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MY DIARY OF MISSIONS
S/Sgt W D Mangrum – 20809655
723rd Squadron, 450th Bomb Group
"Wells Cargo" 42-52143
Crew Chief – S/Sgt Joseph Mason
Asst. Chief – Sgt Whit Turner and Sgt James Franklin
1st MISSION
January 8, 1944 Saturday
TARGET: Mostar, Yugoslavia, Air Base
We met no fighters and the flak was moderate but accurate.
Our ship was hit in nose turret and safety glass saved navigator's life. One
hit in windshield, right wing, and waist. All planes returned.
36 – B 24's
32 – P 38's
2nd MISSION
January 13, 1944 Friday
TARGET: Air base in northern Italy
Target was overcast, so bombed flak installation with 120
Frag bombs. Flak was light, met 7 enemy fighters. All planes returned.
72 – B 24's
32 – P 38's
3rd MISSION
January 18, 1944 Tuesday
TARGET: Railyards in Pisa
Demolished target, saw no fighters and little ack-ack. Saw
leaning tower of Pisa and Isle of Capri.
75 - B 24's
30 – P 38's
4th MISSION
January 21, 1944 Friday
TARGET – Pisa
Overcast, so salvoed bombs in Mediterranean, but got credit
for mission.
5th MISSION
January 23, 1944 Sunday
TARGET – Beachhead railroad yard
Some flak, but no fighters. No escorts.
6th MISSION
January 28, 1944 Friday
TARGET – Railyard in northern Italy
Overcast, so bombed city instead. No flak and no fighters
and no escort. Load – 12 500-lbs.
7th MISSION
January 30, 1944 Sunday
TARGET – northern Italy almost to Germany
Had some flak and P-38's shot down 2 ME-109's. Load – 120
frags.
65 – B 24's
35 – P 38's
8th MISSION
January 31, 1944 Monday
TARGET – same as yesterday
P-27's hit airport 5 minutes before us and got 50 fighters,
then we got 30 of them. Flak was really heavy and we all got worried. One
fighter attacked us – Farina and Bill fired at it. No claims. Some flak holes
in ship.
9th MISSION
February 6, 1944 Sunday
TARGET – Toulon, France, submarine base
Didn't find target because of clouds. Had some flak. 8
groups of B-24's. No escorts.
10th MISSION
February 8, 1944
TARGET – Air base in northern Italy
Only 450 group. No flak or fighters. Easy mission. 449
bombed close by. No escorts.
11th MISSION
February 9, 1944 Wednesday
TARGET – Beachhead
Helping ground forces. Cloudy, so only hit part of target.
Lots of flak and accurate. Sky full of planes (ours). No fighters, no escort.
February 10, 1944 – Made Staff Sgt.
February 14, 1944 – "Take-off Time" 710 lost.
To date – 2 ships and 2 crews missing
12th MISSION
February 16, 1944 Wednesday
TARGET – Railyards 25 miles east of Florence
Completely destroyed target. No flak, no fighters, no
escorts. Came in 15 minutes late – escorted B-24 with 1 prop feathered.
40 – B 24's
Dick Pearson killed today.
13th & 14th MISSION
February 22, 1944
(Leading up to it) February 17th started out to
bomb beachhead, No. 1 engine failed – so returned. 1st try February
18 -19 – on pass in Bari. February 20 – took off in Gadget 620. Had to return,
dirty guns. February 21 – on the alert – but bad weather kept us grounded. Now
the big one. Target – Regensburg, Germany. We are going to "pay dirt" today. A
ME-109 aircraft plant. We took off and flew on up through Yugoslavia and
crossed Alps on into Germany. It seemed like it was going to be a cinch. We
thought maybe we would not even see any fighters except for the 9 JU 88's who
flew back behind us. Then we had orders to turn back because of the cloudy
weather below. We were going to find something else to bomb if we could. So we
did. Then while coming back over Germany and Yugoslavia, all hell broke loose.
Flak was tossed up to us and as soon as we cleared it, 40 ME-109's tore into
us. Our formation tightened up as they came in. I was in tail turret and got 2
of them as I saw both going down smoking and in flames. Then Bill got one from
his waist gun. It was 55o
below zero and my fingers were frost bitten. We lost Lt. Nielson and crew.
Swell bunch of boys. We had no escorts.
