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Moranville and Gunner 1 1170x585 1

Until the F6F Hellcat pilot was shot down over Indochina, he and his puppy were inseparable

by Till Daisd February 12, 2022

written by Till Daisd

Before “Rabbit” Moranville was shot down over Indochina in January 1945, he and “Gunner” were inseparable

On January 12, 1945, VF-11 “Sundowners” F6F Hellcats attacked Tan Son Nhut airport in French Indochina from the USS Hornet (CV-12). Using 5-inch High-Velocity Aerial Rockets (HVARs) and 0.50-cal machine guns, F6F pilots strafed Japanese aircraft that were parked and fired their projectiles into buildings and hangars. Lt. (JG) H. Blake Moranville was in charge of Lt. James S. Swope’s division’s second section.

Because of the similarities between his last name and that of a well-known pre-war baseball star, Moranville earned the nickname “Rabbit.” He was a 21-year-old ace with six wins under his belt.

According to Barrett Tillman and Henk Van der Lugt in their book VF-1 1/111 ‘Sundowners’ 1942-95, Moranville joined VF-11 as its junior pilot in July 1943 after receiving his U.S. Navy wings.

In October 1943, the unit traded its F4F-4s for F-6F-3s. Not long after acquiring Hellcats, the ‘Sundowners’ also acquired a mascot. All pilots had to qualify on the pistol range, and the small-arms instructor gave Lt. Gordon Cady one of a litter of Boston Bull Terrier pups. The dog was given the name “Gunner,” and Cady assigned Blake Moranville, the squadron’s newest pilot, to take care of him.

Before the mission of January 12, 1945, Blake and “Gunner” quickly grew close.

Moranville F6F-5 BuNo 70680, call sign “Ginger 30,” was struck by ground fire while making a low-level pass over the target. Hey “Rabbit,” you’re on fire! called Moranville’s wingman as he pulled off the target.

Oil was leaking from the fighter’s Pratt & Whitney R2800, and it caught fire before quickly burning out. Moranville felt he had only a few minutes left in the air because his engine gauges showed falling oil pressure and rising temperature. He was flying 75 miles before his engine gave out as he departed from Tan Son Nhut in the southwest. ‘I saw a big rice paddy and decided to belly in there’, Moranville recalled. ‘I set up a landing pattern and locked my canopy back, tightened my shoulder harness, and dropped my tailhook – the latter would tell me when I had gotten down to within a few feet of the water. I kept my flaps up until I’d cleared a row of trees’.

After successfully landing, Moranville was led by helpful villagers to temporary safety. A Vichy official was summoned, and he took the aviator to Saigon’s main prison, where American pilots were kept separate from the Japanese. Moranville’s squad eventually made it to Dien Bien Phu and was airlifted to safety in China after walking to safety with a regiment of the French Foreign Legion.

The fact that “Rabbit” was spotted walking around his airplane on the day that Moranville went down helped allay some fears, and five days later Hornet learned that he was with the French. However, the school’s mascot “Gunner” was dejected over the death of his owner. They happily met up again in Nebraska a few months later. The aviator discovered that “Gunner” was actually his dad’s dog when he got home.

The following video tells the tale of H.B. “Rabbit” Moranville, a VF-11 fighter ace, and his dog “Gunner.”

VF-11/111 ‘Sundowners’ 1942-95 is published by Osprey Publishing and is available to order here.

February 12, 2022 0 comment

Female Naval Aviators 1

Female naval aviators paying tribute to the first female fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy

by Till Daisd January 19, 2022

written by Till Daisd

Some of the women that participated in the flyover were individually coached by Rosemary Mariner

The U.S. Navy will say goodbye to its first female fighter pilot on February 2 with an all-female flyover.

Rosemary Mariner, a retired captain who served in the Navy from 1973 to 1997, made a number of significant advancements during her career, including becoming one of the first women to receive pilot wings in 1974, becoming the first woman to fly a tactical fighter jet in 1975, and becoming the first woman to command a naval aviation squadron in 1990.

Here are the Female Naval Aviators who will honor U.S. Navy First Female Fighter Pilot — Rosemary Mariner

To celebrate Mariner’s accomplishments as well as her efforts as an instructor and guide, particularly to female pilots, both during and after her military career, the U.S. Navy will conduct its first all-female flyover at her funeral on Saturday.

Naval Air Force Atlantic spokesman Cmdr. Dave Hecht told USNI News that the Navy had selected all-female pilots to participate in this flyover, which is a first for the service, as well as one of two ground crew being female. He noted that some of the ladies involved in the flyover had received special mentoring from Mariner.

The following is the U.S. Navy’s statement regarding the flyover for Capt. Rosemary Mariner, a retired officer:

Norfolk, Virginia The U.S. Navy will execute the first-ever all-female flyover this Saturday, February 2, in Maynardville, Tennessee, to celebrate the life and legacy of a female pioneer in naval aviation. The memorial, which is officially known as a “Missing Man Flyover,” will be included in the funeral service for former Navy Captain Rosemary Mariner, who passed away on January 24 after a valiant battle with cancer.

Mariner became the Navy’s first female jet pilot in 1974 after finishing her flight training. She flew the A-4E/L “Skyhawk” and the A-7E “Corsair II” while earning her Wings of Gold. She was also the first female military pilot to hold the position of commander of an active aviation squadron. Mariner oversaw Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron Thirty-Four (VAQ-34) during Operation Desert Storm. She made history in 1982 by being one of the first women to qualify as a Surface Warfare Officer and serve on the USS Lexington, a U.S. Navy vessel.

