“Little Joe, Gremlins Roost”.Over Ahrweiller.

The crew returned to base just in time to be grounded by weather. They went operational again on December 12th. Four days later, the Germans launched the offensive that became known as the Battle of the Bulge. Missions were briefed every day and canceled every day. The weather was impossible. December 24th dawned clear. Every aircraft that could get off the ground flew that day. The group typically put up around 30 planes per mission; that morning more than 50 went. The usual restrictions on targets of opportunity were loosened. Communications were the objective, and any crossroads, telephone line, or railroad was fair game. The formation flew in over France toward the front lines, hitting the railroad and town of Ahrweiler. Four-gun batteries were active throughout the area, the flak accurate enough to damage the elevator. All crew returned safely. What the pilot didn't know until later was that his brother Elmer was on the ground below that day, part of Patton's relief force. Elmer later described what he saw: contrails stretching in every direction as far as the eye could reach, the bombers overhead crossed by the tighter trails of their fighter escorts. A few days later Elmer was wounded. A round detonated just behind his foxhole, shredded his helmet, and drove fragments into his skull. The pilot learned of it through the Red Cross. Elmer was hospitalized at Penley Hall near Wrexham in Wales.