WITH MAJ GEN DOOLITTLE’S STRATEGIC AIR FORCES – (30 July, 1943)
P-40 Warhawks in a fighter sweep over Sardinia today destroyed twenty one enemy aircraft and strafed and destroyed an ammunition barge. Today’s victories piles up a total of forty-six aircraft destroyed by the group in the past eight days.
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Lt. Walter B. Walker, Jr., 23 Auldwood Rd., Stamford, Conn., destroyed three enemy aircraft in today’s activities, bringing his total victories to five, and becoming the third ace in the group.
Lt. Walker shot down two ME-109s in less than two minutes. Straggling behind, with his plane damaged, and out of ammunition, Lt. Walker’s account of the third victory was as follows: "I was flying about fifty feet above the water when the ME turned down and into me. It turned to the left sharply. He tried to pull in too tight, stalled viciously, flipped over and went straight down into the water. I didn’t fire a shot at him – because I had used up all of my ammunition before the attack.
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For eight days Captain William R. Reed, 386 16th Street, marion, Iowa, fighter pilot who bailed out of his P-40 Warhawk on July 10, lived in an unoccupied light house four miles northwest of Trapani. Three days after returning to his home base Captain Reed participated in today’s fighter sweep over Sardinia bringing down an ME-109, his second victory.
Returning from an escort mission over Trapani/Milo Airdrome on July 10, in a combat with four enemy planes Captain Reed’s engine was hit and caught on fire. He bailed out at 2000 feet. One enemy aircraft fired a burst at him as he parachuted down but did not fire a second time.
Captain Reed spent the first night on his life raft and reached the deserted light house the following morning. For eight days he lived in the light house within sight of the enemy coast. He has not water and only the concentrated food in his escape kit.
On the eighth day Captain Reed saw a fishing boat and paddled out ot meet it. The Italians gave him water but refused to return him to the light house. Captain Reed decided to go to the mainland and surrender. For six days he was a prisoner at Trapani and on July 23rd was turned over to the American paratroop headquarters who made arrangements for him to return to his base.
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First Lt. Robert H. Boorman, 2919 78th St., NW, Washington, D.C., 1st Lt. Frank J. Collins, 903 E. William St., Breckenridge, Texas, and F/O Richard L. Catlin, 422 E. State St., Ithaca, N. Y., strafed and destroyed an ammunition barge at Porte Sinzias today.
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Other victories today (all ME-190s) included:
1st Lt. Neil C. Carroll, 417 Cornell Street, Ottawa, Illinois
F/O Alzie D. Donovan, Clay, Ky.
F/O Cecil O. Dean, Route #1, Panama City, Fla.
2nd Lt. Richard W. Dunkin, Huntington, Indians
2nd :Lt. Harry E. Eyerly, Gresson, Penna. (2 ME109s)
F/O Clifford Huntington, Ashland, Ky. (2 ME-109s)
2nd Lt. Richard H. Mock, Hartford, Vermont
2nd Lt. Geo. P. Novotny, Toledo, Ohio
2nd Lt. Robert S. Sederberg, 5505 Forrest Glen Ave., Chicago, Ill.
F/O Wm. T. Tudor, 221 Cornell Ave., Elkatwa, Ky.
1st Lt. Donald E Wardan, Galesburg, Ill. (2 ME-190s)
1st Lt. G.C. Staley, Lakeland, Fla.
2nd Lt. Geo. C. Hamilton, Harmon, Okla.
Capt. Bunn Hearn, Jr., Wilson, N.C.