Lt McKinney's FIRST Combat Mission;

Saturday, 20 March 1943

448th BS Mission Summary: (Ops Order 4/mission 4) Group Mission # 4: Mission three (4): At 13:30 17 planes off to bomb L/G at Tebaga North. 1224 bombs dropped at 14:50 at 4,500 feet. All planes down 16:20. Approximately 40 to 50 S/E planes and 10 two engine planes were seen dispersed around field, some in revetments. Bombs dropped among planes and several S/E planes left burning, one two engine plane seen to explode. Slight heavy, inaccurate flak. Four enemy planes were attacked by Spitfires and did not come in. Weather: Scattered clouds 5/10th at 7000 feet.

A/C No. 41-13205 A/C No. 41-29769

A/C No. 41-13205 McKinney, Charles A. “Charlie” “Charlie”, 1Lt Campbell, John F., 2Lt None Kirol, Edward A., S/Sgt Ratajczyk, Thomas S., S/Sgt Headings, Boyd V., S/Sgt McGinnis, Lofton F., S/Sgt Lottes, Richard O., Sgt (ASV)

Tuesday, 30 March 1943 (2nd Mission)

A/C No. 41-13205 McKinney, Charles A. “Charlie” “Charlie”, 1Lt Campbell, John F., 2Lt None Kirol, Edward A., S/Sgt Ratajczyk, Thomas S., S/Sgt Headings, Boyd V., S/Sgt McGinnis, Lofton F., S/Sgt Lottes, Richard O., Sgt (ASV) Wednesday, 31 March 1943 (3rd Combat Mission) A/C No. 41-13205 McKinney, Charles A. “Charlie”, 1Lt Campbell, John F., 2Lt None Kirol, Edward A., S/Sgt Ratajczyk, Thomas S., S/Sgt Headings, Boyd V., S/Sgt McGinnis, Lofton F., S/Sgt Lottes, Richard O., Sgt(ASV) It was his 4th time out, but they didn’t drop on the 1st mission - sea sweep - Returned because of weather; Escort turned back - That wouldn’t count as a “combat” mission – no opposition and no drop.

LT McKinney and his Crew and Ship was Shot-Down on their 3rd COMBAT Mission.

448th BS Mission Summary: (Ops Order 16/mission 15) Group Mission # 15: Mission 11 (15): At 12:45 15 planes off to bomb on sea sweep, 14 dropped 84 x 500 bombs. 12 planes back at 17:05. One landed at Bone. Met convoy, lower element (48) claims M/V broken in two, one M/V left sinking,

one left burning. 4 E/A destroyed. About 50 E/A attacked 2 B-25’s

(Lts: Hess and McKinney) shot down. Intense, heavy accurate flak, balloon barrage. Bombing was at 100-200 feet. Weather: Clear. F/L: Cook and Veum.

(321st Bomb Group War-Diary)

On March 31 on a low element sea sweep the first battle casualty of the squadron occurred. 1st Lts: Hess,

McKinney; 2nd Lts: Campbell, Welton; S/Sgts: Cookman, Hines, Kirol, McGinnis, McMurray, Ratajczyk, Rodgers, Headings and Lottes were shot down

into the Mediterranean Seaby enemy fighters. The mission however

did succeed in sinking two enemy ships.

Barbi Ennis Connolly, 321st Bomb Group Historian in the 57th Bomb Wing; with the 57th BW Historical Research Team; John T Fitzgerald, Patti Johnson and Barbi Ennis Connolly.

Charles A McKinney