Date: 13 April 1944

MISSION #16

BASE: Castelluccio dei Sauri

TARGET: Budapest, Hungary--Duna Aircraft Components Factory

SHIP: Sakinshack …256

ESCORT: Rendezvoused with thirty-three P-47’s (325th Fighter Group--Checker Tails) at 1200. We were over the target at 1234 and they departed at 1300. Thirty-six P-38’s provided high cover from I.P. to target.

BOMBS: 12 x 500 lb. General Purpose Bombs from 20,000 feet

ENEMY AIRCRAFT: 10 ME-109’s, FW-190’s, and JU-88’s seen in target area. 10 enemy aircraft were encountered and attacked singly from 6 o'clock low and level. JU-88s fired rockets at our formation.

FLAK: Moderate to Intense Volume, Inaccurate Aim, Heavy Caliber. Flak enroute encountered at Mostar and Sarajevo.

RESULTS: Target well covered by bomb hits; photo coverage showed heavy damage to assembly buildings and workshops. 50-60 single engine fighters seen on Budapest/Tokel Airdrome. Mission a complete success.

SORTIES: 2 Total: 22

MISSION TIME: 6:45 Total: 103:45

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NARRATIVE: Beautiful weather. We are now operating from our new base at Castelluccio. And we have been moved from the 47th bomb wing to the 49th bomb wing.  I saw one B-24 struck by a bomb between number three and number four engines from a group overhead bombing through their formation. And MISS AMERICA (42-52084 of the 727th) was lost to ME-109 attack.

Now when we return from a mission the Red Cross girls have doughnuts and coffee waiting for us. Not having had much to eat since about 4 am, what they offered really tasted good.

What was even more rejuvenating was the stop by the de-briefing tent. We struggled up to the tent, burdened by our flying gear--parachute, heated suit, fleece lined jacket and boots, goggles, etc., and an empty stomach. We were very tired (going to high altitude always caused exhaustion) and almost unable to struggle along.

But after de-briefing we stopped by the improvised Flight Surgeon’s Medicinal Table where we each received a two-ounce shot of whisky--straight, no chaser. After the burning ceased the whole world started to look different; the sun was shining and the air smelled good. It was no effort to pick up that heavy bag of equipment, which a few minutes earlier seemed almost impossible, and to go whistling back to our area.