Jim P
United States
Sterling Heights
Michigan
-
BG...................BB...................GB..................GG
“Gentlemen at ease. Again the Luftwaffe was waiting for us over the target. We took it on the chin last Thursday with four ships missing and two Category-E Let’s hope today is a better trip to France… ” Sgt. Murphy Pull the curtain please…”
We are still accepting new planes to join the group, as we start a second tour. For those of you just joining us, here is a summary of the "rules," as they are:
* I will be rolling up the mission parameters, fighter support, flak cover, weather and date for all missions.
* There is no required format for reporting your results, but the more info you present the more entertaining it is for everyone. If you track who gets injured, how many fighter kills, etc., then I can summarize that info at the end of the mission period for all bombers.
* All flights must be flown by the following Sunday (in this case, 12/01/29 ), and I will prepare an After Action Report the following Monday. If you happen to miss a week or two, no big deal, just join back in when you can.
* All planes are assigned to a squadron. If you are new, just post a response in the thread giving your plane name and you will be assigned a squadron. Squadrons are being given a position (High, Middle, Low or Low- Low.) by jasta6, as recorded here.
* Lead and Tail positions are still being assigned to volunteers. Please note that only bombers in MIDDLE position can be lead, and only bombers in LOW-LOW position can be tail. So if you are in one of those squadrons, and nobody has yet volunteered for a position, roll 1d6. If you get a 6, you are the lucky winner.
* Some optional rules can be found here.
”… “Amiens is our target for the day men.”....” Good luck and Gods speed boys!”
MISSION Eighty-Two:
Date: Sunday, August 15, 1943 (3 day from last mission)
Primary Target: Amiens, France. A/F (Gilsy Airdromes)
Secondary Target: None
Bomb Load: 24 x 100 lb H.E. M43 bombs
Bombing Altitude: 24,000 ft (Middle Group)
Gazetteer:
Outbound & InBound: Zone 2: –2 W / Zone 3: -0 F
Primary Target Flak O/B: Medium
Primary Target Flak I/B: Medium
Primary Target Weather: Good 2/10 Cloud (No modifiers)
Secondary Target Weather: N/A
Base Weather: Good 2/10 Cloud Cover (No modifiers)
(RAF Spitfires) {Note; as of August we can pick up Friendly fighters in Zone 6, got-a love drop tanks.}
Zone 2 outbound: good
Zone 3 outbound: good
Zone 3 inbound: good
Zone 2 inbound: good
Note: Gents, don’t forget to add your Squadron Positions modifiers to the above Gazetteer values.
Mission Special Rules:
A) No special rules for this mission.
-Historical Mission: (from “The Mighty 8th War Diary by R.A.Freeman) Mission 82 The Mighty Eighth 1BW flew to Flushing, Amiens and Poix France. 4BW flew to Mervill/Lille and Vitry en Artois France. Onlt 14 A/C bombed Poix from the first BW all others dropped on Amens. 327 Fortresses sortied with 290 bombing targets. There were two planes lost and one crewman killed in returning Fortress’s. Six men were wounded. Twenty men were listed MIA.
The 303rd operation notes, for their mission 58, The 303rd noted that the flak was accurate (reason for Med flak on both sides) and the RAF Spits were on the job today (good coves all the way in and out). Enjoy the reprieve, two days till the first Schweinfurt…
-
Jim P
United States
Sterling Heights
Michigan
-
**Please read and follow as it will help me collate the information for the roster thread** Thank You!
Again, please remember I would like players to, at a minimum, list the Crew (pilots name with rank and Planes name of their Fortress at the beginning of all AAR post to help me facilitate updating the Roster List? Please use the format below as this will help me create the list in a timely manor.
If this format is not followed I may have to pass over your record as it takes more time to compile than it should have to. Adding this information will make it much easier to assemble this extra fluff for our campaign. Please remember to also add your pilot’s rank.
Thank You!
EXAMPLE wrote: Pilot: 1st Lt.. Andy Anybody
B-17: "Bombs Alot/Miss Alot"
Also please add your Bombardment Squadron somewhere at the top too. This will help me in data entry. i.e. 154th BS
P.S. As I am keeping stats of the campaign for mission reports could you list your enemy aircraft probable and damage information as well as your kills in one short entry. Example: (KIA = 5, Prob = 2 & Damg = 5) or (3K / 2P / 4D)
Jim P 
Thanks....
-
Jim P
United States
Sterling Heights
Michigan
-
281st BG (V) Aircraft Roster for Mission 82 [Amiens, Framce. A/F]
- Player's Squadron Assignment can be found at this thread: Squadron Assignment
- Squadron Positions for this mission can be found at this thread: Squadron Positions
Mission : (Volunteers)
---- Lead: 1st Lt. Laurie LaPorte's Crew in "Anna's Touch" (B-17F-115 42-30669)
---- Tail: 1st Lt. Robert Schoens Crew in "Silver Dollar"
151st BS - BG:
Capt. Seth Gecko's Crew in "Santanico Pandemonium" [AAR]
1st Lt. Robert Schoens Crew in "Silver Dollar" [AAR] (Tail A/C)
2nd Lt. Andronicus Laskaris Crew in "Nike" (B-17F-110-B0 42-30536) [AAR]
152nd BS - BB:
1st Lt. Bob Feller's Crew in "Strike One" (B-17F-55-BO 43-12048) [AAR]
1st Lt. I. Hull's Crew in "Spirit of 1812" [AAR]
1st Lt. Kevin Ward's Crew in "Orange Roughy" (B17F-70-BO-42-120121) [AAR]
2nd Lt Carl Robledo's Crew in "Lucky Lucy" [AAR]
153rd BS - GB:
Capt. Benjamin Willard's Crew in "The Crystal Ship" [AAR]
Capt. Broderick Young's Crew in "Here We Go Again" [AAR]
1st Lt. Jack Armstrong's Crew in "Nasty Boys" (B-17F-40-B0 42-5246) [AAR]
2nd Lt. Joe Friday's Crew in "JUST THE FLAK MA'AM" [AAR]
2nd Lt Laurie LaPorte's Crew in "Anna's Touch" (B-17F-115 42-30669) [AAR] (Lead A/C)
154st BS - GG:
1st Lt. Walter Zabalaoui's Crew in "Tru Bella II" (B-17F-120-B0 42-30741) [AAR]
2nd Lt. Roger Daley's Crew in The Great Karzy (B-17F-30-VE-42-5858) [AAR]
2nd Lt Jeffrey Grainger's Crew in "Havana Dancer" [AAR]
2nd Lt. John Koltek's Crew in "HONEY STAR" [AAR]
Lt. Col. Chase Pfalzstaff
Deptuy Commander
Elveden Hall, UK
3rd Bombardment Wing HQ
(edits; Crews added)
-
-
Re: [Forum Campaign 4] Mission 82 – Amens
R. Schoens and crew will take the Tail End position, but would ask that we change the target name to Amiens instead of Amens. Don't want any jinxes and we'll save the Amens for Schweinfurt!!
