| 12. Munster, Germany - 10/22/44 - Get up at 6 AM for 7 o'clock briefing where we were told the target was to be Munster. Took
off at 10:00 with Jake riding the tail because this was our first PFF lead. I was in the waist, some captain flew as command pilot, and Tony was
absent since PFF planes do not carry the Sperry lower ball turret. The target, a marshalling yard, was completely covered by clouds when we began
our bomb run, but we dropped by PFF with the hope that we would hit the railroad tracks and cars. Had plenty of P51 coverage, saw no enemy
fighters, and what flak there was over the target was low and inaccurate. We led the low element of our group and therefore had to drop three smoke
bombs as well as the four 500 pound bombs in order to show those behind us when to salvo their load. Our right rack failed to work until LT Moller
hit the salvo switch. 13. Merseberg, Germany - 11/02/44 - This was our worst mission, only we didn't know it at the time. Had we believed in "13" being an unlucky number we would have been really frightened. As it was we refused to call it our 13th mission, but titled it "12-B" instead, just to get rid of the jinx. This was the 100th mission for the 486th, so we felt as if we were making history that day. Got up at 3:30, briefed at 4:30 for an oil plant, and took off at 7;15. We were PFF deputy lead until the group was over the German front lines on the way back and the leader aborted so we took over the lead. Our group ran into 18 minutes of steady and accurate flak before, during and after the bombs away. Looking out of my waist window I could see the exploding flak make black puffs which formed a huge "U" in the sky as the radar controlled guns on the ground followed our formation around. When it came time for us to drop our bombs three out of the nineteen 250 pounders hung up so we had to drop them later over a forest. The b17 behind us got a direct hit [webmaster: #140 pilot-Pierce] just as bombs were released and blew up in midair. Several fellows were thought to be seen bailing out, but due to the suddenness of the explosion it was seriously doubted whether or not any escaped. We had four small holes in the plane plus having our antenna shot in half. The friendly fighter cover was real good so we say no enemy planes. we flew at 27000, but thanks to a warm plane we stayed comfortable. 14. Neunkirchen, Germany - 11/04/44 - This was the perfect way to fly missions - one day on and the next off. Got up at 3:15, briefed at 5:00, started to take off at 7:15, but all officers were recalled for another briefing. At 8:35 we finally took off, flew around forming until 10:30, then left England at Dover and entered France below Calais. Were at 26,000 feet when we crossed over into Germany. Our position was PFF lead of the high element with Jake in the tail, me in the waist, and some captain flying as command pilot. We bombed the target, an oil refinery, through 10/10 coverage, seeing only one small patch of flak before the bomb run, low and off at 4 o'clock. Landed at the base at 3:15 PM, saw no enemy planes, and had fine P51 and 47 protection all the way. 15. Neumunster, Germany - 11/06/44 - Continued to do a mission every other day with a rest on the alternate days. This mission really put us in the big time since we led the entire 486th wing with Colonel (later Brig. General) Huglin, wing commander, as command pilot. We led 37 planes to the target and |
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