Nightmares flew b17s with P47 escort to A63. We had a fantastic formation. Hope you LWs liked it
We were hit early and hard. After a furious few minutes our flight of 18 (reduced to 15 due to boot) was reduced to 7 B17s.
We struggled to reform and with many of us on 2 engines we made it to A63. We dropped our ord, not a great drop, but seeing how we were listing and all shot up, we were just glad to get there. Our fighters killed alot of enemy. So did our bombers.
On the way out Wezman got separated from what was left of our main group. We turned after the drop to head home and someone screamed 190s! I think it was iko. They were relentless. They disected us like some sick science project. One after another. I was down to one operational tailgun with 130 rounds. I hit a couple, but one by one all my planes crashed and burned.
Suddenly, Wezman comes over the radio.."Im still alive, and am trying to get home." A glimmer hope. One of us might get home. We waited in the tower...him giving position reports of where he was...trying to avoid enemy planes. After a long while we saw him approach the runway. He made it!
We got whacked..but we took a few with us!