FORMER
PILOT Harry Staley
Valentine’s Day
Over Rabaul "Got back this morning about 7.30
after a hectic, rough mission. Starting off, I got
in prop wash at 100 ft. and luckily missed a hill.
Arrived at the target 30 min. before bombing time,
so decided to make a run over the town and throw
out some small frag bombs & incendiary sticks.
Made the run, and was just pulling out when they
got me in the searchlights. A few seconds after
that, an ACK ACK shell hit us, and went through
the No. 3 engine supercharger, and up thru the
nacelle. It got the oil lines and all control
levers to the No. 3 engine. I feathered the
engine, and waited my turn to bomb our area. We
finally bombed, dropping 18 x 100 lb. wire wrapped
daisy cutters, and 3 x 300 lb. Demo. Besides all
the little stuff. We made our run and dropped the
bombs thru the target area starting several small
fires. When we started home, there were numerous
fires - some of them visible over 60 miles away.
On the way home No.2 supercharger went out,
leaving about ˝ the normal power, so we
returned. Luckily on 2˝ engines. My plane will be
out for approx. 2 weeks so I'm going to try &
get another".
- Harry Staley’s
Diary, February 14, 1943
Every crew member on “Black
Jack” that night was awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross for their actions. They went on to
complete their missions, mostly in B-17F
"Pluto" 41-24384. They never flew in B-17F
"Black Jack" 41-24521 again.
THE STALEY CREW Pilot:
Captain Harry A. Staley, O-428427
Co-Pilot: Lt Everett C. Sunderman,
O-725550 Navigator: Lt Joseph C. Wilfert,
O-434007 Bombardier: MSgt Carl Christiansen,
6557693 Flight Engineer: TSgt George E. Dirr,
Jr., 6668584 Radio Operator: SSgt Edward
P. Welcome, 6913555 Ball Turret: Pfc Oliver M.
Csontos, 12032005 Waist Gunner: SSgt George D.
Browning, 15064018 Waist Gunner: Pfc William H.
Donahue, 2020520 Tail Gunner: SSgt Gilbert R.
Tredway, 15060318 |