APRIL 1944

1-7. No action.

8. The Flying Fortresses were again over Berlin today, paving the way for the imminent invasion by knocking out their air training base at Oldenburg. Although the weather was good there was no enemy air opposition. The only challenge the bomber formation received was from the ground, where large AA batteries put up a heavy field of flak over the target.

The 381st dispatched 29 aircraft, seven from this squadron, the formation under the command of 1st Lt Earl L. Muchway who flew in "Colonel Bub" with 1st Lt Howard N. Kesley as his pilot. Bombing was reported to be good.

Other pilots were: Lts Watson, Wezowicz, Lancaster, Helm, Renick, Ricks and McElhare.

All of our bombers returned home. One ship, its landing gear out of order, circled the field for hours while Lt Col Conway S. Hall, deputy commanding officer, attempted to drop instruments through the Fortress radio hatch to enable the crew to jettison the ball turret for a belly landing. Success was finally achieved and the ship made a successful landing.

A new crews was assigned today, less a navigator: 2nd Lts John Monahan, Kenneth Cea, (no nav), Leland Haas; Sgts John Valinski, Jerry Granlund, Darwin Davis, Loebert Catter and John Bryan.

9. No change.

10. An Eighth Air Force change of pace found the Fortresses over Belgium this morning, hammering away at airfields and important industrial targets in Brussels virtually without opposition.

The contingent of 32 aircraft from the 381st, including seven from the 533rd, was led by Major Arthur F. Briggs, 534th commander, aboard "Sweet Patootie", piloted by 1st Lt Howard Kesley. The formations found good weather until they reached Belgium, then clouds began to build up to such an extent  that Brussels was hidden from the bombers.

Major Briggs executed a 360 degree turn and tried it once again. But when the target still remained hidden, the commander turned northward to the airfield at Woensdrecht, on the northern coast. There scattered clouds made visibility difficult, but a hole in the cloud ceiling gave bombardiers a chance to see the aiming point. After a 40-second bombing run, the Fortresses let go the might of their explosives. Bombing results were believed to be good.

The composite group, led by Capt Douglas L. Winter, took its second run over Brussels on a different heading, located an opening in the clouds directly over the briefed target and let its bombs go there. Crew members say they saw the bursts on the factory buildings and on what they believed to be oil refineries across the canal.

Some of our aircraft received considerable flak damage, but there were no casualties. No enemy fighters were seen throughout the mission.

Today's pilots: Lts Ricks, Helm, Wezowicz, Renick, Lancaster, Townsend and Watson.

A new crew today included: 2nd Lt John Monahan,

11. Flying Fortresses penetrated deep into Germany today to attack aircraft factories of increasing importance in the production of FW 190s. Targets of the 381st were Cottbus and Sorau, and both objectives received a severe pounding. In command of the group that hit Cotbuss was Major Osce V. Jones, who flew in the lead ship "Georgia Rebel II" with 1st Lt Charles A. Enos as his pilot. His formation fought its way through to the target despite desperate enemy fighter attacks and constant flak.

The contingent that went to Sorau, including eight ships of the 533rd  were under the command of 1st Lt George W. Reese, and Lt Ewing S. Watson was his pilot. Little flak and virtually no fighters were encountered by this formation.

Bombing reports for both forces were excellent.  Strike photos revealed hits directly on the aiming points and indicate that the targets were severely damaged. Lt Reese reported that his formation "Had an easy day, except for the long haul," and that only one enemy aircraft was sighted "A silver three-engined transport", which was knocked down by 12 P-51s. There were meager flak attacks.

The trip, almost  11 hours long and ranging more than 1,500 miles was one of the longest the crews have ever taken part in. One other squadron ship failed to return.

Unanimous praise for the calibre of the American fighter escort covering the Fortesses of today's mission came from the crewmen of the 533rd  ship 42-38194, called "Baboon McGoon", which came home seriously damaged by flak, but safe inside successive tight rings of P-51s, P-38's and P-47's.

Piloted by 2nd Lt Rolland O. Schindler, "Baboon McGoon" was flying along with her formation deep inside Germany when the formation ploughed into  a heavy flak barrage. A chance burst knocked  out "Baboon's" rudder control, and the big bomber sideslipped nearly 2,000 ft  down and out of formation before Lt Schindler succeeded in bringing her under control.  In an instant she was covered by half a dozen P-51's,  whose pilots started her on the way home.  Four left her once, but only to intercept and shoot down a lone Nazi fighter. 

P-38's took over  from the Mustangs half way back to England and escorted the B-17's  well out over the North Sea, where four P-47's  picked her up for the last leg of her journey home. The P-47's left their charge over her own field , and while all the crewmen  but the pilot and co-pilot assembled in the radio roon in case of a crash landing, Lt Schindler, "steering" his rudderless ship with throttles, airlerons and elevators, brought her to a successful landing from which all ten crew walked away unscathed.

Other pilots were: Lts Lancaster, Wezowicz, Helm, Garrett, Townsend, Ricks and Schindler.

