B-24: Flying Boxcar
214th Bomb Squadron, 200th Bomb Group (H)
September 13, 1943

Composite Mission Record

#

Plane

City

Bomb Run %

Plane Damage

Pilot

Copilot

Bombardier

Navigator

Engineer

Radio Operator

Belly Gunner

Waist Gunner

Tail Gunner

Nose Gunner

1

Bloomers

Abbeville

30

5

Bozeman

Torrance

Dallas

Madison

Knoxville

Prideaux

Cohen Me-110 (1)

Zanardi

Spicoli Me-110 (1)

2

Bloomers

Vegesack

40

282

Bozeman

Torrance

Dallas Me-109 (1)

Madison (KIA)

Knoxville Me-110 (1) (LW)

Prideaux

Cohen Me-110 (1)

Zanardi (LW)

Spicoli FW-190 (1)

3

Bloomers

Brest

30

69

Bozeman

Torrance

Dallas

Onalaska

Knoxville

Prideaux

Cohen Me-110 (½)

Zanardi (SW)

Spicoli Me-110 (½)

4

Bloomers

Lorient

10

310

Bozeman (LW)

Torrance (KIA)

Dallas (KIA)

Onalaska (KIA)

Knoxville Me-110 (1) (frost)

Prideaux (KIA)

Cohen

Zanardi (KIA)

Spicoli (Invalid)

5

Bloomers

Saarbrucken

30

98

Bozeman (POW)

Wilmington (POW)

Laredo (POW)

Oshkosh (POW)

Knoxville (POW)

Olsen (POW)

Cohen (KIA)

Kanaan (POW)

Bouchet Me-110 (1) (POW)

6

Rhine Express

Amsterdam

0

30

Billings

San Pedro

Austin

Seymour

Franklin Me-109 (1)

Convey

Stein

Wheldon

Bickle

7

Rhine Express

Amsterdam

0

223

Billings

San Pedro (LW)

Austin (frost)

Seymour (frost)

Franklin (KIA)

Convey

Stein

Wheldon

Bickle (SW)

8

Rhine Express

Hamburg

n/a

190

Billings (KIA)

San Pedro (KIA)

Brownsville (KIA)

Mishicot (KIA)

Bristol (POW)

Convey (KIA)

Stein (KIA)

Wheldon (KIA)

Bickle (KIA)

9

Wing & A Prayer

Romilly S.S.

n/a

22

Missoula (POW)

Newport (POW)

Shamrock (POW)

Pembine (POW)

Gallatin (POW)

Eskandarian (POW)

Levy (POW)

Lehto (POW)

Bond (POW)

10

Swiss Cheese

La Rochelle

n/a

31

Whitehorse

Seal (KIA)

Odessa (MIA)

Crabdon

Memphis (KIA)

Adu (KIA)

David (KIA)

Coulthard

Dundee (KIA)

11

Try, Try Agin

Amiens

n/a

40

Whitehorse (KIA)

Capistrano (KIA)

Midland (KIA)

Crabdon (KIA)

Murfree Me-109 (1) FW-190 (1) (KIA)

Moreno (KIA)

Dayan (KIA)

Coulthard (KIA)

Voorhees Me-110 (1) (KIA)

12

Shoot Him!

Tours

0

136

Redd

Dominguez

Arthur

Fox

Lexington

Gomez

Meir

Hakkinen

Krueger Me-109 (1)

Harry

13

Shoot Him!

Paris

40

216

Redd

Dominguez (Invalid)

Arthur

Fox

Lexington Me-109 (1)

Gomez

Meir

Hakkinen (SW)

Krueger

Harry

14

Shoot Him!

Peenemunde

abort

65

Redd

Carson

Arthur

Fox

Lexington

Gomez

Meir

Hakkinen

Krueger

Harry

15

Shoot Him!