Captain Mariner left the U.S. Navy in 1997 after accruing over 3,500 flight hours in fifteen different aircraft, performing seventeen shipboard arrested landings, or “traps,” and reaching the rank of Captain.

The Missing Man Flyover is a unique remembrance of the aviators who gave their lives while defending their country. Four airplanes are flying over the funeral service information in the maneuver, and one of the aircraft breaks away from the group and soars vertically into the sky.

The F/A-18E/F “Super Hornets” that will be flown during the flyover are all from squadrons stationed at Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana.

Participants include:

LCDR Paige “PUFN” Blok Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 32

Here are the Female Naval Aviators who will honor U.S. Navy First Female Fighter Pilot

Oceanography major LCDR Paige “PUFN” Blok earned her diploma from the United States Naval Academy in 2007. In August 2009, she received her Wings of Gold and has experience flying the F/A-18C Hornet and F/A-18F Super Hornet. She has an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as well as an M.S. in Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering. As a Department Head, she began her service with the Fighting Swordsmen of VFA-32 in January 2019.

CDR Stacy “Stigs” Uttecht Commanding Officer, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 32

Here are the Female Naval Aviators who will honor U.S. Navy First Female Fighter Pilot

CDR Stacy “Stigs” Uttecht got her wings of gold in June 2002 after graduating from Virginia Tech in 2000. In addition to the F/A-18F Super Hornet, she has flown the F-14 Tomcat. Over 3,500 hours have been logged by her, 1,220 of which are in combat, and 400 of which include arrested landings. She also served a year-long IA deployment in Afghanistan.

The second woman to lead a F/A-18 squadron, CDR Uttecht assumed command of the Swordsmen in January 2018.

LCDR Jennifer “Cujo” Hesling

Here are the Female Naval Aviators who will honor U.S. Navy First Female Fighter Pilot

With a degree in Aerospace Engineering, LCDR Jennifer “Cujo” Hesling left the United States Naval Academy in 2008. In 2010, she received her Gold Wings. She flew the F/A-18F Super Hornet as a flight instructor and performed 40 combat missions. It is the mother of twin daughters, LCDR Hesling.

LT Christy “Buzz” Talisse Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 211

Here are the Female Naval Aviators who will honor U.S. Navy First Female Fighter Pilot — LT Christy “Buzz” Talisse

LT Christy “Buzz” Talisse earned a degree in quantitative economics from the United States Naval Academy in 2013. She recently returned from a deployment with the Fighting Checkmates of VFA-211 aboard the USS HARRY S. TRUMAN in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and Dynamic Force Employment.

LCDR Danielle “Purple” Thiriot Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106

Here are the Female Naval Aviators who will honor U.S. Navy First Female Fighter Pilot

LCDR Danielle “Purple” Thiriot earned her Wings of Gold in May 2010 after graduating from Harvard University in 2007. She piloted the F/A-18F and over 25 combat missions while leading the Super Hornet Tactical Demonstration Team, which performed at airshows around the United States and Canada. Thiriot recently finished his assignment as ADM John Richardson’s Flag Aide at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. She will join the Pukin’ Dogs of VFA-143 as a Department Head in March 2019.

LT Amanda “Stalin” Lee Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81

Here are the Female Naval Aviators who will honor U.S. Navy First Female Fighter Pilot

Born and raised in Mounds View, Minnesota, LT Amanda “Stalin” Lee. She made the decision to serve in the Navy while working at UPS and attending the University of Minnesota in Duluth. She graduated from the Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois, in 2007. Her selection into the Seaman-to-Admiral (STA-21) Commissioning Program was a result of her successful enlisted career as an aviation electronics technician. Old Dominion University awarded LT Lee a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry; she was commissioned in August 2013. She received the title of Naval Aviator in April 2016 and has just returned from a deployment on board the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), Dynamic Force Employment (DFE), and several exercises with NATO Allies.

LT Emily “Gong” Rixey Strike Fighter Weapons School Atlantic

Here are the Female Naval Aviators who will honor U.S. Navy First Female Fighter Pilot

The United States Naval Academy awarded LT Emily “Gong” Rixey a degree in aerospace engineering in 2012. She is a graduate of the top Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) in the Navy and flies the F/A-18F Super Hornet. She reported to the Strike Fighter Weapons School Atlantic after graduating, and there she is now a Striker Fighter Tactics Instructor.

LT Kelly “Ston’er” Harris Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 213

Here are the Female Naval Aviators who will honor U.S. Navy First Female Fighter Pilot

Brevard College’s Kelly C. Harris, LT, graduated there in 2010. She graduated from Newport, Rhode Island’s Officer Candidate School in October 2013 and was commissioned as a navy aviation officer in March 2016. Harris deployed on the USS George H.W. Bush after being assigned to her first fleet squadron, VFA 213, in December 2017. In support of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria, she conducted 25 combat missions. LT Harris has completed 100 carriers arrested landings and more than 500 hours of flight time in the F/A-18F.

CDR Leslie “Meat” Mintz Executive Officer, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 213

Here are the Female Naval Aviators who will honor U.S. Navy First Female Fighter Pilot

CDR Leslie “Meat” Mintz earned a B.S. in systems engineering from the University of Virginia in 2000. She is a gold-winged F/A-18F Super Hornet pilot and received her certification in 2002. She has deployed numerous times in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and has completed training at the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN). Having flown more than 2,800 hours, CDR Mintz.

