to my gratification as flight leader, e pattern did develop which presented a nearly predictable behavior on the offensive tactics of the Zero.

Following the early wild skirmishes, the Zero learned never to approach the B-26 from the rear. The 50 Cal gun in the tall of the B-26 plus our greet speed made the rate of closure too prolonged for the Zero attacking from behind. [See Art Reproduction by Saburo Sakai]

The Zero quickly discovered the B-26 had no bottom gun turret, waist guns were light before modification, and we were lightly armed in the nose. The B-26 then was vulnerable to flanking, belly, end heed-on attacks.

The twin 50 Cal guns in our top turret were not only our greatest defense but our greatest offensive weapon, and in the hands of a gunner like Johnny Foley they were deadly to the Japanese Zero. It was my Job as leader then to so maneuver e formation as to protect our exposed areas and force the enemy to attack where he would be positioned most vulnerable to our turret guns.

At times we would surprise the enemy in our bombing attacks and they would attempt to take off amidst the exploding bombs. At other times the Zeros would have advance warning of our raids and be airborne at altitude awaiting completion of our bomb runs, they themselves keeping out of range of their own AA fire.

Emerging from the target was a critical moment. We had to be collected, tight, and alert. The forward bomb bay doors of the B-26 needed improvement; they opened end closed too slowly, presented much wind resistance, did not move in unison, and caused the pilot to fight the rudders during the opening and closing process. If the wingmen failed to open the doors promptly on the lead ship they might overrun. If they were slow to close the doors upon bomb release they would tend to lag.

Here navigator Gene Grauer's role was indispensable. With his head in the navigator's bubble I knew instantly every ship's position in the formation, whether to turn to the right or left to pick up a trailing member, and knew immediately of any ack ack damage, etc. A straggler here could be in deep trouble. The Zeros wanted to separate a loner and we had to stay together, even lf it meant conveying a cripple clear out of enemy territory.

Once past the target lf there were no Zeros at altitude we had time, and so would hold altitude letting the Zeros climb on up to meet us. In climbing they would be slow, spread out, and no real threat. once having caught up with us, down we'd go, stretching them out even further. If however, the Zeros were at

altitude waiting for us to emerge from the target area, there was little time before diving for the water. On one occasion Marklee, Stanwood's co-pilot, came up to me after a mission and asked lf I knew how fast we were going downhill in diving away from Zeros swarming over u8 as we left the target. I told him I didn't, and then he smiled as he let me know we were indicating over 450 MPH. We kidded about how far we kept pushing that B-26 above the red line when we needed it and the old gal never complained.

Our formation was now slowing down from the onrushing dive. Much lighter with bombs gone and fuel consumed, the ship had regained buoyancy and maneuverability. The lead wingmen needed to be in close and reedy to move instantly with me. What a blessing to have wingmen with the skills of Stanwood end Hatch who usually flew with me. It made little difference at this point who or how many A/C may be in behind us, they would be stepped down below U8 end mainly under the protection of my hardcore lead flight. Their Job was" to hold position and have their gunners alert. Holding a straight and level course at about 1500 feet altitude, too low to encourage e Zero belly attack but sufficient to allow recovery lf one of our formation ships should hit prop wash or fell out of a tight turn, we were now inviting the Zeros to attack.

The Zeros lined up in trail off to our right end at our same altitude but beyond range of our so Cal tracers. Early on, the Zeros would line up on either side of our formation but soon discovered that their uncoordinated attacks resulted in shooting at each other.

Certain features dlsadvantegeous to the Zero, which we began to suspect at the time, were later confirmed. The Zero failed to be equipped with booster tabs on its control surfaces. At high speeds there was enormous pressure on the control surfaces end the Zero clearly lost maneuverability in this situation.

The Zero shied away from heavy tracer fire; little wonder, being equipped with a non-sealing reserve fuel tank forward of the pilot in the cockpit. When Intelligence warned us in advance of probable heavy Zero interference we would at times increase the number of tracer rounds in our ammo belts. Gunners then would have to be cautious not to overheat the guns for fear of Jamming.

