JANUARY 1944

1. Many  men  of  the  squadron  awoke  to  greet  1944  with  furry  tongues  and throbbing noggins, after sessions in the pubs of Cambridge, Ridgewell and "Yoho" as Great Yeldham is called. Those whose stomachs weren't repelled by the sight of food enjoyed hot cakes, with butter and syrup, for breakfast and a full-course turket dinner at noon.

As on Christmas Day, the wooden mess hall tables were covered with white table cloths, giving the place a more domestic atmosphere. The cloths were not white long, after the men began pouring in however. Always overcrowded mess halls were packed for the special meal on New Year's Day. Coffee spilled on white table cloths, leaving spreading brown stains. Little altars of turkey littered the tables, along with scraps of bread and dabs of butter, the last man had left the mess hall which looked as if a cyclone had struck it. But the meal was good and the men satisfied.

Some 27 enlisted men of the 533rd  left on 8-day furloughs. T/Sgt Vincent Garrity was reduced to Pvt.

2. No change.

3.  Two officers and one enlisted man left on 8-day furloughs. 

4. 1st Lts  Dubois,  Gleichauf,  Purus  and  S/Sgt  I. Johnson,  all  men  who  have completed their tour of combat duty were transferred to the casual pool, 12th RCD; and T/Sgt Pitts  was transferred to HQ,  1st CCRC, at Station #172 Snettisham, for duty. Two officers left for 8-day furloughs.

Kiel took another battering from Flying Fortresses today, formation after formation of the big bombers roaring over the German port practically without opposition. Observers say the city was like  "A sheet of flames" after the Forts had completed their task of destruction. Not a single bomb was wasted.  Of the 22 ship sent by the 381st, six were from this squadron: Lts Klein, Sandman,Fridgen, Chason, Butler and Nason.

Parachutes save lives, but today 2nd Lt Adam A. Mackow, of Newark, N.J.,  saved a parachute.  When the B-17 "Hellcat" approached Kiel, the chute of the navigator, 2nd Lt David E. Barer, of Brooklyn, N.Y., unexpectedly blossomed forth and bellied out in the nose section of the plane.

Lt Mackow, bombardier,  temporarily left his position and gathered the billowing chute in his arms. He then helped Lt Barer remove his chute and both prepared for "Hellcat's" bomb run over the city. Later, when Lt Mackow had sent his bombs away with the rest of the strong Fortress formation, he tackled the job of re-packing Barer's chute.

"That same thing happened to me twice during my training days," said Mackow, "and I knew how to go about re-packing the chute. It was plenty cold but  up there taking your nose in your hands it won't get frostbitten unless you touch metal.  When my hands did began to get cold I put on silk gloves."

Relating how he carefully refolded the chute in the container, Lt Mackow said: "When I finally got it back in - after two hours work - it was packed well enough so that I would not be afraid to use it myself."

In addition to re-packing the chute at 20,000 ft and performing his ordinary duties as bombardier, Lt Mackow overhauled one of his .50 caliber machine guns before the trouble with the parachute began.

"You can say I had a busy day," he said.

5. Favoured by clear weather over France, B-17s hammered Tours today, inflicting heavy damage on the Nazi-held airfield. Bomber crews reported seeing hangars and barracks blown to bits by the bomb bursts and told on huge fires which could be seen from 60 miles away.

There were no enemy fighters or flak during the bomb run and the bombardiers had every opportunity to get set for the job. P-47s covered the Forts through the target areas, after which Spitfires picked up the bombers and escorted them home. Three of our crews participated: Lts Butler, Ferrin and McEvoy, while four of our other ships were loaned by other squadrons.

1st Lt Olaf M. Ballinger, formerly MIA, was transferred from the squadron to the First Air Force, at Mitchell Field, N.Y. Ballinger, a first pilot, was shot down over enemy territory last summer. He made his way back to England with the aid of the French Underground.

Sgts Farr, Sanford, Fischer, Carl, and Horne were promoted S/Sgt.

6. No change.

7. With allied fighters virtually flying formation with them throughout the operation, hundreds of American bombers rode triumphantly to Ludwigshafen today to knock out one of Germany's most important industrial centres. The 381st provided 25 B-17s over the target, seven from this squadron, led by their commander Major George G. Shackley, of Greenwood Lake, N.J.

He flew lead with 1st Lt William J. McDaniel on "Sweet and Lovely"; the composite group was led by Capt Marvin D. Lord, with Lt Bill Ridley, other pilots being: Lts  Parsons, Chason, Sandman, Thompson, Hanson (534th ship), Nason (535th ship) and Shultz.

S/Sgt Paterno assigned to the squadron; 2nd Lt Crymes appointed 1st Lt; One enlisted man left on 8-day furlough.

