USAAF WORLD WAR II
Bombardier 2nd/Lt. David A. Barlow later 1st/Lt Crash-landed - RTD
Hometown: Chicago,Illinois
Squadron: 68th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# 0-696193
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Joy M. Smith
Target: Genshagen/Berlin, Germany
Mission Date: 21-June-44
Serial Number: #41-24109
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: FLAK MAGNET
Location:
Cause:Enemy Flak
Crew of 10 Crash-landed - RTD
The 44th's target was the Daimler-Benz Motor Works, but very bad weather prevented visual bombing, so Berlin was hit utilizing the PFF method of bombing. One 66th Squadron aircraft crash-landed at Shipdham with wounded aboard, and a 506th Squadron crew, flying a borrowed plane, did not return.
Note: This was the 8th Air Force's first shuttle raid to Russia, in which 1st Division B-17s flew on to bases in Mirgorod and Poltava.
S/Sgt. Jacob Elias, waist gunner on this crew, referred to this mission in his story "Bedtime Ramblings" printed in the June 1978 edition of the "Journal", front page. In this article he states in part, "I was assigned to the FLAK MAGNET, Joy Smith in charge. What a pilot! Cool, efficient as a computer, a rock of strength. Another time (21 June 44) Johnny (Shelton) gets a piece of flak in the neck and the bombardier (Lt. Barlow) and I are frantic in our efforts to stem the blood. He made it in spite of us."Sgt. Elias also said that he seriously doubted if John would survive, because at first it looked so very serious with the loss of so much blood. Elias didn't say so, but he was peppered with flak, himself.
In the book, "Jaws Over Europe" on page 29 (count out to that page since the pages are unnumbered) there are two photos of Sgt. John Shelton being removed from FLAK MAGNET and attended to by Capt. K.E. Comer, flight surgeon. When Sgt. Shelton was recuperating, he visited London only to be wounded again when a V-1 Buzz Bomb landed near him!
FLAK MAGNET Crew
1st/Lt. Joy M. Smith Pilot
2nd/Lt. Paul Cooper Co Pilot
2nd/Lt. Benjamin Powner Navigator
2nd/Lt. David A. Barlow Bombardier
T/Sgt. Eugene J. Dewaters Engineer
T/Sgt. Kenneth Sprowl Radio Op.
S/Sgt. John H. Shelton Gunner
S/Sgt. Jacob Ellias Gunner
S/Sgt. Ross W. Fenner Gunner
Bombardier 2nd/Lt. David A. Barlow later 1st/Lt Crash-landed - RTD
Hometown: Chicago,Illinois
Squadron: 68th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# 0-696193
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Joy M. Smith
Target: Genshagen/Berlin, Germany
Mission Date: 21-June-44
Serial Number: #41-24109
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: FLAK MAGNET
Location:
Cause:Enemy Flak
Crew of 10 Crash-landed - RTD
The 44th's target was the Daimler-Benz Motor Works, but very bad weather prevented visual bombing, so Berlin was hit utilizing the PFF method of bombing. One 66th Squadron aircraft crash-landed at Shipdham with wounded aboard, and a 506th Squadron crew, flying a borrowed plane, did not return.
Note: This was the 8th Air Force's first shuttle raid to Russia, in which 1st Division B-17s flew on to bases in Mirgorod and Poltava.
S/Sgt. Jacob Elias, waist gunner on this crew, referred to this mission in his story "Bedtime Ramblings" printed in the June 1978 edition of the "Journal", front page. In this article he states in part, "I was assigned to the FLAK MAGNET, Joy Smith in charge. What a pilot! Cool, efficient as a computer, a rock of strength. Another time (21 June 44) Johnny (Shelton) gets a piece of flak in the neck and the bombardier (Lt. Barlow) and I are frantic in our efforts to stem the blood. He made it in spite of us."Sgt. Elias also said that he seriously doubted if John would survive, because at first it looked so very serious with the loss of so much blood. Elias didn't say so, but he was peppered with flak, himself.
In the book, "Jaws Over Europe" on page 29 (count out to that page since the pages are unnumbered) there are two photos of Sgt. John Shelton being removed from FLAK MAGNET and attended to by Capt. K.E. Comer, flight surgeon. When Sgt. Shelton was recuperating, he visited London only to be wounded again when a V-1 Buzz Bomb landed near him!
FLAK MAGNET Crew
1st/Lt. Joy M. Smith Pilot
2nd/Lt. Paul Cooper Co Pilot
2nd/Lt. Benjamin Powner Navigator
2nd/Lt. David A. Barlow Bombardier
T/Sgt. Eugene J. Dewaters Engineer
T/Sgt. Kenneth Sprowl Radio Op.
