Ancon Rimini Mosta Ciampino Pontecorv Anzio Anzio Orbetello Arezzo

Ancon Rimini Mosta Ciampino Pontecorv Anzio Anzio Orbetello Arezzo AAR Message : B-24D "Boxcar Willie"; William Shanks - commanding 900 th (Heavy) Bombardment Group 925 th (Heavy) Bombardment Squadron Based at: San Giovanni Airfield, Italy 8 February, 1944 Target: Piombino, Italy - Industry - Steel Mills Mission: 13; flying Fubar for this mission Boxcar Willie: 9; Latrine Queen: 1; uncredited missions: 1 Combat Box Formation; position 16 (low cell) Crew: (Missions Flown) Name [E/A Credited] (10) Pilot: 1Lt. William Shanks (9) Copilot: 2Lt. Hugh Bennick (9) Bombardier: 2Lt. Frank Sherwood [1⅓-109]; [⅓-190] (10) Navigator: 1Lt. Clemens Fesmire [1-109]; [1-190] (10) -ace- Engineer: MSgt. Tom Hughes [2 4 /9-109]; [2⅚-190]; [½ -210] (9) Radioman: TSgt. Ripley Andrews (10) -ace- Ball Gun: Cpl. Eugene Shortcake Hamill [½-109]; [ 4 /9-109]; [2⅓-190]; [1½-110]; [1-Ju88C-6] (6) Left Waist: Sgt. Lewis Johnson [ 17 /18-109]; [1-110] (6) Right Waist: Cpl. Roland Fec [½ -109]; [1⅓-190] (10) Tail Gunner: Sgt. Oscar Shoup [⅓-190]; [2½-109]; [1-110]; [½ -210] Substitute crew who have flown with Boxcar Willie crew (16) Copilot: Capt. Carter Heath - invalided stateside (1) Bombardier: 2Lt. Alan Hudson [1½-109] (2) Radioman: SSgt. Chris Ford [1-109] BOMBER AAR SUMMARY Did your Bomber abort before Bombing? -no Were your bombs dropped "On-Target"? -yes What was your "On-Target" bomb %? 30% Was your Bomber Destroyed? no Number of Crew Lost - KIA / MIA / SW/SH? zero Total Enemy Aircraft spotted? 53 Total Driven off by Fighter Cover? 36

Total EAC Attacks? 13 Total EAC Credited as Destroyed by B-24 Def. Fire? 5 Zones Out of Formation @ 10K: 3 Damage to bomber-fubar: [Peckham Pts. = 98] left wing aileron inoperable [10] heat out bombardier [10] heat out navigator [10] instruments - rudder out [10] instruments - intercom out [10] mechanical failure - bomb controls out [10] radio operator - light wound (torn abdominal oblique muscle) [2] superficial 16 hits *2 [32] bomb bay - bombs - no effect 2*2 [4] Enemy Aircraft This Mission e/a encountered e/a escort engaged e/a claimed e/a credited TOTAL 53 36 7 5 Fw-190 24 16 4 2 Me-109 22 13 3 3 Me-110 3 3 0 0 Me-210 2 2 0 0 Ju88C6 2 2 0 0 Enemy fighters destroyed this mission: (claimed); [approved] Bombardier: 2Lt. Sherwood (½ -109) [½ - 109] Navigator: 1Lt. Fesmire (¼ -190) [⅛ -190] (1-109) [1-109] Engineer: MSgt. Hughes (1¼ -190) [⅜ -190] (½-109) [½ -109] Ball Gun: Cpl. Hamill (½ -190) [¼ -190] (½-109) [½ -109] Right Waist: Cpl. Fec (½ -190) [½ - 190] Left Waist: Sgt. Johnson (1¼-190) [⅜-190] (½-109) [½ -109] Tail Gunner: Sgt. Shoup (¼ -190) [⅛ -190] Ammunition expended: 39 rounds After Action Highlights Zone 1 base 9 - takeoff without incident good Zone 2 outbound hazy; contrails GAF: light good escort 82 - no mechanical failures

