Issue 38.12
Douglas H. Quayle – His own account
John, a member of our B-24 crew in the 450th Bomb Group said “We are in for a rough one tomorrow; I can feel it in my bones”.
The next morning we almost missed breakfast because the C.Q. neglected to wake some of us up in time. We came in late for briefing but soon enough to see that the target was to be the Vepetano railroad bridge at the Benner Pass. We were number 2 in a three bomber element and we all took off in 25 second intervals. (Bombers always formed up in units of multiples of three and fighter planes formed up in multiples of twos.) On the way to the target, the crew listened to the latest American music on command radio. The wind over the target was blowing from the north and that was good because the bomb run took us from north to south and the wind would allow us less time in range of ground FLAK concentrations. We hit the LP. at 11:25 and had one last oxygen check until bombs away. The intercom was now reserved for calling out enemy fighters and other pressing information. We had been briefed that there were 50 enemy fighters in the area but today, we had an escort of P-38s so we felt fortunate.
The bomb bay doors were opened and both of us waist gunners were busy shoving out hands full of chaff. (Aluminum foil strips that look like Christmas tree tinsel and help to destroy the accuracy of FLAK gunners on the ground). The explosion impact came further up front on our ship so I looked in the bomb bay and saw a gasoline fire among the six 500 pound bombs still in the racks. The other waist gunner always played it safe and flew with his chest pack chute hooked onto his harness. Many bomber crewmen stow their chutes in a handy place so they can attach them without delay. Pilots usually wear back packs that are on them at all times.
Lower ball turret gunners have no room for a parachute in their cramped sardine cans so they stow theirs up in the waist area. There are times when it is impossible to get back up into the ship so it would have been great to be able to open the hatch and fall out to safety. This time the radio operator, both waist gunners, the ball turret gunner and tail gunner all got out but the tail gunner hit something on his way out and broke his neck. Doug lost consciousness after leaving the stricken bomber and aroused in time to pull the rip cord. Bits and large pieces of the plane were falling around us. Doug hit the snow covered ground and could not see any of the others. Doug thought he would try to make it to Switzerland.
On his way he had to cross a road. He waited till he thought he wouldn’t be seen but an Italian soldier with a rifle saw him and took Doug as prisoner. Doug tried to talk and then bribe the Italian to help him escape but the soldier wouldn’t help. The soldier walked him to the German compound where he then saw some of his crew men also prisoners. The villagers gathered around the Americans and stared wild eyed. One of the ladies asked if Doug would like some coffee. She disappeared and came back with a cup of cold coffee with a shot of schnapps and also a small hard black bread roll. This was greatly appreciated. We then saw some more of our crewman who were on carts and were being taken to the village for medical help. There was no doctor so the injured men were taken to an SS encampment. Our radio operator was just going out the door when the B-24 blew up. It looked like the explosion may have blinded him and he could not walk.
To be continued next week.
Sam Wyrouck can be contacted at 801-707-2666.