80 – B 24's
40 – ME 109's
9 – JU 88's
Flew in 620 "Gadget"
15th & 16th MISSIONS
February 23, 1944 Wednesday
TARGET – Eng. Assy. Plant in Steyr, Austria
Our crew was split up and went as replacements. I flew T-G
in 143 good ole "Wells Cargo". I really feel at home in the tail of that ship.
Farina was waist gunner in 752, Nick & Duda went in 28. Nick got his 1st
fighter today. Ten minutes before we hit the target, about 75 fighters attacked
us. Luckily we were in lead element and only had a few attacks, but the poor
boys behind us caught hell. I could just sit there and watch those B-24's nose
over and go down. Some burning and some not. I saw 4 ships go down and only 5
chutes in the air. Adams got 1 fighter from Farina's top turret. The fighters
left us as we went into the flak area. It was heavy and hit some of our ships.
"Yellow 28" went out of control and dived at us, so we nosed over into a dive
to keep away from him. Then as we cleared the flak, a wonderful picture
appeared!! P-38's!! About 35 of them
and safe-guarded us home. We lost 3 crews including M. Miller. I was supposed
to fly in one of the ships that went down but changed at the last minute. So,
I'm lucky to be here. Frost bit fingers on both hands and nose. Grounded until
they are well.
February 25, 1944 – Still grounded but no mission today.
To date: 6 crews lost out of original 17.
March 1, 1944 – Our first replacement crews and planes
arrived.
17th MISSION
March 7, 1944
TARGET – Railroad near Pisa
Strictly a milk-run. No flak or enemy fighters. P-38's
escorts over the target. First mission that new formation was used. Weather 40o
below 0. Altitude – 20,000.
Missed target, but smashed the town.
18th MISSION
March 11, 1944
TARGET – Toulon, France
Bomb Load – 10 500
lb. demos.
Take-off – 7:45 a.m.
Took off and rendezvoused with 376, 98, and 449 over San
Pancrazeio. Then flew to Isle of Oisne (?), met our 2 groups of P-38's, 82
group and ??, and continued on to target. It was very cloudy all the way up,
but cleared up over the target, a submarine repair depot. The flak was of the
barrage type, and battered poor old No. 4 engine and down through our left
wing, barely missing the gas tank and aileron cables. Only knocked out our
compass. The P-38's were dog fighting while we were over the target. But one
got away and made a pass at us. If the ball turret had been down, John would
probably have gotten it. A couple of the ME-109's caught one of our B-24's
straggling and filled it full of 20 M.M.
I watched it swerve and streak across the sky smoking. I never did see
any chutes leave it. Then it started flaming and finally blew up in air. One
ship dropped out and landed at Corsica.
B-24's 120
P-38's 60
ME-109's 30
Loss 2 B-24's
March 12, 1944
Visited ancient church and castle in Oria. Checked up on
operations and I have 120 combat hours to date.
19th & 20th MISSIONS
March 17, 1944
TARGET – Schwechat, Austria
Bomb Load – 10
500 lb. demos.
Take Off – 9:00
Rendezvoused with 98th over Manduria. Just as we
hit Yugo, they threw a little flak at us. Closer we got to target, the clouds
became thicker. The sky was filled with B-24, B-17 and P-38's. We had 3 fighter
groups as escorts and P-47's gave us cover at the target. 98th
turned back short of target but we flew on, even though we could see nothing on
the ground. Flew over Vienna and target, then salvoed our bombs. The Luftwaffe
was unactive and no flak was seen near the target. Balentine used an RAF heated
suit and it didn't work. Frost bit his toes. It was the coldest mission I've
been on. Had a hot spot in my suit and burned a big blister on my right arm. By
the way, there was a different Red Cross girl serving coffee and donuts.
B-24's 150
B-17's 75
P-38's 90
Loss 2 B-24's
March 24 – Our crew flew with Lt. Miller in Dinah Might
(164) on a mission to Steyr, Austria. Lost oil in No. 3 engine and feathered it
and came back. Group continued toward target, but turned back over Yugoslavia.
Weather was bad. Two ships in 721st Sqdn. Collided in air and one of
them blew up. The other ditched. Duda's buddy was in one of the ships that went
down. Group turned and bombed secondary target in N. Italy. Were hit by 40
enemy fighters and our Group lost 3 ships there.
March 26 – Visited Shine Roebuck over at 449th
March 27 – Visited Shine again.
