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la.28t h gombar dment Squ dr on Hi st or ;y - '

+ Jarnzer y 1- 31 , 191 4 .

, .' .t' `

r.

Th e ma i n pr e oc cu pa.t i on i n t he ear l r day s of J anua r y c ra s k e e pi n g taa r m.

i d - day Ra s pl ea s ant - - a s pl ea sa nt a s t h e r ugged b eau t y ab rn .t u s , but t h e n i ght su

threw another light on the situation. The second most time-consuming effort Z

s t h e a t t empt t o a r r a nge f or t h e t r i p t o Gh i s ona c c i a . Roa d b l ock s , sn ovr st ar ms , . ..N

.al a nd s l i d e s , - - ea cb eo t r i bLt ©d t o t h e 3e l ay . TY e r oa d a cr o s s t b e mount a i n

ws.s a makeshift propositian necossitated by the thorougr demolitions program Zf-1

of thE enerny as he retreated. One officer of the engineers offered the infor-

ma t i on t ha t i t wou l d t a +e t r r e e y e ar s t o r e con st r u ct t r e b r i dge s , r oad s , an d

railroads the Geru ,ans had effECtively sabotaged.

A a c c i o ra s a poor t h i r d a s a t i me con sumi ng med i u m. Th e n e c e s s i t y of

an early retttrn , transportation and ftiiel shortages, our lack of contRCts in a

new ar ea , and t h e n e ed s of b l a ck out se cu r i t y r e sul t ed i n a r or e o.rl e s s un of f i ci a l

curfew, which r. ade it difficult to have a raally good time. Ajaccio is commodity

poor and mon ey r i ch . &s i n Af r i ca t h e y oun g st er s,r q,

u s ,ed

,. b„4n r b on s i n t h e" „ . . :

. x . , ,

., , `;, , . '

accepted 4ran style as ia 19l ,2. New and a revelation was the frequency one

sa ; t h s s e b e se e ch i n g ur ch i n s e l ut ch i ng 50 or 100 f r an c n ot e s r ead i l y of f er ed i n

exchange.

S r gr i s i n g wa s t h e r obu st v i a t l i t y of t h e popu l a ce . Fy c or pa r i s on wi t h

t h e Af r i can mode s of c l ean l i n e s s and hea l t h , 3 er e wa s a su per r a ce of hr ,r dy

human b e i n g s . Th e a t t i r e sh owed t h e e f f e ct s of 4 y ear s of xa r a nd cl ot h i ng

, .rationing, but a trizly emarkable proportion of tY E feminine oopulace were smartly

dr e s s ed . I f t h er e .Pa s a sh or t a ge of s i l k h o s e i t ce r t a i ril .y wa s n t appa r ent . ': he

f i r st gl an ce a t an occ i dent a l c i v i l i zat i on poor a s Cor s i ca Ra s pur por t ed t o b e =- '

as one of the exhil rating experiences of our overseas tour .

Tt was not until we had the opportunity to nisit the bars, venture a meal

in a restraunt that the sitv_ation presented itself in a clearer light. To say

t ha t pr i ce s v er e h i gh wou l d b e a bana l un f i i t e un f or t una t e l v t h er e 1 E 'L ;; , I i ' I I) -126- F O l 16 2



- _. . .1,.,28t h Eombar dment 16 ,s.

r on Ili st oiy ' ' J anuar y 1=31, 1 l,1,... . _ ,

, .

w er e mer i can s wh o r e. ;a r dec .t l-c na t i v e s a s pr of i t e e r s . St i l l , h ow cati .

].cl e

expect five-frsnc wine when the children cavorted about offering the Corsiean

equivalent of a 2.00 bill. That our cigarettes, even Twentv Grands could

b r i ng b et t e r t han 10 . 00 a ca r t on r a s e qu a l l y s i gn i f 3_cant . 1' Cor s i ca.n of f e r ed

on e o£ ou r me cha n i c s 400 . f or h i s f l y i ng a ck et . 1orr we ca n u nd er st an d t h e

a ppa r ent gu st o wi t h whi cY: rn ,z r c l ot h e s wer e pi l f e r ed on b oar d sh i p i n s pi t e of

precautions.

