1 20 46 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/299/Dibble_Text0225.pdf 6b0d43c2789b05448ca4d4f1434c1042 PDF Text Text 1ST-FIGHTER GROUP JOURNAL no. (ditto and hour) 1600 hrs 29/8/43 UNIT: (data and hour) 17QQ hrs 30/8/43 PLACE: Matcur. I,7. Africa T^<CZZT Serial No Timo Dated 1st Fighter Group Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc. ("day and |Disposidate) ■ tion Ely the signal 29/8/43 Cont'd. A . green flare was apparent? for attack, as no passes were made until a green flare bursts 5 minutes a'j iftcr target time. (2) Lie 109's damaged. ENEMY LOSSES: Two “ (1) Lt. MILLIARD II. GRAILq. Gilt LOSSES: One < SORTIES: 40 WEATHER: 7/10ths cumulus overcast at 8,000 ft., CAVU above. Target area was covered with scattered cumulus iclouds from 7,000 to 11,000 ft. but otherwise CAVU. ;Scattered showers were encountered between Italy and i Sicily on return. NOTE: Lt. PHILLIPS reported missing on mission Mo. '809, ” ’ ’ at ' 28 august, 1943, has returned to basej. Hei landed Termini, Sicily with a blown out engine, Ife returned to base in another P-38. 30/8/43 48 P-38's from the 27th, 71st and 94th Squadrons , up base at 0950 hrs. to escort B-26's of 3--9th .?tl; Bomb Eoml. Gp. to Aversa h’/l, Italy. 4 P-38's returned e; rly, 2 due to r radio trouble and 2 due to engine trouble. 3q. leaders: Lfs. HURST, WILLEY and DIBBLE. Time over llargc ;et area 1200 hrs. altitude of fighters 11,500 ft. and1 bombers 11,000 ft. 60 to 75 e/a (Lie 109's, Fi7 190 s, Ma 202's, possibly a couple of enemy operated Spitfires and 1 enemy it) attackoperated P-38 identified with black crosses on i/ ed formations just as they crossed the coast over Lago di Fatria at 11,5000ft. The bombers continuer on to target while P-38's engaged e/a. Results of bombing vwas not ob- . served. 12 Lie 109's made the first attack out; of the sun from above as P-33's crossed the coast.- This was follow- • ed byr iincreasing numbers of Me 109's, F.JI I'J/O’s and Ma 3,0(|)0 fjr. and in . 3, which forced the P-38';'s down to 6, 202's, ;ta the battle ming dog fight over the IGulf of Gaet a runni iought low over the water, The P-38 formation was vias foi numbers of enemy repeated attacks5 by superior good until i flight at a time. Several, fight;ers, < which, isolated a fligl P-38'i's reported flying 300 mph. on the decli and being -rying belly tanks. The easily overtaken by Lie 109's can inated, one(group attackenemy attacks were highly coordir ing while another was reforming., The initial attack was >.0ove and be(made from a half circle formation 1500 ft.labc flak | hind P-38's. b? -38's. Aerial dive bombing occurred: black ... Rocket l like bursts irstr were ■ seen generally above P-38;s. white bursts are also believed I projectiles exploding in v.l.." I to have been used. The eng: igagement lasted from 1155 hrs. >nd wave of Me 109's carrying ' until 1235 hrs. and a secor.v 1 lies from Italy, belly tanks pursued the formation 100 mi] Six (6) P-38's were observed to go into the sea. One collided with a F,J 190 head-on and exploded in air. Cev­ ian, opened and oral parachutes, both American and Germar -(8) c/a. weiire dedinghies were seen in the water. Eight-' stroyed, three (3) probably destroyed and five (5)I damaged' a. �1ST FIGHTER GROUP JOURNAL • ....... (date and hour) 1700 hrs 30/8/43 UNIT: jku. 1st, Fighter Group (data and hour) 1800 hrs 3/9/43____ PLACE: Mateur, I;, Africa I Serial No Timo Dated Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc. (day and jDisposi_______________________________ date) ; ticn ' ! ; ! i i 30/8/43 Cont'd. Thirteen (13) P-38's are .-pissing. A few bursts of light inaccurate flak was observed from the ■go di Patria. No enemy ground, coastal area North of Lago naval or shipping activity Lty observed. 28 Pj-38's down One of 38's arc down in Sicily. £ , base by 1713 hrs. 3 P-38's co fbase by a returnc I to the three pilots landing; in Sicily returne transport. He suffered minor shrapnel won ds in the left shoulder. CHRONOLOGY: Time off 0950 hrs. Time over target 1200 hrs. Time down 1713 hrs. ROUTE: Base to C. Sidi Alm el Mekki, rend jzvous point with B~j36's thence to Lago di Patria to Av ;rsa, returning via Sicily where several of our planes refueled, thence to base. ENEMY LOSSES: Six (6) Me 109's, one (1) F >' 190 and one (1) Ma 202 destroyed. Three (3) Ke 109' s erobably de] stroyed. Three (3) Me 109's and two (2) M 1 202's damaged, OUR LOSSES: Thirteen (13) P-38's are miss ing: 1st Lt. m. RANDOL, itaiwuL, 22nd Lt. JEROME N. uEII! 3ERG, 2nd Lt. CLIFFORD E. DONALD B. DEISENROTil ,-2nd Lti’WALHARRY D. wARMKER, _____, F/0 , —” 2nd '’-d Lt. CLARENCE E. SOUTH iRD, 2nd Lt . ’ TER G. MORRISON, TUitttiBiXKJi, 1st Lt. JOHN S. WILLE C, 2nd Lt. RALPH F. TURRENTIKE, DAVID 0. PARLETT, 2nd Lt. HOHN T. CRAM, 2n i Lt. RALPH E. 2nd Lt. CHARLES A. WOODARD and 2nd L ;. HAROLD D. PECK, 2n. RIGNEY. WEATHER: CAVU enroute and over target are 11, with cumulus clouds building up over Sicily at 9,000 ft, 1st PRESS- DATA : Lt. FRANK J. MC INTOSH, It 1L15 Irving St., F/ 190. 1st Lt. :o, Calif., destroyed one (1) F; San Francisco 3T, 921 JOHN D. HURST, y-. B. East Garfield Ave., pplendale, Calif. destroyed two(2)) Me ; 109's. 2nd Lt. LARRY |l . REYNOLDS, red one (1) 322 7/. Culver St.,, Phoenix, Arizona, destrbye I. HUSDY. 712 Allen jives., Rapid City Lie 109. 1st Lt. JOHN . ikota, destroyed one (1) He 109. 2pd ILt. STANLEY South Dakota. E. STUDER, ' ’ 3R, Monona, Iowa, destroyed two (2); Mes 109!s. li . , destroyed 2nd Lt. ROBERT A. VRILAKAS, Proberta, Cali-f.. j'ptroyed one (1) one (1) Ma 202. F/C STUKKARD, probably det ’oyed one (1) Lie Ke 109. 2nd Lt. BERREHS, probably destre onb (1) Me 109 .st Lt. OPDAIIL, probably destroyed < 109. Isi (1) Ma 202. Lt. VRILAKAS damaged one (1) and damaged one 1 Na 202. Lt.. SOKOL damaged one (1) Me 109< )9.i Lt. SCHAPER one (1) damaged one (1) Me 109 and Lt. ANDERSON daJnaged d Me 109. 31/8/43 1/9/43 No missions this date. Ho missions this date. .1 2/9/43 Ko missions this date. Note; 2nd Lt. CLARENCE E. SOUTHARD, reported as- missing on 30 August, mission No. 811, returned to base 2306 hrs. 1 September, 1943. He landed at Trapani, Sicily with a damaged aircraft. 3/9/43 Ho missions this date. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection:<br /><br />"<span class="fontstyle0">Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size:9pt;">st </span><span class="fontstyle0">Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army."<br /><br />A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy.</span><br /><br />See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon.<br /><br />Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><br /><ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Typed document Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 1st Fighter Group Journal including August 30, 1943 Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource 1st Fighter Group Journal for August 30, 1943. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Mission report Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource unknown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 9/1/1943 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/300/Dibble_Text0224.pdf b32657eeb0147e467af3c33d39512fda PDF Text Text 3 SEP 1943 ^3354 TO: i^NAAF (Adv), Attention: 23rd SCORU. Copy to Hq NASAF, Attention: 1st Command Unit, 23rd SCOrtU. Copy to 42nd Wing, Attention: Statistical Section. • / FROM: Ref; 1st Fighter Group. ORffiP No. 61 for 24 hrs ending 30 August,,1943. Operations Nn. 141 45 P-38G's and 3 P-38F’s up i base at 0950 hrs. to escort B-26's to Aversa, down Italy. 28 P-38'sj down.by 1713 hrs; 3 d — in J~ Sicily. Flak:. A few burstof light inaccurate flak from coastal 1area N of Lago di Patria. Weather: hrs fighters 11,500 ft and bombers CAVU. Results: Time over target 1200 he at 11,000 ft. Bombing not observed. bO ,0 to 75 A/a (ME 109's, FW 190's, MA 202's, possibly a couple of enemy <operator spitfires and 1 enemy crosses on it) attacked formation operated P-38, identified with black ci just as they crossed the coast over Lago di.Paria at 11,500 ft. The bombers continued' on to target while P-38's engaged e/a.^The e/a foreed the P-38’s down to 6,000 ft and in a running dog fight/but over the Gulf of Gaeta, the battle was fought low over the water. /Aerial dive bombing and rocket projectiles were other means used against P-38's. 'B. C. D. E. F. G. H. 's; 4 early returns, 2 radio, /3 P-38F’s 45 P-38G'?' le trouble. * / & 2 engine / CD> (1) ■ 90 (2) 82• . C2) 6 14:35 hrs. 148:50 Hrs / (1)' 4,000 x (1) 60,800 x .50, 185 X . 2930 x .20(me (2) 6,190 x .30V (2) 40 x .50 30 x .20 446 x .20 mm (3) (3)) ,15,600 x .50 / 780 x .20 mm Nil' (1)' Nil ,z(2) 13 P-38G's (3) 3I38G'sling 1st Lt C, E.Rahdol - Pilot/- Missii >sing 1st Lt I. S. Willey - Pilot - Miss. 2nd Lt- J. N. Weinberg - &lot - Eilat Missing ling 2nd Lt H. D. Warmker - Pilot - Missing ssing 2nd Lt W. G. Morrison - Pilot - Missing rsing' 2nd Lt C. E. Southard -------Pilot -.— Missing - Pilot - Missing 2nd Lt R. F. Turrentine -------Missing 2nd Lt D. 0. Parleit - Pilot Cram - Pilot - Missing 2nd Lt J. Peck— Pilot - Missing 2nd Lt R. T“,~t - Missing 2nd Lt C. A. Woodard - Pilot ley - Pilot - Missing 2nd Lt H. D. Rigney -oth - Pilot - Missing F/0 D. E. Beisenrc I: (OV E B) �X RHCE/VED \\ J,. (1)' 6'ME 109*3 . . ■■ . - 1-Fff 190. ' . 1.MA 202.. (2). 3'ME 109*3 (.3). 3.ME 1091s - 2.MA 202Js V. ■ Nil; ■ - I Cf x W. 21 P-38G's? 4 P-3CT’s X. 23:50 Bps.