49th Sortie

49th Sortie (46th Mission) - Fri. Sept. 10, 1943. Vinchiaturo, Italy.
(To be counted as a “Mission”, towards our 50, we had to fly at least half way to the target before aborting. Otherwise, it didn’t count, and was classified as a “Sortie”.)
Briefing at 0550, and then off to the land of olives, grapes, spaghetti and Jerries. I flew with Major O’Connor, and we led the Squadron and the 2nd wave. We had bad weather all the way. We lost an engine, just before reaching the coast of Italy. We turned back after losing our wing Squadron in the overcast. We started losing altitude, flying on three engines, so I salvoed the bombs into the Mediterranean.
Our new Group Commander, Col. Rice, led for the first time today. Major “Pappy” Haynes finished his 50 Missions today, and celebrated by buzzing the field, after his return from the mission.
Mission time : 06:30.