811.248/546: Telegram
The Ambassador in Turkey (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:54 p.m.]
581. At 9:15 this morning an Army Liberator (B24D) “Little Eva”, 6 over 111609, with following crew: Lieutenants Walker, West, Canterbury, Davis; Sergeants Lippincott, Jones, O’Connor, Owens and Albertson landed on the civil airport in Ankara.
At 9:18 American Army Liberator (B24D), 2 over 111596, with crew of Lieutenants Brown, Swar, Meredith and Humphreys; Sergeants Taylor and Charles; Corporals Coward and Cullom landed on the civil airport in Ankara.
At 10:05 American Army Liberator (B24D), 19 over 111597, “The Blue Goose”, landed on the civil airport in Ankara. I have not yet been able to ascertain the names of the crew of the third plane.
The first two planes appear to be intact. The third plane landed with the inside port engine out of commission and the outside port engine leaking badly and barely functioning. As a result this plane ran off the runway but appears to have sustained no damage. Turkish staff officer told me in strict confidence that a fourth Liberator was reported at 9:30, Elazig, but had not yet made a landing and may therefore have reached either Iraqi or Syrian territory. No safe landing or crash of fourth Liberator had been reported to Turkish officials up to the time of filing of this telegram.
Crews of all three planes in Angora have been treated by the Turkish officials with utmost courtesy and consideration. They were immediately taken into dining room of the civil air station and given breakfast.
At the time of my arrival at airport at 9:30 only very junior Turkish officials were present who considerately turned their backs while I spoke briefly with two of the commanding officers. These officers informed me that the entire flight consisted of 14 planes objective being a bombing raid on Ploesti. Insofar as their planes were concerned they had bombed at daybreak from 15,000 feet and believed their bombs had been effective. However they saw no fires explaining that they were first to arrive. They met limited anti-aircraft fire and saw virtually no enemy planes. They expressed opinion that the raid had been a complete surprise to the enemy. From quick observations [Page 790] none of the planes bear any marks of gun fire. They did not know whereabouts of the other 10 planes.
At this point an official of the Foreign Office arrived and politely explained to me that it would be necessary for the Turkish authorities to interrogate the crews before the Embassy would be allowed access to them. He assured me however that they would be given treatment generally accorded guests. From my personal observations all three crews appeared to be in very good health although extremely tired.
I should appreciate immediate instructions.
Repeated to Cairo.