- 5:05 Its. Y & Z - -Nil o\ x 3 SEP 19435 \ v � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection:<br /><br />"<span class="fontstyle0">Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size:9pt;">st </span><span class="fontstyle0">Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army."<br /><br />A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy.</span><br /><br />See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon.<br /><br />Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><br /><ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Typed document Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 1st Fighter Group Mission report for August 30, 1943 Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource 1st Fighter Group Mission report for August 30, 1943. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Mission report Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource 2nd Lt. Joseph Buhr Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 9/3/1943 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/292/Dibble_Text0226.pdf d7d36c0ab884c15c03ff6b1f10410876 PDF Text Text C ONF ID E N T IA L "(Equals British Secret"}" HEADQUARTERS 42ND WING (US) A-2 Section APO 520 D-l-7 30'August 1943. DAILY SUMMARY NUMBER 65 PERIOD: • 0001 to 2400 hrs..30. August 1943« ■ TODAYS OPERATIONS taSSIONS; SORTIES :■ OPERATIONS TO DATE 405 9,871 ■LOSSES; ' B-26's ,p-40's rP-38»s MISSING: ^257? ■40's -3.8’s r F Lt I VICTORIES '• -ln t,he Air; .• Destroyed . ..probables . ■.Damaged On the Ground; ^Destroyed ... Probables ■ •■v" ■; Damaged • W.B-26 of .319 Bomb Grot jup.listed as missing sing on Summary #61 is now considered lost, ™.,Pr38 .of 1st. Fighterr Group listed as missing r.^ on Summary #63 is now safe,- 5 P-38*:'s ..' are still missing. 1. 319th Bomb Group - At 0940 hrs. 27 B-26's took off to bomb RR M/Yds' .£*:’at 'AVERSA.. 8 A/C returned early, all mechanical; 4 armament, 4 engineering. 19 A/C...dropped, 3.6 x 500 Inst & 45 sec tail, 71 x 500 .1 nose & 45 sec tail bombs "rele.target at 1200 hrs- from 10,200 - 9,600 ft. 6 bombs returned to base failed to Lease. 18 A/C returned at 1408 hrs. 1 is at PALERMO,. RESULTS: Excellent coverage of ,.tar'get { area with many direct-hits observed in center portion of M/yd and on ware'housesy,beyond,I. . 2 big explosions in warehouse area and many fires among freight & in.M/Y. A few bombs were short. 6 tracks full of cars at VILLA LITERNO OBSERVATIONS: M/Y at target still congested with cars. 6 tracks of cars seen in M/Y.of. J,....town . 3Wn Jjust ust E.E. °off AVERSA. ENEMY AIR: About 50-60 E/A, mostly ME 109’sne ME ■■with', some .’s, .FW 190's, ME;210 210fs,-.FlV 190’s, MA 200’s, RE 2001’s intercepted the formation just c a.before BK-r-.T .reaching -aching coast. Many vwere engaged by the escort and a big battle took place coast'.on'the oyer', coast Lon. the Way in, leavingI the bombers unescorted over the target. ■ 4 ME 109's made a-head-on attack from above on c 1st 2 flights while at same time 12-15 E/a 9 .rear of the formation —“- in pairs and threes. 1 Tan P-38 followed the ' ery -low for about 175 miles from the coast. Claims: 9 ME 109’s ‘I. 1 Ma' ed by bombers; 1 ME . 4E 109 probably destroyed; 6 ME 109's and 1 RE 2001 e.veral other E/A incliluding another Tan P-38 wer.e seen destroyed'Presumably 'm/? °ar3' �CONFIDENTIAL (Equals British Secret}" by escort. P P-38 and 1 Me 109 seen to collide in the air. SHIPPING: 2 large barges headed N just N of mouth of VOLlURNO River at 1155 hrs. . 2 small Naval vessels possible PT boats, headed N at high speed off MONDRAGONE at 1212. 1 Tanker, and 5 small M/V's at POZZUOLI., . FLAK: Slight Heavy fairly accurate from ALBANOVA and target area. Slight Heavy inaccurate from CAPUA A/D and from.vicinity of CASTLE VOLTURNO. WEATHER’ 4/10 scattered, CAVU and slight haze over target. Additional Observation; 1 Crew reports an object flat on both ends about 18" long, 6" in diameter, having passed his wing, believed to be an aerial bomb. It went out of sight without exploding. Comment: Excellent P-38 escort. 2. 325th Fighter Group - At 1220 hrs. 48.P-40's took off to Dive Bomb DECIMOMANNU RR Bridge and strafe targets of opportunity. None returned early. DECIM( 8 A/c A/C dropped 8 x 500 inst nose .045 tail on target at 1330 hours from 8,000 to 1,000 ft. 48 A/C returned at 1450 hours. RESULTS: All bombs dropped in target. First 4 bombs were very near misses, 1 falling immediately alongside and 3 within ’5.*-2Q yards of the bridge. Last four dropped in same area, but due to dust actual pin-pointing was impossible.' 2 P-40's strafed Radar Station at PULA, many pieces seen to fly and installation believed to be partially destroyed, OBSERVATIONS: At DECIMOMANNU A/D 1 ju 290 at S edge of the a/D, 2 transports and 2 S/e. At CAPOTERRA no a/c visible at ELMAS s/p base 1 white and 1 dark S/P visible. ENEMY AIR: At 1345 hours 8 ME 109’s attacked P-40's oyer c. SPARTIVENTO. They dived at the form­ ation but when'turned into disappeared toward.the N, Two other Me 109's did the same thing shortly afterwards. 1 ME.109 followed formation S from the target area to a point approximately 10 miles S of C. TEULADA, but was not engaged. ENEMY SHIPPING: . 1 Medium m/v anchored at 39 deg 12’ N 09 deg 0?’ E, and 2 medium M/v eanchored at 39 deg 11' N-9 deg 09' E; 3 medium size m/v about 2 miles E of POETTO. FLAK: Slight heavy fairly accurate over the target and from a point 6 miles S of the target; at CAPOTERRA moderate heavy inaccurate; At PULA very ini itense accurate small arm fire. WEATHER: CAVU. 1st. Fighter Group - At 0950 hours 48 P-38's took off to escort B-26’s of 319th B.G. to AVERSA M/y. 4 returned early, P-38's were in target area at '1200 hours altitude was 11,500 ft/ 28 P-38's were down at base at 1713 hrs, 1 P-38 down at ROCC;. DI FAI.CO, 1 down at B0 RIZZO, 1 down at TEI'MINI, all in Sicily. 13 w-38is missing. RESULTS; . Smoke in Target Area. OBSERVATIONS: Following obs<servations probably contain duplications. Observed 1 P-38 explode in air; 1 P-38 pilot bail out over water; 1 "-38 on fire dive into the water at 13 deg E 40 deg 30' N; l-?38 burst into flames over -water at 1220 hrs; 2 ^-SS's crash into water F-7 of. ISCHIA’ Island. One parachute seen to open at 1225 hrs, location 13 deg 40' E 40 deg 42' N. CLAIMS; Destroyed 5 ”E 109's, 1MA 202, 1 FL’ 190. Probably destroyed 3 ”E 109'3. Damaged 3 109's and 2 LA 202's. IT COUNTERS: As p-38's reached coast of Italy 1155 hrs, through target area 100 miles back out to sea, they encountered 60-75 E/A composed of ?'E 1O9,’’A2O2, F? 190's, Pilots believe they saw some enemy operated Spitfires and absolutely identified 1 P-38 with black crosses on it. . Some'E/A were black, some were light blue with yellow spinners, 4 ME 109's were pink, e/a first a ttacked cut of the sun, then they attacked in all directions in 2's, 3's, and 4's, Some attacks were in half circle formation,, e/a attacked bombers just after.bomb run but were driven off by our fighters. During encounter, our fighters kept edging the E/A out to sea and bringing them down almost to the deck. Bombers, after bomb run, passed over the encounter. Running fight took place P-38's were engaged by new Enemy formation of‘ME 109's with belly tanks bombs. e/a attacked aggressively and encounter lasted until ICO miles off coast. Pilots believe aerial bombs -were used. Halfway back to base a HOMING of 140 deg was re­ ceived over radio. This would have lead formation back to Italy, believed to be enemy station. FLAK: Few bursts of light inaccurate flak from coast. .’FATHER: CAVU,. - 2 - Twals British {otJ I- �/) T- CONFIDENTIAL "(Equals British SECRET) First phase Bomb Damage Assessment Report AVERSA MARSHALLING YARDS & STORES DEPOT, ITALY: (319th B.G., 30/8/43, 1200 hrs, 107 x 500 bombs dropped). Quality of photos: Excellent Quality of photo coverage: Good. There has been no movement of the railroad cars in the marshalling; yard since the :ars in the yard. raid of 28/8/43. There still remain approximately 1000 railroad cs A concentration of at least 14 hits cut across the center of the marshalling yard, j sted Many of these hits struck the rail line running through the yard. The congesi book area of cars received numerous hits. Three explosions with resulting fires tc place among these cars. A further three hits landed among the cars at the N end of the yard. The stores depot warehouses at the N end of the yard received 20 hits am many damaging near misses. A large explosion resulted in one of the warehouses. Severe damage was done to the spurs running ling between the warehouses and to freight edge cars there. The warehouse sheds on the W central ed' ” of the yards received hits. Many bombs fe" sll short of the target and two small c.:lusters overshot the target. The damage done by 1the three raids of B-26's on 28/8/43 is visible on these photographs. Three hits have destroyed ’ ' ’ two tracks on the line running through the yard at the N end of the yard. Slight damagej was done on the line farther to the N. Several hits have blown a hole apprqximalitely 50 x 50 feet in the W warehouse of the S group of four warehouses. S . of the yards ~ ,six .hits ’- ‘ts have cut two tracks.in four places and damaged iged two tracks. tracks./ In the stores depot depot/directly S of the marshalling yard many iny hits have cut three of of' the four tracks in the area, derailed 10 freight cars,, definitely destroyed two freight cars, and ..damaged many other cars. In additi lion piles of stores received hits.' DISTRIBUTION: "A" ADAMS,. A -2. