RD435P-DR

Celebes Flank story by D Rawls

(Subject: Narrative report of mission of June 21, 1942 taken from official files. Objective: Reconnaissance of northwestern area.)

[06-21-42] This mission was carried out in B-17E No. 12430, northeastern area plane, which left with two crews to carry out a series of reconnaissance missions in the north western area. The pilots were Capt. Rawls and Lt. Gibb.

On Sunday June 21, 1942, I took off from _____ at 0900, with two crews, mine and Lt. Gibbs, with orders to proceed direct to ____ for approximately 10 days of reconnaissance operations under control of the northwestern area. The flight was made without event and we landed at 14:05. On landing, I reported to Group Capt. Mele as ordered. Monday June 22nd, Lt. Gibb and myself drove to _____ to receive orders, plan missions and get maps and intelligence.

Tuesday, June 23nd I took off from _____ at 06: 50 with orders to make a photographic reconnaissance of the following enemy bases; Mina River, Soo, Poipoot, Oobele, Penfoi, Golf Links, Koepang (all on Timor) Sawee Island, and Waingapu (Soemba). The flight to Timor was without event and we reached our first target (Mina River) at 26,000 ft. Photographs were taken at each target without enemy opposition except at Penfoi where ineffective ack-ack was encountered and three pursuits were seen to take off. Thirty five minutes west of' Koapang one enemy pursuit intercepted at 26,000 ft. making his first pass from directly below at the belly of the ship. Pfc Gaines on the lower turret returned his fire. He pulled out to the starboard side and crossing at altitude made a chandelle attack, sweeping the starboard side and crossing at altitude behind the tail. Pfc Gaines on the lower turret, Sgt Palmer on the side guns, and Pfc Fransisco on the tail guns returned his fire. Effective fire of 200 rounds at close range from the tail guns made hits and he was last seen by side and tail gunner to be diving steeply out of control. No damage to our aircraft or personnel was suffered. After the engagement, the mission was completed and we returned to our base landing at 15:05. Complete intelligence, weather and photographic reports were made and photo graphs dispatched to ______ with T/Sgt Herbert for developing. On Wednesday June 24th Lt Gibb ran a reconnaissance mission to Kendari and Dilli.

On Thursday June 25th, the weather reports indicated unfavorable weather over enemy territory so I took off at 09:45 with orders to make a mozaic of _____ and vicinity. The mission was completed without event at 12,000 ft. and we landed at 11:20 Friday June 26th and Sat June 27th , the weather prevented missions, we remained on the ground.

Sunday June 28th, we had planned to run a mission to Laha, Amoon but last minute weather reports were unfavorable so our alternative mission to Timor was scheduled and take off was at 07:15. Much cloudiness was encountered and we arrived over Portuguese Timor at 20,000 ft. I let down near Dilli to 7,000 ft. but it was soon that Dilli was completely closed in, so I continued eastward up the north coast to Vila Salazar. There was no enemy activity up the north coast or on the aerodrome. Reconnaissance at 6,000 ft of Lantum Plateau and Ollomar shoed no enemy activity. I let down to 800 ft and reconnoitered the coast line at Cape Beaco. Obligue photographs were taken and 2nd Lt Bennett made sketches and took notes. Heavy rain and soup at 500 ft. prevented further reconnaissance of Betane, Beco, and Suai. The return to base was made in, under and overcast. Landing was made at 13:35. A submarine was sighted at 08 deg 10 min S. 126 deg 20 min E at 0100z but it crash dived before we could make a strafing attack. This was reported immediately in code. Monday, June 29th Lt Gibb and crew ran a mission to Laha, Amoon.

Tuesday June 30th, I took off at 06:50 with orders to photograph Ponfoi Aerdrome. It being a short mission and in range with wing tank gas load, I decided to drop bombs as well. Twenty 100 lb demolition bombs were loaded and we proceeded to the target and made the bombing run from northeast to southwest at 26,000 ft. Lt Morris tried to click off 5 on a large bomber, but the second release stuck and only one bomb dropped. He immediately hit the salvo handle and dropped the other 19 manually.. All 19 landed in the building area and large fires were observed. Pictures were taken. Heavy concentrations of medium ack-ack were observed but the high altitude ack-ack was negligible. One fighter was seen to take off. One hour after hitting the target one zero fighter intercepted at 21,000 ft. The first pass was from the rear and below -- his fire being returned by the lower turret gunner. The second pass was a sweeping attack at altitude on the port side --- the sweep being from nose to tail. Navigator, top turret and side gunner returned his fire. The third pass was from the starboard -- he started another sweeping pass, but as I turned sharply into him, he did a quick loop and made a diving attack just starboard of fuselage. The top turret and radio guns returned the fire. He pulled out to port and rear and broke off the engagement. Some damage including two cannon bursts in the starboard wing, bullets in port gas tanks and frayed control cables were suffered by our aircraft, but not damage to personnel. After the flight, we continued on to our operational base landing at 12:35.

Wednesday July 1st, I flew to _____ returned Intelligence maps and picked up all photographic equipment. Orders were issued to return to our home base since the missions were completed. Thursday July 2nd, the two crews took off at 07:10 and landed at _____ at 13:05 L.S.T.

Summary and Suggestions:

1. Cooperation from A.C. H. Darwin was 100%. I requested that they give me an outline of the work to be done and let us arrange and plan it as we thought best. This was done to the satisfaction of all concerned.

2. Lt Gibb and crew should be commended for their offensive spirit in twice getting to their targets under adverse conditions and getting the pictures at low altitude.

3. I requested that the 100% cooperation of the 71st Bombardment Squadron and it’s commanding officer, Lt C. M. Benbow, be brought to the attention of Lt General Sneed.

4. Congratulations to my Bombardier, Lt Morris for his quick judgment and action. He scored direct hits despite defective bomb racks.

5. The one outstanding man on the trip was Sgt G. R. Jackson, our crew chief. Day and night, take off or landing, he was always present and eating and sleeping were put aside until the ship was repaired. The fact that five missions over enemy territory and one over friendly were accomplished and the ship was in commission every day for eleven days speaks for itself. This was brought to the attention of General Sneed.

6. General Sneed, Air Commodore Blandon, and Group Capt Holy commended the crews and thanked them for excellent and valuable work.

7. Gentlemen -- Believe it or not -- no gripes!!!!!