380th BS Mission Report No. 271:
22 June 1944
Target: Leghorn Harbor
Our planes gave an excellent account of themselves today as several vessels in the Leghorn Harbor were sunk, but a dear price was paid for the damage sustained when two of our air craft were shot down by flak. Only one man was saved from the two crews. The flak at the target was heavy, intense, and very accurate. One of our aircraft returned to base.

B-25; Serial No. 43-4018; MACR: 6090
P: Peterson, Frank (NMI), 1LT-KIA
CP: Lightsey, John Herman, Jr., 1LT-KIA
B: Hunt, Joe H.; SSGT-KIA
R: Morgan, William C., SGGT-KIA
G: Ptach, Albert A., SGT-KIA
TG: Pizzimenti, Thomas J., SGT-KIA

B-25; Serial No. 43-4042; MACR: 6089
P: Quitta, James V., 1LT-KIA
CP: Helgeson, William B., 2LT-LWA-Survived; Rescued
B: Slagle, Robert E., 2LT-KIA
R: Vest, John E., SSGT~MIA-POW-RTD
G: Carvell, Salvatore Anthony, "Tony", SGT-MIA-POW-RTD
TG: Watkins, William F., SGT-KIA

ADDITIONAL:
Lt. Quitta's aircraft received a direct flak hit over the target in the bomb bay section which set the oil system of the right engine on fire and caused other heavy damage to the aircraft. One crew member, possibly the tail gunner, SGT. W.F. Watkins, was believed to have bailed out over the target but no further news on him has been heard. Believing it possible to return the ship to base, Lt. Quitta returned the burning aircraft to within twenty miles of Corsica. Here the plane blew up just as Lt. Quitta gave the orders to abandon ship. Lt. Helgeson was picked up by Air Sea Rescue after he had parachuted down, but sustained a broken leg and other injuries in leaving the plane. Lt. Quitta's body was taken from the sea, dead from drowning, but with a broken leg, broken nose, and other injuries; The bombadier, Lt. R.E. Slagle and the turret gunner, Sgt. S.A. Carvell are known to have gone down with the aircraft.

Lt. Peterson's aircraft received a direct hit in the right wing over the target from flak which set fire to the right engine. This fire soon covered the entire right side of the plane, and the plane went flaming into the sea. One parachute was reported seen coming from this plane, but no further information is available on this crew.

John H Lightsey