21st MISSION
March 28, 1944
Tuesday
TARGET – Mestre, Italy
Bomb Load – 10
500 lb demos
Take Off – 9:05
Landed – 2:52
It was snowing and blowing a gale when we took off. The air
was so rough, I lost my breakfast out the waist window. First time to wear
English suit. My feet and hands stayed warm but my ankles and legs were very
cold. Our whole crew, except Wells, was flying with Lt. Tom Miller. We were
suppose to have P-28 escorts, but didn't see them till we were over the target.
There were lots of enemy fighters there, but the P-28's took care of most of
them. None attacked our element. 722 lost one ship to fighters. We flew in 345.
We bombed at 18,000 feet, lowest altitude yet.
B-24's 150
P-38's 30
ME-109's 25
Lost 1 B-24
22nd & 23rd MISSIONS
March 29, 1944
TARGET – Bolzano, Italy
Bomb Load – 10
500 lb. demos.
Take-off – 8:00 a.m.
Our full crew flying in good old "143" made us feel fairly
safe. Rendezvoused with other groups, then met 2 groups of P-38's at the spur.
The trip up was uneventful, a few turn backs, one turned just 30 minutes from
target. Weather was bad on the way up, but cleared at the target. We went
within 3 miles of Switzerland – all snow covered mountains. Hit the target and
headed for home. The flak was very thick and our nose turret caught hell again.
Also 3 de-icer boots punctured. Returned only to find a letter saying that Dick
was killed.
B-24's 140
P-38's 45
Lost 1 B-24
March 30, 1944 – Six, Waters, Seller and Trinkle transferred
to Recon. Gr. Africa. Group flew mission to Sofia, Bulgaria. We lost 1 B-24 in
our Sqdn. "Little Lady Joyce". I was awarded air medal today.
24th & 25th MISSIONS
April 2, 1944 Sunday
TARGET – Steyr, Austria
Load – 12 500 lb. demos.
Take-off – 7:35 a. m.
Landed – 15:08 p.m.
Our whole group in 143 leading low left element. Enemy
fighters attacked us over Yugoslavia and stayed with us all the way to target
and port of the way back. We were suppose to have P-38 and P-47 escorts, but I
didn't see a one of them. Fighters got 2 of our planes in the 722 Sqdn. Target
was well covered and was left smoking and in flames. Half hour after target,
had to feather No. 4 engine. Wells carried us over into a slower group so we
could keep up. The fighters were still around and they attacked this group we
had joined. They were ME-109's and FW-190's. They fired rockets and cannons at
us. Only a couple came within range of my tail turret. I saw 3 ships go down
and only one crew bailed out. One went into a flat spin. Our whole crew sweated
our return trip out because No. 2 was throwing lots of oil. But Wells brought
us back and made a perfect landing on 3 engines.
B-24's 250 B-17's
100 Lost 6 B-24's
26th & 27th MISSIONS
April 3, 1944 Monday
TARGET – Budapest, Hungary
Load – 12 500 lb.
Demos.
Take-off – 7:05 a.m.
Landed – 2:15 p.m.
Flew with Lt. Col. Gideon and Lt. T.B. Miller in 721, a
radar ship. We led the whole wing. Only met 6 FW-190's. P-38 and P-47 escorts,
but we never did see them. We tossed out tinsel to throw off the flak guns but
the flak was heaviest and most accurate we have ever flown through. John took
the tail and I flew waist. Buck had his little compartment on half-deck. A
piece of flak grazed my forehead but didn't hurt much. We got our hydraulic
lines shot away and had to crank down landing gear. Gas was running low and
only had 40 gallons in all, after we landed. We all rode the tail-end in on
landing because we had no brakes. Made good landing. Counted 42 flak holes in
ship. Navigator turned in a request for "purple heart" for me. Farina and I
were soaked with hydraulic fluid because of trying to fix the leaks.
B-24's 400
FW-190's 6
Lost none.
28th & 29th MISSIONS
April 5, 1944
TARGET – Ploesti, Rumania
Load – 12 500 lb.
Demos.
Take-off – 11:33 a.m.
Landed 17:33 p.m.
Our whole crew was flying good old 143 "Wells Cargo". To
start off with, one of the 451st ships cracked up on take-off and
blew up. One boy was blown clear of the wreckage and got out alive, but badly
burned. Wells was leading 2nd attack group of 18 planes. Clouds were
so bad, we didn't get our element together til we reached Yugoslavia. We were
really sweating because it was suppose to be a really rough mission. About 50
enemy fighters attacked us about 30 minutes before the target and stayed with
us until about 30 minutes after the target. We lost three ships in our lead
element and one was Lt. Laels crew with Lt. Rickey, Turrentine, Mich, Pryce,
and Chadwell. There was 144 heavy flak guns at the target and the fighters
stayed with us even through the flak. Then after the fighters left us, our
P-38's appeared and followed us home. I saw six parachutes leave one ship over
the target. I noticed that the oil refinery was belching flames and smoke as we
left it. Duda got 1 fighter.
