JULY 1943

1-3. Usual camp duties.

4. Four planes of the 533rd participated in plastering Le Mans, France, under the command of Lt Col Leland G. Fiegel, deputy group commander. The formation left smoke clouds visible for 40 miles in their wake. All ships of the squadron bombed the target successfully. Taking part were Lts Withers, Jobe, Hedin (aborted) and Ballinger who is missing in action.

MIA crew: 1st Lt Olaf Ballinger, 2nd Lt John Carah, 2nd  Lt Paul McConnell, 2nd Lt George Williams; T/Sgt Byron Gronstal, T/Sgt John Lane, S/Sgt Albert Wackerman, S/Sgt Harold Bauscher, S/Sgt Francis E. Owens and S/Sgt William Howell.

Spares were: Lt Keheley (N) - 534th; S/Sgt Bardsley (BTG) - 535th.

5. Pfc Merlin H. Hinz reduced to Pvt.

6. No change.

7. Cpls Anthony L. Greco and Floyd W. Gardner; Pfcs Theodore L. Lucker and Berys were assigned.

8. The following new combat crewmen were assigned (three crews): Lts Ernest  Klein, Harmer L. Jones, Leven B. Ferrin, Louis  Gill, Paul Gleichauf, Kenneth E. Robinson,  -   Anderson, William D. Burroughs, Wilhelmus  Dubois, Joseph  Doerfler, Harry L. Ingram; T/Sgts: Louis S.  Kalmer, Paul V. Steensrud, Edward R.  Vaughn, David Pinsky, William T. Brophy; S/Sgts: Jerome Arbiter, Walter Fields, Robert K. Ray, Charles O.  Leazenby, George A. Doyle, John M. Vaughn, James A. Wakefield, Ford Thueson, Charles C. McNeil, Michael Shepherd, Harry F. Hard, Walter A. Wisneski and Pvt Alvin H. Sehrt.

9. Sgts Raymond J. Bell, John S Bunworth, Edward J. DeCosmo, Lloyd Howard, Cpl Clyde C. Draa, Pvts Ralph A. Alfaro and Andrew S.  Schnitzler assigned to squadron.

10. Clouds effectively hid the target this morning, saving Nazi installations in France from another pounding. Major William W. Ingenhutt led the formation, but engine problems caused him for drop out and Major Conway S. Hall took over. Four of our ships took part, piloted by Lts: Withers, Hedin, Alexander and Shenk, all of who returned safely.

2nd Lt Johnson was transferred to the 535th.

11. Sgts John Crawbuck and Raymond F. Legg were assigned to the squadron.

12. No change.

13. No change.

14. The airfield at Amiens-Glisy, France was the target, when six ships of the squadron took part, the pilots being, Lts: Jobe, Alexander, Shenk, Atkinson, Withers (abort) and Hedin. The latter's aircraft blew up over Rattlesden, Suffolk, en route, six men being killed: Lts Charles Hedin, William Burroughs (CP), S/Sgts Clifford Marhefke (WG), Vivian Thomas (RO), Stewart McDonald (BTG) and Edward DeCosmo (WG). Seriously injured were: Lts Frank Cappel (B), Donald Hamm (N), S/Sgt Roberts Potts (ETTG), but TG Richard Hanna was OK.

15. No change.

16. Assigned was a new crew: 2nd Lts Joseph L. Mangarpan, William D. Butler, Cornelius J. Donovan, Edward J. O'Loughlin; S/Sgts: John W. Johnson, Russell G. Chester, Stanley A. Wright, Harold J. Harkness, Basil H. Johnson and Eugene A. Sabourin.

Pvt Alvin Sehrt appointed Sgt.

17. Cpl Clyde C. Draa and Pvt Ralph A. Alfaro appointed Sgt.

18. Pvt  Edmund S.  Pestana  assigned.

19. No change.

20. 2nd Lt Ronald T. Delaney assigned.

21. Sgt Allen R. Crawbuck transferred to 534th. S/Sgt John M. Willdridge transferred from 534th; Pvts L.J. Arler, J.D. Atchison, John J. Bilicki, William Caldwell, - Davidson, Virgil Dean, - Hancher, Murray Kooperman, Julius J. Martinez, -  Scott and Thomas U. Schock appointed Pfcs.

22. The following new combat crew was assigned: 2nd Lts Herbert Carqueville, George W. Reese Jr, Carl R. Shutting, John J. Purus; T/Sgt John S. Comer, S/Sgts George M. Balmore, Nicholas J. Abramo, James D. Counce,  Carroll W. Wilson, Forrest L. Rogers.

Also assigned were, Sgts Francis R. McGinty, Vincent N. Wandetowski, Elbert K. Bramlett, Pvt Norman P.  Johnston.

23. Pvt Haggarty appointed Pfc; Pfs Johnstone transferred in from 1775th Ordnance Co.

24. Today's mission was to Heroya, Sweden, to attack the heavy water installation, six of our aircraft participating led by Major Hall, along with Lts: Alexander, Shenk, Atkinson, McDaniel and F/O Hudson.

Another new crew assigned was: 2nd Lts William A. Cahow, Stanley G. Partons, (no nav), John C. Leverette Jr; T/Sgts Ugo V. Lancia, Woodrow R. Pitts; S/Sgts Hubert L. Green, Ray L. Bechtel, William G. Kettner Jr, John E. Tedesco.

Transferred in were: Pfcs Harold M. Silvious from 532nd and Edward Glowacki from 534th, Sgt Howard A. Pope from 534th and Neil J.  Bellong from 535th.

25. Hamburg was the mission for today, Lts Withers, McDaniel, Jobe, Atkinson, Alexander and F/O Hudson taking part. 

26. Today's mission was again Hamburg, but only one ship participated but five aborted.

Captain Landon B. Hendricks appointed major.

27. No change.

28. Altenbuna was the target for today for six aircraft of the squadron, which were flown by: Lts  Klein, Jobe, Atkinson, McDaniel, Alexander and F/O Hudson, the latter two aborting.

Pvts Ben W. Bailey, Frank L. Ciardullo, Henry T.  Jozwiak, Virgil R. Huskey, John A. Reetz and Desidiero Sarate appointed Pfcs, while  Pvt Burward B. Wheeler was transferred to Group HQ.

29. The squadron participated in a raid on Kiel, German, with the pilots being: Lts McDaniel, Jobe, Gleichauf, Atkinson, Klein  and F/O Hudson.

Sgt Herman A. Brown and Jessie C. Baze were reduced to Pvts.

30-31.  Usual camp duties.


Squadron strength 57 officers and 334 enlisted men.