42-空军战士-第16章

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isted　the　unwieldy；　blunt…nosed　500　pound　bombs　into　their　racks。　They　were　inserted　into　the　B…24's　womb　in　a　horizontal　position　and　attached　to　the　metal　racks。　They　had　a　cardboard　tag　between　the　bomb　and　the　nose　fuse；　and　at　the　back　end　a　wire…arming　pin。　The　tail　gunner　would　crawl　out　on　the　cat　walk　over　the　bomb　bay　door　to　pull　the　tag　and　then　the　pin。　　Climbing　into　the　B…24　with　those　big　heavy　boots　and　the　layers　of　clothes　was　always　cumbersome；　as　the　men　waddled　ponderously。　They　carried　flak　jackets；　mandatory　since　Ploesti。　The　crew　members　had　difficulty　getting　themselves　into　and　adjusted　in　their　cramped　positions；　especially　the　nose　turret　and　the　tail　gunner。　The　belly　turret　gunner　waited　until　they　were　in　the　air　before　squeezing　—　with　the　help　of　the　waist　gunner　—　into　his　bubble。　Surbeck　and　McGovern　settled　into　their　seats；　with　their　parachutes　serving　as　a　sort…of　back　rest。　The　seats　were　encased　in　cast　iron。　The　iron　came　up　to　the　knees；　then　under　the　seat　and　up　the　back。　It　was　there　in　the　event　that　flak　hit　the　plane　on　the　bottom　side　so　that；　in　McGovern’s　words；　〃the　pilot　and　co…pilot　would　have　some　chance　of　survival　because　somebody　has　to　fly　the　airplane。　It　wasn’t　that　they　were　worth　more　than　anybody　else　on　the　crew；　but　if　both　got　killed　or　badly　injured；　that　plane　is　going　to　go　down。〃　　The　moment　Surbeck　got　into　the　plane；　went　to　his　seat；　and　put　on　his　earphones　and　mike　—　attached　to　his　helmet　—　he　was；　in　McGovern’s　words；　〃totally　in　mand；　of　the　officers　and　sergeants。〃　McGovern　already　knew　that；　but　watching　Captain　Surbeck　go　through　his　routine　reinforced　the　point。　McGovern　explained；　〃It　had　to　be　that　way　because　the　pilot　was　the　only　one　with　his　hands　on　the　controls　that　determined　where　the　plane　was　going　to　go　and　how　it　was　going　to　be　flown。〃　Of　course　he　had　help；　especially　from　the　navigator　and　bombardier；　the　radio　operator　and　the　flight　engineers；　〃but　the　request　for　their　help　came　from　Surbeck。〃　It　was　his　job　to　check　on　the　crew；　frequently。　He　needed　to　make　sure　that　nobody’s　oxygen　hose　had　e　unhooked；　if　a　tail　gunner　or　someone　else　failed　to　answer　when　the　pilot　called　to　him　on　the　inter；　he　might　well　have　passed　out　from　a　lack　of　oxygen　or　frozen　because　his　electric　plug　had　e　out；　without　ever　noticing　that　his　hose　or　wire　was　unhooked。　These　and　other　things　Surbeck　did　as　a　matter　of　routine；　McGovern　noted。　　To　get　the　engines　started；　Surbeck　would　signal　to　the　flight　engineer；　who　would　start　the　single…cylinder　gasoline…powered　unit　on　the　B…24。　It　was　called　the　〃putt…putt〃　and　gave　a　boost　to　the　batteries。　Engine　number　three；　the　one　nearest　McGovern；　started　first。　It　powered　the　generators　which　helped　start　the　other　engines。　When　all　were　operating；　Surbeck　did　a　〃run　up；〃　checking　on　each　engine’s　performance；　magnetos；　temperature　and　pressure　checks　of　fuel；　oil　and　hydraulic　systems。　When　a　flare　went　up　planes　began　to　move　out　of　their　hard　stands　over　the　taxiway　and　onto　the　runway；　looking　like　elephants　getting　ready　for　a　circus　parade。　Surbeck　called　out　the　final　checklist　to　McGovern：　　〃Booster　pumps〃　—　〃On〃　　〃Mixture〃　—　〃Auto　rich〃　　〃Props〃　—　〃Full　high〃　　〃Superchargers〃　—　〃Set〃　　〃Half　flaps〃　—　〃Set〃　　and　so　on。　　Surbeck　lined　his　plane　up　on　the　taxi　strip；　behind　some　planes　and　ahead　of　others　—　there　were　28　in　the　group；　seven　in　each　squadron。　The　454th　Bomb　Group　was　on　the　other　side　of　the　runway；　parallel　to　the　455th；　so　that　the　planes　from　each　group　could　take　off　side　by　side。　Setting　the　brakes；　Surbeck　pushed　the　throttle　to　get　the　engines　running　at　maximum。　