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Mission Commentary

MISSION #12 
(Brunswick) 

     39 A/C took off between the hours of 0800 and 0900. 9 of the planes, led by Lt. Chardi, formed the high squadron on the 94th "B" group (low group of 4th "B"' wing). 9 other planes led by Capt. MuGuire formed the High squadron on the 385th "A" group (low group of 4A Wing). 21 A/C formed the 447th Group which flew high group of the 4th "A" wing. All planes of the 447th Group made a standard bad weather assembly over Splasher 7. The squadron led by Lt. Chardi joined the 94th '"B" group without incident. The squadron led by Capt. McGuire was unable to locate the 385th "A" group until the point of leaving the English coast out. The 447th Group formed without incident and left Splasher 7 for Wing assembly on time. The Group rendezvous with the Wing was as briefed except four minutes late and at 1000 ft below briefed altitude on Wing leader's call over VHF. The 447th Group had one ship abort at the IP (Plane 146) pilot Lt. Putnam. This ship was flying #4 position of the lead squadron and was seen to jettison his bombs, feather #1 engine and turn back under control. This ship is unreported at this time. Lt. Sizer, pilot of 188, flying with the high squadron of the 94th Group returned early due to excessive fuel pressure in #1 engine causing; excessive fuel consumption. Lt. Hodges, pilot of 161, flying in high squadron of 385th "A" Group returned early due to oxygen failure. Light flak was encountered at the enemy coast but was inaccurate. Heavy flak was encountered at the target area, also inaccurate. One plane suffered battle damage due to flak. No enemy A/C were seen. Fighter support was present throughout the mission as briefed (excellent). Clouds made it impossible to bomb on lead, ship necessitating bombing on the Wing. Planes unable to maintain formation in bomb run because of heavy clouds. One B-17, marking unobserved, was seen to leave the formation at enemy coast and head toward Germany. This A/C was followed by 4 P-38's and turned back rejoining the formation. One B-17 was seen to turn back at English coast heading for enemy coast. Possibly the same A/C as was turned back previously by P-38's . B-l7's with letter "A" enclosed in triangle threw chaff out from Zeider Zee all the way across the channel.

4A WING HIGH
LEAD

HIGH

LOW

4B WING HIGH (with 94th BG)
HIGH SQDN

4A WING LOW (with 385th BG)
HIGH SQDN

Notes:

About ten minutes prior to the I. P., at about 1215 hours at 27000 feet, the #4 ship in the lead squadron (Putnam,  42-31146) developed engine trouble, jettisoned the bomb load and headed back to base. At that time, they were being escorted by three P-51s. At about 1250 hours the B-17G came under attack by "15 or 20" German fighters. (No mention made as to where their escort was then). As a result of the attack, two of the crew were killed, Radio Operator/Gunner T/Sgt. Milton H. Glantz, and Left Waist Gunner S/Sgt. Oren M. Smith by canon and machine gun fire. 42-31146 had now lost two engines and a third was barely running. Putnam ordered the ship abandoned and the remaining eight crewmen bailed out to become POWs.

The heavy flak over the target also wounded the Navigator (2nd Lt. John R. Mink) in 42-31223 which was being flown by Wesley C. Huckins (711th) in the #8 slot in the "McGuire" squadron flying as the high squadron in the low group of the 4A CBW. When they got back over the UK, it was discovered that the landing gear would not deploy. Huckins went on to 1SAD and performed a (perfect) belly landing.

No./Type

Tons

K

W

M

Maj.

Min.

Briefed at 0500. Target Brunswick. Flew new ship, "Stormy Weather." Carried 42-100 lb incendiaries. Flew lead of last element high squadron, high group and what a mess - flubbed along at 130 mph, "S"ing back and forth - scheduled to bomb at 22,000, bombed at 26,500 ft. Still flew into the overcast at target - lost group - came back with the 385th - PFF mission - a lot of hugs in ship. 2 in 2 days - tired. 6 out of 8.

Brunswick, Germany - Pathfinder mission. Rough weather. Flew with Donahue's crew. Contrails bad. Flying through clouds on the bombing run. 900 miles round trip. Putman's crew missing. Sanner and Herdek our ball and tail gunner on the same crew. Good fighter support. No enemy fighters. Flak heavy but not accurate. Only one ship got hit. I am now one mission up on rest of crew.

We were a disgusted bunch of guys at 2:30 when they woke us up for a mission. T.O. was 820, headed for Brunswick Germany. Chemical, gas, and airplane city. We flew over at 24,000 ft, sometimes as high as 27,000. Looking back I could see group after group, wing after wing behind us in waves above the clouds, P-38's zigzagging back + forth above us. Those 38's looked pretty, so pretty in fact a few FW 190's came above the clouds, saw them and changed their minds and headed home. We always had at least 30 P38's in sight, a few P47's. It wasn't cold, I didn't turn heat on until after we left the target + went up to 27,000. Throwing chaff out kept me pretty busy. Quite a bit of flak, 2 holes in our ship, Putnam turned back at the I.P.; on the way back we were the lead ship for the group as Dalzell dropped behind to no. 6 position with a feathered no. 2 engine. Got back at 4. Went to bed at 7:30 dead tired.

Putnam's crew is gone. He must have bailed out over Germany. Probably P.W. + OK