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On January 11, 1944, former Flying Tiger ace
James O. Howard demonstrated what the P-51B
was capable of. The weather over central
Germany cleared that day, allowing VIII Bomber
Command to send 663 B-17s and B-24s to bomb
the A.G.O. Fleugzeugwerke A.G. at Oschersleben,
the main center of FW-190 production;
the Junkers Fleugzeug und Moterenwerke at
Halberstadt, which was producing wings for
Ju-88s; and three plants in Brunswick operated by
Muhlenbau Industrie A.G. engaged in production
of Bf-110s. Only the formation that would strike
the Focke-Wulf factory at Oschersleben would
have fighter escort in the target area. This was
the 354th’s assignment.
Weather over England made take-off and
assembly difficult. The enroute weather
deteriorated so badly that the 3d Air Division’s
B-17s and the 2nd Air Division’s B-24s were
recalled. By the time the recall was made, the
B-17s of the 1st Air Division were 50 miles from
the target. The leading combat wing of the 3rd
Air Division was so deep in enemy territory when
the recall was received that its commander
decided to continue on to the primary target.
With the targets only 60 air miles from Berlin,
the Luftwaffe controllers feared the capital
was finally the goal of the American force.
The Luftwaffe’s reaction demonstrated the
Jagdwaffe had lost none of its ability to exact
heavy losses on a deep bomber penetration by
daylight. Indeed, it appeared they had improved
their tactics.
The P-51s of the 354th group rendezvoused
with the Oschersleben force to find themselves
in the midst of these attacks. Howard, the most
experienced pilot in the group, was leading.
He later recalled, “We climbed to 25,000 feet
through a couple of cloud layers and on a course
directly to our rendezvous point. As we crossed
the coast of Holland, it was a clear day, with the
sun shining brightly. Down below, snow covered
the ground. The outside air temperature at my
altitude was minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit...
As we reached the bomber stream, I realized
it was under intense attack by enemy fighters.
I saw no friendly fighters.”
After shooting down a Bf-110G, Howard saw
a Bf-109s. “I applied the throttle and raked my
guns in his direction from about 150 yards. I could
see flashes from my slugs hitting the fuselage.
It spewed smoke and fire and spun down out of
control.” An instant later, an Fw-190 flew in front
of Howard. “I pulled up after it in a chandelle.
I was less than a hundred yards behind and
ready to let him have it when the pilot suddenly
ARTICLES
“Li’l Kitten” a P-51B assigned to the 357th Fighter Group, the first
Mustang-equipped group assigned to VIII Fighter Command. The
“Malcolm hood” the fighter is equipped with greatly improved the
pilot’s visibility from the cockpit. (USAF Official)
On April 8, 1944, Don Gentile became the top-scoring American ace in Europe. On April 13, following his final
mission, Gentile made repeated high speed passes for newspaper and newsreel reporters in his Mustang,
“Shangri-La.” He struck the center of the Debden runway, which was higher than either end, destroying the
Mustang in the process. He then went back to the U.S.A. for a war bond tour. (USAF Official)
INFO Eduard10
May 2024