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Posted on Thu Jan 24, 2013 10:55 pm by webmaster
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Submitted by Lestayo, no hint!
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Re: Terrain Challenge #68 (Score: 1)
by Vampir on Fri Jan 25, 2013 10:52 pm
(User Info | Send a Message) | B-17E Flying Fortres Serial Number 41-2446 (aka "Swamp Ghost")
Pilot Captain Frederick 'Fred' C. Eaton, Jr., 0395142
Co-Pilot Captain Henry M. "Hotfoot" Harlow, 0398714
Navigator 1st Lt. George B. Munroe, Jr., 0412187
Bombardier Sgt Richard E. Oliver, 6578837
Engineer T/Sgt. Clarence A. LeMieux, 6558901
Radio/Gunner Sgt . Howard A. Sorensen, 6581180
Waist Gunner Sgt William E. Schwartz, 6913702
Waist Gunner T/Sgt Russell Crawford, 6851455
Tail Gunner SSgt. John V. Hall, 6710161
Force Landed February 23, 1942
Agaiambo swamp, New Guinea.
Mission History
Part of a planned nine bomber raid, this aircraft took off from Garbutt Field near Townsville, late on the night February 22 to bomb shipping in Rabaul at Simpson Harbor at dawn the next morning, and return via Port Moresby's 7-Mile Drome to refuel before returning to Garbutt Airfield. Only five B-17s made it to Rabaul, the other aborted.
Over the target, Eaton's bomber had to make a second pass, due to a problem with its bomb bay, but finally dropped onto a freighter of 10,000 tons. On this second run, an anti-aircraft shell that passed thru the right wing without exploding. Results of the bombing were hard to observe due to clouds.
Off the target, the bomber was intercepted by fighters over Rabaul, and maneuvered to escape them. The tail gunner claimed one Zero, shot down at 24,000 feet after firing burst of 400 rounds from a range of 200-300 yards. Waist gunner Crawford, claimed two more. Their plane was hit by the attacker's 7.7mm and 20mm fire.
After the battle, they flew as far as the north coast of New Guinea, before running short on fuel. Eaton force landed in a kunai field with the wheels up. He thought it was was dry ground, but actually it was a swamp. As the bomber touched down, it turned slightly, pointing the nose of the bomber slightly SE, at 183 degree heading. |
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