-
Jim P
United States
Sterling Heights
Michigan
-
aerogoose wrote: ... Don't want any jinxes and we'll save the Amiens for Schweinfurt!!
Fixed as best I can. Amen!
-
John McDonald
United States
Elkins
West Virginia
-
Praise the lord and pass the ammunition.
Anna's Touch would like to continue to push the limit of her airframe's endurance and volunteer for the lead.
-
David Lanphear
United States
Stockton
California
-
Where the heck in zone 8 is Amiens? I can't find it on my maps. Is this some top-secret u-boat installation?
-
iain
England
elegantly wasted
-
Pilot: 2Lt Jeffrey Grainger
B17: Havana Dancer
Sqdn: 154th
Mission: 82 (this bomber 3)
Target: Amiens – Gilsey Airdromes
Position: Low
Crew Status:
Pilot: 2Lt Jeffrey Grainger (3)
Copilot: 2Lt Neville Hope (5)
Bombardier: 2Lt Kenny Ames (2)
Navigator: 2Lt Barry Taylor (5) *
Engineer: Mst Sgt Wyman Norris (5) ***
Radio Operator: Wayne Norris (5)
Ball Gunner: Sgt Albert Moxey (5) *
Port Waist: Sgt Arthur Pringle (4) *
Starboard Waist: Sgt Malcolm Hallwood (1)
Tail Gunner: Sgt Ally Fraser (5)
(Mission Number)
* = fighters claimed
Bomb Drop: 0% Off Target
Fighters Claimed:
No hits recorded
B17 Status:
Engaged with 5 German fighters
FW 190's x 3 (2 driven off by fighter cover)
ME 109's x 2 (2 driven off by fighter cover)
Zero hits from fighters, 2 from flak
Radio destroyed and superficial damage to the tail
Peckham Points = 20
Replacements:
None
Mission Description
Thankfully I have very little to include in this report. Our flight to the target near Amiens was light on incident. We saw no sight of German fighters over the channel and upon reaching the target area; two ME 109’s appeared but were driven off by our attendant Spitfires.
There was quite a bit of flak over Amiens and one burst sent fragments into the radio room narrowly missing Sgt Norris but rendering the radio ‘hors de combat’ for the rest of the flight. I regret to record that yet again we managed to miss the target with our bombs; however I will put this down to the flak interfering with the Bombardier’s aim.
After we turned for home the plane was shaken again by flak that was a little too close for comfort. Sgt Fraser reported damage to the tail, but nothing too serious thank goodness.
We were attacked soon after leaving the target area by three FW 190’s. Again our ‘little friends’ came to our aid chasing off two of the enemy fighters. The third German plane engaged us from the front but caused no damage to the plane. He didn’t return for another attack and that as the last we saw of the Luftwaffe on this trip.
We landed safely at base with no injuries to the crew and minimal damage to the plane.
Respectfully Submitted
2Lt Grainger
-
John McDonald
United States
Elkins
West Virginia
-
After Action Report #C3M82
August 15th 1943
A/C name (number): "Anna's Touch" (B-17F-115 42-30669)
Pilot: 1st Lt. Laurie LaPorte
Unit: 153rd Bombardment Squadron, 218th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
Callsign: Pushover Dog
Mission #: 82/8/12
Primary Target: Gilsy Airdromes, Amiens, Occupied France
Secondary Target: None
Position P/S: Lead/Middle
Crew/Status/Actions:
Pilot: 1Lt. Laurie LaPorte/OK
-Home: Zap, North Dakota
-Serial Number: O-7974083 (DC)
-Purple Heart
-Missions Completed: 12
Co-Pilot: 2Lt. Irving Hardge/OK
-Home: Searchlight, Nevada (AC)
-Serial Number: O-9889587
-Purple Heart w/ cluster
-Missions Completed: 4
Bombardier: 1Lt. Melvin Sullivan/OK
-Home: Campton, New Hampshire
-Serial Number: O-2315381 (AC)
-Purple Heart w/ three clusters
-AC Total (mission inclusive): 4
-Missions Completed: 13
Navigator: 2Lt. Samuel Binder/OK
-Home: Nyack, New York
-Serial Number: O-759917 (USAR)
-AC Total (mission inclusive): .5
-Missions Completed: 5
Flt Engineer: T-3 Nelson Husbands/OK
-Home: Los Angeles, California
-Serial Number: 39506396 (DRF)
-Distinguished Flying Cross
-Air Medal w/ two clusters
-AC Total (mission inclusive): 24
-Missions Completed: 11
R/O: T-3 Norman Hall/OK
-Home: Frederick, Maryland
-Serial Number: 13199771 (RA)
-Distinguished Flying Cross
-Air Medal w/ two clusters
-Purple Heart
-AC Total (mission inclusive): 9
-Missions Completed: 15
Ball Gnr: Sgt. Vernon Evert/OK
-Serial Number:
-AC Total (mission inclusive):
-Missions Completed: 1
Port Wst: Sgt. Allan Hempel/KIA
-Home: Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
-Serial Number: 32714715 (DRF)
-Purple Heart w/ cluster
-Air Medal
-AC Total (mission inclusive): 2.5
-Missions Completed: 4
Strb Wst: Sgt. Glen Aikin/OK
-Home: Berlin, New Hampshire
-Serial Number: 11270085 (RA)
-Missions Completed: 2
Tail Gnr: Sgt. Rick Nowacki/OK
-Home: Fort Kent, Maine
-Serial Number: 31793491 (DRF)
-Missions Completed: 2
Medal/Promotion Recommendations:
Sergeant Allan Hempel: Purple Heart (posthumous)
Enemy Aircraft Claimed:
Enemy Aircraft Encountered:
Single Engine: 6
Twin Engine: 3
Bomb Drop: ON
Bombing Accuracy: 30%
Bomb Load: 24 x 100 lb. M43 HE
Bombing Altitude: 24,000 ft.
