Kenneth DeLong Mission October 16, 1942

MISSION #21

DATE Fri 10/16/42 COMBAT FLYING HOURS 11105 (Total tour 205: 15)

TARGET Benghazi, Libya HOME BASE Lydda, Palestine

BRIEFING 0545 TAKE OFF 0725 LANDING 1830

CREW Capt. T. D. Brown(on 10/15, all first pilots were promoted to Captain)    PLANE NO. 17 (with 4 new engines).(Radio Op. Patrick)

BOMB LOAD 5-1000 lb TARGET TIME 1400 BOMBING ALT. 24000'

NO. OF PLANES 9-B24's

BOMBING RESULTS--No mention--bad weather-poor visibility.

ENEMY ACTION--Heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire. One ME-109 attacked formation, made 5 passes before being shot down.

OTHER REMARKS--Took off in rain and low ceiling. Flew formation through heavy rainstorms. Two planes turned back(no reason given). Had problems with both upper and tail turrets. Held formation all the way home through more bad weather. Planes buzzed Lydda in close formation at 500' and peeled off for landing, all safely home. Had less than 150 gallons of gas in our tanks. Most planes had shrapnel holes. Sgt. Powell had bullet wound in little finger.