8. An enlisted man returned from an 8-day furlough.

9. Transferred out after completing their tour of duty were: 1st Lts Shutting, Ingram, 2nd Lt Ferrin; T/Sgt Comer and S/Sgt Tedesco. More promotions included: 1st Lt William J.  McDaniel to Capt; 2nd Lt Stanley G. Parsons to 1st Lt.

10. Five enlisted men returned from furlough to duty, 22 more left for an 8-day furlough. S/Sgt Hubert Green transferred out after "finishing up."

11. New combat crew assignments included: 2nd Lts Duane Townsend, (no CP) Robert E. Hassletine, (no N); S/Sgts Jarrett Schoepf, William K. Suchy and Sgt James O. Keesling.

Nine ships from this squadron took part in an attack on Oschersleben, however six of the nine failed to return, while the remaining three landed on other bases in England.    

MIA crews: 2nd Lts  Gordon W. Crozier, Sidney B. Van Ness, George A.    Hannon, Albert F. Monaco; T/Sgt Clyde E. Dideum, George Balmore; S/Sgt  Robert J. Osborne, Clifford W. Easley, Gordon W.  Giddens   and  Walter R. Purnell.

2nd Lts Wilfred R. Perot,  Dudley B. Jones,  Robert N. Weaver, Adelbert    Faulconer; S/Sgt  O. K. Daniels, John S. Jerinowski, Sgts Philip M. Ball, Walter H.   Turk,  Edwin B. Bosley   and Thomas H. Graham.

2nd Lts Ernest M. Klein, Paul C. Chelf, S/Sgt James  Counce, 2nd Lt Louis H.    Gill; T/Sgt Howard A. Pope, Melvin Soderstrom, S/Sgts Stanley A.Wright, John E.    Miskin, Edward   Schuitima,  John S. Bunworth.

2nd Lts  Billy F. Chason, Henry Mikelson, Lawrence D. Walker, Americus   Gentile; S/Sgt Robert F. Vollbrecht,  Carl S. Hydra, Sgts Raymond W.  Martin,   Thomas R. Cobb, Howard J. Greenwood and Steve A. Kudla.

2nd Lts Matthew J.  McEvoy, Nicholas N. Nitikin, Henry I. Lipsky, F/O  William H. Ingram; S/Sgt Fred W. Johnson, Arthur T.  Loehrer, Sgts Weldon E.    Wittwer, Eugene J.   Kracium, S/Sgt Mack  Sexton Jr, Sgt Jack G. Trueblood.

2nd Lts Donald E.  Nason, Joseph J. Byser, Athan Anagnos, Charles D.   Fiery; S/Sgt Buster T.  Harrah, Sgts Ralph L. Lab, Raymond C. Beus, Paul W. Stonich, John R. Lantz, George A.  Whitney.

Capt McDaniel and four crewmen flew on a weather ship detail - but does not count as a mission!

12. Several new assignments were made today. 2nd Lts Roy F. Bombard, (no CP), (no N), Ray  W. Lundgren, Sgts James E. Marbury, Andrew J. Amato and Norton M. Ripperton were transferred from the 532nd; 2nd Lts Charles A. Gilpin, Raymond A. Bull, Earl Sharp, S/Sgts Paul Shenuk, Clarence R. Axelson from AAF Station #112 Bovingdon.

From other squadrons on the base came: 2nd Lts Arthur E. Neeves, William J. Coles, Francis W. Britenbaker, John B. Wierman, Harry Wurzer, Merrill Burton, Henry D. Steele, Robert F. Anderson; S/Sgts Clifford G. Nelson, Perry E. Beach; Sgts Follis D. Bratton, Philip H. Imhof, Daniel Mendez, A.E. Vanderhoof, Kenneth W. Morris and Paul O. Welsh.

1st Lt Ernest Potenza appointed Captain; 11 EM men left on 8-day furlough.

13. No change.

14. Pvt Armand V. Gervais assigned to squadron.

15. 2nd Lt Charles L. Penix and Pfc Philip D. Howard assigned.

16. Two officer left on 8-day furlough.

17. No change.

18. One officer left on 8-day furlough; ten enlisted men took part in a meeting of the station's mobile defense unit.

19. Sgt Eugene O. Kersher, Cpls William T. Short, Lawrence H. Schmidt, Amos Q. Stanley and Russell O. Baynart assigned.

20. Two new crews were assigned: 2nd Lts George K. Svereika, Richard J. Schmidt, Jack E. Goodwin, Robert J. Baker; Sgts Merrill L.  Pennypacker, Gerald J. Rutigliano, Louis G. Schultz, Holly A. Stephens, John E. Pick and Henry H. Hedden.

2nd Lts Walter H. Garrett, James R. Settle, William A. Farrell, Leopold L. Flores; Sgts Harold A. Holtz, Peter Hlynsky, Harold F. Lee, Albert C. Seabaugh, John E. Mueller and Peter W. Smith.

Others: 2nd Lt Milton F. Tarr and Edward F. Kerrigan, and Sgts Russell Chadwick, Louis Benecke and William Mills.

