MARCH 1944

2. Eight aircraft of this squadron took off this morning on a mission to Frankfurt, all returned safely reporting bombing results as unobserved due to 10/10th cloud covering the target. Enemy aircraft did not attack our formation, however intense and accurate flak was encountered. The pilots were: Capt Wood, Lts Cahill, Fastrup, Genther, Bowen, McCrory, McNeill and Robinson.

2nd Lt Fastrup was promoted to 1st Lt today.

3. The Field Order for today's mission designated Erkner (outskirts of Berlin) as the target, but the aircraft of this squadron dropped their bombs on Oldenburg as weather conditions made it impossible to  hit the primary target. Those taking part were: Lts McNeill, Bowen, Fastrup, Robinson, Cahill, Keyes  and Genther.

4. Again Erkner is named as the objective of today's operation, the target being a ball-bearing manufacturing plant producing a million ball-bearings per month. A target of opportunity was attacked however. Those who participated were: Lts McNeill, Fastrup, Robinson, Genther, Cahill, Bowen and Keyes. The latter is missing in action. Crew: Lts David D. Keyes, Richard C. Beal, Ralph W. Lynch, John C. Hughes; Sgts Charles C. Van Voorhis, John L. Fair, Theodore R. Simone, Dale E. Hullett, Henry Levandoski, Eugene Davis.

6. Captains Wood and Winter led the group's bombers to the Reich capital today where tons of bombs were unloaded. Also participating were: Lts Bowen,  Genther, Cahill, Pirtle and Fastrup, who is missing in action aboard #448. The ship was seen going down in a glide in the target area with two engines out. Eight chutes were observed for certain, and possibly two more. Crew: Lts Milton A. Fastrup, Edward C. Mann, Martin P. King, Howard Atkinson (S/Sgt toggler); Sgts Raymond R. Glauer, Elmer E. Estle, John S. Snyder, Christopher Shorten, William Provonsha and George J. Dynan.

Enemy air opposition was very strong. Capt Wood said he could count more than 200 fighters in the air over Berlin, nearly every kind of fighter, attacking the formation from all directions.

S/Sgt Lazarski is credited with an enemy aircraft destroyed and S/Sgt Hickey with one damaged. Both Capt Wood and Lt Robinson finished up today.

7. Today's mission to Berlin (Erkner) was scrubbed before briefing. The field Order then designated an airfield at Gutersloh, but this was also scrubbed.

A new combat crew was assigned: Lts Ralph Bemis Jr, George W. Conly, William H. Sherburn; T/Sgts Eldred H. Krisle, Vance B. Dykes, Sgt Sidney A. Walden, S/Sgt Robert H.  Husson, Sgts Sidney F. Formby, Andrew C. Walker Jr.

8. Captain Hecker was the pilot of the lead ship on the mission to Erkner, Berlin. Lts Thomson, Beckman, McCrory and Pirtle participated, but the latter is missing in action. Crew: Lts Thomas A. Pirtle, Paul H. Schlintz, Milton W. Stern, Harry F. Cooper; Sgts George W. Cassody, Robert W. Burrows, William C. Kinney, James W. Warren, James E. Estep Jr, William L. Bull.

Capt Hester, lead bombardier said of the XXXXXXXX were  four groups that hit the factory just as he synchronized. "My bombs fell right on their's in one big hit on top of the target. It was a perfect pattern  for the entire Wing. The lowest smoke was more than 5,000 ft high before we made the target. There was a column of smoke 15,000 ft high and could be seen 75 miles away from the target."

Capt M. Hecker, Lt R. Loft, Sgts E. Knauth, E. Smith and R. Johnson finished their tour of operations today.

9. The Field Order specified Orienburg as the primary target for today, but weather conditions made bombing of the secondary advisable. This was Berlin. This squadron was represented by: Lts Beckman, Bowen, Thomson, Rickerson, McNeill and McCrory.

Lt M. Schneider finished up today.

10. The squadron meeting was held today and various awards  earned by the combat men and ground crews were presented. Lt George T. Kelley gave a  security lecture.

13. Wizernes, France, was to be today's target of construction works, but it was scrubbed.

A new crew was assigned: Lts Palmer Bradner, William Moore, Sgts James McDonnell, Casimir Wilanowski, William McKinney, Wayne Padgett, Victor Sykes, George Miller.

