SEPTEMBER 1943

1. The following promotions took place: T/Sgts; Jesse G. Hyten, Sam Spivak, George C. Minger, Thomas F. Walsh Jr to M/Sgt; S/Sgt Martin DeJong to T/Sgt; Sgts William O. Stone, Raymond J. Bell, Wayne K. Eldridge, Alvin H. Sehrt, Kenneth K. Bell, John S. Bunworth, Lloyd A. Howard, John F. Liddell to S/Sgts; Cpls William Pioch, Joseph J. Adamczyk, George Y. Muse, Halsey O. Berg, Andrew L. Ingles, Joseph F. Theiser to Sgt; Pfcs Charles C. Denning, William B. Pancher Jr, Sylvester A. Nowak, John G. Zimmermann, Irving T. Boorman, Theodore L. Lucker, Henry Maykowski to Cpl.

2. Six planes of this squadron were in the group formation to attack an airfield at Conches, France, but the mission was a turnback after three hours five minutes. Those participating; Lts Withers in the lead with the commander, Major Landon C. Hendricks as his co-pilot; the others, Cahow, Gleichauf, Jobe, Alexander and McDaniel.

3. Six aircraft from this squadron took part in a raid on Romilly airfield, France. Five ships bombed successfully: Lt Withers, with Major Hendricks in the lead, others being: Lts Gleichauf, Alexander Shenk and Cahow; McDaniel, actually flying a 532nd ship, aborted because of personnel difficulties.

The following were sent to Moulsford Rest Home: Lts Inman Jobe, Lawrence Potenza, John Anderson, James Bradley; T/Sgts Kinley Lindsay, Francis McGinty, S/Sgt Robert Osborne, Anthony Fox and Arthur Seiber Jr.

4. A new crew was assigned: 2nd  Lts  Robert R. Parsons, John H. Kels, Charles H. Smith, Thomas J. Cunningham; T/Sgt Walter F. Milligan, S/Sgts Vincent A. Paterno, Vito J. Gerulo, Elburn L Greene, James  J. Embardo, Emery E. Horne.

Also assigned: Cpl Reeder, S/Sgt James D.  Black; Cpl Timms assigned from 12th RCD.

5. Lt Cornelius Donovan transferred to 532nd.

6.  A factory in Stuttgart, Germany was successfully bombed by five aircraft of this squadron, and all returned safely with no casualties. They were: Lts McDaniel, Cahow, Shenk, Alexander, Gleichauf.

S/Sgt Wandetowski flew with the 535th as spare gunner.

7.  Three ships took off to attack an airfield, near Brussels, but Lt Shenk was forced to abort. The other two Lts Alexander and McDaniel successfully bombed and returned to base.

Flying as spares with other squadrons were Lts  Franek and  Shutting.

2nd Lts Martin L. Healey (Intelligence Officer), William J. McDaniel, Hubert H. McDaniel, David R. Spencer (Asst Engineering Officer) all appointed 1st Lt.

T.Sgt Goucher, S/Sgts Kohler, Molis, Cpl Betanzo, Pfc Ladner returned from D.S. to duty.

9.  The Lille-Nord airfield in France was the object of a bombing mission for  four ships of this squadron, flown by: Lts Shenk, Cahow, McDaniel, Gleichauf, who all returned safely.

However S/Sgt Nicholas Abramo, a tail gunner with Lt Gleichauf, was slightly wounded in the foot by a flak fragment.

Flying as spare with other squadrons were, Lts Duggan and Turner and Sgt Legg.

10. Pvts Charlton, Marconi and Smith appointed Pfcs. Personnel on D.S. at rest home on 3rd Sept, returned to duty.

11. The following have been re-classified: M/Sgt Bigelow from AP Line Chief to AP Inspector; M/Sgts Lanham and Naff from AP Crew Chief to AP Flight Chief; M/Sgt Howard in reverse classification; M/Sgts Hyten, Loch, Minger, Spivak, Walsh; T/Sgts DeJong; S/Sgts Kish, Kohler from AP Engineering Mechanic to AP Crew Chiefs: M/Sgt Peavy- AP Line Chief to AP Crew Chief; S/Sgt Borehardt from Admin. & Tech Clerk to Supply NCO; Sgt Muse from AP Engineering Mechanic to Electrical Specialist. Cpl Ben Neumann assigned.

