|
On 6 April 1945, 499th Bomb Squadron,
345th Bomb Group pilot Lieutenant Francis Thompson dived his
bat-nosed North American B-25J Mitchell toward an IJN Kaiboken-class
frigate, Coast Defense Vessel No. 134, in the Formosa Strait
30 miles southwest of Amoy. Thompson, piloting one of 24 B-25's
managed only to strafe in this low altitude, mast-height, daylight
attack as he was crowded out by his wingman who scored a near
miss and did probable damage to the frigate's stern, and by the
explosion of a delay-fus 500-pound bomb that had been dropped
by the flight leader. Here Thompson pulled out of his attack
in the fast and furious battle. Signed and numbered by the artist. |