The 29th Mission

This image was a commission work and is based on a true story. William J. Donovan was the co-pilot of the B-24 called «Holiday Inn». It was part of the 491st Bomb Group, 588th Bomb Squadron. He survived the mission where his plane was shot down over Le Havre, saved by the french resistance and made it back home.

Here is a small excerpt of his story:
«Suddenly, at bombs away, the plane rose; and as I was monitoring the other planes in the formation, Rock was monitoring the crew on the radio in the plane. Just as I said, at bombs away, there was a tremendous turn to the left. Normally, we didn't do that. We always got out of a place at bombs away, but nothing like that. So I switched over to the intercom on the plane, and no more than I switched it over, I said, What the devil is wrong with Peer, making this turn? What are they doing? My God, why this hard
turn?

Then I realized that we had been hit. Not knowing up until then that we had been hit, it was just a matter of seconds later and the plane was on fire. Art Peer wasn't making this tremendous turn|we had lost two engines! I had pushed the throttles all the way to the fire wall to get all the power I could and I still couldn't keep up.

When I realized I had lost two engines and another one on fire, we started to bank to the left to head to England. Well, we realized suddenly that was out because that coast was nothing but a bank of antiaircraft fire and we were crippled and losing altitude. The last thing you want to do is go through a bunch of flak if you don't have to, especially if you are damaged. Also, we realized we couldn't reach England with the plane on fire and we didn't want to ditch in the North Sea because, first of all, a B-24 is not a great plane to ditch in; and secondly, the temperature of the water even at that time of year is pretty darn cold.»

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