Dec 23, 44 on mission to Blatchen, ger. flack disabled aileron and rudder control with resulting loss of altitude from 23,000 to 8,000 ft. With elevator controls and all engines we made it back to Base 1:30 late. This was a close call!

22 missions with 786 BS from 24 July 1944 to 22 Oct 1944 and 10 missions with 784 BS from 4 Nov 1944 to 5 Jan 1944 as lead crew. Crew #s 640 & 462. Aircrafts flown: #42-10580, #42-95592 "Black Cat," #42-95609 "Ghost Too,"

"I, like most other pilots, thought then and now that mine was the best possible crew. I am grateful to have been associated with these good and worthy men. I am a better person for having associated with them during that critical time in our nations history." - Heath Carriker