Fatigue began to set in from the frequent briefings, loss of sleep, practice missions, combat missions, and the high altitude which all contributed to the condition known as "Flak Happy”.

We had Squadron lead with Bernard R. Jones as our pilot on February 14, 1945, for our thirteenth mission to the marshalling yards at Magdeburg. The B-24 carried three 1000 pound general purpose bombs and two M-17 500 pound bombs, but we did not reach the target. When our number four engine was hit by flak, at the initial point just before the bomb run, our Deputy took over. Since we only
had three engines, we took a heading for our return to the airbase at Rackheath. We were now in a vulnerable position. If the Luftwaffe spotted our B-24 as a straggler, a Focke- Wulf 190 or a Messersclimitt 109 fighter aircraft would attack us. They would be able to get behind us in a pursuit curve, and we would only. have the tail gunner to defend our aircraft. We released the rack of bombs from the aircraft, and we headed for Rackheath after being certain that none of our
aircraft was below us. To our joy and relief two P-51 Mustangs saw our plight, and they gave us protective cover until we were almost home. The mission took a long 7 hours and 30 minutes.