Bomb Boogie

Cy Eaton Today

2009-11-22T10:48:00.000-08:00

Cy Eaton - April 19, 2008

Bombs Away

2007-09-22T12:59:00.000-07:00

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This photo appeared in The New York Times on Monday, March 20, 1944. The Title reads:

THEIR BOMBS AWAY, OUR MARAUDERS WING BACK FOR THEIR HOME BASE

The caption reads:

B-26 planes after dropping their cargoes of destruction on the Nazi airdrome at Leeuwarden in Holland

A Family Tradition

2007-07-17T15:51:00.000-07:00

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Margaret House Eaton was the first family member to fly in the 1920s. Cy's mother is a story unto herself. Her father was a doctor in Cleveland Ohio who rode with Sherman in the Civil War. She was an adventuress, flier, world traveler, butterfly collector, painter, early adherent of the emerging and controversial science of psychiatry and, not incidently, mother of seven.

The side of the biplane reads: Morrow Aircraft Charlotte

Karl "Charly" Willius

2006-07-15T14:22:00.000-07:00

Aces of the Luftwaffe lists the 50 victories of “Charly” Willius in 371 missions. On July 30, 1943 he is credited with downing a B-26 of the 386 Bomb Group northwest of Antwerp.

On 8 April 1944, Willius made a head-on attack against a formation of USAAF B-24 four-engine bombers. His target dropped out of formation in flames and became his 50th, and last, victory. The Fw 190s climbed back into the sun following their attack. As they were reforming, USAAF P-47 fighters bounced them. Willius’ Fw 190 A-8 (W.Nr. 170 009) “Black 5” was seen to spin into the ground and explode. His body was not recovered until 1967, buried in his aircraft in a Dutch polder. Willius was awarded a posthumous Ritterkreuz on 9 June and promotion to the rank of Oberleutnant.

B-26 Cut-Away View

2006-05-08T21:09:00.000-07:00

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Caption reads:

Often overshadowed by larger four-engine heavy bombers like the B-17 and the B-24, the B-26 Marauder was designed as a medium bomber to strike bridges, rail depots, and ships. Powered by two 18-cylander, 2,000-hp Pratt & Whitney engines, the B-26 typically had a crew of six and a maximum bomb load of 4,000 pounds. The combination of small wingspan and heavy weight made the marauder a tricky airplane to fly, but on opeational missions it had the lowest loss rate of all combat aircraft in Europe.

This cut-away view of the B-26 Marauder by John Batchelor appeared in the July 1994 issue of AIR & SPACE (Smithsonian) magazine supporting the article "Did He Say 500 Feet?" This scan comes from the back cover of "The Crusaders" a publication of the 386th Bomb Group Association.

Target Practice in San Angelo

2006-05-08T20:48:00.000-07:00

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Training

2005-12-12T20:54:00.000-08:00

This postcard is taped inside Eaton's Pilot Log Book.

But before combat there was training. Eaton started learning to fly while still in college. Then he was stationed at:

Pine Bluff, Arkansas
San Angelo, Texas
Ellington Field, Texas
Midland, Texas
Mac Dill Field, Tampa Florida
Lake Charles, Louisiana

Lt. Cy Eaton

2005-12-03T12:16:00.000-08:00

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Official Photo of Cy Eaton at Ellington Field, Texas.

The Bomb Boogie Crew

2005-12-02T18:16:00.000-08:00

The Crew of The Bomb Boogie

This photo must be a trainer and not the plane that Lt. Cy Eaton ferried to Boxted, near Colchester, England. He piloted the Bomb Boogie on Diversion Mission Number 3 and was scheduled to pilot it in combat. You can see mission formations here. But things don't always work out like you plan, as we shall see.

Chester Klier who flew with the 386th and later became the historian for the 386th cannot be praised enough for documenting these heroes.

The Crusaders

2005-11-29T16:08:00.000-08:00

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Here is Stan Stokes' tribute to the Crusdaders of the 386th Bomb Group. The art depicts the B-26 "Sexation" being attacked by a German FW-190 on November 26, 1943.

Situation: The B-26 Marauder, dubbed the "widow maker" by its detractors, was developed by the Glen L. Martin Company beginning in 1939. The first B-26 was completed in November of 1940. The early models had very high wing loading, and were tricky to fly. Added armament increased weight even further leading to an alarming rate of accidents during training. Increasing engine power, wingspan and rudder height solved many of the problems. The B-26 was capable of speeds in excess of 320-MPH, and with a normal crew compliment of six and a bomb load of 4,000 pounds the aircraft, had a range in excess of 1100 miles. Despite the controversy surrounding the B-26, the aircraft served admirably during WW II, and in fact had the lowest loss ratio of any American aircraft. The 386th Bomb Group was organized on December 1, 1942 under the command of Lt. Col. Lester J. Maitland. The 386th, known as "The Crusaders," trained at MacDill Field near Tampa Florida. The accident rate during training of earlier B-26 units was alarmingly high, leading to the phrase "one a day in Tampa Bay." With improved training methods for both flight and maintenance crews, and with improvements to the B-26's engines and electrical systems, the accident rate began to decline, and the 386th attained 10,000 flight hours of training without an accident. The Crusaders went to Lake Charles, Louisiana for the second phase of their training. On April 20, 1943 the Crusaders completed their training and crews were dispatched to either Selfridge Field in Michigan or the Martin plant in Omaha to pick-up their B-26Bs and Cs for the long flight to England. The 386th had an incredible combat record, flying 409 combat missions against Axis targets such as bridges, railroad yards, and other tactical targets. Most bombing missions were done at an altitude of 10,000-13,000 feet. On 11/29/43 the Crusaders flew a mission which was very memorable for the crew of Sexation. As depicted in Stan Stokes painting, appropriately entitled Mauled by Marauders, the Sexation was attacked by several German Fw-190 and Bf-109 fighters. With the loss of one engine, significant wing damage, and hydraulic system failure, Sexation was a sitting duck. However, Bill Norris, the tail gunner on the B-26, kept the fighters at bay, shooting down 3 enemy fighters and one probable on the mission. This made Norris the "top gun" of the 386th. The crew was able to nurse the aircraft back to England where they made a belly landing. Both Norris and the aircraft's commander, Pete LaFramboise, received the Silver Star for this mission. This print is dedicated to the memory of Col. Maitland and the 191 Crusaders who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country during WW II.

A Martin B-26 Marauder

2005-11-29T15:08:00.000-08:00

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