LT Pearson's Crew

#688 on the ground July 4, 1944.

On July 4th, 1944 the crew of Pandora's box was flying a different aircraft (#688) because repairs to their plane (Pandora's Box) had not been completed. After bombs away the aircraft was hit by shrapnel from a burst of flak. The shrapnel tore through the bulkhead of the cockpit and seriously injured LT Pearson, pilot, and LT Orlosky, co-pilot. Pearson lost consciousness leaving Orlosky in control of the aircraft. Orlosky was bleeding very badly and fighting to remain conscious. A tourniquet, fashioned from an interphone cord, was applied to stem his bleeding.

The engineer replaced the pilot to help Orlosky fly the plane. The flight engineer also helped by handling the throttles. The aircraft was losing altitude, but the crew managed to keep the plane airborne. LT Orlosky, with the help of his flight crew, was able to put #688 down on an emergency field in a "wheels up" landing. #688 would not fly in combat again. LTs Pearson and Orlosky would recover from their injuries. The remainder of the crew finished their tour with LT Hendricks. "Pandora's Box" would be given to another crew.

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