It was observed with horror as a second bomber of the 1107th disintegrates into a raging inferno.  The Precious Penelope B-17F-50-DL 42-3391 code letters RL-A, piloted by Major Heyd, went up in flames as the port wing took a direct hit from flak.  No chutes were observed by any of the other bomber crews in the flight.  Though the Red Cross reports that a copilot from one of the 918th Bombardment Groups 1107th Bomber Squadron bombers was picked up by German troops near Kiel on the day of this raid.  It is reported that this crewman is quite despondent and pretty much unresponsive due to his ordeal.  It is presumed that this airman is from one of the two bombers that were lost on the bomb run.

Bret Kosinski

Bret G. Kosinski

Major, Air Corps (ren.)

Eighth USAAF, 1st Division H.Q.

Huntingdonshire, England

Flight out was quiet till we hit the target zone.  That is when we were jumped by two waves on FW190s a total of 24 enemy aircraft.  Eight of which targeted our aircraft.  These fighters placed around eleven cannon rounds into Penelope wounding SSgt. Lamotte and hitting out starboard wing root.  During this attack our boys claimed four probable and one damaged.  Flak was moderate and inaccurate.  This left us open to place around 30% of our eggs on target.

Leaving the target was just a disturbing as the trip in.  Again around 20 plus FW's attacked our formation.  About seven targeted our plane, causing minimal damage to the plane but killing outright our left waist gunner, Sgt Duley.   Again our boys' shooting was commendable, severely damaging one and destroying two.

After these attacks we saw no more German defense force come up to challenge us.  This was a relief with a fatality in each of our two trips out.  We needed the rest.  This is an ugly business war.  Landing at Archbury was just fine.  The new crewmembers preformed to the high standards expected of the Eighth Air Force.

Max Heyd

Max S. Heyd

Major, Air Corps (ren.)

Air Executive Officer 918^th BG (H)

As we neared the coast of Europe we were hit by three waves of fighters.  First a lone Me110s tore into us good, hitting us on all three passes.  Killing our bombardier wounding my Copilot and starboard waist gunner and hitting me in the arm.  The second wave was a lone Me109 shooting rockets prior to his cannon attacks.  Luckily both missed.

Over the target thing were appalling due to weather.  Group lead moved us to the secondary target.  Here three FW's and a Me110 mauled us.  A FW190 hit my copilot and there was no movement from Capt. Gladstone after this attack.  I think this is what killed him.  A second wave consisting of mixed bag of 109's and 190's jumped us as we approached the drop zone.  These bastardies had it out for Gladstone as he was hit again.  Flak over the secondary was moderate but accurate.  We took three fragments one taking out our aileron and another took out the control cables.  Make the rest of the trip a draining one.  I fought the aircraft with out proper control of the ship.

Lt. Wilsey, our navigator, did his best to toggle our eggs but was off target (as per the rules – no bombardier = automatic off target) and Sgt. Salamone as well as SSgt. Lamotte reported we totally missed the target. 

Coming of the bomb run we were assault again. This time five 190's made a high speed run.  Only two hit us wounding our navigator.  Their repeat attacks did little damage and then as soon as they came they had left.  This was the final group of aggressors we encountered.  The rest of the trip was uneventful. 

Msgt Vandorn moved down to the cockpit to help land and he did a stellar job as we made a perfect three-point landing.

Max Heyd

Max S. Heyd

Major, Air Corps (ren.)

Air Executive Officer 918^th BG (H)