Redd

Carson

Arthur

Fox

Lexington

Gomez

Meir

Hakkinen

Krueger

Harry

#

Plane

City

Bomb Run %

Plane Damage

Pilot

Copilot

Bombardier

Navigator

Engineer

Radio Operator

Belly Gunner

Waist Gunner

Tail Gunner

Nose Gunner

Personnel Record
Position	Name	Rank	Date of Assignment	Status	Missions	Kills	Awards
Bozeman	CPT	Pilot	1 Oct 42 - 26 Dec 42	POW	5		Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart, POW Medal
Billings	1LT	Pilot	27 Dec 42 - 8 Feb 43	KIA	3		Bronze Star w/t V, Purple Heart
Missoula	1LT	Pilot	9 Feb 43 - 19 Feb 43	POW	1		POW Medal
Whitehorse	1LT	Pilot	20 Feb 43 - 22 Aug 43	KIA	2		Purple Heart
Redd	1LT	Pilot	23 Aug 43 - Present		3		Air Medal
Torrance	1LT	Copilot	1 Oct 42 - 18 Nov 42	KIA	4		Purple Heart
Wilmington	1LT	Copilot	19 Nov 42 - 26 Dec 42	POW	1		POW Medal
San Pedro	2LT	Copilot	27 Dec 42 - 8 Feb 43	KIA	3		Purple Heart (2)
Newport	2LT	Copilot	9 Feb 43 - 19 Feb 43	POW	1		POW Medal
Seal	2LT	Copilot	20 Feb 43 - 27 Feb 43	KIA	1		Purple Heart
Capistrano	2LT	Copilot	28 Feb 43 - 22 Aug 43	KIA	1		Purple Heart
Dominguez	2LT	Copilot	23 Aug 43 - 31 Aug 43	Invalid	2		Purple Heart
Carson	2LT	Copilot	1 Sep Aug 43 - Present		1
Dallas	2LT	Bombardier	1 Oct 42 - 18 Nov 42	KIA	4	1	Purple Heart
Laredo	2LT	Bombardier	19 Nov 42 - 26 Dec 42	POW	1		POW Medal
Austin	2LT	Bombardier	27 Dec 42 - 18 Jan 43	Invalid	2		Purple Heart
Brownsville	2LT	Bombardier	19 Jan 43 - 8 Feb 43	KIA	1		Purple Heart
Shamrock	2LT	Bombardier	9 Feb 43 - 19 Feb 43	POW	1		POW Medal
Odessa	2LT	Bombardier	20 Feb 43 - 27 Feb 43	MIA	1
Midland	2LT	Bombardier	28 Feb 43 - 22 Aug 43	KIA	1		Purple Heart
Arthur	2LT	Bombardier	23 Aug 43 - Present		3		Air Medal
Madison	2LT	Navigator	1 Oct 42 - 17 Oct 42	KIA	2		Purple Heart
Onalaska	2LT	Navigator	18 Oct 42 - 18 Nov 42	KIA	2		Purple Heart
Oshkosh	2LT	Navigator	19 Nov 42 - 26 Dec 42	POW	1		POW Medal
Seymour	2LT	Navigator	27 Dec 42 - 18 Jan 43	Invalid	2		Purple Heart
Mishicot	2LT	Navigator	19 Jan 43 - 8 Feb 43	KIA	1		Purple Heart
Pembine	2LT	Navigator	9 Feb 43 - 19 Feb 43	POW	1		POW Medal
Crabdon	2LT	Navigator	20 Feb 43 - 22 Aug 43	KIA	2		Purple Heart
Fox	2LT	Navigator	23 Aug 43 - Present		3
