media-380648.jpg FRE 1832 Sergeant George Mondale, Lieutenant Ernest Demaray, Sergeant John McCallum and Lieutenant Roger Soth of the 452nd Bomb Group with Russian personnel. Image via William C Gaither. Letter from Gaither enclosed with print: ‘These photographers were taken at Poltava, Russia on June 22 1944. On June 21st my group, the 452d and others flew from England to Poltava en route hitting oil refinery at Rhurland, Germany. That night after landing German dive bombers bombed the field destroying ninety or more B-17 aircraft. Our P-51 fighter escort which has landed at another field were denied permission to take off and intercept the German attack planes. My crew and I were assigned to the 730Sq. My aircraft “Borrowed Time”. Was hit by an ME-109 over Yugoslavia. No 4 engine was knocked out and feathered, a hole was put in horizontal tail and hydraulic system damaged. Without brakes I ground looped on landing to stop the ship. There it remained isolated from the other ships which were destroyed that night. PHOTO NO 8- "Borrowed Time" crew. L to R Sgt George Mondale gunner, Lt Ernest Demaray co-pilo, Sgt John McCallum gunner, Lt Roger Soth bombardier. The Germans directed their attack at the B-17s and not at the crew’s bivouac area. Only later did we learn that we were also a target- butterfly bombs were found in the tent area. Young Russians were used to search and destroy these bombs.’ Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection