"Aircraft Action Report" 12 June 1944 (pg 1 of 5)

Aircraft Action Report (5 pages) for the first combat mission flown by Joseph Spengler with VT-1.

Lt Spengler was in the second group of aircraft to attack Orote Airfield the morning of June 12th 1944. As squadron Executive Officer (XO) he was the flight lead for the strike. His radioman was ARM2c Lawrence Bergner and the gunner (possibly) was AOM3c Jack Dixon. This was VT-1's first taste of combat, and although a seasoned aviator Lt Spengler was probably still quite nervous and apprehensive. To add to that, just before they took off, he likely heard the radio transmission from the first strike group stating that Lt Merrell's plane was hit and went down (as told to William Carr, brother of AOM2c Stan Carr at a 1991 squadron reunion in San Diego).

VT-1 would encounter intense antiaircraft fire that day. According to radioman Horace Harris "…didn't see how it was humanly possible for a plane to go through the barrage without being hit. I said my most fervent prayers right. It worked - we came through without a scratch, while nearly every plane in the formation was hit."

Lt Spengler flew a second hop later that afternoon, again targeting Orote Airfield.