Knoxville	MSG	Engineer	1 Oct 42 - 26 Dec 42	POW	5	2	Air Medal, Purple Heart (2), POW Medal
Franklin	TSG	Engineer	27 Dec 42 - 18 Jan 43	KIA	2	1	Purple Heart
Bristol	TSG	Engineer	19 Jan 43 - 8 Feb 43	POW	1		POW Medal
Gallatin	TSG	Engineer	9 Feb 43 - 19 Feb 43	POW	1		POW Medal
Memphis	TSG	Engineer	20 Feb 43 - 27 Feb 43	KIA	1		Purple Heart
Murfree	TSG	Engineer	28 Feb 43 - 22 Aug 43	KIA	1		Purple Heart
Lexington	TSG	Engineer	23 Aug 43 - Present		3	1
Prideaux	SSG	Radio Operator	1 Oct 42 - 18 Nov 42	KIA	4		Purple Heart
Olsen	SGT	Radio Operator	19 Nov 42 - 26 Dec 42	POW	1		POW Medal
Convey	SGT	Radio Op	27 Dec 42 - 8 Feb 43	KIA	3		Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart
Eskandarian	SGT	Radio Op	9 Feb 43 - 19 Feb 43	POW	1		POW Medal
Adu	SGT	Radio Op	20 Feb 43 - 27 Feb 43	KIA	1		Purple Heart
Moreno	SGT	Radio Op	28 Feb 43 - 22 Aug 43	KIA	1		Purple Heart
Gomez	SGT	Radio Op	23 Aug 43 - Present		3
Cohen	SGT	Belly Gunner	1 Oct 42 - 26 Dec 42	KIA	5	2½	Purple Heart
Stein	SGT	Belly Gunner	27 Dec 42 - 8 Feb 43	KIA	3		Purple Heart
Levy	SGT	Belly Gunner	9 Feb 43 - 19 Feb 43	POW	1		POW Medal
David	SGT	Belly Gunner	20 Feb 43 - 27 Feb 43	KIA	1		Purple Heart
Dayan	SGT	Belly Gunner	28 Feb 43 - 22 Aug 43	KIA	1		Purple Heart
Meir	SGT	Belly Gunner	23 Aug 43 - Present		3
Zanardi	SGT	Waist Gunner	1 Oct 42 - 18 Nov 42	KIA	4		Purple Heart (3)
Kanaan	SGT	Waist Gunner	19 Nov 42 - 26 Dec 42	POW	1		POW Medal
Wheldon	SGT	Waist Gunner	27 Dec 42 - 8 Feb 43	KIA	3		Purple Heart
Lehto	SGT	Waist Gunner	9 Feb 43 - 19 Feb 43	POW	1		POW Medal
Coulthard	SGT	Waist Gunner	20 Feb 43 - 22 Aug 43	KIA	2		Purple Heart
Hakkinen	SGT	Waist Gunner	23 Aug 43 - Present		3		Bronze Star w/t V
Spicoli	SGT	Tail Gunner	1 Oct 42 - 18 Nov 42	Invalid	4	2½	Purple Heart
Bouchet	SGT	Tail Gunner	19 Nov 42 - 26 Dec 42	POW	1	1	POW Medal
Bickle	SGT	Tail Gun	27 Dec 42 - 8 Feb 43	KIA	3		Purple Heart (2)
Bond	SGT	Tail Gun	9 Feb 43 - 19 Feb 43	POW	1		POW Medal
Dundee	SGT	Tail Gun	20 Feb 43 - 27 Feb 43	KIA	1		Purple Heart
Voorhees	SGT	Tail Gun	28 Feb 43 - 22 Aug 43	KIA	1		Purple Heart
Krueger	SGT	Tail Gun	23 Aug 43 - Present		3	1
Harry	SGT	Nose Gun	23 Aug 43 - Present		3

