MISSION 376

Battle over the Reich

USAAF versus the Luftwaffe
28 May 1944

Ivo de Jong
 CONTENTS
First published in Great Britain in 2003 by ALSO AVAILABLE ACKNOWLEDGEM ENTS IV
Hikoki Publications Ltd FROM HIKOKI PUBLICATIONS
Friars Gate Farm, Mardens Hill, Crowborough. East
Sussex TB6 1XH, United Kingdom LUFTWAFFE COLOURS 1935-1945 PREFACE VI
Tel: 01892610123 Fa;-c: 01892 610842 by Michael llman
E-mail: inlo@hikokiwarplanes.com ISB 1 90210934 1 Chapter 1: STRATEGY FOR DEFEAT 1
Web: wvvw.hikokiwarplanes.com
EYES FOR THE PHOENIX
© 2003 Hikoki Publications Alhed Amed P/wto-Recomutissance OjJerel/iom Chapter 2: THE PLAN FOR A MISSION 5
in South-East A 7a 1941-1945
All rights reserved. Apart from any fair dealing for u1e by Geoffrey J. Thomas Chapter 3: THE GERMAN DEFENCES 14
purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as ISBN 0 951899 44
permittcd under u1e Copyright, Design and Patents Act
1988, no pan of this publication may be reproduced, STORMBIRD Chapter 4: RUHLAND 18
LOr d in a rctricval system, or translnitted in any form or Flying thmughfire as a Lzifhuafft gTozt1ld-attack jJilo/ & Me 262 ace
by any mcans, electronic, electrical, chemical, mechanical, by Ober t (i. R.) Hermann Buchner Chapter 5: THE FIRST TWO COMBAT WINGS STRIKE DESSAU 28
optical, photocopying, rccording or otherwise, wiiliout ISB 1 902109 00 7
prior writtcn permission. All enquiries should be directed
to U1C publisher. CONDOR Chapter 6: THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 41
The Lz!flwc!ffi in SjJain 1936-1939
ISBN 1 902109 03 1 by Patrick LaLll-eau Chapter 7: MAGDEBURG 97
ISBN 1 902109 104
Project Editor: Robert Forsyth
Production Management: Chevron Publishing Ltd WHITE EAGLES Chapter 8: KONIGSBORN 129
Typeset and Design: Sue Bushell The Operations, Men & Alrcrc!fl of/lte Polish Air Fane 1918-1939
Jacket Desig11: Barry Keuey/Colin Woodman Design by Bartolorniej Belcarz & Robert Peczkowski Chapter 9: ZEITZ 139
Artwork: Jon Field ISBN 1 902109 73 2

Pri nted in Ital y SHADOWS Chapter 10: MERSEBURG 145

Alrlifi and AIr-war in Bic!fin and Ntgera
1967-1970 Chapter 11: LOTZKENDORF 171
by Michael 1. Draper
ISB 1 902109 63 5
Chapter 12: COLOGNE 181
EMBLEMS OF THE RISING SUN
Imperial ]ajJalleSe Army All' FOrce Unit MarkIngs Chapter 13: AFTERMATH 188
by Peter Scott
ISBN 1 902109 55 4
Chapter 14: WAR CRIMES 201
CORONATION WINGS
The Men & Machines of/he RAF Coronation Review - 1953
by Eric BuckJow APPENDIXES
ISBN 1 951899 6 0
USAAF Losses 206
RAF & RCAFAIRCRAFTNOSE ARTIN WWII
by Clarence Simonsen Luftwaffe Aircraft and Personnel Losses 210
ISB 1 902109 20 1
US Fighter Pilot Air-to-Air Victory Credits 212
Roll of Honour 213

INDEX 215

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Trus book is based on rustorical records, that are brought to
life by the stories and pictures of participants. The book
could not have been written without the help of many
people, worldwide.
Firstly, I would like to thank the late Clyde H. Waite; rus
enthusiasm in the early days of my research really
influenced me and made me feel I was doing something
worthwhile. Had it not been for rus enthusiasm, I may never
have embarked on th.i endeavour. Unfortunately, Clyde did
not ee the completion of this book, as he passed away in
October 1994.
I thank my father, for starting me off on this project with
rus torie. I feel very fortunate that I am able to tum h.is
wartime memory into a book.
My dear fri nds Richard and Mmjorie johnson greatly
fa ilit ted my two visits to the National Arcruves and did
everything to make my visit successful.
Many people in the United States kindly answered my
letters of inquiry and supplied me with photographs m1d
other material. They are the people who really made this
story of 28 May 1944 and to aU of tI1em I convey my sincere
tI1anks: Barbara Allen, Mmjorie Anderson, Willimn Y.
Anderson, Paul M. Andrews, Teri Babcock, Victor L.
Baccaro, Chm-Ies N. Baker, Dolores Banas, Qyentin R. Bass,
Willimn F. Bemus, Mrs. Nicholas F. Bendino, Alvin P. Berg,
Walter Bergstrom, Steve Blake, Harold W. Bowman,jumlita
and jim Brackley, Bruno Branch, Edwm-d]. Brazinski,
George L. Brice, Donald W. Brooman, Catherine
Brousseau, jmnes R. Brown, john R. Brown, Lawrence G.
Brown, Russell A. Brown, Ralph S. Burckes, Donald L.
Caldwell, Linda Camp, john W. Campbell, William
Cm-Ieton, Lorraine Cm-on, Bruce W. Carr, Ray Cary,
Lawrence R. Casey, Fra11klin D. Cass, Fred Clemovitz,
Arthur M. Codding, Philip D. Cohen, Thomas W. Colby,
Clinton Combs, Robert W. Condon, Ed G. Cooper, Mm-cel
Copt, Walter F. Creigh,john B. Dann,jmues Derk, Alvin G.
Determan, Chm-Ies W. Dewitt, jmnes R. Dobson, john R.
Duchesneau, Dmliel E. and Desma Dunbar, john B.
Duncan, Willimn F. Dunhmn, Artl1Ur]. Egan, jack Eley,
Robert]' Enstad, Norman A. Erbe, Doris Freyland, Gary L.
Fry, Henry ]. Germ-ds, john]. Gides, Elmer C. Gillespie,
jmnes W Godwin, Harry Goland, Thomas W. Gougarty,
Stanley V. Gray, Herbert R. Greene, Clayton K. Gross,
Robert A. Hadley, Wm-dlaw M. HmTImond, Charles E.
HmTis, Thomas L. Hayes, Edwin L. Heller, Charles L.
Hem-y, Patrick W Henry, Aubrey E. Hewatt, Gm-y L. Hill,
jmnes E. Hill,jmnes S. Hollowell, H.joseph HouW1an,john
C. and Michael Howell, Winfred D. Howell, O. Allen
Israelsen, Tom Ivie, Robert F. jipson, Donald M. johnston,
Betty and Kennethjoye, Robert V. Kerr,jan1es H. Kincaid,
Dan C. Knight, Lawrence Kofoed, Claude M. Kolb,
Thomas L. KI-acker, Leonm-d]. KI-iesky jr., Lucius G. Lacy,
Gene Lmnar, Charles W. Latta, Stephen LeBailly, Irving
Lewis, Leon W Lobdell, Willard O. Locklear, Walter E.
MacFm-lm1e, Ralph M. Marts, jackie Mattluas, Edgar C.
iv
kl()re it was finished. I incerely hope t11at this book is a Admus, the late Bernard W. Bains, Tom Brittan, Peter
lilting tribute to their service for their country m1d tI1eir Claydon, Grahmn Cross, Stewart P. Evans, Ken Everett,
I ooperation in my research. Norman Franks, Roger A. Freemm1, Michael L. Gibson,
My visits to the National .Al-cruves in Wasrungton D.C.
were rughlights in my resem-ch. In t11e person of Mr. Richm-d
Chris Goss, Ken Harbour, Mike Harris, tI1e late Vic Maslen,
Robert B. Mynn, David R. Osborne, john Walker, Ken
Boylan I thank rus staff of the Militm")' Brm1Ch and the Wells and john B. Wilson. Also Bill Upperton, a Typhoon
Mill r, ale W Minor, Robert S. McCall, Clyde W. McClel- I mployees in tI1e reading room. I would especially like to pilot, and jim Hammond and George Seeley, both members
land, ordon T. McEachron, Doris M. McFetridge, Clem B. 1I1l'IIlion the help that Holly Reed from the Still Picture of an Air Sea Rescue launch, who were in action on 28 May
andjo ell McKennon, Kent D. Miller, Raymond]. Miller, Rd"erence Temu at t11e National Archives gave me. Other contributed to this book.
George C. Montgomery, Fred A. Morley, Willimn H. lJ.S. officials who as isted me in various ways were Mr. john In Belgium help was provided by Robert Cotyle, Eric
Morri , julius]. Moseley, Fred W. Murray, Stephen G. R. Bolton at Randolph Air Force Base, Mr. jmne H. Kit- Mombeek and jean Louis Roba.
Nason,jerry D. Nelson,john W. Norton, Lloyd A. Nutter, I hcns and Captain joe T. Remns at Maxwell Air Force Base In Holland I would lik to t11ank Eric Bakker, G.L.
Helen Ochsenhirt, Peter L.M. Packm-d, john O. Painter, md Mr. jolm F. Marm.ing of the Mortuary Division of t11e Hanm1er, jan A. Hey, Marcel Hogenhuis, Ab A. jansen,
Edward T. Pawlak, Bonnie Perry, Green B. Poore, Marcia I)t'partrnent of the .Al-my in Alexm1dria. Hm-old E. jansen, .Al-ie P. de jong, johan Manrho, johan
Pratl1 r, john B. Pratt, Willimn F. Protz, Fred G. Pynigar, Artists Robert Bailey m1d Troy White kindly pern1itted Schum-man, L. Stolk and Bernard G. Wijs.
Leonm-d Raterman, Richard Ray, Lyru1 W. Rice, Mrs. Inc to use their fine work in the colour section in the book. But, all of the help t11at the people mentioned above
Robert W. Rittmaier, john Robertson, Morris D. Robley, In Germany help was given by Herr Nilges at the provided would have been in vain, had it not been for my
Thomas Roskowick, Frank]. Rowe, Perry Rudd, Virginia B. Blindesarchiv in Koblenz, Herr Dal1J from tI1e m-cruve in girlfriend - now my wife - Hester. She supported me almost
Russell, Robert E. Rym1, Alfred M. Sanders, Willimn E. (;ologne and the Militararcruv in Freiburg and Deutsch~ from day one of my research. She rarely complained about
Satterwlute, Wade Schm-ff, David W. Schellenger, O. Dem1 I)icnststelle in Berlin. Otl1ers who provided help were the countless hours I spent writing letters to the veterans and
Settles, Charles D. Shebell, Roberta Sinnock, jane Sipp, \Vilfried Brandes, Rudolph Gloeckner, Hans Halbey, Hans working on my manuscript; she wandered around deserted
jan1es M. SmaUin, Talbert E. Spenhoff, Paul Spiers, Flo F. Iliihler, Rudiger Kirchmayr, Frau HiJdegund Komer, Hm1s former Eighth Air Force fields in East Anglia witl1 me;
Stafford, Hobart H. Steely, Kenmt D. Stevens, Raymond R. I..ichler, Stephen Ransom, Konrad Rudolph, "Rudolph visited many American War Cemeteries in Europe; it was
Stevens, Donald K. Stewart, Rudolph M. StoW, Edward C. 'Hl"Osetzki, Herbert Treppe, and Hans Schuffenhauer. she in t11e first place who persuaded me to go to the Natio-
Stoy, Raymond E. Strate, Walter R. Subora,jack Sutherlin, hllmer Luftwaffe pilot. Horst Petzschler, now living in the nal .Al-cJuves for research and finally ended up spending a
Murray Swerdlove, Roscoe L. 1aylor, john A. Thurmon, United States, also kindly answered my letters of inquiry. day of her honeymoon in those smne archives, viewing
Larry L. Tuel, Mm-gm-et Ulreich, Dale L. Vance, Casper My thanks also go to the staff of t11e Public Record Off}.ce exciting unedited combat fJ.1m, shot on 28 May 1944.
VeccJuone, Gil Villalpando, Harold Walker, Kale S. Warren, III England and the following British mnateur rustorians, Without her continual endurance and support for more tI1an
Kevin Welch, jan1es E. Wells, Vera Wepner, Bill Wescott, many of which I was priviliged to meet in person, and spent 20 yem-s, t1us book could never have been written.
Samuel H. Whitehead, Forrest Williams, \,yarren H. many pleasant hours with: john W. Archer, Stephen P.
Willimns, Carolyn Willis, Craig W. Winters, Hem-y W.
Wolcott, Max]. Woolley, Charles M. Zettek, Bruce Zigler
and Ann M. Zuravic.
I an1 much indebted to Chm-Ies HmTis and, again,
Richard johnson for proofreading the first version of the
mm1Uscript and t11eir valuable comments and advises.
The following representatives of various Bomb or
Fighter Group Associations were great help during the long
resem-ch period, and provided help in many ways: john M.
Balason [353 FG], Rom Blaylock [452 BG], jmnes E.
Bollinger [354th FG], Chris Bra sfIeld [466 BG], Homer L.
Briggs [457 BG], Francis O. Brown [486 BG], Al Buehler
[390 BG], Carl M. Christ [344 BG],joseph B. DeShay [357
FG], Francis]. DiMola [445 BG], Michael P. Faley [100 BG],
Fred FehsenIeld [354 FG], Carl Fyler [303 BG], Harry D.
Gobrecht [303 BG], Marc Hmnel [352 FG], H.C. 'Pete'
Henry [44 BG], Ed]. Huntzinger [388 BG], Sheldon W.
Kirsner [92 BG], Will Lundy [44 BG], Leroy A. Nitschke [4
FG], Merle C. Olmsted [357 FG], Marc Poole [384 BG],
George A. Reynolds [458 BG], jm1 Riddling [100 BG],
Robert]' Robinson [352 FG], Ben Schohan [351 BG],
Arthur W. Silva [487 BG], Terri Staton [354 FG], Smn Sox
[352 FG], Ray L. SU.l11l11a [34 BG], Ralph W TJ-out [401
BG], Horace L. Vm-ian [100 BG], joseph Vieira [303 BG],
Chm-Ies L. Walker [445 BG], john S. Warner [390th BG],
Leroy C. Wilcox [381 BG], m1d Em-] Zimmerman [389 BG].
ResearcJ1ing and writing this book was a labour of love
and I had to do it in my spare time, balancing between my
family and my military career. I mn truly sorry that the long
time it took me to complete this book also meant t11at some
of the fine contributors I mentioned above, passed away
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v

PREFACE
It was a peaceful. quiet Sunday afternoon with fine spring
weather in the village of Groenekan. near Utrecht in occupied
Holland. Suddenly, barely missing a line of trees, a huge
aircraft, accompanied by two fighters overhead. roars in the
direction of the village. Several Dutchmen have a grand tand
view of what is going to happen, including 18-year old Willem
deJong. 111e pilots of the aircraft make a perfect belly-landing
in a pasture and after it has crossed everal ditches the aircraft
comes to a stop and bursts into flames. Crewmembers jump
out of the wrecked Flying Fortress, as it is now recognized by
Will em de Jong, as he runs towards it. One of the crew-
members, badly wounded, is then carried by several Dutch-
men to a barn, where he dies a few minutes later. The survi-
ving crew are quickly taken prisoner by German troops,
billel d in th nearby old fort Maartensdijk.
This wa the story that was often told to me, when I gTew
up, as son of Willem de Jong. In the early 1980s, when I
reaclled about the age my father had during this incident, I
bec<'UTl more and more interested in hi story and, already
fa cinated by military history, decided to do my best and find
out more about this particular 1'1ying Fortress and her crew.
After I e tablished the date as 28 May 1944 and the Foro'ess as
belonging to the 388th Bomb Group, I made my fint efforts to
get in contact with some crewmember . With assistance of the
388th Bomb Group Association, I managed to find Clyde
'!\Taite, the former radio operator of the crew. His kind
response to my first and very amateur letter of inquiry stined
an interest in me, which has finally led to this book.
What at first started with a family war story, grew to an
avid interest in the AmericaJl Eighth Air Force and its
mission of 28 May 1944 more in particular. I learned that 32
bombers aJld 14 fighters did not return to their respective
bases that day aJld that numerous other events, worth
recording, took place. But, what I found of greater
inlportance, no less tllaJl 107 AmericaJl airmen died tllat day
aboard their bombers or fighters, in a day's battle due to be
forgotten. The mission on 28 May 1944 was planned to deal
a laJ'ge blow to tlle GemlaJl oil aJld armaJl1ent industry. It
would, however. never get a place in history aJllong tlle
faJl10us American air operations on dates such as 17 August
aJld 14 October 1943, with missions to Schweinfurt and
Regensburg. the 6 MaJ'Ch 1944 mis ion to Berlin or the 11
JanuaJ'y 1944 raid on Oschersleben. Missions like tllese have
already been covered in some excellent books.
vi
Chapter One
STRATEGY FOR DEFEAT
When I continued my research and letters from veterans
kept coming in, I decided that their efforts and tho e of the
107 who died, were worth to be recorded for the generations
to come. It becanle appaJ'ent to me that the air war over
Europe was different thaJl the impression that the books
about tllO e epic missions may give. The war in the air was
a steady bloody battle of ato'ition between tlle USAAF - aJld
RAF - and the LlffiwqjJe, day after day, month after month.
And up to now, no book has been publi hed, describing just
one of thos many, many 'ordinary' daylight strategic
bombing missions. I felt it was important for future
generations that there is such a book, covering in gTeat detail
the plaJ1J1ing aJld actual execution of an ordinary strategic
bombing mission. As my research progTessed, I discovered
that despite focus ing on ju t 'an ordinary mission', I was
able to cover all possible a pects of daylight aerial warfaJ'e,
not only bomber and fighter operations, but also air sea
rescue operations, escape and evasion attempts and WaJ'
Crll1les.
This book blends the stories aJld tlle emotions of tlle
airmen into tlle overall picture of the execution of 'aJl
ordinaJ)' mission' and combines oral history with me barren
facts from tlle archives and mus creates a detailed account of
the events as tlley unfolded that day. I anl well aware about
the reservations mat some faJ110US historiaJls have about the
usc of oral histOl)', because of tlle distorted view mat it may
give. I have, however, taken the point of view mat me reality
of war can best be illuminated by tlle use of evidence, botll
oral aJld ""ritten, of those who have actually paJ,ticipated in
II 17C 42-97314 LiuJejoJ-m was assigned /0 the 921/£1 Bomb Crou/J on 7 May. f/Jlew with the Croul] /0 Ruhland on 28 May, but was heavily damaged the next
battle. To address the critici m toward oral hiStOl)' as much
during a m/ssiou /0 Cottbus. liLt Victor 1I'ost then landed/he aircraft in Sweden. [Ca/hen'ne Brousseau}
,{II)'.
as possible, I have carefully checked aJld balanced all stories,
and where tlley differed from omer sources I have not
hesitated to note this fact. The crews of the 1,282 B-l7s aJld B-24·s that departed the concept of the heavily-armed bomber, executing daylight
The reader will not find revolutionary thoughts or England around noon on 28 May 1944 did most likely not precision bombing nussions on specific strategic targets.
spectacular new insights in tlus book. It was not intended to realise how much discussion had been taking place before Heavy bomber operations by me Eighth Air Force, based
be tllat way: I just waJlted to give a balanced aJld detailed they were fll1ally a signed their taJ'gets for that day. An in England, commenced on 17 August 1942, witll an attack
account of one of the maJ1Y missions of tile Eightll Air Force OI'dnance depot. an aircraft factory and no fewer tllan five on the rail yards at Rouen in FraJlce by a mere 12 B-l7s.
and to give tlus battle a personal touch by illustrating tllem sYI~thetic oil refmeries were to be bombed. In addition to tlus They continued with attacks on targets in France and me
wim stories and pictures of tile men who participated in it main effort, experimental glide bombs were to be dropped other occupied countries. Eighth Air Force senior
and sometimes lost meir lives in it. on marshalling yards by aJlother 59 B-17s. commanders were strengtlJened in their believe in the heavy
I sincerely hope mat tlUs book will be considered a Looking at the selected targets, it is safe to say that tlUs unescorted bombers, since meir losses were relatively low
lasting tribute to tile 107 Anlerican airmen who died on tlUs mission, only ten days prior to me Inva ion of Western and bombing results not too disappointing, in relation to me
day and to me others who flew on tlUs nussion aJld have Europe. was mainly a 'strike at oil'. And it was only for tile experience of tile crews. Llffiwciffe pilot seemed to be in awe
never been able to erase it from tlleir minds. second time in nearly two years of existence mat tile Eighm of the maJ1Y .50 calibre machine gun of the bombers aJld
\ir Force su'uck at oil refineries in GermaJly itself. The only occa ionally succeeded in inflicting severe losses.
United State Su'ategic Bombing Survey established after tile However, all this changed, as the Lziflwr.ifJe gained
war that, by attacking these highly vulnerable oil refmeries, experience, and me Americans started to attack targets
the American Air Forces had ,achieved the greatest success in deeper in Europe, and into Germany itself, without fighter
their strategic bombing campaign. It is merefore u eful to escort along tlle entire route. The frrst bombing of a German
explain why tllese targets were selected and attacked so target took place on 27 JaJ1UaJ)' 1943 when Wilhelmshaven
relatively late in the WaJ' and also how tile 28 May attack was was attacked. Losse increased, and the essence of tlus was
to be executed. This is the topic of the next chapter. clearly felt by the Allied Combined Chiefs of Staff, who
ContraJ)' to the policy adopted by the Royal Air Force, approved of the 'PointblaJlk directive' in May 1943. In tllis
which had found out that unescorted bombers could not directive, tarO'et were selected whose destruction would
survive tlle Lzifiwqffe in daylight battles, tile United States paralyze Germany's war effort and economy. Six target
Army Air Forces went to war witll the fundaJllental believe in systems were proposed, comprising eventy-sLx precision
PREFACE STRATEGY FOR DEFEAT 1
targ t to be destroyed. All targets were located within the
rang of the Eighth Air Force flying from England and the
Fift nth Air Force based in Italy. The proposed six target
y t ms, judged vital for the major elements of the German
military machine, were submarine construction yards and
ba es, the German aircraft industry, ball bearing production,
oil, synthetic rubber and tyres and fmally military u·ansport.
ince all targets elected for the 28 May 1944 attack
came from three of these six target y terns, it is worth
notinlT what the appreciations of the Allied Chiefs of Staff
regarding these targets were.
"Gennan aircraft industry
Depletion of the German Air Force will fatally weaken
German capacity to resist our air and surface operations.
Complete domination of the air is essential for our ultimate
deci ive effort.
Oil
The quantities of petroleum and synthetic oil products now
availabl to th Germans is barely adequate to supply the
lifeblood which is vital to the German war machine. The oil
ituation i made more critical by failure of the Germans to
ur and retain the Russian supplies. If the Ploesti
refm rie which process thirty-five per cent of current
refmed oil products available to the Axis, are destroyed, and
the synthetic oil plants in Germany, which process an
add.itional thirteen per cent are also destroyed, the resulting
disruption will have a disasu'ous effect upon the supply of
finished oil products available to the Axis.
Military transport vehicles
Seven plants produce a large proportion of the military
transport and armoured vehicles. The precise proportion is
unknown, but 10 s of these plants will directly strike at the
German military strengtll."
But, immediately after reviewing tile merits of attacking
these targets, tile Chiefs of Staff had to admit: "The selection
of these objectives is confirmed by the fact that the systems
about which the Germans are most sensitive, and about
which tlley have concentrated their defences, such as
balloons, camouflage, anti-aircraft, searchlights, decoys and
smoke, are aircraft fact01;es, ubmarine construction yards,
ball bearings and oil."
As we shall see, the strike force on 28 May would
di cover they were right.
But prior to starting a major bombing campaign on
targets such as oil refmeries, a most important intermediate
objective had to be met:
"The Germans. recognizing the vulnerability of their
vital indu u'ies, are rapiclly increasing the strengtll of their
fighter defences. The German fighter strengtll in Western
Europe i being augmented. If tile growtll of this German
fighter strength is not arrested quickly, it may become
literally impossible to carry out tile destruction planned and
thus create tile conditions necessary for ultimate decisive
action by our combined forces on the continent."
On 22June 1943, the Eightll Air Force carried out a raid
on the synthetic rubber plant at Huls in the Ruhr. The
bombing stopped rubber production completely for a month
and it was not restored until November of tllat year, for a
loss of 16 B-l7s. InJuly, the B-24-equipped Bomb Groups of
tile Eightll flew to bases in North Africa, to carry out a low-
2 STRATEGY FOR DEFEAT
level b mbing attack on tile large Ploe ti oil refineries in
Rumania, on 1 August. Altllough los e were severe, (a tllird
of the attacking force was 10 t), much damage was inflicted
on tile target. It was a sign of thing to come and several
German leaders expressed their anxiety about the German
fuel situation, following tlus first attack.
Other LIluts based in England, bombed the ball bearing
factory at chwei.nfurt, and tile Messerschnutt factory at
Regensburg, on 17 August. The air battles that ensued were
anlong the greatest ever. 0 fewer tllan 60 Flying !<ortresses
did not return that day, most of them shot down by German
filThters. It was a tough renlinder of the intermediate
obj ctive that was identified by the Allied Chiefs of tafE.
Then a raid on Stuttgart, on 6 September, and otllers on
Bremen on 8 October, Gd)'1ua/Anklam on 9 October,
Munster on 10 October, and another on Schweinfurt on 14
October, brought severe and almost unacceptable losses to
tile Americans. The original doctrine of bombers flying to
tlleir targets without fighter escort, had to be abandoned.
At tilat time fighter escort consisted of the American
P-47 Thunderbolt and tile British Spitfire. With these types,
escort was only available to just inside the German border.
After that, the bomber were on their own. However,
experience had shown that for tile bombers to be successful,
fighter support during their entire nU ion was essential. The
operational range of the available fighters, including the
recently introduced twin-engined P-38 Lightning, was
insufficient to accompany tile bombers to their targets on the
/I 2/H 41-28851 Thc car-sightcd Robin !!flhe 341h Bomb Grou!) wasjlown to Liilzkendo7jby Lt James C. Smith. The ship landed in Sweden with Lt Giles
long l1ussions as selected in tile 'Pointblank' directive. A new 1,'I1dl at Ihe controls on 24 August 1944. [James S. Hollowell]
fighter, the P-51 Mustan lT. was put into service in late 1943,
and the operational range of the Thunderbolt and Lightning
was increased by adding larger droptank . Gradually, tile rhe bomber crew had mixed emotions about this change in advises a well. Both Air Vice Marshal Trafford Leigh
Eighth Air Force campaign re umed. li!!,hter tactics, and many of them felt they were now used as Mallory, who was General Eisenllower's ail- component
But not only increased fighter escort was to suppres the hait for the Llftwt!ffi:. commander, and Air Chief Marshal Arthur Tedder,
Lzftwqfft. The attacks on fact01;es producing its aircraft now However, tile relentles pursuit of the Liftwqfft, combined Eisenllower's deputy, advocated the so-called transportation
received the lughest priority. 11 January 1944, marked the with the ever increasing strength of the Eightll Air Force, plan. In this plan, all available bomber forces were to be
resumption of the Eightll Air Force's strategic bombing hoth in fighter and bombers, brought the Americans virtual employed for bombing the French and Belgian rail system,
campaign, witll a nUssion to Ochersleben. It cuLninated in .Iir superiority. On 28 May 1944, the Eighth Air Force had and rendering it incapable of reinforcing and logi.stical
attack on m~or aircraft production centres during 'Big Week' !!,l'Own to 36 Bomb Groups (with four more becoming support of the German forces in the inva ion area. Although
between 20-25 February. Anomer major shift in strategy was operational before D-Day) and 15 Fighter Groups. Spaatz argued that the oil campaign would have the benefit
implemented in early January 1944. Until then tile available In early March 1944, a psychological tunung point was of being able to continue the attrition of the Liftwcifft at the
fighter escort was to stay with tile bombers, and let tile n:ached. Berlin, the German capital and symbol of Hitler's same time, Ei enllower chose tile tran portation plan on
Llftwt!ffi: come up and fight. Therefore, they were on a reign, was bombed for the first time by me Eighth. Where March 25. Thi offered easily measurable results and the
permanent defensive posture, having to absorb tile first blow. thc first nUssion on 4 March was hampered by bad weather, effects of me oil plan, altllough logical, were difficult to
If the Ll!ftwqfft chose not to attack, it had been a long trip for thc second onc, on 6 March, became a classic in air war assess with the ex.isting Allied ultelligence.
the fighters, but one tllat was largely in vain. This changed history. It drew a fierce response, as no fewer tllan 69 Spaatz, for several reasons, if only to prove the Army Air
when James Doolittle, Conunander of the Eighth Air Force, hombers did not return to England. Undaunted, two days Force su-ategic doctrine of precision bombulg during the oil
ordered a major change in tactics. This decision was later the Eightll was over Berlin again, losulg 37 bombers, campaign, chose to subterfuge. The Fifteentll Air Force wa
supported by Carl Spaatz. tile Conunander of the Strategic but the next m.ission. on 9 March, saw no appreciable enemy officially assigned the Ploesti rail yard as its target on 5 April,
Air Force in Europe, who also had tile Fifteenth Air Force in opposition. It was an inlportant indicator of the blows that but, not surprisingly, most of its bombs fell in the adjoining
Italy under his conunand. The Amel;C<1..n fighters were now to were dealt to Lz!ftwqfft fighter and pilot strenl!th. oil refmeries. This was repeated on 15 and 26 April. In
take the uutiative by attacking and pursuing the Lziftwqfft and In March ten ions ran high at the lughest conunand April, the Eighth Air Force continued its battles with the
not necessarily near the bomber stream. Seeking out airfields levels. Spaatz wanted to use his Anlerican strategic bomber LlifiwajJe, but when the Germans were found to be
and parked aircraft was encouraged. 'Strafing' as it was called, force in Europe (the Eighth Air Force in England and the remarkably ab ent durulg several major nu sions, fear grew
wa a lughly successful way of depleting the Lifi:wqfft's Fifteentll Air Force in Italy) in the be t possible way to tllat it was conserving its strengtll for me Invasion, tllat
strength. At the sanle tinle it was very dangerous, as the support tile coming invasion of France from England. He everybody knew would soon come.
attackers were susceptible to small calibre ground fire. and Ius staff stuck to the Pointblank directive and now Also in March tile strategic bombing effort from England
NotewortllY is tile fact that almost all gl-eat American aces - wanted to switch to tile oil campaigll. This was a compact was distracted by anotller demand. The destruction of
none of wh.ich were shot down by enemy fighters - fell victim and vital target system and its destruction would severely
to light flak when strafmg. Francis Gabreski, John Godfrey, hamper German' air and ground operations after D-Day. • V-weapon comes from Lhe German VergellulIgswaffi or 'revenge-wcapon'.
Gerald Johnson and James Goodson, aces witll 28, 18, 18, However, me Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in BesL known arc thc Vol, the 'nying bomb', and Lhe V-2, a supcrsonic
and 15 ail- victories respectively, are just a few of u1Cse many. Europe, General Dwight Eisenhower, did receive other rocket.
3
MISSION 376

targets connected with the German V-weapons also became
a priority.* Although these V-weapons had not yet been
launched again t England at that time, intelligence had
discovered their existence and recognized their tlu'eat. In
March several smaller missions were flown to V-weapon
sites in northern France, culminating in an almost 600
aircraft strike on 26 March. On 20 April, more than 800
bombers were despatched to tllcse sites and similar missions
were flown on 27 April and 1 May.
In the meantime Spaatz had taken issue with
Eisenhower. The latter was distinctly unhappy about
Spaatz' lack of progress in executing the transportation plan.
In fact, the Eighth Air Force had not yet bombed a single
tran portation target since the decision had been taken on
25 March. In the end, EisenJlower allowed Spaatz two days
with 'visual bombing weatller' to prove his point with the oil
campaign and test the Llifiwciffe reaction. On his part, Spaatz
promised more effort in tlle transportation plan and on 22
April, 800 bombers attacked tlle marshalling yards in
Hamm, the largest rail yard in Germany.
Spaatz had to wait for three more weeks to get his first
oil su'ike in visual conditions. This first mission was flown
on 12 May. Ahnost 900 bombers and 735 fighters were
dispatched to attack syntlletic oil refmeries at Merseburg,
Liitzkendorf, Briix, Zeitz and Bohlen. The German
reaction, as predicted, was fierce. Both flak and fighters
brought down 46 bombers and seven flghters. The Lziftwqfft
struck hard at ome Bomb Group, one, the 96th, losing 12,
and the 452nd, loslng 14 of it number. But huge columns
of smoke gave fu'st hand evidence tllat the bombing had
been successful, and thousands of tons of oil and their
refmeries had been deslJ'oyed, or badly danlaged. Both
Bri.ix, and Zeitz, were put out of action, with Merseburg 60
per cent, and Bohlen 50 per cent damaged. In his post-war
memoirs, Albert Speer, the German minister of armaments,
recalled tlus day as the one on which his nighnnares became
reality: 'This day marked the end of the German
armament'. The Germans also took appropriate measures.
Immediately after the 12 May attack, air defences were
4 MISSION 376
Finding and slrikillg Ihe
Luflwaffe 011 Ihe grollnd was
nol cary Jor Anzen'call Jighler
/Jilols. These Bf ]09s of
//.lJG 27 are dis!Jerserl alld
camo,!flaged al I he edge of a
wooded area on an airfield in
GennallY. [Fn'edrich Keller,
Ihrough Jean Louis Robal
expanded, camouflage and smoke covers improved. Even
the highe t headquarters were placed on alert. On 24 May,
it was proposed to cut maI10eUVTes and road movements of
armoured vehicles by 90 per cent to conserve precious fuel.
In the meantime the weather over the Continent prevented
tlle second oil strike. The next two weeks saw missions to
satisfy everyone's needs. SlJ-ikes were made on V-weapon sites
in France, indusn-ial targets in Gernlany. maI'shalling yaI-d in
Belgium and France, Berlin received a visit from nearly 500
bombers on 19 May and a furtller 460 on 24 May. aIld
alrfields in France and Belgium were also attacked.
On 27 May more tllan 1,100 bombers were despatched
to attack the marshalling yards at MaImheim, Karlsruhe.
Strasbourg, SaaI-bri.icken, Neunkirehen and Kons/Kartllus.
indusrrial targets in Ludwigshafen and coastal gun batteries
at FecaIllp aIld St. Valery. The Llifiwqfft countered the
attackers and, together witll the inevitable flak, managed to
shoot down 24 bombers. Six of these belonged to the
luckless 351st Bomb Group. based at Polebrook. The 457tll
Bomb Group from Glatton lost three B-l7s. The following
day, both Bomb Groups would again be in tlle tlUck of the
battle and suffer heavily.
During the afternoon the formations of Forrresse and
Liberators returned to tlle sky over EnglaIld and separated
to laIld at tlleir respective home bases. Here, wounded
crewmembers were removed from tlle ships, crews were
debriefed, and battle damage repaired as quickly as possible.
No one at the operational airfield knew if anotller mission
was due for the next day. 28 May - \!\1hit Sunday, or
Pentecost.
That afternoon. however, the meteorologists had
promised visual bombing weather, and tllUS tlle second
opportUluty for a mission in tlle oil campaign presented
itself. Close to midnight the teleprinters began to rattle at all
bases. At Eighth Air Force Headquarters at High Wycombe,
tlle decision had been made; Eighth Air Force Mission 376
would be launched on 28 May with tlle aircraft departing
England late morning.
Chapter Two
THE PLAN FOR A MISSION
I I bc able to properly understand the events of 28 May Wmg on a l1ussion and all shared the paI"ticular risks of
I III it is rcleVaIlt to outline tlle orgaIlization of the Eighth flying Lead, High or Low Group.
II Force on the day first. The way the planning officers at The B-24 units put up Squadron of around 12 hips
II ! kadquarters at High Wycombe orchestrated tlus attack each. Three Squadron were re pectively flying Lead, Low
I ,tlso covered in tlUs chapter. Left and High Right in respect to each other. These 36
rhe ba ie bomber U1ut in the Eightll Air Force was a bombers were tlle 'N Group within a ombat Wing, which
HOlllhardment Group (Heavy).* It was composed of four wa completed by all identical 'B' Group. hus, a B-24
I "Illb quadrons, each having an a signed strength of some Combat Wing comprised some 72 bombers.
I bombers. A Bomb Group was based at its own airfield, In each Bomb Group formation, tlle very first ship
IpJlorled by its own logistic units and it was usually carried the mission leader, or CommaIld Pilot, flying with a
so-called lead crew. The crewmembers of tlUs lead crew were
,mmanded by a Colonel.
Three or four Bomb Groups were assigned to a .u ually experienced aIld well on their way to fini hing tlleir
olllbined Bombardment Wing, for both aaministrativ~ tour of operations. Agllin, each Wing had its own \!\ling lead
I IIllactical purposes. The next higher echelon in the chain crew, thus flying in tlle first (lead) slup of the Lead quadron
of 1011lmand were the three Air Divi ions. respectively tlle of the Lead Group.
hi st Air Division, with B-17-equipped
I\III1S, the econd Air Division, with
B I equipped lIIuts aIld the Third Air
Dl\lsion, with a nUxture of B-17 and
H 21 equipped UlUt. The three Air
DIvisions were under the direct
11l1ll11and of the staff of the Eighth Air
!'on:e, which was corrunanded at the
tllllC by GeneralJames H. Doolittle. He
\\ .IS primarily known a a pre-war flyer
.11111 as the leader of the daring
hOl1lbing mission by carrier-based B,25
Ittchell bombers to Japan in April
II) 12.
On a combat nussion, a Combined
Bombardment Wing put up a so-called
( :ombat Wing, compri ing bombers of
l.lCh of its assigned Bomb Groups. ]0
make matters more complicated, the
m~anization of a B-17 Combat Wing
dtlTcred from a B-24 ombat Wing.
In this stage of tlle war, three B-17
\qlladrons, Witll six bombers each. aIld
lh'ing Lead, Low and High in respect to
l.lCh otller, made up a Bomb Group
lonnation. Sometimes one or more
\qlladrons had one extra B-17, thus
making a Bomb Group formation of up
to 21 aircraft. Three Bomb Groups,
.l~ain flying Lead, Low and High, were
then a embled into a ombat Wing
l()rmation, which in all was now at lea t
llfty-four bombers stropg. The
positions of the Groups within the
\Ving rotated after each nussion, 0
l'vel)' Bomb Group had its share of the
rcsponsibilities of leading a Combat
Glallon, IJomefor the 457th Bom.b Groll!J, wa.s a 'Jpical EigJtlh Azr Force bomber aiifield. The three inlersecting
runway's are circled by lize !Jen"meler track. The big 7:2 hangar is pU1in0' visible in Ihe technical sile. Jusl across
the !Jerim.eter lrack is the control lower, with shedsfor ambulances andfire Inlcks. More Ihan 30 B-] 7s, both olive-
Throughout the book it will be referred to as drab and naillral metalfinish, alii be seell on Ihe hard slands. Nole Rose COllage Fann closed in by Ihe nlllways.
Bomb Group. OperaliollS on Ihejll7n continued dun'ng Ihe war. [John J1Ialker]
THE PLAN FOR A MISSION 5

Who were the men who
were to lead the entire Eighth
Air Force into Germany on 28
May? The fir t Wmg to enter
Germany was the 40th Combat
Wing. The Lead Group in this
Wing was the 92nd Bomb
Group, ba e I at Podinolon.
This Group thus provided the
Command Pilot. He was
twenty-five year old Lieutenant
Colonel Andre R. Brousseau.
He was a 1940 graduate from
West Point and in March 1942,
while still in the United States,
he became the COITU11anding
Officer of the 326th Bomb
Squadron of the 92nd Bomb
Group. With Brousseau in the
I ad hip, his Squadron lead the entire 92nd Bomb Group
in the first non-stop llight over the Atlantic Ocean for a unit
of this size, in August 1942. Brousseau al 0 took part in the
first operational mi sion of the Group, on 6 September.
After that, he led the Group on several combat mission.
He was duly promoted and now served as tl1e Group's Air
Executive.
Brousseau was to fly witl1 tl1e lead crew of Captain Clem
B. McKennon. McKennon and his crew had arrived in
England as replacements in early September 1943. They
were then assigned to the 92nd Bomb Group and flew their
fu-st operational mission on 9 October, to Gdynia. The third
mission of the crew, to Schweinfurt on 14 October, had
nearly been its last. While six out of tl1e 18 aircraft of the
Group were shot down, McKennon's machine was dan1aged
and one crevvmember injured. He was just able to put it
down in an English field, whereupon the crew returned to
Podington by truck. McKennon's crew apparently stood out
for its teamwork and on 30 January, 1944, it was selected to
fly its fu-st mission as a lead crew for tl1e Group. Several
missions as a lead or deputy lead crew followed and on 18
6 MISSION 376
Lefl: 'fhis wllIsual picture shows fiur
Commanding Qf!icers in the chain '!lcommand !!f
the Eighth Air Force listelling to a s!)eech by
Marshal Lord 1/'enchard, 'the)ather !!fthe Ro)'al
Air Force~ Secondjimn lefl: James H. Dooli//le,
Commanding Qf!icer Eighth Air Force; on his
n'ght, with glasses: Robert B. Williams,
C07l1llul1uling Officer First Air Division; on
Doolittle's lefl: Robert F Travis, Commanding
Qfficer 41st Combat Willg;.filr n'ght Kennit D.
tevel1S, Com17ulIlding Officer 303rd Bomb
Croup. Both Travis and Stevenrjlew all the 28
May mission. [Ke17nit D. Stevens}
Below: A typical Eighlh Air Force control tower.
'fhe large !)anels 'PK' in the grass inji'ollt !!fthe
towel; identjJJ itji-om the air as EtJlebrooh, home
!!fIlii! 351st Bomb Crou!). .Next to the tow!:r is
the crash station, with an ambulance on stalld-by.
[Robert W Condon}
March, it wa t.ransferred, on detached service, to tl1e 305tl1
Bomb Group at Chelve ton. Here, a o-caUed Pathfmder
section was formed, with each of the three Group in the
Wing detaching ome of its lead crew to this section. The
B-17 in this Pathfmder section were equipped wit.h H2X
radar, to enable their navigators and bombardier to
navigate and bomb t.hrough cloud or smoke cover. The
H2X radar was housed in a radome, protruding from tl1e
belly of the bomber and replacing the baU turret. If tl1e 92nd
Bomb Group was to lead the Wing and required an H2X
lead aircraft, McKennon and most of his original crew, took
it from Chelveston to Podington. where the COITU11and Pilot
and some others then completed the crew for that particular
mission. McKennon's co-pilot, 1/LtJack D. Henderson, had
to give up his seat in tl1e cockpit for the Command Pilot and
was assigned to become the formation observer. He, in turn,
took th place of the tail g'unner, and was to report to t.he
Command Pilot on the status of the formation behind him.
Flying on 28 May with Brou seau and mo t of
McKermon's combat crew were four other officer. They
were liLts S.F. Renscok and R.P. FLinn, both regular
,tmlllard bomb loadfor a B-ll, ten 500-pound incendicuy bombs, waitillg to be loaded in a Fortress !!fthe 508th Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Croup. Note the little
J" tiMe gasoline engilli! uncler the nose !!fthe shit), which WCIJ UJed to prOVide power attlli! 11I1rdstandfor the airmifi's eledn'cal systems.
I,{ Robert W Condon, co-pilot and pilot in Ihe Squadron. [Robert W Condon}
lI.lvigators, liLt H.G. Davi . operating the H2X radar, and
..lptain Edward T. O'Grady, the lead bombardier. O'Grady
'as a veteran as well, as he was all-eady t.he lead bombardier
Ill' a Wing on the infamous Schweinfurt raid in October
1I) 13. For his actions that day he earned a Distinguished
I'lying Cross. The bombing of a formation was generaUy
done at a signal from the lead bombardier. When he dropped
IllS bombs, aU other bombardiers dropped theirs. thus hoping
til obtain maxin1um concentrated coverage of the target.
()thers means of signaUing tl1e moment of release were
l1loke marker bombs, llare signals or radio code words.
ll1ese concepts applied to both types of Combat Wings.
Several Bomb Groups flying on 28 May were very
experienced, having [lown from England for more than a
year-and-a-halr. Others had just started operations, some
had suffered no combat losses at all. The longest-serving
Bomb Group was the 92nd, now based at Podington, which
new its Grst mission on 6 eptember 1942. The 'rookie' of
the day were the crew of the 34th Bomb Group from
\1endleshan1. This Group b~can1e operational on 23 May
and this was its fifth scheduled mission. ince the early days
of the Eightl1 Air Force, the Bomb Groups had steadily kept
rome in [rom tl1e United States. No fewer than 36 Bomb
Groups would take part in this day's attack, 20 equipped
witl1 B-17s and 16 with the B-24s.
Most of the 'crews in the older Bomb Groups were
replacements. They had n-ained in the States and after
having ferried a brand new aircraft to England, they were
THE PLAN FOR A MISSION
'fhe offia:/'J are Rob!:rt H. Cumter
then a igned to a Bomb Group, where another crew had
either fmished its tour of operations, or had been shot down.
The fresher Bomb Groups were stilJ flying with their
original crews. These had assembled and trained as a Group
in tl1e States, llew together to England in their own aircraft
and commenced operations from there. An exan1ple of this
was the 457tl1 Bomb Group based at Glatton, which [lew it
fu-st mission on 21 February 1944. Its original crews were
now nearing the end of their tour ; that i , those which had
survived three months of combat.
The tremendous effort of training so many crews, nearly
all of whom had come straight out of civilian life, must not
be undere timated. Alvin G. Determan, a pilot in the 303rd
Bomb Group, describes his training and arrival in England
and hi experiences serve as an example of so many others:
"I enlisted in the Air Forces on 18 May 1942 at Minneapolis,
and was put on inactive ervice, without pay, until
4 ovember. when I was called to Minneapolis and was to
embark by train to Santa Anna, California, to become an
aviation cadet. Here I underwent pre-flight instruction until
28 January 1943. From 1 February to 15 April, I had
prin1ary flight instruction at Sequoia Field in California, tl1en
basic flight instruction at Lemoore Air Base, also in
California until 22 June that year. From 27 June to
30 August, the advanced flying training followed at Douglas
Army Air Base in Arizona. At last, [rom 1-10 September, I
wa able to spent some days with my wife, back home, at
Lake Benton in Minnesota. Afterwards tran ition [lying
7
training for B-17s at Roswell, ew Mexico. until November
15. t alt Lake City. Utah, I picked up my combat crew in
th next two weeks and went with them to Dalilart Air Base
in Te as for combat flying training. From 15-26 March 1944,
w were in staging preparations for overseas movement and
finally on 1 April, we left the States for England. We expected
to be sent to some Bomb Group, but no; from 4-18 April,
Pre Combat Ground School at Bovingdon. On 21 April we
arrived at our combat station, Mole worth, and were
assigned to the 303rd Bomb Group, 358th Bomb Squadron,
the famous Hell's Angels. We flew our first combat mission on
29 April, to Lyon in France. On 28 May in the early morning
hours. we were facing the twelfth combat rnission of our tour
in just this one month·s time.'>!
The length of this tour of operations was cause for bitter
discussion in this month of May 1944, mainly in the combat
messes and barracks for flying personnel at the airfield .
Until then, the normal tour of operations for a bomber crew
had been 25 missions, sometbing that very few of the early
crew ever achieved. When more Bomb Groups and crews
b cam available, and overall 10 ses diminished, General
D olittl d id d to raise the number of required mis ion to
30. He rea on d: "The crew now had a much better chance
of making a full tour. It took about ten mi sions before a
team really becanle fU'st class. Adding five rnissions to tlle
crew's tour, in fact, resulted in not a fifth, 20 per cent, but a
full 33 per cent improvement in the effectiveness of a crew.
You were keeping them when tlley had gotten best.,,2
Not surprisingly, the bomber crews, were not too pleased
witll this decision. Some crews were given one or more
mission credits to comfort their feelings. But, the decision to
keep them, because they had become such a good teanl and
the overall combat losses were lowering, was to claim some
of tlleir lives on 28 May.
Eighth Air Force Fighter Command u ed the Fighter
Group as its basic tactical unit. Just like the Bomb Group it
usually had its own airfield and was commanded by a
ColoneL But whereas tlle Bomb Group had four Squadrons,
the Fighter Group had only three, con isting of more
aircraft, roughly about 30 per Squadron. Administratively,
tlle Fighter Groups were assigned to Fighter Wings, but all
operational orders usually went directly from Fighter
Conunand Headquarters to tlle Fighter Groups.
The normal Fighter Group strength on a mission was 48
fighters, all three Squadrons providing four flights of four
aircraft each. Every Squadron had its own radio call sign and
the four flights within the Squadron were referred to as
White, Red, Blue and Green. Within a flight, number 1 was
the leader; his tail was covered by number 2; and number 3
was covered by number 4. Thus, by using short radio call
igns, everyone was directly able to identify tlle one who had
ent the message. This was very essential when, during air
battles, fractions of a second could mean the difference
ben-veen life and death for a fighter pilot.*
The most experienced Fighter Group of the Eightll Air
Force to see action on 28 May was tlle 4tll Fighter Group,
equipped with the P-51 Mustang and based at Debden. It
had flown its fU'st mission on 2 October 1942. Many of its
• For example. 'Cobweb Green four'. was the pilot in the number four
position of the Green flight in the 334th Fighter Squadron, whieh
belonged to the 4th Fighter Group.
8 MISSION 376
original pilot had transferred from the Royal Air Force. Here
they had formed tlle voluntary Eagle Squadrons. at tbe time
when th nited tates till was not present on tlle European
battle front. t the other end of the scale of experience was
tlle 479th Fighter Group, based at Wattisham. It flew it first
operational mission with P-38 Lightnings on 26 May 1944.
The Eightll Air Force Fighter COl1unand had then reached
the plaruled total of 15 operational Fighter Groups. All these
Groups were employed on 28 May four each operating tlle
P-38 Lightning and the P-47 Thunderbolt. and seven, tlle
P-51 Mustang.
However, it was not only tlle Eighth Air Force which
provided fighter escort. There were two other source tllat
were used on almost all missions in this stage of the war. The
fLfSt wa tlle United tates intll Air Force. This was a
trong force, consi ting of Bomb Groups, equipped witll
medium bombers (ma.inJy B-26 Marauders), and Fighter
Group. After the Inva ion on tlle Continent, tlley were to
be employed for tactical purposes, upporting the ground
forces. But, with the invasion still in tlle planning phase,
these available Fighter Groups were used to support the
Eighth Air Force when necessary. 0 fewer tll3..ll 11 Fighter
Group of the Nintll Air Force would fly escort missions for
the Ei<Thth on 28 May. The other source for fighter support
was tlle Royal Air Force and its P-51 Mustang units were
regularly requested to provide escort. On 28 May
56 MuSt3..llgS from five different RAF Squadrons were
supporting the AmeriC3..lls.
As explained in the first chapter, seven high-priority
targets were selected to be attacked on 28 May. Ll addition
to these seven targets, 13..l"ge marshalling Y3..l"ds were selected
for the fu"st operational te t of the GB-1 'glide-bomb'.
The First Air Division was assigned to bomb tlle
Braunkohle-Benzin AG. oil refmery in Ruhl3..l1d 3..lld the
Junker l<lugzeug und Motorenwerke AG. aircraft factory in
Dessau. Division Headqu3..l"ters decided that noVo Combat
Wings, the 40th 'A' 3..l1d 40th 'B' would attack the refinery in
Ruhland, and three Combat Wing, the 1st, 41st 3..lld 94th,
would deal witll the factory in Dessau. Each Combat Wing
comprised the st3..lldard tllfee Bomb Group formations.
In addition to tlle normal bombing missions, tlle 41st
Combat Wing was to drop the st.iJJ secret GB-l. It was to be
released against the huge marshalling yards in Cologne for '/i,IUl boardJor Ihe Finl Air DivisiouJor Ihe mwiou if28 May. 7'he columm show./i"Oln lifi 10 righl: Ihe Bomb Croups wilh Iheir distinguishing Inangle markings on
its operational debut. This had notlling to do with the Ih Iil/b ifIheir ships, Ihe Bomb Squadrom wilh IheirjilSe/age codes, radio cal! sigm anrl wireless cal! signs, number q/aircrafiJor Ihe mwion and Iheir individual code
plaruling and execution of tlle main mission, 3..l1d the aircraft Itll,.,. Then i'!fon/wlion on limeJor 1a>.7~ estimated time ifrIe/Jarlure, ac!ual lake-qIftime, allilude, lime anrl place where the English C(}{ISI was 10 be crossed and Ihe same
II/on/wlionJor Ihe retumjoun/lY. On Ihefia" lifi in Ihe columns iflhe 303rrl, 37911z and 384th Bomb Crou/Js i'!liml/tlliol/Jor the smd 'O/Jeralioll CrajJqi7lit'to Cologne.
destined for Cologne left tlleir bases more than 3..l1 hour
I \;/fIOluJ! Archives}
earlier than those flying deep into Germany.
The Second Air Divi ion, equipp d witll B-24s, was to ,mel the 93rcl. They would attack Li.itzkendorf and were to All forces were to rejoln again approximately 150 miles
deal with two m<yor oil refmerie , Braunkohle-Benzin A.G. Ily at the rear end of the bomber stream. south of their point of separation and return along a
in Zeitz and the I.G. Farbenindu trie A.G. plant in The bomber forces were now made up as per tlle table subst3..l1tially direct route, deviating only to the extent
Merseburg/Leuna. Two of its Combat Wings, tlle 96th 3..l1d Oil the next page, witll the B·17-equipped units in forces I necess3..l"Y to remain south of we strong Rulu- defences. The
the 14m, were scheduled to fly to Zeitz. ~Iwo others, tlle 2nd ,mel II. ule B-24 units in forces III 3..lld IV. Force V wa the order of tlle forces during the withdrawal would be altered,
and tlle 20th, were to attack Merseburg. separate force for tlle glide-bomb mission. due to tlle varying locations of the targets. The lLfSt force
The 1 hird Air Division, comprising some Bomb Groups The four main forces. el;(cluding the one to Cologne. was to maintain 3..l1 altitude of 22,000 feet over the entire
equipped with B-17s as well as some Witll B-24s, was were to depart the English coast. n ar Great Yarmouth. at route, with tlle De au Combat Wings climbing to 25,000
assigned the Braunkohle-Benzin A.G. oil re[mery in Magde· 12.00, 12.11, 12.30, and 12.42 hours respectively, and feet before bombing. The second force was to penetrate. and
burg, tlle We/lT771acht tank ordnance depot in Konigsborn and follow a common, direct penetration course to a point withdraw, at 20,000 feet and climb to 24,000 feet over the
the huge Wintershall AG. oil refinery in Lutzkendorf. Here, lIorth-east of Brunswick. From there the Combat Wings target area. The tllird force was to Oy at 20,000 feet until
noVo B-17 Combat Wings, the 13th 'A' 3..lld 13tll 'B' were ent were to proceed, to their respective targets, bombing on approaching the Di.lIluner Lake area, climb to 22,000 feet to
to Magdeburg, 3..lld noVo other Combat Wings, tlle 45tll and east-south-east downwind headings. taking them between cross tlus well defended zone, 3..l1d return to 20,000 feet for
4th, to Konigsborn. Three B-24·equipped Bomb Groups the most heavily defended areas to minimize the effect of the remainder of the penetration. and through tlle target
were scheduled to make up two Combat Wings, tlle 92nd I!,round defences. area. Except that tlle Merseburg Combat Wings were to
THE PLAN FOR A MISSION 9
EIGHTH AIR FORCE ORDER OF BATILE, 28 MAY 1944 - BOMBER FORCES I IUlting the glide-bomb attack
",II11St Cologne. and one Group
Target Combat Wing Lead Group Low Group High Group hich was to carry out a penetration
\\ II'P in advance of the main bomber
Force I Ruhland 40 'A' 92A 92B 305
fc 1111'S. all other units were to operate
Ruhland 40 'B' 306A 306B 398
III direct support of the four main
Dessau 1 381A 91A 381 B/91 B
homber forces.
Dessau 41 379 303 384
It was the 56th Fighter Group
Dessau 94 457 401 351
om Halesworth that would carry out
Force II Magdeburg 13 'A' 390A 100Al95B/390B 100B Ihl' so-called 'Zemke-fan', invented by
Magdeburg 13 'B' 95A 388A 94A !lld named after its Commanding
Kbnlgsborn 45 96 452A 388B/452B ()nicer. Colonel Hubert A. Zemke. In
Kbnlgsborn 4 385A 94B/385B/447B 447A tI IS concept, a Fighter Group would
(1) in Group formation to a
Zeitz 96 'A' 466 466 467
ell si~1ated point. There, the three
Force III 96 'B' 458 458 467
'1uadrons would 'fan' out in different
Zeitz 14 'A' 492 492 392
clirl'ctions to intercept any German
14 'B' 44 44 392
h1.\hters, assembling over their fields,
Merseburg 2 'A' 445 445 389
,md confuse and prevent their building
2 'B' 453 453 389
lip to a battle formation. An extra
Merseburg 20 'A' 448 448 446 lllion would tay in the cenD-e, so it Col Andre R. BrouJJeau bnijj emus 0/ the 92nd Bomb Groupfor a combat mission. [ultherine BrouJJeau]
20 'B' 93 446 93
I lat if any Squadron ca.lled in enemy
Force IV LlJtzkendorf 93 34 34 34 f. ·hters, tlus section could come up and assist. lhe fU'st Officers on all bases were alerted for anoilier raid: 'Operation
LLJtzkendorf 92 'A' 487 487 487 operational use of the 'Zemke-fan' was on 12 May and it 376' was scheduled for 28 May. At iliese ba es, a frantic
92 'B' 486 486 - III ned out to be a great succe s. On 28 May the 56th Fighter activity developed. Many people went to work in tlle nuddle
(;roup would again try out tlle concept. The Group was to of the 1ught. Tlus ranged from ilie Group Operation
Force V Cologne 41 303 379 384
Ih to the Dummer Lake area and tllen fan out in Squadmn Officers who selected crews and aircraft for the nussion and
sirellgth towards Bremen, Nienburg, and Hannover. worked out ilie hundreds of details which would mean tlle
The other fighter units were arranged to provide difference between failure and succe s, to the ground crews,
remall1 at 22,000 feet until past their target. All Combat [13.00 hours]. tlus force was to depart Clacton at 11.36 who worked all night to bring ilie aircraft iliat were needed
ullbroken escort to each force from the west shore of the
Wings of this force were to descend to 18,000 feet for the hours and fly the mission at 20,000 feet, except when diving for ilie nussion into tip-top condition. The armament sections
luider Zee* in Holland on the penetration, and to the
withdrawal. The fourth force was to fly at 22,000 feet during for additional speed in tlle target area. loaded ilie Fortre es and Liberators wiili hundred of bombs
Bdgian coast on the withdrawal. 1""0 Groups rendering
the penetration and over its target and de cend to 20,000 The scheduled fighter support consisted of 15 Eighth Air and iliousands of rounds of machine gun ammunition.
uppon during the penetration were to make second sorties,
feet for its withdrawal. Force Fighter Groups. four of which were to fly double The combat crews were in their quarter, usually metal
,lI1d sweep the fmal portion of the witlldrawal route to aid
The route and timing for the glide-bomb mission was sorties, 11 inth Air Force Fighter Groups, and five Royal issen huts, dispersed all over ilie fields. If not playing a
111)' stragglers - bombers which were forced out of tlleir
independent of the principal operation. In order to reach the Air Force Mu tang Squadrons. With the exception of two card game, reading, writing letters or just lying awake and
protective Group formations for some reason and were
target area at the time of maximum predicted visibility Group detailed to provide close escort to tlle Combat Wing staring into tile darkness, tlley were sound a leep. Since me
Ilying back to England alone.
The order of battle for the Fighter Groups is given in tlle nussion didn't have a very early start, tile crew scheduled
ORDER OF BATTLE, 28 MAY 1944 - FIGHTER FORCES l,lble at the foot of page 10. to fly were alerted only around 06.00 hours. After waslung
German forces in tlle West were not only pounded by the and dressing, iliey had breakfast, and proceeded to briefing.
Target Penetration support Target support Withdrawal support bghth Air Force. The inth Air Force despatched over 600 Here all details of me nussion were revealed and all
Fighter sweep 56 FG (T) B 26 Marauder and A-20 Havoc medium bombers, to attack nece sary information given.
marshalling yards, naval yards. railway bridges and We are fortunate tl1at ilie per onal speaking notes of the
Force I Ruhland and Dessau 78 FG (T) 355 FG (M) 367 FG (L)
\' weapon sites in France and Belgium. In addition, various officer of ilie 401st Bomb Group conducting ilie briefll1g
352 FG (M) 358 FG (T)
P 4-7 Fighter Groups executed dive-bombing attacks on have survived in the arcluves. The e brief notes clearly point
363 FG (M) 50 FG (T)
t,lrgets in me same area. Also RAF Spitfire and 1)rphoon- out what he said to the combat crews in the briefll1g room at
4 FG (M)
equipped quadrons, were scheduled to attack fuel stores, Deenetllorpe. 3
Force II Magdeburg and Kbnigsborn 356 FG (T) 357 FG (M) 474 FG (L) homb dumps and switching stations. Unfortunately, meir
359 FG (M) 362 FG (T) actions on 28 May are beyond ilie scope of tlus book and are "TARGET:
354 FG (M) 36 FG (T) lherefore not included in greater detail. Your tmgetfir today is the number olle prion'ty target in German)! at
The Field Order were sent by teletype from the this time. It is c017ljJrned iffiur indivzdual ta/gets asfillows:
Force III Merseburg and Zeitz 353 FG (T) 361 FG (M) 370 FG (L)
Headquarters of ilie Eightll Air Force to iliose of me First, A Tlze AERO-ENGINE FACTORY - Junkers engine {Ju 88}
20 FG (L) 373 FG (T)
)econd, and Tllird Air Divisions, where additional orders andjet engines [Me 262].
Force IV LLJtzkendorf 479 FG (L) 339 FG (M) 19, 65, 129, 306 ,md details were added. Agajn me teletypes chattered, this B Tlze FA CrORY AIRFIEW
55 FG (L) and 315 Sqdns RAF (M) time sending me Field Orders down to Wmg Headquarters, C Tlze BOMBER AIRCR.AF! AS 'EMBLY FACTORY {.see
where furilier coordination took place and specific details below}
Force V Cologne 364 FG (L) 406 FG (T) 406 FG (T)
were attended to. Shortly before midnight, Operations D Tlze INJECTION PUMP WORKS - engine injeclionfir better
General withdrawal 356 FG (T)* jxtJOrmance
escort 364 FG (L)*
Its official name wa the lJsseimeer, since it became a lake in the 1933
after a dike was bllilt at its northern end. However, the Americans
This complex is the centre if the Junkers aero-engine and aircrqjl
(L) = unit equipped with P-38 Lightning (T) = unit equipped with P-47 Thunderbolt (M) = unit equipped with P-51 Mustang
always referred to it by its old name. either because their maps did not organization. As such, the wo7'!l.s are pri17lan'9' engaged in design if
* = second sortie for the Group
carry the new name, or it was so much more difficult to pronounce! new aircrafl and aero-engines, production if prototyjJes, and

10 MISSION 376 THE PLAN FOR A MISSION 11

 /
I~
I J/
t
The map as used at Horham, base qfthe 95th Bomb Crollj], to bnifthe crewsjOrthe mission qf28 NIay. The circled areas are well known Flak-saturated areas. The route
to andjivm the /caget and details about thejigiller escort are j]resented and generat iI!fimnatioll on twgetsjOr the other Bomb DivisioJlS IS shown. [National Archives]
development aJul eXjJerimental work on existing models, as well as
setting uj) production series.
Your Mean Point rf Impact is located in the AIRCRAFT
ASSEMBLY FA CTORY. Tlzls flutmy has been established s71zce
1910 aJul has grown very large since that time, producing all known
tyj)es rfJunkers a7rcrrifl· You are ftmihar with their Ju 52, Stuka,
Ju 88 {the fighter}, Ju 188, Ju 290, etc. Afier the new models are
succes!fitlly tested here, they are j)assed to other Junkers plantsjOr 17U/sS
producti(JJl. All (lSSembly details are first worked out at this j)arent
ftctmy, and thus elzlnznates all the bugJ c(JJmn(JJz to mass production.
You wIll seeflam the jJ/wtograj)//S, the hugeness rfthe target ana
- total area being about 3,000 x 1,800 yards, and roughly
rectangular. SIX MPIs have been (lSSigned to THREE WINGS
attackzlzg; and should j)rovide ample coverage, and sel7Je to crlpj)le the
whole efficiency rf this great asset to the German Air Force. YOUR
MPI is one rfthreefinal assembly shoj)s.
SECONDARY TARGET.
AIRFIEW about 5 miles NE rf Leipzig. Tlzis target is j)roelucing
Junkers aircrrifl engines which are used in Ju 88s.
SECONDARY PFF
CHEMNIT<. Industrial Town, jJrobably target large 17Ulrshallingyard.
LAST RESORT:
AT!)' militmy i1zstallati(JJl 71z Gennany or any aiifielel in occuj)ied
territory not ac!jacent lo a pOj)ulated town.
12
{,/IIlIjured crewmembers seen q/ier the crash into DeenelllOJpe village, j]iclured 011 11 December 1943jOllowing theirl7lission to ElIIdm. Standing ill the centre is tail gUllner
II"llI'rt V Kerr; standmgfi,r nght pdot I11Llter B. XLitk [Rober! V Ken}
\'PECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: brzifing someone saId somethingfimny and Keith looked back at me and
PIW Pooj) laughed. Afier the briding I talked with Keith a few minutes and
Tempest AIC operating over Europe having noticed that he was to lead the second element in our Squadron,
Escape Aids {shoes, dog tags, photos, purses and kits} I sazd 7 see you will be flying right behind me.' He said: 'You keep
those God-damned guns going, cause if we get in an:y trouble, I'm
J)()N'T MEJlf!ON THE TARGET !!!!" ·coml:ng right uj) underneath them, so keep them going.' I said: 'O.K.,
I'll protect)lou.'
()[ course many other details were brought up during the "1'# went down to the annament shop Cllul got the guns, cleaned
hriefmg. The formation plan of each Bomb Group was the them in a huny and dropj)ed them qffat the ship. Sent the truck back
subject of much attention, as it could literally mean the (!fier the qfficers. Afier jJZtlting the guns in, I went over alul got aflak
FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES:
difference between life and death to be in a well protected spot suit to put in the shzj) and then went and got another (JJle and j)ut them
- [Indicate on majJ} 40th 'A' and 'B' WingJ' target.
11\ a Group, instead of in 'Purple Heart corner', the Squadron both near the tail wheel. I then jJroceeded to change clothes. In the
- 2nd aJul3rd Divisions bombzlzg In general area rfMagdeburg.
III the Combat Wing which was most exposed to possible meantime the qfficers had arrived and were coming out rf the tent,
South rfLeijnig {totalfive targets}.
German fighter attacks. Other details were the anticipated saying that it was almost 'engine time ~ 'lalked with the rest rfthe crew
weather conditions, the times and places of assembly into and gTOund crewjOr afew minutes while the jJlwt and co-pilot were up
ROUTE AND FIGHTER ESCORT:
Group and Wing formation, and the colour of the flare signals in the cockj)it getting organized. Finally the greenflare went up and we
1 Grouj) P- 47s 1 Group P-38s; also extra sweej) DZimmer Lake
used for identification purposes on that particular day. Also a scrambled Z11, as thefirst eng/lze was staded.,,4
[47's}
'lime hack' was given, so that all crew members could One by one the Fortresses and Liberators on the various
- 1 Grouj) P- 51s 1 Grouj) P-47s; also extra sweep Liege [38's -
synchronise their watches to the exact second. bases came to life. With squealing brakes, the ships of a
stragglers}
One of the men attending the above briefing at Group folJowed the perimeter track around the airfield until
1 Group P- 51s 1 Grouj) P-47s; also extra sweep St0Jentin [47's}
Deenethorpe was S/Sgt Robert V. Kerr* He was to be the the first ship, carrying the Command Pilot and lead crew, had
tail gunner on B-17G 42-107043 Fitch's Bandwagon, leading reached the beginning of the runway. All eyes then turned to
EPIDIASCOPE PROCEDURE:
lhe High Squadron of the 401st Bomb Group. He recorded the control tower, waiting for the flare Sigl1al to commence
PRIMARY
ill his diary: "Felt pretty tired riflerflying the day bifOre. Went down take-off. Suddenly, there it was, and Operation 376 was on.
SECONDARY VISUAL
10 the orderly room and waited until the rest rfthe crew got there. 1'#
- 2,500,000 chart - Night target chart
llIled into the trucks and went down to eat. Afler eatl17g went lo the Notes
- Night tmget chart - PhotogTap/zs 1. Letter to author, 22 September 1.982.
/iriding room and we sat toward the back. Looked at the blackboard
- PhotogTaph 2. Qyoted from "Bomber Conunander", by Lowell Thomas and Edward
alld saw that we were leading the High Squadron rfthe Low Group.
- Perspective Jablonski, Sidgwick and Jackson, London 1.977, page 266.
Finally the Colonel came in and btzifing started. Saw Keith sitting on 3. 401.st Bomb Group Mission Report, 28 May 1.944; Record Group 18,
Ihe lifi and about six rows uj). He looked kind rfcute all dressed up Washington ational Records Center.
FLAK ROUTE:
III his A,ing clothes. He looked back at me and gTlnned. During the 4. Letter to author, 2 Ap,.jl 1993.
- Cover velY carrfitlly [Dummer Lake, Nienburg; Celle, Oschers-
leben, 'larget area, Secondary and Secondary PFF};
• Kcrr was the tail g1.mf\er aboard B-1.7G 42-39825 <.enodla-el-Elephanta of
- route out okay, excej)tjOr coast. the 401.st Bomb Group, when it crashed during take-ofT on the mission
of 5 December 1943. Miraculously, the entire crew of 21Lt Walter B.
LAST MINUTE INTELLIGENCE Keith survived the incident. However, Keith's crew was split up due to
Possibly one South Bound c(JJwoy (JJl the route back iJ~uries to several of the men.
MISSION 376 THE PLAN FOR A MISSION 13

Chapter Three
THE GERMAN DEFENCES
Opposing the mighty armada from the Eighth Air Force was
Erganzungsgruppe (Operational Training Unit) for the
the German L1ffiwqjft and its ground-based Oak units. The
Geschwader, though in reality, this unit was used
Luftwaffe was a hard pressed service. With Germany
operationally witl1 most Geschwadem in the L1ffijlotte Reic/z.
fighting on three fronts since 1941 (the Rus ians in the East,
The Gruppe was led by a GruppenkommandeU1-, an
and America, England and the other Western Allies in the
executive post held by an ail-crew member whose rank could
South and We t), the Lziftwqjft was in big demand. Its units
vary considerably - normally a HaujJtmann (Captail1) in
were stretched to their limits, both in number of aircraft and
fighter units. He had his own operational and administrative
in pilots. To counter the daylight attacks on Germany by the
Gruppenstab. and flew combat operations with hi
Eightl1 Air Force, the LzifiwqjJe had some 600 day fighters
Stabsschwamz (Staff flight) usually of tlu-ee to four aircraft.
available, of which just over half were serviceable. These
Under his com.n1and tl1ere were three, or sometime four
were assigned to Lzytjlotte Reiclt and were stationed on
Stqjftln (Squadrons) led by a Stqjftlkapitdn, an executive post
various ba es within Germany itself. In addition, Lzif!flotte 3
tl1at could be held by any ail-crew officer from Leut1lant
was responsible for France, Belgium and Holland and this
(Lieutenant) to HauIJtmann. In tl1e temporary absence of the
command had another 100 day fighters available in these
Stqjftlkapitan, tl1e unit was I d by a Stqjft!fUhrer. In combat the
occupied countries. Stqjftl was split into Sclzwamze (sections of four aircraft) or
The Lz!f!flotten were e tablished on a territorial basis. The
Rotten (pail-s of ailuaft) , ju t like their USAAF counterparts.
commander of the Lzif!flotte was responsible for all field
The Stqjftl normally comprised between 12 and 16 ail-craft.
formations under him, regarcUess of their operational role.
with the number of aircrew varying according to the
For it operations a fighter unit would be controlled by a
su-ength; normally there were 20 to 25 pilots and 150
Jag4Jliegerfiihrer or Jcifii (Fighter Commander). The Jeifii was,
ground crew in the case of single-engined fighter units.
in turn, subordinated to a Fliegerkorps or Fliegerdivision, under
The GrulJ/Jen and the Gesclzwader were identified by
the fmal control of the Lzif!flotte.
Roman numerals before the abbreviation JG and Arabic
The highest operational level for fighter units was the
numerals number after it respectively. So, LaG 11 was the
Jagdgescltwader (Fighter Wing), or JG for short. Its
First GntjJjJe of Jagdgesclzwader 11. Within the Gn/ppen, the
Commanding Officer, the Geschwaderkommodore, was usually
Stqjftln were usually evenly di tributed. The fu- t three
a Major or above in rank and flew operations with his
belonged to the first GrujJpe, tl1e fourth, fifth and sixth
Geschwaderstab. The control of the entire Geschwader was
belonged to the second Gruppe etc. The Stqjftl number also
normally exercised from the Gtftchtsstand (Battle HQ2
preceded the JG and if u ed, replaced the GTUppe number.
situated on the Geschwaderstab's airfield, but this was not
0, 3.aG 11 was the third Stqjftl of Jagdgesclzwacler 11; it was
always the case, and its was fairly common for the
automatically assigned to the First Gruppe.
Geschwader to have its GrujJ/Jen cattered over several airfields
The backbone of both Lzif!flotten were tl1e Messerschmitt
in a wide area. A Geschwader normally consi ted of three
109 (Me 109) and Focke-Wulf Fw 190 (Fw 190) day fighters.
GntjJjJen (Group ), with a fourth GrupjJe used officially as an
Both were combat-proven types, witl1 many modifications
rr~-----------------""\--~---------~~ ...
ince their fielding in the eaJ-Iy
days of the war. The main
armament of the Me 109G-6
were a 30 11U11 carmon, firing
tl1.rough the propeller hub, two
20 nun cannon under the wing
and two additional 13 mm
machinegu ns in the fuselage,
forward of the cockpit. The Fw
190A-8 bristled with four 20 mm
carmon and two 13 mm machine
guns. Both were dang rous
opponents for the American
ail-crews, especially when in the
hands of killed pilots. The new
German jet fighters were only
A Bfl09 G-6 and its pdot, Ufmer Moszner,
91 9.1JG 26 on SchijJhol airfield. Clearly
visible are the 30 111111 cannon 171 the jJrojJellr
hub, the 20 lIl/n cannon ill the gondolas under
both wings and one 91 the 13 111m madline
gum on top 91 the engine cowling, infi01lt 91
the cockpit. [Wemer MOsulelj
14 MISSION 376
/. /90s qf6.!JG 1 on SlOmlede ill AjJri11944. Clearly visible are the markings
1/ tht' lIlimifi nearest the mmera. This aircro/i is 'Gelbe 5' ('Yellow 5'), the red
1.lIId aroulld the}iLSelage infirmt 91the tail denotzilg]G 1. The bar in the red band
dmoil', the Second Gntppe. Also visible are the emble1llJor JG 1 (a winged 1) (In
tIlt' "n[!,ine ((Jw/illg alld the white sjJiral on the jHojJet/or hub. [Ham Liichler]
Ilist entering service and would not play any role'on 28 May.,
Experience among Lziftwqjft fighter pilots varied widely.
"lome, usually the StqjftlkajJitiine and Gmppenkomlllandeure,
were very experienced combat pilot . Often they were flying
IIlce the early days of the war. Since the Lz!fi.wqjft did not
have a tour of operations, like the USAAF and RAF,
1.Il/huqjft pilots simply continued flying until death or
wounds prevented their further service in combat units. A
typical example of such an experienced pilot was Ober.leutna.nt
Walter Kru pinski, the Gmppen!wllllllandeUT of ILaG 11. He
had enlisted just before the outbreak of war on 1 September
1939 and came to 6.aG 52 in February 1941. During the
1<)41 Call1paign in Russia he clailned seven victories. In
1942, however, he quickly became one of the most
lIcce sful pilots in his unit and ended the year with 66
\ lctories. He had also been the recipient of the coveted
Rilterkreuz. After a brief spell as an instructor pilot, he was
Issigned to the post of Stqjftlkapitdn of 7.aG 52 in March
1943 and continued to increase his score. On 5July 1943 he
shot down 11 Russian aircraft, but collided witl1 another Me
109 during landing and was badly wounded. After his
recovery in hospital he returned to business. His 100th
\ ictory was scored on August 18 and his 150th victory by
12 October. After 174 victorie , all on the Eastern Front, he
was awarded the Eiclzenlaube, in
addition to his Ritterkreuz. On 18
April 1944 he was recalled to the
\Vestern war tl1eau-e, his transfer
serving as a good example of the
Impact that the Allied offensive
nlis piCture 91 the jJilots 91 6.1JC 11 was
tilkl'll IiI April 1944 at Wunsto!f and is a
'71m dlustration 91 the heavy losses that the
t.lI/tWcifft su lained. All seven jJilols were
'Ither kit/ed, severely wOIlluU:d or made
!1Ii.,oner 91 war in a period qfJiLSt six weeks.
I'/mn lifi to nght: Feldwebe/ Martin Mlilter
(KIA 19 Ma)), UnterqfJizier Alfred Villlings
(WIA 24 May), UnterqJfizier Rudolf
Strosel1.ki (POW 7 June), Leutnant
./ndreas 1I'ockels (KIA 29 ApriO, Leutnant
lle/lnut Grill (KIA 7 June), UnterqfJizier
//I,'mer Althaus (KIA 29 AjJli.O and
(Tllterqffi.zier Heiny. Ku/u (KIA 28 May).
fRIIdolfStrose/va]
THE GERMAN DEFENCES
was having in the Lzytwqjft ranks at that time. After a brief
theau-e fanUliarisation period as Slqjftlkapitdn of LaG 5 at
Herzogenaurach in Germany, he wa appointed in May
1944 as Gmppenkolll711andeur ofILaG 11 at Hustedt.
Another old hand, who we will al 0 meet in this book,
wa Ausu-ian Oberleutnant Rudiger KirchmayT, Stqjftlkapitan of
5.aG 1. It is also interesting to note me vast difference in the
numbers of victories scored, Krupinski and Kirchmayr botl1
having about tl1e san1e amount of combat time. ince the
SUl1U11er of 1941 KirchmaYT was stationed at various bases
on the orth Sea coa t and accounted for hi fIr t victory on
20 September 1941. Hi victories teadily mounted, and at
the end of 1943 he had 15 victorie confIrmed. InJune 1943
he had become Stqjftlkapitiin of 5.aG 1, a po ition he still
held now nearly a year later. His victory list had accumulated
to 17 victories, all obtail1ed in the West. 2
Both Krupinski and Kirchmayr are typical of tho e who
were tl1e backbone in the L1ffiwqjft fighter force in May 1944.
They were tl1e ones who were leading the less experienced
pilots into battle. Untenffuier Rudolf Strosetzki of 8.aG 11
may erve as a typical example for them. His story also
illustrates the enormous effort to trail1 sufficient numbers of
pilot for tl1e Lziftwqjft: "I started my flying days with gliding
les ons, as a member of the Hitler Jugend. As I was afraid to
miss something of the war (and who wasn't in those days) I
signed up for pilot tra.ll1ing in the Lzytwqjft. On 1 May 1941
I was a signed to Flieger-AusbildungJ-Regiment 32, fIrst at
Pardubitz in Czechoslovakia, then in Rochfort, France. After
these four months of basic training, I went to the Fliegel--
Anwdrtel'-Battallion in Langenlebarn, Austria, for a non-
conunissioned officer course. Then, from October 1941 to
April 1943 I attended Flugzeug-Fiilzrer-Sclzule AlB 113 in
Brunn, again in Czechoslovakia. This was the u-ail1ing
school where I fmally obtained my pilot's license. From
April 1943 to June 1943, I went to the .:(mtOrerschule in
ParisjOrly, France. But before my group of students could
really start lean1ing to operate types like the Me 110, we
were reassigned to the Jagdsclzule in Bad-Voslau, Austria.
This was apparently because of a shortage of pilots for the
single-engined fIghter types. From ovember 1943 to
January 1944, I received the type tra.ll1ing on tl1e Me 109E
at Jagd Elgdnzungsgmppe Ost in St. Jean d 'Angely, France. This
15
was followed by two months at Jagd Ergiil1Zl1l1gsgruppe Sud in
arignane, near Marseille in France. for training on the
109 . Finally, in March 1944 I was assiglled to a combat
unit and was posted to 6.[JG 11, then based at Wunstorf in
cenlral Germany."3
The fir t Oak. that would greet the Eighth Air Force was
that of the German Navy. Its flak batteries were protecting
many Dutch towns along the North Sea coast. and although
the courses of the bombers were plotted to stay out of reach
of the most well protected areas, some Oak was always
encountered. But all over Germany. Oak units were
stationed. Some were more or less tatie, protecting vital
industries, major railway inter ections or other high priority
targets. Others were mobile and could be moved at short
notice, to appear in places where Allied intelligence officers
had not expected them to be. Based on the latest
information, often coming from debriefing reports of
previous missions, they prepared flak maps and during the
morning briefing the latest status of the Oak was given to the
bomber crews. However, no prepared Oak map or
information could keep these crews free from fire, as the
indu trial target in Germany itself were all well protected by
batterie. ome targets were heavily defended by many
batterie and although this Oak could not fully stop a
bombing attack, it nearly always c1ainled victims within the
bomber formation. Some aircraft literally disintegrated after
a flak hit. others lost engines or suffered othe( sULlctural
damage that forced them out of formation. ~ite often tlus
damage later led to a crash-landing or bailout of the crew.
For many Eighth Air Force crew in May 1944 the German
flak was a more feared opponent than the Lz!ftwqfft's fighters
were. Flak was tllere on almost every mission they flew,
while the fighters were not, and wIllie one had the feeling
tllat one could do sometlling about fighters, (such as taking
evasive action and returning fire), tilere was nothing to be
done about Oak, except to sit and take it and hope tllat no
shell would find your aircraft or its immediate vicinity. But,
nearly always and at total random, aircraft were hit and
crewmembers wounded or killed by Oak fire. The main
German flak guns were of 88 mm and 105 mm calibre. The
bomb rs, with their bombing altitudes at about 21,000 feet,
were easily ...vithin tile range of tllese guns. The crews
manning tile flak guns were all. odd collection. Some were
regular Lz!ftwqfft or We/znn.acht personnel. They were assisted,
mo tly in position requiring less skill, by boys from the
Hitler ]ugend, sometimes not older tllaJl 15 yeaJ"s, and slave
labourers or Russian prisoners of WaJ".
Eighteen yeaJ"-old Helmut Schade was a member of a flak
gun battery and recalls: "It required a unit of about 120 to
operate a typical six gun flak battery. The ainling crew had
vaJ;ous duties, including deflection, declination, azimuth and
raJlge, which showed a a triangle, rhombus, square,
u"apezoid and a circle on the raJlge-finder, or En!femul1gslIlesser,
which was a four meter-wide optical device. When tllese
symbols all came togetller on the viewfinder, which, when
focused on tile invading bombers, gave the final ainl, tile
commaJld to staJ"t firing was given by radio. Its normal
magnification was 12 power. It could be raised to 24 power
and 36 power to fill the viewfinder with the unage of a sUlgle
plane. The En!femullgs17lesser, or E-1, range[mder operator was
tile only man in the gun crew tllat had to go to school for his
trade, all tile others being u"allled on site. At the first
16
telephone notice of approachlllg all"craft, usually 75 or more , 'jllial CentUII/ 88 /!IIII .flail
,I" 11. jiroleclillg an indllSlrial
mile away, we dropped everything we were doing aJld raced
" 'nu' ILX guns ill a ballCly were
through u"enches to maJl the guns. Each of the six guns were I ,',{ 10 as Anloll, Berlha,
on four leg , witll pivots to turn it in any direction by hand ( It 1<11. Dora, Emil and Fiiedneh.
craJ,k . All the anlmunition wa stored in racks alongside 1/11 ,tlnardliu Knblemj
each gun. During aJl attack, tile 'faJlTl boys' pulled the laJ"ge
ca mgs from the rack and haJlded tllem to a second man who
plunged the grenade-end into a box wluch set the distance
that the grenade would travel before exploding. The pomted
end of tile grenade had two small Oat spots opposite each
other, which served as a grasp for the range box to turn the
fuse to set the distaJlce tile grenade would u"avel before
explodillg. Tlus man then handed the shell to the third man.
who slaJnmed the shellulto tile breech of the gun and yaJ,ked
tile laJlyaJ"d at command from tile [mal aimer. All six guns
[lred in unison. If the grenade hit a plaJle, it would usually
not explode on illlpact, but would explode only after
travelllllg the distance set into tile fuse. The [mal allncr with
tile rangefmder kept his sights pointed at the left wUlg root of
the lead plane and the nece sary nearly two mile lead was t ,!!.UII crew jJosing al ilJ bailIe
automatically calculated, so that the grenades would arrive at "II/III/.\. Nole Ihe allllllill/ilion
a spot in the sky that the target should occupy when it
arl;ved there. All tile gun operated in unison, as tile
information was fed to each gun tlu"ough a large umbilical
from the raJlgefmder's position. The guns were ainled in
I/IIII,I.!,( in Ihe dugoul walls and Ihe
jll/nll'd dock
11I1II/lkmrchiu Kob/enz)
indicalions.
,,
/
PaJ"allel to spread the pattern a little, tile guns beillg some fifty ,
\
.
,\
feet apaJ"t. A slow turn in eitller direction by tile taJ"get all"craft
was enough to t1u"OW off tile ainl of tile Oak gunners. This is
why tile Oak was heaviest durmg the fmal bomb run by tile
bomber , when they had to fly a straight and steady course.
to give the bombaJ"diers the best opportUluty to lut tile taJ"get.
Our flak gunners would be trackillg a su"aight line, and if the
target aircraft disappeaJ"ed behind a cloud, the line of ainWlg
wa continued as if the taI"get could be seen. If the taJ"get
aircraft re-appeaJ"ed, adjusunents would be made at tllat time.
Even under tile most ideal conditions, tile taJ"get would only
be in range for three minutes. When the bomb bay doors
were opened on a clear day, it could easily be seen by the
gunners at the Oak battery."4
While tile heavy Oak was mainly protecting industry, tile
light flak protected tile operational all"fields of the Lziftwqfft.
These lighter pieces were also quite often put on wagon to
provide Oak cover for trains. This was a menace for strafing
Allied fighter pilots, aJld many of them fell victim to tile
enormous firepower of tile Flak Vierling - a letllal four-
baJTelled 20 nun carmon or 37 nun guns, hidden in the edge
of a wood. next to aJl airfield. The crews serving tllese
weapons were regular T!fIehmzacht or Ll!ftwCiffe personnel.
In this book, both the heavy and tile light flak will play
tlleir part.
Notes
1. Informauon based on Ernst Obermaier. Die Ritlerllreuzlriiger der
L'!ftwaffi, Volume 1. page 61.
2. Telephone conversations MaJ'ch 1988 and Ictter to aUlhor May 27.
1988.
3. Author's imerview with Su"oseLZki on September 3, 1999 and lellers to
aUlhorJuly 9 and December 10. 1999.
lk Infol111aUOn based on Schade imerview, in the unpubLished manuscripl
25 Milk Runs (And a Few Olhers) by Richard R. Johnson, co·pilot 303rd
Bomb Group.
MISSION 376 THE GERMAN DEFENCES 17
 \\ mg left me English coast at Great Yarmoum, at 11.55
hours, five minute allead of schedule.
By tllen two Fortres es had already aborted me mission.
()l1e [rom me Lead Group, because o[ a fuel pump failure
Oil its number three engine. The other abort was in the Low
(;roup, when a pilot suffered severe stomach cramps. Both
places in the formations were taken over by spare aircraft,
\\ hich according to standard operational procedures
lollowed the Groups to mid-Channel for just tlUs purpose.
At 12.05 hour mere wa an unusual incident mat caused
mother B-17 to return to base. Anomer standard operational
plOcedure in tlle Eighth Air Force, required the test-firino the
)() calibre machine guns just after leaving me English coa t,
o make sure they were working properly. And thus, as
rcquired, the Lead Group test-fired its guns. Unfortunately,
the tail gunner in the lead ship in the Low Squadron was
l arc1ess, and accidentally fired a .50 round into me nose of
the B-17 Gyingjust behind him. The armour-piercing round
mtered the glass nose, hit tlle navigator, then went tlu-ough _
the instrument panel, [-utting me co-pilot's leg and arm, and
it finally exited tlle [-Up on the right-hand side. The pilot
IInmediately informed his Group Leader, Lt Col Brousseau,
.md returned to Podington, where he landed at 12.57 hours,
110 doubt furious about the carelessness o[ a gumler, which
rould ea ily have cost me life of one or more members o[ his
new. While Gying at 15,000 feet, a cylinder head split on me
l1umber one engine of another B-17 in the Lead Group. Th.e
mgine men faiJed, and tlUs ship also returned to Podington.
771efirst qfthe many. The lead o·ew.for Ihe Eighlh Air FOrce consisted lIlainly qfcrewmembers qf Ca/Jlain Clem B. McKennon's combat crew qfthe 92nd Bomb Croup. Meanwhile the third Group in the
Aboard the lead bomber on 28 May were lead pilot Cll'ln B. McKennon {lmeelingftr lifi}, tail gll7l11er(fOm/£llion observer Jack D. Henderson [kneeling secOluljiwnleJiJ, Combat Wing, me 305tll Bomb Group,
engineer Karl J. Bromley {st{l/ulingftr leJi}, radio-o/Jerator Joseph W Brown {slanding.fourlhji·om lifi} and lifi waisl gunner Clyde W Martin {standing secondfom c\.perienced no problem at all. One spare
lifi}. {Jo .Nell McKell/LOn}
rcturned to Chelveston, the other had tagged
Oil to me 92nd Bomb Group and continued
Consequently, four Bomb Group fonnations of 18
planes, and two of 17 aircraft, entered tlle enemy coast near
Bergen in Holland at 22,000 feet. Lt Col Brousseau's B-17
being me very first at 12.34 hour .Ju t 12 minutes later me
countdown of B-17s in the two Combat Wmgs continued.
The number three propeller on me B-17 of Lt Brye of me
305th Bomb Group ran away at 23,000 Ii et, and he turned
back to England. At 13.09 hours, Lt M Daniel of tlle 306m
Bomb Group returned, because me Gap of hi B-17 refused
to tay in position. Tl-us caused me use of exce ive amounts
of fuel, and he could not possibly endure me wh Ie mi ion
on me contents of his tanks. At 13.20 hour, anomer
number tlu-ee propeller ran away, tlU time on the 306tll
Bomb Group's B-17 of Lt Malsom. He dropped hi bomb
in me vicinity of the German city o[ Meppen, close to me
Dutch border. One B-17 left me 398th Bomb Group
formation, due to unknown causes. Lt Chamberlain from
me 305tl, Bomb Group then found his number two engine
freezing up and, unable to keep up wim tlle formation, he
dropped l-us bombs in ome rural area and returned home.
The fighter support [or me so-called penetration phase of
tlle mission was provided by tlle famous 78th Fighter Group
from Duxford. Its 54 P-47s took off at 11.37 hours, led by
Major Harold E. Stump, Cormnanding Officer o[ the 84tll
Fighter Squadron. ine Thunderbolts of me Group aborted
for various reasons.
For the bombers, me flight to the target area was
uneventful, except for orne meagre, inaccurate flak near

Chapter Four loward me target.