B-17 Status: superficial damage
Mission Description:
A pretty quiet mission overall, not many fighters, most driven off by the RAF, and the flak wasn't bad. Unfortunately Sgt. Hempel had was in exactly the wrong place and was killed instantly by a piece of flak that cut through the waist compartment.
1st Lt. Laurie LaPorte
Anna's Touch
153rd BS, 218th BG(H)
Replacements:
Sgt. Lionel Riederer: RTD One day
Sgt. Ted Maxham: Port Gunner
-
John Kovacs
United States
Elyria
Ohio
-
StocktonDave wrote: Where the heck in zone 8 is Amiens? I can't find it on my maps. Is this some top-secret u-boat installation?
Beware the milk runs...we've lost as many planes to these as any long mission...it only takes one cannon shell to ruin your day!
And yes, I am speaking from experience...
-
David Lanphear
United States
Stockton
California
-
Infomanohio wrote: And yes, I am speaking from experience...
I'm with ya on that one. I was throwing out a little 153rd Squadron dark humor to get the briefing room relaxed.
153rd - We guarantee ontime delivery, do you? 
(Just saw our motto).
-
Damo
Australia
Hobart
Tasmania
Plastic & Shiney!
Don't try this in a B-17!
-
Pilot: 2nd Lt Carl Robledo
B17: Lucky Lucy
Sqdn: 152nd
Mission#: 82 (this bomber 1)
Target: Amiens – Gilsey Airdromes
Position (S/P): High, Middle.
Crew Report: (Mission Number)
Pilot: 2nd Lt Carl Robledo (1)
Copilot: 2nd Lt Michael Broughton (1)
Bombardier: 2nd Lt Kevin Cosby (1)
Navigator: 2nd Lt Bryan Kealey (1)
Engineer: Mst Sgt Bruce Sarmiento (1) 1*Me109
Radio Operator: Rodney Hancock (1)
Ball Gunner: Sgt Jerry Coulson (1)
Port Waist: Sgt Tony Sizemore (1)
Starboard Waist: Sgt Randy Marshall (1)
Tail Gunner: Sgt Willie Tidewell (1) 1*Me109
Bomb Drop: 20% On Target
Fighters Encountered:
Me109: 6
Me110: 4
Fw190: 0
Fighters Claimed:
Destroyed: 2* Me109
Damaged: None
B17 Condition Report:
No hits from fighters, 5 from flak.
(Radio, Tail wheel, Tail O2 Supply*2 and superficial damage to the waist).
Peckham Points = 36
Replacements:
None
Mission Debrief:
The first mission for the crew of Lucky Lucy and we’ll be buying our Little Friends a few rounds at the Duck and Dog tonight.
The crew cleared the guns over the channel, getting ready for enemy fighters. It didn’t take long to get interesting though the first wave was scared off by the tight formation of the 152nd.
It was a different story over France. 4 Me109s came in level, high and low across the front 180 degrees of the Lucy. Three were fought off by our Spitfire escort and both Kealey and Sarmiento had a crack at the remaining fighter. Sarmiento’s twin guns came off the better with the Me109 losing a wing and going into a roll before it could fire on the Lucy. A second wave of two Me110's was seen off by our escort.
The flak coming in over the target was accurate with the tail taking the brunt of it. Resulting in hits on the radio, tail wheel and one hit on Tidewell’s O2 supply. Kealey had a clear view and delivered a reasonable show of bombs on target.
Our fighter escort must have been dealing with enemy fighters elsewhere as we couldn’t see any friendlies around. A single Me109 at 12 o’clock high had a go and Kealey and Sarmiento attempted to repeat their earlier success with no joy. Luckily the Me109 missed the Lucy and Tidewell took him out as he passed by.
Turning for home Tidewell’s O2 supply took another hit from flak and I took the Lucy down to 10,000 feet (Tidewell is turning into a bit of a flak magnet).
This got the attention of the krauts and we were subjected to ineffective light flak as we left France as well as a visit by two Me110’s and an Me109. Our Little Friends must have been watching out for us as they quickly saw them off before we could come to grips.
Uneventful flight over England back to base. Safe landing.