9-1+1 = 9 [2 waves] 23 (light) Me109 (12Lv) (2+3) - fighter cover 3(2) = engages the 109 22 (light) - none Zone 3 outbound hazy; contrails GAF: moderate good escort 88 - no mechanical failures 2+1+1 = 4 [1 wave] 44 (moderate) (3) Fw190s (3Low); (12H); (12Lv) (2+5) - fighter cover 3(2) = engages all three 190s. Zone 4 outbound clear; no contrails GAF: heavy good escort 28 - no mechanical failures 9+2+1 = 12 [3 waves] 53 (heavy) (3) Me110s (12Lv); (10Lv); (6Lo) (5+5) - fighter cover 4(3) = engages all the 110s. 64 (heavy) (4) Fw190s (12Lv); (1Lv); (3Lo); (9H) (5+5) - fighter cover 4(3) = engages the Fw190s (12Lv); (1Lv); (3Lo) Fw190s -vet (9H) top (ace) (6+6)+1+1+1=15 (hit) destroyed - tail breaks off - pilot bails claimed ½ - awarded ¼ lt. waist (4+4)+1=9 (hit) FCA - fuselage - pilot - light wound claimed ½ - awarded ¼ 32 (heavy) (2) Fw190s (10H); (3Lv) Fw190s -vet (10H) top (ace) (4+5)+1+1=11 (hit) FCA tail plane/elevator shredded claimed ¼ - awarded ⅛ lt. waist (6+6)=12 (hit) FCA - left wing - superficial claimed ¼ - awarded ⅛ lt. cheek (5+5)=10 (hit) FBOA - cockpit - pilot - serious wound claimed ¼ - awarded ⅛ destroyed - rules - page 18 Fw190s -vet (3Lv) ball (ace) (6+3)+1+1+1=12 (hit) FBOA fuselage - superficial claimed ½ - awarded ½ rt. waist (6+1)+1=8 (hit) FCA - rt. wing - superficial claimed ½ - awarded ½ destroyed - rules - page 18 Fw190s -vet (10H) drm-4 (3+3)=2 (miss) (4+4)+1 no collision tail - passing shot (6+3)-1+1=9 (hit) FCA - rt. wing - control surfaces claimed ¼ - awarded Fw190s -vet (3Lv) drm-3 (3+4)=4 (miss) (4+1) no collision ⅛

Zone 5 outbound clear; no contrails GAF: none good escort 48 - no mechanical failures [0 waves] Zone 6 outbound clear; no contrails GAF: moderate good escort 80 - no mechanical failures 8+1+1= 10 [3 waves] 61 (moderate) - none 55 (moderate) (2) Ju88C-6 (1Lo); (3Lv) (2+2) - fighter cover 4(3) = engages both Ju88s 25 (moderate) (4) Fw190s (6H); (12H); (12Lv); (6Lo) (2+2) - fighter cover 4(3) = engages the Fw190s (6H); (12Lv); (6Lo) 190-experte (12H) nose (1+2)-2=1 (miss) top-ace (6+5)-2+1+1=11 (hit) FCA tail-passing shot (4+4)-2-1+1=6 (miss) 190-experte (12H) (5+2)+2=9 (hit) - 2 shells (6+3)-2 no collision 3-hits nose - superficial lt. wing - aileron inoperable bomb bay - bombs - no effect 2nd attack 190-expert (9Lv) top-ace (4+5)-2+1+1+1=10 (hit) FCA ball-ace (2+2)-2+1+1+1=5 (miss) lt. waist (2+5)-2+1=4 (miss) 190-expert (9Lv) (1+1)+2=4 (miss) (3+4)-2 no collision Zone 7 target zone 50% CC; no contrails GAF: moderate good escort 36 - no mechanical failures 7+1+1+1= 10 [3 waves] 62 (moderate) - (1) Fw190 (12Lv) (3+6) - fighter cover 3(2) = engages 190 34 (moderate) (3) Me109s (1Lv); (9H); (12H) (3+6) - fighter cover 3(2) = engages Me109s (9H); (12H) 109- flieger (130Lv) top-ace (6+6)+1+1=14 (hit)-(1+6)+1+1=9 (destroyed) fuselage/canopy/cockpit - pilot dies ½-claimed & credited

