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Pilot: Capt George (Sparky) Anderson
Plane: Big Red
Mission: 81(1)
Target: Gelsenkirchen – SO/I (Geisenberg Benzine & Hydrogenation Synthetic Oil Refinery)
Sqdn: 153rd
Position: Low
Bomb run: 0%
Crew:
Pilot – Capt George (Sparky) Anderson (6) - Captured
Copilot - 2nd Lt. Donald Gullet (1) – Captured
Bombardier - 2nd Lt. William Plummer(2) - Captured
Navigator - 2nd Lt. Joe Morgan (6) * – Captured
Engineer - SSgt. David Concepcion (6) ** – Captured
Radio Op.- TSgt. Rettenmund (1) * – Me109 - Captured
Ball Gunner - Sgt. Ken Griffey **** ½ (6) – Reported as Missing in Action
Port Waist - Sgt. Rawly Eastwick (1) – Captured
Strbd Waist - Sgt. Pedro Borbon (1) - Captured
Tail Gunner - Sgt. Johnny Bench *** (6)- Captured
A/C Claims: ##++ (1 this mission)
* one enemy fighter
# five enemy fighters
( ) missions
Peckham Points – Doesn’t matter.
Aircraft Status – In a field somewhere in Belgium
Mission Report –
Filed by SSgt McNamera – flight crew maintenance.
After the mission to Kassel, the remaining crew were given two days leave. Upon returning Capt. Anderson gathered the new crew members and unveiled our new bird the “Big Red”. Capt. Anderson thinks it is bad luck to name the plane II or III and so on. Capt Anderson told the new guys how his hair turned all white, he said he had a full head of red hair until he was told he’d be flying a B-17 and the next morning it was all white. That’s the third different story I’d heard him tell about why his hair was all white. He then told them after the 10th mission he’d tell us why they call him Sparky. We spent the next 10 days doing work on the “Big Red” and the crew made several practice flights around England.
As our usual we watched the 17s take off and we went our own way to play cards, listen to the radio or wander around the hanger queens looking for parts. We reassembled when the siren announced the return of the bombers. Capt. Hebner from the “Jolly Roger” came over with the bad news.
He said they were just past Huls when some Me-109s met the flight and attacked. He heard Capt Anderson say they were losing fuel from one of the wing tanks but he was going to make the bomb run anyway. They made the bomb run but there was so much cloud and smoke, he did’t think anybody hit anything. After that a few FW-190s came up outside of Gelsenkirchen but not much happened.
He heard Anderson say that they weren’t going to make it and he was heading for Antwerp and maybe France if they were lucky. After that Hepner didn’t know anything else. Hope they made it out ok.
SSgt McNamera
Total for the mission 1-0-0 (killed-probable-damaged)
Red Cross reports the crew of the “Big Red” were captured after a crash landing in Belgium. The crew split up in pairs and tried to make it to various safe houses. All but Griffey have been reported as captured.
Rettenmund reports he was with Griffey but they split up when a German patrol spotted them. Rettenmund did not see Griffey after he was captured.
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This had to be the worst luck I think I've had. 2 Me109s attack in Zone 6, we down one and one hits us on one pass and takes out the fuel tank. No way we make it back. Then just 2 FW190s on the way out and they miss.
So one Me109 takes us out on one pass. Frustrating......
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David Lanphear
United States
Stockton
California
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Pilot: 2nd Lt. Joe Friday
Plane: JUST THE FLAK MA'AM
Mission: 81(1)
Target: Gelsenkirchen, Germany - Synthetic Oil Refinery
Sqdn: 153rd
Position: Low
Bomb run: 30%
Crew:
Pilot - 2nd Lt. Joe Friday (1)
Copilot - 2nd Lt. Bill Gannon (1)
Bombardier - 2nd Lt. Daniel Williams (1)
Navigator - 2nd Lt. Steve McGarrett (1)
Engineer - SSgt. Pete Malloy (1) - SW
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Radio Op.- TSgt. Jim Reed (1)
Ball Gunner - Sgt. Jim Rockford (1)
Port Waist - Sgt. Erskine, Lewis (1) - SW
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Strbd Waist - Sgt. Theo Kojak (1) - Claims 1xBf109
Tail Gunner - Sgt. Joe Mannix (1) - LW
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½ shared credit
* one enemy fighter
# five enemy fighters
( ) missions
Aircraft Status - Aircraft returned with damage to starboard elevator, intercom system, rafts damaged, radio system. Minor damage to control cable system, rudder and #1 Engine. 12x holes in fuselage and wings to be patched. claims of 1 Bf109 shot down, severe damage to 1 Bf109, and probable damage to 2 Fw190s. Casualties: LW:1 SW:2 (104 Peckham points)
Mission Report
No enemy contact until in the target zone. I'm surprised the luftwaffe found us as the weather was so bad that my navigator Lt. McGarrett was having a difficult time keeping our position location on his maps. I just stayed with the bomber stream figuring someone knew where we were. Jerries hit us with Fw190s and Bf110s over the target, butno one reported any serious damage. Flak bursts were heavy and concentrated. The plane was rocked by several near misses but again, none of the crew reported any serious damage. Lt. Williams found a hole in the cloud cover and dropped our payload on what he thought was the target. He thought he dropped a little late and estimates no better than 30% coverage. This being the crew's first mission, I hope HQ will be happy.