2nd Lt Robledo
-
Todd R
United States
Michigan
-
After Action Report (AAR)
Pilot: 1st Lt. I. Hull
B-17: Spirit of 1812 (Mission 1)
Squadron: 152nd Bomber Squadron, 281st Bombardment Group
Mission: Mission 82 Amiens (August 15, 1943)
Target: Airfield
Crew Assigned: Position: Rank & Name (mission #) Casualties, Kills, Probable, Damaged
Bombardier: 2nd Lt. J. Lawrence (1) P: 1-109, D: 1-109
Navigator: 2nd Lt. WH Harrison (1)
Pilot: 1st Lt. I. Hull (1)
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. S. Decatur (1)
Engineer: Mst. Sgt. OH Perry (1) K: 1-109
Radio Oper.: T.Sgt. W. Scott (1)
Ball Gunner: Sgt. H. Dearborn (1) K: 1-109, P: 1-110
Pt Waist G: Sgt. W. Hull (1)
Stbd Waist G: Sgt. P. Hanks (1)
Tail Gunner: Sgt. J. Elliott (1) D: 1-110
Fighters Encountered: Ace: 1, Average: 10, Green: 1
Enemy Fighters Hit: (KIA = 2, Prob = 2, Damg = 2)
Bomb Run: OFF Target: 0%
B-17 Damage: Minor Damage: Starboard Inboard Fuel Tank Leak, Aileron Instruments Out, Flap Instruments Out
Landing: Safe Landing at base in England
Mission Description: Filed by 1st Lt. I. Hull
Our replacement plane and crew reported for duty with the 152nd the day before Mission 81. Lt. Decatur and I went to the Duck and Dog the night before the mission to meet the other pilots. All the pilots could talk about was flying over Germany and flak.
At the morning briefing when the Colonel announced that we would be headed to Amiens, there was a sigh of relief from the officers that we were not going to Germany today, but relief quickly turned to anxiety as the intelligence officer warned us about the flak around Amiens. We encountered no fighters over the Channel outbound or inbound. We were jumped by fighters over the target, five waves of them. But, my gunners were worthy of their training and we sustained only minor instrument damage from their attacks. Over the target we were hit on the way in and on the way out. Flak blew a hole in the starboard inboard fuel tank. The copilot and I shared nervous glances all the way home as the fuel gauges dropped way too fast. My crew chief told me I did not want to know how much fuel was left when we landed.
I regret to report that our bomb run was off target. Mr. Lawrence swears that a couple of the bombs hit AA guns, but this is not confirmed. I am pleased to report that the crew sustained no injuries and we will have minor repairs completed to the Spirit in time for the next mission.
-
Michael Bowker
United States
Washington
New Jersey
-
After Action Report
A/C name: “Here We Go Again”
Pilot: Captain Broderick Young
Unit: 153rd Bombardment Squadron, 218th Bombardment Group
Mission #: 81
Primary Target: Amiens, France. A/F (Gilsy Airdromes)
Secondary Target: None
Primary Target Weather: Good 2/10 Cloud (No modifiers)
Secondary Target Weather: N/A
Base Weather: Good 2/10 Cloud Cover (No modifiers)
Position P/S: Middle/ Middle Squadron
Fighter Statistics : 0 K / 1 P / 3 D
Bomb Drop: On Target
Bombing Accuracy: 60%
Bomb Load: 24 x 100 lb H.E. M43 bombs
Crew/Status/Actions:
Pilot: Captain Broderick Young (34)
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt Robert Humprhies (6)
Bombardier: 2nd Lt. Steven Bishop (8)
Aircraft Claimed - 1
Navigator: 2nd Lt Johnson Holland (3)
Aircraft Claimed - 1
Flt Engineer: T Sgt Curt Trotter (9)
Aircraft claimed - 11
R/O: Sgt. Kerry Barrett (9)
Ball Gnr: Sgt. Hogan Sharpe (9)
Aircraft claimed - 3
Port Wst: Sgt. Samuel Jones (4)
Aircraft claimed -
Strb Wst: Sgt. Ricardo Gonzalez (8)
Aircraft claimed - 1
Tail Gnr: Sgt. Barry Hester (4)
Aircraft claimed – 2
() – Number of missions completed inclusive
Recommendations:
Enemy Aircraft Claimed:
B-17 Status:
Superficial Damage
Mission Description:
As we neared the target a 110 attacked us. He was coming in fast but Sgt Sharpe got a piece of him. The enemy continued his attack but his aim was off and he missed. Another wave of two 109s then attacked us. Sgt. Gonzalez hit one and he broke off the attack. The other continued on and put some holes in us but they didn’t damage anything. He continued his attack and just put some superficial damage in us.
It was at that time that the fighters broke off and the flak started. We did take a hit to the starboard wing but, once more, the damage was just superficial. Lt. Bishop did another great job dropping the bombs.
We turned for home, weren’t hit by any flak on the way out, and returned without incident to base.
Respectively submitted,
Captain Broderick Young
Replacements:
Notes:
-
Jamie Yeardley
United Kingdom
High Wycombe
Bucks
-
B-17: B-17F-30-VE-42-5858 The Great Karzy; Call sign: Greenhorn Charlie
Pilot: 1st Lt. Roger Daley
Squadron: 154th BS
Mission: 82 This bomber (1)
Date: August 15, 1943
Target: Amiens Gilsy Airfield
Position: low
Crew Status:
Pilot 1st Lt. Roger Daley (13)
Co-pilot 2nd Lt. Oliver Reckitt (4)
Bombardier 2nd Lt. Inigo Tinkle (1)
Navigator 2nd Lt. Richard (Dick) Flasher (1); Kills (0)
Engineer Stf. Sgt. Eustice Tewle (11); Kills (15.5)
Radio Operator Sgt. Percy Snoop (1); Kills (0)
Ball Gunner Stf. Sgt. Nicholas Parts (13); Kills (6.5)
Port Waist Sgt. Jack Bell (2) ; Kills (0)
Starboard Waist Sgt. Charlie Roper (4); Kills (1)
Tail Gunner Stf. Sgt. James (Jimmy) Widdle (13); Kills (14)
1st brackets (Mission Number)
Bomb Drop:
40%.
