H-KOREA\CD-KP28.DOC

28^th Bomb Squadron

3 June 1951

CERTIFICATE

I, Donald M. Covic, Captain, USAF, A)-715947, Aircraft assigned to the 28th Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Group Medium APO 239-1, hereby certify the following information to be true and correct to the best of my knowledge:

On 31 May 1951, flying with my complete crew for the first time, I took off on a daylight mission to northwest Korea in B-29 #1562. We arrived at the assembly point and got into formation as #2 wing man in a two ship formation. From the assembly point we proceeded to the fighter rendezvous and pick up a four ship F-86 fighter escort.

Just as we left the initial point on the bomb run to the target, we were attacked by approximately twenty MIG-15 type jet fighters. In the ensuing battle the tail gunner, Sgt. Allen Goff, and the CFC gunner, S/Sgt. Michael Martocchia, shot down one of the enemy MIG-15 fighters and damaged another. The kill was confirmed by Lt. David Self. co-pilot, and Lt. William Hammond, bombardier, Lt. Self was able to get a picture of the pilot as he bailed out of the MIG-15 and floated down and to the rear of our right wing. The forward bomb door failed to open so I pulled the emergency release handle to my left while on the bomb run and it then opened.

Our aircraft, B-29 #1562, was hit by a canon shell from the MIG-15 fighters just aft of #2 engine. A hole about two feet square was later found as a result of the cannon exploding in the wing section. Lt Hammond, bombardier, was able to drop his bombs exactly with the lead air-craft while the attack was in progress and the target was hit. The enemy fighters continued their attack until the turnoff the target was accomplished despite the fact that our F-86 escort had engaged them.

Due to the fact that gas was flowing from # 2 engine nacelles as a result of the hit, #2 engine was feathered immediately after the turn off the target was completed. The fuel from # 2 engine nacelle was transferred to the other tanks. It was then discovered that the flux gate compass had been shot out and after a further survey of the battle damage, numerous holes were seen to be present all along the upper and lower portions of the left wing from a position just inboard of #1 engine all the way to the fuselage. The landing gear was lowered at this time to ascertain if it was operating properly.

T/Sgt Ayers, flight engineer, after assaying the damage to our aircraft, quickly computed the gas consumption for the three remaining engines and advised me that we had enough fuel to proceed to our home base in Okinawa with approximately 2 ½ hours reserve. At this time the radio operator, Sgt Stanley Smigel, secured the latest weather forecast for our home base which was a 2000 foot ceiling and 5 miles visibility with intermittent rain. The decision was then made to return to home base.

Due to the expert navigation by the navigator Lt Daniel Price and radar observer, Lt Bernard Stein, we maintained a perfect course and arrived over our home base. The base at this time was under the effects of frontal weather with a 200 ft ceiling and at best ¾ mile visibility with intermittent heavy rain.

While holding over NF radio range waiting our turn for Ground Control Approach, the VHF went out on all GCA channels. After approximately 30 minutes of extreme anxiousness we were able to read GCA very weakly and indistinctly on Fox channel but were unable to transmit to them. Transmissions were acknowledged by utilizing the tone control with a “ “ or “K”. Lt Self remained on Command position as long as possible and received all GCA transmissions and repeated them to me to ensure that I got them.

The landing gear was lowered on the base leg and after the turn on final the flaps were “milked” down to 25 degrees in order to be ready for any emergency malfunctions due to battle damage. We broke out at approximately 200 feet and in heavy rain. The runway lights were sighted a short distance in front and below us.

Upon initial contact with the runway, it was observed that both left main gear tires and the hydraulic system had been shot up. We began to skid from side to side down the runway; and as I handled the controls and #1 throttle, Lt Self, my co-pilot, utilized the emergency brakes. T/Sgt Ayers, flight engineer, turned the emergency filler valve open and held the emergency brake system until all of the hydraulic fluid was exhausted. Through our ability to coordinate our efforts, we were able to keep the aircraft on the runway until our emergency brakes also became inoperative. At this time the aircraft started a slight turn to the left and the nose wheel cocked full left, causing us to make a complete 270 degree turn to the left, missing a deep ditch paralleling the runway by only a few feet.

The success of this mission was only possible through complete teamwork and ability of my entire crew.

Donald M. Covic

Captain USAF

Aircraft Commander

This fuselage is painted in the markings of "Command Decision," the famous B-29 Superfortress. During the Korean War, gunners on the "Command Decision" shot down five Soviet-built MG-15 jet fighters. This qualified the aircraft for unofficial recognition as a bomber "ace."

The “Command Decision” crew is shown in this photograph.

Standing left to right:

Technical Sergeant Carl W. Ayers, flight engineer

Sergeant Stanley Smigel, radio operator

* *Staff Sergeant Michael R. Martocchia, central fire control

Sergeant John J. Nally, left gunner

*Private First Class Henry E. Ruch, right gunner

*Sergeant Merle A. Goff, tail gunner

Kneeling, left to right

Captain Donald M. Covic, aircraft commander

Captain David P. Self, pilot

Lieutenant Daniel M. Price, navigator

Lieutenant William M. Hammond, bombardier

Lieutenant Bernard G. Stein, radar observer