Turned for home and ran into another flak field. These bursts were inaccurate and we made it through fine. The Jerries were waiting for us as we emerged out of the flak field with Bf109s and 110s. The crew reported several probable damaged enemy aircraft and Sgt. Kojak claimed a kill on a Bf109. We ran into another grouping of Bf109s over Belgium but the crew managed to tag a few enemy planes which drove them off. We continued over Belgium without further enemy contact.
Just as we reached the coast however, the Jerries hit us with a grouping of Fw190s. It was in this ensuing engagement that all of the crew casualties and observable major damage noted on the equipment report occurred. The fighter cover did their best, but the Jerries were not to be driven off so lightly. We finally cleared the coast and left the enemy aircraft behind. Both Sgts. Malloy and Erskine were hit in the hip and were unable to stand for the remainder of the mission. Both men were able to dress their own wounds but were unable to continue to man their posts. I suspect both will be rotated home and we will get replacements.
2nd Lt. Joe Friday, Pilot, 153rd Bomber Squadron, 281st Bomber Group (H)
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David Grabiner
United States
Unspecified
Unspecified
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After Action Report
B-17: Yellow Stone, B17F-70-BO-42-120112
Pilot: 1st Lt. Frank Vincent
Squadron: 152nd
Mission: 81 (this bomber 1)
Date: August 12, 1943
Target: Gelsenkirchen, synthetic oil plant
Position: Low squadron, middle
Crew Status:
Pilot 1st Lt. Frank Vincent (5) KIA
Copilot 2nd Lt. Arthur Christopher (5) KIA
Bombardier 2nd Lt. Eric McCook (1) KIA
Navigator 2nd Lt. Arthur Wilson (1) KIA
Engineer MSgt. Andrew Victorian # (5) KIA
Radio Operator Sgt. George Jenkins (1) KIA
Ball Gunner Sgt. Boris Alexandrovich ** (5) KIA
Port Waist Sgt. Leslie Farnsworth (5) CAP
Starboard Waist Sgt. Harold Black (5) KIA
Tail Gunner Sgt. Carl Majors *** (5) KIA
* = 1 kill
# = 5 kills
Bomb Run: 0%
Fighters claimed: 1 killed, 1 probable
Tail Gunner Sgt. Majors: 1 FW-190
B-17 Status:
Exploded zone 6 back
Elevator controls out
Rudder-2 hits
Starboard flap out
Starboard waist gun jammed and broken
#1 engine out
Port inboard tank explosion
Replacements:
New bomber: Orange Roughy, B17F-70-BO-42-120121
Crew TBA
Debrief:
(obtained from a post-war interview)
Our fuel tank exploded from a flak hit just past the target. I didn't
see any other chutes, so I may be the only survivor of the Yellow
Stone.
As we expected from our morning brief, fighter restistance was light.
We did encounter a few fighters, killed one (which I didn't see but was
confirmed over the interphone), and took some minor damage ourselves.
But the flak was so thick you could walk on it. I don't know how the
gunners aimed their flak through all the smoke and storm clouds. We
were hit several times. I can't imagine a bombardier getting bombs on
target after the buffeting we took; I didn't hear anything about the
results. After the download, another wave of flak was just as heavy,
and one burst hit the port wing, destroying one engine and igniting a
fuel tank. From my position, I could see what was about to happen,
readied my chute as the tank exploded, and got out of the plane just
before she went into an uncontrollable dive.