The second Combat Wing assigned to

RUHLAND ,tttack Ruhland was led by me 306m Bomb

At exactly 01.00 hours on 28 May Capt
Clem B. McKennon lifted B-17G
42-97592 ofT the runway at Chelveston.
A mentioned, McKemlon and his crew
were part of the pathfinder section for
me 40m Combat Wmg. They landed
their B-17, equipped wim H2X radar, just
ten minutes later at nearby Podington, a
mey had been assigned to Gy for me
Cormnand Pilot of me 92nd Bomb
Group. Since the 92nd Bomb Group was
also leading tlle first Combat Wing
heading for Germany, McKennon's crew
would spearhead the entire Eighth Air
Force force. Witll tlUs 'Eighm Air Force
lead' McKennon was coincidently
celebrating his 29m birmday.
The first units in the Eighm Air
Force armada were two Combat Wings,
formed by six Bomb Group formations,
assigned to bomb Ruhland. The 92nd
Bomb Group from Podington,
contributed two full Group formations,
CaIJlaLll Clem B. McKennon qflhe 92nd Bomb GJ·oup
was the lead pilot.for Ihe 92nd Bomb GJ·oup. His assembly. Soon afterwards, me High
airO"(ifi spearheaded the nearly 1,300 bombers on 28 Group, provided by the 305th Bomb
May. {Jo .Nell McKell/LOn}
Lead and Low, to the flTSt Wing, and
the 305th Bomb Group [rom
Chelveston filled in me High position.
At 10.00 hours me first B-17, that of
McKennon and Command Pilot Andre
R. Brousseau, took off from Podington.
It was followed. within 13 minutes, by
anomer 17 Fortresses to comprise me
Lead Group. They a embled near the
airfield at 8,000 feet into a textbook
Bomb Group formation, and left mat
point at 11.08 hour, to commence
Wing Assembly.
The Low Group also took ofT from
Podinoton. in the wake of the Lead
Group, starting at 10.13 hours. The
Low Group assembled at 7,000 feet and
rendezvoused with the Lead Group
upon departing me Podington bundler
- the radio beacon used during
Group, moved into its position, and me
Group from Thurleigh, which also furni hed
the Low Group. The High Group formation
was provided by tlle 398th Bomb Group,
based at uthampstead. Another
1I2X-equipped B-17G, 42-97557 Mercy's
Uadhollse, Gown by liLt PJ. Field, was me
lead aircraft [or tl-us Combat Wing. 0 B-17s
o[ tlUs Wmg developed trouble, so [our
unused spares of the 306th Bomb Group
llIrned back at 12.22 hours, and returned to
Chelveston. Just five minutes after me spares
lefL, LL Kata in the 306th Low Group
[ormation, found his chin turret inoperative.
Why tl-us was not discovered or reported
earlier, since the guns were test-fired shortly
after leaving the English coast, is not known,
but he left his place, which men tayed
vacant during tlle n-ussion.
'nlese pictures were taken in oCaL/Jied Holland in 1944. They
.how a Combal Wing heading.for Cemlany, and clearly show
Ihe Lead, Low and High GroulJ and the fzghters weaving
above thell). in flights qf.four. Note the trailing bomber in the
Lead Group. Probably cUle to engine trouble the aircrqfl is
r/ro/Jping /rom Ihe .fonnaliol1. Wilh no enemy fzghters in
t71idence, il was wise 10 tllm back.for England al this slage.
fallihor}

18 MISSION 376 RUHLAND 19

 Dununer Lake and Celle. As the formation arrived at the
L1.itial Point at 14.13 hours, patchy clouds were found
covering ome of the target area. The Combat Wing
'uncovered' at this time, meaning that it changed its
formation, so that the three Groups now flew in trail for the
bomb run, so as not to interfere with or block each other.
However, the Low Squadron of the Low Group lost its
position and found itself under the open bomb bays of the
B-17s in the High Group. Consequently, th entire High
Group was unable to bomb tlle target.
Captain O'Grady, the lead bombardier, and responsible
for bombing sequence of the fJIst Wing, took inunediate
action upon seeing the clouds. He made intricate bombsight
corrections, willie ordering hi lead pilot, Capt Clem B.
McKennon, to fly a course parallel to the briefed one. Then,
leading the Combat Wing into the target area, he found a
break in tlle clouds. With a bomb run of less than a minute,
tlle Lead Group formation was able to bomb the assigned
primary at 14.24 hours. Lt Col Brousseau was tllen faced
with a serious problem. He knew that two of tlle Groups in
hi Wing still carried their bombs, but he could not pend
too much additional time in the target area, since the next
Lt Col Alulri R. Bro1illeau, the Eyeatlive Q/ficer if the 92nd Bomb Grou/), is
pictured between Lt Col Robert B. Keck (standing), the OperatiollS Officer and Lt
Col William R. Reid, the Group Commanding Q/ficer. On 28 May, Brousseau was
Wing LeaderjOr the 40th Combat Wing, bombing Ruhland. At the same time he
was leading the entire Eighth Air Force into GemulIIy that day. For his leadership
he was awarded a Silver Star medal. [Catherine BrollSseau]
Wing was due to arrive within minutes. The Low Group
made a second bomb-run. dropped its bombs and rejoined
tlle Lead Group, at 14.43 hours. The High Group, forced off
its bombing run by the stray Squadron from tlle Low Group,
\\ .IS ordered to make a large circle to the right. Its lead
Ill1lnbardier, liLt T.D. Wynn, was unable to pick up his
I lI~el and l1.is pilot liLt W.P. Coburn intended to tart
1Il()lher run. But Lt Col Brousseau intervened, and ordered
hlln to proceed to tlle secondary target, obviously witll the
pll1'pose of giving the following Wing a good chance at tlle
primary target.
The bombing results of both 92nd Bomb Group
formations were good, as a concentration was acl1.ieved in
lhc central part of tlle plant, and many buildings and ovens
,cre hit. It was estimated tllat damage to gas holders, and
IS generators, would reduce the normal gas capacity by
IIcarly 50 per cent, and that damage to contact ovens would
It'sult in a five to ten per cent reduction in output. Captain
(rGrady, tlle lead bombardier, was later presented with
.llIotller Distinguished Flying Cross in recognition of his
l xcellent work on tlle bomb run.
The High Group, furnished by the 305th Bomb Group,
located its secondary target, an aircraft repail-- factory at
/'wickau, while still flying i.n a turn. Despite tl1.is, lead'
hombardier, liLt T.D. Wynn, decided to drop at 15.08
hours, but n1.issed the ain1.ing point. However, he and the
ICSt of tlle Group succeeded in l1.itting a control tower, a
marshalling yard, and several parked aircraft. On tlle B-17
piloted by 2/Lt LeBlanc, 19 bombs stuck in tlle bomb racks
,md were brought back to Chelveston.
Ground defences were almost non-existent during tllese
,Ittacks. Only one B-17 from tlle 92nd and two from th~
305th were slightly damaged by flak fragments. but
mechanical trouble played tricks on one crew. Flying in the
number three position in the Low Squadron of the 305th
Bomb Group formation, was B-17G 42-39878. The ai.m"aft
was nicknamed Uizr Eagle and its pilot was 2/Lt Julius F.
Henick. Uiz.r Eagle was a relatively old macl"l.ine having
arrived at the 305tll Bomb Group on 3 January 1944. It had
flo\\'11 several rough n1.issions, during which it sustained
considerable damage. After the neces ary repail"s it was given
to Herrick' crew, when it arrived at Chelveston. The crew
had a short, but intensive career, very typical for the intensive
bombing campaign in this phase of the war. It flew n1.i sions
on 23 May [Metz, France], 24 May [Berlin, Gennany],
25 May [Thionville, France], 27 May [Mannheirn, Germany]
and now, on 28 May to Ruhland. The regular engineer and
tail gunner were gTOunded, for medical reasons, and their
places were filled by two old hands, T/Sgt Charlie Gillespie
and S/Sgt John C. Napier, both of whom had almost
completed their tour of operations.
The navigator was 19-year old Leon W. Lobdell, who
gave the following account of the events on this day:
"We went out to our ships in the bright sun to tlle
accompaninlent of church bells. ot long after, we formed
up and started our climb for altitude over the ortll Sea. vVe
hit several spots of moderate flak along the route, but felt
reassured when an oil leak that we'd had all the way across
the North Sea stopped. Finally, we hit tlle Initial Point and
started on the run with tlle bomb bay doors open. The

'Bombs away~ The lead bombardier in a PFF-radar-equi/JPed B-17G hasjust released his bombs, sigllol11ng the releasejOr all cuin4i in his Group. Note that tl/elirst
bomb is a smoke marker, an extra meallS to mork the 17/.oment if bomb Idease. The two flak bursts are too closejOr couYort. Also note the exteuded radome, housiug the
radar and replacing the ball turret. The white triangle 01/ the tail, without a lettel; denotes that the aircrc!fi was serving as a Wing or Division asset, rather than with its
parent Bomb Group, the 305th, which would have a letter G displayed inside the tl1£lI1gle. This aircrafl didnotfIJl on 2 May and was lost on 24 August 1944, while B-17G 42-39878 War Eagle if the 305th Bomb Grou/), 365th Bomb Squadron, photographed at Chelvestol1. On 28 May it wasjOrced down in Gennany due to
leading the 305th Bomb Group to Merseburg. [Calhen'ne Bronsseau] mgine trouble. [Leon W Lobdell}

20 MISSION 376 RUHLAND 21

War Eagle screw. Back row ltfi to right: thl" woods. We soon found out mat we'd had it, tl10uO"h we their eyes glued to me bomb bay of Mercys Madhouse, in
Julius F HerneR [pilot, POW}, Lloyd H. Il.I(llanded right on the border, which was weU guarded. We anticipation of tl1e moment of bomb release, hit tl1eir own
aunclers [co-pilot, POW}, Leon /IV. h Id to cross an open field and a brook to get to me woods, bomb witch when tlley saw both smoke markers go. As a
Lobdell [navigator, POW}, Herbert result 494 100-pound High Explosive bomb exploded
Borax [bombardier; POW}, Benjamin R. 101, on one side mere were me civilians and a town, and
Nonis [waist gunner; EVD} and Harold ,lIlomer town to boot on the omer side. Shortly after we harrnJ ssly in open fields short of me target, leaving a very
11lbbs [engineer; not 011 28 May mission). llossed me brook and got into tlle woods, 'hot lead' started confused and cLisappointed Lead Group. Captain Lund
Front row lift to light: Daniel E. Dunbar IIlging around our ears and we decided that we didn't want continued his course to me target at RuWand, hoping mat
[waist gunner; EVD}, William S. to get shot. Our capture occupied me guards, so that tlle me Low and High Group would do better, but found tl1at
Schwartz [radio-operatOl; POW}, Orval the same clouds mat had hanlpered the bombing by me fmt
R. Busby [ball turret gunnel; POW} and llliisted men all escaped [two were caught witlun an hour,
Allan Greene {tail gunner; not on 28 May /llllOr]. We were kept in a small courtyard near the village Combat Wing, now completely cov red me target. Ramer
mission). [LeOlI /IV. Lobdell} while me whole town looked on. Some civilian officials canle tl1ar1 breaking up me Wing formation in a sear h for hi
Illd tried to look as inlportant as possible. Finally they canle secondary target, tl1e lead bombardier of me Low Group,
with a small Ford truck and took us off. We stopped in a liLt Ted Boswell, decided to drop on the first town of orne
mall town and 1 was slammed by a Gestapo agent and size on the route after RuWand. Thi was Elsterwerda,
truck in me groin by a rifle butt." which had to endure tlle impacts of 644 100-pound General
After a night in solitary confmement in Saarburg tlle Purpo e (GP) bombs. The Wing flew a little to tlle soutl1 of
l.lptured crewmembers of JiWzr Eagle were transported to me briefed course on tlle way out, which enabled tlle High
I>ulag Lzifi, the interrogation centre near Frankfurt, and after Group to drop 655 100-pound GP bombs on Meissen. The
Ihat sent to various prison camps. The story of some of tlle ~esults of bombing at Elsterwerda ar1d Meissen were not
llliisted men, still at large mat first night, will be related later' important enough to be noted in me official reports.
III this book. Moderate, but very accurate tracking flak hit me Wing
Uizr Eagle and its crew was me only loss for me entire formation along me route in tl1e target area, darnaging 13
Combat Wmg, which returned to England in good order. B-17s in the Low Group, seriously wounding a crewmember
formation had been hurrying all morning and we had to by us just clipping the trees after dropping from its formation \Vi.ng Leader Andre Brousseau was awarded a Silver Star in one of mem, and damaging two B-lls each, in the Lead
strain our old crate ju t to keep up. She just had an engine at high peed (it eemed as if a couple of his props had ran lor hi part in me succes ful attack. The citation for his arld High Groups. The bombing by tlle econd Combat
replaced since one was knocked out over Berlin. On the run, away). We had been flying over forest, but at last we came decoration reads: "For gallanlt)1 in action, while senJing as Air Wing had been a total failure, but fortunately it suffered no
the visibility, which had been unlimited all morning, to tlle Rhine and 1 wa absolutely sure of our position. Commander 0/ a Divisi07l 0/ Frying F07-lresses on a b07nbardme~l losses on its return leg of tl1e mission.
changed, and the ground was obscured by 5/l0th clouds. However, at this time our number four ngine ran away and lIIission over Germany, 28 May 1944. On lhejirst TUn over lhe largel, Not only enemy action caused American los es. The
] he lead crew was unable to fmd the target, a synthetic oil joined number wee in windmilling out tllere. We knew tl1at (loud coverage prevented all bul the lead group ./i-om releasing lhei1- airspace, crowded as it was wim many huge formations of
plant at Ruhland, and we made two 360 degree turns trying we'd had it now, for we were way down and still losing hombs. Determined to cleslroy lhe ol!jeclive, Colonel Brousseau coolly heavy bombers, and numerous smaller formations of
to fmd it. Soon after the second tum, one of our engines altitude. Our old crate shot over the Rhine, encountering lIIanoeuvred his lead Combat Wing over lhe larget a second and a third accompanying fighters, was exo-emely dangerou. ot only
(number two, the new one) overstrained by the continual Light flak tllat cLidn't seem to last long; 1 guess they saw we Illne. Wizen il became evident thal one group could not b07nb, he un een enemy fighters or flak, meant deatll and d struction,
jockeying of the morning, had a runaway prop and we had were done for. We were so low over the Rhine that we had Itjimned lhe Combat Wing and though deep in enemy lemlory, led lhis but also collisions between friendly aircraft which were all
to feather it.* With our load of eggs still stowed away and to follow a small river valley to the West; we couldn't make l/I1f1ll.fonnation to a sec01ula1] target, where lhe 071£ group released ils too common. On tl1.i day, it would mean deam for one
bomb bay doors open, we lost altitude rapidly and fell 4,000 it over the hill. Our speed had dropped below 120 and Jeff hombs with excellent resulls. Far behind lhe bri.tftd sclzedule and lhus American pilot and captivity for anomer.
feet before we managed to get levelled off. We found it called for ditching positions. We raced back to the radio wilhout fighler prolection, Col07leI Brousseau rallied his unils inlo a Returning from its escort duty, me penetration escort for
impossible to climb with our load of bombs; consequently room, threw everything out, and prepared for a crash- lighl de.femive .fornlflli07l and led IIu:m back to bases i.n Engla1ul the Ruhland-bound bombers, a flight of four P-47s of me
we were unable to rejoin the formation."l landing. Just then we had a call from tl1e cockpit tlut we 1lIithoul the loss 0/ an aircrcifi. The gallanlry and tenacity 0/pm]Jose 18m Fighter Group, led by Captain Alwin M.JucW1eim, met
In tlle Group formation was noticed that JiWzr Eagle were about to hit. We sla.n1lTIed the door to tlle bomb bay displayed by Col07lel Bmus eau in accomplishing his mission muter head-on wim a formation of four P-5ls of the 363rd Fighter
lagged behind and gradually disappeared from view. Lead and flopped on the floor. A couple of seconds later, we felt a luLverse conditiom aliesl to his able leadership."2 Group, who were taking over tlle escort at mat time.
navigator, Gerald V. Vega, duly made an entry in his log and heavy jolt as the tail hit and then a re ounding cra h, and The second Combat Wing scheduled to bomb Ruhland The wingman of CaptainJuchheim, was 2/Lt Lawrence
brought the information up at the debriefmg, following his terrific pressure forward as the plane hit. Jeff had to set her was less successful. The 306m Bomb Group contributed R. Casey, who still remembers the accident mat followed:
return that afternoon. down in a small ploughed field on the side of a hill. It was bom me Lead and Low Group, and me 398th Bomb Group "Vie had been on a penetration escort to me bombers, deep
Leon Lobdell was the navigator aboard JiWzr Eagle: "I pure luck that we came upon that spot for tllere wasn't flew High. At me Initial Point, bombardier liLt D.R. Ross into Germany. On our return we were flying a wide fighter
managed, after a lot of jockeying, to get the ship set on a another for rni.les. When we hit, red clay from the field in Mercy 5 Madhouse, tl1e H2X-equipped lead aircraft of me fmger type formation, naturally for me purpose of covering
course for home. The bombs were salvoed near a small boiled up, wough the hole where the ball turret was Wing, wim Command Pilot tlle omers' tails from possible
town in south-east Germany. Shortly after that, number removed, and choked everyone in tlle racLio room. We Captain R.S. Lund of the attack. The day was
tllree engine ran away and we found it impossible to featller fmally came to a stop and piled out the hatch. About all tllC 306m Bomb Group aboard, beautiful, not a cloud in me
and had to leave it windmilling. As we were still losing strength we had at first was to flop on the ground and get opened his bomb bay doors. sky for rni.les. We were in tlle
altitude, Jeff [pilot Julius F. Herrick, aUlh071 gave orders to our flying gear off. The pilots failed in setting the ship on Due to a bomb rack malf1lnc- Hannover/Dummer Lake
alvo the ball turret and the enlisted men all went to work fire, so we quickly cLivided in pairs and took off." tion, 26 bombs were area when we picked up
on it. Also everything that we could find loose went hurtling After a textbook belly-landing by Julius Herrick and his automatically released. Not four specks in me sky, at
out: flak suits, helmets, a.n1lTIO boxes etc. until the ship was co-pilot Lloyd H. Saunders Uizr Eagle came to rest near me only did those 100-pound approximately our altitude,
stripped. By this time we were down in the vicinity of the l;ver Moselle, close to the GermanlFrench border at me Little bombs tumble out of the dead ahead. JucW1eim, who
Rhine river and really 'on the deck'. Before this we were village of Zerf. Landing safely, wim one featl1ered and two bomb bay, but the two had the eyes of a hawk (he
passed by one B-24 Wing and one B-ll Wing. A B-24 passed windmilling propellers was quite a perfomlance in me eye smoke markers, carried by was our leading ace of me
of me crew, who were now in a hostile country, and looking the lead aircraft to indicate 83rd Fighter Squadron at me
for a way back to England. me moment of release for time) had called mem out
• Each propellor on a bomber had a reathering mechanism, which, if Six of me ten crew were caught by civilians or police all planes in the Group, originally arld in1mediately
activated, stopped the rotation or the propellor and turned the blades into identified them as P-Sl
the wind, thereby reducing drag. If this reathering mechanism didn't
within an hour, inclucLi.ng our narrator Leon LobdeU: "A few were dropped atcidentally.
civilians were running up; one on a bicycle wa wildly Unfortunately, all the bom- Mustangs. Suddenly, I saw a
work, the propellor started "to windmill", which cau ed severe vibrations
and heavy drag. shooting a pistol. We got 'the hell' out of mere, and made for bardiers in me Lead Group, Captain Alwin M. Juchlzeim posing inyont qfhis P-47. [ThOlnaJ C. Ivie} ball of fire and 1 took

22 MISSION 376 RUHLAND 23

 immediate action to avoid one of the Mustangs in the other
formation. I broke to the right and continued in a circle to ee
whal was happening.Juchheinl and one of the Mustangs had
collided in mid-air. I saw that the P-51 had exploded, and
there was nothing but fire, smoke and debris. The
Thunderbolt was spiraling down, minus a major portion of
its left wing. A parachute had blossomed out, so we assumed
Juchheirn had bailed out. We circledJuchheirn, and it was my
intention if possible to set my P-47 down, if a landing site was
available, and to pick hin1 up. It had been done before, even
against all regulations, and I suppose common sense. During
this tinle we had seen contrails of a single plane, diagonally
over us. Either number three, liLt William M. McDemlott,
or number four, 2/Lt Frederick White (I don't remember
which) called out the sudden absence of the contrails. By this
time we were down to five or six thousand feet, where no
contrail are formed. Suddenly, we all spotted an Me 109.
Later we figured he had seen the ball of fu'e and decided to
inve tigat . I had the fu'st chance. I broke into hinl and hit
him with a good burst of .50 calibre macl1ine gun fire. He
eluded me and the other lWO completed his destruction."3
How this took place was described by liLt McDennott: "I
called my wingman and we started after the Me 109, chasing
it down to 1,000 feet. My wingman, Lt 'iJ\Th..ite, fired a short
burst at the enemy aircraft and I saw many hits all over the
ship. Lt White then overshot, as the Me 109 had evidently
chopped his tl1rottle. The enemy aircraft then attempted to
tum into an open field, but I clo ed in and flred two bursts. I
mi sed the first one, but dosed in further and at about 200
yards caught him in tlle side of the f'uselage. Many pieces flew
off, the enemy aircraft burst into flame and crashed."4
Leading the P-51 formation was lILtJohn R. Brown. He
later submitted the following official report: "Lt Ladas was
flying number 4 position in my flight. Al 14.00 hours, jusl
west of Gardelegen, a flight of four red-nosed Thunderbolts
approached us from 2 o'clock level. I pulled the flight about
200 feet above this formation in a slight left tum. This
cleared the entire flight, but I believe one of the
Thunderbolts pulled up also, causing the crash. Lt Ladas's
ship hit one wing of the P-47 and hattered it to bits. The
JILt John R. Brown was leading thejlighl q(llu: 363,d Fighter Group, which was involved in Ihe collision wilh the
jlla-hl q(lhe 78th Fighter Group. {John R. Brown}
24
P-47 piraled down out of my sight. In my opinion Lt Ladas'
chance of surviving this collision are nil. I continued witll
tlle remainder of my section, on course."s
He later recalled the incident: "I felt at least partiall y
re pon ible for his demise and have suffered pangs of
conscience ever since. Lada wa flying as number 4 in my
flight. When I saw the returning flight of P-47s dead ahead,
I did a quick calculation that we were more manoeuvrable
tllan they at that altitude and determined to climb to avoid
ramming. For some unknown I' ason, Ladas was late in
re ponding to my manoeUVTe, and pulled up to join the
flight just in time to hit tlle P-47 em-OLlte. I might have called
my manoeuvre on the radio, but it did not seem necessary
until it was too late. The explosion was spectacular. Major
McvVherter, leading our Group, called out 'what hajJjJelled
back there? I replied, 'Ladas had a head-on with one qft/ze Jug-s. n6
The American eyewitnesses were right. The collision
killed 2/Lt Anthony E. Ladas, in his P-51 42-106486 of the
363rd Fighter Group. His body was found near the remains
of his Mustang, in Sichau, a cOJTununity 11 kilometres west
of Gardelegen, where he was buried the next day. A house
in the village was severely damaged by wreckage. The
collision also marked the end of tlle successful career of
Captain Alwin M. Juchheirn, an 'ace' with nine confirmed
air victories to his credit. He had shot down an Me 109 near
Freiburg the previous day. His P-47D 42-26016 fell one
kilometre south-west of Jeggau, only two kilometres from
tlle wTeck of Lt. Ladas' Mustang. Juchheirn was captured,
slightly wounded, and spend the rest of tlle war in captivity.
Lav"rence Casey again: "After the mix-up witll the
German fighter we went back to the general area where
J uchheim would have landed, but not having the gas and
time to really search the area, we had to climb back to
alutude and head for England. You can imagine three heart-
sick fighter pilots on the way home. We were encouraged,
though, that he had bailed out and was alive, at least during
his descent to the gTound.
"You can imagine how I felt. I had been his wingman ever
since I arrived at this Group. He patiently, and sometimes
violently, taught me everything about fighter tactics tllat I
21Lt Anthony E Ladas q( tlu: 363rd Fighter
Gronp was Ililled in the collision with CalJtat1l
Alwin Juchheim q( the 78th Fighter GroulJ.
[Edward 7. Pawlak}
MISSION 376
Ii· 'hi: JILl Karl R. l#tgner q( Ihe 78th
I, hla Group was the sale survivor q( a
Il, ,hlp strqfing attack OIl. Plantlfinne. He
able to nurse his badly damaged
I' 17 back to 1.1lgland and made an /
, ,gmry landing. [Kale . l#trren}
/
1'- JiLt PhililJ H. Hro.elelf was kIlled
/
, /lIUIII qfier his P-47 was hil by liglltjlak '
/11./ trashed in Gildehaus, near Bad
I 11/1'1/11, Gennony. [Garry L. Fry]
know. Even though, at wingman, Lt Orvi , and told hin1 it was too hot and he
the time of this particular shouldn't follow. I didn't see him, as he was slightly behind
mission, I was usually me, nor hear anything from hinl. In the meantime. I was
leading my own flight, he dodging and weaving amongst the tree in the woods. While
asked me if I wanted to dodging, I saw there were twelve to fifteen flak towers in the
fly on his wing that day. woods at the north of the field, all shooting at me. They were
",Illce I hadn't been scheduled on my own, and his presen.t camouflaged by tree branches around the towers. They must
\\ IIlgman was not available, I jumped at tlle chance. ow I have been fully alerted. I heard Lt Hazelett say he was at
\\,IS heading back to Duxford v"itllout him, unbelievable."7 approxlllately 5,000 feet and going to bail out. I wished hin1
The losse for tlle 78tll Fighter Group would increa e tlle best of luck and <Yot the hell out of there. I then started
however; on tlleir way back to England, with almost all guns climbing and, as I reached 3,000 feet I saw Lt Hazelett's plane
unfired and no bombers to look after, its pilot sought spin past me and blow up. I looked for the parachute, but
targets on the ground. Sn·afmg, low flying and shooting up couldn't locate it. The plane could have flown quite a
01 barges, trains, lrucks or airfields with parked aircraft, was distance, a I was at least 10 miles from where I heal'd hin1
,Ill extremely hazardous activity, because tlle aircraft were say he was going to bail out. I'm sure he got out OK. I
vcry vulnerable to light flak and ftre from small arms at this b lieve Lt Orvis must have been hit over the airfield."s
,lltilude. As mentioned previously, straftng contributed Unfortunately, Wagner was wrong, and both Hazelett
greatly to tlle eventual demi e of the Lziftwqfft. Losses willie and Orvis were killed. Orvis crashed with his P-47D
slrafmg were quite common, as a three-aircraft flight of the 42-76318 at Elbergen, near Lingen, at 14.37 hours. Hazelett,
7Rth Fighter Group, 82nd Fighter Squadron, would fInd out who apparently did not succeed in leaving hi stricken P-47D
that day. The flight was led by liLt Pilliip H. Hazelett from 42-26064, crashed a few miles further at Gildehaus, near Bad
htirfield, Ohio, who had flown with the Group since early Bentlleinl, close to the Dutch/German border, at 14.40 hours.
February and who was on his 57th combat mission. His Both were buried on 1June at the cemetery at LingeniEms.
number two, liLt Lynn A. Hosford, was one of the nine
pilots who had to abort early in tlle mission. umber wee
111 the flight was liLt Karl R. vVagner from Lowell, Ohio,
and his wingman was 2/Lt vViJliam S. Orvis, from
Farmington, California, on only his tlllid combat mission.
Karl Wagner ubmitted the following: "We left our
bombers at 13.50 hours and started home, looking for targets
of opportunity. We saw live or SL'( twin-engined enemy
,lirCl"aft on a grass field, which I believe to be Wunstorf in the
~teinhuder Lake area. Lt Hazelett decided to give it the
works, so my wingman Lt Or:,is and I, followed hinl north
of the field about six nllies, where we let down to tlle tree tops
and lined up on tlle field. We had just gotten to the edge of
the field, when Lt Hazelett called out tl1at he was hit in the
engine by a 37 Jilin bur t. While Lt Hazelett was calling me,
I was hit by tllree 37 mm shells in the rear; two behind the
lurbo from underrl~atll and one from tlle left. I broke right
and got tv"o or tl1ree 20 mm shells through tlle horizontal 21Lt William S. Orvis was killed In actlon qfier his P-47 was lilt by light jlak and
slabilizers and elevators. While breaking I called my crashed near Elbergen, German)'. [Can)! L Fry]
RUHLAND 25
 The airfield they had set upon to strafe
was not Wunstorf, but Plantlurme, further
we t. Records indicate tl1at just nine day
earlier, during the mission of 19 May,
Hazelett and his flight had trafed
'Plantlunne landing ground', and had met
very light opposition. They had destroyed
lWO Me llO and damaged one He 111 and
tlu"ee flak positions around the field. Most
probably, Hazelett wanted to repeat this
action, but the Germans seemed to have
learned fTom their mistake and had reinfor-
ced their anti-aircraft defences, with deadly
results. The following flak units were
credited for shooting down Hazelett and
Orvis: 4tl1 Battery of feichte Flak Abteilung 942,
6tl1 Battery of feicltte Heimat Flak Abteilung 876,
Heimatfia/aug PlantlLinne and machine gun The grave rf JILt Philip Hazelett at the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, in NeuVllle-en-
platoons of the Flugplatz PlantlLinne and the Condroz in Belgiulll. [AuthOl]
II./l'ITG 3, a German nighLfighter unit,
appar ntly stationed on tl1e base at that time. Karl Wagner
was able to nur e his badly hit Thunderbolt across tl1e orth
ea, made an emergency landing at \tVattisham and told at his
debriefing about the details of tlus disastrous strafing attempt.
A deadly 20 IIl1/l Jlak gun /1/. all improvised
.field position. The picture dearly shows how
easi!), these guns could be moved and quick!),
tllmed into a death trap for strrifing.fighter
/Jilols. The gun shield displays previous
successes. [B1lIulesarchiv KnbleJu.]
26
Surtax Yellow flight, also of the 82nd Fighter Squadron,
had better luck. Its Flight Leader, BenjanUn M. Watkins
reported: "After leaving the bombers and setting course for
home, I noticed an airport near Gi.fl10m. Near tl1e drome in
This jJicture testifies to the ruggedness rf the
P-47 and also to the Jlyiug skills rf Knrl
i'Uzgner. He lmuled it iu this condition at
miltis/zam, after being hit b), Jlt/k over
Plantlilnne in Cennany. [Can) L. Fry]
MISSION 376
"pcn fields were what appeared to be twin-engmed plane .
l J pon strafmg them, I noticed that they were dununies. Hit
wcre registered on several. My flight became separated as we
dodged the accurate light flak wluch wa coming out of the
woods. The other three. Lts Beck, DeWitt and Gladstone,
thcn attacked some oil wells east of Hannover. There were
lorty of them and they had strikes on everal. Then Lts Beck
,llId DeWitt strafed an electric locomotive on a train, botl1
I-\ctting hits on it. They then continued to Celle airdrome
where Lt DeWitt damaged a Ju 52 on the field, getting
'llikes on it. Lt Beck shot up and dan1aged t!u"ee barges on
,I canal near tl1e airdrome. He and Lt DeWitt were hit by
IIltense light flak on the field. All returned safely."g
Notes
I Letter to author, 10 January 1987.
) 20 I File Andre R. Brousseau, through Catherine Brousseau,
September 1999.
I. Leller to author, 4 July 1988.
I l'ilm encounter repon; SA[< Historical Research Cente;·. Maxwell
AFB. AL.
I. Statement in IIACR 5138; Record Group 92, Washington auonal
Records Center.
h. Leller to author. 23 December 1989.
I. Leller to author, 4 July 1988.
H. Statemel1l in MACR 5026; Record Group 92, Washington ational
Record Center.
'I. Pilm encounter repon; A[< Historical Research Center, Maxwell
ArB, AL.
Lt Charles W DeWitt rf the 78th Fighter Croup SIllOkeS a cigarette afler his
evenlfid mission 011 28 May. The jJicture shows some rf the damage that theJlak
iJiflicted 011 his Thundt'l"bolt. [Charles W DeWitt]
RUHLAND 27
 NI'~l'quiP/Jed
Chapter Five B-17G 42-97562
hCllin'Folks! How y'all? led the 1st
I ,oil/hat Wing to Dessau. [William R.

THE FIRST TWO COMBAT WINGS II"tll,)J

lILt James L. Tyson's PFF-

STRIKE DESSAU
The largest force of the day, three Combat Wings in all, was
sent out to bomb the Junkers F1ugzeug und Motorenwerke
A.G., an aircraft and aero-engine plant in Dessau. However,
the size of the force in itself was to be no guarantee of
success. In the end, it would prove to be the least successful
of all missions flown on 28 May and result in the highest loss
to the attackers. It is, therefore, covered in great detail.
Leading the force to Dessau was the 1st Combat Wing.
This Wing was composed of a Lead Group, furnished by the
381st Bomb Group from Ridgewell, a Low Group with
aircraft of the 91st Bomb Group from Bassingbourn, and a
Composite Group with aircraft from both Groups in the
High Group position.
The second Combat Wing, the 41st, was led by the
379th Bomb Group from Kimbolton, the 303rd Bomb
Most rfthe lead crewfor the lst Combat Wing, il1jiWlt rftlu~r B-17G 42-97625 Sunkist Special. This PFF-equijJjJed B-17 was damaged in an accident a day earlier
and 011 28 May the crew boarded B-17G 42-97562 Evenin' Folks! How y' all?,for the mission to Dessau. Back row, lifi to rig/It: Ricl/£lrd C. Jemen [eng,'neer},
Al710ld Fanner [tail gunl1el; not on mission], Robert H. MiLLer [right waist gunner}, Charles ChurchiLL Jr [Lifi waist gunnel} an,1 Hi"lu).N. White [radio-operator] Front
row, lifi to right: John W Howland flavigatol}, James L. 1json [Lead pilot} and WiLLiam J. Doherty {co-jJllot,flying as tail gW111er(jo/7/lat,on observl"l'] Su nkist Special
was salvaged (!fier a Cl'aslzlanding 011 8 March 1945, [John W Howland]
l'ljuipped B-17G 42-97562
Fl'l-nin' Folks t How y' all? They
lOok off from Ridgewell exactly
Group from Molesworth flying Low, and the 384th Bomb .It 10.00 hours, followed by
Group from Grafton Underwood flying High. .lllother 18 aircraft which
The third and last Combat Wing, the 94th, was formed limned the Lead Group. Group
by the 457th Bomb Group from Glatton flying Lead, the .Isscmbly was over the field,
401st Bomb Group from Deenethorpe flying Low, and the which they left at 10.54 hours
351st Bomb Group from Polebrook flying High. During the fill' Wing Assembly.
assembly of this last Wing over England, problems arose. Navigator aboard the Lead
Ultimately, they would lead to a clash with the fully- ship was 2/Lt John W.
assembled German fighter force near the target and result in I lowland, who wrote in his
very heavy losses to these three Groups. The exploits of the diary that evening: "After only
94th Combat Wing are covered separately in the next thrce hours of sleep, we were
chapter. In this chapter the experiences of the 1st Combat .nvakened and instructed to take
Wing and 41st Combat Wings will be described. ofT from Bassingbourn for
Leading the 1st Combat Wing, and thus the entire force Ridgewell. We landed tl1Cre at
bound for Dessau, was McU0r Charles L. Halsey aboard n.oo hours and got to bed
.Ihout midnight. The wakeup call came at 05.00 and we
wcre briefed for Dessau, a small town nortll of Leipzig.
l\.1<~or Halsey was flying witll us in the lead ship, and Ted
Ilomdrom was my co-navigator.
"Take-off tinle was 10.00 and we assembled without
problem. However, just as we were leaving the first control
point, we discovered channels A, Band C on tile VHF radio
wcre not working. Evidently tile wrong crystals had been
IIlstalled. Major Halsey requested me to contact tile deputy
lead using the Aldis lamp and ask them to contact us on the
wmmand radio frequency. It was a great opportunity to
practice my Morse code, so I blinked out a message in dots
.md dashes and waited for reaction. I could see tile pilot of
thc deputy lead clearly, and saw him shake his head and
motion for someone to join 11in1. I then blinked away at the
two heads I could see, and saw two heads shake no in
tlllison. About that time Major Halsey called on the
imerphone saying' avigator, forget the Aldis lanlp. Deputy
lead just called in on the command radio frequency asking
why you are blinking that light in the nose of your ship?' We
all had a good laugh, and I decided tllen that blinking lights
wcre fine for conmlunications between ships at sea, but a
sorry substitute for radio between airplanes. With
communications established between the lead and deputy
lead ships, we continued in our lead position. Deputy lead
transmitted all necessary signaJs on ch31U1els A, Band C for
tis. We found tilat chaImeJ D was functiorung properly
which gave us one working VHF channel. We crossed over
the enemy coast following out the sanle old 'highway' -
:J2-deg 37-min - into HollaI)d and on in to Germany. We
had perfect pilotage weatller all the way to the target." I
The Low position in the vVing was [llled by the 91st
Bomb Group, 18 ships taking off from Bassingbourn from
10.04 to 10.20 hours. This Group was led by Capt Paul D.
.JcssoP in B-17G ~2-102527 SleejlJ Time Gal, flown by liLt
Edw31-d Waters. All aircraft of the Group reached the Wing
Assembly point, where tlley met the High Group. This was
;t Composite Group comprising 12 B-17s of tile 381st Bomb
Group and anotller eight of tile 91st Bomb Group. Leading
tI'lis Group was Captain George Reese of tile 381st Bomb
Group, in B-17G 42-31761 Rolherhitltes Revenge, piloted by
Milton F. Tarr. Instead of returning to H..i.dgewell, the
assiglled spare for the 381 t Bomb Group, B-17G
42-97267 The Tomahawk Wa.17'10T, piloted by Lt Robert G.
BeackJey, tagged on to tile formation, making 19 all-craft in
'that Group. The Composite Group even had two more
B-17s th31l usual, since the 91st Bomb Group fun'lished eight
instead of six aircraft for tile High Squadron, all of wl'lich
flew tile mission.
Upon completing its formation, tile 1st Combat Wing left
tile English coast at Great YaI-mouth at 12.05 hours at 14,300
feet aIld reached the Dutch coast 34· minutes later at 19,600
feet. The route to tile target was flown as briefed. However,
two sl'lips in tile Lead Group aborted and returned to
Bassingbourn. B-17G. 42-32076 Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby, flown by
liLt Walter R. Langford, suffered from a drop in oxygen
pressure in tile pilot's, navigator's, aIld engineer's systems. Lt
Hartman's B-17G 42-38128 Dear Becky was almost impossible
to fly because when right rudder was applied, it suddenly
moved violently to tile full right position. Both crews were
credited with a sortie upon return.*
The penetration escort for tile flight to Dessau was
provided by the 78th Fighter Group, the sanle Group that
escorted tile preceding two Combat Wings to RuhlaIld. North
of Dummer Lake, the escort was taken over by the 352nd
Fighter Group at 13.19 hours, and was tllen strengthened by
tile 3lTival of the 355t1l 3lld the 363rd Fighter Groups, near
Celie at 13.31 aIld 13.36 hours respectively, and the 4t1l
Fighter Group near Gardelegen, at 13.50 hours.
Upon arriving at tile Initial Point, at 14.05 hour, the flak
intensified. It was later reported to be heavy and accurate
• Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby would also ny on the mission Lhe nexl day, and
soughl sancLUary in Sweden. AILer many years of posl-war civiLian usc,
il is now displayed in ils original colours in the Air Force Museum,
DayLOn, Ohio.

28 MISSION 376 THE FIRST TWO COMBAT WINGS STRIKE DESSAU 29


The bombs ifthe 381st Bomb Group explode in the north westem comer ifBrandis/PoIClll airfield. Note the twin-C11gined aircrq/i, both He 1775 and Ju 8Ss, parked
a£ross thefield. [Crown Copyright/PublU Record Office}
over the target. In addition to th.is flak, the ground view
gradually became hampered by scattered clouds, ground
haze and smoke. Only 2/Lt James R. Van Pelt, the lead
bombardier of the Low Group, the gIst, was able to drop his
Group's 160 SOO-pound High Explosive bombs on the first
bomb-run at 14.17 hours. UnforL"unately, neither the Lead,
nor the High Group were able to see the primary target on
this run. The Combat Wing now had to continue to a target
of opportunity, since making a 360-degree turn and coming
over the primary target again would interfere with the other
two Combat Wings following it. The time interval between
the Wings was no more than ten minutes.
Lead navigatorJohn W. Howland continued his account
30
in his diary: "We flew north-east a short distance and then
turned south. While we were making this turn, a few
German fighters hit the Low Group. A whole mass of
German fighters hit a Wing behind us and kicked the
stuffings out of them. The German fighters only made one
pass, as our escort canle to the rescue and beat them off. A
large airport just east of Leipzig was selected as a target of
opportunity and we made our bomb run. Really blew hell
out of the hangar area. But the High Group failed to see our
bomb doors opening, and they didn't drop on us."
The airfield that the 381st Bomb Group had selected for
its 170 SOO-pound High Explosive bombs was Brandis/
Polenz. It was home to several units, among those a GmpjJe
MISSION 376
I Vhl'l/ unilf iftlze US 9th A17nored Division Clztered the
(II/field at Brandis/Polel1l on 16 Apnl1945 tlzeyJOund
till' wreckage ifJu 88 '20' ifBlinc!llugschule B31 still
III the remnants ifHangar 2. This aircrq/i, andprobably
IIX others, were clestroyed by bombs ifthe 38151 Bomb
(:roup Iln 28 May. Two members ifthe unit were kd/ed
(lIId JOur were wounded by the AmeriCan bombs. [US
tl7lry)
Hom his combat position in the nose ifB-17 42-97285
PalSY Ann, navigator Albert Saleeby can shake hands
l'l"th his pilot Samuel H Whitehead on the ground. The
ho[,' was made 0' the pro/Jeller, q/ier it se/Jaratedjiwn
1I/11llber the three Clzg1'ne, [Samuel H Whitehead}
of Kam.pJgeschwader 1 and the FlugzeugfU/zrersclzule B 31. At least
one He 177 bomber of KG 1, a Ju 88 of the school and
probably six other aircraft were destroyed. One of the three
large hangars on the airfield was completely destroyed and
was never reconstructed. Two men, a pilot and a student
pilot, lost their lives under the bombs and four student pilots
were wounded. 2
The High Group, the Composite Group of both the gIst
and 381st Bomb Groups, still had its bombs aboard. On the
return flight to England, its lead bombardier picked out the
Frankfurt marshalling yards at 15.35 hours, and dropped
160 SOO-pound High Explosive bombs, creating havoc on
the track. Major Charles L. Halsey, leading the Combat
Wing, later recalled: "The primary was covered by patchy
clouds and haze, so we went .on to an airfield near Leipzig,
where we saw a flock of six-engined bombers on the ground,
so we let them have it. There was only a litue flak over the
primary when we went over it, but the formation ulat
followed ours, really got it. It looked thick enough back
there to make a g<;od black cloud. We didn't get much over
the target. Our High Group didn't bomb WiUl us. I picked
up a place for them to hit on the way back, but they saw
Frankfurt and went over there. In spite of Ule intense flak,
THE FIRST TWO COMBAT WINGS STRIKE DESSAU
.they made a run on the marshalling yards and from where
we were, it looked as if they did a beautiful job."3
No fewer than eight B-17s of ule gIst and 21 B-l?s of the
381st Bomb Group suffered slight to moderate damage from
the flak over their respective targets. One of the B-1?s of the
381st Bomb Group that was hit was piloted by Lt Samuel H.
Whitehead. He recalls: "Everything was pretty much
routine until we started the bomb run. The flak became
quite heavy and one of our waist gunners let us know there
was oil streaming frpm ule number three engine. The flak
had hit a main oil line. I immediately hit the feather button,
but it was too late, there was not enough oil left to feather
ule prop. We started falling behind, so I increased power on
the other three engines. The windmilling prop caused the
plane to vibrate so bad ulat we had to reduce power and
drop out of ule formation. At that moment we had a sinking
feeling, we knew we had to return to Ridgewell alone. A
damaged B-1? flying alone from the middle of Germany
would be a sitting duck for enemy fighters. The formation,
with all its gun power was a real sense of security. We Ulen
salvoed our bombs and I asked our navigator for the
heading back to the base. We were very fortunate not to
encounter any German fighters. We could only fly about
130-140 miles per hour due to the vibration, so we really
felt at risk. As we passed over Belgium we began to receive
some flak, with shells bursting around us. So I banked the
plane to take evasive action. Then the windmilling prop
canle off the engine and chewed a hole in the nose, barely
hitting the navigator's heel. He was looking into ule
navigator's astrodome, which sits right in front of the
cockpit. I could see sawdust whirling around. We thought
31
 !ark Sutherlin and his co-pilot Ray Sullivan
INt! thf pinnation diagram to exchange
Ma..y ;;l1l", 1'i<lIt
'I1'ltell iujoJ7nahon on the O'ew when )Zak Pe~:l"<L .
(r Franlifilrl had shot out the intercom ou Bt>Yrl i]e.. J :
(:entury Otc. Sutherlin asked 'is your
rntl'1jJhonf working?' and 'are the bo)'S OK?~
P.. br'l/{(orf
\lIllivan re!Jlied 'Dave and Glly hit but OK'
lIlIl 'George is hit and Toll)' went back ~ Their
handwriting can be seen on tlte pa!Jer. [Jack
\'lIlherlin}

maybe the bombardier or

navigator were being chewed up.
rhey let us know on the
lIltercom they were OK. Once
we got rid of the windmilling
prop we were greatly relieved. I
pushed the throttles forward, put
the no e down and got the speed
over 200 nUles per hour and
headed for home. We soon
reached the English Channel -
what a good feeling. we knew we
had it made.'lcl
Flak over Frankfurt had
tragic consequences for another
aircraft of the 381st Bomb
Group. B-17G 42-107100 Centu1J1
B-J7G 42-107100 Century Note rflhe 381st Bomb Group, with bomb doors o/Jen, is)Zying IhronghJlak. On 28 JItl~ay, its lail gunner George SamueLian was lulled Note was piloted by 2!Lt Jack E.
by a)ZakJragmenl. [David R. Osbome} Sutherlin. He recalls: "I think we
circled the target twice before

~.
~oing to another target. Our
High Group took a heading
of approximately 230 degrees
magnetic and flew on and drop-
ped from 22,000 to 20,000 feet
while skirting several other
targets and with what they had in
mind for a target. The weather
was sunny and clear. Lt Dave
Schwartz, my navigator, plotted the cour e and called out
nearby cities, rivers and what was ahead of us, the city of
Frankfurt. Twelve airplanes* at 20,000 feet in clear weather
flying the last 25 miles straight for a bomb run on Frankfurt
was not normal practice. but tlus i how it happened. Bomb
doors were opened and the 88 mm' started and they had
our range and had many guns. It was the most intensely,
accurate Oak we experienced before or after. Black puffs,
smell of exploding shells, occasional sound of exploding
shells when close to the plane. Noise of fragments piercing
the aircraft alumlluum. Lt Guy Feranti called bombs away
and that we had dropped in tlle vicinity of the railroad yards
in tlle city. Suddenly he became frantic. yelling tllat he was
hit in the face and was bleeding badly. In what seemed
seconds of tinle, George Samuelian, the tail gUl1Jler, said in a
normal voice 'I'm hit My
intercom went out and I
experienced sometlUng so close to my left forearm tllat I felt
it pass. Witll my intercom out, I passed messages to Lt Ray
Sullivan on the pilot ' briefing sheet for the day. Sgt Valdez,
This !Jiclure rfthe aew rfCcnwry 10te, wean'ng differeul IyfJes rf combal clolhing, was taiwi on the hardsla1ul al Ridgfwell only minules before take qff on 28 MaJ'.
Sianding lifi 10 right: ftflilliam Hoopn' [ground m:w chi'!IJ, Johu EckllOfl[mg7'neelj, Jack Suthfflin [Pilol}, David Schwartz fnavigatOlj, Ray ullivan [co-/Jl'lol} and Guy • Here Sutherlin refers onl)' to the aircrafL of his own Bomb Group in this
High Group. There were eight more from the 91 st Bomb Group in this
Iiranli [bombardier}. KJteeling lifi 10 right: 11m)' fttddn [waisl gunner}, Georgf Scllnue/ian [tail gunll£7j, John Du Prf frtuilO-operator} and Joe 1#imer [ball tune!
g7lnuer}. [Jack SUlherlin} same Composite Group.
wai t gurmer, went to check on Samuelian and passed out
because of lack of oxygen. T!Sgt Du Pre, the radio operator.
took a walk around bottle of oxygen to Valdez and revived
hin1. 1 hey checked George Samuelian and said sadly that he
was dead. During the time when Valdez passed out from
lack of oxygen, I left tlle formation dropping to 18,000 feet.
This wasn't tlle correct thing to do, but it was sometl1ing I
did in response witll no reason. We were fortunate there
were no enemy lighters in the viciluty. I also then discovered
that the switch on the intercom had been turned to tlle 'off'
position by flak. John Du Pre sugge ted a prayer and there
was an Our Fa/her for George Samuelian. We used the prayer
on every following nussion in memory of George."5
Another B-17G. 42-97267 The Tomahawk Uizrrior, of tlle
381 t Bomb Group would have a very close call. It also
returned to Ridgewell alone on tlle deck, after flak damage
forced it out of formation. Its pilot, 2!Lt Robert G. Beackley,
stated that his troubles began in the target area, when his
number two engine went out and it could not be feathered.
The drag on tl1e aircraft made it necessary to alvo tl1e
bombs at once, in order for it to keep up with the others in
tlle formation. Ten minutes later, number tlTIee engine also
went out, and although tlUs engine could be feathered. the

32 MISSION 376 THE FIRST TWO COMBAT WINGS STRIKE DESSAU 33


The Tomahawk Warrior, IJiloted by Lt Robert G. Beackley, barely made it back to Ridgewell on 28 May and was IJ/lOtogmphed two days later. [David R. Osbome}
additional drag made formation flying impossible. Beackley
ordered his crew to jettison all equipment, and the gunners
started heaving everything they could detach, out of the
waist windows. With two engines out, he fell behind the
Group and tagged on to another formation, but was unable
to stay with it. Beackley decided 'to hit the deck' and started
home, all alone. Flying at some 50 feet over hostile Germany
had its own problems, as the crew soon found out.
"We were too low for flak, but they went for us with
small arms and machine guns. They didn't care what they
hurt either. We saw bullets they were aiming at us, flying
into German houses.,,6
The ball turret was then dropped, since it served no
purpose flying at such a low-altitude, and ejecting its weight
would help in getting home. Records clearly show, that only
a touch of luck and some keen eyes kept Beackley and his
crew from being shot down by German fighters. Returning
from escort duty to the RuWand force, a flight of P-51s of
the 355th Fighter Group spotted Beackley's low-flying B-17.
One of the fighter pilots was 2/Lt Walter E. MacFarlane,
who reported: "Coming out on withdrawal, I was flying
Custard Red 3. I called in a bogie on the deck and led the
flight down to investigate, as my flight leader didn't see it.
We discovered it to be a Fortress with triangle 'L' markings,
silver colour, with one engine out. The crew was jettisoning
all of the equipment. We escorted it for about ten minutes
when two Me 109s were observed coming in from the north
on the deck to attack the Fortress. There was a third Me 109
which we did not see until later. I turned into the two and
got on the tail of one and the third one got on my tail, but
was shot down by my wingman, Lt Eshelman. My enemy
aircraft took evasive actions, but I was able to get several
34
Lt Walter E. MacFarlane rfthe 355th Fighter Group spotted The "lomahawk
Warrior on the deck and shot down a Gemlf1n Bf 109 which tried to attack it.
MacFarlane was shot down by a Bf109 on 7 June, and bailed out to be calJtured.
[Walter E. MacFarlane}
MISSION 376
Above: Lt Francis L. Eshelman and his P-511erry Fran. JISt visible under the canopy is
Ih,' killmarkingJor Hans Halbe.!"s Bf109. Eshelman went down over France on 12 AugllJt,
f,1I11'Vaded cajJture and was back with the 3551h Fig,Jiler GroulJ in September. [Ken Wells}
R(!!;ht: u'ldnallt Hans Halbey rfIII/]G 1 had his IJortrait laken in Oc/ober 1944. Under
III:, lefl breast pocket, displaying his pilot's and giider IJ/iot's badge, he wears Ihe
fl'l1vundelenabzeichen, the Genllan equivalent to a PUlpie Heart. II was awaz:ded to himJor
,,'ollnels he sllSlained 011 28 May, when he was shot clown by Lt /!/lalter MacFarlane near
O)J(loif. [Ham A. Halbey}
bursts in on him from 200 yards and at various angles,
observing strikes all over the fuselage. He pulled up from
500 to about 800 feet and bailed out. I saw his chute open
about 200 feet off the gTound, and both he and his plane
landed in a woods."?
Lt Eshelman reported: "I was flying Custard Red 4. We
were on the deck escorting a straggling Fort, when three Me
109s came in from the north to attack it. We turned into two
of them and Lt MacFarlane, Red 3, got on one's tail and at
about that time I saw a third Me 109 coming in on Lt
MacFarlane's tail. I pulled back on this one's tail and opened
fire at about 150 yards with 20 degree deflection. I hit him
on the first burst in the cockpit. I Gred a few more bursts, he
straightened out and started diving and turning left and I
followed him in this turn, firing in and getting more hits on
the cockpit. He straightened out, faltered along, the engine
began to run slow and the enemy aircraft crashed into small
railroad tracks, exploding on impact."8
If the sharp eyes of Lt MacFarlane had not spotted the
lone Fortress there is little doubt, tllat the The Tomahawk
T#zrrior would have been no match for the German fighters,
with its ball turret, machine guns, equipment and
ammunition gone. There is little doubt that the Mustangs
victims were pilots of 9.(JG 1, who had taken off from
Paderborn a little earlier. One of these three pilots, Leulnant
Hans Halbey, recalled: "It was Whit Sunday, SUlU1Y weatller
and a clear blue sky. On tlle edge of the airfield we could see
people going to church or going for a Sunday walk,
appropriately dressed for the occasion. We were sitting fully
dressed in tlle cockpits of our Messersclmlitts, waiting for HaujJtman Lutz-Wilhelm Burkhardl (on right) had to we all his flying skills to
things to happen. 'We', that is just three pilots remaining at escapeJrolll ajlight rf P-51s rflhe 355th Fighter Group. Both other pilots in his
Paderborn. Then, in comes a StartbefthL from some far away jligllt were shot clown.
THE FIRST TWO COMBAT WINGS STRIKE DESSAU 35

Oberftldwebel Fnh. l1mm qf9.1JG 1 scored his.first victory, a Mosquito, 011 9
Oc/ober 1942 and claimed hisfifih, a Mustaug, 011 24 MCI)' 1944. Des/Jite all his
combat expenence, he was shot dowu by Lt Francis Eshelman qfthe 355th Fighter
Grou!J au 28 May. He died wheu his Bf109 crashed iuflames uear Ebsdoif. [En'c
Mombeek}
Headquarters: 'Attack returning bomber formations.' Three
pilots are ordered to attack bomber formations! But one of
us, Hauj)bnann Burkhardt, (ObeJj:ldwebel Fritz Tilmn and
myself are the other two), refuses the order and states that
right at that moment some Mustangs were circling our field.
His protests were honoured. Then a new Slartbrfihl, this time
with a specified course. Burkhardt orders us to fly as Iowa
possible, to try to fly this route without enemy fighter
noticing it. But, it doesn't take long before 18 Mustangs are
upon us, at relatively low-altitude. I notice two Mustang
behind me and I try, by climbing and turning steeply, to
avoid them getting enough lead to shoot me down. Both
Mustangs curve behind me, very close behind me. I try
another tactic, dive my Messerschmitt down, pull up steeply,
reduce power and let it side-slip. This slows me down. As
expected, the econd Mustang behind me reacts too late
(perhaps an inexperienced pilot), and passes me at high
peed. With a little course correction, he is in my crosshairs
and I fire: the Mustang shows a white trail and makes a turn
downwards. But, at the same time, tile pilot in the other
Mustang has me in his crosshairs and fires. I notice that my
bird has become uncontrollable, jettison the canopy,
unbuckle and get out. To my horror, I notice that we are
rcaUy, vcry low - will my chute open in time? I immediately
pull my ripcord - tile chute opens - I anl just over some
36
woods, see a Mustang flying towards me, it shoots at me. I
have arrived in the tops of some trees and finaUy hang
suspendcd between tile branches. I turn the buckle on my
harness, leave my chute in the tree and climb down u in<T
some branche . Already tile first people arrive at the scene.
They have seen the dogfight and have also seen that the
Mustang fired at me in my chute. I anl taken to tile nearby
village MoIL1, and I learn what tile people have also seen.
Hauptmann Burkhardt was hit. his aircraft trailing smoke (l
later learn that he had just managed to get to an airfield).
The Mustang tllat I had hit made a belly landing; the pilot
who was uninjured was lynched by the people, had not
ome Wehnnacht soldiers arrived who took the pilot in
custody. Why lynch the pilot? Because before we came, just
for the fun of it they had shot at civilians walking in the sun.
"And Oberflldwebel Tunm? He lies burned next to tile
wreckage of his machine, only a small black package of
human being. Unfortunately, I anl not spared the look of
him. The local doctor first puts an enormous syringe in my
back to prevent tetanu, then removes a lot of glass
fragments from my face.
"Two years later I visit Molin for tile second time, and
am brought by some inl1abitants to the crash site. There I
stand, at tile edge of a reasonably-sized crater in thick
woods, wiili iliousands of fragment from my machine lyin o'
around. and till a smell of gasoline, metal, magnesium and
gunpowder in the air. And I had the rare feeling to be
standing in front of what was almost my grave."g
The Mustang tllat Halbey claimed to have shot down
can't be identified. as no American loss matches the location
where tile dogftght occurred.
After the action tile P-51s, low on fuel, left tile cripple The
10mahawli f,%,m'or, danlaging one locomotive on the reuml to
Steeple Morden. An unidentified P-38 Lightning took over
tile escort duty from iliat point. Over the coast, The
10mahawk f,%,n-ior was hit again by Gcrman gTound fire, but
kept on flying, and eventuaUy reached Ridgewell. There ilie
ground crews could not count all tile holes in her skin, there
were just too many. Beackley was awarded a Distinguished
Flying Cross, for bringing back his B-17 on only two
engmes.
Jack Suilierlin, bringing in his damaged Century Note, with
three wounded and one dead crew member aboard,
continues his account: "The Channel and England ahead.
we let down and fired a red flare over ilie field, to notify
wounded aboard, and landed first. We taxied to the
ambulance at tile end of ilie runway, and stopped. They
chccked George Samuel ian, and took Lt Feranti. Lt
Schwartz, and Sgt Valdez in tile ambulance to the infirmary.
George was taken to the hardstand to be unloaded. It wa
difficult to remove George and medics did their job with
difficulty. There was one good sized hole in tile tail
compartment and several others in the fuselage, wing and
bombardicrs compartment. The doctor said George had
died seconds after he was hit. Even witll tile best of medical
treatment it was impossible to prevent his deatll. May 29
was a day off for ilie crew to attend George's funeral at the
Cambridge cemetery. He was not the only one buried iliat
day. I kcep thinking there were six of them. Other crewmem-
bers' wounds tllat day were superficial. Lt Schwartz was
nicked by flak on ilie left hand. Lt Feranti required four
stitches on tile upper right hand side of his cheek below ilie
MISSION 376
eye. Sgt Valdez was hit at the very top of his left shoulder
making a 1/<1" decp by 1/4" wide cut which required siJ(
stitches. I didn't know of tile latter two wound until they
!!,ot into ilie ambulance. On 30 May my crew, witll a very
reluctant Sgt Valdez a tail gunner, flew to Des au to bomb
\\ hat "\Ie didn't bomb On 28 May. Three ships from our
Croup were hot down by fighters. Our last mission was on
\ugust 11 to Bre t in France - we never had any further
lasualties on our crew. George Samuelian was not much of
,I conversationalist. He was pitcher on a softbaU team and
could also easily hit a home run. He was never late on a
flight, always loved to shoot and never said no to any
command. George is a hero, wherever he might be."lo
The second Combat vYing assigned to bomb Dessau was
the 41st, with ilie 379th, 303rd, and 384th Bomb Groups
!lying respectively a Lead, Low, and High Groups. Leading
[hc Wing was Lt 01 Robert S. Kittel, in PFF-equipped
B-17G 42-97699, piloted by Lt D.S. Morri on. The 379t1l
Bomb Group began its take-off from Kimbolton at 10.49
hours, and put up 21 aircraft, in addition to two PFF ships.
One of tile spare aircraft, piloted by Lt Russell M. Olson,
look over when B-17G 42-107213 ofLt Milton S. Miller had
[0 leave tile formation still over England. due to personnel
[Iilure. The Commanding Officer of tile Group, Colonel
Maurice A. Preston, recorded: "The particular instance is
being investigated and action is being taken by the medical
dcpartment. railicr ilian from a disciplinary standpoint.'>! I
Two otller spares returned unused. The Lead Group for
this Wing Dew wiili an extra aircraft added to the Low and
High Squadrons. and thus had 20 aircraft in aU.
The High Group for mis vYing, the 384t1l Bomb Group,
also put up 20 aircraft in its formation. Group Leader was
Major Robert E. Thacker in B-17G 42-97072, piloted by liLt
Phillip N. Bennett. No aiTcraft returned early to Grafton
Underwood and a normal Group and Wing Assembly was
made.
The Low Group, tile 303rd Bomb Group, was led by
Captain Peter L.M. Packard in B-17G 42-102453 Princess Pat,
piloted by liLt Joseph A. Moreau. Two of tile schcduled 18
aircraft did not take off, one due to a Dat tyre and ilie other
with a leaking wing tank.. During Group assembly B-17G
~2-107048, piloted by liLt Roy Eisele. aborted Witll a defunct
oxygen system. Thus only 15 aircraft of tile Group made tile
subsequent Wing sembly at 9,000 feet over their own field,
Molesworth. Division Assembly was made with some
difficulty since ilie Combat Wings ran into a formation of
Liberators. While tile 41st Combat Wing wa able to stay in
formation and kin around the obstructing Liberators. ilie
~)../.tIl Combat Wing, which followed shortly behind and
which was ilie last in tile First Division's force, ran into great
trouble. This will be described in tile next chapter. Lt Col
Robert S. Kittel, leading ilie 41st Combat vYing, reported:
'The Division assembly was made anlOngst tile B-24s. At ilie
English coast we were on course when a B-24 division came
between us and ilie Combat 'Wing in front of us. We were
first to cut in between ilie Lead and Second Combat Wing of
the B-24s. It was a tight squeeze, but we madc it."12
The English coast was departed at 12.05 hours and at
15,000 feet and landfaU in Holland was at 12.41 hours and
at 22,000 feet. 0' unusual events occurred during tbe flight
to the target area and the Initial Point wa reached at 14.06
hours. An interesting account of tile mission is given by
THE FIRST TWO COMBAT WINGS STRIKE DESSAU
S/Sgt John B. Pratt, the radio-operator on Lt Raymond R
Stevens' B-17 ofilie 384t1l Bomb Group. That evening, back
at Grafton Underwood, he wrote in his diary: "1Gke-qff
10.23B - f4i EnglaJul at CmmeT, soulh o/lhe UilJh. Went straight
&lJt over North Sea to HollaJul. Pcmed over ,(lllder ,(ee and near
Amsterdam. Kej}t going East over Gen7U171)1 towards Berlin. Near
Hannover we went south-east and passed near AtIagdeburg to De55au.
We were supposed to bomb a JU enginefactory at DeJJau, but larget
was obscured by smokefiom jJreviow b(Jmbings. We tumed south and
went to Leipzig and bombed a synthetic rubber ftctory on lhe edge 0/
Leipzig. 1G/gel was bombedfiom 26,000jeet, temj) - 29 degrees. m
hit target Izard. On Toute between DeJJau and LeijJZig, we saw several
la7gels which Iwd been hit by other groups. On 11m to Leipzig, a B-17
took a directJlall. hit. It eXj)loded and tail broke qffat ball tumt. Went
down inflames and exploded again - no chutes. MediumJlak (8817lm-
black) at Dessau and medium inaccurate Jlak at Leipzig. Three
Me 109s went over 7lJ on bomb 71m, but d7dn't attack. 1wo 0/ OUT
P-5ls collided and went down inflames - I saw one chute. The High
Squadron in our Grouj) screwed up and their lead sin})flew directly over
us on bomb run. I looked up into his oj)en bomb bayfi011Z radio hatch
andjwt waitedjOr him to droj) them on 1I5. I really was scared. He got
back in place brjOre bombs away - but we really sweat. We droj)jJed ten
500-j)ound incendiaries on Lezpzig and dzd a gvod job. Had a heauy
escort 0/P-5ls 077 way over and P-5ls and P-385 (JJl Tetum - good
deal! Retumed north-west oveT Gennany near Fran/ifurt and over
Belgium near Brlmels. Passed over Hench coast near Dunkirk and hit
Englarul near London. No Jlak or fighters on retum. Group lost no
B17s. Our silip had no da77wge at all. Landed l800B - 7Jl2hours-
6 Iwurs over enemy ten7·tOJY. 61/2 hours OJZ 0>'J'gell."13
The colli ion tllat Pratt witnes ed was tllat between
Captain Juchheim and Lt Lada, as described in ilie
previou chapter. As Pratt wrote, tile same smoke and haze
around Des au that fouled up the bombing of ilie 1st
Combat Wing, now did the same to the bombing of the 41st.
This Wing also encountered moderate, but accurate, flak
over tile target. The deputy lead aircraft of the Wing,
piloted by Lt Lotz, was hit in two engincs and had to leave
the formation. It was last observed by thc lead ship in tile
vicinity of Frankfurt, being escorted by three Thunderbolts.
Lotz made it safely back to England and landed at Manston.
One bombardier in the 379ili Bomb Group formation,
thinking that he could identify the target sufficiently,
dropped his bombs tmough ilie haze. The rest of tile Group
held their bombs aboard and eventuaUy dropped the
remaining 186 500-pound High Explosive bombs on an
airfield iliree miles west of Wustensachsen at 15.15 hours.
causing moderate danlage.
The flak in ilie target area struck very hard at tbe crew
of B-17G 42-107028 of tile 303rd Bomb Group. This crew.
commanded by 2/Lt Alvin G. Determan. wa on its twelItll
mission til at montll. Determan remember til at the day
started badly: "As we taxied into position for take off, our
plane canted a great deal to one side, as if one of tile shock
struts had collap ed. We radioed the tower and were given
permission to pull off tile runway. We deplaned and a flight
engineer canle tearing over in a jeep. He couldn't [md
anything wrong, but accused me of taxi-ing too fast. Then
back to take-off and to fmd our Group and Squadron. We
circled tile area asking our Squadron leader to fire a flare so
we could join up, which we finaUy accomplished." 14
Two of tile crewmembers had swapped po itions for this
flight, a iliing tIley were permitted to do, a tlley were boili
37

The crew ifB-l7G 42-107028 if the 3031'd Bomb Groufl was pictured at Molesworth only da)'S bifrJre being shot down. Back row IIji to I1g-ht: Alvin G. Detemzan
[Pilot, POW}, Ervin J lJillller {co-pilot, KIA}, Jackson Palmer Jr. {navIgator, KIA} and Lamar E. Ledbetter [bombardie/; not on 28 May mission}. Front row llji to
right: Milton C. Hendrickson [n'glzt waist gunnel; KIA}, Robert H. Asman {1'adio-ollerator, POW}, Manuel Vasquez. [ball tumt gunner, KIA}, Acel E. Livingston {llji
waist gWl1ler, KIA}, 1#t)'Ile E. Cope [engineel; POW}, Albert R. Carroca'a [tail gunner, KIA}. B-l7G 42-97298 The FJoose was craslz/mwed on 24 December 1944
and then salvaged. [Alvin G. Detemzan}
qualified engineers and aerial gunners. The regular engineer,
T/Sgt Milton C. Hendrickson, left his top turret, and
occupied the far more uncomfortable right waist gun
position. The assistant engineer and right waist gunner, Sgt
Wayne E. Cope, moved up to the flight deck to man the twin
.50s in the top turret. This seemingly hazarcUess exchange of
combat positions would later mean the difference between
life and death for the two men.
Alvin Determan: "Then to my horror, I found that I had
forgotten to take pet my heavy flying jacket along. Sort of
good luck jacket. I had the inclulation to turn back to get the
jacket but knew this was a ridiculous thought. The flight into
Germany was routine, I believe, with no fighter attacks, and
very little flak. At the time we were hit, I don't recaU seeing
any heavy flak at aU."
But, like S/Sgt John Pratt of the 384th Bomb Group,
T/Sgt Francis H. Stender, the tail gunner in the lead
aircraft of the 303rd Bomb Group, saw it happen all too
well: "Lt Determan was flying in the number three
position just a little to the left and behind us. The aircraft
received a direct hit, close to the number four engine from
anti-aircraft gunfire at about 14.35 hours in the vicinity of
Leipzig. The right wing immediately caught fire and the
aircraft then slid under our ship and on out of the
formation past the number two position. The right wing
came off and the aircraft then rolled over on its back and
went down. As it did so, the tail came off at about the
38
were all killed, eitller immediately by tlle flak burst or in the
subsequent crash of their B-l7. According to a German
report, the two larger parts of the aircraft were found some
1,200 metres apart. One of the bodies was found two-and-a-
half months after tlle crash took place, on 11 August and far
away from botll crash sites, giving graphic evidence of tlle
suddelmess and force of tlle explosion.
The dazed Alvin Determan floated down beneatll his
parachute: "As I approached tlle earth I could see human
activity COIning from four villages. As I landed, ruining a few
hundred feet of gTaSS witll my face, I was immediately
surrounded by what I believe were VOLksslunn civilians, witll
arm bands and pistols and rifles. After divesting me of my
outside flying coveraUs they escorted me to one of tlle
villages. Here everyone was friendly, serving me witll a bottle
of terrible beer and ridiculing me as to my size (ftve foot six)
and pointing to my lieutenants' insigma. After a short respite
here, I was escorted across a field where we met two regular
German Army officers. Evincing Ius hatred for tlle British,
one of tllem jabbed me in tlle chest and said 'if you wer~ S/Sgt Hany Goland, the luckiest man in the 303rd Bomb Groull on 28 Jl1ay,
Englander I would shoot you right now'. I was tllen ushered looks out the exit hole ifaJlak shell that missed him by inches. /!fler posingfir Ihis
by the two officers to a detention building where tllere were photogwllh, he willingly oblzged Ihe photogmllher 's wish 10 show how hapllJ he was
a number of prisoners tllat had been gathered in tlle past to be back sqfely on Jl1olesworLh. Goland finished his tour if ollerations qfier olle
more mission, on 29 May. irIan) Goland}
several days."
From there, Determan was
taken to DuLag L1.!fi for interroga-
tion and fll1ally taken to StaLag
Llifi III. Both other survivors,
Sgt Cope and S/Sgt Asman,
were also captured. Six of tlle
seven killed crewmenlbers were
buried on 29 May in the
cemetery at Beucha, a village
dose to Leipzig. The seventh
man was buried on 12 August
entrance door and I didn't observe any parachutes, next to his comrades.
although others report seeing one." 15 The German flak nearly
All this took place in no more time than necessary to claimed a second B-17 of the
reading this statement. Lt Determan again: "As we were hit, 303rd Bomb Group. Leading
I reached under my seat to get my chest pack to attach it to the High Squadron of tlle Group
my harness. I managed to get the pack on to one side, but was liLt Paul R. Ellswortll in
was thrown violently into the passageway leading to tlle B-17G 42-97329 Flak Hack. He
nose. I didn't have time to even puU tlle bail out signal. I reported later: "Everything was
have often speculated in later years whether it would have going along fine until 14.35
made a difference in saving tlle lives of some of tlle other hours when Leipzig flak came
crewmembers. My only tll0ught as I was being buffeted up and Lt Determan flying in
about was that I had 'had it'. My next recollection was being the Lead Squadron went down
or faUulg in the air with my chest pack above my head with two engll1es on fire,
hooked only to one riser, tlle tacking having pulled loose spinning and losing his tail. At
from my harness. I tried to get the pack down so I could that moment tlle formation was
attach it to tlle otller riser but to no avail. I fll1aUy managed just straightenirrg out from a
to get a hold of the rip cord, pulling it to open tlle chute. As turn"16
it opened, being held by only one riser I wa subjected to a TillS became a flak-assisted
pendulum effect, swaying from side to side, often being turn for Lt Ellswortll, as a flak
rotated at tlle peak of tlle swing. About tlus time I was shell came up at an angle,
hoping tllat someone would come by, pick me up and take through the bottom of the
me back to England. I was feeling extremely lonely." fuselage between the pilot and
At the moment tlle aircraft broke up, not only Determan co-pilot, straightening the
was thrown clear, but also engineer Wayne Cope, from his aircraft ou t with its unpact. It
combat position just behind the pilots seats on tlle flight was fortunate that S/Sgt Harry
deck. The tllird and last man to escape was radio-operator Goland in the top turret was
S/Sgt Robert H. Asman. The seven other crewmembers standing erect. He had a very
MISSION 376 THE FIRST TWO COMBAT WINGS STRIKE DESSAU 39
 mall margin of safety, and if he had been relaxed or even
hifting his weight at that moment, Ius buttocks would have
gone with the flak shell, which went out the port side of the
fu elage, just above the wing root. As it was, the entire crew
was thrown about. They found, to their surprise. that they
were still flying and were reassured to hear Lt Ellsworth tell
them that everytlLing was OK. They continued and dropped
their bombs with tlle other remaining crews of the 303rd
Bomb Group. In all 140 500-pound High Explosive bombs
were dropped at 14.38 hours on tlle Molbis power station
near Roma, one of the largest of its kind, which supplied
power to Central Germany.Just two minutes later, tlle bombs
were followed by the 198 500-pound Incendiary bombs that
the 384tll Bomb Group added to the inferno. The tllree
Groups in tlle 41st Combat Wing had 26 Fortresses damaged
by flak. three crewmembers were slightly wounded in aircraft
of tlle 303rd Bomb Group.l"lu-get evaluation showed tllat tlle
Molbis power station was well hit, with destruction of several
oflices, laboratories and barracks, very severe damage to
the freight station, and indeterminate damage to the
boiler house.
The heavy and accurate flak in tlle target area nearly
accounted for anomer aircraft. Lt William E. Satterwlute
piloted one of me 48 P-38s of tlle 367th Fighter Group. The
unit, one of tllose mat tlle inth Air Force provided, was
scheduled to provide wimdrawal e cort to tlle first force, me
Combat Wing bombing Ruhland and Des au and were to
take over escort at 15.00 hours.
Satterwhite recalls: ., pon intercepting the bomber
stream we set-up our weaving pattern over the Groups we
were as iglled to protect. Our altitude was slightly more tllan
30,000 feet and we were throttled back to limit speed so as
not to overrun tlle bombers. As ule target was approached
ule flak became inten e. A bursl exploded especially close to
my plane and that of my wing man. I felt an impact and
concussion from me explosion. My wing man called saying
I wa hit and my left engine was smoking. It was actually
coolant streanLing out. I assessed the damage to the eng"ine,
feathered the prop to keep it from 'windmilling' and cut off
fuel to me left engine and shut off the ignition. I had fallen
from formation while checking the omer engine, trying tlle
flying characteristics to determine if controls were intact.
Being stabilized, I dropped my exterior tanks, told me
Squadron Leader I was danlaged and I was aumorized to
turn back to England. My wing man, as was tlle custom,
remained witll me to provide cover if needed. Course was
set to home with nearly 600 nules of enemy telTitory to
ero s. The weatlKr was worsening. The next two-and-a-half
to mree hours proved to be uneventful which was helpful, as
40
flying instruments. holding the torque against tlle powered
engine, and navigating by chart when I could see a land-
mark was keeping me occupied. Somewhere nearing tl1C
hannel coast, my wing man and I becanle separated.
Crossing me Chatmel I made land-fall in mid-Englatld. saw
a grass strip atld made my first single-engine landing in a
P-38. It was a British/Australian lighter field. I was pleased
to be back on friendly turf. 10 say I was tired would be an
under tatement. It felt like 'home', tllough I was not on my
own base. It was close enough. I wa not about to fly on and
try to fmd my field neat- Stoney Cross. My base was advised
I was down and afe. The next day I was picked up, taken
to my base and made ready to go again. It was a memorable
day. But, subsequent days supporting tl1C landings at
Normandy, 'beating-up' enemy airfields, strafing the
retreating German Seventh Army, knocking out Tiger tank
for General Patton's Eleventh and Ninth Armored Divisions
atld softening the Drop Area at Nijmegen for paratrooper
becatuc even more exciting!"17
Satlerwlute, very appreciative unt a P-38 had two
engines, had landed at Ford.
s mentioned, tlle third atld last Combat Wmg assiglled
to hit me Junkers plant at Dessau - comprising me 351st,
401st, and 457m Bomb Groups - had already got into trouble
over England. Their story is told in me following chapter.
Notes
I. Letter to amhor. 9January 1999.
2. RL 2/1638. page 101: Bundesarchiv. Freiburg and illlerpreLation
repon K2303: AlR 4·0/638 Public Rccord Office, London
3. Public Relations Repon 381st Bomb Group. through David R.
Osborne.
-L Leller to author. 29 OctOber 1997.
5. Lellcr to author. 15 Novembcr 1990.
6. Public Relations Rcpon 381st Bomb Group. through David R.
Osbornc.
7. Pilot encoulller rcpon; USAF HistOrical Rcsearch CClller. MiLxwell
AFB, AL.
8. Pilot cncounter repon; USAF HistOrical Rcscarch Celller, Maxwell
AFB, AL.
9. Lellcr to author, 16 Octobcr 2000.
10. LCllcr to author. 15 Novembcr 1990.
11. 379th Bomb Group Mission Rcpon; Rccord Group 18, WashingtOn
ational Records Celller.
12. 379th Bomb Group Mission Repon; Rccord Group 18. Washinglon
ational Records Cel1ler.
13. Diary John B. Pratl. through Raymond R. Stcvens. 4 OctOber 1999.
14. LCller to amhor. 22 Septembcr 1982.
15. Statcmel1l by T/Sgt Francis H. lcndcr in MACR 53c10: Record
Group 92. \VashingtOn National Records CClller.
J 6. 303rd Bomb Group Mission Repon: Record Group 18. WashingtOn
National Rccords Cel1ler.
J7. E-mail to author. 30 December 2000.
MISSION 376
Chapter Six
THE 94TH COMBAT WING
OVER DESSAU
The Flight to the Target personal equipment atld going to tlle airplane. I say tlUs was
rhe 457tll Bomb Group was assigned to lead tlle 94tll tlleir routine, because I was not mere. Our crew had flown
Combat Wing on tlle mission to Dessau. Its lead aircraft was a nussion to Ludwigshafen on Saturday 27 May. Upon
B-l?G 42-97630 Geraldine, equipped witll H2X radar, and returning from tllat mission, atld completing our post-llight
piloted by 2/Lt Chat-]es D. Bratmatl. The Command Pilot duties, we returned to me Squadron area. One of our
for the Wing, atld flying in the co-pilot's seat of tlUs aircraft, required duties wa to read me Squadron bulletin board. As
was Major George C. Hozier, me Conmlanding Officer of I read the latest notices, I found my natue on me glJat-d duty
the 748tll Bomb Squadron. There were tllree navigators roster for that night. I immediately went to our hut, and
.tboard,2/LtJame H. Kincaid and Capt Patric~ W. Henry changed from my flying gear to my fatiglJe U1uform. I
were reglJlat- navigators and 2/Lt Gordon H. Lowe was- proceeded at tlnt time to the mess hall for chow prior to
operating the H2X radat-. The lead bombat-dier was 2/Lt reporting for guard duty.
.James E. Fast, and 2/Lt Walter F. Creigh, normally a "I fu-st found out tllat we were flying a mission when a
co-pilot, was at tlle tail gell1S, acting as formation observer. Squadron rUl1Jler in a Jeep came to me hat-dstand where I
The otl1Cr aboard were engineer Jolm T. Matovina, radio was statlding guat-d atld informed me. The airplatle crew
operator Joseph Colechia, and waist gunners Edwat-d F. c1uef relieved me, and I was taken by me runner to our hut
Hardin atld Chat-les R. Vatldeventer. to change into my flying gear. From mere we proceeded to
The lead bomber left me main runway of Glatton at me mess hall for a very quick breakfast. From mere me
[0.29 hours, loaded wlth ten 500-pound bombs and one nllmer drove me to me personal equipment section, where I
smoke mat-ker, destined for Dessau. It was followed by 20 checked out my pat-achute bag wim all tlle necessary
other Fortresses. including Ulree spat-es, to form the Lead equipment, tllen back to me hat-dstand where me crew were
Group of me 94m Combat Wing made Group formation already going about meir pre-flight dutie . I went to tlle
without atlY difficulty and was accomplished by 11.22 hours atTIlatUent shack and gave my twin .50 calibr maclUne gtm
and at 8,000 feet. Then tlle W'ing had to be assembled. a tllorough going over, prior to taking mem to tlle airplatle
The Low Group for today was furnished by me 401st at1dinstallillg mem in me upper turret which wa my combat
Bomb Group from DeenemOll)e, which also took off with station. After all my pre-llight duties were completed, Ijoined
'21 aircraft, starting at 10.30 hours. Command Pilot was the rest of me crew as we awaited crew station time. I noted
Major Leon Stann, the Operations Officer of me 613m at tlus time tllat all tlle crewmembers were very quiet at1d
Bomb Squadron, in B-17G 42-31081 Son rfaBIiLz, piloted by subdued, which for our crew was not normal, as me waiting
liLt Charles F. Hess. The assembly of me 401st Bomb time was normally spent in horseplay. I asked where we were
Group went smoothly,
and tlley too proceeded to
the Wing Assembly Point
over the Deenethorpe
buncher. ot everyone
aboat-d tlle bombers was
fully aware of where he
was going today. as me
story of S/Sgt Jame E.
\Vells. engineer aboard Lt
Walter B. Keith's B-1? of
the 401st Bomb Group.
illustrates: "Our crew was
awakened and alerted for
.I bombing nussion on tlle
monLing of 28 May. Their
routine was the normal
getting dressed, toilet,
breakfast, mission briefmg,
prayer, checking out of
PFF-eqllijJIJed B-J7G '42-97630
Gcraldinc led the 94tft Combal
Wing to Dessall. [Wi/liam R.
Had/e)]
THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 41

Part qfthe lead anJJ./or the 94th Combat Wing: Imeehngftr lefl, James H Kincaid {7/avigator}, thirdfromlefl, Charles D. Brannan [lead jlllot}. Standingftr lefl John
T. Matovll1a [engineel], tllirdfromlefl, Charles R. Vandeventer [waist gunner} and./ourthfi"Oln lefl, Edward F Hardin [waist gunner}. [Mrs James H Kincaid}
going, and some of the crew said it was going to be a rough
one. So I asked again and Lt Keith said he would brief me
later. As events of the day unfolded, the briefing was
forgotten, and as a result, I did not know where we were
going, nor did I know what the target for the day was to be." I
The High Group for the 94th Combat Wing was the
35lst Bomb Group from nearby Polebrook, led by Captain
Harry B. Holsapple in B-17G 42-97381 Linda Ball II, piloted
by Captain Bruce F. Winton. ineteen B-17s left on
schedule, only Lt David M. Heller, who was to lead the
High Squadron of the Group, experienced difficulties, and
took off late. Subsequent Group assembly was without
difficulties, Heller's position staying vacant for the time
being, as Wing Assembly was started.
The Lead Group left the Wing Assembly Point, the
Deenethorpe Buncher, on tinle. The 40lst Bomb Group
then assumed its position and the 35lst Bomb Group joined
shortly thereafter. Until then, everything had gone as
planned, and nothing pointed to the mishap that would
befall tlus Wing before the end of tlle day. Trouble started
just before leaving the English coast at Great Yarmouth,
when the Wing ran into another Wing, all B-24 units, and
had to make a right turn at tlle Division Assembly Line. The
High Group, the 35lst Bomb Group, had the most trouble
with the Liberators and was forced to execute a full 360
degree turn to prevent possible nlid-air collisions. Shortly
tllereafter Major Hozier ordered a sharp left turn tllat was
then made by tlle Lead and Low Groups. The 35lst Bomb
Group, having manoeuvred to avoid tlle B-24s, had now lost
the Wing formation completely.
42
Upon leaving the English coast LtJames V. Elduff of the
457th Bomb Group returned to Glatton, with Ius number
one supercharger out, and number two engine short on
power. His place was taken by Lt Winfred L. Pugh, one of
the three spares. Both other spares, piloted by Lts Stevens
and Pashal, soon returned to base. None of the tlu-ee 40lst
Bomb Group spares, piloted by Lts Wells, Myrtetus and
Opie, were needed and returned to Deenetll0rpe. The 35lst
Bomb Group, now flying alone and trying to catch up with
the formation, fared worse. Flying as deputy lead of tills
Group was liLt Clyde W. McClelland. His navigator liLt
John B. Duncan, recalled: "This nlission was the tlurtieth
and last wluch I would have been required to fly in the
European Theatre of Operations. It was me only time
during my tour of duty tllat there was some confusion
during the formation of our Wing over tile assigned
Assembly Point on the East coast of England. The result was
that tile omer two Groups had already departed across me
North Sea and our Group found itself all alone over the
English coast. Our Group Leader circled me assembly point
several times, men headed east in an effort to overtake the
omer two Groups."2
2/Lt Walter F. Creigh, on Ius fIfm nussion, and acting as
tail gunner/formation observer in Geraldine, me Wing's Lead
aircraft, remembers: "We took off at 10.30 hours. After
assembly and at nud-Channel, me pilot cleared us to charge
our weapons and fIre a few rounds. I fired a short burst from
each gun high over me right wing of tlle number 4 'slot'
plane. As tile pilot saw me start to fu-e, he slid up closer under
me tail of our ship to avoid the clips and empty casings tllat
MISSION 376
fell away from my guns. Then I got my fi.rst call from Major
Hozier. He asked me position of me High and Low Groups.
Were mey too close or too far back? This seemed to me me
only justification for having a pilot in tile tail gun position.
My answer was mat 'I tllought mey were more man two
minutes behind us'. His next question was should we make a
dog leg to me left or to me right? To shorten tlleir radius turn
I suggested a left dog leg and by now I felt I had earned my
keep! The otller Groups now caught up and we were on our
way across normern Germany."3
Over me Norm Sea, Major Hozier, ordered a double
drift to me left in an attempt to allow tile 35lst Bomb Group
to join the formation. Unfortunately it did not completely
catch up and, probably due to increased airspeed and having
to climb fully loaded, aircraft in the 35lst Bomb Group
formation began to malfunction, and some had to abort.
After Lt Alfred D. Neal returned to Polebrook witll a sick
bombardier, Lt Martin Karagiannis followed, wim tile report
that Ius number two supercharger lost power ill climb, and
that it was impossible to maintalll formation. Bom Lts
Robert E. Taylor and Augustus J. Cesarini turned back
when tile number four engines on meir respective B-17s
malfunctioned. Bom dropped tlleir bomb load in me orm
Sea. The fIftll and last to return to Polebrook was Lt David
M. Heller, the man who had a late take-off, and
consequently never managed to fInd and overtake me
Group formation. Bom spares, piloted by Lt Willianl M.
Power and Lt Charles F. Anderson filled in, me first on
Cesaruu's position, number tl1ree in me Lead Squadron.
Anderson decided to occupy me vulnerable number six
position in me Low Squadron, originally mtended for Lt
li:tylor. It was to prove a fateful decision.
Upon reaching the enemy coast me 35lst Bomb Group
was still behind, and Hozier had no omer option but to
make anomer double drift to the left, this time over
Holland. Now, one B-17G in me Low Group had to abort.
Excessive oil, spilling from number four engine was
pouring on its exhaust and burning. The propeller would
not feather, the engule was shut down and me propeller
windmilled until tile plane, piloted by Lt Richard D.
McCord, safely reached Deenethorpe.
The airspeed of the 457m and
WIst Bomb Groups was reduced,
again in order to enable the 35lst
Bomb Group to catch up. Engineer
James E. Wells, Ul tile 40lst Bomb
Group's formation, remembers me
flight to tile target area: "When me
crew station alert flare was fired from
the control tower, we tllen took our
positions in tile all-plane and went
about our duties. We started engiJles,
took up our assigned position in me
parade of FlyiJlg Fortresses ta~.iing to
the active runway and engiJle run-up
pad. Engine run-up was normal, so
when me take off flare was fired, me
Group began taking off. When our
turn came, we to~k me runway and
began our lumbering take-off roll. We On his velY first operational mission 2/Lt Gerald F
became airborne Ul a normal fashion Carter had to ditch Reds Rogues in the North Sea.
and began our climb out. At tlus time [Vera Wepner}
THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU
we encoumered very strong gas fumes throughout me
airplane. At me direction of Lt Keim, I made a visual check
of tile all-plane, especially me bomb bay area where all of me
fuel transfer lines were located. I found no evidence of fuel
leaks, and reported my fmding to me crew. We opened
windows, and hortly tlle fume dis ipated, so we pressed on.
"The c1unbing and joining Ul formation went along
normally, but somewhat raggedly. As we took up our
easterly heading and began crossing tile English Charulel,
our airspeed dropped so low on everal occasions mat Lt
Keim was required to extend wing flap 0 as to keep the
airplane from stalling and to mallltalll our station Ul me
formation. As we reached our cruising altitude of
somewhere around 25,000 feet, and coasted in over Fortres
Europe, our formation did not improve appreciably, and I
believe mat our entire crew had a very bad feeling for tlus
particular endeavour,'4
Finally, near the Dutch/German border, me 35lst Bomb
Group caught up and occupied me High Group position.
However, tile 94m Combat \t\Ting had now lost eight
nlll1Lltes of precious time in the meticulously planned
operation, and another Combat Wing, the 13m 'A: heading
for Magdeburg, had passed on time and on course. Major
Hozier was now forced to take up position behiJld tlus
Wmg, squeezing his own Wing just in front of the 13m 'B'
Combat Wing, which was also heading for Magdeburg. In
all, 50 of the intended 54 B-17s were left in the 94m Combat
Wing, not too bad in view of tlungs to come.
When tile Wing reached tlle vicinity of Dummer Lake
trouble started for B-17G 42-39837 Reds Rogues from me
40lst Bomb Group, piloted by 2/Lt Gerald F. Carter and
·lILt Clayton A. Johnston. Flying in me number five position
in me Lead Squadron, Carter's crew was on its very first
combat nussion. LtJohnston, however, was an experienced
pilot on his twenty-second mission and was breaking in me
crew in me habits of operational flying. Johnston had
already been u1Volved in a crash-landing at Deenemorpe, in
early March.
The oil pressure on number one engine fell drastically, so
mat the propeller began to wUldmill and would not feamer.
Carter made an attempt to remain wim me formation on me
Sgt. John 1. Wepner, tail gunner qfReds Rogues.
43
other three engines, but the aircraft began to drop back and
it was decided to turn back. At that point, number four
engine also went out, and oil began to spurt out from its top.
This propeller could be feathered. The bombs were
jettisoned in an open field, and tl1e same route flown going
in, was used in an attempt to return to England. The aircraft
then began steadily to loose altitude, being pulled down by
the windmilling propeller, with altitude loss of about 500 feet
per minute. Maximum power was applied in an effort to get
back on two engines, but the aircraft was indicating an
airspeed of only 90 to 100 miles per hour, barely above the
stalling point, and was down to 5,000 feet when it left the
Dutch coast. Some flak was thrown up from the vicinity of
Egmond, but it was very inaccurate. At this time S/SgtJohn
N. Heinlon, tl1e radio operator, sent out coordinates and an
SOS, announcing the crew's intention to ditch, and when
the aircraft was at 2,000 feet he clamped the key down.
Others in the aircraft meanwhile had thrown out all
removable equipment, and as tl1e aircraft neared the sea,
power was boosted to maxlnmm. For nearly fifteen minutes
the bomber mushed along at about 15 or 20 feet above tl1e
water. Finally, when airspeed showed 85 miles per hour and
tl1 aircraft neared a stall, engines were cut and Reds Rogues
was ea ed into the sea. The tail hit first, without a violent
impact, and finally the nose
crashed into me water. The ea
was calm at the time of ditching,
14.38 hours, and me aircraft
landed parallel to a mild swell.
Almost immediately, the ball
turret floated to the surface, tl1e
aircraft filled with water and
began to sink. Because the radio
operator John Heinlon was an
expert swimmer, he was tl1e first
out. Water was already up to his
waist before he left the machine.
When the last man left the
radio room, where the
crewmembers were assembled
in case of a ditching, water was
chest-high. Neither dinghy was
44
automatically released and Helnlon manually released the
left dinghy and was forced to hold the inflation bottle before
it would inflate. Lt Johnston left tlu-ough the co-pilat's
window and pulled out the right dinghy, which immediately
inflated. Since the aircraft sank in less tl1an forty-five seconds,
and tl1e tail began to rise, the dinghys were forced backward.
Three men were in each dinghy and two were hanging onto
each, but those in tl1e water soon climbed inside witl10ut
difficulty. In the left dinghy were Lt Carter, Lt Willard O.
Locklear, navigator, S/Sgt Heinlon, Sgt Floyd A. Truax,
engineer, and Sgt John L. Wepner, tail g·unner. In the right
dinghy were LtJohnston, Lt Lloyd G. Deaton, bombardier,
S/Sgt Carl J. Miller, left waist gunner, Sgt Stanford M.
Hardister, ball turret gunner, and SgtJohn Ha.fko, right waist
gunner. Both dinghys were then tied together. Two
parachutes and the dinghy radio, as well as several kits which
had been thrown out of the aircraft were picked up, and the
dinghy radio with balloon antenna was set up.
Almost .lnm1ediately, two P-47s arrived, and from that
time, for three hours and 25 minutes, at which point the
crew was rescued, P-47s circled overhead. At the end of tl1at
period, while one P-47 pilot was directing an Air-Sea Rescue
High Speed Launch to the dinghys, another pilot was so
enthusiastically buzzing the bomber crew, that he snapped
Above: The rescuers .... most rfthe 12-117£111
crew rfFfiglt SjJeed Laullch 2579, includillg
its captaill FlO J. Martinson, sitting with
cal}· {Jim HammondJ
Lefl: And those resated. .. the crew rfRcds
Rogues afi'w days cifier their ditching in the
.North Sea. From liji to right: John Hciflw
[waist gunner], 21Lt Willard O. Lac/dear
[bombardiel}, Sgt Floyd A. 7i-uax
[enginCCl}, 21Lt Lloyd C. Deatoll
[lIavigatOl}, 21Lt Louis H. Luden7£ln [co-
IJi/ot, not 017 missiouJ, Sgt John L. flvelJller
[tad gUllnel}, 21Lt Cc'rald F Carter flJilotJ
and Sgt Stanford M. Hardister [ball turret
gW71leJj. [Vera flf/ejJllel}
MISSION 376
/ "/I/lots rfthe 508th Bomb Squadroll, Lts Wilbel/II J. Condon and Robert {IV
( "/111011, /JortraJ'ed inji'ollt rf barracks at Polebrook. On 28 May, the latter Iwd to
l ,','1' the 351st BOlllb CroupJomutiion, drolJ/Jed his bombs ill ClZeJny temiol) and
~ "back to Polebrook alone. The first was shot down by Cem7£l1l jig!JIers and
dIn/along withfive rf/llJ crew. On the liji Robert H. Cunste/~ co-pilot on Rabat
( "/111011 :r fJ"C7.U. [Robert {IV CoudonJ
off the balloon anterma with tl1e propeller of his P-47. The
(I\:W was picked up by High Speed Launch No. 2579 at
1ROO hours and was tl1en taken to tl1e Air Sea Rescue
Ilospital at Great Yarmouth. After a spell in the hospital the
lilt'll returned to Deenethorpe the following day.
Another B-17 would have to abort from tl1e Combat
Wing, again due to engine trouble. Flying in B-1iG
1:2-38146 of tl1e 351st Bomb Group, was tl1e crew of Lt
Robert W. Condon. Condon recalls: "Our aircraft was slow
,lIld we had to use a little more power than usual and both
II!-\hl wing engines were running a little hot. At about 120
Illiles inland and south east of Hannover, Germany, at
6,000 feet we lost the oil pressure on number three engine.
\s oil was coming over tl1e wing, we featl1ered the engine
,lIld started to fall back. I decided to make a left descending
IHO degree turn under control and we lost about 2,000 feet,
,IS we still had our 5,000-pound bomb-load. Alone, we were
"lling ducks, if there were any German fighters in the area;
however, we did not see any and we knew friendly fighters
w\:re due to arrive. So, heading west we were looking for a
larget of opportunity. The navigator, Joe Isoardi, spotted a
Illililary barracks area and bombardier Bill Witten took aim
,md dropped the bombs in trail. Tail gulmer Sam Silver said
" few of the bombs hit tl1e target.
We had lost a lot of altitude now
,lIld we were down to 18,000
It Robert {IV Condon and his crew sqflly
Idumed .from a mission in the sUlIlmer'rf
1'114 having just boarded a tmck and
hmding Jor interrogation. 7Iie 13 .50
,,,hbre mac/nile gun barrels, to be cleaned
"nrl stored, are clearly visible. On tIle 28
.\ 1r~y n77Jsion Condon had to abort i.IIJer
(;mnaIlY andflew back to Polebrook alone.
hl/m lift to nght: Robert {IV Condon [Pilot},
!'Jl/1Jh Isoardi [navigatOl}, Sgt Fennell [not
oil 28 May missioll], James Silver [gunneJj,
I.I/wrellce {IV J07IeS [gunner], Robert H.
(;nnster [co-pilotJ, Wilham Whitten
If,ombardierJ, umdentffied {tl.Ot on 28 May
lIIil.\i0l7J and Frank E. Petmcci [eJZgjneerj.
IRI/bert {IV CondonJ
THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU
feet. Now tl1at the bombs were dropped, we lowered the
power on tl1e eng"ines wh.ich re ulted in a low indicated
airspeed of 125 nwes per hour. It was going to be a long
slow trip to England.
"When trying to make it back from Germany alone, tl1e
standard operational procedure, was to hit tl1e deck and fly
at low-altitude, but with the stress on the remaining engines
one of tl1en1 might go at any minute, I decided to stay as high
up as we could and hope the friendly fighters had cleared me
corridor to tl1e North Sea. All eyes of tl1e nin -man crew were
looking out for fighters. While still in Germany, we spotted
one at three o'clock high, witl1 his nose pointed at our
aircraft. It looked like an Me 109.Just as he came into range
of our guns, he turned and flipped his wings, and we could
see it was a P-51 and were much rejjeved. A little later we saw
another aircraft at a distance, which was easy to spot - it was
a P-38. We were now getting close to tl1e accurate anti aircraft
batteries in northern Holland and with our altitude and
airspeed they would surely have a good shot at us. We had
seen them hit aircraft with a single initial shot, and a burst of
four 88 mm shells. We sacrificed time for additional altitude
when we reached tl1e Zuiderzee. We tl1en started our climb
out of range, making 360 degree turns. Our plan was to
make a zigzag dive to the Charu1el. At about 19,000 feet on
a west heading, we made our dash, diving at over
170 indicated airspeed and changing our heading 10 to 15
degrees every twenty seconds. We made it across the
Zuiderzee peninsula in a few minutes without incident; they
didn't even fire a shot at us. When we reached the Nortl1 Sea
we saw a P-51 tl1at gave us cover; doing a few barrel rolls for
us as we were botl1 on our way to England. The navigator
selected the nearest airfield and we landed safe and sound at
an RAF base. I checked in at base operations and called
Polebrook to report our status."5
Another B-17 from the High Group had to leave the
Wing before the target was reached. Only about 45 minutes
before tl1e assigned primary was reached, Lt Ivy L. Belote in
B-17G 42-97318, turned back to England. One engine was
feathered and, unlike Condon, he chose for a return on tl1e
deck. On the way out he was hit several times by anti-aircraft
fire but tl1e damaged plane was landed safely at Polebrook.
Here the engineering officer reported on the damage to the
aircraft: " umerous flak holes in underside of right
outboard wing panel and wing tip. Flak damage to
45
under ide of number 1 nacelle. Two .30 cal holes in
underside of right-hand wing panel near leading edge. Two
.30 cal holes in left side of fuselage under bombardier's
window. One 20 mm hole through rudder. Two flak holes in
left side of fuselage. One 20 mm hole in top of fuselage,
left and rear of top turret. Flak danlage to number 1 engine
and number three propeller. One flak hole in top of left
wing tip"6
1""0 crewmembers, navigator LtJames R. Lechner, and
top turret gunner Sgt: Earl H. Meyers were wounded and
admitted to Polebrook base hospital.
In aU, only 47 of the scheduled 54 B-17s remained in the
94th Combat Wing when the Initial Point was reached. The
main problem that had ar.isen with the fact that Major Hozier
had taken a position behind the 13th '~ Combat Wing, was
that this Wing and the ones following it were units of the
Third Air Division, which were scheduled to attack
Magdeburg. Hozier's Combat Wing had been the last of the
units sent out by the First Air Division and detailed to attack
Dessau. At the Fighter Command Headquarters, the available
escorting Fighter Groups had been assigned to the various Air
Divisions. The sudden change of place of the 94th Combat
Wlllg, into another Division's force, did not cause any
problems as long as aU bombers flew the same route in the
main bomber streanl. But trouble started when a point north
of Brunswick had been passed, and Major Hozier, the 94th
Combat Wing's Leader, had to turn for Dessau, and leave the
stream of bombers heading for Magdeburg. This left hirn
temporarily unescorted, since the assigned fighter escort to his
own Air Division flew nilies away.
The enemy soon recognized this opportunity on his
radar screen, and at 14.01 hours a radio transmission was
intercepted in England. The Jag[!fii.hrer, the German fighter
controller, was heard to caU his pilots and advise them to
attack in the Magdeburg area, preferably against the second
wave and not the first. This links with the fierce attacks,
both the Magdeburg-bound 13th '~ Combat Wing, and the
last Dessau-bound 94th Combat Wing (that of Hozier) were
about to endure.
The 56th Fighter Group had executed the 'Zemke-fan' as
briefed, its Fighter Squadrons fanning out in different
directions, well in advance of the bomber formations.
However, they did not have any success in locating German
fighters in the early stage of their assembling and returned
to Halesworth without contact. Now, somewhat later, the
assembling German fighters were spotted by the 355th,
352nd, and 363rd Fighter Groups, protecting the force
bound for Ruhland and Dessau.
Dogfights over Dessau
The 355th Fighter Group was led by Capt Carl C. Colson,
after Lt Col Claiborne H. Kinnard had aborted early in the
mission. Its 354th Squadron sighted more than 50 enemy
aircraft assembling in the vicinity of Wittenberg and
Juterbog at 20,000 feet, with a top cover of some 15 aircraft
at 32,000 feet, south of the bomber track and making a
wide orbit in front of the route. Although every pilot in the
Group was alert, some LI!fiweifft pilots managed to elude
them and suddenly bounced Blue Flight of the 354th
Fighter Squadron.
The German fighters were those of 6.(JG 11. One
Me 109 was piloted by Unten/fizier Rudolf Strosetzki, who
46
recalled: "I flew as number three in the flight of
RthnenjunkerFeldwebeL Willi Schorr, a very experienced pilot.
We flew as HolzaugenroLle, the aim of which was to protect the
flight leader and his wingman (UnterqJJizier Fischer) in the
opening phase of the attack, when the flight hadn't been
dispersed by combat. In other words, the HolzaugenmLle
remained at altitude and kept track of the attacking pair of
the flight, to warn them in time over the radio of any tlu-eat
from behind or to protect them by attacking the hostile
aircraft. During tlus llussion, we approached the intruding
enemy formations. Beneath us, a P-51 UIUt turned, as tlley
apparently had seen our contrails above them. Schorr used
our advantage in altitude and attacked the lower flying
P-51s, with his wingman, coming out of the sun. I remained
at altitude. The P-51 pilots recognized our intentions and
went into a defensive circle, in which the one can watch the
other's back. The attacker has, when he enters tlus circle, an
enemy aircraft in front of him, but also at the same time, one
in his back. Tlus now happened in this encounter. A P-51,
known to be able to make steep turns, was trying to
manoeuvre into a firing position. I couldn't get a wanung
over the radio to Schorr or Fischer, as our frequency was
heavily used in this phase of the combat. I decided to attack
from above on tlus Mustang, came into firing position and
fued short bursts with my MK 108 30 mm cannon on the
target, wluch was now flying just ill front of me. The
hits were visible in the tail, fuselage and cockpit. Parts of
the aircraft started to falloff. The Mustang I had hit, fell
away over Ius right wing and spun down uncontrollable. I
UnterrifUier Rudo!! Strosetzki if 6./]G JJ {centre} in a typicat LlfftwqfJe f)1Lot
ou!!it. He shot down a P-51 zn the Magdeburg area on 28 May. [Rudo!!
Strosehki]
MISSION 376
hdlllm/unker FeLdwebel Willi Schorr if
6/7G JJ, here piclured in the centre if this
\'t4/el line-uf) in November 1944, shot
down a P-5 J in the Magdeburg area on 28
'[ay. [Rudo!!Strosetzki]
couldn't observe it hitting the
~round, as I was engaged by
other Mustangs immediately
thereafter."?
His flight leader Willi Schorr
~ave this account of the action:
"After I recognized them as
enemy aircraft, I bounced the 12
Mustangs, from belund and out
of the sun. They were flying at
an altitude of 8,500 metres.
During the engagement I ended
up bellind the last Mustang and
fired on it at a distance of 50 to
100 metres, while executing a
right-hand turn. I then observed
hits on its right stabilizer, cockpit and fuselage. It then trailed the Jenies bounced us, eVel)bocly was warned. 'Fid' Barger
thick white smoke and spun down over its right hand side. I acknowledged that he had heard the wamzlzg by sayhzg 'Olwy, watch
last observed it, on fue, at about 6 to 7,000 metres. I couldn't 'em: A momellt later the section had broken to nght and ltJi zn order
see it crash, as I was engaged immediately tllereafter."8 to meet the Gemzans' attack, andfiom that time on, no one saw 'Fid'
The day's events were vividly and honestly recorded in or walt Chnstensell, who had beenflying hIS wing.'fJ
the 354tll Fighter Squadron's war diary: Leadillg Blue Flight of the 354th Fighter Squadron was
"Frankly, the lack if experience thmugJlOut the Group, no'w liLt Clarence R. Barger. He was already credited with six
mnsisting ifmanyj-esh pilots who yet have to become baLlle-wise, cost gTOund and a one-third air victory, and was flying in P-51B
/IS an oj)portunity to take some sort if sizeable toll if the enemy 43-6631. His wingman was 2/Lt Walter M. Christensen.
fiirrnations which were sighted. Lack if combat experience, plus a
weakening loss ifaircrc!fi through mechanical}ailure, hurt our chances
10 a velY gTeat extelzt. There were sixteen early returns in the Gmup,
due to mechanical djfficullies. Wing tanks would not release, or coolant
\huLler doon stuck, or coolant regulators}ailed to junction propel-Iy or
radio}azled. Lt Col Kinna7"d ~eading tlle 354th Squadron, bu t at
the same time the Group, author], his face rrjlecting his
disappointment, returned shortly [!fier take rff with a}aulty ignition.
.lim Austin took over command if the 35 4th Squadron. By the time
Ihe Squadmn had penetTated enelny territory the abortives had begun
10 weaken us. /iU; finally eIlded up with an eiglzt-j)lane section. /iU;
flicked uj) the bombers, all right, and Jim Aushn, as directed, took our
eightplanes over to the right side ifthefirmation. The Group somehow
became spz-ead out: the vel) poznt which Ll Col Kznnanl hacl warned
against. So, wlzell thz-ee gaggles ifenelnyfigJzters were obse17Jed in the
WiLLeIlberg-Juterbog area, there wasn't a helluva lot anyone could do
about knocking theln down. /iU; chased them away, which pmtected the
bombers, but the Jerries znade us look rather silly. Jim Austin spotted
.wmefifty enemy aircrcift to the nght ifthe bombers, making a wide port
orbit across the bomber track, in fiont if theln. He reported thel1Z to
Captain Colson [tlle new Group leader, author], a1ul thell took up
Ihe chase. Meanwhile Jimmy could see that thefifty Jerries hacl a toj)
(over if about fifteen or more 1095, circling up at 32,000 fiet. /iU;
were at about 26,000 fiet, and the fi.fly Jerries, Jim 5 section was
dzasing were at about the same level.
"Trying to keep an eye on the top COVel~ tryzng to catelz thefifty, and
trying to watch in other diz-ections, all with the knowledge that he was
unsupported, proved to be a trying eXj)enellce fir each pilot zn tlull JILt Clarence R. Barger h£ul a dose caLL btJore. A buLLet l'1l1ered his canojJY and
section. The toj) cover Germans weI-e at!!)" this hlne. They were sznarL. exploded. The al71wur plating behind IllS head saved his life that day. On 28 May
he was shot down by' a Gel71UlIlfighter near Magdeburg. His remains were never
They Sellt aflight ifdglzt down toward us, but broke into two units if recovered or positively identified and his name is recorded on the fITill/s if the
.lour each. One squad would bounce us, and thell the other, and with Missing on the Henri-Chaf)elle American Cemetery and Memoriat in Belgium.
their advantage ifaltitude tlZf!)/ weI-efaster than we were. Tlzefirst hlne aulillS] Moseley)
THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 47