Photo by U.S. Navy

January 19, 2022 0 comment

Avro Lancasters 1 1170x585 1

Germany’s Lancaster Operations

by Till Daisd January 18, 2022

written by Till Daisd

Heavy destruction of German industrial resources was achieved during the Battles of the Ruhr and Hamburg in 1943, but only at the cost of a steadily increasing loss ratio, especially due to Luftwaffe night fighters

British and Commonwealth citizens have a special place in their hearts for the Lancaster bomber, where pride and fondness coexist. These sentiments may be similar to those Americans have for the B-17 Flying Fortress. The evening sight and sound of streams of Lancasters “heading out” toward the heart of the German Reich was the ultimate expression of a war-weary people’s will to see the Nazi military and industrial machine — the source of colossal suffering for so much of the world — battered into oblivion, just as the Spitfire epitomized the Commonwealth’s supreme spirit of defiance in the face of seemingly irresistible defeat.

The Lancaster gave the RAF its first bomber with which to attack Germany.

The Lancaster Operations over Germany

According to R.S.G. Mackay in his book Lancaster in action, the introduction of H2S in 1943—first to Pathfinder Force aircraft, then to Main Force—led to the Lancaster undergoing its first consistent and noticeable change in shape. The set scanners required a half-pear-shaped fairing because they reached below the rear fuselage. The perspex rear piece was left unpainted to make it easier to see the enclosed identification lights.

H2S was a downward-looking radar set based on a high-power magnetron valve that received echoes more strongly from built-up areas than from flat countryside. The echoes received by the rotating aerial system were displayed on a cathode-ray tube that traced a representation of the countryside below, very nearly a map that could be traced on the cathode-ray tube right through cloud cover.

Heavy destruction of German industrial resources was achieved during the Battles of the Ruhr and Hamburg in 1943, but only at the cost of a constantly rising loss ratio that was principally brought on by Luftwaffe night fighters. An aerial in the shape of an arrow was installed below the rear turret to aid the rear gunner’s sight search. This brand-new system, code-named Monica, was a rearward-looking radar set intended to warn of fighter aircraft at a 45-degree angle.

A notable event during the Battle of Hamburg was the complete paralysis of German night defenses by “Window,” an originally very efficient method of obscuring Luftwaffe radar on the ground and in the air. The defenders’ eyes were covered by the window, and the target was located using H2S. Over 50,000 people were killed, half the city’s structures were destroyed, and nearly a million people were left homeless as a result of the city being the target of four major strikes, 3,095 sorties, and 9,000 tons of explosives. British losses totaled 87 aircraft, or 2.8%, which was far less than the 6% losses that Bomber Command often experienced when assaulting Hamburg.

The window was made of aluminum foil strips that were 1.5 millimeters wide and 30 centimeters long, reinforced with a black paper backing. Lampblack was applied to the silvery side so that the aluminum foil clouds would not be seen in searchlight beams but would still reflect radar waves. The window was first dispersed through any available opening in the aircraft, but within a few weeks, Lancs were equipped with a louvered box structure on the lower starboard side of the nose through which the Window was distributed by either the Flight Engineer or the Bomb Aimer.

The Lancaster Operations over Germany

By the end of 1943, Bomber Command had made the decision to conduct frequent deep penetration raids, the majority of which were carried out by Lancasters, which were thought to be the only heavy aircraft capable of striking targets with acceptable loss ratios. The choice to equip British bombers with .303 machine guns early in the war put Lancasters at a significant disadvantage when engaged in combat with night fighters armed with cannons.

Unknown to Bomber Command, the Luftwaffe’s Night Fighter division had created devices to home on both H2S and Monica as well as Schrage Musik, an upward-firing armament. During the winter and spring of 1944, this new German weapon severely damaged Lancaster aircraft, culminating in the tragic raid on Nuremberg on March 30, which resulted in the loss of no less than 96 bombers out of an attacking force of 795 aircraft.

Aircrews were instructed to turn off H2S when not in use after Bomber Command learned about the Luftwaffe’s new homing devices. Monica was also taken out of service. The new upward-firing weaponry of the Luftwaffe was not met with any general defensive action by Bomber Command, giving the night fighters complete freedom to employ Schrage Musik. The majority of the ventral turrets on Mk I/III Lancasters had been removed, and starting with LM522, under-turrets had to be moved to make room for H2S equipment.

New defensive turrets were added, and the ones that already existed were improved. Several FN20 rear turrets were equipped with an automatic gun-laying system (A.G.L.T. ), which the 49 Squadron first used in combat operations in late 1944. Wartime distribution was restricted to a few units, including 101, 460, and 635 Squadrons, despite being shown to be relatively successful.

The A.G.L.T. turrets carried .303 guns, whereas the updated FN82 turret bore a pair of .50s. From Rose Rice came to a new .50 armed turret which was less cluttered internally and whose open-ended canopy offered much better escape for the gunner who, unlike his FN20 colleagues, could carry his parachute inside the turret. No similar improvements were made to the nose or upper turrets of Mk I/III aircraft before 1945.

The Lancaster Operations over Germany

Bomber Command switched from nighttime raids on German industry to daylight attacks on German Ground forces in France as a result of the invasion of Occupied Europe. Colored fins were selectively applied to Lancasters of the 5 Group, which served as the formation leaders of their affiliated units. Similar facilities were used by 1 Group, however, they were confined to 460 Squadron.

