The B-26 Marauder, 41-34777, Black Fury, crash landed at Earl's Colne returning from a morning mission to Amiens - Glissy Airdrome, France. 19 Aug 43.



"...the 323rd set out on the 19th to attack the Amiens - Glissy Airdrome in France. The 35 aircraft in the attacking force encountered heavy flak followed, this time, by a swarm of FW-190s. In the ensuing running air battle, one FW-190 was definitely shot down. Three probables were recorded by the Gunners. Seven of the Group's aircraft received battle damage. Two made emergency landings, and one crash landed. Two of the Gunners, Sgt. Jack K. Burns and Sgt. Adam W. Glen, received flak wounds.



"As narrated by Capt. George P. Gould, by SSgt. Raymond J. Vignochi, who was credited with shooting down the FW-190, and by participating air crewmen, the raid on the Amiens - Glissy Airdrome was both exciting and rewarding.



"We ran into the most flak and fighters we ever encountered.", Capt. Gould said. "There were swarms of FW-190s attacking us at one time, but our .50s took them out at a distance. The bombing was good."



"Reporting on the bombing, SSgt. Eugene W. Rathbone, Waist Gunner on, Jill's Slipper, said that thick columns of black smoke rose from the Amiens - Glissy Airdrome a few minutes after the bombs dropped.



The most exciting story came from Sgt. Vignochi, Tail Gunner of, Stinkin' Chicken. "The FW-190s attacked our aircraft just after we had 'bombs away'." I spotted a plane coming in on our tail about 600 yards away. I could tell by his tail, his spinner and his radiator that he was a German. When he started shooting, there was no mistake about it. I saw two thin puffs as he came in and figured that he was using 20 MM cannons. After that, there wasn't any time for seeing anything. I got him in my sight and let him have it. I kept the trigger down until I had fired about 150 rounds. Then, I saw him fall into a spin and out of control."



Sgt. Vignochi got a second burst at a FW-190 as it "dove straight down through the formation" of Marauders. A third FW-190 attempted to attack the belly of his aircraft but was driven off by the escorting Spitfires, which claimed a total of five enemy aircraft shot down.



Subsequently, the "Stars and Stripes" would report on the shooting down of the two FW-190s by our Group's air crewmen on the Amiens - Glissy mission."



- John O. Moench, "Marauder Men".



Note that Moench does not mention Lt. Hurt as having been injured or killed, if he was on this mission.