CERIGNOLA CONNECTION 455th Bomb Group Association Newsletter
Spring, 2015 Editor: Craig Ward, 813 Peterstow Drive, Euless, Texas 76039 phone : (817) 540-1068 email : [email protected] website : www.awardphp.com
Fifteenth Air Force crossed the Alps from their Italian bases to In This Edition attack German industrial targets." Pages 1 & 2 ... Message from In reading this quote, I the President found myself wondering what that "blue southern sky" over Page 3 ... Generous Cerignola was like. As these Contributors brave crews took-off or landed from their deadly missions, what Pages 4 thru 9 ... Message from sort of weather and air-traffic did Joint Reunion of the they run into? What was the 451st and 455th Bomb the President surrounding countryside like? Groups, Septermber, 2015, By How long had San Giovanni Kansas City , MO. Norman Crum airfield been around and what was it like? Pages 10 & 11 ... I'm happy to once again I discovered through Email List offer a few words for this edition some quick Google searches of Cerignola Connection. Many that the Foggia region's climate Page 11 ... Final Flights thanks to those who have is remarkably similar to that of contributed to, and skillfully Stockton, California, where I sit Pages 12 thru 20 ... edited, this unique publication. writing this article. The Solo Sortie, In previous articles, I've summertime highs are in the by Winton S. Reynolds (742) tried to help us imagine what it low-90s with winter highs in the was like to fly on a combat high-50s. Overnight Page 20 ... Final Flights mission in a B-24. I've also temperatures are in the low-70s made some observations about in the summer and high-30s in Pages 20 thru 22 ... the B-24 aircraft itself and have winter. Annual rainfall is a dry Dear Editor reviewed the 15th Air Force's 18" and falls mostly between strategic role in the ETO. November and February. There Page 22 ... Final Flights Albert Speer, Hitler's are never more than nine rainy Minister for Armaments, once days in any month and it is clear Page 23 ... Final Flights, & declared: "I could see omens of and sunny approximately 81% Can You Help? the war's end almost every day of the time. In short: great in the blue southern sky when, flying weather. Back Page ... flying provocatively low, the The province of Foggia is Message from the bombers of the American generally flat, agricultural Executive Director lowland with its most important the Balkans, which were to agriculture. Little or no crop being durum wheat. inaccessible from England. evidence remains of their use as Because so much wheat is In addition to the wartime airfields. grown in this area, it is also relatively few established San Giovanni Airfield, commonly known as the airfields, additional temporary home of the 454th and 455th “grainery of Italy”. This would and "semi-permanent" airfields Bomb Groups, was one of these have made it relatively efficient (such as San Giovanni) were semi-permanent bases and was to build the landing strips and constructed for operations by abandoned soon after the war. taxiways needed to handle USAAF units. These airfields It was located approximately bombers and fighters, and to consisted of grass or pierced 9km west of Cerignola. Built in build their associated support steel planking runways with late 1943, and opened January facilities. support structures quickly 1944, it had pierced steel Before World War II, the constructed out of wood or planking runways with extensive Italian Royal Air Force canvas, along with a temporary taxiway and parking areas and a constructed some airfields in the steel control tower. steel control tower. Foggia area. They consisted of Six-man tents were used At the time, it was permanent, hard-surfaced for billeting, lined up in rows with considered to be a relatively runways and taxiways, concrete the orderly room and the mess large facility with capacity for parking areas, and buildings for hall at one end. There was one approximately 150 heavy the support units and barracks. dim light bulb at the center of bombers. It remained in After the armistice each tent. The tent floor was operation until the end of the between Italy and Allied armed usually dirt. Eventually plywood war, closing in October 1945. forces in September, 1943, was scavenged for flooring, Faint scarring of land is still these airfields were seized by wooden cots were used for visible, but there is little or no the German Luftwaffe. While beds, and ubiquitous 55-gallon physical evidence of the under Axis control, these drums were converted into a airfield's existence. airfields were heavily bombed stove. In this edition of the by the United States Army Air Since many of these Cerignola Connection , we Force and Royal Air Force in airfields were captured from the continue to tell the story of the 1943, before being seized by enemy, wrecked aircraft were a people who flew, fought and the British Eighth Army in common sight, with metal from serviced the 455th bombers October, 1943, during the Italian fuselages and wings, glass and over southern Europe. They Campaign. other useful parts finding their were brave, intelligent young After the area was way into the support areas. men, and we continue to be captured, these facilities were By mid-1944, about two blessed that they did their duty, repaired by the Army Corps of dozen airfields were in operation and preserved our freedom. Engineers to make them usable in the Foggia area, supporting for heavy bomber operations by strategic bombing missions, See Map, Next Page the new Fifteenth Air Force. escort missions, tactical fighter Weather in southern Italy was operations, reconnaissance and much better than in England, air defense missions. where the Eighth Air Force was With the end of the war in headquartered. Using the May, 1945, the non-permanent Foggia Airfield Complex for airfields were abandoned and strategic bombing missions the land was returned to would allow Allied heavy previous owners or the Italian bombers to attack targets in government. Today, these France, Germany, Austria and bases have long-since returned
2 The 455th Bomb Group Association, Inc. would like to thank the following Association members for their 455TH BOMB GROUP generous monetary contributions (cumulative listing) : ASSOCIATION, INC. P.O. BOX 93095 Taxi ($25-$99) AUSTIN, TX. 78709-3095 Loraine McGinnis, in memory of Joseph McGinnis Gerald W. Adams PRESIDENT John Kay McBain Norman Crum Victor E. Murray EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / Lloyd C. Kestner TREASURER W. Scott Lawing in memory of MSgt (Ret) Robert L. Denton (743) Gregory E. Riggs Joseph A. Abbondondelo Col. USAF (Ret.) William E. Fredrickson in memory of Elwood (Freddie) Fredrickson P.O. Box 93095 Takeoff ($100-$199) Austin, TX. 78709-3095 L. Harvey Hewitt SECRETARY Charles V. Vandoren Ted Tronoff Francis G. Hosimer PAST PRESIDENT Charles H. Rosenberg Roderick W. Clarke Elmo J. Henske Col. USAF (Ret.) Anonymous DIRECTORS Richard C. Skagenberg John F. Davis Helen A. Worster, in memory of Lt. Col John R. Worster Col. USAF (Ret.) Dorothy Wood Cloud, in memory of T/Sgt Robert D. Cloud Ormond H. Buffington Henry C. Paris T/Sgt. USAAF Wesley Fellowship Class in memory of MSgt (Ret) Robert L. Denton (743) Carl Loiocano Bombs away ($200-$499) T/Sgt. USAAF Francis G. Hosimer Craig Ward Karen R. Schoene, in honor of Lt Col Horst R. Schoene Son, Lt. J. T. Ward Virginia Corsello, in memory of 1 Lt Anthony (Tony) Corsello Editor, Cerignola Connection Catherine Spewock, in honor of S/Sgt Andrew Spewock REGISTERED AGENT Robert W. Rohler, in honor of 1Lt Charles William (Bill) Rohler John F. Davis Thomas E. Boyd Col. USAF (Ret.) L. Harvey Hewitt ASSOCIATION HISTORIAN Mission complete ($500 or more) John Rohrer Mary E. Jureka, in honor of Col John F. Jureka Norman Crum, in memory of George W. Crum Robert O. Foernsler, in memory of Capt Ed Soderstrom & crew 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 455th BG E-mail Roster Janet & Russell Crocker Ann Genge [email protected] Daughter of Allen Durkee (743) Harry W. Anderson (740) [email protected] San Antonio,TX. Norman Crum [email protected] President, 455th BG Assoc. Lt. Col. R. J. Haney (743) Son of Cpt. George Crum (742) [email protected] Dave Bathie (assoc. 