· RUEL SK

38 CRUEL SKY
In the distance, other Zebra ships were firing green-green or red-red flares, as they
too circled the sky to form their respective groups at different altitudes.
But this was not the only difference between the later models and the buncher ship.
The most striking feature was its nose, which looked like a greenhouse. Late in 1942, the
German fighters had learned to take advantage of the blind spot of the three or four flexible
.50s firing from the nose and conducted devastating and frightening head-on attacks. This
led to several attempts to increase the forward firing effectiveness. Many were made on the
field by inventive mechanics, culminating in the more accurate and powerful nose turret.
To accomplish squadron assembly, the B-24s orbited over a radio beacon (see
illustration c). Each ten-ship squadron had two three-plane elements and two two-plane
elements. The lead element of three planes had the squadron lead in the middle, flanked by
his right and left wingmen. The "slot element" leader tlew directly under the tail of the
squadron lead, flanked by his right and left wingmen. The high-right element flew to the
right and above the squadron leader, with the low left element flying to the left and under
the lead and slot elements. So, after breaking through the clouds, wingmen were racing to
spot the leaders of their elements (see illustration d).
To try to make this operation easier, two large letters (yellow on camouflage, and
black on metal) were painted on both sides of the fuselage to identify each squadron among
the group: IS for the 700th Sq, MK for the 701 st Sq, WV for the 702 nd Sq, and RN for the
703 rd Sq. An individual aircraft letter was also painted on the fuselage and vertical
stabilizers to identify the plane within its squadron. In the process of getting to their
element leader's wing as quickly as possible, the bombers had to maneuver around other
planes in search of their own lead ships. Each of them was trailing an invisible signature
called prop wash. This high density of aircraft occasionally resulted in one being caught in
the prop wash of another, rocking the ship more or less seriously. This invisible threat
could even throw a plane to its doom if the pilots were unable to regain control fast enough.
To save gasoline, 2nd Lt. William Dewey cut down the power and got A Wallet A­
Abel on the left wing (No.3 position) of Lt. Smith (No.1), leader of the 701 st squadron.
Simultaneously, the second element of the 701 st took off in search of its lead element.
Lieutenants Bruland and Belitsos were flying No. 6 position, off the left wing of their
element leader, Little Audrey (No.4). The right wingmen was Slossie (No.5) piloted by 1st