14. Again Wizernes was the target, yet once more it was scrubbed.

15. Two new crews assigned today: Lts Clarence Ezzell, Dean Larson, William Wilson, John Nymeyer; Sgts Wesley Peck, Henry Augustine, Louis Baker, Lloyd Harvey, Harm Beninga, Carl Schaaf.

Lts Gottfried Klinksiek, Howard Anderson, Alfred Coffman, Floyd Small; Sgts Leon Brewer, Zeke Herrara, William Beall, Lloyd Daffern, Curtis Gray, Joseph Kavanaugh.

16. The marshalling yards at Augsburg were attacked by this squadron today, from which all planes returned safely after bombing. Taking part were: Lts McNeill, McCrory, Howcroft, Genther, Cahill, Rickerson, Thomson and Bowen.

Completing tours of duty today were: Sgts J. Wise, J. Lanza Jr, W. Newhall. R. Walters, J. Rudick, D. Harrigan, R. Mack, E. Straub; Lts H. Genther, E. Carter, G. Stang Jr and F. Lemmon.

Newly assigned crew are: 2nd Lt Kenneth T. Haynes, Harris Sluyter,  Edmund P. Cusson, Harry J. Stahlecker; S/Sgts Edward N. Sauld, Harry C. Loparco, Sgts  Kenneth M. Ham, Donald B. Mahaffey, S/Sgt Ervin N. Young, Sgt Arthur M. Plows.

17. Augsburg and Frankfurt were the targets designated for today, but they were scrubbed.

2nd Lts F. Lemmon and C. Stang promoted to 1st Lts.

18. The crews were briefed for today's mission to a very important aero components factory at Frankfurt. This plant is responsible for a large percentage of Germany's piston rings. This mission was scrubbed and another substituted. The newly designated target was the aircraft assembly plant at Oberpfaffenhofen. The pilots representing this squadron were: Lts Howcroft, McCrory, Thomson, Cahill, Bowen and McNeill participated.

Lt Loftin completed his tour of operations.

19. Non-operational. Work is being carried out on this site to get the ground spaded and grass seed planted. The work is expected to improve the looks of the site a great deal.

20. The crews scheduled for the mission today were briefed on an important aero components factory in Frankfurt, responsible for a large percentage of Germany's piston rings and hydraulic brakes. Pilots were: Lts McNeill, Howvroft, Bowen, Thomson, Cahill, McCrory and Beckman.     

Completing their tour of operations  on this mission were: Lts B. Beckman, D. Brophy, G. Speer and Sgts A. Levine, G. Frain, R. Rush, G. Dirling and N. Rossi.

22. A bomber assembly plant in Berlin was the assigned target, where no enemy aircraft were encountered but our formation met intense, accurate flak over the target area. Pilots for this mission were: Lts McNeill, Bowen, Cahill, Thomson, Rickerson and Thomas.

23. The airfield of Worl, southeast of Hamm, Germany,  was the objective of our bombers today, the following pilots and crews participated: Lts McNeill, Thomas, Bowen, Ezzell, Haynes, Rickerson and Cahill. Meager to moderate flak was encountered.

Sgt R. Ruth finished up today.

24. Capt Winter and Lt McNeill, flying 010-J, led the squadron formation on today's mission to Schweinfurt. The crews did not get to their target but dropped their bombs on Frankfurt. Others taking part were: Lts Rickerson, Howcroft, Thomson, Ezzell, Cahill and Haynes. The latter crashed on take-off, at Bailey Hill Farm, Birdbrook soon after take off. All were killed.

Crew: Lts Kenneth T. Haynes Jr, Ralph Bemis Jr, Edmund P. Cusson, Harry J. Stahlecker; Sgts Edward N. Sauld, Harry C. Loparco, Zeke P. Herrera, Kenneth M. Ham, Donald R. Mahaffey, Arthur M. Plows.

Two ships apparently collided, Rickerson and Thomson, the former split in half at the radio room and the latter peeled out of the formation apparently under control. Crews: Lts John A. Rickerson, Donald M. Wilson, Walter Oneschak, Edward J. Hammer; Sgts Gerard B. Wilbur, Durwood I. Williams, Alfredo Lujan, John R. Phelps, Paul B. Sanzone, Thomas L. LaMore.

