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Posted by Tom Kwiatkowski Sr. - 309C
on 10/29/2009, 1:36 pm
74.44.81.74
Another airdrome strike was planned for 10/20/44 for Bod Aibling, Germany. It was located 18 miles north of Munich, and was one of the major Luftwaffe bases in the Munich area. There were many bases in that area of Germany, which were there to protect the heavy concentration of factories. Most of these factories were producing planes, tanks, guns and other equipment for the German war machine. This area also had a number of important railroad marshaling yards, which were vital to their rail transportation system. We had just gone on a mission to Munich on 10/4/44 and hit a marshaling yard causing extensive damage. It must have been frustrating and demoralizing for the Germans as we gained more strength and were able to put more and more B-24s, B-17s, B-25s and B-26s over their targets. It seemed to me that each mission that we flew brought us one step closer to victory in Europe.
Phoney Express II was still having flak holes patched since we brought her back from the Styr mission on 10/16. We were flying AC #715 today in the #3 slot in the Lead Box. The weather was becoming more and more of a problem each day as winter got closer. This was a double credit mission which would be my 37th sortie, leaving 6 to go. Take off time was 0745, and total flying time was briefed as 7 hours 15 minutes.
We would bomb from 25,000 feet, and it would be -55 degrees up there. We were using the electric flying suits more and more as they were becoming more reliable. Being much lighter and less bulky, they were much more comfortable than the heavy leather sheeplined gear. When the flak suits were put on over the older heavy gear, it became very uncomfortable and hard to move around.
Everything was going fine today. The formation looked good and the weather would not be a factor. As we turned onto the IP, all hell broke loose The flak greeted us immediately and tracked us all the way to Bombs Away. There was some flak off to each side at first, and you could see it move as they made corrections. It would then move right in until it was right on us. Then they just followed right along with us. Our tail gunner reported a 24 dropping back and down from the 3rd Box behind us, trailing smoke from their #4 engine. He later reported that he had counted eight chutes coming out. Maybe the pilots had decided to try and ride her down.
TO BE CONTINUED
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SOURCE: MEMORIES OF WAR AND PEACE BY ROBERT J. "BOB" GILLMAN. USED WITH PERMISSION.
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