DECEMBER 1943

2. The target for today was Leverkusen, where is located one of the largest chemical plants  in Europe and produces a wide range of products, particularly poison gases. 20,000 of the 50,000 population is dependent on this factory.

Seven aircraft took part: Capt Baltrusaitis, Lts Clare, Robinson, McNeill, Beckman, Duncan and Wood.  This mission proved costly as Lt Duncan is Missing in Action.

Crew: Lts Jason H. Duncan, Harry Allchin Jr, Mac W. Huffman, Robert G. Kessler; Sgts Vinal L. Wade, Edward V. Doherty, Leon D. Jeffers, M. A. Wall, Harold G. Starkey, Roy F. Mattson.

Enemy opposition was reported as strong, flak moderate to intense. Bombing results were unobserved.

Assigned were: 2nd Lts Robert Saur, Frank Capobianco, Philip Miller, Edward Rudnicki; Sgt Robert Davis; Pvt John Brogden; Sgts L. T. Patterson, James Jones, Bernard Keene; Pvt John Snyder.

2. 1st Lt Donald F. Frieze appointed Squadron Navigator and 2nd  Lt Irving Moore appointed Asst. Squadron Operations Officer, as per Sq O No. 59.

5.  Seven aircraft of this squadron took off this morning, Capt Lord and Lt Hecker leading the group formation. Other pilots were: Lts Beckman, McNeill, Clore, Goodge, Robinson and Wood.  The target was the ball-bearing factory at Ivry, near Paris. As this plant supplied German military requirements, its destruction would seriously effect the German Air Force production. However bombs were not dropped as there was a complete overcast and the target could not be seen.

As per SO  No. 155, the following combat crew personnel have been assigned:

2nd Lts Neal Ward, John Howcroft, Ralph J. Waldman; T/Sgts Carl Hartnett, Jack Kaufman; S/Sgts Richard Morrison, James Baker, Clyde Draa, Paul V. Howard, Clarry Jones.

7. As per SO No. 157, the following crew were assigned:

2nd Lts Jack Zeman, Otis Montgomery, Frank Bisagna, William C. Walker; S/Sgts John Sinquefield, Burton A. Girvan; Sgts Rinaldo Cavalieri, Raymond Chevreaux, Harve Leroux, Francis Carter.

11. Lts Clore, Hollenkamp, McNeill, Beckman, Goodge, Flaherty, Herrington and Robinson were our pilots for a mission to Germany. Herrington was forced to abort as he was unable to make contact with the group, his radio compass was acting up and could not be used. He landed at Knettishall, Norfolk for fuel at 14.30hrs and took off again soon after heading for base. Enemy opposition was weak and what little Germans were around were soon taken care of by our fighter escort.

13. The object of the Fortress explosives today, was the submarine and ship-building yards at Bremen. The bombers were piloted by: Lts Clore, Genther, Hollenkamp, Hutchens, Goodge, Flaherty and  Wood, the latter aborting with troubles in #1 and #4 engines. Mediocre to accurate AA fire was encountered and that over the target reported as intense and highly accurate.

14. The Field Order came through with Berlin, capital of Germany, as the target.

The crews were briefed but the mission scrubbed; shortly after a mission was briefed for Bremen, but this was also scrubbed.

16. The target for today was again Bremen, where submarines and destroyers were under construction. Five ships took off piloted by: Lts Clore, Genther, Goodge, Flaherty and Wood.  Bombs were unloaded  and crews returned safely, reporting results as unobserved. Intense flak was encountered though enemy fighter opposition was weak.

17. A dance was held at the Aero Club with music furnished by the all "381" base band. The dancing partners of the personnel were civilian girls, members of the ATS and WAAFS. Refreshments were served by the waitresses and a good time was had by all.

20. Bremen was again the target when Capt Lord and Lt Hecker led the formation on a successful bombing, along with Lts Genther, Robinson, McNeill, Clore,  Goodge, Wood, Hutchens and Hollenkamp, who is Missing in Action.

Crew: Lts Bernard F. Hollenkamp, George T. Jones, Herbert N. Clough, Richard Hazelton; Sgts George C. Reimann, George W. Soell, Elmo R. Schulz, Homer Hutchers, Ira J. Walker, Harry L. Good.

