Mighty and Victorious: How the Eighth Air Force Turned the Tide in the First Year of World War II
The pilot ordered the crew to prepare for a ditching and to transmit a Mayday signal, but it turned out that the last attack by the Focke-Wulfs had turned the radio set into a heap of twisted, smoking wires. The situation of the Man O’War bomber crew was desperate – they were over the middle of the Channel in a badly damaged aircraft, but unable to send their position to the rescue services. When the bomber was down to 300 meters, the last Browning went overboard, and everyone braced for ditching. At that moment, a small black dot appeared ahead of them, rapidly growing larger. Soon the outline of wings could be seen, leaving no doubt that another fighter was approaching. In a moment, the Focke-Wulf would take up firing position and set the Flying Fortress ablaze, and the bomber crew had nothing left to defend themselves with – their guns were already lying on the seabed.
Everyone awaited the coup de grâce, staring at the small fighter, when suddenly the bombardier, 2/Lt. John A. Creamer, spotted RAF roundels on its wings! The feeling of despair and helplessness gave way to relief and joy; all began shouting and waving at the Spitfire. Even if they had to ditch, the fighter pilot would relay their position to the rescue services. The last victory for 8./JG 2 was reported at 19:00 by young Uffz. Herbert Gumprecht, whose victim crashed in grid square 5949/14W. It was Spitfire BS140, in the wreckage of which 2/Lt. Gene P. Neville was killed. His fighter fell from 150 meters, close to the Channel coast south of Plouescat. At the same time, the gunners of 5./Res.Abt. 497 also scored a success, and the Spitfire they hit, trailing smoke, plunged into the harbor canal.
Sitting in the cockpit of BR640, Capt. Charles A. Cook managed to escape the sinking wreck and was soon pulled from the water by a motor launch, falling into captivity. In total, the Germans claimed the destruction of eight Spitfires – five by pilots of 8./JG 2, and three by Flak gunners. Two more crashed due to lack of fuel. The last of the Eagles managed to break through over the English Channel. The leader of Yellow Section, F/Lt William H. Baker, piloting BS446, was returning alone to England, flying as long as his fuel lasted. When the engine finally stopped, his voice was heard over the airwaves announcing he was ditching in the Channel. He was never found. Of the twelve brand-new Spitfire IXs that set out on this mission, not a single one returned to base. An entire squadron was lost.
[PL] Indepence Day - Series vol. V
“From lack of oxygen I collapsed to my knees, when suddenly the burning No. 3 engine shot past beneath me. I leaned forward to jump, but before I could open my parachute I struck the horizontal stabilizer, breaking three vertebrae. Never in my life had I felt such pain as at that moment! When I regained consciousness, I saw a fighter. It was a Bf 109, rushing straight at me, and I thought it was about to finish me off, so I began swinging my canopy and spinning around in circles. The Messerschmitt slowed, passed me on the left, the pilot slid open his side window – and saluted!”
[PL] Blitz Week - Series vol. VI
“Shortly after the intense Flak barrage over the target and the bomb release, I first noticed a lone yellow-nosed bastard who, sitting at our twelve o’clock, gave us a fantastic display of flying skill and aerial acrobatics, to the delight of all the airmen of the 40th CW. This grand master showed us everything – figure eights, 180° wingovers, spins – all those marvelous maneuvers that pilots truly love.”
[PL] Brothers, never forget Kiel! series vol. IV
“From lack of oxygen I collapsed to my knees, when suddenly the burning No. 3 engine shot past beneath me. I bent forward to jump, but before I could open my parachute I struck the horizontal stabilizer, breaking three vertebrae. Never in my life had I felt such pain as at that moment! When I came to, I saw a fighter. It was a Bf 109, racing straight at me, and I thought he was about to finish me off, so I began swinging my canopy and spinning around in circles. The Messerschmitt slowed down, passed me on the left, the pilot slid open his side window – and saluted!”
[PL] The Sky of War
“The attack aircraft were left defenseless, yet they still managed to form up for the strike. They strafed the airfield with their RS guns and onboard weapons, then dropped their bombs. After completing the raid on the airfield, the Il-2s switched to a sweeping flight and headed back toward their own territory. Engaged in aerial combat, the La-7 pilots watched the Il-2s receding at low altitude, while more and more Focke-Wulfs circled around them...”
[PL] From Kiel to Bordeaux series vol. III
“Suddenly the engines came alive! No. 2 roared with increased power, followed immediately by Nos. 1 and 4. Hearing this miracle, the ‘Skipper’ and Hurd lunged back to the controls and worked frantically to maintain engine power. They succeeded. Harry returned to his turret and opened fire, while Bilyeu went back to the machine guns in the nose and the shredded map case, which had been hit by a 20 mm shell. I don’t know how the rest of the crew in the rear knew we no longer needed to bail out. Our radio had been destroyed, yet somehow it seemed everyone knew, and each man returned to his station. Merle Wolf’s intercom calls for us not to jump were useless, as he was shouting into a dead microphone.”
[PL] The 8th Air Force Missions Through Early Spring 1943 series vol. II
“Indeed, during the attacks by German fighters, three more Fortresses were shot down. The first was 41-24512 (LG-N, Rose O'Day) from the 322nd BS with the crew of Lt. Ralph A. Felton, flying at the end of the formation together with Lt. Birdsong. Previously already damaged, the bomber now burst into flames and fell into the Wadden Sea (Netherlands) about 2.5 kilometers east of the port of Oudeschild, at the southern end of Texel Island. Lt. Felton gave the order to bail out, and it seems most of the crew jumped. Unfortunately, five fell into the icy sea and drowned before help arrived. The sixth was the co-pilot, Lt. Harold E. Kious, who went into the water and lost consciousness”