Oa thc morning of the hth at lO:OQ the convoy was under way, Ghisonaccia

b ou nd . Th at i t t ook 9 h our s t o mvve somet hi n ; l i }ce 60 mi l e s r e f l e ct s t h e d i f f -

i cu l t i e s . Th F novn t a .n pa s s e s wer e ns r r oW, col d , and.i n pl a c e s , s l i ck wi t h

i ce . ' e pa s s Ed t h e v er i cl e s of t h e R. F ? egi r. ent ti r i ch r a d b een on b oe r d t h e

LST wi t h u s . Th ey ha d b een st r an ded f or f vur.day s a s a r e sul t of a s now st ca m.

To t Y o s e of u s f r om t ;.e

f l a t l s.nd s of t r e mi dd l e "e st , t h e sn ow- ca ppe d r i dg e s of

s t ub - or r gr an i t e , +.h F b eaut i f v l st and o f pi n e s , and t } e wi nd i ng r oad s wer e

deeply impressive. Tren , as rre gazed on the brooding beauty of the island,

re cou l d Un d er st and l a pol eon ' s pr ot e st at i or, s of l ov e f or t }ii s c ompar i t i v e l y

b ar r en i s l a_nd . I t ' s e e.sy t o s e e why mount a i.n peopl c s a r e se l f - r e l i s nt , pa t -

r i ot i c , aa' d st r ong . i h e env i r onment i s a we - i n s pi r .ng . For t hi s , t h e.Cor s i ca n s

a r e t o b e en vi e d .

Ghisonaccia Gare--a town at a narrow w age railw .y station which lies

i n t h e f l a t l a nd b or der i n g t h e h i l l s n e .rt h e :"a s t c oa st . Th e i mmed i a t e e nv i r on s

were drab by compaarison witr thc areas qre had left in Corsica. Yet it prav ed

t o b e t h e mo st snu g an d comf or t a bl e b a s e we tv e h ad s i r_ce we l e f t Lngl and .

The civilian popLlace }2ad been evacuated to Ghisonnacia proper, anotr.er

village four or five ©iles to the South.

For t Y:e t i me b e i n g we wer e a l l qu -r t er ed i n t r e bL?i l d i ng s f t r e t own .

As a r e sul t , t h e r e ;a s a c l os e pr o;ci mi t y b et tve en t h e va r i ou s or gan i ze t i on s

- 127- ' ..,



. ._ ,, , . -- . .

' 1 2Et h Bomb a r dment Squa dr on Hi s t or y `.

J a.nu a.r p 1- 31 , 1a 1,1.

.

_ ,t r s .

t e ha.3n ' t had f or a ? on o t i.tne , i n e men on t h e l i n e - - a s u sua l , ha d t h e

toughest living conditions. The base's most glaring defect in our eyes was

the great distance to any place of note--tut fh.at's nothing unusual for the .

li,28t h .

On the lOth, the "C" crews arrived from Phillipville bringing 40 officers, .

s.nd men. The 3SOth combat teams also arriced in similar force. It was appar-

ent t ha t ope r a t i on s ar e i rmned i a t e l y b egi nn i n_g . Tha t t h ey c oul d b e wa s a

. pleasant surprise to us, for the transport and supply possibilities on the

Island certainly didn 't e ,ppear to be cape,

ble of supporting operational needs.

The base commander at thp time was Grvup Capta n Tuttle of the 328th

l ing, of a iich he was a so C.O: This RAF wing in turn was subordinated to

t h e 63r d F i ght er A'i ng a t Ba st i a und er t Y:e comma nd of Er i ga Ci e r Gen er Pl Gr a.Qe s . On t Y:e f i Rl d a det r, c

r ent of 11,.t h S us.dr on P. e.r aud er s (Er i t i sh ) of f e r ed r e -

connaissance services, renorting ship sightir_ s agai.nst Rhich we might send

a t t a ck s . Lt . Col . Hs r v eg Ni nma n , t r :e gr nup Depta y Comman der a s our de t a ch -

ment comm.and er .