21. German installations along the French coast took another pre-invasion pasting from Fortresses of the Eighth Air Force today, encountering virtually no resistance.

Under the personal leadership of the 381st group commander, Lt Col Harry P. Leber, Jr., 36 aircraft of this formation took part in the operation, hitting two targets. Seven ships and crews of the 533rd  made up part of the striking force. Two other squadron ships were flown by the 534th, while Lt Ray Solveson flew as a spare navigator with the 532nd.

Col Leber desribed the mission as a "bombardier's dream." 

"We spent an hour and five minutes over the target without anybody trying to stop us. The group averaged six bombings on each of the two targets, and one of our squadrons went over the target ten times."

Flak was meagre and few enemy fighters encountered. All aircraft returned safely and there were no casualties or claims. Leading the squadron was Capt McDaniel with Major Shackley as his co-pilot. Others were Lts Butler, Sandman, Shultz, Fridgen, Parson and Hanson (see below).

If the ship piloted by 1st Lt George B. Hanson is named "Operational Tour", nobody will be surprised. Today the top turret gunner flew his last mission, the co-pilot his first and the navigator got "over the hump" on his 13th. The ship itself was on its first mission.

Finishing up was S/Sgt Basil H. Johnson, from Blair, Wis., who reacted to his last flight by grinning from ear to ear as he talked to interrogators.  No. 13 loomed large for 2nd Lt John W. Bruning, the navigator, but he found it almost like a "practice mission."

In the co-pilots seat, 2nd Lt Hal F. Roling, sweated out his first combat action; "Like the undertaker who married a mid-wide, we catch 'em coming and going," Lt Hanson explained.

22. Nine enlisted men left on an 8-day furlough; Sgts Abernathy, Bartle, Evans, Gaby and Slayton promoted to S/Sgts; S/Sgt Townley to T/Sgt; Pfc Klick to Cpl; S/Sgt Paterno reduced to Pvt; S/Sgt Carroll W. Wilson assigned.

23. S/Sgt William C. Newell, formerly MIA, assigned to squadron.

24. Pvt Henry Jozwiak transferred to 535th.

25. No change.

26. 2nd Lts Reese and Fridgen appointed 1st Lt and 1st Lt Bradley to captain.

27. 2nd Lts John J. Kirby, Albert H. Eselun; Sgts Herman C. Burbank, Joseph A. White and Kenneth Mason assigned.

28. 2nd Lt Stanley C. Parsons and S/Sgt Basil H. Johnson, having finished up, were transferred out;  assigned were 2nd Lts Ewing S. Watson, George J. Stone; S/Sgts Harry Heep, Harold Rainey, and Sgt William Spier.  S/Sgts Bardsley and Howell promoted to T/Sgts; Pvts Steensrud and Short to Pfcs.

29. Formation after formation of Fortresses thundered over Frankfurt today, dropping tons of explosives on the important industrial city through a heavy overcast. Squadron commander, Major George Shackley flew in the lead ship "Sweet and  Lovely" as pilot for the group commanding officer, Lt Col Leber, ahead of 33 aircraft, eight supplied by the 533rd.

"The sky was black behind us after we passed over Frankfurt," he said, "and the formations behind us must have caught hell."

He estimated about 125 fighters were defending Frankfurt. Most of the attacks were concentrated on groups before and after ours. Participating were: Major Shackley; Lts Clark, Duncan, Deering,Hicks, Sandman, Shultz, Roling, Steel and Butler.

T/Sgt Bardsley, tour completed is transferred out; 2nd Lt Steele to 1st Lt.

30.  Under the command of Major John E. Fitzgerald (532nd), 29 aircraft of the group, including ten from the 533rd  took part in a searching blow on the important industrial city of Brunswick, only 100 miles from Berlin.

The formation encountered meagre flak, but found about 100 fighters attempting the bar the way to the target. The group lost three ships, two from 533rd.

S/Sgt Harold J. Harkness, ball turret gunner with Lt Butler, finished up today saying "Just nice for a finisher."

Taking part were: Lts Shultz, Roling, Sandman, Duncan, Clark, Ricks, Butler, Steele and Deering, the latter two missing in action.

MIA crews: 2nd Lts Henry D. Steele, James R. Settle, Robert F. Anderson, Leopold L. Flores; Sgt Wilbert  E. Eason, S/Sgt Perry E. Beach, Sgts Harold F. Lee, Harold A. Holtz, Peter Hlynsky, Paul O. Welch.

2nd Lts Robert P. Deering, Robert P. Williams, Paul O. Crabtree; S/Sgts Andrew   H. Richards,  Wardell H. Horne,  Sgts Floyd L. Husvar, Lloyd E. Jackson, Wallace K.  Scott, Loren L.  Sanford.

31. No change.


Squadron strength is 84 officers and 323 enlisted men.