Four Hours of Fury
Page 48
“erratic at best”: Kirk B. Ross, The Sky Men, 237.
“Boots and Helmet” . . . “one tended not to see”: King Harris, Adventures of Ace Miller, 6, and Curtis A. Gadd, letter to the author, April 9, 2007.
took turns saluting: Kirk B. Ross, The Sky Men, 271.
let the colonel lie on top of him: Ibid., 246.
a 1936 graduate of West Point: King Harris, Adventures of Ace Miller, 7.
“He would do some horribly irrational acts”: Kirk B. Ross, The Sky Men, 247.
ran into multiple enemy strongpoints: James P. Lyke, “The Operations of the 17th Airborne Division in the Crossing of the Rhine River, 24 March 1945,” 38.
“Get that damn machine gun”: Kirk B. Ross, The Sky Men, 309.
“I can’t, I can’t”: Dean M. Bressler, “Airborne ’44—Allied Forces Breach the Rhine,” 25.
“Over here! D Company”: Ibid., 26.
Ed Tommasino, had been gunned down: Ibid., 26.
Gadd had crashed to earth under fire: Curtis A. Gadd, letter to the author, February 10, 2006.
aimed between his feet: Curt Gadd, To Set the Record Straight, 29.
“Look out! Gliders”: Dean M. Bressler, “Airborne ’44—Allied Forces Breach the Rhine,” 26.
Trooper Ken Eyers watched another glider crash: Bart Hagerman, War Stories, 230.
The British area should be well north: Dean M. Bressler, “Airborne ’44—Allied Forces Breach the Rhine,” 26.
For Jim Coutts, the Thirteeners’ commander: James M. Gavin, Airborne Warfare, 135–137, and letter to Bill Breuer from Colonel J. W. Coutts, dated February 16, 1984, CMH, WBB.
the Thirteeners’ concentrated landing: WSEG, “A Historical Study of Some World War II Airborne Operations,” 61.
“Try 250 yards!”: Letter to Bill Breuer from Colonel J. W. Coutts, dated February 16, 1984, CMH, WBB.
German Mark IV rolled out: 513 PIR, officer interviews, 15.
The M22’s 25mm armor: John Weeks, Airborne Equipment, 151.
When the crew piled out: 513 PIR, officer interviews, 15.
Mac McKirgan’s account is based on Ben Scherer, Soldiers and Brothers Under the Canopy, 44–45. McKirgan was a member of A Company, 513th PIR.
“And much as I hate to”: Robert Capa, “This Invasion Was Different, 28.
Jim Conboy, a nineteen-year-old private: Jim Conboy, “My Part in Operation Varsity,” 63.
left him for dead: Ibid., 63. Conboy woke up in the field later that night. He was held prisoner for several hours before the group of Germans holding him surrendered. He was taken to an aid station and later had his right foot amputated.
the artillerymen on DZ X had seven howitzers: 466 PFAB, “466th PFA Battalion Supporting Data,” 2.
they’d captured ten 76mm gun positions: John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 181.
the artillery would be firing toward them: James P. Lyke, “The Operations of the 17th Airborne Division in the Crossing of the Rhine River, 24 March 1945,” 40.
John Chester moved confidently: John Chester, Collection of Personal Memoirs, “What About Capital Punishment?”
“I’ve not got time to fool around”: John Chester, letter to the author, May 7, 2007.
“No, better not do that”: John Chester, letter to the author, February 1, 2007.
Chester had spoken to him yesterday: Ibid., September 1, 2007.
Chapter 14 “Now is when you pray”
pilots strained to keep them steady: David P. Schorr, “Operation Varsity,” 18.
pilots and copilots swapping turns at the controls: John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 182.
Staff Sergeant Jimmie Taylor screamed over the racket: James E. Taylor, manuscript from presentation at Kate Duncan Smith Dar School.
The rudimentary instrument panel consisted of: Pilot’s Flight Operating Instructions for Army Model CG-4A Glider, 2.
an obsessive tic of tapping the instruments’ glass: James E. Mrazek, Fighting Gliders of World War II, 111.
He was shaken by the sight: George Buckley, “Mission Impossible—Operation Varsity,” 76.
twenty-one gliders were lost on the way . . . “structural weaknesses”: John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 182.
The accidents reduced the glider riders’ strength: Ibid., 183.
Major Carl Peterson caught a glimpse of the war correspondents’ damaged B-17: 194 GIR, officer interviews, 2. Peterson was the regiment’s operations officer (S-3).
