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20TH.FG MISSION NUMBER 18
8 February,1944
260 B-17's escorted by 14 fighter groups attacked targets in the Frankfurt area and 135 B-24s with 2 fighter groups as escort bombed two installations in the Pas de Calais region. One group of thirty enemy aircraft attempted to hit the B-17s and other attacks took place by smaller units. Bombers claimed three destroyed and fighters, 16. Thirteen B-17s and nine fighters were lost. The 20th.FG led by Lt. Col. Montgomery took off at 0940 with 40 P-38s to escort the Third Division B-17s to Frankfurt. Due to mechanical difficulties 14 P-38s returned early. The bombers were picked up south of Limburg at 1117, escorted to the target and out to Mezieres. Lt. James M. Morris (77th.FS) provided the excitement of the day. He was leading the second element of the group leader's flight and the flight dropped down to 12,000 ft. when Lt. Frakes' turbo went out. An Me-109 was spotted near an airfield and Monty bounced but was unable to fire because of a frosted windshield. Lt. Morris slid behind, fired from 100 yards and the pilot bailed out as pieces fell off his plane. The fight was then on the deck flying line abreast when they found a train heading north near Searburg. Jimmie opened fire and destroyed the locomotive. Near Serdan he caught two Fw-190s that had just taken off and were carrying belly-tanks. He got on the tail of one and after two bursts the 190 crashed. He chased the second 190 into the overcast, then into a rain cloud and after two bursts from 75 and 50 yards, the hun spun in from 400ft. By this stime Lt. Morris was all alone so he headed for home but his day was not completed. Near Denain he spotted an Me-109 ahead flying at 45 degrees towards him. Jimmie made a 90 degree turn into the 109, closed dead astern and fired from 200 yards and saw strikes on the canopy. The 109 went into a falling leaf and fell from 2500ft. At 300 ft. it was still falling but our hero had to dodge flak coming up from an airfield. He came out into the overcast after setting what is believed to be a new Eighth Fighter Command record - four enemy planes destroyed in the air in one mission. Lt. Robert L. Frakes (77th.) and Lt. William H. Rierson failed to return from the mission. Lt. Frakes may have been hit by light flak when on the deck. Nothing is known about Lt. Rierson. 55th. - White - McAuley, Fiebelkorn, Alvern, Miles; Red - Serros, Lundin, Scott, Hower; Yellow - McLary, Frey, Taylor, W.B. Riemensnider; Blue - Scrutchfield, Connor, Pannell, Rowley. 77th. - White - Montgomery, Frakes, Morris, Moncrieff; Red - Sabo, Holmes, Gilbertson, Davis; Yellow- Johnson, Minton, Williams, Horne; Blue - Machen, Gese, Coon, Garrett. 79th. - White - Jackson, Bradshaw, Hanzo, Cooper; Red - Nichols, Snow, Bench, Rierson; Yellow - Meyer, Gall, Smutko, Roark; Blue - Yaryan, Wyman, Lobingier, Sands. RETURN TO MISSIONS PAGE RETURN TO THE 20TH.FG |