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection:<br /><br />"<span class="fontstyle0">Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size:9pt;">st </span><span class="fontstyle0">Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army."<br /><br />A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy.</span><br /><br />See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon.<br /><br />Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><br /><ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Typed document Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 42nd Wing Daily Summary for August 30, 1943 Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource 42nd Wing Daily Summary for August 30, 1943. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Mission report Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource unknown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 8/30/1943 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/274/Dibble_Image0087.jpg 4605248b70f71db6bae6d0256046e6c9 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection:<br /><br />"<span class="fontstyle0">Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size:9pt;">st </span><span class="fontstyle0">Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army."<br /><br />A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy.</span><br /><br />See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon.<br /><br />Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><br /><ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Photograph Location The location of the interview Foggia Air Base, Italy Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 3.5" x 5" Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 94th Fighter Squadron pilot Lt. Robert Vrilakas and an abandoned Me 109 at Foggia Air Base Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource 94th Fighter Squadron pilot Lt. Robert Vrilakas and an abandoned Me 109 at Foggia Air Base Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Black & white photograph Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource unknown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource unknown Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/276/Dibble_Image0089.jpg d066f62ae56dab28384c18e892842f3e Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection:<br /><br />"<span class="fontstyle0">Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size:9pt;">st </span><span class="fontstyle0">Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army."<br /><br />A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy.</span><br /><br />See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon.<br /><br />Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><br /><ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Photograph Location The location of the interview unknown Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 3.5" x 5" Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 94th Fighter Squadron pilot Lt. Robert Vrilakas and his Distinguished Flying Cross from the August 30, 1943 mission Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource 94th Fighter Squadron pilot Lt. Robert Vrilakas and his Distinguished Flying Cross from the August 30, 1943 mission Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Black & white photograph Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource unknown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource unknown Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/273/Dibble_Image0086.jpg ae035a8ba1b64481d0a699899c431ef0 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection:<br /><br />"<span class="fontstyle0">Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size:9pt;">st </span><span class="fontstyle0">Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army."<br /><br />A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy.</span><br /><br />See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon.<br /><br />Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><br /><ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Photograph Location The location of the interview Mateur, Tunisia Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 3.5" x 5" Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 94th Fighter Squadron pilot Lt. Robert Vrilakas at Mateur, Tunisia Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource 94th Fighter Squadron pilot Lt. Robert Vrilakas at Mateur, Tunisia Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Black & white photograph Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource unknown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource unknown Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/272/Dibble_Image0085.jpg b43ca9c96cd34badacfb2a79aff74899 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection:<br /><br />"<span class="fontstyle0">Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size:9pt;">st </span><span class="fontstyle0">Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army."<br /><br />A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy.</span><br /><br />See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon.<br /><br />Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><br /><ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Photograph Location The location of the interview Capri Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 3.5" x 5" Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 94th Fighter Squadron pilot Lt. Robert Vrilakas. at Capri rest camp Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource 94th Fighter Squadron pilot Lt. Robert Vrilakas. at Capri rest camp Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Black & white photograph Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource unknown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource unknown Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/316/Dibble_Text0243.pdf 8c2d15717c4e4171466c63783d227694 PDF Text Text Page 1 of 1 James W. Dibble From: To: Sent: Attach: Subject: <RVrilakas@aol.com> <jwdlmd@coastalnet.com> Tuesday, January 07, 2003 10:41 PM Mission #19.doc Re: Armageddon '43 Jim, there are only a couple of items that I would suggest checking into or revising. a. On the 2nd page (last paragraph) you say "It was at this point that the 1st Fighter Group was assigned to the 42nd Bomb Wing". To me that would mean that we were under the command of the 42nd B. W. which would not be accurate. I think you intended to say the 1st Ftr. Gp. was tasked (or directed) to escort the 42nd Bomb Wing----- . The 1st Ftr. Gp. remained assigned directly to 12th A.F. Hq. at that time. jrience he is quoted as having dived from 17,000 ft. to the deck trying b. In the account of Hal Rigney's expert to blow the fire out. Since the bomberss were flying at 11,000 ft. it would be unlikely that any of the P-38 escort would be 5000 ft above them, at 17,( ,000 ft. I don't have anything to confirm Hal's altitude, but you might want to check that out a little further,. I think Hal's altitude was 12,000 which is about where we were when we entered the target area. >y memoirs, but in the event you haven't You may have had access to my account of the 30 Aug. mission in my I'm attaching a copy for you. You are welcome to use any part of it that rat you think appropriate to your story. 1/18/03 �Going in with the bombers we encountered the usual heavy flak then a pretty stiff battle with 25 or 30 fighters. The bombers completed their run and we were on the way out with minimum losses when someone called in a new batch of "bogies" (estimated 75 to 100) high. I looked up to see a whole gaggle of them drop belly tanks and dive into the middle of us. They had been loitering at altitude awaiting the most favorable time to attack which was after we had expended a good bit of our fuel and ammo, and were attempting to regroup from the first air battle that day. Following their initial dive into us a real dogfight erupted during which our flights were completely broken up and much of our squadron integrity disappeared. There were P-38's, ME109's and Machi 202's mixing it everywhere with many losses on both sides. Everywhere you looked there was an enemy fighter or P-38 in a spin or dive—smoking or on fire, some crashing into the Bay of Naples. A P-38 from the 71st Squadron and a Mel09 collided headon exploding in a gigantic ball of smoke and fire. As one of the pilots described it years later it looked like one of those old WWI movies such as Hell's Angels or Lilac time. I saw several P-38's on fire and one (Lt. Rigney) on fire and bellying into the water off shore. Since our fuel was getting low from the two encounters the squadron leader that day (Lt. Dibble) gave the order to work toward the Bay of Naples and reform as best we could. About the same time a P-38 from the 27th Squadron went by me toward the bay with an Mel09 closing in on his tail. I was alone and broke headon into the 109 firing a good burst at him from close range. He broke off the 27th P-38 in what appeared to be a fast, uncontrollable spinning dive. My maneuver, however had taken me directly back toward Naples and into a beehive of enemy fighters. The squadron, by then, was loosely formed up and heading out to sea. It was obvious the 109 pilots were literally choosing lots to see which got the honor and that there was no way I could best their numbers, fuel, or altitude advantage. I took the only real choice