DAVID LANPHEAR
boardgamer@...

LUCKY LADY
318TH
MISSION #82
MUNICH, GERMANY

Did the B-17 Bomb the target: YES
Bomb Run: 30

Aircraft status: Oil tank hit, tailwheel damaged, port inboard fuel cell
hit, minor damage to port wing root, port landing gear inoperable, eleven
shell holes throughtout aircraft (Total of 170 Beckham damage points).
Damage repairable and aircraft will be ready for next mission.

Aircrew:
# KIA: 1
# WIA: 0
# POW: 0
# Crew Evaded capture: n/a

Names & positions of replacement crew members:

Request Navigator from Group's reserve pool.


Total Enemy A/C Claimed by type:

ZONE 6(OUT)
Lt. Williams (CT)) damaged FW190
Sgt. Stevens (SW) damaged FW190

ZONE 7(IN)
Sgt. Stewart (BT) shot down ME110
Sgt. Sims (TG) damaged FW190

ZONE 6(IN)
SSgt. Gordon (TT) shot down FW190

ZONE 4(IN)
Lt. Williams (CT) shot down ME109

Medal Recommendations: n/a

Mission Description:

Takeoff at 0600 hours went smoothly, group formed up at 4000 feet and
proceeded to climb to 20,000 feet to meet up with the 301st and 463rd. Our
target for today was an aircraft parts factory in Munich. Only our second
mission with the group and we pulled a flight over the Alps.

As we flew up the Adriatic and crossed over Italy, we only met sporadic
enemy fighter attacks and our fighter cover took care of any Jerries that
tallied us.
As the group climbed to altitude to fly over the Alps we encountered the
first of many determined enemy fighter contacts. Our fighter cover did their
best, but from each wave of enemy fighters one or two would press home the
attack and make runs on the squadron. It was during one of these attacks
that our navigator, Lieutenant David Evans was hit by shellfire and
seriously wounded. My co-pilot, Lieutenant Daniels, reported a slight drop
in oil pressure on #4 engine but that it had stablized. Lieutenant Williams
and Sergeant Stevens reported damaging two 190's in this engagement. Our
P-38s left us at this point due to fuel concerns. We were due to meet up
with P-51s for the remainder of the mission.

And on we flew.

Passing the Alps the group descended back to our assigned bombing elevation
of 20,000 feet. As we crossed into Germany, the enemy renewed their attacks
with 190s. My crew reported two large waves were lining up to attack our
position. The first wave of 190s began their attack run and luckily none of
them directly targeted us. The first wave was eventually driven off by the
squadron. Those P-51s were noticeably unavailable at this point. The second
wave then began their attack. The crew began calling out contacts as the
enemy fighters pressed forward. Suddenly Sergeant Gordon called over the
comm, "Little Friends 12 o'clock!" Those P-51s appeared hot in pursuit and
forced many of the enemy fighters to disengage. One enemy fighter did manage
to slice though the squadron from 12 o'clock firing as it went. But it
appeared that it was unable to hit anything of significance.

And on we flew.

Reaching the run-in point the groups turned on to our target. Flak was so
thick you could walk on it. Several nearby bursts rocked the ship, but the
crew reported no more casualties or major damage. The LUCKY LADY did have a
few more holes in her though. My flight suit was sweat drenched. No one can
ever train enough for the hell that is a flak barrage. You just have to sit
there, take it and pray. Lieutenant Williams called out "Bombs Away" and we
banked away from the flak with the group.

Once we cleared the flak barrage over the target, the enemy fighters were
right back at us with a vengeance. Enemy fighters were coming from all
directions and from above and below us. The P-51s were kept busy driving off
the enemy and combined with the firepower of the squadron guns only a few
enemy planes got through to make runs on us. One, a ME-110, tried to attack
from below, but Sergeant Stewart in the ball turret claimed LUCKY LADY's
first kill. Sergeant Sims in the tail claimed a piece of a FW-190 as well.

And on we flew.

Again we had to cross the Alps. As we climbed a small group of FW-190s made
a half hearted run at us and then broke away, but not before Sergeant Gordon
in the top turret made claim to the LUCKY LADY's second kill. As the group
dropped back down in altitude and was crossing over Italy we were hit by a
group of ME-109s. We received no damage in the attack and Lieutenant
Williams made claim to LUCKY LADY's third kill.

And on we flew.

The rest of the flight was uneventful. Our landing however would be
problematic. Our port landing gear would not set down. Manual efforts by
Sergeant Gordon also failed to drop the gear. I radioed our situation and
then informed the crew that I was going to climb enough for them to jump.
Sergeant Gordon came on the comm and asked "Is that an order Sir?" I replied
back that "No, it isn't an order Sergeant, but it would be the prudent thing
to do. They don't give you much practice at belly flop landings in flight
school." First silence, then Sergeant Gordon appeared in his jump seat
between Lieutenant Daniels and I. He spoke through the comm even though
Daniels and I could clearly hear him speak. "Sir, if it's all the same with
you, I'd prefer to ride down with you, after all I trust you more than some
Pfc who packed my chute." Soon over the comm the rest of the crew reported
that their guns were secure and that they had assumed landing positions.
Lieutenant Williams reported that Lieutenant Evans was in really bad shape
and one way or another we needed to get down now. I radioed the tower that I
was bringing the plane down with crew aboard.

And on we flew.

We once again made our downwind leg and turned for final approach. Sergeant
Gordon was right there calling out altitudes while Lieutenant Daniels and I
focused on bringing the LADY down smoothly. The final approach went well. As
we touched I told Lieutenant Daniels to cut the engines and close the fuel
valves. LUCKY LADY skidded straight down the runway, a shower of sparks
spewing from her damaged bottom. When she finally came to a rest, the
emergency crews and medical teams were right on us. They got Lieutenant
Evans off the plane quickly and into an ambulance.

The enlisted men, while shaken up a bit over the landing, nonetheless walked
back to the fuselage and again tapped the smaller paint job of our name sake
on the fuselage. The officers walked over to do the same but were stopped by
Sergeant Gordon. "No sirs, this isn't for you. It's not that we don't want
to share her, it just that Lieutenant Evan's tapped her after last mission
and well....." he voice trailed off momentarily. "Sirs, its just that we'd
like you stay around for a while longer that's all." I looked at Greg and
then Al, they both nodded and we turned away.

Later that evening our Ground crew chief Master Sergeant Brown appeared at
my tent. In a somber voice he said "Sir, I just wanted to let you know you
did a good job setting her down. We should have her repaired and retrofitted
for your next mission". He paused before continuing. "Sir, we just heard the
report about Lieutenant Evans. I'm sorry sir, but he died while being
operated on for his wounds."

After the shock wore off I noticed Sergeant Brown was still there. "Is there
anything else Sergeant?"

"No Sir" he replied.

I stood up "Thank-you for bring me the news, both good and bad. Now Sergeant
one request, can you get me a pot of coffee and some of that rot gut whiskey
you got stashed away. I need to write a letter with a clear head but then I
think I'm gonna get drunk after."

Lieutenant Charles Gibson, Pilot, LUCKY LADY, 318th Bomber Squadron, 88th
Bomber Group (H)