13. To Southport Rest Home: Lts J. Alexander, H. McDaniel, L. Ferrin, H. Ingram; S/Sgts W. Brophy, J. Johnson, R. Bell, W. Eldridge, E. Metcalf, A. Molis.

S/Sgt James M. Sloan assigned.

14. Pvts Joseph A.  Panisiti and Edward Schuitema assigned. 

15. After several days off operational missions, the squadron took part in the group's 30th attack on occupied Europe, the designated target being Romilly airfield in France.  Six ships participated: Lt Col Nazarro, group commander led with Capt Withers, plus Lts Shenk, Carqueville, Jobe, McDaniel, Cahow.

All ships carried external bomb racks as well as their normal loads in the bomb bay, and bombed successfully except Lt Shenk, who was forced to abort.

A new crew was assigned: 2nd Lts James W. Hartje, Joseph C. Jerome, Edgar D. Norton, Joseph P. Chenault Jr; S/Sgts Eugene W. Caseman, Edward A. Swackhammer, Gerald G. LaPlace, Sgts Edward Czyz, William L. Abbott, Clayton M. Boykin. 

16. Six ships of the 533rd took part in an attack on harbor installations at Nantes, France, flown by: Lts Shenk, Jobe, Cahow, Gleichauf, McDaniel and Carqueville. All returned safely, although the latter had three crewmen wounded in action: T/Sgt Walter F. Milligan (ETTG), S/Sgt Vincent A. Paterno (LWG), S/Sgt Emery Horne, (TG).

17. 2nd Lt Charles R. McCarthy - Personnel Officer - appointed 1st Lt; 1st Lt Robert L. Withers appointed Captain.

Pvt Hard transferred to 12th Evac Hospital.

18. A new crew assigned: 2nd Lts Gordon W. Crozier,  Sidney B. Van Ness, George A. Hannon, John H. Baxter; S/Sgts Clyde E. Dideum, Gordon W. Giddens, Hubert G. McHaffey, William A. Green, Clifford W. Easley, Walter R. Purnell.

20. 2nd Lts Moses Hoppenstein and Thomas L. Keheley appointed 1st Lt.

22. 1st Lt George T. Kelley - Group Intelligence Officer - lectured 90% of squadron personnel on security. Sgt Rupe reduced to Pvt.

23. An attempt to attack Nantes harbor again, failed when all four ships aborted: Lts Alexander, Shenk, Cahow, Gleichauf.

Flying as spares with other squadrons were: Lts Reese, Gill and Jones, with T/Sgts B. Johnson and Steensrud.

1st Lts Leo K. English and William T. Turner appointed Captain.

26. Four aircraft took part in a mission to attack Beauvy-Tille, France, but no bombs were dropped, however it was considered a sortie for: Lts Cahow, Alexander, Shenk, Jobe. All returned safely with no casualties.

S/Sgt Harold J. Harkness flew as spare gunner with 534th.

T/Sgt Steensrud reduced to Pvt and appointed Sgt.

27. Emden, Germany was the designated target for five ships of this command, who all bombed successfully and returned home safely. They were: Capt Withers in the lead with Major Hendricks, Lts Shenk, Alexander, Cahow, while Jobe was forced to abort.  The 532nd squadron borrowed a 533rd ship - 42-29803.

28. T/Sgt Jenkins, Sgts Kaestner and Speciale, reduced to Pvt, appointed Sgts.

29. 2nd Lts Gleichauf, Shutting, Duggan and Purus to Stanbridge Earls Rest home, while their gunners: S/Sgts Comer, Kaputska, Balmore, Willdridge, Counce, Wright went to rest home at Chosley, Berkshire.


The squadron strength at the end of the month was 55 officers and 360 EM.