available which was to firewall it and dive for the deck out over the Bay of Naples. Almost immediately tracers went by. They were actually converging in front of me and I looked back into a spiral painted propellor spinner not more than a hundred yards behind me. As I leveled off at what appeared to be a few inches off the water he started hitting me. It sounded like hail on a tin roof with occasional explosions as his cannon shell hit and exploded. To make a more difficult target I kicked left rudder causing his tracers to go over the end of my left wing. As he worked back and started hitting the aircraft again I would try a skid the other way. This ploy was used several times and it reduced his effectiveness, but he still got quite a few hits each time as he worked back through. I was so low on the deck that he no doubt had problems avoiding the water, plus my prop wash. At times his bullets raised plumes of water ahead of me indicating he was trying to shoot from an elevated position and was over-leading me. It seemed certain my aircraft was either going to lose an engine or explode and I was considering how to handle that when I noticed I was rapidly overtaking another Me 109 directly ahead and about a hundred feet above me. He was apparently trying to catch up with the other P-38's ahead. That meant that if I went under him there would be two of them on my tail. If I pulled up and eliminated the skid to fire at him the guy behind me would have a sitting duck to work on. I pulled up, got a good bead on the Me 109 ahead and fired all four 50 calibers and the cannon. He started to smoke and went into a gentle turn to the right. Almost simultaneously there was a crash as my pursuer gave me a long burst, enveloping me again with a hail of tracers. One of his bullets creased the canopy bar beside my head, which knocked out the whole rear of the canopy. Plexiglass flew all over the cockpit-even into my mouth. I dove for the deck again and for some reason experienced no more shots from the 109 behind me. Within seconds during which I expected to catch more fire my right engine oil temperature began to rise rapidly and the pressure began dropping. I feathered the right engine and watched the left with no little anxiety, but despite apparent gaping cannon holes in both wings and numerous 30 cal. holes in the engine �nacelles and wings the left engine continued to function fine. Happily the gauges showed no rapid fuel loss and radio contact was made with the squadron. Lt. Dibble brought what was left of the squadron around in a 360 degree turn allowing me to catch up. Three of the 94th pilots, Lts. Dibble, Pettus and Anderson stayed with me while the rest of the squadron proceeded back to home base in Africa. We headed for Sicily, the nearest friendly landfall and after what seemed an endless time arrived over northern Sicily and proceeded to the nearest airfield. The airfield was under construction, but there was enough P.S.P. (pierced steel planking) installed to land on so I set up an approach. Just as the end of the runway was reached an Italian truck being used for construction drove directly across in front of me. I managed to add enough power to get over him but decided against a go around, not knowing what the condition of the hydraulic system was and whether or not the gear could be raised, (the landing gear had to be raised to effect a successful pull-up and go around on single engine.) The landing went o.k. with sufficient speed left to taxi over to some tents being used by the Army Combat Engineers. Upon shutting down the good engine it caught fire but was quickly extinguished by an awaiting fireman. The plane looked like a sieve. I estimated there were 60 to 80, 30 cal holes plus 4 or 5 exploded cannon round hits that in each case flared a large piece of the wing skin up. Even the props had bullet holes through them. Lts. Dibble, Pettus, and Anderson, after seeing me down safely, buzzed the field and continued on to home base in Africa. I stayed at the field that night then made my way back to the base at Mature the next day on a C-47 transport. I've always regretted not getting some pictures of the P-38, but doubt if a camera was available. I was credited with one victory that day and one damaged. The Mel09 firing at me either ran out of ammunition and/or broke off to go to the aid of his comrade. The credited kill and damaged was inadvertently listed as Machi 202's but it didn't make that much difference to me at the time. 2 �We lost Lt. Parlett, Lt. Peck, Lt. Cram, Lt. Woodward and Lt. Rigney that day from the 94th Squadron. The other squadrons had similar losses. Lts. Parlett and Rigney survived being shot down and were taken prisoner by the Germans. Both of them along with Lt. Catledge from the 71st squadron escaped and after months of working their way down through Italy, finally reached friendly forces in Southern Italy and safety. The group was again awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. Upon my arrival back at the base I was greeted like a long lost relative, debriefed by intelligence, and then went to my tent for a much needed rest. My air mattress for my army cot was missing. The squadron didn't have enough air mattresses to go around so they were inherited from pilots rotating home or "requisitioned" directly by one of the newer pilots when someone failed to return from a mission. I was building up a head of steam when one of the more recently assigned pilots came in looking very embarrassed and dragging my air mattress. He sheepishly apologized and it was good for a tension relieving laugh. 3 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection:<br /><br />"<span class="fontstyle0">Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size:9pt;">st </span><span class="fontstyle0">Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army."<br /><br />A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy.</span><br /><br />See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon.<br /><br />Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><br /><ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Typed document Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Account from Lt. Robert Vrilakas' memoir about the events of August 30, 1943 Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource Account from Lt. Robert Vrilakas' memoir about the events of August 30, 1943 Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Historical account Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Lt. Robert Vrilakas Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource unknown Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/302/Dibble_Image0083.jpg 9b4a12043156dafa229e52ec84cba589 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection:<br /><br />"<span class="fontstyle0">Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size:9pt;">st </span><span class="fontstyle0">Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army."<br /><br />A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy.</span><br /><br />See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon.<br /><br />Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><br /><ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Photograph Location The location of the interview Cagliari, Sardinia Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 8" x 10" Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Capt. Charlie McCann's notes on the photo of his plane Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource Capt. Charlie McCann's notes on the photo of his plane discussing uniform, gear, armament and more Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Black & white photograph Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource unknown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1943-12 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/303/Dibble_Image0076.jpg 634054a2ad627e082a3bcc63bb8af78d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection:<br /><br />"<span class="fontstyle0">Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size:9pt;">st </span><span class="fontstyle0">Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army."<br /><br />A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy.</span><br /><br />See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon.<br /><br />Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><br /><ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Photograph Location The location of the interview unknown Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 4" x 6" Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Charles Schreffler and his Douglas A-1 Skyraider Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource Charles Schreffler and his Douglas A-1 Skyraider Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Color photograph Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource unknown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource ca. 1950's Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/309/Dibble_Text0244.pdf 63c10ba097401f60da9d6dfd53b39351 PDF Text Text Page 1 of 1 James W. Dibble From: To: Sent: Subject: <JackP38@aol .com> <jwdlmd@coastalnet.com> Monday, November 11, 2002 5:33 PM Re: August 30,1943 Mission, 1st Fighter Gp I think that we didn't fly again for a few days due to the loss of the five pilots. In other words we wee on stand down status. I don't recall what his plane looked like. It just looked like a plane on single engine. The markings of course were yellow spinners and several feet of yellow on the rear tail booms. I don't recall the number on the side. I do recall that we landed in Sicily. I have none of the mission reports for 1943, only for 1944.1 was at the briefing the day your uncle was shot down. He was saying "Just jam your rudders one way and the other and you should be OK when they are shooting at you (not quite what he said but equivalent) and someone said "famous last words". It was really ironic. Jack Pettus formerly 94 Th. Fighter Sqdn 11/15/02 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection:<br /><br />"<span class="fontstyle0">Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size:9pt;">st </span><span class="fontstyle0">Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army."