740) [email protected] [email protected] Tech Sgt. Fred Hamilton (740) John Davis (741) [email protected] Joel Beauvais [email protected] Son, Raymond Beauvais (741) L. Harvey Hewit (743) [email protected] Jack Dekker (743) Haverford, PA. [email protected] [email protected] 1st. Lt. Thomas A. 'Tom' Bell 840 Kimberly Ct. Theodore Deppe (741) Robert Hilgendorf Lander, WY 82520 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Louise Defenbaugh Yearout Frank Hosimer (741) Jack Blum (741) George Defenbaugh’s daughter [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Joe Kiernan (741) Thomas Boyd John Devito (assoc.) 280 Middle Holland Rd, #719 [email protected] [email protected] Holland PA 18966 (215) 396-7905 Ormond Buffington (741) Curtis (Curt) Diles, Jr. (740) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Erling Kindem (742) Mario Capocefalo (Italy) Paul H. Ditchett (742) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Viliam Klabnik Rod Clarke (743) William M. Doyle (742) [email protected] Alexandria, VA [email protected] [email protected] George L. Liddle (742) Robert Emick (741) [email protected] Howard Cooper (740) [email protected] [email protected] E.J. Ledbetter, Jr. (743) William E. Fredrickson [email protected] Robert D. (Bob) Collette (740) Son, Elwood Fredrickson (743) South Pasadena, Fl 33707 1521 Woodgate Way John L. Larma (740) dotybob@verizon .net Tallahassee, FL 32308 [email protected] [email protected] 913-712-8773 Bill & Joyce Crawford Dan Mason [email protected]
10 Email addresses (cont.) [email protected] FINAL FLIGHTS
Frank Mastroleo Sgt. John E. Skelton Mr. Walter P. Lee [email protected] [email protected] March 2, 1921- Dec. 7, 2013 He enlisted in the U.S. Dave Matheson (742) Michael Spewock Army in 1942, and served as a [email protected] Son of Andrew Spewock (743) pilot in World War II in the Army [email protected] Air Corp., 455th Bomb group, Mike McFadden (Assoc. 743) 15th Air Force; flying B-24's for Son-in-Law of Austin Herrity Charles E. Stark (740) over 50 missions, returning [email protected] [email protected] home with his 11 man crew intact. Jim Merritt Ted Stiner His service medals Son of Lt. Jim Merritt (741) Son of Lt.Theodore Stiner (741) included the European African [email protected] [email protected] Middle Eastern Service Medal, the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Vic Murray (743) Carl A. Stracka (Pilot, 743) Clusters, and the Distinguished [email protected] 1121 E. Moorpark Ave. Flying Cross, and later the Appleton, WI. 54911 Greek Service Medal. Peter Payant (743) [email protected] Angelo Synodis (741) Roy Madsen [email protected] 1925 - 2011 Roland J Pepin Roy Madsen, age 86, died Sept. [email protected] Julie Summerfield 4, 2011 at his home surrounded Daughter of Walter by family and loved ones. Wesley Powell (740) Summerfield (743) Roy was a decorated [email protected] [email protected] veteran who served as a tail gunner in the Air Force during Brenda Rayman Ted Tronoff (742) World War II. After being shot Daughter, E.J. Ledbetter (743) [email protected] down the second time, he [email protected] credits his life being saved by Dr. Stanley Vogelfang (741) the Czechoslovakian partisans John Rohrer [email protected] who helped him flee from the Son of Carl Rohrer (740) pursuing German army. [email protected] John R. Worster (742). After the fall of the iron [email protected] curtain, he was able to travel Charles H. Rosenberg (741) back to his beloved [email protected]. Craig Ward Czechoslovakia several times Editor, Cerignola Connection where he was instrumental in Irving (Irv) Rubin (743) Son of Lt. J. T. Ward (740) honoring the American service 321-514-3445 [email protected] men and women who had lost their lives during World War II. Sid Schoengold (740) Leland L. Young (743) Many of Roy's personal [email protected] [email protected] effects from the Air Force are currently on display in the Dr. Gary R. Schoene, son, Paul A. Young (741) museum honoring the Slovak Lt Col Horst R. Schoene (743) [email protected] National Uprising in Banska [email protected] Bystrica, Slovakia. August R. “Gus” Seefluth (742) 11 Solo Sortie copying down secret call signs there are numerous planes, and by Lt. Winton S. Reynolds (742) and signals into pocket sized men to fly them, does not alter notebooks as the Major read the the size or importance of one Have you ever wondered orders. specific airplane and the pilot what it would be like to fly in a "You are carrying delayed who is its brain. heavy B-24 Liberator bomber action bombs today, men. You His judgment and deep into Germany - alone? must drop them. You will be psychomotor reaction to a given Much has been written carrying two pamphlet bombs, situation, regardless how he about the formations, numbering also," he pointed out. might feel physically or mentally, well into the thousands, that There were strained must be the right one or all may sweep the skies over axis held expressions on the faces of the be lost. Europe; when the weather crew members as they looked at The instrument pilot has, permits, but little has been the course line stretching across of course, been trained to written about the 15th Army Air a large portion of a sprawling disregard all sensations that he Force secret briefings that are map of Europe. They knew the may experience that may held for crews that have been dangers involved in a flight prompt his thinking in a split- trained to fly - alone. where cloud formations offered second analysis of a sensation When the weather is the only protection against as to his relative position and "socked" in solid from five enemy fighters. They knew the attitude in the air. Sensations thousand up and the strength of danger of ice that forms so that contradict the instruments the Air Force is forced to stand rapidly on the wings and tail before him are known to all who down, "the weather crews" are assembly of an aircraft, that to fly in the "soup" as vertigo. alerted to fly. break it loose with the aids of Overpowering these At an early hour, when de-icer boots is a relative sensations can be, in time, very camps are asleep, a few impossibility. fatiguing. The