Willt proud pilot Li Clarence Barger looking on, ground crew member Websler MC1\1umty Ptllills Ihe
sixth swastika on Barger's P-51. All six were groulld vic/ones, oblained winje slrafing enemy aiifields.
alllius J. Moseley]
Blue Three and Four were Lts Robert L. Harness and
Gilbcrt S. Wright respectively. Both Harness and Wright
managed to break away in time from the incoming LliftwCifft
lighters, calling over the radio to Barger and ChTistensen to
do the same. Although Barger apparently acknowledged the
warning, both he and Christensen were hot down in tile
bounce. Christensen crashed to his deatll in his P-51B
43-6983 at 14.15 hours at Buhlendorf, one kilometre north
of Zerbst. Christensen was buried on 29 May in tile Moritz
cemetery. According to German reports anotller Mustang
crashed '500 meters north of tile shooting
range of the airfield Zerbst.' Some mortal
remains of its pilot were found and buried
in the Ru sian cemetery in Zerbst. There is
a strong possibility tllat these were the
remains of Clarence Barger. However, after
tllC war Clarence Barger's remain were
never recovered or positively identwed and
his name is recorded on the Wall of Missing
at tile Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery
and Memorial in Belgium.* The other pilots
of tile 355t1l Fighter Group were unable to
intercept any German lighters in this
encounter, so they returned to Steeple
Morden, with no clainls to their credit. On
its way back home however, a flight of the
Group's 357t1l Fighter Squadron escorted a
• Two American fighler pilots have been Missing ln
Aeuon since 28 May: vVoodrow 'N. Anderson of
lhe 352nd Fighler Group and Clarence R. Barger of
me 355lh Fighter Group. Afler eXlensive research il
is the aLllhor's firm believe lhat Barger was the pilot
who crashed near Zerbst, close LO his wingman
WalLer Ch,;stensen.
48
2/Lt U0ller M. Chrislensen se11Jed wilh Ihe 3551h Fighler
GroupjOr less Ihan a month. 011 his elevmth combal mission, he
was shot down and ktiled ill adion near <erbsl. [R{ty Sheu!ftll,
35511t FG Assn]
straggling B-17G of tile 381st Bomb Group and managed to
shoot down two Bf 109s. as related in the previous chapter.
The 352nd Fighter Group, led by its Operations Officer,
M~or Stephen W. Andrew, was more successful. After take
off at 12.00 hours from Bodney, escort was started north of
Dummer Lake at 13.19 hours at 25.000 feet. Andrew
reported: "The bomber had a good formation within the
Wings, but tile five Wings of the Task Force were strung out
beyond the limit of visibility, so that only three of the five
Wings were visible at one time.
Major Stej)hell W AlIdrew relives his latest combat wilh I/Lt He1/1Y W While. Both scored a viclory on 28
May. Lt Garland Raybom is looking 011. Andrew wenl down on 2 JIlIy, Roybom on 11 Seplember and bolh
were captured. [Marc nameL/Sam Sox, 352nd FG Assn]
MISSION 376
'"Thc other two Squadrons of our Group became
('I1~aged at around 14.00 hours. At about 14.10 I took my
lIlladron [tile 486t1l, author] up to 30,000 fect to investigate
OIl1C thirty or forty contrails. My Red Leadcr turncd off to
!,ort and found some Me 109s among the contrails, but my
,oltlrails turned out to be P-47s. so I went down a bit and
Il'sllmed close escort on the bombers, during the time they
\\ LTC in the target area.
"Soon after the bombing my number three, Lt Colby,
I~htcd Me 109s attacking a box near us. There were about
L \'cn or eight Me 109s in front of this box and above. I
,hose them for attack. They approached us head-on and
hom about 200 feet above. I was careful to avoid a head-on
pass, but one of thcm did fire head on to Lt Colby. Lt Colby
s,lid that the Mc ] 09 had three chevTOns and hc thinks it is
the one I shot down a few seconds later. I made a harp 180-
<Ieg-rce turn to starboard and fell into a curve of pur uit on
,1 109 that was crossing my patll at 90 degrees, and which
was somewhat above me. I opened fire at about'300 yards U0odrow Anderson, T/lomas W Colby' and Ste/)hm W. Andrew pictured next 10
the 486tlt Fighter Squadron operations building al BodnC)'. All Ihree wouldfly Ihe
IItcr having fallen almost directly astern. My [u-st burst went mission rf 28 May, which was 10 be Anderson's final jligfll. [Marc Hamel/Sam
II ild as I over-deOected. I cea ed fire and started over again, Sox, 35211d FG Assn]
lhis time obtaining better results. There werc many strikes
OIl the port wing, tail and fuselage and pieces Oew off. I The Bluc Flight of the 486t11 Fightcr Squadron consisted
broke off when tile 109 fell into a violent right-hand spin. of only t1u-ee Mustangs, since one had aborted earlier.
\11' number two, Lt Karl said he saw the pilot bail out, but Leading the flight was Captai.n Woodrow W. Anderson, an
he did not opcn his parachute. The 109 trailed a lot of experienced pilot with tl1ree-and-a-half air and nine ground
sIl10ke when it fell. The above combat began at .about victories to lli credit. He was Oying in llis regular P-51B
iH.OOO feet and terminated at 21.000 feet. We clinlbed back 42-106635 Texas Bluebonnet. Blue Two was Lt Lester L.
lip to rejoin a box of bombers. but we set coursc for home Howell in Hot Stiffand Blue Three was Lt Edwin L. Heller
shortly tllereafter. when my number two reported engine in Hell-er-bust. Heller reported: "Captain Anderson was
lrouble. The entire Group had to withdraw at about tllis leading our Oight and we saw many contrail above the
lIme, as we were forced to drop tanks early."'o bombers. We clinlbed to meet them. At 30,000 feet they
The Bf 109 wa tile Andrew's eighth, and penultimate, came down at us from nine o'clock. There were three of us
.Ii.. victory. The chevTOns he is referring to in his rcport may and about 25 of them. It was inlpossible to stay together and
Idcntify a Gruppen!wmmandeur. As we will later see, tile Captain Anderson tagged on to one and hcaded down on
(;crman units involved in tl1.is dogfight did indeed loose llis tail willie I took another one on. By tllat time we were
some expcricnced veterans in tile fight. both in a fight and on our own. Lt Howell saw Captain
Lt Edwil/ L. Heller was jlyil/g P-51B 43-6704
Hell-er-BuSL ill Anderson's Blue jligllt. He
mallaged to shool down one Bf 109 during Ihe
I'-.JIB 42-106635 Tcxas Blucbonnel. The pielure shows Ihe dislillc/ive blue nose Ihal idenlffied the Muslaugs dogfig/ils 071 28 i\1ay and shared the deslmelion rf
IIflhe 352nd Fighler Grou!; and also Ihe map rf7l:xas outhe left side rflhe nose. [Marc Hamel/Sam Sox, 352nd (lI1olherwith I/Lt Jose/)h L. Lal/grfthe 41h Fighll7'
FG Assn] Grou!). [Edwin L. Helle!}
THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 49
 2/Lt Lester L. HoweLl.flew as willgman
to Cal}t /lttbodrow Anderson. He shot
down a BJ109 dun'ng the engagements
.for hisjirst air victory. Howell was shot
down and killed all 2 July. [Marc
HameL/Sam Sox, 352nd FC Assn]
Magdeburg, and who had
lost his own wingman during
the engagements, as will be
described in the Magdeburg
chapter.
Blue Two, Lester Howell,
now on his own in his Hol
Stzff: managed to shoot down
an Me 109. Its pilot bailed out
and was seen to open hi
parachute. Howell also joined
some 4th Fighter Group
aircraft and eventually
returned to Bodney witl1 the
328th Fighter Squadron of
the 352nd Fighter Group.
liLt John F. Thornell wa
leading this 328th Fighter
Anderson get many good hits on hi ship, before his Squadron in PalLy Ann II and reported: "At approxi.n1ately
attention was taken away by his own fight. I got on the tail 14.00 hours, about fifty-plus Me 109s came at us head-on,
of an Me 109 and we split-S'd toward the deck. I fmally got intent on attacking tl1e bombers at 25,000 feet. I called the
him right over Dessau at 20,000 feet, where he bailed out. I squadron to drop tl1eir tanks and proceed to attack the
never saw him open his chute. I was by myself and filially enemy aircraft. Our Squadron, with tl1e help of a few friendly
joined up with tlu-ee red-nosed P-51s witl1 Q?-markings. fighters dispersed the enemy. I picked out one that was
One of these and myself saw another Me 109 at the same tunling to get behind us. I followed him to 5,000 feet and
time, but he got there first, so I stayed back to cover him. He closed to 75 yards range before I opened fire. He burst into
got a few luts and overshot, so I came up and fmished llim flames and tl1e pilot bailed out. My flight was with me all
off. I had to break away to avoid a collision witl1 the P-51, during this air battle. We went back to 23,000 feet and
but I saw the 109 going down smoking at 3,000 feet. From resumed escort for a few nUnutes and then attacked two
Ius actions I know he could not pull out in tin1e."11 more Me 109s, which broke for the deck. I followed to
The red-nosed P-51 was piloted by lILt Joseph L. Lang 15,000 feet and then came horne with my flight."12
of the 4th Fighter Group, who had provided support to The fighter pilot combat reports clearly indicate the size of
the beleaguered first Fortress formation heading for tl1e enemy fighter formation and the confusion of tl1e dogfight
tl1at ensued. It is small wonder tl1at, when tl1ese
dogfights took place, other German fighters
were given an unobstructed approach to the
bombers, as will be recounted later.
Leading Yellow flight of tl1e 328th Fighter
Squadron was liLt Henry W. White in DaLlas
Darling: He reported: "I was leading Yellow
flight when we saw fifty-plus bandits
coming up the bomber track, in the area of
Magdeburg. A few would peel off and hit each
box of bombers. They were on tl1e far side
and above the bombers at about 30,000 feet
and we couldn't get to them, so we made a 180
degree climbing tum to catch them. They
outdistanced us, so I went back up the bomber
track. In the vicinity of Magdeburg I saw
many contrail high-crossing tl1e track of tl1e
bombers going west. I clin1bed Lip to their
level chasing them and identified tl1em as
Me 109s. W11en tl1ey saw us, some broke for
l/Lt John F TllOmelL rf the 328th Fighter Squadron had a succesfUl week. Afler shooting down two the deck and about half of them went into
Cennalljigllters on 27 May, lze shot down Olze on 28 May and anotlzer two 011 29 May. TllOmelL ended Lufberrys at different altitudes. I attacked tail-
tIle war as 0I1e rfthe Eighth Air Force's top-scoring aces. [Marc Hamel/Sam Sox, 352nd FC Assn] end charlie of the top Lufberry. He was
50 MISSION 376
l\IIning to the left until I bounced him,
thcn he turned right letting me get right
lip his tail. I pulled the trigger. Just as I
did. a P-51 came up between me and
the Me 109, so I broke off left to nUss
hUll. I ended up on the tail of an
hv 190. I gave him a deflection burst
hom about 200-300 yards, then closed
10 about 100 yards in trail. I gave him
lIlother burst, then broke to avoid an
.\lwck from an Me 109. I evaded tl1e
lc 109 and tried to get on tl1e tail of
the Fw 190 again. I closed on him from
Ibout 90 degrees in a left turn. His
plOp was windmilling an he was
practically standing still. I was going so
f;lst that I couldn't reef it hard enough
10 keep from over-shooting him. I
(hopped everytlung, pulled it in and up
10 slow down, so I could go back to
work on him. I saw him slowly
spiraling down as I pulled up. I also
saw an Me 109 on the tail of a P-51, so l/Lt Henry W White shot down hisjirst enemy aircrc!/i on of the aircraft had returned, both
I made a pass from about 90 degrees at 28 May, while leading Yellow.J1.ight rftlze 328th Fighter Howell and Heller became concerned
the Me 109. He broke off his attack on Squadron, [Marc Hamel/Sam Sox, 352nd FC Assn]
the P-51. I looked for tl1e Fw 190, but
didn't see any enemy aircraft any more; however I did see a
(hute drifting 10,000 feet below me. All this time there wer~
so many enemy planes about and events were happening so
fast I'm not sure tlus sequence of events is in order. It was
.Ibout a fifteen rninutes real old dog fight. After it was over,
I circled the area to get my flight together. My number three
,lIld four men were with me, number two being lost from the
flight. I had used so much gas tl1at I had to start home. On
the way out flak at Munster dispersed tl1e flight. I came
horne alone, not being able to fInd and reform the flight." 13
The Fw 190 was awarded as destroyed, for White's first
air victory.
The last pilot of tl1e 352nd Fighter Group to get a
confirmed kill was liLt Harry H. Barnes, who reported: "I
was flying White 2, and as the 487th Squadron Leader and
I pulled up from a
bounce, we saw three
enemy aircraft attack and
destroy a P-51 from dead
astern. We followed these
three down in a long dive
fi-om 25,000 feet and I
closed on the enemy
aircraft on the left.
Observing no hits while
firing at 600 yards, I fired
agam at 300 yards,
observing strikes on the
// Lt Hany H Bal7zes posing with
1'-51D 44-13619 Williams-
Villian. Bames was shot down on
/3 AugllSt, but escaped to ji-iendly
InTi/OIy. The alrenif! seen lzere was
Iwl a day earlier. [Marc
Hamel/Sam Sox, 352nd FC
A.lsn]
THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU
wing and canopy. The aircraft started
smoking and broke slightly to the right
and I closed up to 150 yards and fired
a burst causing the fuselage and tail to
explode and the ship to fall apart. This
was at 15,000 feet. I then followed the
other two Me 109s down to tl1e deck
into a smoke screen west of Leipzig
and fired at one from 300 yards, 30
degree deflection, getting hits on tl1e
wing root and observing smoke
coming out of tl1e left wi.ng radiator. I
broke off and 10 t sight of him, as his
wingman started to break into me and
I turned into him. I was alone at tlus
ti.me, so after turning into tllis enemy
aircraft, I headed out and rejoined
White Leader above tl1e smoke." 14
Elated, the Group's pilots landed at
around 16.50 hours, claiming to have
shot down seven-and-a-half German
fighters in air combat. But, when most
about their flight leader, Woodrow W.
Anderson, whom they had last seen in
combat over Dessau. Harry Barnes, after clail1ung his
Me 109 destroyed, tl1en also reported about a P-51 he had
seen shot down by tl1e Bf 109s: "We saw a P-51 flying
straight and level at 20,000 feet. Thi was ju t west of Leipzig
at approxi.n1ately 14.10 hours. Suddenly tlnee Me 109s
pulled up bellind the P-51 in a line astern. The leader of tlus
formation fired a short burst at the P-51 and hit llim on tl1e
fuselage and canopy. The Mustang started to smoke and fell
into a steep dive to the right. Pieces were flying from the
plane and we feel sure tl1at we saw tl1e pilot in a free fall. We
are also quite certain tl1at tllis P-51 was from the 352nd
Fighter Group, because it appeared to have a blue nose
sinlilar to the design used on the ships of tllis Group." 15
The only pilot of tl1e 352nd Fighter Group who did not
return to Bodney was Woodrow Anderson, and it was
51
 feared Barnes had witnessed his The 363rd Fighter Group was to have bailing out. I jettisoned my canopy and
being shot down. When dusk fell, Its biggest single-day score during its attempted to roll over and push out of
Anderson was officially reported l'lltire war service. Leading White flight the cockpit. I was unsuccessful and on
Missing In Action. Edwin Heller ill the 380th Fighter Squadron was liLt my third attempt I finally got out. I
and Lester Howell, the two other Morton A. Kammerlohr, who reported: made a delayed fall until I saw the
pilots in his flight submitted a claim ':/ust after rendezvous with FOrls, I saw a horizon going above me, then pulled the
for a German fighter destroyed gaggle of hundred-plus Me 109s, Fw rip cord, since I was falling through a
for him, which was eventually 190s and Me 410s in a tight box major dog fight. I landed in a cleared
awarded by the victory credit lormation, firing from 6 o'clock and at field with no chance to get to any cover.
board. This brought Anderson's our level of 26,000 feet, approximately Before I was captured, I saw an Me 109
total of air victories at the time of :150 yards away. I called for Hassock crash and another one go overhead,
his death to four-and-a-half, in White flight to break left and down; at badly smoking. I was escorted by two
addition to nine gTOLl11d victories. this time I heard Lt Clemovitz say Home Guardsmen, taken behind a wall
It is highly probable that .Kmmny, I'm hil, I'm going to bail ouL.' I saw in a small town and earched."18
Anderson was shot down by Lt Clemovitz at 24,000 feet going down, Clemovitz had landed 111

LeutnanL Hans Fritz, piloting a trailing white smoke in a 45 degree angle Eichenbarleben, about 12 kilometres
Bf 109G of 3.(JG 3, who reported: dive at 5 o'clock to a gaggle of enemy west of Magdeburg and Little Joe came
"I took off at 13.15 hours from the aircraft. This occurred at approxin1ately down 111 Schackensleben, three
airfield Burg near Magdeburg. At I LIS hours."l? kilometres further to the north. He was
Feodor Clemovitz if the 363rd Fighter Crou/l,
14.00 hours and flying at about 2/Lt Feodor Clemovitz, flying in his 380/17 Fighter Squadron /losing illftont if P-51, shot down by Feldwebel Horst PetzscWer
28,000 feet, we saw the enemy with 1'51 C 42-103004 LillLe Joe, recalled 42-103004, LiltleJoe, ill which he was shot down of 4.(JG 3, who recalls: "I came from
about 300 Fortresses and Mustang O1p/ain IiVoodrow W Andmon was leadlilg Blueflzght if Four /Jllots if the 363rd Fighter Croup dW1ng training ill events: "Almost immediately we on 28 Ma)'. [Feodor Clemovitz} Russia, with 126 fighter bomber
and Lightning fighter cover. We the 486th Fighter Squadron in Texas Bluebonnel. He the United Stales. From lifi to rig/It: Charles R. Reddig, encountered a box formation of German missions flown on Fw 190s - so some
obtained his}inal air victOly, bnilfing his total /ofOur-and-a- Feodor Clemovitz, Morton A. Kammer/ohr and James E.
immediately started a dog fight hal/air and nine ground victones, bifOre he was shot d(fUJn. Hill. On 28 May both Hdl and Kammer/ohr scored a .tircraft flying 180 degrees to our flight path in what you experience was there when building up new St4ftln for the
with the Mustangs, above the He is slllilis/ed as misslilg in action and his name is recorded victory, while Clemovitz was shot down and marie prisoner might call a parade formation, slightly above and to the left Defence of the Reich. We were the 4th St4ft/; OberleuLnant
Fortresses. To the right of our unit, on the walls if the Missing a/ the Hem1-Cha/xlle American if war. {James E. Hill} of our flight path. We immediately dropped our wing tarLks, Bohatsch was our SI4ftlkapitan. Our SL4ft1 with the Me 109s
which became split up in individual Cemelel)' and Memoriat in Belgium. [TllOm£lS W 01/01 broke left and gave chase. After we levelled off on our l:hase was the high-altitude protection (Hohenscll1il7.) for the GrujJjJe.
combats, flew SiX Mustangs. run, we could see another box formation approaching us at They attacked the bomber boxes first and we were supposed
Another eight Mustangs attacked us from behind and above. as 'unknown'. The name of Woodrow Anderson is recorded ,[ lower altitude. This formation, as was the previous one, to go in after them, but got mostly engaged before that.
I then fired from about 100 yards at a Mustang which on the Wall of Missing at the Hemi-Chapelle Anlerican was made up of Me 109s, Fw 190s and Me 410s, about Higher flying P-51s did get on our tail , they flew ISO-octane
crossed in front of me at a 90 degree angle. Immediately, Cemetery and Memorial* hundred in all. As we approached, I made ready to start and reached about 32,000 feet, while our engines were
parts of the right wing flew off and the canopy was jettisoned. The other Fighter Group scheduled for target escort, liring. Suddenly, my aircraft was hit in front, apparently by finished in 30,000 feet, no more power. When my wingman,
The Mustang flew faltering on and a short time later the pilot was the 363rd Fighter Group, a Ninth Air Force Mustang- an exploding 20 mm shell in the coolant tank. The coolant UnLerofjizier Hans Herdy, twenty-years old and just out of
jumped out of it, using his parachute. This happened at 14.17 equipped unit. It departed Staplehurst at 11.49 hours, led enveloped the plane in a white cloud. As I could not bail out flying school, screamed 'Mustangs from above and behind',
hours southeast of Aschersleben. I had another fight, with by 382nd Fighter Squadron Commanding Officer, Major until I cleared the enemy formation, I conunenced firing
Lightnings this time, however couldn't score and had to land Robert C. McWherter. They made rendezvous near Celle until I was past the formation. I could not see if I hit any of * Clemovilz' unil, the 380th Fighter Squadron of the 363rd Fighter Group,
at 14.55 hours due to lack of fuel at the airfield in Halle. 10 at 13.36 hours. Three of its 50 Mustangs had aborted, the enemy aircraft because of the spraying coolant. I called carried a blue propeller spinner and a blue band around the nose of its
shoot down the Mustang I used twenty 20 nun cannon shells and the Group had already lost Anthony E. Ladas in the 1.t Kanunerlohr, told him my plane was hit and that I was P-51s.
and sixty 13 mm rounds." 16 collision with the Thunderbolt of Captain Alvin M.
German records show that the wreck of a Mustang was Juchheim, of the 78th Fighter Group, as covered in the
found near Aschersleben, 17 kilometres east of Qyedlinburg. Ruhland chapter.
However, despite the statements
by Barnes who saw the pilot in a
free fall and Fritz who saw him
jump out using his parachute,
some mortal remains of the pilot
were recovered from this burned
out wreckage. These could not
be identified and were interred

* 1""0 American fighter pilots have 1

been Miss,ng In AeLion since 28
May, 1944: Woodrow W. Anderson
of the 352nd Fighter Group and
Clarence R. Billoger of the 355th
Fighter Group. It is the author's fim1
believe lhat Anderson was the pilol
who crashed near Aschersleben.
Barger was then the pilot who went /
down near the airfield in Zerbst,
close to his wingman Walter ~
Christensen who eillne down in l~'ldwebel Horst Fe/zschter if 4./JC 3flew top cover Anoth{'/' Cemwll /lllot akso took part in the action if 28 May - Oscar Boesch, seen here with his Fw 190,
Buhlendorf, 1 kilometer north of Mlljor Robert C. McWherter led the 363rd Fig/Iter Croll/l in action and shot down a Bj'109. He is poslng with his /,ir his Cm/l/x. DIII1'ng combat In the Dessau area, Schwarze J 4 in August 1944. Hors/ Petzcheler kept Boesch's tait clear as he attacked the bombers. [Horst
Zerbsl. P-51D 44-13380 Hoo Flung Dung. [Sieve Blake/Edward T. Pawlak} /11' S/IO/ down Feodor Clemovitz if the 363nl FC. Fe/zschter}

52 MISSION 376 THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 53

21Lt Curry P WiLson 9/the 363rdFzghter Group, 382nd
Fig/tter Squadron. [Edward 7. Pawlak}

liLt Gordon 7. Mc.Eachron and his P-51 Beachcomber

II. HeJlew this aircrrifi on 28 May when he shot down a
Bj"109 and eamed a DFCjor his actions tlUlI day. He later
lran.gerred 10 the 3541h Fighter Croup and was shol down
and made Prisoner 9/ UUr on 1 December. [Cordon 7.
Mc.Eachron}

/lJove lifi: 28 May was the highlight in the career 9/ liLt Edwin.E. 1i&nce 9/the 363rd Fighter G1'OUp. He
,<'tiS able to obtain two victones bifrJre his death during a dive-bombing mission on 11 June. Both were scored
(/n 28 May, when he destroyed two Bj" 109s and damaged a third. [Steve Blake)
/lJove right: liLt John Robertson 9/the 363rd Fighler G1'OujJ shot down a Bj"109. [Edward 7. Pawlak}
/Oi/l' nght: 21Lt Donald W Ray 9/lhe 363rd Fighter Graul; scored his one and only air victmy on 28 May.
I'" Ilccountedjor an FlO 190 in the Dessau-Magcleburg area. [Ric/lard Ray}

this day's actions. His citation reads, in part: "Lt McEachron went home. Suddenly black smoke began pouring from the
was leading a flight on a bomber escort mission when he plane and it caught on fire. The enemy pilot bailed out."21
spotted a large number of enemy aircraft overhead. He It is possible tllat me Me 410 mat McEachron hit belonged
Magdeburg, he was still in tlle dive with what immediately ordered me flight to drop tlleir wing tanks and to 4. Stq/fil of Zerstiirergeschwader 26. This unit had taken ofT
appeared to be coolant coming out of his air made a sharp turn to me left. By me time the flight had from Konigsberg and when it returned mere after me battle,
scoop. I dove down from 26,000 to 15,000 feet completed tlle turn, tlle enemy aircraft could no longer be two of its aircraft had to belly-land due to battle danlage. The
to try and pick up Lt Wilson, but was unable to seen. Suddenly a break was called, and as Lt McEachron radio-operator on one of mese aircraft, UnterrfJi:J.ier Johann
find him."2o turned, he saw more than 100 enemy planes approaching Kubetzki., was found to be dead upon return at Konigsberg.
Curry Wilson's Mustang crashed around from the rear. Intercepting a group of Me 109s just as tlley Lt Schmidt Jr. wa flying as wingman for Major Robert
14.30 hours on the eastern side of Bennstedt, a were pressing their attack on me bombers, Lt McEachron McWherter and he remembers witnessing McWherler'
we were attacked. I did not attack anybody, and Herdy went village eight kilometres west of Halle and Wilson himself picked a target, closed to about 300 yards, and fired a long first kill in me European Theatre: "McWherter spotted an
straight down. A blue-nosed P-51 * apparently overshot me was captured, slightly wounded around the same time. burst. Strikes were noted along me fuselage and wing, and Me 109 slightly below us and in we went. I was sticking to
at high speed and I gave him a good burst of 30 mm But for the loss of Clemovitz and Wilson me 363rd the enemy aircraft rolled over and split-S'd wim dense black his wing like glue as he manoeuvred for position. 10 ing
MK 108, plus everytlling from my two 13 mm machine Fighter Group claimed no fewer man 16 enemy aircraft smoke pouring from tlle engine. Suddenly an Me 410 rapidly and now dead astern of tlle Me 109, Mac let him
guns. He showed a glycol streak, very heavy and went down. destroyed, one probably destroyed and five damaged. It is appeared just in front of him. As me enemy turned, Lt have it. The plane began coming apart and as we flew
I could only report a 'probable', norm-west of Magdeburg. At very unfortunate mat most pilot encounter reports for the McEachron ulrned wim him and fired a long burst. Strikes through me pieces, meJeny bailed out and I believe he was
me same time, anomer P-51 gave me a good hit in my left 363rd Fighter Group have not survived in an archive or were observed along the fuselage of the enemy plane. hit by Mac's prop."22
wing. I lost one tl1.ird of it and did go into a flat spin, soon private collection. Only a few accounts of their engagements Togetller wim his wingman, Lt McEachron went after tlle After return to England and careful study of the available
recovered, but spun me omer way. Recovering several have survived. Lt Gordon McEachron of the 380th Fighter main group of enemy aircraft which were ahead. Anotller gun camera films, tlle pilots of the 363rd Fighter Group were
mousand feet lower I realised mat my Me 109 was no longer Squadron, was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for target, an Me 109, came into view. Lt McEachron chased in awarded 12 enemy fighters destroyed in air combat.
controllable. Prepared to bail out, I did so when reaching me on the enemy fighter and began firing from 500 yards. In addition to that, tlle flight led by lILtJohn R. Brown
height of our balloon barrages over tlle Elbe ship locks near Pieces of tlle plane began to fly off as round after round had strafed a German airfield near Frankfurt on its way back
Rothensee/Magdeburg at 1,600 metres. I got out of my
crippled Schwane 14 and hit me silk! Shortly later I landed
safe and unhurt near tlle wreckage of a downed B-17. Met
some of tlle crew of me shattered plane, who came later witll
me to our base at Burg. They were treated well in our mess
hall and next day went to Frankfurt for interrogation. I got a
new Schwane 14 me same night, to be ready for tlle next day.
Lucky enough, after 14 action-packed missions over
Germany, my unit in me East requested me back due to me
heavy losses mey had inJG 51."19
Another Mustang of the 363rd Fighter Group was shot
down by enemy fighters. This was P-51B 42-106481 piloted
by 2/Lt Curry P. Wilson. Upon his return to Staplehurst
2/Lt Jack A. Warner reported: "I was number 3 man of
White flight in Sunshade squadron [382nd Fighter Squadron
author]. Lt Wilson was White number 4 flying my wing. At
about 14.10 hours I looked around and saw an Me 109 on
Lt Wilson's tail. I called him on me rlt to break, and at me
same time I broke into me Me 109 and chased him off Lt
Wilson's tail. Lt Wilson never broke but went into a slight liLt Gordon 7. McEacllron receives the DFCjorhis actiollS on 28 May. [Gordon 21Lt James.E. Hill shot down an FlO 190jor thefirst 9/two air VIctories. He was liLt Burl L. Wzlllcl1ns 9/th.e 363ntFighter Croup shot down an FlO 190. [Steve
dive and the last I saw of him at 14.15 hours soum of 7. Mc.Eachron} made Pnsmler 9/ /1iar on 14 June. [James .E. Hill} BILlke}

54 MISSION 376 THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 55

 The }lig/lt if the 363rd Fig/Iter Croup
with liLt John R. Brown in Big Mac
Junior and liLt James H Clark ~efl) in
The Mighty Midget strcifed an airfield
in the Franlifilrl area. Brown destro)'ed an
He 111, damaged a Ju 52 and tllree
unidentjfzed planes. Clark destroyed three
Ju 8& and an He 111, damaging
another He 111. [Steve Blake]

P-51B 42-106647Big MacJunior, if

the 363rd FC, 382nd FS, 9th Air
Force, )Onns a luunry beukdroll)Or Ililot
liLt John R. Brown and his ground
crew at Staplehl/nt, England.

/lritist gunner Hany M. Norris and ball tnrret

to England. This flight had lost Anthony Ladas in a
collision early in the mission. The three remaining
pilots, Brown, LtJames H. Clark and Lt Robert E.
Proctor, gave the airfield a good beat up. Brown
destroyed an He 111 and danlaged aJu 52 and two
unidentified twin-engined aircraft, Clark destroyed
an He III and three J 1.1 88s and damaged another
He 111 and Proctor damaged a Fw 190 and a
training aircraft.
The German units involved in the air action
were probably JG 3, JG 5 and JG 27.
Jagdgeschwader 27 was hit especially hard, with
no fewer than six pilots killed in action. Most
painful for the Lziftwqffi was the loss of its
experienced unit leaders. JG 27 lost two
Stqffilkapitiine on 28 May. OberleutnantJosefJansen,
commanding l.aG 27 was badly wounded in
action and succumbed to his wounds on the 31st.
And Oberleutnant Eberhard Bock, Stqffilkapitiin of 5.aG 27,
was killed when his Bf 109 crashed after a dogfight near
Helmstedt. Losing experienced pilots like these quickly
eroded the combat effectiveness of the Lziftwqffi.
/lIlot. KiA], William]. Condon {iJilot, KIA], Laddie
(Immbarrhel; POW]. [William H Morris]
From the Initial Point to the Target
It was not enough. Despite the efforts of the available fighter
escort, it did not prevent large groups o[ German fighters of
all types from reaching the bomber [ormation, and
.Junkers plant in Dessau, Germany. We flew
Jill" 9/lieerJ ifthe crew ifB-17G 42-31757 ifthe 351st Bomb Group. From &flto right: Jose/lh P KiJlceski [co-
J. Zindar {7I£lVigatOl; KIA] and Edwin S Onken
especially the exposed 94th Combat Wing. Due to the
lierceness of the battle, and the mass of the attacks, it is
simply impossible to establjsh an exact sequence of events.
'1<>0 much was happening at once in limited air space. .Based
Oil extensive research tlus autllor has made tlle best possible
reconstruction. 2/Lt Walter F. Creigh, at the tail guns of
Geraldine, the Wing's Lead aircraft recalls: "As our formation
.lpproached its Initial Point near Magdeburg the intercom
came abve witll 'Bandits...Bandits...' vVe were being attacked
by large formations of German single- and twin-engined
lighters. They lut us in three waves. The intercom was filled
with frantic and excited chatter. Each crew station calling out
directions of inconung fighters and about luts on ships in
our own Group; also desperate calls to iliose in ships going
down to bail out. Of course they could not hear!,,23
One of the first hit in ilie 351st Bomb Group formation,
was the number five aircraft in its Low Squadron. B-17G
12-31757 was piloted by 2/Lts William J , - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ,
Condon and Joseph P. Kokeski. Radio-
operator William H. Morris recalls events:
"After flying several missions, we became
aware that it was pretty rough staying alive, as
the air war was at its peak at this time. On 28
May, we took off with our Group to bomb the
with several other Groups for a while and then
separated from tllem, for their pllssion was to
bomb Berlin [Magdeburg, author]. As we
approached the Irutial Point we encountered
severe flak, and then the fighter planes came at
liS in tlleir usual attack position, head-on from
gunner Charles C. Jenkins. Neither if them
survived theirjight with the L1!ftwe!.lfe. [Lawrellce
Krfoed]
forearm by a machine gun slug from an enemy fighter, and
it shattered bOtll bones in my arm.,,24
Wounded around the same time was tlle waist gunner,
Sgt Harry M. Norris, who received head wounds. Norris, on
his very first combat mission, became frantic. He took off his
own oxygen mask, and ran towards tlle radio-room, possibly
for tlle purpose of just letting somebody check his wounds.
Unfortunately, the crew flew wim only one waist gunner, so
Norris did not have anyone near him to help him. ow, he
stumbled towards the nearest crewmember, William Morri
in me radio-room. However, me lack of oxygen and pas ibly
ilie head wound, caused Norris to fall into tlle electrically-
operated gear train of the ball turret, which was in full
operation at this time. He subsequently was caught in the
rotating gear and died instantly. Still in his radio-room,
Morris looked for help and opened the doors to the bomb
bay: "I looked to the front of the aircraft and saw ilie wind-

the soutll. On the first pass they shot out our

OberLeutnant JosifJall.sen, the expenenced Stc!.lfelkafJlliin if l.1]C 27. He was
badry wounded in action on 28 iV1ay and succumbed to his wounc!J on 31 iV1ay.
[Ab A. JanJen]
Ilumber four engine. We lost power and had to
[all out o[ formation, unable to keep up with
the rest of the Wing. In order to lighten tlle
load, we had to drop our bombs. Flying on our The enlisted men if the crew ifB17G 42-31757 ifthe 351st Bomb Croup. Back row iifi to right:
own, they singled Lis out and fired on us from Han)' M. NOrris [waist gunner, KJA], Lawrence Krfoed [waist f51lllllel; not 011 28 May missioll],
Ober[eldwebel E1-ich Klein if 3.1JC 5 was shot down by a P-51 south if Charles G. Jellk1llS [ball lumt f51lllner, KIA). Front row liji to right: William H Morris (i-adio-
every position. We were all busy firing back operatol; POW], John]. Jackson [tail gunner, PO/lVj, JUI1lIy O. Jackson [engineez; KIA). [William
Salzwedel. A .50 calibre machine gun Immd hit his right kllee and Klein bailed
oul. Later his right leg hew to be am/lulated. [Eric Mombeek]
[rom every position when I was hit in the right H Morris]

56 MISSION 376 THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 57

 the plane and shattered the Battery of 567 Flak Abteilung near Ji.itrichau. Just
plexiglas nose to bits, and the like Vecchione, ilie rest of ilie crew was captured
air stream sucked him out. He sooner or later and spent ilie rest of war in prison
was tangled in his chute string canlps. Their bomber canle down near Westdorf,
and came down head first, three kilometres souili of Aschersleben. It is
landing in a flak gun position. possible iliat iliey were attacked by Unterrffizier
The German oldiers took him Fritz Ruden, in a Bf 109G-6 of l.aG 27. who
to a hospital, where he was reported: "After take-off at 12.55 hours, I was
found to have sixty-eight flyirIg number two to Feldwebel Rohr. During ilie
shrapnel and bullet wounds in engagement Witll a Fortress II formation near
his body. That was the place Magdeburg, I attacked a Boeing from behirId. It
where I saw him and believed flew to ilie left of ilie formation, and I shot boili his
he was bleeding to death. right engines on fu'e. Then ilie enemy aircraft dove
eedless to say, I wa thrilled to away to ilie left, from ilie formation. I could not
see that he did survive." watch any further, because I pulled up for aIlother
But, only three of the nine attack. From my new position I couldn't see tlle
crewmembers survived. The six Boeing any more and attacked anoilier.',26
others killed were all but one on Another pilot in tlle German formation backed
their fourth operational bombing up tlle claim from Rudert. this was Unterqffuier
mission, and Norris was only on nil' crnv qfB-17G 42-97191 Silver Ball of the 351st Bomb Group. Back row lifi to ng!lt: Hilbman, who stated: "After tlle fir t attack from
rhe cm<J qfB-17G 42-97472 qfthe 351Jt Bomb Group. Bad row leji to right: William H. Baird (bombardier), Charles 71/mes D. McCalln {r(ulio-operator, POW}, J. Adams [not on 28 May mission}, Frank AVlY
F Alu!ason (pilot), Robert L. McFetridge (copilot) and Robert E. Ryan (llLlvigator). Front row leji to right: George P
his fu'st. Their bomber crashed behind on a Fortress formation I saw a Boeing
{mgineer, POW}, Isidor P Kaplowitz [ball turret gunner, KIA}, Carl F Miller UJdot, KIA}. Front
Nitzberg (ball turret gUllner), Guseino P Lostocco (I'adio-operator, not 011 28 May mission, KIA on 19 July), Uidter R. at 14.19 hours at Waldau, on the 1011' lifi to nght: Maunce G. Fikes {copilot, POW}, Ant/IOny J. Buslztow [nght waist gunneT,
flying to tlle left in front. dive away to ilie left from
ubora (right waist gUllller, not on 28 May missioll, POW 0/1 14 ]lIne), Edward E. VGnHom (tail glll111e1) ami Neal W outskirts of Bernburg. l'OW}, Albert L. Lien [/ifi waist gunner, POW} and George A. tcifJOrd [tail gunner, POW}. tlle formation. The right engines were afire."27
Williams (e11gineer). All 011 board 011 28 May were made Prisoners of UiLr. [UiLlter R. Subora} Flying on the left wing of Lt {Mrs. George A. StcifJOrd} Ruden was awarded a Herausscllllss, a successful
Condon's crew, in the number attack resulting irI a bomber havirIg to leave its
shield was shattered and that boili pilots and engineer, six position of the Low Squadron, was the crew ofLt Charles a fragment of tllis shell hit ilie waist gunner in ilie chest (we protective formation. Anoilier 351st Bomb Group B-17 was
S/SgtJunny O.Jackson, were dead. I assisted the ball turret F. Anderson. They had taken off as a spare. but had taken were flying witll a nine men crew, I had taken place on tlle hit. It was B-17G 42-97191, nicknaIued Silver Ball, which was
gulmer, Sgt Charles G. Jenkins, out of ilie ball turret and over the po ition of Lt Taylor, when his B-17 malfunctioned. other wai t gun). knocked him down, stunned him. but it flying in tlle number six position irI ilie High Squadron. The
snapped his parachute on him. He seemed a tllough in a The crew belonged to the SlOth Bomb Squadron, their did not penetrate his flak suit (his is ilie only face I plaIle had flown 16 previous missions, but ilie crew of 2/Lt
daze and sat on tlle radio table, po sibly from lack of mount for the mission, B-17G 42-97472 was from the 5Uth remember, I can picture this in my mind as if yesterday). We Carl F. Miller was already on around it twentieili. The
oxygen. The tail gunner, Sgt John J- Jackson, and I Bomb Squadron'S stable of aircraft. Radio-operator on this helped each oilier wiili our parachutes and, at the pilot's exception was substitute navigator liLt Ru sell A. Brown.
jettisoned ilie waist escape door. That's all I remember ince crew was Sicilian-born S/Sgt Casper Vecchione, who order, bailed out. I had always been, and still aIU, terrified of He had flown 35 combat missions from Foggia, Italy aIld
I passed out from lack of oxygen. When I regained recalled: "Fighters were attacking, and occasionally we were ~reat heights aIld when I looked down iliere was such a now was on his fifteenili mission wiili ilie Group from
consciousness. I was very confused and in shock, but very hit by the explosive 20 rruu shells the fighters were firing at bluish haze. iliat I really didn't have a sense of height. as Polebrook. He had been traIlsferred to EnglaIld at his own
relieved to find my parachute had opened by itself. The rip us, because when one hit or hit close by, I remember little when ground object aI'e easily discernible. request, together witll his original co-
cord had been shot away while it was lying on the floor holes suddenly appearing in the walls of the plane. Just And, feaI'irIg ilie feeling of falling, and witll pilot, Frartk J- Hoder. Brown recalls:
prior to snapping it on, and the parachute itself had eight before the pilot said sometlling about iliree engines out the absolutely crazy tllought tllat if ilie "On approach to the target we were
hole in it. There were flghter planes all around me, dog- (numbers twO, three and four, leaving number one on tlle chute didn't open I might reach up and grab attacked by three waves of Me 109s,
fighting. I saw one P-51 fighter strafe a flak position in a extreme left the only one rulming) a shell hit ilie plane and the plane again, I jumped out and Fw 190s and Me 210s, wiili twenty to
straight, vertical dive from which he never pulled out. I saw immediately puUed ilie ripcord. It took a twenty-five aircraft in each wave. The
his crash and flanles shoot all around the area. I think the long, long time to hit ilie ground. On ilie Fw 190s in four to six aircraft in wee
town I landed in was Bernburg.' way down I felt a very sharp pain in my waves. I remember iliat, altllough tlle
Morris indeed canle dOW1l in Bernburg, close to Dessau, right ear and when I hit ilie ground ilie day had bright sunshine at 22,000 feet,
where he was captured and admitted to a hospital for wind had me swinging forwards and the air turned to a smoky grey, I
treatment of his wounded arm. It was here iliat he saw the backward, and I landed going backwards supposed because of ilie aIuount of
crews' bombardier, Lt Edward S. Onken, bleeding badly. on a high mounded row of dirt. I felt a gunsmoke each air force was dispellirIg
Since Morris believed Onken was bleeding to deaili, he sharp pain irI my back aIld I remember I in the defence of ilieir cause."28
offered a blood transfusion, which was declined by tlle had dry heaves - iliat is like vomitting, but When ilver Ball was raked wiili
German medics. saying 'oo.they didn't care whether with nothing coming out. I was quite gunfire, the oxygen lines were
ADlerican pigs and Chicago gangster died or not.' After his groggy. so, after kicking me, spitting on me destroyed and tlle ball turret gunner
wounds were dressed, Morris followed the normal and yelling at me, tlle Germans who had was mortally wounded. S/Sgt Isidor
procedure of being sent to Dulag Lift and tllen to Stalag Lift been waiting for me, pulled me up to my P. Kaplowitz hadlefL his ball turret to
IV, at Kieflleide near tlle Baltic Sea. feet and one of the iliree oldiers reached replace his used oxygen bottle for a
He continues his story: "I found out sometime in behind him, pulled what looked like a small new one of the low pressure type, and
October 1944 that SgtJohnJ-Jackson was in tlle same camp handgun, pressed it to my forehead and at the moment he was re-entering his
as 1. I did not know the fate of ilie rest of tlle crew until I was yelled at me at ilie top of hi voice, I noticed turret, a 20mm shell exploded ilie full
liberated and was at Camj] Lucky Stn·k.e in France. It was here about 100 feet from me tllere was a cabin oxygen bottle which killed him
that I found our bombardier again. He told me that tlle with a flat roof, on this roof tllere was a big in tantly. His body lay half in and half
navigator, Lt Laddie J- Zindar, had taken a direct hit from a
S/Sgt Casper VecchiO/Ie, tlze radio-operator on B-17G, 42-97472, qfthe 351Jt
tripod with a huge pair of field glasses about S/Sgt George A. StajJOrd, tad gunner of B-l7G out of his turret. Several other
42-97191 Silver Ball of the 351st Bomb Group,
20 mm CaImon shell and was blocking Lt Onken's e cape Bomb Group. in the open radio hatch qfa B-17 qf tlze 510tlz Bomb Squadron, twenty-four irIches 10ng," 25 standing next to the tool.s of his trade. He was shot
crewmembers were slightly wounded.
route. He said all he could do was sit and pray to God for showing tlze re/uutable machine gun tllLlt was operated by tlze radio-operator. Vecchione had landed i.n ilie immediate down iu this aircrr.ift on 28 A1ay and was made a When a fire broke out iliat could not
help. Suddenly, an Fw 190 fighter plaIle fu'ed at ilie nose of [Casper Vecchione} vicinity of a German flak unit, tlle 1st Prisoner of Ufu'. [Mrs. George A. Staffird} be extinguished, Miller rang ilie bail-

58 THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 59

MISSION 376

.... -
The crew ofB-l7G 42-39987 Pin Ball ofthe 351st Bomb Group. Back row, ttji. to rig!JL: Robert E.L. Probasco [pilot, POW}, StejJhen B. Lewellyn [co-pilot, POW},
Bruno Branch [bombardil:!; POW}, Donald B. Rude [navigatOl; not on 28 May mission). Front row lift to right: Hennan T. Ulreich [engineel; POW}, Edward]
Frankowski {1-iglzt waist g"nner, POW}, Arlie W Moore [rcl£/io-ojJeratOl; KIA}, NOJ7nCl1/ W Ringst7llC)'er [balltlllTe! gWlJIel; KiA}, Raymond G. Seal7u.1Il [itji. waist
gunnel; KIA} and Jcanes D. Single/on [tail gunnel; KlA). [Bruno Branch}
out bell. All the crew, except Kaplowitz, safely cleared the
aircraft. When co-pilot 2/Lt Maurice G. Fikes left, Miller
was alone in the cockpit, where things seemed to be under
control at that moment. However, he did not survive. The
other crewmembers believe that he took the full respon-
sibility of being a pilot and aircrew commander, and tllat he
went back through the aircraft to make sure everyone else
was out. Germans later told captured crewmembers that
one body was found in the crashed bomber and another
several hundred feet from it, with an only partially opened
parachute.
Apparently Lt Miller took too much time in the aircraft,
and bailed out too low to safely open his chute. Russell
Brown picks up the story: "Alter diving out of the burning
aircraft wishing to separate myself as far as possible from the
fighting and the burning aiTcraft, I fell many seconds without
opening my chute. As I approached in descent, a layer of
clouds tllat I knew to be at about 5,000 feet, I pulled the rip
cord and watched my chute open, tllen to my dismay, and
terrible fear, watched my shroud line wind togetller up
toward the silk that blossomed above me. Immediately I
flung my arms and legs out to resist my spinning which was
nearly causing tlle collapse of my life-saving parachute. This
peril being averted, I entered the low cloud bank, only to
discover that a more terrible threat to my life was
approaching in the form of the aircraft from which I had
escaped a few seconds ago. It was bearing down on me
through the clouds, and which I could not see, and could not
60
escape even if I could see, as I hung helpless in my chute. As
the plane went screaming by on it's own mission of death, I
broke through the clouds to see the welcome earth below. I
fell into a ploughed field in a corner created by dense
cultivated pine thickets. I gathered my chute together and
ran into the thicket. After burying my chute I walked deeper
into it and sat down with my back resting against the trunk
of a tree in such a manner that I could watch· down the rows
of pine to the end of the row"
Russell Brown managed to stay at large until June 1,
when he was captured while trying to cross the railway
bridge over the River Elbe at Barby. He joined the seven
other survivor of the crew in various Stalag Lzifis. Their
Fortress crashed at 14.30 hours along the railway line
between Deetz and Nedlitz, 15 kilometres north-east of
Zerbst. Miller and Kaplowitz were buried on 30 May in the
Nedlitz cemetery.
Flying on the right wing of Lt Miller, in the number five
position High Squadron, was B-17G 42-39987 Pin Ball,
piloted by FlO Robert E.L. Probasco and 2/Lt Stephen B.
Lewellyn. Their regular navigator, Donald Rude, did not fly
with them, since he reported to sick call that morning. He
was replaced by 2/Lt Willianl P. Bragg, who recalled: "We
were attacked by a superior number of various types of
German fighters near Magdeburg at an altitude of 27,500
feet. Our ship was knocked out of formation on about the
third pass. Due in part to the fact that our ship was old and
already had difficulties keeping up, we tried to salvo our
MISSION 376
bombs. Our pilot, in attempting to get our ship from above
another ship, so salvo could be accomplished, hit the prop-
wash from another B-17 and we were thrown from forma-
tion. The attacks continued, various types of fighters making
passes. Crew members, including myself, were wounded
from tinle to time. Our oxygen and number three engine
were shot out. umber two engine was running away
periodically. Had lost altitude to about 19,000 feet. Decided
with pilot to hit deck and take up a course generally in the
direction of Switzerland. Was working on course when
bombardier returned from vicinity of cockpit and prepared
to bail out, stating pilot could not pull ship out and had
ordered abandonment. Bombardier bailed out. Co-pilot
bailed. Noted altitude as approximately 11,000 feet and
bailed out myself. Noted engineer coming behind me as I
left ship. On way down noted enemy fighters in area;
however, no attack made on parachutists in vicinity Noted
chute (later identified as co-pilot) coming down over little
village to my right. This village I believe I cah positively.
identify as Falkenburg, about fifty miles south south east of
Dessau. I would not have believed we were that far from
Dessau; however, only cursory navigation was possible
during tlle fight and, as I remember, our course was laid out
lor a long East leg after target. The co-pilot was shot at by
civilians wh_ile he was descending over the village; when he
came down in tlle village he was marthandled to some extent
but was extricated from this difficulty by the police, wl").O
turned him over to Lz!flwqffe authorities at tlle nearby
airfield. I believe I was about two or tllree nllies south of the
village. I landed in a grain field near a railroad track and a
2/Lt Bruno Branch, bombardier of B-17G 42-39987 Pin Ball of the 351st
Bomb Group, dllling training at Dalharst AJ71ZY Air Force Base in Texas, January
1944. He was shot down on 28 MaJ', and became a Prisoner of Jlffir. [Bruno
canal and was picked up by two enlisted members of
Branch}
Ll!flWqffe and assisted into airfield which was nearby. Believe
plane crashed not too far away, as observed plane flying on approximately ten minutes late at the targ t area, with no
automatic pilot in large circle, while I was descending. Also, fighter escort in sight. Bombs away scheduled for 14.10
the Lz!flwqffe had various items from plane next morning. hours, arrived 14.20 hours.
Observed crew member, I believe to be Singleton, tlle tail "The Lz!flwqffe sent up Me 109, Fw 190 andJu 88 planes
!:,'1..mner, brought into Nazi medical office, while I was to attack. I was sitting in my position preparing for tlle bomb
leaving. He was shot through the stomach and in very bad run when at tllree o'clock high, I noticed this group of planes.
shape. Was presumed dead by us wIllie in prison. Germans Our 511tll Squadron was positioned high in the Group,
made vague statement to one of the survivors someiliing which was 27,500 feet. The crew was alerted to German
about chute or chutes not opening. Singleton, by engineers fighters in the area and all guns were manned. My bomb bay
account, was OK when he left; therefore, presume may have doors were open. I noticed the German fighters had
been shot on gTound. A good bit of shooting at airmen by disappeared into the sun out of my view. In less than a
civilians was going on that day, from the accounts of other minute we were attacked from one o'clock high. I was
crews, and from co-pilots experience."29 supposed to release our bombs when the Group bombardier
The crew's bombardier, 2/Lt Bruno Branch, recalled his did so, as he had tlle bomb sight aboard. On tlus fu-st pass an
story: "I was not i~ured in tlle plane, but sustained a spine Me 109 Witll its fu-epower struck our number three engine,
fracture on landing witll my parachute. On 28 May, tlle hit our ball turret and injured Ringstmeyer. He was able to
crews' ninth mission, the 351st Bomb Group was in trouble get out of the turret with help. Bragg was frri.ng from the right
before we left England. Our Group was supposed to be the nose gun during the lirst attack, was knocked to tl1e other
last one in the 1st Division- of bombers leaving England at side of the plane with fragments of the shell explodi.ng in Ius
checkpoint Yarmouth. When our Group, arrived tlle 2nd right side from head to foot. The lead bombardier made a
Division composed of all B-24s were already crossing the dry run on our primary target Dessau which was an aircraft
Channel on tlle way. Our Group leader circled until all the engine plant used onJu 88 planes. The secondary till-get was
B-24s had passed by and took our Group in behind tlle Magdeburg, the oil depot located there. The Group, still
B-24s and in front of the 3rd Division which was all B-17s* under attack, headed tllere. We lost our conununication
We were twenty minutes late when we crossed the Channel. system aboill-d shortly after. The number three eng-ine was
The Group made up ten minutes en route and were leaking oil, the pilot wanted to keep it going as we needed the
power. Soon it started to windr11ill and lost so much oil it
* Here Branch's memory is incorrect, as we have seen it was indeed a could not be feathered. Soon tlle numbers two and four
B-24 formation thal they ran into, but they followed the first B-I? Wing engine started to run away due to tlle additional strain, and
of the Third Air Division il1lo Germany. our plane started to lose altitude and formation.
THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 61
 "I salvoed the five tons of bombs to help the plane. The
plane was at 14,000 feet and losing altitude fast. I went to the
pilot and told him it looks like we have to bail out. He told
me yes and to go ahead. I went back into the nose section
and told Bragg we were going to bail out. I said to him 'you
want to go first' and his reply was for me. I told him, 'this is
no time to argue' and said so-long and I went out the nose
escape door head first. I left the plane at about 14.30 hours,
altitude 12-13,000 feet. Bragg, Lewellyn and Probasco
followed immediately from the nose escape door. I was in a
free fall to about 5 to 6,000 feet when I puUed my ripcord. I
counted five parachutes in the air plus my own and saw the
plane make a turn to the right as it was descending struck
the ground with an ensuing puff of black smoke.
"All survivors of the plane were taken to a nearby
Luflwriffe air base and transferred by rail the next day to
Dulag near Wetzlar, a Liftwriffe interrogation centre for
captured airmen. I was in solitary confinement twenty-four
hours and asked the interrogating officer who spoke English
fluently what happened to the other four crewmembers. He
aid their chutes did not open. In my conversations with
Ulrei h and Frankowski who bailed out from the rear of the
plane, Lhere was no apparent reason for tllem not to jump.
WhaL happened to lost crew members is col~ecture. Ulreich
and Frankowski were sent to an enlisted airmen Lzifiwriffe
camp. Probasco, Lewellyn, Bragg and I were sent to Stalag
Lift III near Sagan, which we left on 27 January 1945."30
As has already been related, all the officers escaped from
tlle front of the aircraft, but the enlisted men in tlle back were
not as lucky. Ball turret gunner, Sgt Norman W.
Ringstmeyer, was hit by fire from the G rman fighters, and
called in to report his wounds. Co-pilot LeweUyn directed
radio-operator, S/Sgt Arlie W. Moore, to help him out of the
turret. Then they were hit again by fighters. Apparently
Moore was hit by this burst, as just seconds later the bail-out
signal was given, and both Moore and Ringstmeyer were
seen lying on the floor of the aircraft, covered witll blood,
observed by right waist gunner Sgt Edward J. Frankowski.
Since Frankowski was wounded and dazed he was unable to
help them, and so he bailed out. Why tlle otller waist gunner,
Sgt RaY1110nd G. Seaman, did not jump is not known, and he
crashed with the bomber. Tail gunner, Sgt James D.
Singleton, jumped from his own escape hatch, and his
parachute opened properly. As William Bragg has already
reponed, shots were fired from the ground at the descending
airmen, and several buUets hit tlle unfortunate Singleton. He
died the same evening, at 19.35 hours, at the hospital at
Torgau/Elbe, from wounds caused by shots through tlle righL
pelvis, right shoulder, left hip, and left foot. The author has
been unable to fmd out if the person or persons responsible
for tl1is cowardly killing were ever brought to trial, but it
seems unlikely. Singleton was buried on 1June at the 10rgau
municipal cemetery. The oilier three gunners were buried on
31 May at Schmerkendorfer Wald near Falkenberg/Elster,
close to the location where their Pin Ball crashed. The airfield
where the prisoners were brought to was Alt-Lonnewitz,
some five kilometres north of the crash location.
So, witl1in just two or three minutes, the Germans had
shot down four B-17s from tlle 351st Bomb Group, flying as
numbers five and six, in both the Low and High Squadrons.
This graphically illustrates the relative vulnerability of these
combat positions witl1in a Bomb Group formation.
62
SISgtRobert V. Ken; tailgwmerqfB-17G, 42-107043, FilCh's Bandwagon qfthe
401st BOIlIb Groull. [Robert V. Ken}
The 401st Bomb Group formation, flying Low in the
Wing, bore the brunt of tlle German attacks. Its High Squa-
dron was hit especially hard. Tail gunner aboard the
Squadron's lead aircraft Fitch 5 Bandwagon was S/Sgt Robert
V. Kerr who recorded in his diary: "m l-eached the hzitial Point
and the bomb doors were opened. Looked over nry s/lOulder at eleven
o'clock and saw aflnnation a way ahead ifus and saw aji.ghter going
down trailing smoke. Flak started coming up ahead ifus. Looked out
to our lqi and saw several green .flashes at nine 0 'dock as shells
eXjJloded rig!zt near us and the navigator had said 'there s.flak right
near 1lS~ I pressed the button and sazd 'those are 20 mms~ Just then
someone yelled jighters at len 0 'clock' and it sounded Me all guns on
the ship let go at once. Looked over my right shoulder and saw a whole
fl17lUltion ifenemy planes diving at us ng,Jzl through their own.flak. I
grabbed the guns and got ready fOr action, but none if them came
within range ifwhere nry guns were pointing. Had my jJarachute {chest
type} allached to one hook through the side if17ry.flak suit, in case if
emergency. Fulled helmet down tighte/~ tumedfice away and ducked
nry head behind metalfiame as air wasji.lled with eXjJloding 20 mms.
There was a terriji.c racket.
"I loo/led out and saw a ship ftom another Group (pole-
bTOok/351st~ roll over on its back and go down zn a vertical dive.
Watched until it went out ifsight. Another went into a steep glide and
I saw one chute come outjust bifOre the ship went out ifsight beneath
us. The Lujiwriffe went iff tofOur 0 'clock and got badl znto flnnation
again. I looked high ujJ at six 0 'dock and saw va/Jour trails Ji'01ll the
escort and thoug!zt they were coming to our rescue. But I got a rather
sickenzngfiehng as I saw them nUlke a lqitum and head north.
"All if a sudelen somebody yelled 'fighters COIning in at two
o'clock' and it seemed Like evvy gun on the shztJ opmed up at once
MISSION 376
number of holes and the damage that had
been inflicted on our plane. At one time
Arthur Mahler, the radio-operator,
reponed tllat there was a frre in the bomb
bay. I made a visual check at tl1is time. I
could see no evidence of any frre, but tlle
bombs had been salvoed, and I assumed
that either the bombardier or tlle pilot had
salvoed tllem. I later talked with the
bombardier, and he said he did not
remember doing it, so it must have been
Lt Keith. After all that had transpired, we
were still functioning all right. At some
time during tlle battle, we found ourselves
flying all alone. There was a vacancy in
the Lead Squadron formation, so Lt Keith
slid our airplane into that spot, so we
would not be so alone.
"The formation began a turn to the
left, which put us on tlle outside, so as a
Sianding amidst his original combat crew isllLt Walter B. Keith, who Ililoted result, we began falling behind. I heard Lt Keith call for #10
1117G 42-31557 qflhe 401st Bomb Group on 28 May. He was shot down and on the turbos. This was an emergency setting, so that we
iliadI' mouer qf mlr, just like hisjimner n£lvigatOl; 21Lt Carl T'. Floto, who is
could obtain all available power from tlle engines to attempt
lnl'ding on this Il/£Iure. The lallerjlew as navigator on the crew qf21Lt Frederick
II. Windham on 28 MaJ. [Wardlaw M. Hammond} to maintain station. There was no response to his request, so
he repeated it. There was still no response, so I heard Lt
again and the whole ship shuddered and seemed tojump sideways. The Keith say: '... the hell with it, I will do itnryse!/ At this time I
lIoise made by the gunsji.n·ng and the exploding shells was ter:rj/ic a!zd heard the turbos wind up, but it was too little too late. We
fL\ I turned and looked over nry lqi shoulder thmugh the green flashes continued to fall farther and farther behind the Group
o/lhe 20 mm I saw what appeared to be the whole German Lzifiwriffe formation. It was not long before two Fw 190s queued up on
J)()uring in on us with their guns blazing.'fJ 1
The number five position of tl1is
Squadron was occupied by the
experienced liLt Walter B. Keitll
and his crew in B-17G 42-31557.
S/Sgt James E. Wells, tlle engineer,
recalls: "As we approached the target
area, the Lziftw«ffi made its first
appearance. They were first called by
Peter Beckowitz from the ball turret.
The attacks were made from the
front and level with our formation,
making it difficult to get very long
shots at them. The attacks were
made by the German fighters in a
wing abreast formation and they
came in wave after wave. I do not
recall how many enemy fighters we
encountered tllat day, but tllere were
many of them. At some time during
Lhe battle, our number two engine
was shot out and I noticed a large
hole in tlle top of the cowling that
could have been tlle exit hole of an
88 111111 flak shell. Lucky for us that it
did not explode. As I slewed my
turret around, I was anlazed at the
Sialldillg at tejl, Sgt Merle E. Bames [tifi waisl
!!,1I71l/er, POW), at ,-ighl Sgt Peter Beckowitz. [ball
II/nd g1l117l1:1; KIA}. Kneelil/g at lifi 21Ltfjvillg
~UJ/liver [navigalor, 1I0t on mission}, at n"ght Cjll
Arlhur P Mahler {Tadio-operator, POW}. {James
E. Wells}
THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 63

/. 'gI]= E. Wells, engineer rfB-17G 42-31557 rf Victor d'Agostil/o, tail gllll11er rfB-l7G 42-31557 rf
tlU' 401st Bomb GrouJ). {Jeal/es E. mils} the 401st Bomb Group. ljauU's E. Wells}
our tail and began the final a sault on our B-l7. One
attacked from the five o'clock high position, the other from
the seven o'clock high position. At this time I had no
interphone communications with other crew members. I
noted that the radio-operator was firing at the fighter coming
from the seven o'clock position, so I selected the one COIning
from the five o'clock position. The fmal blow was a 20 mm
hell which entered the airplane in the dorsal fm area, came
between the waist gLIJmers. snipped the radio-operator's
boot, continued through the aft bomb bay bulkhead door
and inlpacted and exploded in the forward bomb bay
bulkhead among the fuel transfer lines. Flames inmlediately
erupted and enveloped my turret, so I decided that it was
time to make a hasty retreat from the turret. I slid down out
of the turret, and opened my eyes long enough to locate my
parachute pack which I kept towed on the floor to the right
of my turret. As I retrieved my parachute pack, someone
started beating on me. I can only assume that it was Lt Keith
and he thought I wa on fire. I wiggled trying to get free, so
I could get out of the airplane. When the beating stopped, I
made my way to the crawl way to the emergency exit. Later
I wished I had taken the time to check the cockpit area, but
I did not. I believe that 2/Lt John J. Maloney, the co-pilot,
must have been dead in his seat, because he did not respond
to Lt Keith's request for the turbo setting earlier. As I entered
the crawl way, I stopped and attempted to hook my
parachute pack to my harness. I was so doubled up, that I
could not get the pack between my upper legs and my chest.
I momentarily put the pack under my arm, and figured I
would make my exit from the airplane, and then cOlmect the
pack on my way down. I immediately vetoed that decision,
and made one more attempt to hook it. This time I
succeeded in hooking the right side only, so I felt that would
have to do. As I approached tJle exit, I found it had already
been opened, and bombardier Lt Weiss was tJlere. Since he
was tJlere fll-St, I felt he had priority so I motioned for him
to go. He hook his head and motioned for me to go, so
away I went. Against a.ll of our verbal training, I opened my
64
happened to him, we never found out. Arthur Mahler and fighter caused a fierce fu-e in the radio room of tJle aircraft,
Merle Barnes felt tJlat Peter Beckowitz was killed on about illllnediately followed, before any of the crew had a chance
the first pass the fighter made on us. Barnes also said that to parachute, by an explosion, which literally tore the
Leo Cass, the other waist gUlmer, was still fu-ing hi gun machine apart. Five crewmembers, including the pilot, were
when he tried to get llim to leave tJle airplane, but he able to pull the rip cords on their chute in time after the
refused. We never knew the reason. We were taken by a explosion and were captured. Five otJlers, the co-pilot,
farm cart pulled behind a vehicle to an airbase at navigator, bombardier, engineer, and radio-operator were
Magdeburg. The next we started on our way to Frankfurt, killed and were buried in the Susigke cemetery. Pieces of the
and finally ended up in Stafag Lzf!i IV"32 aircraft and the five bodies were strewn aero s the country
The four men who did not survive were buried on 29 ide six kilometres east of Aken and O1Uy five kilometres
May in ule conmlUnity cemetery of Setzsteig. Lt Keith's west of Dessau, their intended target. The German pilot
bomber era hed at 14.10 hours, eight kilometres south-ea t who claimed to have shot Protz' B-17 down was Leu/nant
of Belzig. and 15 kilomeu'es Souul-we t of iemegk. Alexander Ottnad, flying in a Me 109G of 8,aG 27. At 12.44
Additiona.lly. the neighbouring B-17 wa lost in the early hours he had taken off from GotzendorfiLeitha airfield. He
stages of the attacks, And again, as in the 351st Bomb reported: '"I flew as Steifft!flihrer on a mission against a
Group, it was the bombers in tJle most vulnerable po itions reported enemy formation. At 14.10 hours, we encountered
that were hit first by the German fighters. The number six two waves of Fortress lIs WitJl fighter escort, between
position in the High Squadron was occupied by liLt Dessau and Magdeburg. Our group attacked from Ule front,
William F. Protz, and his crew in their B-17G' 42-102580. I fired on tJle enemy aircraft, flying tJlird from the right. I
This crew was on its eighth mission and its demise was observed hits in the front part of Ule aircraft and right wing.
quick and deadly. Th suddelmess of its loss caused When I broke off tJle attack I was hit in my engine and
Leo C. Cass was last seen}iril/ IT his right waist gun rf speculation among returning crews that it may have been a fuselage, I then observed how the Fortress II I had hit went
B-l7G 42-31557 [Fral/klin D. Cass} direct flak hit which resulted in the crash. This hit. or straight down, with its right wing bunling. I then parachuted
perhaps a concentrated burst of cannon fire by a German from my own aircraft, because it was heavily smoking.
parachute immediately, as did most of the otJler crewmen
that I know. As I made my descent, I counted seven
parachutes in a stair step fashion, so I assumed at tJlis tinle
that at least seven of us got out. Since I had only one side of
my parachute fastened, I made a sliding fall and drifted away
from tJle rest of tJle parachutes tJlat were descending. As I
was descending, a German fighter approached me, and my
first thought was that he was going to strafe me. As it turned
out. he wanted to have some fun at my expense. As he went
by me, he kicked his rudder so that I was directJy behind
him and he then gunned his engine an got me s""inging in
my parachute li.k.e a giant pendulum. My contact witJl tJle
earth, was a crashing fa.ll through some very ta.ll trees. I
came to a halt short of tJle ground hanging from the trees. I
freed myself from my parachute harness, and began looking
for some place to hide. It seemed that tJle Germans planted
tJleir trees in straight rows, and kept a.ll underbrush cleared
from beneatJl them. It was not very long before I wa
captured. I guess I was fortunate because my captors were
military. The civilian population did not care much for the
American aviators. I wa n-ansported some distance, where
I was put in a shed of some type, and tJlere I saw some of
my crew members. Lt Weiss landed in trees li.k.e I did, but he
was held by tJle branches until his parachute canopy collap-
sed, and he fi-ee fell to the ground, getting broken up quite a
bit. Tail gunner Victor d'Agostino was blown from tJle
airplane when it exploded. He was battered up pretty badly.
One of his boots was completely blown from his foot. and
the ankle appeared to be tJllee times its normal size and he
appeared to have some broken ribs. He was covered with
scrapes. abrasions and cuts. Arthur Maluer landed in a
ploughed field and badly sprained an ankle. Merle Barnes,
the left waist gunner, appeared to be in tJle best hape of all
of us. We never did see Lt Keith. Of the crewmembers that
did not make it, I offer this. As I previously mentioned, Lt The crew rfB-l7G 42-102580 rfthe 401st Bomb GrouJ). Back rowftom Iifi. to right: William F Protz !I)ilot, POW}, John J Maloney {co-j)i/ot, KJA on Mih's
Maloney was apparentJy killed ometime during the aerial m.w}, Alum J Stzegel [naVigator, KJA} and Sam B. Bennelf [bolllbcudiel; JaA). Front row}i"Oln Iifi. to ngllt: Jim. K. Mon'ow [el/gil/eeI; KiA}, Albert P. Reinhardt {lifi.
battJe. Lt vVeiss told me later on the ground tJlat he assisted wal.lt gunner, POW}, l111yne W Wicks [radw-operator, KJA}, James C. ApjJleby [tail gunnel; POW}, Glel/n f Cliff[nght waist gul/ner, POW} alul Frank S. Bartak
[bal/turret gunner, POW). 011 28 May, John J. Maloney WCl.l replaced by Richard S. Bal7le/l, who was killed. Maloney Jlew as co-pilot iI/ the crew rfLt 11111ter Keith
liLt Jack B. Priest, the navigator, from tJle airplane. What lind was also killed. [William F Protz}
MISSION 376 THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 65
 The sights qfair battle. These remarkable pictures come from the p,ivate
album qfFriedrich Keller, the Cmppenkomm.andeur qf II.IJC 27. They
were taken on 12 Ma)', the day qfthe first 'oil sl1ike; and give a grajJhic
example qfa scene qfi repeated, also on 28 Ma), the day qf the next oil
st/ike.

1. A B-17millus its tail sectioll in its death throes. It is B-17C 42-97382 -t!'
qfthe 96th Bomb Croup, which colMed with B-17C 42-102452 dwing
a jig/Iter allad. On/;' three crL''Wmembers - the radio-ojJerator and both
waist gunners - got out. In the other B-17 the navigator and bombardier
were killed, the others all balled out.

2. With a tremendous explosion the bombs and filel explode when the
aircrcifi hits the ground.

3. WreckageJell dose to the airbase at MenJlaUJe11, where II.lJC 27 was

stationed in May 1944. A ground a-ewmember takes cover behind a
BJ 1 09, but is cwious enough to keep watching the events.

4. 7'hrough the smoke a jJarachute ajJpears with a lucky crewmwber.

5. Ceml£ln soldiers mntowards the American aimzan, who 1l£lSjust touched

the ground, his canojJy still catchillg the wind.

6. lVlixed emotlol1S show on the American'spce as he jJicks ujJ his chute. He

is a Prisoner qf /lWzr now, bllt probab/;I realises that others qfhis crew have
perished. [FTiedndl Keller, throllgh Jean Louis Robal

MISSION 376 THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 67

66
 I could not observe the actual crash of crew had about thc samc number of
III./Jagdgeschwader 27 the bomber I had rut. The impact missions finished. Enstad recalled:
.............&..... S:t~~ . .
• (ott?-lppenfcll
- -. . . _ _~"'~(~ep,q~,
!D~.Gtwn:),·····t~+4:..... should have been at 14.28 hours, outh "Some minutes prior to the Initial
• f or south-we t of Zerbst. Other Point, the crew observed and
I ~ I 'j
• ~. l J.
~ remarks: I also observed another discussed what we thought was
Fortress going down after our same anotl1er Bomb Wmg orr to our right.
,lttack." 33 at about tlu-ee o'clock level. However,
Feldwebel Franz Busen, flying in this 'Wing' wa moving fa ter than our
Ottnad's formation, backed up the 94tl1 Combat Wing. t thi point it
claim and since the time and location in was well ah ad of u and made a 90
1. 3cit C~a9. etunbc, ~minutc) Ull& ®cgcn& bcs c:llbftur3CS:
28. 5. 1944, Ottnad's report exactly matched the degree left turn and flew to a point
etwa s- SW Zerbst crash of Protz' bomber in Planquadrat where it was directly in front of our
}E 4, German authorities awarded him Wing. It then made another 90 degree
7500 m.
the destruction of this bomber. As we left turn and came at us at twelve
~. ~mef) men ift ~ct ':lbfo)ug '3crftorun9 crfolgt?
Leutnant Ottnad have seen, it was not always a one- o'clock level. The Germans put every

. ~~~~=?'£
sided affair. Apparently the gunners in type of aircraft that would fly into this
the B-17 formation had rut Ottnad's attack - even fixed landing gear
3. (5lu93et19tl)P bes abgefdjoHenen ~lu9Det1g-e5: .
Bf 109, forcing him to bail out. Ottnad aircraft were present.
4. etaatsangeljotigleit bes ~egnet5:
';K\erlnummtrn ba11).
5. 2Id bet memidjtung:
~ennaeidjen:
.
. •..
durc.l.l.. :I3..e.i:lgl:luss
/
. . .
was not tl1e only piJot who was hit.
BOtl1 Gifreiter Herbert Curth, who al 0
claimed an Heraussclzuss over a B-17, and
"Our plane was badly damaged on
the fLrst pass. 20mm sheils entered our
left wing, damag-ing manual controls
Unlenf!l1.ier Otto Muhlbauer of 8.aG 27 21Lt Robert J. Enstad, co-pilot rf B-17G 42-97073. and knocking out uperchargers on
a) lilgmmen mit buuller ~o6pe ~lammen mit ljeIlet ~aljm
had to belly-land their damaged Miraadollsly he sll/vived the demise rfhis bomber and was number one and two engines. Our
b) ~in3cIteile roeggefIogen, abmontiett (21tt bet ~rilc etlciutmt) QUseinanbttgepla~t Bf 109s. Unlerrffizier GLinther Wetl1 of nUide Prisoner rf l#1r. [Rober! J. EllStad} airspeed dropped to 135-140 miles
c) aur ~ll11&ullg gea11)ungen (biesfeits bet (5ront, glatt ba11). mit Q3mdj) ZaG 27 was mortally wounded during per hour and our manoeuvrabiJity was
d) ienfeits bet ~tont am Q30brn in Q3tanb gtfdjofien. these engagements and crashed with his Bf 109 near Dessau. very poor. We jettisoned our bombs as we dropped from the
nicnt beobaoh~e~ liLt Vincent]' Kaminski, a veteran piJot with 28 formation. Three-aircraft elements of fighters started
G. 2Itt bes 2luHdj[agc~ (nut roenn bitfet "&tooadjtd roetben 10_L..- ~. -----.:--.-.-.-0
missions to his credit, was Dying with his crew in the attacking our lone aircraft. We actually survived tlu-ee or
a) bieSfeits obet ienfrits bet ~ont number tl1ree position of tl1e Low Squadron, in B-17G four attacks and shot down some enemy fighters. The fmal
b cnlredj!, in fIadjem ~inM, 2Iuffdjlag'Dtanb, 6taub11)olfe ~2-97073. This crew was not his regular one, but tl1at of Lt attack came from six o'clock witl1 20mm shells spraying the
c) nid)! bcohadjtet, It'arunt nidj!'? wegen Fallschirmabsprung Joseph E. Ferdyn, who was on leave that day. Co-piJot was entire aircraft. One shell exploded in my back-pack
:lILt Robert]. Enstad. on his 24tl1 mission. The rest of the type parachute. Other shells or fragments hit the
7. 6djicffal bet ~nfaHen (tot, mit ~anfdjirm abgefpumgttl, 111C9f "Geo'6ad;ftl) .../ .
8. ®efcdj!sbcridjt b C5djii!ieot ift in bet 2lnlage beigefiigt
9. 3eugen:
a) ~uft
b) ~rbe

10. 2In3aljl bet 2Ingriffe, bie QUf bas feinbIid)t (5lu93et19 9 adjt roUtben.. . 1 Angri.f~ .
I

11. ~idjtung, aus ber bie einae1nen 2lngtiffe «folgtcn:

von Tome
1'2. ~lIticmung, aU5 bet bet Q1&jdju5 erfolgte: 400 - 200 m

13. ~aft. ~1ofition, au.5 bet bet 2lbfdjus Q11gefe~ 11)Utbe: Staff:e1.~J:'
14. ~ft tinct bet feinbIidjen Q3otbldjii~n lampfunfliljig gemadjt 11)Otben'? ./.
15. QJtt11)Q11bte 2Tlunitionsatt: .J.l.o .. , .I.~~~.f:lF~.~r o.,B:r ~SJ?,:r:: ~~oPatr.
16. ~utti:ion5tlctbtaudj: .'\U1b.e$.a~ " .
17. 2Itt unb ~n3a91 bet ~affen, bie Oti bern QIOfdj u5 gebtQUdjt 11)urbm: MK ..108 t. 2 MG.~ ?1~ 2.. M.G l ' 1
18. ~l)P bet eigenen 2llajdjine (a. Q3. Me 109 Emit 2 ~anonen unb 2 2Tl.~.):
19. 5.\eiicre5 taftijdj obet tedjnifdj Q3emttlrnsroetteg:
»,. :lo9 ~/tJ.4-.
. .
Crewmembers rfB-17G 42-97073 rftlte
fOist Bomb Gronp. 70/) row, llji 10 nght:
r--
I
liLt J. Dee Black., navigator; TISgt
20. ~reffet in bet eigmen 2Tlafdjine:. . :to:rtr.effer. (l.'~1:lschi~b8pru.ng) . ]ack. D. Agee, ellgilleer; Sgt Joe R.

: .S:::i:\~~::,~:::;~~ . ~~ .~. -~~:bl~lV~:t~f.~m

]ohllson, ball tlIITeI gunuer; S/Sgl
El'erell M. Bllshelldoif, nght waist
/.,'lIIl11er. BollolII row, llji to nghl: S/Sgt
vary R. Coo/)er, rculio-o/)eralor; SISgt
William M. May, llji Waist gUl1uer;
SISgt Harold HertuiJI, tail gUllner. All
r<'ere lulled ill action all 28 Mcry. [Robert
.7 Ellstad]

Tltejirst page rftlte combat re/)orlthat Leutnant Alexander Ollnad submilledjOllowing his missiou on 28 May. He was awareled the destmetion rfthe B-17flown by It
William Protz rfthe 40lst Bomb Group. III the same ae/ion, Ite Iwd to bailout rf IllS Bf109. [National Archives]

68 MISSION 376 THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 69


B-J7G 42-31034 BonrUe Donnie ,ythe 401s1 Bomb Group qfier a bel!;1 landing at Demel/lOrpe on 4 Mardi 1944. Sh.e was re/)wi'ed andj/ew again, bul wasjinally
lost on 28 May. [Vic Maslen]
hydraulic system and oxygen supply, engulfing the cockpit
in flames ."3..
Bombardier James V. Walsh of the crew of Lt Edwin A.
Post, who was flying next to Kanunski, saw the last
moments and reported about it back at Deenethorpe that
evelung: "Number one engine on fire, peeled over on back
and went down."35
Enstad: "The aircraft did a wing over and exploded. That
Charlie and I got out is truly a wacle. My back-pack chute
had been badly damaged by shell fragments so I came down
fast - fortunately landing in a freshly ploughed or cultivated
field. Another miracle! I did have a number of shell
fragments in me, but no broken bones. Lt Char-Ie Manning,
our navigator, didn't have a scratch. I came to, urrounded
by Charlie arld German civiliarl . vVe were taken to the
village town hall at Mlihro. Three members of other bomber
crews joined us there. After a pel;od of time we were taken
to a nearby cemetery. There were the remains of the eight
other members of our crew. With difficulty, Charlie arld I
managed Lo identify them. Char-lie, the three otJler uninjured
airmen, and some slave labourers were ordered to strip the
clothing from the remains and, with the aid of shovels arld
some boards, buried them in a common ~-ave. Under heavy
guard we were tJlen transported by truck to a lar-ge airport.
Our group grew to about fifty. Here we were strip-sear-ched
arld all personal belongings were taken from us. Treatment at
tJu location was harsh, iliere was littJe or no first aid for tJle
u~ured. We were held iliere overnight."
One of other tJlree airmen who was ordered to help
bury the eight men, has been identified as Charles H.
70
Bedell, the radio-operator of the crew of Lt Paul Scharff.
Kanunski's aircraft had crashed in a wooded area near
Steinberg, 800 metres norm-east of tJle village of Mi.ihro, in
the Zerbst district. The eight crewmembers were buried in
the village cemetery.
Flying in the number four position of the Lead Squadron,
just behind the Lead aircraft, was B-17G 42-31034 Bonnie
Dannie. Bom the aiJ-craft and her crew, piloted by liLt George
E. West had been at Deeneiliorpe for some time already.
Bmmie Dannie wa one of ilie Ql;ginal aiJ-craft mat the Group
had received while still in the United States. It had survived a
crash-Iandulg at the base, on return from a nussion in March,
but was repaiJ-ed to fly many more. The crew of liLt George
E. West was the first replacement crew for ilie 612th Bomb
Squadron. They sailed to Englarld on ilie Qy,een Eli:J.abellz in the
early parl of ovember, 1943. All crewmembers were near-ing
the end of their now 30-mission combat tour on tJus 28 May.
But instead of their regular B-17, Hangaver Haven, iliey had
been assigned Bonnie Dannie mat mornUlg.
Navigator on me crew was liLt Lloyd A. utter, who
recalled: "Magdeburg was heavily defended arld tJlere was
lots of flak. ear- me Initial Point we were attacked by fighters
of all kinds, Me 109s, Fw 190 ,Ju 88s and some we did not
identify. Ll all me missions I had flown we had not
encountered as many aircraft - tJley came at us from every
direction. After we turned on Lo our bomb run and had
opened tJle bomb door, they simply disappeared, having
been shot off. We struggled over our prinla.ry target arld
dmpped our bombs, but we were Ul a very bad shape, and
had dropped from the formation. We were losing altitude arld
MISSION 376
airspeed and becau e of the I
severe darnage to the aiJ-craft, we
discussed tJle options we had
open to us. We considered
abandoning tJle aiJ-craft at tlus
lime, and had made this decision.
I had destroyed all classified
information along with the
\'ar;ou charts, arld was in the
process of almost jumping out of
Lhe slup. when ilie bombardier
Lapped me on ilie houlder and
Lold me the pilot had decided to
hold out a little longer. We then
held a conference and decided to
hold all me altitude we could and
Lry to stay as close as we could to
our Group for fighter support.
We knew mat if we did get back
LO Englarld we would have to abandon the aiJ-craft there as
Lhere was no way we could land it and mere was so much
danlage we could only tum the tJung to tJle l;ght. We were
l1ying over a complete cloud deck and about twenty mUlutes
later we saw a clearing Ul the clouds, right over tJle city of
Leipzig. We were able to steer around this city - if it had not
been for ilie break in tJle cloud deck, I would not have been
writing this. A lone B-17 would have had no chance·aga.in.st
ilie arlti-aircraft guns surrounding that city. At tJus time we
were down to about 18,000 feet. startino- from 24,000 feet.
"The rear- part of tJle plarle had been severely darllaged
and mere wa no oxygen, so the crew of gunners had moved
up to the radio room where oxygen was available. At tJus
tinle I hear-d mat one of me waist gunners, S/Sgt Hugh D.
Russell, had been wounded in the head by a 20 mm shell.
"We continued on our heading, trying to hold altitude,
but now we were down to 17,000 feet. Suddenly someone
called over tJle intercom 'right wing on fIre'. I believe I hear-d
the word 'fire' as I bailed out tlle forwar-d e cape hatch. The
bombar-dier was right behuld me. I bailed out head first, he
bailed out feet first and we bOtJl got out OK. We had always
argued as to ilie best way to go. To the be t of my
knowledge we were the only ones to bail out, tJle rest blew
up with the ship and simply opened their chutes. The tail
gulmer, S/So-t Michael LeEkin, was killed when his chute had
a 'streamer' and failed to blossom. The waist gunner with
me bad head wound might not have been able to open his
chute at all. I actually saw bom bodies later. The co-pilot,
liLt Douglas H. McKinnon. was standing in the bomb bay
preparing to jump, when tJle slup exploded. Most of his
clotJ"ling was blown of[ but he got out OK. The pilot was
last seen standing between the pilot and co-pilot seats,
holding the wheel, trying to keep the ship steady for tJle rest
of tJle crew to bail out. The rest of me crew, in ilie radio
room, sinlply opened their chutes after tJle explosion. I
might add tllere was no COI1lli1unication wim me radio
room, all mese facilities had been destroyed.
"As we had been ulstructed, I delayed my chute opening
as long as possible. I made a free fall from about 17,000 to
about 2,000 feet arld my first attempt to open the chute
failed. For some reason the pilot chute, supposed to pull out
the main chute, failed to pop out. My chute, beulO' a chest
type, was ea y to get at, so I reached Ul arld puIJed Oul a
THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU
The O'ew ,yB-I7G 42-31034 Bonnje Donnie ,ylhe 40lst Bomb GrouJ). Bad
row lift 10 right: Hugh D. Russell [waisl gunner, KJA], Alfred J Morini [ball
tund gunuer, POW], Michael LeJlilil [tail gunner, KIA] and Thomas B.
Montgomery [bombardiel; POW]. Middle row lift to righl: Douglas H. McKinnon
{co-pilot, POW], George E. mst [pilot, KIA] and Lloyd A. Nuller [navigator,
POW]. Hont row lift 10 nghl: Sgt lewarl [waist gunner, nol on 28 May
mission], Roberl 1. Andnls [radio-o/)eraIOf; POW] and Francis 1. Russell
[engtilw; POW]. [Lloyd A. Nutter]
handful of silk. That was all it took, it opened and when it
did. I thought every bone in my body was broken.
"We had bailed out somewhere outll-west of Leipzig
and I came down in the middle of a ~-ain field. We had
been in tructed to hide the chute illlillediately, but I was so
scared I couldn't even get it off. I could see civilians coming
at me in the distance, and not wanting to be captured by
them, I began running the other way. After some bullets
started comin o' very close to my head, I stopped and
became a 'Comrad'. I was being beaten up rather badly by
these civilians when a German guard, on a bicycle,
appeared from a fighter base, which wa nearby. He took
charge and I walked alongside him over to this base.
During this walk we were both pelted by various objects
that were tllrown by the civilians. I arll positive that this
guard aved my life. As we walked to the base, I observed
the wreckage of our aircraft. The remains were so close to
where I landed iliat I am ure it exploded witlUn seconds
of the time I bailed out. The rest of the crew alJ landed in
or near the base and were captured by me military.
Sometime later I volunteered to go and identify me bodies
of the two gunners. This was a kind of grey area in those
days, but I felt a responsibility to the families of tJlese men
to identify tJlem. The rest of the war was spent in various
German pri on canlps."36
Bonnie Donnie had crashed between Otterwisch arld
Pomssen arld a.ll urviving crewmember were made prisoner
of war- in tJle small village of Pomssen, close to Grinmla.
Over the Target
The aggressive Germarl fighter attacks had now battered me
Wing, and gradually ilie protective Combat Wing formation
fell apart. Forty-seven B-17s had reached tJle mitial Point,
but at least eight were shot down between tJle Lutial Point
arld the target and several orners were darnaged.
71
 Den e smoke and haze covered the target area and the
Wino- Leader, Major Hazier. decided to make a turn and
make a econd run to the target. During this turn, the fighter
attack continued, and upon their econd arrival over
Des au, the lead bombardiers in the 457th and 351st Bomb
Groups were again unable to identify their Mean Point of
Impact, and decided to keep their bombs aboard and head
for the secondary target.
Many crewrnembers now just wanted to get rid of their
bomb loads and were not appreciative of the efforts of their
bombardiers to get the bomb on target on a second run. A
waist gunner in one of the ships, due to be shot dovm in the
next few minutes, recalled: "Of course, the bombardier
missed seeing the target, so we had to go around again. The
German fighters only had to make one turn to hit us again.
This happened again on the next bomb run, which they also
missed. Maybe the lead and deputy lead got knocked out.
On the third bomb run we got it. If the bombardier had done
hi job the fir t time, maybe we would have been home [i-ee.
As far as defence against the fighters, all we could do was
spray bursts of fifties hoping to hit a few as they went by.
"1 have never forgiven bombardiers, for this was not the
lint time Lhey missed and had to around again. 'When we
would look at the pictures, we saw they still missed.·'3?
The 401st Bomb Group, which had already lost four of
its B-l7s, was able to fmd its designated Mean Point of
Impact on the second run. and the Group's lead bombardier.
Lt Robert W. Rowe. decided to drop, and the 12 remaining
B-17 in the formation dropped their bombs. with
good result.
However, the bombing had put them somewhat behind
the other two Groups of the Wing, and again the German
lighter hit. One of the pilots still in the formation, liLt Dan
C. Knight, flying B-17G 42-31983 Mary Alice, recalled it this
way: "I must say that of my thirty missions, Dessau was the
one that gives me nightmares. When we turned on our
Initial Point toward Dessau we noticed way off in the
distance many specks in t.he sky that none of us gave too
much thought to as there were many instance when oUler
bombers would be headed for other
targets. Little did we realize ulat what
we had seen would turn out to be
between 200 and 300 German
lighters. As we passed over ule target
the lirst time, our Group lead
bombardier had a malfunction in Ule
bomb sight and our bombs did not
get away. Anyway. our Group
Commander called our Wing
Commander to advise that our
bombs ha I not gone away. He
informed our Group Commander to
do a 360, go back over Ule target, get
our bombs away and that the oUler
two Groups would stooge around
and wait for us, so Ulat we all could
go back to England together.
"This is when everything started
to happen. As we came off Ule target
after getting our bombs away, all hell
2/Lt Dan C. JVlight, 111101 o/B-17G, 42-31983, Mary Alice
broke loose. As 1 mentioned, those o/Ihe 401s1 Bomb Group, WllOjkw ill Ihe 11/11l1berjiJ1lrlxmtion 0/ his aircraft and crew, was mortally
specks we had seen in the distance the Law Squadron. [Dau C. JVligf1lJ
72
turned out to be fighters of all types, Me 109s, Fw 190s and
even an assortment of twin-engines. They were all over us
like a swarm of bees. They would come at us from all
directions - above, below. both sides. They were
everywhere. We saw some collide with each oUler, as uley
couldn't O'et out of each oUler' way. There sinlply wasn't
enough ky to avoid each other. I don't know when we
realized it, but at some point, we became aware that the
457ul and 351st Bomb Groups had not only not waited for
us, but were nowhere in sight. We were eighteen bomber
against ule whole Llffiwrifft it looked like. There was no way
tllat I could imagine that any of us could survive WiUl the
odds stacked against us like that. I'll never forget my
tlloughts about dying. 1 was sure it was inevitable, but you
keep on holding that tight formation that you know you
have to do, but I kept wondering how it was going to feel to
b kill d. It had to happen. It was just a question of 'when'.
This is the part I'll never forget - I kept thinking to myself
that 'I'm stiLL thinking, I'm stiLL thinking; I'm still thinking. !f I can
still Ihink, it hasn't hajJjJelzed yet. It wa a strange feeling. After
a while you begin to think that maybe, just maybe it isn't
going to happen to you, even though planes are going down
all around you. I think that they estimated later that this
went on for about forty minute. It seemed like an eternity.
At one point our Group commander called the High
Squadron leader to 'tuck it in', don't be hanging way out
there away from the Group. He radioed back as to how
could he, WiUl his formation behind hinl. Then he wa
informed that there were no more planes behind him. all live
had gone down. That was the 613th Squadron. My ship
was. among others, hit by a 20 mm shell, which had gone
through ule right horizontal stabilizer, through the fuselage,
up against one of the ammunition boxes in the tail and had
fallen on the floor behind Charlie Pace1ey, my tail gunner.
wiUl0Ut exploding. We radioed in, when we arrived back
over Deenetllorpe late that afternoon, and the armament
people came and defused it and Charlie kept it as a souvenir.
"The loss of seven ships out of one Group in one day is
a tremendous anlount, but it is a miracle tllat any of us got
back. We, the 615tl1 Squadron, were
really lucky, since we only lost one
ship, the one piloted by Vincent
Kaminski. Probably what helped us
the most in my squadron was ule tight
fonnation Ulat we always maintained.
Bill Seawell. our Squadron
Commanding Oflicer had always
trained us to fly with wings
overlapping. He used to say that if you
don·t. you don't belong in the 615th
Squadron.'·38
Flying in ule element. just in front
of Dan Knight, was 2/Lt Edwin A.
Post in B-17G 42-102674. During the
furious fighter attacks, the ball turret
received a direct hit from a 20 mm
cannon shell fired by one of the
German fighters. The unfortunate
occupant of the turret, S/Sgt Frank R.
Lutzi, until that moment defending
wounded. With great difficulty and
MISSION 376
The crew 0/Lt Claude M. Kolb o/the 401st
Bomb Gmup. This O"I'W was shol down and
all were made Prisoners 0/ I#lr 071 6 March
1944 mission to Berlin, exclnding tlie lllall
hlleelillgftr nghi, 2/Lt Miltoll F Maloney
{co-p71ot} and tlie third m{/ll stallding jiWll
the 1Iji, S/Sgt Franh R. Lutzi [ball turret
gUllner}. Malolley (olltinued, to fly 55
missions Iii the European Theater o/0llerati-
OIlS. Franh Lutzi was hilled ill action 011 28
MaJ', when tlie ball turret 0/ B-17G
42-102674, IJiloted by Lt Edwin A. fbst,
received a direct hityom a 20 mm sl/ell. He
is bun'ed at the Cambridge Amen'can
Cemetery alld Memon'al i71 Ellgland.
[Claude M. KnlbJ
care other crewmembers removed him from his battered Righi: SI. gt James M.
battle station and made hinl as comfortable as possible in ule Smallin, lail gUllller g/B-17G
42-102581 Lonesome
radio room of the bomber, where he soon died.
Polecat 0/ the 401st Bomb
Unllesitatingly ule radio operator, T/Sgt Charles F. Casner, Group. He was shot dowll alld
climbed into the danlaged. blood-spattered ball turret, and b!?({/me a Prisoner 0/UfLr Oil 28
stayed there during the fighter attacks. and until the MC9" {James M. SmallinJ
formation had left the enemy coast, with Ule ub-zero gale
rushing u1.rough ule holes in the Plexiglas. For uus gallant
action he was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross upon
return in England. our crew as a replacement for Sgt Lekin , wh hot
The next aircraft to go down were two B-17s flying in tlle down and killed witll Lt Sheahan's crew n 2 Mar hover
already hard hit High Squadron of Ule 401st Bomb Group. Frankfurt. As we approached the Lutial Point, the a-pilot,
The lirst of the two to fall was 42-102581 Lonesome Polecat. It Lt Charle A. Eckert, was monitoring ule fighter charmel
was flying in the number four position and was piloted by and over me intercom reported heavy fighter activity over
liLt Paul 1'. Scharff, another experienced pilot in the Group. and around the target area. By this time we could see heavy
The crew had already lost boul its wingmen, piloted by Lts and apparenuy accurate flak over the target, as many planes
Keitll and Protz, before the target. finishing tlle bomb run were trailing black smoke, indicative
ScharfPs tail gunner was S/SgtJames M. Smallin, who of an oil lire in at least one or more engines. For whatever
recalled: "Our crew was
grouped in the twenty-four to
twenty-eight mission range,
except for Lt Robert E. Hoover,
our bombardier, who was
wounded in a lighter attack over
France and mi sed abou t ten
missions. I am not sure about
S/Sgt Roscoe D. 10 mlinson, Ule
left waist gunner, who came to
The crew 0/ B-I7G 42-102581
Lonesome Polecat 0/ the 401st Bomb
Group. Bach row IIji to right: Paul F
Sdlad![pilol, KIAJ, Charles A. Echert [co-
Ililot, KIAJ, Robert E. Hoover [bombardier,
KIAJ, Bernard Schwartz [uavigatOl;
POWJ and Sgt Brown [radio-olleratOl; 110t
on 28 Mcry 171issiol1] Front row IIji to nght:
Charles H. Bedell [baIt turret gnnner,
POWJ, Frederick G. Pynigar [ngN waist
gunnel; POWJ, Ric/wrd X. Karl [engineel;
POW}, James M. Smallin {tail gll7lncl;
POWJ and Sgt Roger '( Lehing [KIA 2
March 1944). {Jwnes M. Smallin]
THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 73
reason, we were crowded off the Initial Point and I heard Lt
Sharff tell the co-pilot over the intercom we would have to
go around again. About this time the fighter attacks began.
We were never sure how many German planes were in the
area, but we estimated fifty to sixty fighters at a time made
two firing passes at us by the time we came around to the
Initial Point again and the attacks were continuous to the
heavy flak area. All were head-on firing passes and at close
range. Obviously veteran fighter pilots, at least those
heading the attacks. I was the tail gLlImer and could feel the
20 mm cannon shells hitting the plane, but to my knowledge
we appill-ently suffered no severe dillnage from the fighter
attacks before or during the bomb run. The flak was every
bit as accurate as we had tl10ught it was. As we Cilllle close
to the bomb release, I could hear the ill1ti-aircraft shells
explode and feel tl1e Oak hitting tlK bomber, but again there
was no appill-ent dan1age. Inunediately after bombs away,
the radio operator, Sgt Robert C. Strong, checked tl1e bomb
bay ill1d reported three bombs still in the bomb racks.
'Whether dillnage from fighter attacks or anti-aircraft fire
prevented their release, no one will ever know. Sgt Strong
had just released the talk button, when Lt Hoover reported
ill10ther massed fighter attack was coming and tlus time they
were on target. Witl1 all seven forward-firing 50 calibre
machine guns going and the 20 mm shells hitting the plill1e,
I wondered if it was going to come apart. Number n,yo and
three engines caught fire and shut down umnediately. The
aircraft made a slight climbing turn to the left and threatened
to stall out; although the stall alarm never went off.
Lt Schill-ff in1mediately requested assistance, saying his arm
had been shot off ill1d he was bleeding to death. The next
voice on the intercom was that of Lt Bernill-d Schwartz, the
navigator, givu1g tl1e order to bail out. What had transpired
forward of me bomb bay, I was able to piece together ill tl1e
prisoner of war cillnp. Lt Eckert, the co-pilot, had been killed
instantly, the top of his head had been blown off ill1d he
suffered wounds in the chest ill-ea. Lt Scharff had his arm
blown off, apparently so close to the shoulder tl1at a
tourniquet could not be applied. T/Sgt Robert X. Karl, tl1e
engineer, was temporill-ily blinded by shattered glass from
the top turret gun sight and unable to see what was going
on. He left tl1e ship tl1rough me bomb bay. Lts Schwill-tz and
Hoover bailed Lt Scharff out through the nose escape hatch,
but due to the loss of blood Lt Schwartz didn't drink he
would Jive long enough to reach the ground. That left the
two up front ill1d somehow Lt Hoover didn't get out.
"When I heill-d the bail out order, I snapped on my chest
chute and opened the door by tl1e tail wheel ill1d sawall four
gunners lined up at the rear door, all with chest chutes on
ill1d all four were apparently all right. Sgt Frederick G.
Pynigar was the first in line. He pulled the emergency
T-hill1dle on the door, kicked the door and jumped. I did the
Silllle with me escape hatch in tl1e tail section and followed
11i.m out. I never saw Sgt Tomlinson again. It's almost certain
some of the fighters Cilllle around again to finish tl1e job. It's
possible. Lt Hoover and Sgt 1omlinson apparently were
botl1 killed while still in the plane, before they could get out.
However it is my personal belief mat botl1 were killed by
hostile German civilians after tl1ey bailed out."39
This last statement ofJan1es Smallin is supported by the
experience of some otl1er crewmembers: "When I landed, a
crowd of armed civiliill1s gave me quite a beating ill1d may
74
have gone further if a couple of soldiers had not stopped
them and took me in. The left waist gunner may not have
been so lucky as myself."
"I saw all enlisted men, except Sgt Tomlu1son, at the
prison of the Magdeburg airfield after my own capture by
the Germill1s. Sgt Kill-I had severe abrasions about me head
ill1d eyes ill1d Sgt Bedell had been beaten by German
civilians about the face. The others were in exhausted
condition from lack of food and water.'''IO
Right waist gum1er, Sgt Frederick Pynigill-, recounted:
"The pilot, when we were getting hit from the front, would
pull the nose up. This time it didn't work. The co-pilot was
killed ill1d the pilot badly wounded. The right outboard
engu1e was on fire. The pilot must have put the plill1e on
automatic pilot because it was going around in circles. I got
orders from the navigator to bail out. I made sure the ball
turret gulmer was out. I'm afraid of heights, hate elevators,
can't look out windows more than two stories, and Cill1't
watch TV witl1 guys fighting on girders. I did not have
second tl10ughts about this. I'd seen too many slups blown
up. I snapped on my pill-achute, went to tl1e side door and
pulled tl1e emergency cord, notl1i.ng happened, jumped on
tl1e door, again notl1i.ng happened, then I thought to open the
door handle ill1d it flew off. I bowed to the tail gunner at his
door to go first, he waved me out. I dove out ill1d was hit with
hot oil from tl1e engu1e. I delayed my jump, I looked up and
all I could see was bomb bay doors open and all I could hope
was tl1at tl1ey wouldn't let tl1em go until I was out of there.
When houses begill1 to take shape, I thought it was time to
pull the rip cord, it didn't pull, tl1en I gave it a big yill1k ill1d
the chute opened up. We had been will-ned to have tl1e
pill-achute straps tight. I still got a real jolt when it opened.
We had been u1structed to pull on tl1e shroud Jines to steer, I
saw a wooded ill-ea and that's where I went. I hung up in tl1e
trees about tlu-ee feet off the gTOund. I had a knife in my
jump suit pocket ill1d cut the lines ill1d took off on tlK run. I
was able to hide and remain free for a day-and-a-half."4l
Lonesome PoLecat crashed at 14.24 hours at Glienicke, 36
kilometres east of Burg, near Magdeburg. But events in tl1e
nose of the aircraft went somewhat differently to how
Smallin reconstructed in tl1e prisoner of war cillnp. The
Sillne burst of fire tl1at killed co-pilot Eckert, had indeed
severely wounded pilot Scharff. He lost one of his arms, just
below tl1e elbow and had several other wounds in his body.
A tounuquet was quickly applied by engineer Karl, himself
also wounded, and tl1en Scharff was assisted from the
cockpit area into tl1e nose of the aircraft. After fastening his
chute, the escape hatch was opened to bail out. But, now
there were three men in the crillllped nose area of the
aircraft. Since Schill-ff was between bombardier Hoover and
navigator Schwartz, and Schwartz in turn was between
Scharff and the escape hatch, Schwartz had to bail out first.
This he did safely, assuming that the otllel- two would follow
him out. That is also the story that was picked up by Jillnes
Smallin. But, when the Germans found the wreckage of
Lonesorne Polecat, tl1ey found the remains of tl1ree crewmembers
aboard. These were later identified as tl1e bodies of Eckert,
Schill-ff and Hoover, who had appill-ently not made it out of
me hatch, after Schwill-tz. The aircraft may have entered a
spin preventing Schill-ff and Hoover getting to tl1e exit or
Scharff may have passed out, blocking Hoover's escape
route. Whatever tl1e reason, together with the deatl1 of
MISSION 376
l(lInlinson, possibly at the hands of
someone on me ground, four of the crew
perished, six were made prisoners of
war.
Next, the aircraft in tl1e number three
position of the Silllle Squadron went
down, which reduced the strength of this
Squadron to only two bombers. Tail
h'1.umer Robert V. Kerr, aboard Fitch s
Balldwagon leading this beleaguered High
Squadron, recounted this stage of the
attacks in his diary: "My aLtentirm was
iltlracLed by a coupLe rf Fw 190s that circled
I/TrJund to come up flam behind to pick 9If the
,Iraggiers. Now, in the LuLL and zn sjJite rfit aLL,
I noticed only two B-17s stiLL with us -
Hammond in one and Keith in the other.*
Hammond was about 100 yanis behznd us and
a littLe to our right and Keith was about 150
)'ards away at about eight o'cLock, when two Fw 190s came up on
s
Hammond taiL and Let go with their 20 mm (end then tumed over
loward Keith. I drew a bead on the second one and cut Loose with both
bands and I began to wish I had m] steeL hehnet on, cifler I had seen
s
Ihe 20 rmn expLodzng around Hammond ship. (WhiLe aLL thefighters
were coming through, my steeL heLmet kept coming down over my eyes,
lince there was no Lzner zn it to keejJ it zn pLace; I got mad in the
('xcitement and had )Ianked it 9If and threw it down on the· catwa.Lk
behind me). As the Fw 190 moved over near Keith S shijJ I tumed
ilround to see where my heLmeL was. I reached bac/l to drag it towan!
lIle with my flat, but it roLLed further down the catwaLk towm-d the
('J(ajJe hatch alu! out rfmy reach. Keith now moved closer to Hammond
but was Lagging 100.feeL or so behind him as the Fw 190 circled mu!
mme in flr another attack. Both Keith and Hamnumd were}lying a
littLe Lower tluzn we were, with Keith slightly beLow Hammond, as the
20 mm started bursting ammu! them againflom the Fw 190 on their
laiL. Some rfthe sheLls went past them and started eXjJLoding amund
UJ. Afler one eXjJLoded practicaLly in 111)1 face, I decided to put that
helmet back on my head, where it belonged. I stopped shooting and
li>rked aLL the cords Loose, as weLL as the oxygen hose and crawLed up
and got the helmet, threw it back by the ammunition box, then crawled
into position and put on the Liner and the heLmeL over it. I connected the
I'Clr phones and oxygen hose aJu! resumed shooting. I noticed that both
Keith and Hammond seemed to be gettzng severaL hzts and there were
JtiLL a couple rf}<w 19 Os on t/zeir taiL. I noticed one tum over on its
back and dive down towardfive a'cLock cifler making its pass. 1# were
righl in the hne rffire rfthe Fw 190fin:ng at Keith mu! Hammond
s
and 20 mm seemed to be expLodzng aLL around us. I noticed one stn'ng
rf)lashes coming ng,hL toward us but they stopjJed just btifOre they
reached us. Keith was now dropjJing behilu! and over toward seven
() 'cLock, and I saw the Fw 190 coming up mz his taiL again. I drew a
bead Cl1uL was just waiting to get a LittLe cLosel~ whm I heard 'tall
gunnerjrom navigator' OVel" the interjJhone. I dzdn >t answel- and when
it was repeated a few seconds Later I sazd, Just a minute - I'm
going to be shooting'. He said apoLogeticaLl)l, 'OK, OK: I thelz
cut Loose mz t/ze Fw 190, but he was a little too fir away flr me. It
s
didn't Look Like Keith taiL gunner was jinng at aLL. * When the Fw
• In Lhis account Ln hLs dLary, Kerr mentions Keiul as being ule last to fall
from the Squadron. However. official Group reports show thaL most
probably 'VLndham's crew was the last LO go down. This view is
supported by ule auUlOr. However, Kerr's account is presented
unchanged.
THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU
Lt Walter B. Keith S ot'-ginat crew in September 1943 at Cutbank, Montana. The
crew was split up rifier a take-qfJcrash on 5 December 1943. IV,eeling thirdfrom
tift, tait gunner Robert V Kerr. Stallclingjar right, 11iM f/f,&lter B. Keith. Next to
him, co-piLot vvardlaw M. Hammond. Standingjar Lift, navigator Carl T. Ftoto.
[Vic Maslen]
began geLting pretty dose to Keith I quitjiring. A coupLe morefightm
were going cifler Hammond, so Ifired on t/zeln whenever I couLd get an
opening and they werm't too dose to Hammmu! sshijJ. I do not remem-
bel- seeing Keith J ship again, the Last I saw rf zt, it was stiLL}lyzng
straight a1u! leveL, aLtlwuglz Loszng aLtitude. A few minutes Later
someone said that there were men baiLing out rfa B-17 at about ten
a'clock and about a minute Later I LOQked down beLow us on our Lift
~nd saw flur chutes }loating down, which I thouglzt to be rfKeith s
ship. Someone toLd me Later that Keith s ship had a bzg,' hoLe through
the radio room and one thTOugh the verticaL stabiLizer big enough to
drive a jeep through. t Someone else sazd that the Last they saw rf
KeILlz s ship it was doing thzngs that evm afighter shouLdn't do. But
appaTelztly this was cifler they had baiLed out.,,42
The bomber Kerr saw being shot down by Fw 190s was
B-17G, 42-102647 BTG in the ETG. It was piloted by 2/Lts
Frederick H. Windhillll and Donald P. Ferg·uson. The
navigator was 2/Lt Carl T. Floto, who like our narrator
Robert Kerr served on Walter Keith's original crew, which
crashed into tl1e village of Deenethorpe ill December 1943.
Floto, who was badly wounded during this crash, returned
to combat duty, and since tl1e Keith crew was split up, now
served as navigator on Windhillll's crew. He reported after
the war: "Flak was encountered near the Initial Point, at
wluch time a burst outside the plillle knocked out number
du-ee engine ill1d killed co-pilot Ferguson instantly. Ship was
subsequently hit by Me 109s and other German fighters.
Part of the oxygen system had been knocked out by the flak
burst and I was talking with the tail gunner, Sgt Floyd O.
Miller, and a waist guJU1er about the auxiliary supply. When
the ship was hit by fighter [Lre, the tail gunner ceased talkiI1g
and efforts to contact hun over the interphone were fruitless.
I asked one of the enlisted men to see about him, but in the
• This supports Lhe view thaL LhLS was nm Lt Keith's B-17, bUL Ulat of Lt
Windham. The IaLLer's tail gunner was killed, whereas the tail g1.lI1ner of
Lt KeiLh was made prisoner of war.
t vVindham's radio operaLOr was killed in action, whereas Keith's radio
opera Lor was made prisoner of war.
75
 The crew ofLt Frederick H. Wind/lam was jJlctured In earljl JanuwJ 1944 at Rapid City, SOlltlt Dakota. u,!fOrtunateLy, alt but two ofthe men on the picture [Sgt Jose
G. Garcia, kneellngfilr right and Lt Angelo J. Melito, standlngftr rigllt} are umdeutfied. Wind/wm's crew arrived at the 401st Bamb Group with three qlficers, alt of
whom were on the ship on 28 May. As apparently the orlg)nal n£wlgator was tifi behindJor some reason, the crew was strengthened by Lt Cad Floto. Five out ofsix
onglnal enlisted men were on thefiltefid 28 May mission too. Only Sgt c.s. SteIJ/l.I:ns was reptaced by S/Sgt Floyd O. Miller. So, eight out often men on this jJicture were
jlying in BTO in the ETO when the B-l7 went down over Germany. [Gil Villalpando}

confusion and excitement, I received no defmite report
regarding Miller. Immediately afterwards it became
necess3l"y to bailout. We bailed out a little north-east of tlle
t3l-get 3l-ea. That sanle everting I was accompanjed in my jail
by \!\Tindham, bomb3l-dier Angelo J. Melito, engineer Robert
W. Rittmaier, 3lld right waist gunner Clyde E. Irelan. All of
tllese men were liberated in April 1945 and returned to tlle
Uruted States."43
BTO in the ETO crashed ne3l- tlle village of Niemegk,
where the five killed crewmembers were interred on 29 May.
Most probably, their assailants were fighter pilots ofJG 27.
Flying in an Me 109G-6 of 8.(JG 27 was Obergifi-eiter
Reuter. He reported: "After take off from Goetzendorfl
Leitha at 12.47 hours, we discovered a formation of Fortre s
II in tlle Magdeburg 3l-ea around 14.20 hours, flying at 7,200
metres. I was flying as wingm3l1 to Unteroffui.er Burkel. During
our second attack, tlle first one from behind, I was shooting
Fitchett. The other bomber was B-17G 42-107009 Lady Jane,
piloted by 2/Lt W3l-dlaw M. H3lnmond. Fitchett's tail
gunner Robert V. Kerr, with his grandstand view of all the
events in the Squadron, recorded the following about this
episode of the battle in his diary: "Intennittently, betweenfighter
attacks, I took ti'me to noticeflak coming up and there was fJrobably a
lot that came up that I didn't notice, being jJreoccujJl'ed with fighters.
At one time we got several close bursts and especially one real large
burst near the tail winch reallyja1Ted the ship, the black smoke curling
upward as it went !Jast my window. At one time during the luLL In the
fighter attacks I caLLed an the interjJlwne and asked if anyone knew
B-17G 42-107009 Lady Jane ofthe 401st Bomb GrouiJ. On 28 MClJl, itjlew in the number two jJosition ofthe High Squadron. Ajler being hit by enem)'jigilters It
hli theJomlatlon and Its pltot, Lt Uitrdlaw i"I. Hammond, tanded at the emergen9,jzeld at U1Jodbridge, England. Four other B-17s in the Higil Squculron were shot
down, and only the lead shijJ, Fitch's Bandwagon, refumed to DeenethOl!Je. Lady Jane was lost on 6 November 1944. [Michael L. Gibson}
zuhat we were doing up here, going around in circles. Either the up speed as we moved np Into the .formation ahead if us. f/Vatched
navigator orpilot answered that he didn't know, and he'd Like to know Hamm01zd as he again caught up, but then he dropjJed out. I toLd the
himse!f Hamm01ul began to drop behind a little. I noticed the cowling navigat01- that he was drojJjJingjUrther andfizrther behind and he said
Ii nocked off number one engine aJul a jJ1(xe if it was hanging; being to keep m}' eye an him. I thought I could seefighters around the ship,
held there by the winc!. His number one jJl"OfJ wasfiathez-ed. I began to then It disapjJearedj-om view."45
wonder wiry Fitchett dzdn't move us into another
jr)nn£ltion - we now had only one ship straggling
behind us and it looked Like we were aLL alone.
Finally Hank KeLsen asked the jJilot wiry he didn't
gd ujJ into the .fonnation ahead and Fitchett said
Let them catch up with us - we're supposed
[0 be leading'. Hank rejJLied 'there's nobody behind

at the fourth !<ortress from right and observed after my first
burst, bright fl3lues on ille far left engine and after some more
bursts, black smoke coming fTom tlle inner left engine_ The
enemy aircraft then dove away from tlle formation at an angle
of about 15 degrees. All tlus happened about forty kilometres
nOl-ill-east of Magdeburg. I couldn't watch tlle events any
f-uriller, since I had to follow my element leader, Unterq/fi:1.ier
Burkel. Landing followed on Zerbst ai.rfield."4'~
Only two aircraft were now left in the High Squadron of
tlle 401st Bomb Group. Leading this pitiful remnant was
B-17G 42-107043 Fitch's Bandwagon, flown by Lawrence E.
B-l7G 42-107043 Fitch's Bandwagon. On 2 June, only jz've days cifier
making it back fi-orn Dessau, it was involved in a collision while taxlingJor take-
rff and was subsequently scrap/Jed. [Robert V Km}
II.S: The pilot called me and asked how nUl1ry ships
we had behind us, and I sazd 'One - illere is just
one ship behind us and it has number one
engine feathered - I think it is Hal111TIond'.
Fitchett repLIed Roger ~ and I couldfiel the shijJ pick
2/Lts Lawrence E. Fitcllett aud Bruce M. CamjJbel/, pilot and
(O-IJI/ot ofB-17G 42-107043 FilCh's Bandwagon, looking
at the number three engine oftheir alrcrqfl. On 28 MClJl, tluy
IJiloted the tead aircrqfl in the High Squadron, the only
aircrcifi In the Squadron to refu m to DeenetllOrpe sc!flly.
[Robert V Ken)

