Captain Harry R. Ankeny's Combat Diary
Page 24
since I was flying as his element leader I started off
leading the squadron, thinking all the time he would
rejoin us over the water. Well he didn't get back so
I led our squadron for the first time. It proved to
be quite a job, very interesting and good experience.
Even though we went thru two pretty thick flak barrages
the squadron kept in good formation so naturally I felt
good. One section of the bombers was hit by JU88 near
the target but we were several miles away. Another
group got the gravy. Everything went off fine and all
returned safely.
19 July, 1944.
Another bomber escort to Strasbourg, France. The
jerries weren't a bit stingy about using up the flak--
we got it all the way in and out for 3 hrs. and 50 min-
utes. Guess I'm getting a little bit flak happy at
that. At first it never seemed to bother me, just
plowed right thru it, but ever since I got clobbered
with it, last Sunday, I have tried my level best to
avoid it. I think the main reason why it affects me
is that I am rounding the last bend on my tour and
the sweating has begun.
24 July, 1944.
Had a control mission near Evreaux, France today
and logged 4:15 hours. Our controller sits in a radar
equipped B-17 in the middle of the channel and directs
us around to places where we might encounter E/A. Didn't
see any though--
28 July, 1944.
Went on a long one this morning to escort the bombers
who hit oil refineries near Merseburg, Germany. The flak
was just moderate and I picked up 5:30 hrs. combat time.
Guess I'm getting so I judge a mission by the amount and
precision of the flak we see. It is so very seldom these
days that we run into any enemy aircraft that about the
only thing we really sweat out is our engines and the flak.
The main reason the flak has been so rugged lately is due
to the poor flying weather we have been encountering over
Europe. When it is clear right down to the ground you can
spot the towns below and steer clear of the big ones. But
when it is completely overcast, as it has been, it seems
as if you find yourself right over the middle of the biggest.
Copyright © 1996, Harry R. Ankeny