence report. We got hit several more times and the tail guns were blown off the plane and the waist gunner took a grazing wound to the inner thigh. We didn't know it at the time but probably that is when the bombardier's heaters went out. But he did lay our eggs on the target and somehow we turned the crate for home.  But we did not like our chances at tail end with no tail guns...

Dutifully a pair of 110s found us streaming damage at the rear of the formation and our tail guns gone. We just had to sit there and take it. Both wings took cannon fire and our port inboard fuel tank starting streaming av-gas. The engineer and the radio got what they could transferred to the other tanks and after some calculations from the navigator, we felt he had enough fuel to make it home. Just enough...

We somehow kept up with the group and no more enemies came after us until right at the English coastline. A pair of green and grey 190s swooped in and swooped out. My butt was clenched so tight you couldn't pass a dollar bill through! We missed them, they missed us. Good damn enough already.

Checking on the gas situation, we still felt we could make it back to Deopham Green. We did with red lights all over the panel. We just parked it at the end of the runway. Let the ground boys refuel her and take her back to the shed.

CLOUD CRICKET (Schneider crew)
Well that was a easy mission , although the crew chief has just informed me that any more damage on the port wing root and we would have lost the wing altogether. And also our navigator good man that he is is shipping home after a bad wound , good luck go with you fella.

SWEET TARGET (Zaragoza crew)
We encountered moderate enemy resistance on our way to Amsterdam. On our first encounter with the enemy on this mission ended up with 2nd Lt. Sumlin getting injuryed in the chest. He was not able to continue his duties. Then after that SFC. Alfredo Asencio was able to destory 3 enemy 190s.

We missed the target completely. On the way home SGT. Scott Muirhead was able to destory 1 enemy 190. We landed safely. And later we found out that 2nd Lt. Justin Sumlin had died of his wounds. He will be missed.

RHINE EXPRESS (Billings crew)
Geez, Amsterdam again? I'm getting to know all the Gretels in Holland. Worst part is, I half expect us to be making it a hat trick. The mission got off on the wrong foot when some numbnuts punched some holes in our hide while clearing his MG over the English coast. Over the Channel we got jumped by three 190s. They messed up the control cables and put a slow leak in my oxygen. Over the Dutch coast it was a Ju-88. Nothing came of it.

Flak knocked off 2LT Austin's aim. Blew up a bunch of fish though. The Express got nailed after the RP: Three waves, nine bandits, eight passes. First up was a solo 110, which knocked out the heat in the nose, the intercom and seriously wounded our tail gunner. We also had a jammed tail turret and port waist MGs. It was freaking cold up there. Next up was the Abbeville Kids. Two 109s missed, the other two got some minor damage. But they came back for more. On the second pass they killed TSG Franklin and destroyed our punched a hole in the #4 oil tank. Third pass they wounded my copilot, 2LT San Pedro and finished off the #4 engine. Third wave didn't do much, but the starboard cheek gun jammed in the cold. Plus the bombardier was coming down with frostbite. Despite flying on three engines, and not much heat, I kept the Express in formation because we didn't have anything left to shoot with. The weapons or gunners were incapacitated. Saw a little bit more resistance, but most of the drama was over. Our navigator, 2LT Oshkosh, came down with frostbite over the Channel. Smooth landing.

Crew Chief Report: Port control cable, nose oxygen, intercom and #4 engine need replacement. All weapon systems will be reviewed for metallic crystalization due to cold damage. Numerous holes to surface areas. (223 Peckham Points) S-1 Addendum: 2LT Austin and 2LT Oshkosh invalided home due to severe frostbite. 2LT Austin, 2LT Oshkosh, TSG Franklin, SGT Bickle, and 2LT San Pedro awarded Purple Hearts. 2LT Brownsville (bmbr), 2LT Mishicot (navig) and TSG Bristol (engr) assigned as replacements.

