It was tradition for the Crew to fill-in the outlines bomb signifying each mission Swamp Fire had flown. This was in delebration of her 15th Mission.

Thiis show the Lt Korstjens crew standing and swamp Fire's Ground Crew kneeling and posing for Swamp Fire's 25th Mission

This is the korstjens Crew Loading up their gear in preparation for the next mission.

Airmen of the 524th BS relax for a photo with their mascot Henrietta.

Flight Engineer & Top Turret Gunner T/Sgt Berj Bejian with Mascot Henreitta

Crew celebrates 15 successful missions with some of the Ground Crew

Crew celebrates another successful Milestone of 20 Missions

Early on in her career

The Return Home

The Boys had a rough one on this mission. having to pull the throttle back in order to save #3 engine just after reaching the coast. They managed to reach the target and turn for home with the formation still in view. They had to fight off a couple of fighters who were possibly short on fuel because they only made one pass. This however, left them alone but they had reached the coast and only the channel to cross. Thay sat down on the edge of an RAF base where they were treated with tea and biscuits while some RAF Mechanics repaired the aircraft and gave them enough fuel to reach Kimbolton.

Back at the base the news had already spread that Swamp Fire was last seen under attack by two enemy fighters just before the formation reached the channel. as time for her to make it home dwindled and no reports of other sightings had come in. She was marked as Missing In Action. The RAF never sent a message because she only needed a little nip and tuck and some petrol and she right as new and almost home. However, to those at kimbolton she was some roughly 4 hours late and all knew she didn't have much more than and hours flying time left according to the amount allotted for the mission. It just before dusk when they heard her engines approaching the airfield. And everyone came out to see her arrive, many with a wide-eyed stare of disbelief. all flocked to where she stopped to get as they said "The Skinny" on how she made it home.

They circled the field twice before bringing her home. It had been a long day. After all the celebrations and the question-and-answer session the boys were treated with a photo of remembrance and a ride to debrief, My Favorite photo of the Crew. It was also the last time Lt Matthew Scianameo would fly with them as a crew member because he was to be reassigned to a Lead Crew who had lost their Navigator.

It wouldn't be the last time Swamp Fire was forced out of the safety of the formation and came home late. This mission had them late and landing on fumes with only two engines running and two feathered.

The Officer grabbing T/Sgt Berj Bejian Swanp Fire's in-flight Engineer and Top Turret Gunner is their former Navigator Lt Matthew Scianameo. He had gone to the Ground Crew Tent to see if Dom DeSalvo Ground Crew Chief if he had any word yet on the Crew when they arrived back home and landed.