May I suggest the sistership from her squadron, Sh*t House Mouse? Btw, Am I right in believing that Peggy Lou had just a single .50 in the rear turret? It certainly look like it anyway....
Wednesday, 5 May 1943
USAAF Chronology: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO):
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): In Tunisia, P-40's
strafe and bomb a bridge, vessels, docks, warehouses, and other buildings at Nabeul
harbor.
WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force): In Sicily,
Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) B-l7's bomb a vessel off Capo San Vito.
In Italy, B-25's and B-26's bomb shipping off Marettimo Island. In Tunisia, NASAF B-
17's hit Tunis harbor and attack ships and docks at La Goulette. B-25's and B-26's bomb
shipping E of Cape Zebib, and hit a landing ground at Galaat el Andeless and near
Protville. Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) fighters and bombers fly 6
missions against strongholds on the NE and E slopes of Djebel Bou Aoukaz as the British
5 Corps' 1 Division attacks and gains the position. Fighters hit shipping in Gulf of Tunis
and attack landing grounds and concentrations near Protville. Wellingtons bomb roads at
Bir Meherga. After regrouping and re-equipping, HQ 14th Fighter Group and it's 37th and
49th Fighter Squadrons with P-38's transfer from Mediouna, French Morocco to
Telergma, Algeria.
445th BS War Diary: The shuttle service between Souk el Arba and Ain M'Lila was
completed today as all the crews have now arrived back at Ain M'Lila.
446th BS War Diary: Regular combat zone activities.
447th BS War Diary: At Ain M'Lila three of our planes participated in a sea sweep. No
shipping sighted and all planes returned safely. Italian transport planes escorted by
fighters were encountered on the sweep and the P-38s attacked them. Six transports and
three enemy fighters were shot down. At Souk el Arba six of our planes participated in a
sea sweep. A convoy was sighted, attacked and several small ships sunk. All of our
planes returned safely.
448th BS War Diary: Mission 26 (36): At 06:00 6 planes off on sea sweep, returned at
09:25. No bombs dropped. 2 E/A transports shot down by escorts. No flak. Weather:
High scattered cumulus. F/L: Issacson.
Issacson, Clayton M., Capt, pilot
Thursday, 6 May 1943
USAAF Chronology: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO):
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): In Italy, B-24's bomb
Reggio di Calabria harbor, hitting several vessels and shore installations. In Tunisia, B-
25's attack Furna and Massicault and surrounding areas. P-40's hit shipping in the Gulf of
Tunis and vehicles and buildings along the coast.
WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force): In Sicily,
Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) B-17's, escorted by fighters, bomb
Marsala and Trapani. In Italy, B-25's and B-26's, escorted by fighters, bomb a convoy
SW of Marettimo Island, the port of Favignana, and vessels W of Mitrettimo. In
Tunisia, the British 18 Army Group opens the final assault on Tunis and Bizerte before
dawn. The assault is supported by massed artillery fire and the most intensive air
bombardment yet employed in North Africa. Northwest African Tactical Air Force
(NATAF) airplanes bomb El Aouina, La Sebala, and Ariana Airfields during the night of
5/6 May. Today, fighters, A-20's, and medium bombers fly over 1,400 sorties, attacking
Protville and La Sebala Airfields, trucks on the Massicault-Tunis road, Bordj Frendj,
Djebel Achour, traffic SW of Tunis, troops N of Massicault, the Djedeida-Saint-Cyprien
road, the road S of Djedeida, and numerous other points of strength in extreme NE
Tunisia. B-25's and B-26's bomb 2 beached vessels at Cape Zebib, and ships, a
lighthouse, and parked aircraft near Capes Fortass, Zebib, Cap Serrat and at Protville.
Fighters escort the bombing missions. The 48th Fighter Squadron, 14th Fighter Group with
P-38's transfers from Mediouna, French Morocco to Telergma, Algeria.
445th BS War Diary: 25 B-25's of the Group took off at 12:00 on a sea search. The
element leaders in our Squadron were Lt. Tipton and Lt. Walker. No enemy shipping
was sighted. 250 rounds of ammunition were fired to clear the guns. All ships were
down at 16:00
Tipton, William L. "Tip", 1Lt, pilot
Walker, James O., 2Lt, pilot or Walker, Robert S., 2Lt, pilot
446th BS War Diary: Group mission 36A, Sqdn 26 composed of nine planes. Lt.
Griffith led the formation with Major Schwane as co-pilot on a sea sweep. 300 and 500
lb bombs were used to sink two flak barges and damage others.
Group mission 36, Sqdn 27 composed of 1 plane flown by Lt. VanArtsdalen on
a sea sweep. No target sighted.
Schwane, Henry H., Maj, pilot, Commander VanArtsdalen, Charles M., 1Lt, pilot
447th BS War Diary: At Ain M'Lila five of our planes participated in a sea sweep.
Nothing sighted and all our planes returned safely. At Souk el Arba six of our planes
took part in a sea sweep. A convoy was sighted, attacked and one Siebel Ferry blown up.
All our planes returned safely.