Aircraft Record
Name	Model	Date of Service	Missions	Avg. Bomb Run %	Avg. Plane Damage	Avg. Kills	Status
Bloomers	B-24 E	1 Oct 42 - 26 Dec 42	5	28%	153	1.8	Upgraded to from D to E model on 1 Nov 42. Shot down over Aachen on 26 Dec 42.
Rhine Express	B-24 E	27 Dec 42 - 8 Feb 43	3	0	148	.3	Shot down 40km north of Emden on mission to Hamburg.
Wing & A Prayer 42-7035-FO	B-24 E	9 Feb 43 - 19 Feb 43	1	0	22	0.0	Shot down over Romilly S.S..
Swiss Cheese 42-64399-CF	B-24 E	20 Feb 43 - 27 Feb 43	1	0	31	0.0	Shot down over English Channel.
Try, Try Again 41-28446-DT	B-24 E	28 Feb 43 - 22 Aug 43	1	0	40	3.0	Exploded in mid-air NW of Amiens
Shoot Him! 42-52337-FO	B-24 H	23 Aug 43 - Present	3	13	137	.7

Mission 1 (12 Oct 42): This was our crew's first mission, except for bombing some sheep back in Colorado. It took awhile to get airborne with the heavy load. No opposition in zone 2. Loose formation in zone 3 allowed some Me-110s to sneak through, but last minute intervention by P-38s drove them off. A FW-190 and Me-109 thought they could take advantage of the distracted P-38s, but got jumped by yet more friendlies. Four bandits and they didn't get one shot off. I hope the fighter jockies stick to Bloomers like flies to crap the rest of our tour! Flak was moderate over the target, and we took a minor hit in the tail. Still, 2LT Dallas put 30% of his ordnance on target. After the RP, we got jumped by three 110s: 6 Low, 12 Low and one in a vertical climb. SGT Cohen in the belly bagged the one undeneath us, as SGT Spicoli did to the one behind us. The one in front missed, then dove away. A 190 followed up from 12 high, but the P-38s were again right behind him. No opposition in zone 2. Smooth landing. I know not all our missions will be this easy, but it was a good way to break the crew in: Just enough excitement to keep minds concentrated, but no so hairy they had to clean their drawers. Crew Chief Report: A flak hole in the tail that took less time to patch than it took me to type this report. (5 Peckham Points)

Mission 2 (17 Oct 42): When word came down our next mission to was to Vegesack, alot of the boys wrote letters home. Scuttlebutt from the B-17 squadrons that had already been there sure had 'em worried. Especially since the Forts have two more guns in the nose, plus an actual turret downstairs. From zone 2 into zone 7, we saw five waves. Only four bandits made it through to Bloomers, two attacking from six and two from off the right side of the nose. Luckily the ones attacking from in front were poor shots, because none of our gunners could get a bead on them. The guys from behind missed too. We got damage on two of them. Flak was heavy, and we could hear stuff pinging off Bloomers hide, but no one saw any more holes in her than we left England with. I feel guilty saying it, but we didn't have a scratch when we dropped our bombs. 2LT Dallas put 40% on target. 190 snuck up on us from 6 Low as we exitted the RP. Our accuracy was still poor, but his wasn't as he walked hits down our fuselage. I couldn't raise anyone on the intercom to find out what other damage might have been done. Response from the tail was a bit sluggish though. The 190 came around for a second pass from 3 Level. We must have missed again, because I could feel Bloomers shuddering from the impact of 20mm's. I could hear MSG Knoxville yell, so I knew he'd been hit, but he ducked out of his turret to give me a thumbs up. The 190 came around for a final pass from 12 Level, so this time I could see for certain we weren't shooting for crap. Bastard blew up the #4 engine, and 1LT Torrance couldn't feather it. Damn good thing the intercom was out, because I was pissed. The fun didn't stop there. We were still over land, already falling behind the formation when we got jumped by three 110s. Couldn't get hits on the first two, because they both came in from 1:30. The other one must have come up from underneath, because I saw him zip by my window. The two from 1:30 shot up the nose pretty bad. They came back for passes from 1:30 and 3 High. MSG Knoxville let out a Rebel yell when he bagged the one at 3 High; the other missed and dove away, thank God. Zone 6 we got surrounded by 110s and a 109. I know for certain 2LT Dallas got the 109 in front. Our accuracy was improving -- I hoped it wasn't too late. About that point I started to lose track of things. As we left zone 6, SGT Spicoli showed up on the flight deck to tell me his tail guns had got shot right out his hands. I told him to check on the situation in the nose. A few minutes later he reported back, white as a ghost, only saying "2LT Madison ..." and shaking his head. I sent him to the waist to help out SGT Zanardi. At some point in zone 5 a 190 had a go at us from the rear, ripping us a new one. (Out of character = 9 hits in one pass!) The Germans must have lost interest -- no sport in shooting a wounded duck -- because that was the last we saw of them. Good thing too, because me and 1LT Torrance were having a hard time keeping Bloomers in the air. Landing was solid. I need a drink. Crew Chief Report: Intercom out; #4 engine total loss; tail guns total loss; damage to port elevator, rudder and empennage; damage to stbd rudder; dozens and dozens of holes in all surface areas; navigator station needs complete rebuild. (282 Peckham Points) S-1 Addendum: 1LT Bozeman awarded Air Medal. 2LT Onalaska assigned as navigator.

