532nd Bomb Sq.
381st Bomb Group (H)
WAR DIARY
Submitted by Lt. G.T. Kelley
SEPTEMBER 1944
1. Ten ships of our squadron were dispatched to attack Ludwigshafen today. After reaching a point (4841N x 0121E) at 10.30am the group was recalled by Wing Division Leader Col Hunter because of bad weather. This did not count as a mission.
As per SO 200, the following combat crew were assigned: F/O Leo Belskis, 2nd Lts Glenn C. Vaughan, James V. Collett, Ross W. Perrin Jr; Sgts Lynn J. Laurette Jr; Cpls Elvis A. McCoy, Edward M. Cole, Robert F. Rogers, Walter R. Newman, Durward V. Suggs.
The War Bond Drive continues with another £400 collected.
2. Non operational. The War Bond Drive ended with a total amount of War Bonds sold for cash amounting to $15,625.00, the allotments amounted to $4,025.00.
3. The target for today was the synthetic oil refinery at Ludwigshafen. Bombing was by PFF through 10/10th clouds and results were unobserved. No enemy aircraft opposition was encountered, although flak was moderate to intense and fairly accurate at the target. Taking part were: Lts Bendall, Miller, Worrell, Reseigh, Klare, Reed, Rivett and Copeland.
With the aid of the 881st Chemical Company and the 2965th Finance Detachment, Team "A" went above its goal by about $4,000.000.
4. Non operational. A total of 44 officers and EM were transferred to the 12th RCD in order to bring our total combat strength down to 230. This squadron is now authorized 23 combat crews with a staff of four officers.
5. Non operational. It was gas mask day. Thirteen additional combat men were clearing the base in preparation for leaving for the 8th RCD tomorrow.
6. Two mission were scheduled for today, to Bremen and Genshagen, near Berlin, but both were scrubbed.
7. Non operational. Another new crew was assigned: 2nd Lts Wofford E. Marshall Jr, Richard W. Dunham, Earl C. Smith, Eino M. Sipila; Pvt Casimir P. Pikur; Cpls Burr C. Brock Jr, Howard J. Pearson, Robert N. Edgerly, James M. Miller and John Yacovelli.
8. Nine of our aircraft took off this morning led by Capt McNeill, leading the low group of the 1st "C" Combat Bomb Wing. The target was again the oil plant at Ludwigshafen. Bombing was unobserved due to cloud and dense smoke. Flak was moderate but fairly accurate in the target area, but no enemy air opposition was met. Taking part were: Capt McNeill and Lt Bryce, with: Lts Reseigh, Reed, Scurlock, Worrell, Lazar, Davis, Bailey and Seeley.
F/O Belski's crew was given an indoctrination lecture at 10.30 hrs.
9. The first mission scheduled for today was Baden-Baden, Germany, however this was cancelled, and Lt Col Fitzgerald led the 1st "B" CBW to hit Ludwigshafen again. This squadron sent 12 aircraft to make up the lead group. Bombing was done by PFF on Mannheim with unobserved results. Flak was moderate to intense over the target, but no aircraft were met. Taking part were: Lts Sluyter (with Col Fitzgerald), Bendall, Klare, Nashold, Bailey, Davis, Guy, Lazar, Quinn, Rivett, Seeley and F/O Worrell.
10. The target bombed today was the M.T. and Deisel Lorry Works of Daimler Benz at Gaggenau, Germany. Bombing was done visually and results reported as excellent. Flak was moderate to intense, The six crews taking part were: Lts Reed, Devenish, Scurlock, Davis, Lazar and Bendall.
Pvt Charles Kearley of this squadron was married to Miss Dorothy M. Mason at Halstead, Essex today, about eight miles away.
11. Today we bombed the Synthetic Oil Refinery at Merseburg, and bursts were seen in the target area. Flak was moderate, enemy aircraft were seen but no attacks made on our formation. The nine pilots taking part were: Capt Herrington with Lt McGregor; Lts Miller, Nashold, Rivett, Copeland, Devenish, Lang, Durbin and F/O Belskis.
12. Nine ships of our squadron took off to attack another oil plant, this time at Brux, Czechoslovakia. Because the primary was obscured, this squadron, led by Lt Bryce bombed a last resort target at Plauen, Germany. Enemy opposition was encountered, but only one pass was made on our formation. The nine pilots were: Lts Reseigh, Copeland, Rivett, Bendall, Bailey, Klare, Davis, Miller and Morgan.
13. Non operational. Ground personnel signed the September payroll this date. Sgts Jones, Kaplan and Phelps returned to this unit as escaped POWs.
14. The mission scheduled for today was Genshagen, near Berlin, but it was cancelled. The usual camp details were performed. Broken windows were replaced on all sites.
15. Non operational. Sgt Jones, Kaplan and Phelps received their pay in full from the time they were missing in action, to 31 August. It included flying pay and base pay for the entire period of absence.
