Player Name: David
Firestine
Player e-mail: danifirestine@...
Plane Name: 43-8947
Squadron: 318th BS
Mission #: 82 (This Bomber: 2)
Target City: Munich, Germany
Did the B-17 Bomb the target: Yes
Bomb Run: 0%
Aircraft status:
Landed Safely – Damage Repairable, Aircraft will be ready for next
mission.
Damage Detail:
4xSuperficial - 20
Nose: 1xSuperficial – 5
Pilot Compartment: 1xLW, 1xSW - 7
Bomb Bay: 1xSuperficial, 1xBay Doors Superficial – 10
Radio Room: 1x Superficial, 1xOxygen System, 1x Radio – 25
Waist: 1xControl Cables - 25
Tail: 2xSW, 1xControl Cables - 35
Port Wing: 1xFlap, 1xSuperficial, 1xFuel Tank Fire – 55
Starboard Wing: 1xSuperficial - 5
Total Estimated Damage – 187 Points
Aircrew:
# KIA: 1 – Sgt. Wallowicz (Tailgunner)
# WIA: 2 – 1x LW 2nd Lt. Rose (Co-Pilot), 1x SW 1st Lt. Beall (Pilot)
# POW: 0
# Crew Evaded capture: 0
Names & positions of replacement plane and crew members:
Total Enemy A/C Claimed by type:
Total Destroyed – 3 (Hale – 190, 109, 109)
Total FCA – 1 (Starkey - 109)
Total FBOA – 2 (Havens: Wallowicz - 110 shared, Hale - 109)
Total Aircraft Encountered: 17
Total Driven Off by Little Friends: 9 (3 on a successive pass)
Medal Recommendations:
Air Medal – Ssgt. Hale
For exceptional skill in the use of B-17 defensive weapons to kill 3
enemy aircraft on mission of 13 June 1944.
Mission Description:
Long mission.
Ride to target was largely uneventful with a single 110 making a run at
us just before we crossed the Alps (Zone 5), no damage was taken. Both
Havens in the nose and Wallowicz in the tail got a piece of the 110 and
it was last seen descending rapidly with smoke pouring from both
engines.
Once in the target zone (Zone 7) we were attacked by an entire Schwarm
of 109s. One of the Gerry's got a perfect run on us and stitched us
from nose to tail. Damage to plane was minor but both Lt. Beall and
Sgt. Wallowicz were badly wounded. I was also nicked. At this time
command of the plan came to me. After getting through the 109s we
started into the flak, one burst was very close with the radio room
taking minor damage and Sgt. Wallowicz being hit again. Unfortunately
the second hit to Wallowicz was fatal.
The same flak burst that killed Wallowicz knocked our aim off and we
completely missed the target.
Turning for home a 190 got through the fighter cover and immediately
turned toward us. Ssgt. Hale in the top turret took a bead on him and
got his first kill of the mission. On the outer edge of the target
zone we were jumped by a couple of 109s and a 110. They proceeded to
put holes just about everywhere, most were minor but we did loose the
radio, the port flap, and some of our control cables.
Getting back over the Alps was much more difficult as I had to fight
the plane all the way over. Losing some of our control cables sure
made it hard to control the plane.
Just as we crossed into Italy (Zone 5) another Schwarm of 109s made for
us. Fighter cover drove one away but the rest got through. With three
109s bearing down on us, Ssgt. Hale got his second kill of the day.
The other two Gerry's came on and one of them started a nice fire and
leak in the port wing fuel tank. We immediately started transferring
fuel out of the tank to both try and put the fire out and have enough
gas to make it home. The same 109 that holed our fuel tank decided to
come back for more. He should have gone home. Ssgt. Hale nailed him
for his third kill of the mission.
With the plane on fire we dropped out of formation and did our best to
continue home. It was shortly after we made sea fall that the fire
went out. Must have pumped all the fuel out of the tank and left
nothing to burn.
Rest of mission was uneventful and we spent all our time wondering if
we would have enough fuel to get back to base. We lucked out and made
a safe landing with both port engines dying from lack of fuel as we
pulled into our revetment.
Lt. Beall was immediately taken to the hospital, I don't know his
status. I am to head over to the hospital to be looked at as soon as
this report is finished.
- 2nd Lt. Charles Rose, Co-Pilot, B-17G #43-8947, 318th BS
|
Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:18 pm
David & Nikki Firestine <danifirestine@...>
dfirestine73
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