When　his　turn　to　take　off　arrived；　the　roar　was　almost　deafening。　The　plane　vibrated　as　every　nut　and　bolt；　every　rivet　and　tube　rattled　and　shook。　　Twenty　or　at　most　thirty　seconds　after　the　plane　ahead　of　him　began　to　roll　down　the　runway；　Surbeck　released　the　brakes。　A　modern　air　traffic　controller；　or　a　pilot　of　a　mercial　airliner；　would　be　appalled　at　the　sight；　but　for　the　bomber　pilots　of　World　War　II　that　was　how　close　to　each　other　they　were。　Down　the　strip　Surbeck　started　rolling；　picking　up　speed　until　he　reached　160　mph。　He　had　his　flaps　set　at　20　degrees；　brought　the　engines　to　maximum　power；　and　at　the　end　of　the　runway　he　pulled　the　nose　off　the　ground　and　became　airborne。　With　the　bomb　load；　the　full　tanks　of　fuel；　the　weight　of　the　crew　and　their　equipment；　including　the　。50　caliber　machine　guns　and　ammunition　for　them；　Surbeck　had　to　fight　to　gain　altitude。　It　seemed　to　McGovern　that　he　would　not　get　the　plane　above　tree…top　altitude；　but　he　did。　Barely；　but　he　did。　Once　the　plane　was　in　the　air；　even　if　only　just；　McGovern　as　co…pilot　had　the　task　of　raising　the　landing　gear　and　bringing　up　the　flaps。　　Surbeck　circled；　as　did　all　the　other　pilots；　their　planes　looking　rather　like　hawks　over　a　marsh。　And　he　climbed。　The　gunners　tested　their　guns。　They　were　Browning　M…2　。50　caliber　machine　guns。　Each　gun　had　about　150　working　parts　and　the　men　had　been　required　to　strip　and　reassemble　it　blindfolded　wearing　gloves。　The　guns　weighed　sixty…four　pounds　and　fired　800　rounds　of　ammunition　per　minute　at　a　range　of　600　yards。　Sgt。　Louie　Hansen；　a　tail　gunner　in　the　743rd　Squadron；　once　discovered　that　both　his　guns　were　jammed　—　the　cocking　levers　had　been　put　in　backward　after　the　guns　had　been　cleaned　from　the　previous　mission。　He　described　what　he　did。　〃There　was　only　space　in　the　turret　to　get　one　hand　through　to　a　gun。　I　did　one　with　my　right　hand；　the　other　with　my　left。　Sweat　started　to　trickle　down　my　back；　my　goggles　steamed　over　which　made　no　difference　as　there　was　no　way　to　see　what　I　was　doing。　The　intense　cold　made　me　afraid　to　remove　my　gloves。　But　I　got　the　job　done　and；　as　most　bat　crew　members　know；　one　can　sweat　at　50　degrees　below。〃　Fortunately　for　Surbeck　and　McGovern；　the　guns　on　their　Liberator　tested　okay。　　After　an　hour　or　so；　Surbeck’s　plane　had　bee　a　part　of　the　formation。　It　was　a　squadron　box　of　seven　aircraft。　There　were　two　three…plane　echelons。　The　lead　plane　had　a　wingman　just　behind　and　on　either　side。　Surbeck　was　one　of　those　on　the　wing　of　the　leader。　The　second　echelon　was　forty　feet　below　and　forty　feet　back　of　the　lead　echelon。　The　seventh　aircraft；　known　as　〃Tail　End　Charlie；〃　was　behind　the　second　echelon。　Flying　the　wing；　even　for　Surbeck；　was　more　difficult　than　being　in　the　lead；　but　easier　than　flying　Tail　End　Charlie。　As　the　last　plane　in　the　squadron；　Tail　End　Charlie　was　the　most　vulnerable　if　German　fighters　attacked；　and　it　was　the　hardest　position　to　hold。　Usually　new　pilots　and　crews　got　that　assignment。　On　the　wing；　Surbeck　wanted　to　stay　close　to　the　plane　he　was　flying　on　so　as　to　make　as　small　and　infrequent　power　changes　as　possible；　to　save　the　engines　and　save　fuel。　Pilot　Lt。　John　Smith；　said　that　〃in　due　course　flying　formation　became　a　reflex　like　driving　a　car。〃　The　group　consisted　of　four　squadrons；　the　lead　box；　the　high　box；　the　low　box　and　the　middle　box。　　More　climbing；　to　20；000　and　eventually　25；000　feet　over　the　Adriatic。　Then　off　for　the　target。　When　the　group　got　to　the　initial　point　it　turned。　But　clouds　had　moved　in　over　Linz　and　the　lead　pilot　decided　to　abort。　He　turned；　so　did　the　others；　and　returned　to　base；　still　fully　loaded　with　the　bombs。　　________________________　　McGovern’s　first　mission　went　better　than　that　of　Lt。　