Lts Thomas P. Thomson, George A. Bowen, Walter Brzoska, Edward J. Neville; Sgts Libor J. Holub, Howard R. Poquette, Paul A. Hickey, Hubert S. Bollinger, Clyde C. Draa, Rinaldo Cavalieri.

The following personnel returned after having been mission in action: Lts Laux, Wright; Sgts Leroux, Cutino, Glennan, Hamilton and Helfgott.

New crews assigned are: Lts Robert T. Martin, Christian G. Roth, Eugene G. Brown, Richard G. Evans; Sgts Clarence A. Sprague, Cornelius C. Anderson, John X. Ott, John T. Cunningham, Sidney J. Simon, Everett B. Dean.

Lts Harold C. Blog, F/O Frederick L. Dill, George D. Dennis, Henry Miller; Sgts John Heidebrink, Jack L. Thompson, Stanley Poloski, Samuel Humphrey, Wallace D. Anderson.

26. The mission to Bohlen was scrubbed, and a substitute target was Marquise/Mimoyecques, France, believed to be a construction works for one of Germany's secret weapons.   Participating were: Capt Winter, Lts Cahill, Howcroft, Ezzell and Klinksieck. Bombing results were good, crews reporting bombs bursting in the target area. No enemy aircraft were seen, although intense flak was encountered.

Finishing up today were: Lt Campbell, Sgts Connors and Hartnett.

Another crew assigned were: Lts Leonard E. Zapinski,  Othmer G. Widosh, David P. Fuller, Robert Van Buskirk; Sgts George J. Pastre, James E. Wilson, Cpl Donald A. Harnes, William E. Webb, Hamilton B. Harper, Peter Kudrievitz.

27. Capt Winter flew lead with Lt Col Hall today. The 532nd led the 1st Combat Wing on a mission to St Jean D'Angely airfield, France, with : Lts Thomas, Howcroft, Klinkseik, Ezzell and Bowen, who was accompanied by Major Fitzgerald. All crews turned safely reporting excellent bombing results with bomb bursts right on the MPI.

28. Another airfield, Rheims/Champagne, France, was the target today with excellent results again reported. Taking part were: Lts Howcroft, Cahill, Moore, Thomas, Bowen, Klinkseik and Ezzell.

Finishing up today were Lt Howcroft and Sgt R.R. Rosato.

Members of Haynes' crew, who were killed on take-off recently,  were buried at the American Cemetery, Cambridge, attended by a party of this squadron at the funeral.

2nd Lts Tidwell, Chappell and Cahill promoted to 1st Lt.

Fourteen personnel were transferred to this squadron from the 535th BS. Sgts: Glen Hofert, J.W. Swafford, Rex Heintz, Kenneth Hitchcick, Thomas O'Brien, Arthur O'Mally, Theodore Snyder, Edward Nicholas, Francis Lobasso, George Dell, Robert Orr, Walter Prettyman, Josiah Hank III and  - Harrington.

29. Lts Bowen, Klinkseik, Thomas, Moore, Bradner, Ezzell and Cahill flew to Brunswick where they unloaded bombs by PFF. Due to 10/10th cloud bombing results were unobserved. All crews returned safely.

30. The designated targets for today were Ludwigshafen and Oberpfaffenhofen, but the mission was scrubbed.

A new crew was assigned: Lts Arthur C. Devine, Aubrey O. Farrar, Herbert Oberg, Carmen A. Noto; Sgts Joseph A. Noto, Winfred H. Morrow, William J. Loeder, Patrick M. Burdsal, Benjamin S. Weaver, Thomas F. Philpott.

Awards made during the month included 15 Distinguished Flying Crosses to:

2nd Lt Wallace W. Chappell, 1st Lt Donald R. Frieze, 1st John W. Howcroft, 1st Lt Edward H. McNeill, 2nd Lt Harvey G. Tidwell, T/Sgt Edmond Connors, S/Sgt Robert Dearth, S/Sgt Thomas Eastburn, S/Sgt Harold Harrington, T/Sgt Carl W. Hartnett, S/Sgt Rovert R. LeVert, S/Sgt Richard G. Morrison, S/Sgt Ralph R. Rosato, S/Sgt Harry Ruth Jr.; three Purple Hearts to: S/Sgt Richard G. Morrison, S/Sgt Ralph R. Rosato, S/Sgt Glenn J. Perry; with 21 Air Medals and 74 Oak Leaf Clusters.