[B17F BRITE EYES]

I will be making two posts this evening related to the two aircraft my father (Ernest L. "Tommy" Thompson, Jr., serial 19106348) was given credit for destroying while a gunner on a B-17 of the 419th Bomb Squadron, 301st Bomb Group.

The first was a "Prob. destroyed" credit for a Reggiane Re.2001 on 2 September 1943 when seven B-17s of the 419th BS were on a mission to bomb the Bolzano Rail Road Bridge and Yards in Italy. My father was a tail gunner on this mission. Another gunner (waist) on his crew, Robert L. Gilmore (serial 17077109 from Jefferson City, MO), was credited with one Re.2001 damaged. Another of the squadron's gunners, John L. Ball, was credited with one Re.2001 Destroyed.

As of that date this was the longest mission the Squadron had ever been on. One crewman reported 8 hours and 50 minutes flying time. Six of the seven B-17s of the 419th dropped a load of eight 500 pound bombs each from an altitude of 21, 900 feet with satisfactory results. Twelve to fifteen fighters attacked the squadron. They were reported to all be Re.2001's and Bf109s. One bomber, 42-5949, a B-17F-35-VE, returned early. John Ball mentioned above was aboard this same airplane on a return mission to the Bolzano Bridge on 25 September and the aircraft was lost with all aboard killed. The 301st BG was flying out of Oudna #2 in Tunisia (20 mi. from Tunis) at this time. All together the 301st BG sent 24 B-17s on this mission.

Is there any documentation of the Re.2001's and their pilots that might have been shot down or damaged on 2 Sept 43?

Thank you for any help.

Lowell Thompson
P.O. Box 714
Kellogg, Idaho 83837

Historian, 301st Bomb Group/Wings Association