sensation of especially trained crews crawl They were fully aware the "stalling out" while in a climb, or out of their "sacks", dress and concentrations of heavy 88 mm banking to the right or left while hurry off to the mess hall for a flak and aerial rocket barrages the aircraft remains in level flight breakfast of hot cereal and that were not confined to the are extremely confusing to the coffee. In a truck they are target alone. If the navigation be pilot. There is but one and only carried to a war room. There faulty and the airplane off one remedy to this almost behind locked doors they are course, in some instances but a nauseating sensation, which briefed on the target selected for few miles, they would be may attack without provocation. the day's operations. subjecting themselves to a Fly on instruments! Not by the It is an entirely different rather rude awakening of its "seat of your pants." sensation to be briefed for a presence. Perfect navigation in At length the crews were flight without the company of the the "soup" is a rather ticklish dismissed and they filed out of entire Air Force, without fighter business. It requires a great the briefing room into a wet, cold escort, and through the greatest deal of energy and skill of the drizzle. The dawn was a faint of all hazards to all pilots - men who direct the flight of a pallor which filtered through the weather! It requires all of the large bomber. heavy overcast. The pilot skill and courage of an entire Weather flying, from the paused for a moment, before he crew. Complete co-operation pilot's standpoint, is of course climbed upon the truck, and and eagle-eyed alertness. hazardous work. Intricate scanned the skies. The crews listened instruments, gauges and dials "Through that muck and carefully as they were given are the nerve endings of an into Germany - alone. Well," he information pertinent to the enormous piece of flying thought to himself, "I hope I flight. Pencils were busy machinery. Simply because make it."
12 With pseudo-zest he checked by the radio operator. given. The big Liberator bomber swung aboard and the truck, The airplane was in responded to the slow with the grating of gears, order. advancement of the throttles by skidded off down the road filled The pilots were in their the pilot, and began to move. with thick, sluggish mud. cockpit and crew members at Onto the taxi strip, which would At the "parachute room" their appointed station for its way across the area and on the "line" the men dressed for takeoff. Minutes passed. The down to the end of the runway. their assent into the overcast pilot glanced at the clock "Controls unlocked," was and into the sub-zero snuggly set into the instrument the pilot's terse command. "High temperatures; where little by panel. RPM! Auto-rich! Booster pumps little, and in spite of every "It's time to start," he on! Half flaps! Okay in the protection available (heated thought. waist?" The pilot called over the suits, boots, and gloves), the From that moment interphone. cold gnaws at one until you feel forward the crew had to function There was a quick reply, you can no longer stand it. not as eleven individuals, but as "Roger!" The crew chief and his eleven crew members who had On cue from the tower assistants had checked and specific jobs to do. the big lumbering bomber, rechecked the plane prior to the "Let's start 'em up," he loaded to the brim of her bomb crew's arrival at the "hard called out. "Main line and bays, with death and destruction stand". Engines had been pre- battery. Put-put." plus leaflets which were to be flighted and were perfect. The The copilot snapped the dropped along with the bombs armorers were busy fusing battery switches and main line to give the people of Germany a delayed action bombs with bar on. The assistant engineer clue as to why they were being special "booby trap" started the put-put. bombed. The unwieldy bomber attachments. The engineer and "Clear left!" came the pulled out on the runway. Poised assistant engineer were busy warning from the pilot. and ready for takeoff, the pilot safetying the gas tank caps. The The copilot called out, advanced the throttles and the oil had been checked and the "Clear right." bomber went thundering down caps safetied. Routine checks were the runway. With her nose wheel The pilots were occupied made. Inverters and instruments off the ground the plane was inspecting the plane. Checking were cautiously checked for held in the proper angle of her de-icer boots for rips and possible failure. Number three attack. tears. Her antennas were intact. engine was accelerated, primed Gaining momentum with The turbo-buckets had proper and meshed. The big Pratt & every second that ticked with clearance and were in excellent Whitney engines kicked over. the beating of the hearts of the condition. Gunners worked The pilot pulled the mixture into men who flew her, she lifted her quietly and efficiently over their auto-rich, and the engine began heavy and splashed body from fifty calibers and deadly belts of to run smoothly. Number four - the runway, and flew into the ammunition. They handled them number two - and then one. The quiet gray shroud of mist about like babies. A solo mission can artificial horizon erected itself as her. be a do-or-die affair, and an the gyro instruments came into There was something unprotected tail could spell operation. graceful about that bomber as it death for eleven men. Cartons The pilots, after allowing took off for Germany. In spite of of chaff were loaded into the the "power plants" to warm up, its awkwardness on the ground, waist section. The oxygen was checked the mags and ran up there was a certain dignity in the checked at all stations. The the engines. Contact was made way it flew. The way its gear interphone, VHF, and command with the tower. Taxi and takeoff almost automatically folded up transmitters were quickly instructions were succinctly into her wings. The drone of her
13 four engines in perfect How's our ETA coming out on A turning point was reached and synchronization. DR?" the plane was promptly turned The "tri-bladed props" The DR navigator, after a to a new heading. Nothing new thrust their way into the overcast few moments of calculation, on scenery - only the swirling with every bite and the "solo" responded with an encouraging snow. ship disappeared into the reply. "On the ball." The second hand on the clouds. Climbing steadily the free clock went round and round and This radar ship, known as air temperature gauge fell. At finally the larger hand decided to a Mickey , is different than most eighteen thousand it had move. Minutes seemed like B-24's. It's equipped with dropped to thirty-three below hours. navigational aids too secret to zero. Each time a man exhaled At twenty-two thousand it mention. Painted blue-grey to through the rubber vents of his suddenly stopped snowing. It blend with the clouds she flies oxygen mask the moisture was lighter and the outboard through. immediately condensed into fog. engines came into view. The There is no identification Ice had begun to form on the silk engines droned in the rarified insignia smartly exhibiting her scarves and the fur collars of the