Mission 3 (23 Oct 42): Token resistance as we approached the Breton coast, then light flak that 2LT Dallas characterized as "Adolf with a Luger". Good thing we went in so low, or Dallas wouldn't have hit the target. Got 30% though. In that World War I movie, Gary Cooper would have called it "Kentucky windage". "Adolf" must be a good shot, because he put some holes in the radio room after we turned for home. Then a 110 snuck up on us from 6 low, out of a cloud. Sergeants Cohen and Spicoli were on him right away, but at that range neither side could miss. He dove away belching smoke after filling us full of holes. Spicoli said he didn't know how he didn't get hit, and that he was doing a novena when we got back to base. Cohen said he'd join him. Cohen had seen Zanardi get hit, so I sent 2LT Onalaska and SSG Prideaux back to man the waist guns. When he got to the waist 2LT Onalaska reported that the rafts had been shot up. Then two more 110's came in, one from 6 low, the other from 3 low. Cohen and Spicoli shared credit for a kill, but 2LT Onalaska missed the one coming in from the side. The 110 looped around and made another run from 1:30, getting a few hits. We, of course, couldn't shoot back. He had a final go at us from another blind spot, 10:30, but missed. We saw a few bandits circling the formation about mid-Channel, but none of them had a go. Smooth landing, despite the crappy weather. Good thing it's so damn cold in the bird, because it kept Zanardi from bleeding to death. He'll be back for the next mission. Crew Chief Report: Rudder and about a dozen surface holes patched; replacement rafts on order. (69 Peckham Points) S-1 Addendum: SGT Zanardi awarded 1st oakleaf cluster to Purple Heart.

Mission 4 (18 Nov 42): After upgrading from the D to E model, by adding a pair of cheek guns, like the Fortresses, and a few weeks of training, we were itching to get back in action. Nah, who am I kidding? Mostly we wanted to get our 25 over with as quickly as possible so we could get back home. Talk about pipe dreams. Anyway, no resistance until we were over the Channel Islands. Two 190s made head on runs. The new cheek gun drove off one, the other gave us a few minor dings then called it a day. Though it made little difference, we need to tighten up our formation, because those two never should have snuck through the other squadrons. Two 110s attacked us as we crossed the Breton coast, one from 9 Low, the other from 6 Level. SGT Spicoli somehow missed the one at 6, and paid dearly as it chopped him up. When he came around for another run from 9 High, MSG Knoxville lit him up. Unfortunately, that is when a 190 in a vertical dive jumped us, walking hits down the fuselage. The 190 made another pass from 10:30, but was driven off by the port cheek gun. Earlier, I had sent SSG Prideaux back to check on Spicoli, but then I didn't hear from Prideaux either. So I told Cohen, the tunnel gunner, to check them out. All he said was Spicoli was still breathing ... barely. As we approached the flak box, we were jumped by another three 190s, all due to the loose formation. Luckily they missed. Flak shook Bloomers pretty good, putting some holes in the starboard wing root. Despite the shaking, 2LT Dallas still managed to put 10% of his ordnance on target. Needless to say, the flak made the already bad formation even worse. We got sandwiched by three 110s after the RP. Cohen did the best he could, but the one in the rear got us good, knocking out the heat in the tail and putting some more holes in the starboard wing root. One of the 110s attacking from the front also tore up the top turret. Things were not looking up. I sent MSG Knoxville back to help out in the waist. On his way, he reported that the rafts were shredded. The 110s came back from both sides and the rear. Cohen finally chased off the one at 6, but the other two got more hits on Bloomers, starting an oxygen fire in the nose. Luckily -- if you could call it that -- 2LT Dallas got it put out on his second try. The 110s came back for a final pass, both making runs from 6 o'clock. Cohen managed to chase off one, but the other added some insult to injury. Since staying in formation was critical, I told MSG Knoxville to return to the flight deck and SGT Cohen to his tunnel gun; then I had 2LT Onalaska move to the tail and 2LT Dallas help out in the waist. Onalaska was going to have to risk frostbite, as the tail, waist and tunnel guns were all we had left. We were helpless in front, so that's where a wave of four 109's hit us next. You see these blood stains on my shirt? That's what's left of my copilot 1LT Torrance. Now you know why I am bitter about the crappy formation. (Out of chararacter: I rolled probably 15 x6 wave rolls on this mission.) By the time the 109s were done done with us, both he and SGT Zanardi were dead. Still not out of the target zone, we got hit by a third wave. Four more 109s; same tactics. That's when 2LT Onalaska got killed, and I got hit as well. We'd already lost three guys in the tail, two killed, one seriously wounded, and there was no heat, but MSG Knoxville volunteered to go back and man the guns. Over the Breton coast, formation no tighter, we got hit by two more waves -- a total of four 190s, all from the front. They killed 2LT Dallas in the waist. Over the Channel Islands, two 109s attacked Bloomers from the front, but were eventually chased off by the cavalry. Three 190s made a last ditch attempt to bring us down over the English coast, but were chased off by Hurricanes. I landed at the first available airfield, somewhere near Portsmouth. Crew Chief Report: Starboard control cable, rubber rafts, top turret MG and tail heater need to be replaced. Starboard wing needs to be remounted. Nose section needs complete rebuild. Numerous surface holes need patching. It's the colonel's call if we do the work, or scrap it. (310 Peckham Points) S-1 Addendum: Purple Hearts awarded to CPT Bozeman, 1LT Torrance, 2LT Dallas, 2LT Onalaska, SSG Prideaux and SGT Spicoli. 1st oakleaf cluster to Purple Heart awarded to MSG Knoxville. 2nd oakleaf cluster to Purple Heart awarded to SGT Zanardi. Distinguished Flying Cross awarded to CPT Bozeman, despite being wounded, kept his cool demeanor under extreme duress, returning his crippled B-24 to base. Air Medal awarded to MSG Knoxville. Replacements: 1LT Wilmington (copilot), 2LT Laredo (bomb), 2LT Seymour (navig), SGT Olsen (radio), SGT Kanaan (waist), SGT Bouchet (tail).