16. The mission scheduled for today, to Eindhoven, Holland was scrubbed. The regular Saturday morning inspection was carried out.
17. Today we attacked a concentration of enemy tanks and gun emplacements at Eindhoven, with good to excellent results. The lead group 1st "B" CBW was led by Capt McNeill who flew with Lt Sluyter, the others being: Lts Devenish, Quinn, Nashold, Seeley, McGregor, Lazar, Copeland, Miller and F/O Worrell. This mission was made in connection with the paratroop landings in Holland.
One of our crews was sent on a secret mission over the landing area with the Commanding General of the 1st Airborne Division.
18. Non operational. Approximately 60% of the unit attended the movie "The Battle of China", which all personnel were ordered to see.
19. Eleven squadron ships flew the mission today to attack the marshalling yards at Hamm, but results were unobserved due to heavy cloud coverage. Moderate, accurate tracking flak was encountered in the target area but no enemy aircraft. Those pilots who flew today were: Lts Rivett, Bailey, Belskis, Klare, Worrell, Nashold, Copeland, Quinn, Miller, Seeley and Rolin (533rd).
An inspection was made of all mess equipment, the general condition of utensils was satisfactory.
20. The mission planned for Kassel was scrubbed. Lt Donald Wilson returned from France after he had previously been reported as missing in action.
21. The target attacked today was the industrial center of Mainz, Germany. Results of the bombing were unobserved. No enemy aircraft were encountered and the flak in the target area was reported as meagre to moderate and inaccurate. Today's pilots were: Lts Bailey, Worrell, Lazar, Durbin, Guy, Sunderland, Nashold, Seeley and Belskis.
22. Today's target was Kassel, and yet again the bombing was by PFF, this results were unobserved. There was meagre, inaccurate flak at the target area. Participating were: Lts Klare, Scurlock, Bendall, Copeland, Bryce, Seeley, Devenish, Lazar and belskis.
23. Non operational. The usual Saturday morning inspection was satisfactory.
24. Non operational. The regular monthly party was held in the officers' club today. Due to bad weather the club was quite crowded but everyone seemed to have an enjoyable evening.
25. Today's target was the marshalling yards at Frankfurt which is one of the most important traffic enters in Germany. Bombing was done by PFF and results were unobserved. Lt Col Fitzgerald and Lt Klinksiek led the lead group of the 1st "C" Combat Bomb Wing. Others were: Lts Miller, Worrell, Rivett, Reseigh, Devenish, Reed, Belskis and Bendall.
26. Osnabruck was the target attacked today. The lead squadron had good coverage on their MPI, but the low and high squadrons' MPI's were obscured by smoke. Meagre to moderate flak was encountered but no enemy fighters. The pilots who flew today were: Lts Lazar, Devenish, Bailey, Reseigh, Warrell, Davis, Reed, Quinn, Seeley and Belskis.
The regularly quarterly gas mask check was held today, but due to the mission the attendance at the gas chamber was very small.
27. Cologne in the heart of the Ruhr was the object of today's operation, but due to 8/10th cloud coverage prevented the results of the bombing to be observed. Flak was generally meagre and inaccurate from the IP to the target. The pilots were: Lts Seeley, Lazar, Nashold, Rivett, Marshall, Quinn, Reseigh, Morgan and Worrell.
As per SO 219 the following new crew was assigned: 2nd Lt Kyle S. Smith, 2nd Lt Donald F. McGurk, F/O Melvin A. LaLuzerne, 2nd Lt James J. Brady; Sgt Robert K. Porter; Cpls Thomas Arnond, Lester F. Colson, Gustavo E. Contreras, Myron A. Fairbanks and Francis R. DeLange.
28. Today nine of the squadron's aircraft piloted by: Lts Marshall, Nashold, Guy, Bendall, Reed, Devenish, Davis, Bailey and Belskis attacked Magdeburg. Results were unobserved.
29. Non operational. A new part crew assigned: Lt William Schwartner; Sgts Lowell Chase, Harry Coell, Neil Dickson, Earl Roberts.
30. Non operational. The enlisted men were paid by Capt DeSantis.
The following officers were promoted: 1st Lts Kelley, Sluyter, and Herrington to Captain. 2nd Lts Rautio, Smith, Copeland, Heinrich, Hill, Smolen, Stewart and Mousseau to 1st Lt. F/Os Boyd, Faby, Worrell, Strohmayer to 2nd Lt.
The strength of the squadron is 113 officers and 445 enlisted men.
During the month many awards were presented to the combat crew personnel.
Distinguished Flying Cross to: 2nd Lts Benjamin W. Ploch, Eugene H. Bragg, S/Sgts: John E. Hubbard; Sgts Erling A. Anderson, Earl W. Berneking, Albert P. Lang. 2nd Lt Maury Hill received the Purple Heart. There were 38 Air Medals and 109 Oak Leaf Clusters.
> October 1944