Fighters Claimed:
Kills:-
Me 110 x 2
Me 109 x 2
Fw 190 x 0
Probables:-
Me 110 x 0
Me 109 x 0
Fw 190 x 0
Damaged:
Me 110 x 1
Me 109 x 1
Fw 190 x 0
Medal Recommendations:
Nil
B-17 Status:
173 Peckham points.
Nos 1&2 Engines disabled (but feathered),port wing x2 SD, stbd elevator out, nose SD, rafts x2, Bomb bay x1SD, radio room x2SD,Bmbdr O2 x1, Rudder x1, Tail x1SD, general SD x3.
Number of fighter attacks: 11 from 15 fighters
Number of fighters driven off: 9
Number of fighters downed: 4
Fighter hits 11
Flak:
Burst 1: 4 hits in the port wing
Burst 2: 1 hit in the tail section
Mission Report
A new plane, three new guys in the crew and a trip to Amiens. Milk run?, there’s no such thing!
When we approached the IP, in zone3, two waves of Me109’s decided that we were the dish of the day. A lone Spitfire distracted the fighter at 12 high; the stbd waist gunner bust his cherry with a clean kill on the one coming from 1:30 high; the Top turret took out the one coming in from 9 high, and the others were distracted by our dings and near misses.
Things were looking good on the bomb run but just as the Bombardier called “Bombs gone!”, there was a hell of an explosion between the two port engines. Flak had knocked them both out, fortunately there was no fire and Ollie managed to feather the props. Even so it was time to drop out of formation and head for the deck. This probably put off the flak gunners concentrating on the main formation as we didn’t get hit again until I levelled out, that’s when we lost the starboard elevator.
I guess lame duck was going to be dish of the day. There was a mixture of Me 109s and 110’s getting in each other’s way they were that eager to finish us off. I could feel we were being hit in the planes belly but without the bombs on board the Karzy just soaked up the damage.
Jimmy Widdle told me afterwards it was an Me 110 that had hit us there and he downed the fighter the next time it came in for an attack form 6 o’clock low. His mates decided to avoid our tail for their next run but they hadn’t counted on the top guns which took out another of the 110s.
As the German fighters came round for their third attack the cavalry arrived. The sound of Merlin engines in full roar has just got to be one of the best things I have ever heard. The RAF boys didn’t abandon us either. They took on some Fw190’s that our slow progress had encouraged to get interested. Thanks to those Spits., we weren’t bothered for the rest of the trip home.
When we get the opportunity I think we should invite those guys over for a bit of a party in the mess.
I did not find out until after we landed, being a bit busy at the time, but our new Bombardier Lt. Inigo Tinkle (what kind of name is that!) says that our bombs hit in a good pattern. I don’t know if it was luck or good aiming, I guess we will find out next trip.
1st Lt. Roger Daley
-
ian morris
United Kingdom
lichfield
staffordshire
-
Amiens AAR
Mission 82/Bomber 6
Squadron : 153rd
Pilot : Captain Willard
B-17 : The Crystal Ship
Crew :-
Pilot Cptn Willard (6)
CoPilot Lt Morrison (6)
Navigator Lt Manzarek * (6)
Bombardier Lt Kurtz * (6)
Engineer Mstr Sgt Phillips #*^ (6)
Radio Operator Sgt Krieger ** (6)
Ball Turret Sgt Johnson ##**^ (6)
Waist Gunner Sgt Miller ** (6)
Waist Gunner Sgt Hicks * (6)
Tail Turret Sgt Densmore #* (6)
() : missions previously completed.
# : 5 fighters previously claimed.
* : fighters previously claimed.
^ : half fighter previously claimed.
Fighters claimed : nil.
Bombing results : 0 % off target.
Injuries : Light wound for Sergeant Densmore.
Debrief
Summer's almost gone, and the Brass must be getting tired of writing to the folks back home, because they sent us on a milkrun today, to bomb kraut airfields around Amiens. Either that, or they're saving us for something big...
So, fighter cover from the Brits all the way, a short hop over the Channel, and back in time for a late breakfast. Of course, our Intelligence Officer is a master of understatement, and neglected to tell us that Amiens was another flak trap, ringed with heavy flak guns.
We could have left our gunners at home and saved their nerves : we never fired a shot. We saw a few Messerschmidts rising to meet the Group, but our squadron buddies kept them off us. So far, so good, but Hermann's finest bracketed us over the target, wounding Densmore and knocking the control cables about. The Ship lurched, and our bombs went high, wide and handsome, unfortunately for the farmers below us. Then the flak caught us again, striking the rudder and knocking out the starboard cheek gun and the starboard wing flap. Still, we got out of there and had a straight run home with no problems. Densmore has had a painful wrist strapped up, and the crew are feasting on bacon and eggs. A couple more missions like this one would sure please their mothers.
Captain Benjamin Willard
-
Jim P
United States
Sterling Heights
Michigan
-
Gentlemen, this mission is turning out to be a true "Milk Run!"