Mission 5 (26 Dec 42): Crew Chief Report: Where's Bloomers. Hey, Jimmy, you see Bloomers!? S-1 Addendum: Crew reported bailing out 5 kilometers west of Aachen. Eight parachutes spotted. I couldn't believe maintenance was able to get Bloomers back in flying condition, even if they needed every bit of the Holiday season to do it. Wish I could say the same for the six guys we lost over Lorient. Anyway, Bloomers got jumped by three 190s over central Belgium. They had us lined up good, but got chased off by P-47s. We got over Aachen, and half the formation dropped their load. I can't repeat what 1LT Onalaska said -- especially with ladies present -- but it wasn't too kind about operations. We kept flying, kind of tracing the Moselle River valley. Didn't encounter any more resistance until we were over Saarbrucken. A 110 tried sneaking up from 6 Low. SGT Bouchet sent him back down. Flak was almost non-existant. Krauts must have thought the main effort was on Aachen. 2LT Laredo put 30% on target. Resistance picked up a bit after the RP, as the Germans vectored more fighters onto our flight path. Two 109s didn't do anything, then a pair of 190s came in. The one at 3 Level, killed SGT Cohen, our tunnel gunner, and punched a hole in the outboard fuel tank. Despite trailing a bit of smoke, the 190 came around for another 3 Level pass. MSG Knoxville put some more hits in him, so he broke off. 1LT Wilmington calculated that we would have enough fuel to make it back to home base. Onalaska was even less happy when the lead bomber took us back over Aachen on the return trip. Four 190s were waiting for us. MSG Knoxville hurt the one at 9 Level pretty good. Him and his wingman both missed. But the 190 that came in from 3 Low walked hits across the wings. The #3 engine ran away. I couldn't get it back under control, so I rang the bailout alarm. All us got out and landed okay. Krauts that found us didn't seem to be filled with Christmas cheer. It was three long years after that before we ate real bread. Sure is good to see you guys again. -- Story told at Holiday Inn bar during 400th BG reunion, March, 1975.

Mission 6 (10 Jan 43): (Out of character: this is the first mission I've run with the emulator. We'll see how it goes ...) Can't say this how I would have preferred to visit Amsterdam, but in the end it all turned out good. Matter of fact, I hope all our missions go like this. Saw a lone 109 over the just off the English coast, but he wasn't up for much of a fight. Didn't see any more bandits until we were in the target zone: Three 109s, all from the front. They put a few holes in the Express' hide, but nothing serious. Tech Sergeant Franklin, up top, flamed one. Flak was negligible, but the shock wave threw off Lieutenant Austin's aim. I don't think he even landed any bombs in the Zuider Zee. Krauts were waiting for us after the RP. Three waves. First got picked off by other bombers. In the second, a 190 got some hits on us, but Bickle in the tail messed him up on a passing shot, so he didn't try for a second pass. Third wave all missed. No Germans until the English coast, but they got picked off by other bombers as well. Worst part of the whole trip was the landing: The nose wheel wouldn't come down. I had Austin and Seymour, the navigator, move back to the waist then I put the Express down. Looped it off the end of the runway, but crew chief Mahoney tells me he'll have it fixed by tomorrow evening at the latest. Crew Chief Report: Nose wheel needs to be replaced, a few holes ot be patched, and some crash damage to the nose section. (30 Peckham Points)

