JANUARY 1944

3. The first mission of the month, to Leverkusen, was scrubbed.

4. Six aircraft of this squadron took off for  Kiel, Germany,  the pilots being: Lts Flaherty, Zeman, Beckman,  Robinson and Herrington, who was forced to abort. Unfortunately, just a few miles from the base, Lt Clore's blew up and crashed, killing all on board. Most of them on their 25th and final mission. Crew: Lts Cecil M. Clore, John W. Newell, Ralph J. Waldman, Sgts Walter R. Trainer, Salvatore Bozzette, Richard L. Streicher,  Harold M. Robinson, Named M. Howard, Richard E. Ingmire.

5. The 381st BG was led by Capt Lord and Lt Wood on a mission to Tours, France to bomb the Parday/Lesley airfield. Other squadron pilots were: Lts Genther, McNeill, Darrow, Herrington and Zeman. The latter, in #676, is missing in action.  The ship was hit by a rocket while it still had the bombs bay open, it then made a slow turn to the right, then turned back finally going into a spin before crashing to the ground. Eight chutes were reported seen.

MIA Crew: Lts Jack R. Zeman, Otis A. Montgomery, Frank R. Bisagna, William C. Walker; Sgts John W. Sinquefield, Burton A. Girvan, Harve A. LeRoux, Francis B. Cater, Raymond Chevreaux, George M. Day. 

6. Today, a party headed by Lt DeSantis attended funeral services at the Cambridge American Cemetery for Lt Clore and his crew, who were killed on Jan 4, when their aircraft crashed at Sible Hedingham, Essex, soon after take-off. There were 12 officers and 30 EM from the squadron who attended. The service was conducted by Chaplain Brown and Chaplain Collett,  starting at 15.00 hrs and completed in 30 minutes or so. The caskets were each draped with the American Flag, and placed in a separate grave.

A mission planned for Cocove, France, was scrubbed.

7. Seven aircraft were airborne this morning for a mission to Ludwigshafen, piloted by Lts Hutchens, Genther, Flaherty, Beckman, Saur, Robinson and McNeill.  All returned safely to base reporting bombing results as unobserved due to a complete overcast.

1st Lt Adrian L. Maloney, in addition to his other duties, is appointed Assistant Station Personnel Officer.

8. Major J. J. Fitzgerald Jr, was appointed Squadron Commander, relieving Capt Lord, who was appointed Squadron Operations Officer.

The following crew personnel were assigned: 2nd Lt Ray F. Bombard, 2nd Lt R. E. Hassletine, Sgts James E. Marbry,  Andrew J. Amato, James G. Keesling.

9. The following officers have been detailed and appointed to carry out the duties indicated: 1st Lt David D. Hutchens - Flight Commander "A" Flight, vice Capt William J. Baltrusaitis transferred; 1st Lt Charles G. Wood - Flight Commander "B" Flight; 1st Lr Bernard F. Beckman - Flight Commander "C" Flight; 1st Lt George R. Darrow - Flight Commander  - Flight Commander "D" Flight.

10. Today the following combat personnel were assigned: 1st Lt Kirsch J. Cogswell, 2nd Lt William R. Keenan, S/Sgt Raymond J. Leccese, S/Sgt Frank O. Urban, Sgt Charles E. Duncan.

11. The target for today was the fighter aircraft assembly plant at Oschersleben, the pilots being: Lts Hutchens, McNeill Robinson, Darrow, Goodge, Flaherty and Saur, the latter missing in action. Heavy flak and approx. 175 enemy aircraft were encountered.

Twice wounded, Lt William W. Farrell, aboard "Friday 13th", picked himself up off the floor and bombed his objective, knocked down an enemy fighter and administered first aid to a wounded colleague, refusing medical treatment until the aircraft was out of danger. His explosives fell a split second before those of the rest of the formation. He then plugged in his oxygen hose and got back to his guns. His turret guns ran out of ammunition so he jumped top the nose gun and fought from that position until he again exhausted his ammunition.

The pilot Lt Flaherty, had performed prodigious flying skill all through the trip, always keeping the bomber in its position in the formation. Back over England he found his hydraulic system shot out and, although he didn't know it he also had a flat tire. He made an excellent landing, nevertheless, although the flat tire dragged the ship off the runway and into the mud. Combat crew members of this squadron are credited with 19 enemy aircraft destroyed.

13. 2nd Lt Martin P. King and F/O Russell D. Austin were assigned this date.

14. The mission planned for Croisette, France, was scrubbed.

15. The mission to Gotha, Germany, was scrubbed.

18. The mission to Frankfurt, Germany, was scrubbed.

19. The missions to Belleville en Caux and St Adrien, France, were scrubbed.

20. The following combat personnel were assigned today:

2nd Lts Armour C. Bowen, Floyd L. Miller, S/Sgts Brian Grinde, John T. Yergo, Thomas L. Lamore. Again the missions were scrubbed, this time to Belleville en Caux and St Adrien.

21. After two unsuccessful attempts at the previous target,  a mission was finally carried out with bombing results reported as good. Enemy air opposition was nil while flak was meagre and inaccurate. The pilots participated were: Lts Genther, Robinson, Wood, McNeill, Flaherty, Winter, McCrory and Thomson.

24. The aircraft of this squadron took off on a mission to Frankfurt, but four minutes after crossing the enemy coastline,  10.24 hrs word was received to abandon the mission.

The following combat personnel were assigned this date:

Lts William Borrego, Julian G. O'Neill, Lorenzo Espinoza,  Henry B. Matty; Sgts Wilfred L. Miller, Joseph L. Durnin, John V. Kangas, Glenn J. Terry, Herbert D. Walker, S/Sgt Oliver K. Stuart.

26. The mission to Frankfurt was scrubbed. A second mission was therefor planned, but that was also scrubbed.

29. Eight aircraft of this squadron took off for Frankfurt, piloted by: Lts Wood, Thomson, Flaherty, Beckman, Genther, Laux, McNeill and McCrory. All planes returned safely.

Sgt Robert L. Fain was assigned this unit today.

30. The group formation was led by Major Fitzgerald and Capt Hecker on a  mission to Brunswick, the other pilots being: Lts Thomson, Flaherty, Wood, Genther, Laux, McNeill and Fastrup.  All crews returned safely reporting  bomb results unobserved due to a 10/10th cloud cover. Capt Hester and Sgt Dearth are each credited with one enemy aircraft destroyed.  

31. The end of January finds  four combat crew personnel who have finished their tour of operations over enemy territory: Major Marvin D. Lord, S/Sgt Kenneth Stone, and C. B. Fry, finished their mission on 7 January, while today S/Sgt Billy L. Whittington finished up.

There were nine promotions this month: Capt Lord to Major,  1st Lt Hutchens to Capt, 2nd Lts Moore, Genther, McNeill, Stephens, Goodman and Wilson to 1st Lt. Lt Hecker was already promoted to Capt.

The strength of the squadron is 82 officers and 400 enlisted men.

The 532nd was well represented by recipients of awards during December/January. The awards are as follows:- Six Distinguished Flying Crosses to: Capt Melvin R. Hecker, S/Sgt James L. Baker, T/Sgt Carl W. Hartnett, T/Sgt Jack Kaufman, S/Sgt Richard G. Morrison, S/Sgt   William F. Provonsha, while five Purple Hearts went to Lt William R. Farrell,  F/O Benjamin M. Saporta, S/Sgt   Robert E. LaVert, S/Sgt Joseph C. Clement,  S/Sgt Ralph R. Rosato.

There were 29 Air Medals and 74 Oak Leaf Clusters.