January 13th marked our first operation in two and one-half months.

Si x a i r c r a f 't Rent out on a sea s we e p c ov er i n g t h e ie st coa st of F r an ce and

t h e I +.al i an Ri 'Q# t a . A 3000 Ton Y'If V vra s s i ght ed , bu t a l ow ce i l i ng pr ev ent ed

an attack , so the beginning ras quiet and uneventi il . It was our squadron s

1 50t h mi s s i on . Spi t f i r e s of t h e 52n d Fi ght e r Gr ou p s er v ed a s e s cor t . 42 t h

per s onn e l pa r t i c i pat i ng : 061 - - FPan s , ReCl e l l an , Epper s on , Ak er l an^. ,

Favar d ,

Foder a r o , , a yr en e , De"?a 1d ; r094- - F l emi n g , Sand st r om, Smi r n of f , ?e ek , Rs nk i n ,

Hook ; 1 92- - u o, , .n , Ed e l man , Col l e t on , he l l y , Por c : , Ri st Eau ; 'Q74 - - Bi t t er ,

Ar naul t , Re: t er. , oa t Zer , St d..nd i s h , Si ga f oo s , Si e r l ECk i , Ami r au l t ; # 592- -

Fd war u s , Seb or , Lann i n €;, J a ck , F ou s eman , 'oy n i h an , "!augh , Fa s s e t t , Par an i vk ,

F s st , A,g i , Azdl o . '; . :.., : . " `

-125-



. , . , .-t , . •+

, 4 ?.. t h Rombardment 5quadr on Hi st ory • Januar g 1- 31 , 19 .

, •

On t he 1 5t h anot her s i c pl ane s sha do , d t h P coa st o f I a l y above and bel o r

Elba. At the end of their run thE:y deposit©d their Ioad of 500 pvunders on the

r s de.r st at i or_ on Gi gl i o . P1ear mi s s e s and po s s i bl e r i t s c aul d b e ob s erv ed on

poor quali.ty photos. Tre only enea4v action observed was slight, inaccurate

fla k rrom the Southeast coast of Elba . .42Sth participants: ,

061--Evans,

" c Cl e l l an Epper s o 'Alcer 3,and , Fayar d Foder ar a , t.Tayr onne , Dewa l d ; 492- -

Hogan, Edelrnan , Colleton, Kell r Porbh , Risteau, Felming; Sandstrom, Smirnoff,

Hook , ft ank i..n , Hook , i l l i .ams on , Edwar s , Seb or , hann i ng , Rent on , Ja ck , Hou s emyan ,

it2opni h n , Ami r au l t , iaug i , Fe s et t , Bar ani uk , Ea st Ag i n , Pudl o , Ei t t er , ru'naul t ,

E!oat l er , $'t s.nd i sh , Si gaf oo s , Si er l eck i ,

On the next trip out, on tY e 17th, six .2$th aircraft de5troyed a two

t o t hr e e t hou sand t on PJ f P i n t he ha rb or at I mper i a . The bombi ng pat t ern wa s

unusually accurate. The vessel had been damaged Iast year and was ust abvut

ready for use once again. A trul fine performance. Again there xas no opp-

o s i t i on . Our boy s on t hi s one wer e : L ans , 9cCl e l l an , l lre r l and , F'a3rar d ,

Foderara., l, ay r onne , Si e r l eck i , Epper s on , Fl emi ng , Sands t r om, E ra l d , Smi rnof f ,

Hook , R.ank i n , Donal ds on , Ever i s s , Vi ct or , Ya l i s , Eoot h., Ee l l y , Si s s an ,

Ri l l i ameon , ' augr , Fa se t , Id.a . , Barani uk , Fa s t , Ag i n , Fudl o , Bi t t dr , rnau l t ,

apeYa , Poat l er , St andi sY , Si ga f co s , Li m, Ami rau l t , F;ol l ey , I on i ec zka , Bur ket t ,

Ri st eau , Ramo s , Hool;

On t hQ 20t h t r_e un i t +s s i x ai r pl ane s rer e al ert ed t o a 2040 t on r .

