Ill fated B-25 run - Printable Version

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Ill fated B-25 run - Horton - 27.08.2008

The "Native Express" took off somewhere in North Africa at 7 PM (in perfect daylight) bound for 'red' airfields. A B-25H, she was loaded with 8 250 pound bombs and her nose guns and cannon. Carrying only a 25% fuel capacity, she was met at 4,000 feet off the coast by an RAF fighter piloted by Jimmythelegend, and from there the small flight turned south.

Skirting north through the clouds and over hilltops, there was no sign of enemy fighters. Major Horton began his attack run on an airfield, descending from 5,000 feet to 1,000 feet before realizing it was an abandoned base- whereupon he aborted the run and began to climb and regain altitude.

The right waist reported a sun glare at 3 O'clock low, which was determined to be the location of the enemy airfield now in action. Jimmy reported enemy contact, and was off to engage towards the north. The enemy fighter attacked "Native Express," disregarding the Spitfire.

Major Horton was on his run and kept a steady course, at an altitude of 1,000 feet, and dropped his payload as a stream of enemy fire ripped through the aircraft. Both engines were damaged and fuel started to leak, but the run was successful, with a red bomber being destroyed and one AA gun put out of action. The other AA guns were now zeroed in on "Native Express," and she sustained heavy damage, with a hole the size of a man's head in her right wing.

Making a hard right bank, Major Horton made a beeline for the coast to the North, and was able to maintain only 500' altitude, while both engines were on fire. The extinguishers put out the flame in #2, but according to radio transmissions from "Native Express" #1 engine continued to billow smoke.

Now within friendly lines, Major Horton began to slowly bank north to avoid the mountain range to his front. At this time, the last radio transmission was received from "Native Express," stating that fuel was exhausted and Major Horton was going to have to put her down in the desert. They gave their location, and that they were sure that they could safely put down. #1 engine's fire extinguisher was fired again, and by the evidence at the crash scene the belly landing was succesful, although fire broke out in the left wing and tore that wing off.

"Native Express" was proceeding slowly enough to survive, but the desert in all her cruelty proved too much. The plane flew off a sand dune and into a ravine, and regained air long enough to turn the craft ninety degrees left; upon landing, the #2 engine caught fire and exploded.

All crew were killed aboard "Native Express," though their bodies were all recovered and the Norden bombsight destroyed.

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