MARCH 1944

1. No change.

2. Industrial installations at Frankfurt were attacked by 35 aircraft of the 381st BG under the command of Major Arthur F. Briggs, 11 from the 533rd. The formation found heavy flak in the target area. Enemy fighters were on hand, but their attacks were directed against the formation behind ours. Bombing was accomplished through 10/10th cloud cover, but an excellent bomb run was made good results likely.

One aircraft is missing, Lt Shultz from this squadron, all others returned safely. Those participating: Lts Hansen, Reese, Townsend, Svereika, Garrett, Clark, Tarr, Watson, Schindler, Ricks and Shultz, who is missing in action.

MIA crew: 1st Lt Eugene Shults, 2nd Lts Howard M. Plemmons, Arthur E. Neeves Jr, William D. Hearn; T/Sgts Hubert G. McHaffey, John W. Kulwinski; S/Sgts Robert  M. Trapnell, John T. Farr, Nicholas H. Abramo and Charles F. Smith.

3. Nine Fortresses of the 533rd took part in an attack on Oldenburg, with other ships of the group. Two 533rd ships aborted before reaching the target. The remaining seven bombed successfully, but because the target was hidden under complete cloud cover, bombing results could not be observed.

Participating were: Hansen, Stang, Watson, Tarr, Svereika, Clark, Townsend,  Garrett and Schindler aborted.

4. Nine ships of this squadron took off this morning to participate in the group attack on industrial targets at Dusseldorf. Three of the sqaudron's ship turned back because of mechanical difficulties before reaching the target. There were no casulaties or claims among those which successfully reached the target.

Taking part were: Lts Hansen, Watson, Schindler, Kels,  Svereika, Tarr, and Haushalter, Townsend and Garrett, who all aborted.

5. No change.

6. American heavy bombers, among them nine from the 533rd, paid their first visit to Berlin in force today, battling their way to the target through hundreds os desperately  attacking Nazi fighters.

Under the command of Capt Charles G. Wood, of Rock Island, Neb., who was flying his 25th mission, 30 ships of this group took part in the operation, all pouring explosives on Berlin. Few of the bombardiers had a chance to observe results. Enemy fighters were so thick over the target, that each bomb sight man was too busy at his guns to take time to look below. German planes of all types, many of them firing rocket guns, were all over the sky and through the Fortress formations.

Pilots taking part today were: Lts Watson, Sharp, Svereika, Kels, Tarr, Schindler, Helm and Coyle, who is missing in action.

MIA crew: Lts Richard W. Coyle, John B. Wierman, Robert  E. Hassletine, Robert J. Baker; S/Sgts Peter W. Smith, Albert C. Seabaugh, Sgt Daniel Mendoza, S/Sgt Raymond F. Legg, Sgt John E. Mueller, Sgt Louis C. Shultz.

7. No change. A new crew was assigned today: 2nd Lts John E. Wezowicz, Morris T. Henderson, Ralph W. Putman, Clifford W. Collum; S/Sgt Hugh D. Campbell,Sgt Leon C. Nepper, S/Sgt Lester J. LaRiviere, John R. Arndt and Sgt Edgar L. Heaton.

8. Offering overwhelming proof of their recovery from the losses sustained in a similar mission two days before, B-17s returned in great strength to a virtually undefended Berlin, to wipe out an important ball-bearing plant situated in the industrial outskirts of the German capital.

The 381st contributed 21 aircraft, four from this squadron, to the mighty armada which buried another vital link in Germany's cracking war production chain, under an unprecedented weight of high explosives and incendiaries.            

Leading the group wasLt Col David L. Kunkel, group operations officer, expressed the reaction of every man who made today's Berlin run when he said that the sky-blackening stream of American bombers "Could have bombed anything in Berlin today without opposition."

Capt Thomas J. Hester, wing bombardier for the day, said: "There were four groups that hit the factory just as we synchronized. My bombs fell right on theirs in one big heap right 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 turn."

Free to watch the scene below, thanks to the scores of American fighters which kept the few enemy defenders at a distance, this group's gunners watched the red-bursting incendiaries spread additional fire and destruction through the smoking remains of the factory buildings. All, including veterans of the bombing of Schweinfurt, Anklam and Augsburg, were convinced that the job would rank high among their group's very best.

Today's pilots were: Lts Reese, Ricks, Sharp and Renick.

9. For the second consecutive day, Fortresses heaped devastation upon ruin in gutted Berlin with virtually no opposition, dropping tons of explosives through a heavy overcast which extended from the German coast far beyond the Reich capital. Eight ships from this squadron were part of a 29 strong formation, who bombed the city under the command of 1st Lt George K. Sandman, aboard the British-subscribed "Rotherhithe's Revenge".

"Wings were going over the city at the same time from several different directions," Lt Sandman said, "and bombs were dropped all over Berlin." The lead pilot reported 10/10th cloud cover "all the way" and described flak over Berlin as "moderate".  Combat crewmen told of seeing thick layers of black smoke rising through the 15,000-foot undercast nearly half an hour after the bombers had left Berlin. All returned safely.