-
-
After Action Report (AAR)
Pilot: 1st Lt. Robert Schoens
Mission: 82 (5)
B-17: Silver Dollar
Squadron: 151st Rapture Time
Target: Amiens - Gilsy Aerodrome
Crew Assigned:
Bombardier 2nd Lt Trevor Wilson (1)
Navigator 2nd Lt Raymond Hanson (4) **
Pilot 1st Lt Robert "Bob" Schoens (5)
Co-Pilot 2nd Bill Petso (4)
Engineer Msgt Edison Cain (3) **
Radio Operator Tsgt Jason Briggs (1)
Ball Gunner Sgt Edward Silverstone (5) **
Port Waist Gunner Sgt Buddy Giancomo (1)
Starboard Waist Gunner Sgt Sam Brand (1)
Tail Gunner Sgt Donald Blair (4)
* one enemy fighter
# five enemy fighters
( ) missions
Claims: None
Crew Injuries/Casualties: Tail Gunner D. Blair (SW - REC)
Bomb Drop: Off Target - 0%
B-17's Disposition: (4) Superficial hits
Mission Description:
Tail End Charlie today, but light resistance and good fighter protection kept us from being attacked. The flak was the culprit today and kept us from hitting our target. I switched on the auto-pilot and gave control to our new bombardier Trevor. One burst struck the #1 engine and another in the tail. Both superficial, but enough to bounce the Silver Dollar off target. Inbound three more bursts found their mark. One in the radio room, one by the flight deck and one in the tail. I heard Don cry out and sent one of our new waist gunners back to have a look. Don suffered a nasty flash burn and we thought he'd lost his eyesight.
Only a single ME 410 was seen on the way back, but the Spits drove him away. We landed and got Don to the hospital. The blindness is temporary and he will be back in action after the redness goes away.
Another great opportunity to hit the Germans on the chin is gone.
-
Damo
Australia
Hobart
Tasmania
Plastic & Shiney!
Don't try this in a B-17!
-
jasta6 wrote: [center] Gentlemen, this mission is turning out to be a true "Milk Run!"
Sir! You'll jinx us!
-
Daniel K. Edwards
United States
El Centro
California
-
B-17: HONEY STAR
Pilot: 2nd Lt. John Koltek
Squadron: 154th BS
Mission: 82 This bomber (5)
Date: August 15, 1943
Target: Amiens Gilsy Airfield
Position: low
Crew Status:
Pilot: 2Lt. John Koltek (5)
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Fredrick Tonnemann (1)
Bombardier: 2nd Lt. Lloyd Frazier (1)
Navigator: 2nd Lt. John B. Hood (1)
Engineer: Mst.Sgt. Vunvent Esterly (1)
Radio Operator: Sgt. Leonard Edwards (5) KIA [decapated by flak]
Ball Gunner: T-Sgt. Harold Barbour (5) (+)(+)(+)(+)(+)
P-Waist: Sgt. Peter Almay (1) LW
Sb-Waist: Sgt. James Serrano (1)
Tail Gunner: Sgt. Rolando Fallchichi (6) (+)(+)(+) LW
Bomb Drop:0%.
Aircraft Status: Repairable - portwing aileron destroyed, portwing root hit, engine 1 out, two hits to rudder
Mission Summary - Short flight, but a damn their flak! We saw only two Jerry fighters who were quickly engaged by our escorting fighters, but the enemy flak hit us pretty hard both coming in and exiting the target zone. The worse of it was Sgt. Edwards being KIA (poor guy was decapated!) and engine one being hit and running away; fortunatly we got it feathered. Estimate we were hit by flak 13 times! Two guys, Sgt. Almay in the waist and Sgt. Fallchichi in the tail were nicked by flak.
Our bombing run was off, but maybe, just maybe, Jerry has something hidden wherever our bombs hit.
HONEY STAR will be ready for her next mission.
Respectfully Submitted,
John Koltek, 2LT. USAAF
Pilot: B-17 HONEY STAR
-
Alexander Boucharelis
Greece
Drama
-
After Action Report (AAR) #82
Pilot: 2nd Lt. Andronicus Laskaris
B17: Nike B-17F-110-B0 42-30536
Sqdn.: 151st
Target: Amiens, A/F (Gilsy Airdromes), occupied France.
Position: Low-Low
Bomb Load: 24 x 100 lb H.E. M43 bombs
# Missions: ¡
A/C Claims: NIL
Crew Status
Pilot: 2nd Lt. Andronicus Laskaris, (1)
Copilot: 2nd Lt. Nikeforus Stratigopoulos, (1)
Bombardier: 2nd Lt. Basil Chrisos, (1)
Navigator: 2nd Lt. Dimitrios Tornikes,(1)
Engineer: SSgt. Manouel Craterus, (1)
Radio Operator: Sgt. John Doe, (-), KIA
Ball Gunner: Sgt. Theodore Parthenis, (1)
Port Waist: Sgt. John Koutras, * (1), LW
|▐██▌|
Starboard Waist: Sgt. John Doe, (-), SW + KIA
Tail Gunner: Sgt. David Skoulariotis, (1)
() : missions completed
▲: personal rabbit foot
½: half fighter previously claimed
*: 1 fighter previously claimed
#: 5 fighters previously claimed = ACE
▼
Bomb Drop : ON / 30%
Fighters Encountered: 8 (0 Experts / 1 Aces / 1 Greens)
Fighters Driven off: 3
Claims: Damaged: 2 - Propable: 0 - Kills: 0
Flak Hits: 5
B-17's Disposition: Landed ok, will be ready for the next mission
Total Superficial Damages: 5/9 Hits
Peckham Damage Points: 92
PORT SIDE: elevator damaged, superficial hits
STBD SIDE: No4 engine superficial hit
MAIN BODY: Autopilot mechanism OFF, bomb bay & Tailplane superficial hits
HEAT OUT: NIL
O2 OUT: NIL
Recommendations:
Purple hearts to wounded and dead crew members.
Promotions
NIL
Mission Description:
This is my first assignement, i felt lucky because of the new type of B17 that HQ gave me and Amiens is just off U.K. so this was an easy target, well the reality was slight different, the Germans aimed my ship scoring a walking hit killing my radio man and after that the flak missed us at the beginning. My bombardier dropped the bombs quite accurate but the flak on our return hit us hard, killing one more crew member and wounding another, it caused some damages to the ship also but none of them was crucial. After that the landing was quite easy and thats all!