The introduction of G-H, a precise blind-bombing aid pioneered in late 1943 on Mk IIs, on 3 Group aircraft during late 1944 was made possible by its full-scale manufacture. Even with a 10/10 cloud cover, G-H enabled incredibly precise assaults. The two parallel yellow bars on the fins of G-H-equipped Lancs during daylight raids served as bombing and formation leaders for non-G-H aircraft. When there were 10/10 clouds, No. 3 Group conducted numerous successful attacks both during the day and at night, using G-H aircraft to provide their own Pathfinder services.

The Lancaster’s dominance within Bomber Command peaked in April 1945, the final month of active combat, when no fewer than 56 Squadrons were outfitted with the model. Nos. 1, 3, and 5 groups were fully equipped with Lancs. Additionally, the No. 8 (PFF) Group, which began operations in August 1942 with mixed Halifax, Wellington, and Lancaster Squadrons, exclusively used the Lanc as the heavy bomber element within its total ranks. Apart from the all-Halifax equipped No. 4 Group only the Canadian No. 6 Group operated both heavies, and even here the Lanc equipped 10 of the 17 Squadrons in the Group.

The Lancaster Operations over Germany

Photo credit: SAC Jack Welson / Crown Copyright

January 18, 2022 0 comment

Butch O’Hare, the F4F Wildcat pilot who shot down 5 Japanese bombers

by Till Daisd January 18, 2022

written by Till Daisd

O’Hare rejected the Congressional Medal of Honor recommendation made by Frederick Sherman, the captain of the Lexington, saying that any one of his squadron members would have taken the same action

For the American public, the first six months following the attack on Pearl Harbor were dark days. With the loss of Singapore, Burma, and the Philippines, the Japanese war machine appeared to be unstoppable. Solomons and the Dutch East Indies would also fall. Darwin, Australia, has already experienced Japanese air strikes. Even a Japanese submarine was able to surface off the coast of California and shell targets on the coastline. Rommel’s Afrika Corps was steadily making progress in the direction of the Suez Canal. The German U-boat assault in the Atlantic was severely impacting shipping.

With the building of a significant base in Rabaul in the Solomon Islands and the Japanese landing on New Guinea, Australia’s populous east coast might come within striking distance. The carriers Enterprise and Yorktown had already carried out a diversionary raid in the Marshall Islands, and it was left to the carrier Lexington to carry out a diversionary raid against Rabaul several weeks later, as JP Santiago explains in an intriguing article that appeared in his website, Tails Through Time. A Kawanishi H6K “Mavis” flying boat that had sighted the carrier attack force on February 20, 1942, was intercepted by Grumman F4F Wildcats from Fighter Squadron 3 (VF-3) under the command of Lt. Commander John Thach as the Lexington steamed 400 miles to the northeast of Rabaul.

The Lexington had been exposed despite shooting down the flying boat, and later that afternoon, a formation of nine Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” bombers flew toward the carrier at 11,000 feet. Despite Lexington’s combat air patrols shooting down four of the bombers, five of the aircraft made a level bombing run against the carrier. The Lexington avoided damage by delaying rapid turns until the bombs had dropped. Unfortunately, only two of Lexington’s F4F Wildcat fighters were able to intercept the incoming Bettys as the second flight of nine G4M bombers approached. Lt. Edward H. “Butch” O’Hare piloted one of the Wildcats.

The Story of Butch O’Hare, the F4F Wildcat Pilot that shot down 5 Japanese Bombers Expending only 60 Rounds of 0.50-caliber ammunition — Two U.S. Navy Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat Fighting Squadron 3 (VF-3) were in flight near Naval Air Station, Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii, on Apr. 10, 1942. The planes are BuNo 3976 (F-1, foreground), flown by VF-3 Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander John S. Thach, and BuNo 3986 (F-13), flown by Lieutenant Edward H. O’Hare.

A bomb run on the Lexington was about to begin when O’Hare firewalled his Wildcat and headed straight toward the bomber formation. The Betty has four machine gun defensive stations and a 20mm cannon tail gun. Known for his accuracy, O’Hare took down two bombers during his initial pass over the V-shaped formation. Then, while the sailors on board the Lexington could see it, he pulled the Wildcat into a tight turn for another run at the formation and shot down three additional bombers.

John Thach, O’Hare’s commanding officer, entered the battle and downed some additional bombers before dispersing the formation as it hastily retreated from Lexington. Butch O’Hare saves the Lexington in just four minutes, becoming the first ace in the US Navy.

O’Hare had only used sixty rounds of 0.50-caliber ammo, according to Thach! O’Hare was nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions that day by the Lexington captain, Frederick Sherman, as detailed by Michael O’Leary in his book The United States Naval Fighters of World War II in Action. Still, he turned it down, telling his captain that any one of his squadron mates would have done the same thing.

But with the raid on Rabaul abandoned due to the loss of the element of surprise and the never-ending stream of bad news from the Pacific and Europe, O’Hare instantly rose to fame because he was young, attractive, and the naval aviation branch’s recruiting poster boy. President Franklin D. Roosevelt invited him to the White House in April 1942 to receive the Medal of Honor.

O’Hare replaced Thach as the skipper of VF-3 in June 1942, and the squadron changed its name to VF-6 the following spring as O’Hare upgraded to the more powerful Grumman F6F Hellcat. O’Hare set out aboard the USS Independence with future ace Alexander Vraciu as his wingman, and during operations against Wake Island, he added three more victories to his score. O’Hare was elevated to become the new CAG (commander air group) for Air Group 6 onboard the USS Enterprise after the battle over Wake Island.

