Aborting - the general term for abandoning an operational flight because of mechanical or personnel failure - was something no crew wanted to be involved in. Once keyed for a mission, the majority of combat crews wished to see it through as another wished to see it through as another to be struck off the statutory 25, 30 or 35 in a tour. The authorities demanded a valid reason for a turn-back. However obvious the justification, there was always a slight stigma about having to abort; the thought that other airmen might be suspicious that the failure was engineered. There were few crews who did not have to abort a mission at one time or another for very good reasons and, while they may have occurred, the "fixed" aborts were few. Early returns also meant fewer bombs on the target and a group with poor maintenance and a high record of number of aborts was soon under scrutiny by high command. So, for both personal and operational reasons, a decision to turn back was never lightly taken. The lengths that some men would go to avoid and abort is well illustrated by an incident on 27 May 1944 when the 100th Group was assembling for a raid on Strasboug. While high over England the oxygen supply lines to the right waist and ball turret fractured on B-17 #107007. The waist gunner could be "plugged" in to the other side of the fuselage and also make use of the emergency oxygen bottles, but these could not be taken to the ball turret. The situation was assessed and it was established there would be insufficient emergency oxygen to supply the two men all the way to the target and back. 1/st Lt Carroll Woldt found he had no option but to abort and informed the crew. S/Sgt Edward Foulds then suggested he should bale out as this would ensure sufficient oxygen for the right waist gunner and any likely emergencies. After some discussion Woldt was persuaded to give permission. Two other gunners held open the fuselage door while Foulds jumped. A safe landing was made and Foulds returned to base while his comrades flew on the target.

Missions of Lt C. W. Woldt (mpf)