Sgt. Leslie Farnsworth
152nd BS, 281st BG(H)
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Daniel K. Edwards
United States
El Centro
California
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Co- Pilot: 2LT. John Koltek
B-17: HONEY STAR
Mission: 81(4)
Target: Gelsenkirchen, Germany - Synthetic Oil Refinery
Sqdn: 154rd
Position: Low-Low
Bomb run: 30%
Crew Status: Shot to hell
Pilot: 1LT. Randy Pierson (1) SW (broken left femur)
CoPilot: 2LT. John Koltek (4)
Bombardier: 2LT. Norman Cashman (1) (2xLW - torn leg muscle, lacerated cheek)
Navigator: 2LT. Gustav Mortenson (4) (SW - severly lacerated neck)
Engineer: Sgt. Stefan Talek (4) (KIA- shattered right foot, fatal wound to head)
Radio: Sgt. Leonard Edwards (4)
Ball Turret: Sgt. Harold Barbour (4) [achieved ACE status]
Portwaist gunner: Sgt. Robert McNarry (1) (2xLW - torn leg muscle,
lacerated thigh)
Starboard waist gunner: David Brandt (4) (KIA- torn leg muscle, fatal chest wound)
Tail gunner: Sgt. Rolando Fallchichi (5)
Condition of B-17 HONEY STAR:
Our aircraft sustained approximatly 200 Peckham points damage, including multiple hits to port wing root, hit to starboard tailplace root, radio out, pilot oxygen out, nose heat out top turret guns inoperational, damage to engine 4 cowling, about 30 holes throughout the aircraft.
Ground crew said HONEY STAR might be ready for next mission.
Enemy aircraft encountered: approximatly 34
Enemy aircraft destroyed: 2xBf109, 2xFw190, 2xBf110
Enemy aircraft damaged: 4xFw190, 1xBf110
Credits: Navigator 2LT. Mortenson: 1xBf109, 1xFw190
Ball turret gunner Sgt. Barbour: 1xBf109, 2xBf110
Tail gunner Sgt. Fallchichi: 1xFw190
MISSION DESCRIPTION:
Encountered numerous enemy fighters on flight to target, but they inflicted minimal damages on us. No flak hits. Came in on target, est. 30% of our load hit.
Lost oxygen to pilot position, so Lt. Pierson forced to leave formation and drop to below 10000'. Luftwaffe found us down there; I saw a number of enemy fighters appear above us after they engaged other bombers in our stream, then spot us and head down to make runs at us. They hit us pretty good, but we got a few of them too. They couldn't seem to be able to hit us in a fatal location, so we jinxed a bit and kept on heading west. Lt. Mortenson (navigator) was hit badly as we were approaching the North Sea, but we had the compass bearings we needed to make it home. Did not see many of our friendly fighters.
This is only mission 4 for me (us?) and already there is hardly any of our original crew remaining.
Wounded men were on their way to hospital within minutes of landing.
Respectfully Submitted,
John Koltek, 2LT. USAAF
Co-Pilot, B-17 HONEY STAR
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Jim P
United States
Sterling Heights
Michigan
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF WAR
HEADQUARTERS 281ST BOMB GROUP (H) VIII BOMBER COMMAND EIGHTH AIR FORCE
EIGHTH AIR FORCE STATION 200 ELVEDEN HALL ENGLAND APO 667
Pilot: 1st Lt. Walter Zabalaoui
B-17: Tru Bella II (B-17F-65-B0 42-29697) GG-A
Squadron: 154th Bombardment Squadron, 218th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
Mission: 81 (Bomber 4)
Date: August 12, 1943
Target: Gelsenkisschen, Germany. S/O
Position: Low-Low
Crew Status:
Pilot: 1st Lt. Walter Zabalaoui (8)
Copilot: 2nd Lt. Graham D. Faircloth (2)
Bombardier: 2nd Lt. John N. Mahood (3) LW
Navigator: 2nd Lt. Lawerence J. Picklesimer (3) ** KIA
Engineer: MSgt. Christopher M. Ritter (2) *** LW
Radio Operator: TSgt. Tyler R. Savino (3) * *
Ball Gunner: Sgt. John Krieger (8) #*** **
Port Waist: Sgt. Lance C. Capers (1) SW-DOW
Starboard Waist: Sgt. Joe F. Price (5) KIA
Tail Gunner: Sgt. John C. Revis (2) ***
Key:
½ = Half an Enemy A/C KIA
* = 1 Enemy A/C KIA
# = 5 Enemy A/C KIA
Bomb Run:
---- Bomb Drop; Off Target
---- Accuracy; 0%
Enemy Fighters Encountered: (6=KIA / 3=Prob / 2=Damg)
---- Me109: 4-KIA / 2-Prob / 2-Damg (20 Attacked)
---- Me410: 0-KIA / 1-Prob / 1-Damg (1 Attacked)
---- FW190: 2-KIA / 0-Prob / 0-Damg (5 Attacked)
---- JU88: 0-KIA / 0-Prob / 0-Damg (2 Attacked)