“Kansas City Kitty-Mary Lou”: Milton Dank, The Glider Gang, 248.
“I figured the dice were cast”: John Yanok, History 155th Airborne Anti-Tank, Anti-Aircraft Battalion, 34.
creating two distinct landing patterns: John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 183.
VARSITY planners had assigned pilots specific sectors: Ibid., 182.
The gliders in the lead serial were to land in the: James P. Lyke, “The Operations of the 17th Airborne Division in the Crossing of the Rhine River, 24 March 1945,” 43.
Pandemonium struck when the aircraft of the middle serial: Rex H. Shama, Pulse and Repulse, 363. This was serial A-10 of the 436th TC Group; the third serial into LZ S.
The stack-up caused the following serial: Ibid., 364.
Red lights flashed from the navigator’s glass astrodome: Air Forces Manual No. 3, Glider Tactics and Technique, 16.
“rotten egg stench”: David E. Mondt, untitled VARSITY article, 20.
whose weapons were designed to engage: “FLAK,” War Department training film, TF I-3389.
The two lead aircraft were shot down: 52 TCW, HQ, Operation Varsity, After Action Report, 7, and John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 183.
Ideally they’d approach into the wind: Air Forces Manual No. 3, Glider Tactics and Technique, 16.
Reducing speed before touching down was critical . . . Arresting chutes helped: Ibid., 34.
Protocol called for the short tow pilot: Elbert Jella, documents and notebook, and George A. Larson, “Alliance Army Air Force Base and the Training of Airborne Crews,” 20.
In the space of the next hour: John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 183.
“Going down!”: Lewis Brereton, The Brereton Diaries, 409.
unaware that a fouled towrope had damaged: Charles O. Gordon, “Burp Gun Corner,” 24. The two pilots were Flight Officers Heelas and Hyman of the 78th TCS, 435th TCG. Glider pilots released the towrope first, which would later be jettisoned by the cargo pilots as they were back over friendly lines and passing over the designated rope drop-point. They tried to recycle as many of the nylon ropes as possible.
Peter Emmerich’s account based on Peter Lonke, The Liberators Who Never Returned, 67. The 883rd Light Flak Battalion was part of the 64th Flak Regiment under the 4th Flak Division. Source: usacac.army.mil/CAC2/CGSC/CARL/nafziger/939GXLE.PDF, accessed on July 6, 2014.
In the opinion of nineteen-year-old pilot George Buckley . . . “A C-47 in front of us with one engine out”: George Buckley, “Mission Impossible—Operation Varsity,” 76.
Copilot Lieutenant Harry Dunhoft took over: 435 TCG, “Interrogation Check Sheets. Glider Pilots.”
The glider riders had been briefed about them: Ted Velikoff, “Velikoff Diary,” 53.
They were hit again fifty feet off the ground: OSS, Covering Report 1–15 April 45,” and Steltermann Collection (letter to his fiancée, May 5, 1945).
Jungen covered their escape: Based on Jungen’s Recommendation for Silver Star as written by Steltermann, December 6, 1945.
He’d been hit multiple times: Steltermann Collection (Bronze Star citation, extract from radiologic report, Medical Department, April 8, 1945).
Steltermann watched dozens of gliders: Steltermann Collection.
“Four birds at three o’c
lock!”: Zane Winters, The Last Glider Mission, Part 2, 10.
the position of the glider’s pitot tube: AAF Manual No. 50-17, Pilot Training Manual for the CG-4A Glider, 10.
The pilot in front of them wasn’t as fast: Zane Winters, The Last Glider Mission, Part 2, 10. The destroyed glider was flown by Fred Daughtery and Walter Chandler.
Winters kicked his way out of the cockpit: Ibid. Winters later tried to kick his way out of a grounded glider to emulate his VARSITY escape—no matter how hard he kicked he could never muster the strength he did that morning on the LZ. The window would not budge.
To Major Carl Peterson: 194 GIR, officer interviews, 14.
fired his tommy gun through the nose of his glider: Don R. Pay, Thunder from Heaven, 39.
platoons of the first serial were assembled: John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 185.
Trooper Harry Ellis, first out of his glider: Harry Ellis, “Airborne Landing Across the Rhine,” 24. Ellis later received the Bronze Star for his actions.
Bud Dudenhoeffer and his squad: Bud Dudenhoeffer, JUMP!, 93.
