90th Bomb Group Message Board

Message:
I am the son of Major Leland I. Harter, Squadron Commander of the 320th. I have his book " Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group." on page 83 and 84. The story of McCord is told, This is what it says. "From the 319th. Lt.Ralph E. McCord, Jr. and his crew, Flying Sadsack, were patrolling along the north coast of New Guinea. About midway between the mainland of New Guinea and Long Island, the crew spotted a convoy. Almost immediately Lt. Robert B Yonker, the copilot, spotted four fighters at 10 o'clock position heading north. The first fighter attacked head- on and passed directly over their left wing. McCord said, Get'em Gunners, as the second plane bore in. The Jap blew an eight inch hole in the windshield and the shell blew away the top part of McCord's head at the eyebrow level. Yonker grabbing the controls and driving the plane to the right, saw four more fighters coming in at 2 oclock. He found some cloud cover and a few minutes later when he emerged, the Nips were not to be seen. The attack knocked out the radios and intercom, and wounded Yonker, Lt. Vance L. Teague, Lt.Edwin White and Sgt.Edward E. Bently. The gunners claimed to have shot down two of the attackers. With McCord removed from the pilot's seat and placed on the catwalk of the bomb bay- a flight jacket over his head and secured with a belt- they began the sad journey home." Tough story, i hope this has been a help.