532nd Bomb Sq.
381st Bomb Group (H)
WAR DIARY
Submitted by Lt. William E. Kornermann
MARCH 1945
1. The railroad marshalling yards at Neckersulm, Germany was the target for today, but weather conditions in the target area meant that bombing was by PFF methods, thus results unobserved. Flak was meagre, tracking and inaccurate on the way in, but not over the target area or on the way out. Our pilots were: Lts Price, Godwin, Instone, Hughes, Sikes, Firlit, Taylor, Sampson, Sobol and Dunham.
2. The briefed target for today was a synthetic oil plant at Bohlen, 11 miles south of Leipzig. Because of 7-10/10th cloud over the target area, the secondary, the marshalling yards at Chemnitz, was attacked with unobserved results. Capt Klinkseik and Lt Rusch flew in the lead of the low squadron, the others being: Sikes, Price, Instone, Schwartner, Dunham, Hughes, Sobol and Winefski.
3. Non Operational.
4. Target for today was a tank and military transport factory at Ulm, and our GH target was the marshalling yards at the same place. Weather being 3-5/10th cloud over the Channel and becoming 10/10th over the target, bombing was done by GH method with unobserved results. The only flak encountered was meagre and inaccurate at Haslach. Capt Klinkseik led the low squadron with Lt Seeley, in the "A" Group in the 1st CBW, along with: Lts Dunham, Fincher, Schwartner, Price, Gehret, Instone, Davis and Hughes.
5. The assigned target for the mission today was the oil refinery at Ruhrland, our squadron led the group. Lt Col Shackley flew in the lead ship with Capt Bryce, ther participating were: Lts Davis, Scherman, Adamson, Sobol, Firlit, Smith, Gehret and Price. The lead squadron bombed a target of opportunity at Plauen by PFF. The other two squadrons bombed the secondary which was Chemnitz. Results were unobserved in both cases. The only flak encountered was moderate and very accurate tracking fire over Brux.
6. Non Operational.
7. Non Operational. S/Sgt Stanley A. Johnson, medical NCO, received a direct commission of 2nd Lt, MAC.
8. Nine ships of this squadron took off this morning led by Capt Bryce and Capt Klinkseik, leading the "B" Group of the 1st CBW. The target was Huls, Germany, which was bombed by GH method and resulted unobserved due to 10/10th cloud cover over the target area. The flak encountered was meagre, inaccurate and black in the target area. The other pilots were: Lts Huff, Adamson, Poland, Firlit, Sobol, Hughes, Instone and Sampson.
9. The target for today was the locomotive repair shops and depot at Kassel, Germany, where bombing was accomplished by squadrons. Wet prints indicate a good coverage of the target area, where flak was moderate and fairly accurate. Leading the formation of the high squadron was Capt Klinkseik and Lt Seeley, along with: Lts Firlit, Baden, Adamson, Price, Hughes, Sobol, Poland and Scherman, the latter missing in action.
His aircraft, #9012-J, was hit over the target at an altitude of about 25,000 ft. It was hit between #3 engine and the bomb bay and the whole right side was on fire, while the nose was also blown off. It glided down to about 15,000 ft where it was seen to explode, followed by two chutes seen.
MIA crew: 2nd Lt Paul J. Scherman, 2nd Lt Earl B. Nelson, F/O Nicholas J. Drohan, 2nd Lt Manny M. Miska; Sgts Richard McClain, George Gasparovich, Garland Monzingo, Herbert Houghton Jr, Hugh D. Fitzgerald.
Capt Marvin W. Fairbanks was transferred to Group HQ as Group Navigator, thus Lt Edward Dvorak was appointed squadron navigator.
10. A railway centre for supplies to the Western Front was the target for today, situated at Sinsen, near Recklinghausen. 10/10th cloud cover prevented visual bombing, instruments recorded the results as good. Flak was meagre and generally inaccurate in the target area, while the Luftwaffe was not encountered. Taking part were: Lts Smith, Godwin, Hughes, Firlit, Sikes, Poland, Price baden. Davis and Adamson.
11. The sub and ship building yards at Bremen was the target for today, situated three miles north west of the city centre. Bombing was done by instruments and no results observed. No enemy aircraft were encountered, flak was mostly the barrage type and in accurate over the target area. Pilots today were; Capt Klinkseik and Lt Rusch, who led the high squadron along with: Lts Godwin, Baden, Davis, Hughes, Firlit, Adamson, Poland, Castiile, Sikes, Huff and Instone.
12. The rail centre at Dillenburg in the Ruhr was the target today, where bombing was by GH and no results seen. No Luftwaffe or flak was encountered. Pilots taking part were: Capt Klinkseik and Lt Seeley, who led the low squadron, the others being: Lts Adamson, Firlit, Davis, Poland, Castille, Instone, Huff and Sikes.
13. Non Operational.
14. Captains McNeill and Klinkseik led the "B" Group of the 1st CBW to attack a railroad bridge, high on the communication priority list, at Vlotho. Bombing was visual and wet prints show excellent results with the target covered with bomb blasts. No E/A or flak was encountered. Other pilots were: Lts Price, Smith, Adamson, Poland, Sikes, Instone, Davis and Firlit.