B-24's 375
P-38's 30
ME-109's 20
FW-190's 20
JU-88's 10
Lost 4 B-24's
2 waist gunners and 1 tail gunner bailed out on account of
fire in the tail of 2 ships. The other members of both crews and ships
returned.
April 6, 1944 – Awarded "Purple Heart" by Wing Commander.
Farina and I visited friends up close to Foggia.
30th & 31st MISSIONS
April 12, 1944
TARGET – Wiener-Neustadt, Germany
Take-off – 8:22 a.m.
Landed 14:50 p.m.
Our crew flew in the Cargo in No. 3 position. Col. Davis led
group and got off course and went over Mostar, Yugoslavia at 14,000. Flak was
heavy and accurate and hit all our ships. Two had to turn back on account of
it. P-38's and P-47's escorted us all the way to and from the target. Left
heated shoe burned out and frost bit big toe. We got 4 big flak holes, but none
were serious. Target well covered.
B -24's – 150
P-38's – 50 (None lost)
P-47's 50
Lost ME-109's – 1
32nd & 33rd MISSIONS
April 13, 1944
TARGET – Air Craft Factory, Budapest, Hungary
Load – 120 Frag Bombs
Take-off – 9:00 a.m.
Landed – 3:40 p.m.
Our crew flew 143 in No. 2 position of lead box. Col. Babbs
lost an engine and turned back, so we took the lead. Tom Miller was pilot for
us. We led the whole wing over the target and it was well covered. P-47 escort
met us 20 minutes before target and an hour out. We only saw one ME-109 and the
P-47's got him. As we landed a huge crowd met us, and all congratulated us on
our good leadership of the 47th Wing. Interviews and pictures were
taken of the whole crew and he said they would be wired into Washington, D. C.
within 2 hours. Flak was medium over target on account of the window* we threw
out. I saw one B-24 blow up in air over the target (hit by flak) some chutes
came out, but were burning also so no one escaped. Had trouble with frost bit
toes.
B-24's 150
P-47's 35
Lost ?
* window – material, like Christmas tree tinsel.
34th & 35th MISSIONS
April 15, 1944
TARGET – M/Y Bucharest, Rumania
Load – 10 500 lb.
demos
Our crew flew in 143 with Lt. Kent as Co-pilot. No.4
position in low left element. Our supercharger on No. 4 engine went out, so we
could hardly stay up in position but did our best. The P-38's gave us good
coverage all the way. Only saw 2 ME-210's and ME-109's. The P-38's took care of
them. One of the 210's went down in flames. The target was overcast, but we
bombed by E.T.A.*. There were supposed to be 2500 box cars ganged up in the
yards. We really "sweated out" No. 4 engine because to get behind the formation
too far would mean certain that the fighters would hop us. They watch for any
stragglers. There was very little flak at the target. The 449th
bombed Nis on the way back. Wells brought us back and we really buzzed the
field close.
B-24's 3 wings
P-38's 3 groups
Lost none. *
E.T.A. – estimated time of arrival
36th MISSION
April 16, 1944
TARGET – Brasov, Rumania
Load – 10 500 lb.
demos.
Our crew flew in 143 with Major Van Sickle and Lt. Tom
Miller. Even before we took off, we were scared because the Major was a rookie
and had never completed a mission. We were leading low left element of 2nd
attack unit. Clouds were bad so we got lost trying to catch the formation, but
finally caught up. P-38's were with us on the way up. 20 miles from target, the
clouds became solid and the formation turned left and we went straight ahead.
Of course we got lost and personally I was expecting us to collide in air with
some other ship at any minute. Finally we convinced the Major to head for home.
Those clouds kept us hidden from enemy fighters for about 100 miles. When we
got out of them, there we were all by ourself. We were expecting enemy fighters
at any time. Then I could see some fighters coming up behind us, about 30 of
them. Well, we got ready, because if it was enemies, we would just bail out, without
a struggle. But! Sure enough they were P-38's, who escorted us safely home. The
GP. found a hole in the clouds over the target and destroyed it. The fighters
hit them and shot down "Little Stinker." All ten of them bailed out. Lt. Clay's
crew with Briggs on it. We only got credit for 1 mission on account of not
going over the target.