atmosphere. Steadily the wing, group and squadron on tightly zipped up jackets. There temperature dropped, and her tail assembly. She flies were frequent oxygen checks number four engine began to alone and unnamed. mad and all stations reported in. run dangerously hot for With almost rehearsed Every one was okay. consistent operation. More cowl precision the plane and crew Suddenly, it began to flap was opened and more drag function as one. At fourteen snow, and the world they flew was induced. thousand feet they were well through was a swirling mass of Deep into enemy across the Adriatic Sea and still white. The flakes came directly territory, and only a short time in a steady climb. Requests for at the windshield and then just from the target, the engine half-degree corrections from the before they splashed, just like began to lose manifold navigators were quickly rain, they quickly altered their pressure. Slowly it dropped. The complied with by the pilot. crazy course, and blew by, possibility of carburetor-ice was Equipped with the latest never touching the windshield. extremely illogical with the advancements in navigational The snow was forming and cylinder head temperature so aids the course and position falling so fast the outboard hot. All other instruments read were frequently plotted. With the engines were no longer visible. normal. The amplifiers were aid of the "G-box", the All sense of time, speed, and checked and still it dropped. If navigators were capable of pin- direction would have been lost if the target was to be reached the pointing their position within a it had not been for the other three engines must thousands feet of their actual instruments that told the assume the load. The RPM and position in the air. navigators and pilots they were the manifold on the other three With complete only one and a half hours from engines "stepped-up". confidence the crew flew on the target. At twenty-four thousand through the never ending Slowly the cylinder head two hundred feet, the weather whiteness. The Mickey temperatures began to creep up ship, after having flown for hours navigator continuously turned as the engines pulled the heavy on instruments, managed to knobs and dials and reported load up the long grade. Cowl climb above the clouds. with monotonous regularity to flap was opened on number four As lonely as a ship in the the dead-reckoning navigator engine. middle of the sea they came out their position over interphone. "Not too much," the pilot "on top", barely skimming the "We are right on course, cautioned. They could not afford high cirrus deck which stretched lads - nothing to worry about. to increase their drag. as far as the eye could see.
14 The sun was bright and pilots that they were but a short increased as flak was reported the clouds were dazzlingly distance from the IP for the by the pilot over the target white. The tail gunner called alternate target. "Flak at twelve - intense - over the interphone that they The crew members and and accurate as hell," was his were leaving a vapor trail. A long gunners quickly donned flak report in "almost" conversational pencil-slim cloud that streamed suits and helmets, of meshed tones. As if by magic, black curls from the engines like white iron, and readied themselves for of smoke began to appear about smoke. the bomb run. The pilot cleared them. "The Jerry has got our They were a dead give the interphone of all superfluous course okay, but he hasn't quite away for gregarious enemy conservation. Carefully the pilot got our altitude," the pilot said fighters. The clouds immediately wheeled the plane to the left encouragingly to his crew. below, however, were from the IP, as directed by the "Pilot from Mickey - I can comfortingly close to duck into. radar navigator. Starting down hold the target within my scope It occurred to the pilot as the bomb run the bombardier if you want to take evasive well and the DR navigator that at called for the bomb bay doors to action." the present power setting, due be opened. "Roger, Mickey , can you to the unexplainable reduction in The engineer quickly hold the target in view if I skid manifold pressure on the complied with the order. A rush the plane?" number four engine, a great of air was heard as the sliding "Yeah - sure. Not too deal more gas was being doors were retracted into the much though." consumed than they had open position. The bombardier Flak was beginning to planned on. It was apparent that quickly took off the heated burst about the plane. the engine was still good. bombsight cover and began to "Hold tight every one, we Possibly something in the synchronize for rate. will be through in a minute," the induction system. All "Coming up on - seventy. pilot said. instruments checked normal. Coming up on - sixty," was the "It's coming up to us now. Excessive manifold weird monologue from the radar It's popping off our tail," the tail pressure had not been used, man. gunner broke in. and there had been no sudden "Roger," replied the "Okay," was the pilot's reductions. This made the bombardier. quick reply, "I'll skid her over a possibility of a faulty coupling Nimble fingers, numbed little bit." doubtful. with cold, made last minute After a short dialogue Precautionary measures corrections. between the bombardier and the were taken, and the gas "Mickey to pilot - give me radar man, the radar man said, consumption problem was a couple degrees to the left. "it's all yours." quickly worked out on cruise That's good ... hold it." "Steady, hold her - that's control charts and on an E 6-B The crazy chant it. Bombs away," was the computer. After a short continued, "coming up on - fifty." bombardier's triumphant cry controversy over the question, it There was a pause. The over the interphone. was decided that a high priority interphone rang in the high The pilot peeled off into a alternate target, producing oil altitude. "Coming up on - forty. sharp bank to the right and out and high test gasoline, would be Pilot, give me a couple to the of the flak. Clear of the flak there their target. right - quick!" was a quick exchange of The bombardier quickly Drift was killed. The enthusiastic chatter over the consulted his "flimsy" and plans bomb run, which was being interphone. were immediately altered. The made on PFF, was a long one "Hot damn, we did it! We radar navigator informed the and chaff was dispensed at a did it!" dead reckoning navigator and given signal. The tension