rt. cheek (3+2)=5 (miss) ½-claimed & credited 51 (moderate) rockets fired from abaft - missed our aircraft target approach 50% CC; no contrails mostly obscured medium flak target egress medium flak lt. flak (6+6) - hit; (1+2) - miss; (4+1) - miss (1+2) = 3 shell hits (3+3) lt. wing (2+4) - superficial (2+1) superficial (6+2) rt. wing (4+4) superficial bombing (3+2)-2 = 3 on target (4+4) - 30% lt. flak (3+6) - miss; (5+2) - miss; (2+5) - miss Zone 7 target zone 50% CC; no contrails GAF: moderate good escort 43 - no mechanical failures 8+1+1+1= 11 [3 waves] 15 (moderate) (2) Me109 (9Lv); (VC); (1) Me210 (6H) (2+5) - fighter cover 3(2) = engages all three enemy aircraft 24 (moderate) (3) Fw190s (6Lv); (12H); (130Lv) (2+5) - fighter cover 3(2) = engages Fw190s (12H); (130Lv) 190-veteran (6Lv) tail (3+6)+1+2=12 (hit) - (4+4)=FBOA rt. wing - superficial - 190-veteran (6Lv) (4+5)-2=7 (hit) - (3+1)=3 shells x2 (5+3) no collision (3+4)=superficial (1+3)=top turret/radio (5+2) = superficial (3+5)=tail (5+1)= superficial (2+2)=top turret/radio (5+1)=radio operator - light wound (torn abdominal oblique muscle) (5+2)=superficial (6+5)=nose (6+5)=nose compartment heat out for both 16 (moderate) - random event 16 - bombardier ace - too late :( - already bombed Zone 6 return 50% CC; no contrails GAF: moderate good escort 49 - no mechanical failures first zone with bombardier & navigator heat out 8+1+1= 10 [3 waves] 54 (moderate) (3) Fw190s (3H); (9H); (12H)

(2+4) - fighter cover 2(1) = engages Fw190s (3H); (12H) 190-flieger (9H) top-ace (4+1)+1+1+1=8 (hit) (2+2)+1=FCA - rt. wing - superficial lt. waist (6+4)+1=11 (hit) (3+2)-1=FCA engine - oil leakage - 190-flieger (9H) (5+6)-2= (hit) (1+4)=2 shells (x0) Table 5-11 (3+3) no collision shell 1x0 = superficial shell 2x0 = superficial flieger breaks off after any damage inflicted. 43 (moderate) (2) Fw190s (10H); (VD) (2+4) - fighter cover 2(1) = engages Fw190s (1030H) 190-experte (VD) top-ace (4+6)-3-2+1+1=7 (miss) - 190-experte (VD) (6+3)+2=11 (hit) (5+6)=3 shells (x1) (6+4)-2 no collision (5+2)=superficial (1+1)=instruments (3+6) - rudder out (drm-1 on landing) (3+1)=waist (3+2)=superficial fighter breaks off after vertical dives/climbs 26 (moderate) random event 25 - German alert - 1 extra wave in each odd zone Zone 5 return 50% CC; no contrails GAF: light good escort 03 - mechanical failure - bomb controls out first zone with bombardier & navigator heat out bombardier (3) - no frostbite; navigator (3) - no frostbite 10-1+1= 10 [3 waves]+ 1 wave - random event 32 (light) - none 62 (light) - none 23 (light) (1) Me109 (12Lv) (3+3) - fighter cover 2(1) = engages Me109 (12Lv) 25 (light) (3) Me109s (1H); (12Lo); (VD) (3+3) - fighter cover 2(1) = engages Me109 (VD) Me109-ace (130H) top-ace (3+5)-1+1+1=9 (hit) (1+5)+1+1=FBOA- fuselage - superficial rt. cheek (4+6)-1=9 (hit) (2+2)=FCA - ignored Me109-veteran (12Lo) nose (5+4)=9 (hit) (2+6)=FBOA - lt. wing - superficial ball-ace (1+1)+1+1=4 (miss) Me109-ace (130H) (5+2)-2+1=6 (miss) (4+2)-1-1 no collision tail-passing shot (1+5)-1-1+1=5 (miss)