April 22, 1944 Arrived in camp from Rest Camp.
April 23, 1944 (Sunday) Went to church. Group flew to
Vienna.
37th & 38th MISSIONS
April 24, 1944
TARGET – Ploesti, Rumania
Load – 10 500 lb.
demos.
Our crew flew 385 and in No. 2 position. Weather looked bad
here, but cleared up in Yugoslavia. We met no enemy fighters but had a few P-47
escorts. Flak was the heaviest we have ever been through. Capt. Stanley and his
new crew went down. I saw his ship just as it was hit. Caught fire immediately.
Seven chutes were seen clear of it before it crashed. We really sweated blood
for 20 minutes. Flak knocked our hydraulic system out, again, also cut our
elevator control cables. Farina and I tried to repair it, but it was useless.
Had no flaps and really came in hot, at 150 miles per hour. We rode the tail
in, as brakes and finally stopped after using all of the runway.
To date – 12 crews lost.
39th MISSION
April 25, 1944
TARGET – Varece, Italy, Macchi 202 Airplane Factory in
Northern Italy
Our crew flew in the Cargo in No. 4 position. The weather
looked bad as we left and continued to get worse all along. We flew through a
thick cloud and the planes got split up and scattered. Then enemy fighters
jumped us and got one of our stragglers. Then P-38's appeared and took care of
them. We flew through more clouds and some of our group turned back. Wells kept
going and joined another group. The clouds broke over the target and we bombed
it. Flak was terrific and we were hit bad. Our hydraulic reservoir was shot
out, No. 1 and 4 engines were hit. No.2 and 3 gas tanks were hit and we were
losing gas out of a punctured manifold. As we left the coast, a lone fighter
attacked Wilder's ship and I sent a long stream of lead toward him and scared
him away. Farina and I repaired our hydraulic system enough to lower the
landing gear and use our flaps. We really sweated the landing, as we were very
low on gas. Our group lost 6 ships. Our squadron lost one with Lt. Barry and
crew. We almost lost Conklin's ship when it hit a slip stream and went in to a
dive. The new pilot pulled it out okay.
B-24's 400
P-38's 30
ME-109's 20
To date 13 crew lost
13 ships lost
40th MISSION
April 29, 1944
TARGET – Toulon, France
Load – 5 1000 lb.
demos.
Our crew flew in ship 345 "Tung Hoy." The trip was 1300
miles, so we really got tired. It took 8 hours 15 minutes. Flew over Corsica
and Sardinia and on up to target. Our P-38's took care of most of the enemy
fighters. Flak was really accurate. It got Major Orris and another ship in our
lead attack unit. The boys bailed out quick and we had to dive down to miss one
of them. His feet almost hit our stabilizer (tail). I saw 15 chutes in the air
at once. One of my heated shoes burned out on the way up, so one of my feet
almost froze. I thawed it out with the heaters in the flight deck and it was
okay.
B-24's 500
P-38's 90
Lost 2 ships –
B-24's
41st MISSION
April 30, 1944
TARGET – Allessandria, Italy
Load – 10 500 lb.
demos
Our crew flew "Dynamite" or "Dinah Might" I should say
(164). We led low left. We met no enemy fighters and no flak over target.
P-38's stayed with us and two cripples flew in close to us, in fact, too close.
Target, only partially hit.
B-24's 100
P-38's 48
None lost.
42nd & 43rd MISSIONS
May 5, 1944 Friday
TARGET – Ploesti, Rumania. M/Y.
Load – 10 500 lb. demos.
Our crew flew 143 in No. 4 position in low left. Baker's
first mission as pilot. Our escort covered us going to target. Flak was very
heavy but we were lucky. Then 2 fighters came in at us on my tail and I let one
have all I had. He blew up at about 400 yards out. Farina and John saw him.
John was firing at it also. Buck and Farina got a few shots in at other
fighters. Then, our escort came and guarded us safely home. The target was
partially covered and I saw huge fires starting.
B-24's 400
P-38's 60
P-47's 30
P-51's 30
Flak got 2 ships in the group in front of us and fighters
got 2 or 3. None lost in our group.