76 MISSION 376 THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 77

 Wardlaw Hammond had started as co-pilot on Walter
Keith's crew and was, just like Carl Floto and Robert Kerr,
on the crew during the crash in Deenethorpe village. He was
upgraded to first pilot and now had a crew of his own. He
recalls: "The German fighters started firing cannon before
meeting our formation. The 20 mm cannon shell, which
explodes at its maximum range of about 1,000 yards,
created a firefly-like cloud that flashed through our
formation just before their planes passed over, through, and
under us with cannon continuously firing. I felt a shudder in
the aircraft and looked out at the left outboard engine. The
top half of the cowling was missing and there was a large
hole in the top of the wing behind that engine. The aircraft
lurched over to the left, and I instructed Lt Dene C. Gober,
the bombardier over the intercom to dump the bomb load.
He replied: 'I already have'. The ball turret gunner told me
that the upper half of the cowling was dangling below the
engine. It was scooping up the air creating a very large drag
which made it impossible for us to maintain the necessary
speed to stay in formation. Visually inspecting the damaged
engine, I noticed large quantities of oil leaking out where
one of the cylinders used to be. The co-pilot started to
feather the damaged engine, but I stayed his hand, saying:
, /ilk: still have oil j)reJsure and we can get ten to twenty minutes out if
that engine bifOre it runs out if oil and starts to seize uj).' We were
losing altitude at about 150 feet per minute, but I stayed
under our Group, turning inside of them at each lurn to
keep from lagging too far behind so that we would be
protected by their balJ turret guns. We soon lost the
formation completely."46
The rest of the adventurous journey of Lady Jane and her
crew will be covered later in this chapter.
because the fighters have a schedule to make too. The Germans are
USl11g a new technique now that seems to w01-k pretty well. They fly in
}Ormati011 ifaboutji/ty or one hundred planes and never attack singly
any more. The }Ormati011 wlllfly parallel to you, just out if range if
our guns and suddenly the whole}Ormation will turn into you and all
attack at once. /ilk: were fl)ling along wondering where our escort was
when a }Ormation if about thirty planes apjJeared on our lift and
started to creep uj) to attack. /ilk: weren't very won-ied because we had
fifty planes in our own}017lullion and thirteen guns j)er plane give us
650 machine guns}Or our own protection. It was then I noticed another
}Ormation if about seventyjive fighters on our rig!lt doing exactly the
same thing. It was then that I gave up hoj)e completely. First tile}017lza-
tion on our lift would come thru under or over our}Onnati011 mul start
}Onning 011 the other side. Then the seventyjive planes on the nglzt
would attacl" doing tile same Ihing. I was in the deputy Wing lead
position and Pat Hemy was alO11gside me in the lead [see reference
to Henry later in this chapter, auth01-]. A 20 mm shell hit tlm1-
number three engine and set it 011 fire and the first gruesome thOUg!lt
that ocatrred to me was that I was the new Squadr011 navigat01- cifter
Pat went down. Then it dawned 011 me tlzat I wasn't going to get h01ne
either. Those fighters would knock down at least two FOrts every tllne
they canle thru. /ilk: were getting our slzare if Jerries too but 1-apld
calculation showed that they could outlast us. This went on jOr about
twenty minutes and I knew Ihe entire fifty airplanes would be
annz/zilated bifOre lO11g when suddenly tile jighters lefl us. /ilk: didn't
know wiry at the time but bifOre long we saw the beautjfitl double
vapor trails above us macle by our little fiiends, the P-38s. There
weren't very nU111Y ifthem, but not Ve1Y marry are 1leCessmy.'''17
First hit in the Lead Group was B-17G 42-31520, piloted
by liLt Clyde B. Knipfer, flying as number five in the Low
Squadron. Again, a very experienced pilot and crew, well on
their way to finishing their tours of operations. Later in 1944

* * *
The Lead Group, the 457th Bomb Group, was
not able to escape the fierce fighter attacks.
.lighters coming infOr an attack)i-om 1 to 2 0 'clock jJositions, two men hanging in their parachutes, and a piece qfwreckage crashing to earth. It also shows the haze and
Flying as deputy lead navigator in H2X-
equipped B-17G 42-97686 was liLt William H.
Dupont, who recorded the events the next day
in his diary: "YesterdclJl I pra)'ed}Or all the milk runs
that I have had to date. It was a PFF mission so Iflew
with a strange crew. /ilk: were attacking a target near
Leipzig at Dessau and about 100 milesfiom the target
our fighter escort just suddenly disappeared. /ilk: were
about jifleen minutes late so it was our own fiult
Above: Officers qf Lady Jane s crew pose with
B-17G 42-32005 Command Performance II. From left to
right are mrdlaw M. Hammond [Pilot]' Alexander R.
Livingstone {co-jJilot}, Dene C. Gober [bombardielj and Myrick
J Whiting [navigator} Command Performance II was
lost on 24 July 1944. [11/ardJaw M. Ha11lmon{{j
jOrmlng orJitst j)lain gelting uj) nerve. Usually a fighte1- attack will
Lefl: The lead crew for the 457th Bomb Group 011 11 May
1944 mission to Luxemburg. Several qfthese men were also on
the Wing lead crew on 28 May. Stand/1lg left to right: miter
F Creigh [tailgunllerlfo17nation obseliJer}, Patrick W Hem)
j017lzati011. I countedfifty-two mul one ifthe crew counted sixty In tlzat
{lead navigator}, Mark R. Belcher {not on 28 May mission},
William H DUjJ011t {cleputy lead navigator}, George C. Hazier
[command pilot} and Dina H. Tonelli [not on 28 May mission].
[miter F Creig,J!}
This unique picture was taken dzmng the GermanjigILter attacks on the 94th Combat Wing near Dessau. It was takenJrom the cockpit qfB-17G, 42-38021, Mission
Maid qftlLe 457th Bomb Oroup. This aircrtifi, piloted by Lt Green B. Poore was leading the Low Squadron qfthe Group. Clearly visible are a large number qfGennall
.\IIIORe that tILe lead bombardier had to COlle with 0/1. the bomb run and which eventually led to an attack on tILe secondary target, Lelpzig/Iauc/la. [Green B. Poore}
bombardier 2/Lt Stanley V. Gray wrote in his diary: "At run, which made us turn at an approximate 45 degree angle into the
bnq;.ng the)' said all z1ulicati01lS were that there would be inte1lSefighter fighters, they tumed Z11tO us and came in 011 us. The Me 109s came
attacks, as 011e ifthe last mass oppositl'on attacks ifthe enemy. But as fint; then the Fw 190s with Ihe 110s and 210s sitting back and
S2 [Intelligence} was or at least has bem wrong on seve1-al otlzer occasi- lettzng go with rockets and 20 mm. /ilk: opmedfire with eVe1ytlullg we
ons, we didn't pay much attmlion to it. So we started out over the had, tlzat is all except George. He was firing his single shot machl1ze
Cha1Z1lel toward the coast. George s[navigator George R. Derdl.1nski, gun with all he had. /ilk: were in the numberfive j)osition so we caught
author} nt/lt gun wasjammed and I spmt most ifthe trip to the coast the nwin attack. The 20 mm were bursting all around us, but mmnly
stripping it and tryZl1g to/IX it. /ilk:finally got it to fire afew bunts. Znji-011t if us. Thank God we weren't 50 fiet ahead if our flight
But then itjammed again and would 011lyfire slngle shots. George only
got to fire a couple iftimes in all the j)revious missi01lS so wejOrgot it.
/ilk: hit a littleflak on the coast as usual and a httle later on along the
course. /ilk: heard notlung iffighter attacks over VHF so wefilt sqft
as we could be. /ilk: were just about ten ml1zutes iff the Initial POlnt
when a grouj) iffighters aj)peared at 3 0 'clock level. They pmved to be
me1Try fig/ltm and had evidently d1-iven iff our jighters bifOrehmul.
They flew along with us jOr aboul ten ml1zutes. They see11ZCd to be
come 111 or go on. But tllese fillows justflew al011g. /ilk: later figured
Ihey were jJrObablyflYll1g slow to let the larger ships catch up znto battle
.. - .- -
. -
....- .
one group. They were nwde up if all 1)1)es, Me 109s, Fw 19 Os, .. --- --~. ~ -..
Ju 88s, Me 110s azul Me 21 Os. /ilk: came O11tO the Initial Point and
B-17G 42-31520 qfthe 457th Bomb OroujJ, 751st Bomb Squadron. Lt Clyde
opmed our bomb bay doon. By this Izlne the group iffighters was B. Knif?!i:r and his crew were shot down by Gennan)ighters lIear Dessau in this
about at1 o'clockflyingj)arallel to our course. As we tumed onto our aircrq/i. {John B. WiIs01z}

78 MISSION 376 THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 79

position. Knipfer turned sligflt/yJ into thefig/zters and lowered one wing.
Just then we caug/zt one or more 2 amrn incendiaries in our lefl wing;
just rift qfnumber two engine. Afire develojJed immediate/yJ in the main
gas tank. Knijfer rang the bailout bell and set the shijJ on automatic
pilot in a slow turn to the right. In the nose George and I had not head
the bell and were still shooting. I saw the fire and Richard A. Bruha,
the copilot, told me to lighten the load. I dropped the bombs and tned
to contact Knipfir. In the meantime Bruha had lift his seat and ojJened
the escape hatch in the bombardiers comjJartment. J-Ie saw George and
I still in the nose, so came up to tell us to get out. Knipfer.followed him,
but bailed out the hatch. Bmha t12£'1Z dzd not want to bailout and since
we hadn't eXjJloded by then, went back to the cocllpit and took it iff
AFCE [automatic flight conu-ol equipment, author] and headed
west. George tned to find a majJ, but they were too scaUered to do any
good. So we gave Bruha a general headzizg and started prayzizg. The
fire was then blazing ziz a beautjfizl orange. I went to the coclljJit to help
Bmha if I could. He was iff interjJhone and the rest qf the crew was
screaming.for iz!fOrmation. I tried nry best to give it to them. Bmha was
then trying to jJut the fire out by divzizg the shijJ. Nimzber two englize
wasfiatlzered by then. m leveled out at about la, 000fiet and headed
home in an if/Ort to get to France bifOre we crashed, so tlwt we might
get help in an escape. m ran into someflak but nothing serious. As near
as I can.figure out now it was about.fortyfzve mzizutes rifler we were hit
that thefire began eating into the main spar and heating ujJ the rest qf
the gas and we decided tlwt we could never make it much more. m IZ£Zd
lived long enough on bO'lTowed tzine. I ziifOrmed the remazizing
crewmembers to bail out wizen they wished azw to try and hit a.forested
area. Goldstaiz and Walt/l0 lift then. BendzilO lift Later. Furrie was
going out qfthe ball. The lift wzizg showed definite signs qfstrazn and
began to .fold up fom the pressure. va£[ then Lift the nose, then the
The crew qfB-17G 42-31520 qfthe 457th Bomb GroujJ. Back row Uji to right: NicllOlas D. Fimie [bait tum/ gunne!}, R'1I:J WattllO [wais/ gunner], Haml?)' M.
Conouer [radio-ojJerator, not all. 28 Ma)' mission], Hamey C. Cot/ret [waist gunner, not on 28 May mission}, StejJlum T. Voit [englneel] and Joshua Gotdstein (tait gunnel).
Front row Uji to right: Richard H. Bl'llha {co-pitot}, Cryde B. Kmjftr [pitot}, Stanley V. Gray fnavigato!} and George R. Derdzlnski [bombardieJj. At! were made /Jrisoner
rj'war. [Nicholas D. Fun-ie, through 10m Kracker]
80
remainder qfus lift in turn. The shijJ.flew.for a while in a circle, then
the wing came iff alW it exploded, putting an end to a damned good
B-17 and zny Last tOl/ch qfAmerican hO'lneLand.for some time to c011le."48
The distance between the landing places of th
crewmembers, left the Germans with a great intelligence
puzzle regarding the aircraft to which they had belonged.
While the first crewmembers had left the bomber and were
captured a little south of Qyedlinburg, others came down in
tlle vicinity of Fulda, nearly 200 kilometres further. Their
bomber finally crashed at 15.50 hours near Doellbach, 18
kilometres south-west of Fulda and all its occupants were
made prisoner of war.
In tlle same Low Squadron, 2/Lt William L. Brackley
and his crew occupied the number three position in B-17G
42-31505 Miss Cue. BrackJey recalled: "The flak was intense,
and contrary to their usual attacks enemy fighters pressed
attacks in tl1e thick of it. While we were on the bomb run, a
half-dozen Fw 190s lined up abreast at our altitude, making
a frontal assault. Glancing forward from my formation
flying, I saw them coming, Witll cannons blinking in a grim
code 'To whom it may concan! A split second later we were hit,
very hard! In that instant, number one engine was lost, afire
and burning furiously. Fortunately, feathering it eventually
put out the fire. The turbo-supercharger and related
induction system on number three engine were shot away.
At high altitude it delivered little power, barely enough to
overcome its own drag. A 20 nun cannon shell penetrated
tlle cockpit from the front, passing between my co-pilot and
me. It struck Sam Bernstein my top turret gunner, in the
gTOin and exploded. He brushed my arm when he fell down B-17G 42-31505 Miss Cue qfthe 457th Bomb Group wasj10wn by 2/Lt William R. Braddey's crew. Engineer S/Sgt Hany Bemstein was killed by a 20mm cannon
,helt 011 the mission. [William R. Hadley]
the crawl way to the deck below tlle
cockpit floor, landing in a heap on
the nose hatch. Providence
prevented the shell from exploding
as it entered tlle cockpit. Ou r battle
danlage was critical. The Group
had not yet released its bombs, and
I was unable to maintain altitude on
two engines. I directed my
bombardier to jettison our bombs
inmlediately, and in the sanle breath
asked my navigator to look after
Sanl. He soon reported that he was
certain Sam was dead. I presumed
as much, the interior of tlle cockpit
was heavily spattered with blood
and bits of flesh ."49
Leading tl1e High Squadron of
the 457th Bomb Group was 2/Lt
Benny M. Flowers 111 B-17G
42-32079 Delayed Lady II His
bombardier 2/Lt John J. Gides was
hit in ilie head by a small callbre
bullet on the bomb run. As a result The crew qfMiss Cue, dUI1'ng training in Pyote, Texas, ill March 1944. Most qf
of the concussion sustained from the bullet, he accidentally them were on board on the 28 May mission. Back row,from Uji to light: Harry
hit tlle toggle switch for his bomb load. Upon seeing the lead Bemstein [enginm], Gtl'1ln A. Jackson [radio-operatOl], Mites McOyem [waist
aircraft of tlle High Squadron releasing its bombs, the entire gunner, not all. mission}, Daniet D. Etiiff [batl turret gW11lel], Bemard J
Low Squadron released ilieirs as well, all bombs exploding Geraght;, [waist gunnel] and Thom£lS /IV Gal/garry (tait gUll/zel). Fi-mzt TOw,ji-mn
lifi to light: Wiltimn R. Bracldey [Pitot}, John Hossack {co-pilot, not all. mission],
harmlessly in tlle open fields below. The left waist gunner of fiVinjfred E. Stortz fnauigatOl] (lTut Anthon)' J Kuta)'Cki [bombardiel; not on
the Delayed Lady II, Victor U. Meador, went up front and mission). [Thomas /IV GOl/gart;}
MISSION 376 THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 81
bandaged tl1e head of the badly wounded commenced to lose altitude and look for
Lt Gides and held an oxygen rna k to stragglers after leaving the coastal
Gide ' face for the duration of me return batteries. German fighter pilots were
flight to Glatton. constantly on the lookout for straggler
Hit during the fu-st fi<Thter pass was knowing that they were damaged and
B-17G 42-97470 Oh Kay, flying number six easy prey. It was imperative tl1at we
position Lead Squadron. It was piloted by locate any stragglers as soon as possible.
Lts Bernard V. Connor and John W. Off to our right was the haze from Gent,
orton. The latter recalled: "We just with Brussels about twenty miles south-
turned on the bomb run when I saw, off east of our position. However, tl1ere were
our right wing what seemed to be a cloud no stTagglers in the area. With Mons up
of German fighter. I pointed them out to ahead we made a 90 degree turn to tl1e
tl1e pilot, who then informed me there left, in hopes of intersecting a straggler if
"vere many on our left side too. We were he were heading south. before he could
hit on meiT ftrst pa s and it seemed as if, get near tl1e German fighter bases in
witl1 us, half the Eighth Air Force left me northern France. ow £lying at 11,000
formation witl1 battle dan1age. We held feet altitude with no stragglers in tl1e area,
our bombs, since there was a target of we could see tl1e San1bre river a it
opportunity dead ahead. As we didn't 2/Lt John J. Gides, Ihe bombardier if B-17G wound its way through tl1e gTeen Belgian
carry a bomb sight our bombardier 42-32079 Delayed Lady II iftlze 457th Bomb countryside. In me bend of me river
Group. During tlzeJigllter atl{uks lze WaJ hit in the before reaching amur was Charleroi.
Mon-is F. Swerdlove dropped mem when
head by a .3 0 calibre bullet and severely wounded.
he thought it was about right. We levelled aoll1l J. Gides] Little did I realize at this time, that in
tl1e plane off at 10,000 feet witl1 everytiling
under control. avigator Glen Thornton gave us a heading
home and I was calling for fighter escort. Then we were
picked up by tl1ree P-38s who were covering another B-17 Lt Max J. Woolley and his P-38] 42-679791l1e Homesick Angel iflhe 364th Fighter Group. He WaJ one ifthe pllols that escorted straggling Oh Kay ifthe
jj7th Bomb Group sc!ft!;, to England. Woolley WaJ shot down on 27 jun.e in Ihis aircrqfi and evaded capture. [Max J. Woolley]
which was flying below us with tlu-ee engines going. We
were down to two engines tl1en, so I called tl1e fighters and
aid: 'Hey, what about u.s? T# only haue two el1gines.'~n1en they thirty days from this date on 27 June, my plane would be me mere at 19.00 hours. The crew aboard me straggler
left the otl1er B-17 and can1e up and stayed with s urltil tl1ey target for a well-aimed projectile from German flak gunners, appeared to be aware of their position, in control of the
ran low on fuel. On the way out we ran into some accurate after leaving our target in tl1e Sedan- ancy area. I would be damaged plane, and on course for theiT home base."5J
Oak tl1at burst at ju t our altitude and off to our Left, so we forced to bail out and while descending in my chute, be shot Also hit by me German fighters near Dessau was B-17G
turned right until we flew at about 90 ~grees from our by Gern1aI1 soldiers. Heading in an easterly direction aI1d 42-97067 Blach Pl!!fPolly. flying in the number six position of
original course and until we were out of their range. Then seeing no sn-aggler , we made a 140 degree left tum about me High Squadron. Its crew was also one of me originals,
we resumed our heading for home and started to wow £lak twenty nmes west of Liege. ow £lying in a north-westerly which formed the 457tl1 Bomb Group in me United tates,
suits, anununltion, guns and oxygen bottles out. We were direction, we were in hopes that a sn-aggler would be and were now fairly close to finishing tl1eir tours. Pilot was
down to 2,000 feet and just hoping tl1e engines would last. B-17G 42-97470 Oh Kay iflhe 457th Bomb Group returned 10 Glatlon two somewhere within the day' bomber tracks. About fifteen liLt Rudolph M. Stohl and Sgt Willian1 F. Bemus, was u1e
What we didn't understand was why the German fighters hours qfier the rest iflhe Grou!} had lancled. [William R. Hadley] minutes later, nortl1 of Brussels near Mechelen, a reflection in right waist gunner, who recalls: "This day I was flying top
never came back. They had the sky caught our attention. It was a lone Fort, n-avelling turret gl.llmer, since I had traded positions with the engineer
plenty of time to land, refuel and south at our altitude, appaI-ently lost because of a damaged Robert C. KJ;ete. Over me Charme! when test Gring the
rearm and take off again to catch compass. Flying witllin several hundred yards of the slow twin guns I found mat the left solenoid, which pumps the
us and tl1e others limping home. moving plane. we made a teep bank to tl1e left so mat the anununltion into the gun was out and I only had my right
Luckily they didn't and we made crew could recognize our silhouette as little friend , and not gun working properly. When we were coming in on the
it back to Glatton."5o Gen.TIaI1 ftghters. We then turned right, aI1d climbing several bomb run, we usually had fighter escort aI1d had P-38s mat
The P-38s that came to me hundred feet, flew up and over me Fort, while waggling our day for tl1e first part. Some P-47s and P-51 were supposed
rescue belonged to me 364th wings, indicating for the lost crew to follow us. We to take over. Evidently when our fighter escort left, me
Fighter Group from HOllington. immediately made a 360 degree tum to the right, witl1 the others were late. We had some cloud cover on the right ar1d
The Group wa up for it second Fort turning to me 290 degree course mat we had previously after a few nlinutes mere came all mese Gennar1 fighters.
mission of the day and scheduled set, flying over tl1e crippled bomber. They came out in swar-m aI1d in every kind and type. I had
to provide escort to stragglers. '" White leader 10 Red leader, oud, Captain Ford called on never seen tl1at many concentrated at a time. We were £lying
One of tl1e pilots was Lt Max U1e radio. 'This is Red leader, go ahead, ouer; wa LieutenaI1t on me right side of me formation. There was quite a bit of
Woolley, who recalled: "We Sam Phillips' reply. 'Redjlight take the lift side, Whitejlight take action up front and then mere was this Focke-Wulf mat
cros ed the coastline at the south- lhe right, oud, was Ford's order. 'Roger, out, Phillips replied. barrelled in from up above. I only had me one gun working,
western tip of Schouwen Island, With the instruction from tl1e brief radio conununlcation, and I fIred and u1e hip next to us Gred. That Focke-Wulf
taking a southerly course of 165 Ford positioned his flight to the ];ght and several hundred went sn-aight down. and up to today I don't know who hit
degrees. The German gunners feet above U1e Fort, wIllie Phillips placed our flight at the him. I think it was me otl1er gulmer. because keeping my
below fired meir usual barrage of san1e altitude on me left side of the straggler. Using a snake sight on the fighter wasn't easy witl1 one gun pulling the
flak, keeping us alert to our ten like weaving pattern to maintain £lying speed, to remain wim turret to the right. There was an Me 210 which barTelled in
seconds left, ten seconds right, ilie straggler for protection, we crossed me Dutch coast near at two o'clock high; he carne straight at us and fIred at us.
ten seconds down, and ten ... Fluslling about twenty-five minutes later. At mid-Channel, He hit botl1 engines on me right, blew a lar-ge hole
seconds up flight, to mininlize Oh Kay WaJ losl exactlyJOur months later, on the 28 Seplember mission 10 Magdeburg. Her nine-man crew WaJ laken and having seen no enemy fighters witl1 not too much flak, underneath my tunet and knocked me tail wheel down. I
the possibility of being hit. Vile prisoner ifwar. [William R. H{ulley] we waggled our wings and headed for home base, aniving don't know about me rest of the damage, but I know we

82 MISSION 376 THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 83


- .
-' ~.
couldn't feather the engines that were hit. The bombs were
salvoed, but when we u'ied to close the bomb bay doors they
stayed open. We then jettisoned everything we could, we
even dropped the ball turret, flak suits, excess ammunition
and some guns, since we were in no shape to fight. The
engines on the left were on fuU steam, but we were losing
altitude slowly. We were trying to make the coast and
encountered a little flak, which didn't botller us too much.
Then, near Bremen, we just ran into a mountain of flak and
tlle whole thing just came apart. The flak hit the ship and
she just raised up. I was still up in the turret and it seemed
that flak directly hit our number tllree engine, which fell out.
The windshield shattered and Stohl rang the bell to get out.
Only later I learned that this was the moment that our radio-
operator T/Sgt '!\Talter W. Wagoner was killed; he received
an almost direct hit from an 88 mm shell and was pretty
badly shot up. He crashed with the ship, but since I did not
84
B-17G 42-97067 Black
Puff Polly}lying as the only
natural metal.finish aircraft Zil.
an othenvise olive-drab
jonnation in the Spring qf
1944. On 28 May, it was
crippled by Gennan .fighters
and eventually shot down by
}lak near Bremen, German)'.
7'lle aircrcffi with code teLLer
A in the 10jl ng/lt hand comer
is B-17G 42-31520, which
was also lost on the same
mission. [Bemard E. Bains]
go backwards, because of tlle still open bomb bay and only
a narrow catwalk available, this was told to me by the others
who were in the back of the ship. My option was to go out
tl1rough the bomb bay or the bombardiers hatch, I chose the
latter. On my way to tl1e hatch I noted that I had buckled my
chest chute up side down and stopped to correct it and turn
it around. Still the flak was hitting the ship, and suddenly
there was a loud explosion and just as I left the escape hatch
I was hit by a fragment of flak. The wind blew me straight
back, and since we were always told never to pull the chute
in tl1e slip stream I pulled my rip cord a little later. When I
did, nothing happened, so I gripped the chute witl1 both
hands and then it opened. Being so excited my wound didn't
hurt much, it just burned a little. I was shot tl1rough tlle
groin, tl1e frag1uent entered one inch on the right side of my
spine, it had come out tl1rough tlle left side of my leg and
had penetrated my colon. I didn't know at tl1e tinle, but I
was shot pretly bad. I was all
wet witl1 blood, and tl1e next
thing I knew was that we were
shot at from below. I slumped
in my chute and tl1e firing
seemed to stop. Then I
noticed that our ship was
coming toward me in a circle,
l'1le O'ew qf B-17G 42-97067 Black
Puff Polly qf Ihe 4571h Bomb Groujl.
Back row left 10 right: William F Bem1lS
[J'ight waisl gztll7ICJj, John R. Billington
[J'adio-operatOl; not on 28 May mission},
Francis ]. La/le [tail gunner, not on 28
May mission], Sheldon E. Moore [ball
I urrel g;nmlClj, Roberl C. Kriete
[engineC/} and In.uin A. Welling [left
waist gumzelj. Front row left to right:
John O. Millham [Jzavigator}, Rndolph
M. Stohl fllilot}, David W SdlellCllger
[co-pilot] and James E. Thomas
[bombardier]. All aboard were made
Prisoners qf ltar. {John B. Wilson]
MISSION 376
Wagoner was buried In the
cemetery at Bremen-Osterholz.
The now deserted Black Plfif Polly
crashed at 16.04 hours at
Malmdorf, close to Bremen. It was
to be the most northern
geographical location where a
bomber crashed during tlle day's
operations. The 'mountain of flak'
Bemus spoke of was put up by
Leiclzle Flak Ableilungen 844 and 954
and Sclzwere Flak Able-dung 606, all of
whom had their batteries in tlle
vicinity of Bremen.
Also in the High Squadron,
flew 2/LtJonathan M. Herbold in
Sgt /lVilliam F Bemus, right waist gunner qfBlack B-17G 42-107034 Rampant Pansy.
Puff Polly. He was badly i7y'ured on 28 May and 2/Lt John O. Millham, navigator qfBlack Puff Polly liz a His right waist gunner Charles D.
was eventually relumed to the Uniled States in a jliclure taken shortly (!fier his crew received ils new Fortress. Shebell recalls: "The radio-
POW exchange in January, 1945. [William F {John B. ftVilson]
B17nus] operator Richard R. Hazelhurst
was between me and tl1e otl1er
but it missed me by half a block, it levelled out and I tl10ught waist gunner, David V. Scharff, putting out chaff tl1rough a
for a moment it was going back to England witllout me. hole in tl1e floor in front of tl1e ball turret. I was watching for
"28 May was a Sunday and I landed right in front of a fighters in my view when I heard an explosion and a bump
church. The cemetery and church were togetller and I puUed against me. At first I thought it was tlle radio operator but
my chute to prevent me from going straight into some no, tlle fighters got us. It took only seconds to check damage
tombstones and I hit tl1e ground right in front of tl1e church.. - the waist of the ship was a mess. The right waist window
Well, tllen tlle congregation came out, and I mean really was shot out and tl1e machine gun was hanging in its mount
came out. They got around me in a circle, they were scared witll a belt of anll110 in it. Scharff and Hazelliurst w re on
because they tl10ught I was wearing a .45 pistol. Anyhow their feet, so I felt better. The escape hatch was swinging
they never touched me, but just shouted and spat at me. open and side of the hip was torn into strip of aluminium,
Then an officer came up and looked for my pistol, which I but we could walk around witl1 care. One parachute opened
didn't have. They brought up a horse-drawn wagon, when up witl1 tlle explosion. I looked at my feet where my chute
a German soldier hit me and broke my nose. God knows I and shoes were and there was a hole about four inches wide
was bleeding bad enough already. They threw me in tl1e and my fatigue hat lying next to it was ripped to shreds. The
wagon over tl1e side and tl1ere was my navigator John ball turret gunner, Johnny Miller, wanted to get out of his
Millhanl, who had broken his leg while landing. \!\Then we turret, but a pent cartridge blocked tl1e gear ring. I got tllat
were transported I told MilUlam 'I'm g'ut shot and I'm going out and he got out to be witl1 us. I reported the damage to
to die'. He tl1en put his arm ~=----liii~~~~~
around me and said 'I can smell I~
it', but told me I would be all
right and gave me a real pep talk.
We then were brought to a
Luflwq/fe camp, where everyone
was kind and I was billldaged
tllere. Millhanl and I were put in
an ambu]illlCe and brought to tl1e
SaintJosef hospital in Bremen. A
surgeon tl1en did a great deal of
work on my colon and he did a
perfect job."s2
Eventually Bemus recovered
and, due to tl1e severity of his
wounds, was repatriated during
a exchange of prisoners of war.
He arrived in tl1e United States
on tl1e SS GripS/101m in Jillluary
1945. The rest of the crew,
excluding the dead radio-
operator Walter Wagoner, were B-17G 42-107034 Rampant Pansy, }lawn by Lt ]ematlzan M. Herbold in the number two jlosition qf tlu: High
made prisoners of war and Squad7"07/, retumed to Glatton badly damaged. The aircraft was salvaged aftc/' a crash-landing in DecCllzber 1944.
returned home after the Will'. [William R. Hadley]
THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 85
 the flight deck and it was then I
learned the inboard engine next
to the pilot was hit. Couldn't
feather the engine and the
propeller just wind milled. I had
the feeling something wa n't
right with me. My left leg was
bleeding though I felt no pain. I
reported this to the bombardier
and Scharff and Hazelhur t
came to help. I thought for ure
the radio operator wa going
through the floor and thanked
God that we were still on good
oxygen suppLes. I wanted to,
and thought I was able to stay at
my station, but my heated suit
was shorted out and then they
got me into the radio room and
wrapped me in an electri
blanket with a tourniquet on my
leg. I was still on my own
oxygen and radio. I can't tell
much about the return to base a
I was only on oxygen and think
I must have dozed off for awhile.
After landing I was taken to th
dispensary and then to General
Hospital, where I finally got
sewed up around ten o'clock
that night. I returned to combat
status, but never flew any more
missions:'53
In addition to Shebell, the
two others in the waist, Hazel-
hurst and Scharff, suffered only
minor injuries; a miracle if one
studies the pictures showing the
damage that had been done to
the waist of the aircraft.
loute, including his ovm Low quadron, when Lt Gides was
lilt in the head by a small calibre bullet. The que tion was
\\ hether he should tum for the secondary target at Leipzig
md thus expose his formation to more German fighter
.Illacks and fierce flak in that area or, whether he should lead
the formation in the direction of England and thus pos ibly
g,lin some Eghter escort an I End a target of opportunity
.dong the route. Despite the odds facing him and hi
formation, Major Hozier decided to go to Leipzig, a very
courageous thing to do.
Lead avigator Patrick W. Henry, whose name appeared
111 the diary fragment of colleague Willianl Dupont earLer in
this chapter, clearly remembers the situation aboard: "Lt
Brarman, the lead pilot, asked me for a heading and
l'stin1ated time of arrival for the Initial Point for the
secondary target. I gave hin1 the info and the bombardier and
I began getting ourselves ready for the secondary bomb run.
"As I studied the maps and considered our situation, I
was seriously concerned about several factors. First, we had
taken considerable damage from fighters and had lost at
least one aircraft. Our radar was useless. The rest of the
Eighth Air Force had gone their separate ways, so apparently
we were to be the only ones hitting Leipzig. We were
supposed to fly to an Initial Point north-ea t of tlle target,
coming in to it on a south-we terly course. After tl1e bomb
drop, our most expeditious move to rejoin tlle rest of tlle
troops would have been to turn in1mediately on a nortl1-. Major George C. Hazier on ldJ and Captain Patrick W He1ll) on right, IUlve a
westerly heading. But our flight plan called for sometlling laugh qfler comilleting yet another mission. They shared anxiollS hours Ill/he lead
ship qf/he 94th Combat Wing on 28 May. Hazier and Henry were shot down and
different to avoid the flak areas surrounding the city of nUlC!e prisoner qf war on 17 September, all a mission in support qf the airbome
Leipzig. In face of the German fighters still attacking, crew operation Market Garden. [Bemard Baim, through Willard Ree e}

Over the Target and

back to England
ow, with two aircraft shot
down from his own Lead
Group, several others having
had to drop their bomb load to
keep up, a battered Low Group
with four aircraft already
missing, and a trailing High
Group still under attack by
German fighters and rapidly
losing more and more
Fortresses, Major George
Hazier was faced with an
agonizing deci ion. He knew
that a large number of aircraft
had already dropped their
bombs omewhere along the
Part qfthe battle dallUlge to B-17G 42-107034 Rampanl Pansy, qfthe 457th Bomb Group. Three crewnu:mbers were
wounded, all having their positions near this gaping hole; they were radio-operator Richard R. Hazelhurst, llji. waISt gunner
Charles V Shebell, and right waist gunner DaVid V SdUlrff. [Bernard E. Baim} The bombs qfthe remainingaircrqfl qf/he 457th Bomb Group explode in/he vicinity qfLeipzig. Results were classjfied as 'poor: [William R. H(l£lley}

86 MISSION 376 THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 87

fatigue, fuel remaming, the difficultie of maintaining tight had we taken tl1e otl1er route, I reassured myself tl1at we were (;aptain Harry B. Holsapple, tl1e
formations in large-magnitude turns and fmally the fact that better off here. But still, dUs was really BAD. (:ommand Pilot, later reported:
the boundaries of the flak zones not always proved to be "Suddenly a voice over the intercom brought me back to "r first noticed liLt McClelland,
accurate, it was my belief that a deviation from the original reality. 'Jesus Christ, Hem)', when aI"e we gonna get out qfthis stiff? who was flying in number two
flight plan was the best, using the shortest possible route. You said thTee minutes' [or words to that effect]. It was Bralmarl, position of my element just
"I called the pilot on the intercom and outlined tlle and this also was very uncharacteristic of him. It before bombs away. At tl1at tline
problem as succinctly as I could, explaining tlle pros and strengtl1ened, if possible, my conviction tllat no one had ever r noticed nodllng wrong witll
cons of each alternative, witl10ut recommending eitl1er one. seen flak arlY worse tl1an this. I gave him some sort of reply him. Shortly afterwar"ds I saw
After all, it was not my decision to make; the pilot was in to tl1e effect tl1at the boundaries of the flak zones were not him and he had fallen out of his
conmland of tlle aircraft and empowered to make decisions exactly as we had been told they were and tllat this stuff position and was directly below
regarding the safe completion of the flight, and Major couldn't keep up much longer. It didn't, the intensity me witl1 numbers one arld two
Hozier had been designated by the Wing Conunander as his decreased and then the barrage stopped all together. engines featl1ered. I dUnk tllat he
representative to carry out the mission. In tl1e discussion that Brarmarl expressed his relief in salty language and began a must have been hit by flak,
followed, as I recall, Lt Brarman did most of tl1e talking to check on each crew member to deternllne if anyone had which we encountered 111
me over the intercom. I arll sure he was discussing it Witll the been wounded alld if tllere was ally serious darnage to tlle moderate arnounts just before
Major. He asked a lot of questions and fmally it was decided plane. Everyone was okay, there were plenty of new holes in bombs away. I did not see arlY
to take the shoncut."54 tl1e plalle and some time later the number dlree engine had lighters tllen and I feel certain
Leipzig was reached, arld the remaining ix aircraft that to be feathered, but tills would not keep us from gettli1O' that if tl1ere had been any tllat I
still had bomb in tl1e 457th Bomb Group, dropped on tl1e back. I breatlled a sigh of relief alld said a quick thaI1k-you would have seen them. Lt B-17G 42-31721 Black Magic was assigned to the 351st Bomb Gr01lll on 20 Jalluwy 1944 and was shot down Oil
Leipzigrraucha aircraft factory. Hits were observed in tl1e to tl1e good Lord. Then I got back to my navigating." McClelland was under control its 351h combat mission on 28 Ma» piloted by Lt Clyde W McCteiland. [Ken Harbour}
nortl1-east corner of tl1e tar"get ar"ea. 'A/hile tl1e fighter attacks William H. Dupont, the deputy Lead navigator, and was keeping arl airspeed of
had subsided, tlle flak now increased, arld was reported to recorded in IllS diary: "Those who were lift went on to the target ISO miles per hour. He was
be intense and accurate in the official report. and the flak nearlyfinished what thefighters started. A sjxtre oxygen descending alld peeled off to tile
Patrick Henry, in the lead aircraft, recorded this bottle saved my lift when theflak was heaviest. It got in the way and Jeft apparently heading toward
frightening experience: "There was one thing on tlle bomb took the beating instead qfme. Anyway, when we got back we naturally France. He tllen went out of
run in such abundance tl1at it blocked out almost everything kissed the beautjfitl ground, we were so thankfUL to get down in one sight. I heard nodllng over VHF
else arld it is all I carl remember: FLAK! Flak, flak and more piece. Pat Henry came home on thTee engines, but quite aJew qf the and saw no parachutes"56
flak. Flak such as I had never seen before (arld never saw boys dicln't. Our jJaTticular Wing was the only one dull fwd heavy Lt McClelland, already arl
again, thank God). Leipzig made Berlin look like a lightly fighter attacks and we lost.fourteen shijJs. !I I can gel thru a day like old halld in tile air war over
defended city. I had hear"d some guys talk about missions yesterday I can get thru any qfthem, so I am no longer worried about Europe, was flying witl1 a mixed
where the flak was so duck you could get out of the plane and the outcome."*55 crew, since groundings, illness
walk on it, and I had known tl1at they were exaggerating, but One of tl1e victlins of the flak along tl1e route was tl1e and leaves had changed his
now I began to believe it was possible. And the closer we got deputy lead aircraft of tl1e High Group, tl1e 351st Bomb original crew considerably.
to tl1e target tlle worse it got. Even Brannan, whom I knew Group. B-17G 42-31721 Black Magic was flown by Replacement for his regular
from previous missions to be a very cool customer under fIre, tile experienced liLt Clyde W. McClelland, who had navigator, liLt Richard G.
made some impassioned remarks about the severity of the survived the fierce fighter attacks and now fell to tl1e flak. Miller who was lost aboard one
flak, altllough such extraneous comments were strictly taboo of tl1e six aircraft that tl1e Group
on the bomb run. As soon as the bombs were gone, we turned lost on the misslOn to
on to our new heading and I begarl to sweat out tlle Ludwigshafen the previous day, McClelland's origi1l<d crew during training in Ihe United Slates in Oclober 1943. Four rf the men were aboard Black
witl1drawal from beautiful downtown Leipzig. I think was liLt John B. Duncan. He Magic Oil 28 May,j1)'ing as deputy lead crewjOr Ihe High Group rfthe 941h Combal Wing. Back rowftr right: Clyde
Brarman asked me for an estimate of how much longer we W McClelland ftl/lot]. Fronl row, Ihirdjiwn ItfI.: ]ul/lor H Eclwards [waisl gunnel},jOurlhji-om Lefl: Louis E. RJole
was on tl1e last of his required 30
[engineer] andjjflhji'01n Irji: Xalhan L. Wiltiams [bait turret gml1leJ}. AltjOur were made POW [Ctyde W McCtellwulj
would be in tl1e flak, which had not abated one iota; if combat l1ussions and recalled: "I
anything, it was getting worse. I made some sort of estimate, heard reports of our gunners on
based on tl1e distance to tl1e edge of the flak zone as shown on the intercom system, that some
my char"t, but at dUs time I had very little confidence in it; I of our planes had been hit arld
nlight have said sometl1ing like 'about three minutes'. Ordinarily were going down. Then we lost
at dUs point in a mission, I would be busy checking our one engine, followed by a
position and progress by identifying Ialldmar"ks on tl1e ground second engine, and we were
arld it would take my mind off such armoyances as flak or forced to fall back out of
fighter attacks, but now tlle flak was so dUck I could har"dly formation since we were unable
see tl1e ground. There was no cllatter on tlle intercom, the to keep up. We certainly felt that
only sound was tlle droning of tl1e engines and tlle explosions we had a ChallCe of making it
of tl1e flak bursts, which were rapid-fixe but of var"ying back to England, when we lost a
intensity. There was notl1ing to do but hunker down alld wait tllird engine, following which w~
alld hope and pray. Occasionally, when a burst C<1me very endeavoured to lighten the
close alld the aircraft bounced a little bit, I thought I hear"d a plane's load by throwing
noise like a grunt over tl1e intercom, but it may have been my
imagination or it might have been my own involuntar), 1he rfficers rfthe 351st Bomb GrOUjl Lead crew qfler retul7lji'01n Dessau, 1Iext to
response to the stimulus. We droned on for what seemed like lhei,' ship, B-17G 42-97381 Linda Ball II. Sla1ldingji-om Lift to right: Capt * Sadly, vViliiam Dupont was killed by
Harry B. Holsappte {command pilot], liLt John H Wi-isberg Jr. {tait gun- a lIak rragment over Osnabrikk on 26
hours, but was probably two or tllree minutes. I had plenty of nerljOnnation observel} alld Cajlt Bruce F Winton {lea<t jlilolj. Kneeling on the l.ifi September 19'1·4. He is buried in the Two rfthe men in Ihis jlicture, lakeJl ill CUlba1lk, Montana in October 1943 were aboard Black Magic on 28 May.
time to wonder about whether we had indeed taken tl1e wisest llLi John R. Duchesneau [bombardiel}, on Ihe rigllt liLt Miles E. Mallihey Cambridge American Cemetery and Sianding in tlze ,mddle is George F Kiely [bombardiel} and standing on the ligllt is John B. Dllncan {llavigatorj. Bolh
course, but when I thought about where we would have been fn<wigatOl}. [Harry B. HolsajlpLe, II/rough John R. Duchesneau] Memorial in England. were nuuLe POW [John B. Duncan]

88 MISSION 376 THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 89


overboard heavy items such as
ammunition cases and other heavy
objects. When we dropped to
3,000-4,000 feet and McClelland
had no other choice than to give
the order to abandon ship. The
bombardier, Lt George F. Kiely
and I decided to go back to the
bomb bay <md drop out there, since
they still were open, because they
malfunctioned when we wanted to
close them. I assigned myself the
task of watching all of our gulmer
jump out of the waist door. Then I
called McClelland on the intercom,
advi ing him that the gulmers were
out and that Kiely and I were then
leaving the ship. As I recalled
afterwards, I felt quite certain that
also tail g1.llmer, S/Sgt LeRoy D.
ruse, did jump from the ship, but
I have n idea what happened to him after his jump. I came
down on the outskirts of Bad aden. Since my parachute
wa Lurning during the la t several hundred feet, I
experienced a very bad landing <md suffered a compound
fracture of the left leg, both the tibia and fibula bones. A I
hit the ground with my left heel, I felt a sharp pain for just a
moment, then, when I tried to get up, I found that I wa
unable to move, from the waist down. In the meantime.
German civilians and Hitler Youth, came running out of the
village, greatly excited, as you can well imagine. I was
kicked <md struck on the forehead, witl1 something like an
axe handle while I was lying on tl1e ground. Eventually, a
German soldier or policeman arrived and appeared to
as ume conu"ol of tl1e situation. Much to my surprise, they
tried to get me up on my feet, but tlus only caused the ends
of the broken and fragmented bones to go tl1rough the skin,
causing me great pain. When they finally realized that I had
a very badly broken leg, tl1ey brought in a crude wooden
Lretcher, placed me upon it <md carried me into the village,
where a German doctor put me to sleep and placed a cast
upon my leg, but made no effort to set the bones in tl1e leg.
Their purpose was to prepare me for transportation
elsewhere. From the doctor's office I was carried to a car on
7iSgt Leonard J. Knesky (far right) and S/Sgt LeRa)' D. Cruse (second }ram
lifi), radia-aperatar and tail gunner qfBlaek Magic. [leanaI'd J. Knesk)' ]r.j
90
The crew qfB-17G 42-97452 qfthe 457th Bamb Granp; this picture was taken
an 22 May (!fier the crew had lead the Graup ta Kiel in B-l7G 42-97451
aney K. On 28 Ma)', the entire crew, thell nine men, was killed when their
B-l7 crashed jwt aJf the Belgian caast in the Narth a. Back mw lifi ta light:
William R. Hawley [navigatm], Emanuel Haz!! [pilat}, Drmald V wain [co-
/n'!at} and Richard E. Jaqua [bambardierj. The six enlisted men in the}rant row
are ill alphabetical arder: Louis F Beske [ball turret gunner}, Oscar A. Gascall
[tail gunner}, Willis H. Jah11San [enginee!}, James] Kilray [radia-aperatar},
Paul R. Maare [right waist gunner} alld Jaseph S. Rezd [l.eji waist gUI/11£1j. Of
these six, GasCOII, Jah11San, Kilray and Maare died an 2 May; the other twa were
nat on the crew thal day. [Green B. ftJore}
a stretcher, of sorts, and somehow placed inside. I was then
driven some distance to a hospital for French workers in
Germany, where I was intenogated by a very sinister German
intelligence officer, who tl1reatened to have me shot."57
However, after Ius recovery Duncan was trcmsported to
the regular interrogation centre, from where he was sent to
a hospital in Meiningen and tl1en finally to Moosburg,
where he was liberated in April 1945. One crewmember, tail
gunner LeRoy D. Cruse, was not so lucky. After
parachuting, Cruse was killed on tl1e ground by a civilian. A
detailed account of his tragic deatl1 is given in tl1e fmal
chapter of tl1is book. The rest of tl1e crew was captured, co-
pilot Richard E. Francis on 29 May and ball turret gunner
athan L. Willian1s on 1 June. They spent the rest of the
war in a pri oner of war camp. Their abandoned Black Magic
crashed near the small village of Memes, eight kilomeu"es
east of Bad Orb.
AI a hit, probably by flak, on tl1e last bomb run was
B"17G 42-97452 of the 457tl1 Bomb Group. The very
experienced crew of liLt Emanuel Hauf was also nearing
the end of its tour. having Oown over witl1 the Group from
the nited States to England inJanuary 1944.
When leaving the target area, otl1er crews in tl1e vicinity
observed tl1at a fire had started in tl1e aircraft's number four
engine. What happened next can be told best by a very good
friend of Emanuel 'Skip' HauL He was liLt Green B. Poore,
piloting B-17G 42-38021 Mission Maid, and Oying close to
Hau f in the Grou p formation: "Someone called over the
radio that there were 'Bandits' from the north. My
bombardier, Frarrk Rowe, wa very alert and was able to get
some pictures of them, coming in for an attack on us. I have
MISSION 376
On 22 February 1944, the second combat
11lissionjOr the 457th Bomb Graup, B-17G
42-97452 sustained damage to its port
wing. Ajier the wing was repaired, the
aircreifi's a/Jeratimlalljfe re umed, only ta erul
Oil 28 Aif.ay in a crash in the North a.
[BemaI'd Bains, through Willard Reese}
been able to count about twenty-
five of tl1em and mere were
other aircraft tl1at our right wing
prevented from being included
in tl1e picture. I later learned
from Intelligence sources tl1at
there were thirty-eight German
fighters in tlus attack. 1 here was
no indication that tl1ey were in
any Lype of formation, in fact the
picture shows tl1em to look and
resemble a swarm of bees on tl1e attack. They came from the
nortl1 at the san1e altitude we were flying which meant they
lut us from our right side. It is very difficult to fmd me
proper word to describe tl1e events that followed other man
'unadulterated living hell'. All fighters came in with all guns
firing and they passed by so close mat we expected some
nud-air collisions. They only made one pass at tl1e bombers
and then mey headed for tl1e ground and tl1e safety of tl1eir
aerodromes. We were lead ship in the lower element of tl1e
formation and uffered some battle damage, but fortunately
no one was injured. We also encountered moderate Oak and
Lt Hauf was seen to receive a near burst of Oak which set his
right wing on fire between me number four engine and me
wing tip. The fire soon went out and was seen to smoulder
at times. After tl1e fiO'hter attack, I do recall Lt Hauf taking
up a position in the lead element of the formation, wluch
afforded him a much better protection should another attack
be fortl1Conung. I, or should I say, our crew maintained a
position slightly below and to the left of Lt HauE. From this
position we could see no damage other tl1at1 me engine
wluch was on fire. The Hauf crew at1d our crew were always
very close and tl1e con1radeship tl1at developed was almost
like brothers. The officers of the Hauf crew and our crew
THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU
shat"ed the same metal Nissen hut. Lt Hauf did not shut
down the bunung engine and maintained a very good
position which leads me to believe that one of the two pilots
was at the controls. The engine fire was contained during
our withdrawal from me tat"get at"ea. I attribute tl1is to tl1e
fact that we were flying at 30,000 feet where the air is quite
thin and there is not too much oxygen for the fire to spread.
As we were approaching tl1e English Charmel from the east,
I noted that Lt Hauf left tl1e formation and started a very
rapid descent. I tl10ught that he was platming to attempt to
ditch his aircraft on tl1e west side of the Channel, ju t off the
English coast. We did have P-47 fighter e cort at tl1i time. I
did not discuss my actions with our crew, but attempted to
stay witl1 Lt Hauf, so that we could have ome encouraging
information to report of his attempted ditcl1i.ng. Lt HauE's
initial rate of de cent kept increasing until it was necessat)'
for our aircraft to slow down. We were flying well above the
recommended airspeed for the design limitations of the B-17
aircraft. Lt HauE's rate continued to increase until it was
almost a vertical dive at1dlus rate of speed was well beyond
the airfratne linutations. We noticed that me lower in
altitude tl1e more the fire increased. This of course was due
to more oxygen being available wluch penwLted tl1e fu"e to
increase. I would estimate that
between 10,000 at1d 12,000 feet, the
right wing of the Hauf plane catne off
and the aircraft went into a violent
spin. After a spin of one tum or
Tlzis picture was taken on 30 May 1944 eifier a
mission to Ochersleben. The crew qfGreen B. ftJore
qfthe 457th Bomb Group is celebrating the end qf
the tour qftail gunner Ralph R. Stowe, the man in
the white undenvear. He was one missian ahead qf
the rest qfthe crew. This crewfU'1V lead in the Luw
Squadron qf the 457th Bomb Grau/J on 2 May
and was .flying near Lt Haufs B-J7 when it
eX/lloded over the North Sea. ftJore's aew claimed
./our Genn(l/Ijighters destroyed dllling !011!bats In the
Dessau area. Standing, l.eji to right: Green B. ftJare
!lJilot}, unidentified {substllute !OjJilot}, George W
Brice {navigato!}, Ral/J" Stawe, John F .Nedzak
[radio-o/lera/a!}, Frank J. Rawe [bombanliel] and
On1l E. Hobbs {waist f!,11/11ll'1j. Kneeling, lifi to
nglzt: Fredenck J. Smith [£'1lf!,111eel], Lynn W RiCe
[waist gunner} and George W Mur/J!ry [balltumt
gunne!}. [Green B. ftJare}
91

B-J7G 42-31615 Snafusk Shamrock ifthe 457th Bomb Groull. au 28 May it was.flown by the crew qfLt Robert J-J Magill in the 1I111nberjive position ifthe Lead
Squadron. Its crl'W claimed two Gennan jighLers destroJ'ed, but tail gunner /lvalter F Pittman was wOlllu:Led by.flak in Ius left rye. The Group s Engineeriug Department
uoted this ballle damage after the missiou: "20 mill canllon shells lui right elevator and rig/II horizontal stabili:J.eI; both have to be replaced. Two.flak holes ill left willg flp.
Flail hole in trailillg edge iflefl outboard willg Ilallel. Five 20 IIlm caiman holes in dorsaljin alld vertical stabilaer. Flak burst along lefl side ifjilSeulge,jiW71 tail end to
lower ball turret, resulting in extensive skin damage. Pilots windshield shattered by.flak. Flak stn/ck number two ellgine cowflllg." 77le aircrcift W(lJ shot dowlI on 20 June
1944 on a mission to Hamburg. {John B. Wilsou}
possibly another half, the aircraft exploded. I would estimate
that we were about 7,000 feet above the explosion and we
had a very clear view of this disaster, no parachutes were
observed and it was our contention that there were no
survivors. As I previously stated, there were P-47 aircraft in
the vicinity and two of them followed the wreckage to the
water and the last I saw was that they were flying low over
the water where the B-17 went into the Channel. I thought
Lt Hauf's intention was to attempt a ditching just off the
English coast, but for some unknown reason, he gradually
turned from a westerly course to a southerly course and as
a result the wreckage entered the water about three to five
nwes off the Belgian coast. We were flying alone after
leaving the formation and we beat a hasty retreat to Glatton.
In fact, we landed before the remainder of the formation
arrived. As a result of my impulsive actions in leaving the
safety of the formation, I received a verbal reprimand and at
the sanle time with a curious glint in his eye, the Group
commander said he was glad to know someone had first-
hand knowledge of what had occurred,'58
No details will ever be known about what happened
aboard the B-17 of Emanuel Hauf. All nine crewmembers,
having almost fmished their tours, perished in the crash, and
no trace of their remains was ever found. The names of six of
them are recorded on the Wall of the Missing at the Axdennes
Cemetery, and three at the Cambridge Cemetery. The P-47s
92
to which Green Poore referred belonged to the 50th Fighter
Group, a Ninth Air Force unit on withdrawal escort duty,
which reported seeing a B-17 crash in the North Sea north of
Os tend at 17.08 hours, with no trace of chutes in the vicinity.
The 457th Bomb Group formation arrived back over
Glatton at 17.50 hours with some aircraft firing red flares,
indicating wounded aboard. These were given priority in
landing and wounded were removed from three battered
Fortresses. Lt Gides was gently evacuated from the Delayed
Lady II with his terrible head wound. In SlUtjilSk ShamTOck
crewmember Walter F. Pittman had received a flak fragment
in his left eye, and tlle lilts in Ra17ljJant Pansy had left three
wounded. All five were quickly admitted to the base hospital
and eventually recovered, including Lt John Gides, who
remembered: "I woke up four days later in the Seventh
General Hospital, somewhere in England. I had been lut in
the head by a shell from a Focke-Wulf 190 causing the
removal of some brain tissue and the insertion of a silver
plate in my cratuum. Also, I had the tip of the nuddle finger
of my left hand shot off. I suffered aphasia atld was sent by
hospital ship to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C.
for rehabilitation. It was necessary to relearn speaking,
reading and writing. Since that time, I've had to take
medicine on a daily basis to prevent epileptic seizures caused
by the head trauma. I also lost my sense of smell and hence,
cannot taste food or drink. So, as you can see, the injury has
MISSION 376
left me with no memory of tlle events of that day and kept
mc from further service. I was awarded the Purple Heat't
and the Air Medal."59
The luckless engineer of Miss Cue, S/Sgt Harry Bernstein,
was beyond medical attention. His body was interred at the
Cambridge cemetery.
Lt Roy W. Allen had to make a one-wheel landing in
Rene III, the personal B-17 of the Group COlTUllanding
Officer, Colonel James R. Luper. He performed a great task,
causing nUlumal extra damage and with no hurt to his crew.
'Evo hours later, Lt Connor, who at first had been gi.ven up
as lost, Catlle limping in with only one engine functioning
properly on Oh Kay. 1wo engines had burned out in the
target area atld three cylinders on the third had been
punctured by enemy fire. Connor had dropped out of
formation and had everything movable thrown out of Ius
aircraft on German towns. He flew all the way back to
Glatton alone at 12,000 feet with an airspeed of 115-135
miles per hour.
George L. Brice, navigator on Lt Poore's crew, clearly
rcmembers tllat evening at Glatton: "Since they were our
closest friends on the base we were sickened and devastated
by the loss of Hauf and his crew - they too, were close to
having completed their nUssions. One of HauPs crew
members had saved two bottles of bourbon to celebrate their
completion of the fmal nUssion when their time arrived.
That night we used tllose two quarts, atld our own suppli~s,
and for the first time during the tour we drank heavily in
honour of, and to lessen the stunning loss of our room mates
and friends."6o
At Polebrook, it was anotller bleak day. After losing six
aircraft on the 27th, tile 351st Bomb Group had now lost
five B-17s and their crews. Walter Bergstrom, ball turret
gunner in one of the Group's B-17s that made it back,
recalled: "Of the twenty-four missions I flew, tile Dessau raid
was by far the worst and the most terrifying. I will never
forget tile scene as we flew tllrough tile bomb run with
angry fires and black smoke rising from tile target area.
Worse still was tile heavy flak and the German fighters
attacking from positions in front of tile formation. I emptied
all 1,100 rounds of shells from my ball turret guns and am
quite sure that I missed everytlling but tile sky.
"Young men, especially in the nwitary, at'e supposed to
be he-men and not show emotions or express their fear. So,
all during debriefing after we landed I put on tile usual front
of bravado. As soon as tile debriefing was over I walked
hurriedly to a lat'ge wooded area between the airfield and
the ground crew quarters. There I sat beneatll an oak tree
and sobbed for what seemed like hours - stopping long
enough at one point to vonUt. All of the terror atld fear I
experienced that day were .spilled out in my tears. After it
became dat'k, I went to my barracks and crept into my bunk,
where I fmally drifted off to sleep."6J
At Deenetllorpe, a shocked 401st Bomb Group counted
tlleir losses; seven aircraft wer~ lost, although one crew was
Spectacular series ofllictl/res ofthe landing at Glatlon ifB-17G 42-38113 Rene
III if the 457th Bomb Grollp all 28 Ma)'. it RaJ/ W Allen and cm.v had.flown
in the num.ber three /lositlon ifthe High Sqnadron. The slut W(lJ damaged bJ,.flak
andfighters, where upon it Allm skijfulfy made a one-wheel lauding. Rene III
was rellaired to.fly many more missions, it WClS jinally lost In action on 21 March
1945. Allen and his crew were shot down on 14 Jnne 1944. All but one if the
crew survived and evaded callture. [Bel7wrd E. Bains/101m vVallier}
THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU 93

Home, sweet home. A most welcome sight to returning crews. B-l7G 42-107124 MoUie Mule o/the 351st Bomb Grouf} returns to RJLebrooR. On 28 May, this aircrqfl
Jlew to Dessau 111 the Lead Squadron o/the GroUf}, piloted by Lt William Crockett. BattLe damage sustained that day neceSltated ref}Lacement o/number three prof}ellor and
numberjOur engine. [Ken Harb01l1}
picked up by Air Sea Rescue. One crewmember lay dead in
a returning bomber, three others were wounded, and all nine
aircraft that returned were damaged by fighters and flak.
Especially, the 613th Bomb Squadron had been hit very
hard. Six of its aircraft had formed the High Squadron and
only FiLch 5 Bandwagon returned to base. Its tail gunner
Robert V. Kerr recalled: "It ure looked good to see the coast
of England again. After we got a ways over England I went
up into the radio room, now that we no longer had to wear
the oxygen mask and were free to move around. I ate a
candy bar and opened some gum and we talked over the big
battle. We figured that Hammond had gone down and tllat
we were the only crew from the Squadron to get back. I
changed clothes in the waist and went back and took the
guns out before we reached the field. We circled the field,
then landed. As we taxied from the south-east end of the
short runway, around by the hangars and operations office,
guy were tanding along the taxi strip and in front of opera-
tions watching us. I guess they wondered where the rest of
the Group was. Bright and Hicks and a few other guys were
waiting in the dispersal area as we taxied in, and the pilot
swung the ship around and cut the engines. I then jumped
out and took the equipment bag out and set it down; then
94
got my guns and set them on it. Everybody started crowding
around tlle ship looking for holes. A couple of guys were
standing there, and as I set them down, I said 'J don't Lhink
Lhese guns are much good anymore' and they said 'Man, Look at Lhat
as they looked tllem over. The left one especially was
burned pretty bad and pretty well-worn in the grooves.
Everybody started asking us all about it and all the rest of
the crew were raving about it, but I didn't say much. All the
other dispersal areas in the squadron were empty and the
g'uys all started coming over to our ship to find out what had
happened to their ships. One crew chief, Sullivan, came
down in the armament truck and kept saying' What Lhe heLL
happened? What Lhe heLL IUlppenecR' He wanted to know if any of
us had seen what happened to his ship. It was a silver-
coloured ship and was on about its second mission. We
loaded the guns into Sullivan's truck and he took them to the
armanlent shop. He said that we didn't have to clean them,
he would do that for us. We took our stuff to the equipment
room and tllen went to intenogation. We didn't have to wait
for a table, there were plenty of 'empty tables'. We were
interrogated by Lt Meredith. The Catholic chaplain, Burke,
was tllere. Had coffee and cake while being interrogated. Lt
Mereditll asked tlle navigator and bombardier tlle usual
MISSION 376
Sgt R.H Ham/Han, a ground crewman, lakes a good look at the battle damage to
Ih,' left wing 0/ B-l7G 42-31081 Son of a Blitz. It was the lead ship 0/ the
101st Bomb Group and was piloled by Lt Charles F Hess. [Vic Maslen}
information and the time and strength of fighter attacks, etc.
He asked how many fighter claims tllere were and the whole
crew claimed eleven. When he asked about complaints, I told
him about tlle escort flying so high tllat they couldn't see
what was going on below them. I told him tllat just between
the first and second attacks, I could see the vapour trails from
the escort above us and tlley hadn't the slightest idea, of what
was going on below tllem. Remembering tlle vow I had made
a few hours earlier, ifl was lucky enough to get back, I wasn't
going to claim any fighters, but the rest of the crew talked me
in to it. We went over to tlle table where they were putting in
claims. The other guys put in their claims and I waited until
there was an opening and I was interviewed by the
Lieutenant I told him about tlle one that I thought it was
most likely that I got and then Sassi and Kelsen told me to
put in for another one, so I told him about anotller that it
appeared tllat I had nailed. After interrogation we went to the
mess hall and ate, then went up to the barracks. We talked
for quite a while about the mission and went to bed at 10
PM, I guess, hoping that we wouldn't have to fly again the
next day for the third day in a row"62
But, contrary to the sombre opinion of the crew of FiLch 5
Bandwagon, LadJl Jane had not gone down over Germany. She
had carried her crew safely to the emergency strip at
Woodbridge and was thus the tenth, and final, surviving B-
17 of the 401st Bomb Group. Its pilot Wardlaw M.
Han1ffiond, who was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross
for bringing it back to England, recalled events after he lost
the formation over Germany: "I feathered the left outboard
engine as the oil pressure fmally dropped off and instructed
my co-pilot to call for fighter support on the VHF radio
since we still were deep in German territory. We finally saw
a Squadron of P-38s approaching, but were going too slow
for tllem to stick with us, even though tlley made lazy
S-turns above us. We were alone for a while and were
attacked with one pass by an individual Me 109; he must
have been Iowan gas since he did not return. We apparently
did not sustain serious battle damage from this attack. After
a willie a Squadron of P-47s accompanied us until we
approached the Belgian cities of Antwerp and Ostend. The
P-47 pilots knew about tlle intense flak we could expect if we
flew over either one of those cities. The navigator, Lt Myrick
THE 94TH COMBAT WING OVER DESSAU
J. Whiting, tried to keep us between the cities, but the flak
guns had a long range and we were low, at about 15,000 feet.
I heard a n-emendous bang and the left wing flipped up. I
helped it witll a hard turn to the right, trying to avoid tlle
next round of four shells, which would follow the first one.
One of the shells from tlle single battery that was firing at us,
had exploded directly below the left inboard engine and
blew off tlle propeller dome. The next four hells exploded
exactly at our altitude, but harmlessly to our left. The oil
pressure began dropping, and I shut down this engine
without being able to featller tlle propeller. The drag of the
windmilling propeller and tlle hanging cowling on tlle other
left engine made it necessary for both me and the co-pilot,
Lt Alexander R. Livingstone, to apply aileron and rudder to
keep me aircraft out of a spiral dive. We were now losing
about 500 feet per minute and we still had to cross the
English Channel. Lt Whiting said, 7 Lhink we miglzL be abLe La
make Lhe English coasL if we're Lucky'. I instructed tlle radio
operator to call the Air Sea Rescue Service just in case we
had to ditch the aircraft in tlle ChaI1J1el. We tllrew out
everything removable, including the gem barrels, the long
distaI1Ce radio, the flak suits aIld tlle aITUnunition. We
contemplated releasing the ball turret, but reconsidered
because this action would make ditching more hazardous.
We totally burned up tlle good engines trying to get the
aircraft back wimout ditching. Lt Whiting directed us to
Woodbridge Air Base, which had a long emergency airstrip
on the coast. We crossed the water at no more than 50 D t
and flew over the field. To come into th runway upwind I
had to make a left turn into the dead engin . I lid n t ha
enough altitude to fly further downwin I and tum t Ul
. right. To make the left turn, I had to simultan au ly r II ut
all the right aileron trim aIld rudder trim whi h I had us d
to offset the unbalanced tllrl1St of the two good engines
which had been rum1ing for over three hours at full tllrottle.
"When the engineering officer of our Group CaIne to the
base to pick up the plaIle, he was upset because he had to
change all four engines. He wanted to know why we did not
operate the engines at normal rated power. I did not bomer
to give this stupid question a reply, knowing that if I had
done so me plaIle would be in the Channel on the bottom
or possibly in a pile of junk somewhere in Belgium"63
Of course the interrogation reports of this Group reflect
the horrors its crews had gone tlrrough that day. Captain
Fred D. GrinhaIn, who had led the Low Squadron, was of
the opinion that tlle leadership of the 94tll Combat Wing was
exceptionally poor on this day. Two other pilots in the SaIne
Squadron, Edwin A. Post and Elmer C. Gillespie, were very
critical of the fact tlut a second run was made over the taI-get.
Also the crews of tlle 351st Bomb Group were quite
outspoken during their debriefing. Lt Hales remarked that
'the leader was going so fast, it beat me whole formation to
death'. Lt Bland remaI-ked tllat "... the lead stalled us out in
tlle turns aIld these turns were too steep." And Lt John
Wellbeloved simply stated "Do not see aI1Y reason for going
over target so many times."
But life went on at the respective airfields after tlle crews
returned home. There is no better way to illustrate tlus tllan .
the fact that: "William H. Ballenger, co-pilot of the
OchsenJurt crew, was infuriated and extremely critical of me
fact that S/Sgt William McIntyre, who flew as his
bombardier, was scheduled to do a tour of guard duty that
95
 ---·---Cb:.tj:.iiij.-:X ..- 18. Letter to author. 31 October 1996.
", STff.-.OS.1o
1 5TJr.EN(;..-ol.jo
~
UD""~SH'v[", .s'II,-.I/fSS' PRlhs 19. Letter to author. 6 March and 29 March 1998. Chapter Seven
Sr":EAI()..-It.O,;' IB,o •• 20. tatemem in MACR 5134: Record Group 92. WashingtOn Tational
j T71y.,- or;, 'is-
.T.o.-O'Too
. E.T. R -/'120
- 1
TJ:l'(,- IbiS-
TO<--, .. )(,,·zo
ET.R.-.22.1'J
_
Records Cemer.
21. OF -citation Lt Gordon McEachron: leuer to amhor 30 ovember
1989.
22. Qyoted from "Fighter pilots in aerial combat". wimer 1983 issue.
MAGDEBURG
With penTlission from author teve Blake.
~~:'- ~t:, ~ 23. Leuer to author, 25 February 1991. \'orce II consisted of no fewer than four Combat Wings. place in the Lead Squadron of the Group. When it
STFf.- 02J.fs' - 24. Leuer to author. 16 March 1981. \\\'O of these. the 13th 'A' and 13th 'B', were assigned to appeared there were no more vacancie to ftll, the two other
STff.£fV'G.-O.3S.s- ~ ~"". 25. Leuer to amhor. 8 January \993. bomb the oi.l refineries near Magdeburg. Both others, the spares returned to Frarnlingham. honly thereafter,
I fix ,- 0'1'10 ~OAsr FRff,vCE 26. Pilot encoumer repon: ''''ashington ational Records Cemer.
I. 0,· Of,2 ~
E.T.R.-09.J O
'~'-J> l=\
. _
1 27. Pilot encoumer repon: Washington National Records Cemer.
!th and the 45th, were to attack the military depot at
k.iinigsborn. All were B-1? units of the Third Air Division.
however, Lt Parke had to abort when the upercharger on
his number four engine failed.
28. Leuer to amhor. 31 October 1987.
29. Statemem in MACR 5328; Record Group 92. 'Vashington National The 13th 'A' Combat Wing was led by the 390th Bomb Lts Wolf and Simmons, piloting Fever Beaver an I The All
/1ss-)t, sao - 10 ,caiRES Records Cemer. (;roup from FraJll1ingham, with the 100th Bomb Group American Girl respectively, left their position in the High
L r~ yOWH -..3{,00
30. Leuer to author, II November 1987. from Thorpe Abbotts flying as the High Group, and a Squadron of the 100th Bomb Group formation. Two
31. Letter to author, 4 February 1993. Composite Group of the 95th, 100th and 390th Bomb spares, piloted by Lts Bethea and Williams, immediately
32. Leuer to author, 16 ovember 1992.
Croups flying a Low Group. took their places.
33. Pilot encoumer repon; Washington ational Records Cemer.
34. Letter to author, 12 August J 99 J . The 13th 'B' Combat Wing consisted of the 95th Bomb In the Composite Group, two aircraft from the 390th
JiLt Dall C. Kllight, jJilot qfB-17G 42-3J983 Mal}' AJice qfthe 401st Bomb 35. Statemem in MACR 53 J 1: Record Group 92. Washington National Croup from Horham leading the 388th Bomb Group from Bomb Group, aborted; one with number one engine out,
Groujl, kejJt a small log o/his missions. Hi: 1I0ted the target alld the most imjJortant Records Cemer. KnettishalJ, flying high, and the 94th Bomb Group from and the other due to the failure of the ball turret hearing
times q/tlle mission {vier the mOl7lillg briifing. 7'he 1I0tes that he added ill the 36. Leuer to amhor, 28 May \981. Bury St Edmunds, flying low. system. The 390th Bomb Group's onJy spare for this
evening qf28 May are seffexplanatolJI. [Dall C. K1II'g'ht} 37. Lcuer to author.
The 356th Fio'hter Group provided the penetration Composite Group, piloted by Lt Chadwick, took over one
38. Leuer to author. 27 March 1990.
39. Leuer to author. 16 May 1990.
support for these ~Wings. Its 44 P-4?s took off from of the positions. The other was ftlled by the spare from the
night and even did not have time to eat or shower after this
,~O. Statemel1ls by 'gt Karl and Lt SehwanL in MACR 5306; Record :\1artlesham Heath at 12.04 hours, commanded by Lt Col 95ul Bomb Group, piloted by LtJonathan H. Bullard, since
very rough ITll ion." 6·1
Group 92. Washington Tational Records Cemer. Baccus. This take-off was marred by an accident. One of the there were no vacancies to fill in ule Low Squadron, ulat was
41. Letter to author, 12 February 1990. pilots. Lt vVi.lliam G. Craig, lost power just as he lifted ofT provided by his own Group. All 100Ul Bomb Group aircraft
Notes 42. Leuer to author. 4 February 1993.
1. Leuer to author, 16 Tovember 1992.
the runway. Though he managed to set the aircraft back in the Compo ite Group proved sati factory, their one pare
43. Statement in MACR 5305: Record Group 92. Washington National
2. Lcuer to author, 19 July 1981. Records Cemer. down. it flipped over after hitting a ditch at the
3. Leuer to author, 25 February 1991. 4<1. Pilot encoumer repon. 'VashinQ1.on ational Records Cemer. end of the runway. Although the Thunderbolt
4. Leuer to author. 16 November 1992. 45. Leuer to author. 4 February 1993. llIunediately caught fire, Craig was pulled out
5. Leuer to author. 29 October 1990. <1·6. Lener to author. 29 O\'ember 1990. safely. with minor injuries and he returned to
6. 351st Bomb Group Mission Repon: Record Group 18. Washington <1-7. dial}'; through Hamid E.Jansen.
lational Records Cemer.
duty three days later.
48. Leuer to author. 26 February 1991.
7. Leuer to amhor, 9July 1999. '~9. Mrs BrackJey, leuer to author. 1 September 1997.
The 13Lh 'A' Combat Wing formed up
8. Pilot encoumer repon, in JG 1 und II", by Prien and Rodeike. 50. Audio tape, February 1991. wiLhout any nOLiceable difficulty near
9. 35,hh Fighter Squadron History, through Ray L. Shewfclt, September 51. Letter to amhor. 2 Februa,}' 2000. Felixstowe, and left the English coast at 12.11
17, 2000. 52. Audio tape,June 1982. hours. Wing Leader was Colonel Frederick W.
10. Pilot encoumer repon; USAF Historical Research Cemer, Ma..'(well 53. Leuer to author. 19Janual}' 1991.
AFB, AL.
Ott, Commanding Officer of the 390th Bomb
54. Leuer to author, 12January 1991.
11. Pilot encoumer repon; USAF Historical Research Cemer, Maxwell 55. Dupom diary; through Harold E.Jansen. Group, in B-1?G 42-102634 Mary Jane, piloted
AFB, AL. 56. Statemem in MACR 5334; Record Group 92, vVashington National by Lt Orice D. Settles.
12. Pilot encoumer repon: USAF Historical Research Cemer, Maxwell Records Cemer. In the formation of the 390th Bomb
AFB. AL. 57. Letter to author. 19 July 1981. Group, the B-1? piloted by Lt Dayton had to
13. Pilot encoumer repon; USAl7 Historical Research Cemer. Ma..'(wcll 58. Lener to author, 25 December 1981.
AFB.AL
abort, due to mechanical trouble. One of the
59. Lener to author. 19 May 1988.
14. Pilot encoumer repon: USAl7 Historical Research Cemer. Maxwell 60. Leuer to author. 1 O\'ember 1990.
assiglled spares, piloted by Lt Ingram. took hi
Al7B. AL. 61. Lener to author. J \ October 1990.
Statemem in MACR 5099: Record Group 92, vVashington Tational 62. Lcuer to author. 4 February 1993.
Records Cemer. 63. Leuer to author. 29 Tovember 1990.
16. Pilot encoumer repon: \ Vashington ational Records Cemer. 6<1. '~Olst Bomb Group Mission Report, Record Group 18. Washington
17. Statement in MACR 5136; Record Group 92, Washington National National Records Cemer.
Records Cemer.

