A FLT OF 3 T-6 ACFT WERE SHOT AT; AND HIT; BY SOMEONE ON THE GND 1-2 MI NE OF CCB.

Narrative

I WAS FLT LEAD (#1) FOR A 3-AIRPLANE FORMATION FLT WHOSE MISSION WAS TO OVERFLY A 9 YR OLD LEUKEMIA VICTIM'S PROBABLE LAST BIRTHDAY PARTY. THE LOCATION OF THE BIRTHDAY PARTY WAS ABOUT 1 1/2 - 2 MI NE OF CABLE ARPT (CCB) IN UPLAND; CA. THE FLT ENTERED THE AREA BY FLYING A L DOWNWIND ENTRY; COMMUNICATING ON INTERCOM 123.00. THE FLT CONTINUED ON A L BASE; PROCEEDING N PRIOR TO MAKING A R TURN OVER THE PARTY AREA. MY TARGET ALT WAS 2500 FT MSL (1600 FT AGL) WHILE ORBITING THE AREA AND MAINTAINING RADIO COM AND SEPARATION WITH ACFT IN CABLE'S PATTERN OPERATING ON THE S SIDE OF THE FIELD. THE FLT HAD FLOWN 2 R-HAND ORBITS; THEN REVERSED DIRECTIONS AND WAS FLYING THE FIRST OF 2 ORBITS IN A L TURN. THE #2 PLANE RADIOED THAT #3 PLANE HAD A LARGE FUEL LEAK ON THE L WING. #3 PLT SHORTLY RADIOED HE HAD FUEL SMELL IN THE COCKPIT. I ASKED #3 IF HE WOULD LIKE TO LAND AT CCB OR RAL. HE ELECTED RAL. WE FINISHED THE 4TH ORBIT AND DEPARTED THE AREA TO THE NE. #3 HAD SUFFICIENT FUEL IN THE R TANK TO SAFELY RETURN TO BASE. THE FORMATION DROPPED #3 AT RAL ON AN EXPEDITED ARR AND HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER EQUIPPED TRUCK WAITING UPON HIS ARR. #1 AND #2 PROCEEDED TO THE DEP ARPT; CHINO; CA (CNO). AFTER LNDG; #3 DISCOVERED THE CAUSE OF FUEL LEAKING BEING A BULLET HOLE IN THE UNDERSIDE OF THE L WING WHICH RUPTURED A FUEL BLADDER. THE BULLET DID NOT PENETRATE THE TOP OF THE WING. POLICE WERE SUMMONED. ON REVIEW OF THIS FLT; PERHAPS 4 ORBITS WERE EXCESSIVE DUE TO POSSIBLE NOISE ISSUES ON THE GND. ON FUTURE SUCH FLTS PERHAPS ORBITS SHOULD BE LIMITED TO 2-3 REVOLUTIONS MAX.