Another twenty-one gliders were raked by small arms fire: 52 TCW, HQ, Operation Varsity, After Action Report, 7.
“To Hitler from the 194”: Talon, 17th Airborne Division newsmagazine, June 15, 1945, 5.
Dillon and his men could now: Dillon’s account based on Frank Dillon, multiple letters to the author.
By 11:10, 75 percent: James P. Lyke, “The Operations of the 17th Airborne Division in the Crossing of the Rhine River, 24 March 1945,” 44.
Clyde Haney felt his pilot bank right: The account of Haney’s death is based on Richard H. Haney, When Is Daddy Coming Home?, 84.
George Buckley’s load of troopers jumped out: George Buckley, “Mission Impossible—Operation Varsity,” 76.
Artillerymen of the 680th unloaded: Jack P. Ancker, email to the author, July 8, 2009.
two battery commanders were killed: 680 GFAB, “680th Journal,” 13, and 17ABN, After Action Report Narrative, 24–31 March 1945, 2.
Jim Lauria’s 75mm howitzer: Jim Lauria, interview with the author, March 25, 2007.
11:55: The time is based on John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 186.
The armada’s last seven serials: James P. Lyke, “The Operations of the 17th Airborne Division in the Crossing of the Rhine River, 24 March 1945,” 47.
the final serials would deliver 1,321 more troops: John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 186.
By the time the single-tow glider serials passed over: Ibid., 186.
One of the first gliders released: History 139th Airborne Engineers, 22.
The Air Force lost another three transports: John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 186.
Over 50 percent of the gliders came in too fast: Ibid., 187.
Flight Officer Wes Hare’s glider smacked in hard: Hare’s account is based on Johann J. Nitrowski, Die Luftlandung, 316, and Milton Dank, The Glider Gang, 251.
George Holdren . . . couldn’t see much: George Holdren, WWII Memoir, 42.
The fluctuating airspeeds had disrupted: John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 186.
“like a string of firecrackers going off”: Holdren’s account based on George Holdren, WWII Memoir, 42.
“every man for himself”: John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 187.
LZ conditions based on 441 TCG, 99TCS, “Interrogation Check Sheets. Glider Pilots,” and 314 TCG, 62 TCS, “Interrogation Check Sheets.”
Several of the gliders landed on the southern perimeter: John Chester, letter to the author, February 1, 2007.
Joseph Shropshire and his load of two troopers: David E. Mondt, untitled VARSITY article, 15.
By Shropshire’s estimate: 314 TCG, 62 TCS, “Interrogation Check Sheets. Glider Pilots.”
certain he would be killed: David E. Mondt, untitled VARSITY article, 15.
he was killed the next day: http://history.union.lib.nc.us/GoldStarMothers/helmst.htm, accessed on May 25, 2018.
In the same LZ, Bill Knickerbocker and his copilot ran: W. D. Knickerbocker, Those Damn Glider Pilots, 296.
Fifty-three gliders: 224 AMC, “224th Airborne Medical Company, Inclosure 24.”
As the casualties arrived, medics divided them: Edmund A. Wienczak, personal diary.
“four medics in my glider were shot thru the head”: 441 TCG, “Interrogation Check Sheets. Glider Pilots of the 441st TCG, 99th TCS.”
“His lower extremities were missing”: Edmund A. Wienczak, personal diary.
Sergeant Paul Totten dashed out: History 139th Airborne Engineers, 25. Totten was a medic with the 139th.
One ingenious medic had had enough: Johann J. Nitrowski, Die Luftlandung, 346.
Sixteen medics were killed: 224 AMC, “224th Airborne Medical Company, Inclosure 24.”
German POWs were put to work: Ibid.
Members of George Company: 194 GIR, officer interviews, 5.
Squads of well-armed Germans had barricaded: Ibid., 5.
Private Robert Geist let the first tank . . . Private William Paliwoda took out the second: Napier Crookenden, Airborne at War, 134.
The company already had two coups to their credit: 194 GIR, officer interviews, 6. The regimental CP was that of the German 1052 Infantry Regiment. See also 194 GIR, “2nd Battalion Activities,” 2.
In a similar attack: 194 GIR, officer interviews, 6.
including maps marked with gun positions: Michael Seaman, “18th Corps Handled Wesel Airborne Job While 17th Division’s 194th Inf. Carried Ball,” 5.
“consequent disorganization”: 194 GIR, officer interviews, 7.