Above: Part qfthe lead m:w qfthe 13th 'A' Combat

Wing, which led the Magdeburg-boundjOrce, pose
inftol1t !!lB-I7G 42-31728 The weethean of
? Front row l'!fi to nght: Once D. Sellies {lead
jJi/ot}, Fred W Mun-a)1 [bombardielj, William E.
On- fnavigatOlJ, Timler Nt: HIMils {co-Pllot}.
Bollom row !Jfi to ngh/: JOhl1 If. Hill [engineer},
Bemard J. Stonns [waist gUllner}, Jdf Gar/aud
[ball tun-et gil/mel; 110t 011 mission}, Dal1iel A.
/I/lright [waist gUl1l1erj, ]oJejJh Vitaz {1-adio-
ojJeratOlJ, Robert P Sclirouder (tail gUl1nel; Jlew
with Gilmore crew 011 28 May). [Fred W MUiTaY}

Lefi: 21Lt William G. Craig qfthe356th Fighter

Group crashed with his P-47 on take-qffji'Oln
Martlesliam Heath. [kilt D. Miller}

96 MISSION 376 MAGDEBURG 97

 returning to ~D10rpe Abbots. In all, an almost complete
Combat Wing, minus only one B-17 in the Lead Group,
entered enemy territory at 12.46 hours.
We have seen in the previous chapter that the last
Combat Wing of Force I, cheduled to attack Dessau,
experienced difficulties in forming up. This Wing and the
first Magdeburg-bound Wing, the 13th 'A:, then traded
places in the bomber stream, with the unfortunate effects as
described in the previous chapter. However, more formation
mishap was at hand. The assigned second Combat Wing in
Force II, the 13th 'B', now had to fly as the third Combat
Wing and its assembly was not going smoothly, despite the
exceIJent visibility. The assembly of this Wing will now be
studied in greater detail, to illustrate the complex process of
forming a combat force of this magnitude, even under most
favourable weather circumstances.
The 13th 'B' Combat Wing should have assembled as
follows: at 11.46 hours the 95th Bomb Group, leading the
Wing, was to approach Clacton from the east at 16,000 feet.
The 388th Bomb Group was to come in from the south at
17,000 feet and the 94th Bomb Group from the south-east at
15,000 feet. Wing Leader was Lt Col David C. McKnight,
flying in B-17G 42-32066 S£lver Slipj)er, piloted by Lt J.W.
Hagenbauch. The 388th Bomb Group formation was led by
Capt Leo G. Burkett in B-17G 42-31802 Gydina and the 94th
Bomb Group by Capt William C. Healy in B-17G 42-32020
Belle 0/ the Brawl II
The events are best described by citing from the report
that the Operations Officer of the 94th Bomb Group
su bmitted: "Ji1ie took rff.from base at 10.10 hOUTJ and made a
lw17nal Group assembly. Ji1ie circled out over the Channel and arrived
at Clacton at 11.46 hours, fiom the south-east at an altitude 0/
15,000fiet, as brirjed. Ji1ie called the Combat Wing Leader brjOre we
reached Clarton and he said he would be on time and on course." I
At this point Lt Vogel left the 94th Bomb Group
formation, his radio-operator having become unconscious.
Although he soon regained consciousness, he was so ill that
Vogel took him back to Bury St Edmunds as soon as
possible. The report continues: "Upon arrival at Clarton we
lookedfil' the Combat Wing but dzd not see another aircrcift within a
radius 0/five miles. On the harizon we could see a number 0/ Grouj)s
and partiallyfinned Wings but they WeTe too distant to have Clarton
as their p01nt if assembly. As we lift Clacton we called the 'Wing
Leader and asked where he was. He sazd he would be about a minute
late, but then called again to say he wasfiur minutes late. Ji1ie did not
see any aircrcift in his direction, east.
"Assembly point number 2 was Buncher number 22, where our
Wing Leader rej)orted he would be one minute late. On the way there
we had everybody available looking fir the other two Groups that
comprised our Wing. Rej)eated requests to fire flares were conzj)hed
with by the Combat Wing Leadel~ according to his VHF, but no
finnation near us was seen to fire flares. At this time we asked him
whether he would be on time at Bundzer number 12, the third
Assembly Point. He replied he would be there on time and in as much
as we were making the correct time we stayed on course and made every
j)oint as bnqed, going thTOUgh Bundzer number 22 on time, 11.54
hours, and jJroceeding to Buncher number 12, mTiving there on time.
This was assembly j)oint number 3 and the beginning 0/ the Division
Assembly Line. There weTe partially finned Wings near us when we
arrived theTe at 11.58hoUTJ, as bnqed, but nowhere could wefind a
tWO-GTOuP Wing. No Wing in that areafired a greenjla:re which was
assigned to our Combat Wing. Under these circumstmues, there was
98
nothing else to do but pTOceed along the Division assembly line on course
and wntinue to look fir the Combat Wing Leader, using the VHF to
establish our relative positions."
Between the Lines in this detailed report, which was
submitted on 30 May, it is easy to in1agine the tension
mount aboard the Belle 0/ the Brawl II, the calls over the
VHF, anxious eyes looking in every direction, lead
navigator and pilot constantly checking their briefing note
and actual location.
The report continues: "Jilie arrived at Splasher numbe1' 9 at
12.03 hOUTJ and turned on course to Great Yarmouth, continuously
calling the Wing Leader tofind out where he was, whether he had seen
our flares and Tequesting .flares fiom him. A short time later we
observed a three-GroujJ Wing firing gTeen-green flares but upon
closing, we We1'e requested by the Leader to stay out 0/ thefi171zation.
Our Leade1''s flares were neVe1' visible to us or to any aircreifl in OU1'
fimzation. This being the case, we decided to jJroceed to Great
YamlOuth, figunng that b)1 the time they reached the coast, the Wings
would all be finned zn their jJrojJer jJosition and that a well finned
two-Grouj) Wing would be readily appamzt. Ji1ie crossed the coast thiTty
seconds brjOl'e bnqed time, 12.13 hours, and ujJon crosszng we called
the Wing Leader again, asking where he was. The reply we got was
that he tlwuglzl he saw us to the rig!zt and that we should 'S' to the
lift, which we did, even though there was no fi17nation appamzt.
When we contacted him again, he sazd he was directly behind us,
l'equesting that we 'S' out to the right, which we dzd and then bark on
course, but still no finnation apjJarent Ji1ie were never at any jJoint
given a geogTajJhical position j'01n which to work. His eXj)lanation 0/
position in tenns Telative to our own GTOujJ could by no means have
been sz!fjicient, unless the Wing Leade1' was actually where he said he
was in l'espect to us. Ji1ie therrjOl'e continued'S 'in& calling and asking
fir flares andfiringflares in an dJOrt to detennine where he was and
tofinn our Combat Wing. The Wing Lear!er used ujJ all theflares ziz
his aircrcift in an atLenzjJt to azd us in locating him. His high squadron
leader then continued to fire flares, according to VHF conversation.
"At a point about 20 miles out, on course fiom ContTOI Poznt
number 1, our qjjicer/tail gunner called to say that ajJjJToxinutlely ten
miles behind us there was a two-GroujJ firmation. At that time we
called the Wing Leader and asked wlutl his jJosition was ziz relation to
the coast. He replied that he was just crosszizg the coast at the tline if
my call; tlzereuj)on I notified 111m that we were some distance out in the
Channel and would 'S' to the riglzl in an atte11zjJt to pick 111in up.
[Previous to this he had called me to say that he spotted us several miles
behzizd him and would slow down so that we could dftct asse1nbly with
him; howeve,~ there were no two-GTOUIJ Wings within sight infiont 0/
us at that time}. Ji1ie dzd 'S'to the right and then pTOceeded back to the
lift. After tillS jJrocedure we carne quite close to the two-Group Wzizg
which our tail gunner had sj)otLed and, thzizkzizg it was our Wing~ we
called the Wzizg Leader and asked him to fire some.flares again. No
flares were fired fiom the fimzation near us and, filrth~ we noticed
tlzat the finnation behilu! them had fiur Groups. Behind the fiur-
Group Wing there were no azrcr(!ft whaisoeve1'. The1'rjOre, it was only
logical to assume that the Wings which were near us were the 4th and
45th Combat Wzngs, which were the last two in the Divisionfi17nation
and that one Wil1g had acquired a Group fiom the oth~ nzaking two
andfiur-Group Wings. At that time it was in my 1nziu! tojoin the two-
Group Wing and go on the mission with them. Howev~ upon callzng
the bombardi~ I fiund that he did not have any tmget lnajJS fir the
target which was to be bombed by that Wing~ nor did Ior m:)' navigator
have the plan 0/ bombing, which would be inzjJortant in dftcting the
peel-rff at the Initial Pozizt brjOre bombzizg and also in re-asse111bling
(ifter the target luzd been hit. At that tzine, mu! even now, cifter some
MISSION 376
"flection, it does not seem to me that it would have been a wise choice For both Combat Wing landfall and flight to the target
10 risk aircrcift and men zn a mission on which we could neither defend were routine, but troubles began near the Initial Point, when
OIllJelves projm'ly nor put the bombs In the place where they would do the 'misplaced' 94th Combat Wing had to go to Dessau.
Iht most gooc!." The two Wings it was flying in between - tl1e 13th 'I>: and
At this point the 94tl1 Bomb Group formation turned 'B' - had to turn for Magdeburg. .As we have seen before,
back to England. All 20 aircraft and their crews landed at Major George Hozier, leading the Dessau-bound Fortresses,
Bury St Edmunds, each returning its load of 38 100-pound had to cut short near the Initial Point to make up time, and
General Purpose bombs. consequently the available fighter escort was strung out in
Chagrined, the Operations Officer concluded: "The time the target area.
o/reaching asse11zbly IJoinis and control pOlizis were corroborated by the As the bombers droned over the North ea and Holland
other lead navigaloTS in our Group. &nce visibility was Ve1)1 good, it toward Magdeburg, several Fighter Groups had taken off in
i\ lizcredible t/zal we would not luwe sem our Combat Wing jfthey were England to relieve the 356tl1 Fighter Group from their escort
lit the properplace at the proper tzine. At no tzine did the Wzilg Leade1' duty. Among these were the 354th and 357th Fight l'
,I.!,ive us a geographical jJositz'on j'om which we could work al d}:cting Groups, assigned to the Magdeburg Wings and both
1m asse11zbly or an znterception at a pOlizt Jitrther along the bnqed destined to engage in fierce encounters with the Lziftwqfft.
lOurses. No me1nber 0/ any crew in the Grouj), although they were all After departure at 11.39 hours from their base at Lashenden,
IIlcrted, spotted the fimzation we were tryzng to jOln and which was near Maids tone, the 49 Mustangs from the 354th Fighter
IOlltinuously slwot£ngflares. n Group climbed out over the Nortl1 Sea at an economical
Obviously, the Operations Officer of the' 95tl1 Bomb speed to reduce gas consumption. No fewer tllan ten of the
Group also had to subrrlit a report. He made a much briefer pilots had to abort the mission. A flight of four was unable
one: "7Ize 95th Bomb Group,flying as Lead Group liz the 13th 'B' to find tl1e formation at all, a pilot became ill and five had
Combat Wing, took rff fiom base at 09.50-10.04 hours and other reasons for aborting. One of these five was liLt Don
assembled over the field at 2,000fiet by 1025 hOUTS. Leader began McDowell, an experienced and popular pilot in the Group,
climb to rendezvous altitude and 1nade the fint mulezvous jJOlizt, at Hying in his P-51B 42-106712. He was already credited witl1
11.48 hours, two mzizutes lale at 16,000fiet and three miles south 0/ the destruction of nine German aircraft in air combat,
Clarton. The other two GroujJS in the Wing~ the 388th and the 94th including three on tl1e same day, 21 February 1944. At about
were ahead O/US at the Wing mzdezvous - so the 95th leade1: cut short 12.47 hours, McDowell gave a brief radio call to his flight
his coune and picked ujJ the 38 8th GroujJ brjOre leavz:ng the English leader, liLt Carl Frantz, and stated that he had to return to
mast. The 94th GroujJ was still unsighted. Shortly brjOre leavzng the base. The Mustangs were at an altitude of 22,000 feet and
English coast a Group 0/B-24s crossed the Wing's path mu! zn order only five minutes before landfall at Brielle, Holland. Frantz
to avozd a collision, the Wing Leader nuzde a sharp lefl tum and back acknowledged receipt of the message with a sin1ple 'Roger'.
on course - which caused aJitrtha loss o/tzine. TherrjOre the Wing lift McDowell then dropped from formation and turned back on
Ihe coast seven miles north if course, Great YamlOllth, and three
minutes late at 12.15 hours at an altitude rf 16,OOOfiet. Clzinb to
20,000fiet was begun. Whlle crossing the Channel, the 94th Group,
which was still ujJ ahead, deczded to make a 180 degree tum liz order
10 contact the 13th 'B' Wing, jfpossible. While maklng this tum, the
Group lost siglzl o/the Division and wasfirced to abandon the mission.
TherrjOre only two Groups conzjJosed the 13th Wz'ng"2
Again, an interfering B-24 formation was used as an
excuse for troubles during assembly. The matter was never
pursued, as the pace of operations was so high in this period
of the war.
During formation of tl1e 95th Bomb Group, Lt E.L.
Rossetti aborted and returned to Horham because the
number two engine on his B-17G 42-37889 Pride 0/ Vlzelhalis
failed. His place as a spare was taken by Lt Norman A.
Ulrich in B-17G 42-31924 01' Boy. The two other spares
returned unused. The third and last Group in this Wing, the
388th from Knettishall, fared worse. This Group took off
from 09.40 to 10.00 hours with 21 aircraft, 18 for the
formation and tl1ree spares. No fewer tl1an six of these
returned before reaching the enemy coast. Lt Maple's
number one engined failed over the base, Lt Elliot found his
own oxygen system out and Lt McArthur returned as a
scheduled spare. But, after this last spare had left, Lt Phillips'
number tl1ree supercharger went out at altitude, Lt Newell's
number two propeller ran away, and Lt Salles returned when
he suffered badly from sinusitus. So a depleted 13th 'B' ]1ISt backjimn a misSIOn., with the strains qfhis oxygennUJSk still visible on. hisftce,
his hair uncombed and Ilis jlistof still in a shoulder holster, liLt Don McDowell is
Combat Wing, with only 33 aircraft instead of the briefed treated with Clffee and a doughnut. On 28 May, he disappeared over the North
54, crossed the coast of Holland at 12.54 hours, seven Sea and his body was washed ashore III Englalld nearly two months fall'T. [Steve
minutes late, but on course and at an altitude of 20,000 feet. Blake]
MAGDEBURG 99
course toward England. The reason for McDowell's abort
only became clear, when liLt Philip D. Cohen wrote: "I was
flying as number four on Don McDowell's wing on this
escort mission and I had to abort due to a toothache. On the
ground the tooth felt ftne, but at 22,000 feet it really hurt. I
immediately turned around, being just over the coast of
Holland, and turning with me, to accompany me home was
Don McDowell. We immediately dropped to 14,000 feet for
two reasons. The fIrst was the oxygen mask, which you
could take off at this altitude, the second was to smoke a
cigarette. We were fIfty feet in distance, to cover each others
tail. I turned to my right and Don was there, I turned to my
left and it was blue sky, turned to my right again and Don
was gone. I circled around about three times and barked in
the radio - in code - and fmally called: 'Don, where are you?'.
There was no reply. This was in the middle of the orth
Sea. In about thirty or forty minutes I landed at Lashenden,
got out of the P-51 and after reporting Don's disappearance,
took a jeep to the dentists tent and sat in his chair. This was
a loose tooth and after the dentist had pulled it, he then
showed it to me."3
To explanation was ever found for Don McDowell's
sudden disappearance. Whatever the cause, he did not
survive the North Sea. His body was washed ashore in
England in the second half of July and was buried at the
American Military Cemetery in Brookwood. The 354th
Fighter Group formation continued and would revenge the
death of their comrade later that day.
At the same time that Major Hozier's Dessau-bound 94th
Combat Wing was hit by the large formations of German
fighters, the same thing happened to the 13th 'ft: Combat
Wing, heading for Magdeburg.
The 390th Bomb Group, leading this Wing, bore the
brunt of the attack. Although the escorting fighters of the
354th and 357th Fighter Groups tried as hard as they could,
Lzifiwcifft ftghters were able to close in on the bombers, and
a fierce battle developed.
Colonel Frederick W. Ott, the recently-appointed 390th
Bomb Group Commanding
OffIcer, flying as Wing
Leader in Mary Jane, piloted
by Lt Orice D. Settles, saw
five or six formations of
enemy fighters, assemble in
front of him. At 14.07 hours
they came in, ftring on the
Lead Group, from head-on.
One of these formations,
with some 20 Fw 190s, 15
Bf 109s and five Me 410s
made a saturation attack on
the Group from between
twelve and two o'clock. The
enemy aircraft were stacked
up in a line abreast, from low
to level, in tJ-uee or four rows.
The Me 410s broke off tlleir
attack about 3,000 yards out
of the formation, firing
The crew 9/B-17G 42-32089 Mountaineer 9/lhe 390th 130mb GroulJ. Front row leJi to right: Adolph J Matthias !lJlwt],
rockets to break up the Hem) J Gerards {co-jJilot}, LI Liltte fnavigat01; not on 28 May mission] and OiJentin R. Bass [bombardier). Back row leJi to
formation. The otller enemy right: Jerry Wo!f[enginenJ, Charles M. Oliver [ball lund gnnner], Leon C. Walker {tall g;mlwIJ and Charles.N. Abbot (I·adio-
fighters hit the Group en operalOlj. All were ,,/£ide jJrisoner 9/war. [OiJentin R. Bass]
100
masse, with some going through to make individual attacks
on the Low Group of tile Wing, although most of them
broke off down and away. No fewer than five B-17s of the
390th Bomb Group were hit fatally during this attack.
It is a tribute to the experience <md leadership of the
commander of the major German formation, Obedeutnant
Rudiger Kirclmlayr ofJG 1, tllat despite American fighters all
around, he had been able to manoeuvre his unit so as to be
able to execute such a head-on attack on a B-17 formation.
One of the assaillants was Feldwebel Rudolf Lehmann of
4.aG 1, in Fw 190A-8 170416, r#:isse 13: "On 28 May, after
having been on readiness for some tinle, I took off at 13.05
hours as a Rottenfiihrer (element leader) in II.aG 1. We were
ordered to assemble with LaG 1 and IILaG 1 at a height of
1,000 metres over Paderborn and were ordered to fly a
course of 100 degrees. After a few course alterations we met
a formation of Me 109s and Me 410s at 14.00 hours in the
vicinity of Magdeburg. At the s<Une time we sighted five
enemy bomber formations on an easterly heading at 7,500
metres, with a heavy fighter escort.
"We attacked the Boeings head-on at 14.07 hours.
During this concentrated attack on the ftrst gTOUp, I fired on
the left, outward-flying Boeing. Parts of its right inboard
engine flew off, and in addition I could see strikes in the
cockpit area and fuselage. The Boeing started to burn,
emitting d<U-k smoke, <Uld fell away from the formation.
Because I was umnediately engaged by the enemy ftghter
escort, I could not observe further developments."4
This B-17 was probably B-17G 42-32089 of the 570th
Bomb Squadron, flown by liLt Adolph]. Mattllias and 2/Lt
Henry J. Gerards in the number tJ-uee position in the Lead
Squadron. Some ye<U-s later Gerards wTOte down the events
of the day: "It so happened I was flying the ship as we
reached the Initial Point, where we turned for the bomb-run.
From the Initial Point to bombs-away, a two-minute run, we
had to fly straight and level to give Bass [bomb<U-dier 2/Lt
Qyentin R. Bass, author] a ch<UlCe to aim. This was when flak
bec<Ulle deadly. Flak beg<Ul to come up thick for a short time,
MISSION 376
then suddenly stopped and all hell broke loose. Head on we
saw about 25 enemy planes attacking. I called over the
intercom 'enemy fighters, 12 o'clock low'. Then we saw tlley
were hitting our low Group. They were Me 410s. But up
ahead about the s<Une number of Fw 190s were coming in.
This time I could feel the recoil of our guns spitting and fIve
or six seconds later they had gone through us. Some above
and some below. A few of our planes dropped out of
formation, and we knew these boys would not be in their
bunks tllat night, talking and laughing about the mission just
completed. Then another group, another twenty-five
Me 109s, were coming in head-on. Wow! I could see one
with a bead right between my eyes. Our guns started
spurting. Then I could see fire from his wings and nose. A
row of small caliber bullets hit our windshield at eye level all
the way across and along my side window. Whanl! A 20 mm
shell exploded below us Ul the cockpit. As the Me 109
slipped about ten feet under our wing, the cockpit filled with
smoke. I opened the window slightly and tile slnoke cleared
out inlmediately. We had been badly hit. umbers one, two
and three engines were all hit. Matt tried to feather the
props, but they failed. I tried again but no good. The engines
were too badly shot up. Even the cowling <Uld some of the
cylinders had been blown off by the 20 Imn shells. The ship
was hard to hold level now with just number four engine
running and the vibration was terrific. Matt ordered bombs
away and coincidentally Bass dropped ours with the
Groups' bombs. Wanting to use our altitude to carry us as
far as possible to safety, I called tile navigator for a heading
to Sweden. Bass <Ulswered back, joe's hurt'."5
Miraculous!y, the carmon fire had injured only one
crewmember. Navigator 2/LtJoseph P. Freyland was hit by
a 20 mm shell in his right leg, which almost severed it just 2/Lt JosejJh P Heyland, the navigator qJ1Vlountaineer. He was badly wounded
in his riglit leg during the fighter attacks on 28 J11ay and was bailed out by
below the knee. Bombardier Qyentin R. Bass, busy fIring at
bombardier OiJelllin R. Bass. His leg had 10 be amputated and he retul7led 10 the
the oncoming German fighters, umnediately administered United Stales ill Jalll/aI) 1945 durillg all exchange 9/ prisoners rf war. [Mrs.
fIrst aid and, upon conunand of the pilot, helped Freylarld Dons Freyland]
out of the nose escape hatch, with his parachute fIXed and
the rip cord in his hand. To the great relief of the crew they Lt Freyland was picked up by Germans and admitted to a
saw his parachute open and descend slowly to the ground. hospital in Wolmirstedt, where he underwent surgery.
Unfortunately, his right leg had to be arnputated arld
eventually he was returned to the United States durulg an
exchange of prisoners of war. In Jarluary 1945 he carne
home on tile SS GripS/101m, a Swedish ship chartered by the
International Red Cross. Gerards continues his account: "I
sat there with a son of helpless feeling, trying to fly a straight
heading. But with full right rudder arld stick, we were still
circling to the left. Then Matt poked me and motioned to
bail out, and I asked why. He pointed to number two engine.
I stretched my neck arldlooked. The engine was on fire back
of the fire wall. In arlother few seconds it would blow up. I
flipped on the automatic pilot, pulled tile cords and wires on
my chest releasing my flak suit, oxygen mask and all iliat
junk. Then I hooked on my chest pack-chute arld crawled
through the catwalk to the nose hatch. Bass and the engineer
were waiting, so out I went.
"For a few seconds, I fell lying flat on my back. There
was no sensation of falling and it was like lying on the softest
bed ever. The wind made a loud roar as I fell tIu-ough space.
I began to tllulk it was time to pull the ripcord, but I couldn't
see how far it was to the ground. Then a new experience. I
2/Lt OiJentill R. Bass, the bombardier 9/Mountaineer. He was shot down and stuck my ar-m out slightly to turn over. I had heard stories of
became a Prisoner 9/ War on 28 May. [OiJmtin R. Ba.ss] men soaring like birds, but I never thought I would try it.
MAGDEBURG 101
The result was a series of outside loops, snap-rolls,
ImmelmaIlli , chandelle's, spins, spirals aIld slow-rolls. I did
them all and ome new ones too. It was on a slow roll, I
guess, that I aw the ground clearly aIld could make out the
trees plainly. I had passed through a broken layer of clouds
at about 10 or 12,000 feet and it wa time to pull. With a
quick. hard jerk, the ripcord pulled clear out aIld I dropped
it. Although it was only a second, it seemed like all hour till
that chute opened. But open it did - and with a bad jolt. It
looked wonderful up there all blo somed out aIld floating
me down to eaI-th safely. There were about eight or ten small
holes along the bottom edge of one paIlel, aIld I wondered if
a bullet had pas ed through the chute or perhaps a mouse
had been hungry back at the ba e. It was really fun floating
down like that but the chute stups bit into my legs pretty
bad aIld there was no way to relieve it.
"The ground was getting closer aIld I could see that I
would land in one of two forests. One had large trees
thinned out and the other was a field of young pines planted
in n at rows aIld very dense. My hop was to come down
between the laI-ge trees. But no, it had to be the other way. I
ro ed my legs and put my aI-ms over
my face. Then I waited aIld prayed for a
good landing. The tree linlbs brushed
me as I settled easily between the rows. I
was down ""ith my feet on good oLid
earth again - aIld all in one piece. 1 harrk
God! My back hurt a bit and I had a cut
on my haIld. Otllerwise I was in tip-top
shape, it was now 14.15 hour ."
German record indicate that GeraI·ds
was captured at 20.35 hours neaI- tlle
village of Colbitz, at tlle road from
Magd buro- to Stendal. His experiences
during that afternoon aIld eaI-Iy evening .s
are de crib d in Chapter 13. He then was
transported to the airfield Magdeburg-
Ost, where he met half of his crew. Four
crewmembers still at large were all The Gennans recovered severaL jJersoncd docnmenlsjiwn the wreck q/DcviJ's Aces, among them John Ingram J
identification card. A!.Jo some slips qfpajJer t//£/t should not have been taken on an ojJerationaLmission, as they
captured within a few days. Their gave the Gennans much liifimnation in regard to the unit to which the erew belonged. Such i40171/£/tion could be
bomber crashed at Holzhausen, 26 qfbenifit injillure 111terrogatiol1J qfother erewsftom the 390t/l Bomb GroujJ. [National Archives}
kilometres north of Magdeburg.
U'IlLerqffizier Fritz Wurl of 6.1G 1 was
flying in Fw 190A-8 W. r. 170437,
GeLbe 14, and reported: "After making
contact with the enemy in the vicinity
of Magdeburg at around 7.500 metres,
we attacked a Group of 25 to 30 B-17s
with fighter escort, heading east, at
14.07 hour.
"We made a concentrated attack on
the front of the bombers. During this ---,_-+-...,;fJR--~-+-_ .:.c.~--+_-.,..-_.
attack I frred three bursts on tlle B-17,
f1yin o' second from right 111 the
formation. At 300 metres I fired tlle frrst
burst. The B-17 immediately caught fIre
in both right-haIld engines aIld emitted
black smoke. During the second aIld
ISSUED BY.
third bursts I was able to hit tlle fi-ont of
the fuselage. During my attack I saw
how a paI-t of the glass canopy of the
B-17 flew off. When I broke down right,
102
I saw how the B-17 I had attacked went down burning,
falling away over its left wing. Emitting white smoke. it then
went straight down. At around 6,000 metres the Boeing
exploded. One crewmember parachuted. I couldn't observe
the impact of the burning parts of the plane, because I was
having a dog fight with six enemy fighters. During this fight
I received a hit in my cockpit."6
The bomber which met such a fiery end was probably
B-17G 42-31985 Devils Aces. It was flown by the crew of 2/Lt
John H. Ingnun. who had been scheduled as a spare, but
had to [ill in, since another aircraft had aborted the mission
in an early stage. Devils Aces flew in the number five position
in the Lead Squadron. Results of the fighter attack were
disastrous. Left waist gunner Edward Czyz recalled: "It wa
an easy flight to the target area. Then, all of a sudden, we
were attacked by a large number of German fighters, coming
in from 12 o'clock. Already during their first pass we were
heavily hit. I am sure that we lost the navigator and one or
both of the pilots in thi attack. At the same time also the
entire tail section, with guillier Arnold McKee in it, was shot
off. I recall somebody yelling to bail out, before the intercom
.~
0.,. ;"UM ._:[§h.IJllM"Y__?_$_._~9J...L
."0 ~1
mITT -~~~;. 'r- f1~ .~~t----t+------:-----"---:::<~
_
MISSION 376
Aktennotiz" .14.6.44.
" • 'i Schn/Kn
1m 2030
-_._-----
--------
Eiiiliei t: 568. Sqd., 390~ Gr.o.up nacho ..AusYie.ia. .und ~uchtbi1dbefund
Horst: 152 (nach Vermerk auf Ausweis vom 28.5.44)
bisher war fUr Framlingham, de,. Standort dar
Einheit, die Horstnummer 152 bekannt.
F1ugzeugnummelnnach undatierten und undatierbaren Formations-
planen.
I.) Ftihrungsschwarm: 567 (Pfadfinderf1ugzeug), 089, 985; 974, .
857, 971; 512. .
Tiefschwarm: 892, 235, 325; 985, 229 t 199. 473.
Hochschwarm: 565 (Pfadfinderf1ugzeugj, 887, 715;
173, 048, 1041; 806.
Ersatzf1ugzeug: 312.
II.}FUhrungsschwarm: 932, 312, 715; 070, 887, 048; 473.
Tiefschwarm: 892, 532, 7041; 985, 275, 854; 199.
Ersatzf1ugzeuge:. 08~, 651.
A!.Jo in Devi]'s Aces, one or more oldJonnatiol1. diagrams wereJoU11d. These too jJrovided the GemwnJ with muc/z i7!fimnation. At one glance they fwd the last three digits
qf the seriaL numbers qf Inal1j 390th Bomb Gmup airerqfl and were able to piece together the Lead Squadron (Fiihnmgssdlwann), with its Pat/ifinder airerqfl
{IYadjil1derJlUguUg}, Low Squadron {rzifidlwam~, High Squadron {Hoc/zsdlwam~ and the spare aira-qfl {Ersal7jluguug}. With this 11YoI7I/£/tion in his hand and
provided with some data on a eras/zed B-l'l, a Gennan intenogator at Dulag Lift could catch out a 390th Bomb Group erewmembel; who was trying to .ftick to t/ze 1'7.lle
qfjustmentioning 'name, rank and l1umber~ [National Archives}
went out. The plane wa tllen going into a sort of flat spin "With our bomb bay doors open aIld just three minutes
and at the same time spiralling down. I was piIllied to tlle before bombs away, we noticed l1.igh at one o'clock, frve
side of the fuselage by the centrifugal forces. I managed to P-51s drop their belly tarrks, and head for six o'clock;
grab my paI-achute, but caught it by the handle of its ripcord. evidently fighters had been sighted there. About one minute
It then sort of popped open inside tlle aircraft. I snapped it later Gillie nudged me and pointed out front at another
on my haI-ness, holding the chute together. Somehow I then formation. I picked up the binoculars aIld what I saw could
managed to reach the waist door aIld pulled myself out, or chill a persons blood for instead of B-17s all I saw were two-
was pulled out by tlle partially opened chute. I wasn't in the engined and ingle-engined ships.
air very long before reaching tlle ground. I have no idea how "Here they canle, some forty or frfty of them heading
the other two survivors, bombardier Daniel Cosgrove and straight for us aIld everyone frring. 20 mm carmon shells
engineer Willianl Buntin maIlaged to get out."7 were exploding all around us. With this one pass they
Devll's Aces crashed near Lostau, ten kilometres north-east knocked Llgram, who was flying on our right wing down.
of Magdeburg. Four crewmembers were buried in tlle and also Mattl1.ias who was I;ght above u .
Hohenwarte cemetery. One crewmember was not found until "As these fellows came by, I got a picture of one. At tl1.is
25 June and buried in KorbeLitz. The bodies of two otller
crewmembers, McKee and Lewis, were never found, aIld
time Ordel (bombaI-dier Artlmr W. Ordel, author) wa
shooting at one at a hundred yard, which then exploded.
botll men remain Missing In Action at the time of writing. Hope I got it in the picture. I hadn't noticed. but later Gillie
One of the other aircraft in the Lead Squadron of the told me an Fw 190 had to turn up in a ninety degree barrk
390th Bomb Group was B-17G 42-31974 Bomboogie, piloted in order to come between us over our left wing. Don't know
by Lts Robert C. Gilmore and ChaI-Ies . Baker. The latter how many Jerries went down on tl1.is pass, but rest assured
recorded tlle events in his diary, after his safe return to there were a good many.
Franllingham that everting: "Wizen we amse early' this morning, ''As tlley went by, they began to queue up at once to
lillie did we realize we would come home La an almosl emjJty ban-arks. come tllrough again. Made a pass from eleven aIld from one.
BoLh Mallhias muL Ingram went down, no chutes rejJ07-Led. Our target Got usual flak on route out as we 'sweated', even shot at us
fir Loday was Magdeburg. Got usualJLak infir OU7- route was straight as we were going out over the ChaIll1el."s
.for Berlin, which was a.feint. However, we turned south and to the One B-17 in tlle High Squadron was badly hit in the
target some 80 miles bifOre Berlin. fighter attack. It was B-17G 42-102440 ilver Slipper, flying in
MAGDEBURG 103
 of 4.(JG 1, also claimed an Heraus-
schuss over an American B-17.
FeLdwebeL Adolf Schulz was flying in
Fw 190A-8 W.Nr. 37331, /ilieisse 8: "I
fired at a distance from 400 to 100
metres on the Boeing flying second
from left in the first formation. I
observed hits in the forward half of
the aircraft and small parts 11ew off.
After I had cleared the formation, I
noticed that the Boeing I had fired
upon was lagging behind and
gradually lost altitude. I was
attacked by the enemy fighter escort
and could not observe any further."l0
Gefteiler Wal ter Gehr 111
Fw 190A-8 W.Nr. 680143, /ilieisse 9,
reported: "At 14.00 hours, flying in
the vicinity of Magdeburg at 7,500
metres, we sighted five formations of
enemy Boeing F IIs, with strong
The crew rJB-17G,42-102440 Silver Slipper rJthe 390th Bomb Grou!). Back row lifi. to right: llfiilter P migle fighter escort. During our first
[pilot], Charles A. Richardson [co-jJlwt}, Herman H. Preusser {uavigatol} and Elmer D. Severson [bombardiel). In concentrated attack at 14.07 hours I
the firmt row from lifi. to nght: Thomas J. Curiston [engineel}, Gale W Minor [right waist gunner}, Donald F
RudoijJh {I'adio-operator}, Joseph M. Becker [trfi waist g7lllllel}, Alexander Spotamki [tail gunnel} and Irvin 7-
attacked a Boeing F II in the first,
Mniszewski [ball turret gUllnel). All were marie Prisoners rJ /llill·. [Gale W MinOl} high-11ying formation of about 25 to
30 Boeing F IIs. I scored hits in the
the number four position. It was last observed by others in cockpit. In addition some parts of the aircraft 11ew off. The
the formation, on fire and in a steep, descending spiral. Co- Boeing lost altitude and dropped away from the rear of the
pilot FlO Charles A. Richardson was wounded in one arm, formation. Due to attacks by their fighter escort I could not
but the rest of the crew escaped injury. With two engines out observe the Boeing any further." II
on the same side, one of which was on fire, pilot 2/Lt Walter Both Schulz and Gehr were among the many pilots the
P. Weigle had no choice but to ring the bail-out bell. Right Liftweifft would loose in the battles al1ead. Schulz had to
waist gLmner, Sgt Gale W. Minor, made sure that baJJ turret make a beUy-landing the next day, returned to combat and
gLmner, Sgt Irvin T. Mniszewski, got out of Ius turret and was killed in action on 31 May. Gehr was killed in action on
put on his chute properly and then followed the other 20 July in France.
crewmembers out. All crewmembers landed safely and were One of the German pilots who actually saw some of the
quickly captured, since tl1ey landed near the Lzifiwc!/ft base at crewmembers leave a stricken bomber after he had hit it,
Burg, near Magdeburg. Their abandoned B-17 crashed at was FeLdwebeL Alfred Bindseil of 6.(JG 1, flying in Fw 190A-8
Gut Lilben, four kilometres north-east of Burg. W.Nr.110303, GeLbe 11, who reported: "On 28 May, I took
Two other B-17s, numbers one and two in the High
Squadron, were hit by the sudden attack, but, although
damaged, managed to keep their positions and ren.llned to
Framlingham. Both the loss of Weigle's B-17 and the
damag-ing of two others can be attributed to a number of
pilots of JG 1. One tl1elTI was Unleroffuier Erwin Steeb of
6.(JG 1, i.n Fw 190A-8 W.Nr. 730403, GeLbe 2, who reported:
"During the Grst head-on attack I fired at a range from 600 to
100 metres on a Boeing, flying to the right in the formation. I
obtained hits i.n its fuselage, cockpit and left wing. While large
parts from the fuselage and cockpit flew away, the left inboard \
\
engine started to burn, with dark smoke ernitting. When I
turned right, I noticed that tlK Boeing that I had attacked lost
height and started to faJJ behind the formation. I could not
observe it any furtl1er, because I beC<'UTIe engaged in a dog
fight with enemy fighters."g
He was awarded an Heraussc/zuss, not an Abschuss. This
meant tl1e board wluch evaluated fighter claims judged that
Steeb succeeded only in forcing a bomber to leave its
formation instead of actually shooting it down. However, the
Unterrf.fizier Envin Steeb in the cock!Jit rJ his Fw 190A-7 w..Nr. 40282 rJ
bombers which left the protection of the Combat Wing 6./]G 1. He was awarded a HerallSschllss ill the Magdebwg area, during his
formation were later often jumped upon by other fighters attack on B-17s rJthe 390th Bomb Group on 28 May. The next day' he had to
and then shot down. Two other German pilots, this time bailout rJ this aircreifi and was wOllllded. [Hans Ldchlel}
104 MISSION 376
Boeing B-17s about 1,000 metres above me,
heading east. I pulled up from behind and
positioned myself in a good fIring position. I then
fIred multiple bursts at the last Boeing at a range
from 800-200 metres. I lut l1im in tl1e fuselage
and right wing and at tl1e wing root wlute smoke
appeared. Already during my attack, I observed
two crewmembers jumping out with their
parachutes and tl1at the bomber lagged back
considerably. I then was attacked by enemy
fighters and could not observe further events."12
His victim was probably the B-17 flying in the
vulnerable number six position of the Low
Squadron of the 390th Bomb Group. This was
B-17G 42-31651 Decatur Deb, 110wn by 2/Lt
Nldwebel AIFed Bindseil rJ6./]G 1 has just landed in his Fw 190A-8 170393 'Gelbe 11' at
Herbert V Strate and his crew, aJJ on thei.r tlurd
StOl7nede an£1 ground crews, dressedfar the weather, are anxious to leam about his combat eXjJeriences. or forth nussion. It peeled out of formation with
Biudseil jJrobably shot down Decatur Deb rJthe 390th Bomb Group whzleJlYlllg this Fw 190. the cockpit afire, and part of the vertical stabilizer
JViite the insigniafar ]G 1, a winged 1 II! a white diamond, on the cowhng. [Eric Mombeek] shot away. It was seen to attempt to regain its
position, then started going down in a spin. From
the doomed bomber, only tl1ree men were able to
save themselves and parachute into captivity.
These were tl1e engineer, S/Sgt Edward C. Stoy,
the left waist gunner, Sgt Harold B. Bolton and
the tail gunner, Sgt Edward D. Molenock. S/Sgt
Stoy recalled: "We were 11ying in our B-17 Decatur
Deb, loaded with 38 100-pound High Explosive
bombs. On the front of each bomb was an eight-
inch rough-cut propeller, whjch was unscrewed by
the wind while faJJing and armed the bomb. After
we crossed the Ch3.I1J1eJ, Lt Strate informed me
that one of the generators was not working. I tried
but was unable to repair it in flight. He asked me
if we should turn back or continue. I w3.Ilted to
turn back because I did not think the engine
off at 13.05 hours and flew as Rotler!JUhTer (element leader) in would last for eight hours without a generator, but he made
II.(JG 1. After sighting the enemy our group attacked a tlle decision to continue. After some two hour, and fairly
formation of about 25 to 30 Boeing B-17s in the vicinity of heavy flak, we approached the bomb-run 3.Ild tl1e bomb bay
Magdeburg at 14.07 hours. We attacked head-on. After doors were opened. It was exactly 14.00 hours when we
tun1ing away after tl1e
pass I momentarily lost
sight of the formation. I
immediately puUed up
again and saw a
formation of 20 to 25
The crew rJB-17G 42-31651
Decatur Deb rJ the 390th
Bomb Groll!J. Bad row liji to
ngflt: George Vincent {navigator,
not on 28 May mission}, Robert
L. Woolfolk [bombardiel; KIA},
Samuel R. Elliot (cO-jJI/Ot, KJA]
and Herbert V Strate Un/ot,
KIA). Front row lifi. to right:
Nick Mamula {radio-operator,
KIA], Arthur E. Reed [ball
turret gllnnel; KIA], Robert B.
Smart (I'lght waist gllllllei; KIA],
Edward C. Stoy [engineer,
P0I11, Edward D. Molenock
[tail gunner, POW] and Harold
B. Bolton [tifi. waist gU71Ilel;
PO 111. [Mrs. Arm Zuravic,
through Edward C. Stoy]
MAGDEBURG 105

S/Sgt Nick Mamula was radio-operator ifDecatur Deb. On 28 May, he was
Jlying on his third combat mission. His aircrafi was hit b), enemyfighters and went
down in a spin. Only three ifthe crew survived. Mamula was killed and is buried
at the Lorraine American Cemetel)' and MemonaL in France. [Mrs. Ann ZuravzC}
start~d the bomb-run. At that time someone on our intercom
called out bandits at twelve o'clock. In the distance there
were hundreds of fighter planes corning towards us. Within
seconds they were all over us and all hell broke loose. The
plane was shuddering from all of our guns, when suddenly
we were hit by something big. I found out later th.is was
when part of the tail was shot off. The plane started into a
dive and started to roll to the left. I dropped down from the
top turret to remove my oxygen mask and put on my chute.
The pilot and co-pilot were down in the forward escape
hatch, wruch had smoke coming out of it. The hatch is only
Oberlelitnant Rzidiger Kirelunayr prejJaresjor take qfflil an Fw 190A-6. Note the red band around thefwelage, known as Ihe Reichsverteidigungsband (Difence ifthe
Reich banet). 7-he bar in it denotes that the aircrafi betOlzgs to If Gmp/Je. [Eric Mombeek}
106
big enough for one person at a time and time was running
Ollt for me. I pushed my way through the door into the
bomb bay. The arming props of the bombs were about one
and a half feet from the forward bulkhead and I dove
headfIrst between the props and the bulkhead. I didn't make
it. The arming props caught on my pants and jacket which
caused me to be hung upside down on the end of the bombs,
with no way to get loose. After a short period of tin1e trying
to get loose and wondering what my mother and wife would
think when I didn't return, something an1azing happened.
All of a sudden something or someone saJvoed all of the
bombs, with me stuck to the bottom bomb. With the plane
in a dive and rolling over, the bombs drove me head-first
into the left forward corner and side of the bomb bay. The
bombs hit me as they tore out part of the side of the plane.
The top of my head was cut by the dive into the corner, and
my face, back and arms were cut by the arming props. My
chute was OK, so I backed up to the jagged edges of the
plane and fell out backwards. As I fell, I looked up and saw
what was left of the plane. It was a ball of flames and had no
tail or wings. I was the only one in the front of the plane to
survive. Three survived, seven died, I was lucky."13
Decatur Deb crashed at 14.08 hours near Ebendorf, four
kilometres north-east of Magdeburg, close to the location
where a B-17 of the 100th Bomb Group would crash within Adw'edjwt afier a successji.tt missioll in early 1944 are pilots if]G 1. In the centre, below the cockpll, is Oberlentnant Rudiger Kirchmayr. He led]G 1 liz battle on
a few minutes. The remains of the crewmembers who were 28 May anet claimed a B-l7 and a P-47jor his 47th anet 48th victOly. [Enc Mombeek}
killed were buried on 6June in the Westerhi.isener cemetery
in Magdeburg. experienced Obedeutnant Ri.idiger Kirchmayr, the attacked the B-17 flying furthest left. The Group formation
The fIfth, and last B-17 the 390th Bomb Group lost in StqJftL/wfJitan of 5.1G 1, who flew Fw 190A-8 W.Nr.730386, was stacked fairly flat, not high, but broad. The Boeing I
trus fierce attack, flew in the number three position in the Rote 24. His combat report states: "I took off and led the fired upon lost parts of the cockpit area and fuselage, wrute
Low Squadron. It was B-17G 42-37806 Starks Ark. This formation of Jagdg;eschwader 1. At around 14.00 hours we smoke poured out and it wept down in a tight left spin.
aircraft, flown by liLt Henry C. Holmes, was last observed sighted the enemy, about 400 B-17s and B-24s with a strong "While we were pulling up and forming up for a second
at about 7,000 feet with number two engine and the left wing fighter escort, on an easterly heading. During the first attack, I could only see 11 B-17s, ome of them pouring
afire, going straight down. It probably fell victim to concentrated attack on a Group of about 25 to 30 B-17s, I smoke, still in the Group that we first attacked. The other
Obit Rzidiger Kirelzmayrs log book wilh Lhe CIltriesjor his actiom 011 28 AJax The first was creetiLeet to him, the latter was not. [Rlidiger Kirelzmayr}
MISSION 376 MAGDEBURG 107

Tlze crew rfB-l7G 42-37806 Starks Ark rflhe 390lh Bomb GroujJ. Back row IIji 10 righl: Vidor L. Baccaro [ellg1neel;
POW}, Harold R. Roock {lifi waisl gunnel; POW}, Sgl John Tomasko {!-iglll waisl gunnel; nol on 28 May mission}, Paul
A. Kasl {tail gunner, POW}, Foresl L. Knighl {!"adio-ojJCraIOl; KIA} and Frank R. I#J.lsou [balllumi gunnel; POW}.
Fronl row lifi 10 riglll: Henry C. Ho17nes !lJilol, POW}, Charles B. Kn,ger [co-jJilol, POW}, I#J.ller Sieck {navigalor,
POW} and Oral C. Tlzompson [bombardiel; POW}. [Viclor L. Baccaro}
Boeings were lagging faJ." behind. I could see
that one of the Boeings that was still flying
in the formation, and was emitting smoke,
suddenly exploded, without being attacked
any further."14
Miraculously, all of this doomed B-lTs
crewmembers survived and paJ.-achuted.
However, one of them, radio-operator
T/Sgt Forest L. Knight, was kiJled by
German civilians on the gTound. Engineer
T/Sgt Victor L. Baccaro, recalled the
events: "It was our twenty-fifth mission this
day. Just before we began our bomb run, a
group of about 45 enemy fighters were
spotted just off our right wing and were
flying paJ.'alle! to us. At this point, we were
still waiting for our fighter escort to come in
and 'break-up' the enemy's formation. Our
escort never did show. The enemy aircraft
included Fw 190s, Me 109s, Me 110s and
vaJ.'ious others. The enemy flew ahead of
us, made a left turn, lined-up in a couple of
layers and then attacked in a frontal assault.
They flew through our formation, attacking
with all they had and all our ships guns
were facing forward to meet this attack. At
this point, both our starboard engines
[official report says port engines, author]
were hit, and on fire. We were flying at
108
28,000 feeL aL the time of the
attack and were able to drop our
bomb load on the target prior to
being hit. We exhausted our
mounted fire extinguishers and
found they had no effect on the
engine fires. We began a rapid
descent and again were hit by
the enemy aircraft. At this time
the pilot gave the bail-out order.
Five of the crew, including
myself, bailed out through the
hatch under the cockpit and
another four went out thJ'ough a
rear door. The tail gunner had
his own escape hatch located in
the tail and went out there. All
crewmembers had to clip on our
parachutes after the bail out
order was given.
"I fell head first through the
hatch and stayed that way for
about two nilles. I pulled my rip
cord and the chute 'righted' me.
An enemy fighter circled me a
couple of times and I hoped and
prayed that he wouldn't
machine-glJn me or llJrn his tail
to collapse my chute. This
aircraft left me alone. I landed in
a plowed farmers field and many
civilians came running toward
Starks Ark aud olher 390lh Bomb Group B-l7s are brackeLed by accuraleJlak on Iheir way 10 Bmnell 011 16 December 1943. [USAAFj
me. These civilians included women and children. One man ahead O/US was hit b)' the same shijJS and they lost six at one time. Our
in the group pointed a very long rifle at me and kept bombardier and navigator got O1ze 0/ them and we scattered the Test.
repeating the word 'PIslole, pistole'. I raised my hands and said ihen, another gTOUjJ 0/ abollt the same number hit us and a Fortress
'No JJIslole, no pistole'. A German patrol arrived and dispersed went downji'om the High Squadronjust over OUT slu/J and I think they
the crowd and captured me." 15 got one in the Low Squa.dron too. I was too busy to pa:), too much
o evidence was found as to the actual cause of death of attention to OU1' ships as there were enemyfighters all over the shy. VW:
T/Sgt Forest L. Knight, whose parachute was seen to open. were attacked again twice more b:y about the same number 0/figjzters
Since he was described by other crewmembers as head'
strong, it is probable that he ran into trouble when civilim1s
were trying to capture him. He was buried at the community
cemetery in Walternienburg, and after the war was brought
to the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in
France, where he still rests. Slarks Ark crashed near
Walternienburg, 28 kiJometres south-east of Magdeburg.
Some of the GermaJ.1 fighters continued their attacks into
the High Group of the Wing. It was composed of B-17s of
the 100th Bomb Group, and was led by 4l8th Bomb
Squadron COITLl11anding Officer Major Magee C. Fuller.
S/Sgt WiHimn E. Hill was the left waist gunner on B-17G 42-
31895 in its Lead Squadron. He noted in his diary that
evening: "VW: were awakened Ihis morning lo go bomb a synthetic oil
B-l7G 42-37806 was apily named after 11LI Roberl F SLarks. He, his crew and his airmifl were jJiclured
ftct01) al Magdebur!i> German)!. VW: had beautifUL wealher today and
al Framlinglzam on 20 January 1944. They wereJlJ1ing anolher B-17 on Ihefirsl major Berlin raid, on 6 TISgl VicLor L. Baccaro, Ihe engilleer rf Starks Ark, was picLured after his
Allardl, when Ihey were shol down 011 Iheir Lwen!:yjijih andfinal mission rf Iheir combal lour rfojJeraliom. we made Ihe IrilJ 10 the Initial Point just nice. ihen, all 0/ a sudden, caplure on 28 Allay. He was lucky 10 escajJe wilh his life, as lhere is slrong sl/.sjJicion
Starks Ark was Ihell inhmled by Ihe crew rf It HellI)1 C. Holmes. They 100 were 011 Iheir twell!:yj'zflh we were attacked by about 35 enemyfighters coming inji-orn the nose Ihal radio-ojJeralor Foresl L. lVliglll was killed by angry ClV11ians he bCllled oUlfi'om
mission, Iheir Ihirleenlh in Starks Ark, when IhC)' were SIIOI down near Magdeburg 011 28 May. [USAAFj and we were No.2 shijJ today in the Lead Squadron. ihe Group Ihe sine/WI aircrcifl. [Viclor L. Baccaro}
MISSION 376 MAGDEBURG 109
B-l7G 42-31389 Lucious Lucy oftIle 100th Bomb Gmujl above a comjllete Ululercast. On 28 May, itJell victim tofighter at/ads near Magdeburg. 1'hree ofits crew
were killed in action. [100th Bomb Group Photo Arc/aves, Michael Faley}
bUl, we scattered lhem bifOre they reached us. Thank God. Our bomb
loadfir loday was 10 x 500 lb GPs."16
Among the Lliflwqffi pilots sweeping through the 100th
Bomb Group formation was Unterrjfizier Bernhard Golinger
of 6.,jG 1, flying in Fw 190A-8 W.Nr.730358, GeLbe 12. He
reported: "I took off at 13.05 hours as number four man in
the first Schwarm (flight) of the 6. Stqffil of II.,jG 1. After
sighting the enemy, we attacked a formation of 25 to 30
B-17s flying east at 7,500 metres head-on, at 14.07 hours in
the vicinity of Magdeburg. During this attack I fired at a
range from 600 to 100 metres on the Boeing, flying fourth
from right. Its right-hand engines lrnmediately started to
burn and emitted dark smoke. Already during my attack I
noticed how parts of the nose section flew off. I could not
observe the fall of the Boeing, while I flew through this
enemy formation and attacked the frrst Boeing in the next
formation. During this I was attacked from behind by an
Li Lucius G. LaCY,.front row on right, during jlilot training. [Ray Cary}
110
enemy fighter. I was hit in the engine and left wing. My
engine started to burn and flames entered the cockpit. I
pulled my plane up and jumped out with my parachute."l?
Golinger's claim was backed up by Unlerrjfizier Wurl,
who saw that the B-17 which Golinger had hit, went down
" ... over its left wing with burning engines on its right band
side."
This Boeing, wbose demise was also mentioned in S/Sgt
Hill's account, was B-17G 42-31389, flying in the number
four position in the High Squadron. The aircraft was aptly
named Lucious Lucy after its pilot, liLt Lucius G. Lacy. He
was flying witll a mixed-up crew, as the co-pilot of his
original crew was killed on the 6 March mission to Berlin,
and his engineer was killed on the 11 April mission to
Poznan. His co-pilot for tlus mission, liLt Claude E.
Schindler, was held in high regard by the other men, one of
them stating: "He flew the roughest missions and was the
coolest, calmest co-pilot that ever flew in
combat."IB
And bombardier Herbert Greenberg
wrote: "If! recall correctly, Schindler was still
calTying stitches from a previous wound."19
The carmon shells mainly struck the right
side of the cockpit and started a fIre in number
four engine.
Lacy recalls tlle events: "It all happened so
very fast. We were hit all over the aircraft. I
was temporar"ily stunned and blinded. When I
got my vision back I reached over arld saw
that my co-pilot, Claude Schindler, was dead.
The number one and four engines were on
fire. Looking backwards I noticed that tlle
engineer bad left, he had probably gone to tlle
waist of the ship. I couldn't see too well and
dropped through tlle hatch into tlle nose of
the aircraft. Here I found that the navigator
and bombardier were also gone, as their
MISSION 376
Rising III earb' 1944 in.front ofB-l7G 42-31412 Mason and Dixon is the crew ofArch Drummond. Two ofthese men were aboard Lucious Lucy on 28 May.
They are Claude E. Schindler (standing second ji'01rl right) and Sidney A. emy (kneeling third.from right). CO-jlilot Schindler was killed in action. Engineer Guy was
nl£lde a Prisoner of Hklr. [Talbert E. SpenluffJ
escape hatch was open. I then bailed out through mat hatch,
with my chute in my harlds. I managed to get it hooked on,
but had turned it upside down. This caused a good deal of
spirullng until I reached the ground. I was picked up almost
lrnmediately by German troops."20
Three of Lacy's crew were killed by Golinger's fire.
Schindler was last seen, slumped in Ius seat wim his left ar"m
hanging still and not moving. Also right waist gunner, S/Sgt
Joe S. Folsom, was killed by a shell. Ball turret gunner S/Sgt
Chester L. Powell either was killed by the fighter attack or
never had a char1Ce to get out of his turret. Probably, wim
the electrical systems hot out, he went down with the
doomed bomber, which crashed at Bar-leben, fIve kilometres
norm of Magdeburg, very close to Decatur Deb of tlle 390th
Bomb Group, mat was shot down just moments before. Tail
gunner S/Sgt Michael Rotz, with several parlels blown from
his chute, had a rough landing and was taken to a hospital The six enlisted men ofLt Lacy S onginal combat crew. 7'hree ofthem were on tIle
in Magdeburg. All survivors of the crew were captured. .fatiful28 May.JI.iglzt in Lucious Lucy. Back row lifi. to right: Joseph A. Howell
{not on 28 May mission}, Joe S. Folsom {light waist gunnel; KIA} and Hemzan
It was, however, not entirely a one-way battle. The
H Hilburn {not on 28 May mission}. Front row lifi. to right: Raymond J. Mitchell
gunners in tlle bombers fought back savagely and spent {fifi. waist gunner, POW}, Chester J. Carknard [engineer, KIA on 11 Apnl1944
thousands of rounds of .50 caliber an1l11ll1ution arld claimed mission} and Clarence H. Wood Jr. {I-adio-o/Jl:ratOl; POW}. [Ray Cary}
MAGDEBURG 111

Part rfthe lead crew rfthe 100th Bomb CroujJ. Kneeling I¢. to n"ght: Manly W Hall [co-pilot}, Lloyd /IV Coartney
[navigator}, Charles E. HClrris {jJilot}, C. Peterson flOt on 28 May mission}, John E. Dimel [bombardielj. Standing
I¢. to n"ght: two ground crewmen, Joe H. Blume [right waist gunner}, Bob Pion flOt all 28 May mission}, Jack B. extricated
Coord [radio-ojJerator}, Nonll Howdell [engineel}, two ground crewmen. [Charles E. Han-is}
several German fighters destroyed. For exanlple, Lt Vernon
O. Breazeale, the bombardier on the B-17 flying in the
number five position of the High Squadron, reported: "An
Me 109 was attacking our element leader [Lt Lacy, author]. I
started ftring at him at 800 yards and I gave him four to five
short bursts before he got out of range. Pilot bailed out
under our left wing tip and the enemy aircraft went down
with flanles coming from the engine."2l
His pilot, Lt Burdette Williams confirmed the claim and
stated that this was the enemy fighter which had shot down
Lt Lacy. On the sanle aircraft, 42-107011, the navigator
Walter M. Pickett aimed his two machine guns in the nose
turret on an Fw 190: "I started firing at the enemy aircraft at
500 yards, I gave him two bursts and he started smoking
from engine."22
Then tail gunner, Lyle E. Nord, reponed over the
intercom that he saw the pilot bail out as his aircraft passed
the tail, but that he did not see the chute open. Pickett, and
Breazeale, were awarded a fighter destroyed.* It is likely that
this Fw 190 was that of Bernhard Golinger. The crew on the
other aircraft that filled in as a spare, flying as number six in
the High Squadron and just to the left of Lt Lacy and Lt
Williams, was also busy. Ball turret gunner S/Sgt Symington
was credited with a Bf 109 destroyed, and tail gunner S/Sgt
Harris got two Fw 190s danlaged.
The Group Lead Bombardier, 2/Lt John E. Dimel,
although occupied with getting everything ready for the
bomb run, reported: "Nine Fw 190s started attacks at eleven
o'clock level. I started ftring at 1,200 yards at the leader and
at 800 yards he started to break up. The rest of his
formation peeled off to the right and as he went under us,
the ball turret gunner saw the enemy aircraft begin to break
up completely and the pilot bailed out."23
* The fornll1es of war saw Breazeale killed the very next day, going down
with Lt Williams' crew on the mission to Leipzig. 1ail gunner Nord was
also killed, Pickett and '-\Tilliams were taken prisoner of war.
t Dryden denoting the 357th Fighter Group and Greenhouse its 364th
Fighter Squadron.
112
Lt Dimel was given credit for
destruction of the Fw 190, but th
ball turret gunner Sgt Carl K.
Platkin would also claim a Fw 190:
"Three Fw 190s came in at one
o'clock low and I swung my turret
around in time to open up at the
first one at about 800 yards. Pieces
started to fly off his wings, then he
passed by and I continued firing at
the other two and later the tail and
right waist gunners told me over th
interphone that my first ship blew
up, at about 700 yards behind our
plane after going into a spin." 24
In all, gunners aboard the
Magdeburg-bound bombers claimed
16 German fighters desu"oyed, eight
probably destroyed and six damaged.
The American fighter escort also
a heavy toll of
the attacking Germans. The 44
Mustangs of the 357th Fighter
Group from Leiston, led by Lt Col Thomas L. Hayes, were
strung out along the bomber stream heading for Magdebur o'
and Konigsborn, and those flights which could, did
everything possible to turn back the German fighters. Th
confusion and stress of aerial combat is very evident in
Hayes' own combat report: "I was Dryden Leader at the
time of engagement and was leading Greenllouse Red
flight.t About 50 to 60 enemy aircraft of mixed Me 109s and
Fw 190s came into the bombers at 25,000 feet from twelve
o'clock. Because of our position at the time [rear of the
bombers] we could not stop the attack, but caught them on
the way out. My White flight in support became separated
from me when I turned onto the tails of the enemy
formation, as other P-51s cut that flight out. When about to
fire, I had to leave my target and turn into some aircraft
approaching me from twelve o'clock. They turned out to be
P-51s. Taking up pursuit again I was able to get on one of
the Me 109s which now began to dive. I fired three short
bursts. Mter the first strikes, he skidded, I suppose to look
back. I fired again, seeing debris and canopy come off. Just
as the third burst was ftred it looked like the pilot started
Lt Cot Thomas 1. Ha)'es all the wing rfhis P-51 with his ground crew. On 28
j\1ay Hayes led the 357th Fighter CroujJ ill action over Magdebnrg and shot down
a BJ 109 himself [Jose/Jh M. DeShaylThomas L. Hayes}
MISSION 376
L¢.: liLt john C. Howell ajler 'retuming to Leiston with a bad6' damaged P-51. On 28 May he was
able to strike back and accountedJor a BJ 109, thejirst rfhis three air victones. [john C. Howell}
Above: 'llle slee/{ nose rf P-51B 43-6935, the jirst rf three P-51 s that Richard A. Peterson namcd
Hurry Home Honey. WhileJlyzng this aircrafi Peterson shot down a BJ 109 during combat in the
Magzleburg area. [Merle Olmsted}
out. However at that instant su-ikes were noticed on and not know if it was the pilot or just the canopy. I observed no
around what looked like the pilot. Then the ship actually chute and I claim this Me 109 destroyed, with 150 rounds
disintegTated. I went out of control myself, indicating 500 fu"ed from my own guns."27
miles per hour at 20,000 feet and so did my wingman. I Tlus victory, confIrmed by Ius wingman 2/Lt Nichola J.
picked up my element leader, Lt Howell, quickly and Frederick, was Ius eleventh in the air so far. Peterson would
covered him as he nailed an Me 109 with the pilot end his tour among the high-scoring fighter pilots in the
parachuting. We climbed back to the bombers from 12,000 European Theater of Operations with 15 air victories to Ius
feet and continued the escort."25 credit. Number three in Peterson's Greenhou e Blue flight
It was Hayes' sixth air victory, but where he thought at the was liLt Leroy A. Ruder: "My flight leader made an attack
time that liLt John C. Howell had 'nailed' a BE 109, it later on a large formation of Me 109s. We approached the enemy
appeared to have been a very easy victory, as Howell [ormation from the rear and gradually got within firing
reported: "Fifty plus Me 109s and Fw 190s made an range. I picked out one of the enemy aircraft and he broke
unsuccessful [sic, aUlh011 run on the bombers and my leader off the large formation, with me following hun. I fired a
[Lt Col Hayes, author] turned into position on the group's tail burst at about 20 degTees deflection and observed strikes on
and we dove after them. He got one and then I went after two the fuselage. The enemy alluaft unmediately turned sharply
Me 109s with him covering my element. I gave chase to 8,000 and after closmg to about 275 yards I again fu-ed on him. I
feet from 15,000 feet where the two split. After a few seconds, did not observe strikes at tlus time but the Me 109 straigh-
I closed and for no reason the pilot bailed out of the 109."26 tened out and dove for a cloud. As he nem-ed the cloud I
Elated over his first and so easily
achieved air victory, Howell returned to
Leiston, where also his own wingman l/Lt
Robert M. Shaw, confmned the story.
In the meantime, the leader of
Greenhouse Blue flight, Capt Richard A.
Peterson, went into action: "We had made
rendezvous with our bombers just before
the Initial Point. Mter they made their
turn on the Initial Point, the front box was
bounced by approximately 50 to 75
enemy aircraft. My flight umnediately
engaged the enemy, tagging on the rear of
the enemy formation. I fired on a
straggler, observing numerous strikes on
the canopy, engine and tail. The enemy
aircraft swerved to one side, rolled on its
back, tumbled once or twice out of
"I noticed stn"kes on his tail andjilJelage" was no doubt stated in the combat report rf the American pilot who
control, and then broke into a violent spin engaged Feldwebel Ajli-ed Heger rf 4.1jC 11 in the Magdeburg area. Heger managed to gel awayji-om his
at approximately 8,000 feet. I observed a attacker and belly lan{led his BJ109 'Weisse 10' at Schihzebeck near Magdeburg. It is jJossible that Hegerflll
large section of the plane rip off, but I do to Richard Peterson s.fi"re. [Hans Ladzlei}
MAGDEBURG 113
ob erved the canopy coming off, However, the COnfUTIlation by Right: Having been bntftdJOr a mission, pilols qfthe 357th Fighter Group,
but continued to fire and 2/Lt William S. Davis, his number J62nd Fighter Squculron have picked up their equipment and are leaving the
njieraLions buildingJOr their aircrrifl. tandulg with 011£ leg up in the weapOl!
observed numerous strikes in the two, brought Peters' total to three-
{(/n7er is Leonard K. Car. on. On 28 M~, Carson scored the third qf his
cockpit and fuselage. A large and-one-third air victory. Anotller Olleralltolal qfeighteen-alul-a-h£I!fair victOlUS. On his ldi ann is a note jiad,
object that was either the pilot or pilot in Cement Squadron, 1111 which he no doubt wrote important ir!f{mnation during the mission, such as
part of the tail section fell from Capt Edwin W Hiro, damaged a navigation control jioinls and radio call signs. [Merle Olmsted)
the aircraft a few seconds later. Bf 109 in tile same combat.
Below: Major Joseph E. Broadhead and his P-51B 43-12227 Baby
The aircraft emerged from the Despite his pos!t1ve report
Mike. Broadll£ad shot down a Fw 190 north-west qfMagdeburg as his
cloud in a vertical dive and regarding the desnuction of the
crashed in flames. I frred 511 Me 109 and a later resubmission lixth air victory. [Merle O~"~'IS~te~d}~,::::~ ~~~II~.~ ~~_'1~~1'lIl!
round and claim this Me 109 as of this claim, it was regarded as a
destroyed."28 'probably destroyed', only.
Again a wingman, this time In the 362nd Fighter
liLt Hollis R. owlin, conftrmed Squadron formation two pilots
events, and Ruder was awarded managed to down a German
thi victory. It brought his total to attacker. Major Joseph E. who was to become one of me great aces of tile
five-and-a-half in the air and gave Broadhead spent 170 rounds on Eighm Air Force, went after his victim. His fight
liLt LeRoy A. Ruder shot down a Bj 109, which brought his total to
him the coveted status of an 'ace.' }ive-and-a-ha!f and brought him the ace status. He was killed over an Fw 190: "We had just made took l1in1 to me deck: "The enemy aircraft had
He would have little pleasure Nonnandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944. [Kent D. Millel} rendezvou when a large number made tllree passes at me bombers, which we were
from it however, since he scored of enemy aircraft (approximately escorting. About 300 yards to me left of my flight,
no more victories until his death in combat, during the June hundred) started making head-on passes at the bombers, an Fw 190 was making an attack on a P-51. I
6 Lwasion of Normandy, just nine days later. coming at them in large formations in a line abreast. After broke from my flight to attack the Fw 190 and he
liLt Charles K. Peters was leading Cement White flight tile [rrst wave passed through, I peeled ofT and started broke off his attack and dove for the deck. I fired
and saw the enemy fighters attack tile bombers: "I dropped following. One Fw 190 peeled off, leaving the formation and several times during me dive, but we were going
my wing tanks and started for them. I saw one black Me 109 I started after him. He was unaware that I was following so fast that I couldn't get an accurate shot. I got a
trying to get on the tail of a blue-nosed Mustang. I got on his hinl, so I held my frre until I had pulled up within 200 yards him. I saw frre starting from his belly. 1 he bombers were in few hit on his wings during me dive, however. He levelled
tail and fired. I saw numerous sU'ikes in the cockpit. Smoke maxinlum. I was directly in back of him at 8,000 feet, doing trouble, so I rejoined them, since considering the fire which off at about 300 feet above me ground, chopped his throttle,
poured out and the canopy came ofT, but the pilot did not get 450 knots indicated air speed. I took careful ainl and gave I had seen. it was enough to destroy tile Fw 190."30 dropped flaps and made a steep tum to Lhe righl. lover hot
out. I believe he was killed, as tile plane started into a slow him one long burst. hitting l1in1 in the tail, fuselage and He was awarded his victory, one of the
spiral, trailing smoke and prop windmilling. I did not see it wings. Smoke inunediately started coming from him and he eight he managed to achieve during his tour of
crash, because I started after anotller enemy aircraft."29 did a roll to start a split-S and lover hot him. As I crossed operations. Then liLt Leonard K. Car on,

liLt Charles K. Peters and his P-51 Daddy Rabbil. Peters scored his last victOlY on 28 May, shooting down a Bj 109 in the Magdeburg area. [Merle Olmsted}
In Imel-june 1944, tll£fither qfHeinz-Helmut Brandes visited thej/£ld near Gross Bomecke where his
Oberleutnant Heinz-Helmut Brancles was assigned to 8./jG son crashed to his death two weeks earlier. Clearly visible is the track in thefield where the belly qftl/£
11 on 2 May 1944 c!fier serving CIS an Me 110 jii/Ot on the Fw 190}irst hit the ground. Here the cano/lJ and Brandes'}ield cap and gloves wereJOund, probably
fllStem }i'ont since Ajinl 1942. He was severely wounded in sucked out by the airstream when he jettisoned the canojlJ. The aircrc!fi then slid toward a clyke,
ach'on in September that )'ear and was out qfactionJOr nearly a cam01!fiaged by the wheat. At the IelStmoment, Brandes jlUiled uji to jJrevent crclShing head-on into the
)'ear. He.fellto the gul/.S qfLeonard Carson on 28 May and dyke, but crashed on the fir side qf it. The aircrcifi then exploded and bnmed. In the rubble hisfilther
died b)'ing to crasldand his Fw 190. [Wi!fiied Brandes} JOund the c11£l17'ed ClIull1l£lted IrOl! Crws that InJ son had worn. [Wi!fried Brandes}

114 MISSION 376 MAGDEBURG 115

him, but came back and he got into a luIberry. I fued several
time from 250 - 300 yards at 140 miles per hour. I saw
everal strikes on his fuselage and wings. He levelled off and
started to glide towards the ground, his engine burning.
About twenty feet off the ground he jettisoned his canopy.
His ship went into a slight bank to the left, hit the ground,
cartwheeled and burst into flame. The pilot was killed in
the crash."3J
Carson's victim was Oberleutnant Heinz-Helmut Brandes
of 8.aG 11. Brandes. a former Me 110 pilot with
Zerstorergeschwader 1 on the Russian front, had been
transferred to the Reidzsverteidigung, received additional
training on the Fw 190 and had served with JG 11 for less
than a month. During that month, however, he had obtained
two victories, a B-24 on 13 May and a B-17 on 19 May. He
now cra h d to his death near Gross Bornecke.
FinalJy, aptain Kenneth E. Hagan managed to danlage
an Me 410, bringing the total for the 357th Fighter Group to
seven ingJe-engined enemy fighters destroyed, one
damage I, and one twin-engined fighter damaged, for no
losse on their own side.
Help for the beleaguered Fortresses attacking
Magdeburg came from an unexpected direction. The 4th
Figl ter roup from Debden, led by 336th Fighter Squadron
COlTunanding Officer Major James A. Good on, had joined
the bomber stream at 13.50 hour near Gardelegen at
22/23.000 feet. The Group's escort duty was primarily to be
with the RuhJand/Dessau-bound force, and the three
Squadrons positioned themselves around the Combat
Wings. Just after joining up, the pilots saw 20-plus Bf 109s
and Fw 190s approaching at 26,000 feet to attack the 'i\Ting
that had ju t left the main bomber stream and that was
headed for Magdeburg. The 335th and 336th Fighter
Squadron were positioned on the outside of the bomber
streanl, flying at 26/27,000 feet and unable to help. The
334th Fighter quadron, however, led by Captain Winslow
M. Soban ki in P-51B 43-6898 The Deacon, and flying behind
Gailiain Wimtow M. Sobamki led Ihe 3341h
Fighler Squadron on 28 May and slwl down a 2/Lt Ralph K. Hrfer takes a close look to Ihe damage i'!flicted Ir)' Gemumjighters 10 his P-51B 42-106924 Salem
BJ 109. On D-Day, 6 June he was killed in Represemative over Magdeburg. With this damage, he awed all sjlectators at Debden by doing a victOlY roll. He
adion. [Timothy Kirkup, through Bmce Zigtelj had managed to shoot down a BJ109 himsejf,Jor his 15th andjinal air victory.
shuttle mission 10 Russia. [LeRvy A. Nitschke}
116
and above the bomber stream at more than 30,000 feet
bounced the enemy aircraft, and a raging battle develop d.
obanski managed to destroy a Bf 109, firing only 89
rounds. He reported: "Our Squadron used it's superior height
(32,000 feet) and followed them in the turn in a shalJow dive.
As soon as they made their tum we dropped our tanks and
went down fast. I spotted a few P-51s trying to climb from
below and sort of following tile tail end of the 109 fonnation
- without closing though. This rather upset my plan of attack
as I couldn't very well tell where til P-51s and the Me 109
began in tlle gaggle below. I missed out on a couple of chance
when P-51 either cut me off or made passes at me. We
managed though to split up the enemy fOfl1lation and I found
a single bluish-grey Me 109 flying a perfect line abreast
formation with a P-51 at some 150 yards distance. They bOtll
didn't seem to realize tlleir mistake, and only caught on when
I attacked the 109. He dove straight dOW1l and momentarily I
10 t him in the haze, fmding hin1 again when he started pulling
back up. I fired a few short 112 second bursts closing in, and
was just going to position myself better on him, as I saw no
sn-ikes. Much to my surprise he jetti oned his canopy an 1
bailed out. I watched his alc half-roll and crash, and then took
a picture of hin1 in tlle parachute. I clainl one Me 109
de troyed, and a scared Hun"' 32
In Red flight, led by 2/Lt Ralph 'Kid' Hofer. only mree
P-51s were still operational, as Lt harp had aborted earlier.
All tllfee pilots managed to destroy a German fighter each
and one damaged another Bf 109 in the action. I-lofer
reponed: "1 was leading Cobweb Red Section, near
Wittenberg, when fifteen-plus enemy aircraft came in high
head-on to the middle bunch of bombers. Shortly after that I
saw four Fw 190s go through the Forts, bringing one bomber
down in flanles. I dropped my tanks and gave chase. Four
P-47s cut me out and destroyed one enemy aircraft. I had
pulled up to rejoin our Big Friends, when an Fw 190 dove
past. Lt Siems shot hin1 down at 6,000 feet, after I had broken
into some more 109s. I jumped one enemy aircraft out of tlu
He was killed 0112 July, rlunllg a
MISSION 376
./hove: 2/LL Grover C. Siems is Ilictured in June 1944 with his P-51D 44-13322, Gloria III. In this aircrq/i
hI' was severely wounded III aclion on 2 July during a 'shuttle missiOlI'jimn Russia. Having been shol in Ihe
,Iwuldel; neck and chin and Ilaralysed on his llji side, he managed 10 gel GIOI-ia III back 10 a base in f1aQI, InjJ
Ihl' Landing gear swilch with hisJool, land andjire his gum to al/rad heill. He was relumed to the United Slates.
(Timolhy Kirkup, Ihrough Bmce igler)
Righi: Mqjor Michael G.H. McPhariin wearing the wveted RAF Ililol wings, de/wling Ihose who hadJlown in
(lnl' rf Ihe Etlgle Squadrons, b1Orl' Ihe Ulliled lales entered Ihe war. McPharlil1 was kzlled in action all D-Day
100. [Cecil Jl!lal1l1il1g, Ihrollgh Bruce Zigler)
bunch and closed to 75 yards, getting strikes. The enemy straight in, exploding when it hit. I turn d and LOok a pi ture
aircraft poured glycol, rolled over and dived into tlle deck:'33 of the burning hip. Lt Hofer had b n covering me until I
During tlus combat Hofer was hit by a 20 mm shell in pulled up and then he went on anotller bounce. Th re were
the rudder of Ius Sa/em RejJresentalive, but he made it afely so many Me 109 and Fw 190 tllat it wa impossible to
back to Debden, and awed everybody on tlle ground, doing form up for an effective bounce, so after covering and
a victory-roll over tile base despite tlle danlage to his tail. assisting several otller friends, I returned to base."3'1
Tlus was hi fifteenth and last air victory, as 'Kid' Hofer was Grover Siems was severely wounded in action on 2July
killed on 2July during a shuttle nussion to Russia. the same day tllat Hofer was killed, and he returned to the
2/Lt Grover C. Siems submitted the following report: United State. The tllird and last pilot in Red flight who
"Flying Red 4 and then Red 2 to Lt Hofer, at 28,500 feet, we scored a kill was Major Michael G.H. McPharlin. He was a
saw some Fw 190s attacking a box of B-l7s in the very experienced pilot, who had started flying with the
Magdeburg area. We dropped tanks and went over to see Royal Canadian Air Force and then transferred to 71 Eagle
what we could do. One B-17 was going down and one chute Squadron, when the United States were yet not actively
opened from it. Being circled by P-47s, I took a quick picture involved in tile war. The Eagle Squadrons were disbanded
of it, as two Fw 190s went by going for the deck. However in August 1942 and formed tlle nucleus of the 4th Fighter
there were too many enemy aircraft above to botller with the Group. McPharlin was assigned to the 339t1l Fighter Group,
two, so we started a clinlbing starboard orbit and saw more but was influential enough by now to be alJowed to fly often
Fw 190s. One was coming head-on to us, a little to with Ius old Eagle squadronmates, now serving in tlle 4tll
starboard, wluch Lt Hofer aid to leave alone because it was Fighter Group. McPharlin, flying P-51B 42-106909 T#e
bait. There were more allead and above. As we pas ed the Ginny reported: "We had gone down for an attack; at the
Fw 190, it started a starboard turn. and Lt Hofer wa al 0 same time we were attacked by Me 109s and Fw 190s. Thus
turning starboard. I broke to port. coming out belund the split up, I joined in witll a P-51 making an attack on an
Fw 190. He saw me and started down. I gave cha e. I made Me 109, protecting his tail. The P-51 gave the Me 109 a long
one short deflection shot from about 400 yards and noticed burst. I witnessed tile strikes, saw tlle 109 roll on its back
no hit . I held rue until wiiliin 100 yards dead astern. I and dive. The P-51 broke. As tlle 109 rolled over, I managed
opened fu-e and immediately saw strikes from tail to nose a quick burst and saw strikes in tlle belly of tlle enemy
and his belly tank flew off, l1ussing me very slightly. Several aircraft at tlle intersection of tlle wing roots and fuselage. It
short bursts Witll slight deflection missed, and then I hit disappeared in tlle haze and smoke below. I claim one
compressabiJity. The ship was buffeting very severely, but I Me 109 damaged.
continued to fire and saw two starboard guns put about "Following tile first engagement I saw what I thought
twenty or tlllrty rounds directly into tlle cockpit. The kite was an Me 109. I dove on the enemy aircraft wluch tllen
immediately straightened out and there was no more evasive entered a large cumulus cloud and an area of black moke
action. I pulled aside at 6,000 feet and the Fw 190 went and haze directly over Magdeburg. I formated on tllls
MAGDEBURG 117

Not a textbook landing, but the aircuifi was probably easily repaired. UnterqfJi:J.ier
Hellllut Riehl of 2.1JG 1 and his Fw190 'Schwan.e 4' on 2 May near
Schkeuditz. Note the two machine guns in.Font of the coc!/pit, the JG 1 !:lIlblem
and th!: white spiraL on the propelLor hub. [Hans Lachh'1j
aircraft for a complete 360 degrees tum before opening fire.
The area was so thick I could not determine whether tlus
was an Me 109 or a P-51. On the econd orbit, I got clo e
enough to see there were no stripes on the wing and noticed
tile outl.i.nes of the nose. I fired a continuous burst through
another approximately 360 degree tum and aw strikes. The
aircraft reeled about and dove straight for the deck,
118
disappearing in the smoke. On my return to base, Lt Siems
stated he witnessed till combat and saw the Me 109 Darning
and diving into the deck. I claim one Me 109 destroyed. I
pulled up inlmediately and nearly collided with a spinning,
Daming aircraft. A piece of tills aircraft Oater I learned it wa
Lt Hewatt's) struck my prop cowling. I banged on bottom
rudder and snapped to get away. \t\Then I Callle out I was
directly behind two P-51s attacking a 109. \t\Then till alc
broke, I saw QP-C make an attack and saw pieces Dying off
the 109. A few seconds later, tile enemy aircraft fell into a
dive and cra hed into tile deck. I confJTm one Me 109
destroyed, shared by these two P-51s.,,35
McPharlin also flew with his friends in tile 4t1l Fighter
Group on D-Day. It was aI 0 to be his last combat flight, as
he was killed in action that day, flying his T#e Ginny.
In Blue flight only Lt Mark H. Kolter was uccessful;
witll 692 rounds he destroyed a Bf 109, for Ius one and only
air victory. He was shot down and killed in action just two
days later. Since Kolter apparently was not debriefed on the
evening of the 28m, Dew another nussion on the 29th but
did not return from the one on tile 30th, Captain Thomas
E. Joyce subnlitted a c1ainl for Kolter.
As would later become clear, it was a posthumous claim
for Kolter's only air victory: "Lt Kolter [No.3] and I [No.4]
beCallle separated at 20,000 feet from Cobweb Blue Section
in the attack on fifteen plus Me 109s who were coming in
high and starboard to nuddle bunch of bombers. We
followed two P-51s who were attacking an enemy aircraft to
the deck. After the Me 109 [Lt Hofer's] cra hed, we pulled
up above haze to 7,000 feet. Three Me 109s were seen some
distance at 10 o'clock, 5,000 to 6,000 feet, descending
tllrough break. We made an orbit above break and tllen
went down tllrough to about 1,500 feet. One Me 109 was
seen slightly below us and with advantage of altitude and
speed, we clo ed on unaware Me 109. Blue 3 commenced
firing well within range. Strikes were seen on Me 109 wluch
broke 180 degree port. I saw pieces of cowling falling ofT and
nearly hitting them. Lt Kolter closed, firing a long burst. I
believe he killed the pilot. The enemy aircraft 10 t a1titud
gradually to about 200 feet. The plane tllrned over on its
back, inverted flight, at 150 feet for about ten
seconds, then fell ofT on one wing and crashed. It
exploded and burned."36
Joyce returned to England and landed at
Honington minus the top and left side of his
canopy, wluch was tom off during a power dive.
A typical flight of four fighters was 334th
Fighter Squadron's Green flight. Its action are
tllerefore covered in greater detail. LeadinO' the
flight in his P-51C 43-24793, coded Qf-C, was the
veteran liLt Joseph L. Lang from Boston,
Massachusett . In 1943 he had flown with tile RAF
and h served with the 334th Squadron since 28
December 1943. He was already credited with
three-and-one-third enemy fighters de troyed.
According to Fighter Command operational
l/Lt Joseph L Lang of the 4th Fightl:l' Group, 334th Fight!:r
Squadron. He Led its Gre!:n FLight on 28 May and shot down a
BJ 109 and shared one with Lt Edwin HelLer of the 352nd Fight!:r
Group. This brought him ~ce' status. Despite alwaysJLYlllg with good
Luck c!zamlS ~he baby shoes sem here aroulld his neck), he W(lS killed
111 action on 14 October. [Forre t WiltialllS}
MISSION 376
procedure, a less experienced man flew as Green Two,
covering the tail of tile lead 1', not yet being responsible for
navigation or making any tactical decisions. When a pilot
gained enough experience, he was made element leader and
later, flight leader. \t\Then he liv d long enough and displayed
sufficient skill he nlight even become Squadron Leader. Tlus
Green Two was 2/Lt Richard L. Bopp, flying in P-51B
t2-106846, coded Qf-H. Bopp, from Revere,
Massachusetts, joined the Squadron, fresh from flying
school in tile United State, on 16 May and had flown only
twice on short combat missions to France. This was to be Ius
first escort nlission to a German target and, unfortunately,
he was to be in the tIllck of it. Flying Green ThTee and tllUS
leading tile econd element of the flight, in P-51C 42-103791,
coded Qf-N, was liLt Robert P. Kenyon from Detroit,
Michigan. He had been with the Squadron since 9 March
and had one confITmed air victory until now. Up tile slot,
Green Four, thus covering Kenyon's tail, was a relative
freshman, 2/Lt Aubrey E. Hewatt, in P-51B 43-6933, coded
Qf-Y. He had joined the Squadron on 17 April. On 21 May
he had shared tile destruction of a German aircraft with
Ralph Hofer. Robert P. Kenyon reported: "Lt Hewatt was
flying on my wing when we encountered enemy aircraft at
about 14.00 hours, approximately five miles east of
Magdeburg. I went down to about 4,000 feet on the tail of
an Me 109 and shot it down, pulled up and looked back to
see if Lt Hewatt was still with me. He indeed still was in trail l/Lt Robt:rt P &'I)'on of the 4th Fightt:r Group preparesfir take-qfffir anotlzt:r
with me, but another Me 109 was closing in on hinl rather escort mission. Put Ben Rei:I.en is ready to close tIle canopy ofthe P-51. Ken;'011 shot
fast. I called him on the rlt, telling him to break, but he down a BJ 1 09 fir his second and last victory on 28 May. He softlyfinished his
didn't. I told him twice more, but for some rea on or otller, tour of operation ill Odobl:l' 1944. [USAAF}
he continued to Dy as he was. The Me 109 started getting number two, Lt Richard L. Bopp, had seen pi nty of action.
hits and Lt Hewatt's aircraft burst into flame. As tile bUrJung Lang submitted the following report: "I was leading
parts fell to about 2,000 feet, I saw Ius parachute open."37 Cobweb Green ection, with Lt Bopp as my wingman. We
Hewatt llimself later recalled: "I was tailing Kenyon. He were in combat on tile deck when he lost me. Later he called
wa doing anlazing shooting, 60 and 90 degree deflection. I me and asked my position. I told him, but he kept calling. I
didn't hear break, so maybe I was too carried away watching told him the course and all tile nece sary inJormation to get
him or possibly my radio was out. Anyway, my insu'ument llim home."39
panel disintegrated and at tile same instant I received metal Richard L. Bopp would not return to Debden. On tlus
fragments from my left temple down to my left hip. ext, Ius very first escort llussion over Germany he had great
the seat was surrounded by orange flames but I did not difficulty in following his leader, tile experienced Lang, in his
receive any bums, flames stopping just inches from my face. combat manoeuvres. \t\Then he lost Lang, he apparently lost
I had orne difficulty getting tile canopy ofT so I could bail all ense of direction, not unusual after a hectic combat, and
out; I had to pull the emergency release lever several time very understandable when it i one's first. Most of the 334th
before I could get it off. Then I bailed out. I didn't tIllnk I Squadron pilots returned to England individually, since tile
was going to be able to bail out. I know I was fairly low by Squadron was scattered around the Magdeburg district and
the time I did because the chute opened and it had time to could not form up as an effective Fighter Squadron again.
oscilate just once before I hit tile ground. My plane and I hit They had to leave tI1e luckless Bopp, hearing his de perate
the ground within a stone's throw of each other. I have no calls over the radio. Eventually Bopp picked up tile right
idea why I did it, tllen or now, but the first thing I did on the direction, but had stayed in the combat area too long, and
ground wa to look at my watch - 14.00 hours exactly. Then over France hi fuel warning lights began to flicker. Rather
I saw four Nazi soldiers ""itll rifles running toward me and I than risking ditching or parachuting in the Channel he chose
was taken prisoner."38 to bail out over France. He and his fighter came down near
Hewatt and his Mustang came down near the Vogelsang Aumont, twelve kilometres north of Poix, in northern
sanatorium, five kilometres soutll-soutll-east of Magdeburg. France. He was immediately pick d up, and spent the rest of
It is po sible, a1t1lough it cannot be verified, that Hewatt was the war as a prisoner of war.
tile victim of Oberleutnant Ri.idiger KiTchmayr, who had Lang resumes Ius account of the action: "I was at 29,000
aI 0 succeeded in shooting down one of the B-17s of tile feet near Magdeburg. I had cover d Red section on everal
390th Bomb Group in the vicinity of Magdeburg. Kenyon, bounces. On one of these I saw Lt Siems destroy an Fw 190.
now on his own, returned to England and landed at 17.20 After we were separated, my section joined and covered Blue
hours at Steeple Morden, tile base of the 355t11 Fighter Section. An Me 109 bounced Blue leader and his number
Group, since Debden wa closed due to haze. In the two. I immediately went down toward him and he dove for
meantime, tI1e Green leader, Lt Joseph Lang, and hi the deck. I Gred several tinles and nlissed. We finally leveled
MAGDEBURG 119

off and he made a starboard turn. By this time 1 was 200
yards behind. 1 fIred a long burst and hit him along the right
side of the fu elage. The enemy aircraft made an outside turn
down and to the left. 1 followed him. He leveled off and
bailed out. Lt Momoe, Blue Leader, who was covering me,
can confirm this.
"As 1 had found the airdrome with hundred plus aircraft
on it [believed to be Magdeburg] that the enemy aircraft
were returning to, 1 orbitted and bounced them as they came
home. On the third bounce, 1 lost my 0.2 (Lt Bopp) in the
haze on the deck. At this time Major McPharlin joined me
as No. 2 to me. 1 was flying with a blue-nosed section of
Mustangs. (This was Lt Heller of the 352nd Fighter Group).
About the sanle time we saw a 109 and went after him. Lt
Heller got there fIrst and fired, obtaining very good strikes.
By this time, 1 was to the right and slightly behind Lt Heller.
The 109 broke right and 1 laid off deflection, fIred and hit
Above, Iifi to right: Lts Homer R. Mitchell and Bartholomew G. Tenore shared the destruction qfa Bf109 on 28 May 1944. [Steve Blake]; Caj)t James W Edwards
destroyed a Fw 190, q/ier a spectaadar divefiwn 25,000 to 700flet in which he lost his canojJy. [Steve Blake]
120
LIf!i: 21Lt Richard L. Bopp in
Februmy 1944 at Hillsborough Army
Air Base. [Virginia B. Russell}
Below: Above: EVelY airman had his
picture taken in England, weanng
civilian c1otheJ. Iu wse he was shot
down and tlying to evade back to
England these pic/ures were to be used
on forged /)ajJers SlljJfJl1ed by the
resistance. Richard Bo/)/) didn't need
his j)ictures, as he was captured
immediatelj' npon ulI1ding on Fmlch
soil. [Virginia B Russell}
lhljortunately the combat 'reports for most qfthe 354th
J·tghter Group have not survived the years. These
/udures may serve as a tnbute to some qf the successfid
/ulots qf the Group. Captain Yffillace N ElI1l11er
({(((Iuutedfor two Bf109s and oue Fw 190 on 28 May.
IfI' was shot down all 9 August 1944 cll/£1 sucollllbed to
hil wouuds on 15 February 1945. [Steve Blake]
him. The 109 went under us and crashed. As it was hazy, 1
couldn't tell exactly where it crashed. Major McPharlin can
confirm this 109 for Lt Heller and myself.'''IO
Thus, botll two experienced pilots in Green Flight, Lts liLt William r. Allderson on the wing qf IllS Swede's Steed III. The second qfthe victones so proudly
Kenyon and Lang, who managed to score victories in tlus displa),ed was a Bf 109 he shot doWIl on 28 May. [William r. Anderson)
combat, had lost their less experienced wingmen, who
apparently had all tlley could cope with, wlwe simply trying
to follow their element leader in combat manoeuvres. For
tlle loss of Bopp and Hewatt, who both survived, the 334th
Fighter Squadron of tlle 4tll Fighter Group, had shot down
seven-and-a-half enemy fIghters.
Their brothers in arms of the 354tll Fighter Group of the
Ninth Air Force, who had taken off from Lashenden at
11.53 hours with 49 Mustangs, would do even better.
Unfortunately, only a few pilot encounter reports of the
354tll Fighter Group have survived in the archives. One of
tllese is tllat of 2/Lt Homer R. Mitchell, who reported: "I
liLt Gus W Allell shot dowll yet another Bf 109 P-51D, 44-13383, Swede's Steed III, the airarijijl.IJwn by liLt William r. Anderson qfthe 354th Fighter
during combats ill the Neuhaldellslebell area. [Barbara Grou/), shown here ill }me 1944 on an imj)/Vvised aiJJlnjJ near Irign), ill Nonnandy, Fra:nce. On 28 May, Anderson
Allnl] }lew this aircrq/i whm he shot down a Bf109. [William r. Andason}
Captaill Glenn T. Eagleston mded the war as higllest-sc011ng Ace qfthe Ninth Air
Force, with 18 Ih c01!1inned vic/ones. Tiuo qfthese he obtained Oil 28 ~May. [Steve liLt Cla)/ton K. Gross scored his third victory, a Bf 109 over Nellha!£lellslebm.
Blake] [Steve Blake]
MISSION 376 MAGDEBURG 121

liLt Edward E. Hunt claimed a BJ109, bnngz1zg his total to six an£l a half. This
picture was taken in early November 1944, when the 354th Fighter GroujJ
!raniferredftom the P-51 to the P-47. On 8 November, only days qfier this picture
was taken, Hunt was kILled in action over France. [USAAF, through James
BoLLinger}
was flying number 4 position in Blue flight of the 356th
Fight r Squadron, at 25,000 feet and about 14.05 hours. An
Me 109 passed under our flight about 1,000 feet below. I
called it in to the flight leader and was told to go after it. I
went down on it and immediately it started turning tight to
the left. I started turning with it and after a short time I was
able to get lead by chopping throttle and frred several short
bursts, getting many strikes on the tail and some on wing
and fuselage. I snapped out of the turn and Lt Tenore, who
was flying number 3 position in our flight, pulled in and
fired, getting strikes on the wing. At that time I was behind
and covering him. The enemy aircraft did a split-S and
started down. Lt Tenore fired more short bursts from dead
astern. I observed many strikes on tail and fuselage and
many pieces of the cowling came off and black smoke
poured out from the fuselage. The enemy aircraft appeared
to go into an out-of-control dive, almost straight down, int
the low overcast from about 6,000 feet. I claim a destroy d
Me 109, shared witl1 Lt Bartholomew Tenore.,,41
Leading Blue Flight was CaptainJames W. Edwards. He
was to have a more than exciting action, nearly losing his li£
in an uncontrollable aircraft and tl1en forcing a Fw 190 int
tl1e ground: "My number thl"ee and four were attacking an
Me 109 and I supported top cover for them. They went into
a dive with tl1e enemy aircraft; I followed. I and my number
2 dived too fast and hit compressability. The dive started at
25,000 feet and I pulled out at about 500-700 feet, losing my
canopy on pull-out. After I regained control, I saw tl1at I wa
alone so started climbing up. At 4,000 feet I was jumped by
two Fw 190 . I saw them coming and frred two short bur
in their general direction to shake tllem up a little. I dropp d
20 degTees of flaps and started turning, losing altitude at the
same time. At 500 feet I was having no trouble turning insid
of them, witl1 my canopy gone and flap damaged by th
canopy as it tore loose. We made about two turns at 500 feet
and I was about to get deflection on them, when the leader
snapped and spun. He hit the gTound and flame spread for
about 200 yards where he hit. The remaining Fw 190 made
a diving turn for the deck, but I didn't follow as I knew I
couldn't catch him witl1 tlle added drag. I climbed back up t
15,000 feet and joined three P-51's from anotl1er Group."42
The pilots of the 354th Fighter Group were credited with
no fewer than 17 1/2 enemy fighters destroyed, for no losse
on tlleir side. The highest scorer was Capt Wallace
Enuner, who shot down two Bf l09s and one Fw 190.
Their opponents most probably were pilots from JG 1
and JG 11. Both units lost six pilots killed in action in tlle
Magdeburg area, with several others bailing out or belly-
landing tl1eir damaged aircraft. One of tl10se bailing out wa
Gbe-r/euLnanl Walter Krupinski, tlle GrujJjJe11komrnandeur of
II.1G 11. He was shot down by a Mustang, but got out safely
18,000 feet, when he noticed
another P-51 commg from
behind and forming on him as
wingman, as they each had lost
their own in the action several
minutes before. The Mustang
forming on him was P-51B
43-7195 and was coded Vf-X,
clearly marking it as a machine
of the 353rd Fighter Squadron
of the 354th Fighter Group.
Its pilot was liLt Glenn H.
Pipes. William Perkins tells th
story: "We let down to 15,000
feet and headed south with the
intention of picking up the
bombers on theu" way horne to
offer them some protection, tJ1is
beulg around 14.15 hours. Ten
Conditions in the Reserve Hospital at Sondershausen, where Gifi-e1ler ]osifKomer minutes after setting course south, Lt Pipes called in over tlle
was treatedJOr his inpi1iesJOr several months, were spartan, as this picture testyzes.
radio and said 'there are two ailuaft taking off tl1e field off
(HiLdegund Kom.er]
to our right'. I looked but could not see the planes he
mentioned, so I told Lt Pipes to go after them and that I
to fight anotller day. Not so lucky was Gbe-deulnanl Eugen would follow hinl down. We continued SOUtll for another
Kotiza, the SLqfftLkapildn of 3.1G 1. He died when his aircraft minute and tl1en turned around letting down to attack the
crashed and was another one of the more experienced pilots drome from south to north. I till didn't see tl1e ail"craft Lt
the Lz!flw{/ft was losing at an alarming rate. . Pipes had called in tllat were taking off, so I figured I'd get
After their successful clash with the enemy, tlle pilots of one on the gTOund anyway. We approached tl1e field at
tlle 354th Fighter Group were scattered over a wide area. about 400 miles per hour and at filty feet. Directly in front
Most of them turned in a westerly direction, to head for of me I saw a parked ail"craft. I opened fire at about 400
England and their base at La henden. Of course, most were yards and kept firmg all tlle way in. When about 300 yard
looking eagerly for more targets, eitller in the air or on the away, I started to get many strikes all over the engine. 1 h
ground. One of tllem was liLt William R. Perkins, who had aircraft was parked in such a manner that I was attacking it
not succeeded in downing a German aircraft on tl1is day, so head-on. Almost in1mediately it burst into flame. The flanles
far. He was flying alone in the Magdeburg area at about shot up about fifteen feet and looked oily for there was black

OberLeutnant Vffilter Krupinski, GrupjJenkom11landeur Oberleutnant Eugen KotiUl, the Austnan Gifteiter- ]osifK017zer if 9./]G 1 was injured while
if III]G 11 was shot down by a P-51 over StqJJelkajJitiin if 3./]G 1, died when his Fw 190 belly-landing his BJ l09 near Sondershausen. liLt Glenn If Apes if the 354th Fighter Group was lost qfier his P-51 Pied
Magdeburg aim bailed out if his BJ 109. [Rudoff crashed. He is stzll listed as missing in action. [Eric [HiLdegund Komer) liLt William R. Perkins destroyed an FW 190 by strqfing aim a]u 88 in tlze Piper was hzt by groundfire dun1zg a strqfing allack. He was taken Prisoner if
Strosetmi} Balded air. These cla.ims wer-e his last, as he was kiLLed in adion on 12 June. [Steve Blake} Vffir. [USAA1'7

122 MISSION 376 MAGDEBURG 123

P-51B 43-7195 Pied Piper. Its operationalljft ended in a meadow near RUP/Jersdorfafler aJlak hit callSed loss ofcoolant. [Steve Blake}
smoke mixed with it. I then identified the plane as a Fw 190.
I kept firing at it although it was already burn.ing, until I had
to pull up to keep from run.ning into it. Another fu"e off to
my right and at the far end of the field attracted my attention
then. It was another Fw 190 burning, which Lt Pipes had
shot up. Around it were several other parked aircraft. I tried
to get my sights on them, but couldn't, so I opened fire on a
hangar directly in front of me. I got about a one-and-a-half
second burst in the open door. Lt Pipes and I started to
climb up again making a wide circle to the right to get back
on our course of 180 degTecs again. We got on course and
were at about 4,000 feet when we sighted a single ship
directly in front of us and at the sanle level. He saw us
coming and ducked into a smail cloud. But we were then
about 800 yard away, so he was out of the cloud again
before we were even in range, a we didn't lose ight of him.
The bogey tllen made a steep turn to the riO'ht. I pulled up
and chopped tl1rottle to cut down my peed, then split-S'ed
onto his tail, going down below 11in1 and coming up again to
do it. I recognized the ship as aJu 88. It was painted a sort
of smoke color witll black spots ail over it. I got on his tail
in the turn and started giving him two-second bursts. I saw
no return fire from the rear gunner. My first tllree bursts
whipped short of his tail, so I gave him more deflection and
another bur t. This time I saw strikes on the right engine
and forward part of the J u 88. The rear part of the 88 was
blocked out by my nose. As oon as I hit him he straightened
out of hi turn and dove down as if he had pushed the stick
forward violently. I stayed with him and gave him a long
burst at about 50 yards range. I saw strike ail over tlle
aircraft; black and white smoke poured out and pieces flew
off. I pulled up and tipped over on my left wing to watch
him. His left enQine was on fir and he went down weaving,
as if he were look.ing for a field to crash"land. I was at about
124
1,000 feet then and I watched him fly over a Little village and
crash-land into a field on tlle otller side. Immediately on
hitting the ground, the 88 blew up. The wings flew off and
just seemed to disintegrate into a pall of blackish brown
make and a bail of flame. I saw no one bail out and believe
the pilot was k.i.lled on landing."
The unfortunate J u 88 which had run into both roving
pilots of the 354th Fighter Group, and was promptly shot
down by William Perkins for his second victory, was
Ju 88C 750400. It was flown by Feldwebel Erich Phieler and
belonged to Lz!flbeobaclzlungsslcYftl1, a reconnaissance unit,
based at euruppm peciaJising in trailing bomber
formations and broadcasting their altitude and course to
ground-ba ed fighter controllers. Phieler and his gunner,
UnterQ/fizier Frank Hill11rl1er, were k.i.lled in tantly in the
fiery crash near Lichtenstein. Radio-operator UnterQ/fizier
Franz Oertel uccumbed to his wounds in a Lichtenstein
ho pital that same evening. 'The 95th Bomb Croup athlcked the m.arshallingyards and ind1l.ltnal area in Dessau, afler its assigned /mlnaJ)' and secondary targets were obscured by clouds. 'The q/ficial
William Perkins resume his story: "After this, we again report mentions that: "'The bombs hit in a good pattem in the southem part ofDe.s.sau. Bursts cover the railroad line running south as well as the baJ7<lcks area to the west
set course south. It was about 15.30 hours tllen, and we and indllStrial area to the east': [Crown CO/lynghtlPublic Record QIJice}
were still between Magdeburg and Dcssau. Suddenly I fifteen seconds I was at 1,000 feet over the site where the Light flak, collided with a power line and then cra hed into
noticed white smoke trailing from Lt Pipes' ship. Apparently ship came to re t and saw a man, with a bright colored vest the line of trucks he was stJ"afmg.
he had been hit at the unidentified airfield we had strafed . 'e a Mae West], standing at about thirty feet from the We now return to the two Combat Wmg formations,
previously. I ca..Ued him over tlle radio and told binl. He aid wreck. He then still"ted running away from it. as flaIne and which were turning from tl1eir Initial Point towill"ds the
'god damn it. They got my coolant'. He then said he would black smoke started to come out of it. I assumed it wa Lt target when the German fighter struck. The 390th Bomb
have to get out. I told binl to stick with the ship until the last Pipes and set course for home directly, without watching Group, leading tlle 13 'A' Combat Wing, and which bore the
moment. He slowly still"tedlosing altitude. When we were at further activities."43 brunt of the German attack, had great difficulties on the
9,000 feet he cailed me again saying he would crash-land it Perkins is accurate. Glenn Pipes did set fu"e to his Pied bomb run. Lead bombardier Captain Fred W. Murray
and told me to strafe it aIter he had gotten out of it. Over tlle Piper and did try to get away from it. However tlle Volksstunn reported: "We peeled off at the briefed point and fired red-
radio I directed him to a clear field, as he was already so low of Ruppers lorf, the little village wh.ere he landed, quickly red flares at briefed Initial Point for bomb bay doors to open.
he couldn't see any distance. He put it down on the outskirts captured him and turned him over to the police. Pipes then The smoke screen was very effective over the till"get area due
of a little village; he did a good job, not breaking the plane spend tlle rest of the war in prison camps. William Perkins to the wind change and we were unable to pick up the target
in half or hitting any obstacles. I circled tlle area at about was killed in action ju t two weeks later. Strafmg a ground until we reached a point twenty-five seconds from tlle bomb
1,000 feet, but I did not see him leaving h.is cockpit. Within convoy in onnandy, onJune 12, he was apparently hit by release line. I attempted to make a combat run on the target,
MISSION 376 MAGDEBURG 125

The bombs ifthe 388th Bomb Group straddle the MagdeburglRothensee oil refillel)', west ifthe Elbe river. Smoke.lom the bombs ifthe lOOth alld 390th Bomb Groups
is visible south ifthe target area. [Crowll CopynghtlPublic Record Office]
but was unable to synchroniz due to wind change, which
affected the pre-set drift. All bombing equipment worked
perfectly. Bomb results were unobserved. Had a head-on
fighter attack on bombing run, but flak was light."44
Later, reconnaissance pictures revealed tllat tlle bombing
had been very poor, witll only four percent of tlle hits wiiliin
2,000 feet of ilie briefed Aiming Point. The 100tll Bomb
Group, flying High in tl1is Combat Wing, encountered
similar problems. Here lead bombardier 2/LtJohn E. Dinlel
126
reported: "Medium flak and large swarm of enemy fighters
constituted ilie enemy resistance on tlle bomb run. 2/10tlls
cloud cover was observed in tlle target area and a very
effective smoke screen completely ob cured the target. The
aiming point was never ob erved and two intersecting roads
were used as an alternative aiming point, and no visual
re ults were observed."45
Forty per cent of ilie Group's bombs landed witl1in 2,000
feet of ilie briefed Aiming Point. The Composite Group,
MISSION 376
flying Low in ilie Combat Wing, was ilie last to bomb. The
six aircraft of tlle 100ili Bomb Group, leading tl1is Group,
fared no better. Lead bombardier, 2/Lt Burrough E.
Conover, recorded: "Primary target was so obscured by
smoke iliat I could not fmd an AinUng Point. We ilien used
ilie Gera marshalling yards as an Aiming Point, re ults are
unobserved."46
The five B-17s of ilie 390ili Bomb Group in ilie
Composite Group dropped ilieir bomb on an unknown
'target of opportunity' somewhere in Germany. The bombs
from tlle remaining aircraft in tl1is Group, seven of ilie 95tll
Bomb Group "... hit in fields five miles souili east of
Magdeburg." By effective use of its smokescreen, and of
course greatly assisted by ilie Lziftwqffi, which in no small
measure distracted ilie lead bombardiers on ilieir bomb
run, ilie oil refineries in Magdeburg had escaped serious
damage so far.
The 13 'B' Combat Wing, however, was still on its way
to ilie target and could perhaps tilt ilie scale for ilie
Americans. Only two Groups were left in tl1is Combat
Wing, due to tlle mix-up at ilie rendezvous. The entire 94tll
Bomb Group formation had returned to England and only
ilie 95ili and 388ili Bomb Groups remained. But, in contrast
to ilie 13tll 'N Combat Wmg, only a few enemy fighters
were encountered by ilie e two Groups. and no ships were
lost before ilie I.r1itial Point was reached.
The 95tll Bomb Group's bombing was hampered by ilie
sanle cloud and smokescreen iliat fouled tlle bombardiers
of ilie previous Groups, and railier ilian make a econd run,
ilie Conunand Pilot, Lt Col David C. McKnight, elected to
attack ilie assigned secondary target, ilie aircraft factory at
Dessau. Here, only minutes before, ilie 94tll Combat Wing
had just been heavily bloodied by tlle Lziftwqffi. On ilie
bomb run B-17G 42-107201 Uf>rry Bird, flown by Lt R.I.
Johnson was hit badly by flak in two engines. Johnson had
to jettison his bombs in order to be able to tay in formation.
The sixteen remaining sJ1ips of ilie 95th Bomb Group
salvoed at 14.30 hours from 24,000 feet. The bursts covered
a raiJroad line running souili as we]] as a barracks area to ilie
west and industrial area to tlle east of ilie factory.
But, ilie effort of ilie last Group to bomb, tlle 388tll Bomb
Group, saved tlle day for ilie Americans at Magdeburg.
Conunand Pilot was Captain Leo G. Burkett in B-17G
42-31802 GydinCl, piloted by Captain George C. Montgomery.
Captain Charles M. Zettek was ilieir lead bombardier. On ilie
way in, no fewer ilian five B-17s had aborted, four due to
mechal1ica..l troubles and one because ilie pilot was sick. But
tlle crews aboard the 15 remaining aircraft did a good job. At
14.23 hours tlley released 570 100-pound bombs from 26.000
feet. PhotoQTaphic recolU1aissance later revealed iliat tlu-ee per
cent of ilie identified bombs had lallded within 500 feet of tlle
assigned AiminO" Point, seventeen percent wiiliin 1,000 feet
and 56 per cent wiiliin 2,000 feet.
The official report states: "The central and westem sections if
the plant were blanketed by at least ninetyjive bursts. Another large
pattem was scattered south if the target and covered part if the
Magcleburg llU1TShalling )Iards. Fires were started in the oil storage
area. Damage visible inclucled moclerate roifdamage to the liquid air
plant, severe damage to jJarL if the comjJTeSSOTS building and to one
third ifthe roififthe ilyect01--circulator house. It is adjudged that after
minor repairs the plant would be able to resume operations at 25 to 50
percent capacity."47
MAGDEBURG
The Bomb Group formations returned to England
wiiliout furlier n1ishap, landing at ilie respective bases
around 18.00 hours. At interrogation, clainls for German
fighters destTOyed were checked, and information gailiered
from the tired o-ews, for ilie official reports_ In addition to
tactical COl1U1lents, more mundane, sugg tions were made by
ilie retuming crews. Tl1is is illu trated in a report by Major
Mal-vin S. Bowman, ilie 100ili Bomb Group' Intelligence
Officer: "Such facilities as ilie P.x., ervice club and bal-ber
shop should stay open, so iliat we will be able to use iliem"
"On way back over ilie enemy coa t ili r were four
ships iliat had no man in ilie ba..l..l turret, one wa 695.'
"We defu1itely need hot water for hower after a
n1ission. 350tll Squadron latrines have no toil t paper. If not
avaiJable how about newspapers or such. Coffee and and-
wiches out on tlle line tl1is morning was a good iliing. The
mess sergeant is doing a great job."
"Today, for the third time we found guns iliat had been
fired and not clealled. This is bad business."
"Friendly fighters should remain for protection in front
of ilie Group. Didn't ee ally for fifty-four n1inutes."
"Would like coal for barracks. Would still appreciate
salldwiche at interrogation."
"Silver ship flying as lead ships should be painted olive
drab on ilie top of fu elage. as it is hard on ilie eyes."
"Want soap in officers club to wash before eating after
n1ission."
"Suggest stronger escort from tlle I.r1itial Point to ilie
target."
"Wallt place to have dry cleaning done."48
Back in l1is issen hut at Fra.m..lingham, Robert Munroe,
who had flown ilie n1ission as navigator on B-17G 42-31974
Bomboogle, recorded in his diary: "Matthias went straight down
and IngTClm nearh' so. No chutesfom either. Both ifthese crews were
in our barracks. On Matthias's crew were Gerards (copilot),
Jo Freyland (7U1vigator) and Bass (bombardie1). They wm on their
24tft. Ingram, one ifthe new boys with lead crew possibilities, luzd in
seven m1SSZ01ZS...
"The mughest mission ifall.fOr us and highest losses in history if
Group. Little djJficult to keep./i-om being depressed this evening. This
was my 13th, or 12B as we jmjer to call it. Herman Goenlzg's boys
had aftir clay - we a poor O1ze. Things will be djlftmzt next tillle!,49
Notes
1. 94th Bomb Group Mission Report: Record Group 18, Washington
auonal Records Center.
2. 95th Bomb Group Mission Report: Record Group 18, '-\Tashington
1 auonal Records enter.
3. Letter to author. 8 April 1992.
4. Pilot encounter report: RL 10/483. Militiirarchiv Freiburg.
5. Letters to author. 1'~ Augtlst 1989 and 21 May 1990.
6. Pilot encounter report; RL 10/483. MiliUira.rchiv Freiburg.
7. Telephone conversation with author. 27 August 2000.
8. Diary Charles . Baker, handed to author 3 May 2000.
9. Pilot encounter report: RL 10/483, Mihtiirarchiv Freiburg.
10. Pilot encounter report: RL 10/483, Militararchiv Freiburg.
11. Pilot encounter report: RL 10/483, Militararchiv Freiburg.
12. Pilot encounter repon; RL 10/483, Militararchiv Freiburg.
13. Letter to aLllhor, 2 May 1990.
14. Pilot encounter repon; RL 10/483, Militararchiv Freiburg.
15. Letter to author, 11 October 1987.
16. Diary William E. Hill, through Gary L. Hill, March 2000.
17. Pilot encounter report; RL 10/483, Militiirarchiv Freiburg.
18. Statemem in MACR 5382; Record Group 92, Washington Nauonal
Records Center.
127
19. Letter LO author, ILl- March 1990.
20. lelcphonc conversauons with audlOr, Dcccmbcr 1999 and Octobcr
2000.
21. 100d, Bomb Group Mission Repon; Record Group 18. Washington
auonal Rccords Ccntcr.
22. 100d, Bomb Group Mission Rcpon: Rccord Group 18. Washington
auonal Records Center.
23. 100th Bomb Group Mission Rcpon; Rccord Group 18. Washington
National Records Center.
2-1-. 100d, Bomb Group Mission Rcpon: Record Group 18, WashingLOn
lauonal Records Centcr.
25. Pilot cnCOuntcr repon: SAF HiSLOricaJ Rcscarch enter. laxwell
AFB, AL.
26. Pilot cncountcr rcpon; USAF Historical Rcscarch Centcr. Maxwcll
AFB.AL
27. Pilot cnCOuIller rcpon; SAF I-listorical Rcscarch Ccntcr. Maxwell
AFB, AL.
28. Pilot cnCOuIllcr rcpon; USAF I-lisLOricaJ Rcscarch CCIllcr, Maxwcll
AFB, AL.
29. Pilot cnCOuIllcr rcpon; USAF Historical Rc carch Ccntcr, Maxwell
AFB, AL.
30. Pilot enCOuIllcr rcpon; USAF HiSLOrical RcscaJ'ch cnter, Maxwcll
AFB, AL.
31. Pilot encountcr rcpon: USAF I-liSLOrical Rcscarch cntcr, Maxwcll
AFB, AL.
32. Pilot cncounter rcpon; USAF HisLOl'icaJ Rescarch Ccntcr. Maxwell
AFB, AL.
33. Pilot encounter rcpon; SAF Hi LOricaJ Rescarch Center. Maxwell
AFB, AL.
34. Pilot cncounter repon: USAF HiSLOricaJ Rcsearch cntcr, Maxwell
AFB, AL.
35. Pilot cncountcr rcpon; SAF HisLOrical RescaJ'ch Ccntcr. Maxwell
AFB. AL.
36. Pilot encounter repon: USAF HisLOrical Rcscarch Ccnter, Maxwell
AFB, AL.
37. Statement in MACR 5397: Rccord Group 92. ''\Tashington ational
Rccords Centcr.
38. Leucr LO audlOr. 29 March. 1988.
39. tatemcnt in MACR 5726: Record Group 92. Washington National
Records Center.
,~O. Pilot cncounter rcpon: SAl' HiSLOrical RcseaJ"Ch Ccntcr. Maxwcll
AFB. AL.
4·1. Pilot encountcr rcpon: through StcvC Blakc.
4·2. Pilot cncountcr rcport: dll"ough StcvC Blakc.
4·3. Statcmcnt in 1ACR 5137: Rccord Group 92, "YashingLOn J ationaJ
Rccords Centcr aJ,d pilot cncountcr rcpon. thJ"Ough Stcve Blakc.
44·. 390th Bomb Croup Mission Rcpon; Rccord Group 18, Washington
ational Rccords Ccnter.
45. 100th Bomb Group Mission Rcpon; Rccord Group 18, WashingLOn
auonal Rccords Ccntcr.
46. 100th Bomb Group Mission Rcpon; Rccord Group 18, WashjngLOn
NationaJ Rccords Centcr.
47. Statcment in G-2 largct Intelligcncc Rcpon 28 May 1944; Rccord
Croup 243, 'Vashington lational Rccords enter.
48. 100th Bomb Group Mission Rcpon; Rccord Group 18. vYashington
ational Rccords Centcr.
1~9. Diary Robcn A. Munroe, handcd LO audlOr 3 May 2000.

