« In their words, Veterans and their Families on Veterans Day My Hero Lived at Home » The Air War in Europe, one Man’s War By K.Allsup, on November 11th, 2010 1940's -- A consolidated B-24 Liberator of the 15th A.F. releases its bombs on the rail yards at Muhldorf, Germany on 19 March 1945. Bombers of the 15th A.F. are slicing vital rail lines from Vienna to Munich as the air offensive against the enemy reaches an all time high. (U.S. Air Force photo) We all have seen the film and heard the stories of the great air battles. But few times are you able to see it from the personal perspective of mission by mission basis. I want to thank my Great Uncle, Bernard Hotchkin, who served with 760th Bomb Group of the 15th Air Force. They set up their airbase near Spinazzola, Italy. Mud at the base was a constant part of daily life, and if fighting the Axis and mud wasnt enough, they woke up one morning to find what appeared to be a reddish brown layer of mud. Records show that on March 22, 1944 Mr. Vesuvius was erupting and spreading ash over all over southern Italy. Tail Insignia - 460th Bomber Group Eventually over time, as most found out, Yankee ingenuity took over and the mud problem was fixed, and hired or bartered or “requisitioned” what was needed to make it home, with small houses made of “tuffa” blocks. This small village became known as Bomber City and was featured in a December 1944 Sunday supplement of Stars and Stripes. Bernard’s First Mission: April 2nd 1st raid P.T. Brod T Dropped Bombs on 2nd Mostar Air Base Lost 1 – 763 ship over target encountered flack (heavy) April 5th 2nd raid P.T. Knis Lost 2 – 763 ships – prop wash 1 – 762 ships – take off encounted flack (heavy) Target – missed. target tore up. miles of rails. got citation. April 7th Were scheduled to go to Farraya, Italy. Taxied out on runway. 762 plane crashed on runway. No one hurt. Seen “I Dood It” with Red Skelton April 8th Were Scheduled to raid Zagreb. Was called off after we had taxied out. April 9th Easter Sunday. Were briefed to go to Zagreb. Was called off. Went to church at 1:30. April 10th Stayed in tent all day. Played cards. Rainy day. April 11th Nothing accomplished. Flew practice mission with Lt. Erfeldt April 12th 3rd Raid P.T. Zagreb Air Base Lost – none Encountered flack (moderate) Target – demolished received citation April 13th 4th Raid P.T. Budapest ME 210 Factory Lost – none Encountered flack (moderate) & fighters ME 210 Attacked once from tail Target – demolished received citation April 14th Built mosquito netting. Went to show (Tornado). Two Englishmen were here. April 15th Took a shower. Started to Spinazzola. Finally walked to Porggoseni. Smitty was grounded. Col. Crowder went down. April 16th 5th Raid P.T. Turnusevern Lost – none – 1 P.51 by bomber Encountered – nothing Target – hit 1/3 of bombs Had gunners meeting tonight April 17th Nothing accomplished. Went to show “Winter Time” Sonjie Henie. April 18th Went to Altamura. Seen Cathedral built in 1363. Had eleven altars. Met fellow from N.Y. Got haircut and shampoo. April 19th Stayed around tent. Went to show, “Madam Curie” April 20th 6th Raid P.T. Port Maglieo Dropped bombs on Casino Bridge Lost – none Encountered flack (very light) low Target – few hits made April 21st 7th Raid P.T. Buchereac Dropped bombs at Turnu Severein Encountered flack (moderate) Lost – 1 Schuneman & crew. Bailed out in Yugoslavia. They ran out of gas. Target – missed by us We flew with Shane April 22nd Went on pass. Went to Bari. Rode in horse and buggy taxi. Seen show “Little Angel” April 23rd Still on pass. Went to church in Bari. Rented bicycles. Took 4 hours and 7 rides to get home April 24th 8th Raid. P.T. Bucharest Lost – none Encountered flack – fighters – rockets Target – hit April 25th Stayed around tent. Went to show. Seen “The Heavenly Body” April 26th Stayed around tent. Rained all day. Lecture on formation flying. Heard articles on war. April 27th Went to Bari. Rode bicycles. Stayed in private home. Eat eggs. April 28th Still in Bari. Had more eggs. Rode bikes again. April 29th Went to Spinazzola. Seen a quaint cemetary. April 30th 9th Raid P.T. Castel Maggiore Lost – none Encountered – (flack) heavy Target – partially hit May 1st Went to Spinazzola. Bought cigarette lighter. May 