An Ace of the Eighth by Norman J. Fortier

Author:Norman J. Fortier
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9780307414557
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2007-12-17T16:00:00+00:00

“This formation will present an intimidating front to their people and give us plenty of cross cover.” He gave several other “advantages” of such a formation. We sat quietly and respectfully, but each of us had serious doubts about the “advantages” he was describing.

“Kinnard is a helluva nice guy and a great leader,” said Duff after the meeting, “but where in hell does he get these goofy ideas?”

“Doesn’t he have any idea how hard it is to keep a long line-abreast formation like that?” Perry chimed in. “That’s a full-time job! We wouldn’t have time to look for Krauts.”

“You know how he is,” I said. “We might try this once, then we’ll go back to business as usual. Like it was before.”

There was a party in the officers’ club that night, and as the party wore on, Kinnard probably got a few earfuls about that formation. It was never tried or even mentioned after that.

The 354th was saying farewell to Bob Woody, who had completed his tour of duty and was being transferred to VIII Fighter Command headquarters.

The loss of Lieutenants Jacobson and Donaldson, plus the fact that many of the “old hands” had completed their tours and were no longer on operational status, meant that there were fewer pilots to carry the load. Since May 1, seven of our veteran pilots had finished their combat stints and left. Two-day passes to London were few and far between.

The mission on May 21 was another indication that the invasion was getting closer. The bombers got a day of rest, but VIII Fighter Command unleashed a large number of fighter groups to attack trains, airfields, and any other military targets they could find. Cummings led our squadron, and I led Blue Flight. The 357th found and destroyed five German aircraft on the ground; the rest of us destroyed eight trains, four trucks, several radio stations, and one flak tower. A few of our aircraft collected assorted holes from flak, but all returned safely to base.

There was no mention of the line-abreast formation. It was as if the meeting of squadron pilots had never happened.

The May 24 briefing was at 7:00 A.M. It was Berlin again. Our group was assigned to protect the 2d Task Force, six boxes of B-17s.

There was a change in the usual routine. Colonel Don Blakeslee, commander of the 4th Fighter Group, with an eight-ship section above the bomber penetration route, would control four fighter groups, including the rest of the 4th Group covering the first three wings, the 355th Group covering the last three boxes, and two other fighter groups. Blakeslee’s call sign was Quarterback. If the Luftwaffe showed up with a large group of fighters, he could direct a large force to intercept.

Kinnard was leading the three flights of our squadron to provide top cover; I was leading Blue Flight, with Herb Fritts on my wing, and Gil Wright and Bill Martin in my second element. Lieutenant Colonel Ray Myers was leading the group with the 358th, and Captain Colson was leading the 357th in the low position.

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