OCTOBER 1943

2. Today finds the first mission of the month to the port area of Emden,   Germany, an important naval and ship building center. The 11 crews returned safely, reporting bombing results as unobserved. The pilots of this squadron who participated with their crews were:  Capt Baltrusaitis, Lts Winter, Hutchens and Beckman.

A second mission for today was planned for Kassel, but was scrubbed before take-off.

4. Captain Baltrusaitis with Lt Col Hall led the group in a mission to Frankfurt, the other squadron pilots being Lts Pry, Hutchens, Beckman, Wood and Pry, who aborted.

S/Sgt Michael Jasinski is credited with one enemy aircraft destroyed, while S/Sgt Joseph S. Lanza receives credit for a probably destroyed.

Official word was received from the War Department today authorizing the use of the squadron insignia submitted for approval. The insignia is: a scarlet disc on which is a flying Trojan Horse, outlined black, winged with its Fortress wings ultramarine blue, edged white,  having a golden lance spike on each knee of its forelegs, eyes red,  and breathing a jagged orange lightning flash from each nostril. The scarlet background denotes the squadron personnel's valor. The Trojan Horse represents the fully-armed Fortresses used by this squadron, and the lightning flashes symbolize the striking power.

7. The planned mission for today, Bremen, Germany, was scrubbed.

8. The second mission was planned for the port area of Bremen, a submarine and a ship-building yard. Taking part were: Capt Baltrusaitis, Lts Winter, Beckman, Hutchens, who aborted while Sample and Pry are Missing in Action.

MIA Crews: Lts Arthur M. Sample, Edward P, Cytarzinski, Capt Norman C. Mackay, S/Sgt Robert V. Moore (toggler); Sgts Howard W. Ballou, Warren G. Heintz, Melvin J. Olson, William H. Grayson, James R. Forbes, George R. Johnston.

Lts Jack L. Pry, Cecil W. Quinley, Roger W. Burwell, Theodore F. Snyder;

Sgts:  Edward R. LaPointe, Russell H. Frauschti, Irvin W. Smith, Carl L. Baird, Alfred A. Johnson, Martin D. Brandt.

The crews handled the .50 calibers with skill and tallied up claims as follows:

S/Sgts Thomas J. Murphy, Harold Robinson, Wallace B. McGaughey and 1st Lt Frank Simek are each credited with an enemy aircraft destroyed; S/Sgt Arnold G. Hone with one probably destroyed, and T/Sgt Gordon Teal with one damaged.

9. Four aircraft of this squadron, piloted by Capt Baltrusaitis, Lts Clore, Winter and Beckman took off on an eight hour mission to Anklam, Germany to bomb the Arado Aircraft components factory. The crews reports the results as good.

10. Today Lt Hutchens and crew took off at 11.35 hrs on a group mission to Munster, to bomb the important rail and waterway communications.

Four new crew members were assigned as per SO No. 107. They are: 2nd Lts Jason H. Duncan (pilot), Harry Allchin (co-pilot), Mac Huffman (navigator), John E. Cassidy Jr (bombardier).

11. Today's mission planned for Emden was scrubbed.

13. Again the mission scheduled for Emden was scrubbed, soon after take-off.

14. Six ships of this squadron took off to bomb the all important Kugel-Fischer ball bearing factory at Schweinfurt: Lts Beckman, Clore, Wood, Moore, Hutchens but Capt Baltrusaitis returned early due to failure of the oxygen system.

Lt Miller returned early from France to land on a coastal base in England, while Lt Hutchens landed at Warmwell, England on his return for the target and has not yet returned to base.

S/Sgts Ralph R. Rosato, Billy L. Whittington,  Named M. Howard and 2nd Lt Marvin E. Dille are each credited with one enemy aircraft destroyed.

15. Lt Hutchens who landed at Warmwell yesterday returned to base for interrogation. 1st Lt Frank J. Shimek, navigator of this squadron has been relieved of assignment and assigned to the 535th, as per SO No. 112. Lt Shimek is one of the original navigators and a former crew member of Capt Marvin D. Lord.

17. Today's mission to Duren, Germany, was scrubbed.

The following officers of the squadron are appointed to carry out the duties indicated as per Squadron Order No 53: 2nd Lt Cecil M. Clore - Flight Commander "B"; Flight; 2nd Lt Richard D. Robinson, Operations Officer - First Pilot; 2nd Lt George R. Darrow - Assistant Operations Officer; 1st Lt John L. Silva - Weights and Balance Officer; 2nd Lt George R. Desantis, Adjutant - Acting Squadron Supply Officer; 1st Lt Melvin R. Hecker - First Pilot and assigned "A" Flight; 2nd Lt Donald R. Frieze - Squadron Camouflage Officer.

20. The target for today was Duren, Germany, with the pilots being: Capt Baltrusaitis, Lts Wood, Clore, Klein and Beckman, who took off with the group but the mission was recalled after the planes had crossed the French coast.

21. The mission for today was to bomb factories on the River Seine, in Paris, France, but was recalled as they were forming up over the field.

New combat personnel assigned as per SO 117, are: T/Sgt Vinal L. Wade; S/Sgt Leon D. Jeffers; S/Sgt Roy F. Mattson; T/Sgt John P. Roe,  S/Sgt Simon S. Lazicki; Pvt Harold G. Starky.

22. Today the following new crew was assigned as per SO No. 118: 2nd Lts Henry F. Genther, Charles Stang, Edgar H. Carter, Fred V. Lemmon; S/Sgts John E. Wise, Dennis Harrigan, Earl M. Straub; Sgts Arthur Gordon, Richard L. Walters, Winthrop R. Newhall.

23-29. No operational missions were flown, however several practice flight were undertaken. Usual activities went on throughout the squadron, combat crews attended ground school classes and practiced skeet shooting.

30. Gelsenkirchen, the transport center of the Ruhr Valley was to be the target for today, but the mission was recalled as the planes were forming up over the field. The crews experienced some difficulty in landing due to bad weather.

The end of the month finds the total strength of the squadron at 55 officers and 352 enlisted men.