This /Jidure was takenfiol1! the lifi waist windows </B-17G 42-107093, the lead ship </the 452nd Bomb Group, and shows the 96th Bomb Group, leading the 45th
Combat Wing to Konigsbom. [National Archives]

Chapter Eight

KONIGSBORN
Two Combat Wings, the 45th and the 4th, were scheduled
to bomb the army tank. ordnance depot in K6nigsborn, just
east of Magdeburg. It was at this depot, the large t of its kind
in Germany, that many tanks and half-tTack vehicle were
given a pre-operational inspection, Its destruction would
mean a severe blow for the German armament industry, and
less armour on the battlefields of Europe.
Leading the 45th Combat Wing was the 96tll Bomb
Group from Snetterton Heath. A Composite Group of the
388th Bomb Group from Knettishall and the 452nd Bomb
Group from Deopham Green was flying as High Group.
The 452nd Bomb Group also put up tlle entire Low Group
fornlation. The Wing leader wa Lt Col Stanley 1. Hand.
flying in PFF-equipped B-17G 42-97666, piloted by Capt
Robert S. Bowman. The Groups assembled wiftly and the
Combat Wing formed without much difficulty. However
between St Ives and Cambridge another Wing cro ed its
course, temporarily breaking up the formation, which was
then reformed over Bury St Edmunds. There were only a
few aborts. From the Lead Group, Lt Bond returned to
Snetterton Heatll with his number tlu'ee engine out. His
place was taken by a scheduled spare flown by Lt MacDanieJ
in B-17G 42-102633 lovely Lady. Both otller spares of the
Group returned to base. The records of the 452nd Bomb
Group indicate that they put up 24 aircraft for their own
Low Group, and nine aircraft for the Composite Group with
the 388th Bomb Group, all including spares. Rather
mysteriously, the same records show tllat seven of the B-17s
in tlle Low Group returned to Deopham Green, all schedu-
led spare according to the report submitted by Group
Leader Major David Rowland. This, however, left only a 17-
aircraft Bomb Group, in tead of the standard complement of
18. In the record a typed page with handwritten corrections
gives the clue to the identity of the mis ing aircraft in the
formation. B-17G 42-39973 Inside Curoe apparently could not
take off due to some mechanical troubl ,and the crew
changed aircraft. I hen due to its consequent late take off,
the crew could not fmd the Group formation and returned
to Deopham Green. But why one of the regular scheduled
spares did not G.II in on the number six position in the High
Squadron is a mystery and it consequently stayed vacant for
tlle mission. Also, the three spares of the 452nd Bomb
Group for the Composite Group returned unused. One B-17
of the 388tll Bomb Group, which put up the 12 aircraft for
the two additional Squadrons for tlus Composite Group, ran
into trouble. Scheduled to fly as number five in the Low

128 MISSION 376 KONIGSBORN 129

 bomber that morning, not trying to take off again and Kaye
most probably heading for ome harsh words from his
Commanding Officer. The re t of the 447th Bomb Group,
led by Major Clarence L. Elder in B-17G 42-102651 Piccadill:y
Ann II piloted by Captain Leavitt had a swift Group
formation. The two remaining pares returned to Rattlesden
and tlle Group arrived at tlle Wing Assembly Point two
minutes before the Lead Group, tlle 385th Bomb Group.
Combat Wing assembly was then effected from 11.34
to 11.56 hours. An unidentified formation of Liberators
broke up the Wing formation, by flying on a collision
course with it. This peril averted, proper Wing assembly
again took some time, and the Wing left the English coast
at 12.17 hours, on time, and at 15,000 feet, 15 miles north
of the briefed point, but was able to take its proper
position in the Division formation. And now, both the
45th and the 4th Combat Wings followed in the long
stream, preceded by the Ruhland, Dessau, and Magde-
burg-bound Fortress formations.
More than 100 heavily loaded Fortresses of the 45th and
4th Combat Wings flew to a point north-east of Brunswick,
where they left the stream, and headed for their primary
target, the ordnance depot at Kbnigsborn, at about 14.00
hours. At the same time, hundreds of
German fighters hit the Combat Wings
just ahead, causing heavy losses. ot one
fighter, however, made a serious pass at the
Kbnigsborn force, an indication of how local air battles were.
Only light and inaccurate flak had been encountered, and
the crews began to relax, as they headed to their target,
more or less considering it a 'milk-run' already.
The 45th Combat Wing was led to its target by liLt
Victor Pasetti, lead navigator aboard PFF-equipped B-17G
42-97666 of tlle 96th Bomb Group. Lead bombardier liLt
James U. Rooker took over the controls after the Initial Point
was passed. No smoke screens, haze or clouds ob cur d his
view, and at 14.15 hours he signalled the release of all 160
500-pound High Explosive bombs from tlle Group. Result
were considered fair, as 13 per cent of tlle identified bomb
hit within 500 feet of tlle assigned Aiming Point, 38 per cent
within 1,000 feet and 89 per cent within 2,000 feet. Only flv
of the Groups' B-17s were slightly danlaged by flak. The
Composite Group, witll 11 aircraft of the 388th Bomb
Group and six of the 452nd Bomb Group, would do better,
but would pay a higher price for its results. Lead bombardier
was LtJanles W. Godwin, aboard B-17G 42-97289, flown by
Lt Calvin Samson and with Conuuand Pilot Captain Ben E.
Terry aboard. His bombs, released at 14.16 hours from
25,730 feet, created more havoc and smoke on the ground.
No fewer than 21 per cent of the 155 500-pound High

Higl/ over Gennany some inaccurate.J!ak bUTSts were photographed by a crewmember rfB-17G 42-107093 the lead ship rfthe 452nd Bomb Group. [National
Archives}

Squadron was B-17G 42-107198, piloted by Lt Barry. The
assistant Engineering Officer of the Group reported later
that day: "The pilot was forced to take violent evasive action
to avoid hitting another plane. This caused the bombs to be
torn loose in the bomb bay. All loose equipment was thrown
helter-skelter and the crew was badly shaken up. For all
these reasons tlle pilot brought the plane back to the base.
The plane i being checked for structural danlage. The right
bomb bay door must be changed because two 500 pound
bombs fell on it and bent it." I
Since the 388tll Bomb Group did not send up any spares
for this Composite Group, it now also counted 17 B-17s.
Leading tlle 4th Combat Wing, tlle second and last to
bomb Kbnigsborn, was the 385th Bomb Group from Great
Ashfield. COlmnand Pilot and Wing Leader was Lt Col
Janles G. McDonald, in PFF-equipped B-17G 42-97634,
piloted by Capt G.A. West. Twenty-one aircraft took off and
since there were no aborts, all t1u'ee spare returned to base.
The Low Group in the Combat Willg was a Composite
Group of three Squadrons from three different Bomb
Groups. The 94th Bomb Group furnished Lead, tlle 447th
Bomb Group Low, and the 385tll Bomb Group High
Squadron. Leading this Composite Group was CaptaiJlJolm
H. Skarren in B-17G 42-107059, piloted by liLt K.E.
Simonds. The three Squadrons formed up over their
respective home fields, and a good Group assembly was
made near BUlY St Edmunds. At Rattlesden, home base for
the 447th Bomb Group which furnished the High Group in
the Wing, 2/Lt H.C. Kaye ra.n into trouble. Scheduled as one
of the t1u'ee spares in brand new B-17G 44-6027, he was
taxiing to take off position with tlle generators off. Suddenly
the electrical system metres began to show excessive
readings, and almost immediately tlle entire electrical system
went dead. Consequently, the hydraulic system was inopera-
tive and the aircraft did not have brakes or control. The
aircraft came to a stop near the perimeter track. The crew Above,Jrom liji to 1igll!. Sgt /!/lalJh [crew chid], Lt Calvin
Samson allli Lt Milton C. Casebere. On 28 MaJ' Lt
hastily vacated their stranded bomber, which was now Samson was lead j;ilot and Lt Casebere leeu! navigator rf
blocking passage on tlle perimeter track, and headed for the Com/;osite Grouj;, .J!J'ing high in the 45th Combat
anotl1Cr B-17G, the assiglled gTound spare. Very quickly all Wing. This Group lost two B-17s rf the 388th Bomb
prescribed pre-flight checks were done and again an attempt Group, j;iloted by Lts Arthur M. Cockbllg and Marquis G.
FjelJted, but had excellent bombing results on Konigsborn.
was made to take off. As 11.is flI'st B-17 of tlle day was blocking
Games /IV Godwin}
the perimeter track, Kaye had to taxi into take-off position
along one side of the same runway that was used for take-off. Right: This jJicture was taken through the oj;en bomb bay
Kaye, now in B-17G 42-31225 Scheherazade, apparently was in rfB-17G 42-39972 rfthe 452nd Bomb Group, j;iloted
too much of a huny and not careful enough. Not having by 2/Lt Thomas R. Dickerson, and shows bombs landing
in Konigsborn. The B-17 in the j;icture is 42-31358 Big
enough clearance, his wing tip collided witll old 'war weary'
Nosie,.J!own by 2/Lt Shirley A. PCl/vin. This aircrcifi and
B-17 42-3487, which was parked along tlle runway. Botll crew were lost a day later on a mission to LeijJZig. [National
aircraft were damaged, and Kaye's crew left their second Archives}

130 MISSION 376 KONIGSBORN 131

Explosive bombs landed within 500 feet, 62 per cent with.in
1,000 feet and 92 per cent within 2,000 feet of the assigned
Aiming Point. On the debit side, two aircraft in the formation
were hit heavily by flak and twelve others received slight flak
damage. Thi left only the 452nd Bomb Group, flying Low
in the 45th ombat Wing to bomb. Lead bombarelier FlO
Leon B. lobodzian dropped at 14.17 hours, the 170 500-
pound High Explosive bombs of the Group exploded in the
already smoke-covered target area. 0 fewer than 15 of the
Group's aircraft were slightly damaged by flak, and one
crewmember was seriously injured.
One result of the effective bombing by tlle 45tll Combat
Wing was that a large cloud of smoke and dust now covered
the target area, making it difficult for the trailing, 4tll Combat
W"ing to bomb accurately. This Wing's lead bombardier, liLt
M.W. Cole of tlle 385tl1 Bomb Group reported: "The Group
formation made a 70 degree left nml at the Initial Point and
opened bomb bay doors. Haze, patchy clouds and smoke
made it very difficult to pick up tl1e target. I synchronized
short and released bombs witl1 cross hairs on tlle target.
Results unobserved due to smoke. Heavy and accurate flak
was encountered over tlle target area."2
Only about ten per cent of this Group's 160 500-pound
bombs of landed witllin 2,000 feet of tlle assigned Aiming
Point. Sixteen B-17s received slight damage. wim two
crewmembers wounded; one B-17 was hit so badly that it
gradually fell behind the formation and was tllen vacated by
its crew, observers in the Group counted ten paracl1Utes.
Leading tl1e Composite Group was a Squadron of six B-17s
from tl1e 94m Bomb Group, headed by Captain John H.
Skarren in B-17G 42-107059, flown by liLt K.E. Sinlond .
Lead bombardier 2/Lt WC. Wilson reported: ''At the Initial
Point we made a left tum, opened bomb bay door, and
headed for tl1e primary target. At this point the High Group
of tl1e Wing's turning [447th Bomb Group, aUlh07j, put us
soutl1 of course and as a result we had to do a lot of 'S'-sing.
Briefed landmarks were not lined up as a result. The area was
covered by smoke, it was very hazy and scattered clouds. The
target wa difficult to pick up and at 1425 hours I released my
bombs by my own sighting operation, and tlle balance of me
Group salvoed on me as briefed. Results unobserved due to
smoke, but reconnaissance revealed poor results. F1ak was
heavy and accurate on tl1e bomb run, but did not affect our
particular run. 0 enemy fighters were encountered."3
The other 12 aircraft in tl1e omposite Group, six each
from the 385tll and 447th Bomb Groups, had also salvoed
tl1eir bomb witll Wil on. Results for tlle entire Composite
Group were marked as a 'gross error. The 447tl1 Bomb
Group, the last Group to bomb Konigsborn, dropped its
load of 744 100-pound Incendiaries, into me smoke and haze
now fully covering tlle target area, but tlle smaller explosions
could not be plotted due to the smoke. Only four B-17s of
tl1e last two Groups were damaged by flak.
Despite the flak and me smoke, me bombing had been
generally quite accurate. It was ob erved mat me nortllern
2/3 of tlle target area was blanketed by a large concentration,
and that all six main buildings took direct hits. Numerous
other buildings were hit and some destroyed. Also the
dispersal area took a beating, several tank being destroyed.
One of tl1e B-17s of tlle 385tl1 Bomb Group, flying as
number five in it High Squadron, was vacated by its crew,
after being hit by flak over tlle target. This was B-17G
132
The qffi(m qfthe O"ew qfB-17G 42-97847 qfthe 385th Bomb Group" From left
to right: Alltero D. Coelho [bombardielj, Prestoll R(I)' [navigatm}, Raymolld J
Miller [co-I)ilot} alld Francis J Hunter [pilot)' All were made prismzer qf war.
[Raymond J Millel}
42-97847, piloted by FlO Francis J. Hunter and FlO
Raymond J Miller. The latter give his account of the
events: "At tlle time we dropped our bombs we were struck
by four bur ts of flak. Each shell did some damage, but tlle
last one which hit, smick us in tl1e right wing, just back of
tl1e outboard engine. It made quite a hole where tlle
lubricating oil tank was located. We immediately tried to
feather mat engine but tllere was not enough oil to cause tl1at
propeller to stop and as a result it began to windnlill. Since
tl1ere was no oil left the normal 2,400 revolutions per minute
(RPM) could not be maintained. The tachometer was built
to register up to 4,500 RPM's and tlle needle on thi gauO"e
was right up to tlus maxmlum reading and only registered
4,500 RPM's since me needle was topped by tlle peg built
into the gauge. The windmilling cau ed a severe vibrating
condition which made it lmpossible to keep ones hands on
tl1e flight controls. Tlus vibration was so severe it was
straining tlle airframe and causing rivets to pop out. The
navio'ator's astrodome was torn loose and blew away in tl1e
windstr am. The hydraulic system located in tl1e cockpit and
mounted on tl1e side of tl1e fuselage behind my seat was tom
loose and tlle hydraulic lines ruptured. Luckily, we had
turned tlle electric pump off and bled the pressure from tl1e
accumulator and tlle lines. "We could stop me vibration by
reducing power to tlle otl1er tlu"ee engines back to what
would be an idle. Tlus then put u into a descending glide
wluch was no good a we were so deep into German
territory. We reapplied flight power and put the controls on
tl1e automatic flight control equipment. This was working
and we continued on cour e back to England. We had by
this time fallen out of formation, but were following the otller
B-17 on course about 2,000 feet lower altitude. Since the
engine had no oil for lubrication. extreme heat in all bearings
was generated. ~llus heat was so intense mat tl1e magnesium
part of tlle engines just aft of tl1e propeller began to bum.
F1ames flowing aft were melting tlle alumlluum cowling. We
had high hopes that the propeller would come off or tl1at the
vibration would cause the whole engine to separate from tl1e
aircraft, but no such good luck. The vibration caused the top
turret rotating gears to jam and it was inoperative. This
continulllg vibration was really tearing tlle aircraft apart and
me billowing smoke was white, wluch indicated an oil
source. But we were noticil1D" some black make, from a
gasoline source, mingLing witl1 tlle white smoke. Then we
decided to abandon the ail"craft. We all cleared tlle ship and
MISSION 376
B-17G 42-39845 I-lulchcr's VullUres qfthe 388tli Bomb Groll/). The aircrc!fl was named c!fIer iu onginal pdot, Wendell E. Huldll?r. He and liis (mil succeifidly
completed their tour qfo/)erations in it, c!fier which it was used by several crews, Ilntil it was belly-landed by Lt Fjefsted 011 28 Ma)\ lIear Treysa, some 50 kdomelres sOllth-
west qfKassel in Gennany. [Wam:n H. Williams}
all survived the jump, although minor mJunes were four could not be featl1ered and created quite a drag problem.
sustained by most as we lut me ground."4 vVe picked up fighter escort, two P-51 , who stayed with us
German troops and civilians quickly rounded up rune untiJ it wa obvious we couldn't make it back. Ratl1er tban
men, but me engineer, SISgt Ralph M. Mart ,
evaded capLLlre for several days and was
caught on 6 June III Steudnitz. The vacated
aircraft crashed at 14.42 hours at
Albrechtshain, near Grimmen.
Two other B-l7s were also III tTOuble as a
result of flak. One of these was B-17G 42-
39845, a 388tl1 Bomb Group ail-craft, flyillg a
number five III tl1e Lead Squadron of the
Composite Group. It was named Hufdlers
Vitftures, after its origlllal pilot. Wendell E.
Hulcher. who ill the meantime had safely
fuushed his tour of operations. Its pilot for this
mission wa 2/Lt Marquis G. FJelsted.
avigator H. Joseph HouWlan later recalled:
''After an easy ride to Konigsborn, we were hit
only seconds after bombs away. The right
wing took the malll damage, I'vith botll engines
shot out. Part of the damage was in tl1e
control cable section III the bomb bay. The Tlie enw qfB-17G 42-39845 Hulchcr's Vultures qfthe 388th Bomb Grou/). Back row liji to nght:
pilot was not able to synchronize the danlaged Chester P Tracewskl [bombardier}, William C. Hudson {co-j)llot}, Marquis G. J:jefsted {j;ilot}, Herbert
engines witll the good ones and we slowly fell J. Houlihan {/lavigat07} and Johu R. Shah [tail gunner}. Front row left to rigltt: Harold S. McCarthy
fi-ig 11t waist gunner}, John E. McBnen [engineel}, John L. Pen)' [lefl waist gunned, Edward J Stringer
out of formation and lost altitude. We [radio-o/)erator} and George F. Hoover [ball tW7"et gulllleJj. All were 1I1CUie pnJoner qfwar. [Mrs. John
featl1ered number tiu-ee engine, but number L. Pen)]
KONIGSBORN 133

The Gtn/UlIlS havt lried 10 camOl!flage Hulchcr's Vulture, 10 prevent itftom being strqftd and destroyed 0' Alliedjighters. [Konrad RndoljJh}
taking our chances on me chutes we made a crash landing in as number six in its Low Squadron. B-17G 42-102485 was
tile general area of Kassel, where we were all consequently piloted by liLt Arthur M. Codding and 2/Lt Roger B.
taken prisoner and spent me rest of tile war in POW-camps."s vVithers. All crewmembers were flying their thirteenth
Fjelsted had crash-landed Hulcller's Vultures near mission on tlus day, except radio-operator T/Sgt Clyde H.
Meng berg, a village some 50 kilometres sou til-west of Waite, who had missed some nussions because of sinusitis,
Kassel, where me entire crew was captured. a common illness when flying at great heights. He was flying
The second B-17 hit during me bomb-run was also a hi seventh mission t1Us day. From his hand comes the
388m Bomb Group aircraft in me Compo ite Group, flying following, vivid, account of the events: "Fortified by the
notion that it wouldn't be so
bad, we picked up our flying
gear after tile briefIng on our
base at Kneuishall and
headed for the flightline.
Daylight was breaking and
we could see tile outlines of
a multitude of big bristling
birds tllat would bear us up
and away. The bombs had
been loaded, tile tanks filled
and tile anID10 to fuel me
guns was all on board. It was
just a matter of time before
warm-up, take-off and flight
across the Channel. Our
own B-17 Little Chum had
been redlined shortly before
take-off so we were flying
anomer B-17 mat day. After
rendezvous over me Nortll
Sea, we climbed up on
cour e in me sunshine until
I
a.; .L.G.SAUM
we turned at the Initial
NAVJGAro" SOIl(\JIA
Point. Until now our flight
The crew qfB-l7G 42-102485 qflhe 388/h Bomb GroujJ was a mixed lot. Arlhur Codding's original crew, jJictured here in had been uneventful, but
Rapid City, was sjJlit ujJ due to illness and otherJactors. Five qflhese men were on Ihefttdid 28 May mission, which thC)' all
flak started to come up.
s1l11Jived as jJrlsOnerS qfwar. Back row liji to nglil.· C6'de H. /lUtite {radio-operator}, Clyde R. Nash {not on 28 May mission},
Albert E. Lynde {nol on 28 May mission}, Robert G. Berg {!mgineeJj, James W Mulder (tail gunned and Fred.N. McKinlC)' Suddenly number one
[not on 28 May mission]. Front row liji 10 nght: Arlhur M. Codding [pilot}, Roger B. Wilhers {co-pilot}, L.G. Saum plOl on engine stopped, due to flak
28 May mission} and L.G. &u:ks PlOt on 28 May mission]. [Clyde H. /lULite} damage or mechanical
134 MISSION 376
Four members qf Ihis crew, jJictured dnring
training in Rapid City in December ]943,
were assigned 10 Codding to comjJlete his crew.
They sl!./ftred a Iu;avy loss qflive on 28 May.
Sianding, ftr liji /;gt LawrClu:e G. Brown
[lifl waist gUllner, POW}, ill the centre SISgt
Delmar D. McBelh {togglier, KIA} alld fir
right SISgt Thomas L. Roskowick [right waist
gunner, KIA]. .Kneding ill 11u; cmlre 21LI
Donald L. Chile [navigator, KIA].
[Lawrence G. Brown}
problems. T/ gt Robert . Berg
called in and told u it was a
rocker box failure. The pilot
immediately feathered number
one engme and we dropped our
bomb load. We couldn't maintain
formation very long and received
aumorization to drop from High
Group to Low Group. We still
could not keep up and again we
received perrnission to leave me
Group and join it again at tile Rally Point.
nul~1t"I.uft
EtRlI<hel~n
As we crossed over from the Lutial Point to
me Rally Point some German fIghters, who
had obviously been hiding in m direction of
me sun, came at us. We were sitting duck
and had no alternative, but to dive for some
Flink lion sporadic cloud cover, at about 5,000 feet.
1 1. '\''1 ahl d r Kmdf't: Before making tIUs div w wer hit ral
times by the fIghter whi h u d d in
(II,;
urI 011 rendering inoperative ur ommand and
Helmatansdlrlft :
VHF radio quipment. Previous to tIU and
fortunately for u ,we had radioed for fIghter
cover when we aborted tile formation and
headed for home. Fortunately for us, me
enemy fIghters did not follow suit, mough
mey were much better equipped for tI1is
action tllan we were. Our B-17 did survive
tlus power dive from 25,000 to 5,000 feet
and leveled out. Flying a crippled bomber at
an altitude of 5,000 feet over enemy territory
isn't me choice one would opt for on a
Sunday afternoon. The cloud coverage soon
Sel, ddf, nn disappeared and again we were sitting
.1\,1.
ducks, an easy target for flak-gunners.
II .... G I,,~
Again. Codding took me only option he
(' ' I I
had; he dove to the deck and tree-top level.
(. I f I
In fact, we were flying so low mat on one
t..~(" i. I
I If'
occasion we had to pull up to go over power
line . In me fortunes of war me best action
i n't always enough, as we were soon to
di cover. At tI1is time we were joined by two
of our own fIghters and were overjoyed to
have tlleir protection. 1 he ball turret gunner,
S/Sgt Kennetll M. Joye, was ordered out of
his turret and he went to me waist gun
positions. As we flew over little towns and
villages at rapid fum speed me folk dres ed
in appropriate garb were obviously
returning from church. We barely had a
Tlu; lenlh member on 11L1 Arthur M. Codding's crew was ball tund glI111u;r Kenneth M. Joye. He was chance to take a look at mem and tlley at us,
//lade a Prisoner qf /lULr. [Betty H. JO)'e) at tlus altitude. But it was long enough to
KONIGSBORN 135
 of tl1em and would probably have been wounded or killed us was a pasture, witl1 several uTigation ditches horizontal to
also. After forcing my way waugh tl1e bomb bay and the our Oight patl1. The shock was real enough when we hit the
engineer's top turret position I [mally reached the pilot's groun I. As a result of the iJnpact tl1e spinnu1g props were
compartment where Artlmr Codding and our [me co-pilot, immediately pushed under the wing and stopped turning.
Roger Witl1ers, were doing a supernatural job. I took a long 1 he jo tling was not U1"llike the scene in a movie or on a
look at the nose area, which was forward and below. It was television screen duru1g an accident cene. The ball turret
not a pretty picture. Clllie had been decapitated by tl1e blast protruded several feet below the aircraft, it fitted nicely in
and McBeth had also been killed. I could only see their the ditches U1 tl1e pasture. We lut everal of them willie
bodies, it would be the last view I would ever have of them. conung to a stop. Each tin1e we did it felt like the aft ection
I completed my trus ion Ul coming forward and blurtino out of the plane would be torn off. But it held, blessed old B-l7.
. fiWd better get this thing down while it's still in one piece'. Coddulg She had given tile last full measure of devotion."6
yelled back: 'That's exactly what we're going to do'. I cautiously Arthur Codding made a 'textbook' crash-landing near
made my way back to tl1e radio room and uuormed the rest Utrecht in Holland on a pasture belonging to farmer D.E.
of tl1e crew of tl1e decision. Shortly after tlus Berg came back de Kruyff of Groenekan, a small village nortl1-east of
and ordered us to take our crash-landing position. We had Utrecht. Several people on tl1e ground, either working or
practiced tlus a dozen tin1es or more in trainiJ1g, now it was enjoying the fine Sunday afternoon, ob rved tl1e B-1?
o paying off. In a sitting position we put our backs against the coIlling down. Eighteen year-old \!\Tillem deJong was in the
bulk head in the radio room, and with legs drawn up locked acUoining nursery·garden and was alerted by the noise of
2/Lt Donald L. Chiles, navigator qf B-17C our hands bel1ind our heads to cushion tl1e shock and flak of the nearby Soesterberg air base: "I looked up and
42-102485 qf the 388th Bomb Croll/J. Oil his 13th minimize wluplash. We waited for ground in1pact. SU1Ce saw the B-1? with an engine on fire com.ing in, very low
combat mission, on 28 May, he was kiI/ed, togdher with
S/Sgt Thomas L. Roskowick was badly woullded
both pilots had no way of detennining tl1e true aiJ· speed, over a row of trees. It hit the gTound and crossed several
7/Sgt Robat C. Berg, engineer qf B-17C toggher S/Sgt Delnulr D. McBeth b)' a burst o/flak ill
42-102485 0/ the 388th Bomb Croup. He WaJ the nose qf the bomber. They were bllned on 2 }l7le in aboard B-17C 42-102485 qf the 388th Bomb cutting back on the tlu'ottle was out of the question. I've ditches, just Illissing some cows grazing in tl1e fields. When
made a PriJoner q/ Hilr with the six other sllmivon qf Amers/oort, HoI/and wilh the third m:wmember who Croup. He died sllOrt9' c!fier Lt Arthur Codding belly- often wondered how it felt to be at the controls of a dying it stopped, its nose was resting over a ditch and it
the crew. [Alvin P Berg} was killed, S/Sgt VlOmaJ L. Roskowick. Afler the war lancud the bomber in Croeuekan, Hol/alld. Afler ship with dead and mortally wounded on board, making a umnediately tarted to burn fiercely, some SOO metres away
C!lIles' remains were retumed to the United Slates, tem/JorCIl)' bllluil Iii AlIlerYoort, he now resl.5 in the last desperate mwgle to land such a ship. L1Credibly they from me. Of cour e I inm1ediately ran to it, together with
where they sllli rest at the Rock Island National AmeriClin Cellletel)/ and MI:lIlorial, in Atfargraten, the
Netherkmds. [VIOIIlll5 Roskowick]
were still able to fly it on two engines, u ing them for t"llrns several other, including the owner of the lield. When we
Cemetery. [Mrs. Dolores Ballll5]
when absolutely necessary and the elevator trim tab for got there the plane wa still burning. The crewmember
minor change in altitude. After orne time tl1e number wee were hiding in the ditch, and one f Lh m wa r Iy
read the look of surprise and fear in their faces. One railroad was hit in his left arm, left wai t gurmer, Lawrence G. engine started to windmill and couldn't be feathered. wounded. We helped them out f Lh dil hand m d
engineer raced to get his engine under shelter. Robert Berg Brown. took orne flak in his right shoulder. The right waist Subsequently it caught fire and kept burning, despite all su'etch r to move the wound d man by takin ul a ~ n
lired from the top turret and we could see water vapor gulmer, S/Sgt Thomas L. Roskowick. was hit very badly. efforts to extinguish it. Then tl1e remaiJung elevator cables gate and tl1en carrying it by four m n. e w III t d
escapingju t as it entered the round-house. Some fragments entered his back,just below his flak suit and snapped, fortunately we had just cleared a forest. L1 front of Kruyffs farmhou e, where w pIa d th wound d man in
"Up to this point our sub titute Little Chum was able to came out tl1rough his abdomen. He fell down on the floor in
maintain altitude and respond to controls. The pilots had tl1e wai t of tl1e ship and was attended to as good as anyone
determined to return to Knettishall or failing that, to set could. The intercom and all tl1e control cables, except til
down at the nearest available airfield. It involved elevator trun tab were severed. umber three engine was
considerable risk at best. For one thing, evasive action would also knocked out. The hole in tl1e right side of the plane was
be non-existent at this altitude with only three engines. almost bio enough to walk through. But the B-1? was a
There was a strong possibility we would be l"lit again by rugged plane, they even wrote a song about her coming in on
ground lire. However, it seemed worth the risk. It seemed a wing and a f)rayer. Prayer was still to b answered. When tl1e
that our little friends were oveljoyed, and since we had no smoke cleared, it became apparent that our ship was
more radio equipment left, we couldn't ask tl1em why. One doomed. We could see a picture of the frayed ends of wU'es
would dive in from tl1e left and chandelle up to the left. whipping back and forth against the sky. This was framed
Then tl1e otl1er would dive in from the right and chandelle by the ragged-edged, gaping hole left by the blast. Our
up to the rio·ht. Too late we realized tl1at our e corts were not rudder cables to the tail and aileron were gone. All tlus, and
exuberant. What they were really doing was trying stiJJ our plane flew on. guided, I am ure, by someone bigger
desperately to tell us, 'Go right or 'Go ldf, but 'Do not go than all of us. At one point we barely missed a large brick
straight ahead'. Not understanding their intentions we chiJnney, and tl1e countdown continued. Our situation wa
proceeded in our we terly course and then flew squarely desperate and it was made more diflicult that tl1e crew U1 tile
over the cenU'e of a LlfftwqJfe air base. An enormous amount rear didn't know anymore what tl1e pilots had decided to do.
of light flak came up and machine gun and 20 mm cannon I was determined to find out what was happening.
fire almost umnediately blew out our no e ection, instantly nlatchulg the bulk head door to tl1e bomb bay, I was tlTIU t
killino the navigator and bombardier, 2/Lt Donald L. Chiles back by a blast of air that entered where the nose used to be,
and SISgt Delmar D. McBeth.* Before we could recover forced its way through the plane and now made an exit
from tl1e first hock and we could clear tl1e air base, we also through the hole in tiLe waist. The noise was deafening and
took heavy damage in the right waist of the ship, resulting in for all practical purpose the in ide air speed was
thre more casualties. The ball turret gunner, Kennetll Joye, approximately the same as tl1e outside - hurricane speed.
1 he good engines must have kept the speed at least 120
nllies per hour, though tlus could not be confu'med. The
* McBeth was a so-caJled togglier. These were enlisted men, replacing a
u1struments U1 tile panel had been desu'oyed by the flak and
bombardier, normally an officer. on bombers where the Norden
bombsight was removed. The bombs on these ships were 'tOggled' at the tl1e blast. Had we flown in our original older-type Little Smoke risesftom behind the num:ry in Groenekan, Holland, where the B-1? qf Lt Arthur M. Cockling belhed in and bumed. Three qf the crew were kifled dun'llg the
sight or the bombs dropping rrom the Croup lead ship. Chum, the pilots would have had less armor plating in front flight, seven othen were lIl(ule /msoners qf war.

136 MISSION 376 KONIGSBORN 137

the shade. Just after the arrival of the local fire brigade and
a doctor, he died."?
Clyde Waite recalls about the last moments aboard the
B-17: "Waiting for her to stop seemed like an hour. The
forward section, the wing and engine section immediately
burst into Dame. Our driving passion could now be summed
up in one word: sU17Jival! Chiles and McBeth were dead and
there was no point in risking life and linlb to retrieve shatte-
red bodies. There was high octane gasoline in the wing
tanks which were ruptured and began to fuel the fire.
Although the bombs bad been dropped, there was still live
.50 armor piercing ammunition aboard. The plane was
obviously a death trap and we bad to leave quick, with the
two light and one mortally wounded. With some effort we
succeeded in opening the escape hatch. Although we had the
right use of mind and body we were suffering from shock
wInch rendered us quite weak, almost to the point of
immobility. How glad we were when the last man was out.
The anllilO began to explode. We headed for the only
possible shelter in this Dat country, the ditch. We dragged
Roskowick and ourselves into the waist deep water and it
seemed to us quite cold. Even with the buoyancy the water
provided, with the shock of our overtaxed nervous system,
it took all our efforts to hold Tom Roskowick.'s bead above
the water. He was in a coma and never regained
consciousness. From our vantage point we could look. across
the open field and see the condemned plan burning with
fury. She made a grinl, if not spectacular sight. She had
served us well. Tbere were still some bursts of anlffiO, but we
felt it was safe to come out - but how? Several man canle to
help us and we were retrieved by warm and friendly hands.
We were frustrated by the language barrier but I'm sure they
understood how grateful we were. An old pasture gate that
was handy was put into service as a stretcher to move Tom.
In the plane he had asked me to pray for him, which I did
at the time. Now he was carried to a farmhouse, we
following him. He was placed in the shade and died
peacefully shortly thereafter. The Germans were soon on the
spot and took us prisoner of war. The wounded were
brought to a hospital and the rest were interrogated in
Utrecht. Later that evening our captors took. us back to tie
up some loose ends and to take a final look at our once
'Flying Fortress'. The gasoline had done its work. The plane
wa a burnt-out hulk back to the radio room. The engines
wInch had thrust tlns craft on its mission - what was left of
them - were now grotesque, shapeless blobs of charred
aluminium. She was not pretty, but she had been a good
ship. One carmot help but wonder as our escort viewed the
battered plane with its majestic tail section still intact, if they
had a premonition that hundreds of these very aircraft
would soon be marshalling to complete their defeat."8
Sgts Brown and Joye were fu"st treated for their wounds
in the Llffiwcifft hospital in Amsterdam, the five other
survivors were sent to Dulag Lz!fl for interrogation. The tllree
crewmembers killed were buried in the Rusthof cemetery in
Anlersfoort.
For the rest of the Konigsborn force, excluding the tlu"ee
unfortunate bomber crews mentioned in this chapter, the
return flight was uneventful and all Groups landed at their
own base after some seven flying hours.
Notes
1. 388th Bomb Group Mission Repon; Record Group 18, Washington
National Records Center.
2. 385th Bomb Group Mission Repon; Record Group 18, Washington
ational Records Center.
3 94th Bomb Group Mission Repon; Record Group 18, Washington
National Records Center.
4. Letter LO author, 21 April 1988. The crew rfB-24J 42-110045 The Banana Barge oJthe 44th Bomb Group. Back row leflto right: Mort Baumann [bombardier, not on 28 May mission, POW on
5. Lelter to author, 11 August 1981. 7. October], lroing S. Gunnan !jJilot], Robert F JilJson {co-jJilot} and Andrew J. Kaulbach [navigator). Front row lift to right: Charles D. Williams [tail gunner], James
6. Letter to author, 15 January 198J. H. McMaster [nose tune! gunner], George B. CosteLLo [enf}lzeer}, Jose/Jh Carson f-adio-operat01j, Eino J. Wiitala [lifi waist gunner} and 7'lzeockJre D. Willis [right
7. interview by author,June 1981. waist gunner). All were nuwe pris011er rf war. [Mrs. Theodore D. Willis]
8. Letter to author, 15 January 1981.
Chapter Nine

ZEITZ
"On Sunday moming 28 May, 1944 I had the surprise 9/rny lift.
When I wenl lo the ear!)' briifing, since I was a lead navigator now,
I could nol believe w/ult I heard. m were going lo Zeitz agazn. The
very same synlhetic oll-rifinelJ twenty miles south-west 9/ Leipzig;
Germany lhal we had leji wrec/led and burningjust s-£'v:leen days bij07"e
on our tenlh mission 9/May 12. My question was: 'What are we going
bac/llo Zeilz againJor?' I lhought we were going on a wild goose chase
which macle no sense. m all know belter now and bijOre the day was
out, I was lo once mOre look down on this rifinClJ, lo see wilh my own
eyes thal il had been rebuild and pUl back Into pmduclio1l." 1
Thus wrote 44th Bomb Group navigator John W.
McClane in his diary, after he safely returned from one of
the most successful bombing missions of the day. The
enormous Braunkohle-Benzin A.G. synthetic oil refinery
at Zeitz had indeed suffered a great blow on May 12, but
this would be surpassed by the results of this day's
bombing.
The first B-24-equipped units in the bomber stream were
the two Combat Wings assigned to Zeitz. As explained in
the Chapter One, tl1ese Combat Wings were divided into an
'A' and a 'B' Group, each comprising tlu"ee Squadrons of 12
aircraft each, flying Lead, Low Left and High Right.
In the leading 96th Combat Wing 'A: Group the 466th
Bomb Group from Attlebridge put up the Lead and Low
Squadrons, with the 467tll Bomb Group from Rackheath
furtnshing the High Squadrons in both tl1e 'A' and 'B'
Groups. The 458th Bomb Group from Horsham St Faitlls
Dew in the Lead and Low Position in the 'B' Group.
Following the 96th Combat Wing was the 14th Combat
Wing. Its 'A: Group had the Lead and Low Squadrons
furnished by the freshman 492nd Bomb Group from North
Pickenham. The 392nd Bomb Group from Wendling put
up the High Squadrons in both the 'A: and 'B' Groups, and
finally the 44th Bomb Group based at Shipdham furnished
the Lead and Low Squadrons for the 'B' Group.
Penetration support for these Combat Wings and those
following closely behind, heading for Merseburg, was
provided by 44 Thunderbolts of tlle 353rd Fighter Group
from Raydon, led by their Commanding Officer, Col Glenn
E. Duncan.

138 MISSION 376 ZEITZ 139

 The formation assembly of both Wings was without
problems, due to the fIne weather conditions, and the
English coast was left on time, at 12.30 hours. The reports
of the 467th Bomb Group, however, mention that a Group
of B-17s flew through its formation when it approached the
Division Assembly Line. Most probably this is the same
situation, but now seen from the other cockpit, of which we
have read in the account of the men of the 4th Combat
Wing, heading for K6nigsborn. Landfall in Holland and the
subsequent flight at 20,000 feet over enemy occupied
territory was without any serious incidents. At 13.06 hours,
the 353rd Fighter Group made rendezvous over the Dutch
coast near Egmond.Just before the Dummer Lake area, the
Wings gradually clinlbed to 22,000 feet to avoid the
infanlous Dummer Lake flak, which was known to be quite
accurate. All nine B-17 Wings had passed this area without
problems, but the second B-24 Wing would lose one of its
aircraft there, just one example of bad luck. One of the very
fIrst victinlS of the German defences this day was one of the
only tlu'ee Liberators that the Second Air Division would
10 e this day. Tlze Banana Bmge, as B-24J 42-110045 was
known in tlle 44th Bomb Group, was piloted by 2/Lts Irving
. Gurman and Rob rt F. Jipson. eaT Dummer Lake
several flak bursts appeared, one of which exploded just
below the aircraft.
RobertJipson clearly remembered what happened: "The
burst knocked out our number one engine, set ETe to
number 2 engine and number 3 engine was a run away and
couldn't be featllered."2
The B·24, heavily loaded with fuel for tlle long trip to
Zeitz and with its bombs still aboard, could not keep up with
tlle formation. Friendly Eghters escorted it, as it gradually fell
away fyom the formation, which slowly but surely pushed
ahead and out of sight. Gurman andJipson were convinced
tllat they would never make it back to England on the Banana
Barge's single good engine, and with one windmilling
propeller. Consequently, the bail-out bell ounded
throughout the bomber, and the crew took to their
parachutes. The Banana Barge crashed near Diinunerlohausen
on the shores of Dummer Lake at 13.52 hours. Credit for its
B-24H 42-52530 Bugs Bunny and its /Jilot Lt Wells L. Wescoll. On 28 Ma)' the aircrqfi. sl!ffiredji'om provided the penetration support,
supercharger troubles and had to abort the mission to Zeiiz, bombing the aiifield at Havetie on the retul71 route. The broke off escort at 14.45 hours
aircrcif/. was lost in adion if//. 13 August 1944. [William WescoU}
140
B-24J 42-110045 rf the 44th Bomb Grou/J was named qfi.er one rf the less
com/J!imentaly nicknamesfor its type. The Banana Barge was shot dawn by.flak
on the shores rf Diimmer Lake, its nine man crew were made Prisoners rf l#i.r.
[Ste/Jhen P Adams}
desb"uction was given to four individual batteries of Schwere
Flak Abteilungen 137, 273, 306 and 393. The nine American
crewmembers were all rounded up and taken prisoner of war
witllin a few hours of tlleir anival on enemy soil.
Only two Liberators in tlle two Combat Wings had
mechanical trouble. B-24H 42-52530 Bugs Bunny, piloted by
Lt Wescott, of the 467th Bomb Group had a supercharger
failure and turned back. Wescott decided not to bring his
bombs back to England, and selected the airfIeld at Havelte,
five allies north of Meppel in Holland, as a target of
opportunity for his ten 500-pound bombs. Lt Harkonen of
the sanle Group turned back in B-24H 41-29380 Slick Chick
as tlle oxygen line servicing the top turret and radio table
was cut when tlle turret rotated while the servicing hose was
in position. The abort was charged to personnel failure, but
since tlle crew was on its very first combat mission, the
unfortunate gU11ller probably escaped a heavy reprinland.
The fIghter escort for tlle B-24s was
sb·engt.hened by 38 Mustangs of the
361st and 43 Lightnings of tlle 20th
Fighter Groups arriving neal' DUllliller
Lake at 13.43 hours and Sanger-
shausen at 14.37 hours respectively. It
is interesting to note that both Fighter
Groups, just like the 353rd providing
the penetration escort, were led by tlleir
Conunanding Officers, Col Thomas
JJ. Christian Jr and Lt Col Harold J
Rau. Apparently both had been
impressed, and attracted, by the results
of tlle one and only previous mission to
oil targets carried out by the Eightll Air
Force on 12 May, and the way the Lziji-
wcifft reacted to this attack and as such,
they were hoping for a similar show.
The 353rd Fighter Group, which had
near Sangershausen and returned to
MISSION 376
LeJi: Major Kenneth W Gallu/J rf the 353rd Fighter Group shot down an BJ 109 near Gldersloh
all 28 May for the)irst rf his l1ine air victories. [Graham Cross}
Above: Hits register all the ellgille q/aji·eighttrain. This /Jicture comesji"01n a gun camerafilm rfLt
DOllald Hart if the 78th Figliter Grou}J. He barely missed some telegraph or high tellsion/Joles in this
succesyid strqjillg a/tack. [Donald C. Hart}
England, seeking some action on the home-bound trip. Near Squadron encountered light flak and ground Ere. The
the airfield at Giitersloh one enemy aircraft was sighted, a Squadron Leader called 'to hit the deck' and llIDllediately
Bf 109, which was shot down by Major Kenneth W. Gallup, they took violent evasive action, which resulted in a break-
for his Erst air victory: "I was leading Red flight of 351st up of tlle formation. Upon re-forming Lt Farley was missing
Squadron and we had been strafing on the deck, when I and no radio contact could be established with him. Two
pulled up to gain altitude to about 5,000 feet. I looked off to pilots later reported that they had heard someone say over
my right and saw tllis silver ship heading 180 degrees from the radio that llis tail was llit, although they were nOl sur
our course about five miles away. I went after him and he that it was Lt Farley. Lt Farley with hi Thund rb It,
apparently didn't see me and I closed in only just before we crashed on tlle rails of tlle freight railway at lh dg of th
crossed over the airdrome and started fIring at 150 yards. I Loddenheide airfIeld, a little outh of Mun l r, and was
saw strikes all over tlle tail and kept on Ering, and tllen there killed. He was buried on 30 May at tll Hau - pilal
was so much smoke that I was unable to see tlle aircraft and cemetery for prisoners of war III MLi nster, and was r buried
I pulled up to keep from ramming him. I then cocked my
aircraft up on its wing and looked down and saw him bail
out and the plane crash just west of the airdrome."3
The 353rd Fighter Group eradicated a large amount of
German rolling stock. Eighteen locomotives were destroyed,
anotller four damaged. \Vhere these attacks exactly took
place is not known, but it is highly probable tlut at least
several occurred in occupied Holland. Unfortunately, a large
number of innocent Dutch civilians, most on tlleir way to
fam.iJy gatherings on tllis "Whit Sunday with Ene spring
weather, were killed in one such strafIng attack. Records of
the Dutch Railroad Company indicate tllat no fewer than 21
people were killed and 27 wounded during a single attack at
15.35 hours near Maarsbergen. In addition one engine-
driver was killed and 11 wounded on the seven locomotives
tlle records show as being destroyed or danlaged in Holland
alone on this day. A returning pair of fighters ran across a
straggling B-17, "... with H in square markings and last two
numbers 85." It was escorted to the south of the Zuider Zee,
where it bellied in. This was tlle 388th Bomb Group aiTcraft
of liLt Arthur M. Codding, whose story was told in the
previous chapter. The 353rd Fighter Group also lost one
aircraft, P-47D 42-75457 of its 351st Fighter Squadron,
piloted by 2/LtJoseph R. Farley. After tlle Squadron left the
bombers, and while on the way home, they went on a
sweep, searching for ground targets while Dying at about
1,500 feet, White and Red flight line abreast, and Blue flight
behind. Lt Farley was the very last man in the Squadron - 2/Lt Jose/Jh R. Farlty if the 353rd Fighter Group was killed in action near
tail end Charlie - Oying as Blue 4. ear Bielefeld the Miinster. [Grover McLauglzlin, through Graham Cross}
ZEITZ 141

T/Sgt Elbert E. Gilmore receives a second oak leqfduster to his Air Medal on 27
May 1944 ji"()71l Colonel Irvine A. Rendle, Commandillg Qfficer rf the 392nd
Bomb Group. Just one day late!; Gilmo're was killed in action by flak over Zeitz,
flying as engineer on the crew rf Lt Charles L. Bell in B-24H 42-50343
'londelayo. [Arthur} 1.gan]
after the war at the Ardennes American Cemetery and
Memorial in Belgium, where he still rests.
In the meantime, the Bomb Groups had arrived at their
Initial Point and turned for the oil refIneries, clearly visible
under an almost cloudless sky. Some accurate flak was
reported coming from Rehmsdorf, a suburb of Zeitz, but this
did not hamper the lead bombaTdiers, now bent over their
Norden bomb sights. In all, only fIve Liberators of the two
Combat Wings sustained flak damage during the mission.
However, in one of the ships of the 392nd Bomb Group, the
flak had tragic consequences. T/Sgt Elbert E. Gilmore, on
his eighteenth mission and flying as engineer on Lt Charles
Bell's crew in B-24H 42-50343 Tondelayo, was hit by a flak
fragment. He died within a few minutes, despite the efforts
of other crewmembers to save his life. Tail gunner Arthur J.
Egan recalls: "I do remember our radioman Sgt Joseph
Knight on the intercom say' Oh, my God. Gil is hit.' And he
cried out 'His legs are severedftom his body.' He is hanging by his
hands.' At this point ali was quiet. Gilmore and Knight had
flown together in anti-submarine patrols off the east coast of
the United States and they joined our crew as we were
preparing to fly the southern route to England. Gilmore
already had a close call on 12 April, when he was almost
blown out of the bomb bay without a parachute. On the
same mission two of our waist gUJUlers bailed out because
they thought the ship was going down. On 20 June we flew
to Politz, without Sgt Knight who was grounded by the flight
surgeon and we were heavily hit by fIghters. We then
decided to try to make it to Sweden, which we managed to
do. Three days later T/SgtJoseph S. Knight al 0 lost his life
while flying as the radioman on Lt C]. McCarthy'S crew."'~
142
However, despite the fIne weather conditions, the lead
bombardiers of both Squadrons of the 466th Bomb Group
did a poor job. The 13 aircraft in the Lead Squadron hit
open fIelds in a 'stringy loose' pattern and the 11 aircraft of
the Low Left Squadron 'scattered' their bombs in open fIeld
near the target.
The High Squadron, of the 467th Bomb Group, did far
better, but only after very intricate manoeuvres in the target
area. Its Operations Officer, M~or Walter R. Smith, wrote:
"The Wing lumed south as we jJassed Brunswick and lhe Low
Squadron 0/ the 466lh Bomb Group fill behind. m then asked
Lincoln Leader [Wing Commander} lo let OUT Squadron gv over the
targelsecond, as it was obvious the Low Squadron would not catch up.
m crossed the Wing hzilial Point a little right 0/course and went over
the Group Initial Painl about 3 miles left 0/ course. The Lead
Squaclron took up a heading about 10 miles north 0/the bnfftd course,
we .fallowed them in lrail as we were lv be the second Squadron to
bomb. 7/ze 466th was obviously having lrouble locating the laTgel and,
as both our Command Pilol and Llze jJilotage navigatoT spotted lhe
largel, the Squadmn swung back on a heading 0/ 117 degrees. The
bombaTdier had little trouble synchroni:J.ing on the taTgel and was well
Two B-24s rf the 492nd Bomb Group Oil their way to Zeitz on 28 May.
[USAAFj
MISSION 376
CockPi! VIew takenftom B-24H 44-40154, piloted by Lt Wilham v.: Prew(tte rftwo other Liberators rfthe 492nd Bomb Group headingfor Zeitz. This quadron
encountered many djfficuilles on the bomb run. The aircrafiji"om which the jJicture was taken was lost the next day on the mission to Politz, all but one rf the crew being
rescued afier bailing out over the North Sea. [National Archives]
set up when the 466L1z appanmtly saw lhe lmget and changed their
fzeading, which put them on a collision course with the 467L1z. The
466lh passed just benealh OUT Squadron and.faT a Jew nzomenLJ we
dzd not know whether or not we would be able to release. The
bombaTdie:r released as we cleared the other Squadron and then
observed several large eXjJlosions in the target aTea."5
Lead bombardier liLt Truman D. Simpson reported:
"The fIrst Squadron apparently had diffIculty in finding the
target because it swerved off course to tl1e left. I picked up
and identified the target from about 20 nllies away and
proceeded with the bomb-run. I synchronized for deflection
and had partially synchronized for range, when my pilot
called and said that the fIrst squadron was flying a collision
course witl1 us. I left the bomb sight then to watch tl1em and
when I knew my bombs would not hit their formation I
engaged tl1e trigger. Bombs away was at 14.52 hours."6
These 11 aircraft in the High Squadron of the 96tl1
Combat Wing 'A: Group hit the centre of the target with 110
500-pound High Explosive bombs.
Because of interference by tl1eir Lead Squadron, the ten
Liberators of the 467th Bomb Group in the High Squadron
of the 96th Combat Wing 'B' Group had to execute a very
tight 360 degree turn, to avoid the Leipzig flak, and then
dropped anotl1er 100 500-pound bombs on the target, with
results classifIed as very good. The remaining two
Squadrons in the 96th 'B' Group belonged to the 458th
Bomb Group. The Lead Squadron's results were poor, those
of the Low Squadron good, with 40 per cent of the 558 100-
pound bombs hitting within 1,000 feet of the Aiming Point.
As a result of the bombing by the 96th Combat Wing huge
fIres were started in the target area and clouds of black
smoke billowed up.
ZEITZ
Now it was the turn of the 14tl1 ombat Wing'
bombardiers. The Lead Squadron of tl1e 492nd Bomb
Group, in the 14th 'A: Group, dropped its bomb in the
northern edge of the target area. The Low Squadron,
furnished by the same Group, performed disastrously.
Leading this Squadron was Captain Henry G. Gendreizig in
B-24J 44-40163, piloted by liLt Peter Val Preda.Just before
the Initial Point, bombardier 2/Lt Chas M. Lefdalli found
that his bomb sight was inoperative, and informed
Gendreizig. Then an effort was made to let the deputy lead
take over. liLt Thomas R. Graham, another pilot in tl1e
Squadron, remarked at debriefmg: "Lead was changed
before Initial Point from Lead ship to deputy Lead. In
changing the lead, the formation broke up. From here on it
appeared as that the new lead ship was lost."?
2/Lt Charles W. Beard in the san1e Squadron: "Do not
let Lt ... ever lead or deputy lead a squadron again.
Deputies should know where tl1ey are and be prepared to
take over."g
Needless to say the bombs of this Squadron were wasted,
being dropped at random by Liberators seeking other
formations to tag on to. The unlucky deputy lead remarked at
debliefing: "Leader of formation moved out 14.18, in at 14.22,
tl1en moved out again at 14.35 then I took over. B-17s came
thru formation on bomb run and our formation scattered."*9
Twenty-six Liberators of the 392nd Bomb Group, flying
as High Squadrons in the 'A: and 'B' Groups, dropped all
1,568 100-pound bombs amidst tl1e smoke tl1at now covered
the target, flan1es now and then erupting. Then both
* The unlucky depuly lead and his crew safely finished lheir LOur of
operations.
143
Squadrons of the 44th Bomb
Group added another 1,400
bombs to this inferno. Navigator
John W. McClane: "The anti-
aircraft gunners at Zeitz must
have been low on ammunition or
asleep, because the flak was
much less than we expected and
our fighter escort was so
excellent that we never saw an
enemy fighter on the way in or
out. Our bombing results were
excellent, visibility was unlimited
and the black smoke was almost
up to our flying altitude before
we were out of sight of the target.
This time we tore them up
badly." to
As far as the plan was
concerned this should have been
the final blow given to the Zeitz
oil refineries that day, but no
fewer than four Squadrons,
scheduled to attack Merseburg,
dropped their bombs on Zeitz
instead.
After extensive photogTaphic
coverage, it was noted that a large
concentration of bombs had
covered almost all of the target
area, scoring direct hits on many
of the principal installations, and
causing oil fires of tremendous
size. In addition to the ftres in the
This flicture was takenJrom the right waist window of the brightl), coloured assembly ship of the 448th Bomb Group. II shows the GroupJOr1llalion stillftirO' spread out,
oil storage area caused by at least heading out over the coast of East Anglia, just north of Creat Yarmouth. Clearly visibl.eis one of the 111£1.11)1 airfields in the countryside, probably Ludh£lm, which had an
25 direct l-tits, the catalyst plant, inactive stalitS at that time. [National Archives]
one hydrogenation stall, the
liquid air plant and the injector
house were ablaze from direct 7'he excellenl bombingresulls at Zeitz are well illustrated in this flicture, which WCtS takenjimn a B-24 ofthe 446th Bomb
l-tits at the close of the attack. Group, qfler this Group had bombed Zeitz as a target of o/JPortunity some h'me qfler two Combat Wings had bombed Zeitz
Chapter Ten
Other important structures as their Jl/imar)' targel. [Harold E. Jansen}
affected by direct hits, in most
instances by several of them, included the gas generation Notes
MERSEBURG
plant, compressor house, gas purification plant, boiler 1. McClane diary, through Will Lundy.
2. Lelter to author, 16 March 1981. The assembly of the various Groups and Wings went
house, conversion plant and distillation plant. In the long bomber stream heading for Germany, the 2nd
3. Pilot encounter report; USAF Historical Research Center, Maxwell
Reconnaissance photographs taken four hours later showed AFB, AL.
and 20th Combat Wings followed the Wings attacking Zeitz. generally witllout trouble, however the 453rd Bomb Group
oil fires still burning fiercely and smoke still rising from the 4. Lelter to author, 11 May 1990. They were assigned to bomb another industrial target, the noted that: "During assembly some djjJicuLl)1 was caused by a Group
gas purification plants. The following morning additional 5. 467th Bomb Group Mission Report; Record Group 18, VVashington huge oil refmeries at Merseburg, or Leuna as they were ifB-17sJl)ling through our a7'ea." 1
photo cover revealed two of the oil storage tanks still afire. It National Records Center. often named. The 445th Bomb Group from Tibenham Again, this probably refers to either the luckless 94th
6. 467th Bomb Group Mission Report; l~eeord Group 18. Washington Combat Wing, heading for Dessau or the 4tll, heading for
was difficult to see what damage was caused exactly by the furnished the Lead and Low Squadrons for the 'N Group in
National Records Center.
attack of the previous day, ince craters were still visible 7. 492nd Bomb Group Mission Report; Record Group 18. W'ashjngton the 2nd Combat Wing. The 389th Bomb Group from Konigsborn. It is interesting to note that in all reports it is
[rom the 12 May attack. But, as a result of both attacks it National Records Center. Hethel put up the High Squadrons, for both the 'A' and 'B' always 'tlle otller guy' causing tlle difficulties! As with the
was estimated that oil production at Zeitz would be 8. 492nd Bomb Group Mission Report; Record Group 18, Washington Groups. The two other Squadrons in the 'B' Group were preceding Wings in tlle bomber stream, it was an easy flight
completely suspended for a considerable period. National Records Center. furnished by the 453rd Bomb Group from Old Buckenham. up to the target area, with only a few incidents wortll
9. 492nd Bomb Group Mission Report; Record Group 18, Washington recording. Leading the 446tll Bomb Group's High Squadron
The 20th Combat Wing 'A' Group had Squadrons of the
National ,Records Center.
10. McClane diary, through Will Lundy. 448th Bomb Group from Seething, flying Lead and Low, in the 20th Combat Wing 'N Group, was the experienced
and a Squadron of the 446th Bomb Group from Bungay, crew of Captain Richard A. Cole, in B-24H 41-29143 The
flying High. The 'B' Group's Low Squadron was also Shack II Just after crossing tlle Dutch coast near Egmond,
provided by the 446th Bomb Group, both other Squadrons and having passed the Zuider Zee, tlley had to turn back [or
belonging to the 93rd Bomb Group from Hardwick. Their mechanical reason. The deputy lead, Captain James D.
penetration support was also supplied by Thunderbolts of Shannon in B-24H 42-52467 HuLa Uilhine II, took over the
the 353rd Fighter Group [rom Raydon. lead. Cole, rather than take his bombs back to England, or

144 MISSION 376 MERSEBURG 145

 jettison them in the North Sea, bombed the German
occupied airfield at Bergen in Holland and then returned
safely to Bungay. Three other B-24s of the same Group,
those of Lts Kent, Morris, and LeRoy also returned to
England, with one of the bomb loads dropped in the North
Sea. Two aircraft of the 448th Bomb Group also returned,
one bombing the airfield at Vechta on the return route.
Three Liberators of the 453rd Bomb Group returned to Old
Buckenham and reported mechanical trouble. Two of these
reports were later attributed to personnel failure.
Only one enemy aircraft was sighted by the bomber
crews, and it was promptly destroyed. Flying as tail gUill1er
in B-24H 42-95216 Becky of the 453rd Bomb Group, in the
Low Left Squadron of the 2nd Combat Wing 'B' Group,
was S/Sgt Raymond P. Cormier, who reported: "At 13.55
hours and 21,500 feet in the ienburg area, I saw an Me 410
doing 360 degree turns and lazy eights, it came near our
plane and made a chandelle. As it started to break away to
its left, at 4 o'clock, at approximately 600 yards I fired about
150 rounds at it. As it broke off, someone called fighters. I
saw none and followed the Me 410 again and observed it
hitting a patch of wood 3l1d blow up"2
It was be the only enemy aircraft claimed shot down that
day by a Liberator crewmember. In the Germ3l1 loss listings
two Me 410s of the I./ Zerstorergeschwader 26 from Konigsberg
3l-e reported to have been severely dan1aged or destroyed. It
is possible that one of these was the one claimed by Cormier.
Ne3l- the target, flak beg3l1 to increase and was reported
B-24H 41-29143 The Shack II o/the 446th Bomb GroujJ carried the lead crew for this Group on 28 May. Ova Holland mec/wnical troubleforced it to abort the
mission and reLuming to England, the crew bombing the aiifteld at Bergen. [Harold E. Jansen}
later as 'intense 3l1d accurate'. The flak at Merseburg would,
later in We W3l-, become even worse and claimed many
attacking bombers making it a dreaded t3l-get for the
bomber crews. This time the flak succeeded in badly hitting
three B-24s in the 2nd Combat Wing, two of the 445th
Bomb Group, and one of the 389th Bomb Group and
slightly damaging anower six B-24s in each Group. The
third and last Bomb Group wat furnished aircraft to the 2nd
Combat Wing, tl1e 453rd, C3lne away with only slight
d3lnage to three of its Liberators.
First hit was B-24H 42-50346 of We 445tl1 Bomb Group.
Its pilot, lILtJohn W. Can1pbell, describes the events of the
day: "This was to be our twenty-first mission, and we were
beginning to think we might finish our tour. At least, some
of us were. Some were thinking our luck was bound to run
out. Normally, after each five completed mi sions, a crew
was given a 48 hour leave pass and at fifteen missions, a
seven day leave. We should have been on a '48', but due to
a shortage of crews, we were scheduled to fly. We had been
practicing for several weeks for the D-Day that we knew was
coming, but, as had happened three times before, our
assigned aircraft had been flown by a new crew, 3l1d didn't
return. As a result we were given a new B-24, the first we
had flown tl1at was unpainted. No n3lne, and no mission
bombs on the nose. As I remember it, tl1ere were no
problems with the first part of the mission. It was a nice day,
3l1d we had felt fortunate not to have been sent to Berlin.
There were no fighters and I don't recall any great an10unt
of flak, until we got to We Initial Point. As we began tl1e run
to tl1e target area from were, we began to pick up flak from
a couple of four-gun batteries, 88 mm, firing a di3lnond
pattern. At almost every salvo, it seemed, one of the bursts
either hit our ship, or was a ne3l- miss that made a very
rough ride. I don't recall tl1e order in which all things
happened, but number three engine took a burst of flak that
knocked it out of commission, 3l1d set it afire. We got a burst
in or right under the bomb bay, and 3l10ther an10ngst the
bombs when they were released, 3l1d had de3l-ed the shi] .
Number four engine was out, but not burning, and n f
the propellers would not feath r, I think it wa n numb r .
After the bomb were gone, we mad the u ual t p turn in
formation, to avoid more flak. There wa 0 mu h ga lin
in the bomb bay, falling like rain from the wing tank , that
me engineer, S/Sgt Harold Bennett, reopened me doors, to
let it run out. Number three was still blazing, so I slid We
plane out of formation, to avoid damaging the rest of We
Group, in case we blew up. We got two more hits out mere,
and I decided we were not going to make it. We could see

liLt Jolm W Campbell, pdot o/B-24H 42-50346

o/the 445th Bomb Group. He was made prisoner 0/
war With eight 0/ his crew. One man was killed by a
Gemwn military jJolice rfficial. The .45 tlwt
The bombs gfThe Shack II heaclfor the aiifzeld at Bergen. 17te airfield, visible at the top centre o/the picture, was already illactive at the time, rifier a c/estruchve day/light CamjJbell wears ill /he picture caused him anxious
raid on 4 May. [National Archives} momeuls on 28 May. aohll W Campbell}
Sante 0/ the crew 0/ B-24H 42-50346 0/ tlte 445th Bomb Group, waiting for a 11m)! to London.
From lrji to 1-ight: Cophill Williams [ball tumt gunna}, John Bowell bot on 28 May mission}, Harold BeIIneLL
[engillm}, Dalliel ] Matheu [bombardier}, William M. Robimon [radio-opaator} and Bemard Wholeben
[navigator] All wm made jJmona 0/ war. aohn W CamjJbellj

146 MISSION 376 MERSEBURG 147


SISgt Leo]. vatlelle, tail glllmer qfB-24H 42-50346 qfthe 445th Bomb Group. This picture was taken in.fi·ont qfthe crew's earlier B-24 Shoo Shoo Baby, which
was Jhot down with another crew Jhortly bifore the 28 May mission. [john W Campbell]
tlle black smoke from the bomb strike extending high into
the sky by this tinle, I tlunk we had a very successful run.
The damage to lie airpl311e wasn't the only problem.
During tl1.e bomb run, the tail guwler, S/Sgt Leo J. Vallette,
had called over tlle intercom that he had been hit. I had
asked tlle waist gunners to help him out of tlle turret, and to
do what liey could for him. Also, though I wasn't aware of
it at tlle time, tlle engineer had at some point received a deep
head wound, and was semi-conscious. In order to hold a
straight course, witll tlle two engines gone on the right side,
I had to reduce power. It was cle31' by now tllat we wouldn't
be retunung to England. I pressed tlle bail-out bell, and at
the S3111e time yelled in tlle intercom for lie crew to get out.
The co-pilot, 2/Lt Roger T Marlin, watching for enemy
fighters and witll his communication box set on VHF, didn't
hear my call, or lie bell. When he turned his head 311d saw
my hand on tlle bell, he leaped up, and dove headlong off
tlle flight deck, through lie p31'tially open bomb doors.
Now, I had always told hinl liat when I said 'baiL out not to
wait, just go. He did, and for many years I blanled him for
lie trouble he didn't assi t me with. Unfortunately for me,
he was doing what I had toldl1.im to do. ot only was I left
witll me problems of holding tlle airpl311e, but I had very
stupidly snapped the front half of a flak suit on under my
p31'achute. In addition, I hadn't fastened me leg traps of lie
chute, so I had a lot to deal wim, all while holding a straight
course, so tllat tlle otllers could bail out. When I finally had
myself put back togetller, and tlUnking everyone would be
gone, I got out of me seat, and as I got to tlle flight deck I
148
was shocked to see me radio-operator, T/Sgt William M.
Robinson, sitting on me catwalk, legs d311gling over tlle
edge, his face a sickly green. I yelled, 'For God's sake, Robbie,
Jitmj)p 311d he disappeared. I didn't learn until later, that he
had caught his trouser leg in a bomb rack, and had only men
got it free. The fuel was still raining dowu, and when I sat
on the catwalk, the slipstre31u took off my fleece-lined boots.
I thought of going back for the combat boots I had left
behind my seat. With me engine still burning 311d the fuel
falling, I was afraid to go back. \tVhen the boots came off,
tlley took witll them tlle heated booties mat were held to lie
flying suit by electrical cormectors. I tllought I'd slip tllem
back on after I bailed out, since mey were still attached 311d
fmally got enough courage, or fright, to roll out of lie ship.
Instead of waiting to pull me ripcord, as tlle training had
suggested, I pulled it ahuost immediately, and as a result,
had to watch 311d listen to tlle airpl311e, as it curled its way
down, mostly out of my sight, until it fll1ally crashed and
exploded, I remember wondering if it would fly into my
chute, when I couldn't see it. We had been at about 20,000
feet, so there was a lot of time to think, and to try to put on
the booties, on tlle way down. Each time I tried to raise my
leg, either one, to put on a bootie, the straps of my chute, a
back-pack type, caused such pains in my groin and testicles,
I was unable to get them on, and cam to earli in cold,
stockinged feet. Fortunately I landed in a field mat had at
some time been plowed, 311d suffered only minor damage to
one foot. There was no place to hide lie p31'achute, lie
nearby forest had no unclergrowm, 311d me trees were
MISSION 376
planted in orderly rows. I carried it over and placed it at the
foot of a tree a short distance into the wood, and started
walking down a lane. I got out my .45 caliber Army is ue
automatic, and put a round in the chamber, foolishly, but at
twent)' years old, I didn't know any better. I was met by a
!,'TOUp of villagers and saw behind me another group,
carrying my parachute. There were, fortunately, two soldiers
and a submariner in the group, and the seaman had a few
words of English. He stopped the one civilian, who several
times pounded me in the face and nose with his fists, so no
irreparable damage was done. They took my gun, and it was
with great difficult), that I made them understand it was not
only loaded, but there was a shell in the chanlber, ready to
fire. They had taken me to the local tavern, and were
drinking beer, while waving the .45 around the room,
comparing it with their own smaller weapons. I was really
frightened of what they would do to me if it fired and one of
them was hurt. Eventually, after a short stay in a cell, I was
taken out to the main street, where a truck was parked.
There were four privates and a corporal as escorts, with a
wooden box for me to sit on in the middle of the flatbed. It
took a while for them to get it going, and while waiting I
smiled at a couple of young women and the corporal
knocked me off the box, so I quit. I was driven to a jail and
afterwards an airfield, where I met most of tlle crew. The
ball turret gunner, S/Sgt Cophlin Willianls, had been taken
to identifY tlle body of one of my crewmember " waist
gunner Ray M. Wampler. He told us there was blood on tlle
parachute harness and on his chest and tllat he apparently
was shot. Williams had been in the waist witll Wampler, and
knew he left the ship safely. This was the last time we were
to be together until the end of the war in Europe."3
The B-24 crashed one kilometre south-west of Stassen, a
village ten kilometres south-west of Weissenfels. AU nine
survivll1g crewmembers were
transported to various prison camps
and returned safely to the United
States in the summer of 1945.
Coplilin Williams was correct in his
assumption that Ray Wampler was
shot dead. After examining Genu311
records, the American autllorities
found that he was shot 'while
escaping' by a Milit31'y Police official,
n31ued Koehler, from a village called
Unterkaka. W31upler was buried in
Kistritz, 11 kilometres south of
Weissenfels, and after the war
reburied at the Netherlands
American Cemetery 311d Memorial,
where he still rests. The author has
been unable to find evidence in
Americ311 archives that Koehler was
ever brought to trial, so the exact
circumstances under which Wampler
died will remain a mystery.
But, a small testinlony of the
rough way in which some fliers were
h311dled is given by tlle crew's other
liLt jameJ H. DobJon, who landed his badly damaged B-24
waist gunner, S/Sgt Royce E. Ball, without h)'draulic preJJure at llbenham. He UJed !)(lrClclluteJ as hydraulic system. After leaving tlle
who reported in September 1945: "I brakeJ to make a sqfe stop. He was awarded the DFCfor his target area 311d heading back to
bailed out of the plane at about coolneJs in this aelion. [jameJ H. DobJon]
MERSEBURG
15.20 hours when I hit the ground. I Calue down in an open
field about five kilometres north of Merseburg and about
two kilometres nortll of a small hamlet which is a suburb of
Merseburg. It was three or four minutes before anyone canle
out to where I 1311ded. In landing I had hurt my leg and
broken a foot. I was sitting on the gTOund eX31nining my
foot when the first person C31ue up to me. The fu'st person
who came up to me was a photographer who was dressed in
uniform, but I am not sure whetller he was 311 Army
photographer or a newspaper photographer. He searched
me and began setting tlle bone in my foot tlle best that he
could. In another two or tlu'ee minutes a f31'mer 311d his wife
311d another woman whom I took to be their daughter
arrived on the scene. They just stood around 311d looked me
over, felt my p31'achute, but made no threatening gestures. I
was still sitting on the ground 311d had opened my escape kit
and was eating a chocolate b31' when a man canle up behind
me and started kicking me in the back with hob-nail shoes.
By that time fort)' or ftfty civilians had collected around me,
but only this m311 was abusing me. He wore the station-
master's uniform and was at least sixty years of age. He
spoke a few English words and knew quite a few American
slang curse words. I would underst311.d very little of what he
was trying to say, but I did manage to learn from his tirade
that his house had been burned either by bombs dropped in
the vicinity of it or by a plane crashing into it. I think the
latter was the case. The first I knew of his being around at
all was when he kicked me in the back. He kept ki king me
around 311d trying to stomp on me with his hob-nail h s.
He was t1.-ymg to kick me in the face, but I was guarding m
face with my hands; h did succeed in bloodying up my
face a bit. He broke veral of my rib on the left id . I
suppose he would have continued his stomping 311d beaLing
and kicking of me had he not been stopped by a Gestaj)o
agent. He wore a gray-green uniform
with a Nazi swastika armband and
seemed to be in a position of
authority in tllat community."4
Ball then was transported to
DuLag Lz!fi, tlKn to StaLag Lz!fi IV, 311d
ended up in StaLag VII-A, where he
was eventually liberated. There is no
doubt that several American airmen
were not so lucky to be rescued by a
Germans who were aware of tlle
Geneva convention, and were kicked
to death or shot like Wampler,
unwitnessed and tlle murdCl-ed thus
never brought to trial.
The second B-24 of the 445tll
Bomb Group which was hit, B-24H
42-95308, was piloted by l/LtJames
M. Dobson. He was an experienced
pilot on his twent)'-sixtll mission and
relates: "The mission was a long one
311d the flak over the t31-get area was
very heavy. That was where my
ship received tlle heavy hit that
destroyed or severely d31uaged the
England one of the crew called me
149

The jJarachutes have dOlLe their work. Dobson's B-24 has come to a stop at Tiben/lI1m. Some crewmembers, still wearing their jJarachute hamasses, insjJect the make-shjfl
brakes. The aircrcifl was salvaged liz September 1944 cifler belizg involved IiI a nud-air collision. [National Air and Space Museum}
back to the bomb bay area to assess the damage. I turned the
plane over to the co-pilot, 2/Lt Keith H. Palmer and went
back. I found the bomb bay doors were full of fluid, since
they were closed immediately after the bombs were
dropped. My first thought was that it was gas, but after
further exan'lination I realized that it was hydraulic fluid.
Fortunately all four engines were performing okay. I reached
the decision that what fluid we might have left in the system
must be preserved. Subsequently, upon arriving at
Tibenham, the crew manually cranked the landing gear
down. In the service newspaper Slars and StrijJes we had read
about a Flying Fortress that had landed using parachutes as
brakes. That was what we decided to do. Two parachutes
were firmly fastened around the mounts of the waist guns,
one on each side, and hung outside the plane. 1""0 crew-
members were stationed at the waist gun windows, ripcords
in their hands, waiting for the moment to pull. Since our
gasoline supply was adequate, we circled the field until all of
our Group's planes had landed. This was in case we had an
accident on the runway and would block it for use. Needless
to say when I landed I used every bit of runway and didn't
have much wind to help us stop either. The two with the
ripcords were ordered to pull at the second we touched the
runway. It was a good landing at the first few feet of the
runway. I applied the brakes and did have a little pressure,
that was shortly exhausted however. But, with help of the
huge parachutes out of the waist windows tlle plane did roll
to a stop before we reached the end of the runway, and we
also made the Stars and Stripes witll our story. I finished my
missions on 4June, two days before D-Day."5
Third and last to be heavily hit by tlle Merseburg flak
was B-24H 42-110074 Satan's Mate of the 389tll Bomb
Group. The crew of pilot 2/Lt Jack Eley, was flying a spare
150
aircraft, since meir own Fat Mama was undergoing repairs at
Hethel. They flew in me High Squadron of the 20th
Combat Wing 'B' Group. Over tlle target tlle aircraft
received flak damage, causing troubles with several engines.
At first, number two engine leaked oil, initially in just small
amounts, but the leakage gradually increased to nine gallons
an hour. At 15.15 hours, the propeller on this engine had to
be featllered, before tlle oil ran out. There was no other
choice but to leave formation and try to return to England
alone. umber three engine was also damaged and shortly
afterwards its supercharger went out and its propeller had to
be feathered as well. From that point on, about 20 kilometres
from the Chillmel, illld still over France, the aircraft lost 700
feet altitude per rninute, gradually going down in the
direction of me cold water off the French coast. Still tl1e crew
elected to go on, trying to get back to Hethel illld doubtlessly
with the intention of finishing their only so recently still"ted
tour. We can only have the highest respect for meir
detern'lination to carryon. When it was obvious Satan 5Mate
could not carry tl1em very much furtller, an SOS was sent
out, and a fateful decision was taken.
Jack Eley recalled: "I ordered tl1e crew to bail au t, adcl.ing
that I would see them in Englillld, and out tlley went, except
me co-pilot, 2/Lt Walter L. Tucker illld myself. Since the
B-24 was a high-wing plane it was very difficult to ditch, as
it tended to break near the bomb-bay illld sink rapidly. I
decided to bail tlle crew out, then try to ditch tl1e B-24 as
close to tllem as possible, to afford mem tl1e safety of tl1e
dinghies, if I succeeded. This was not to be; while I was
making a circle to ditch, tl1e overstrained number one engine
started to act up, me governor ran away and tl1e engine lost
its pressure. Since I was tl1en heading into the enemy coast,
I couldn't turn tllC aircraft illly more in tl1e direction I
MISSION 376
The crew ifB-24J 42-110074 Satan's Mate ifthe 389th Bomb GroujJ. Back
row lift to ngltt: James C. Tennant {radio-operator, saved by air-sea rescue},
Charles E. OsbonLe {7wse tUlTet gunnel; MIA} wu! Howard E. C7-ejJjJ {lift waist
gUIlILer, saved by air-sea rescue). Mzddle row lift to right: Victor Lacourse {tail
gunner, MIA}, AI-thur J. Daly [right waist gunnel; KIA} and Robert H. Kaems
[engineeJ; MIA). Front row lift to right: milter L Ti'Cker [copilot, KIA}, Albert
Joblonicky [navigatOl; KIA}, Jack Eley [pilot, POW} and Anthony J. Falsone
[bombardier; not on 28 May mission, POW on 25 July)' {Jack Eley}
wanted, where my crew was. Just off the coast I also ordered
Tucker to jump, he declined and told me to fasten my chute
first, since he already wore his back-pack and I still had to
Squadron Lau!er Raoul W UiLliens (centre) was a very eXjJerienced pilot, whoJlew
a SjJi!fire with No. 41 Squcu!ron dunilg tiLe Battle ifBn'tain in 1940. He piloted
a Sea Olter ifNo. 277 Squadron and with his crew uncloubtly saved the lives if
Howard Crepp and James Tennant. [Nonnan Franks}
MERSEBURG
pick n'line up. After some time I
assumed flying and out went
Tucker. Then Ijumped, at about
1,000 to 800 feet, just inside the
French coast. I landed on the
beach area and was dragged into
a gun-emplacement and
immediately captur d. The
plane crashed inland, five
kilometres west of Gravelines,
near me French-Belgian border.
The Germans took me to the
eras h site in a truck illld tried to
make me get out so they could
take pictures of me and my
plillle. I refused, they threatened,
I won. Then they told me tl1at
Tucker's chute had fouled up on
the tail of tlle ship and tl1at he was dragged down with tl1e
ship and was killed. I can't verify tl1is, since I didn't come
out of tlle truck" 6
Tucker had indeed been killed in tl1e crash ill1C1 Eley, the
only man captured of his crew, spend tl1e rest of tl1e Will" in
Stalag Lz!fl III illld in 1945 returned to his wife. The seven
otller crewmembers, who parachuted over tlle Chillmel, all
landed in a n'linefield off tlle coast. Two P-47s, returning
from escort duty observed tl1em, and circled above. Later
tl1ey were relieved by Spitfires who circled until a RAF
Walrus seaplillle of 277 Squadron manag d to pick up two
of the crew - radio-operator TI gt James . Tennant and
engineer TISgt Howard E. repp. While flying ov r, a
dinghy was dropped near me crewmembers in tlle water,
and one of them was observed to climb aboill"d and the
Walrus, crewed by Squadron Leader R.W. Wall ens,
Warrant Officer W.L. Butler illld F/Sgt J-W.E. Lawrence,
alighted and picked up tl1e OCCUpilllt of the dinghy, who later
proved to be Crepp. Then Tennant, still floating ill"ound in
his Mae West, was found illld picked up. Crepp and Tennant
F/Sgt Bill Upperton, a 7Jphoon pIlot in No. 257 Squacl1'On, saw t/Le crew if
Satan's Mate bail out q/fthe French coast and cifler alerting the Air Sea Rescue
unit circled the areafor some ten minutes. [Bill Upperton]
151

Robert H. KLleTIlS is comnU'7norated OIl the Wall Of the Missing at the Hi'711-i-
ChajJelie Amencan Cenu:tely and Memorial in Belgium. Two other names o/nu:n
missing since 28 May are in this same jJzCture. These are Willis H. Johnson and
Richard E. Jaqua, both members 0/Lt Emanuel Haufs crew o/the 457th Bomb
Group. [auth01}
were taken to Shoreham i.n Englalld alld made me 504ili
and 505m rescue by 277 Squadron. Unfortunately, tlle High
Speed Launches of me Air Sea Rescue were not able to
approach, due to tlle proxinuty of tlle enemy coast alld its
gun batteries, alld me fact iliat tlle crew went down in a
rninefield. Almough bom rescued men iliought mat meir
cOl1u-ades n1ight have made it to me shore, or were picked
up by me GermaJls, unfortunately no such iliing happened.
All five drowned. Four of them remained l1ussing in action,
tlleir nanles being recorded on me Walls of ilie Missing at
the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial in
Belg1um. Only me body of navigator, 2/Lt AlbertJoblOIucky
was washed ashore on 28 September 1944, neal- Knocke in
Belg1um. He was buried as an 'unknown airmall'. After tlle
war tlle American War Graves Registration LlIut was able to
positively identify me remains and reburial in tlle Ardennes
cemetery took place. Upon request of Ius next of kin,
Joblonicky was finally reburied in his hometown Muskegon
Heights, Michigan in 1949.
In 1965, French children were playing on me beach at
Malo-Ies-Bain , near Dunkirk. While diggmg deeply into ilie
sand iliey found evidence of a buried body. After ilie official
services had been notified there was little difficulty in
identifying tlle body as mat of SISgt AriliurJ. Daly, ilie right
waist gurmer of Salan sMate, who had been listed as Missing
In Action for 21 years. His body was returned to tlle United
States too, and buried in Rosemount, Minnesota.
The bombing results of me 'P: Group in me 2nd Combat
Wing were not what nught have been expected wiili such
good visibility and lack of German resistal1Ce. The Lead
Squadron of me 445th Bomb Group had reasonable results,
as seven per cent of its bombs struck "viiliin 500 feet of tlle
assigned Aiming Point, 22 per cent witl1.in 1,000 feet and 73
per cent witlun 2,000 feet. The Low Squadron from ilie
sanle Group had no bombs at all wiiliin ilie 2,000 feet
radius. The High Squadron of tlle 389tll Bomb Group
reported mat all its bombs had struck tlle taJ-get, but ilie
target picture was so obscured by smoke and dust iliat
individual Juts could not be certified. Then it wa tlle 2nd
Combat Wing 'B' Group's turn. Its Lead Squadron was led
152
by Lt Col Robert P. Harris in
B-24H 42-95111 Porky flown by
Capt Warrington of the 453rd
Bomb Group; its bombardier
liLt Orvis G. Martin reported:
"At the In.itial Point we made a
turn to the left to 112 degrees,
but we were off course a little to
tlle right. This error wa soon
corrected. There was very little
cloud, but haze and smoke
hindered target identification,
tlle target being picked up about
one and a half minutes before
release. After picking up th
target I was able to make a
satisfactory bomb run. There
was flak at me target, but it did not interfere with tlle run.
Good hits were seen on me tal-get."?
In all, 506 100-pound bombs were dropped by me
Squadron and again tlle results could not be appraised. Lead
bombal-dier for tlle Low Squadron of ilie Salne Group wa
liLt Robert W. Haron in B-24H 42-64452, who reported:
"We turned at ilie Group Initial Point to me left, and started
a run on me tal-get. About one half way down I picked up a
check point and saw smoke on what I believed was the
target. I made a two minute run and dropped my bombs.
After release I saw tllat I had bombed tlle oil refinery at Zeitz
instead of Merseburg. I did not see any flak or fighters."8
A total of 572 100-pound bombs were on meir way to me
wrong target. Results were unobserved, which is not
surprising if one studies me target pictures, taken over Zeitz
during ilie bombing which show a mass of billowing black
and white smoke_ The 389th Bomb Group's High Squadron The refinelY at NIerseburg
ran into violent prop wash on the bomb-run which bifore and during the alladi
prevented an accurate bomb-run. Some rail sidings were Oil 28 May. [IWM}
men chosen as Ain1ing Point and me bulk of ilie bombs hit
only witl1.in 2,000 feet.
The Commalld Pilot for ilie 20ili Combat Wing, Major
Heber H. Thompson in B-24J 42-110026 Sky O!:Jeen, flown by
Capt E.L. Chapman, who was also assigned to attack me
Merseburg plant, in trail of tlle 2nd Combat Wing, reported:
"We flew slightly nortll of course to avoid prop wash of me
Wing allead. At me Initial Point me Wings were already in
trail alld ilie Groups begall to uncover. Upon reaching me
Initial Point me 448m Bomb Group begall to converge wiili
me 92nd Combat Wing [on ilieir way to Llitzkendorf,
author] and we were forced to turn to me right instead of me
left to avoid hitting memo We fmaLly turned onto me
bombing run but me target was obscured by smoke alld
haze. Also it was necessal-y to stay right of course on me
bombing run to avoid prop wash. The bombardier was
unable to make a run on tlle primary so we turned soum
aJld picked up anotller oil refmery approximately 25 n1iles
soutll of me primal-y. A run was made and bombs released
on tlUs tal-get."g
Boili Squadrons of tlle 44·8ili Bomb Group had released
meir loads, in all 480 100-pound, and 120 500-pound
bombs, on the oil refineries in Zeitz, which already had been
me tal-get of two other complete Combat Wings. Five
aircraft in me High Squadron, where tllree of me 446m
Bomb Group's aircraft had aborted earlier, made a pass at
MISSION 376 MERSEBURG 153

Flown by Captain Jack T. Martin and his crew, B-24H 42-52612
Homebreaker if the 446t!z Bomb Group, led the Low Squadron if the 20th
Combat liVing 'B' Group ziz a highly succesgul attack on the oil rrfinery at Zeitz.
[Mike Bailey}
the primary target, three dropped with the 448th Bomb
Group at Zeitz and one found an airdrome near Altenburg
for its target.
This left only the 20th Combat Wing 'B' Group to
bomb. The 93rd Bomb Group, putting up the Lead and
Low Left Squadron encountered the same difficulties; the
official 20th Combat Wing Critique remarks: "The 93rd
Bomb Group High Squadron had trouble bombing target of
opportunity due to large number of Groups and Combat
Wings on the return route, each time this Squadron started
to make a run on a target of opportunity it would have to
fared no better - its bombs were scattered around on several
'last resort' targets, such as Meiningen, Triptis and Ulzen.
The Low Squadron, led by CaptainJack T. Martin in B-24H
42-52612 Home Breaker of the 446th Bomb Group, did do
better. His bombardier liLt Donald A. Michaelson, dropped
his load and those of the ten other remaining B-24s in his
formation on the oil refmery at Zeitz, with excellent results.
All this, together with the bombs from the two Combat
Wings that had the refmery at Zeitz as primary target (as
described in the preceding chapter), caused tremendous fires
in the target area. No losses were suffered by the 20th
Combat Wing and all B-24s returned to their respective
bases. Only three Liberators of the 93rd Bomb Group
received slight flak damage and Major J J. Smith was
wounded by a flak fragment.
Damage to the Merseburg plant was not as extensive as
after the 12 May attack, but additional important installations
were seriously damaged, notably one of the carbonizing
ovens, a paste preparation building, a boiler house, and
several other buildings. In the adjoining railroad yard, tracks
were cut in numerous places and several railroad buildings
were damaged. The 12 May attack was believed to have cut
production by two thirds and it was not thought likely that
this day's attack would further reduce the output. Of course,
the Germans would now have much more to deal with before
normal production could be resumed.
The fighter escort had an easy job, since no enemy
fighters made passes at the four Combat Wings bombing
Zeitz and Merseburg. Yellow Flight of the 79th Squadron of
the 20th Fighter Group strafed the main railroad line from
Liege to Brussels, claiming no fewer than three locomotives
destroyed and three tank cars, 12 motor vehicles on flat cars,
23 freight cars and three rail switch houses damaged.
o
1:0
Notes :J
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£J
1. 453rd Bomb Group Mission Report; Record Group 18, Washington
National Records Center.
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2. 453rd Bomb Group Mission Report; Record Group 18, Washington
National Records Center.
3. Letter to author, 10 December 1989.
4. Statement in trial 12-2564; Record Group 153, Washington National
Records Center.
5. Letter to author, 13 December 1989.
6. Letter to author, 1 December 1987.
7. 453rd Bomb Group Mission Report; Record Group 18, Washington
National Records Center.
8. 453rd Bomb Group Mission Report; Record Group 18, Washington
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B-17G-35-BO 42-32027, of the 303rd Bomb Group,

427th Bomb Squadron, Betty Jane, GN-E. Note the glide-bombs.

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III B-24H-30-FO 42-95308, of the 445th Bomb Group, 702nd Bomb Squadron, WV-f:...
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B-24H-1-CF 41-29143, of the 446th Bomb Group, 704th Bomb Squadron, The Shack II, FL-B.

B-24H-15-CF 41-29490, of the 486th Bomb Group, 834th Bomb Squadron, Gemini, 2S-D.

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P-51D-5-NA 44-13383 of the 354th Fighter Group, 353rd Fighter Squadron, Swedes Steed III, FT-T,
flown by 1./Lt William Y. Anderson.

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P-470-22-RE 42-26020,of the 78th Fighter Group,

82nd Fighter Squadron, Lady Jane, HL-J. This was
the regular aircraft flown by Capt Alwin M.
Juchheim, but not on 28 May when he was
involved in a mid-air collisioon over Germany.

P-470-11-RE 42-75457, of the 353rd Fighter Group,

351st Fighter Squadron, YJ-A, flown by 2ILt Joseph Farley.

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Supermarine Walrus H0917, BA-U, is known toha'

No.277 Squadron, RAF, in May 1944. On 2~ May:\1
Wallens piloted a Walrus of this Squadron and ~
B-24J 42-110074 of the 389th BG from the,Englisfi

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A belated tribute to the men of the RAF Marine Branch. This is BPBC 68ft
High Speed launch 2579, operating out of Gorleston and shown as it
appeared on 28 May 1944, manned by FlO J. Martinson and his crew,
when it rescued the entire crew of B-17G 42-39837, Reds Rogues of the
401st BG after they were obliged to ditch in the North Sea.

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Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-8 730386, 'Red 24', of II.1JG 1, flown by Obit Rudiger Kirchmayr.

--"

Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-7 642540, 'Yellow 13',

3.1JG 11. A reconstruction based on similar
aircraft in the unit in May 1944.