/ V

mov i ng t owar d r ar s e i l l e s of f T Ti co . The t ar g et t hi s t i me a PpEar ed t o o Scot -

f r e e . i hQ f or mat i on sa f el ' weat ber ed s l i ght i nac curs t e h eavy and i nt en s e ,

inaccurate light flak from the targEt and a single small escort vessel.

The cr ex s agai n rer e : Paugh , Fas s et t , ?.i ck , Earan i uk , T'a s t , Agi n , Pudl o

Pi t t er , . s na u l t , Opeka , Poat l er , St an r'• i sr , Si gaf oo s , Li m, A ii raul t , Eol l ey , • - ;. .._. , .

-129-



.. , • •

p . .

4 Sth Bombardment Squadron History ' . Janusry 1-31, 1 hlt.• , , .

'

Re et z , I' on i e c zk a , Le i s ur E, Ri s t eau , Ra mo s , h ook , I:v an s , "cCl e l l an , .k e r l an d ,

Fa,yard, Foderaro, RA a ronne,

Sierlecki, Hogan , Edelman , Ewalt, Collaton, Kelly,

Hi r t. , Por ch rEr i s , Company , Vi ct or y Xa l i s , Eoot h , Ye l l y , Si s s on , :' i l.l i a ms on i

The next morning the sighting of a 10,000 ton 1 /V sent six of m r P-25 s

s c oot i ng t o ra r d t h e :' r en ch coa st . On t r_e b omb r un s , a t l ea st f our F"I19 0 ' s ,

t h e f i r st we had s een , a t t a ck ed t Y e f i r st e1 6r Ent . Ca pt a i n Bi t t er and t -wo

memb er s of h i s cr e r ;. e r e wound ed . S/ Sgt J or n Sv i an t r.J , h i s €unn er , su f f er ed

i n ju r i e s t ha t wi l l pr ob at 7.y c o st h i m one ey e . T/ Sg t . Ami -au l t , a er i a l ph ot o-

gr a ph er , s uf f er ed a s ca l p wou nc and b i t s of sY e l l f r a gme nt s i mb edd ed i n one

of h i s l eg s . Ca pt a i.n P i t t e r h ad a s l i v e r of st e e l r un t rx ou € h r i s r.and. a nd

an ot her f r a :- ment .nf l i ct c.d a f l e sh wcun d i n ? i s ba ck . SJ Sgt Lu.ng er , P ad i o

Oper a t o_ , Rec e i v ed a h i n ;eu nd . The a i r c r a f t ws.s r i ddl ed , a t ot a l l o s s . Th e

s u ce s s fl .il cr a s r l a nd i ng a t t h e ba se t y 2nd Lt . "Hub " Ar nau l t , t b e c o- pi l ot ,

i s a t e st i moni e. of rli s ex ce pt i ona l ab i l i t y .

st Lt. Thornton Fleming 's sircraft was also badly battered. S/Sgt

Don a l d s on , l i s t a i l gunn er , r e c e i ved a s er i o : s l eg i n j . r S• f r om a 20mm cannon

bur st . Tha v e s s e l wa s mi s s ed , bu t s ome con s ol a t .i on mi ght b e de r i v ed f r om t he

de s t r uct i on o ' t h e F" 190 t h a t 3 i d t r e bul k of t r e da mage by t h e gun.s of

t he t ai l gunner , S Sgt Al exander Pudl o . A3 t I er ;r obabl e ara s chal ked up .

