"Pay-Off"
18 inches X 28 inches. Signed and numbered, edition of
150 Giclee` reproductions, printed on canvas.
Sunday, August 22, 1943 - 386th Bomb Group Mission
Number 8:
Target: Airdrome located at Beaumont le Roger, France.
...Lieutenant W.T. Caldwell was flying a ship named "PAY
OFF" 134971 RU-Q in number six position of the low flight
in the second box. He was taking 20mm hits in the bomb
bay, smoke began to pour out as the fire spread. His right
engine burst into flame, he was able to hold formation
momentarily, then took his plane out of formation to the
left. Tech Sergeant C.H. Burdick, Jr. was wounded as he
manned the top turret of that plane. One parachute
appeared as the ship lost altitude, but was still under
control as it entered a cloud bank. He picked up a bit of
altitude and headed toward the formation, a second
parachute was seen to open. The plane rolled over on its
back and then into a vertical dive. The aircraft came
through the second cloud bank in three parts, all burning
fiercely as viewed by the Captain Caney crew flying
"BOOMERANG" 131631 RU-G, they were in the number
four position of the lead flight in the second box.
Co-pilot on the Caldwell crew, Lieutenant Andrew Lindsey
picks up the narration just prior to his bailing out of the
stricken bomber: "The gasoline and hydraulic lines had
been punctured, the hydraulic fluid and gasoline made a
furnace of our bomb bay almost at once. Under those
circumstances the likely hood of an explosion was
present every second. W.T. with complete disregard for
his own life maintained control of the aircraft until his crew
could abandon it. No more could be expected of any man.
When I left the cockpit, W.T. was still on the controls,
smoke was so thick I could see the instruments only with
difficulty." End of co-pilot statement. Lieutenant Lindsey
received burns on his face and hands as he exited the
plane.
In the same low flight, Aerial Engineer Staff Sergeant Billie
B. Boyd, Jr. was manning his single waist gun in ship
131628 RU-L which was piloted by Flight Officer Durward
Casey. A FW-190 dipped under their B-26 at 6 o’clock low
position and out at 4 o’clock level. Eighteen year old Boyd
rattled off one long burst from his 50 caliber Browning
Machine gun at the attacking aircraft. Captain Clarence Mc
Kinney flying as an observer in ship 134947 RU-K flown
by Lieutenant Emmett Curran in number four position of
the same low flight picks up the narration: "Staff Sergeant
Boyd was firing at the FW-190 at a range of 25 yards. His
fire raked the enemy plane from rudder to engine cowl,
then the pilot’s head lurched back as the plane began
emitting smoke and flames as it went into a spin. It
crashed on the ground burning furiously! That particular
FW-190 had a light gray bottom, black nose and yellow
around the numbers and insignia." The Staff Sergeant
received full credit for destroying that enemy plane.
The fate of the "Pay-Off" crew is as follows:
Lieutenants W.T. Caldwell, Jr. KIA—A.G. Lindsey, evaded—
F.A. Schultz. KIA—Tech Sergeant C.H. Burdick, evaded—
Staff Sergeants W.A. Callahan, POW—E.C. Sharpe, POW.
Callahan managed to make contact with some members of
the French Underground and made it to the Spanish
Border, only to be picked up by the Germans when they
shook down a train. Burdick made contact with the
Underground as well, but no details are known how he
evaded. Sharpe was captured immediately due to the fact
he landed directly into the Field Headquarters of a Panzer
Unit. He was injured during his landing because his chute
did not fully deploy. Lindsey was able to connect with a
young boy who was in the French Resistance. Later he
was turned over to a man by the name of Henri and his
wife Honor who lived in Evreux, France. His wife took care
of Andrew Lindsey’s burns on his face and hands and fed
him during his painful recuperation time. Later he moved
in with Jacques and Magdeleine Mourlet, they lived in the
town of Quimper (Normandy). They were active in the
Underground movement also. They lived up stairs and a
Gestapo Officer lived down stairs. The house only three
doors from the Gestapo Headquarters. The Germans
never found out. Eventually Lindsey was well enough to
travel and he was passed on to another group that got him
over the Pyrenees Mountains into Spain, and finally back
to England. Lieutenant W.T. Caldwell was posthumously
awarded the second highest medal that the U.S.A.
bestows upon an individual for heroism in combat, the
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS.
From the historical records of Chester Klier at b26.com:
http://www.b26.com/historian/chester_klier/008.htm
150 Giclee` reproductions, printed on canvas.
Sunday, August 22, 1943 - 386th Bomb Group Mission
Number 8:
Target: Airdrome located at Beaumont le Roger, France.
