London Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 22, 1942, London, Middlesex Page 4 the stars and stripes tuesday dec. 22, 1942 . Bomber Crews Tell Story of a fiercest raid Pilot and co Pilot made Crew jump then crash landed six american bombers lost score May be 40 germans continued from Page 1 first sight of the Eiffel Tower while hundreds of German fighters tried to drive them Olf. A a capt. Calhoun told the eight Ball s Story. A a. A a we were leading the Squadron lie 1 said. A a they were All behind the a eight then we dropped our loads and 1 thought we were going to get Back without picking the usual 80 to 100 machine gun holes. A a i heard Charley Terry our radio Man i guess it was shouting Over the intercom How Nice it was to get to see Paris and London both the same Day. I Hen trouble began and Lor 30 minutes we had a hot old time. # h a a i Don t know what was hitting us capt. Calhoun continued. A a it was t flak but they Tore our left Wing All to hell and no. 1 engine took a 20mm. Shell right on the nose.44 a horde of Jerries a a a Charley was still talking about the Eiffel Tower and i was afraid we d lose Altitude and have to look up at it. All the time there was a horde of Jerry planes driving in some so close we could see the pilots faces. A a after we were hit. It took maj. Romig and myself to hold the ship even. She was fluttering badly could t Feather the Blade of no. 1. The vibration was terrific if the other planes Hadnot stuck with us i doubt if we could have made it Back. A a they shot Down eight German planes any one of which might have finished capt. Calhoun told How maj. Clemens Wurzbach fortress Squadron Leader moved in Over the Bele Agurci ship for Protection. They made it Back Over the Channel. A a i called Joe Strickland my navigator a what a Guy a and asked him How to get Home a Calhoun said. A a Strickland yelled to get either right or left of London. He gave us some figures and then it was quiet a while and he yelled a Calm As All wanted someone to relieve him so he could look wounded a a i sent Ramon Zaorski our Engineer to see what was wrong. I knew Strick would t say anything if he had six holes through him. A a Zaorski came Back and said Strick let him in. He said he saw Strickland sarm and it was pretty capt. Calhoun told How it became apparent the Crew would have to jump for safety. A a the left Wing was flopping like a Bird headed South three motors no radio Oil system shot and the control gauge panel gone. Maj. Romig and i were having a hard time at the controls. We were afraid the ship would tear to pieces. A a so i gave the order for them to bail All landed safely in Southern England and will soon be Back on duty after Hospital Check-.helmet saved hint the Engineer of a a the eight Zaorski who was wearing an army Issue helmet at the open window in the Waist of the ship received a direct hit in the forehead Section of the helmet. He Wasny to scratched the Bullet glanced off and today officials were investigating this As a valuable bit of Side information. Major Romig is unscathed. Capt. Calhoun has a bad knee but he is up and around. They re anxious to talk to the men in the Crew who had to Hail out. Capt. Calhoun plans to have a new ship with the same old eight Ball name on the nose by the time the lads get Back. Major Romig is from Canton o. Capt. Calhoun is from Birmingham Ala. The eight crewmen automatically members of the Caterpillar club by reason of their jump Are it. Joseph Strickland navigator Liberty miss. It. Robert j. Yonkman grand rapids mph. To sgt. Roman Zaorski Pittsfield mass. Sgt. Robert c. Fortunak new York City to sgt. Charles r. Carey Rochester . A sgt. William c. Mulgrew Brooklyn . A sgt. W. W. Stephens Spokane Wash. And sgt. M. A. Murphy Manhattan got two fwd another dramatic Story of the raid came from 1st it. Robert l. Riordan screw. They will be credited with two More few 190s destroyed Early reports indicate. One is claimed by 2nd it. Gerald Rotter Phoenix ariz., and one by to sgt. Robert l. Stephenson Kirklin ind. The fwd concentrated on the famous Houston Texas Pilot s bomber a a Wahoo a a shooting out two engines and putting holes through the nose and Tail. The cockpit was hit hut Riordan and his Copilot 2nd it. Edward Malisewski. Detroit were Only scratched. Riordan brought his crippled a a Wahoo a Back from Lille and Rouen with one engine shot away and crewmen wounded each time. He did it again from Romilly but this time however two of the fort s engines were Only badly damaged not shot entirely away and three members of the Crew suffered Only scratches from Shell fragments. With the Hydraulic system out of order and the bomber almost out of control Riordan Hung on to a violently vibrating a a stick a which jerked him about All Over soviets study map before attack continued from Page 1 gave the Airfield an awful plastering. Smoke Rose hundreds of feet into the air and debris was flying a a it was the roughest fight our group have had so far a Holmstrom said a a and we be been on raids Over St. Nazaire and Brest before today. A 20mm. Cannon Shell Tore a two foot Hole in the nose of our plane and another hit just a few inches behind me. Also we have several 30-caliber machine gun holes through the ship and one propeller almost shot in his was not the Only fortress that demonstrated ability to take everything the Luftwaffe can give. Dozens of