12. No change.

13. Schweinfurt, still the center of the ball-bearing production of the German war machine, today underwent its fourth attack of the war from Fortresses, which pounded factories in several parts of the city with tons of high explosives and incendiary bombs.

Leader of the 381st's two formations of 32 bombers was Major Charles L. Halsey, 535th commander, who flew in "Georgia Rebel II" with 1st Lt Charles A. Enos as his pilot. Upon reaching Schweinfurt, 12 ships headed by Capt Carl Franek, 553rd operations officer, split off from the main group and headed for a separate factory target, eight ships from this squadron taking part.

Observers in Capt Franek's group said bombs were in a tight pattern, all landing in the target area. Several gunners reported fires started by their bombs on a large factory building. Both the groups were attacked once by two enemy fighters, which in both instances made one pass through the formations without returning.

The rest of the pilots were: Lts Tarr (with Capt Franek), Schindler Wezowicz, Helm, Bailey, Lancaster, Townsend and Garrett.

14-17. No action.

18. Oranienburg, home of the Heinkel plants and only a dozen miles north of Berlin, was the target for Fortresses today and returning crewmen said it was well hit. There were enough American `heavies'  and allied fighters over Germany to give the men in the B-17s  the impression that the attacking  force resembled a swarm of locusts over Germany.

Capt Douglas L. Winter, flew as commander of the 28 aircraft of the 381st, six of them from the 533rd. The group suffered no fighter attacks and only meager flak. Fortress crewmen reported they saw at least one enmy aircraft destroyed by the escorting fighters and observes gave the P-51's credit for the kill.

"Just as we got to this place where were we going to bomb," 2nd Lt Lou W. Yank, bombardier on "Princess Pat", "I saw  a big Jerry transport trying to take off. It was a six engined job and a big baby. The P-51'' spotted it, immediately swooped down on it, and caught it before it was more than 500 ft off the ground. They smashed it flat. I saw it crash less than 300 yards from the take-off field and it blew up with a great explosion when it his the ground."

Lt Yank, a veteran of 28 missions, is a former football star. He was an outstanding guard for Southern California and after leaving the Trojans, he was a line mainstay for the Hollywood Bears.

Pilots that took part were: Helm, Carroll, Burton, Townsend, Garrett and Ricks.

19. Returning to Germany in great strength, B-17s struck heavily today at the Henschel aircraft works at Eschwege, southeast of Kassel, with good results.

Two contingents of 381st bombers took part comprising 30 aircraft, including eight from the 533rd, took part in the operation under the leadership of Lt Col Conway S. Hall, who flew as combat wing commander.

"There was a hole in the clouds at Eschwege and we got a good look at the target," Col Hall said, "We made a 40-second bombing run. The lead bombardier was able to synchronise perfectly and we let our bombs fall in a wide pattern right on the briefed objective."

Although the contingent led over the target by Col Hall met no fighter attacks, an estimated 50 single and twin-engined German fighters one pass at the group led by 1st Lt Ronald B. Dorrington.

Today's 533rd pilots were: Lts Helm, Carroll, Burton, Lancaster, Wezowicz, Ricks, Garrett and Townsend.

20. A force of 33 B-17s were dispatched by the 381st to attack targets on the French coast, nine of the ships supplied by the 533rd. However, bad weather obscured the targets and the formation - confirming to the Eighth Air Force policy of not discriminate bombing in occupied countries - returned to base without dropping bombs.

Participating were: Lts Watson (with Capt Francis C. Hawkins aboard as Photographer/Observer),  Wezowicz, Townsend, Burton, Lancaster, Carroll, Helm, Garrett and Wainwright.     

21. Assigned today was another new crew: 1st Lt Salvatore Melomo, 2nd Lts Lee Nelson, George Robinson, Erwin Brown; Sgts Sela Pantazelos, William Gilbertson, Julian Hill, Robert Hittel, James Moorhead and Richard Schneider. 

22. Eight ships of the 533rd spearheaded an attack on Hamm today, by 27 bombers of the 381st , led by 1st Lt George W. Reese Jr, with 1st Lt Milton F. Tarr as his pilot of the ship "Honey."

The important marshalling yard at Hamm was alread buried under a pall of boling black smoke from other bombings when the 381st arrived. But the group made an excellent run over the target and dropped their explosives and incendiaries right on the smoke. Returning crewmen told of seeing hundreds of fires starting below, ringing the target with pin-points of orange and yellow light.

Returning from Hamm, the B-17s  created an unusual spectacle over home field circling for landings in near darkness of  22.00 hrs. It was one of the latest returns since the 381st began operations last June.

Participating were: Lts Tarr, Bailey, Renick, Wainwright, Lancaster, Helm, Carroll and Wezowicz.

23. There was no acton today but another new crew was assigned: 2nd Lts Lee Wilson, John Winter, James Thompson, F/O Richard Kennedy; Sgts Charles McMullen, George Meyers, Clyde Crain, George Cullum, Jesse McGuffin and Robert Pospisill.