15 "I hope we blew hell out down" into the lower stratus the distance, and remaining fuel. A of 'em down there," came airplane began to pitch in gas check was made. another voice. turbulent air. Again, they were in "Well, we are not doing "Okay every one - we did a violent snow storm. so hot, sir," was the rather feeble a nice job. Let's go home." The As the air became more reply from the engineer. pilot was quick to squelch turbulent, it occurred to the pilot "Well, how much?" The superfluous interphone chatter. that there was a possibility of pilot's tone of voice obviated his Granted they had made their running into the core of an concern in the matter. run, dropped their bombs extremely dangerous cumulo- There was a pause. Then electrically, and they had not nimbus. The radar man turned in a high voice the engineer been touched by the hundreds his scope to the immediate replied, "I guess about two of bearable flak guns. course ahead. hundred in number one…" There was now the Carefully he analyzed the There was an interruption remaining problem of reaching weird blips of light on his on the interphone as the Mickey their base. Hours of flying oscilloscope. He searched for man broke in wildly, "I know ahead. Back through the check points. None could be where we are. I know where we endless "white" and one engine seen. Only the reflections of are now." The instrument which was pulling but a third of mountainous terrain appeared in navigator relieved the tension its power. Not a dangerous his scope. At seventeen considerably with his outburst. situation under normal thousand feet the pilot noticed "Well where the hell are conditions, but there was the rime ice forming on the leading we?" the pilot demanded. extremely long route back - the edges of the wing and tail What the radar navigator possibility of severe storms and assembly. He leveled off. said in reply stunned the crew. severe icing. The pilot noticed "Mustn't go any lower," After having flown for hours they just before they ducked back the pilot confided with the co- were still hundreds of miles from into the clouds, on course for pilot, "we might run into clear ice their home base in Italy. It was home, his own vapor trail below." concluded after a careful leading from the IP and across Things were not going observation of the gas available the target, where the puffs of any too well. Check points which that it might be possible, if smoke from the bursts of flak should have been visible by now unnecessary corrections for still hung in the air, and then the were not. Time came for a course were avoided and the sharp turn to the right and out of change in heading, but a RPM and manifold pressure the area they had just flown deviation from the flight plan reduced to a still lower setting, through. The long white rope of was thought to be a wiser move. to reach the base. the clouds cast a shadow on the Then, as if by some telepathic The radar navigator, in flat, smooth deck of cirrus a warning, it occurred to the conjunction with the dead thousand feet below. One of the navigators that they had reckoning navigator, took most interesting of all cloud encountered a serious shift in frequent pinpoint fixes, thus formations that airmen see - the the winds. avoiding numerous flak areas to vapor trail. What was supposed to the right and left of the course. It was late afternoon and have been a tailwind on the All of the fuel had been even in the dense fog they were reciprocal heading was not a transferred from the auxiliary aware that the sun had crossed tailwind, but a headwind of tanks to the main fuel cells. the zenith and was well across possibly a hundred knots. This All that could be done the sky. It was darker in the changed the complexion of the had been done. The remaining clouds than it had been while situation considerably. problem was the weather. A enroute to the target. The remainder of the rather serious problem As the pilot began a "let- flight was now a matter of time, confronted the pilot.
16 The leading edge of the cramped positions for hours on ice forming on the wings!" The airfoil and vertical and horizontal end. Soon they would be able to co-pilot's tone of voice was stabilizers were sugarcoated take off their itching oxygen convincing. with rime ice. As it built up, the masks and stretch their tired The pilot looked out his de-icer boots were inflated, and limbs. side window. "Break it off, for the ice cracked off. The danger Contact was made by the Pete's sake! Turn on the de-icer of letting down any lower was radioman with Big Fence . boots. We are picking up piles hazardous because of the Bearings were taken and found of the stuff. Pilot to crew," his mountains over Yugoslavia. The to coincide with the course and voice was sharp and he spoke aircraft was being weighted position of the aircraft. "Air Sea quickly, "we are in heavy down by the ice which was Rescue" was alerted of their weather and picking up clear ice collecting in front of the turrets, position, altitude and heading, very fast. I don't know if it can be aerials, and windshield. and of their intention to reach broken off or not. Better get The defrosters were their base. Big Fence and "Air ready for an emergency in any employed and managed to keep Sea Rescue" cooperatively event. Check the spare raft and the windshield sufficiently warm stood by while the airplane Gibson Girls . Hey Mickey , to prevent the ice from caking began its descent. From how's our course, can you see over. It was growing dark, deep seventeen thousand feet, they the island?" in the core of the mass of quickly descended to fifteen The island the pilot made weather. The crew was numb thousand, then to thirteen. reference to lies off the eastern with cold, and a constant check The pilot pressed the coast of the Adriatic and is the had to be made to prevent ice mike button and said, "you can only place an emergency from forming at the connection come off oxygen now. All landing can be attempted. It is a of their oxygen masks. stations come off oxygen. We very small island and rather The crew was tired, and are below thirteen thousand and hard to find in among the islets if the strain of flying "blind" for so we will be down in a few the rugged coastline. It has many hours had begun to take minutes." proven to be, during the 15th effect. There were anxious Everyone promptly tore Army Air Forces activity over questions over the interphone. off their masks and exercised many countries to the north and The pilot intervened and asked the tired muscles of their faces. east, a pilot's haven. the crew to relax. They still had From the waist came a A "last chance" stop engines and in spite of the gas, call over the interphone, "okay before crossing the cold Adriatic which he admitted to them was to smoke now?" Sea. dangerously low, they had "Yeah, okay to smoke," The radar plane's tanks sufficient fuel to reach the base. was the reply from the flight were leveled by the busy Although in the minds of those deck. engineer and in spite of the who knew - there was doubt. "How soon can we clear steps taken, they read Their progress was slow the turrets?" alarmingly low. and the air was turbulent over "Any time, now is safe "Yes! I can see the island, rough Yugoslavian terrain. The enough. We are at the coast and " yelled the Mickey man, who icing was persistent and I doubt if the Jerry is within sat immediately back of the became slightly more adhesive. hundreds of miles, and even if pilot. After a few moments At last the instrument he were, I doubt if he could find hesitation, while he peered into man revealed to the crew that us in this stuff" his scope, he exclaimed, "it's he could plainly see, through his As the gunners cleared dead ahead. You will pass right radar scope, the coastline their turrets the pilots became over it." ahead. There was relief among genuinely alarmed.. "Are you sure?" inquired the weary airmen who had sat in "Good Lord, look at the the pilot.
