CURRENT MISSIONS

MIGHTY THUNDER JZ-J 43-47921

18 SEPT 1943 - DUISBURG PORT FACILITIES - TGT PARTIALLY DESTROYED

Take-off at 0730hrs, weather was fine with partial clouds at 13,000ft. Form-up went well at Felixstowe except for a tragic collision between two bombers. The group was able to close up over the water on the way over and maintained a decent formation all the way to the target. P-38 escort met us right on time and stayed with us to the target. Flak was negligible until we were well over Holland but no real issues until we hit the flak belt at the Maas River. Some aircraft took some damage there but nothing major. The IP was close to Eindhoven and its airfield so there was flak there also. A good bomb run to the target, with a good drop, and the flak at the target was thick. MIGHTY THUNDER took quite a few hits from flak which holed the #1 & #4 fuel tanks. We hit some more flak after the target and #1 tank was hit bad and thanks to that it was only a matter of time before all engines ran out of fuel and quit. Enemy fighters engaged after the target and we lost a couple more aircraft. MIGHTY THUNDER made it almost to within sight of the Dutch coast, after diving a couple of times to put the fire out in #1 fuel tank, before the engines ran out of fuel. All of the crew bailed successfully and have been reported as captured by the Germans.

ALUMINIUM EAGLE  B17-G      Serial - 43-00175

25 SEP 1943 - ROCHEFORT CHATEAU - TGT DEMOLISHED
This was a wild one. We were awakened at 0330hr, on what was supposed to be a down day, and sent to the briefing hut for a special mission briefing. German brass were staying in a chateau, and we were assigned to take them out. We were supposed to take off in the dark but due to delays the sun was up when we took off. It was just two flights on this one to not attract a lot of attention. No escort either as the geniuses in Ops figured we'd surprise the enemy fighters due to the size of our effort (luckily for us they were actually right this time). We turned for Felixstowe Point straight after take-off and headed directly across the Channel.
The French Resistance promised to help us by marking our IP turn point as well as bracketing the target itself. As it turned out, we had enough light to navigate right to the target. Flak was fair to medium en route and negligble over the target. The target was heavily damaged as the bomb drop was right on the money. The route back was uneventful except for a lucky shot from a flak battery near Brussels hit "Easy Money" shearing off the wing and the plane exploded, no chutes were observed, time was approx 1400hr. That was the only serious casualty of the mission except for minor cuts and bruises. Had some trouble with the throttles but, managed to work with them all the way to a safe but bouncy landing at Boxted at 1500hr.

30 SEP 1943 - LIEGE INDUSTRIAL AREA - MODERATE DAMAGE
Overall a good mission. Form up over Felixstowe went well with all flights closing up over the Channel. Fighter escort linked up just after the RV and raced on ahead. We heard chatter that they were engaging fighters ahead of us. Minor to moderate flak en route to the target area. As expected the River Maas flak belt put up a good show with several planes taking some damage. We followed the lead group but the lead seemed to get confused near the target. Leads bombardier originally lined up on the wrong target area so he was forced to do a go-around. The flak was fairly heavy and persistent but focused on the main body as we went around. Number 2 "Daisy Maisy" took a hit to the number 2 engine which started smoking and then the number 3 fuel tank which started leaking bad. We fortunately didn't take any hits. The go-around went ok but, we fell back a little in the turns and couldn't get caught back up in formation in time for the drop. Our bombardier did a best guess drop, but missed the target area long, and our bombs landed in the river. We turned out on the return leg ahead of the main body as we'd shortened our turn to the next waypoint but we were within a few kilometers of the others. "Daisy Maisy" made a good run on the return leg but unfortunately ran out of gas near Antwerp and did a forced landing at approximately 1400hr. We did see one bomber go down near the target and heard at least two saying they were crash landing one being Yellow flights leader. On the way back it was just Old Reliable and Aluminium Eagle and due to a moment's distraction I almost collided with OLD RELIABLE. It was REALLY close. We were alone approaching the coast but then number two and three from Yellow flight appeared and formed up on us taking number 2 and 3 position at 1430hr, so I fell back and assumed a number 4 position for the rest of the trip back. Successful landing at Boxted, no casualties. Good mission.

8 OCT 1943 - THE HAGUE - FOKKER AIRCRAFT FACTORY - MODERATE TO HEAVY DAMAGE
Aluminium Eagle gave it her all and got us home on this one. Form up was as per usual at Felixstowe except this time we were flying in the number two position instead of number three. For some reason the second group fell way behind as we approached the Dutch coast.  No issues during the crossing with the first flak appearing as we crossed into Dutch territory. Flak was fairly heavy on the bomb run, and we had two fuel tanks holed. As it turned out we lost number three to a direct flak hit before the target. He jettisoned his bombs but rolled over and went down. We managed to drop onto the target which despite some cloud was clear enough for the drop. I heard Old Reliable say they were heading directly for home and immediately made a direct course to join up with them again (we had gotten separated during the bomb run). It was shortly after leaving the target area that we were hit by 190s. It was during these attacks that we took most of our damage, ailerons, number two engine, more fuel tank leaks, three crew members killed, top and ball turrets jammed. Despite all the damage we continued on home. Old Reliable and Aluminium Eagle accounted for at least one 190 each and we drove them off. With the aileron controls inop, I had to use the rudder for the trip home and had to play with the throttle all the way back. We weaved our way home and luck was with us as we spotted the English coast near the Chain Home radar station of Bawdsey. We turned towards home and made our way up river till the fuel ran out and our engines quit about five minutes from home. I ordered the crew to bail. Everyone got out safely and I watched as our trusty ship made its last dive. Lost on this mission were Sgt Hugh Sutton, Sgt Arnold Lincoln, and SSgt Loe Charles.

WEE WILLIE B17-G       Serial - 43-31333

14 OCT 1943 - MAASTRICHT - INDUSTRIAL AREA - MODERATE DAMAGE
First and last mission for Wee Willie. Form up went very well at Felixstowe with the formation together but slightly strung out en route to the target A collision was heard on the radio but no one in the squadron saw any evidence of it. Navigation was excellent and we hit the coast as planned. Wee Willie caught some flak at the coast which holed two fuel tanks. Lead gave us to option to turn back but, we voted to push on. We had occasional flak as we crossed Belgium but took no further damage. Fighters hit us around the Diest area just as we were approaching the IP at approx 1311hr. 109s did some work on the formation, we lost number three to them, but some of the fighters were left smoking. The bomb run went very well with good visibility on the target. Wee Willie had a good drop in the target area. Flak was fairly heavy over the target and Wee Willie had a third tank holed, not good for our chances to get home. Turn out for the route to RTB was OK and the squadron started back. Flak started up again in the Diest area and lead bomber 'Battle Wagon' caught a direct hit at 1340hr. The port wing was seen to disintegrate and the plane lost control falling out of formation. 7 chutes were confirmed. Wee Willie was now in charge. We continued on knowing our chances were slim at best of reaching the coast, let alone home. Sure enough we ran out of fuel well short of the coast. We coasted as far as we could and then bailed out. All the crew made it out and we were all captured. Not the way we wanted our first mission to turn out but, proud we didn't turn back, and made a good bomb drop on our target, helping to shorten the war.

TIME'S A-WASTIN'   B17-G     Serial - 42-102504