Participants were: Lts Sandman (lead), Svereika, Clark, Ricks, Schindler, Renick, Helm and Tarr.

10-15.  No change.

16. Deep in southern Germany the Fortresses escorted by allied fighters, queued up on industrial targets in Augsburg today with virtually no opposition.

The Fortress crews saw  some German fighters but reported that the allied escorts kept the Jerries from reaching the bombers, who made the 1,300 mile round trip almost without incident.

Eight from the 533rd participated in the mission. He said the target was completely covered by clouds, so bombing was done through the overcast. They suffered no enemy fighter attacks, although they were seen over Europe but kep well away by the ecort.

Taking part: Lt Sandman, with Col Leber; and Lts Helm, Renick, Tarr, Sharp, Schindler, Watson and Duncan. The latter had quite a tale to tell.

Fire in the cockpit of 42-97454 caused one of the gunners to bail out over France and brought to light a hero in the person of T/Sgt John T. Eylens, engineer and top turret gunner. The fire, probably caused by a short circuit, broke out just under the top turret while the aircraft was just 25 minutes from the French coast on the way back to base. The pilot, 1st Lt Rudolph G. Duncan, pulled the ship out of formation.

Co-pilot 1st Lt Karl Franek, announced the blaze over the interphone and went back to help fight it. The left waist gunner, T/Sgt Yanzek, flying his first mission,  evidently mistook the announcement for a bail-out signal, buckled his chute on and "hit the silk."

Sgt Eylens came down from his top turret position and removed his gloves to sieze the smoking insulation wires and tear them out. Holding the metal extinguishers in his bare hands in the sub-zero cold, he acquired a touch of frostbite. When the extinguishers left some of the fire still burning, he beat the rest of the flames out with his hands. He was not severely burned.

The fire under control, Lt Ducan pulled the bomber back in formation and completed the journey home without incident.

T/Sgt Carroll W. Wilson, radio operator, who was flying his 25th mission, said: "Eylens did a swell job. He fought the fire for over 15 minutes with his bare hands. I'm sure glad he got it out. This was one mission I especially wouldn't want anything to happen on."

A new crew assigned were: 2nd Lts Ryan Lancaster, Dorance Garner, Wayne Hardwick, Kenneth Cagwin; S/Sgts Herschel Moore, Gordon Lueck, Harry Lutz, Frederick Parker, Llewellyn O'Donnell and Orval Page.

17. No change.

18. Vast formations of B-17s penetrated western Germany almost unopposed today to blast the Nazi aircraft factory and adjoining airfield at Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich.

Under the command of 1st Lt Wayne E. Schomburg, the 381st put up 30 ships into the air and over the target, to leave their objectives smothered in smoke and flames. Nine ships and eight crews were supplied by the 533rd.

In Lt Schomburg's opinion the mission was highly successful for the 381st. Protected all the way to the target by a "perfect" fighter escort, the bombers went into their bomb run right on schedule under VACU conditions and sent their bombs crashing down on factories, hangars and workshops. All the ships returned safely with no claim or casualty. Flak damage was almost non-existant.

Today's pilots: Lts Sharp, Schindler, Watson, Duncan, Ricks Helm, Svereika and Renick.

19. No change.

20. American heavy bombers were over Germany again today, dropping hundreds of tons of high explosives on the southern tip of the Ruhr. Commanded by Major Arthur F. Briggs, 31 aircraft made up the 381st contingent, eight from the 533rd.

Flak was intense as any of the crews had yet encountered and weather so soupy "We couldn't see our wingmen" failed to stop the Fortresses. Bombing was accomplished through a complete undercast. Results were unobserved.

Many of the group's aircraft made the trip home from Germany alone, flying singly in the soup, and never seeing another plane, enemy of friendly. It was a day for the navigators. Most of the pilots flew all the way on instruments and the safe returns were credited largely to the men who handles the maps and compasses.

The pilots were: Watson, Svereika, Ricks, Duncan, Helm, Renick, McElhare and Schindler.

21. No change.

22. Fortresses had another crack at Berlin today, dropping hundreds of tons of explosives on the Nazi capital without challenge from a single enemy fighter. The 29 aircraft that made up the 381st formation was under the command of Major Osce V. Jones, flying aboard "Georgia Rebel II". Nine ships and eight crews were supplied by the 533rd.

The bombers flew over a 10/10th undercast all the way across Germany. Over Berlin the clouds broke up to some extent, enabling the crews to get a look at their target. Over the target itself, however, there was a solid cloud bank and bombing was carried out by navigational aids. In the opinion of the crews it was a "Perfect mission. Everything went like clockwork," they said. All ships returned safely.

Participating were: Svereika, Tarr, Duncan, Ricks, Helm, Schindler, McElhare and Renick.

23.  The Luftwaffe made a token appearance today over Germany where hundreds of Fortresses were again attacking industrial targets. Most of the bomber formations that took part met no enemy fighters throughout the operation. About a dozen Jerries were observed, however, carrying out an attack against a single group of American bombers.

The 32 aircraft making up the 381st's contingent were led by Lt Col David E. Kunkel, Jr, group operations officer, eight ships being supplied by the 533rd.