<br /><br />A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy.</span><br /><br />See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon.<br /><br />Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><br /><ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Email Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Email from Jack Pettus mentioning James Dibble on the morning of August 30, 1943 Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource Email from Jack Pettus mentioning James Dibble on the morning of August 30, 1943 Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Personal correspondence Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jack Pettus Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 11/11/2002 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/308/Dibble_Text0223.pdf 193965ae57d84b3f1bd6167ba6d3a201 PDF Text Text Page 1 of 1 James W. Dibble From: Sent: Subject: <JackP38@aol.com> <jwdlmd@coastalnet.com> Tuesday, November 05, 2002 2:09 PM August 30,1943 Mission, 1st Fighter Gp Yes, I flew on that mission. It was really rough! I think I was the only " tail end Charlie" that got home on that mission. A tail end Charlie is one flying on the end of each flight. I ended up helping to escort Smokey Stoffle, who was on single engine. I think it was Stoffle. We got jumped by many German fighters and we had to fight our way of there. I think we lost about 6 to 8 pilots on that mission. Jack Pettus 11/9/02 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection:<br /><br />"<span class="fontstyle0">Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size:9pt;">st </span><span class="fontstyle0">Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army."<br /><br />A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy.</span><br /><br />See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon.<br /><br />Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><br /><ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Email Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Email from Lt. Jack Pettus to Jim Dibble about the August 30, 1943 mission Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource Email from Lt. Jack Pettus to Jim Dibble about the August 30, 1943 mission. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Email Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jack Pettus Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 11/5/2002 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/291/Dibble_Text0222.pdf 30a5a4e85869c43b7c01679ca1b9f0f9 PDF Text Text C 0 B y I C E N T I L WEKLY ENCOUNTERS MISSION:, DATE:SO August 1945 (cent; ■Siy-H ESCORT (CC'iV) e/a - PUSS ?-33, Lt. /.j.. .'clniosh PL CK TIME JLT. TYPE Averse, Italy 11150 13,000 ft. Fh 190 JEST X PROB DEST GROUP; 1st Fighter DAM NO. RNDS OR DURST 450 20oal. 20m. SQDK DES-RIPTION OF SNCOUNTSRS The P-38 formation was attacked by sups parlor number of enemy fighters re- ohing the target. 1 ;ers before re' XKi After several . =»x breaks and turns' Lt. McIntosh found himself sept jarated from ths formation on the N edge of the3 battle formation. He broke left and rolled bisack te the right and saw a FW 190 about 150 ysr irds to his stftrborad side. lie turned ■’’7, getting a good 30° deflection shot. The slightly, e/a ducket icked violently down and to the left and passLt. McIntosh relied up od under hips right wing. ’ ' ” ’ ■then attack, but the ai to the left; expecting another water in a diving "“'ng tarn. FA 190 hit the t t>l R1 X. inCHARDSON, Captain, Air Copps, intelligence Officer. n i ■ iI 27th Fighter �C 0 B F I D E H T I A L WEEKLY ENCOUNTERS MISSION: DATE: Bomber escort VT" PLANE P-38, Lt. L.A. Reynolds P-38, Lt. J.D.Burst L ff ■ GROUP : 50 August 1943 (oont) BROS DEST BAM 1st Fighter NO. RNDS OR BURST SQRN: ■ 27th Fighter PL-CE TIME ALY. TYPE P2Sx Aversa, Icaly 11:50 13,000 ft. Me 109 X 500 46 50cal 20m On a break Lt. Reynolds became separated from the flight. He completed his turn end was attacked by two other Me 109b. They .iwere too close for him to break into them, so he kickbd 1 rudder violently, causing his plane to skid,. Then he saw two Me 109 attacking a p-38 and he heeded for them, One cf the e/a saw him and broke away 1but the cth r continued his attack. As he turned Lt. Rej sync Ids was 200 yards behind him. He Re opened with to. long burst and closed to 100 yards irds witl with no deflection. The Ma 109 started smoking,, caught fire and rolled into the sea. Averse, Italy 12:00 13,000 ft. Me 109 X 645 48 5Ooa1. 20mm • 12 -.05 1,000 ft. Me 109 X Over the Italian coast a •«» 109 made a pass ah another flight and came directly into Lt. u-sVs line of fire. He opened from 200 yards with 60^ deflection add a 2 ring load, firing until it started smoking. He broke off at 100 y«)■rd3 and saw the e/a burst into flames and w nt sstraight down. DESCRIPTION OF ENCOUNTERS AJ?ew minuted later 30 miles cut from the Italian coast he saw another Me 109 pressing an attack on the tail of a P-38. Tunning He opened fire on the e/a from 150 y-rds with 90° deflection. He led it with 2 or 2g rings and continued firin.- « until he had a 30n deflection. The Je 109 started smoking and plunged into the water. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection:<br /><br />"<span class="fontstyle0">Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size:9pt;">st </span><span class="fontstyle0">Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army."<br /><br />A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy.</span><br /><br />See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon.<br /><br />Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><br /><ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Typed document Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Encounter report from August 30, 1943 for the 27th Fighter Squadron Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource Encounter report from August 30, 1943 for the 27th Fighter Squadron. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Mission report Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Cpt. Wm. N. Richardson Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 8/30/1943 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/275/Dibble_Image0088.jpg 93ebf9c159ef94d3466b9df42f2cff55 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection:<br /><br />"<span class="fontstyle0">Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size:9pt;">st </span><span class="fontstyle0">Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army."<br /><br />A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy.</span><br /><br />See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon.<br /><br />Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><br /><ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Photograph Location The location of the interview unknown Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 3.5" x 5" Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource General Twining presenting an Air Medal to 94th Fighter Squadron pilot Lt. Robert Vrilakas Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource General Twining presenting an Air Medal to 94th Fighter Squadron pilot Lt. Robert Vrilakas Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Black & white photograph Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource unknown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource unknown Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/307/Dibble_Text0240.pdf fc12806b0722d21aeced8bb7b56185a3 PDF Text Text A'r- 1719 y I./JG 77 Der Tag brachte zwei Abwehreinsatze gegen Einfliige amerikanischer Kampfverbande und daneben noch einen ereignislos verlaufenden Rotteneinsatz zur Aufklarung uber dem siidlichen Apulien fur die I. Gruppe; insgesamt wurden dabei 27 Messerschmitts eingesetzt 107°. a e:eines starken Verban11.40 - 13.30 Uhr: Einsatz nach Alarmstart gegen den gemeldeten Einflug eiligt 32 Bf 109, davon des uber dem Seegebiet zwischen Sizilien und dem Golf von Gaeta; beteilis dem Sammeln stieg der zwei vom Stab und 16 von der I./JG 77 sowie 14 von der IV./JG 3. Nach de. Verband in siidwestlicher Richtung. Feindberiihrung mit. einem Verband von 50 - 60 P-38, der mg i._ bereits im Abflug war, erfolgte uber dem Golf von Gaeta. ~ Absclriisse: Lt. Klinker Uffz. Wolters Ofw. Niederhagen Lt. Englisch Fw. Ryll Olt. Strasen Olt. Strasen Lt. Licha Lt. Licha Fw. Vogel Uffz. Riesbeck Stab./JG 77 Stab/JG 77 Stab I./JG77 2./JG 77 2. /JG 77 3. /JG77 3./JG77 3./JG77 3./JG77 3./JG77 2./JG 77 P-38 P-38 P-38 P-38 P-38 P-38 P-38 P-38 P-38 P-38 P-38 (1) (1.) (9.) (6.) (6.) (6.) (7.) (3.) (4.) (4.) w.B. 1071 sowie weitere sechs P-38 durch die