When a carrier battle group’s defenses were most vulnerable, at night, single or dual aircraft strikes were a concern for the Navy at the time. O’Hare had the brilliant idea to use a Grumman TBF Avenger equipped with radar that was orbiting the carrier at night. Grumman F6F Hellcats would be stationed on each wing of the Avenger and would be alerted to nighttime intruders by the Avenger’s crew.

The Story of Butch O’Hare, the F4F Wildcat Pilot that shot down 5 Japanese Bombers Expending only 60 Rounds of 0.50-caliber ammunition — Lt. Butch O’Hare seated in the cockpit of his Grumman F4F “Wildcat” fighter, circa spring 1942. The plane is marked with five Japanese flags, representing the five enemy bombers he was credited with shooting down

On November 26, 1943, O’Hare flew one of the Hellcats over the Enterprise together with the radar-equipped Avenger and a second Hellcat. Butch O’Hare’s Hellcat would drop out of the formation that night and vanish after some initial trouble coordinating the formation with incoming bombers seen on radar. For years, it had been assumed that he had unintentionally been struck by the Avenger’s gunner after becoming caught in the crossfire between the Betty bomber and Avenger.

O’Hare, however, was most likely downed by a lucky shot from a Betty gunner, according to a later study that comprised interviews with the crew members of that formation. He was listed as missing in action but was later found dead. Chicago’s Orchard Depot Airport was renamed O’Hare Airport in his honor in 1947, and it is because of this change that O’Hare’s three-letter code is ORD. The restored Grumman F4F Wildcat from Butch O’Hare’s Medal of Honor mission is displayed in Chicago O’Hare’s Terminal 2.

O’Hare’s father, “Easy Eddie” O’Hare, was renowned as Al Capone’s lawyer in the 1920s, which is an intriguing historical side note. According to urban legend, the senior O’Hare turned informant on Capone after having a moral crisis while teaching his son Butch about right and wrong, which resulted in the gangster’s imprisonment for tax evasion.

The older O’Hare, however, may have been more concerned with his own survival because he had already agreed to meet with the IRS following the 1929 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, which saw rival gang members brutally murdered. O’Hare provided extensive records, which assisted in Al Capone’s 1933 conviction. Eddie O’Hare was shot and killed in his car in November 1939 while returning from the dog track; the crime is still unsolved to this day.

The Story of Butch O’Hare, the F4F Wildcat Pilot that shot down 5 Japanese Bombers Expending only 60 Rounds of 0.50-caliber ammunition — President Franklin D. Roosevelt congratulates Lt. “Butch” O’Hare upon receipt of America’s highest award, The Medal of Honor

The following is an excerpt from Butch O’Hare’s Medal of Honor citation:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in aerial combat, at grave risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, as section leader and pilot of Fighting Squadron 3 on February 20, 1942. Having lost the assistance of his teammates, Lieutenant O’Hare interposed his fighter between his ship and an advancing enemy formation of 9 attacking twin-engine heavy bombers. Without hesitation, alone and unaided, he repeatedly attacked this enemy formation, at close range in the face of intense combined machine gun and cannon fire. Despite this concentrated opposition, Lieutenant O’Hare, by his gallant and courageous action, his extremely skillful marksmanship in making the most of every shot of his limited amount of ammunition, shot down 5 enemy bombers and severely damaged a sixth before they reached the bomb release point. As a result of his gallant action—one of the most daring, if not the most daring, single action in the history of combat aviation—he undoubtedly saved his carrier from serious damage.”

The Story of Butch O’Hare, the F4F Wildcat Pilot that shot down 5 Japanese Bombers Expending only 60 Rounds of 0.50-caliber ammunition — U.S. Navy Grumman F6F-3 Hellcats

Photo by U.S. Navy

January 18, 2022 0 comment

Mild and Bitter Marauder

MILD AND BITTER, FLAK BAIT and the other ETO 100-mission B-26 Marauders

by Till Daisd January 17, 2022

written by Till Daisd

The all-time B-26 mission record went to FLAK BAIT with no less than 202 sorties

The much-despised B-26 Marauder, the medium bomber “workhorse” of the Ninth Air Force, bounced back from a poor beginning with the Eighth Air Force to equip no less than eight bomber groups in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). Although first given the moniker “the widow maker,” a shift in strategy from low to medium-level bombing soon increased the crews’ chances of survival; by the conclusion of the war, it had the lowest loss-per-sortie ratio of any USAAF twin-engined bomber.

When the first bomb groups arrived in East Anglia in the spring of 1943, the B-26 was among the first American-manned combat aircraft to see action in Europe. Since then, Marauders have borne most of the ETO’s medium bomber effort and have proven especially successful in the run-up to the D-Day invasion.

A B-26 from the 322nd BG flew its 50th mission in January 1944, according to Jerry Scutts’ account in his book B-26 Marauder Units of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. The fact that B-26B-25 41-31819, dubbed MILD AND BITTER after the well-known British beer, had reached this number was cause for celebration at Great Saling considering that six months earlier most people would have thought such an occurrence was something dreamed up by a Hollywood screenplay. The ground and air teams also made the most of it.

MILD AND BITTER, FLAK BAIT and the other ETO 100-mission B-26 Marauders — B-26 Mild and Bitter

Individual aircrew members and other Marauders were also getting close to the ‘magic 50’ mark. Around this time, it was also decided that a tour for flight crews in B-26 squadrons would now consist of 50 missions.

