“Yardbird / Hitler's Hearse”

Captain Leon Packer's Yard Bird was heavily damaged during the April 16, 1943 mission against port facilities and shipping at Brest, one of only six of twenty-two dispatched aircraft to reach and bomb the target through fierce flak and fighter opposition. Bombardier Parkman Davis, believing the ship was going down, bailed out over the French coast and was killed. Tail gunner William "Red" Komerak was blown out of his turret twice by 20mm cannon fire but crawled back into position to keep fighting, an act that earned him a Silver Star. Gunners Merrill Wolf and Ernest "Bud" Wurm were both wounded. Packer brought the battered aircraft down safely at RAF St. Eval, with no injuries in the crash landing itself.