Mission 7 (18 Jan 43): Geez, Amsterdam again? I'm getting to know all the Gretels in Holland. Worst part is, I half expect us to be making it a hat trick. The mission got off on the wrong foot when some numbnuts punched some holes in our hide while clearing his MG over the English coast. Over the Channel we got jumped by three 190s. They messed up the control cables and put a slow leak in my oxygen. Over the Dutch coast it was a Ju-88. Nothing came of it. Flak knocked off 2LT Austin's aim. Blew up a bunch of fish though. The Express got nailed after the RP: Three waves, nine bandits, eight passes. First up was a solo 110, which knocked out the heat in the nose, the intercom and seriously wounded our tail gunner. We also had a jammed tail turret and port waist MGs. It was freaking cold up there. Next up was the Abbeville Kids. Two 109s missed, the other two got some minor damage. But they came back for more. On the second pass they killed TSG Franklin and destroyed our punched a hole in the #4 oil tank. Third pass they wounded my copilot, 2LT San Pedro and finished off the #4 engine. Third wave didn't do much, but the starboard cheek gun jammed in the cold. Plus the bombardier was coming down with frostbite. Despite flying on three engines, and not much heat, I kept the Express in formation because we didn't have anything left to shoot with. The weapons or gunners were incapacitated. Saw a little bit more resistance, but most of the drama was over. Our navigator, 2LT Seymour, came down with frostbite over the Channel. Smooth landing. Crew Chief Report: Port control cable, nose oxygen, intercom and #4 engine need replacement. All weapon systems will be reviewed for metallic crystalization due to cold damage. Numerous holes to surface areas. (223 Peckham Points) S-1 Addendum: 2LT Austin and 2LT Seymour invalided home due to severe frostbite. 2LT Austin, 2LT Seymour, TSG Franklin, SGT Bickle, and 2LT San Pedro awarded Purple Hearts. 2LT Brownsville (bmbr), 2LT Mishicot (navig) and TSG Bristol (engr) assigned as replacements.

Mission 8 (8 Feb 43): Rhine Express MACR: Rhine Express was observed to be maintaining formation 40km north of Emden, but offering little resistance when its starboard wing suddenly separated from the main fuselage. Only one parachute was observed. Post War testimony of TSG Bristol: Things didn't get off on the right foot as the nose and top turret both jammed when three 190s attacked us over the Channel. They also knocked out the tail turret. Two zones later, another batch of bandits knocked out the tunnel gun, plus the starboard waist gun jammed. 2LT Brownsville said something about the Express having more jam than a county fair, but it wasn't very funny. Zone 6 we got jumped by three 110s, but they were crappy shots. By Zone 7, the only guns we had operating were the cheek guns. Five 190s took care of those, and punched a serious leak in the #2 oil tank. Then they came back for a second pass. Next thing I know the Express jerked over on its side, slamming me against the ring of my turret. I must have got knocked out for a second, because the next thing I knew I felt hands shoving me out the exit. That's the last I saw of Billings, San Pedro, Brownsville, Mishicot, Convey, Stein or Wheldon. All things considered, I was pretty damn happy to be fished out of the water by a passing S-Boat. S-1 Addendum: Purple Hearts awarded to 1LT Billings, 2LT Brownsville, 2LT Mishicot, SGT Convey, SGT Stein and SGT Wheldon. 1st Oakleaf Cluster to Purple Heart awarded to 2LT San Pedro and SGT Bickle. Based on testimony of TSG Bristol: 1) A Bronze Star with V device is awarded to 1LT Billings, for heroically continuing his mission despite his aircraft having few means of defending itself. 2) A Distinguished Service Cross is posthumously awarded to SGT Convey, radio operator, who disregarded his own safety to ensure that an unconcious crewmate was able to exit his stricken aircraft. SGT Convey gave his life so that another might live, and reflects great credit on himself and the US Army Air Force. 3) POW Medal awarded to TSG Bristol.

