![]() In the face of “the fiercest and most determined resistance the enemy was able to muster,” the 445th hit the target at Gotha with “extreme accuracy and devastating results.” As General Marshall put it in the Presidential Unit Citation, “the courage, zeal, and perseverance shown by the crew members of the 445th Bombardment Group (H), 2nd Air Division, on this occasion were in accordance with the highest traditions of military service of the United States and reflect great credit on themselves and the group, and the Army Air Forces.” Only later would the men from Suitch's crew learn what they had accomplished that day. Eckard, were damaged by flak (or they malfunctioned) and both men were killed by the impact to the ground. Ulmer, the tail gunner, failed to get out of the plane. The bomber crippled and flying on two engines, next suffered a catastrophic explosion up front and Lt. It was the twelfth (and next to last) bomber from the group to go down. About the same time, the bomber in front of them exploded in a ball of flame. Ulmer, reported that he was out of ammunition. German fighters were still tearing through the group, and their attacks were hitting with devastating effect. Two minutes later it was all over: the fourteen remaining bombers of the 445th had “cleared their racks.” The formation turned south to a heading of 85 degrees ten minutes later they turned due west. 11 of the 25 planes from the 445th were shot down before they got to the target. Suitch and he chose to carry on with the mission. The decision to press on or turn back belonged to Lt. Suitch's bomber lost an engine, possibly due to enemy fire. On the way to the target as they passed over the Zuider Zee, Lt. Thirteen of the 25 B-24's from the 445th were shot down that day. The Luftwaffe rose in force to defend the factories, and the bombers from the 445th sustained particularly heavy attacks. This was another installment in the "Big Week" assault on the German aircraft manufacturing industry. The 445th Bombardment Group dispatched 25 bombers to attack the Gothaer Waggon Fabrik AG in Gotha on. Vic Panconi would remain behind and the ball turret would be retracted within the fuselage for the entire raid. Additionally, in an attempt to cut back on casualties, the group would be flying without ball turret gunners that day. It was standard procedure to substitute seasoned veterans for key positions in an inexperienced crew on their first few missions. He served as operations officer of the 700th BS during its subsequent combat training and was working in a staff position at the time of the Gotha raid. Waldher was a member of the original cadre that had formed the bomb group in April, 1943. The co-pilot on this mission was a seasoned member of the 445th staff, Captain Eugene Waldher, instead of Lt. The Gotha mission of was their first combat mission as a crew, but there were last minute personnel changes. This included the pilot, co-pilot, bombardier, navigator, engineer, and radio-operator. Once the crew was ready for combat, several members of the crew flew missions as replacement personnel with experienced crews.
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