17 "Positive," the radar man every one, we are doing okay - co-pilot yelled. "Let's leave this insisted. be home…" The pilot's voice crate." "Good, keep it in view. trailed off. The pilot released the "And fall into that icy sea? Unless we can break off the ice mike button on the wheel. No thanks." we may have to head for it. And "What's wrong?" The co-pilot flipped off besides," he yelled, "we sure as His eyes snapped to the number one and number three hell haven't got much gas left. instrument panel. The number fuel pumps and left two and four We should have ample to reach one fuel pressure gauge fell to on. the Italian coast, however; but zero! "Pilot to crew," his voice "Pilot to crew - open the damn it all, I can't trust these was hesitant, "we are running hatches and stand by. We are gas gauges." out of fuel! Stand by to bail out!" running out of fuel. If we break "Roger," the Mickey man In a split second, the co- out of the clouds near the island yelled. pilot yelled for the engineer to we will bail out over it. We have "How's the ice coming? transfer fuel. "Number one cut two engines." Can you get it off?" out!" "We are down to five "Hell no, I can't get it off," Near panic gripped the thousand, let's get the hell out of replied the co-pilot dryly. "The crew. The pilot yelled at the here," was the co-pilot's boots won't budge it. It's cracked radar man, as the co-pilot desperate plea. but it's piling up faster than the flipped the fuel booster pumps "Hold on - we are boots can break it off. What will back on. "We will do a 'one breaking out of this stuff. There we do?" eighty'. - Head for 'Yugo' - better is the island. See! Right below The pilot parried an still - the island. Can you pick it us. See it? There's the island! answer. "Beats the hell out of up?" Hey, Mickey man, you were right me, let 'er pile up I guess. We "Yeah - hell, yes, we are - there it is!" the pilot cried will be down low enough in a only about ten mile from it now." exultantly. few minutes for it to melt off." The airplane began to fall The pilot pressed his Both the pilot and the co- like a rock. Power was added in mike button with his thumb pilot had their fingers crossed as an effort to keep the airplane, so encased in a heavy leather the airplane continued its glide heavily loaded with ice, from glove. "I can see the island, toward the sea. stalling out and falling into a lads. There is a landing strip on "When do you think we spin. The pilot subconsciously the island and I'll try to make it." will break out of this stuff?" cranked in trim to counteract for The icy sea below was "Your guess is as good the yaw created by the churning and white caps made a as mine," was the pilot's "windmilling" prop. froth on the surface of the water. unsatisfactory comeback. The co-pilot presses the To attempt survival in that angry "Above the water "D" button on his VHF set and sea would be a horrible ordeal someplace I hope. We are immediately began a frantic call for anyone. 'unwinding' pretty fast - we are in the open. "Mayday! Mayday! "Clear the nose quickly. at eight thousand now." This is St. Nick V-for-Victory Clear the nose," came the pilot's "Think we ought to whack going down. Out of fuel - Will try sharp command. 'er back some more, maybe to reach the coast! Will try to The ice began to melt back to 1900 rpm." reach the coast!" from the antennae and smashed "Oh - I don't know - I don't Number one sputtered. against the windshield. The ice think so. Fifty rpm one way or The fuel pressure came up - and on the props hit the side of the the other won't make a hell of a then went down. Then number fuselage and sounded like spent lot of difference. Let 'er go. three fuel pressure gauge fell to flak fragments. Roger? zero and the engine cut out. Pilot to waist - sit tight "Now, we are in for it," the
18 The pilot and co-pilot cut out without even so much as The pilot yelled, "watch were thinking fast now. They a sputter. One engine hung in the wings. Will they clear the had a plan. Fly straight out and the balance between eleven walls of that canyon?" turn around. Then, head back men and death, which seemed "Yes - yes, we're clear, " for the southern side of the imminent. The horror flashed the co-pilot replied with a sob in island. A fifty-to-one shot of across the pilot's mind. Rather a his voice. finding a narrow landing strip rough grave for eleven airmen - Like an enormous gull which they had never seen. on the side of a sea-eaten cliff the blue-grey "bird" glided They still had altitude and there on the island. between the walls of the was time to make an approach The air speed indicator canyon, and there below, to the landing strip. fell in air speed. Almost nestled behind the ridge, but a The radio operator mechanically, the pilot nosed the short distance from the runway, continued to tap out "Save Our big "bird" down. He headed it for was a small vineyard. Neat rows Souls" until the pilot told him to the lowest part of the island. A of vines suddenly loomed up. get ready for a rough landing. "gun-sight" which was formed at There wasn't time to think He then screwed the key down the vertex of the two ridges; as the pilot yelled, "gear down." and took his position. barely wide enough to fly The action of the pilot and the "I see the strip. It's over to through. co-pilot was almost your right. See it ?!" the co-pilot In the sequence of spontaneous as they nosed the yelled excitedly. "It's right over events that followed, which took helpless bomber down into the that ridge." place in a matter of seconds, vineyard. The pilot searched the little was said. The time for tricks "Watch out for the fence." rugged bush-covered island for was over. There was nothing left There was a quick tug on the the "strip" the co-pilot claimed to to do but crash. elevators as the bomber, with its see. Yes, there it was. He could "Prepare for a crash gear locked down, "high see it now. A landing strip - landing," was the last call made jumped" the fence. Just above indeed! The wet metal runway over the interphone. the ground the ship rounded- located like a silver ribbon lying The heavy bomber out. Two wheels touched the in the valley between two seemed doomed to crash on the ground. The co-pilot cut the mountain ridges. The "pilots' last crag. So close and yet so far main line and battery as the pilot chance" stop. There it was from a runway that they couldn't applied brakes. Immediately before them glistening in the get on, even if they had had the ahead, a stone revetment came waning light. power to reach it. The angle of rushing up. The pilot approaching the glide was extremely steep. They The plane's terrific weight island began to make were completely powerless to settled in the soft, spongy earth. corrections to line up with the alter their situation. The airplane The nose gear snapped as if it runway. The power on the two glided with the weak assistance had never been there. The big remaining engines was of one remaining engine, which bomber's stubby nose shoveled increased and a quick routine screamed - alone. into the rain soaked soil. The check was made for a landing. As they slipped down, the rate of deceleration was "What's that on runway? few remaining seconds left little extremely rapid - but gentle. It's another airplane. It's cracked time for maneuvering - only When the bomber finally up on the runway!" The pilots gestures to survive. As they came to rest, a blade of the were frozen with the stark passed over the crag the waves number one propeller was bent realization that they could not were clearly visible, out of the on the stone revetment. The land on the "strip". corner of the pilot's eye - rudder pedals were resting in "Insult was added to dashing against the pinnacle of the mud. The cockpit was filled injury" when number four engine rock below. with mud and shredded grape