44th & 45th MISSIONS
May 6, 1944
TARGET – Brasov, Rumania. M/Y
Load – 10 500 lb.
demos
Our crew flew 163, the "Whiskey Kid", with Capt. Kellman and
Lt. Lombardi. We led the 2nd attack element. It was very cloudy over
our field, so we rendezvoused over the Adriatic. The flak was medium and 1
fighter attacked us. The target was fully covered and part of the town
was destroyed.
B-24's 300
B-17's 300
P-51's and P-38's Escorts.
None lost.
46th MISSION
May 12, 1944
TARGET – Orbetello, Italy
Load – 12 500 lb.
Demos - 2700 gals. Gas – 11 man crew
Our crew flew the Cargo, with the Wing Commander Col. Hugo
Rush flying as nose turret gunner. We paraded over all our front lines at
10,000 feet, then went on to target. Flak was light but got 2 ships in lead
element. They collided and one fell apart. Other went into a spin and dive. I
counted 6 chutes come out of it. Hit target well. No escort. Just our group
alone hit that target. Briefing was at 3:45 a.m. and take off was at 6:00 and
landed at 11:45.
B-24's - 43
Lost – 2
47th MISSION
May 17, 1944
TARGET – Harbor, San Stefano, Italy
Load – 10 500 lb.
demo.
Our crew flew with Wells and Lombardi in No. 4 position in
163 Whiskey Kid. Had P-51's escort and Nick fired at one of them. Met no enemy
fighters. Flak was medium but accurate. I really sweated through it. Target
well covered. 450th did not loose a plane.
B-24's 450
P-51's 30
48th MISSION
May 18, 1944
TARGET – Ploesti, Rumani, Oil Refinery
Our crew with Lombardi and Noll flew in 163 Whiskey Kid in
No. 5 position. About an hour from the target, we ran into solid clouds, so
circled and tried to go around it, but got into some flak and picked up a few
holes. Finally turned and came back. Even though we brought our bombs back, we
got credit for one mission. We seated out the co-pilot as it was his first
mission. It was Duda's 50th mission. Our wing was only one that
turned back. 450 bombers got through and bombed the target. Fighters got 9 of
them as the escort turned back with us.
49th MISSION
May 19, 1944
TARGET - ?
Load – 10 500 lb.
demos.
Our crew flew 143 "Wells Cargo" with Noll as co-pilot. We
led low left element in 1st attack unit. Hit cloudy weather going up
and got scattered, but got together before the target. Lots of P-51's and
P-47's escorted us. Target was well hit and flak was inaccurate. Lost oil in
No. 3 engine, so we feathered it. As we dropped back, Baker and Morris stayed
with us to guard us, if fighters came. Then they went ahead and we came in
alone. I fired all the old ammo out of the tail, so I could get new. Duda
sweated us out and took our pictures after we landed.
B-24's 400
P-51's 70
50th MISSION
May 23, 1944
TARGET – Troup encampment just above Anzio beachhead.
Lt. Lombardi and Lt. Tarasko were pilot and co-pilot. We
flew No. 6 position in 1st attack unit. Target was covered with
clouds so we made a 360o and bombed it the second time. We ran into
heavy, intense and accurate flak and got 10 holes in our ship, "Swamp Rat". One
piece went through about 8 inches from my back. John and I finished on this
one, so we shot flares* as we peeled off over our field.
B-24's 200
No escort
* Any man that finished 50 missions was allowed to shoot a
flare from his plane just before landing. It gave us a victorious feeling
inside and let the newer crews know "it can be done."
May 25, 1944
Thursday
TARGET – Weiner-Neustadt, Germany
Wells and Lane, Waterman, Kaulfuss, Farina, Balentine and
Nick and 3 replacements flew "Wells Cargo" in No. 1 position in low left
element of the second attack unit. John, Duda and I shook hands with them
before they took off. It was Farina's, Nick's, and Buck's last (50th)
mission. About 100 fighters attacked them and shot down the "Wells Cargo",
"Whiskey Kid", "Yellow 28" and "Little Lady Joyce". I talked to the boys that saw
it all happen. He said a bullet hit the gas tanks and it began burning then.
The guns were all firing at this time. They saw 4 boys bail out, before it blew
up. I feel like it was Balentine, Florip, Kaulfuss and Waterman. The others
hardly had a chance.
NOTE:
Of the 18 crews (180 men) and 18 bombers (10 men crews), 18
men finished 50 missions. Many were killed, some bailed out and were captured
and some "ditched" or went down in the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas and were
picked up by ships and submarines.
Diary courtesy of Boyd Mangrum, son of Wilburn Mangrum
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