11.07.2008, 15:53
In 1939, Airline pilot "Mick" Horton left Bakersfield, California to join the AVG in China. His first combat was flown in a P-40 Warhawk dubbed, "California Sunshine." It would be the first of 4 planes bearing that mark in the Second World War, and a fifth would come in Korea eleven years later.
![[Image: CS-P40-AVG.jpg]](http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa21/HortonIII/CS-P40-AVG.jpg)
Taken by Major John "The Duke" Wayne, 1940, as the flight left to surprise a Japanese infantry depot.
In 1942, following Pearl Harbor, Captain "Mick" Horton left the AVG to join the USAAF. Having been an airline pilot, and having combat experience, he opted for the bombing wing and was sent to join the 301st Heavy Bombardment Group, 419th Bombardment Squadron in North Africa, November, 1942.
Once there he flew missions against Rail yards in Tunis, as well as Air Bases occupied by the Luftwaffe.
One of the only color pictures of his war days in WW2, was taken by his sister ship directly after his promotion to Major and May 5 mission conducting a sea sweep, in which one enemy merchant vessel was sunk.
![[Image: CS-B17.jpg]](http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa21/HortonIII/CS-B17.jpg)
The second "California Sunshine."
After flying 50 missions with the 419th, "Mick" returned to active duty and placed in the 8th AF in Britain flying a B-24 against targets in France and Germany. This third California Sunshine was heavily damaged by Flak January 5th, 1944, and a German fighter knocked out the #4 engine before the plane could make the channel. The plane was forced to crash land in Southwest Norfolk, UK, at an RAF airfield. The entire crew escaped with 5 wounded (Enlisted: Technical Staff Sergeant William Bryant, Crew Chief, Sergeant Gabriel DeMarro, RW, Sergeant Fred Gibbens, Tail, SFC Gordon Tippman, RO, as well as Major Horton). However, fires in #4's gas line upon the landing sparked the plane and she was consumed to a point of not being salvageable.
Major Horton's wounds were flak to his left leg, one shard of which passed a quarter inch from his artery, and a fragment of 20mm cannon shell that lodged in his back. Co-Pilot Captain John Withers landed the plane.
![[Image: CS-B24-NF.jpg]](http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa21/HortonIII/CS-B24-NF.jpg)
Following the crash, "Mick" was sent to the states for rehabilitation. Completing this in June, 1944, he was sent to the Bombing Technique school in Nevada as an instructor, having been promoted to Colonel as well as a DFC for a bombing run December of 1943.
On March 1, 1944, Colonel Horton took part in the Activation of the XXI Bombardment Command, and arrived in Saipan October 29, 1944, in the 4th "California Sunshine," a B-29. Having engine problems in #3 engine, "California Sunshine" was forced to miss the October 30 mission to Truk. However, she made the November 2 mission, and on the 24th was a part of a 111 plane force to hit Tokyo for the first time since Doolittle's Raid in April of '42.
January of '45 saw "Mick" take command of the 504th BG. This was his post until he finished his tour and returned to California briefly, then Hickam Field, to take command of a training squadron there. This occured in August, 1945.
![[Image: CS-B29-wounded.gif]](http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa21/HortonIII/CS-B29-wounded.gif)
*Totally Fictional account, BTW, though based on real events conglomerated from several bomber pilots in WW2*
Taken by Major John "The Duke" Wayne, 1940, as the flight left to surprise a Japanese infantry depot.
In 1942, following Pearl Harbor, Captain "Mick" Horton left the AVG to join the USAAF. Having been an airline pilot, and having combat experience, he opted for the bombing wing and was sent to join the 301st Heavy Bombardment Group, 419th Bombardment Squadron in North Africa, November, 1942.
Once there he flew missions against Rail yards in Tunis, as well as Air Bases occupied by the Luftwaffe.
One of the only color pictures of his war days in WW2, was taken by his sister ship directly after his promotion to Major and May 5 mission conducting a sea sweep, in which one enemy merchant vessel was sunk.
The second "California Sunshine."
After flying 50 missions with the 419th, "Mick" returned to active duty and placed in the 8th AF in Britain flying a B-24 against targets in France and Germany. This third California Sunshine was heavily damaged by Flak January 5th, 1944, and a German fighter knocked out the #4 engine before the plane could make the channel. The plane was forced to crash land in Southwest Norfolk, UK, at an RAF airfield. The entire crew escaped with 5 wounded (Enlisted: Technical Staff Sergeant William Bryant, Crew Chief, Sergeant Gabriel DeMarro, RW, Sergeant Fred Gibbens, Tail, SFC Gordon Tippman, RO, as well as Major Horton). However, fires in #4's gas line upon the landing sparked the plane and she was consumed to a point of not being salvageable.
Major Horton's wounds were flak to his left leg, one shard of which passed a quarter inch from his artery, and a fragment of 20mm cannon shell that lodged in his back. Co-Pilot Captain John Withers landed the plane.
Following the crash, "Mick" was sent to the states for rehabilitation. Completing this in June, 1944, he was sent to the Bombing Technique school in Nevada as an instructor, having been promoted to Colonel as well as a DFC for a bombing run December of 1943.
On March 1, 1944, Colonel Horton took part in the Activation of the XXI Bombardment Command, and arrived in Saipan October 29, 1944, in the 4th "California Sunshine," a B-29. Having engine problems in #3 engine, "California Sunshine" was forced to miss the October 30 mission to Truk. However, she made the November 2 mission, and on the 24th was a part of a 111 plane force to hit Tokyo for the first time since Doolittle's Raid in April of '42.
January of '45 saw "Mick" take command of the 504th BG. This was his post until he finished his tour and returned to California briefly, then Hickam Field, to take command of a training squadron there. This occured in August, 1945.
*Totally Fictional account, BTW, though based on real events conglomerated from several bomber pilots in WW2*