Private Robert Weber unlimbered his bazooka: 194 GIR, “2nd Battalion Activities,” 3.
“all but disintegrated”: Don R. Pay, Thunder from Heaven, 40.
After knocking out several German outposts: 194 GIR, officer interview, 8.
George Company lay in wait: 194 GIR, “2nd Battalion Activities,” 2.
After chasing them out a few times: Ted Velikoff, “Velikoff Diary,” 54.
Herrmann and Snow sprinted across: Eugene Herrmann, letter to the author, July 1, 2016.
The medics told him his injury: Ibid., September 16, 2015.
Baker Company went into reserve: 194 GIR, “Misc. Varsity Documents.”
The troopers tasked with seizing Bridges 7 through 10: 194 GIR, officer interviews, 4.
Chapter 15 “I shall fear no evil”
The formations of supply-carrying B-24s, aligning for the target: John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 188.
visibility was reduced to a mere half mile: Ibid., 189.
Shafer . . . going under the power lines: Tom Shafer, interview with author and My Heroes.
The lead formations veered south: John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 189.
“We saw the US Army in action”: Dave Shafer, “Combat Log,” 60.
The Ruffians were supposed to have: John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 165, 188.
Fortunately the navigator in the lead aircraft: Peter Lonke, The Liberators Who Never Returned, 226.
Shafer raised Ole King Cole’s nose: Tom Shafer, interview with author, August 18, 2013.
“The air was filled”: Peter Lonke, The Liberators Who Never Returned, 226.
Shafer brought Ole King Cole back down to fifty feet: Dave Shafer, Combat Log.
The explosion’s huge ball of flame: Dick Howell quoted in My Heroes.
“four engines rolling across the field”: Ibid., 64, and Peter Lonke, The Liberators Who Never Returned, 230.
“Because of ground fire”: Tom Shafer, interview with the author, August 18, 2013.
“everybody was sc
ared”: My Heroes.
“It is almost certain”: Dave Shafer, Combat Log, 64.
Instead of jettisoning the supplies: Donald Frank, “Running the Gauntlet from Hell to Main Street.”
“Tracers flashed up from 20mm cannons”: Jack Young’s account based on “Jack’s Story,” http://www.aeroc.dbnetinc.com/artist.html.
“The wing dropped and the pilot lost about 25 feet”: Peter Lonke, The Liberators Who Never Returned, 208.
“Gun ready!”: Emmerich’s account is based on Peter Lonke, The Liberators Who Never Returned, 70. After dark Emmerich’s AA Battery moved to new positions to avoid being overrun by American troops. Emmerich took advantage of the move to desert, hiding at a nearby farm. The farmer, who had lost sons in the war, kept Peter hidden until late April, when Emmerich made his way back home to Duisburg. On March 25, twenty-one members of Emmerich’s battery were killed and nine captured.
Flying E-for-Easy, Second Lieutenant Jack Hummel: Ibid., 21.
In the bomb bay Corporal James Deaton: “Target: DZ-Wesel, 392nd Bomb Group, Mission #268, 24 March 1945.”
The nose gunner and the navigator jumped: Peter Lonke, The Liberators Who Never Returned, 30, and ibid.; Morse made it, but Knudson’s chute failed to open.
“Lord, it is all up to you now”: The E-for-Easy crew account is pieced together from several crew accounts found in Peter Lonke, The Liberators Who Never Returned.
Chapter 16 “Are they going to shoot us now?”
A few plucky sharpshooters clanged the bell: James P. Lyke, “The Operations of the 17th Airborne Division in the Crossing of the Rhine River, 24 March 1945,” 35.
Frightened civilians: Johann J. Nitrowski, Die Luftlandung, 282.
After two hours of mopping up: James P. Lyke, “The Operations of the 17th Airborne Division in the Crossing of the Rhine River, 24 March 1945,” 35.
The castle’s owner, Count Bolko Graf von Stolberg-Wernigerode: Johann J. Nitrowski, Die Luftlandung, 283; account of Brigitte Müller, daughter of the parish priest in Diersfordt, Superintendent D. Heinrich Müller.
He’d watched the airdrop from the Allied side: Ridgway’s crossing is based on Matthew B. Ridgway, Soldier, 133, and Clay Blair, Ridgway’s Paratroopers, 467. Brigadier General John Whitelaw, the 17th Airborne’s assistant division commander, also crossed with Ridgway.