Me109-veteran (12Lo) (2+2)-2=2 (miss) (5+4) -1 no collision Zone 4 return clear; no contrails GAF: light good escort with heat out in nose - descending to 10,000 feet - out of formation 61 - no mechanical failures weather - 2 (clear); 6 (no contrails) GAF Resistance: 2-1(gazetteer)-1(good)+2(out of formation)=2 (light) 2-1(light) = 1 [0 waves] Zone 3 return hazy; no contrails GAF: heavy good escort with heat out in nose - flying at 10,000 feet - out of formation 61 - no mechanical failures weather - 6-1 (haze); 5 (no contrails) GAF Resistance: 10-2(gazetteer)-1(good)+2(out of formation)=9 (heavy) 7+2 (heavy) = 9 [2 waves] + 1 wave - random event 12 (heavy) (3) Me109 (130H); (9Lv); (1030H) (6+3) - fighter cover 3(2) = engages all 3 Me109s 34 (heavy) (2) Fw190s (1030H); (130Lo); (1) Me210 (VC); (1) Me109 (1030Lv) (6+3) - fighter cover 3(2) = engages Me210 and Fw190 (130Lo) 190-veteran (1030H) top-ace (6+2)+1+1=10 (hit) (4+4)+1= FBOA - fuselage/cockpit/light wound claimed ½-kill / denied lt. waist (4+4)=8 (hit) (2+3)-1= FCA - fuel tank - fire - plane destroyed claimed ½- kill / denied 109-flieger (1030Lv) lt. cheek (4+5)=9 (hit) (4+1)= FCA - rudder shredded - inoperable 109-flieger (1030Lv) (6+6)-1= (hit) (1+2)=2 shells x2 = 4 hits tail-passing shot (1+6)-1+1=7 (miss) (5+4)+1+1-4 NEAR Collision (6+2) nose (3+6) superficial (5+2) superficial (5+4) bomb bay (6+3) bombs - no effect (2+5) superficial 109-flieger (6) breaks off after one attack 14 (heavy)(5) Me109s (12H); (12Lv); (1030H); (130H); (1030Lo) Me109-ace (12H) top-ace (2+1)-1+1+1=4 (miss) Me109-veteran (12Lv) nose (3+6)=9 (hit) (5+3)= FBOA - rt. wing - superficial Me109-veteran (1030H)

lt. waist (4+5)=9 (hit) (6+6)= destroyed - tail control surfaces shredded - pilot bails ½-claimed & credited lt. cheek (1+6)=7 (miss) ½-claimed & credited Me109-veteran (130H) rt. waist (6+4)=10 (hit) (2+1)=FCA - rt. wing flap inoperable Me109-flieger (1030Lo) ball-ace (1+4)+1+1=7 (miss) - Me109-ace (12H) (3+5)+1=9 (hit) (2+4)= 1shell x1+1= 2 hits - no collision (1+1) - instruments (1+3) intercom out (3+2) - pilot comp. (3+5) superficial Me109-veteran (12Lv) (2+2)-2 (FBOA) =2 (miss) no collision tail-passing shot (5+2)-1+1=7 (miss) Me109-veteran (130H) (2+3)-1 (FCA) =4 (miss) no collision Me109-flieger (1030Lo) (6+1)-1 =6 (miss) no collision 2nd attack Me109-ace (12Lo) nose (5+6)-2-1=8 (hit) (4+5)= destroyed - lt. wing tears off - pilot dies ½-claimed & credited ball-ace (2+2)-2-1+1+1=3 (miss) ½-claimed & credited Zone 2 return hazy; contrails GAF: heavy good escort with heat out in nose - flying at 10,000 feet - out of formation 62 - no mechanical failures weather - 3 (haze); 4 (contrails) GAF Resistance: 10-2(gazetteer)-1(good)+2(out of formation)=9 (heavy) 2+2 (heavy) = 4 [1 wave] 12 (heavy) (3) Me109 (130H); (9Lv); (1030H) (6+6) - fighter cover 4(3) = engages all 3 Me109s Zone 1 base good 42 - no mechanical failures (3+3)-1 (rudder) = 5 safe landing. Respectfully submitted: B-24D "Boxcar Willie"; 1Lt. William Shanks - commanding What is an Attack? EAC remaining after Fighter Cover has driven some off or Random Events may have them just disappearing.

All successive attacks count as a separate attack. Step by step