16 Apr Mission 11 – February 24, 1944
I could write a volume on these missions, yet not express the mark they left. Words are inadequate. My score how is eleven, fourteen more to sweat out, for the present the twelfth and each other in turn. All that is left now is to take every possible precaution against human fault, and place a supreme trust in God, to know that He will be out there at the wing tip each time to see us through. Destiny will write its own history.” (Herman F. Allen)
On Wednesday, February 23rd the weather kept the bomber crews on their bases. A day of rest and repair!
On Thursday, the target for the Liberty Lady was dreaded Schweinfurt, the major ball bearing factory center. Now that the bombers had fighter escorts flying into Germany the orders were … back to Schweinfurt.
Thurleigh to Schweinfurt, Germany
As had been anticipated when the Air Force planned for Big Week, the German fighter planes flew up in full force to protect their airfields and factories. As a result, Donald S. Miller explains in Masters of the Air, the Luftwaffe lost over a third of its single-engine fighters and 18% of its fighter pilots.
Herman wrote: “We had good fighter escort, but if a Jerry makes up his mind he is coming through, then it is pretty near impossible to stop him. FW 190s, ME 109s, JU 88 … Christ, the Luftwaffe sprouted fangs. Must have been a desperate attempt to bolster German morale, for it was practically the pilots own ticket in blood. True, many of them weaved through the formation, but just as many didn’t. An FW 190 found himself square in my sights at Schweinfurt, headed on at 12 o’clock level … net result one confirmed Jerry to my credit.”
The worst was yet to come. Berlin.
Barbara Ann
Posted at 05:06h, 17 AprilCan you imagine the thoughts and feelings of these young men. So much is expressed by Herman’s writings and we are so blessed to have them preserved.
We have all learned so much.