---- Driven-off: 4
Claims:
MSgt. C. Ritter: 1x Me109
TSgt. T. Savino: 1x Me109 (Damg = 109 )
Sgt. J. Krieger: 1x Fw190 & 1x Me109 (Damg = 109 & 410)
Sgt. J. Revis: 1x FW190 & 1x Me109 (Prob 2x 109 & Damg = 190)
Medals and Promotions:
None
B-17s disposition:
Msgt. Cory Berkely “Tru Bella II” Sustained Heavy damage. Damage report as follows: Number two engine out, port brakes out, starboard landing gear damaged, port inboard fuel cell holed, Nose oxygen damaded, nav heat out, top turret mechanism destroyed, bomb doors damaged, radio room fire damage, radio room oxygen out, tail wheel out, rudder root 67% damaged, port elv. Root 33% damaged, . Five hits causing wounds, three fatal, none were serious and two of a light nature. Nineteen of Thirty-Eight hits were of a superficial nature (337pts Peckham Points)
Replacements:
Navigator: 2nd Lt. Hunter H. Flores
Port Waist Gunner: Sgt. William E. Scott
Starboard Waist: Sgt. Thomas O. Thomas
Mission Description:
Subject: Gelsenkisschen, Germany. S/O
12-August-43 Mission Report C4M81-697A
Mission Debriefing:
“Sir It was utterly Hell once we mad the target. The Germans were out for blood and they weren’t going to be denied…, Sir!”
Zone 2 through Zone 4 O/B: Our squadron was left alone by Jerry.
Zone 5 O/B: we saw three Me 109s attack our plane, but the exchange resulted in two enemy fighters hit, one killed, and the “Bella” taking only a scratch.
Target Zone 6 O/B: The Gates of Hell opened up. Two waves of German fighters we waiting to wreak havoc on the Group. The first was consisted of two JU88s and a Me109. All three missed us as we missed them. They broke off their attack after one pass.
The second wave of five 109s was more persistent and better marksmen. Of the five three landed their shots on the “Bella.” Their attacks resulted in about ten hits causing multiple systems being damaged, yet nothing too serious. They made a total of four successive attacks.
Flak was heavy just prior to the drop, but we somehow only took one fragment in the starboard wing. This one hit just behind the number two engine and knocked down the main landing gear. This was troubling as the drag was making the ship sluggish and hard to keep in formation. But we had other things to worry about at that particular moment. With all the commotion and bad weather Lt Mahood’s aim was knocked off. We don’t really know where our eggs ended up.
Flak was less intense on the back side, but more accurate. We took four fragments with half doing damage to the boom bay doors and knocking out the tail wheel. We turned for home…
Zone 6 I/B: two more waves were waiting for us as we left the target and they were hell bent on putting us down. One of the waist gunners went forward to raise the landing gear and was successful on the first try, which was a relief. The drag was starting to slow us down. The first wave of fighters consisted of two Me109s. They made five attacks with one hitting our inboard fuel tank causing a substantial leak. MSgt. Ritter calculated we could just make it home as is. So I decided not to lighten up. The skies were too hot to try and make it home unarmed. Though, in the exchange we were able to destroy both enemy fighters.
The second wave of five fighters only managed one hit. We were able to down one of there numbers as well.
Zone 5 I/B: One FW190 and three Me109s made an appearance. A 109 was downed by our little friends and we took out the FW190. But a Messerschmitt from 12 o’clock high knocked out our number two engine. It was feathered and we continued to move on.
Zone 4 I/B: was the quiet before the storm. I think the Luftwaffe was reorganizing for what was to come..
Zone 3 I/B: the Group was attacked by a mixed bag of fighters. We saw Me109s, Fw190s, Me 110s and Me410s. All but the Me110s made a run on “Bella.” Their attacks were vicious with it resulting in a fire a mid ship, both waist gunners were downed, the top turret knocked out and the engineer wounded. But just as fast as that hit they were gone… but not for long.
