City of Long Beach - Mission #3

11 April 1943

Misson #3 - Karlsruhe

High Squadron

On the way to the target #1 engine was hit by enemy fighters and feathered. Bombs were jettison to in order to stay in formation. Radio Operator KIA by enemy fighter. Tail gunner's heat damaged by enemy fighters. Tail gunner eventually suffered frost bite.

Outbound from target Pilot and Co-pilot suffered serious wounds fronm enemy fighters. Co-pilot managed to regain consciousness to fly plane back to base. Once over base all non injured crewmen bailed out. Co-pilot managed to safely land aircraft with seriously wounded crewmen onboard.

No flak over target

Casualties:

Pilot - Seriously wounded - recovered for next mission

Co-pilot - seriously wounded - sent home

Navigator - seriously wounded - sent home

Radio operator - KIA

Tail gunner - frost bite - sent home

Aircraft damage:

#1 engine out

#2 engine fuel leak

tail gunner heat out

Enemy aircraft shot down:

1X Me 110

 

City of Long Beach - Mission #2

After Action Report - 4 April 1943

 Target: Bremen, Germany

 Middle Squadron

Inbound to the target enemy fighter resistance was light. Two waves of enemy fighters attacked over target area killing bombardier before bomb run. Pilot toggled bombs.

 Bomb Run: Off Target - 5%

Other damage:

Stbd cheek guns damaged

Enemy planes shot down:
1x Me 109
1x FW 190
1x Me 410

City of Long Beach - Mission #1

After Action Report - 1 April 1943

Target: Wilhelmshaven, Germany

Inbound to the target off the coast of Holland, The City Of Long Beach was attacked by enemy fighters.

Two head on attacks by FW 190s resulted in hits to the nose killing the Bombardier and Navigator. The Pilot and Co-Pilot's heating units were also hit and became non-functional.

Based on these events, Lt Dick Beigel made the decision to abort the mission while the aircraft was still within friendly fighter cover.

Other damage:

Oxygen fire in radio compartment

Life rafts damaged

Enemy planes shot down:

1x Me 109

2x FW 190s

 

Lt Beigel and the "City of Long Beach"

Having escaped from Stalag 13, Lt Dick Beigel has been re-issued a newly arrived B17 that he has named "City of Long Beach." He is awaiting further orders...

He was last heard saying, " I can't wait to pound those Nazi bastards again!"

 

 

He then walked to the base mess hall, and ordered a enchilada, no onions.

 

Final Mission of the "Freeloader"

After Action Report - February 18, 1943

The B17 "Freeloader" from the 381st BG was shot down out bound over the English Channel on its 14th mission.

Three FW 190s and an Me 410 got through the fighter escort and attacked the B17 "Freeloader." One of the FW 190s attacking from 6 o'clock low, struck the starboard wing outer fuel tank with cannon shells which caused an immediate explosion, disintegrating the entire starboard wing.

At this point the crew had to attempt to bail out of an uncontrollable B17. Only three made it out of the aircraft, pilot Kurt Hsu, the engineer, and the right waist gunner. Air Sea Rescue was only able to rescue the waist gunner. Pilot and engineer were presumed lost as sea.

Bombardier Dick Beigel and Radio Operator Bill Beigel were unable to exit the doomed aircraft along with the remaining crew.

Maybe in a few decades, somebody will start a website and research the details on how this B17 was shot down.

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Dick Beigel was later found alive at a LuftStalag in Germany. He elected to stay in Germany after the war, and eventually became an East German border guard. Moving back to America in the mid 1960s, he was hired as a creative consultant on the hit US TV series, "Hogan's Heroes".


William Beigel