Th e e s c or t put a ray anot h r FVf of a s epar Gt e t l i ght of f ou r . ll;oder a t e , h eav y ,

i na .ccur at e and a ccu r at e , pl u s i nt en s e l i gYa f l ak a f f or ded f u r t h er oz po s i t i on

in the target area. This fire came from the target, $iQe escort 89sels,

an d t h e sur r ou nd i n g i sl and s . 1,.:ZRt h per s or nFl pF..x

t i c i pa t in g : ?'augh , Fa s et t ,

Lick , Baraniuk , East , gin, Fudlo, Eitter, Arnoult , +?pE a, Boatler, Lunger,

Sv i s n t ek , Si s s on , r mi r s u l t , Seb or , EvEr i s s , Vi ct r , Lann i ng , J e c? , Hou se :n a ,

No pk i n s , E.b an s , JvlcCl e l l an , Ak er l and , Fode r a r o , ;, y r onn e , Pound , Si e r l eck i ,

F l e mi ng , Sand s t r om, Ewal t , He i t man , I ook , Rank i ng , Dona l s on , T: ol l ey , Re e t z ,

-130-



. . . _ . . -,,, . . . •

Lf2 t h Fcunbar :} ent S: l r on F i st or y ,` • J anu ar p 1- 31 , 1 91F1 .

' •,

} on i e c z}'a , }' r,r ' _et t , i s t .ca : , .a nos , -'oo , Fea .n .

T} e mor n i lz of t t e 2 2n c? b r ou g t nervs ol t r e i i end i n F l a nd i n at ::et t uno .

The 110t Y? :ni_s s i on cn t •? ; s +' uz- ,r s t o st r i t:c c t t,h F• c ol ]

.e ct i on of "T' ' b oa.t s a t

F.l b a i n FOr t : 'e r r &i o . Tk i s a s a 12 nl a ne ef f or t comb i n i n ` t r e f or c e s of r ot h

t }.e 380t r_ a n ? t , e , ;t h . Fr or e i ht #.o t we?_v e of t ?-.e

t vrc:nt y t o t h i r t y n :n

b oa t s i n t r E h ar r or wer e d e i n t t e l y l e st r o:red a nc t r s_.n s z r v i ceab i.l i t y of

na ny of t h E ot : e r s a pr ob ab l c . oc ): i n st l l a t i on s r e h i.t , i gn i t i n s ev er a l

f i r e s , „ od er .t F i l- a c cu r a t E r a vy and l i g} t f l ak d ot t t ?

.F sky i n t r e t a r g et

a r ea but +o n o .v a i l , Th e t u r : awa y l e f t a r a ].1 or s r ok e i n t h E ha r b o.r as ea .

not .h er j oY

. we l I a one .

'?n t Y.e 2 3r d a no r:E r 1 2- pl a ne ef f or t l ed.l ,y

Ca pt a i n 'v s p :r t i c i pat ed in

a s ea se f r c} . !: e of o a i r c r ;, f t r et , r n EC? ear l ; . ?' o , ;r et ws.s s i ght t , wz d

n o b omb s : re r e dr opped . ' ?_ t r na r t i c i j, an t s ; Lv a tl s , 'cC1 E11,2n , ,k er l .n d , Fa ; -

a r , Fod e ° .r o , ? 3r t , i e r l e c' i , r '1Fmi n , Sa nu s t r om, uo:: i.e c -w' a , Tar an i u <,

:re l l ;:r , ' 2r_ic s , Don a1. . , Ar : ou ? t , ob er t s , Tl i ct or , Col a

.et on , r,a st , g i .n , io o ,

T' 1w:1:7 .9 , Seb or , Li ck' , hann '_n G, T=oot , , Sch Nn}; , L'o3rni }

.a :n , "fi i t ehv.r s t , Fa r l .=, F r-

a l t , }'e l i s , Toti :, P.i s aau , Pud l o , Fa s s et t , Si s s on , Co . n;; , •:}pe?•-a , I oat l er ,

VEr sa rr, ' ' e l l y , `ean .

