Crew crash landed in France and all awarded the Bronze Star by General Patton.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a rough mission, good escort, but the 326th \u201clost\u201d one aircraft; the route to target was laden with heavy flak. Lt Spencer had problems beginning in mid channel having to feather #3 due to an oil leak. On reaching the IP, a direct hit took out #4. Now he had to drop out of the formation. More hits rendering the job of flying almost impossible and the stand-by order was passed. Everything possible went overboard, except the ball turret, for the lack of a wrench. The bombardier, Lt McCrosson, located a target. German warehouse, and aced it. Now \u201cHomesick Angel\u201d took on small arms fire. The #2 was burning. #3 and #4 out and at 800 feet the crew abandoned the aircraft. All landed near each other and were taken to a French family\u2019s home. A 3rd Army representative soon arrived and took them to Gen. Patton\u2019s Headquarters just outside Metz.\u201d (Turner)<\/p>\n
\u201cBailing out of their blazing, flak-riddled aircraft over no-man\u2019s land, the crew parachuted down into France just behind the advancing patrols of the US Third Army. Picked up by forward elements of an ordnance battalion, 2nd Lt Horace L. Spencer [42-31907 (326th)] and his crew were turned over to Gen Patton\u2019s headquarters within a few hours after landing. Summoned to the General\u2019s staff headquarters the following morning, they anticipated a routine interrogation. Instead, they were met personally by the legendary general who, after congratulating them on their safe arrival in friendly territory, decorated each man with the Bronze Star, posed for and autographed a group picture, and placed his private plane at their disposal for the trip back to England. Members of the crew who shared this experience with Lt Spencer were 2nd Lts Paul K. Bupp, Sergeant J. Ableman and Harry J. McCrossen, M\/Sgts Thomas F. Jenkins and Jack Spratt, and Sgts John L. Houk, Leslie G. Spillman, Jr., and John P. Hensley.\u201d (Sloan)<\/p>\n