"While on a mission to bomb the Rovereto railroad bridge, the B26 piloted by Capt Max Petrisek and crew was hit by a flak shell just behind the bomb bay. It did not explode on impact but exited above the rear gunners position and exploded there killing the tail gunner, Sgt Gunnels, and severely damaging the stabilizer controls. Capt Petrisek landed at a British airfield near Ancona. Sadly, this was Sgt. Gunnels last combat mission prior to returning to the USA." Trevor Allen, historian B26.com

 

The Rovereto Railroad Bridge bombing. Roveretto Italy map.

 

Captain Max's response: "One engine out and flying by trim tabs, this seems unfeasible but we did it. We had to jettison everything we could throw out and get to a lower altitude to keep the plane air worthy. Everything we did worked our way but not that of saving a buddy.

 

The details are still vivid. The emergency field was the closest (and) our only hope to get out of enemy territory (and) get help for our dying tail gunner. It was tough to go 180 degree from home base. We had difficulty getting the rest of our flight to leave us and "GO HOME". Our radio was also OUT.

 

Rovereto, Italy 75 miles northwest of Venice, Italy.

 

It was a "long trip", but we were low enough to see Germans scurrying around batteries of 88 mm AA guns in the swamp area. The flames spewing out the end of the guns was threatening, but we dropped lower to get below their detonation altitude.

 

It worked to save five of six of our crew. All 88 mm detonations were above us.

 

We made a miracle emergency landing near a mass of "action sightseeing" soldiers running to get of the way. A slow trip in an ambulance on a road clogged with refugees and their f --- animals. On arrival at the medical base, interrogators questioned why we threw out all equipment and lost the tail gunner's emergency kit with the emergency money."

Related story from Bill Churchman, provided by Max Petrisek.