15. Our mission today was to hit the marshalling yards at Oranienburg. There has been a large amount of military movement in these yards to the Eastern Front. It was clear all over Germany and bombing was visual. The target however, was completely covered with smoke making accurate assessment impossible. There was no E/A attacks on our group, but several dogfights were observed. Flak was moderate and fairly accurate at the target but inaccurate on the way in. Participating were: Lts Godwin, Poland, Smith, Instone, Davis, Sikes, Fincher, Price, Firlit and Huff.
16. The mission for today was an oil plant at Bohlen, but it was scrubbed.
17. The synthetic oil plant at Bohlen was attacked today, when one squadron in our group bombed the target, but this squadron led by Capt Klinkseik and Lt Seeley, followed the lead squadron to bomb Jena. Because of 10/10th cloud bombing was by instruments and unobserved. No enemy aircraft were encountered, while the only flak at Bohlen was intense but inaccurate. Other pilots were: Lts Davis, Price, Godwin, Taylor, Smith, Instone, Castille and Sikes.
18. Today we made our 14th trip to Berlin. Bombing was by PFF and because of cloud cover results were unseen. No aircraft were met but flak was intense and accurate over the target. Capt Klinseik and Lt Seeley led the low squadron, the others being: Lts Castille, Huff, Adamson, Smith, Poland, Fincher, Sikes and Taylor.
19. Our target for today was the flak battery which was the main defence installation for the synthetic oil plant at Bohlen. Our No 2 target was Plauen in which are situated chemical and explosive factories, which was hit by PFF method, but with 10/10th cloud nothing was seen. Flak was nil. The pilots were: Lts Adamason, Castille, Huff, Fincher, Poland, Instone, Taylor and Haeflinger.
20. Non Operational.
21. One of the main GAF jet airfields was the target for today, the Rheine/Salzbergen field near Rheine. Bombing was visual and wet prints show excellent results. No flak was encountered except after bombs away, when meagre, black, fairly accurate fire was faced. The group was led by Captains Bryce and Klinkseik, with: Lts Davis, Huff, Adamson, Baker, Poland, Fincher, Taylor and Haeflinger.
22. Today our target was a military camp at Dorsten/Feldhausen, one of eight such camps attacked by the 8th AF today. Visibility was good and bombing was visual with fair to very good results. No E/A were encountered while flak was meagre and inaccurate increasing to moderate to intense and extremely accurate just before bombs away. Taking part were: Lts Godwin, Huff, Haeflinger, Instone, Bigelow, Baker, Fincher, Sikes, Gehret and Poland.
23. Our target for today was the marshalling yards at Coesfeld. Bombing was visual and strike photos show good concentration in the central area of the yards. No flak and no E/A were encountered. Capt Klinkseik and Lt Rusch led the high squadron, the others being: Lts Huff, Haeflinger, Godwin, Price, Bigelow, Poland, Sikes and Gehret.
24. The squadron made two missions today. The first being the Furstenau/Vechtal landing ground, which was bombed visually with excellent results. No E/A were encountered while flak was meagre to moderate but very accurate. Lts Seeley and Rusch led the low squadron of the "B" Group, others being: Lts Gehret, Price, Instone, Bigelow, Sikes, Sobol, Taylor and Haeflinger. The second mission was also another airfield, Twente Enschede, in Holland, used by the GAF continuously. Bombing was visual and strike photos show an excellent cover of bombs on the intersection of the two main runways. Flak was meagre but accurate in the target area. Taking part were: Lts Ashby, Fincher, Baden and Huff.
25. The mission to Zeitz today was scrubbed.
26. A synthetic oil plant at Zeitz today was the target, a high priority one. The group was led by Major Sandman with Lt Armstrong. The No. 2 target was Plauen was bombed with good results. No E/A were encountered while flak was moderate to intense but inaccurate in the target area. Those taking part were: Lts Baden, Poland, Godwin, Price, Bigelow, Sobol, Gehret and Vining.
Lt Arthur J. Smith was seriously wounded in action today.
Major Sandman was transferred to Group and Majot Krieger assumed command of the squadron.
27. The scheduled mission to Fulda was cancelled.
28. Through 10/10th cloud and by H2X methods Berlin was bombed today for the 15th time by this squadron. Results were unobserved while no E/A were encountered. However flak was accurate in the target area although only meagre. Capt McNeill and Lt Armstrong led the "B" of the 1st CBW, supported by: Lts Castille, Vining, Godwin, Huff, Baden, Poland, Baker and Davis.
29. The submarine and warship building yards at Bremen was the target for today which was bombed visually with excellent results. One ME 262 was observed in the target area, while the only flak met was moderate in the target area. Participating today were: Lts Instone, Huff, Davis, Fincher, Baker, Poland, Bailey, McDonald, Baden and Hendricks.
30. Non Operational.
31. Today we went on our 23rd mission this month. The target was Halle, Germany. Cloud cover and haze made visual observation impossible and bombing was by H2X. Flak was meager to moderate and inaccurate. The pilots who flew the mission were: Lts Instone, Davis, Huff, Fincher, Baker, Castille, Price, Bailey and McDonald.
At the end of the month the squadron strength was 113 officers and 418 EM.
During the month many awards were earned which included the Distiguished Flying Cross for 2nd Lt Edward A. Dvorak, while Purple Hearts went to: Sgt Edgar J. Browne and Sgt Luther M. Dennis. There were 39 Air Medals and 184 Oak Leaf Clusters.
> April 1945