S/Sgt. John H. Shelton Gunner
S/Sgt. Jacob Ellias Gunner
S/Sgt. Ross W. Fenner Gunner
USAAF WORLD WAR II
Bombardier 2nd/Lt. David A. Barlow later 1st/Lt Crash-landed - RTD
Hometown: Chicago,Illinois
Squadron: 68th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# 0-696193
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Joy M. Smith
Target: Genshagen/Berlin, Germany
Mission Date: 21-June-44
Serial Number: #41-24109
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: FLAK MAGNET
Location:
Cause:Enemy Flak
Crew of 10 Crash-landed - RTD
The 44th's target was the Daimler-Benz Motor Works, but very bad weather prevented visual bombing, so Berlin was hit utilizing the PFF method of bombing. One 66th Squadron aircraft crash-landed at Shipdham with wounded aboard, and a 506th Squadron crew, flying a borrowed plane, did not return.
Note: This was the 8th Air Force's first shuttle raid to Russia, in which 1st Division B-17s flew on to bases in Mirgorod and Poltava.
S/Sgt. Jacob Elias, waist gunner on this crew, referred to this mission in his story "Bedtime Ramblings" printed in the June 1978 edition of the "Journal", front page. In this article he states in part, "I was assigned to the FLAK MAGNET, Joy Smith in charge. What a pilot! Cool, efficient as a computer, a rock of strength. Another time (21 June 44) Johnny (Shelton) gets a piece of flak in the neck and the bombardier (Lt. Barlow) and I are frantic in our efforts to stem the blood. He made it in spite of us."Sgt. Elias also said that he seriously doubted if John would survive, because at first it looked so very serious with the loss of so much blood. Elias didn't say so, but he was peppered with flak, himself.
In the book, "Jaws Over Europe" on page 29 (count out to that page since the pages are unnumbered) there are two photos of Sgt. John Shelton being removed from FLAK MAGNET and attended to by Capt. K.E. Comer, flight surgeon. When Sgt. Shelton was recuperating, he visited London only to be wounded again when a V-1 Buzz Bomb landed near him!
FLAK MAGNET Crew
1st/Lt. Joy M. Smith Pilot
2nd/Lt. Paul Cooper Co Pilot
2nd/Lt. Benjamin Powner Navigator
2nd/Lt. David A. Barlow Bombardier
T/Sgt. Eugene J. Dewaters Engineer
T/Sgt. Kenneth Sprowl Radio Op.
S/Sgt. John H. Shelton Gunner
S/Sgt. Jacob Ellias Gunner
S/Sgt. Ross W. Fenner Gunner
Bombardier 2nd/Lt. David A. Barlow later 1st/Lt Crash-landed - RTD
Hometown: Chicago,Illinois
Squadron: 68th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service# 0-696193
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Joy M. Smith
Target: Genshagen/Berlin, Germany
Mission Date: 21-June-44
Serial Number: #41-24109
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: FLAK MAGNET
Location:
Cause:Enemy Flak
Crew of 10 Crash-landed - RTD
The 44th's target was the Daimler-Benz Motor Works, but very bad weather prevented visual bombing, so Berlin was hit utilizing the PFF method of bombing. One 66th Squadron aircraft crash-landed at Shipdham with wounded aboard, and a 506th Squadron crew, flying a borrowed plane, did not return.
Note: This was the 8th Air Force's first shuttle raid to Russia, in which 1st Division B-17s flew on to bases in Mirgorod and Poltava.
S/Sgt. Jacob Elias, waist gunner on this crew, referred to this mission in his story "Bedtime Ramblings" printed in the June 1978 edition of the "Journal", front page. In this article he states in part, "I was assigned to the FLAK MAGNET, Joy Smith in charge. What a pilot! Cool, efficient as a computer, a rock of strength. Another time (21 June 44) Johnny (Shelton) gets a piece of flak in the neck and the bombardier (Lt. Barlow) and I are frantic in our efforts to stem the blood. He made it in spite of us."Sgt. Elias also said that he seriously doubted if John would survive, because at first it looked so very serious with the loss of so much blood. Elias didn't say so, but he was peppered with flak, himself.
In the book, "Jaws Over Europe" on page 29 (count out to that page since the pages are unnumbered) there are two photos of Sgt. John Shelton being removed from FLAK MAGNET and attended to by Capt. K.E. Comer, flight surgeon. When Sgt. Shelton was recuperating, he visited London only to be wounded again when a V-1 Buzz Bomb landed near him!
FLAK MAGNET Crew
1st/Lt. Joy M. Smith Pilot
2nd/Lt. Paul Cooper Co Pilot
2nd/Lt. Benjamin Powner Navigator
2nd/Lt. David A. Barlow Bombardier
T/Sgt. Eugene J. Dewaters Engineer
T/Sgt. Kenneth Sprowl Radio Op.
S/Sgt. John H. Shelton Gunner
S/Sgt. Jacob Ellias Gunner
S/Sgt. Ross W. Fenner Gunner
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