David　Gandin；　a　navigator　in　a　B…24。　In　his　war　diary；　Gandin　reported　that　when　his　Liberator；　called　the　Snafu；　was　over　the　target　a　piece　of　flak　came　through　the　cockpit　window。　The　pilot；　Lt。　Bill　Marsh；　lost　the　top　of　his　head。　The　co…pilot；　Lt。　Hilary　Bevins；　was　on　his　first　mission。　He　called　to　his　radio　man；　who　came　to　the　cockpit　wearing　a　walkaround　oxygen　bottle　〃and　removed　Marsh　from　the　pilot’s　seat。　Bevins　couldn’t　stand　it　with　Marsh　in　the　seat　and　all　the　blood　flowing　around。　　〃Bevins　moved　over　to　the　pilot’s　seat　and　kept　in　the　formation　until　it　headed　off。　　All　the　passes　were　out；　so　Bevins　flew　the　opposite　direction　of　the　setting　sun。　All　the　men　were　freezing　because　of　the　hole　in　the　top　of　the　cockpit。　The　engineer　was　sick　to　his　stomach　from　all　the　blood。　Bevins’　eyeball　was　scratched　and　Marsh’s　blood　was　frozen　on　his　hands。〃　　When　darkness　descended；　Blevin’s　flew　opposite　the　North　Star。　Finally　Snafu　got　back　to　base　—　but　Bevins　had　never　made　a　night　landing　before。　〃As　he　came　in；　he　banked　too　far　to　the　left　and　knocked　off　the　left　landing　gear；　bounced　over　and　did　the　same　to　the　right　one；　the　ship　crash…landed　and　caught　on　fire。　　〃Thank　God　all　got　out　okay；　though　Bevins　wouldn’t　leave　till　they　took　Marsh’s　body　out　also。　The　plane　burned　to　a　crisp。〃　　___________________


在战斗中学会飞翔（英文版）Learning　to　Fly　in　bat（2）

　　　　　　On　November　17；　McGovern　flew　his　second　mission　as　Surbeck’s　co…pilot。　The　　target　was　marshaling　yards　in　Gyor；　Hungary。　Over　the　target　the　flak　began。　It　was　heavy　and　accurate。　Sticking　tight　to　the　formation；　his　plane　and　the　others　could　achieve　a　better　bomb　pattern　but　it　also　made　a　concentrated　target　for　the　flak　gunners。　〃It　was　just　solid　black　except　for　flashes　of　red　where　shells　were　exploding；〃　McGovern　remembered。　The　Germans　were　using　a　box…type　defense。　Each　of　the　88s　fired　into　an　area　as　the　bombers　approached；　the　shells　traveling　faster　than　the　speed　of　sound　and　set　to　explode　at　the　group’s　altitude。　〃They　just　boxed　it。〃　The　boxes　were　2；000　feet　deep　and　2；000　feet　wide；　sometimes　more。　The　German　antiaircraft　units　employed　almost　a　million　personnel　and　operated　over　50；000　guns；　most　of　them　the　dreaded　88s。　The　shells　were　time…fused　to　explode　at　20；000　feet；　or　above　or　below　that　altitude　according　to　the　flight　pattern。　As　the　shells　exploded；　sending　out　hundreds　of　pieces　of　steel　shrapnel　that　had　a　killing　zone　radius　of　some　thirty　feet；　the　bombers　flew　into　them。　〃Well　they　had　filled　that　box；〃　McGovern　said。　A　standard　expression　from　Surbeck　or　crew　members　was　that　〃the　flak　was　so　thick　you　could　walk　on　it。〃　McGovern　〃often　wondered　if　that’s　the　way　hell　looks。〃　　Another　pilot；　Lt。　Robert　Reichard；　recalled　that　〃the　barrage　was　so　intense　that　the　daylight　disappeared　and　it　was　as　if　someone　had　cut　out　the　sun。〃　The　B…24's　had　nowhere　to　hide　and　with　the　ground　25；000　feet　below；　there　was　no　place　to　dig　in。　The　bursts　around　them　posed　a　threat　to　the　airplane；　as　it　had　ten　500　pound　bombs　and　over　2；000　gallons　of　100　octane　gas　on　board。　　When　the　bombs　dropped　the　plane　jumped　a　few　feet。　〃Everything　improved　when　they　went　away；〃　Lt。　Vincent　Fagan　remembered。　〃The　plane　was　5；000　or　6；000　pounds　lighter；　we　were　leaving　the　flak　instead　of　going　into　it　and　we　could　take　evasive　action　—　usually　a　diving　turn　towards　the　shortest　escape　route　from　the　flak　area。〃　　____________________　　One　didn’t　always　get　out　of　the　flak。　On　his　first　mission；　October　7；　1944；　B…24　pilot　J。I。　Merritt；　in　Liberty　Belle；　flew　over　Vienna　to　hit　an　oil　refinery。　After　dropping　the　bombs；　he　banked　steeply　to　the　left　and　headed　toward　the　rally　point　and　home。　Sgt。　Art　Johnson；　a　waist　gunner　and