24. Hundreds of  American  heavy  bombers  attacked  targets  in  south  Germany  today and left a trail of smoke and flames all over that section of Nazidom. Leading the mission for the 381st was Lt Col George G. Shackley, commander of the 533rd, who provided six aircraft, of the 31  on the operation to blast Erding an airfield about 20 miles northwest of Munich, an aircraft storage depot being the main objective.

The formation found exceptionally clear weather at the target area, made a long bombing run and let its explosives go in an excellent pattern. Observers said the results were "at least good." At Erding the combat wing saw enemy fighters, variously estimated from 20 to 60. But crew members reported the jerries were intercepted and driven off by P-51's before they could attack the bombers.

The pilots were: Ricks, Renick, Burton, Wainwright, Helm and Bailey.

25. Fortresses again attacked the German-held airfield at Metz, in the Saar basin, 20 miles from the German border, this morning, destroying a number of Nazi planes on the ground as well as  hangars and other installations.

1st Lt Ronald B. Dorrington acted as commander of the 28 aircraft of the 381st, flying in the lead ship "Dee Marie", piloted by 1st Lt Ralph E. Freese. The crews reported good bombing results, which included seven ships for the 533rd on the mission.

Participating were: Lts Wezowicz, Bailey, Carroll, Garrett, Townsend, Ricks and Lancaster.

26. Continuing an unprecedented series of majot air attacks against German targets on the continent, fleets of Fortresses blasted Brunswick today, meeting only weak opposition for the enemy.

The 381st dispatched 35 aircraft under the group commander, Col Harry F. Leber, Jr, who led the combat wing. Bombing was done through 10/10th undercast and results went unobserved. Flak was encountered at the coast going in, at the target and at the coast on coming out. No enemy fighters were seen during the mission.

Lt Col John E. Fitzgerald, Jr, who led the "B" group on "Whirlaway", his pilot being 1st Lt Armour C. Bowen, said: "We dropped enough stuff on Brunswick today to flatten it."

The seven pilots from this squadron were: Lts Helm, Wezowicz, Townsend, Carroll, Burton, Garrett and Lancaster.

27. Five ships of the 533rd were part of a strike force of 381st bombers led to hit Cherbourg by  Major Osce V. Jones, who flew in the lead ship with 1st Lt Henry Putek. Since the target was obscured the ship returned to base with their bombs.

Participating were: Lts Burton, Wezowicz, Bailey, Carroll and Wainwright.

28. Sweeping in over France on the heels of a returning RAF night-bombing force, B-17's  smashed the German-held St Avord airfield today and left blazing buildings and pitted runways in their wake.

Led by Major Osce V. Jones, with 1st Lt Harold D. Henslin as his pilot, took part in the operation. Eight of the 28 aircraft were supplied by the 533rd. One brief encounter with the Luftwaffe was reported by returning crew members. They told of a short attack by an estimated 25 to 30 enemy fighters, both FW 190's and ME 109's, a few minutes after turning off the bombing run. Only the low squadron was attacked, and the assault was in effective.

Visual bombing was accomplished  and the crews were unanimous in their opinion that the results were good. Hangars, barracks and other buildings surrounding the airstrip were hit and set aflame, and bombs left craters across the runways. 533rd bombardier 2nd Lt Nicholas M. Donnatuono, fling in "Lucky Me", said: "We got the first four hangars. I saw the bombs hit them and the hangars simply disappeared. There was a tremendous flash, then all I could see was debris, dust and smoke."

Participating were: Lts Ricks, Nelson, Bailey, Lancaster, Holland, Garrett and Renick. 

29. Fortresses were over Berlin again today, dropping their bombs on the German capital through an 8/10th undercast.  There were German fighters in the sky, but none of the groups reported great numbers of them. The only concentrated attack was made against a formation of B-24s flying below the Fortress groups.

The 381st supplied 27 aircraft, seven from the 533rd, that participated in the attack under command of Lt Col David E. Kunkel, Jr, who was air commander for the combat wing in today's mission. All 381st ships returned safely, although one landed at another base. Gunners claimed one enemy fighter, hit by a long shot as it was attacking a B-24 formation.

Today's pilots were: Capt Sandman; Lts Townsend, Sharp, Bailey, Carroll, Schindler and Holland.

30. Flying Fortresses penetrated deep into France this morning to hit an airfield near Lyons. The 12-ship formation furnished by the 381st for this mission was under the command of 1st Lt Armour C. Bowen, who was forced to leave the formation just beforte the target was reached, beacause of engine trouble. 1st Lt Lloyd S. Ricks, pilot of "Lucky Me", flying as deputy lead, took over and led the formation the rest of the way in and back home.

Lt Ricks reported his crewmen saw no flak throughout the 1,150 mile flight  and  no  enemy  fighters.  With  neither  flak  nor  fighters to bother them, the B-17s made a good bomb run to the target and crewmen said  "the results should be good."

The four 533rd pilots were: Lts Ricks, Wainwright, Garrett and Helm.