IV./JG 3. Aiaiuiotait z.uaaiiuiirai um 16.41 Uhr blieb Ein weiterer Einsatz nach Alarmstart zusammen iiut mit u&i der IV./JG 3 ant am Navluiiittag Nachmit Feindverband von der Funkmess-Stellung in Foggia verloren ergebnislos; nachdem der gemeldete g worden war, fiirchtete die Ei Einsatzleitung, dass emeut Tiefangriffe auf die eigenen Platze bevorstanden und beorderte den Verband daher zur Sicherung in den Raum um Foggia. Es kam jedoch zu keiner Feindberiihrung, und so lief der Einsatz unter- o.b.V. Verluste : - N.N. Stab/JG 77 unverl. IL/JG 77 einen Bedienungsfehler, Nocelli, 25% Bf 109 G-6 WNr. 18 897 Bei einem Einsatz, uber den nahere Einzelheiten nicht bekannt sind, meldete die Gruppe Abschuss: Ofw. Volke 6./JG 77 B-26 (37.) HI./JG 77 Bei einem Einsatz, uber den nahere Einzelheiten nicht vorliegen, hatten Teile der Gruppe bei Villa Massargia Luftkampf mit’B-25 und deren Begleitschutz durch einige P-40, in dessen Verlauf eine Messerschmitt als Totalverlust abzuschreiben war; 1070 KTB Stab/JG 77 1071 alle Abschiisse durch I./JG 77 bis auf Uffz. Wolters, der beim Stabsschwarm flog; Weitere elf Abschiisse wurden vom JG 53 ;gemeldet, so dass insgesamt 26 Abschiisse zusaminenkamen; aus amerikanischen Unterlagen lassen sichi bislang erst 14 dieser Abschiisse nachweisen. Gleichwohl brachte dieser Luftkampf mpf den i deutschen Jagern einen 1 ;grossen Erfolg, zumal die eigenen Verluste mit einem Gefallenen bei der II./JG 53 ssehr gering blieben - vgl. Prii rien, JG 53 Teil 2, S. 961; ebenso KTB SKL � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection:<br /><br />"<span class="fontstyle0">Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size:9pt;">st </span><span class="fontstyle0">Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army."<br /><br />A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy.</span><br /><br />See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon.<br /><br />Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><br /><ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Typed document Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource German language description of events of August 30, 1943 from the German perspective. Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource German language page of a book describing events of August 30, 1943 from the German perspective. Provided by Frank McIntosh. Citation: Dr. Jochen Prien, Jagdgeschwader 77, Vol III (Struve Druck, Eutin, 1993), pp. 1719 Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Published historical account Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Dr. Jochen Prien Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1993 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Dr. Jochen Prien Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Struve-Druck Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/304/Dibble_Text0241.pdf f04e42400d8901d6652a0104933cb095 PDF Text Text ��� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection:<br /><br />"<span class="fontstyle0">Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size:9pt;">st </span><span class="fontstyle0">Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army."<br /><br />A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy.</span><br /><br />See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon.<br /><br />Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><br /><ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Hand-written document Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Lt. Frank Mcintosh's account of August 30, 1943 Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource Lt. Frank Mcintosh's account of August 30, 1943. Written in the 1970's or 1980's. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Historical account Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Lt. Frank McIntosh Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1970's - 1980's Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/305/Dibble_Text0242.pdf ee17c71e103c4ce57205c3c29c92de07 PDF Text Text ���� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection:<br /><br />"<span class="fontstyle0">Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size:9pt;">st </span><span class="fontstyle0">Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army."<br /><br />A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy.</span><br /><br />See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon.<br /><br />Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><br /><ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Hand-written document Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Lt. Frank Mcintosh's account of August 30, 1943 Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource Lt. Frank Mcintosh's account of August 30, 1943. Written in the 1990's. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Historical account Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Lt. Frank McIntosh Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1990's Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/278/Dibble_Image0091.jpg ec2665f2b51104774d060e1a5e5ed3c6 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection:<br /><br />"<span class="fontstyle0">Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size:9pt;">st </span><span class="fontstyle0">Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army."<br /><br />A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy.</span><br /><br />See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon.<br /><br />Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><br /><ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Photograph Location The location of the interview unknown Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 3.5" x 5" Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Men of the 94th Fighter Squadron at Mateur, Tunisia Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource Men of the 94th Fighter Squadron at Mateur, Tunisia Type The nature or genre of the resource Image Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Black & white photograph Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource unknown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource unknown Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/288/Dibble_Text0238.pdf f5d5bb9b888333eda0ff9cc54350e36d PDF Text Text is v> The 319th ii by w £. a) F ; • -,.. ■ �..- RECORDS of the T H BOMBARDMENT GROUP as Recorded by LIEUTENANT WILLIAM B. MONROE, Public Relations Officer, and Others Records Ob't^ir ined From The ALBERT F. SIMPSON HISTORICAL RESEARCH CENTER, USAF Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama and Other Sources Compiledtand Edited by HAROLD E. OYSTER and ESTHER M. OYSTER �August 19U3 - (Cont.) July 19U3 -(Cont.) k XKZd^x^and Belgorod- Sts; In the Pacific we attacked SjKeS* “BJi “°pp-‘18 - Routine duties. 8 - Mission #611;: thirty-six aircraft with 500-lb. bombs, as yesterday's, destruction of three spans. same area constituted the first on the Rome area. 20 - Mission #58: twenty-two bombers, 20-lb. hits among parked aircraft; no opposition. 1target same 9 - Mission #65: thirty-six planes, 500-lb. bombs; target, some other bridges near Pizzo; near misses. frags, Vibo Valentia, 10 - BOB HOPE and PRANCES LANGFORD put on a hilarious one-hour show. 21 - Routine duties. "iirM X b^raiVrl^^f^al^a^-i^s^Xth^nl^i 22 - Group learned that Sgts. ROY ROGERS and P.C. CARRANCO were Tripoli hospital after bailing out over Gerbini, being taken ~prisoner J and being released by friendly forces in Sicily. 12 - Routine duties. 23 - Mission #59: twenty-four B-26s with 1 00-lb. bombs and frags bombed Aquino airdrome in Italy, hits across field and dispersal areas. Pa­ lermo fell. Wing informed group that no missions would be flown for with fifty raids, was relieved as C.O. by Maj. JOSEPH R. H0LZAPPLE.3 2U - Many combat men left for three-day rest in Algiers, Oran, and 25 - Routine duties. 15 - Italy sought recognition of Rome as an open city. 26 - Rome radio announced Mussolini's "resignation." 27 - Malaria has hospitalized some men. or?: settled the dust and cooled things off. 16 - Mission #68: twenty-four planes, 500-lb. bombs, hit a temporary bridge over the Angitola River, strings crossing bridge. The first rain in two months 17 - Sicily fell.U 28 - Bad weather cancelled a planned mission. 18 - Mission #69: thirty-six aircraft with 250-, 300- and 500-lb. bombs; target, tunnel entrance and highway at Punta di Stalletti, hits on highway. since resumption of operations 5 June. Lt. DeBABY was lost in a crash landing at sea, rest of crew got out but are in hospital. 30 - Homemade clubs of officers and men still were opening. 31 - Mission #61: thirty-six planes, 500-lb. bombs, railroad and road Junction near Adrano, Sicily. 20 - Routine duties. August 19113 21 - Mission #71: thirty-six aircraft, 1.000-lb. bombs, Villa Literno marshalling yards in Italy, excellent coverage; during weak attacks by enemy fighters one Me-109 was shot down. Some men 1 - AB-17 crashed on 1 left for three-day rest 1Gen. WEBSTER, Commander of 2686th Prov. Wing, went along as observer. combat menonDS for B-17 training started rumors headed for a B-17 organization. 2He was riding with Lt. KRONE as observer, was hit in head by flak. 3 - Projected raid on targets near Rome called off. bri~dge3at°Marina diWCatanzaro,*clou adrs°Pjnterfered*)wlth<°obse0rnvation^'^M Ha^rind^^bs^^p^^^fid^strd18?^:?0: S? X^L^J* of 1Lt. TURNER. W> ! 