Sortie2BDB-24Bombed Primary
“Silver Eagle”.Over Metz.
Mission 707 · 09 November 1944 · Metz, France
Serial
42-50362
B-24H
Fuselage Code
YM
Squadron
409th
Ted's Traveling Circus
Duration
6:30
Aboard
8
men
The crew.
§ 8 aboard
Name
Position
Serial
Hometown
On this flight
CaptEdward L. McGuire
“Ted”
Pilot
Station 1
O-392667
Shreveport, Louisiana
Completed his tour
Returned
→
2LtVictor H. Hanf
Co-Pilot
Station 2
O-8266262
—
Returned
→
T/SgtCornelius J. Leach
“Bill”
Engineer / Top Turret
Station 5
42056289
—
Returned
→
S/SgtDonald M. South
“Don”
Radio Operator
Station 6
31305999
—
Returned
→
S/SgtWilliam H. Gardner
“Shorty”
Waist Gunner
Station 8
33710942
—
Completed his tour
Returned
→
S/SgtEdward S. Powell
“Ed”
Waist Gunner
Station 8
33805719
—
Returned
→
S/SgtBarney C. Eller
Tail Gunner
Station 9
34828795
—
Returned
→
S/SgtTheodore F. Szajna
“Snafoo”
Nose Gunner
36164043
—
Returned
→
The flight.
§ Ship’s Record
The Day
Time in the air6:30
Took off fromHardwick (Sta. 104)
Landed atHardwick (Sta. 104)
The Record
ResultBombed Primary
Record confidenceValidated against a source
Formation
Flew with409th Squadron
Fuel & Equipment
H2X scope photoNo
The target.
§ As Briefed
MetzTransportation Targets
LocationMetz, France
Notes.
§ From the Record
McGuire M8, 1944-11-09, Fort L'Asine (4 miles in front of Patton's 3rd Army). McGuire called this his worst mission. Hi-Right Squadron in 362 'J' Jigg (B-24H). Lead had faulty early bomb release; #2 tach failed over target (feared engine loss); broke formation and hit heavy ice, rain, snow squall; landed at Framlingham (B-17 base), came home later. No flak. Flight time 6:30. Source: McGuire memoir pp.006, 102.