19 vines, which had been scooped Dear Editor, in through the completely I seek information on "It is true we have won all demolished nose compartment. James A. Fedewa of 455thBG, our wars, but we have paid for The crew left the plane 743rd Squadron. them. We don't want victories like mad men escaping from an My father was a B-17 anymore." asylum. They ran in all Command Pilot with the 100th Golda Meir directions. When the last BG (8th AF) out of England, and Former Prime Minister, Israel propeller finally stopped turning, a POW at Stalag Luft I. I serve the scattered crew was stunned on Board of 100th BG by the sudden silence on the Foundation, and often rain drenched island. A bark of a encounter people looking for dog and the sound of a gentle information on family members. rain was all that was heard. The I have enough contacts crew members felt limp. Almost within 8th AF and POW too weak to stand. networks that I can help locate Some laughed a little and crew information, but 15th AF is called to one another as they less familiar to me. I got your collected near the plane. "Guess contact information off the we're pretty lucky." Some had 455thBG website, and hope that tears in their eyes and broad you can help. grins on their haggard faces as Fred Fedewa, the son of they clasped hands. James A Fedewa, served in the Others said nothing. USAF, graduated from USAF They just sat quietly on the wet Academy, but never got his ground. Shocked, tired, hungry father to open up about HIS and quietly thanking God that experiences in the 455th BG. they were alive. Belatedly (the father is deceased), the son is trying to FINAL FLIGHTS piece together his father's USAAF service. Thomas J. Macaulay (743) Your website lists James, died March 22, 2012. but I did not see a listing to During WWII, he flew 35 determine what crew he flew on, missions with the 743rd Bomb what position he held in the crew Squadron and attained the rank or what missions he flew. His of Captain. He was awarded the rank was S/Sgt, Army serial# Distinguished Flying Cross and 15328018, flew 35 missions - the Air Medal with 3 clusters. the last one on April 6, 1945, according to an official record. Don Coin Walrod (740) Any specific information June 6, 1919 - March 31, 2008 you could provide would be appreciated. And if there are Arthur Mattson (743) any surviving crew members, was called to his heavenly home that would be best of all. on September 29, 2012. Art was Thank you. an Army Air Corps veteran of Nancy Putnam WW II, and a member of the 100th Bomb Group Foundation VFW. [email protected]
20 Dear Editor, the 17 crews from the 485th and I'm not trying to make I'm the Historian for the the one 455th crew in a bad anyone look bad on this, and 485th BG Association (and the light. If it happened then, so be certainly wouldn't want to create son of a deceased tail gunner it. We need to tell history any embarrassment for any from that group). accurately. If it didn't happen group. I've been trying to track then, it's not fair to the guys who I do get concerned about down some information for were there. some of the more recent, years, and have been Supposedly there was a inaccurate stories that we hear. unsuccessful. I'll explain: gunner, a married sergeant, by A recent book about the Red On December 29, 1944, the name of Schwartz, who was Tails contained this same, one 455th BG B-24 landed at writing a bunch of racist inaccurate information. Ramitelli, Italy (home of the comments to his wife while he Lastly, I'm almost certain segregated 332nd FG, the Red was at Ramitelli. A Red Tail pilot that the Red Tails left a letter in Tails ) in bad weather, returning censored the letter and the cockpit of the 455th plane from a mission. Seventeen B- confronted Schwartz. My that was there. A copy of the 24's were also there from the records indicate this man wasn't letter that was left in the 455th 485th for the same reason. The in the 485th. I also don't believe plane is below. Thank you. planes and men stayed several he was in the 455th. Sincerely, days until the weather improved. I've been unable to locate Jerry Whiting From all accounts, the men got any information identifying the [email protected] along extremely well. 455th crew who landed there on I told the story in one of 12/29/44. Do you have a way of my books ( I'm Off to War, identifying this crew? Mother, But I'll Be Back ), and also made a documentary about it ( New Year's at Ramitelli) . I've interviewed a bunch of the 485th guys who were there, and I also interviewed several of the Red Tails (for Lucasfilm) concerning the story. One book published many years ago told a different story, of a bunch of racist things that occurred. None of the 485th guys or Red Tails who were there had any knowledge of any of this. I don't doubt that this sort of thing happened, but I believe the incidents happened at other times. I know at least one of the incidents described happened on 1/20/45. Memories fade and I think several incidents that occurred over several months were "blamed" on this visit. The problem with this is that it puts
21 Dear Editor, Information regarding the Dear Editor, I have a follow-on to a request for information about I want to thank you for question that was asked in the Edward L. Wood and crew including my information about Spring, 2013 newsletter. (<<<<<<<<< left column): my wife's uncle, Sgt. Charles Here’s the background: Corporal Edward L Beverly Bingham (page 5) and Patty, and her brother Dave, Wood, s/n 35148996, was my contact with David were able to recognize their dad identified in a set of Air Medal Bridgman, the brother of Harold (Edward L. Wood) in one of my orders issued 19 April, 1945. T. Bridgman, Jr (pages 11, 12, AFHRA photos. The aircraft is His hometown was listed as and 13) in your Fall, 2014 Irish Lassie (B-24J 44-40517). Bloomington, Indiana, and his edition of the Cerignola I’ve never found a view missions were from 19 March Connection newsletter. with the nose art, but the name through 7 April, 1945. Since my wife's uncle, was confirmed from a couple of Two other possible Charles B. Bingham, was good sources. The aircraft flew members of his crew were also included in a photo with his with both the 741st BS and listed in those orders: fellow crewmen