111 �August 19U3 - (Cont.) September 19U3 - (Cont.) lost, three in water, one crash landed on water, and one raissing.1 Soo 9 10 - Routine duties. 23 - Routine duties. 2I4. - General WEBSTER presented awards to a number of men. 11 - Mission #82: Isernia road junction was hit by thirty-five bombers 25 - Routine duties. 26 - Mission #73: twenty-three planes dropped frags on Grazzanise satellite in Italy,, hits on landing strip and dispersal areas; of six 12 - S/Sgt. HOWARD JACKSON returned from the hospital after recovering S,h^d’^dC:rSiiaXn^t oi^a’raic^and HILI^brough^i^in^ver "» behind”?^ ^tT^wi^^iS trouble and, on the deck with one engine, fought off enemy fighters for >r half hall an hour, and finally crash landed with all crew members surLving. 27 - Mission #7)4.: twenty-four A/C, 500-lb. bombs; target, Caserta, It­ aly, marshalling yards; many hits in target area. 28 - Mission #75: twenty-two B-26s, 500-lb. bombs, Aversa, Italy, att*Ck’d i,WffeC- 29 - Routine duties. 30 - Mission #76: nineteen bombers dropped 500-lb. bombs, Aversa mar__ *___ coverage; fifty to sixty attacking enemy shalling yards, excellent jaged fighters were enge '•**’ by -escort: B-26s shot down ten without losses to our formation. 3of ll the new club-bars for men and officers. all^SS Bizerte harbor at an altitude of twenty feet, dodging mast tops and balloon cables and firing distress flares right and left. He headed for a nearby beach but found it covered with swimmers and had to set it down in the sea. Jackson woke up half an hour later in a hospital. The others told him the plane had broken into three pieces, he had been hurtled through the top, landing fifty yards away in the water, and his Mae West had saved him, although unconscious. It was the most serious of Jackson's eight mishaps, six of which had occurred during training in the States, the seventh overseas, none leaving him with injuries any worse than assorted cuts and bruises. a 3-day pass for a town near Messina, Sicily, to see his mother, whom he hadn't seen in twenty-one years. He had a ride in a B-26. 1h. - Major HOLZAPPLE prefaced briefing in the morning by reading a Twelfth Air Force notice to the effect that the Allied troops on the Salerno bridgehead were in a desperate touch-and-go battle to hold onto their strip of beach. Crew members present listened in grim si­ lence as he announced we would be employed against German roads in close support of our infantry and that extra effort was needed from everybody. Mission #81;.: eighteen B-26s dropped 100-lb. bombs on the September 19U3 Mission #86: eighteen bombers dropped 100-lb. bombs on the barracks area southwest of Eboll. 1 and 2 t Routine duties. aver to group ’by a British 3 - Eight Italian prisoners were turned o^ unit. One a barber and two carpenters, they ful and happy to be with us. Some are used officers' mess, resulting in some strange gesticulations when it comes to such orders as "pancakes without the goo." U - Routine duties. 5 - Mission #77: thirty-six B-26s dropped 300-lb. bombs on Grazzanise 6 - Mission #78: thirty-six B-26s dropped 300-lb. bombs on the Graz­ zanise Landing Ground. 7 - Mission #79: thirty-five bombers hit Sapri bridge with $00 pound- I ■ ers; dust and smoke obscured the target. 8 - Mission #80: thirty-four aircraft again hit Sapri bridge, scoring hits or near misses on the north end, plus a direct hit on the center of the railroad bridge alongside. Italy's surrender was announced. .sj® The prisoners were happier than anybody else. A few thought the sur- •; render might terminate our job for awhile, but most believed that as long as Germans control Italian territory we'd still be dropping on t : into the aeain fiam”we aiso ioat k2 15 - Mission #87: eighteen planes bombed the Battlpaglia-Eboli road. Mission #88: twenty-four planes hit the west portion of the EboliSerre road. Mission #89: twelve ships had for a target the AulettaPolla road, but darkness prevented identification of the target and some bombs were dropped on a nearby road junction. In the past two days, briefings were/hurried, ground crews worked hard and some air­ planes and some men wept on two missions a day. Dust and smoke from previous bombings of ten piade observation difficult. Many huge forma­ tions of other type aircraft were seen in the same target region going about the same sort of work. Often crews returned excited over their observations of the battle below, including the sight of our ships offshore firing at German positions. On the last mission, many pi­ lots made their first night landings in B-26s. After one mission agalnst a road, General WEBSTER observed that a photograph showed that SlLffiM graodes Unadmitted8 tha1fOtheWfarn>aadoaI'hlaId<n,^ CactuallyUbacked around the curve. The bombardiers, he explained, had simply used a 16 - The hardened group movie fans were not surprised tonight when the . last reel of "Let's Get Tough" was shown first. Happy in knowing that all turned out fine in the end, they then sat through the first reel. This was followed by an announcement that the middle reel was missing. 17 -Mission #90: twenty-four ships, still using 100-lb. bombs, hit Pratica di Mare airdrome outside of Rome; the coordinated attack with other groups left many aircraft of the 100 or more on the field burn- U3 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection:<br /><br />"<span class="fontstyle0">Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size:9pt;">st </span><span class="fontstyle0">Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army."<br /><br />A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy.</span><br /><br />See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon.<br /><br />Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><br /><ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Typed document Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Mission summaries of the 319th Bombardment Group including August 30, 1943 Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource Mission summaries of the 319th Bombardment Group including August 30, 1943. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Mission report Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource unknown Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource ca 1943 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022 https://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/12/311/Dibble_Text0231.pdf d647a3e3fccaf61db206675417de79ec PDF Text Text Charles J. McCann 5844 Gate Post Road Charlotte, North Carolina 28211 January 16, 2003 Dear Jim, Here are a few thoughts I remember of these two missions, August 25 and August 30, 1943.1 hope this may be of some help. Foggia Strafing - August 25, 1943 Approximately a week prior to August 25, we started practicing low level squadron formation flying, 50 feet above the desert sand south of Tunis. These practice flights were made after the group return from the mission flown that day. No real reason was given for this practice but, it certainly raised some questions for giving this order. We all felt something was coming upThe squadron formation was made up of three (3) flights, four (4) P-3 8s per flight, for a total of twelve (12) P-38s. The flights flew line abreast and the squadron leader flew the middle flight. We practiced making 90-degree turns at this low level. When the squadron leader made a turn, the flight into which the squadron leader had turned, would pass under the squadron leader’s flight and at the same time, start turning with the squadron leader. The other flight leader would lead his flight behind and over, if necessary, the squadron leader’s flight and at the same time, turn with the squadron leader. After the 90-degree turn had been completed, the three flights would be line abreast. This maneuver between the flights and the ground was very tight and very tricky at times. When the orders came down, they specified that each squadron in the group had to put up two squadrons plus spares. This was a very tough assignment, taking into consideration damage planes and planes needing repair. I don’t remember exactly how many planes were in a squadron but feel sure it was between 30 and 35. In any event, each squadron had to put up 24 planes plus 4 spares for a total of 28 planes. Each of the groups, 1st, 14th and the 82nd, had three squadrons each. Each group put up six (6) squadrons, 72 planes, for a total of 216 planes over the target. The squadrons flew the mission three flights line abreast, squadrons in trail and stacked down. The mission leader led his group of squadrons, all in trail and stacked down, out over the Bay of Tunis to an altitude of 1000 feet. He circled around over the Bay of Tunis until the other two groups of squadrons, all in trail and stacked down, joined up in trail of his squadrons. It was quite a sight to see eighteen (18) squadrons in this formation. The mission leader led us on a course toward the islands off the west coast of Sicily, letting down, en route, to 50 feet above the water. We turned and flew east, parallel to the north coast of Sicily. We were never in sight of Sicily. The water was very calm, no waves, just big swells, which made it very difficult to judge your height above the water. I actually saw ripples on the sea from the prop wash of the plane ahead of me. At the Isle of Stromboli, the mission leader picked up a predetermined compass heading that was calculated to provide an entrance into Italy through a radar gap in the German Radar System, provided we