Flying in the lead ship "Big Time Operator" Capt Thomas J. Hester was hurled back four feet into the nose compartment when a slowed down flak fragment struck him in the forehead just before the ship headed on the bomb run. The fragment bounced off his head after knocking pieces of plexi-glass fragments into his face and knocking him into navigator Lt Frieze. He managed to get back to the bomb-sight in time to make a perfect squadron mission and enabled the other group ships to drop their bombs on the target.

The crew of Lt Cecil Clore were forced to throw everything they could from their hands to lighten the load to get back to base, but were forced to land at Mildenhall.  They left the ship there and returned to base.

Among the crew were Salvatore Bozzette and Walter Trainer, who were formerly ground crew of the squadron, and had been on gunnery courses on arrival at the base. This mission made it 16 for Bozzette and 17 for Trainer.

22. Today six aircraft took off to bomb Osnabruck, attacking a rail junction. They were flown by Lts Clore, Genther, McNeill, Hutchens, Goodge and Flaherty. McNeill aborted as there was an oil leak in #2 and #3 was running rough. Bombing results were unobserved through 10/10th cloud. The crews reported excellent fighter cover of P-47s and P-38s.

As per Sq O No. 17 the following crews have been assigned:

2nd Lts Thomas Thomson, George Bowen, Walter Brzoska, Edward Neville; S/Sgts Lever Solub, Howard Requette, Paul Hickey, Hubert Ballinger, Edward Lazarski; Pvt George Day.

2nd Lts Milton Fastrup, Edward Mann, Joseph Pokosa, Douglas Warren; Sgts Raymond Glauer, Joseph Gordon, James Gibson, Harold Prestwood, Christopher Shorten, Leroy Aden.

23. 2nd Lts John Newell and Royce Stephens were promoted to 1st Lt, as per Sq O No. 80. The following officers appointed as per Sq O No. 60: 1st Lt Charles G. Wood - "D" Flight commander; 1st Lt  George F. Spear -  "D" Flight Bombardier; 2nd Lt Rodney Loft - "D" Flight Navigator.

24. The target for today was the construction works at Cocove, France, a "Ski-Site" thought to be connected with Germany's secret weapon. The bombing results were unobserved as it is not known what damage the target received. It is the first target of its kind that has been the object of the group's bombs.

The squadron was led by Lt Col Hall, Capt Lord and Lt Hecker in aircraft #1417; also in the lead squadron were Lts Flaherty, Goodge, Hutchens, McNeill, Wood, Robinson and Genther. It was the big one for Capt Lord's crew as it was the 25th mission for T/Sgt Thomas S. Campbell and S/Sgt Joseph F. Mello. S/Sgt Ken Stone described the mission as "Rough. And there was plenty of flak."

25. Today, Christmas, was non-operational, however the usual garrison duties were performed. The entire base personnel enjoyed a very good Christmas dinner of turkey and all the trimmings. Christmas carols were played over the "Tannoy" which added to the spirit of the holiday.

26. The following were assigned: 2nd Lts Robert Laux, Donald Harper, Phlemon Wright, Judson Doyle; Sgts John Holton, Howard Atkinson, Henry Barr, Rudolph Cutino, Richard Hamilton, Abraham Helfgott.

27. As per SO No. 173 the following combat crew are assigned: 2nd Lts Dale McCrory, Harvey Grover, William Reardon, Kenneth Bailey; S/Sgts Jerry J. Petska, Sgts Glenn M. Dick, William Seifermann, Richard Brown and Howard Van Hoozer.

28. The mission to St Jean D'Angely, was scrubbed.

30. Today eight aircraft of this squadron took off for Ludwigshafen, to bomb the second largest plant for the production of dyestuffs, chemicals and plastics, in Germany. Our pilots were: Lts Clore, Genther, McNeill, Wood, Saur, Robinson, Goodge and Darrow. Results of bombing were unobserved. Enemy air opposition was weak while flak was meager.

31. Lts Hutchens, Saur, Zeman, Wood, Goodge, Darrow, Genther, Herrington and McNeill took part to bomb Cognac/Chateau Bernard AF, Bordeaux. Many landed away from the base on their return as the field was closed.

The following officers were promoted during the month: George Desantis to 1st Lt; Ralph J. Waldman to 1st Lt; Thomas J. Hester to Capt; Marvin E. Dille to 1st Lt; Cornelius J. Donovan to 1st Lt.

The squadron count at end of December was 76 officers and 415 EM.