T . e mor n i n , o ' t r e 2 t h or c' e r s ,vc r e r e ce i ve . t o pa ck . l ocr- , st ock and

b ar r e l .n a +.c b e pr e ; ar Ea t .o l E av c f vr ?.f r i.ca t h f n Ex-t d .; . '"h e l ogi c of

t h P s i t u a t z on s e Fmed. '; o i nd i cs.t e Q mov e +, o t •}:e f r r l a st . Spi r i t s wer e l cr r and

nri t ? . c on s i de r ab l e r e ;s on , t s :. • r e j . st a l-otit , pa ck ed t ' e or d er tir- s r em ;,nde

and w 1 er c st a s u nh a ppy . Fowev er , t ;, e or c?e r d i d n ot ar r i vE b ef o,•e t ' e

nf erl ;T- cr i r ed c ompl e ment of F.- 2 5G' s a f t -.e 3c l s t sa adr on }.a_', l e f t f or r i ca .

F s t a b l i s h e c? a s i .n b y t ?-c 2 t r , t e i ,._ s' t rl s e n± s i

. : p l a t e e a t a s i ;'__t i n g

o f s i x l a n :}i z ; c r a f t l E .c•e d . lo r t h Z e a r Sa n ; t Ff .n o . T :a t t l- i e e rrEr E d e f i n i t e l y

s un k a ; d a f ot:r t r b a d 1J 1.ma ; Fr.? wnc? pr ob ,Ul y

• ' i -' s i n .

c s e e ns ? mp o s s i b l e . F.o R-

v . . . _. -- :-

1 3 1r ,



,•. . , . . ,Ir2 t r £ am 3r i: en

,' q -wF?r o- I' i s t or y . .. J a nu a r y 1- ? 1 , 19 1,. .. . ,. , ..

ev e r , r h ot ogr a ah ev i d en ce jjr ov c S t t:a t ;;,, :-t t h,at c a s a c co ?ti 1 i s:r ed b,y

6 F- 2 5 ' s

f l y ;n g a t f r o- D00 t .a ,9600 f t r ; , mo ri n` o or. o r. I nt en s e I i gh t f l a i: f r om

+•l c t a r ;et s ; s l oFr.

?n t i_e a f t er noon t r e s a me s i x st r uc' ou t on anut r er s . Yt i n i n a 1-

mo st , t ,'s- s a :E a r eu . T1 r s e } ,.e nE" b oa t s c omjoa r . ,l c_

t,o ou r _ ''1' s . To a dd i n-

su l t t o t h c a:or ra n fs i n j ur y on E of t r E . 'f?' " b oa t s i n t h e c onv oy r FCe i ved

d i r e ct Y_i t s f r o Q000 f t a nd a not h er s ?.r wer e .a a ;ed . Lt , r r ed Ia n_n

?r

•: a s t I- F: st ;,r pe r f or mer of a.n ot ti er s t a r cr f or m .nce by aur b o h ::r a i er s . t;ev er

ha s t ' e ! r t li ev en a r oa cl ed such a e _s a t e r o: t i n , .

8t . h o *s on t h i s wcr e : r v ull J , ' ' cCl e l l a.n , r.ti.-e r l : n u , Fr S .r •d , Fod er a r o ,

Si e r l.i e c'. : i , P.i s t E.au , .t;r n ou l t , rtob er t s , Ed s _r e . Eoot l: , : ' e l l y , Li m, Eea n , 'rTogan ,

3 e e t z , Go7.l et on , Ver s a ^, Ra : s , t ook , F1e mi : ; , : G.nd st r or , 'J i ct or , Lex n i n ` , Toti9,

Oi s s on , on l d , Fa -,s ct t , Cor pz..ny , Sn od: , , h n gEr , Iso :s a n , „ogn i ha n , a'?hi t e -

hu r st , Fa r 1Ey , out,l e r , : a.st , a4i 1-, , F1.id l o , "!i l ]

.i s zas or , ytiva l t ,

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BL K - 57th Bomb Wing Assn57thbombwing.com/428th_History/History_3.pdf.il crasr landing at the base ty 2nd Lt. "Hub" Arnaul t, be co-pilot, i sa te timonie. € of rlis exceptional