A/C was named 'Little Miss Mischief. ' On 15 October 1944 a shell burst against the A/C on the way back form a bomb run on Cologne. Her fuselage had been blasted open. Her ball turret had been so badly mangled that it was a miracle that the gunner survived. McDowell and his co-pilot Herman Balaban didin't know what was happening. They had lost control of the ship. McDowell ignored the flak that popped all around them and went to the back to inspect the damage. 'Little Miss Mischief' was at 27, 000 feet. McDowell knew he had to get her down fast. He stationed the radio operator at the bomb bay to relay messages to and from pilot and co-pilot while McDowell himself began reaching for the severed control cables. He grabbed the right one and bgan signaling Balaban with the radioman acting as relay. Working this way, they managed to re-trim the ship for a hands-off flight at around 110 miles an hour. Control had returned. MacDowell and his co-pilot safely landed the plane Bassingbourn.



DFC, AM 5Oak Leaf Cluster