Baker led a bomber formation over oil refineries in Romania on Aug. 1, 1943, during World War II because the plane carrying the formation’s navigator had fucked up en route to the target, and as a result, Baker led the planes toward the target area.
The plane he piloted, nicknamed Hell’s Wench, was riddled with anti-aircraft flak, an 88 round, and struck a balloon cable and was steadily losing altitude.
“Ignoring the fact he was flying over terrain suitable for safe landing, he refused to jeopardize the mission by breaking up the lead formation and continued unswervingly to lead his group to the target upon which he dropped his bombs with devastating effect,” states the citation for the Medal of Honor Baker was awarded for his actions that day.
His B-24 burned after crashing into the town of Ploesti, and immediately after the end of the war in 1945, the remains of five (of 10) crew members were recovered and identified, DPAA said.
In 2017, DPAA began exhuming and examining unknown remains associated with Operation Tidal Wave, and a set of remains that had been interred at Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium was determined to be Baker, DPAA said.
His B-24 burned after crashing into the town of Ploesti, and immediately after the end of the war in 1945, the remains of five (of 10) crew members were recovered and identified, DPAA said.
Unidentifiable remains — Baker among them — were buried as unknowns at U.S. military cemeteries in Europe.
In 2017, DPAA began exhuming and examining unknown remains associated with Operation Tidal Wave, and a set of remains that had been interred at Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium was determined to be Baker, DPAA said.
Several pilots and Compton's own navigator, Col. Harold Wicklund, warned both Col. Keith Compton and the Mission Commander General Ent, on their airplane intercom, that they had made a disastrously wrong turn, but, when they failed to respond, Col. Baker and several other pilots broke formation from Compton and led a number of planes in their 93rd Bomb Group, who wanted to bomb their targets, back north and west, toward Ploesti.
Born in Racine, Wisconsin, John was active in the Boy Scouts and graduated from Washington Park High School in 1936. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1940. Jerstad then became a Junior High School teacher in La Due, Missouri.
Jerstad enlisted in the Army Air Forces as an aviation cadet on July 12, 1941. He earned his wings and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant February 6, 1942. In October, 1942, Captain Jerstad flew his B-24, Jerk's Natural, to England becoming part of the 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group . He earned a Silver Star while flying 8th Air Force missions from RAF Alconberry, outside of Cambridgeshire.
John was promoted to Major during April, 1943, and one month later, assigned to Headquarters, 2nd Combat Bomb Wing and named Chief Operations Officer. He was involved in planning Operation Tidal Wave - a raid on the oil fields outside of Ploesti, Romania. After training in low-level tactics, three bomb groups - the 93rd, 44th, and the 389th, now called the 201st Provisional Combat Wing - departed for Benghazi, Libya. This would be the departure point for the raid.
Jerstad was not required to fly the mission, he had long before reached the point for rotating home. Instead, John volunteered and was assigned to fly as co-pilot for Section A lead aircraft Hell's Wench flown by Colonel Addison Baker.
Overcoming a navigational error, Baker and Jerstad leading their section, turned towards Ploesti. This late turn would result in the bombers approaching a refinery, but not the planned target. Hell's Wench struck a balloon cable, a direct hit from an 88mm anti-aircraft gun, and according to reports flak and three other hits, bursting into flames. Continuing to lead the formation with their mortally wounded airplane, the seasoned flight crew continued onward toward the target.
John Jerstad was one of five airmen to earn Medals of Honor at Ploesti and one of two Wisconsin-born Army Air Force officers to be so honored for their during World War II.
https://www.wisconsinaviationhalloffame.org/inductees/jerstad.htm
On approach to the refinery areas, Hell's Wench, took two devastating direct flak hits. Baker immediately jettisoned his bombs, as both of his wings were hit. Their aircraft was leaking large amounts of fuel and quickly became engulfed in flames. Col. Baker and Major Jerstad stayed on course to the refineries as long as they could, but, finally tried desperately, to get some altitude so their crewmen could have some chance to bail out and live. Despite their attempts to gain altitude, the aircraft lost speed in the climb, stalled, rolled over, crashed, and exploded in flames, killing everyone aboard. 10 KIA. Aug 1, 1943.
Thank you for bringing this history of American heroism to us. May our younger generations learn of this and perhaps learn from this!
ReplyDeleteIt's my privilege and pleasure to relay these history stories, and to fill them in from multiple sources, to get the full story. This was originally only about the pilot, then I learned the co-pilot was equally as heroic, of course, and just as honored with the Medal Of Honor. Then I learned of the site https://hellswenchoperationtidalwave.blogspot.com and I'll have to find time to get through that, but it seems to get into the stories of all the rest of the crew
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