Sincerely,
2nd Lt. Andronicus Laskaris
Pilot of B17F "Nike"
151st Squadron, 281st Bomb Group (V)
Game notes:
Hah! even in zone 3 Charilaos managed to kill some of my crew, there 's no escape!
-
-
MISSION Eighty-Two:
Date: Sunday, August 15, 1943 (3 day from last mission)
Primary Target: Amiens, France. A/F (Gilsy Airdromes)
Secondary Target: None
Pilot: 1st Lt. Jack Armstrong
Plane: Nasty Boys (B-17F-40-B0 42-5246)
Mission: 82(1)
Target: Amiens, France. A/F (Gilsy Airdromes)
Sqdn: 153rd
Position: Middle
Bomb run: 30 %
Crew:
Pilot – 1st Lt. Jack Armstrong (1) -
Copilot - 2nd Lt. Tom Browning (1) –
Bombardier – 2nd Lt. Joe Oliver (1) -
Navigator - 2nd Lt. Todd Benzinger (1) –
Engineer - MSgt. Marty Duncan (1) * – Me109
Radio Op.- Sgt. Barry Larkin (1) * – Me109
Ball Gunner - Sgt. Chris Sabo (1) –
Port Waist – Sgt. William (Billy) Hatcher (1) –
Strbd Waist - Sgt. Eric Davis (1) -
Tail Gunner - Sgt. Paul O’Neill (1)-
A/C Claims:
* one enemy fighter
# five enemy fighters
(1) missions - **
Peckham Points –0.
Aircraft Status – Barely a scratch on her.
Mission Report –
If all missions are this way, we’ll all make 25 and go home. Just outside Amiens several waves of Me109s attempted to make runs at our formation, but the Spitfires did an excellent job in keeping them off us. The one that made it past them was taken out by Duncan before it could do us any damage.
Flak was all around, but we were lucky and missed all of it. Bomb run looked good and Oliver was happy with his precision. More flak on the way out, but again we skated by it.
More 109s came at us on the way out of the drop zone and this time the Spits were unable to keep two of them off of us. But Larkin nailed one from the Radio Room as it dove on us and the other gave a half hearted run and gave up. Not sure if we were even hit.
Over the Channel we were approached by four 109s but the Spits were up for it and none came close to us. We fired a bit at one but the Spits kept his tail hot and he dove away.
All in all an excellent first mission.
Total for the mission 2-0-0 (killed-probable-damaged)
Spitfires 2-2-0 (killed-probable-damaged)
-
David Lanphear
United States
Stockton
California
-
Pilot: 2nd Lt. Joe Friday
Plane: JUST THE FLAK MA'AM
Mission: 82(2)
Target: Amiens, France - Air fields
Sqdn: 153rd
Position: Middle
Bomb run: 40%
Crew:
Pilot - 2nd Lt. Joe Friday (2)
Copilot - 2nd Lt. Bill Gannon (2)
Bombardier - 2nd Lt. Daniel Williams (2)
Navigator - 2nd Lt. Steve McGarrett (2)
Engineer - SSgt. Harold Iglesias (1)
Radio Op.- TSgt. Jim Reed (2)
Ball Gunner - Sgt. Jim Rockford (2)
Port Waist - Sgt. Jeffrey Ullman (1)
Strbd Waist - Sgt. Theo Kojak (2)*
Tail Gunner - Sgt. Joe Mannix (2)
|▐██▌|
½ shared credit
* one enemy fighter
# five enemy fighters
( ) missions
Aircraft Status - Aircraft returned with superfical damage to tail & no casualties. Claim of 1xFw190 damaged.
Mission Report
This is how the air war should be fought. For the most part our escorts kept the Jerries out of the formation. We have one Fw190 break through the escort and make a run on us after the bombing run, but my new flight engineer reports that he hit it pretty good as it flew at us. Enough to cause it to smoke heavily and make it retire from the battle. No enemy activity over the channel coming or going.
Lt. Williams reports decent coverage on the pattern. He's two or two putting our load on target. He better not brag to much about it or he'll get promoted and be made lead bombardier and have a big ole target painted on the front of his plexiglass. Or worse yet they won't promote him, but assign our crew as lead and then we'll all get targets painted on us. But I guess the war will end quicker if we could bomb the heck out of our target each and every mission.
No casualties, but it looks like we got superfical damage to the tail area. From the looks of things it looks like some of that flak over the target found a piece of us.
2nd Lt. Joe Friday, Pilot, 153rd Bomber Squadron, 281st Bomber Group (H)
-
David Grabiner
United States
Unspecified
Unspecified
-
(Re-post; the last AAR got truncated when I pasted it)
After Action Report
B-17: Orange Roughy, B17F-70-BO-42-120121
Pilot: 1st Lt. Kevin Ward
Squadron: 152nd
Mission: 82 (this bomber 1)
Date: August 15, 1943
Target: Amiens, Gilsy Aerodromes
Position: High squadron, middle
Crew Status:
Pilot 1st Lt. Kevin Ward (1)
Copilot 2nd Lt. Jason Porter (1)
Bombardier 2nd Lt. Anthony McCook * (1)
Navigator 2nd Lt. Arthur Waterstone (1)
Engineer MSgt. Fred Hansen (1)
Radio Operator Sgt. Dave Oxford (1)
Ball Gunner Sgt. James Szymanski (1)
Port Waist Sgt. Walter McCook (1)
Starboard Waist Sgt. Stephen Roberts * (1)
Tail Gunner Sgt. Charles Vaughan ** (1)
* = 1 kill
# = 5 kills
Bomb Run: 40%
Fighters claimed: 4 killed, 1 probable
Bombardier Lt. McCook: 1 FW-190
Starboard Waist Gunner Sgt. Roberts: 1 FW-190
Tail Gunner Sgt. Vaughan: 2 Me-109
B-17 Status:
Radio out
Rudder-1 hit
Tailwheel out
Tail oxygen-1 hit
Control cables-1 hit
Replacements:
None
Debrief:
We did our job for the war on our first mission. Our bombs were on
target, four of the seven fighters that attacked us won't be flying
again, and the Orange Roughy returned home with only minor damage and a
healthy crew.