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At Du>jOrd, Captain Alwin M. Juchheim talks to his crew chiefS/Sgt Robert McCord prior to yet another combat mission rfthe 78th Fighter Groupftom Du>jOrd. On 28 May ,Juchheim survived a mid-air collision with a P-51 rfthe 363rd
... Fighter Grouj] over Germany and was made a Prisoner rfWar. Note the auxili£zryftel tank under thefuselage rfJue/lhe-im's P-47. It contained 108 gallons rfftel, giving thejighter precious extra time over Germany. The individual aircrq.flletter
~ ] is also displayed on the cowlingflr identjfication purposes on the ground. [USAAF}
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'"" This page in the Flugbuch ifLeutnant Hans Halbey ifIIII]G 1 covers some dramatic missions. TlzeJlight on 28 May lasted a mere 12 17lzizutes, szizce Halbey was shot down near Molln by Lt Walter MacFarlane ifthe 355th Fighter Group.
Having recoveredfiom his wounds he went back on operations on 30 July over France. He was shot down again and so badly ziyimd that his nextJlight was not until Christmas that year. [Hans HalbeyJ

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..... Tim pamtiRg by Rk' Baiky "'P"" hktw<1xl Hml It'""'' '
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tJWJi<'t ltfud,k, Ywt dawn Lt fudm- .IM 363'" Fighk, Gro.p, "'1= M Ywt dawn
 Chapter Eleven

LUTZKENDORF
The three Bomb Groups of the Third Air Division that were coast was crossed at 12.42 hours, and when all three spares,
equipped with B-24s - the 34th from Mendlesham, the piloted by Lts Armstrong, Holmes and Coupland were not
486th from Sudbury, and the 487th from Lavenham - needed, they returned to base. In all, 36 Liberators of the
followed at the rear of the bomber stream, making up the Group crossed the Dutch coast in good formation.
92nd and 93rd Combat Wings. The target for these Wings At a three minute interval this small 93rd Combat Wing
was the Wintershall A.G. oil refinery at Liitzkendorf, at that was followed by three Squadrons of the 487th Bomb Group
time producing some 300,000 tons of oil per year. and two Squadrons of the 486th Bomb Group, together
These Groups had only recently become operational.
The 34th Bomb Group was on its fIfth combat mission, both
others were flying their tenth. The 487th Bomb Group was
the only one of the three which had lost bombers in combat.
On 11 May three of its crews were shot down during an
attack on marshalling yards in France. The other two were
unbloodied in combat so far.
The 34th Bomb Group put up three Squadrons of 12
Liberators each, and three spares. This force was called the
93rd Combat Wing, although it only had half the usual size
for a Combat Wing. It followed the last Wing of the
preceding Second Air Division at a three minute interval.
Wing Leader was Colonel Frank P. Bostrom, who was
assigned to become Commanding Officer of the not yet·
operational 490th Bomb Group within a month, and
therefore had to get some operational experience. He was
flying in B-24H 42-94930 Kisco Kid, flown by the crew of
liLt O. Allen Israelsen. The 34th Bomb Group had a
smooth take off from Mendlesham, a normal assembly was A typical thiTteen-airm!fi Lead Squadmn if tlu: 34th Bomb Group. {James S.
made, and course was set for Liitzkendorf. The English Hollowell}

This painting by Troy White depicts 21Lt Ralph 'Kid' Hrjer iftlu: 4th Fighter Group Tolling out behliul an BJ109G-6flown by l[ffi Heim Kum if6.1JG 11. Moments
lu.ter tlu: BJ109 dove into tlu: ground, killing Kunz. Thus tlu: 'Kid' clu.imed his 15th a1uliast ali·-to-air victary in his P-51B 42-106924 Salem Representative. Dunng
the engagements in tlu: MagdebuTg-Dessau aTea, Hrjer's alirrq.fl was hit in the rod£ler, but Iu: managed to Tetum to Debden. His luck Tan out on 2 July, wlu:n he was
killed in action. [Troy White, http://www.staTduststudios.comlindex.htm}

Tlu: lead crew jOr the 93Td Combat Wing. Standingftom lrji to -right: David Ashley [waist gunner}, William V. VanBuskiTk [radio-operat01}, Seamons J. Jones
[bombaTdier, not 01128 May mission}, James R. Reed [navigator}, O. Allen Israelsen [lead pilot}, Clu.rence J. Markllam [engineer}, Charles W Kleilyall {sec01ulll£wigator}
and Wilmer J. Dreller {co-pilot, not on 28 May missilmj. Sittzilgftom lifi to right: William Abraham [ball turret gunner}, Charles E. Barclu.y [waist gunner} and Samuel
Baglio {tail gunner, not on 28 May missi01Y. [0. Allen ISTaelsen}

170 MISSION 376 LOTZKENDORF 171

making up the 92nd Combat Wing. This Wing was led by
the Commanding Officer of the 487th Bomb Group,
Colonel Robert Taylor III, flying with the crew of liLt
Robert G. Reeder in B-24H 42-52461 MIdnight Mistress. The
487th Bomb Group commenced its take-ofT from Lavenham
at 10.15 hour. Take-ofT was normal and assembly was
accompli hed over the base at 10.58 hours at 2,000 feet. At
12.10 hours Lt Gile returned with severe stomach cramps,
and two pare, Lts Wood and Witham returned since they
were not needed.
The 486th Bomb Group experienced more difficulties.
Take-off from Sudbury conunenced at 10.00 hours, but only
23 aircraft of the 28 scheduled, departed on time. Three
Liberators were out of commission even before take-off, and
the crews of these craft hurried to other ships and quickly
took off, the last one leaving Sudbury as late as 11.58 hours.
One of these three crews was that of Lt Alfred M. Sanders,
who traded B-24H 42-52682 for B-24H 42-52764. It was a
ship of the 833rd Bomb Squadron, while Sanders and his
crew belonged to the 832nd. This may be an indication of
how the Group was craping the bottom of the barrel to get
its full complement of planes in the air. Sanders' new mount
was adorned with the nickname Mike, the spirit if LSU and
ported a yellow tiger head, the symbol of Loui iana State
University. All three spares filled in the formation when
needed, as three other B-24s returned with a sick
crewmember, supercharger trouble and engine difficulties
respectively. After take off a climb to 12,000 feet was made
individually and Group assembly was completed at 11.30
hours. A one minute early assembly was made with the
487th Bomb Group. After some shuffiing, the 92nd Combat
2/Lt James S. Hollowell and his crew aborted the mission in Lucille. Here they are pictured wilh B-24H 42-94775 Misschief. Misschicf wasJlown to Ll/Wwzdoif
by Lt 1#dter H. Heath and his crew. [James S. Hollowell}
172
Wing - 25 Liberators of the 486th and 36 of the 487th
Bomb Groups - now followed the 93rd Combat Wing - th
36 Liberators of the 34th Bomb Group, out of England at
12.44 hours. At 13.12 hours, three minutes after the la t
spare aircraft left, the first crew of the 487th Bomb Group
aborted. Lt Mun on returned with three sUlck throttles, and
had to feather an engine to land safely. Then, four minute
later, Lt Liebert left witll superchargers fluctuating in two
engines and not enough power to stay in formation. Nin
minutes later, Lt Winters returned with a broken oil line in
his rear tunet. A further 13 minutes later, Lt Eubank left th
formation when his number four engine had a runaway
propeller and he dropped his bombs in the Zuider Zee. H
was followed within two minutes by Lt Spangler who found
that his Liberator used excessive amounts of gas, and judged
that he could not endure tlle long mi sion. Finally, at 13.52
hours, Lt Hatfield left the 487th Bomb Group with a
featllered prop on number two engine, and two otller
engines that were overheating; he dropped his bomb on
barrack omewhere in Holland. Within 40 minutes six
Liberators had aborted, and this left the Group with 30
aircraft. The pilot of one of the e, Lt Mike Volechenisky,
remarked cynically at the debriefmg in the afternoon that
" ... large number of aborts do not keep up morale when
going in."
1\"'0 B24s of the 486th Bomb had to abort. One with
engine o'ouble, and the other because of its very late take off.
Penetration support was provided by 42 P-38s of the 479tll
Fighter Group, which took ofT from Wattisham at 11.28
hours. Four Ligh01ings aborted, and rendezvous was made at
13.00 hours at 22,000 feet, some 60 miles east of Great
MISSION 376
Yarmouth. At 13.55 hour t.h n xt Fighter Group made
rendezvous at 21,000 fe t. Th 339th Fighter Group had
departed Fowlmere at 12.25 h ur with 49 P-51s, commanded
by Major Harold W cru . ix fighter returned for various
reasons, and now over Ling n, in Germany, 43 Mustangs
took their positions around th Liberators, steadily heading
toward LLitzkendorf. At 14.08 hour the 479th Fighter Group
broke off the escort and return d to Wattishanl.
One aircraft in the Low quadron of the 34th Bomb
Group was experiencing trouble. The supercharger on
number t1u'ee engine of B-24H 42-52759 Ludlle went out
around 14.00 hours, and staying in formation, with the full
bomb load aboard and flying in thin air, was found to be
impossible. It pilot, LtJanles . Hollowell decided to jettison
his ten 500-pound General Purpose bombs over Germany, in
an effort to lighten his ship. Tlus was done at 14.05 hours
and Lucille and her crew made it afely back to MenclJesham.
For the other crews in both Combat Wings the flight to the
target area was uneventful, with only some moderate flak
and no enemy fighters sighted. At 14.47 hours, another
Fighter Group reinforced the escort. The 55th Fighter Group,
with 38 Lightnings, under command of Major John L.
McGinn, had departed Wornlingford at 12.41 hours and
now made contact with the bombers at 22,000 feet.
The L1itial Point was reached, where the fomlation made
its last turn and headed so'aight for the refineries. During this Some if the 4 71h Bomb Group lead personnel were pictured on Lavenha1ll, q/ier
part of the mission, the flak increased and various ships Were Ihe Group had swilched 10 B-17s, infirml if B-l7G 42-97969 Paddlefoot.
hit. Around 15.00 hours, the bombs of the 35 sl1ips in the Back row, in Ihe cenler Robert G. Reeder [lead Ililot}, secondji'01n rig/zt John O.
93rd Combat Wll1g were dropped. The official reports ju t Painter OJ/lotage lead navigator} andfir righl Lee D. Lauren [High Squadron
lead bombardielj. Fronl row,fir liji S/Sgt. Harold E. Lassor andfir right 7/Sgt.
state that hits were seen in the target area. Lead pilot O. Allen
RobeI'I /IV Hl1J. !John O. Painler}
Israelsen remembers: "It was not a successful mis ion. The
note in my log, 'Bombs dropped ovd was an understatement. As Group's Lead SI1ip, Midnight Mistress, reported: "A formation
I remember the bombs missed the target by a long di tance - from the 2nd Division - Orange diagonal, block 01
a half nille, a nille, or more. My crew remember that mission squadron - ran t1u'ough our formation. This Group turned
well for that reason. We also flew lead on the fu' t combat at tlle Irutial Point with bomb doors open, apparently wim
mission of the 34th Bomb Group on 23 May. The me intention of bombing the same target. In doing so me
LLitzkendorf mission was the next l1ussion for our crew to fly High Squadron was forced to give way and the Lead
as lead. The practice was then for lead crews to alternate Squadron was forced into a flak area over Leipzig. The flak
flying lead crew one mission and deputy lead me next. was intense and accurate. Smoke, me result of the bombs
Colonel Bostrom, the Wing Leader, was a complete sWll1ger dropped by tlle 34th Bomb Group three 11Unutes earlier, and
to us. As I remember he was very
excitable and was on the interphone
t1u'oughout the mission: telling me
how to fly the lead airplane, tlle
navigator how to navigate, and on
the bomb run he was continually
yelling at the bombardier. We were
trained by then that the reason for
our existence was to get 'Bombs on
the Target' and we were a very
disappointed crew. It wasn't a good
day."!
The 92nd Combat Wing was to
follow and it would mark the end
of this day's bombing operations
over Germany. liLt Robert G.
Reeder, flying the 487th Bomb
2/Lt James H. VanCamjl and his crew if Ihe
486th Bomb Groujl, 8341h Bomb Squadron in
B-24H 42-52693 Aries over Ll/Izkendoifon
28 May. [USAAFj
LUTZKENDORF 173
 to the Rally Point and when Upon hearing (lI! aircrqji in distress over his
reaching the Initial Point to the house, member qftlce Belgian resistance Jean
Mane Gilles mn out to see whaJ was
last resort target, which wa
happening. He then grabbed his box camera,
recognized by a red-red flare and. went outside again to snap this picture.
signal, I set up the sight and ft shows three crewmember. qfStar Duster
proceeded down the run [Burckes, Henze and. Toole) in. tlce final.
sighting for range only, a please qftheir parachute descent, being circled
briefed. I used the railway by a small Gennan observation aircrqji. All
three were quickly hidden by Gilles and his
marshalling yards for my ainling Jni:nds, although Burckes and. Toole were
point and released my bomb
upon the target, closed th
• later captured. {Jean Mane Gilles, through
Ralph S. Burckes}
bomb bay doors and turned ofT
immediately."3 Awan-Chateau, by a traffic patrol.
In all, ten ships in th All otllers, whose events are
Squadron had bombed at covered in Chapter 13, were
Wetzlar. Strike pictures hidden by Belgian civilians. Their
established that the pattern deserted Star Duster had crashed
achieved by Lt Broom covered a at 1700 hours near Xhoris, 21
large industrial plant. Ten t kilometres sou til of Liege.
twelve hits were scored on a was not possible to tell if it was our plane, but I presume it The 486th Bomb Group, witl1 its two Squadrons as very
large building and scattered was. We were tllen taken to a town called Trier and held in last units in lie bomber stream, was to suffer its first combat
bursts struck smaller buildings the cellar of a large house, chained to large pipe . We were losses of the war. Its Lead Squadron, 12 aircraft led by
The rdficers qfthe crew qfB-24H 42-52651 Star Duster qfthe 487th Bomb GroulJ. Front 'I"Owftr llji: Ral/Jh S. Burckes in the area. This was probably in tile cellar for two days and were questioned every few Captain Winfred D. Howell in B-24H 41-29490 Gemini,
[pilot, POW}. Middle row lifi to rigltt: Paul F Chavez {co-pilot, EVD}, Homer A. vl-ieks [bombardier, POW} and the optical glass factory, which hours. I sprained an ankle very badly when I landed and piloted by liLt Howell A. Paynter, released its 528 100-
William F Dunham [navigator, POW}. [William F Dunham} indeed was the assigned la t these men repeatedly kicked me in tile ankle to try to get pound General Purpose bombs on lie primary target at
artificial smoke pots operated by tI1e Germans by then had resort target for the Combat Wing. Flak defences along the some infornlation. After two days we were turned over to 15.04 hours. Leading the 11 aircraft in tile Low Squadron
covered tI1e Ainling Point and tile lead bombardjers of the route had hit several B-24s. Ten ships of the 34th and six of the Wehrmacht and held by them for anotl1er day. Then we was liLt Eugene R. Hicks in B-24H 42-50345. Apart from
Lead and High Squadrons had great difficulty in picking up the 487th Bomb Group were damaged. One ship in the latter were turned over to the Lzifiwafft and brought to the his normal crew of ten there was an additional navigat r
tlleir assigned target. The Lead and High Squadrons Group would not return to Lavenhanl. This was B-24H, interrogation center just north of Frankfurt. We were tllen aboard, CaptainJanles H. Bogert.
dropped tI1eir bombs on tile pri.mary target at 15.04 hours. '2 42-52651 Star Duster, piloted by 2/Lts Ralph S. Burckes and sent to Staiag Ll!fi III and were fmally liberated in Moosburg What happened next i recount d by 2/Lt Richard
Results of the 17 lups tI1at bombed the primary target Paul F. Chavez. Navigator was 2/Lt William F. Dunham, on 28 April 1945."4 Wolfe, the bombardjer in the deputy lead air raft f li Low
were reported as 'fair'. But, tile Low quadron of tI1e Group who recalled: "We were hit by heavy flak while on the bomb What Dunhanl djd not know, was, that tI1e rest of the crew, Squadron: 'Ju t before we reached tile Initial Point our lead
still had its bombs aboard. The lead bombardier of tlUs run and shortly after leaving tile target area we had to drop including Carpenter, had waited for some time before jumping slup, umber 345, was hit by flak in tI1e number thr e
Squadron, Flight OfficerJohn C. Broom, in B-24H 42-52431 out of the formation and go it alone. The two inboard from tile tricken Star Duster. Where Dunham and Weeks engine. The lead ship then dropped out of formation after
Solid Sender flown by liLt Edgar L. engines were stopped and we were bailed out near Trier, in Germany, tile eight others of tile crew we pas ed the Initial Point and my ship, umber 740, took
Fuller recounted what happened: losi.ng large anlounts of fuel and oil went out soutl1 of Liege, Belgium, and wIllie tI1e ETSt lWO were me lead position. We then turned onto tile target heading
"We approached the Initial Point, from botl1 wings. Eventually we were capl1Jred immedjately, seven of the others stayed out of and attempted to fmd the target. The navigator was forced
Bad Frank nhausen, and made a left down to one engine operating and German hands for some time. The one and only crewmember to make thre or four 5 degTee turns. Approximately 7 miles
l1Jrn to come in on a heading of smoke was coming from one of the captured almost immedjately in Belgium, was ball turret away, we could see the target covered with clouds of smoke
about 120 degrees. We had some inboard engine . The emergency bell gunner Charles L. Henry, who was caught at 19.00 hours near from previolls bombings. The target itself was not visible as
difficulties in flying through the to bail out was sounded and I helped
l1Jrbulence of the preceding Group. tile nose turret gunner, Sgt Donald W.
Altllough I knew where tile target lay, Carpenter, out of the turret while Lt
it was impossible to pick it up Homer A. Weeks, the bombardjer
because of haze and smoke re ulting opened the escape hatch in the nose of
from smoke pots. The smoke was tile plane. By tI1e time I got Carpenter
lying at about our altitude. At tlUs out of tI1e turret Weeks had bailed out.
point tile interphone in our ship went Carpenter didn't want to bail out of
down and I couldn't commlllucate the no e and went back to tile bomb
witll tile pilot any more. At tI1e near bay to bail out. Shortly after, I bailed
end of tIU run, I recognized tile out of tile nose escape hatch. I landed
target off to tile right and gave tile right in tI1e mjddle of a small town
pilot a turn i.ndication, but he could called Daun in Germany, near the
not carry it out since we would be Belgian border. I was captured right
carried under the High Squadron. At away and a few hours later Lt Weeks
tlUs point I decided not to bomb tile was brought into tile same jail and we
target. It was now completely covered were in adjoining cells. About 22.00
witl1 smoke and I closed the bomb hours we were taken from the jail by
bay doors. We had now switched to From llji to right: Sgt Donald W Car/Jc'llter [nose turret two policemen in a large car and
gunnel; POW}, S/Sgt James M. Toole [engineel; POW},
Command on the jackbox for 2/Lt Ralph . Burckes [pilot, POW}, Sgt Rex L. Henze [tail driven for about one and a half hours
interphone communication. We tllen gunner, EVD} and Sgt Emil J. Abadie [waist gunnel; to a field where a B-24 had crashed
followed lie Lead Squadron on out EVD}. [Ralph S. Burckes} and was pretty badly burned up. It Sgt Charles L. HC'llry, the baLL turret gunner qfStar Dusler. He bailed out over Belgium and was made a Prisoner qf I11zr. [Charles L. Henry}

174 MISSION 376 LUTZKENDORF 175

 The last ifthe many. Leading the last Bomb
GrOliP in actilll! was the crew if1/ Lt Howell
A. Paynter. This photograph was taken II!
filll!t if B-17G 42-98008 American foonnulltll 1
(1l1.\Ifl 2i06,Oi. In1.p 21
Beauty on 5 October 1944, after the 486th
BllInb Group had traded its B-24s for
B-17s. Back row lifi. to right: Howell A.
Paynter [pilot}, Herbert W Hitzk {copilot],
Frank A. Edwards [navigator}, Ulysses W
n ab n iiber Gcfangellnahme odeI' Bergung
Miller [pZI!PO/llt nauigator} and Rinellllrt
Zerbel [Mickey operator, not on mission]'
£- indlichen Luftwaffenangehorigen
Front row lif! to right: Edward L. KImball
Mcldun.... \l"i,·d I fatl ( dlll·ell:
[gunner}, Clarence M. Flaig [gunner},
Morris D. Robley [gunner, not on mission}, Dien'tstcJle: KdQ. :J!'l.H.Bereich 8/111 Lg. Kdo.
William G. Seitz [radio-operator} and Ivan
R. Hofineister [engineer]. [Morris D.
Ort: L.ille Dulag Luft; Operu.rseI
Robley} . Zcit: 2'~ 6. 44 KJo. FI. H. BCL
: .~.:. :.
··n e t r, : ~·l·
forced to jettison our bombs due .L 1 be r 8 tor
to the lack of fuel. Bombs were i~"') c'iner
" ;
jettisoned on the edge of a "
wooded area and an open field."s .....
. ~

With great skill, liLt Hick um 17.30 Ullr. . -'

and his co-pilot 2/Lt John C.
Johnson managed to keep their
Pensonalic;n . d~ Allgclliirigen dcr f-eindlichen
danlaged Liberator in the air. ': ...
Navigator CaptainJames Bogert Familicnname '(" lLrnalue") Munro
we approached for the bomb run. I planned to bomb on the recalled: "We got hit at the Initial Point and we got hit pretty Geofge·Hale
smoke and flame, but the pilot said that no bombs were to good. But I don't think anybody on the crew was injured, if Vornamen ("Christian ames")
be dropped on the primary target. Decision was made to so, not appreciably. We had an engine shot out and another _Dienstrang' ("Rank") .$gt~ _
\
bomb the secondary target. When we reached the Initial engine badly damaged. And so we started losing altitude ErkennUI\,0'5nummer .("Service Number") l7.355 83~
Point for the secondary target, a formation of B-24s was very fast. Being the lead ship everybody would follow you,
I ationalitat
sighted between u and the target. This prevented us from and when you cross a target too low it's a massacre. So we
l~ ~
(H.AF, RCAF, RNZAF, ~NAF, Pole, H.hOdesicr w>w. - USA Air Corps)
making a run on this target. We tried to locate a target of had to abort the lead, so number two man could take over. '. •• '\

opportunity on the return trip and failing in this we were You can't drop your bombs right then or everybody el e will ......
also drop. You have to break off and then dump them. And ~ .. ", \)

", .... Angahen ,bci Gefangennalllne Angahen bci Bergullg von

so in that period of time we lost, I think, about 4 to 5,000 ",' .. '
feet. And then we dropped on a railroad line there, which ZcLtll~'lkt dcr Auffin'hrng
Ort dcr Auffindu;'lg
,..
wasn't much of a target, but we had to get the bombs out Gcnlluc Orts.1ngauc dcr .ccfl)llg<;llnalt'l)£ I1n
because we were losing altitude too fast, had to get the . . oeJ. \t:'8ve as d1l!
weight out of there. And then we headed on back, still losing
Gcfal1gcnnahme edolgtc' dUI'e!> strand ZlIstnnd dcr Lciche
L~'1.-~'eldeihhei
,
a little altitude."6 Bc~chl'i flung del' Erkcnnungsmarke
Hicks' aircraft was observed trailing tlle [ormation with .
O cr G c f angcllc [rug
Uniform
Z·1\,1·
'lkl Cl·d ung
Unifonn
.
its number three engine feathered and was last seen by \~'odurch wurdcn dic Persona Hen deo
. Etwajgc Untcrstcllwlg untcr Dicnststcllcn del' G FP oder
others in the formation 30 rrllIes inland from the Belgian . des SD zw' Ermittlung tier J,'cindbcgullstigung
.,, FUllk"'tioIlSnbz.cidlCII ;
coa t, at 8,000 to 10,000 feet. The crew's last radio mes age
gave their position as south of Liege. Janles Bogert recalled Orr IUld Zeitpullkt de; Ikisetzung
the fateful events: "We got just about live miles out into the
North Sea, about to the Charmel now, and then we lost . '
another engine. And tllen we started down pretty fast in a d~r Uberfiihrul~{ zum' 'Oulag Luft, Ob.,ru""el
big spiral. We got the bail-out order. We had one-man 3': o~ '44
dinghies, which was a little raft strapped to the back on your
parachute. There were three of us in the front of the Desondr'·\lCitcn im 'Vcr~ , " "'.

airplane, the two navigators and Lt Russell, the bombardier.

And I had never flown witll them before and I didn't know
(.

2/Lt DaVid V. Moll, Roberta Sin/zock and 2/Lt Eugene R. Hicks posing in
January 1944 on the campus ifthe University ifAri:l.Ona. Hicks, pilot ifB-24H
42-50345 if tile 48 6th Bomb Group, and his navigator Moll remain missing in
action since 28 May, together with six other crewmembers. [Mrs. Roberta SLlmock}
'. \ ...
the crew or their capabilities or anything. One of the two
that was up there passed me a dinghy, which incidentally I ' ..
had missed the training on u ing it. I hadn't really used one
or seen one before. One of the others, I think it was Lt
Russell, snapped the dinghy on the back of my chute and
then tlle bell continued to ring and I was behind everybody
else. The pilot was supposed to go out last and was still in
hi seat. He wanted me to go back and check who was still The report corlceming the capture if Ge01ge Munro ifthe 4 61h Bomb Orou!) on the beach at Grave/ines. Munro, and the other two survivors if the a-ew, IlIId spent
in the plane. I got back as far as tlle catwalk in tlle bomb bay two nights in dinghies in the Channel. [National Archives}

176 MISSION 376 LUTZKENDORF 177

and one guy was there that couldn't make up his mind to get
broke off their escort to the bombers just south of Zeitz, and
off. I got him to get off and went out myself. I looked back
returned to England. Capt Routt and Lt Stockman of the
and the pilot got out right after us. I counted the chutes and
504th Fighter Squadron destroyed a locomotive and a switch
all were in the air. So everybody got out of the airplane all
house, on the way out. The 55th Fighter Group stayed with
right. I landed in a rather rough sea and I had a lot of trouble
the bombers until, at 15.30 hours, some 15 miles east of the
getting into the dinghy because I hadn't been to the courses
River Rhine, the Mustangs from the RAF were seen coming
on how best to get in them. I didn't fInally get into the
in to take over the escort to both Combat Wings. Freed from
dinghy until almost dark and I got in over the low end. I
their duties, the 38 Lightnings roamed over the German,
fIgured all the time that's the way you must have to get in.
French and Belgian countryside and strafed anything which
The dinghy is high on one end and tapered back along and
looked like it might have a military purpose. Locomotives,
some straps on there. I fmally worked my way up and got in
radar installations, machine gun emplacements, barges,
it, belly down. I was afraid to turn over for fear that I would
high-tension towers and trucks were shot up. Even a 'look
upset again. I'd be back in the water, I was out of strength,
out tower in forest with occupant' was destroyed by Captain
I couldn't have gotten in again. So I laid that way all night,
May. Two Lightnings were hit by ground fIre, but all
and I was sick as a dog from so much sea water. The next
returned safely to Wormingford, after a rewarding days
day I could see one of the guys, he was the one that was on
work. The RAF had dispatched 56 Mustangs, of which eight
the catwalk, we'd gone out very close to each other. A little
aborted. They were furnished by the 19th, 65th, 129th,
later on we heard someone calling, and it turned out to be
306th and 315th Squadrons.
the radio-operator. I think that most of the crew either
One of these Squadrons, the 65th operating from
ill'owned or were gotten by exposure. We got together with
Funtington, noted in the typical British style in its logbook:
"Squadron with ten aircraft airbome at 13.55 hours. mather fine}
the radio-operator. We were supposed to have hand fms in
briefing at 12.3 0 hours. Operational withdrawal cover to Libs.
the dinghy to propel ourselves. One of the dinghies had two,
Rendezvous 25 miles 1wrth rfFran/!fi.trt. Crossing in over Bolougne at
and the other two had one apiece. It's really hard to paddle
17,000 ftet. About six bursts rf.flak met us there} but nowhere near
with one, the fins weren't very good. They were just little
enough to cause any panic. After t/zat we proceeded uneven!fUlly asftr as
things that fItted over your hands. So we had to paddle with
Cob/em.} wlzere we received an unpleasant reception. Loads rfjlak came
one paddle and one hand, we really made no progress. We
up - very close indeed} but after violent evasive action we came out
were out there three days, it was just starting to get light
umcathed} although quite a lot rfus /zad to look carijUlly at our machines
when we got pretty close to shore. The Germans put a burst
afterwards to believe it. Rendezvous on ti:me and escorted the Libs back
of machine gun fIre over our hands, as a sign that they knew
to the Fmuh coast withoutfiat/ler lluid.ent. Landed at 17.40 hours.,,8
we were there. And we paddled in the waves, and they
waded out, knee deep and grabbed our dinghies and got us
The other Squadrons had an uneventful mission and
ashore. None of us could even walk."?
returned safely. There was, however, one more bomber in
Bogert, engineer S/Sgt Charles A. Smith and radio-
the Combat Wings assigned to their protection that would
operator S/Sgt George H. Munro were the only survivors of
not make it back to England. We have seen that tl1e lead ship
the crew. The eight others were never seen again, nor were
of the 486th Bomb Group's Low Squadron, piloted by Lt
their remains ever recovered from the sea. They were the
Hicks was hit by flak on the bomb run and that in the
first combat casualties of the 486th Bomb Group, and their
ensuing confusion, the Squadron went to the secondary
target, and eventually dropped its bombs somewhere in a
names are recorded on the Walls of Missing at three
different American cemeteries in Europe. The Germans
wooded area. One of the other aircraft in this Squadron was
reported that the bomber had crashed in the Charmel off
B-24H 42-52764 Mike} the spirit rfLSU, piloted by 2/Lt Alfred
Zuydcoote, nortl1 of Dunkirk in France and that the three
M. Sanders. Co-pilot was 2/Lt Fred A. Morley, who recalls:
survivors had reached the shore near Gravelines.
"We started that morning in our regular aircraft, but it had
At 15.13 hours the Mustangs of the 339th Fighter Group
problems, so we aborted even before take-off. Since our
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~:~~~~~~~~~~~ Squadron, tl1e 832nd Bomb
Squadron, was short on
aircraft, we and our gear were
moved to a B-24 of another On 29 May LIJ Vemer K. DavidsonJlew a bomb damage assessmentJliglii in Ius SpilJire XI MB946 qflhe 7th Photo Group. Over Liitzkendoifone qfhis mmeras
Squadron, the 833rd Bomb recorded some oli storage tanks still bumllzgfi01ll the mission a day earlier. [USAAr7

The crew qf B-24H 42-52764 Mike,
the spirit of Louisiana State
University qf Ihe 4861h Bomb GroUIJ.
Back row llji to right: Alfred M. Sanders
[pilol, EVD}, Daniel M. O'Connell
[bombardier, EVD}, TllOlrUlS J. Zoebelellz
{navigator, EVD} and Fred A. Morley
{co-jJilol, POW]. Front /'Ow lifi to right:
James R. Sizemore [ball tUITet gunner,
EVD}, Autley B. Smith [lifi Waist gunner,
EVD}, William Kozulak [engineer,
POW}, Louis LIgan {right Waist gunner,
POW}, John H. Lawrence {radio-
operator, POW} and Robert C. Swqffield
{tail gunner, POW}. [Alfred M. Sanders}
Squadron. As I recall, tl1e ground crew was still working on
it as we arrived. There was no time for a pre-flight inspecti-
on. We had engine problems after we left the target. I'm not
at all certain of the source of the problems at tlus point in
time. However, the German flak was very heavy in the target
area. It became necessary for us to bail out over Belgium."g
The tail gunner of the crew, S/Sgt Robert C. Swaffield,
made tlus brief statement on his questionnaire, which he
filled in somewhere in late 1945: "Would hke to know w/7:J we
were not given time to checll ship bqo7-e take- 9ff on last mission. m
were given only ten minutes to change ships and take qfJ."lO
Pilot Alfred M. Sanders reported: "Ran out of gas on
way back, just into Belgium. Got back into formation.
Numbers one and two engines cut out. I dropped out of
formation. Fuel pressure zero, but gauges read ninety
gallons. Switched reserve to number one engine direct,
but then numbers three and four engines quit. Switched
to number four, now we had numbers one and four
engines running. Navigator said we couldn't make it to
the coast, so we bailed out. Everyone left the plane. When
everyone was out, I set the autopilot and packed a bag
and jumped at 2,000 feet. Delayed jump and landed in
pasture near Braine-le-Comte, where about 400 people
were waiting for me."lJ
l<lve of the crew, were captured by German troops. Five
others, including Sanders, managed to stay out of their

178 MISSION 376 LUTZKENDORF 179


A close-up view rflhe 'Zool suil'nose arl rfB-24H 42-52431 Solid Sender rf
Ihe 4871h BG. On 28 May, whitstJlown by liLt Edgar L. Fuller, the aircrift
bombed Wi:alar instead rfthe primal] larget, Liilzkendoif. [Mike Bailey}
hands for the months to come, and were liberated by
advancing American ground forces in September 1944.
Their abandoned and much despised B-24 crashed near the
small village of Charly-des-Bois in southern Belgium.
180
Notes
1. Letter to author, 8 March 1992.
2. 487th Bomb Group Mission Repon; Record Group 18, Washington
ational Records Center.
3. 487th Bomb Group Mission Repon; Record Group 18, Washington
National Records Center.
4. Letter to author, 14 November 1989.
5. 486th Bomb Group Mission Repon; Record Group 18, Washington
National Records Center.
6. Interview with James Bogert, by Linda and Ed Camp, 28 November
1993
7. Interview with James Bogert, by Linda and Ed Camp, 28 November
1993. German records indicate that Smith reached the shore already
on 28 May near ZuydcoOle, and that Bogert and Munro reached the
shore on 30 May near Gravelines. However, the date on Smith could
well be an error of the clerk or interrogator who noted the date that
the crash occurred. [ do not have a suitable explanation for the
difference in location where the men reportedly came ashore.
8. Operational Record Book 65 Squadron; Air 27, Public Record Office,
London.
9. Letter to author, 24 September 1987.
10. Statement in MACR 5390; Record Group 92, vVashingLOn National
Records Center.
11. Escape and evasion repon 1595; Record Group 332, vVashington
National Records Center.
MISSION 376
Chapter Twelve
COLOGNE
If all went well, 28 May was not to be just 'an
ordinary mission', but an important milestone
in the air war. The staff of the Eighth Air Force
had become alarmed by the ever-rising
number of bombers shot down by Ilak, willie
approaching their targets, committed as the
bombers were to course, speed and altitude on
their bomb-run. A possible way to avoid the
Ilak surrounding large industrial targets was
developed. The result was the GB-1 'glide-
bomb'. It was a standard M34 2,000 pound
High Explosive bomb, but with 12 foot span
glider wings and a tail unit attached. Eleven
feet, seven inches long, two of these could be
carried underneath a B-17, if the bomber was
fitted with special shackles. The idea was to
create a 'stand-off weapon' and to release the
bombs some distance from the target. A gyro
system in the bomb was then to take over
directional conlTol and glide the bombs into
the target. If the bombs were dropped by a 21Lt Theodore R. Beiser lakes a close look al Ihe Engineer TISgt Lennie J Buchanan, posing next
Group formation, an adequate concentration glide bombs hanging below his B-17G 42-32027 to Betty Jane, shortly bifore lake-Q/f on Ihe glide
BellY Jane rflhe 303rd Bomb Grou!;. [Rzchard bomb mission. Betty Jane was lost on 13
was to be achieved. The modified bombs were R. Johnson} September. [Richard R. JohllSon}
delivered to the three Bomb Groups of the
41st Combat Wing, the 303rd, 379th and
384th, and were stored on their bases. Some
smaller practice runs over England were made
and an earlier attempt for an operational
debut was scrubbed, due to the weather.
Since the weather forecast for 28 May
predicted CAVU, (ceiling and visibility
unlimited), it was decided to give the glide-
bomb its first operational test. The code-
name for the operation was 'Grapefruit' and
the target was the marshalling yards at
Cologne. Cologne had the ideal combination
of being well within range for B-17s fitted
with cumbersome bombs under their wings,
and with its huge marshalling yards big
enough to have a good chance of being hit.
The crew rfBetty Jane suitinguj;for the glzde bomb mission in the morning rf28
May. In centre, engineer Lennie J Buchanan, at Ihe ngfzt bali turret gunner
Charles W Lalla. The tent was 'home'for the ground crew rfBetty Jane.
[Richard R. JohllSon}
Upon receiving the Field Order detailing the mission, frantic
activities started. The three Bomb Groups concerned, not
only had to carry out the 'Grapefruit' mission with around
20 aircraft each, including spares, but also had to put up an
ordinary Combat Wing for the mission to Dessau, thus
needing an additional 21 aircraft and their crews from each
Group. At Grafton Underwood the 384th Bomb Group
even put up two B-17s of the F-type, rarely used in combat
at that time. Both of these ship had arrived in England in
Glide bombs are stored along a road at Grifton Undenuood, base rf the 38 4th August 1943 and had already seen plenty of action, during
Bomb Group. [Michael L. Gibson} their nine months service.
COLOGNE 181

Getting readyfor the glide bomb mission,ftom right to lifi pilot 'Theodore R. Beiser,
engineer Lennie J. Buchanan, bait turret gunner Charles W Latta and tail gunner
um-ol H. Bradley. [Richard R. Johnson]
To keep it from interfering wim me assembly of the
normal Combat Wings flying deep into Germany, the
'Grapefruit' force was scheduled to depart earlier. At
Moleswortll, base for me 303rd Bomb Group, breakfast was
at 04.30 hours, with briefing one hour later. Leonard
Raterman, ball turret gunner on B-17G 42-31483 Bmmie B,
5;o1---,---I--.L.._~-l-----t----+----+-----t-----j-L-
FLAK
---;:EAVY .,
LIGHT
'" L,-----.L/o----lcI-=.~,-----......J3"=o'------'4-0--
.--- -
'The track chartfor the Combat Wing drojJping the glide bombs on Cologne. 'The chart shows that the course WaJfollowed nearly as briifed, aml also shows SOlne significant
tim.es and altitudesfor the mission. [National Archives]
182
recalls: "The briefmg was different. Instead of flying through
the flak guns protecting Cologne, we would turn away from
the target miles before the city even knew it was to be
bombed. I have to admit it took a big worry off our mind.
On our previous missions it was necessary to fly straight a
an arrow for some miles before bomb release. If a city ha
200 88s shooting, some gunners on the ground had to make
a hit. It seemed they were just shooting at you!." I
Leading the Combat Wing was the 303rd Bomb Group
from Molesworth. General Robert F. Travis, Commanding
Officer of the 41st Combat Wing, took the opportunity of
leading this, hopefully, l-ustoric mission and flew in the
Group's lead ship, B-17G 42-102432. The Commanding
Officer of the 303rd Bomb Group, Colonel Kermit D.
Stevens, decided to go along too and claimed a eat in
another B-17 of ills Group. The 379th Bomb Group from
Kimbolton, flying Low in the Wing, was aI 0 led by its
Commanding Officer, Colonel Maurice A. Preston. The
384th Bomb Group from Grafton Underwood, flying High
in the Wing, was led by Lt Col Alfred C. Nuttall.
The crews arrived at their aircraft at 08.10 hours and
took a close, and sometimes doubtful, look at the glide-
bombs under each wing of their aircraft. Engines were
started at 09.00 hours and take-off was begun at 09.25
hours. Take-off at the three bases concerned - Molesworth,
Kimbolton and Grafton Underwood - was without difficul-
ty, and the Groups assembled at 18,000, 17,000 and 19,000
feet respectively over Molesworth. Wing formation went
smoothly, General Travis in the lead aircraft, no doubt
pleased with tI-us fme display of all'manship. In all, 59
Fortresses were dispatched, 19 by the 303rd Bomb Group,
and 20 each by the 379t1l and 384th Bomb Group. While
==--+-----+-----"'l"........-----153"
.R/.II-NY 30SRD. ROMB. (]ROUP (H)
n.S!. C. R. 11'. r.r LI!lAD G CUP
28, lM.Y, 144
(SUN
COMBATS
'.1900 .. 0
.., ME 109 Cd-
JU 88 Ql'UIC
ME 110 00"((1'1
00 217 e 8lA('1
50
6° 7° 8° 9°
MISSION 376
,..
On the lifi liLt Willicun M. Kirkpatrick in B-17 42-97573 JD-Q.and on the
rig/it 21Lt Ralph M. Dean in B-17F 42-3441 O-E PaLches II, both qf the
384th Bomb GroujJ. Dean haJjust releaJed his glide bombs toward Cologne. 'The
IJicture WaJ taken ftom the number six slup in the Squadron, piloted by Lt Walter
7~ Peterson. Kirkpatnck s aircrrifi WaJ lost a day later, its crew becoming POWs.
[USAAFj
still over England B-17G 42-31394 of tile 379m Bomb
Group, piloted by Lt Thomas D. Butcher, aborted, and
returned to Kimbolton, wim problems in its number two
engine. The Combat Wing formation, now with 58
Foro'esses, climbed to an altitude of 19,500 feet and left me
English coast near Clacton at almo t exactly the briefed time
-11.36 hours.
Forty-nine P-38s of me 364m Fighter Group, scheduled
to provide penetration support for me 'Grapefruit' Wing,
took off from meir base at Honington, led by Group
Commanding Officer Colonel Roy W. Osborn, at 10.53
hours. Rendezvous was made at 11.50 hours over the
Channel, ,md tile briefed course was followed closely.
Landfall was two mile soutll of ieuport, Belgium, at
12.05 hours and 51 lIDnutes later the Initial Point was
reached and a complicated sequence of events ensued. Just
before reaching the Initial Point the Combat Wing un-
51"
10'
COLOGNE
covered, to have an unobstructed approa I I 1~1l •
The Groups spread out, witll the Low r up Slll11l1lg lh •
lead position, followed by the Lead and IJj I ,I 1I1pS.
During this proces, three bombs w r i I Ill. lly
dropped, two from tile same sl-up, because I I fUl ,
and one from another, when its bombardier a iel 1 l' II Pllt
the bomb switch in 'select' position. At tile IniLi illl lh
three Groups started a dive to pick up additi nal l.
Before this dive commenced, speed was 140 mil
flying at approximately 19,000 feet. The 303rd n
Bomb Groups dived at a rate of 1,500 feet per min Il
384th Bomb Group at 1,200 feet per lIDnute. It
spectacular sight, and not without risk for the cr w. l r
about two minutes, the air speed of the B17s had in r a d
to 195 miles per hour. Then, level flight wa as um d £ r
ten to twenty seconds, to stabilize the gyroscope on Lh
glide-bombs. Finally, the code word 'Scatterbrain' wa nt
over VHF and the lead ships fired Red and Green flar
siglla1ling the bomb release. The glide-bombs were then
released, at a heading of approximately 60 degrees, under
conditions of excellent visibility, at a distance of 20 miles
south-west of Cologne, The 379th and 384th Bomb Groups
each had two bombs released late, but eventually 113 2,000-
pound glide-bombs were on their way to the Eifeltor
marshalling yards in Cologne. What happened then can
best be described by some anxious spectators in the Flying
Fortresses, as they recalled events 45 years after the
mission. Captain Hobart H. Steely, lead navigator of the
303rd Bomb Group: "Some of tile bombs were caused to go
into all sorts of manoeUVTes [climbs, dives, turns, spins, etc].
In some respects it was almost con-ucal to watch the
gyrations of a few of the bombs."2
Unfortunately, in l-us letter to the author Steely did not
describe the reactions of General Travis aboard tile same
B-17! 2/Lt Ed G. Cooper was tile bombardier on Belty Jane,
B-17G 42-32027 of me 303rd Bomb Group: "I would say we
were about ten nllies from Cologne when bombs were
released. I imagine mat it was quite a surprise to see the
bombers turn away from Cologlle, and a short time later
have me glide-bombs drop in meir midst. Probably the
reason for not using them agalll was me result. I estimated
only 1/4 to '/3 reached the target. Some spun out on release,
'The lead crtw WaJ pictured on Molesworth
ujJon retum jiW/l the glide bomb mission, in
ftont qf their B-17G 42-102432 Tiny
Angel. Standing lift to right: 21Lt Robert
S. McCall {co-pilot, fo17nation obsel7Jer in
tail}, Captain George 7. Orvis [bombardier],
CajJtain Hobart H. Steety' {7wvigator},
Brigadier-general Robert F Ii-avis
[command pilot}, Major Alexander C.
Sb-ickland flJilot} and 1/Lt Albert B
Skarsten [navigator}. KJzeehng lift to right:
SISgt John R. Clwncellor [ball turret
gunnel}, SISgt Clifford B. Underwood
Fight waist gunne.,j, 'TISgt Fred 7. Kneld
{7'adio-ojJeratOlj, 'TISgt Willie 7. Sparks
[eJlgLizeelj and SISgt Craig W Winters [lifi
waist gwmet}. Tiny Angel WaJ OIle qf the
mne B-l7s lost by the 303rd BOInb Group
on ]5 Aug7lJt ]944. [Robert S. McCall}
183
 trike picture taken b)' a camera aboard B-17G 42-38050 Thunderbird qfthe 303rd Bomb Grou!l and clearly showing two glide
bombs diving oul qfconlrol toward the counlryside near Cologne, with ouly oue bomb heacliugjOr Cologue itself [National Archives}
and if they were not dropped when planes were at needed
speed, they fell short."3
Sgt Leonard Raterman, Bonnie B's ball turret gUl111er: "As I
recall, our two bombs did sail to the target. I did see a couple
of bomb blasts in Cologne. Most of what I saw was the field
below the bomber, with dozens of bombs eA'Ploding. I don't
know how many planes took part in the raid, but I do know
that ninety-five percent of the bombs fell straight down below,
and a few eA'Ploded in Cologne. My view from the ball tuLTet
was !inUted so I did not ee the whole pattern except by
rotating the tuLTet back and forth. All I know i the idea was
good, if it only had worked."4
John A. Thurmon was the navigator of B-17G 42-31060
Pogue Ma Hone of the 303rd Bomb Group: "Theoretically the
bombs were to glide in the diJ:ection they were aimed, with
the aid of a gyroscope to stabilize their flight. The
experinlent was anyth.ing but successful. Some of the bombs
Strike pictures (above and on /lage 185) lalli'll by B-17G 42-314 4 Mairsy Doats qflhe 384th Bomb GrOU!l, showiug the bombs went into a flat SpiJl immediately, and dropped almost
(circled in pel/dO headingjOr Cologne. 7'hree qfthe bombs hit Iii a dose /latfml Iii sOllie O!JelI)ields. This B-17G was the lead shipjOr straight down. Others turned and flew various directions
the Group. It was piloted by Co/llain Lloyd R. AmlStrong and Cllmed LI Col Ajled C. Nuttall, the command !lilot. [Michael 1. Gibson] away from the target. A few of them did glide straight, as
184 MISSION 376 COLOGNE
iJltended, and hit the city. I never did learn what the
percentage of succe was, but I anl sure it was not high."s
After releasinlT their bombs, the bomber turned to the
left and took up course for England, flyiJlg out over the
south of Holland. Fighter escort for this part of the flight was
provided by the 406tll Fighter Group of the inth Air Force
with 39 P-47s. otlli.ng untoward happened, however, and
the Combat Wmg returned, unmolested by fighters, witll
only nine B-17s slightly danlaged by flak which was encoun-
tered enroute.
It is intere ring to note the comments made at the
debriefmg at tlle three bases concerned. The mission had
been free of fighters and almost free of flak, and there was
obviously nothing the combat crews liked better. We have
just read how ome of tllem still remember the results of the
mission 45 years after it took place. Now we tum back tlle
clock and go to the interrogation room at Kimbolton, the
base of the 379th Bomb Group. This is how various crews,
identified by pilots nanle, viewed the day. Lt Berwind 'like
this system', Lt Day 'more of tllese missions', Lt Ross 'liked
185
 this rrusslOn very I U h, m r of them, think very
successful', Lt Bridw 11 m I U ip with glide-bombs', Lt
Vickers 'more Grap fruit Lt mith 'results very good -
request more raids of am t ' and Lt Middleton 'more
;/
missions like today'. nIi rtUl 1 ~ r these crewmembers, (/ /
many aircraft had earri d ven a movie had been
made, and four F-5 (th ph phi onfiguration of the
P-38) of the 7th Ph t r r dispatched to take
pictures of Cologne.- p imm di t Iy started evaluating
the pictures and lar I di r g rd d the enthusiastic
comments of the crew .
It was establi h d th t 1 b mbs were released
successfully, as 28 spun in imm di t 1 due to prop wash or
imperfect adjustments and th ~ ur I te releases missed
completely. Approximat ly . bur t were scattered
throughout Cologne, and b ut 1 bur ts were seen 17 miles
south-west of the city. Although th a ign d Aiming Point,
the Eifeltor marshalling yard, wa i ntifi d and used by the
lead bombardiers, none of the bur ts w r within these yards.
The bursts seen in and near I gn w re di tributed as
follows:

1. one hit within the plant limits of the otfried Hagen

A.G. accumulator factory, which produced ubmarine
batteries
2. one hit on the southbound reception side of the Kalk-
Nord marshalling yards
3. one hit within a railway junction ju t off the Gereon
goods yard, probably not on the tracks, and another on
the tracks at the south-west entrance to the yards
4. one h.it in an industrial area north of the goods yard
5. six h.its in the solidly built central portion of the city,
mostly in areas already bombed out
6. one hit on a small warehouse on the quays at the north
edge of the city
7. one probable hit on a railway in the north-east part of the
city
8. seven hits in residential areas throughout the city, inclu-
cling some sparsely built up and some already bombed out
9. at least twenty-five bursts in open areas, park, flvers,
etcetera in the vicinity of the city.6
It is evident that no one at Eighth Air Force Headquarters
was very pleased witll these results, despite the crews'
enthusiasm. Results appeared similar to the indiscriminate
'area bombing' concept, something they had always u-ied to
S.A. 1900 avoid. Records in the Cologne city archive reveal that the
COLOGNE suburbs on the right bank of the Rhine river had been
28.5.44 particularly hit. In all, 82 civilians were killed, 145 were
wounded and 1,161 people were evacuated from 137
ANNOTATED PRINT damaged apartment buildings.
Jack Thurmon: "I recall the debriefmg officer after the
US 7G~1693-4039 mission almost gleefully describing his impression of the
Neg. No. 30~'f I bombs skidding dOW1l the streets of the city as fanlliies were
going home from church. He seemed to take ~'eat delight in
This picture was taken by F-5B 42-68235 <fthe 7th Photographic Grouj}. The aira'(Jfl WasjlOWII b)' Major Robert R. Smith over Cologne durillg the. imj}acls <fglide this aspect. It had the opposite effect on me. We knew that
bomhs in the cit)'. In the toj} right hand comer the Rhille river with the Hohell1.ollem razlway bndgeand main statIOn. The large bwldl1lg close to the statIOn IS the.filllwlIS cities were sometimes bombed indiscriminately, but I always
Cologne cathedral. The picture also shows the extensive damage in the city alre..ad)I ir!flicted b:y prevwus bombll1gs by the Royal All' Force.. Severallnls by ~lide bombs can
convinced myself that a military target was involved."7
be seen throughout the city. Especially the one at the top <fthe picture, in the 7hiJmzchenJwaii clanned man:y avzlIan lzves. [Crown CotlJnght/Publtc RecOld Office]
Leonard Raterman: "The idea was good and I even
think, sometimes, that maybe the planners of the missions
had the safety of the crews in mind, instead of the
airplanes."8
Ground crew posefir the camera and pretend to add another mission 1Ilal'ker to the
nose <fB-17G 42-32027 Betty Jane <ftlze 303rd BG, 427tlz BS, one <fthe
glide bomb carriers which allacked Cologne - ll/lSuccesifUlly.
The GB-1 'glide-bombs' were never used again. Richard
R. Johnson, co-pilot of the Betty Jane: "My first impre sion of
the 303rd Bomb Group, when arriving in late April was the
large stacks of glide-bombs along tlle taxi-ways. When I left
in mid-August most of the bombs were still there. I
understand that our ground crews later dismantled the flight
controls, and used the bombs in the u'aditional maimer.
They were always carried externally, since a 2,000 pounder
wouldn't fit inside the bomb bay."g
Reseal'ch however, continued and some progress was in
the development of 'stand-off weapons'. But otller
experiments, uch as radio-controlled war-weary bombers
filled with explo ives (the Aphrodile project) and the radio-
conu'olled Azon-bombs, simply did not work. These new
techniques could not yet replace the formations of maimed
bombers, visually sighting their targets, making appropriate
adjustments, and dropping their bombs. It is only in recent
years that technology has made a reality of the concept that
was already dreatned of in 1944.
Notes
1. Letter to author, 8 May 1990.
2. Letter to author, 5 April J 990.
3. Letter to author, 2 April 1990.
4. Letter to author, 6 April 1990.
5. Letter to author, 11 April 1990.
6. Information in AIR 40/638, Public Record Office, London.
7. Letter to author, 11 April 1990.
8. Letter to author, 8 May 1990.
9. Letter to author, 6 August 1990.

MISSION 376 COLOGNE 187

186

Chapter Thirteen
AFTERMATH
attributed to very accurate flak in the target area.
After the bombers and their fighter escort had returned to
Unfortunately, it was not possible to cover the many
England in the early everling of 28 May, the reckoning could
l1lissions by the Marauders and other ail-craft types on 28
be made. L1 all, the Eighth Air Force had lost 32 bombers,
May. However, the sacrifices of their crews were as great as
26 B-17s and six B-24s. Together with these 32 bombers,
tho e of their brothers-in-arms in the heavy bombers, and
302 crewmember were listed as Missing in Action. Eleven
should be remembered as well.
crewmembers from two different bombers had been picked
After various photographic recOlmaissance aircraft had
up during the day by Air Sea Rescue units, and returned to
made runs over tl1e targets of the day, damage was assessed
theu- bases. Four crewmembers were brought back dead
and presented to Headquarter , Eighth Air Force. The
aboard returning bombers. ill addition, there were nll1e
results have been mentioned in the various chapters of this
seriously and 13 slightly wounded airmen admitted to
book. That same evening, five B-17s of the Night Leaflet
hospitals. In all, 210 bombers were damaged, with dan1age
Squadron, which operated under corrunand of Eightl1 Air
ranging from single flak holes, requiring brief attention from
Force, dropped leaflets U1 orway, and France, and all
sheet metal workers on the base, to extensive damage, that
returned safely.
would put the aircraft out of commission for weeks.
During the night of 28 May the 801st Bomb Group,
The fighter escort, provided by both the Eightl1 and
flying from Harrington, had 22 B-24s on secret 'Carpet-
inth Air Force, had 10 t four P-47s and ten P-51s, leaving
bagger' missions over the continent, maill.ly dropping
14 pilots missing in action. One fighter pilot was slightly
supplies and agents for various resistance groups in occupied
u1jured during a take-off crash at Martlesham Heath. Ten
Europe. One of its bombers, B-24D 42-40550 Charlie, piloted
P-47s and tlrree P-51s were classified as seriously dan1aged.
The actions of the inth Air Force Marauder-equipped by liLt Henry Wolcott III, was shot down by a German
nightfighter over Belgium, killing one of the nine
Bomb Groups on targets in France and Belgium had not
crewmembers. At about tl1e time this was taking place the
been without loss either. The 344tl1 Bomb Group lost six
teletypes on the bases of the regular Eighth Air Force Bomb
ail-craft, and the 391st Bomb Group lost two; all losses were
and Fighter Groups began to rattle again. A
new Field Order wa coming out with details
of 'Mission 379', on 29 May. For this mission
the targets were located even deeper in
Germany than those on the 28tl1. Again,
aircraft plants and an oil refinery were to be
attacked, this time in Politz, Tutow, Leipzig,
Krzesinski, Posen, Sorau and Cottbus. Many
crews flying on the mission covered in this
book also flew on the 29 May mission and
some of them were shot down. Agail1 there
was an aggressive response from the Lziftwrifft
and this time losses were 34 bombers and ten
fighters. But, no fewer than eight of these
bombers were able to seek sanctuary in
neutral Sweden.
The evaders
When these events occurred, several
crewmembers shot down on the 28th were still
at large, eitl1er in Germany or Belgium. Some
of them were captured within a couple of days,
but in all, 11 men of the 316 who went missing
in action that day, managed to stay out of
German hands. Two of them managed to
escape from Germany to France, and were
fmally liberated by advancing Allied ground
General Carl SP{Ultz, Coml1Ulnding Officer United States
Strategic Air Forces in EurojJe, in a pensive mood at the
Cambridge American Cemetery and Mernol1'ct! on 30 May
1944 {!fier the memorial day services. Several men killed It!
action on 28 May were buried in this cemetery around this time.
[JWM]
MISSION 376
188
force in September 1 4·. I lw men were Sgts Daniel The night before, the Gennan tanks wer I
E. Dunbar, and Benjan1in R. rri , born waist gulmers of from Paris, and we could hear me firing of bl •
war Eagle, me B-17G f lh 0 Lh Bomb Group tl1at didn't before the scout unit rolled mrough. We w I tI
make it back from Ruhland. Th ~ nner recalled: "After our
B-17 crashed in G rman , B 11. and I left me otl1er members
clothes of tl1e outlaw French, and met the
highway. \!\Then me officer in charge of tlu LII II
III
of tl1e crew with the remai f Lh ship. The two of us used asked what we wanted. I spoke to lum and t I 111
me cover of the fore t t wail until dark to start our trip out B-17 flyers that had been shot down, and thal \\
of Germany. The la t w aw of tl1e remailung crew witl1 tl1e French undergTound. We then wer 111
members, they were walking me ky line for all to see. Being American camp for a few day , and afterw I I
part Indian, even livll1g in the city, I knew this wasn't There Ben and I had a chance to see some of Lh
healthy. There were day aft ruing our escape kit to start mere me Air Force flew us over to England."3
this trip, mat tl1e only D d found wa potatoes planted as Dunbar and on-is an;ved U1 England on
seed potatoe . The e, wh 11. dug up by hand, were more man me only two of theu- crew to successfully e I
half rotten. I can taste me e rotlen pOLatoe even now. Witl1 exan1ple of an attempt to evade the Germans is lh.1l
tlu food and the fre h I waler D und on tl1e way to Ralph M. Marts, the engineer of FlO Hunter' I
France, is how Ben and I got trength to push on each day."l 385th Bomb Group. The difference beLween Lh
Norri recounted of the journ y to France: "We traveled that Marts' attempt did not succeed. He had Ian 1
in flying suits and GI hoes. We crossed the Siegfried line deeper into Germany, tlms Ius route to freedom '"\ t
just b fore we came to m Saar river, but it was just pill more difficult. Marts recalls: "As I was floating d I \I
boxes and concrete block houses at tl1at point and entirely chute I checked my watch and it was 15.10 hour. 11 "
deserted. We walked tl1rough a village and crossed tl1e Saar in some tall pine trees. I pulled me chute down fl 11\ I
river on a main highway bridge. The bridge was unguarded. trees and hid it. Also, I changed from flying boot to m . I
There were several people in the streets of the village mough shoes, which I held in one hand when I bailed out. I m I
it was midlught, but we were not recognized. Ail villages and out to anotl1er area and Iud out until dark. Then aft r I ~
towns were completely blacked out and so were me I started walking in hopes of getting away wimout caplul I
farnmouses. We crossed tl1e Maginot Line just before we evad d this for ten days by hjding in fields and tll11b I I '
came to tl1e Moselle river. It too, was deserted, but it was day and walking by night. I crossed a large river lh II
much more heavily fortified tl1an me Siegfried. The big guns Iught over a railroad bridge. After gettlllg acro s tl1 ri
were all gone, though. The Moselle valley from Thionville slept a while and was awakened by some troop l
to Metz is quite an u1du trial district and people were on nearby. I think it was a manJ1ed anti-aircraft empla I I I
the streets all night, but we weren't bomered. We stole a protecting the bridge. I moved from this area some di L-lIl
boat and crossed the
Moselle river about
halfway belween Thionvil-
le and Metz. Thionville
wa pr tty well bombed
and filled with German
soldier . After we cro ed
the Moselle river we
headed due west and were
in France the next
morning. The section of
the frontier that we
crossed was not pan-olled.
The first village we can1e
to was Avril. After we had
reached France, people
took care of us until we
were picked up by the
25tl1 Cavalry, of me 4m
Armored Division, 20
kilometres west of ]oul,
France on 1 September
1944."2
Daniel E. Dunbar
remembers the last days of
their hide-and-seek
adventure: "It was from a
camp in me woods, mat
S/Sgt Ral/lh M. Marls rf the 35th I
we first saw me half-tracks, Sgt Daniel E. Dunbar rf the 305th Bomb GrOUjl managed to lillie to smile about, after having been ({I/
jeeps and trucks wim the evade Ji'om Gel1//any to France, where he was liberated 0' He had been 011 the 11mJor a rellUlrkabt
American flags on memo adva//D//g Allied groll1ul troops. [Desma Dunbar] M. Marls]
AFTERMATH

The crewmembers rfB-24D, 42-40550, Charlie rfthe 801st BQJTlb Group, 406th Bomb Squadron. They
were slwt down by a Gemwn niglt!fighter in the night rf 28 Ma)1 while on a supply drojJ Jor the Belgian
resistance. Standing lefl to nght: William G. Ryckman [navIgator}, Hem] W Wolcoll III BJilot}, Robert F
Evaders. Ralph S. Burckes and Rex 1. Henze, pilot and Auda {co-jJilot} and Wallis O. Coue1lS [bombardier}. IVzeebllg liflto 17ght: Dirvin D. Dezld [engineer},
tail gunner rfStar Duster rfthe 487th Bomb Group are Ridwrd G. Hawki1lS {tail gunner}, Frederick A. 'filltle [gunner} anel Dale S. Loucks [radio-operator}. A
shown here with Belgian resistance member Robert ninth crewmember on board was Cannell J. Vouella, a lU1Viga/or on aftmiliarisalion flight. Sgt Hawki1lS
Marlin [centre}. BurcRes was CClptured in early jJteznber, wasJound dead near the aircrqfi witlt his parachute unopened. All others lIwnaged to baIlout sqftly and
while Henze manage to renwin in hiding until advancing evade. Pilot Henry W Wolcoll spent much rfthis lime with Lt Alfred Sanders rf/he 486th Bomb Group.
Allied troops libemted tIle area. [Ralph S. Burckes} [Hem] W Wolcott}
before mding again for the day. I survived the next few days come down in Belgium. No fewer than seven crewmembers
on food tablets and digging up potatoes, which had been of Star Duster of tile 487t1l Bomb Group were lucling at various
recently planted. I lost my compass and was guided by the locations in the south of the country, after they parachuted
orth Star as I headed west. I evaded capture one morning there. One of them, top tUITet gunner Enlli J. Abadie,
after being chased by a German with a hoe. It had been a reported: "I was picked up right away, and met the co-pilot,
wet and chilly night walk. I hid in a deep gully surrounded Paul Chavez. Two days later radio man Howard A. Witherow
by timber and started a frre to roast some potatoes. As I and nose gunner Donald W. Carpenter canle. Moved to
looked up there was two men with hoes watching me, so I Aywaille, then to Florze, where we were taken care of for one
took off tile other side. Seeing people working in the field, I month by people by tile name of Hanzel. Then we moved to
recros ed tile gully. A I looked back, I saw tllat one of them Ayeneux, where I stayed with people named Fasn'e for one
had fallen on the rocks but the other one came across after month. Moved to their relatives in Forest [probably Foret,
me. After running everal mile I got far enough ahead of aUI/lOr] where I was met by the 3rd Armored Divi ion."s
him, so that I could hide in a field until dark. The day of my In addition to the three men mentioned by Abadie, pilot
capture I had mdden in a stack of baled hay, as it had been Ralph S. Burckes, engineer James M. Toole, and tail gunner
another night of wet chilly rain. I removed bales of hay to Rex L. Henze, were also luding in the area. On 22 July,
make room to lay down between tllem and covering myself Carpenter was captured in Liege by the Gennans and was
with bales on top. I wa awakened the next morning by questioned for almost a month before finally being sent to
talking around tile stack. After some time a young man Germany. On 7 September, shortly before the arrival of the
removed the bale covering me. I motioned for him to recover Allied troop in the area, Burckes and Toole were also
me and he did, but removed and replaced it again a few captured. In all, four of the crew were liberated by
minutes later. It is my belief now that these were Polish advancing Allied ~'ound forces.
laborers working on farms as prisoners. Anyway as they Four crewmembers of Lt Sanders' B-24H of the 486th
gathered on one side of tile tack I lipped out of the other Bomb Group, DaIuel M. O'Connell, Janles R. Sizemore,
side and took off. As it was till daylight I met up with a Autley B. Snnth, and Thomas J. Zoebelein, had also landed
civilian and oldier and was locked up for the night. Then I with their parachutes in Belgium, and were luding at various
was turned over to the Gestapo for que tioning and then farms close to each other, near the village of Gos elies. They
transported to the interrogation center in Frankfurt.,,4 were regularly moved from place to place, and were also
Marts was captured on 6June in Steudnitz and had been liberated in early September. Their pilot, 2/Lt Alfred M.
at large alone in Germany for ten days - a remarkable feat. SaIlders, had an even more adventurous escape. Fortunately,
There were several otller attempts by aiJmen shot down in the archives still contain the details of his escape: "Lt
Germany to evade, but in the end only that of Norris and Sanders landed on 28 May near Braine-le-Comte in
Dunbar was successful. The other successful evaders all had Belgium. He was met at once by Melchior Deseau, who Iud
190 MISSION 376
him in a field and returned to him tIlere in a 1940 Ford and went to a German Headquarter where they "\ III
station wagon driven by a man call d 'Roland'. There was a forty-five minutes while the driver went in id I
girl riding in tlUs station wag n also, and three men armed about ms papers. In Brussels the driver and till
with Tommy-guns guaI' I d th r ad while Sanders was put woman led Sander and Wolcott UltO a hous \0 111 I
ll1to the automobile and driv n away. He was given civilian were greeted by ail elderly man with greyish haiJ' \\ I
clothes in tile automobile, whil tIley drove to a farm south tlUck horn-rimmed spectacle and seemed to b ,Ill'
west of Brussels. Th re De eau and 'Roland' left Sanders tall, though, since he never stood straight, he rna
witll a man named Alfred. Arms were brought to them by taller. Sanders had a list of seven evader who (
another man called Bernard and the t!u'ee of them then helped, and tlUs man took that list 'to check a .111
proceeded to a neighbouring faIm where Sanders was put to books'. In tlUs house Sanders also saw the followiJ1' I"
bed. This farm was deserted, but presently tile man from the a woman about thirty years old with coal-black hilll
adjoining farm, a hand om man of forty-five yeaI'S, square 'fine figure' who spoke German aIld English in .I
faced witll ~'eyish hair and ide-burns, brought food and the pitched voice, then a maid ervant who wore specta I,
next day brought a doctor who bandaged Sanders' u~ured two boys, one six or seven yeal's old, aIld the otll I .• 1
foot. The following day the chief of the organization, Alex, fourteen. When Sanders and Wolcott arrived til I
a chenncal student about twenty years old, came in and told about four other American evaders Ul the hou~e. L, II I
Sanders that he was bringing some comrades to the farm. more Americans and two Russians were brought in. . lid.
The day after that two lorries drove up. In them rode and Wolcott were in tlUs house two nights. On til III
eighteen Ru SiaI1S, who had been forced ultO the German mOrnlllg the driver who had brought them to th h II
aI]ny aIld had deserted; they still wore German uniforms. returned to take t!u'ee Americans 'to Switzerland'. an I I
Several days later the mail from the adjou1ing faml brought overheal'd the elderly man coaching the driver to say J /I
m Lt Henry Wolcott III whose home is in Royal Oak, BeIge'. That afternoon a short, blonde man arrived ill . I
Micmgan, [He was the pilot of the Carpetbagger Liberator automobile and took Snlith, a Thunderbolt pilot, and
shot down in the night of 28 May/29, author]. The whole
and Wolcott, after having first taken their identificati n
Group remained here for several days helping Alex makiIlg away, around the city of Bru sels, down an alley andint
mine and fortifying the place. Then a fIfteen year old girl courtyaI'd. There he turned them over to everal other J '11
arrived and said that the Germans had killed the man at the who were waiting and left at once. These men led til
adjoining farm and were on tlleu' way to the evaders' mding- AmeJ;cans on to a glassed-ul porch, had them sit down, I I
place. The whole party set out in theu' lorries at once and gave them drffiks. The man in charge, a tall blond blu - I
went to the falm of Georges Tondeur where Sanders, chap, gave tllem ome forms to fill up and looked at Lh II
Wolcott, t!u'ee RussiaIls and a BelgiaIl lived until June 18. identity cards. These he said were no good and he w ul I
That afternoon German troops raided the farm and took have to take them to get different ones. He led them till u'l1
Tondem and Ius servaIlts prisoner but the evaders, d serters the house aIld UltO a waiting lorry in which they were dri 11
and the Belgian refractor, who were hiding in a cachette to a large building. The blonde man led them up int thl
under tile floor escaped notice. When the Germans had left building and into an office where there at a man iI1 ,I
after tearing up the interior of the house, the whole party
wa gathered together and went by lorry to Rebecq. On a
farm near tlUs town, the two AmeriCaI1S and five of tile
RussiaIls lived for four days. Th n tile Mayor of Rebecq
waI-ned the farmer that the Germans planned to raid Ius
place. Sander aIld Wolcott were taken at once to Clabecq to
the lUll-top mansion of an iron manufacturer. They spent a
night and a day there, were then taken by a Belgian to an
empty house for one day, aIld tllen a party of the Wmte
Army [the Belgian resistaI1Ce, author] took them to the house
of Jean HowaI,t in Rebecq. After living in tlUs house for
several days, Sanders and Wolcott were moved from faI'm to
faI'm for four nights and were fmally taken to tile ship of
Maurice F. .. on the outskll'ts of TJ.-op. There they lived until
August 10. On that day De eau and a man naIned Claude,
Caine and told them that th y w re to leave for Switzerland.
The following day Deseau returned in his automobile witll a
young woman about twenty-three years old, short, thill, and
flat chested, who spoke botll French and German. He left
tlus woman with the American after telliIlg them that
aIlotller CaJ' would come to take tllem and her to Brussels.
Shortly afterwards an automobil arrived driven by a very
dark, pock-mal'ked man of forty yeal's whose jaws were
sunken as if he had no teeth aIld who wore a black cloth
over the thumb of his right hand. In tlUs CaJ', the two
Americans and tile young woman were taken to Brussels,
2/Lt Alfred M SaIlOOJ, who Iwd all adventurous escapeftom the
though they were stopped by a G nnan soldier at a barrier summer rf 1944. [Alfred M. Sanders)
AFTERMATH
 Sanders, and the other ten
evaders, were lucky. The rest of
the 316 men reported as missing
on the evening of 28 May, were
either killed or made prisoner of
war.
Missing In Action
A total of 316 telegrams was
sent to families in the United
States, in which the Secretary of
the letter stated thirty ltfi England and two crews returned to the base.
Twenty-eight planes went down, then I wept bitterly as I knew l1ry bay
was the pilot on one </tlze twenty-eight air ships. Then qfter ajew days
a letter came that tlze Govenmzent notjfied tlze parent that wrote to us
that B-17 was under control, came down slowly and did not catch on
Jire. This was big news and I tll£lJlked my Heavenly Father that he
guided Pauls hand at the controls and Paul and his gallant crew </men
did not bum up alive. Tlzen letters IUi)t coming in with news ftom
parents that their bays were prisoners </war in Gemzany and gave tlzeir
addresses, they lzacl plenty to eat, conditio17S were liveable and clean.
Three rfficer: are sti.llmissin~ 1zanzes are not listed in mry prisons and
"TlleTifore I beg </you to be patimt alul
good promises </ God to carejOr his own. You 1
Red Crass or Uflr Depart17leJZt will give )'0/1
77!fOnnati07z as soon as it is available.
''In 7lry own heart I fie! that God has a pl
lzavefiith mough to believe tlzat the PU1PO e a
aside. I will join you in j)raya that God willbl
ftiends through no matter what the c01u1iti07ZS 11 I
(From the wife of the co-pilot, 14July 1
letter this m017l11zg. You and Thomas E. Dra I l

nders was liberated in Brussels, hiding him.selfin the fronl cabin
barge Irwin. [Ben W!Js}
German officer's uniform. The blonde man then laid a pistol
on the desk and aid: 'I suppase you now know that you are jmsoners
</the GeI771anInteLLigence'. When Sanders offered to take him with
them to Switzerland the blonde man becan1C very angry. The
Americans were made to trip naked. After they had been
searched and everything had been taken from them, they were
interrogated and threatened with execution as spies because
they had no identity tags. They were then taken to St Gilles
prison where they spent 14 day in separate cells. After that the
ame blond German tried to interrogate Sanders again but
imply retumed him to his cell when he refused to talk. On 2
September at 0800 the British and American prisoners in St
Gilles were taken to the railway station and put into a box car.
Three times the German attempted to move this train out of
Brussels and failed. At the third attempt the cars carrying the
prisoners were derailed and the Germans cut them loose.
Sanders left the car with several other pri oners. He made h_is
way to a canal and there took
refuge on a barge when a
German pan-ol came along the
C\AS5 Of' SD.VlCS
-
Thit b • (ull-n.te
War expre sed '... his deej) regret
tlzat your (s07Z, husband or brother)
has bem rep07-ted missing in action'
and that' ... ifjU1-tlzer details or other
irifOrllzation are received the next </kin
will be j)r017lptl)1 notified.' Th
families of the four men who
were brought back dead aboard
their B-17 were notified by telegram as well.
rf the Dutch
For 316 families an agonizing period of uncertainty had
arrived. There is no more appropriate way to describe this
than to publish parts of a letter that Marie Scharff, mother
of Lt Paul Scharff of the 401st Bomb Group, wrote to a
friend on 12 December 1944: "Ilzave been waiting jOr 1leWS
about Paul and the time gves on alu1 no z7!ftmnation </any kind. It soon
will be sevm m07ztlzs since Paul is missing and it semzs a year to me.
The slwck was terrible. I will neveJ' jOrget whm Fred came with a
telegram 17Z his hand. It cast such a gloom over the enti7-e c07mnunity
and our home was like afuneral honte,ji-ien(1s cameji-omjar and near,
lettersft07n djfftrmt states.
"TIle Ho.-Amry Air Forces sentZlJ (ZS C0771jJlele list </ the nanzes </
tlze crew71leJ1wers who were Sel7JZng with our son at the time lte was
reported missin~ also the names and addresses </ tlte 1zext </ kin </ the
men, so ifwe desire to co-n-espond we may do so. Fred and I got bu.sy at
once to write lettm, and lettersJlocked 171 with plenty z7!fOmzation. 28
May, thirty planes I.tji England 07Z a mission over Dessau, Gmnmry.
B-17 Fb'lng Fortress ltfi thejOnnati07z z:n the vicinity </ the tmget and
was last seen at 2:55 PM. That was tlte j)lane, Paul was the pilot, and
WESTERN 1201 r' SYMBOLS
II)L.. o..,~
I m. .. t . -
no clue to be lzad an)' where.
"May God lzasten the day that will bn7zg good news </these three
Ji7ze young rfficers. It s such bitterpain not to know where our dear 07zeS
are. I will never ceasing prayingj07- Paul ml£l his crew </ men. Paul
spoke veJ] highly </them all and loved all the bO)ls. m heard through
the navigators motheJ- that Paul was a w07zderjUl pilot, and lze
certainly could lzandle his plane well rifieJ- what happeJted to it. m
j)eople are like one largefimily now, we all got the same sad news when
the te!egmms came our S07ZS were missI71g over Gennany 28 May, 44.
I will neverjOrget and stillfielthe e./ftcts </ i/.,,7
Though Paul Scharff and the two other officer were
killed in action, it had been impossible to identify them at
that time. From the above letter, it i obvious that not all
information that the next of kin obtained was conect. With
no other means of conununication available to the next of
kin than exchanging these letters, they expre s all the
anxiety, hope, despair and love that nowadays is 0 easily
conveyed in a telephone conversation. Every rumour was a
shimmer of hope, unfortunately in most instances only to
prove false in the end. When we read these letters, with our
present knowledge of the ultimate fate of the men, they are
a forc ful reminder of the human side of ""ar, not only
touching the airmen, but also their loved ones. As one
example of the corre pondence between the families of the
crews, excerpts are included from letters that were written to
the parents of Lt Kenneth E. Russell of the 486th Bomb
Group.s He and the rest of the crew of Eugene Hicks had
bailed out over the North Sea.
(From the wife of one of Kenneth's best friends, 19 June
1944): "... The co-piLot, Lt. Johnson, is the 07ze that was married
while stationed here - lze mamed a gidftom Plzomix. I do not know
crew wh07n I Mite to who have been 1zotjfied I~
the English Clzan71el. Was veJ] sony to lzear il II
they landed In France or bailed out. m do ha
the boys are saft because Chaplaz7z Costner wrol 11
on tlze way honte mul tlUlt tlzeir c/zances W I
acknowledge reCeJpt </m)1 letter. - TIle dUlplaiu
me ml£l all the bays liked hinl l1nr1ZeJZSely."
(From the wife of the co-pilot, 17 Jul
jzancee, meived thejOllowl7zg letterftom Lt If
the 833rd Sqdn: 'There is not much irifOrmati II I
l1ry opini07z. No 07ze seems to know exactly whall'l
was hit over tlze target arullost an mgL7ze. am
radio mul asked 11l7n jfhe was OX He sazd Ih LI
hurt but he would lzave to drop out </jOmUllioll
alone. /ifi could see h17n practically all the w I
bifOre we reached the Channel but a few mil1l"
agazn mul the crew W(ZS bailing out. It was about I
Cha7l1zel so I fiel sure he was able to get back 10
thz7zk you have anythzng to won] about, berol
everyone got out O.K. and are eitlleT pris07zer. II
tht:)' are evadingyou may not hearji'07ll himjOl 11
does COllze back lte will be smt to tlze States al1d I
more operational missions.
"Tllis is veJJ' mcouraging. I imagilze tht:)' aII
merely paddled aslwl-e. nt:)' wm jJrObably Pi h
patrol. It has bem one month mul eight day I
missing and tht:)' lzave been misszng s17zce Sundtl •
slwlIldn't expect to ltear tht:)' aTe prisoners a
montlzs. As busy as the Gemzans are, we might II
It tht:)' are evadz7zg it l1zay be more, or less. '

_.-
N.....
em
T Cabk.-
bank. The barge captain put him
UNION
cqr,.1D Of

into a cabin for the night. The
next morning the British entered
n.. 4lul1
Brussels and Sanders made his
way to the palace where he
reported to an American
heJ-nanze at present but amfiirly sure I can get it. HeJ-fitlzer is one </
unlcu Its do- LC-DJ.n-I c.w.
CITed charKt« .. In.-
r)O.T-c.w..- ' - (From the mother of the radio operator, r
d!atcd bT • IUkablc
.ymbol .bo- or
oedinl I,be add,ca
pt"C>o'
A. N. W1L...U ....... ~ the leading physicia1ZS </Plzoenix. Nomza will look his name & address Johmon smt your nanze to 11te, seems your SOI1
_C_'DC"'''
Uto1l"O 10 the date IiIM ~ aod -7 Iet.~ .l:ITA,NDARD TIME.t.
tuDe 0- 01 on.Ja. n-tt receipt ~bAlUJ "'1m aL pok)LfJI ~tJo.
poult up thru the Teleph07ze Co. m can write to him & maybe his (laughter, was on & is reported missi1J.g. This momingI /zad
KM4 54 8 EXTRA GOVT=ATTEMPTED DlY FROM SHAWNEE UNSUCCESSFUL Mrs. JOh1ZS07Z, will lzave more 1leWS - or the addmses </tlze rest </tlze I S0)1 good news, at least I know where 11ry b
,DlY CHGS $10=WASHINGTO DC JUN 9 744P crew. I'm sure she'll be more than glad to help... A4Jutant General telling me Geo-rge ('7(,rchy' as It
~l

"m received two lettersji-om him & 07ze was written mroute - he jJrisoner. I hope mulprayyou /zave had 7leWS as t (I
Colonel. He and other evaders Wlll~S V RUSSEll= ICJ.4.4 JUN i6 t>M 8 " was stationed in England & if lze s missing over the channel - well, o-ur boys are togellzer & that they wzll not be 11/1 t
were put up in a hotel that night 710 EAST OAK ST there s lot.s </hope. This is purely speculati07z - but I think tlzat the ship boys did not wish this, tht:)' surely hated to leave lUll
and sent to Arniens the next day.
Fords Folly W(ZS damaged & it nzade it out </ tlte main-land o.k. but SOIL is wzih milze. At least we lzave the fieli1 11
There Sanders found a pilot who
they had to crash-land 07- bailout, & eJiher 0Jze would take time to seeilJ.g theJ7l agailz. The wil-e staled tlUlt a l It
offered him a ride to the u.K.
report to their ou!fit - especially jfthey were quite a waysftom their inf077nation. m lzope & pray tlzal this will SOO7I
He ani.ved on 6 September and
base. As fir as alrytfLing happening to the pilot - well - Ken could again. Will you kindly let me know if)loU lzear II
reported to 63 Brook Street
always take the plmze over becau.se lze s (ZS good a pilot as mry lze
for interrogation."6
could easily bring a Plalze in." (From the mother of the navigator, 22Jul I
is tm-ible sad news to hear tlzat our bays are 11/
One rf the 3 J6 Identical tetegTal/1.s that were (From the 486th Bomb Group Chaplain in England, 30June almost mOTe that I can stmulJust waitingftom d
sent Cffier 'O/leration 376~ Kenneth Rllssell, 1944): "... I know you both are more than anxious to hem-ft07n your receive smile wordftom our precious S07ZS. But j kl
a bombardIer in the 486th Bomb Group, S07Z Kenneth, and I wish as his c/zaplain and goodji,iJui tlull I could I dOll 't know where David is at tonight. But 011 I~
and Ihe rest rf his crew had baited 0111 over give you ante definiteficts </ his status. is with 11l7/l and is able to take care </ theJIl W
the Channel. [Linda Camp]

MISSION 376 AFTERMATH

192

On 12 March 1945 Mr. and Mrs. Russett travetled to 7ltlsa, OklahomaJOr a meeting withfanner POWs. They took this card with them, Mping that one qf these men
would recognize their SOI/, but no one did. [Linda Camp]
Davidspther has been dead eleven yeaTS and it is w07lderfil how God
has always helped me carefar my chiLdrezz. My youngest child is now
eighteen years old. I'm ea771estly praying fOr aLL the boys muL I'm
expecting to hearfrom Davzd bif'm-e lO7lg muL I know smne day bifOre
so terrible long he wiLL be at home again with us. We received ward
June 11 that the boys were missing in action. Tlze last letter I received
ftom David was written May 24."
(From the wife of the co-pilot, 25 July 1944): "You know, you
and I should be sort qfspecialfriends because Russ and Johnny bunk
togetlzer and are very goodJriends. They are closer to each otlzer than
to anyone else in the crew. In Johnny s last letter he spoke qfproudly
showing Russ a butt07l I had sewed 07l! We were 07l1y togellzer a mmzth,
194
you know, muL had little time fl7' anything but a hmzeymoon, so
anything domestic Johnny would notice especially. My degree is nearly
finished Cl1uL I go back home the 18th qfAugust where I wiLL renUlin
until Johnny C07neS hmne ar I have my child. I hope Johnny gets hmne
first. Do you think he'll make it by Noveznber nih?'
(From the mother of the navigator, 14 August 1944): "I
received a nice letter j-mn MTS. JOhns07l last week, saying that Mrs.
Smith had received qfficial word that her smz Charles was a pris07le7-.
That TlUlkeS two rf the crew tlUlt are safe, we are sure if I fiel sure
tlzat the other boys are safe. Tlzey are probably smnewlzere with the
underground. I don 't believe they are pris07lers ar we would surely IUlve
heard by this time.
MISSION 376
"Well, Mrs. Russell all we can do is just keep our pith up,
and pray that God will take care qfour Darling Sons, wherever they
may be.
"The day muL nights are certainly aw.ft.l Long to me and I know they
are fir aLL the other Dear ones. I would have written you bifO're now,
but Ijust kept thinking I would urely get same wordftom David every
day. I wiLL let yau know just as soon as I receive any news at allftom
my Son, and jfyou hear anything be sure & send me word right away."
(From the wife of the co-pilot, 15 August 1944): "Today thC)'
invaded Franceftmn the South. Do you reali:l.e what that means to us?
!fthe boys are evading there, aLL they wiLL have to do is to come back
to England and straight hmne. They are through with this man s war
muL will be ours again. You don't know how I look fOrward to my
husbands return, and how I pray it will, by some miracle qf God be
bif07-e my baby cmnes. I'm very optimistic ftmn the way the war is
turning out, and I know you must be the same.
"Always glad to hear ftmn you. WIzen do you think they wiLL be
hmne now?
"ps. Received a letter today ftmn TlzOlllas E. Drake that his son,
Robert is if/i.ciaL1y repmted aprisoner. Mr. Drake has been cmTeSponding
with a boy named Scotty Keenan a7uL his (Scotty s) znother called up Mr.
Drake and sazd that Scotty Iwd heard on thefield, Scotty is in the 834th,
that Robezt was riflciaLLy a prisoner. So that 71l£lkeS three out qfthe ten
that have been reported prisoners. I am sure we wzll hear soon."
(From the father of the pilot, 21 August 1944): "Mr. Drake
i7ifOnned us he had received reliable irf()777Wti07l all the boys except the
co-pilot were Gemwn prisoners. No doubt he has given you the same
i7ifOmUlti07l_ This m0771ing we also meived the i7ifOnnati07l from a
jiend qfGene s, a Lt. in England, saying it was hardfOr them tofind
out anything, tlUlt they tried to keep aLL the irf0'77natimzjrmn them but
he wanted to tell us aLL- the boys were Gennan prismzers but the co-
pilot who is not reported. We fiel quite badly about this as Mrs.
Johnson has been very down in the dumps ever since they were reported
missing, howevez~ I have been told that the Gemzans don't report
pris07zers who are in hospitals until they are moved to a c07lcentrati07l
camp, this TlUly be the case.
'7t is tough to be a pris07ler but at the same time the boys are out
qfa hellish mess and it is a reliif'to know they are safe. Howev~ we
did know none qftOOn were hurt when the ezzgines were shot out over
the target and they were almost h07ne when they parachuted out but we
were stiLL in suspense. I am sure youfiel as good as we do. Mrs. Hicks
and I pray they wiLL aLL be returned to us somz."
(From the wife of the pinpoint navigator, 21 August 1944):
" We received a wire a m07lth ago ir!fOnning us that he is intenzed in a
German pris07l camp. The govenzmezzt promised us afOLLow up letter
with his camp number and address which we haven't received as yet.
Clwnces are tlUlt the whole crew are there together, it someti7nes takes
quite awhilejOr tllC77Z to notjjj you. Hoping you hear S07ne good new
soon. !fso I'd appreciate hearing."
(From the father of the ball turret gunner, 24 August):
"Tlze jOllowing ir!fOnnation was received jrmn Sgt. George S.
Keezzan, attached to the 4 6 Bombardmezzt Group on Aug. 17, -
under date qfAug. 9 he write me that my son muL the mt qf the
crew qfhis plane with the exception qfthe co-pilot (Lt Johnson) have
been qfficially reported pris07lers qf war - Tlzis report came ftom
their base in England. Backing up the news I have just had word
ftom Mr. Hicks that he has received a letter ftom the base in
England jrom a Lieut. friend qfhis S07l', that his S07l, Gene, is a
AFTERMATH
prisoner and that the crew (with the 011
Perhaps you are already in receipt qflll
eased the suspense involved since the 1 1J
received. !fnot; I hope the cifOresaid in 1
heart once again and ease matter c
evezztually comes home."
(From the grandmother of the co-pil ,
"I have heard that your smz Lt. Kenneth Ru
Johnson s plane whezz it were damaged LL.
Grands07l, I reared him, his mother is dead...
'7 love him more tlzan anything in tlze wOll'
Pers07l tlzat he loves, I miss him so much. I Iz
about him, I can'tjnd out anything...
'7 d07l't know wlzat to believe, I am 0 wom' d
I had in tlze worM to livej07-. !fhes gone I don't walll "
f1he s Living he s won-ied about me he knows I have a II
can't stand too much trouble. IIUlve more thezz a Izun"
he has wrote me since he has beezz in sez1Jice."
(From the wife of the co-pilot, 16 September 1 41). "
been iLL a7uL unable to write, Have heard tlzat all the cm.V It!
except nry husband - that is, that they are pris07lez' a W(/I.
clUlplain wrote me day bifOre yesterday tlUlt Rus ell wa. {l JII t
suppose you have heard by now that Russ is well azul
fOr you. I can't recmzcile myseffto Johnnys not bein 1 (Ill
I lzave}il.St Tluzde up my mind that he was separated I
that he is evading. He sjust got to be aLL riglzt.
''Mj' baby cmnes Noveznber 11, or is supp d 10 I
all IUlve heard s07nething definite by tlzezz. I Izop II J/
I seezn to be having tmuble with my baby, (I rp I. a
letter.) Perhap it will aLL come out aLL nght, thou 1/
'7 was interested to know about your dau 111 I
Did she stay at hmne? I am at hmne now, you kl 4'
until tny baby is bom and I can travel. Thezz I am 1
finish my degree, Ilzave a positi07l teaching cllOOJ UI I
is rfcourse in case Johnny isn'tjOund. I'm hopin II
thezz he wiLL be able to join me just after I hau I
Perhaps by tlze end rfJanuary. This is my hope ri III
'7 surely dzd and IUlve enjoyed aLLyour letter.. 'I I.
a c07lSolatimz to me) especially to hearftom Rz 711 II. • rc.:...:~.'
<..;;;;
Russ so much. He realI)' Ihinks he is a.fine yowl 7111
I do hope so tlzat tllC)' are together smnewhere. J , il.
take caTe rfeach otlzer. !fJohnny is gone I will hal II I
such a short tzine and my baby wiLL need him 0 1IlU It. II ',Il'lfl' J._J'Aw
07l1y a m07lth you know. I know there are 1lzalZY oil,
positi07l) but qfcourse my case seezns particularl 'I u II
But I am so glad I have understanding parents and good tdutrtlNlft,
almost cmnpleted.'
(From the wife of the right waist gunn I
1944): "Afler heanizg all were pris07lers but ane thmu h 17. J "It
and then gettlizg this other letterj-mn the War Depart71zezzt pu 111 10
wondering more, looks Like the War Departmezzt would know u
these two ftmn Engla7uL wrote that, then again I don't beLiev Il,
would notjfj lI.S unless they were absolutely sure, do you?
"Mrs. Smith luzd two letters ftom her son, (. pt. ] Ih) 01
dated June 27 and the other July 27 he wmte he la d I I I
CIUlnneL two days bifOre being picked up by the • II
garden and a potato patch by his barracks and I. ,
July. I don't suppose he would be allowed to 171 III
crew, do you?'
,.

l1y dear Mr. Russell:
The Preeident has requested me to inform
you that the Purple Heart has been awarded posthumously
to your son, Second Lieutenant Kenneth E. Russell, Air
Corps, who sacrificed hie life in defense of his country.
Tne IIlBdal, which you ."ill receive shortly,
is of slight intrinsic value, but rich with the tradition
for which A!ooricans are so gallantly giving their lives.
The Father of our country, whose profile and coat of arms
adorn the medal, speaks from it across ths centuries to
the men who figLt todaJ' for the proud freedom he founded.
Nothing the War Departmmt cen do or say
will in any sense rspair the loss of your loved one. He
has gone, however J in honor and the goodly company of
patriots. Let me, in communicating to you the countr~'s
deep sympathy, also express to yeu its gratitude for his
valor and devotion.
Please believe me,
Sincerely yours,
111". lfillis V. Ruesell,~~
710 East Oak street,t
Cushing, Oklahoma.
A )'ear and a dtJ)! after being reported missing z11 action, Kenneth RUSJell and the
other missing crewmembers were offidally declared dead. A Purple Heart was
awarded posthumously. [Lzlwa Camp)
(From the father of the ball turret gunner, September 19,
1944): "From my boy Bobs buddy in England I received a letler daled
the 3rd 0/ Seplember and in il he says 7 assure you lIzal Bob is a P
W You see the Group has released a list 0/P WS and Bob is one 0/
them' - 'You asked me tIll'll wlzat sources the group was 11!fOnned 0/
Bobs P W stalus. llzave no idea how lhey.found out. But I do know
its rffidal' - 'M/Sgt Todd is also a P Wand so are the rest if the
o'ew except.for Lt. Johnson he is still unheard if:
'7 haven't heard anylhing djfftrentftom the Army other tlzan that
letler we all received a week or so ago containing the list 0/ the crew
members. Soon I know we will get wordfto11l our boys."
(From the grandmother of the co-pilot, September 26, 1944):
"Have you Ilea7'd anything more about them} lhey could be on an island
somewhere and no way' if getting out or they could be with the
zmd.ergTOund. I lalked with a Lt. yesterday that had. just come Ji'om
Europe and he aid they would befinding 11lissllzg boys over there.for
the next three or.foUl'years. He said. lle believe they were alive, he saId
jfthq had. been killed in llle water they would lzavefloated in the waleI'
and would lzave been picked u/] and id.entjfied and their people would
have been notjfied. I surely hope they are all alive somewhere. I slzall
keep paying them and I know )Iou willjoin me III prayer.for OUT Dear
loved ones please write me real soon."
But the prayers of these families were not answered. Also the
lumOurS about the crew being reported as prisoners turned
out to be false. Only three of the crew had made it to the coast
of France; none of the other eight was ever found and a year
and a day after they went missing, they were officially declared
dead. Mrs.Johnson had her baby - a boy, one of so many 'war
orphans' - children that would never know their father.
196
For some families there was relief when a telegram
brought the news that their family member was a prisoner
of war. But for others that telegranl confirmed their worst
fears, as death was announced. In all, 107 American airmen,
including the four brought back by returning bombers, paid
the supreme price for their effort to liberate the countries of
Europe. Of these 107, the bodies of 24 men were either never
recovered, or not positively identified, and these men remain
missing in action until the present day. Thi leaves 202
airmen who were ooner or later captured by the German .*
The prisoners of war
A typical account of the events that most of these men expe-
rienced after their landing in enemy territory is given here
by one of these men, 2/Lt Henry J. Gerards, co-pilot of Lt
Matthias's Mountaineer of the 390th Bomb Group: "I felt
good, wonderful, to be out of that hell upstairs. But the
el~oyment of my solitude and quiet was short lived, for I
was in the heart of Germany. I knew that if I was to escape,
I'd have to cover as much distance as rapidly as possible.
"First I cut a piece of silk from the chute for mosquito
netting and then buried the rest of it and other equipment
not needed, under the pine needles. I walked to the end of
the row of trees. Here I found a dirt road which hadn't been
used for some time. Standing here for a moment, I pondered
whether to go right or left. I turned and looked back.
Suddenly, I heard a noise. Turning my head, I saw a
German civilian about 30 feet from m , riding a bicycle.
Trying to swallow my heart again, I stood motionless as he
rode by, not 15 feet behind me, lLis head bent down a if he
were concentrating on the difficulty of riding through the
loose dirt. He did not see me for that reason, or perhaps he
was as scared as I and would rather be elsewhere. For a
moment I thought I should have taken his bicycle and
clothes and posed as a German civilian while e caping. But
if caught, they could have me shot for a spy, and besides,
what would a young guy be doing as a civilian in Germany,
They were all in the army. It was tinle to get moving, I found
north on my compass, the direction of Sweden and started
walking. Meanwhile I hoped to fmd some of my crew
members. Being alone was a little discouraging. vValking for
a couple of hours, I canle to an open field. On the other side
was a car parked with some people walking around. So I
remained lLidden in tile forest. TlLis was my first chance to
open my escape kit and look at tile map to see just where I
should go to make good my escape. In the kit were Halizone
tablets for purifying water, a plastic water bag, a razor, gum,
morphine for cases of serious pain, two small compa ses, a
• A ratistical breakdown of the personnel losses:
Bomber crewmen lost on mission
Fighter pilot lost on mission
Crewmembers Killed In Action in bombers
subtotal 33]
Crewmembers picked up by Air Sea Rescue on 28 May
Crewmembers dead on arrival at base
Personnel reported Missing In Action on evening of 28 May
Evading personnel, returning to England before VE'day
subtotal 305
personnel made Prisoner Of War by Germans
subtotal ] 03
personnel Killed In Action
personnel remaining Missing In Action
MISSION 376
saw blade, a few pieces of concentrated food and otller items walking tlrrough forest again. I walked in Ull
including a silk map about 18 inches square. about Ulree hours until I came to a lLighway. "1
"I pondered some time over the map, and finally decided daylight would be too much of a risk. So I sat d I
to go in tile same direction of weden, since it was closer a tree and smoked one of my three remainin
tllan either France or witzerland. The distance measured tried to sleep till dark. but sleep wouldn't com
about 175 miles, part of it acro water. Walking alone 175 rest. I could hardly bear to sit still. Finally I I I
miles tllrough enemy territory without being seen would be walked th.rough tile trees along the highway, h II
next to impossible. But the deci ion to try was easy, since the some way to cross. It wa n't long till I canle l
otller choice was to give up. The car and people had under tile road. My hopes soared as I thought (II
disappeared from tile oth I' side of the field. So I decided to water and a crossing at the sanle tinK The only ob I
cross and try to keep hidden by crawling along a drainage the clearing from the trees to the culvert, about I I
ditch. A German Fw 190 flew low overhead as I left the Several people walked and rode bicycles by as ] \
protection of the trees. But he was gone in a second and I from my lLiding spot. It was still daylight when I d
made my way along tile ditch. ot a cupful of water was to make a break for the culvert. When I was almo t th 1\
be found in the ditch, and since it was a warm afternoon, I a German soldier on a bicycle coming around the (II
wa getting thirsty. On the other side of tile field, I felt safer, stopped and ran back to tile trees, but it was too lal . I I
'For yOll the war is overt More than
200 American ail7nen were cajJtllred
on 28 Nhl)' and eXjJeJlenced situations
like these. Under guard gf military
personnel or home guard (note the old
rifles) ail7ne1l are marched into
ClIstody. One, who has obviollsly
sjJrained an ankle, is heljJed along b),
a .fellow jJrisoner. 7hey are all
wearing their combat ou!fils, the cords
jOr the eleclncal6' heated JI),ing suits
are dear6' visible. Afler being
searched some were ludl)' enollgh to be
gmnted a smoke, bifore their travel to
Dlilag Llif/ commenced. 7hese
/Jictllres were j]robably all taken on 12
iliay 1944 at NlenJul/lsen} where
II./]C 27 was stationed and show
crewmembers g/ tlzree djffen'11t B-1?s
gf the 96th and 452nd Bomb
CroujJs. [Friedndl Kellel; through
]ean Louis Rohal
313
14
4
11
4
316
11
202
79
24
AFTERMATH

Feldwebel Johannes vlilgnerfrom Mengsberg was on leaveji'om the RUSJ1(l1!front
and captured eight crewmembers o/Hulcher's Vultures on 28 May. [Konrad
Rudolph]
seen me and was shouting 'Halt.' 'Halt.' He took his rifle off
his shoulder. I halted. The soldier sent one of three boys
who came by, after help. Soon an officer in a German Jeep'
drove up. They searched me and motioned me to get into
the car. We drove along the highway three or four miles,
then onto a side road a short distance and there was our
plane. She was scattered all over, gas tank hanging in trees,
engines a hundred yards from each other and bits of metal
everywhere. The largest piece was the cockpit. I knew it wa
my plane by the serial number and also by my helmet lying
nearby. I was not allowed to leave the Jeep' where the
soldier kept guard over me. We left in a few minutes. From
there we drove to a small village, where I was given a glass
of water. I had no idea what we were waiting for, and when
I saw a group walking toward us, I thought I might be
mobbed and beaten. As they came closer, I recognized
Charlie Oliver, the ball turret gUill1er of my crew, in the lead.
It was sure good to see someone I knew. They loaded
Charlie into the Jeep' and as we left the village, I gave hin1
one of my cigarettes. We decided to save them awhile. About
a ten mile drive took us through the city of Magdeburg, and
to an airfield, where we were searched again and relieved of
all our belongings, including the cigarettes. We should have
smoked them. At the airfield we were locked in a room with
about 25 other American airmen, some badly wounded.
Three more of my crew were there. We sat around the floor
and tried to sleep that night, but no one could. The
wounded's cries of pain strung our nerves tight as a wire.
Next day we left for Frankfurt and after interrogation there,
I spent the rest of the war in various StaLags."g
198
It is al 0 worthwhile including an account from 'the other
side.' FeldwebeL Johannes Wagner was serving in th
Welzmladlt on the Eastern Front and was on leave in his hom
village: "On one of the last days of my leave, my fi311Cee and
I were biking from Treysa to Mengsberg. On the return trip
I suddenly saw a low flying heavy bomber, coming from th
direction of Fritzl31". I recognized the bomber a a B-17 and
we took cover in a ditch. Just before a small forest, the pl311
pulled up and disappe31"ed out of sight. Just afterwards w
saw a pile of dust and assumed it had crashed. I left my
fiancee, took my bike and headed for the plane. I saw it lying
in a field and went in ide, flJ1ding no one. As I knew that th
B-17 had a ten-man crew I went to the small forest, some 500
meu"es from the plane. Slowly I walked along the small road
that leads through the forest, when I noticed one or tw
airmen. I raised my pistol 311d told them to come ne31- and
to surrender, which they did. There were four of them and
I left them on the road, gU31"ded by a m311 who just arrived.
I went into the woods again 311d after 300 metres I found the
rest, who also surrendered to me. With the crew I went back
to the plane 311d asked them if any bombs were left aboard
which they denied. Then we went in the direction of
Mengsberg 311d lots of spectators followed us, I had to
protect the airmen from 311 angry man from Kassel, who had
been bombed out. I wanted to put the fliers in the school
311d hand them over to the police, which happened indeed.
Later I was questioned by an officer of the Fritzl31" airbase,
who stated that they had shot the bomber down." to
The B-17 was Huleller's VUltures of the 388th Bomb
Group, piloted by Lt Fjelsted. However, not all
crewmembers were captured by Joh311l1eS Wagner. Two
men, co-pilot Willi31TI C. Hudson and bombardier Chester
Tracewski, still hid in the woods, trying to make their way
to safer surroundings. However, the next day they were also
captured and joined the rest of their crew.
Usually held in different types of accommodations
during u1eir first night in GenTI311y, prisoners were soon
tr311sported to u1e huge interrogation cenU-e for Air Force
personnel, DurclzgangJlager der Liftwcifft, DuLag Lift for short,
at Oberursel, a suburb of Frankfurt. Here, all perS0I1l1el
were interrogated by specialized Lziftwcifft perS0I1l1el and
confronted with material found on him, or on oU1er
crewmembers, in an effort to obtain Illore useful information
for u1e Germans. After intelTogation, most of the enlisted
men were sent to StaLag Lift IV ne31" Grosstychow, close to
the former Polish border. Most officers were transported to
Stalag Lift III, near Sagan, south-east of Berlin. At the end of
January 1945, Russians troops were advancing rapidly in the
East 311d German Headquarters decided to move the
prisoners of war from u-us camp, probably to keep them for
b31-gaining purposes when necessary.
One of the Amel;can officers in Stalag Lzft III was Leon
Lobdell, the navigator of U0.r Eagle of U1e 305th Bomb
Group. Ironically the only two men to evade out of
Genn311Y itself were also from tJ-us crew. He recalls: "On 27
Janu31-y 1945 we were sitting around li terring to a show
given for our block (169, room 5). Suddenly someone
rushed in with u1e late t news. We were to prepare to move
in an hour! Ali was in confusion. Most of us weren't
expecting to move; consequenuy we didn't hardly know
what to do. However, Capt Moss came around wiu1 a good
idea for a pack 311d rescued us. After we had prcp31"ed our
MISSION 376
double-timed for two more kilometres. M311Y,
being in poor shape, were forced to U1rOW away
their parcels or parts of them. German civilians
ran sleds up to the side of u1e road and c31"ried a
lot of the food away. We march d all that night,
31Tiving at the town of Freywalden, about 30
kilometres from Sagan, at 13.30 11. urs. We rested
Change o/statllS,from Nuholas D. RlI7ie to plisoner 0/ war numher
1889. Dogtags as wom b)1 RI/-n.e during his stay at Glatton and
afterwards in Sta/ag Lufi IV. [Nicholas D. Fw-n.e, through TOIIl
Kracker]
The Stalag LI!fi. IIIjile card.fOr Richard L. Bopp, wlw had
bailed out 0/his P-51 over France. [Virginia B. Russell} fi [0 ,One barrel" ','leek to t~o' ~~N Ie RO SS. -!, ~
--'---tl-r31S"C"tri.., I CAN o-fH.re:o--ee-tl< ' I cA N 5PA"'.!
packs, we made strong coffee and ate sand- I eA~ K!.IM I l:>,'~" D1"n= .!L n !"lAg r
wiches. We split up the food amongst us for we
didn't know whether we would receive any
Red Cross parcels. Then we were called out
and waited for about half an hour in u1e snow - .f}
and cold. Later we were allowed to fall back in, --I+--~----------_----:"'_--fj/j~=-jj-
ate some more, and took stock of things.
Everyone hoped that we had been cut off by
the Rus ians and wouldn't be able to move.
But then our hopes were hattered by u1e call
to fall out. Musical insu-uments from the show
were broken in the rush. Hundreds of cartons
of cigarettes and tobacco together with much
food were left; we just weren't able to carry
them. The Germans looted through the
barracks togeu1er wiu1 quite a bunch of the
kriegies. We were rushed at double time out
the gate and past the Vorlager where a full
parcel was shoved in our hands. We were then
'/ . ~ \ 1---'----'_· ,
? ~ t:,~eg n,o .. wI<' t/~...t.1 'i. \ '-. ;' , . ..:...,
Food was an all important maller.fOr 'kliegi.es ~ T1iis is rifl-eded ;:". 1111-_",,1 ~ ~ ;,
i - J
in the scrap book 0/ Ric/lard Boj)p, where many pages are
dedicated to the suqject. One page shows the Gmllan alld Red
Cross rations in Stalag Ll!fi. III, accompanied by a drawing 0/
the cook 1;1, bmracks 161, room 13. He was Frank Lawn, a co-
pilot in the 389th Bomb Grollf) alld shot down on 27 May.
hving GUl7llan, the f)ilot o/The Banana Barge 0/ the 44th
Bomb Grouf) and shot down on 28 May, was in the same room.
[Virginia B. Russell}
AFTERMATH 199
for over L'( hours; over 2,000 men froze outside in the bitter
cold with no way of keeping warm. VVe were allowed twenty
minutes in, out of the cold and snow - no sleep. About 19.00
hours that everung (28 January) it was decided to move on.
and on we went. We marched quite a way to the next town,
where we were supposed to be put up for the night. On the
way. a scare sent the bunch into the snow while the guard
fired over our heads. One kriegie had a bullet through one
of hi food cans. At the town a number of hospital cases.
about fifty, were taken out and the re t of us slowly started
to freeze. After stopping for an hour, we were told that we'd
have to go on and started out. Many, including myself, were
going to sleep on their feet. Three tops had to be made in
which approximately 200 men each who couldn't go on
were bedded down in barns. Others fell out by the wayside
and were taken in by civilians. On the last few kilometres the
whole bunch was staggering. Again packs and food were
thrown away. I kept going by eating a few lumps of sugar at
each stop. Towards the end, my pack canle apart and I kept
losing food, but didn't know when it dropped. Finally, we
arrived in the square at Muskau around 07.00 hours on 29
January, having marched 45 kilometre farther. Most of us
were half crazy that night; I know I was. We were promised
room in various factories, but it took an hour to arrange for
them and men were freezing and going crazy in the square.
I saw two men actually going out of their minds. One of the
medical officers said that he hit a man, nearly gone, full in
the face to get him angry and bring him back. I remember
being marched past a row of troop with machine guns and
wondering if this was it. Finally we were taken to a pottery
works where we spent the night and part of the next day,
dirty but warm. On Tuesday 30 January I left at noon with
300 volunteers to join the south camp; we were judged to be
in good enough condition to resume the march. That night
we slept in a barn after doing 18 kilometres. On Wednesday
31 January we arrived in Spremberg at 11.00 hours; good
soup was issued us on arrival. The next day we left in
regular boxcars, with fifty men in each car. We had anxious
moments on a siding in Cbemnitz with our train parked
next to an SS train, the air raid sirens sounded and bombers
droned overhead. Luckily, they were headed for another
taTget and we breathed easier. On Saturday 3 February we
arrived at Stalag VII A in Moosburg, and were housed in an
old stable. Two days later we were deloused and given a
shower. then moved to a flea-infe ted barracks." 11
200
Lobdell was lucky, since he and the others in hi
compound were sent directly to Moosburg. Many more
ended up in talag XIII D near Turemberg frrst and were to
march again for another 145 kilometres. early in April 1945.
With this huge contingent of prisoners in one place, tlle
situation gTew worse. Fortunately, the ordeal was over when,
on 29 April, the camp. and it occupants were liberated by
General Patton's 14th ATmored Division. Then, as soon a
po ible, the prisoners were Down to France and housed in
Camj] Lucky Stn/u, to await tlleir return to 'Home Sweet
Home'. Also arriving here were the former prisoners from
talag Llift I in Bartll and Stalag Llifi IV in Grosstychow, who
had been liberated by advancing Rus ian armies. Most ex-
prisoner were shipped out at tlle end of May and returned
to the United States early inJune.
Since it is United States' policy not to let its dead rest in
hostile soil, inmlediately after the war the mortal remains of
men buried in Germany were reinterred in American military
cemeteries in France, the Netherlands and Belgium. When
this major operation was completed in 1948, the next of kin
were given tlle option to have the body returned to the United
States for reburial or to let it rest in the military cemetery.
ow, 35 headstones on five cemeteries in Europe mark
tlle final resting place of an American airmen killed on 'an
ordinary mission' on 28 May 1944. Also 25 names of men
whose mortal remains were never recovered or positively
identified are engraved on the variou vValIs or Tablets of
the Mi sing at these cemeteries.
Notes
1. Letter to aUlhor. 30 10vell1ber 1989.
2. Escape and evasion report 150·k Record Croup 332. ''\Tashington
ational Records celller.
3. Letter to aUlllOr. 30 10vell1 ber 1989.
4. Letter to aUlhor, J 9 August J 997.
5. Escape and evasion report 2048; Record Croup 332. Washington
National Records celller.
6. Escape and evasion report 1595; Record Croup 332. Washington
National Records celller.
7. Letter provided by Wade ScharfT,1 January 2001.
8. These letters were kindly providcd by Linda Camp, a nicce or Lt
Kcnneth Russell. Shc also dcvotcd a finc websitc to thc crew.
(http://www.geocitics.coll1/licall1p_to/index.hulll)
9. Lctters to author, 14 August 1989 and 21 May 1990.
J O. Statell1em by Johannes Wagncr. through Konrad Rudolph.
11. Lwcr to author, 1 October 1987.
MISSION 376
Chapter Fourteen
WAR CRIMES
Several chapters of thi b k bri fly mention how aiTmen
who had bailed out of th i..r di abled bombers or lighters,
were tTeated after landing b Lh erman military and
civilian populati n. m w r Lr ated well, wounds were
bandaged and ome were v n giv n food or a drink, before
being sent to the coli ti n pin. th rs were beaten by
civilians and often barely r u d by military officials before
a worse fate awaited tl1 m. n typical case, that of S/Sgt
Royce E. Ball of tlle 445th Bomb roup, is already covered
in the Merseburg chapter. AnOtll rae is that of the crew of
liLt Rudolph Stohl of the 457th Bomb Group, flying Black
PliffPolly. An interesting account of the crash is given by tllen
twenty-one year old Dutchman, Leen tolk.. He had been
summoned by the Germans for forced labour in Germany,
after they effectively closed down de Verenigcle Touwft17ri.eken,
the Dutch factory where Stolk. worked. He had to leave
Maassluis, close to Rotterdam, in October 1942 and was put
to work in tlle Borgward factory in Bremen, where half-track
armoured per onnel caTriers for the German Army were
built. During his stay Ul Bremen, Stolk kept a diary, Ul which
he freely and quite understandably somewhat biased, voiced
his 0pUllon about his experiences. Thi is an excerpt of his
notes for Sunday 28 May.
The VVhit Sunday was a day off from work Ul the
factory: "Got up at 10 0'dock and went to the Ufser river to swim.
A group qf Dutch forced labourers at the ban/IS qf the Weser river in Bremen. Leen Stotk, bottom right, was an eye witness /0 theJinat moments qfBla k Purr Polly.
Just visibte to the !Jji. qf the head qf the third man in the top row is aJlak tower that had severattight guns au top qf it. This tower, and severat others, put up crossfire
dUl111g theJined moments qf the B-Il The barra.cksfor the ftlk crew and an antenna for their comm.lluicatioll equipment are ViSible to the liji qf the man seen top lefl.
[GL Hammel]
WAR CRIMES
Beautjfid wann weather. At 1 0'clock ail' raid alann. Dressed and
went to the bunker until 2 0'dock. Then on to the Bremer KamP.fbahn
[soccer fields, autlwr], but the soccer match is called qff as there still
is an air read alann. All 0/ a sudden there is hea1l)1 .flak fire, a big
bomber dives down and keejJs circling around. It keeps circlin~ then
sudd.enLJI it d1'Ops three men with parachute, then another three and
finally two, that makes eight. The.flak fire like mad, they put a
crossfire on that plane. But appa1'elztly it is 100king)Or a place to laluL,
has to make a crash-landing; then drops two bombs. Uf saw another
man)il1njJ out, but he was too close to the groll1uL)Or his chute to open
azul he.felL to his death. Uf saw the plane disappear and a Jew
moments later a big black cloud. At 4 0'clock the 'all clear' was
souncled. At 5:30 pm we went to Camp Weserlust. There we spoke
some other boys, among them Leen Ditmars. They were in Osterholz,
visiting the gTave 0/ajhe/uLftom the work camp who recently died. As
they were there, thefiring began. Behind the graves some ainnen came
down. A Gennan came towards the boys on a bike azul sazd: Help to
search for those pigs: The boy made qff not wanting to help to
search)Or our ftiends. And behind the grave they saw one, with his
hands up, but he was shot ftom behind by a Gemzan, the dirty dog.
The aimzan then undzd something that apparently c1za.fed on the wound
on his hip. He regulal'ly wiped the blood away, which gwlled out. His
legs we/"e tied up and he was thrown on a ca,"t. The bays sazd he was
a handso171e guy with black haiT; a Ca71£ldian. He looked at them with
wide eyes. What would h£lve gone on inside this poor guy s head, lie
'.,
201
surrendered and still th.eJ' s/zot /zim and tlm~w /zim on a cart despite Iri.s
wounds. T/ze boys wanted to speak some Engiis/z wit/z /zim, but ot/zers
stopped t/zem. A Gennan, w/zo spoke Englis/z, said smnet/zing like: 'You
will never get back to England: Ot/zer airmen /zad summdered and
stood wit/z t/zeir /zands raised; Gennans came out wit/z rifles and rubber
sticks and /zit tlze airmen in t/zeir .laces wit/z t/zese, dirty dogs these
Gennans. T/zey were tied up, loaded in a sidecar 0/a motorcycle, a leg
whic/z dangled out was kicked in and wizen they drove rff tlzey were still
/zit (In their /zeads wit/z sticks, it wa horrible! An q/ficer stood aside and
watc/zed and aId: Cahn down people, soon tlu'ee more of
these dogs will arrive: Smne aimzen were /zit in the.lace by a little
wmnan, one warded iff tlze blows ami was immediatelJ beaten up. It
really drove you rnad, according to t/ze boys. The aircraji has bunzed out
behind tlze Borgward works in Seba1dsbriick. The brave pilot continued
to fly straig/zt through tlze crossfire.fam t/ze flak until all /zis uzen /zad
lift. As tlze boy walked back, they passed several Russian wmnen, who
sClld: There lies a dead Tommy'. That was t/ze man who bailed out
last and who fiLL to /zis death. Smne Gennans stood near tlze dead
aimzan, on his belt was a pistol, and a leatlzer' case wit/z cmnpass, maps,
c/zoco/ate, dzewing gum and rolls 0/candy. The next day I rnet Wassilie
[a Russian also working in the Borgward factory, author] and
lze told me t/zat tlze c/zute 0/the pilot openedjust in tUlze, just above some
trees. After /ze landed he shot at smne Hitler Jugend and NSKK-people
ational Socialist Motor Corps, authOlj, as tlzey were shooting at
/zim wit/z JTIlCtll calibre rjJIes." J
The wounded man who landed in the cemetery was
waist gunner Sgt William Bemus, who had received his
wound while bailing out of the stricken aircraft, as
extensively described in Bemus' own words in the chapter
concerning the Dessau mission. The man whose parachute
apparently did not open was radio-operator Walter
Wagoner. He was killed aboard the aircraft and his body fell
out of the aircraft in its final spins, through the hole in the
bottom that presented itself after the ball turret had been
dropped earlier. However, Stolk's observations about the
rough treatment of the surviving crewmembers is backed up
by facts. In 1947 two men, Otto Rueger a then 43-year old
baker, and Wilhelm Schroeder, a 56-year old police sergeant
were sentenced to three and two-and-a-half years
imprisonment for 'deliberately and wrongfully encourage,
aid, abet and participate in commencing assaults upon
members of the United States Army, who were then and
there surrendered and unarmed prisoners of war in the
cu tody of the then German Reich.'2
In this instance the flyers came away with bruises and
dog bites. However, in a number of cases, there is little doubt
tllat a luckless American flier was killed on the gTOund
before anyone could come to his rescue. Since many of these
instances were not witnessed by others than those directly
involved in the crime, there was no trial for war crimes in
these cases, after the war. We have read about Ray
Wampler, of the 445th Bomb Group, who was 'shot while
escaping' by a military policeman. And about James
Singleton, of the 351st Bomb Group, who was shot while
still floating down in his parachute. About Forest L. Knight,
of the 390th Bomb Group, who was seen alive in his
parachute by fellow crewmembers and who inexplicably
died on the ground. These are some of the known events.
But how many airmen really died on a foreign field, beaten,
stabbed or shot to death, will forever remain unknown.
The single instance in which I have been able to trace the
trial and actual conviction of the German responsible for the
202
S/Sgt Leroy D. Cruse was the tail gunner ifB-17G 42-31721 Black Magic,
pitoted by Lt Clyde W McClelland. This picture was taken during stateside
training. [Lany L. 7Uel)
death of a helpless American airman shot down on 28 May,
is that of Richard Wegmann. He was accused, and later
found guilty, of the murder of LeRoy D. Cruse, the tail
gunner ofLt Clyde W. McClelland's B-17 of the 351st Bomb
Group. This one case is presented here in great detail to
sketch the tragic events. It shows how bad luck with a
landing place could mean a cruel deatll instead of a prisoner
of war camp and eventual return to fanlllies and friends in
the United States after the war.
LeRoy Desmond Cruse was born on 26 April 1915 in
Terril, a small village of a few hundred inhabitants in nortll
west Iowa. He graduated in 1933 from tlle local Community
High School. LeRoy entered tlle service on 4 August 1941,
more than three months before the attack at Pearl Harbor.
Initially, he was sent to Camp Grant, Illinois, where he
served in the Medical department. In April 1942 he was able
to join the Air Force. Cruse became a gunner and his crew,
after Stateside training, was assigned as a replacement crew
to the Eighth Air Force. On 17 August 1943, the day of the
big SchweinfurtlRegensburg mission, tlle crew arrived in
England and finally ended up at Polebrook, in the 510th
Bomb Squadron of tlle 351st Bomb Group. LeRoy Cruse's
first combat operation was on 4 October 1943, it was a rough
mission to Frankfurt, with heavy enemy opposition. On only
his second mission, to Munster on 10 October eru e was
wounded in action at his tail guns. He was awarded a Purple
Heart and was not back on operations until 3 ovember.
The original crew had by then been split up, due to injuries
that several crewmembers had sustained. From that time on
he had to fly as a spare gurmer for crews who were short
of a gunner for a mission. Slowly, but surely, LeRoy Cruse
flew his combat missions, working toward that magic
number required - 25. Kassel, Knaben, Emden, Frankfurt,
Brunswick, Stettin, Schweinfurt, Cherbourg, Politz and
MISSION 376
39-year old hou ewife from Elm, who
stated in September 1945: "I was
standing at my kitchen window, looking
out, when I saw a plan me down low
from a wave of plane . I wa looking
I saw somebody jump an I I aid: 'My
God! Smnebody jumped out!' and while I
looked I saw three peopl jump out.
They went out in all direction. I t ok my
child and was standing in th yard. I th n
saw a crowd coming down fr m th
direction of Kirschenkubel, e cortin an
American flier. Well, I had nev r n a
parachute in my life before and I t ok m
child and I went over in the dir cti n
tlley were coming from. When I got
there, I saw the parachute wa being
carried by me pilot and it had just fallen
apart on him, on the ground; he was just
kneeling dOW1l, putting it back together
again. I heard Dollefeld say: 'Hzm), up) get
Three buddies at lblebrook. Marcel Copt (!ejl) wasflying as engineer on Linda
Ball II, the Group's lead ship on 2 May and watched the deputy lead ship Black that stz!ff togetlzer, so we can get going.' By that time, two men
Magic with hisji-iend Leroy Cruse (tigll1) at the tail guns go down. Gerard Devtin came down from a little side-road. They came up running.
(centre) did notfly on this missiq,z. [Larry L. 7Uel} One was Wegmann, as I was later-on told; in fact, he said
himself who he was. The other one was just a short distan-
Berlin were among the targets that he bombed. But, he too ce behind Wegmann; he was limping. And when tlley got
was caught by the unexpected raise f the required number near the crowd, in fact, they were rumling quite fast, then I
of combat missions from 25 to 30. With already 26 missions saw Wegmann take a weapon which he carried off his shoul-
to his credit, flown in nearly eight months from Polebrook, der. He just pushed his way into the crowd, and I just held
he boarded Lt McClelland's Black Magtc on 28 May and on to my child, I don't know why, it all happened so fast,
headed for Dessau. Cruse had already flown with and I heard a shot. That was just as the American flyer was
McClelland on several earlier missions, as McClelland's going to cross the road. Then tlle American ran across the
original crew was also split up due to injured crewmembers.
But, sadly, Cruse was not to complete his 30 missions and
return to his fanlliy in Iowa. Black Magzc was struck by flak
and fighters over Dessau and was finally abandoned by its
crew about 50 miles north-east of Frankfurt.
T/Sgt Marcel Copt, who was a member of Cruse's
original crew, and had flown the mission as engineer on the
Group's lead ship and, wrote to the parents of LeRoy 'Bud'
Cruse on 9June: "Fint let me tellyou that Bud was mze 0/our best
.fiends and I hope and pray to see hiln again smne day. 1# /zave taken
the liberty 0/ taking care 0/ a.lew 0/ his personal things and we will
send t/zem to you tn tlze nearfUture. Now I wiLL relate to youjust what
I saw happen. Everything went alongfine till we got to tlze target, then
we were hit byfighters. They carne in.fam t/ze.fant and t/zey got two
engznes mt Bud's ship. Their was nofire or smoke. They ltept up with
us till the tmget and dropped their bmnbs. Tlzert with onlJ two engznes
lift to do tlze puLLzn!;> they started to drop back and lose altitude. Wlzen
tlzey dropped out 0/sight they were still under control and /zad several
0/ our ji1"end.0' fig/Zters escorting them. I fiel sure the whole crew
parachuted to sqJety. Krieslry, our radio-operator, was also zn tlze same
ship. I hope that you hear.fam /zim very soon, and ifyou do hear
smnething we would appredate you lettzng us know. 1# wiLL say good
bye.lor now and we are aLL pulLzngjOr the boys.'8
The letter was also signed by Gerard Devlin, another
member of Cruse's original crew. Copt was quite accurate in
his reassuring remarks, as all crewmembers indeed managed
to leave the doomed ship by parachute in the vicinity of
Frankfurt. A seasoned cq,nbat veteran in the spring if 1944, Cruse is proudly wearing his
gunners wings with a blue patch, denoting combaJ servia. He has atready received
However, things on the ground turned out for worse for a Purple HeartJOr being wounded in action and an Air Medal. with a number if
LeRoy Cruse. What happened is related by Eva Weitzel, a oak leifdustersJOr missions completed. [Larry L. 7Uel}
WAR CRIMES 203
 The burgomaster ifElm1l1ade thefirst effOrt
to cover ujJ the murder ifLeroy CrllJe. In his
report if 30 MaJ' to the county qJfice he
Der Blirgel.neister reports, in his capacity as chiif' if the local
als Ortspolizeibehord~. police, that "on 28 MaJ' 1944 at abTUiSt
1600 hours when American ailplanes were
An das
flying over our village, an American airman
Landrat samt has lost his lift because ifa parachutejump ':
Schllichtern. [Nati01zal Arch.ives]

