Chapter 48-1
The first mission was supposed to be a run on an airfield in North of France right next to Luxembourg to Longwy, France. Although scrubbed for weather, got credit since they had proceeded 40 miles inland of France. Pottery is produced here like this tile from 1900 that would have been welcomed at the Virgil homestead.
Radio operator John D Foster , passed away in 2016, reconnected with Dad in the later years and sent his diary / notes of the missions. I had met him on one of my summer visits to our Virgil home. He said he'd just turned 21 the night before the mission. Awakened at 12:00am to prep for the run. Takeoff by 4am. Cloud cover aborted the mission not far past Oostende, Belgium. The formation had received flak and thus they were credited for the mission. Shot of whiskey upon return.
Dad had pieces of flak in his body the rest of his life (thus purple heart). I saw some of his souvenier pieces with the ridges but they got lost along the way.
related web links
Target for Today Excellent 1944 AA Corps Govt movie puts you right back there to cover a whole mission. Real military personnel although campy stilted dialog. 1 1/2 hr if glitch/reload