MILD AND BITTER once again made history on May 9 when it became the first B-26 to finish 100 missions from England. Great Sating went wild as the Marauder landed after bombing the nearby Evreaux/Fauville airfield that afternoon. Paul Shannon, who had initially piloted this exact ship on August 12, 1943, was at the controls for the 29th time. Ninth Air Force publicity was not slow to milk this success for all it was worth, and Shannon was called upon to do his bit;

‘All the flak missed us by a safe margin. MILD AND BITTER has often been called the “luckiest ship in the Ninth Air Force”, having collected less than 50 flak holes, most of them small ones. Only once has battle damage kept her on the ground – a few days ago, when repairs on an electric line required about four hours, which wasn’t enough time between missions.

MILD AND BITTER, FLAK BAIT and the other ETO 100-mission B-26 Marauders

`Her engines are the same ones that first were installed. Only a magneto change, a hydraulic pump change, and a few routine spark plug changes have been made. She has lever-made a one-engine return and never aborted a mission because of mechanical failure. `In her 100-mission career, MILD AND BITTER have flown 449 hours and 30 minutes, 310 hours and 40 minutes of that in combat. She has traveled approximately 58,000 miles — more than twice around the world — and burned some 87,790 gallons of gasoline. She has carried 166 crewmen into battle, yet never has a casualty been suffered aboard her.’

Shannon concluded the eloquent testimony by outlining a couple of the ancient ship’s military successes;

`Altogether she has hit military objectives in northern France 44 times, airfields 38 times (and) railway yards 14 times.’

MILD AND BITTER, FLAK BAIT and the other ETO 100-mission B-26 Marauders — FLAK BAIT crew

Soon, groups boasting 100+ mission ships on their rolls virtually became the norm. The B-26C-10 41-34863 of the 323rd, known as Bingo Buster, was the second Marauder to reach this landmark after MILD AND BITTER.

The third was a B-26B-25 41-31773 FLAK BAIT from the 322nd BG. However, the aptly named FLAK BAIT would go on to enjoy much more success. Strangely, though, ‘773 was not as highly regarded as ‘819 despite fierce competition to be the first to achieve the 100 mark. The fact that FLAK BAIT more than lived up to her name and attracted the items like a proverbial magnet was a contributing factor. The ship, named MILD AND BITTER by her Texan crew chief William Stuart only after it had completed around 40 sorties, was undoubtedly a crowd favorite. Nobody actually knew the reason.

Then, on June 4, 1944, the B-26C-15 41-34951 Inpatient Virgin II of the 322nd arrived. The 322nd had ten more 100-mission Marauders by the end of July, and six 386th aircraft also reached it by that time. Soon after, other B-26s in this group did likewise; the 387th revealed its first five “centenarians” throughout the summer. Such records would continue to be made.

FLAK BAIT in action

Crews (air and ground) started to worry about their safety as individual aircraft got closer to the 100-mission mark. Whether or not the century was reached undoubtedly had a lot to do with “Lady Luck,” and that capricious mistress did not always play the game by callously striking down a few competitors just short of the milestone. But by the end of the war, there were an astounding number of “centenarian” Marauders — as many as 350 of them (in all theaters). FLAK BAIT set the all-time B-26 mission record with 202 or more sorties. It was more than appropriate that the aircraft with such a distinguished history belonged to the 322nd BC, the longest-serving operational unit in the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces.

Amazingly, the powers that be decided to keep FLAK BAIT while many other famous aircraft types carried their combat record with them to the smelters, despite all the “brickbats” thrown at the B-26 during its brief existence. Even the 322nds greatly favored MILD AND BITTER ultimately failed to arrive. The plane, which was a definite contender for preservation, was sent back to the United States in July 1944 together with Bingo Buster but was later destroyed in a crash.

It is no small irony that the one US aircraft to bear more genuine “battle honors” than any other survivor of the mighty Army Air Forces in World War 2 should be a once much-maligned Martin Marauder! Today, the scars visitors see on FLAK BAIT’s flanks when viewing it at the Smithsonian Institution’s Air and Space Museum are real enough.

MILD AND BITTER, FLAK BAIT and the other ETO 100-mission B-26 Marauders — B-26B Marauder “FLAK BAIT” undergoing restoration at the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, National Air and Space Museum

B-26 Marauder Units of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces is published by Osprey Publishing and is available to order here.

Photo by Imperial War Museum, U.S. Air Force and Elliottwolf Own work via Wikipedia

January 17, 2022 0 comment

Operation Secret Squirrel was covered in depth by the Barksdale Panel.

by Till Daisd January 17, 2022

written by Till Daisd

The Conventional Air Launched Cruise Missile was used in this 35-hour mission under the codename Operation Senior Surprise, also known as Secret Squirrel

The crews at Barksdale Air Force Base (AFB) were awakened by the alert “All Sierra crews report to the vault” at 3 a.m. on the soggy morning of January 16, 1991. The first strike of Operation Desert Storm was launched, quickly weakening Saddam Hussein’s command and authority, and ultimately setting a new standard for air warfare. It marked the start of a historic attack led by seven B-52s.

The Conventional Air-Launched Cruise Missile was used in this 35-hour mission under the codename Operation Senior Surprise, also known as Secret Squirrel (CALCM). The strike, which was developed in complete secrecy, dealt crushing hits to targets deep inside enemy territory.