HELLZ-A-POPPIN' (O'Conner crew)
I don't know where to begin, it's been a helluva coupla hours man! We were jumped by Ju-88s over the Channel, and they worked us over. One of the bastards raked us from nose to tail, while the other put shells into the nose, bomba bay and starboard wing. Our rafts went for a burton, and my waist gunner, little Joe Kowalski, took a hit in the arm. Nothing bad, but the ship was really sluggish after that. Wasn't long before a 109 dived down on us and knocked out the port flaps, abd then two 410s raked us from the length of the fuselage again. This time we lost the ventral guns, Kowalski was hit in the head and the control cables shredded. Freddie Ortiz took a splinter in the foot, but nailed one of the 410s.Ortiz shouted from the tail that Silks-a-poppin' and the Dollins boys were dropping out of control, but he thought he saw three 'chutes.

We got over the target, more Krauts trying to ping us and then the crap really started. Three 190s walked hits all over the ship. This made four of the bastards that's done this, and we couldn't do anything about it! Our starboard flaps went, the port aileron, the control cables and the starboard wing root took serious damage. I think that's when Philby, the engineer, had his 'chute shot to hell.

Anyway, we missed the target by a country mile and turned for home. I didn't think we'd make it. If we did, the old girl wouldn't fly again in a hurry. Sweeney and I had to fight to keep her level and in formation. The engines were running hot and she was all over the sky. It was then that we were hit head-on by two 109s. Next thing I knew we were losing number one engine, and we couldn't feather her. I had no choice but to order the guys to bail out. Philby knew he was a dead man, then. I as good as killed him by giving that order. I held her level and waited for all of them to get out. I guess Philby jumped anyway, cos I didn't see him after that. We'd radioed our position, but I only saw Sweeney, Segal and Ortiz getting picked up. Have you heard anything about the other guys? PLEASE tell me you have! PLEASE!!!

BLARNEY STONE (O'Neill crew)
Explosions, smoke, shrapnel, flying glass, confusion, screams, blood, death .... this is what Amsterdam will forever mean to me. First they hit "Silks-a-poppin" last we saw of her was her death plunge into the cold channel, there were very few chutes.

We made it to the target, just barely, managed to drop our load, turned for home, they hit us with everything and made us pay dearly, for every mile we flew. They got Murphy O Conner next, Hells-a-poppin was shot up pretty bad, she went down into the channel, so close to sanctuary yet so far, I can't believe they got O Conner! That Texan seemed indestructible, I can't believe my friend is gone ..... not many men have survived the channel, only a miracle can save Murphy now.

We were severely mauled, three dead, our main gear shot to shreds, our nose wheel inoperable, flaps gone, rafts shredded, I could barely keep the old bird in the air, we would not have survived a belly landing, I instructed the remaining men to bail out over base, I turned the wounded bomber and headed out to sea, I left her just before we crossed the coast and hit the silk, the last I saw of our old faithful war horse was her final plunge into the waves ....... I hit the ground too shattered and tired to move a muscle
Lt O Neill

BATTLEWAGON (Hughes crew)
Takeoff and the run into target was pretty uneventful. Our little friends drove off some bandits over the Channel, and we took some harassing fire from a 109 looking for a fight (TSG Reese nicked it), and our squadron mates cleared the way over the target. The flak took out our port wing aileron, and wounded SGT Lofton in the tail. We burst clear of the smoke and flame to see the target big as life! We hit it, but just the outside edge, maybe 20% is all.

Then things went to hell in a hurry.

We got jumped by three 190s, who knocked out our top turret gun, seriously wounding TSG Reese. The starboard engine was hit, but 1LT Dwyer feathered it. The flap on the starboard wing was also damaged. Next thing we know, three damn 110s jump us. Lofton in the tail downed one, and I guess that scared the others off.

We landed pretty easy, but the techs will have some work to do to get us ready for the next mission. We'll do a lot better next time hitting the target. The doctor says Lofton will be fine, but Reese is headed home. We'll get his replacement up to speed quick.
LT Joe Hughes

LITTLE MISS MICHIE (Williamson crew)
We had a normal takeoff and did not see any enemy fighters until we started our bombing run.  On the run we only had one 190 come at us from the 12:00 Low position.  It seemed we missed him and he missed us.  But as he passed behind us Dave Barner got a piece of him and he limped away. 