big bombers returned unbelievably shot up each one with its tally of nazi fighters blasted out of the air. The fighting continued from the time the . Bombers first saw the coast of France until they returned to bases. A a it was the Best bombing five seen a said 1st it. Robert Riordan Veteran of two famous fights who nearly got his ticket in this one. A a you could see the hangars jump up into the air and just fold up. Some of the boys in the last formation said there was nothing left for them to bomb when they arrived Over the Riordan corroborated reports from other pilots that the germans had a bigger Force of fighters in the air than on any previous american sortie and their attacks were More desperate reckless and sustained.4 one continuous fight a a a we saw germans High overhead waiting for us As soon As we crossed the Channel a he said. A a they would Peel off in line one at a time and they kept coming at us All the Way Over and Back to the Channel. It was one continuous fight throughout the a German Shell hit Riordan a cockpit but he was unhurt third of the narrow escapes that have already won him a decoration. Explaining How the sky was plotted to resemble dials of a clock to denote the position of attacking planes Riordan related some of the chatter which went on Over his bombers inter phone system during the raid. The top gunner would yell a a Here comes one from six of clock. You Blank Blank Blank ill get you a from the Tail gunner a a Here comes another Blank from one o clock. Who s Gonna get him a from the Bombardier a a another one coming from three of clock. Nickel to the Man who gets guns would be chattering and the Crew shouting All the from 50 feet 2nd it. Gerald Rotter Phoenix ariz., corroborating Riordan said enemy fighters came in extremely close in daring and reckless attacks some As near As 50 feet. Rotter got one enemy fighter at 50 Yards and saw it burst into flames and crash. An Allied Headquarters spokesman last night said reports still Are being gathered for an official announcement expected soon. It was asserted that a a a Large number a of German fighters were shot Down and that it is a a understood a some Allied planes crashed on returning Home As a result of damage in dogfights. The Raf following up the american raid with a smashing attack on Duisburg successfully used the new a a whirlwind a last night. Sunday afternoon British fighter bombers penetrated deep into i Belgium and France shot up at least eight trains and generally a a hosted up a the germans. Sundays raids marked the close of an eight Day Lull in Large scale air operations Over France. Heretofore bad weather had prevailed the cockpit and landed his fort. He narrowly missed a tractor and another bomber because the brakes were shot up too. One gunner sgt. Joe Bowles Brooklyn ., used a screwdriver to make Contact and fire the top current gun when its firing mechanism failed. Some of the american flyers had their first look at the most famous landmark in Europe the Eiffel Tower. 1st it. Dale Shaffer of Decatur 111., was one who reported a glimpse of it. A a we made direct hits on hangars at the Ai drome a he added a a and we ran into some of the prettiest Pink flak you Ever saw is sgt. Edgar s. Nichols of Denver col., was credited with two few 190s in Quick succession. Said he a a it was just like shooting a sgt. Joe f. Hill Valhalla ., knocked Down one few 190. Planet photo somewhere on the Central front soviet riflemen study a terrain map before an attack against nazi fortifications. This photo has just been received from Moscow by is contest w inner Barbara queue is judged Best six other victors listed Winner of the caption contest sponsored by the american red Cross and the stars and stripes is 1st sgt. Merhl k. Riddlemoser infantry whose entry a a Barbara queue a captured the fancy of the Washington clubs enlisted men s House committee judges of the contest. Published nov. 25 in die stars and stripes was a sketch drawn by David Low evening Standard and Nea cartoonist. The cartoon to be supplied with an appropriate caption showed a red Cross Hostel worker using the Telephone surrounded by a group of american soldiers. As first prize Winner sgt. Riddlemoser will receive five Cartons of cigarettes. The second Best caption a a bedlam and breakfast a was submitted by Cpl. Stanley v. Troy engineers who earned for himself four Cartons of cigarettes. Third place and three Cartons went to Cpl. J. L. Berry air Force who entered a a hello ? m iss Mayfair ? How Many address books did you lose ? a the next four places earned a Carton apiece for the men. A a the original quiz kid a by j. Busse Raf polish depot. A a i m sorry major i think i have a Date for this evening a by pvt. Robert Carlson engineers. A a sure you be got nothing on tonight Mabel ? a by Cpl. Trevor Aston services of Supply. A a party line a by t-3 Charles f. Kiepert services of Supply. The cigarettes will be mailed to the winners.30 russian riflemen take on 17 tanks a Tass message from the Central front quoted by Moscow radio described How 30 soviet guardsmen armed Only with rifles crossed a River and engaged 17 German tanks. They Laid an ambush and opened fire at the spy holes of the tanks stopping three of them. An officer who jumped out of one of the tanks was killed by Rifle fire. This delaying action permitted soviet anti tank troops to Cross the River and put eight