While flying through the overcast, at approximately 1400, I heard Airplane 44-6423 calling Airplane 44-8018, but was apparently unable to contact them. I then called 423 and asked them if I could help them out. Airplane 44-6423 answered me and asked me to give them a call when we changed our heading. I answered and said I would do that. I noticed at the time that we were flying a heading of 210. About five minutes after I had completed the original call to 423, I decided to check on their heading. I made several calls but was unable to raise them. Shortly after that we broke out of the haze into the clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When we changed our heading to approximately 190\u00b0 I tried again to contact 423, but without any success. I tried several times after that but was unable to contact them. Since we were then in the clear, and had been for some time, I assumed that they were clear and I didn\u2019t try to establish contact after that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1Lt. John H. Malkames On the bomb run airplane 44-6423 was flying #5 under complete control of pilot and bombs were dropped at the primary (Vienna Lebau) 27,800 feet – 1257 hours with flak moderate till then. Group rallied left with flak (105 mostly) following us and bracketing us in for five minutes. At that time #423 was about 600 yards back of formation at 5:30 level. At 1313, Squadron and Group changed course north of Bratislava (27,500 ft) to course of 160\u00b0 at which #423 regained #5 position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At 1317 Group changed course to 189\u00b0 with #423 still in #5, four fans going and showing no evident battle damage. At 1330 north of Gyer, changed to course of 179\u00b0, #423 still ok (22,500 ft). At 1345, just north of West tip of Lake Balaton, Group changed course to 190\u00b0 with #405 dropping out of #4 position due to engine trouble. We in #317 switched from #6 to #4 position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Airplane 44-6423 was starting to trail a bit behind, maintaining altitude, at this time. They also called #018 and asked advice concerning fuel consumption (their\u2019s was very low) and asked also for a fix. Their oxygen at the time was also down to fifty pounds per square inch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We were at 20,000 feet at 1345. Immediately thereafter, we descended to 18,000, flying thru the feathery haze of the top of the 10\/10 undercast. Airplane #423 had pulled up and to the side at 0300 and was descending also. At 1400 visibility became restricted to 500 to 600 yards and #423 was lost to our view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Position was the Yugoslavian-Hungarian Border (4608N-1704E) altitude 18,000, course N69\u00b0. Airplane #423 was paralleling our course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pilot of a\/c 4<\/a>4<\/a>-6794<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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