Ok, I will tell this "war story" as I heard it at my father's knee. As with all oral histories, and similar war stories, the truth may have been embelished. My father, the late Donald B. Daniel, swore that it was fact, and used this story as an example of why a good soldier follows orders, and as an example of the spy network that existed at the time.
The plane was called "Ten Hits and a Miss" and was part of the 741st squadron, 455th BG. As it happened on this particular mission a fighter, for reasons unknown to my father, decided to make a high speed pass, from the front to the rear of the formation, passing directly below "Ten Hits." As we all know, at the closing speed aproaching 600 MPH, from directly head on, and with frosted goggles, it is virtually impossible to tell a German fighter from an American fighter. For this reason all bomber gunners had standing orders, "if a fighter points its nose at you - KILL IT!" Following this order the nose gunner dropped his guns, and fired, cutting off the wings of the fighter. As it passed under him he was horrified to see that it was an American P-51. He called out over the intercom "HE"S OURS!" This may have saved the life of the pilot as the ball gunner has allinged his guns to rake the cockpit, and hearing the call held his fire just in time. The tail gunner called out "He's clear" to let the crew and the very upset nose gunner know that the pilot had bailed out safely. As the flight was outbound and still over allied held territory, it was assumed that the pilot would be home in due course. The flight continued on to the target and then returned that evening. Much to the amazement of my father, and probably others, the radio broadcast of "Axis Sally" knew the group number, the squadron number, and the plane name, Sally only wanted the name of the gunner, so that she could send him the Iron Cross First Class via the Swiss Red Cross. The gunner was called to the CO's office where he was told that he could have the medal as he, unlike the fighter pilot, was following his orders. The gunner declined the honor, despite much encouragement from his fellow gunners, but the only confirmed kill for "Ten Hits and a Miss" durring the war was one P-51.
Some years later I related this story to a friend who had served in the P-38's, based in Carignola, durring the war. He confirmed that all fighter pilots were under orders to never point at a bomber as the crews had strict standing orders to kill any fighter that came at them nose first.
<message edited by John A Daniel on 04/12/2008 03:30:40 PM >