11 February, 1944 will always be remembered as one of the darkest days in squadron history. Charged with providing cover for the rear section of 240 B-17 Flying Fortress bombers during their time over the target and until relieved during their return, the 20th Fighter Group were led into action by Lt. Col. Robert Montgomery. Taking off at 1002, the pilots rendezvoused with the bombers over Bonn, Germany at 1145 and escorted them to the target and back as far as Neuchateau. From the point of rendezvous onward the 20th's P-38s were constantly bounced by small units of enemy single engine fighters. At 1235 they were relieved by a group of P-47 Thunderbolts.

    Several flights dove to ground level and strafed targets of opportunity, including several factories in Germany, buildings at enemy airfields, flak towers, two radar stations, coastal fortifications, three locomotives and a flak ship. Ground fire was intense from nearly all these targets.

   Yellow Flight, lead by Capt. Robert Meyer, and Blue Flight, led by Lt. Merle Nichols, were bounced by three pairs of Messerschmitt Me 410s. Meyer scored a number of hits upon one of these aircraft and it was seen going into a steep, diving turn with smoke pouring out of its right engine. The pilot was believed to have been hit and was either killed or severely wounded. The aircraft would be scored later as a "probable." Lt. Nichols damaged another Me410 during this encounter and during the flight back to King's Cliffe damaged two locomotives and a parked Me-109 at an airfield near the French-Belgian border. Lt. Bench damaged a Heinkel He111 at the same airfield.

   The mission was costly for the 20th Fighter Group, as eight of their forty-eight pilots sent out were lost. All of the pilots in the 79th Squadron's White Flight did not return, as well as two other 79th pilots and an additional two pilots from the 77th Squadron's White Flight. Of the eight two lost their lives, Lt. Donald Cooper; who had engine trouble during the return flight and was forced to bail out of his aircraft, and Lt. Joseph Minton of the 77th Fighter Squadron. All others except Lt. Col. Montgomery (who managed to evade despite suffering major injuries,) were captured and became prisoners of the Third Reich for the duration of the war.

   Upon arriving back at King's Cliffe the Fightin' 79th was told to "stand down" for reorganization. As fate would have it twelve fresh replacement pilots reported for duty the next day. 79th C. O., Capt. Jackson told these new pilots to get in all the practice they could and to continue familiarizing themselves with the P-38. On 20 February Capt. Jackson himself was shot down and became a POW.

FLIGHT LEADERS MISSION #20

Lt.Col. Robert Montgomery
WHITE FLIGHT

Capt. Carl Jackson
RED FLIGHT

Capt. Robert Meyer
YELLOW FLIGHT

Lt. Merle Nichols
BLUE FLIGHT

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