This was a short mission and the RAF's best Spitfires were covering us,
so we didn't expect much fighter resistance. Half the fighters we saw
were damaged or scared away by fighter cover. Only one got through to
us before IP, and that one missed us and then had his tail blown off by
a passing shot from Sgt. McCook.
The flak was another story; I confirmed with several other pilots that
it was unusually heavy. One burst exploded just behind us, and shrapnel
knocked out the radio and damaged several areas of the tail. The
autopilot kept working, adjusted for the buffeting, and helped us get
about ten of our 24 bombs onto the aerodrome. The flak didn't let up
after we downloaded, but it missed us.
On the return trip, the fighters tried attacking in larger formations,
and several got through the fighter cover, with one hitting us for minor
damage. But our own gunners were up to the task; only three fighters
got within range and lived to tell the tale, and one of those three went into
a sharp dive after missing us with his shots.
The tailwheel didn't deploy on landing, but the plane wasn't badly
damaged.
1st Lt. Kevin Ward
152nd BS, 281st BG(H)
-
John Kovacs
United States
Elyria
Ohio
-
Mission 082 to Target - Amiens, France - Airfields
Date: 15-August-1943
Crew CO: 1st Lt. Bob Feller
Plane: Strike One (B-17F-55-BO 43-12048)
Mission Number: Group 82 (Bomber 1, Crew 1)
Crew:
1st Lt. Bob Feller (Pilot-1)
1st Lt. Bob Lemon (Co-Pilot-1)
2nd Lt. Early Wynn (Bombardier-1)
2nd Lt. Stan Coveleski (Navigator-1)
MSgt. Addie Joss (Engineer-1)
TSgt. Gene Beardon (Radio Operator-1)
Sgt. Doug Jones (Ball Gunner-1)
Sgt. Sam McDowell (Port Waist Gunner-1)
Sgt. Len Barker (Starboard Waist Gunner-1)
Sgt. Satchel Paige (Tail Gunner-1)
Crew Disposition:
2nd Lt. Stan Coveleski: KIA
2nd Lt. Early Wynn: LW
Bomb Drop: On Target
Bombing Accuracy: 40%
E/A Claims:
Sgt. Doug Jones: 1 x Bf-109 Destroyed
B-17s Disposition:
Ground Crew Chief Mike Hargrove reports that Strike One had the pilot compartment window cracked, the nose glass holed/shattered, and two superficial hits for 19 Peckham Chart damage points.
Mission Description:
152nd BS, 281st BG (V)
15-August-1943 Mission to Airfields at Amiens, France
Bomb Load: 24 x 100 lb. GP M43
Mission Length: 3 hours 15 minutes
Group Position: High Squadron
Squadron Position: Middle
Altitude over Target: 29,500 ft.
Our first mission and we went to France. Weather report was good and enemy resistance was expected to be heavy, especially since we targeted their airfields. Although this mission could have been considered a milk run mission, the crew was told to stay sharp.
Zone 2 Outbound:
No enemy fighters reported.
Zone 3 Outbound (Target):
We saw some enemy fighters on the fringes of the squadron formation but none of them came after us. A piece of flak shrapnel cracked the windscreen in the pilot compartment but thankfully the plexiglass held.
2nd Lt. Wynn followed the Lead Bomber on the run in and guessed that we had 40-50% of the bombs hit the target. Lt. Wynn did graduate near the top of his class in bombardier school.
Zone 3 Inbound (Target):
Right after we made the turn for home we got jumped by a Bf-109 and an Me-410, one of them twin-engined "bomber destroyers" we'd been hearing about. Two RAF Spitfires took care of the Me-410 in front of us and Sgt. Doug Jones in the ball turret took care of the Bf-109 at 3:00 Low with a long burst from his twin machine guns. The Kraut fighter burst into flames and spun into the ground. Another group of Bf-109s was driven away by the squadron's guns.
As we passed over the secondary flak ring we were hit by four shells, two in the nose and two in the tail. The tail hits did not do any serious damage but the nose hits did - 2nd Lt. Coveleski took a shell in his chest and was killed instantly, while 2nd Lt. Wynn got a flesh wound from a piece of shrapnel in his left arm.
Zone 2 Inbound:
No enemy fighters reported.
Zone 1 Inbound:
The weather was good at the base and we made a routine landing. The crew helped load Lt. Coveleski's body into the ambulance and Lt. Wynn followed the ambulance in a jeep. He returned later with a bandage on his arm and clearance from the flight surgeon to fly the next mission.
MSgt. Hargrove reported to me that Strike One would be ready for the next mission. The windscreen and nose glass would be replaced by the morning and the holes in the plane would be patched up. The ground crews keep very busy patching up our planes from what I have seen.
I have filled out the paperwork for a replacement navigator and started writing the letter home to his family. The fact that Coveleski did not survive even a single mission is disturbing. How many missions will the rest of the crew survive? They aren't telling us everything back in the States.
Respectfully,
1st Lt. Bob Feller
152nd BS, 281st BG (V)
B-17F-55-BO 43-12048 (Strike One)
Game Notes: I have had my share of disasters on "milk runs" but other than losing the navigator this mission went pretty smoothly. Only two enemy fighters to deal with and both of them went down. A 40% bomb run after dealing with some flak was a bonus. Most of the plane's damage was due to the flak on the way home. Although I did pick up a rabbit's foot, it wasn't until after the navigator was killed.
-
|
|
BG...................BB...................GB..................GG
Posted Sun Jan 22, 2012 11:20 pm
