12th Mission

Target was Karlsruhe, Germany marshalling yards.  Carried 4, 2,000 lbs.  P.F.F.  Couldn’t see results.  Flak was pretty heavy but we went through it without receiving any damage.  7 hours, 3 ½ on oxygen.  2,400 gals.  22,000 ft.  Karlruhe was the secondary target.  We were supporting the ground troops.  Supposed to hit a fort near Metz but we weren’t supposed to drop unless you could see the target because our troops were within two miles.  We had just enough gas.  We just made it back to the base.  A front came in and we had a 8 to 9/10 coverage.  Made our approach and while banking the wind damn near turned the ship over on its back.  Had our gears down and had to put them up cause we lost the field.  After running around in a down pour we finally found it.  While coming in another fellow lost his engines.  He came down cross wind with a dead stick.  He must have had lady luck with him.  Bring a big tail bird down safely is luck.  We get a cluster for #12