Vaughn Steele, Mission June 26, 1944

Schwechat, Austria

Another mission that I remember well – had to lower the landing gear manually – can’t remember how we got the plane stopped after landing.  Will give you his story.

Schwechat, Austria very near Vienna.  Target was twin engine fighter plant.  Hit target real good with incendiaries.  Flak was very heavy and vary accurate.  Our hydraulic lines and radio were shot out.  No 2 gas tank was hit as was No 3 engine, but it kept running.  Flak went through top of waist section.  Enemy fighters were around but we had a pretty good escort for a change.  8 hr.

Further note on my part.  We could smell the gas fumes through our oxygen system with a fire in the bomb bay section.  The flight engineer put out the fire carrying his portable oxygen system.  I will further comment that through it all no one on my crew ever go an injury.