Zone 2 I/B: a flight of butcherbirds were waiting t clean up after the last attack. We were targeted by three 190s and a lone 109. But our little friends came to our rescue. Of the four enemy fighters the Jugs took out three. The lone survivor made a walking attack that killed our navigator, wounded the bombardier and took out the radio. This aggressor was dispatched to Davie Jones locker by our tail gunners as the German tried to make a second attack from behind.
Zone 1 I/B: Fuel was getting low and we were in bad shape as we lined up to land. MSgt Ritter was able to lower the landing gear which was a great relief, and our landing wasn’t too bad considering. But it was a not a victory for the crew as we lost three good men today in sight of England.
Msgt. Cory Berkely tells me that “Tru Bella II” has seen her last mission. We owe our lives to that girl, she preformed great today.
1st Lt. Walter Zabalaoui
Commanding Officer, B-17F-65-B0 42-29697 “Tru Bella II”
154th BS, 281st BG(H), 3rd Bombardment Wing
Elveden Hall, UK
Mission Note: Everything was going well till just prior to the target. Thank goodness my fuel held out and the landing gear went back up, or I would still be playing this game. Can’t wait for the next three missions!
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wrote: Msgt. Cory Berkely tells me that “Tru Bella II” has seen her last mission. We owe our lives to that girl, she preformed great today.
Just read an 8th AF book that said a plane like this was like the cow who tried to jump the barbed wired fence: "Udderly destroyed".
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Jim P
United States
Sterling Heights
Michigan
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aerogoose wrote: wrote: ...We owe our lives to that girl, she preformed great today.
Just read an 8th AF book that said a plane like this was like the cow who tried to jump the barbed wired fence: "Udderly destroyed".
Ha Ha! lol....
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Alexander Boucharelis
Greece
Drama
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pvi99th wrote: [
Bomb Drop: On Target
Bombing Accuracy: 99%
WOW!!! at last, bulls eye!!!
johnnymustang wrote: Ball Gunner - Sgt. Ken Griffey **** ½ (6) – Reported as Missing in Action
Where is he?
jasta6 wrote:
B-17: Tru Bella II (B-17F-65-B0 42-29697) GG-A
(337pts Peckham Points)
there goes another one for scrap metal...
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David Lanphear
United States
Stockton
California
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kastrologos wrote: jasta6 wrote:
B-17: Tru Bella II (B-17F-65-B0 42-29697) GG-A
(337pts Peckham Points)
there goes another one for scrap metal...
Cannibalized for parts, sad to say.
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Ball Gunner - Sgt. Ken Griffey **** ½ (6) – Reported as Missing in Action
Where is he?
Why I don't know. 
Belgium as far as I know. 
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Jim P
United States
Sterling Heights
Michigan
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Please Note: Mission 81 has been completed and we are not accepting any more After Action Reports at this time. Mission 82 has now been posted in the Play-by-Forum thread. If you have missed getting your results in for this past mission just proceed to mission 82 and fly that mission. Then you may post your results for that mission in that thread.
END OF MISSION REPORT
All reports from returning planes have been submitted and reviewed. VIII Army Air Force Command reports the following summary results from the mission to attack the enemy facility at Gelsenkirchen.
Target: Gelsenkirchen, Germany So/I
Date: Thursday, August 12, 1943
Bombers Dispatched: 13
Bombers effective: 11 (over target)
Bombers returning to base: nine (no aborted mission)
Bombers lost: 6 (2 Cat-E)
Aircraft losses: 30.8% of squadron
Aircrew casualties:
---- crewmen reported KIA: 40
---- crewmen reported with SW: 7
---- crewmen reported with LW: 12
---- crewmen listed as MIA: 10
Reported claims of enemy aircraft kills:
---- Fighters Killed: 40
---- Fighters Probable Kills: 14
---- Fighters Damaged: 13
Percentage of bombs on target within 1000 feet for the squadron: 17.2%
The Luftwaffe did some serious damage to our group today. We lost four crews and six planes to enemy actions today. Our bomb results were poor. Especially considering Capt. Young’s crews performance! But the weather and flak was against us this day.
Lt. Col. Pfalzstaff
Summary of Missions to Date:
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Posted Sat Jan 21, 2012 3:59 pm