of the tanks out of action driving away the in use in new Guinea Africa continued from Page 1 plane which dropped flares and when the men Flung themselves in a Shell Hole for concealment they were instantly killed by mines and Booby traps. Later a Rescue party attempted to reclaim the bodies and an officer and three enlisted men were killed by mines placed under the bodies of the five. Near Mersa Brega East of Al Asheila an important water Point exists but before the Allied troops were Able to reach it a total of 1,096 mines had to be unearthed and destroyed by Hawk eyed sappers who have now reduced the system of destroying mines to a science. The majority of mines used Are either the Pancake or the Flower pot variety the most dangerous of All. On Contact it leaps into the air and then explodes throwing its fragments sideways. Continued from Page 1 was reported to have been killed in action yesterday. Flea quarters spokesman gave no details of the death of the general who directed the enemy drive from Kokorda across the Owen Stanley Range to Iora Uaiwa the High water Mark of the japanese invasion of new Guinea Only 40 Miles from the Allied base at Pott moresby today a communique from general Macarthur a Headquarters in Australia said that the enemy a position has deteriorated. The port of Padang 300 Miles Northwest of Buna where the japanese Convoy took Refuge during the weekend after flying fortresses had sunk a Cruiser was bombed by Allied heavy bombers the communique adds. Three japanese Zero fighters which attacked them were shot Down.2,300 children yanks . Technicians to hold party for Irish children Navy tells How planes smashed african port Washington dec. 21 apr the . Naval air group destroyed at least 126 opposition planes knocked out Many Strong Shore batteries drove Back opposing ground forces and finally silenced the heavy guns of the French battleship Jean Bart when american forces moved into French North Africa Early last month. The . Navy department gave this information today from a report prepared for adm. Ingersoll a in a Atlantic Fleet. Jackie Cooper goes to War Hollywood dec. 21 a it a Jackie Cooper 20-year-old film actor has entered the United states naval Reserve. He will attend Loyola University for two years preparing for a commission As by Courtesy of King features Syndicate and the London daily sketch by Chic Young while thousands of British children yesterday were enjoying their first real american Christmas parties and Yankee servicemen were completing arrangements for scores More of the Holiday programs soldiers sailors and marines planned to accept the hospitality of English Irish and scots in a dozen major cities and hundreds of villages on Christmas Day. American soldiers handed out gifts to 2,300 children at four parties in two English towns yesterday. At Salisbury 1,200 children and 60 school teachers were guests at one affair while three parties were being held for 1,100 children at the Guild Hall Drill Hall and Waverly Hall at Andover. Soldiers contributed hundreds of pounds to buy gifts for the kiddies. One Soldier with $1,600 in his jeans the contributions of his buddies came to London to buy toys for children living near his station but found no toys and returned sadly time in Belfast biggest of scheduled blowouts is the Mammoth party on Christmas eve at the Belfast Myca and american red Cross club. . Technicians working in Northern Ireland have received 20,000 Candy bars from the United states. They will be distributed among thousands of children along with toys which the technicians have made in their spare time thirty Myca women volunteers Are assisting in packing the Candy and toys for distribution. Probably the most costly of the Holiday affairs will be the a a $10,000 party a slated for the Navy a base at Londonderry on Christmas eve. Rather than receive gifts each of the 1,000 inst children attending will receive a Check for $5 with which to buy their own gifts. A dinner of Turkey Plum pudding trifle and Tea will be served. Capt. V. Let Kirkman base commandant will be Santa Claus for the night. For 2,000 servicemen the Belfast Myca canteen will hold a party Christmas attend parly thirty five members of the Waal were guests last night at a London party held by a topographical engineering unit. Entertainment included a live Donald Duck genuine russian dance group and plenty of Soldier Talent and dancing at a Ball room near the station to a Well known civilian orchestra. Every Serviceman who can be relieved of his duties on Christmas Day will by assured of an invitation to dinner. Headquarters european theater of Opetz tons reports that the ratio of invitations to those accepted is 50 to one. Ann every Effort is being made to permit a Many men As possible to accept Tiff invitations. Red Cross clubs in every part of Isles Are holding special dinners Dahl a and entertainments. 200 children Belfast cues quot Belfast dec. 21�?american som i and technicians helped to entertain children of Volunteer workers of the k Cross service club at the first christ1�?o party of the season Here. M technician Eddie Lear los an a cal., Nephew of Brig. Gen. Ben served As master of ceremonies at party and in addition mystified children with trick magic. Printed in England by the times publishing company limited printing House Square London , and published by the United states armed forces�?22-12-42