According to Bossiernow.com, a panel discussion at Barksdale AFB was held on Friday, Jan. 25 at 2:30 pm to discuss the 35-hour, 14,000-mile, highly classified round-robin operation.

People who were involved in the strategy and execution of the historic operation made up the panel’s members.

Read our article on Operation Secret Squirrel here.

Photo by U.S. Air Force

January 17, 2022 0 comment

britishairways 21686809958253

Boeing 747 unveiled by British Airways with vintage BOAC paint scheme

by Till Daisd January 12, 2022

written by Till Daisd

The BOAC 747 was the first aircraft to feature a popular British Airways historical design

British Airways stated on January 21, 2019, that a Boeing 747 was painted in the loved design of its forebear British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) in celebration of the airline’s 100th birthday.

A B747 with the registration G-BYGC was painted in the livery used from 1964 to 1974 by BOAC. On February 18, the aircraft departed from the paint shop in Dublin and make its way to Heathrow before going into service the following day. Just a few days before, the inaugural Boeing 747 flight celebrated its 50th anniversary.

The BOAC 747 was the first aircraft to use a loved design from British Airways’ past; further information about additional designs will be made public when available. As part of the airline’s centenary celebrations, retro liveries were applied on aircraft flying British Airways routes, proudly showing some of the iconic designs.

All incoming aircraft, including the A350, will maintain the current favored Chatham Dockyard design.

Alex Cruz, British Airways Chairman, and CEO said: “So many British Airways customers and colleagues have fond memories of our previous liveries, regularly sharing their photos from across the globe, so it’s incredibly exciting to be re-introducing this classic BOAC design.

“Our history has shaped who we are today, so our centenary is the perfect moment to revisit our heritage and the UK’s aviation landscape through this iconic livery.”

As a later model of the same aircraft type that adorned the design when it was first in use, the 747 has been purposefully chosen for the BOAC livery.

The Boeing 747 will carry the BOAC livery until it is retired in 2023. British Airways will have replaced the majority of its 747 fleets by this point with brand-new, cutting-edge long-haul aircraft. In the next four years, the airline will take delivery of 18 A350s, 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, and another 26 short-haul aircraft as part of its £6.5 billion investment in its passengers. These aircraft have new cabins and are more environmentally efficient.

British Airways to paint Boeing 747 in retro BOAC Paint Scheme

Photo by British Airways

January 12, 2022 0 comment

WWII P-47 Thunderbolt pilot who was missing has been discovered

by Till Daisd January 12, 2022

written by Till Daisd

Of the 16 million Americans who fought in WWII, more than 400,000 died in battle, and 72,766 are still missing

The remains of a former P-47 Thunderbolt pilot who was then stationed with the 57th Fighter Group’s 66th Fighter Squadron has been discovered and identified.

Second Lt. James R. Lord, 20, has been missing in action since his plane crashed on August 10, 1944, close to the coast of Anghione, Corsica, while he was engaging enemy gun emplacements in the Savona region of northwest Italy, as stated by Daniel Weaton, 57th WG in the article Missing 57th FG pilot from World War II found.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) Underwater Recovery Team conducted recovery operations in the seas thought to be the crash site during the summer of 2018 while aboard the French Navy Vessel BBPD PLUTON. This came after information from local Corsican diver Franck Allegrini-Semollini, who discovered the wreckage of two P-47s in 2012. The U.S. and French members of the DPAA team excavated 150 square feet of seafloor remains and discovered human remains, airplane wreckage, and personal effects.

Officials have added a rosette next to the name of the Lord, who is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery in Impruneta, Italy, to show the Lord’s positive identification.

The P-40 Warhawk was flown by the 57th Pursuit Group, which was established at Mitchel Field, New York, in January 1941. It was used to defend the American East Coast. Before embarking on combat operations in North Africa in July 1942, the units were renamed the 57th Fighter Group and fighter squadrons. The P-47 flying unit relocated to Italy in July 1943 to aid the British Eighth Army in WWII.

Of the 16 million Americans who fought in WWII, more than 400,000 died in battle, and 72,766 are still missing. 24 members of the 57th Fighter Group are among the missing.

Those of the 64th FS include:

1st Lt William S. Beck

2nd Lt John R. Chiasson

Capt Marvin E. Lancaster

2nd Lt Loyst M. Towner

Those of the 65th FS include:

1st Lt Truman L. Allen

2nd Lt Clair A. Bigelow

1st Lt Robert S. Blakely

2nd Lt Leonard R. Hadley

1st Lt James W. Hart Jr.

1st Lt George C. Lovato

2nd Lt Joseph T. Markham

1st Lt Harold T. Monahan

1st Lt William J. Randall

Capt Marshall Sneed

1st Lt William E. Taylor

Those of the 66th FS include:

2nd Lt Hugh G. Barlow

2nd Lt Herbert M. Cohn

1st Lt David F. Coughlin

1st Lt Thomas D. Davis Jr.

2nd Lt Harry D. Duncan

Capt Roy C. Emerson

Flight Officer Walter G. McCollum

2nd Lt Cecil M. McMillan Jr.

