M/Sgt Edwin Talley; Wednesday, 22 September 1943

380th BS War Diary: Back to work we went today. Our objective was the Road Bridge and switchback just north of Grottaminarda, Italy. It was a highly successful mission. Due to intense flak encountered over the target, Lt. Hanlon’s B-25 was hit with a direct burst of flak. The three men in the rear of the ship bailed out. Lt. Hanlon however, expertly piloted the stricken bomber to a friendly field.

Hanlon, James Augustus, Jr., 1Lt, pilot

380th BS Mission Summary: (Ops Order ---/mission ---) Group Mission # :

Mission Report # 129 Date- Sep 22 1943

Target- Rd. Bridge & Switchback at 946765 (Just N Squadron airplanes- twelve of Grottaminarda)

After the splendid work that our Group performed on the Castelnuovo Rd Jcn. that resulted in the destruction of 1800 M/T trapped on the severed roads, we have gained greater glory in our tactical work. Knowing of its importance, higher Command assigned us to destroy the Rd Bridge & Switchback at 946765 which is just N of Grottaminarda. A perfect piece of bombing was turned in by our bombardiers that resulted in direct hits on the bridge and severance of both the N & S legs of the bridge by our bomb strings. Flak of a “slight growing to moderate” intensity was experienced. It was enough, however, to plant a direct burst of flak in the bombay of Lt. Hanlon’s plane, causing a fire there. The three members of the crew in the rear of the ship, Sgts. Marquis, Talley and Pvt. Loy bailed out excited and believing the ship was going down.

A/C No. 11 aircraft unidentified (flak damage - crash landed at Palermo) P Hanlon, James Augustus, Jr., 2Lt CP Newkirk, Renford Raymond, 2Lt N None B Donahue, Francis E., S/Sgt

E None

R Talley, Edwin C., Sgt (bailed out, MIA) G Marquis, Wesley W., S/Sgt (bailed out, POW) RG Loy, R.L. (i.o.), Pvt (bailed out, MIA)

Barbi Ennis Connolly, 319th and 321st BG Historian and 57th Bomb Wing Historical Researcher with the HISTORY TEAM of John T Fitzgrald, Patti Johnson and Barbi Connolly. PRINCESSBARBI_B25@msn.com

Edwin C Talley