lie ahead for us --
and
we were prepared.
As
for #639, the records show that it flew a total of 16 combat missions, from
May 8 to July 19, when it
was transferred to the 2nd Division of the 8th Air Force.
A
brief explanation is in order. During the last part of July, the 486th, plus
four other bomb groups, were switched from B 24's to B 1 7's. Our Liberators
were transferred to the 2nd Division -- all flying B 24's.
B
24:
#639
May 9, 1944
Today's
target was an airfield at Laon, France. We continued bombing airfields,
bridges, and railroad yards in France, in preparation for the planned
invasion (the exact date was still unknown to us).
On
the bomb run, some of the planes lost their bomb bay doors (including us)
when their load was released. Our Group had its first fatality when a fellow
bombardier (Lt. Schuengel) was trying to replace the pins in the bombs that
didn't release, making them safe for landing. We were flying over England
when the tragedy occurred. Somehow, he must have slipped and fell out the
open bomb bay. He was not wearing a parachute. We bombardiers never wore our
chest packs when making our way through the bomb bay because of the tight
quarters.
It
was the last time we flew #639, a good plane. Wonder what happened to it?
B
24:
#760
“Lady Lightnin’”
May 23, 1944
Target
for today was another airfield -- at Etampes, France. We flew a different plane
today. A decision was made to put the planes flown by the lead crews in a
special block and assign them from this list. Fred, as well as the other
pilots, weren't too happy about the decision. You become attached to a plane
after the many hours of flying and build up a trust in it.
Poor
visibility forced us to make a dry run and come around a second time. This
was something we dreaded as it gave the German gunners a better chance to
zero in on us. Fortunately, we had no loses today.
As
for, #760, "Lady Lightnin' " -- the records show that it flew 30 combat
missions between May 9 to July 21 -- when it was recorded as being removed from active
duty by a, "traffic accident". (?)
B 2 4:
#300
June 6, 1944 (D-Day)
This was the day the Allies had been planning for -- the Normandy Invasion. The '486th flew three combat missions today --- but unfortunately, we never dropped a bomb. The weather over our targets on the first two morning missions prevented the bombardiers from making a successful bomb run. They had to bring their bombs back to the base.
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