Third Force (2nd AD) - Rackheath Ground Operations & 467th BG Takeoff Sequence

 I. Pre-Flight Ground Phase (Estimated Timeline for Leading Lady's Crew):

• 03:30 AM (Arbitrary): Crew Wake-Up (Enlisted personnel, including Radio Operator Russell "Robbie" Robinson).

  • Officers may have been roused slightly earlier for lead crew briefings.

• 03:30 AM - ~05:45 AM: Personal Preparations, Breakfast, Travel to Briefing Rooms.

  • A period for individual readiness, a likely tense breakfast in the mess hall, and movement to designated briefing areas.

• ~05:45 AM - ~07:10 AM (Approx. 1 hour 25 minutes): Main Crew Briefing.

  • Comprehensive briefing covering mission specifics: targets, routes, altitudes, call signs, weather, flak intelligence, enemy fighter disposition, emergency procedures, etc. (as detailed in Joost de Raaf CUT).

• ~07:10 AM - ~08:10 AM (Approx. 1 hour): Post-Briefing / Final Mess Hall (if applicable) / Begin Suiting Up.

  • Opportunity for a final quick meal or coffee.

  • Collection and donning of extensive flight gear: heated suits, oxygen masks, Mae West life preservers, parachutes, flak helmets, gloves, escape kits.

• ~08:10 AM - ~09:10 AM (Approx. 1 hour): Completion of Suiting Up & Travel to Aircraft Dispersal.

  • Ensuring all gear is correctly fitted and functional.

  • Transport via trucks from main camp/briefing areas to the aircraft hardstands where individual planes were dispersed.

• ~09:10 AM - ~09:40 AM (Approx. 30 minutes): Aircrew Pre-Flight Checks at 

  • Crew arrives at Leading Lady.

  • Pilot (John "Mose" Moseley) and Co-pilot conduct external and internal aircraft checks.

  • Navigator and Bombardier check their specific equipment and charts.

  • Radio Operator (Robbie) performs checks on all radio and communication gear.

  • Gunners inspect their .50 caliber machine guns, ammunition feeds, and turret operations.

  • All crew stow personal items and ensure their stations are ready.

II. Taxi and Takeoff Sequence (467th Bomb Group):

• ~09:40 AM - ~09:45 AM: Final Crew-in-Plane Readiness / Engines Start.

  • All crew members are at their stations. Interphone checks conducted.

  • Engines started on pilot's command, supervised by Flight Engineer. This process would be staggered across the 60+ aircraft of the 467th BG.

  • Awaiting group-wide signal (e.g., green flare from Flying Control, as per 392nd BG procedure) to commence taxiing.

• ~09:45 AM (Estimated): "Start Taxiing" Signal for 467th Bomb Group.

  • The entire group begins the complex process of moving from dispersed hardstands to the takeoff queue.

• ~09:45 AM - ~10:25 AM (Estimated 40 minutes taxi period for Leading Lady):

  • Rationale for 40-minute estimate: Leading Lady was 17th in line. A minimum of 16 minutes for the planes ahead to take off (at ~1-minute intervals). An additional ~24 minutes is allocated for:

    • Time for Leading Lady to receive clearance to move from her hardstand (Hardstand 42-95094, potentially 6th nearest to the southern runway end via a counter-clockwise perimeter track flow).

    • Maneuvering from hardstand onto the perimeter track.

    • Time spent in the congested, stop-and-go queue on the perimeter track as it filled with ~60 aircraft.

    • Inevitable minor delays, adjustments, and holding periods inherent in marshalling such a large number of heavy bombers.

  • Process:

    • Upon signal, ground crew pulls wheel chocks.

    • Leading Lady (piloted by Moseley) moves onto the perimeter track, taking her pre-assigned 17th position in the takeoff sequence. (The general order noted by 392nd BG was lead, then high and low squadrons).

    • The perimeter track leading to the active runway threshold (likely the southern end of the main N/E-S/W runway for a takeoff into prevailing westerly/southwesterly winds) becomes heavily congested.

    • Sensory environment: Deafening roar of over 240 Wright R-1820 Cyclone engines (for 60+ B-24s), frequent squeal of brakes, smell of aviation fuel and exhaust. (Based on 392nd BG account noting ~60 gallons of fuel used per bomber during this taxi/wait period).

• Col. Albert Shower (467th BG Commanding Officer):

  • Aircraft (specific name/number if identified from sources) would be leading the entire 467th BG formation, thus 1st in the takeoff queue.

• Leading Lady's Wingmen (Adjacent in Takeoff Sequence & Formation):

  • Left Wing: Aircraft piloted by Carner, Oliver Omer (O-788440, DOB 28 Aug 1916). Likely 18th in takeoff sequence, taking off ~10:27 AM.

  • Right Wing: Aircraft Super Wolf, piloted by Rice, John Wade (O-7052256, DOB 10 Nov 1922). Likely 19th in takeoff sequence, taking off ~10:28 AM.

    • (Takeoff times for wingmen are sequential, not simultaneous with each other at 10:27 as previously noted in some logs).

• ~10:25 AM: Leading Lady at Runway Threshold ("The V").

  • Leading Lady moves into the number one position at the head of the active runway after the 16th aircraft has begun its takeoff roll.

  • Moseley applies brakes; Co-pilot advances throttles for engine run-up and final power checks. Flight Engineer monitors all engine instruments.

• 10:26 AM: Takeoff - Leading Lady.

  • Green light flashed from Flying Control trailer signals Leading Lady to commence takeoff.

  • Brakes released, Moseley guides the aircraft down the runway as Co-pilot manages throttles for maximum power.

  • Leading Lady utilizes most of the ~6,000 ft main runway to achieve maximum airspeed before liftoff.

  • Immediate Post-Takeoff: As per standard procedure (confirmed by 392nd BG account and Joost de Raaf CUT), Leading Lady will maintain takeoff heading straight for approximately two minutes, then turn towards the designated Group/Wing assembly area (Splasher 5 - Mundesley), climbing at a predetermined rate.