Big Yank’s Crew Story
The following is excerpted from the book, "483rd," by Donald Stern, Turner Publications, Paducah, Ky, 1994.
The second Unit Citation was for a March 24, 1945 mission. It was called the longest mission flown in Italy, 75 miles beyond Ruhland to the capital of the Fatherland, Berlin. The target was the Daimler-Benz Tank Works which had been assembling heavy and medium tanks for direct shipment to the Russian front. The bomb pattern was accurate in spite of an attack by 16 ME-262 German jet fighters. In the ensuing battle, we were credited with the destruction of six jets against the loss of only one Fortress, the Dailey/Dean crew of the 817th.
The following is an account of the Berlin raid told by the air crew of the plane, the "Big Yank", 840th:
The 483rd is the only Bomb Group in the entire Air Force to be credited with having shot down three German turbo-jet fighters (Me-262) on one mission by one plane, and is the only Group with an aerial gunner to be credited with having shot down two Me-262's. This is the story of the gallant crew that was the Group’s tail-end Charlie in the Big Yank on the Berlin mission on March 24, 1945 and who won these honors for us and helped to earn the second Presidential Citation awarded to the 483rd Bomb Group (H).
Two days before the Berlin mission, the Group had bombed some oil refineries at Ruhland some 75 miles southeast of Berlin at just about the usual limit of the B-I7's range. During the Ruhland mission a direct flak hit on one of the squadron's planes had set it aflame and It began to weave all over the sky, out of control. Lt. Strapko couldn't see the flaming plane or have any way of knowing what was happening except for the reports being given by the gunners in the rear of the plane. The prompt and accurate comments by the gunners made it possible to keep out of the dying plane's path.
Before each mission, it had been the crew's custom to gather in an informal group on the hardstand and exchange a few stories and do some kidding. It was no different for this mission to Berlin, and the fellowship between each of them seemed to release same of the tension that everyone felt. And to add to this day's powwow, Big Yank's Crew Chief, Irvin Davis, found a Lincoln head penny on the hardstand and gave it to (Pilot) Lt.William S. Strapko for good luck. Strapko gave the penny to co-pilot Clair Harper for safe keeping. It was a comforting feeling to each of them that they shared respect for each other and had confidence that each would do his job well when the occasion demanded it, regardless of stress or distraction.
With "take-off'. crew activities followed the normal routine that each position demanded. But in the back of each man's mind there was this thought that "we are in the most vulnerable position in the formation and we can expect little protection from those planes nearest us ." Or, " we are the choice target for fighters." Perhaps even both thoughts passed through their minds, but such thoughts tend to keep one on his toes throughout a mission.
The flight to Berlin proved to be routine and uneventful until they began to approach the target. When they were about 15 miles from the target, the pilot warned everyone to be especially alert for enemy fighters and to hope that none showed up. P-51s formed their escort and were nearby, but some of the German fighters broke through the P-51's surveillance screen and dived on Tail-end-Charlie just as it turned toward the target, the most vulnerable position of the mission.
It was no wonder that the German fighters were able to get through our fighter screen, they were Me-262 turbo-jets and for a second they would be a dot in the sky , the next moment they would be a speeding ball of fire with bullets and cannon spitting out lead at their target. As was the usual case, these Me262's had waited far behind and high until the Group was committed to the bomb run, where the pilot must fly as straight and level as he can to get the bombs on target. There are no maneuvers or evasive action possible once the plane is committed. The plane and the crew are at the mercy of the flak and everything else the enemy can throw at it.
Alert as the gunners were, four of the Me262's came at the Big Yank so fast they caught the gunners by surprise. They were in echelon flight, and dived past the plane, swept under it and circled around in a large circle to begin their second pass and attack. By this time the gunners were ready and as the fighters slowed a little in order to avoid over-shooting the plane, the gunners poured their bullets into the flight path of the Me-262's.
The gunners kept up a running account over the Intercom of what was taking place. Tail gunner Lincoln Broyhill saw two Me-262's in echelon approaching his position and let go as they came within range, the first Me-262 turned away at about 200 yards, he said, "I had seen my tracers going into his fuselage and I'm sure he was badly hit. The minute the first fighter turned away the second came boring in, and I had to keep my guns going, and again at about 200 yards, it turned away and began to spiral down. My guns then jammed because they had been going too long."
About this time, co-pilot Clair Harper, who says he was doing what every co-pilot does at such a time, praying and feeling like he should open his window and fire his 45 out at anything that came into sight, glanced over to his left and saw an Me-262 heading straight for the Big Yank. He yelled to the top turret gunner, Howard Wehner, who, already pumping lead into one Me-262, turned his turret towards the incoming fighter that appeared to be headed for a collision with the Big Yank.
Harper then hollered to the pilot. "Bill, he is going to ram us! " There was little Strapko could do but brace himself for the expected crash, By this time Wehner was firing at the fighter and at about 150 feet, the Me-262 reared up and exploded. Wehner had destroyed his second Me-262 and Harper said later that he could actually see the German pilot's eyes before it was destroyed.
The other gunners had all been very busy keeping the swarms of jets away from their plane, so much so that no one really had much time to be sure that it was his firepower that knocked a plane out of the attack. The bombardier was keeping his eyes glued to the planes ahead so that he would be able to drop his bomb load upon command of the lead bombardier The navigator was busy with his usual assignments, none of which can easily be reflected in relation to what was taking place and at such a rapid pace.
How each man felt during this attack, only he knows, but Lt. Strapko, summarized his feelings with, "it's difficult to express the human personal side of events such as these because each of us had his job to do. Some required quick responses, others, like myself had it) sit and listen to the intercom to what was going on, and in my case, being preoccupied with keeping the plane under control, keeping information and in good position during the bomb run, and not being in a position where I could do anything to avoid the attacking planes."
He added, "I'm sure that the personal and human side that has been related here was experienced not only by our crew members, but by every crew on the mission, the fright that was inside of each of us, our thoughts, hopes and prayers when it was over, was a common feeling shared by all."
After the bombs had been dropped on the Daimler-Benz Tank Works, they came home, the crew calm and composed and ever alert until they were once again safely back in Italy. The fuel tanks were practically empty when they arrived at home base, in fact some of the Group's planes had to land at alternate bases to refuel before continuing on home.
The crew of Big Yank officially received credit for destroying three Me-262's and one probable. It shared in the destruction of six Me-262's and several gunners were credited with jointly knocking down a jet with the aid of gunners from other planes in the box. Lt. Strapko said it very well with: "Everything was very difficult that day while the attack was going on. Every man was fighting for his life and did not have time to keep score."
(On the one plane that went down, the Dailey/Dean crew, 817th, all 10 members survived as Pow's)
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