had maintained at an altitude of fifth (50) feet or less. �As we made landfall, we had to immediately climb through the valleys up to an altitude of 4000 feet in order to clear the mountain range. The formation was flying line abreast while dropping belly tanks. After we cleared the mountains and started over flatter terrain, we were able to readjust and fly our previous squadron formation. When we reach the Adriatic Sea, we turned northwest and flew parallel to the coast of Italy, with all squadrons in trail and fifty (50) feet off the water. We passed by a small Italian gunboat and the crew was waving to as we went by. When the mission leader reached his IP, he turned his squadron into the land and all the other squadrons in trail turned, in place, into the land and started shooting up every plane and military object on the ground. We had 216 “P-38’s” in a company front formation sweeping the Foggia Area. My squadron turned southeast after passing over all the targets. We flew parallel to the mountains. The Germans shot their 88mm cannon up and down the line of the P-38 formation. Lt. Warren caught an 88 shell in his right boom. After the impact, the right gear hung down about 45 degrees to the boom. Before he had to feather his right engine and turn off all of his electrical equipment, we told him we would lead, cover and stay with him until he got to Sicily. He lost his generator when he lost his right engine. We flew this course until we thought we were about where we entered and cross Italy. We turned west and started to cross the mountains. We had to fly slower to stay with Lt. Warren. On single engine, he was able to climb over 4.000 feet of mountains and crash-land at an abandoned airstrip in Sicily. Lt. Warren performed an amazing feat during this flight. He had to hold the rudder pressure with his feet the whole time after he lost his right engine. He lost the rudder trim tab when he was hit by the 88 shell. The rudder pressure increases when the air speed decreases during his climb over the mountains. Lt. Warren said he had to put both feet on the same side of the console so he could switch feet and rest his legs. Aversa, Italy B-26 Bomber Escort Mission - August 30, 1943 There is very little I can add to what is written about this mission. You have received documents that I have never seen and have talked with a lot of pilots who were on this mission with me. I never heard of there being a fourth fighter squadron called “Broadway” that flew with us. The only briefing I remember attending was held in the squadron area. I only saw three squadrons en route to the rendezvous and weaving over the bombers. The rendezvous was at sea and not very far from Italy. I never saw a fourth squadron. We flew three (3) squadrons line abreast. The group leader was the middle squadron. Over the bombers, his squadron would “S” back and forth and the other two squadrons would weave back and forth swapping sides. As far as I can recall, I feel we had only 36 fighters (P-38s)'over the target, less early returns turns that left after spares had left. Frankly, some of the descriptions of the flight to the target sounded like it was written by an intelligence clerk who wrote up the mission report for the intelligence officer, pin pointing where �we crossed the coast, type of cloud coverage and forming up a Luffberry circle. I can’t possibly believe any squadron had the time to perform such a maneuver with the constant attacks and still try to stay with the bombers. A lot of us called the maneuver of the German as the yo yo. They had us in their yo-yo, diving down on us and climbing back up after we turned into the attack. Attacking from both sides finally broke up the coverage we were trying to give to the bombers. I distinctly remember a radio transmission, “all the bombers have moved out to sea, lets start trying to work our way out to sea.” I never heard that the Germans were firing rockets at us. That is real news. Also, I didn’t see any Me-109s flying around with belly tanks. That is news. Of course, we were breaking right and left into attacks and I didn’t pay any attention to detail. I just knew they were Germans. I never saw the Italians press an attack like that. / I was surprised to see the comment about me taking my flight back to help one of our / buddies, who was all alone and under attack He was above us and when the Germans saw us / coming back, they broke off their attack. Our buddy dove down and under our flight to freedom. / To help assure we had a better chance to get out without an attack by the Germans, I called my / element leader to pull up even with me. In this formation, we could weave back and forth i together. My element leader, I am sure, was very glad to get this order. Normally, I never talk i about this. I did mention it to Fred Nichol when we were talking about this mission, during one I of our reunions. He knew the pilot’s name that was involved in this little rescue but I never knew \._who it was until Fred told me. So, you must have learned this from Fred. This might be interesting to you in regard to your comment about flying four flights squadron formation. We in the 71st received a new squadron commander in September 1943, Major Hanes. He had been in the air corps a number of years before the war began. He was an excellent pilot and commander - a real leader. He had undoubtedly served with the group commander, Col. Richards, and was close friend. One day in a very casual manor, he asked me for my opinion about starting to fly our missions with four flights in stead of three flights- two flights with two flights behind and stacked down. After thinking about it for a minute or so; I told him I thought it would be a great idea because I thought it would give us greater maneuverability and more firepower. He agreed with my comments and let me know he thought our present formation was too cumbersome and I agreed. Later on I believe the group started flying this type of squadron formations. I know Major Hanes could have sold Col. Richard on this idea, as well as, the 15th Air Force. I left for home shortly after this conversation with Major Hanes. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to read your file. I hope my efforts will be helpful. Sincerely, Charlie (Charlie McCann) � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James P. Dibble: The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943 Description An account of the resource From Jim Dibble's account titled "The Day of Armegeddon" included in this collection:<br /><br />"<span class="fontstyle0">Following the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, the missions flown out of North Africa by the 1</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-size:9pt;">st </span><span class="fontstyle0">Fighter Group pilots in their P-38 Lightnings had a common objective of preparing for the invasion at Salerno, Italy by the United States Fifth Army."<br /><br />A mission on August 25th was highly successful, with a loss of only 8 P-38's. The 1st Fighter Group earned a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts, but the August 30 mission, for which they would earn a second citation, was not so easy.</span><br /><br />See mission reports, photos, first hand accounts and more information about this infamous air battle known as The Day of Armageddon.<br /><br />Jump to other sections of the collection: <ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/5">James P. Dibble: World War II P-38 Fighter Pilot</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/6">His Early Life</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/7">High School into the Army Air Corps</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/8">Flight Training</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/17">We Got Married!</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/9">Combat!</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/10">Mission Reports</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/11">Letters Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/16">Flying with Eisenhower</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/12">The Day of Armageddon - August 30, 1943</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/13">Killed in Action</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/14">The Search for Answers</a><ul><li><a href="https://www.barrycountyhistoryportal.org/collections/show/15">The Monument in Padula, Italy</a></li> </ul></li> </ul></li> </ul><br /><ul><li> <ul><li><a href="http://omeka/collections/show/15"></a></li> </ul></li> </ul> Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Typed document Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Notes from Charles McCann clarifying events of August 30, 1943 Subject The topic of the resource World War II. August 30, 1943. Description An account of the resource Notes from Charles McCann clarifying events of August 30, 1943. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Historical account Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Charles McCann Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1/16/2003 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Hastings Public Library Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jim Dibble Date Accepted Date of acceptance of the resource. Examples of resources to which a Date Accepted may be relevant are a thesis (accepted by a university department) or an article (accepted by a journal). 1/18/2022