1st Lt William B. Williams

Missing P-47 Thunderbolt pilot from WW II found — 2nd Lt. James R. Lord

Photo by U.S. Air Force

January 12, 2022 0 comment

Operation Chastise

The No. 617 Squadron, Special Lancasters, and the Dam Buster raids remembered for Operation Chastise

by Till Daisd January 6, 2022

written by Till Daisd

No. 617 Squadron, the only specially created military unit for Lancaster, was deployed to assault the Ruhr Dams on the night of May 16–17, 1943

British and Commonwealth citizens have a special place in their hearts for the Lancaster bomber, where pride and fondness coexist. These emotions may be similar to those Americans have for the B-17 Flying Fortress. The evening sight and sound of streams of Lancasters “heading out” toward the heart of the German Reich was the ultimate expression of a war-weary people’s will to see the Nazi military and industrial machine — the source of colossal suffering for so much of the world — battered into oblivion, just as the Spitfire epitomized the Commonwealth’s supreme spirit of defiance in the face of seemingly irresistible defeat.

Remembering Operation Chastise: Special Lancasters, the No. 617 Squadron and the Dam Buster raids

No. 617 Squadron, which was used to attack the Ruhr Dams on the night of May 16/17, 1943 during “Operation Chastise,” is notable as being the only specially formed wartime unit for the Lancaster. As described by R.S.G. Mackay in his book Lancaster in action, for this attack Lancaster Mk Is from ED serial block (23 in total) were modified to carry the cylindrical mines intended for use against these specialized targets. The doors of the bomb bays were taken off, and the bays’ backs were faired in. At the transport of the mines, pylon mounts were added to the bay’s front.

These mounts were connected to belt mechanics that spun the mine before it was released. Due to their weight, the initial design called for using Ford V8 engines to power the belt mechanism; instead, the aircraft’s undercarriage hydraulic system was used. All mid-upper turrets were eventually taken down and faired over. However, the second aircraft, ED825/G, was not to be one of the 19 aircraft involved in what was to be a successful but expensive operation. Three prototypes, ED765/G, 817/G, and 825/G, carried out test dropping of the mines.

Remembering Operation Chastise: Special Lancasters, the No. 617 Squadron and the Dam Buster raids

Nineteen Lancasters from No. 617 Squadron took off in three waves on May 16, 1943, less than a month after tests with the new weapon were completed. One wave consisted of nine aircraft, while the other two waves each contained five aircraft. Wing Commander Guy Gibson was in charge of the first of nine waves that were to assault the Mohne Dam and then the Eder Dam if the Mohne Dam was breached. Any aircraft remaining carrying mines were to support the attack on the Sorpe that had been detailed to the second wave if both targets of the first wave were breached. The No. 5 Group in England exercised direct command over the third wave, which was a mobile reserve.

Around 1200 people perished in the Ruhr Valley flood, which broke the Sorpe Dam and breached the Mohne and Eder. This also rendered much of the Ruhr region’s industrial sector inoperable. Eight of the 19 Lancaster B. Mk III Specials that were sent out did not come back. The Dam Buster raids were not to be repeated, and the remaining G aircraft were converted back to ordinary bombers and reissued. Between the time of its operational debut and the beginning of 1945, the No. 617 Squadron participated in frequent precision bombing sorties. The bomb bays on its Lancasters during this time were bulged to carry the 12,000 lb H.C. bomb and its aerodynamic offspring, the “TallBoy,” but otherwise they were conventional machines.

Remembering Operation Chastise: Special Lancasters, the No. 617 Squadron and the Dam Buster raids

Photo by Crown Copyright

January 6, 2022 0 comment

Capt Jerry Yellin

A WWII fighter pilot whose last combat mission was in August 1945, was buried in Arlington Cemetery

by Till Daisd January 6, 2022

written by Till Daisd

Even though his flying career was short, Capt. Jerry Yellin saw more turmoil than anyone should ever have to see in their lifetime

On January 15 at Arlington Cemetery in Virginia, Capt. Jerry Yellin, a World War II fighter pilot who flew the final combat mission in August 1945, was buried with full military honors.

Yellin, who turned 18 two months after Pearl Harbor, enlisted. He completed his fighter pilot training at Arizona’s Luke Air Field in August 1943, and he spent the rest of the war flying combat flights in the Pacific with the 78th Fighter Squadron in the P-40, P-47, and P-51 aircraft. On April 7, 1945, he took part in the first land-based fighter mission over Japan, and on August 14, 1945, he served as the lead.

He received the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters in addition to the Distinguished Flying Cross, according to a News release from the U.S. Air Force.

Even though his flying career was short, he saw more turmoil than anyone should ever have. Before it was acknowledged as such, Yellin had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when he was discharged in December 1945.

His wife introduced him to the idea of transcendental meditation after thirty years of suffering, and it proved to be the secret to a better life. Yellin worked relentlessly to assist other servicemen suffering from PTSD and spoke at motivational events about his great experience with transcendental meditation.

He also wrote two books about his wartime experiences, and in volume 5 of “Veterans in Blue,” he was recognized for his contributions to the Air Force’s legacy.

On December 21, 2017, Yellin passed away at the age of 93. The former Helene Schulman, his wife of 65 years, was buried next to him. At Moody Air Force Base in Georgia, four A-10 aircraft from the 23rd Wing performed a flyover to pay him their final tribute.

Capt Jerry Yellin, WW II Fighter Pilot to fly last Combat Mission in August 1945 and PTSD Advocate, laid to rest at Arlington Cemetery — Capt Jerry Yellin, World War II fighter pilot, who flew the last combat mission in August 1945, was laid to rest with full military honors Jan. 15, at Arlington Cemetery, Va.

Photo by U.S. Air Force

January 6, 2022 0 comment

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