2nd Went to Spinazzola again. Seen show, “No Time for Love” May 3rd 10th Raid P.T. Parma N. Italy Lost – none Encountered – nothing Target – hit I flew with Skahen May 4th Stayed around tent. Seen show “Bombers Moon” May 5th Flew practice mission with Col. Babb. Fired our guns May 6th 11th Raid P.T. Craiova Lost – none Encountered – nothing Target – hit by 2m attack unit Flew with col. Babb May 8th Connie and I went to Cerignola and back to Bari. May 9th Were on detail for group. May 10th Group went to Weiner Nudstadt. Lost 2 planes. Lt. Gifford and crew went down over target. Some bailed out. Lt. Woods and crew landed at the Isle of vid, all okay. May 11th Al and I went mountain climbing. May 12th 12th Raid P.T. Ferrero Lost – none Encountered – flack – 3 times Target – bombed E.T.A. Flew with Col Babb Smith left the tent May 13th Seen U.S.O. Show May 14th 13th Raid P.T. Treviso Lost – none Encountered (Flack) light Maj. Campbell received D.F.C. May 18th 14th Raid P.T. Palesti Lost – 1 763rd by fighters Encountered flack (heavy) & fighters twice Flew with col. Harrison May 19th 15th Raid P.T. Blogna Lost – none Encountered Flack (light) May 23rd 16th Raid P.T. Valmantore Beachhead, Italy Lost – none Encountered – nothing Pilot – Col. Babb May 24th 17th Raid P.T. Weiner Nustadt Hit – Neunkirchen (Austria) Lost – None Encountered (Flack) 2 light May 25th – Hr. 9:35 18th Raid P.T. Ambrerieu (France) Lost – none Encountered Flack & fighters Red flack, Fighter attack May 26th – Hr. 9:30 19th Raid P.T. Lyon (France) Lost 1 Lt. Susank 6 bailed out in France – out of gas Encountered – Nothing Sparky made the bomb run. Target hit GOOD. Co Pilot Col. Babb May 30th Went to Yougaslav Hospital. Had a swell time. May 31st – Hr. 8:10 20th Raid P.T. Polesti Lost 1 or 2 – 1 762 plane 4 bailed out Encountered (Flack) HEAVY Souvenir came though top Target hit. Smoke 18,000 ft. high Schuneman and crew back June 2nd – 7:50 21st Raid P.T. Clug (Romania) Lost – None Encountered – Nothing Target – Hit Pilot: Col. Babb Flying time (combat time) to date 148.15 June 5th – 5:35 22nd Raid P.T. Facnza Lost – none Encountered – Flack Light I rode ball turret few min. June 14th 23rd Raid P.T. Petfurdo (Hungary Oil) Lost – none Encountered – Flack light June 22nd 24th Raid P.T. Catel Miggiore, Italy R.R. Lost – 1 another sq. Encountered – Flack Light at target: heavy past target June 23rd 25th Raid P.T. Girgiu Roumania Oil Lost – None Encountered Flack Moderate June 25th 9:30 26th Raid P.T. Sete France Oil Lost – None Encountered – Flack light June 30th 6:45 27th Raid P.T. Bleach Hammer, Germany Hit – Pics – Austria Lost 6 – 3 from 760 – Erfeldt, Evans, White Encountered Flack light We split from formation in overcast 30 minutes from P.T. target – Made wildcat bomb run. came home alone. Fighters hit other crews. July 2nd 28th Raid P.T. Budapest, Hungary Lost – None Encountered – Flack slight – inaccurate Pilot Col. Babb July 5th 29th Raid P.T. Toulon, France Lost – None Encountered – Flack Heavy July 6th Started to North Italy with Col. Babb. Turned back, lost #1 engine. I was flying tail gunner. 30th Raid P.T. Bleach Hammer, Germany Had to jettison bombs Lost #1 engine. Come back from Austris alone. Encounterd Flack 40 mil July 8th 31st Raid P.T. Viena, Austria Lost 2, 1 -760 Suttong went down in Yugoslovia Encountered Flack Heavy Fighters July 9th Shane and Joyce went home on rotation. July 12th 32nd Raid P.T. Nimes, France Lost – 2 other sq. Encountered – Flack – fighters Pilot Col. Babb July 14th 33rd Raid P.T. Port Maglio Hit Lost – None Encountered – Nothing July 15th P.T. Polesti Romania Lost 1 – ditched all O.K. Encountered – Flack Heavy July 19th went to Munic Germany lost all but 2 planes I went to switzerland July 22nd last mission I got out and kissed the ground Total 393 Hours 51 missions
That was interesting. Look at the trend, frist heavy then light then heavy flak again =p. Neat stuff good job ray
Never see enough about the 15th AF. The Old Gunner was on many of the same missions with another bomb group. He finished his tour on the 19 July mission to Munich, just before Bernard Hotchkin finished his.
Kudos to your great uncle for a wonderful effort. On the lighter side, I wonder whether he knew Yossarian or Major Major... Marc