...Lieutenant W.T. Caldwell was flying a ship named "PAY
OFF" 134971 RU-Q in number six position of the low flight
in the second box. He was taking 20mm hits in the bomb
bay, smoke began to pour out as the fire spread. His right
engine burst into flame, he was able to hold formation
momentarily, then took his plane out of formation to the
left. Tech Sergeant C.H. Burdick, Jr. was wounded as he
manned the top turret of that plane. One parachute
appeared as the ship lost altitude, but was still under
control as it entered a cloud bank. He picked up a bit of
altitude and headed toward the formation, a second
parachute was seen to open. The plane rolled over on its
back and then into a vertical dive. The aircraft came
through the second cloud bank in three parts, all burning
fiercely as viewed by the Captain Caney crew flying
"BOOMERANG" 131631 RU-G, they were in the number
four position of the lead flight in the second box.
Co-pilot on the Caldwell crew, Lieutenant Andrew Lindsey
picks up the narration just prior to his bailing out of the
stricken bomber: "The gasoline and hydraulic lines had
been punctured, the hydraulic fluid and gasoline made a
furnace of our bomb bay almost at once. Under those
circumstances the likely hood of an explosion was
present every second. W.T. with complete disregard for
his own life maintained control of the aircraft until his crew
could abandon it. No more could be expected of any man.
When I left the cockpit, W.T. was still on the controls,
smoke was so thick I could see the instruments only with
difficulty." End of co-pilot statement. Lieutenant Lindsey
received burns on his face and hands as he exited the
plane.
In the same low flight, Aerial Engineer Staff Sergeant Billie
B. Boyd, Jr. was manning his single waist gun in ship
131628 RU-L which was piloted by Flight Officer Durward
Casey. A FW-190 dipped under their B-26 at 6 o’clock low
position and out at 4 o’clock level. Eighteen year old Boyd
rattled off one long burst from his 50 caliber Browning
Machine gun at the attacking aircraft. Captain Clarence Mc
Kinney flying as an observer in ship 134947 RU-K flown
by Lieutenant Emmett Curran in number four position of
the same low flight picks up the narration: "Staff Sergeant
Boyd was firing at the FW-190 at a range of 25 yards. His
fire raked the enemy plane from rudder to engine cowl,
then the pilot’s head lurched back as the plane began
emitting smoke and flames as it went into a spin. It
crashed on the ground burning furiously! That particular
FW-190 had a light gray bottom, black nose and yellow
around the numbers and insignia." The Staff Sergeant
received full credit for destroying that enemy plane.
The fate of the "Pay-Off" crew is as follows:
Lieutenants W.T. Caldwell, Jr. KIA—A.G. Lindsey, evaded—
F.A. Schultz. KIA—Tech Sergeant C.H. Burdick, evaded—
Staff Sergeants W.A. Callahan, POW—E.C. Sharpe, POW.
Callahan managed to make contact with some members of
the French Underground and made it to the Spanish
Border, only to be picked up by the Germans when they
shook down a train. Burdick made contact with the
Underground as well, but no details are known how he
evaded. Sharpe was captured immediately due to the fact
he landed directly into the Field Headquarters of a Panzer
Unit. He was injured during his landing because his chute
did not fully deploy. Lindsey was able to connect with a
young boy who was in the French Resistance. Later he
was turned over to a man by the name of Henri and his
wife Honor who lived in Evreux, France. His wife took care
of Andrew Lindsey’s burns on his face and hands and fed
him during his painful recuperation time. Later he moved
in with Jacques and Magdeleine Mourlet, they lived in the
town of Quimper (Normandy). They were active in the
Underground movement also. They lived up stairs and a
Gestapo Officer lived down stairs. The house only three
doors from the Gestapo Headquarters. The Germans
never found out. Eventually Lindsey was well enough to
travel and he was passed on to another group that got him
over the Pyrenees Mountains into Spain, and finally back
to England. Lieutenant W.T. Caldwell was posthumously
awarded the second highest medal that the U.S.A.
bestows upon an individual for heroism in combat, the
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS.
From the historical records of Chester Klier at b26.com:
http://www.b26.com/historian/chester_klier/008.htm
Contact us for pricing and to order this print.
1-800-595-8272 or dnees@ozarkairfieldartworks.com
1-800-595-8272 or dnees@ozarkairfieldartworks.com
Here at Ozark Airfield Artworks we offer a large selection art prints. These prints mainly
depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We also deal
with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are from all the top
national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of our prints are
signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking for a specific
plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We also deal
with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are from all the top
national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of our prints are
signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking for a specific
plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
Copyright © Ozark Airfield Artworks 2005 All Rights Reserved
All images are copyrighted by the individual artist and may not be reproduced
without their consent.
without their consent.
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