351ST SQDN.. CREW, AS ABOVE, JOINED THE 100TH GP ON 14 JUL 43; THIS WAS THE 351ST'S FIRST REPLACEMENT CREW.
JOE BOYLE WAS KILLED BY A FLAK SHARD OVER GELSENKIRCHEN. A BURST ABOVE THE A/C SENT A SLIVER DOWNWARD JUST GRAZING THE TOP STEEL LINING OF HIS FLAK SUIT AND PIERCED HIS HEART. HE IS BURIED AT CAMBRIDGE IN PLOT B ROW 3, GRAVE 51.
H.L. HUGHES RETIRED AS LT. COLONEL AFTER 27 YEARS. BARNUM MADE A CAREER OUT OF THE AIR FORCE, RETIRING IN 1968. The RWG, BUNTIN, ALSO STAYED IN THE SERVICE RETIRING AS A MASTER SGT SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THIS FROM JIM BROWN IN THE EARLY EIGHTIES.
AFTER THE CHRONIC AIRSICKNESS FINALLY GROUNDED ANGEL, DESPITE HIS PROTESTS, HE SERVED ON THE GROUND CREW.
A/C FLOWN BY THIS CREW WAS "NINE LITTLE YANKS AND A JERK"
Excerpts from Robert L. Hughes's War Diary
"My crew was the first replacement crew in the 351st Squadron of the 100th BG(H). We finished our tour in and in all our leads we left but one man over enemy territory. (Big Frank Valesh had his tail gunner shot from his aircraft over the coast of France. The tail gunner was reported as a POW in good health. Frank flew his plane back and landed at Manston Air Field, minus his Tail Gunner and tail compartment.) He was flying my right wing and in close at the time."
October 10, 1943
"I remember the very young Robert Rosenthal as he returned from Bloody Munster; I had been debriefed and was holding fast for the return of the rest of the crews. Without saying a word, his face told the entire story, but he did say a few words."
"Nine Little Yanks and a Jerk aborted on the end of the runway on take-off, a large piece of flak was found to have cut the Magneto harness and shorted out our ignition. We took old 604 and after scrubbing cosomline off the guns rendezvous with Major Egan and the 100th BG(H) was made at the English Coast as the 13th Combat Wing headed for the French Coast. ...test fired our guns as soon a possible after clearing the English Coastline. Six guns were inoperative. Major Egan was advised and we were instructed to continue working on them. As we were nearing the French Coast we test fired again and had lost one gun for a total of seven inoperative .50 caliber guns. We had penetrated inland of the French Coast and were contemplating going on when Major Egan instructed us to take it home, because of the probability of the rest of the guns seizing up after continued firing. As I recall, top and ball turrets guns were inoperative, Tail guns were frozen and one of the nose guns was inoperative. We swung back out to sea and headed for England after wishing John (Major Egan) good luck (which he never received). We later discovered that Armament had brought our new guns to #604 and that they had just been slipped into place without the usual GI soap and hot water bath required before the guns could be put into service. We did not ask credit for this mission, especially after seeing our returns...."
"Naming the plane - When we were assigned our B-17 at Grand Island Nebraska, we named her "NINE LITTLE YANKS AND A JERK". After we crossed the Atlantic and were approaching Preswick, Scottland, Joe Boyle ROG forgot to pull in the trailing wire antenna, which created havoc with the Scottish countryside. Now we thought we knew who was the "JERK" on the crew. However, when we flew our first missions on other crews to get experience, we found we had another "JERK" on the crew. When the crew I drew with Captain Murphy as pilot had trouble with its plane, Piccadilly Lily, we went to another aircraft. I left live ammunition in the chambers of the ball turret guns on the "Lily". When I got a severe but just reprimand from Capt. Murphy, we thought maybe we should have called our aircraft "Eight Little Yanks and Two Jerks"-
Horace Barnum, 1989, Splasher 6
"On my fifth mission, to Regensburg on Aug 17, 1943, I was with Lt Tom Murphy's Crew in Piccadilly Lily again and Joe Boyle was in another plane. We thought we saw each other shot down but when we arrived in Africa we really rejoiced because we were both alive.
