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The stories of Vis Island and Rough Mission, from Bob Reichard, were the catalyst that generated the following letter, received on 24 January 2000:
Dear Mr. Reichard,
I read your story about your "adventure" on the Isle of Vis and had a question for you. It appears that you and your aircraft left the Island on 17 December 1944. You mentioned that you saw a life boat and rescue boat just off the Island as you were leaving. If the date is accurate, I believe I know whose airplane and crew you saw.
On that day my cousin, Lt. Russell C. Landry, Navigator aboard "The Tulsamerican", a B-24J, based with the 461st B.G., 765th Squadron, were involved in a bombing run to Odertal. Just prior to reaching the I.P., their box of six aircraft was jumped by numerous German fighters, both Me109's and Fw190's. Four of the B-24's were shot down in the initial attack. My cousin's airplane, piloted by Lt. Eugene Ford, had one engine shot out, a punctured fuel tank, and damaged hydraulics. They discussed whether to bail out or attempt a landing of the damaged aircraft on the Isle of Vis. The decision was made, attempt a landing on the Island.
While on approach to the Island, they found that they could not lower the gear, so felt a go around was necessary and an attempt at manually lowering the gear for the second landing attempt. As "The Tulsamerican" attempted the go around, flying approximately 100 feet above the water, and in a turn, two more engines failed sending the airplane into the Adriatic Sea off the Isle of Vis. All but three crew members survived the crash though badly injured. Lt. Eugene Ford, Lt. Russell Landry, and Sgt. Charles Priest are still with the aircraft. The surviving crew members were in the water for about two hours awaiting rescue. They were rescued sometime just after sundown on that day.
You and your crew may have been the last to see this event. In reading the Mission Target History, I noticed that the 456th B.G. was also involved with the Odertal Mission on 17 December 1944 also. I do have a tie to the 456th B.G. via Lt. Raymond C. Miltimore, Bombardier. Raymond was my brothers father-in-law. We still have contact. He was with the 747th Squadron at Stornara Field. His airplane went down, and the crew bailed out on 2 December 1944 on a mission to Odertal. The crew was captured and spent time at Dulag-Luft West.
I have an Uncle that was with the 8th AAF, based at Framlingham, England with the 390th B.G., 570th Squadron. He was a Radio Operator aboard a B-17F known as the "Virgin Sturgeon". His airplane was involved in a mid-air accident while on the bombing run to Frankfurt, Germany on 29 January 1944. This was his tenth mission. His aircraft went down and he was captured along with the rest of the crew. He spent the next 16 months as a P.O.W. He does not talk about his experiences.
Thank your for taking the time to write down the events or your military life, and thank you for being there during that time. All of you are my hero's.
Sincerely,
Gerald Landry