David Dial WW11 memoires

0215 2nd Mission ------- Feb. 21, 1945

Our target was a six hundred foot all steel trussell outside of Bad Oeynhausen. There were thirty six planes, each carrying two two thousand pounders. It was a hell of a long mission, four hours going far into Germany. Intelligence reports said no flak was to be seen, therefore it was to be a milk run without any difficulty. “Bombs Away” we rolled off the target and started back. I was happy, no flak. I looked down and saw our bombs hit. We got the most perfect hits I’ve ever seen....the bridge was completely destroyed. I was yelling and singing over the interphone when “Mac” the tailgunner, by saying “Boys, the box behind us in getting hell shot out of them”. I shut up and started sweating. They didn’t shoot at our box at all.

About fifteen minutes from the target and again I had relaxed. Suddenly and eighty eight went off about fifty yards off our right wing of the lead plane. I thought he was a goner. I heard all these burst as our ship rolled under the concussion. I was scared as hell. They mean business, and they were really throwing it in there. We got out of that and crossed the Rhine. Our fighters left us just over the bomb line and we came on in uninterurupted. I want a milk run.

Three plane vic of B-26 of the 320th Group drop their bombs. Note that the two wing planes have not trained out as many bombs as the lead, indicated that they dropped on the leader’s bombfall. Tail # of near plane (2-10753?) identifies it as a B-26C-45

Lyrics to Army Air Corps Song

The full lyrics of the song are as follows:

Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun! (Give 'er the gun hey!)
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one hell of a roar!*
We live in fame or go down in flame. Hey!
Nothing can stop the Army Air Corps!

Minds of men fashioned a crate of thunder,
Sent it high into the blue;
Hands of men blasted the world asunder;
How they lived God only knew! (God only knew then!)
Souls of men dreaming of skies to conquer
Gave us wings, ever to soar!
With scouts before And bombers galore. Hey!
Nothing can stop the Army Air Corps!

Bridge: "A Toast to the Host"

Here's a toast to the host
Of those who love the vastness of the sky,
To a friend we send a message of his brother men who fly.
We drink to those who gave their all of old,
Then down we roar to score the rainbow's pot of gold.
A toast to the host of men we boast, the Army Air Corps!

Off we go into the wild sky yonder,
Keep the wings level and true;
If you'd live to be a grey-haired wonder
Keep the nose out of the blue! (Out of the blue, boy!)
Flying men, guarding the nation's border,
We'll be there, followed by more!
In echelon we carry on. Hey!
Nothing can stop the Army Air Corps!

Mission # 2 Feb. 21, 1945

Onward to Mission 3