Am 28.5.1944 gegen 16 Uhr b~im Uberfliegen unsre~'

Dorfes von Am_- ika1liscl1':lll FllJ.e9:~1.'_S_ll, ist ein Pilot durch Fallschirm- my husband came along and h
absprung totlich verungllickt. .....-
Die Beerdi~Ulg fand am 29.5.1944 unter Belseln des Burgermelsters un~ said; 'No don't you bury that
meister der GAnaarill8rie Kohler auf dem Gemeindefriedhof in Elm statt.~ man in front of my wife and m
"Jch gebt.dem Landratsamt Schllichtern davon Kenntnis, wegen Beu:tkundung''''
des Sterbefalles im Standesamtsregisters Elm. child's eyes; we have to li
nearby; take him where h
belong, to the cemetery'. B
Leroy D ..Q.1J.l.s~/. that time, the polic came out
37047568 T- 42- 3
Mike Crnse 0 and policeman Kahler aid:
~erril Jowa P 'That's a soldier and he is goin
to be buried where the re t of
them a.re buried and that's in th
',ys-"l en!, cemetery', and they picked th
dead soldier up and went away
with him. And then I left and
road into the field approximately three or four metres; he went home and I was all excited for some time to come.,,4
broke down with his hcu1ds raised up and letting out cries The body of luckless LeRoy D. Cruse was buried in ELm
and saying something, I don't know what. I don't cemetery on 29 May. The burgomaster of ELm, no doubt
understcu1d English. And then I heard the second shot; I trying to cover up the murder, reported that Cruse wa
think he shot him then. The American tl1en was rolling on killed 'by parachuting.' The news that LeRoy Cruse wa
the ground, crying and hollering from pain; it was killed in action and would not return to Terril shattered hi
something terrible; I can still hear it. Maybe I was dazed by parents hopes in late September 1944.
it, I don't know. I rCU1 up to Wegmann and said: ' WIry didyou When American ground forces occupied the ELm area in.
shoot that man, he gave no resistance whatsoever?' and Wegmann February 1945 his body was exhumed and brought to th
looked like he was crazy cu1d he was sputtering sometl1i.ng. I recently established military cemetery in St Avoid, France.
turned cu'ound, grabbed my child, wanted to get away from Here he was buried in plot QQQ. row 2, grave 18. However
it all and he ran up to me cu1d he, Wegmann, said: 'Are )Iou a just a few months later doubts arose about the way that
Gemzan w01llan; how can you have sympathy with an air-gangsteT? LeRoy had died.
"I turned cu-ound, grabbed my child and ran towcu-ds One of the men who suspected that something was n t
home. I was very excited, the child was crying and right was Leonard Kriesky, the crew's radio-operator and
evel')'body seemed to be in CU1 uprocu' and I heard, as I left, also one of LeRoy's original crewmembers in October
somebody say: 'Wh)l don't you finish that poor 71l£ln?, I don't 1943. Kriesky wrote to LeRoy's parents on 13 July 1945:
know what person said that cu1d then I hecu'd another shot. "I am rather late in writingyou this letter but I thought I'd get home
I rCU1 back again and looked at him, I don't know why I did first and see if there was additional irifOrmation I could get hold rf.
it, but I was so excited that I did not know what I was doing. The only news I can give qfBud is that da)' qf 28 May 1944 he
I grabbed my child again and ran towards home and for was not injured in the plane. /i'VC were given orders to bailout, we
ome reason or other I came back again cu1d looked at the shook hands and said we should see each other on the gTOUnd. Bud
body and I'm sure that Wegmann fired the last shot. He had ltft second, while I jumpedjOurth. Tlzat was the last I saw qfhim.
a great big gun in his hcu1d. When I can1e back I looked on The ball gunner saw him on the ground, but dIdn't get to talk to him
the ground and I saw a cartridge ca e. I picked it up and I as they wel-e about a haff a mile apal·t - however, he did see Bud
said; 'I'll keep that as remembrance; I'll never forget it hide his chute and take qff That is the reason I did not want to
cu1yway to my dying day'. Then a car pulled up and I saw betray him should he be making his way out. It was distressing news
two men come out of it; one was Lutz. Later on, I heard that to learn that the govemment infimned you that he was killed in
the other was Geschwindner. And I saw tl1at Lutz shook action. This was the first I'd heard qfit, you see ilifOnnation qfthat
hands with Wegmann and said sometl1i.ng, but I don't know type doesn't reach us. It's hardjOr me to realize it and I know it's
what lie 'said _to ·him. Then I hecu'd Wegmcu1n say, 'Let's go, tryingjOr you. Tlze on6' possible explanation qf his death could be
we'll g~t another one', and he and anotl1er man that limped that the Jerry had shot at him in making his attempt to escape. I
'left the crowd. They went up the hill ca.Lled KaJkwerk, and know that sentence seems coarse - but we have to look at the.facts
then I heard when Lutz and Geschwindner called over and possibilities. He was one that would not give in easily and I
Moller, who had come down tl1e hill at the time cu1d said: know if it happened this way the Jen) had a fight and I mean a
'What, "you are afraid that an American will shoot you; goodfight on their hands.
you're just a coward', or something to tl1at effect. And then "Cruse was a very good buddy qfmine and the rest qfthe crew, we
tl1ey were going, from the way it looked, to bury the loved him so easy going, rifi-eshing and always eagerfir the battle -
Amel;can on tl1e place where he was shot, but by that time he was the tops with us. I know your loss is a great thing but peThaps
Leji: In ~Febl71a1Y 1945 LeRoJ' was bU17fXllil the Lorraine American cemetel)' in St Avoid, France. In December
1948 his n7naillS where exhumed and retumed to tile United tates. [umy L. Tile!}
Above: LeRoJ' C17lse 's final resting place is in the j{l1nily plot in the Fe/in,iew CemelnT, Ten-il, Iowa. His snow-
covered grave was jJll:!ured in January 2000. [Jen)' D. .Nelson] -
you canfind a lillle solace in the filcl thal we loo sll£lre il - the loss qf A further medical examination showed that the steel
a grand S071, a great soldier and a best buddy.".s splinter was still lodged in Wegmann's brain. It was removed
He and the other crewmembers made imilar statement easily in the Internee Hospital 2 in Karlsruhe on 7 March,
during the official investigations, that would find their way 1946. The final trial took place in Dachau on 10 and llJune
in the Missing Air Crew Report tL1at was compiled for theiT 1946 and despite all efforts by Wegmann's advocate, the
aircraft and crew. General Military Government Court sentenced him to death
The evidence for a possible atrocity wa strong enough by hcu1gi.ng.
to have Cruse's body di interred and have an autopsy However, after a petition for clemency, which claimed
performed on 5 September 1945. The autop y clearly insanity at the moment of the crime, the Judge A Ivocate
showed that Cruse was killed by a shot in the head, that recommended the commutation to 30 years imprisonment
there was another bullet wound in the abdomen, and, most on 23 D cember 1946. Later the sentence was reduced to 25
important, that the range of firing had been very close. years. Wegmcu1n behaved well i11 prison and when his father
Investigations in Elm soon led to Richard Wegmann. was killed in CU1 accident on his farm in 1954, the sentence
who was arrested and interrogated on 28 September. It was reduced to 'ten years imprisomnent, commencing 13
appeared that he was a twenty-four year old farmer at tL1e May 1945' and thus he was released shortly tl1ereafter.
time of the crime. He had served in the /i'VCIlI771aclzt from 1938 By tl1at time LeRoy Cruse was already back in Iowa.
until he was wounded in action during the invasion in When given the opportunity by tl1e Govenm1ent, his pcu-ents
Poland in September 1939. He was discharged from the had his body disinterred from tl1e Lorraine cemetery at tl1e
/i'VClmnacht in 1941 and since that time he had been working end of 1948. After a long sea and rail journey tL1e casket with
on his parents' farm. His only brother had been killed his body arrived in Terril. On 31 ]CU1UCU')' 1949 LeRoy was
during an air raid by the RAF on Frankfurt in 1941. buried in the Fairview Cemetery in Dickinson County. His
During his trial the reason for his discharge from the [mal resting place is barely two nllies outside Terril, from
/i'VCll17nadzt became clear. The wound he had received in Poland where he had departed in 1941 to serve his caunn')'.
had been a steel splinter in his head. This resulted in spell of
unconsciou ness, temporary loss of memory and a tendency to Notes
became very nervous and excitable. The fanlliy doctor, who 1. Diary Lcen Stalk, through C.L. Hammer, 22 ovcmber 1998.
was one of the wiIJ1esses for the defense of the accused 2. 'Ii·jal 12-57, Rccord Group 153, Washington National Records enter.
summarized his behaviour i.n the period between 1940 and 3. 9Junc 1944· leller, through Larry L. Tuel. February 5,2001.
4. Ti-iaI12-1967: Rccord Group 153. Wa rullgton National Records
1944 as: "Serious weaknes es as fcu- as the brain's capacity to Centcr.5
work i concerned, with effective aberrations. extreme 5. 13 July 1945 leLler, through Larry L. Tuel, 5 Februal)' 2001.
irritation, excitability and typic.:L1 sensibility to weather."6 6. -!l·ial 12-1967: Record Group 153, Washington ational Records enter.

204 MISSION 376 WAR CRIMES

205
 Appendix One B-17G 42-97847 Q 385 Bomb roup, 569 Bomb Squadron
Shot down by flak, crashed m Albrechtsham, Germany
B-17G 42-31985 DI-P 390 Bomb
Shot down by fighters, crashed in Lost u,
u

Hunter, Francis J. FlO P POW Ingram, John H. 2ILt

USAAF LOSSES - Mission 376, 28 May 194 Miller, Raymond J.
Ray, Preston
FlO
2/Lt
CP
N
POW
POW
Banks, Douglas C.
Tabeling, Robert G.
2ILt
2/Lt N
Coelho, Antero D. 2/Lt B POW Cosgrove, Daniel J.B. 2/lt B
Marts, Ralph M. S/Sgt E POW Buntin Jr, William C. S/Sgt
B-24J 42-110045 GJ-K 44 Bomb Group, 506 Bomb Squadron B-17G 42-31757 YB-G 351 Bomb Group, 508 Bomb Squadron
Schrotter, Jerome H. S/Sgt ROP POW Czerpak, Henry S/Sgt ROP
Shot down by flak, crashed in Dummerlohausen, Germany Shot down by fighters, crashed in Waldau, Germany
Scott, Richard E. Sgt BTG POW lewis, James J. Sgt BTC,
Gurman, Irving S. 2/Lt P POW Condon, William J. 2/lt P KIA
Kowalski, Edward J. S/Sgt lWG POW Czyz, Edward J. Sgt lWG
Jipson, Robert F. 2/Lt CP POW Kolceski, Joseph P. 2/Lt CP KIA
Sheehan, Kenneth E. Sgt RWG POW McKee, Arnold S/Sgt RWG
Kaulbach Jr., Andrew J. 2/Lt N POW Zindar, laddie J. 2/Lt N KIA
Pruner, Maurice J. Sgt TG POW Salmons, Kenneth A. Sgt TG
McMaster, James H. Sgt B POW Onken, Edwin S. 2/Lt B POW
Costello, George B. S/Sgt E POW Jackson, Junny O. S/Sgt E KIA B-17G 42-39845 B 388 Bomb Group, 563 Bomb Squadron B-17G 42-32089 DI-W 390 Bomb Group, 570 Bomb
Carson, Joseph S/Sgt ROP POW Morris, William H. S/Sgt ROP POW Shot down by flak, belly-landed in Mengsberg, Germany Shot down by fighters, crashed near Colbitz, Germany
Wiitala, Eino J Sgt lWG POW Jenkins, Charles G Sgt BTG KIA Fjelsted, Marquis G. 2/Lt P POW Matthias Jr, Adolph J lilt P POW
Willis, Theodore D. Sgt RWG POW Norris, Harry M. Sgt WG KIA Hudson, William C. 2/Lt CP POW Gerards, Henry J 2/Lt CP POW
Williams, Charles D. Sgt TG POW Jackson, John J. Sgt TG POW Houlihan, H. Joseph 2/Lt N POW Freyland, Joseph P 2/Lt N POW
Tracewski, Chester P. 2/Lt B POW Bass, Quentin R. 2/Lt B POW
B-17G 42-31389 EP-J 100 Bomb Group, 351 Bomb Squadron B-17G 42-39987 DS-D 351 Bomb Group, 511 Bomb Squadron
McBrien, John E. S/Sgt E POW Wolf, Jerry T/Sgt E POW
Shot down by fighters, crashed in Barleben, Germany Shot down by fighters, crashed in L6nnewitz, Germany
Hoover, George F. Sgt ROP POW Abbot, Charles N. T/Sgt ROP POW
lacy, lucius G. lilt P POW Probasco, Robert E.l. FlO P POW
Perry, John L. Sgt BTG POW Oliver, Charles M. S/Sgt BTG POW
Schindler, Claude E. lilt CP KIA lewellyn, Stephen B. 2/lt CP POW
Stringer, Edward J. Sgt lWG POW Veale, Roy E Sgt lWG POW
Rossman, Raymond E. 2/Lt N POW Bragg, William P 2/lt N POW
McCarty, Harold S. Sgt RWG POW Spencer, Laurene W. S/Sgt RWG POW
Greenberg, Herbert lilt B POW Branch, Bruno 2/Lt B POW
Shatz, John R. S/Sgt TG POW Walker, leon C. S/Sgt TG POW
Cary, Sidney A. T/Sgt E POW Ulreich, Herman T S/Sgt E POW
Wood Jr, Clarence H. T/Sgt ROP POW Moore, Arlie W. S/Sgt ROP KIA B-17G 42-102485 R 388 Bomb Group, 562 Bomb Squadron B-17G 42-37806 FC-Z 390 Bomb Group, 571 Bomb Squadron
Powell Jr, Chester L. S/Sgt BTG KIA Ringstmeyer, Norman W. Sgt BTG KIA Shot down by flak, belly-landed in Groenekan, Holland Shot down by fighters, crashed in Waltemienburg, Germany.
Mitchell, Raymond J. S/Sgt lWG POW Seaman, Raymond G. Sgt lWG KIA Codding, Arthur M. lilt P POW Holmes, Henry C. lilt P POW
Folsom, Joe S S/Sgt RWG KIA Frankowski, Edward J. Sgt RWG POW Withers, Roger B. 2/Lt CP POW Kruger, Charles B. 2/Lt CP POW
Rotz, Michael S/Sgt TG POW Singleton, James D. Sgt TG KIA Chiles, Donald L. 2/lt N KIA Steck, Walter 2/lt N POW
McBeth, Delmar D. S/Sgt T KIA Thompson, Oral G 2/Lt B POW
B-17G 42-107028 VK-I 303 Bomb Group, 358 Bomb Squadron B-17G 42-97191 DS-X 351 Bomb Group, 511 Bomb Squadron
Berg, Robert C. T/Sgt E POW Baccaro, Victor L. T/Sgt E POW
Shot down by flak, crashed in Albrechtshain, Germany Shot down by fighters, crashed between Deetz and Nedlitz, Germany.
Waite, Clyde H. T/Sgt ROP POW Knight, Forest l. T/Sgt ROP KIA
Determan, Alvin G. 2/Lt P POW Miller, Carl F. 2/lt P KIA
Joye, Kenneth M. S/Sgt BTG POW Watson, Frank R. S/Sgt BTG POW
Pfahler, Ervin J. 2/Lt CP KIA Fikes, Maurice G. 2/Lt CP POW
Brown, lawrence G S/Sgt lWG POW Roock, Harold R. S/Sgt lWG POW
Palmer Jr., Jackson 2/Lt N KIA Brown, Russell A. 2/Lt N POW
Roskowick, Thomas L. S/Sgt RWG KIA Sanders, Soldier S/Sgt RWG POW
McCamy, James A. 2/Lt B KIA lemcke, Ernest A. S/Sgt T POW
Mulder, James W. S/Sgt TG POW Kast Jr., Paul A. S/Sgt TG POW
Hendrickson, Milton C. T/Sgt E KIA Avry, Frank T/Sgt E POW
Asman, Robert H. T/Sgt ROP POW McCann, James D. T/Sgt ROP POW B-24J 42-110074 HP-P 389 Bomb Group, 567 Bomb Squadron B-17G 42-102440 BI-K 390 Bomb Group, 568 Bomb Squadron
Vasquez, Manuel Sgt BTG KIA Kaplowitz, Isidor P S/Sgt BTG KIA Mechanical troubles, crashed west of Gravelines, France. Shot down by fighters, crashed near Burg, Germany
Livingston, Acel E Sgt lWG KIA Lien, Albert l. Sgt lWG POW Eley, Jack 2/Lt P POW Weigle, Walter P 2/Lt P POW
Cope, Wayne E. Sgt RWG POW Bushlow, Anthony J. Sgt RWG POW Tucker, Walter l. 2/Lt CP KIA Richardson, Charles A. FlO CP POW
Carroccia, Albert R. Sgt TG KIA Stafford, George A. S/Sgt TG POW Joblonicky, Albert 2/Lt N KIA Preusser, Herman H. 2/Lt N POW
Osborne, Charles E. S/Sgt NTG MIA Severson, Elmer D. 2/Lt B POW
B-17G 42-39878 XK-S 305 Bomb Group, 365 Bomb Squadron B-17G 42-97472 DS-H 351 Bomb Group, 511 Bomb Squadron
Kaems, Robert H. S/Sgt E MIA Curiston, Thomas J S/Sgt E POW
Mechanical troubles, belly-landed in Zerf, Germany Shot down by fighters, crashed in Westdorf, near Aschersleben,
Tennant, James C. S/Sgt ROP RTD Rudolph, Donald F. S/Sgt ROP POW
Herrick, Julius F. 2/lt P POW Germany
Crepp, Howard E. T/Sgt lWG RTD Mniszewski, Irvin T Sgt BTG POW
Saunders Jr, Lloyd H. 2/Lt CP POW Anderson, Charles F. 2/lt P POW
Daly, Arthur J. S/Sgt RWG KIA Becker, Joseph M. Sgt lWG POW
lobdell, leon W. 2/Lt N POW McFetridge, Robert L. FlO CP POW
laCourse, Victor S/Sgt TG MIA Minor, Gale W. Sgt RWG POW
Boraz, Herbert 2/Lt B POW Ryan, Robert E. 2/lt N POW
Spotanski, Alexander Sgt TG POW
Gillespie, Charlie T/Sgt E POW Baird, William H. 2/Lt B POW B-17G 42-31651 FC-G 390 Bomb Group, 571 Bomb Squadron
Schwartz, William S S/Sgt ROP POW Williams, Neal W. Sgt E POW Shot down by fighters, crashed in Ebendorf, Germany B-17G 42-31034 SC-G 401 Bomb Group, 612 Bomb Squadron
Busby, Orval R. Sgt BTG POW Vecchione, Casper S/Sgt ROP POW Strate, Herbert V 2/Lt P KIA Shot down by fighters, crashed between Otterwlsch and Pomssen,
Dunbar, Daniel E. Sgt lWG EVD Nitzberg, George P Sgt BTG POW Elliott, Samuel R. 2/Lt CP KIA Germany.
Norris, Benjamin R. Sgt RWG EVD Matzke, Bernard J. S/Sgt WG POW Brown, Richard C. 2/Lt N KIA West, George E. lilt P KIA
Napier, John C. S/Sgt TG POW Vanhorn, Edward E. Sgt TG POW Woolfolk, Robert L. 2/Lt B KIA McKinnon, Douglas H. lilt CP POW
Stoy, Edward C. S/Sgt E POW Nutter, Lloyd A. lilt N POW
B-17G 42-31721 TU-S 351 Bomb Group, 510 Bomb Squadron
Mamula Jr., Nick S/Sgt ROP KIA Montgomery, Thomas B. lilt B POW
Shot down by flak, crashed in Memes, Germany
Reed, Arthur E. Sgt BTG KIA Russell, Francis L. T/Sgt E POW
McClelland, Clyde W. lilt P POW
Bolton, Harold B. Sgt lWG POW Andrus, Robert L. T/Sgt ROP POW
Francis, Richard E. lilt CP POW
Smart, Robert B. Sgt RWG KIA Womble, Johnnie L. S/Sgt BTG POW
Duncan, John B. lilt N POW
Molenock, Edward D. Sgt TG POW Russell, Hugh D. S/Sgt lWG KIA
Kiely, George F. lilt B POW
Morini, Alfred J. S/Sgt RWG POW
Poole, louis E. T/Sgt E POW
lefkin, Michael S/Sgt TG KIA
Kriesky, leonard J. T/Sgt ROP POW
Williams, Nathan l. S/Sgt BTG POW
Edwards, Junior H. S/Sgt WG POW
Cruse, leRoy D. S/Sgt TG KIA

206 MISSION 376 APPENDIX 1 207

B-17G 42-31557 IN-R 401 Bomb Group, 613 Bomb Squadron B-17G 42-102647 IN-G 401 Bomb Group, 613 Bomb Squadron B-24H 42-50345 3R-B 486 Bomb Group, 832 Bomb Squadron P-47D 42-26016 HL-A 78 Fighter r "I' I
Shot down by fighters, crashed 8 km South East of Belzig, Germany Shot down by fighters, crashed in Niemegk, Germany Shot down by flak, crashed in the English Channel, off Zuydcoote, Collided with P-57, crashed in Jeggau,
Keith, Walter B. lilt P POW Windham, Frederick H. 2/lt P POW France. Juchheim, Alvin M. Cap
Maloney, John J. 2/Lt CP KIA Ferguson, Donald P 2/Lt CP KIA Hicks, Eugene R. lilt P MIA
Priest, Jack B lilt N KIA Floto, Carl T. 2/Lt N POW Johnson, John C. 2/Lt CP MIA P-47D 42-26064 MX-M 78 Fighter Group, HI ,
Weiss, Norman 2/Lt B POW Melito, Angelo J 2/Lt B POW Bogert, James H. Capt N POW Shot down by flak, crashed in Gildehaus, G
Wells, James E. 5/5gt E POW Rittmaier, Robert W 5/5gt E POW Moll, David V. 2/Lt N MIA Hazelett, Philip H. lilt
Mahler, Arthur P CPl Rap POW Johnson, Dana B. 5/5gt Rap KIA Russell, Kenneth E. 2/Lt B MIA
Beckowitz, Peter 5gt BTG KIA Mihalich, leonard A. 5/5gt BTG KIA 5mith, Charles A. 5/5gt E POW
P-47D 42-76318 MX-W 78 Fighter Group, III ,,,,I ,
Barnes, Merle E. 5gt lWG POW Garcia, Jose G 5gt lWG KIA Shot down by flak, crashed in Elbergen, G rm
Munro, George H. 5/5gt Rap POW
Cass, leo C. 5gt RWG KIA Irelan, Clyde E. 5gt RWG POW Drake, Robert E.
Orvis Jr, William 5. 2/lt P
5/5gt BTG MIA
D'Agostino, Victor 5gt TG POW Miller, Floyd a 5/5gt TG KIA Bundrick, Olin L. 5gt lWG MIA P-51B 42-106635 PZ-A 352 Fighter Group, (\
Todd, James R. M/5gt RWG MIA Squadron
B-17G 42-39837 SC-L 401 Bomb Group, 612 Bomb Squadron B-24H 42-50346 ? 445 Bomb Group, 703 Bomb Squadron
Moskowitz, Murray 5gt TG MIA Shot down by fighters, probably crashed in Achef)l
Mechanical troubles, ditched in the North Sea. Shot down by flak, crashed in Stassen, Germany
Carter, Gerald F 2/lt P RTD Campbell, John W lilt P POW Anderson, Woodrow W Capt P
B-24H 42-52764 4N-O 486 Bomb Group, 832 Bomb Squadron
Johnston, Clayton A lilt CP RTD Marlin, Roger T. 2/Lt CP POW Shot down by flak, crashed in Charly des Bois, Belgium P-47D 42-75457 YJ-A 353 Fighter Group, 351 'If hI, ,
locklear, Willard a FlO N RTD Wholeben, Bernard E. lilt N POW Sanders, Alfred M. 2/Lt P EVD Squadron
Deaton, Lloyd G. FlO B RTD Matheu, Daniel J lilt B POW Morley, Fred A 2/Lt CP POW Shot down by flak, crashed in Loddenheide, Germany
Truax, Floyd A 5gt E RTD Bennett, Harold 5/5gt E POW Zoebelein, Thomas J. 2/Lt N EVD Farley, Joseph R. 2/Lt P
Heinlon, John N. 5/5gt Rap RTD Robinson, William M. T/5gt Rap POW O'Connell, Daniel M. FlO B EVD
Hardister, 5tanford M. 5gt BTG RTD Williams, Cophlin 5/5gt BTG POW Kozulak, William 5gt E POW P-51B 42-106712 FT-I 354 Fighter Group, 353 Fight r q"" 1''111
Miller, Carl J 5/5gt WG RTD Ball, Royce E 5/5gt WG POW lawrence, John H. 5gt Rap POW Mechanical troubles, crashed in North Sea.
Hafko, John 5gt WG RTD Wampler, Ray M. 5/5gt WG KIA Sizemore, James R. 5/5gt BTG EVD McDowell, Don lilt P IA
Wepner, John L. 5gt TG RTD Vallette, leo J. 5/5gt TG POW Smith, Autley B. 5gt lWG EVD
lujan, louis 5/5gt RWG POW P-51 B 43-7195 FT-X 354 Fighter Group, 353 Fighter Squadr
B-17G 42-97073 IY-N 401 Bomb Group, 615 Bomb Squadron B-17G 42-31520 A 457 Bomb Group, 751 Bomb Squadron Shot down by flak, belly-landed in Ruppersdorf, Germany
5waffield, Robert C. 5gt TG POW
Shot down by fighters, crashed in MOhro, Germany Shot down by fighters, crashed in Dollbach, Germany Pipes, Glenn H. lilt P POW
Kaminski, Vincent J. lilt P KIA Knipfer, Clyde B. lilt P POW B-24H 42-52651 4F-R 487 Bomb Group, 838 Bomb Squadron
Enstad, Robert J. 2/Lt CP POW Bruha, Richard H. 2/Lt CP POW Shot down by flak, crashed in Xhoris, Belgium P-51 B 43-6631 WR-T 355 Fighter Group, 354 Fighter Squ dr r1

Black, J. Dee lilt N KIA Derdzinski, George R. 2/Lt N POW Burckes, Ralph 5 2/Lt P POW Shot down by fighters, probably crashed in Zerbst, Germany
Manning, Charles H. 2/Lt B POW Gray, 5tanley v. 2/Lt B POW Chavez, Paul F 2/Lt CP EVD Barger, Clarence R. lilt P MIA
Agee, Jack D. T/5gt E KIA Voit, 5tephen T. T/5gt E POW Dunham, William F 2/Lt N POW
P-51 B 43-6983 WR-O 355 Fighter Group, 354 Fight
Cooper, larry R. T/5gt Rap KIA Bendino, Nicholas F T/5gt Rap POW Weeks, Homer A 2/lt B POW
Shot down by fighters, crashed in Buhlendorf, Germany
Johnson, Joe R. 5gt BTG KIA Furrie, Nicholas D. 5/5gt BTG POW Toole, James M. 5/5gt E POW
Christensen, Walter M. 2/Lt P 'IA
May, William M. 5/5gt lWG KIA Waltho, Percy 5/5gt WG POW Witherow, Howard A 5/5gt Rap EVD
Bushendorf, Everett M. 5/5gt RWG KIA Goldstein, Joshua 5/5gt TG POW Henry, Charles l. 5gt BTG POW P-51C 42-103004 ? 363 Fighter Group, 380 Fi h , Qll
Hertzan, Harold 5/5gt TG KIA Carpenter, Donald W 5gt G POW Shot down by fighters, crashed in Schackensleben, G rm f
B-17G 42-97067 Y 457 Bomb Group, 749 Bomb Squadron Abadie Jr., Emil J. 5gt G EVD Clemovitz, Feodor 2/Lt P POW
B-17G 42-102580 IN-Q 401 Bomb Group, 613 Bomb Squadron
Shot down by fighters and flak, crashed in Osterholz, Germany Henze, Rex L. 5gt TG EVD
Shot down by fighters, crashed between Aken and Dessau, P-51B 42-106481 ? 363 Fighter Group, 382 Fight <lu ti,
5tohl, Rudolph M. lilt P POW
Germany P-51 B 42-106846 QP-H 4 Fighter Group, 334 Fighter Squadron Shot down by fighters, crashed in Bennstedt, Germany
5chellenger, David W 2/Lt CP POW
Protz, William F lilt P POW Ran out of fuel, crashed in Aumont, France. Wilson, Curry P. 2/lt P POW
Millham, John a 2/Lt N POW
Barnett, Richard 5. 2/Lt CP KIA Bopp, Richard L. 2/Lt P POW
Thomas, James E. 2/Lt B POW
Bennett, Sam B. 2/Lt N KIA P-51B 42-106486 C3-A 363 Fighter Group, 382 Fi h
Kriete, Robert C. M/5gt E POW
5tiegel, Alvin J. FlO B KIA P-51B 43-6933 QP-Y 4 Fighter Group, 334 Fighter Squadron Squadron
Wagoner, Walter W T/5gt Rap KIA
Morrow, Jim K. T/5gt E KIA Shot down by fighters, crashed in Vogelsang, Germany Collided with P-47, crashed in Sichau, Germany
Moore, 5heldon E. 5gt BTG POW
Wicks, Wayne W T/5gt Rap KIA Hewatt, Aubrey E. 2/Lt P POW ladas, Anthony E. 2/lt P IA
Welling, Irwin A 5/5gt lWG POW
Bartak, Frank 5. 5/5gt BTG POW
Bemus, William F 5gt RWG POW
Reinhardt, Albert P 5gt lWG POW
5tewart, Charles L. 5/5gt TG POW
Cliff, Glenn I. 5/5gt RWG POW
Appleby, James C. 5/5gt TG POW B-17G 42-97452 L 457 Bomb Group, 751 Bomb Squadron
Shot down by fighters, crashed in the North Sea.
B-17G 42-102581 IN-L 401 Bomb Group, 613 Bomb Squadron
Hauf, Emanuel lilt P MIA
Shot down by fighters, crashed in Glienicke, Germany
5wain, Donald V. 2/Lt CP MIA
5charff, Paul F. lilt P KIA
Hawley, William R. 2/Lt N MIA
Eckert, Charles A 2/Lt CP KIA
Jaqua, Richard E. 2/Lt B MIA
5chwartz, Bernard lilt N POW
Johnson, Willis H. T/5gt E MIA
Hoover, Robert E. 2/Lt B KIA Kilroy, James J. T/5gt Rap MIA
Karl, Richard X. T/5gt E POW
Furtta, Walter 5/5gt BTG MIA
5trong, Robert C. 5gt Rap POW
Moore, Paul R. 5/5gt WG MIA
Bedell, Charles H. 5/5gt BTG POW
Gascon, Oscar A 5/5gt TG MIA
Tomlinson, Roscoe D. 5/5gt lWG KIA
Pynigar, Frederick G 5gt RWG POW
5mallin, James M. 5/5gt TG POW

208 MISSION 376 APPENDIX 1

210 MISSION 376 APPENDIX 2 211
 Appendix Three Appendix Four
US FIGHTER PILOT ROLL OF HONOR
AIR-TO-AIR VICTORY CREDITS Those Killed in Action on 28 May 1944
The burial locations at the American military cemeteries are the individual gravenumbers (plot-row-grave). WOM st nd
4 FG/334 FS 2/Lt Hofer, Ralph K. 1 Me 109 355 FG/357 FS 2/Lt Eshelman, Francis L 1 Me 109 Tablets of the Missing.
4 FG/334 FS lilt Kenyon, Robert P. 1 Me 109 355 FG/357 FS lilt MacFarlane, Walter E. 1 Me 109
4 FG/334 FS 2/Lt Kolter, Mark H. 1 Me 109 Agee, Jack. D. T/Sgt E 401 BG, 615 BS Lorraine, C-11-83
4 FG/334 FS lilt Lang, Joseph L. 1.5 Me 109 Anderson, Woodrow W. Capt P 352 FG, 486 FS Henri-Chapelle, WOM
357 FG/Hq LtCol Hayes, Thomas L Jr 1 Me 109
4 FG/334 FS Maj McPharlin, Michael GH 1 Me 109 Banks, Douglas C 2/Lt CP 390 BG, 570 BS Lorraine, K-26-09
357 FG/362 FS Maj Broadhead, Joseph E. 1 Fw 190 Barger, Clarence R. lilt P 355 FG, 354 FS Henri-Chapelle, WOM
4 FG/334 FS 2/Lt Siems, Grover C Jr 1 Fw 190
357 FG/362 FS lilt Carson, Leonard K. 1 Fw 190 Barnett. Richard S. 2/Lt CP 401 BG, 613 BS USA
4 FG/334 FS Capt Sobanski, Winslow M. 1 Me 109
357 FG/363 FS lilt Peters, Charles K. 1 Me 109 Beckowitz, Peter Sgt BTG 401 BG, 613 BS USA
78 FG/83 FS lilt McDermott, William M. 0.5 Me 109 Bennett, Sam B. 2/Lt B 401 BG, 613 BS USA
357 FG/364 FS lilt Howell, John C 1 Me 109
78 FG/83 FS 2/Lt White, Frederick 05 Me 109 Bernstein, Harry S/Sgt E 457 BG, 751 BS USA
357 FG/364 FS Capt Peterson, Richard A. 1 Me 109
Black, J. Dee lilt B 401 BG, 615 BS Lorraine, K-24-35
357 FG/364 FS lilt Ruder, Leroy A. 1 Me 109
352 FG/328 FS lilt Thornell, John F. Jr 1 Me 109 Brown, Richard C. FlO N 390 BG, 571 BS USA
352 FG/328 FS liLt White, Henry W Jr 1 Fw 190
363 FG/Hq Maj McWherter, Robert C 1 Me 109 Bundrick, Olin L Sgt LWG 486 BG, 832 BS Henri-Chapelle, WOM
352 FG/486 FS Capt Anderson, Woodrow W 1 Me 109 Bushendorf. Everett M. S/Sgt RWG 401 BG, 615 BS USA
363 FG/380 FS lilt Clough, Gerald C 1 Me 410
352 FG/486 FS Maj Andrew, Stephen W 1 Me 109 Carroccia, Albert R. Sgt TG 303 BG, 358 BS USA
363 FG/380 FS 2/Lt Hill, James E. 1 Fw 190
352 FG/486 FS lilt Heller, Edwin L. 1.5 Me 109 Cass, Leo C Sgt RWG 401 BG, 613 BS USA
363 FG/380 FS lilt Kammerlohr, Morton A. 1 Me 109
352 FG/486 FS 2/Lt Howell, Lester L 1 Me 109 Chiles, Donald L 2/Lt N 388 BG, 562 BS USA
363 FG/380 FS lilt McEachron, Gordon T 1 Me 109
352 FG/486 FS lilt Barnes, Harry H. 1 Me 109
363 FG/380 FS 2/Lt Ray, Donald W 1 Fw 190 Christensen, Walter M. 2/Lt P 355 FG, 354 FS Lorraine, E-36-23
363 FG/380 FS 2/Lt Steiner, Walter H. Jr 1 Fw 190 Condon, William J 2/Lt P 351 BG, 508 BS Margraten, M-21-12
353 FG/Hq Maj Gallup, Kenneth W 1 Me 109
363 FG/380 FS 2/Lt Turner, Bruce W 1 Fw 190 Cooper, Larry R. S/Sgt ROP 401 BG, 615 BS Lorraine, D-20-25
363 FG/380 FS lilt Vance, Edwin E. 2 Me 109 Cruse, LeRoy D. S/Sgt TG 351 BG, 510 BS USA
354 FG/353 FS lilt Anderson, William Y 1 Me 109
363 FG/380 FS lilt Williams, Burl R. 1 Fw 190 Czerpak, Henry S/Sgt ROP 390 BG, 570 BS Ardennes, C-34-15
354 FG/353 FS Maj Bradley, Jack T 2 Me 109
354 FG/353 FS Capt Eagleston, Glenn T 1 Me 109 Daly, Arthur J S/Sgt RWG 389 BG, 567 BS USA and Ardennes, WOM
363 FG/382 FS liLt Robertson, John 1 Me 109
354 FG/353 FS Capt Eagleston, Glenn T 1 Fw 190 Drake, Robert E. S/Sgt BTG 486 BG, 832 BS Cambridge, WOM
354 FG/353 FS Capt Emmer, Wallace N. 2 Me 109 Eckert, Charles A. 2/Lt CP 401 BG, 613 BS Lorraine, D-20-22
354 FG/353 FS Capt Emmer, Wallace N. 1 Fw 190 Elliott, Samuel R. 2/Lt CP 390 BG, 571 BS Lorraine, E-37-18
354 FG/353 FS lilt Frantz, Carl M. 1 Me 109 Farley, Joseph R. 2/Lt P 353 FG, 351 FS Arden nes, D-O 1-43
354 FG/353 FS lilt Hunt, Edward E. 1 Me 109
Ferguson, Donald P. 2/Lt CP 401 BG, 613 BS USA
354 FG/355 FS lilt Allen, Gus W 1 Me 109 Folsom, Joe S S/Sgt RWG 100 BG, 351 BS USA
354 FG/355 FS lilt Gross, Clayton K. 1 Me 109 Furtta, Walter S/Sgt BTG 457 BG, 751 BS Ardennes, WOM
354 FG/355 FS Capt Lasko, Charles W 1.5 Me 109 Garcia, Jose G. Sgt LWG 401 BG, 613 BS Ardennes, C-03-12
354 FG/355 FS 2/Lt Moran, Patrick E. 1 Me 109 Gascon, Oscar A. S/Sgt TG 457 BG, 751 BS Cambridge, WOM

354 FG/356 FS Capt Edwards, James W 1 Fw 190 Gilmore, Elbert E. T/Sgt E 392 BG, 577 BS USA
354 FG/356 FS 2/Lt Mitchell, Homer R. 0.5 Me 109 Hauf, Emanuel lilt P 457 BG, 751 BS Ardennes, WOM
354 FG/356 FS liLt Perkins, William R. 1 Ju 88 Hawley, William R. 2/Lt N 457 BG, 751 BS Ardennes, WOM
354 FG/356 FS lilt Tenore, Bartholomew G 0.5 Me 109 Hazelett, Philip H. lilt P 78 FG, 82 FS Ardennes, D-14-30
Hendrickson, Milton C S/Sgt RWG 303 BG, 358 BS Margraten, P-05-01

Hertzan, Harold S/Sgt TG 401 BG, 615 BS USA

Hicks, Eugene R. liLt P 486 BG, 832 BS Henri-Chapelle, WOM
Hoover, Robert E. 2/Lt B 401 BG, 613 BS Ardennes, C-25-01
Ingram, John H. 2/Lt P 390 BG, 570 BS USA
Jackson, Junny 0 S/Sgt E 351 BG, 508 BS USA

Jaqua, Richard E. 2/Lt B 457 BG, 751 BS Ardennes, WOM

Jenkins, Charles G Sgt BTG 351 BG, 508 BS USA
Joblonicky, Albert 2/Lt N 389 BG, 567 BS USA
Johnson, Dana B. S/Sgt ROP 401 BG, 613 BS USA
Johnson, Joe R. Sgt BTG 401 BG, 615 BS Lorraine, A-28-41

Johnson, John C. 2/Lt CP 486 BG, 832 BS Cambridge, WOM

Johnson, Willis H. T/Sgt E 457 BG, 751 BS Ardennes, WOM
Kaems, Robert H. S/Sgt E 389 BG, 567 BS Ardennes, WOM
Kaminski, Vincent J. lilt P 401 BG, 615 BS Lorraine, D-22-42
Kaplowitz, Isidor P. S/Sgt BTG 351 BG, 511 BS USA

212 MISSION 376 APPENDIX 4 213

Kilroy, James J. T/Sgt ROP 457 BG, 751 BS Cambridge, WOM
Knight, Forest L. T/Sgt ROP 390 BG, 571 BS Lorraine, A-15-21
Kolceski, Joseph P 2/Lt CP 351 BG, 508 BS USA
Lacourse, Victor
Ladas, Anthony E.
S/Sgt
2/Lt
TG
P
389
363
BG,
FG,
567
382
BS
FS
Ardennes, WOM
Ardennes, A-22-03
INDEX
Lefkin, Michael S/Sgt TG 401 BG, 612 BS USA
Lewis, James J. Sgt BTG 390 BG, 570 BS Margraten, WOM Units 363 FG 10, 23, 24, 29, 46, 52, 53, 362 FS 114, 115,212
USAAF 51~, 55, 56, 160, 169, 209, 212, 363 FS 167,212
Livingston, Acel E. Sgt LWG 303 BG, 358 BS USA 214 364 FS 112, 160, 212
1 AD 5,6,8,9,11,37,46
Lutzi, Frank R. S/Sgt BTG 401 BG, 615 BS Cambridge, E-04-18 2 AD 5, 8, 11, 140, 171 364 FG 10, 82, 83, 183 365 BS 21, 206
Maloney, John J. 2/Lt CP 401 BG, 613 BS Ardennes, B-12-09 3 AD 5,8,11,46,61,97, 171 67 FG 10,40 380 FS 53, 54, 209, 212
1 CVV 8, 10, 28, 29, 37 370 FG 10 382 FS 52, 54, 56, 160, 209, 212,
Mamula Jr, Nick S/Sgt ROP 390 BG, 571 BS Lorraine, K-48-29 2 'A' CVV 8, 10, 11~5, 147, 152 373 FG 10 214
2 'B' CVV 8, 10, 145, 147, 152 379 BG 9,10,28,37,40, 181, 182, 406 BS 190
May, William M. S/Sgt LWG 401 BG, 615 BS Lorraine, E-42-26
4 CVV 8, 10,97,98, 129, 130, 131, 183, 185 418 BS 109
McBeth, Delmar D. S/Sgt B 388 BG, 562 BS USA 132, 140, 145 381 BG 10, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 427 BS 158, 187
McCamy, James A. 2/Lt B 303 BG, 358 BS USA 13 'A' CVV 8, 10,43,46,97, 100, 40,48,214 486 BS 171 Names
125,127, 139 384 BG 9, 10,28,37,38,40, 181, 486 FS 49, 52, 209, 212, 213 Abadie, EmilJ. 17 1 ,
McDowell, Don lilt P 354 FG, 353 FS Cambridge, D-02-11
13 'B' CVV 8,10,43,97,99,127 182, 183, 184 487 FS 51, 161 Abbot hart . 100,
14 'A' CVV 8, 10, 139, 143 385 BG 10, 130, 131, 132, 138, 504 FS 178 AbraJlarn, illium 171
McKee, Arnold S/Sgt RWG 390 BG, 570 BS Margraten, WOM
14 'B' CVV 8, 10, 139, 143 189, 207 506 BS 206 Adams,]. 59
Mihalich, Leonard A. S/Sgt BTG 401 BG, 613 BS Ardennes, C-18-06 388 BG vi, 10,97,98,99, 126, 127, 508 BS 7,45,206,213,214 Agee, Jack D. 6 ,208,211
20 'A' CVV 8, 10, 145, 152, 154
Miller, Carl F 2/Lt P 351 BG, 511 BS USA 20 'B'CVV 8,10,145,150,154 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 136, 510 BS 58, 202, 206, 213 Allen, Gus VV. 121,212
Miller, Floyd 0 TG 401 BG, 613 BS USA 40 'A' CVV 6, 8, 10, 12, 18,20 138,141,156,198,207,213,214 511 BS 58,61,206,213,214 Allen, Roy W. 93
S/Sgt
40 'B'c~r 6,8,10,12,18,20 389 BG 10, 145, 147, 150, 151, 152, 532 BS 214 Althaus, VVemer 15
Moll, David V 2/Lt N 486 BG, 832 BS Ardennes, WOM
163,199,207,213,214 562 BS 207,213,214 Anderson, harle F. 4 , 8, 20 I
41 CVV 6, 8, 10, 28, 37, 40, 181,
182 390 BG 10, 97, 100, 102, 103, 104, 563 BS 156, 207 Anderson, VVilliam Y. i , J21, 1 ii,
Moore, Arlie W S/Sgt ROP 351 BG, 511 BS USA 212
45 CVV 8,10,97,98,129,131,132 105, 106, 108, 109, 111, 119, 567 BS 207,213,214
Moore, Paul R. S/Sgt WG 457 BG, 751 BS Cambridge, WOM 92 'A' CVV 8, 10, 152, 171, 172, 173 125, 126, 127, 128, 157, 196,202, 568 BS 207 Anderson, VVoodrow VV. 4 , 4 , 5 ,
Morrow, Jim K. T/Sgt E 401 BG, 613 BS USA 92 'B' CVV 8, 10, 152, 171, 172, 173 207,213,214 569 BS 207 51,52,209,212,213
93 CVV 9,10, 171, 172, 173 391 BG 188 570 BS 100,207,213,214 Andrew, Stephen W. 48,49, 212
Moskowitz, Murray Sgt TG 486 BG, 832 BS Cambridge, WOM Andrus, Robert L. 71, 207
94 CW 8,10,28,37,41,42,43,46, 392 BG 10, 139, 142, 143, 213 571 BS 157,207,213,214
Norris, Harry M. Sgt WG 351 BG, 508 BS USA 398 BG 10, 19, 23 577 BS 213 Appleby,James . 65,208
57, 69, 79, 87, 89, 95, 99, 100,
127, 145 401 BG 10,11,13,28,40,41,42, 612 BS 70,207,208,214 AnnstTong, Lloyd R. 184
Osborne, Charles E. S/Sgt NTG 389 BG, 567 BS Ardennes, WOM 43, 62, 63, 64, 65, 68, 69, 70, 71, 613 BS 41,72,94,208,213,214 Armstrong. Lt. 171
96 'A' CVV 8, 10, 139, 143
Orvis Jr., William S. 2/Lt P 78 FG, 82 FS USA 96 'B'C\~ 8,10,139,143 72,73,76,77,93,95,96,164, 615 BS 72,208,213,214 Ashley, David 171
4 FG 8, 10, 29, 49, 50, 116, 117, 192,207,208,213,214 702 BS 158 Asman, Robert H. 38, 3 , 20
Palmer Jr., Jackson 2/Lt N 303 BG, 358 BS Margraten, N-22-14
118, 119, 120, 170, 209, 212 406 FG 10, 185 703 BS 208,214 Auda, Robert F. 1 0
Pfahler, Ervin J. 2/Lt CP 303 BG, 358 BS Margraten, B-07-20 445 BG 10, 145, 147, 148, 149, 152, 704 BS 159 Austin,Jim 4·7
7 PG 179, 186, 187
Powell Jr., Chester L. S/Sgt BTG 100 BG, 351 BS USA 20 FG 140, 154 158,201,202,208,214 748 BS 41 Avriett, i1 s 3
34 BG 3,7,10, 171, 172, 173 446 BG 10,26, 144, 146, 152, 154, 749 BS 208,214 Avry, Frank 5 , 2 6
Priest, Jack B. lilt B 401 BG, 613 BS USA 36 FG 10 159,216 750 BS 156 Baccaro, Vi t r L. iv, 10 , to ,207
Reed, Arthur E. Sgt BTG 390 BG, 571 BS Lorraine, D-37-35 44 BG 10, 139, 140, 144, 199,206 447 BG 10, 130, 131, 132 751 BS 79,208,213,214 Baccus, Lt t 7
50 FG 10,92 448 BG 10, 145, 147, 152, 154 832 BS 172, 178, 209, 213, 214 Baglio, Samuel J7t
Ringstmeyer, Norman W. Sgt BTG 351 BG, 511 BS USA Baird, William H 58, 20
55 FG 10, 173, 178 452 BG 4·, 10, 129, 130, 131, 132, 833 BS 172, 178, 193
Roskowick, Thomas L. S/Sgt RWG 388 BG, 562 BS Margraten, P-08-11 56 FG 10, 11, 46 197 834 BS 159,173,195 Baker, harle . iv, 103, 127
Russell, Hugh D. S/Sgt LWG 401 BG, 612 BS Lorraine, C-24-75 78 FG 10, 19,23,24,25,27,29,52, 453 BG 10, 145, 147, 152, 154 838 BS 209 Ball, Royce E. 149, 201, 20
141, 162, 16~20~212,213,214 457 BG 4,5, 7, 10,28,40,41,42, ight LeaJlet Squadron 188 Ballenger, William H. 95
Russell, Kenneth E. 2/Lt B 486 BG, 832 BS Henri-Chapelle, WOM 91 BG 10,28,29,30,31,33, 157 43,72,78,79,80,81,82,83,84, Banks, Douglas C. 207, 213
92 BG 1,6,7, 10, 11, 18, 19,20,21 86,87,88,90,91,92,93, 152, RAF Barclay, harles E. 171
Salmons, Kenneth A. Sgt TG 390 BG, 570 BS USA
93 BG 10, 145, 154 156,201,208,213,214 19 Squadron 10, 178 Barger, Clarence R. 47, 48, 52, 209,
Samuelian, George Sgt TG 381 BG, 532 BS Cambridge, F-07 -132 458 BG 10, 139, 143 65 Squadron 10, 178, 180 213
94 BG 10, 97, 98, 99, 127, 130, 132,
Scharff, Paul F. lilt P 401 BG, 613 BS USA 138, 216 466 BG 10, 139, 142, 143 129 Squadron 10, 178 Bames, Harry H. 51, 52, 161,212
100 BG, 351 BS 95 BG 10, 12,97,98,99, 125, 127 467 BG 10, 139, 140, 142, 143, 144 257 Squadron 151 Bames, Merle E. 63, 64, 65, 208
Schindler, Claude E. lilt CP USA
96 BG 4,10,66, 129, 131,197 474 FG 10 277 Squadron 151, 152, 163 Barnett, Richard . 65, 208, 213
351 BG, 511 BS Ardennes, A-22-03 100 BG 10,97, 106, 109, 110, 112, 479 FG 8, 10, 172, 173 306 Squadron 10, 178 Barry, Lt 130
Seaman, Raymond G. Sgt LWG
126,128,206,213,214 486 BG 10, 159, 171, 172, 173, 175, 315 Squadron 10, 178 Bartak, Frank . 65, 208
Singleton, James D. Sgt TG 351 BG, 511 BS USA Bass, Qyentin R. iv, 100, 101, 127,
303 BG 6,7,8,9, 10, 16,28,37,40, 176, 177, 178, 180, 190, 192, 193,
Smart, Robert B. Sgt RWG 390 BG, 571 BS USA 158, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 195,209,213,214 Luftwaffe 207
Strate, Herbert V 2/Lt P 390 BG, 571 BS Lorraine, D-29-35 187, 206, 213, 214 487 BG 10, 171, 172, 173, 174, 180, Fliegerdivision 14 Baumann. Mort 139
305 BG 6, 10, 18, 19, 20, 21, 189, 190,209 Fliegerkorps 14 BeackJey, Robert G. 29, 33, 34, 36
Stiegel, Alvin J. FlO N 401 BG, 613 BS USA Beard, Charles VV 143
198, 206 490 BG 171 Flugzeugfuhrerschule A 72 211
306 BG 10, 19, 23 492 BG 10, 139, 142, 143, 144 Flugzeugfuhrerschule B 31 31,211 Beck, LL 27
Swain, Donald V 2/Lt CP 457 BG, 751 BS Ardennes, WOM Becker,Joseph M. 104, 207
339 FG 10, 117, 173, 178 801 BG 188, 190 JG 1 15,35,36,96, 100, 102, 104,
Tabeling, Robert G. 2/Lt N 390 BG, 570 BS USA
344 BG 188 79 FS 154 105, 107, 110, 118, 122, 123, Beckowitz, Peter 63, 65, 208, 213
Todd, James R. M/Sgt RWG 486 BG, 832 BS Henri-Chapelle, WOM 351 BG 4,6-7, 10,28,40,42,43, 82 FS 25, 26, 162, 209, 213, 214 166, 168, 210 Bedell, Charles H. 70, 73, 74, 208
45,57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 65, 72, 83 FS 23, 209, 212 JG 3 52,53,56,169,210 Beiser, Theodore R. 181, 182
Tomlinson, Roscoe D. S/Sgt LWG 401 BG, 613 BS USA
88, 89, 93, 94, 95, 96, 202, 206, 84 FS 19 JG 5 15,56, 210 Belcher, Mark R. 78
Tucker, Walter L. 2/Lt CP 389 BG, 567 BS USA 324 BS 157 JG 11 14, 15, 16,46,47,96, 113, Bell, Charles L. 142
213,214
352 FG 10, 29, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 326 BS 6 115, 116, 122, 165, 16~ 17~ 210 Belote, Ivy L. 45
Vasquez, Manuel Sgt BTG 303 BG, 358 BS USA 328 FS 50-51, 212 JG 26 14 Bemus, VVilliam 1'. iv, 83, 84, 85,
52,118,120,161,209,212,213
Wagoner, Walter W T/Sgt ROP 457 BG, 749 BS USA 353 FG 10, 139, 140, 141, 145, 162, 334 FS 8, 116, 118, 119, 120, 209, JG 27 4, 56, 59, 65, 66, 69, 76, 165, 202,208
Wampler, Ray M. S/Sgt WG 445 BG, 703 BS Margraten, E-21-1 0 209, 212, 213 212 197,2ll Bendino, Nicholas 1'. iv, 80, 208
354 FG 10,54,99, 100, 120, 121, 335 FS 116 JG 51 54 Bennett, Harold 147, 208
West, George E. lilt P 401 BG, 612 BS USA
336 FS 116 BenJlett, PhilJ.jp N. 37
122,123, 124, 161,209,212,214 JG 52 15
Wicks, Wayne W T/Sgt ROP 401 BG, 613 BS Margraten, D-03-03 355 FG 10, 29, 34, 35, 36, 46, 48, 350 BS 127 JG 53 211 Bennett, Srun B. 65, 208, 213
52, 119, 168,209,212,213 351 BS 206,213,214 JG 302 211 Berg, Robert C. 134, 135, 136, 137,
Woolfolk, Robert L. 2/Lt B 390 BG, 571 BS Ardennes, C-30-03 356 FG 10,97,99 351 FS 141, 162,209,213 KG I 31,211 207
Zindar, Laddie J. 2/Lt N 351 BG, 508 BS USA 357 FG 10, 99, 100, 112, 115, 116, 353 FS 123, 161,209,212,214 Luftbeobachtungsstaffel 1 124, Bergstrom, VVaJter iv, 93
160, 212 354 FS 46,47,96,209,213 211 Bernstein, Hrury 80, 81, 93, 213
358 FG 10 355 FS 212 Luftllotte 3 14 Berwind, Lt 185
359 FG 10 356 FS 122, 212 LuftOotte Reich 14 Beske, Louis F. 90
361 FG 10,140 357 FS 48, 212 NJG 3 26 Bethea, Lt 97
362 FG 10 358 BS 8,206,213,214 Stalag Luft I 200 BiLLingtOn,John R. 84

214 MISSION 376 INDEX 215

Bindseil, Al~ed 104, 105
B1ack,j. Dee 69,208,213
Bland, Ll 95
B1ume,Joe H. 112
Bock, Eberhard 56. 165, 211
Boesch, Oscar 53. 169
Bogen,James H. 175. 176, 178, 180,
209
Bohatseh, Obit 53
Bolton. Harold B. 105. 207
Bond, Lt 129
Bopp, Richard L. 119. 120. 199,
209
Borax, Herben 22
Bosu·om. Frank P. 171, 173
Boswell, Ted 23
Bowen,John 147
Bowman, Marvin S. 127
Bowman, Roben S. 129
Braekey, Carrol H. 182
Braekley, William 80, 81
Bradley, Jack T. 212
Bragg, William P. 60, 61, 62, 206
Branch, Bruno iv, 60, 61, 206
Brandes, Heinz-Helmut 115, 116,
210
BralUlan, harles D. 41,42,87,88
Breazeale, Vernon O. 112
Breuers, Hans 211
Brice, George iv, 91, 93
Bridwell, Ll 187
Broadhead,Joseph E. 114-115,212
Brodbeck, Kun 210
Bromley, Karlj. 18
Broom,John C. 174
Brousseau, Andre R. 6.11. 18. 19.
20.21, 23. 27
Brown,John R. iv, 24. 55, 56, 160
Bro"ol,JO eph W. 18
Bro"ol, Lawrence G. iv, 135. 136,
207
Brown, Richard C. 207,213
Brown, Russell A. iv. 59. 60. 206
Brown, Sgt 73, 138
Bruha, RichaJ"C1 A. 80, 208
Brye, Lt 19
Buchanan, Lemue j. 181. 182
Bullard,Jonathan H. 97
Bundrick, Olin L. 209,213
Bumin, Willianl C. 103, 207
BllI'ckes, Ralph iv, 17'~, 175, 190,
209
Burkel, UfTz 76
l3urkell, Leo G. 98, 127
Burkhardt, Lutz-Wilhelm 35,36
Bu by, Orval R. 22, 206
Biisen, Franz 69
Bushendorf, Everell M. 69,208,
213
Bushlow, Anthony j. 59, 206
Busing. Heinz 211
BUlcher, Thomas D. 183
Buuer, W.L. 151
ampbell, Bruce M.. 77
Campbell,Jolm IN. iv. 147.208
Carknard, Chester j. 111
arpelller. Donald W. 174, 175.
190, 209
an'occia, Alben R. 38, 206, 213
Carson. Joseph 139, 206
Carson, Leonard K. 115. 116, 212
Caner. Gerald F. 43. 44, 208
Cary, Sidney A. 111,206
Casebere. Milton C. 131
Casey, Lawrence R. iv, 23. 24
Casner, Charles F. 73
Cass, Leo . 64.65.208,213
Cesarini. Augt,slus j. 43
Chadwick. Lt 97
Chamberlain, Ll 19
hancellor,John R. 183
Chapman, E.L. 152
Chavez, Paul F. 174, 190,209
Chiles, Donald L. 135, 136, 137,
138, 207, 213
hrislensen. Walter M. 47, 48. 52,
209, 213
216
Christian Jr., ThomasJJ. 140
ChurehillJr., Charles 28
Clark,James H. 56
Clemovitz, Feodor 52, 53, 54, 169,
209
ClifT, Glenn I. 65. 208
Clough. Gerald C. 212
Coartney, Lloyd W. 112
Coburn. W.P. 21
Codding. ArulUr M. iv. 131, 134,
135, 136, 137, 141. 207
Coelho. Amero 132. 207
Cohen, Philip D. iv. 100
Colby, Thomas W. iv, 49
Cole. M. W. 132
Cole. Richard A. 145
olechia,Joseph 41
Colson, Carl C. 46, 47
ondon, Roben W. iv, 7,45
Condon, Williamj. 45,57,58,206,
213
Connor, Bernard V. 82, 93
Conover, Burrough E. 127
Conover, Harvey M. 80
ooper, Ed G. iv, 183
Cooper, Larry R. 69, 208, 213
ope, Wayne E. 38,39, 206
Opt, Marcel iv, 203
Cormier, Raymond P. 147
osgrove. Daniel 103,207
oSlello, George B. 139, 206
COtlfel, Harvey C. 80
Coupland, Lt 171
Cozzens. Wallis O. 190
Craig. Willianl C. 97
Creigh, Walter F. iv, 41,42,57, 78
Crepp. Howard E. 151,207
rockell, 'Villiam 94
Cru e, leRoy D. 90. 202, 203. 204,
205.206.213
Curiston. TIlOmas j. 104. 207
CurUl, Herbert 69. 211
Czerpak, Henry 207, 213
Czyz, Edward 102,207
dAgostino. Victor 64, 208
Daly, ArulUr j. 151, 152, 207, 2 I 3
Davidson, Vemer K. 179
Davis. H.G. 7
Davis. William S. 114
Day, Lt 185
Dayton. Lt 97
deJong, Willem vi, 137
de KruyfT, D.E. 137
Dean, Ralph M 183
DeaLon, Lloyd G. 44, 208
Deihl, Dirvin D. 190
Derdzinski, George R. 79, 80, 208
Deseau, Melchior 190, 191
Determan, Alvin G. iv. 7,37,38,
39, 206
Devlin, Gerard 203
DeWill, Charles IN. 27
Dickerson, Thomas R. 131
Dimel,John E. 112, 126
Ditmars. Leen 201
Dobson.James M. 149, 150
Doherty. Williamj. 28
Doll, Otto 210
Dollefeld 203
Doolittle.James H. 2. 5. 6, 8
Diking, Werner 211
Drake, Roben E. 209, 213
Drake, TIlOmas E. 193. 195
Dreher, Wilmerj. 171
Drummond. Arch 111
Du Pre, John 32.33
Duchesneau,John R. iv, 88
Dunbar, Daniel E. iv, 22. 189, J90,
206
Duncan, Glenn E. 139
Duncan,John B. iv, 42, 89, 90, 206
Dunham, William F. iv, 174, 175,
209
Dupont, William H. 78, 87, 88, 89,
96
Eagleslon, Glenn T. 121,212
Ecken, Charles A. 73, 74, 208, 2 J3
Eeklooff,John 32
Edwards, Frank A. 176
Edwards,James IN. 120, 122, 2 I2
Edwards,Jurllor H. 89,206
Egan, Arthurj. iv, 142
Eisele, Roy 37
Eisenhower, Dwight D. 3, 4
Elder, CI3l'ence L. 131
Elduff,James V. 42
Eley,Jack iv. 150, 151,207
E1ieff. Daniel D. 8J
ElliOt, Lt 99
ElliOt, Samuel R. 105.207.213
Ellsworul, Paul R. 39. 40
Enuner, Wallace '. J21, 122,212
Englert. Ludwig 210
Enstad, Robertj. iv, 69, 70, 208
Eshelman, Fr3l1cis 34,35.36,212
Eubank, Lt 172
Falsone, AnulOny j. 151
F3l'ley,Joseph R. 141, 162,209,213
F3l,ner, Amold 28
Fast,James E. 41
Fastre, F3ln 190
FemlClI, Sgt 45
Fer3l1ti, Guy 32,33, 36
Ferdyn,Joseph E. 69
Ferguson, Donald P. 75, 208, 2 J3
Field, I'J. 19
Fikes, Maurice G. 59, 60, 206
Fischer, Uffz 46
Fitchett. Lawrence E. 76, 77
Fjelsted, M3l'k G, J31, 133, 134..
198, 207
Flaig, CI3l'ence M. 176
Flinn. R.I'. 6
Floto, C3l'1 T. 63, 75, 76, 78, 208
Folsom,Joe S. 111. 206. 213
Ford, Capt 83
Francis. Richard E. 90. 206
Fr3llke. Gerhard 2 11
Frankowski. Edward j. 60, 62, 206
Fr3l1tz, C3l'1 99, 212
Frederick, 1 icholas j. 113
Freyl3l1d,Joseph P. 101, 127,207
Fritz. Hans 52
Fuller, Edg3l' L. 174, 180
Fuller, Magee C. 109
FlIITie, Nicholas D. 80, 199,208
Funta, Walter 208, 213
Gaard, Jack B. 112
Gabreski, Francis S. 2
Gallup, Ke,u,etl, W. 141, 212
Gareia,Jose G. 76, 208, 213
Garland,Jeff 97
Gascon, Oscar A. 90, 208. 213
Gehr, Walter 104
Gendreizig, Henry G. 143
Gcraghty, Bern3l·dj. 8J
Gerards, Henry j. iv. J00, 101, 102,
127, 196,207
Geschwindner 204
Gides.Johnj. iv, 81,82.87.92
Gile, Lt 172
Gilles,Jean Marie 175
Gillespie. Charlie 21. 206
Gillespie. Elmer C. iv, 95
Gilmore. Eiben E. 142.2J3
Gilmore, Roben C. 103
Gladstone. Lt 27
Gober. Dene C, 78
Godfrey, John T. 2
Godwin,James W. iv. J31
Gol3l1d. H3lTY iv.39
Goldstein.Joshua 80,208
Golinger. Bernhard 110.111, LJ2,
2LO
Goodson.J3lnes A. 2. 116
Gougarty, Thomas W. iv, 81
Grallam. Thomas R. 143
Gray, Stanley V. iv, 79, 80, 208
Greenberg, Herben LJO,206
Greene, Allan 22
Grill, Helmut 15
Grinham, Fred D. 95
Gross. Clayton K. iv, 121, 212
Grtillendahl, Hans 210
Gunster, Robert H. 7,45
GUlman, Irving S. 139. 140, 199,
206
Haack, Otto 211
Hafko,John 44. 208
Hagan, KelUleth E. I 16
Hagenbauch,j.W. 98
Halbey. H3llS v. 35. 36, 168, 210
Hall, M3luy IN. 112
Halsey, Ch3l'les L. 28, 29. 31
Harmner. Frank 124, 211
Han1mond, 'V3l'dlaw r. iv, 75, 7 ,
77.78,94.95
HanlptOn, R.H. 95
Hand, St31liey I. 129
H3llZeI, Fam 190
Hardin, Edward F. 41,42
Hardister. St3l1ford M. 44, 208
Harkonen. Ll 140
[-{arness, Robert L. 48
Haron, Robert W. L52
Harris, Ch3l'les E. iv, 112
Harris, Robert P. l52
Harris, S/Sgt 112
[-{art, Donald 141
[-{anm3l1, Lt 29
HaselUl1ajer, Rainer 210
Hatfield, Lt 172
Hauf, Emanuel 90,91,92,9 , 152,
208, 213
Hawkins, Richard G. 190
Hawley. Willi3ln R. 90, 208, 213
Hayes, TI,omas L. iv, 112, 113,212
Hazelell, Philip H. 25, 26, 209, 213
Hazelilurst, Rich3l'd R. 85, 86
Healy, William C. 98
Heaul, Walter H. 172
Heger, Alfred 113, 210
Heinlon,John 44, 208
Heller, David M. 42. 43
Heller, Edwin L. iv, 49, 51. 52, 11
J20,212
Henderson. Jack D. 6. 18
Hendricks, Garland H. J93
Hendrickson, Milton . 38, 206, 213
Hem'y, Ch3l'les L. iv. 175, 209
Henry, Patrick IN. iv, 41, 78,87,8
Henze, Rex L. 174, 175, 190, 209
Herbold,Jonathan M. 85
Herdy, I-Tans 53, 54, 210
Herrick,Julius F. 21, 22, 206
Henzan, Harold 69, 208, 213
Hess, Charles F. 41, 95
Hewatt, Aubrey E. iv, 118, 119,
J20,209
Hibbits, Turner W. 97
Hicks, Eugene R. 94, 175, 176, 178,
193,209, 213
Hilbman, UfTz 59
Hilburn, Hernl3l1 H. III
Hill,James E. iv, 52, 55, 212
HULJohn H. 97
Hill. Willianl E. J09, 110. 127
Hiro, Edwin IN. 114
Hitzke. Herbert "\T. 176
Hobbs, Orin E. 91
Hoder, Frank j. 59
Hofer, Ralph K. 116, 117, 118. B9,
170,212
Hofmeister. Ivan R. 176
Hollowell,J3lnes iv. 172, 173
Hohnes, Henry C. 106, 108. 207
Holmes. Lt 171
Holsapple. H3lT)' B. 42. 88. 89
Homdrom, led 29
Hooper, Willianl 32
Hoover, George F. 133,207
Hoover, Robert E. 73, 74,208,213
Hosford, Lynn A. 25
Hossack,John 81
Houlihan, H.Joseph iv, 133,207
Howart,Jean 191
Howden, Norm 112
Howell,John C. iv, ll3, 212
Howell,Joseph A. II J
Howell, Lester L. 49.50,51,52,
212
MISSION 376
Howell, Winfred D. iv, 175
Howl3l1d,Jolm IN. 28,29,30
Hozier, George . 41,42,43,4 ,
72, 78, 86, 87, 88, 99, 100
Hudson, Willianl C. J33, 198,207
Huff, Robert IN. 173
Hulcher, Wendell E. 133
Hunt, Edward E. 122,212
Hunter. Fr3l1cisj. 132, 189,207
lngram,John H. 97. 102, 103, 127,
207,213
Irelan, Clyde E. 76, 208
Iso3l'di,Joseph 45
1sraelsen, O. Allen iv, 171, 173
Jackson, GlelUl A. 81
Jackson,Johnj. 57,58,206
Jaekson,Junny O. 57,58,206,213
J3llSen,Josef 56,211
Jaqua, Richard E. 90, 152, 208, 213
Jenkins, Charles G. 57, 58, 206, 213
Jensen, Richard C. 28
Jessop, Paul D. 29
Jipson, Robert F. iv, 139, 140, 206
Joblonicky, Albert 151,152,207,
213
Jol1nson, Dana B. 208, 213
Johnson, Gerald W. 2
Johnson,Joe R. 69,208,213
Jolmson,John 176, 193, 194,
195,196,209,213
Jolmson, R.I. 127
Jolmson, Richard R. 16, 187
Johnson, Wulis H. 90, 152,208,
213
Jolmston. Clayton A. 43,44,208
Jones, Lawrence W. 45
Jones. Se3lnO'lSj. 171
Joyce, TI,omas E. 118
Joye, KelUletil M. iv, 135, 136, 138,
207
Juchheim, Alwin M. 23, 2'~, 37, 52,
162, 167,209
Kading, Horst 210
Kaems. Robert H. 151, 152,207,
213
Kahler 204
K3l1Unski, Vincemj. 69, 70, 72,
208, 213
K3lnmerlohr, Morton A. 52, 53,
212
Kaplowitz, 1sidor P. 59, 60, 206,
213
K3l'agianlus, Martin 43
K3l'I, Lt 49
K3l'I, Riclmd X. 73, 74, 96, 208
Kast, Paul A. 108, 207
Kata, Lt 19
Kaulbaeh, Andrew J. 139,206
Kaye, H.C. 130, 131
Keck, Roben B. 20
Keenan, George S. 195
Keitll, Walter B. 13,41, 42, 43, 63,
64,65.73,75,78,208
Keller, Friedrich 66
Kelli.nger, Friedrich 211
Kelsen, Hank 77, 95
Kent, Lt 147
Kenyon, Roben P. 119,212
KelT, Robert V. iv, 13, 62, 75, 76,
78.94
Kiely, George F. 89, 90,206
Kilroy,Jamesj. 90,208,214
Kimball, Edw3l'd L. 176
Kincaid,James H. iv, 41, 42
Kirlllard, Claiborne H. 46,47
Kirchmayr. Riidiger v, 15, 100, 106,
107,119,166
Kirkpatrick, Willi3ln M. 183
Kittel, Roben . 37
Klein, Erich 56, 210
Kleinfall, Charles W. 171
KJught, D311 C. iv, 72, 96
Klught, Forest L. 108, 109, 202,
207, 214
Krllght,Joseph S. 142
KJ1ipfer, Clyde B. 78, 79, 80, 208
Knoll, Gustav 210
CHAPTER TiTlE HERE
Koehler 149
Kolb, Claude M. iv,73
Koleeski,Joseph P. 57,206, 2J4
Kolter, Mark H. 118,212
Kiimer,Josef 122, 123,210
Kouza., Eugen 122, 123,210
Kowalski, Edward 207
Kozulak, Wtlli3ln 178.209
Kriesky, Leonardj. iv, 90, 203, 204,
206
Kriete, Roben 83. 84. 208
Kn.ger, harles B. 108, 207
KJ'upinski, Walter 15, 122.210
Kubetzki,Johann 55,21l
Kuehl, Fred T 183
Kttlezyck.i, Anthony j. 81
Kunz, Heinz 15, L65, 170, 210
Lacour e, Viclor 151,207,214
Lacy, Lucius G. iv, 110, 111, 112,
206
Ladas, Anthony E. 24, 37, 52, 56,
209,214
Lang,Joseph L. 49,50, 118, 119,
120, 212
L3l1gford, Walter R. 29
Lape, Francis j. 84
Lasko, Charles IN. 212
Lassor, H3l'old E. 173
Latta, Charles W. iv,181, J82
Lauren, Lee D. 173
La,,"l, Frank 199
LaWlence,j.W.E. 151
LaWlenee,John H. 178, 209
Leavitt, Capl 131
LeBl3llC, Lt 21
Leclu1er,James R. 46
Ledbetter, Lamar E. 38
Lefdalu, Chas M. 143
Lelkin, Micllael 71,207,214
LeJun3lm, Rudolf 100
Leigh Mallory, TraITord 3
Leking, Roger T. 73
Lemcke, Eme t A. 206
Lenski, Werner 211
LeRoy, Lt 147
Lewellyn, Stephen B. 60, 62, 206
Lewis,Jamesj. 103,207,214
Liebert, Lt 172
Lien, Alben L. 59, 206
Litue, Lt LOO
LivingstOn, Acel E. 38, 206, 214
Livingstone, Alexander R. 78, 95
Lobdell, Leon W. iv, 21, 22,198,
200,206
Locklear, WiH3l'd O. iv, 44, 208
Lostocco, Guseino 58
LOtz, Lt 37
Loucks, Dale S. 190
Lowe, Gordon H. 41
Ludeman, Louis H. 44
Lujan, Louis 178, 209
Lund, R.. 23
Luper,Janles R. 93
Lutz 204
Lutzi, Fr3ltk R. 72, 73, 214
Lynde, Alben E. 134
MacD3luel, Lt 129
Macfarlane. Walter E. iv, 34. 35,
168.212
Magill, Robert H 92
MallJer. Arthur P. 63, 64, 65, 208
Maloney,Johnj. 64,65,208,214
Maloney. Milton F. 73
Malsom, Lt 19
ManlUla, 'ick 105, 106,207,214
Mamung, Charles H. 70, 208
Manthey, Miles E. 88
Maple, Lt 99
Markloanl, Clareneej. 171
Marlin, Roger T. 148, 208
M3l'lin, Clyde W. 18
M3l·tin,Jack T. 154
M3l'un, Orvis G. 152
M3l'un, Roben 190
Martinson,j. 44, 164
M3l'ts, Ralph M. iv, 133, 189, 190,
207
Matheu, Danielj. 147,208
Matovina, John T. 41,42
Mattllias, Adolph j. 100, 103, 127,
196, 207
Matzke, Bem3l'dj. 206
May, William M. 69,208,214
McArtilur, Ll 99
McBeth, Delmar D. 135, 136. 137.
J38,207,214
McBrien,John E. 133, 207
McCall, Roben S. iv, 183
McCanly,Jame A. 206,214
MCC3llll,J3lnes D. 59, 206
McCarthy, CJ. J42
McCarthy, Harold S. 133, 207
McClane.John IN. 139, 144
McClelland, Clyde W. iv, 42, 88,
89,90,202,203,206
McCord, Riellard D. 43
McCord, Roben 167
McD3Juel, Lt 19
McDermotL, William M. 24, 212
McDonald,Janles G. 1 0
McDowell, Don 99, 100, 209, 214
MeEachron, Gordon T. iv, 54, 55,
96, 212
McFetridge, Robert L. 58, 206
McGinn, John L. 173
Mcintyre, Willi3ln 95
McKee, Arnold 102, 103,207,214
McKennon, Clem B. iv, 6, 18,20 , 2()1. 21
McKinley, Fred N. 134
McKinnon, Douglas H. 71,207
McKrllght, David C. 98, 127
McMasler,James H. 139. 206 ,211
McMurray, Webster 48
McPharlin, Michael G.H. 117, 118,
120,212
Me~.een, Miles 81
McWherter, Robert C. 24,52.55.
212
Meador, Victor U. 81
Melito, Angelo j. 76, 208
Mereditll, Lt 94
Meyer, Earl H. 46 17.• 17li
Michaelson, Donald A. 154 12:l 121 12 •
Middleton, Lt 187
Mihalieh, Leonard A. 208,214
Miller, C3l'j F. 59, 60, 206, 214
Miller, Carlj. 44,208
Miller, Floyd O. 75, 76, 208, 214 0,212
Miller,Johnny 85
Miller, Milton S. 37
Miller, Raymond j. iv, 132, 207
Miller, Rich3l'd G. 89
Miller, Roben H. 28
Miller, Ulysses IN. 176
Millham,John O. 84,85, 208
Minor, Gale IN. iv, 104,207 . 112
Mitcllell, Homer R. 120,212
Mitchell, Raymondj. J 11,206
M.uszewski, Lrvin T. 104, 207
Molenock, Edward D. J05,207
Molitor, Wilhelm 210
Moll, David V. 176,209, 214
Moller 204
Monroe, Lt 120
Montgomery, George C. iv. 127
Montgomery, Thomas B. 71, 207
Moore, Arlie IN. 60, 62, 206, 214
Moore, Paul R. 90,208,214
Moore, Sheldon E. 84, 208
MOr3Jl, Patrick E. 212
Moreau,Joseph A. 37
MOrilU, Alfred j. 71, 207
Morley, Fred A. iv, 178, 209
Morris, Lt 147
Morris, Willi3ln H. iv, 57, 58, 206
Morrison, 0.5. 37
MOlTow,Jim K. 65, 208, 214
Moskowitz, Murray 209,214
Miiszner, Werner 14
Miihlbauer, Otto 69,21.1
Mulder,James IN. 134,207
Miiller, Martin IS
Munro, George H. 177, 178, 180,
209
Reddig, Charles R. 52
Reed, Arthur E. 105,207,214
Reed,james R. 171
Reeder, Robert G. 172, 173
Reese, George 29
Reid. joseph . 90
Reid, William R. 20
Reinhardt, AJben P. 65, 208
Reizen, Ben 119
Rendle, Irvine A. 142
Renscok, .F 6
Reuter, Ogfr 76
Rice, L)'Tm W. iv, 91
Richardson, Charles A. 104, 207
Riehl, Helmut 118. 210
Ringsuneyer, onnan '~'. 60, 6l,
62,206,214
Ritunaier, Roben "V. iv. 76,208
RoberlSon,john iv, 55, 212
Robinson, William l. 147. 148,
208
Robley, Morris D. iv, 176
Rohr, Fw 59
Roock, Harold L. 108, 207
Rooker,james U. 131
Rosenlu'anz, KaJ'l 210
Roskowick, Thomas 1. iv, 135,
136, 138,207,214
Ross, D.R. 23
Ross, Lt 185
Rossetti, E.L. 99
Rossman, Ra)'Tnond E. 206
Rotz, Michael Ill, 206
Routt, Capt 178
Rowe, FraJl!<. J. iv, 90, 91
Rowe, Robert W. 72
RowlaJld, David 129
Rude, Donald B. 60
Ruder, Leroy A. 113, 114, 212
Ruden, F,-itz 59
Rudolph, Donald F. 104, 207
Rueger, Otto 202
Russell, Francis 1. 71, 207
Russell, Hugh D. 71,207,214
Russell, Kelmeth E. 176, 192, 193.
194, 195, 196,200,209,214
Ryan, Robert E. iv, 58, 206
RyckmaJl, WilliaJn G. 190
Sacks,L.C. 134
Saleeby, AJbert 31
Salles, Lt 99
Salmons, Kenneth A. 207,214
SaJl15on, Calvin 131
Samuelian, George 32,33,36,37,
214
SaJlders, AJfred M. iv, 172, 178, 179,
190-192,209
anders, Soldier 207
Sandweg, Kurt 210
Sassi, Louis M. 95
attenvhite, WtlliaJn E. iv, 40
SaUln, L.G. 134
Saundersjr., Lloyd H. 22,206
ch.ade, Helmut 16
Sch.arlT, David Y. 85, 86
ScharfT, Paul F. 70, 73, 74, 192, 193,
208,214
Scheiblberger, Heinrich 211
Schellenger, David W iv, 84, 208
Schindler, Claude E. 110, 111,206,
214
Selunidtjr., Lt 55
Selmudt, Karl-Heinz 210
Selmeider, Rudolf 210
SellOrr, Willi 46, 47
Sel1.roeder, Wilhelm 202
ScI1.roter, Siegfried 211
ScI1.rotter,jerome H. 207
ScI1.rouder, Robert P. 97
218
Selllllz, Adolf 104
Schulze, Heinz 211
Schwartz, Bernard 73, 74. 208
SchwaJ·tz, David 32, 33, 36
SeI,WaJ"tZ, WilliaJn S. 22. 206
SCOtt, Riellard E. 207
Scruggs, Harold W 173
SeamaJl, Ra)'Tnond G. 60, 62, 206,
214
Seawell, BiH 72
Seitz, William G. 176
Settles, Orice D. iv, 97, 100
Severson, Elmer D. 104, 207
ShaJlnon,jaJnes D. 145
harp, Lt Il6
hatz,jolm R. l33,207
Shaw, Robert M. 113
SheallaJl, Lt 73
Shebell, Charles D. iv, 85, 86
heehan, Keruletll E. 207
Siems, Grover C. 116, 117, 118,
119, 212
Silver, james 45
Silver, SaJn 45
Simmons, Lt 97
Simond , K.E. 130, 132
Simpson, TrumaJl D. 143
SinglcLOn,jamcs D. 60,61,62,202,
206, 214
Sinnock, Roberta iv, 176
Sizemore,james R. 178, 190, 209
Skarren,john H. 130. 132
Skarsten, AJbert B. 183
Smallin,jaJnes M. iv, 73, 74, 208
Smart, Robert B. 105,207,214
Smitll, Autley B. 178, 190, 209
nuth, harles A. 178,209
Snuth, Fredcrick J. 91
Smitll,jJ. 154
Snutll,jaJncs C. 3
Snlith, Lt 187
Snuth, Robert R. 186
nuth, Waltcr R. 142
Sobanski, WU15low M. 116,212
Spaatz, CaJ'l F. 2, 3, 4, 188
Spanglcr, Lt 172
Sparks, Wtllie T 183
pencer, Laurene W. 207
Spittler, Georg 210
SpotaIlski, AJexander 104,207
StafTord, George A. 59, 206
Starm, Leon 41
Starks, Robert F. 108
Steck, Walter 108, 207
Stecb, Erwin 104
Steely, Hoban H. iv, 183
Steiner, Walter H. 212
Stender, Francis H. 38, 40
Stephens, C.S. 76
Stevel1S, Kermit D. iv, 6, 182
Stevens, Lt 42
Stevel15, Ra)'TTIond R. iv, 37, 40
Stewart, Charles 1. 208
Stewart, Sgt 71
Stiegel, AJvin J. 65, 208, 214
StOck.nlaJl, Lt 178
SLOhl, Rudolph M. iv, 83, 84, 201,
208
StOlk, Leen 201,202,205
Stolting, Kurt 211
StOm15, Bernard J. 97
StOrtz, Wuufred E. 81
StOwe, Ralph R. 91
Stoy, Edward C. iv, 105, 207
Strate, Herbert Y. 105,207,214
Strickland, AJexaJlder C. 183
Stringer, EdwaJ'd J. 133, 207
Strong, Robert C. 74, 208
Strosetzki, Rudolf v, 15, 16,46,210
Stump, Harold E. 19
Subora, Walter R. iv, 58
ullivan, Ray 32, 33
Sutllerlin,jack E. iv. 32, 33, 36
SwalTield, Robert C. 178, 179, 209
wain, Donald Y. 90,208,214
Swerdlove, Morris F. 82
Symington, S/Sgt 112
Tabeling, Robert G. 207,214
Tarr, MilLOn F. 29
Taylor III, Roben 172
Taylor, Robert E. 43,58
Tedder, Arthur 3
TelUlant,jaJnes C. 151,207
Tenore, Bartholomew G. 120, 122,
212
Terry, Ben E. 131
111acker, Robert E. 37
1110mas,james E. 84,208
1110mpson, Heber H. 152
1110mpson, Oral C. l08, 207
Thornell,jolm F. 50,212
11,omton, Glen 82
Thunllon,jolm A. iv, 185, 187
Tiepner, Karl 210
Timm, Fritz 36, 210
Todd,james R. 196, 209, 214
Tomasko,john 108
Tomlinson, Roscoe D. 73. 74, 75.
208,2l4
Tondeur, Georges 191
Tonelli, Dino H. 78
Toole,jaJnes M. 174, 175, 190, 209
Tracewski, Chester P. 133, 198, 207
Travis, Robert F. 6, l82, 183
TrenchaJ'd, Lord 6
Trockels, Andreas 15
Trost, VicLOr I
Truax, Floyd A. 44, 208
Tubbs, Harold 22
Tucker, Walter 1. 150, 151, 207,
214
Turner, Bruce W. 212
Tuttle, Frederick A. 190
Tyson,jaJlles 1. 28,29
Vlreich, Herman T 60, 62, 206
Ulrich, NormaJl A. 99
Underwood, Clifford B. 183
Vpperton, Bill v, 151
Val Preda, Peter 143
Valdez, Tony 32,33,36,37
Vallette, Leo J. 148,208
VaJl Pelt, James R 30
VanBuskirk, William V. 171
VanCamp,JaJnes H. 173
Vance, Edwin E. 55, 212
Vandeventer, Charles R. 41,42
VanHorn, Edward E. 58, 206
Vasquez, Manuel 38,206,214
Veale, Roy E. 207
VecelUone, Casper iv. 58, 59, 206
Vega, Gerald Y. 22
Vicker, Lt 187
VUlcent, George 105
Vitaz,joseph 97
Vogel, Lt 98
Voit, Stephen T 80, 208
Volechenisky, Mike 172
Vozzella, CarmenJ. 190
Vullings, AJfred 15
Wagller,JoharUles 198, 200
Wagner, Karl R. 25, 26
Wagoner, Walter W. 84, 85, 202,
208,214
Waite, Clyde H. iv, vi, 134, 138,
207
Walker, Leon C. 100, 207
Wallens, Raoul W. 151,163
Walsh,JaJlles Y. 70
Wal h, gt 131
WaltllO, Percy 80. 208
WaJllpler, Ray M. 149,202, 208,
214
Wamer,jack A. 54
Wamer,joe 32
WaJTington, Capt 152
~raten;, EdwaJ'd 29
Watkins, Bel~anun M. 26
Watson, FraJl!<. R. 108
Weeks, Homer A. 174,175,209
WegmaJln, RiellaJ'd 202, 203, 204,
205
Weigle, Walter P. 104, 207
Weiss, NOrlllan 64, 208
Weitzel, Eva 203
Wellbeloved.john 95
Welling, Irwin A. 84, 208
Wells,jaJlles E. iv, 41, 43, 63, 64,
208
Wells, Lt 42
Wcpncr,jolm 1. 43,44,208
Wescott, Wells 1. 140
WcSt, G.A. 130
West, George E. 70, 71, 207, 214
WCtll, Giintllcr 69,211
WhiteJr., Henry W 48,51,212
White, Frederick 24,212
Wlute, Hemy . 28,50,51
Whitehead, SaJllUel H. iV,31
Wluting, M)'T;ckJ. 78,95
Wlutten, WilliaJll 45
Wholeben, Bemard 147,208
Wicks, Wa)'Tle W 65, 208, 214
Wiitala, Eino J. 139, 206
WillenbriJl!<., Heinrich 211
WilliaJ11S, Burdette 112
WilliaJlls, Burl 1. 55, 212
Williams, ChaJ'les D. 139, 206
WilliaJns, Cophlin 147, 14·9,208
Willianls, Lt 97
Willianls, atllaJl L. 89, 90, 206
Williams, eaI W 58, 206
Wtllianls, Robert B. 6
Willis, Theodore D. 139, 206
Wilson, Curry P. 54, 209
Wilson, WC. 132
'''''UldhaJn, Frederick H. 63, 75, 76,
208
'''''UlterS, Craig W. iv, l83
Wimcrs, Lt 172
Winton, Bruce F. 42, 88
WithaJn, Lt 172
WitllCrow, HowaJ·d A. 190, 209
Witl,crs, Rogcr B. 134, 137, 207
Witt, Ernst-EduaJ'd 210
Witten, Bill 45
WolcOtt III, Hemy W iv, 188, 190,
191
Wolf, Jerry 100, 207
Wolf, Lt 97
Wolfe, Riellard D. 175
Wolliver, Irving 63
Womble,Johmue 1. 207
WoodJr., Clarence H. 111,206
Wood, Lt 172
Woolfolk, Robert 1. 105,207,214
Woolley, MaxJ. iv, 82, 83
Wright, Daniel A. 97
Wright, Gilbert S. 48
WrisbergJr.,john H. 88
WuruUke, GerhaJ'd 211
Wurl, Fritz 102, IlO
Wynn, TD. 21
Zemke, Hubert A. II
Zerbel, Rinellan 176
Zettek, Charles M. iv, l27
Zindar, LaddieJ. 57,58,206,214
Zoebelein, ThomasJ. 178, 190,209
MISSION 376
28 May 1944...
"As we approached the Initial Point we encountered severe flak, and then the tighter
planes came at us in their usual attack position, head-on Irom the south. On the tirst pass
they shot out our number lour engine. We lost power and had to lall out 01 lormation,
unable to keep up with the rest 01 the Wing. In order to lighten the load, we had to drop
our bombs. Flying on our own, they singled us out and tired on us lrom every position. We
were all busy tiring back when I was hit ·in the right lorearm by a machine gun slug Irom
an enemy tighter, and it shattered both bones in my arm..."
William H. Morris, Radio-Operator, 8-17G 42-31757,
351st 80mb Group