Sunday, May 2, 2010
A Band of Heroes
Saturday, April 24, 2010
The IP Heroes vs Herr Mohn

Herr Mohn, a long time nemesis to the IP Heroes, is finally cornered and captured. Kurt, Dick and Louie, tracked down Herr Mohn from Heidelberg, Germany, Japan, Korea and finally to New Dehli, India where he was about to unleash his Nazi super weapon. Here's how it ended, in a public park:
Sure enough something was going on behind the public bathrooms – no person would ever think of going back there! Several men were rushing around loading what appeared to be a large tracked vehicle on to a large truck. “That must be Mohn’s secret weapon!” said Louie. Kurt asked the police officer to go over there and tell everybody to stop what they are doing. “Why me?” said the police officer. “Ok, we’ll all go over there spread out and stay in cover,” said Kurt. The group advance behind trees and rocks.
One of Mohn’s men opened fire. The IPer’s returned fire. Mohn was now hiding behind the truck. The police officer was immediately wounded by a stray bullet. Walter was wounded by gunfire from Mohn and wounded. Dick ducked back under cover. Kurt, Louie fired their weapons and advance towards Mohn and his men. The waiter was a fanatic and advanced without a weapon along the bathroom walls until he jumped one of Mohn’s guards. Both Kurt and Louie closed in and were very accurate with their gunfire taking out Mohn’s men one by one. Suddenly Mohn ducked out from his cover behind the truck, Louie had a clear line of sight on him, “Banana!!” yelled Louie and pulled the trigger. Mohn went down. The waiter immediately charged the wounded Mohn capturing him.
One of Mohn’s men opened fire. The IPer’s returned fire. Mohn was now hiding behind the truck. The police officer was immediately wounded by a stray bullet. Walter was wounded by gunfire from Mohn and wounded. Dick ducked back under cover. Kurt, Louie fired their weapons and advance towards Mohn and his men. The waiter was a fanatic and advanced without a weapon along the bathroom walls until he jumped one of Mohn’s guards. Both Kurt and Louie closed in and were very accurate with their gunfire taking out Mohn’s men one by one. Suddenly Mohn ducked out from his cover behind the truck, Louie had a clear line of sight on him, “Banana!!” yelled Louie and pulled the trigger. Mohn went down. The waiter immediately charged the wounded Mohn capturing him.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
August 6,1944 - Near Vannes, France
As we were advancing a Pak 38, 50L AT gun hit us in the tracks from head on and disabled our tank early in the day. It was a lucky shot because any other shot would have bounce off the tank. The Pak 38 is no threat to a Sherman from the front.
Looks like we'll be part of the task force assigned to capture Lorient tomorrow. Lorient is vital because we'll be able to end German Uboot operations from that port. Of course, German resistance is expected to be heavy.
Our tank knocked out:
1 German infantry squad
Up until that point, the rest of the task force knocked out:
1 StuG III SP gun
1 Pak 38, 50L AT gun
1 Prime Mover
2 infantry squads
We liberated 1 French town.
US Losses:
3 Tanks
3 Infantry squads
Looks like we'll be part of the task force assigned to capture Lorient tomorrow. Lorient is vital because we'll be able to end German Uboot operations from that port. Of course, German resistance is expected to be heavy.
Our tank knocked out:
1 German infantry squad
Up until that point, the rest of the task force knocked out:
1 StuG III SP gun
1 Pak 38, 50L AT gun
1 Prime Mover
2 infantry squads
We liberated 1 French town.
US Losses:
3 Tanks
3 Infantry squads
Sunday, February 21, 2010
South of Avranches, August 2, 1944 - End of Day
Pretty good shooting by Dick. He knocked out a Panther Tank passing by at close range - didn't know what hit him. I got wounded by a German artillery barrage and will be out for two weeks. Pete will take over my position. The day ended when our main gun malfunctioned.
Our tank knocked out:
1 Panzer V, Panther
1 Pak 40, 75L AT gun
1 Prime Mover
2 Infantry squads
The rest of the task force knocked out:
2 Stug III tank destroyer
1 JgdPz 38t Hetzer tank destroyer
1 Pak 38, 50L AT Gun
1 Pak 40, 75L AT Gun
2 Pak 43, 88L AT Gun
1 Horse limber
2 Trucks
3 Prime Movers
3 Infantry squads
2 MG teams
We liberated 2 French towns.
US Losses:
5 Tanks
6 Infantry squads
Our tank knocked out:
1 Panzer V, Panther
1 Pak 40, 75L AT gun
1 Prime Mover
2 Infantry squads
The rest of the task force knocked out:
2 Stug III tank destroyer
1 JgdPz 38t Hetzer tank destroyer
1 Pak 38, 50L AT Gun
1 Pak 40, 75L AT Gun
2 Pak 43, 88L AT Gun
1 Horse limber
2 Trucks
3 Prime Movers
3 Infantry squads
2 MG teams
We liberated 2 French towns.
US Losses:
5 Tanks
6 Infantry squads
Sunday, December 27, 2009
South of Avranches, August 2, 1944
Our Task Force is joining the fight south of Avranches and continuing the drive to cut off the Brittany peninusla from the Germans. We'll be on paved roads to get to the objective as quick as possible.
During the first engagement of the day we were lucky. We traded shots at close range three times with a Pak 40 anti-tank gun. The tank was hull down which saved us - the rounds were hitting the debris in front of the tank. Eventually a friendly knocked the out. Dick was able to take out a German infantry squad. We're still rolling.
During the first engagement of the day we were lucky. We traded shots at close range three times with a Pak 40 anti-tank gun. The tank was hull down which saved us - the rounds were hitting the debris in front of the tank. Eventually a friendly knocked the out. Dick was able to take out a German infantry squad. We're still rolling.
Cobra Breakout, July 27, 1944
First day of the Cobra Breakout went well; we survived the first day. We'll see if we go into action tomorrow.
Our tank knocked out:
1 AT gun
1 MG crew
2 infantry squads
The rest of the task force knocked out:
2 Panzer IVs
1 AT gun
2 trucks
1 scout car
2 Infantry squads
And liberated 3 French villages.
US Losses:
3 Tanks
2 Infantry squads
Our tank knocked out:
1 AT gun
1 MG crew
2 infantry squads
The rest of the task force knocked out:
2 Panzer IVs
1 AT gun
2 trucks
1 scout car
2 Infantry squads
And liberated 3 French villages.
US Losses:
3 Tanks
2 Infantry squads
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
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.
-----------------------------------------------------
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
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