“Tennessee Rambler, The / Red Ball Express, The”

On his 21st mission, Theron U. Collins piloted Tennessee Rambler on the December 1, 1943 raid against Solingen. Tail-gunner Sergeant John W. Butler recorded the mission in his diary: the crew endured 45 minutes under fighter attack in bitter cold, diverted to a secondary target after failing to see the briefed flare, and watched right waist-gunner Carey down a Ju-88. From his position in the tail, Butler also witnessed two other Circus bombers, Iron Ass and Southwind, shot down nearby.