15th Air Force

99th Bombardment Group (Heavy) 347th Bomber Squadron

After Action Report 14 Dec 1943, Reggio Emmilia, Italy Marshalling Yards

Charmed Ones Captain Ruper Giles’ Crew

Enemy Forces Engaged 10 Bf-109F, 8 Fw-190A, 2 Bf-110G’s

Claims Sergeant Harris 2 Fw-190A and 1 Bf-109F; Master Sergeant Wyatt Fw-190A

Bomb Run Off Target Estimated Hits 0%

Captain Giles called the Tail Gunner, Sergeant Harris, over the intercom as the group formed up. “How’s it look Xander?” After a brief pause, “Everybody accounted for skipper but they could tuck it in a little tighter.” Captain Giles nodded this was what it was all about...he was leading the group today. He called out over the intercom, “gunners take a safe bearing, you are cleared to test guns, and try not to hit any of our P-38 escort. There was a brief pause, then smell of cordite was evident throughout the Charmed Ones as each fifty caliber fired off a short burst. Check point two swept by without incident as they cruised along the Italian coast. Sector three saw three 109’s buzz the formation as the fighters chased off a lone Focke Wulf. As they approached the 4th marker five Bf-109F’s came in from all points, one was chased off by the Lightnings. Tracers criss-crossed the sky and the Charmed Ones received a couple of bullet holes, but Sergeant Harris flamed one of the fast moving Germans. Twenty minutes later as they approached the I.P. Captain Giles called out, “Richard she’s all yours. Make it good the boys are toggling on you today,” Lieutenant Gilmore, replied, “Here we go,” the flak bursts were low, and no hits were scored... “Bombs Away!” As they pulled clear of the of the target Sergeant Harris the tail gunner called out, “man you missed by mile.” Lightnings were busy everywhere and chased off several Focke Wulfs and a couple Messerschmitt 110’s. Four Focke Wulfs pressed home attacks as the formation began the long turn toward home. The escort hounded a lone 109 with them. The Fw-190’s made a head on pass and Harris got his second kill drilling one as it zoomed past. The remaining three swung around and closed in from astern. The tail and fuselage were peppered but nothing vital was hit. Harris’s guns kept up a steady hammering and he raked one from engine cowling to cockpit, and watched it slowly spin out of control. Seconds later the canopy popped off and a lone chute drifted toward the ground. The return flight settled down as they departed Italian airspace and proceeded down the coast. Everybody was feeling pretty cocky, especially Harris with three kills until another group of Focke Wulfs tried to slip past the escort. Only one made it and Wyatt in the top turret hammered out a long burst and was rewarded with German Fighter exploding. Giles shook his head as he was momentarily blinded by the flash. “Nice shooting, but not so close next time.” As they approached Tortella Field, the formation started to split up and the base had light cloud cover. Lieutenant Medicus, the co-pilot, let the big plane slowly circle as other aircraft firing off flairs to indicate wounded on board or with obvious battle damage landed first. Finally he set the big bomber down without incident and taxied to the dispersal point where the crew chief Technical Sergeant Stocker and the planes mascot Kit the black cat had been waiting. Master Sergeant Wyatt the engineer with a nod from the skipper got out his paints and started to add a second bomb and four new Kraut flags to the nose of the ship

ADMINISTRATIVE

Target Reggio Reggio Emmilia, Italy Marshalling Yards

Middle Squadron Leading the Group

Flak Light

Weather over Target Good Base Fair

Mission Intelligence: Zone 2 Water -3, 3 Water -2, 4 Water-1, 5 Italy -1

Fighter Cover

Out: Zone 2 Good, 3 Good, 4 Fair 5 Good

Back: Zone 5 Good, 4 Fair, 3 Poor, 2 Poor