This was their mission to remember! It was June 4 and they were alerted for a day mission to Kobe. Crew 47 was assigned deputy lead but assumed lead when "lead" didn't show. A group of twelve fighters at 3 o'clock were making ready for their passes. One started in but backed off when the tracers began to fly. When they had gained about 3 miles on the formation, they all turned at once. Fighters were coming in at all angles but mostly head on. As "lead" and on auto-pilot, the men of P-47 could do nothing but sit, watch and wait.

It was mid-morning and most of the fighters were coming out of the sun. One lone fighter was spotted coming in from the left; Gabe swung around and blew it apart. Later Gabe would receive credit for this one. They were about fifty miles from the target when Gabe started to set up for the bomb run. The fighters stopped their attack and the flak began. Bombs were out at 0856 hrs. and the results looked very good.

On the breakaway, a fighter made a pass in front and above and as he did, dropped a bomb of his own. It was phosphorous and as it exploded, white smoke caused by the burning pieces streaked out. It did not appear to do any damage! It was a good thing the fighter attacks had stopped for they were down to only a few rounds of ammo in each turret.

Back at Guam they found that several pieces of phosphorous had burned into the wing and an engine nacelle. Someone had taken a great photo of the explosion but it disappeared. For this mission they received the Distinguished Flying Cross for making a most successful raid by assuming "lead" and hitting the target area 100 percent.

Missions were going well but not for Jerry Zee. The crew had 18 missions in three months. Jerry Zee had developed kidney stones and would be grounded indefinitely. Hart's leg injury forced him to be grounded and replaced by James Sherrer. We would take a rest in Hawaii; it was so ordered.

Two weeks later as A/C, Weston and company were off to Tokyo. It was his first mission as A/C and almost his last. One more mission and the War was over.

For the remainder of Weston's tour he would fly McNeece's P-41 and that crew until they all went home on points. Ralph would change the plane's name to the "City of Santa Barbara" from the "City of Wilmington" but left the "Hell's Belle" there.