Date: 30 March 1944

MISSION #13

BASE: San Pancrazio

TARGET: Sofia, Bulgaria--Marshalling Yard & Industrial Area

SHIP: Sakinshack …256

ESCORT: 14 P-38’s from the 14th Fighter Group 49th Squadron

BOMBS: 11 x 500 lb. General Purpose from 21,000 feet

ENEMY AIRCRAFT: 11 ME-109’s and 2 FW-190's.

FLAK: Moderate Intensity, Fairly Accurate Aim, Heavy Caliber

RESULTS: Strings of bombs across choke point at end of marshalling yard and several hits on building adjacent to marshalling yard. Large explosion of oil tanks, with smoke rising 5,000 ft. observed.

SORTIES: 1 Total: 16

MISSION TIME: 5:40 Total: 82:00

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NARRATIVE: The temperature was minus 30 degrees Centigrade, and it was cold. We were well covered by P-38’s so we enjoyed the mountainous scenery on the way over. The enemy fighters came at us after the bomb run. They came from 4 to 6 o’clock and the ones that came close enough were shot down. The P-38’s kept most of the enemy aircraft away from us. The front of my Mae West was covered with a sheet of ice where the warm-breath exhaust from my oxygen mask had condensed, dripped and quickly frozen.

I saw LONESOME POLECAT (42-52114) of the 726th come home with the nose gunner killed. Their ship had to feather an engine, drop out of formation and was attacked by enemy aircraft. The attack started at 21,000 feet but the B-24 was followed down to 2,000 feet as they sought the protection of a cloud formation. They were successful in escaping. The aircraft was severely damaged by machine gun and explosive cannon fire. And the nose gunner, Sgt. Andrew Wirtzberger… I talked to him this morning about his electric suit. I saw the ship coming in for a landing. My heart sunk. I could see him lying against the guns. It seems a 20mm shell did the works from a ME-109.