Bomber crew tv tropes11/2/2022 ![]() ![]() Charlie ( Manu Intiraymi), Eddie (Joseph Williamson) and Michael are not assigned. With the Lucky Lass grounded and the squadron decimated, some of the Lass' crew are mixed into other crews for the next mission. Wally assures Michael that by aborting the mission, he had perhaps saved their lives. At the debriefing, we learn that the squadron's fighter protection was diverted, and enemy fighters had unexpectedly shown up over the target. Later, the squadron limps back, indicating that it had not been an easy mission. The crew blames Michael at first, considering him a jinx. To make matters worse, the still is destroyed in a fiery explosion. Since they can't stay in formation, the Lass is forced to abort yet another milk run to Messina. Shortly after takeoff, the pilots notice the oil pressure rising rapidly, and the engines begin losing power. To help boost the crews' confidence in Michael, Wally lets him take the pilot's chair. Burt finishes collecting a batch of alcohol, but in his haste to get away from the storm, he fails to shut down the still, allowing the flammable liquid to drip and pool on the ground. That night, there is a fierce sandstorm forcing everyone on the base to take cover. The complain that they won't get credit for what was an easy mission, and he realizes now is not the right time to talk to the men. However, as he approaches the crew's tent, he overhears them making disparaging comments about him. He convinces Michael that the crew will eventually forgive him and suggests he start by admitting his mistake and apologizing to the crew. Wally says that while getting lost is a serious screw up, bad things just happen. A despondent Michael tells Wally that he's going to apply for a transfer to another plane. They abort and manage to make it home without any injury. Not only are they off course, they have flown over territory heavily defended by anti-aircraft guns. Unfortunately, when the Lass comes out of the clouds, the rest of the squadron is nowhere to be seen. Michael simply tries to keep an eye on the plane in front of him and doesn't use instrument navigation. The squadron is ordered to fly into the clouds in a roundabout course to avoid flak emplacements on the approach to the target in Messina, Sicily. Wally takes the new young pilot outside and gives him some advice to try harder to fit in, including drinking with the men.ĭuring the next mission which is supposed to be a " milk run", or easy mission, an already hungover Wally succumbs to ptomaine poisoning. Further alienating him from the crew, he does not join in Wally's toast to their recently departed crewman because he doesn't drink. Michael is present and appears standoffish. Only Wally dares to sample the local cuisine, goat meat and couscous, while everyone else sticks to their C-rations. The crew throws a party/ wake to celebrate their return to flight status and mourn their losses. ![]() After some griping, Caparelli tells the men that the Lass has already been cleared earlier that day. Caparelli (Howard Gibson) to clear their aircraft to fly. The crew, anxious to get back into the air, push maintenance chief Sgt. Burt explains that the Army adds ethanol to boost the octane rating of aviation fuel, so they are cooking the fuel to distill out the alcohol. On their walk-around of the North African base, the replacements are introduced to the alcohol still that flight engineer Burt ( Chris Owen) has put together from bomber parts and other scraps. Co-pilot Michael Schmidt ( Bug Hall) reports to Wally, and two new waist gunners, Tom ( Jeremy Ray Valdez) and Oliver (Tony Elias), introduce themselves to the enlisted crewmen. During a raid on Gerbini, Italy, with her Irish-American crew, the Lucky Lass is heavily damaged and the pilot "Pops" (Jamie Martz), and both waist gunners, Jake (Anthony Ocasio) and Joe (Steve Holm) are killed.įive days later, Wally ( Donnie Jeffcoat) is now the Lass' aircraft commander, and replacements arrive. However, losses are heavy and the odds are that only 2 in 10 will survive 25 missions. We learn in the opening reveal that air crews are expected to complete 25 combat missions before they can be sent home. The B-17F Lucky Lass, part of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) 99th Bombardment Group (Heavy) (the "Diamondbacks") from the 12th Air Force is stationed at Navrin, Algeria in 1943. ![]()
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