Hide Article Text (OCR)
Fatally WoundedBombardier BagsTwo Jap PlanesFortress Over Bougainville Attacked By 10 Fighters,But Returns(International News Service)WASHINGTON, Aug. II.—The I War Department today related how; a mortally wounded Flying Fortressbombardier shot down two Japa-inese planes “in one of the fiercestaerial engagements of the war.'The bombardier was 2nd LieutJaseph R. Sarnaski of RichmondVa . who manned the nose gun ot the B-17 during a mapping mission over Bougainville Island in theSouth Pacific.As the Fortress passed over Bukaairdrome, 10 enemy fighters tookoff to intercept. One Japanese pilotmade a pass, and tracers from the B-17 were seen to enter his fuse-.age. A half minute later, three fighters attacked simultaneouslyfrom the front.Sarnoski, whose wounds laterI proved fatal, sent a steady burst of fire into one plane until it went upm flames and disintegrated Maj.! Jay Zeamer, Jr.. of Orange, N.J., pilot of the Fortress sent his tracers into the cockpit of another fighter. Still conscious, Sarnoski swung hisguns into action, and sent this planeplunging into the sea.During the furious aerial encounter. five crewmen on the Fort-ress, including Sarnoski. werewounded. Sgt. William Vaughan,radio operator of lt;Rt. 2, Burkyroad'. Youngstown, O., was wounded in the back.When the fight was over, the gallant Fortress crew counted a toll of five Japanese planes destroyed. The plane's damage, however, included an hvdraulic system destroyed, control cables blasted, rudder smashed, oxygen bottles in the cockpit ignited, and most of the flight instruments shattered. But like mau otheiB-I7’s in .World War II. the giant plane completed its mission andi limped back to base.
Newspaper Details
New Castle News
New Castle, Pennsylvania, US
Wed, Aug 11, 1943
Page 20
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 26 Mar 2023
Other Publications Near New Castle, Pennsylvania
New Castle News Weekend
New Castle Daily City News
Daily City News
New Castle Weekly News
New Castle Index