Mission 9 (19 Feb 43): 42-7035-FO MACR: Wing & a Prayer was under attack by three FW-190s just outside the Romilly S.S. flak box when its wing suddenly burst into flames. Other 214th radio operators report 42-7035-FO's last transmission was "F***ing s**t!" Nine parachutes were spotted.

Mission 10 (27 Feb 43): 42-64399-CF MACR: Out of character: It took me more time to write up my crew than to fly the mission: Zone 2 outbound, 2 109s, 12 Level and 1:30 high. Three guns on them; all missed. 12 Level bandit got two negligible hits. His partner at 1:30 shot up the #3 engine, causing a runaway. Bailout. One airman failed to exit. Five of the eight that made it out, died of exposure in the water. The three survivors were rescued by friendlies.. I got the worst damn luck. (Lost 5 planes in last 7 missions.) In real life, no one would want to fly on my crew. S-1 Addendum: Purple Hearts awarded to 2LT Seal, TSG Memphis, SGT Adu, SGT David and SGT Dundee.

Mission 11 (22 Aug 43): 41-28446-DT MACR: Approaching Amiens, Try, Try Again was swarmed by numerous German fighters of all types. She was seen to be giving a good account of herself before suddenly exploding, disintegrating in mid-air. French underground reports no remains recovered. S-1 Addendum: Purple Hearts awarded to 1LT Whitehorse, 2LT Capistrano, 2LT Midland, 2LT Crabdon, TSG Murfree, SGT Moreno, SGT Dayan, SGT Coulthard, SGT Voorhees.

Mission 12 (25 Aug 43): Our first mission, and the boys weren't looking forward to it because everybody was giving us the heeby-geebies about being in the Dead Man's Slot. Everything went smooth for a couple of hours. Beautiful skies, no Krauts, until Zone 6. Five 190s jumped us like indians jumped Custer. Hits all over the ship, including the port elevator and starboard wing flap being completely blown away. Plus a bunch of other shit we didn't realize until later. "Shit" is the appropriate word, because the bird flew like a big, fat turd after that. Certainly not the swift and maneuverable B-24H we were looking forward to. Flak missed us, but I had too much of a handful keeping the bird in a straight line to actually hit the target. Thankfully we encountered only minimal resistance on the return trip. All the boys came back with the pieces they left with, so I ain't complaining. Sure beats what the last plane in the Dead Man's Slot experienced. Crew Chief Report: Replace port elevator, starboard wing flap, starboard control cable, starboard wing root spar and autopilot. (136 Peckham Points)

Mission 13 (31 Aug 43): Smooth sailing until the target zone. "Only" one wave, four 109s. All got hits, all over the ship. Oxygen fire in the radio room; elevator controls shot out. SGT Hakkinen in the waist yelled that he'd been hit bad. Despite being severly wounded, Hakkinen stayed at his post throughout the mission. The Krauts came around for another pass, and again hits all over the ship. #2 engine ran away, so I had to shut it down. Luckily, that control still worked. Despite the damage, 2LT Arthur, the bombadier, kept us on course, putting 40% on target. With no oxygen in the radio room, I was then forced to descend to 10,000 ft. -- a real chore with no elevators. The Krauts were waiting for us on the other side of the flak box. Chewed us up some more. Luckily, we picked up some escorts the rest of the way, that chased off the half dozen Germans that followed us. Despite heavy damage, landing was perfect. Crew Chief Report: Replace elevator control, port control cable, port elevator, starboard aileron and radio room oxygen; repaint radio room; patch the usual assortment of holes. (216 Peckham Points) S-1 Addendum: Bronze Star w/t V awarded to SGT Hakkinen. 1LT Redd and 2LT Arthur awarded Air Medal. Purple Hearts awarded to SGT Hakkinen and SGT Dominguez. Replacements: 1LT Carson (copilot).

Mission 14 (12 Sep 43): Middle of the North Sea, we got jumped by four 109s. By the time we drove them off, the bombardier and navigator oxygen systems were kaput. (And that after Arthur and Fox had put out an oxygen fire.) With a jillion zones to go, I killed a school of mackerel and headed for home. Crew Chief Report: Replace entire nose oxygen system, plus miscellaneous holes around the forward part of the aircraft. (65 Peckham Points)

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