Evening star., 1945-05-06
D. {. Flyers Build Up
Impressive Score as
Europe War Wanes

europe WdI WdneS
Washington airmen in Europe
recently made impressive records
as the sky war against Naziism
tapered off into final victory. Some
have ridden with luck on their mis-
sions, some without it. Some of their
missions have been lightened by
humorous incidents.
There's the story just related of
I'd 1t. Patrick I. Fenlcn, 23-year-old
Bit co-pilot, who lives at 213l Fiji
teenth street NV.
When his squadron's lead plane
had been shot down by fax during
an attack on railroad yards at Hof
Germany, 1t. Fenlon's plane took
over the formation. Then, when
Fenlon's plane went into a steep
banking dive. other pilots thought
1t was new and peculiar sort of
evasive action and initiated it. They
didn't know that the plane was tenn
porarily out of control, with all but
two control cables severed by en-
emy fire. The automatic pilot saved
the plane and crew.
Most flyers in Europe have fin
ished their jobs, according to Air
Forces dispatches, and probably will
be home or assigned elsewhere.
1st 1t. William H. Gill, 81, PAT
Thunderbolt pilot, has flown over
SO missions, some of which he really
"sweated out" Once Is Messer-
schmitts bounced out of the sun
while his flight was bombing a
marshaling yard at Rastatt. Later
a group of 20 ME-109s attacked his
squadron. 1t. Gill expects to be
home in few weeks. He lives at
8712 Colesville road, Silver Spring.
Two Arlington men at an 9Th
AAF bomber station in England re-
Gently participated in the 3OOth mis-
sion of the 388th Bomber Group.
They are Sergts. Robert A. Ruby,
%, waist gunner, 17l6 South Nelson
street, and Aubrey w. Williams, jr.,
20. top turret gunner, SLOT Wilson
boulevard.
The 384th 9th AAF Bit Flying
Fortress Group, commanded by
Col. Theodore r. Milton, Pinehurst
Circle NV, also recently completed
its 300th mission of the war.
T/Sergt. Peter J. Hagen, 1887
Thirty fourth street, Mount Rainier,
Nd, radio gunner, has completed
280 combat hours, traversing ap-
proximately 10000 miles. He is
based in England.
1st 1t. Robert E. Pitts, Is, of l
Scott Circle NV, Bit navigator,
received the Distinguished Flying
Cross for his 30 operational mis-
sions against German targets. His
closest shave came during a fighter
attack over the industrial area of
Dresden. A 20-mm. shell pierced
a wing, just missing a gasoline tank,
but failed to explode. More than
80 Nazi fighters were attacking his
group at the time.
Two men have flown their so
missions. LIST 1t. Melvin b. Farber,
10, Of 1925 v street NV, and
T/Sergt. John P. O'Toole, Is, of $685.
Colorado avenue NV. 1t. Farber, a
bombardier, has been overseas since
August. Sergt. O'Toole is an engi-
neer gunner on Liberator. Both
men are based in Italy with the
18th AAF.
With combat career of more
than Is missions to his credit, 1st
1t. Robert w. Ray, 28-year-old bonn
bardier, based in England, was
awarded the fourth Oak Leaf Clus-
ter to his Air Medal for his bombing
attacks on Nazi military and indus
trial installations and in co-op-
Grafton with Allied ground forces
ofensives. He lives at suitland
Manor, Md.
1st 1t. Walter r. Longanecker, IT,,
Branchville, Md, who was recently
promoted to his present rank, is on
his way home after flying Al mis-
sions with the 9th AAF.
1st 1t. Joseph ]. Dye, %, served as
lead bombardier for his Flying For
tress outfit, the Tooth Bombardment
Group of the 9th AAF, in a sue
cessful bombing attack on a Focke-
Wulf engine plant at Stuttgart, Ger
many. The bombs from his group
damaged 70 per cent of the plant,
it was said, and were dropped in the
face of heavy antiaircraft fire. 1t.
Dyes mother lives at 500 Powhatan
place NV.
1st 1t. John A. Edelman, 1900 Co.
lumbia pike, Arlington, 20-year-old
Bit pilot, few 80 missions over en-
emy territory from his base In Eng
land.