Mission 9 - February 21, 1944

Monday, February 21st. the target was the Lippstadt Airfield. A 7 ½ hour trip for the Liberty Lady crew. This was a difficult mission because of the thick overcast. When the cloud cover obscured their principal targets, the heavy bombers had to go to secondary targets … “targets of opportunity”.

From Thurleigh to the Lippstadt Airfield

Give the Jerry credit, he’s endowed with guts. On each of these missions he came at us full head on, not once or twice, but qued up after each pass and came through again. Forts were hit by the score and dropping down in flames, in bits like flies … First they are there, flying like a giant eagle beside you, then a “20” or a burst of flak finds its mark - and another ship fills in the empty position.

Day two of Big Week is over for Herman and the crew. B-17 losses for the 8th Air Force have been high. Barely time to rest before the C/Q rings the bell at 0300 the next morning for Day three.