Our bombing run went like clockwork with an on target hit of about 30%.  It was when we were leaving the area that things warmed up.  Chris Burg called out he had a bandit at 3:00 level (another 190).  This one did some damage, as we found out later he took out our Stbd Landing Gear.  The 190 also caused a piece of the hull to nick Chris (LW) and we had a shell pass right through the nose area that did nothing but add a little ventilation.  On his second pass, lucky for us, we both missed each other.

Just before we got home we were jumped by another 190 from the 12:00 high position.  Mike Morris got his first KIA as this one burst into flames.

As we got the green light for landing I noticed the stbd landing gear did not indicate down and locked.  A visual inspection indicated she was still in the up position.  I decided to come in belly up.  The landing was picture perfect with minimum aircraft damage.  She should fly again for the next mission.
C. Williamson

SCUTTLEBUTT (Carraway crew)
Scuttlebutt was assigned the #8 slot in the low squadron. We encountered only a single enemy aircraft on route to the target, an Me-110 which Sgt. Marks shot down. We were not effected by the moderate flak and 2nd Lt.Firth reported about 30% of our bomb load landed in the target area.

After turning for home were were attacked by several enemy fighters. During this running battle our gunners claimed two Me-110's and an Me-109 destroyed and another Me-109 as probable destroyed. Mst. Sgt. Erdmann received a serious wound to his chest during this fighting and Scuttlebutt was also damaged. The starboard wing landing gear brake was shot out, starboard elevator was knocked out and we suffered a hit on the port wing root. After this battle we did not encounter anymore enemy aircraft and I landed Scuttlebutt safely at base.

ALLEY OOP (Babineau crew)
Alley Oop was last seen going for the target past the IP being attacked by several FW-190s. The plane exploded in mid-air. No chutes were seen. All crew supposed KIA.

BOBBI JO's BOYS (Poulos crew)
Take off was normal for a mission that the 207th didn’t look forward too. The Jerrys were tough last time to Amsterdam and once again we were the low group.

No sooner did we get over the channel then the fun for the group began. The Hurricanes and Jugs chased off some 109’s from us but they seemed to veer in on the left side of our formation. Robby called in from the tail that Silks-a-popping went down he thought he saw a chute but couldn’t be sure. Hellz-a poppin and Blarney Stone seemed like they became lead magnets from 88’s 410’s and 109’s. How they managed to stagger through that and make it to the target I don’t know.

A 109 did make it through our little friends and hit our number one engine. Our Engineer said he could see a couple of holes. The old gal bucked a couple of times but the gauges all looked good so we just made sure we kept a steady on it. Mel sat ready to feather if needed, but it ran just fine. It came around for another go but everybody missed and it flew on down our left side spraying the planes behind us.

Over the target our nose took some hits from a 190 and damaged our starboard rudder and put some holes in the waist section and put an even bigger one in our belly gunner Ruben. Eddy patched him up as best he could while we were being bounced around by flack but he just lost too much blood from that gaping belly would.

The flak took out number 4 engine Mel managed to feather it. We dropped out load Matt managed to put 60% on target. He didn’t know that this would be his last 15 minutes alive. As we pulled off target we were jumped by 190s and they punched through the nose and through Matt at least twice. The same 190 on the way back killed our radio operator Roger Brown. And managed to take out the intercom.

Back over the channel Robby watched as the Krauts continued to maul the left side of our formation. Jeff came down from his turret to yell at me that Hellz-a-popping went down and he didn’t see how Blarney stone was still in the air. When he climbed back in he managed to clip a 109 that was coming in hot and heavy. It flew away smoking trying to make for land.

Robby managed to take out a 190 that was coming back for another piece of us after hitting our starboard rudder yet again. Our only kill for the mission. That was his fifth. We should be celebrating his ace-dom but with three dead….. Landing was uneventful but very sad.