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Crew
41 was formed at Smoky Hill Army Air Field and received
their B-29 training there. They arrived in Guam early
August 1945. On 26 April 1945, "Hell's Belle"
flew it's first combat mission against Kokubu airfield.
Two days later it hit Kushira, another airfield. On their
third strike, they once again returned to Kokubu. It was
for this mission seven members of Crew 41 were awarded
the Distinguished
Flying Cross on 23 August 1945.
The recipents were as follows:
1st
Lt Robert J. Breitbarth - Bombardier
1st Lt Carl
L. Davenport - Radar Observer
Cpl Vincent F. Dunleavy - Tail Gunner
Cpl Albert L. Fierro - Left Gunner
Cpl Frederick W. Levesque - Radio Operator
Sgt William B. Haas - Right Gunner
T/Sgt Hugh G. Roberts - CFC Gunner
The
citations reads:
"For
extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial
flight on 30 April 1945. These individuals were members
of the B-29 aircraft that led the entire force of the
39th Bombardment Group in the highly successful strike
from a base in the Marianas against Kokubu airfield on
the Japanese Island of Kyushu. Despite shattering barrages
of heavy caliber anti-aircraft fire at the initial point
and during the bombing run, these crewmembers maintained
their plane exactly on the briefed heading without evasive
tactics. At the target, where flak was most highly concentrated,
they released their bombs squarely in the center of the
airfield. Bombing on the lead airplane, the remainder
of the formation laid such as excellent pattern on the
airfield and repair hangers that this important base was
rendered completely inoperative. During the withdrawal,
the formation they led destroyed six, probably destroyed
four additional, and damaged nine of an estimated 30 enemy
interceptors which pressed repeated vicious attacks until
after the Japanese coast was left far behind. The gunners
from this lead aircraft alone were credited with three
damaged enemy ships. The courage and the fortitude displayed
by these veterans of repeated assaults against the Japanese
homeland, together with their outstanding professional
skill in carrying out an important assignment reflect
great credit on themselves and the Army Air Force."
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