Col Kunkel said therte was a 10/10th overcast over most of Germany, but "We found a hole in the clouds with a nice big factory sitting under it and we let everything we had let go at that." The target is believed to have been the factory town of Ahlen, east of Munster. All ships returned, safe and sound.

Today's pilots: Ricks, Reese, Svereika, Townsend, Helm, McElhare, Schindler and Renick,

24. Weather so thick that it obscured the ground completely and made flying difficult even at altitude falied to prevent American "heavies" from continuing their attack today, dropping hundreds of tons of explosives on industrial targets in south-east Germany.

Under the command of Capt Douglas L. Winter, 23 ships were dispatched by the 381st to take part in the operation, six from the 533rd. He said his formation flew over a solid undercast throughout the mission. A target believed to be Frankfurt was selected for the bombing, but results went unobserved as it was impossible to see below.

Three of the 381st aircraft are missing, but none from this squadron, whose pilots were: Lts Watson, Townsend, Svereika, Renick, McElhare and Wezowicz.

25. No change.

26. Flying Fortresses today returned to the Pas de Calais area of the French coast, taking advantage of perfect visual bombing weather to pound important military installations defender only by enemy flak and rocket batteries.

Operating by squadrons, 24 ships from the 381st laid their high explosives "dead in the target area", according to Capt Douglas L. Winter who led the first of the group's squadrons over the target.

"Our bombs landed about 50 ft from the center of the target area," he said. "Weather was perfect and the bombardiers had plenty of time to get lined up. We made a 90 second bomb run through moderate flak before letting them go."

No fighters were encountered and all ships returned without claims or casualties.

Pilots for today were: Reese, Townsend, Watson, Renick, Lancaster, Wezowicz and Svereika.

Another new crew was assigned: 2nd Lts Arthur J. Bailey, John Anderson, Lloyd Peterson, Alvin Berry; Sgts Dale Moon, Charles Campbell, Walden Forke, William Coleman, Alfred Paoli.

27. Thirty Fortresses of the 381st today cashed in on perfect weather over southern France to devastate installations on both sides of the German-held airfield at St Jean D'Angeley, north-west of Cognac.

Unhampered by flak or fighters, the bombers were able to carry out precision bombing which reduced the hangars and nearby buildings to fiercely-burning wreckage. The group operated in two units, striking at both sides of the field with equally good bombing results. Leader of the group, Lt Col Conway S. Hall, who flew in "Whirlaway", with Capt Winter as his pilot. All ships returned to base safely.

Pilots for this mission were: Lts Svereika, Tarr, Townsend, Watson, McElhare, Renick, Lancaster, Wezowicz and Garrett.

28. Perfect visibility and lack of enemy fighter opposition helped the Fortresses plaster an aircraft factory repair plant on the Rheims-Champagne airfield in France, this afternoon.

Under the command of 22-year-old Capt Karl Franek, 533rd operations officer, 28 aircraft represented the 381st in the operation. Capt Franek flew in the lead ship "Rotherhithe's Revenge" with 1st Lt George K. Sandman as his pilot. It was CAVU over the target.

Capt Franek sad: "There wasn't a cloud in the sky." Several of the ships were damage by AA fire, and two crashed in England after their crews bailed out. The lead ship came back with about 50 flak holes.

Other pilots were: Lts Townsend, Watson, Svereika, Lancaster, McElhare and Helm.

29. Fortresses of the 381st caught their first glimpse of the Lufwaffe in action in many days when an estimated 150 German fighters made a concerted attack on the bomber formation as it swept over Brunswick today.

Leader of the 29 ships, was 533rd commander, Major George G. Shackley, aboard a PFF ship, who reported clear weather at his formation's altitude but said bombing results on Brunswick went unobserved because of intervening 8/10th cloud layers below. Attacking enemy fighters were immediately engaged by escorting allied fighhters in violent dogfights after the single pass at the B-17s.

Altough preliminary reports show only two men wounded, several of the ships returned to base with heavy battle damage. One of the hardest his was "Honey", of deputy group leader, Major Charles L. Halsey, 535th commander on a 533rd ship. Attacking fighters knocked out "Honey's" right inboard engine and tore up the radio room floor with 20mm cannon shells. No one aboard was injured, and although the pilot was forced to drop behind the formation, the ship came safely home.

Shortly after the engine went dead, a second shell exploded in the flooring directly under the radio-man, S/Sgt Phillip M. Smith, knocking him to the floor. Ground crewmen  later traced the course of the shell from its entrance through the right wing, through the flooring to the explosion that destroyed all Sgt Smith's radio equipment, blew up an oxygen bottle behind him and tore a large hole in the wall of his compartment.  Apart from a bruised elbow Sgt Smith was unhurt.

Pilots for today were: Lts Tarr, Lancaster, Thomas, McElhare, Helm, Renick and Townsend.

30. A new crew assigned to the squadron today: 2nd Lts Clarence Wainwright, Howard Latton, Harold Dorn, James Counts; Sgts Warren Hage, Lowell Kennedy, Charles Kruger, T. J. Stephens, Charles Tsourous, Floyd Malley.

31. No change.