August 3. Captain Hovde led a Ramrod to Strausbourg on the Germany/France border from 1242 to 1745. The 1st TF/1BD sent more than 340 B-17s to attack marshaling yards and fuel depots. R/V was made near Antwerp at 1402. The 358FS took the high position over the sixth box (Vinegrove 1-6) at 28,000 feet to the bombers at 22-23,000 feet. Elderss 357FS had the fifth box at 27,000 feet and Marshalls 354FS had the low position at 22,000 feet covering the trailing seventh box. At 1455 one B-17 pulled out of the trailing box, one engine smoking from a flak hit, and called for an escort home. The already depleted Green flight from two early returns were directed by Marshall to take the Fort home. At 1515 ten 109s bounced Yellow flight of 354FS from 7 OClock high through a thin overcast. Captain Kurtz, Mann and Peglar broke left and right respectively and then split ess to chase the 109s. In Lenfests Blue flight, his wingman Hoffman and #4, Patterson, collided with each other. Patterson was killed and Hoffman bailed out, breaking his leg when he landed near Neuweiler. Marshall led Red flight down after the 109s but ended up alone on the deck after some sharp maneuvering with one of the 109s. He pulled into a Lufberry, closing on it when Lenfest slid in behind the 109 and picked it off. RCAF Flight Lieutenant Peglar closed on the scattered 109s and hammered one. Meanwhile Bob Kurtzs throttle linkage was damaged when he made a head on pass during the initial bounce and limped off with a sick Mustang. He lost power near Gompelscheuer and made a dead stick landing with a severe head injury caused by his K-14 gun sight. Kurtz eventually recovered in German hospital and remained POW for the duration. This attack was led by III./JG 53 Kommandeur Major Franz Gotz. He, along with Uffr. Muller and Ltn. Ziems each claimed a victory After the fight, the 354FS was scattered. Marshall and Lenfest picked up Hauver McDonald to form a four ship flight and climbed back to resume escort while Jackson, Mann and Peglar hooked up with the 357FS following the bombing. At 1530 Peglar called out a formation of German fighters near Mannheim. Captains Minchew and Haviland plus Lieutenant Cotter in 357FS Yellow flight joined Peglars three ship flight in the attack. IV.(Sturm)/JG 3 FW 190s and I./JG 300 Bf 109s flying escort were hit by the six Mustangs near Baden-Baden. Peglar shot down a 190 as Minchew, Cotter and Haviland shot down one each of the escorting 109s. Peglar, who had two years of combat in Spitfires with the RAF not firing at a German aircraft, had shot two in 10 minutes on his third mission with the 355th. Cotter was seen to chase another 109 over an airfield near Baden-Baden and hit by flak. He crash landed and evaded for a day before being captured and made POW. The Scout Force also lost one. Lieutenant Floyd Taylor, 354FS volunteer to the SF, had an engine failure near Lavivier and bailed out. He evaded to Switzerland and returned in September. After the mission de-briefing Marshall reminded Lenfest that Squadron Ops Officers were a dime a dozen then congratulated Lenfest for his deflection shot. Final score 5-0-1 for the loss of five, including SF (1-air, 1-flak, 2-mid air collision, 1 mechanical failure.
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 13:00:25 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015