in an earlier 743rd BS. Corporal Samuel B Siler, newsletter photo with their The photo belowshows Jr (of Clearwater, Florida) and aircraft, Glammer Gal , and the Herbert Cahill crew (743). Corporal Andrew H Norford (of having that connection, I was Sgt. Wood is fifth from the left. Washington, DC). fascinated by another article in The caption for the photo At this point that’s all I the same Fall 2014 newsletter only identifies it as Lt. Herbert F. have on this airman. (P. 10) by Larry O'Neill, Cahill’s crew, with none of the Regards, regarding the passing of his crew individually identified. John Rohrer father, Thomas D. O'Neill. According to the group Historian, 455th BG Assoc. Apparently from the microfilm, the Herbert Cahill [email protected] photos included with the article, crew arrived at the 743rd BS on Thomas was also a crewman of 27 January, 1945. Dave and FINAL FLIGHT the Glammer Gal at one time. I Patty have their dad’s notes, Capt. Pedro E. Guerrero (GP) sent Larry an email about the which mention Herbert Cahill died in September, 2012. connection to see if he will and the 743rd BS, so I think we Capt. Guerrero was the respond. have a good match. exclusive photographer for Your newsletter has been I don’t have anything else Frank Lloyd Wright, and had an amazing tool for me in my on Sgt. Wood, and he’s not in been since before the war research. my group roster. Do any began! Wright tried to convince Best Regards, readers of the Cerignola him to refuse to go to WWII and Donald Stafford Connection have anything else get locked up instead ! [email protected] on him? Google "Pedro Guerrero" Best Regards, and you'll get all kind of Dave Ungemach interesting articles about him FINAL FLIGHT [email protected] and links to books he wrote. During his time with the EditoPr’asu Nl oFt.e :Moritz, Sr. (742) 455th BG in Italy, he developed Ove1r 9t2h2e -l a2s0t 1102 years, as newsletHteer eendlisittoerd, iIn 1h9a4ve1 , ahnad bombing run photos. readers occasionally ask questions Go to the following link: awbaosu t pamryt opfe rtshoen al4 5l5ifteh, cBaormeeb r www.guerreromovie.com bGarcokugpro uind ,I tfamly.i ly,H hiso bbBie-2s,4 e twc. a s It links to a short video shot doInw ne. d iHtineg w athse i nCteerrnigendo ilna that connects Capt. Guerrero to CSownintzeectriloann, dI, haeves ctaripede dt,o maankde sreutruer ntehde toc ohniste unnt it.i s about the Cerignola. veterans of the 455th BG, and not
22 FINAL FLIGHT
Arthur Noble West (742) age 93, passed away peacefully of natural causes on January 11, 2015. He served in the Army Air Corps, 15th Air Force, 455th Bomb Group, 742nd Squadron as a bomber pilot, flying 16 combat missions over Germany, Italy, Austria, Hungary, and France, including the last heavy bombardment mission over Europe. He returned home after the war, and served in the Air Force Reserve. He received an honorable discharge from the member, Laffey, but lost contact My one regret is that we service, as Captain. For the in the years before his passing. never got Don to a Wings of next few years he worked I’m not sure which names Freedom show to see and fly on instructing pilots in Kinston, are first or last names for some their B-24. I had the pleasure of North Carolina, and then crewmembers. I believe Riley’s climbing through a B-24J at the transferred to Georgia where he last name was Riley. Not sure Pima Museum in Tucson. taught jet pilots. During his what his first name was. I hope to find more as I career, Arthur trained over 200 I am attaching a picture read your past newsletters. pilots. of his crew (see above). I’m not Thanks for all you do, sure when or where the picture Dannie Cutts (researcher) Can You Help ? was taken. Please respond to: Dear Editor, Don passed away, at the Randy Martin (son, Don Martin) I was attempting to find age of 87, on August 31st of [email protected] information about my father-in- 2011. He left a daughter (my law, Charles Donaldson (Don) wife) Teresa, and four sons, Ron Martin who served in the 740th Martin, Tommy Martin, Randy FINAL FLIGHT Bombardment Squadron, 455th Martin and Brian Martin. He Bombardment Group, as a was preceded in death by his John E. Merfeld (741) gunner on the B-24. wife Elsie. His was a life well 1923 - 2014 I came across your lived. His family moved to San website (www.awardphp.com ), I appreciate the Diego shortly before WWII, and the newsletters you tremendous effort you put into where he entered the US Army produce. I’m reading those with preserving the memory of that Air Corps and served on a B-24 great interest. generation. I understand that Liberator Bomber. He talked many times your dad served on a B-24, also. Flying missions over about his service, and the time My dad was a gunner on western, central and eastern he was stationed at Cerignola. a B-24, stationed in Texas, as an Europe, he was awarded the He kept in touch with his pilot, instructor and because of a Distinguished Flying Cross and Riley and another crew health problem, he was never in three Air Medals. combat.
23 455th Bomb Group Assoc., Inc. NON PROFIT ORG P.O. Box 93095 US POSTAGE PAID Austin, TX 78709-3095 GREEN BAY WI PERMIT 460 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
A Message from the 455th Bomb Group Association’s Executive Director, Greg Riggs
By the time you've gotten to this page, you probably know the next joint bomb group reunion will be September 24-27, 2015 at Kansas City. Reports from the Tempe, AZ reunion in 2013 were all positive. The reunion last year in Oklahoma City was also very enjoyable and actually more informative for some of us than previous reunions have been. For the second, third, and fourth generations attending, we are learning more about the full scope of the strategic bombing effort, including what went on in the background to keep the planes flying. If at all possible, consider joining us. We've had an interesting development during these last six months. We've actually had WWII veterans joining the association. It's been refreshing to have people contact us and express an interest in joining with us. All of that has occurred because of the fine work Craig Ward does with this newsletter! People continue being generous in supporting the Cerignola Connection . We currently have sufficient funds for three more issues after this one. Had it not been for member support, the previous edition would have been the final one. We all thank those donors listed elsewhere in the newsletter! There is not much other news. I've been reading several books lately about various B-24 crews operating both out of England and out of Italy. What has continued to impress me is how different the experiences were depending on timing and location: the strength of the Luftwaffe, the lethal concentration of AA defenses, and the country out of which bomb groups operated. The one thing common to all those scenarios was that you guys were being shot at! Thank you, again, for the freedoms you preserved for subsequent generations. I wish you a healthy summer, and I hope you can be part of the reunion in Kansas City.