Everything said in my combat diary and its descriptions of missions for the 15 th Air Force, th Bomb Group Squadron remains unchanged and exactly as I typed it out after each of my missions. Although I cringe now when I read the corny attempts at bravado and Hemingway-speak, I haven't altered a word from those I set down in that wartime year of The teenage cool sets my teeth on edge at this date, but I thought I was telling it as it was, as they say.
There are also several points I would and can make now that as I look back that I had left out as I set forth each missions' report. For example, the bravado was exactly that: I was often very frightened during the missions, particularly during the actual bomb run over the target. At those times during a mission, the airplanes in formation had to keep their flight path as level as possible for a better distribution of their bomb drop. The ball turret, where I was, was usually hydraulically lowered into its firing position beneath theB's fuselage.
The two 50 caliber machine guns in the turret were pointed straight down, however, during the bomb run in order to contribute to the steadiness of the flight path with a minimum of jarring or spinning. This meant I was always in a womb-like position during the entirety of the target-fly over, looking straight down through the turret's window at all of the action below and around me.
I had the best view of where the flak was coming from as the bomber formation and our plane flew over the target area. No enemy fighter planes usually attacked our formations during the glide in over the target. The Nazis didn't like the heavy flak or anti-aircraft exploding shells anymore than we did ; and after the bombardier shouted, ""bombs away" there was usually a huge "whoosh" sound in the plane and a large lurch as a result of the released bombs. The bomb bay doors were open, of course, and this is what caused the always terrifying whoosh and lurch.
The plane would almost seem to rear up like a horse, as its weight was lightened by the release of the bomb load.