We bombed Bordeaux on our way back to England from Africa and as we approached England Lt Col Bierne Lay Jr. called a RAF base asking for permission to land and get gas. The answer came back that they had no gas because they used petrol. They tried to divert us to another base forty miles away but Col. Lay said, "Forty miles, hell! We're coming in". Our batteries were so dry of electrolyte that we had to fly on to Thorpe Abbotts with the landing gear down to conserve electrical power"
Mission Log of T/Sgt Horace Barnum (mpf 2001)
| 1) |
25/7/43 |
KIEL |
27 holes by flak, hit sub pens. Flew with Lt Murphy Crew in Piccadilly Lily |
| 2) |
26/7/43 |
HANOVER |
Right elevator shot off and 168 holes in plane by ME 210, sunk part of convoy. Flew with Lt. Murphy Crew in Piccadilly Lily |
| 3) |
28/7/43 |
OSCHERSLEBEN |
Jumped by FW 110's and ME 109's just inside Germany. Using stick incendiaries, Dropped them in sea on way back. Flew with Lt Murphy Crew in Shack Rat |
| 4) |
15/8/43 |
MERVILLE/LILLE |
Dropped half our load on each airfield just four minutes apart. First time our crew flew as a crew. A/C Nine Little Yanks and a Jerk |
| 5) |
17/8/43 |
REGENSBURG |
We flew last group and low group at 17000 feet and carried British incendiaries. Seventy-five percent destruction to target and we flew on to Africa. Our Group lost fifteen planes (actually it was 9 Planes lost). Story written about our trip by our co-pilot for the day Lt Col Lay in the November 6, 1943 Saturday Evening Post. We shot down eight planes, one of which, I got. Our group got.... and the 8th Air Force knocked down 307. We lost 67 planes (actually 60) that day. Flew with Lt Tom Murphy Crew in Piccadilly Lily |
| 6) |
24/8/43 |
EVREUX |
Took off from Algeria, Africa and bombed a German bomber factory and repair depot. Saw little enemy opposition and landed at our base in England. Flew with Lt Tom Murphy Crew in Piccadilly Lily. |
| 7) |
2/10/43 |
EMDEN |
Bombed the sub pens through the clouds. First raid I was ever on where we had escort. They were P-47 Thunderbolts. Good hits on target. Flew with Hughes Crew-Nine Little Yanks and a Jerk |
| 8) |
4/10/43 |
HANAU |
Bombed the town of Hanau but there has always been some contradiction as to whether it was actually Hanau. Hughes Crew-Nine Little Yanks and a Jerk |
| 9) |
9/10/43 |
MARIENBURG |
We bombed at 12,000 feet and did 100% damage. Goering was dedicating a new runway at this factory the following Sunday but it was destroyed. Hughes Crew-Nine Little Yanks and a Jerk. |
| 10) |
14/10/43 |
SCHWEINFURT |
We flew with the 390th BG and got exceptional hits on the ball bearing works. 8th losses for the day was 60. 109 enemy destroyed. Hughes Crew-Nine Little Yanks and a Jerk |
| 11) |
3/11/43 |
WILHELMSHAVEN |
Bombed the sub pens there through a haze but could outline the target. Smoke pots were partly in effect. Fair bombing. Hughes Crew-Nine Little Yanks and a Jerk |
| 12) |
-- |
GELSENKIRCHEN |
We were leading the Group but because of engine trouble, had to turn back before all the way in. We made a bombing run but bombs released too late and missed. Malfunction of racks. Hughes Crew-Nine Little Yanks and a Jerk |
| 13) |
26/11/43 |
BREMEN |
Bombed the docks through a hole in the clouds, good hits. Flak was heavy but low. Hughes Crew-Nine Little Yanks and a Jerk |
| 14) |
30/11/43 |
SOLINGEN |
We bombed the town center. Only our wing and one group went over. Altitude 30,000 and temperature 69 degrees below zero. Did not know at the time that my ancestors came from Solingen. Hughes Crew - Nine Little Yanks and A Jerk |
| 15) |
5/12/43 |
BORDEAUX |
Went to the target but it was covered over so returned with bombs. Our base was closed in and we missed runway upon landing. No damage. Hughes Crew-Nine Little Yanks and a Jerk |
| 16) |
24/12/43 |
NO-BALL |
Supposedly Rocket installations near the coast of France. Destroyed about 50 percent of the target Good Fighter escort. Hughes Crew - Nine Little Yanks and a Jerk |
| 17) |
7/1/44 |
LUDWIGSHAVEN |
Bombed a rail center and did considerable damage. Flew with Lt Jansen in Mason and Dixon |
| 18) |
11/1/44 |
BRUNSWICK |
Bombed the city center. Went in and out through the Ruhr Valley and was under constant fire by flak for a solid forty minutes. Hughes Crew - Nine Little Yanks and a Jerk. |
| 19) |
14/1/44 |
NO-BALL |
Supposedly rocket instillations, good fighter escort. Complete destruction of target. Flew with Lt Chapman Crew in Katties Boys |
| 20) |
24/1/44 |
FRANKFURT |
Recall over enemy territory just through Belgium and over Germany but cloud cover prevented us from dropping bombs on any target of opportunity. Returned with them. Hughes Crew - Nine Little Yanks and a Jerk. |
| 21) |
29/1/44 |
FRANKFURT |
Did not get all the way to the target as we were called back but dropped our bombs on a German city in the mountains on our return. Flew with Lt Davis |
| 22) |
3/2/44 |
WILHELMSHAVEN |
Bombed the sub pens and scored good hits. This was a pathfinder mission. Very little enemy activity. Flew with our operations officer Capt. Jack Swartout in Skipper |
| 23) |
4/2/44 |
FRANKFURT |
Bombed the target and scored good hits. Flew with Capt. Love in Fools Rush In |
| 24) |
5/2/44 |
PARIS/ROMILLY sur SEINE |
Bombed an air field at the south end of the city. We scored good hits and the target was nearly completely destroyed. Flew with Lt Branon in My Gal (Our Gal Sal?) |
| 25) |
6/2/44 |
EVREUX |
Bombed the airfield with about 50% destruction to the buildings. Some direct attacks. Damaged one FW 190. Flew with Lt Branon in My Gal. (Our Gal Sal?) |