Because of peculiar behavior during attack we surmised their gunsight was primitive and unreliable, forcing the pilot to hold his eye in a fixed and rigid position which restricted his flight movements. Strange also was their gun trigger control mechanism. Often when badly shot-up, the Zero might drift off aimlessly with

guns firing, the injured or dead pilot unable to switch off the triggering devices. It is now known that the guns were controlled by en arrangement of latches end levers mounted on the left of the cockpit. The 20mm gun triggers were separate from the lighter machine guns, causing more distraction for the Zero pilot. Our gun control trigger was a simple spring-loaded electrical switch located on the stick or yolk.

The stage was now set; the action about to begin; we were ready. The most forward Zero had gained sufficient lead on us to calculate his interception. He seemed to require being at our same altitude. If I picked up a couple of hundred feet, up he went; lf I dropped down, down he went. We had to hold en absolute straight end steady course to permit the Zero pilot to complete his cockpit procedures. In this situation the Zeros always attacked one at a time. Making a full attack commitment and exposing himself to all the firepower from our formation, the Zero had little chance for survival. The trailing Zero of the bunch, the one with the red painted on the fuselage, we were later told was the squadron commander riding herd.

Now the leading Zero is turning left into us, his wings lighting up with gunfire. Having established his rate of turn for the interception he fixes his eye to the gunsight expecting U8 to appear in his Crosshairs, but we are no longer on the predicted course. I've turned the formation to the right toward the attacker, lost altitude and picked up speed. A tricky moment here, flying just within the arc of his blazing guns and forcing the Zero into a position most vulnerable to our turret fire. Too tight a turn from me could cause the Zero to break away and we would lose our chance. I continue the turn but always just within the radius of his turn. The Zero pilot now pulling excess power, fighting his controls, end persisting in his attempt to pull his guns down on U8, passes above the left side of our formation often within 100 feet in an over vertical bank. He is a broad target for our formation's turret guns, and Johnny "Zero" Foley never missed on these. In his quiet modest way, Johnny could tell of propellers and other debris tearing off the Zero from his deadly fire. The action was fast, end now well pest my range of vision, the Zero hadn't scored a hit and we were ready for the next one.

Maxwell Air Force Base Archives credit the 22nd Bombardment Group as standing third in the Air Corps in numbers of enemy aircraft destroyed in aerial combat. Other high scorers must certainly include P-38 Groups. Having sufficient time myself in P-38's as to regard It as a most remarkable aircraft along with my

knowledge of the Zero, It came as no surprise to me that the P-38's racked up enormous Zero kills. With its counter-rotatlng props to eliminate torque, wide visibility, outstanding single engine operation, and great range for over water, I regarded the P-38 as a superb machine for the time and place. It could outrun, outdive, outclimb, outmaneuver and outgun the Zero.

Al Fletcher, 22nd Bomb Group Intelligence, spoke of a diary from a captured Japanese pilot claiming the P-40 to be a terrible aircraft to meet head-on, the P-39 to be vulnerable in any attitude, but the P-38 clearly to be the most superior fighter aircraft in the world.

John Foley, turret gunner, made history along with our B-26 "Kansas Comet" crew. His Zero kills brought wide publicity from correspondents of United Press end Associated Press covering the action. Foley survived end walked away from several devastating aircraft crackups. Returning Stateside a hero, he was sent on national tours participating in the promotion and sales of thousands of dollars worth of War Bonds. Then he went on to the European Theater for another 65 missions where, "The flack was so dense you could walk on It."

A well-known songwriter wrote the song "Johnny Zero" after John Foley. The song became a popular national hit. There is e special display at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Museum totally dedicated to the exploits of Foley, including his uniform, medals, awards, photographs and memorabilia.

All seven members of our "Kansas Comet" combat crew gained individual recognition for their various action".

Walter A. Krell, Lt. Col. U.S.A.F. Ret.