Mission

ON THIS DAY…SEPTEMBER 20-24,1944

After landing in Italy on September 19, the 100BG’s shuttle crews would have a few days of not flying before their next mission and return home to England. Lewis Herron from Thomas Anderson’s crew tells us, “The enlisted men along with our Co-Pilot, Bill Fratus took a sight seeing trip to Foggia.” Robert Kazee remembered, ”We spent September 20 and September 21 in Foggia with some crews going to Naples or Rome.”

At Thorpe Abbotts, bad weather had restricted all air operations while the Germans continued sending buzz bombs over East Anglia. On the 21st, Vernon Sheedy with the Quartermaster group recorded, “Again last night we had some Buzz Bombs pass over the Base and land near here. Makes a guy sit up and take notice."

On the morning of September 22, with the majority of the 100BG’s crews away in Italy and new replacement crews for those lost on the September 11 mission not yet assigned or operational, the head S-2 Intelligence Officer, Red Bowman attempted to cobble together enough crews for a mission to Kassel where the 8th AF was to attack armored and motor vehicle factories. Bowman recorded into his diary, "Briefed seven crews – all we had – for Kassel, but mission was scrubbed before take off…”

That evening after a nine hour flight, the 100th’s shuttle bombers returned to Thorpe Abbotts, flying directly from Italy without executing a bombing mission. Glen Smiley on Thomas Anderson’s crew and flying their #13 mission tells us of their good luck and the uneventful low altitude route back to England. “Take off at 9:31, no time on oxygen and across Italy to Corsica, past Rome and then cut up into France near Caen [Cannes] a little west of Nice and straight up past Paris to England. No time on oxygen, no fighters, and no flak. We needed a rest for a change. Landed at 6:40 so we got about 9 ½ hrs. in today.” Navigator Art Juhlin from Donald Jones’ crew added, “Flew back home without a bomb load and supposedly was to receive credit for a mission… Trip back was regular sight seeing tour. Passed by Rome, Corsica, Nice, Alps, and Paris. Ran into quite a bit of bad weather after getting over the channel, but didn’t have too much difficulty getting back to base.” Roland Hetrick from Walter Radke’s crew tells us, “Today the 8th Air force really broke their hearts. They gave us credit for a mission in which we had no flak, no fighters, and no target. All we did was come home. I did pilotage all the way, so I could see all the country. We saw some very nice scenery. I would like to do all my traveling in an airplane everything is prettier from the air. We had a good time. We ate most of the time and listened to the radio during most of the time we were over France. It was really nice to see England again. Only one thing would have been nicer and that is to be home.”

All but two of the shuttle aircraft had returned safely to the base, with one B-17 left in Russia and another left in Italy due to damage, both of which were eventually repaired and returned to England. Tail Gunner Alistair Young from Ronald Cummings’ crew remained in Italy with a minor flak wound received on the Hungary mission. James Ransom and his crew had completed their tour of duty and Keith Lamb remembered, “…our only objective being to enjoy the pleasant airplane ride over Allied territory at a low altitude… We had done our job 35 times and were on our way back to England.” It would also be the last “mission” flown by PFF lead crew pilot, Captain Austin Dunlap. Austin had been employed as a sheet metal worker before he enlisted in the Army in March 1941. Earning a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Infantry, Austin transferred to the Army Air Corps in February 1943 where he trained as a pilot at Pecos and Marfa Fields in Texas. Assigned to the 100BG in May 1944, the twenty-four year-old Captain Dunlap would remain in England as a lead crew trainer.

On the 22nd, the 418th Squadron also hosted a party “in the meadow behind barracks 13 and 14. The Squadron diary continued, “Four barrels of beer, boxes of sandwiches and cookies provided the nucleus for a good time. But not many of the gang could not enjoy it. First, the planes came back from Italy in the early evening. Second, the weather fouled up. By 2100 a rain had dampened all the most robust spirits who remained at the barrels.”

And for the next two days, the rain and overcast skies prevented air operations. Although the crews were ‘released for training,’ most spent their time in bed catching up on sleep. On the evening of the 24th, the 100BG was alerted for the next day’s mission.