PAKAWALUP II

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 3, 5 Dec 1943, Paris, France. Aircraft 42-39825 crashed on take-off into the village of Deenethorpe. It was believed a combination of prop wash and icing resulted in loss of power and caused the port wing to sink until it touched the runway, turning the aircraft to port and down the hill into the village. Eight of the crew managed to scramble clear and dashed around the village to warn the inhabitants to run for their lives before the burning plane exploded. The navigator and bombardier were in the nose of the aircraft and were badly injured. They were bravely rescued by ground personnel and recovered eventually from their injuries. Twenty minutes after the crash, the aircraft, load with 6000 pounds of bombs and over 2000 gallons of aviation fuel, exploded with a tremendous roar, taking the 401st fire tender up with it. The ground crew who braved the burning aircraft to rescue the injured men were M/Sgt Earl K. Williams and M/Sgt Francis F. Snider, who dragged clear Lt Carl T. Floto (the navigator), and Capt Ralph J. White and Cpl William N. Luna who rescued Lt John J. King (the bombardier). The loss of the fire tender should have meant that the Group be diverted to other bases upon returning from the mission, but this also had its problems. The aircraft were still loaded with bombs and the crews on their first or second missions in most cases. After much heartsearching permission was finally given for them to land back at the base without a fire truck standing by. The touch downs were without incident and everyone breathed again.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 4, 11 Dec 1943, Emden, Germany. 1521 hours - All aircraft down except 42-31098 (IW-B - "Penny's Thunderhead") which landed at Lindholme RAF base, Yorkshire, after sustaining heavy battle damage (eight crew members having bailed out). The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Air Divisions sent up 523 four-engine bombers on this mission with 17 aircraft lost and 138 aircraft damaged. The claims for the bombers were 86-22-23 and the fighters 21-0-7.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 5, 13 Dec 1943, Kiel, Germany. Eighteen aircraft attacked the primary target, the bombing having been carried out by PFF methods due to poor weather, with unobserved results. Four aircraft of the 401st sustained battle damage but all returned safely.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 6, 20 Dec 1943, Bremen, Germany. Fifteen of the dispatched aircraft hit the primary target, with 14 of the Group's aircraft sustaining battle damage.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 7, 22 Dec 1943, Osnabruck, Germany. The Group flew the lead box position in the Wing formation. After starting the bomb run, the formation found itself on a collision course with a group that had bombed nearby Munster as a diversion, and were forced to turn short and were unable to drop their bombs. In the confusion, aircraft 42-37835 was struck by a bomb from a B-17 in a higher element, but was able to return to England where the crew bailed out over the base. Aircraft 42-37835 (SC-J "Channel Express") was unable to land due to loss of controls and the crew bailed out over the base. The plane crashed near the town of Washingley, Huntingtonshire.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 9, 30 Dec 1943, Ludwigshaven, Germany. This was the longest mission yet flown by the Group with ten hours engine time recorded. The target was attacked by PFF method in Wing formation. No results were observed. The 401st suffered its first combat-related aircraft loss on this mission, when ship 42-39826, piloted by Lt. Trian Neag, was shot down by flak near Saarbruken, Germany.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 10, 31 Dec 1943, Cognac, France. The primary target (Bordeaux) was obscured by cloud so the Wing Leader (Major Seawell) ordered the formation to proceed to the secondary target, a Luftwaffe Airbase at Cognac, which was bombed with excellent results. Major I Wayne Eveland, 614th Squadron Commander, flying with Lt. H.E. McDanal and his crew in "Flak Rat" (42-37770) was shot down by fighters but evaded capture, ultimately returning to Deenethrope via Spain. The wreckage of B-17 aircraft "Hey Lou" (42-31064), piloted by Lt. D. H. Lawry, was found off the coast of southern England. The cause of the loss was not determined, and only one body was recovered. Two other aircraft ran out of fuel and were abandoned by the crews.

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 17, 29 Jan 1944, Frankfurt, Germany. 35 aircraft were airborne by 0849 but five aborted the mission and returned. Air Raid warning sounded. The Group encountered heavy flak and fighters, resulting in the loss of four aircraft and crews, while three aircraft landed at Deenethorpe with wounded aboard. The crews lost were those of Lt. J. Tannahill (#42-31486),Lt. D. T. Nicklawsky (#42-40057), Capt. R. W. Beers ("Little Boots" #42-31193) and Lt. L. G. Van Syckle (#42-38012).

401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 18, 30 Jan 1944, Brunswick, Germany. All aircraft returned by 1547 except # 856, shot down over the target. Lt. Col. Rogner and the 401st led the Combat Wing on this mission, which culminated 72 hours of the greatest bombing assault ever staged over Europe. Over 800 U. S. heavy bombers were engaged the operation, and 1,800 tons of bombs were dropped. Aircraft "Fancy Nancy III" (42-37856)piloted by Lt. R. R. Rohner,was shot down over the target by an FW-190.