OCTOBER 1943

1. Assigned from the 12 RCD are: Sgt John F. Maschmeyer, Cpl Roger W. Martin, Pvts William G. Johnson, Charles T. Cox, Frank C. Wicksizer, Arthur E. Bell, Arthur P. Dickerson.

2. Seven aircraft of this squadron took part in a raid on Emden, German, which was attacked successfully, and all returned safely. The pilots were: Capt Withers; Lts McDaniel, Alexander, Cahow, Gleichauf, Carqueville, Crozier.

One of our aircraft 42-29834 was assigned for an Air-Sea Rescue mission. As no duties were required during the day the assignments was listed in the squadron records as an incomplete mission.

The following promotions took place: T/Sgt DeJong to M/Sgt; S/Sgts Kenneth K. Bell, Kish, Kohler to T/Sgt; Sgts Wandetowski, Thompson to S/Sgt; Cpls Brandeis, Caldwell, Clayton, Garvey, Lucas, Marston, Nowak, Render, Tigner, Waterhouse, Zimmerman to Sgt; Pfcs Arleo, DePriest, Glowacki and Rogers to Cpl.

1st Lt Ruby transferred to CCRC No. 12; Pvt William G. Johnson to 330th Service Squadron.

3. Three ships of this squadron were again assigned on an Air-Sea Rescue mission, 42-29999, 42-29761 and 42-29765. All three performed duties as directed and assignments were recorded as a squadron completed mission. The pilots were: Crozier, Hartje and Gleichauf.

4. Four of our aircraft took part in a raid on Frankfurt, but only one, flown by Lr Hartje was successful. The other pilots: Lts Crozier, Gleichauf and Carqueville aborted.

Ship 42-5878 was assigned Air-Sea Rescue duties, but as duties were not required it was listed as an incomplete mission, for 2nd Lt McDaniel and crew.

5. The following men went to Stanbridge Earls rest home: 1st Lts Martin L. Shenk, Thomas L. Keheley, Moses L. Hoppenstein, 2nd Lt William D. Butler. The gunners: T/Sgts Shirley Goucher, Mitchell LaBuda, S/Sgts George Bardsley, Alvin Sehrt and Walter Wisneski went to Chosley, Berks, rest home.

1st Lt Ernest E. Murray - Engineering Officer - promoted to captain. 2nd Lts William A. Cahow, Herbert Carqueville, Harry L. Ingram, James H. Bradley promoted to 1st Lt.

6. Sgt Paul Steensrud reduced to Pvt.

8. Today the target designated was Bremen in Germany. Taking part were: Lts  Alexander, Cahow,  Carqueville, Crozier, Gleichauf and Hartje, who is missing in action.

MIA crew: 2nd Lts James W. Hartje, Joseph C. Jerome, Joseph P. Chennault, Edgar D. Norton; S/Sgts Gerald G. LaPlace, Edward Czyz, Arthur J. Seiber Jr, Eugene W. Kaseman, Edward A. Swackhammer, Clayton M. Boykin.

9. Today we lost our commanding officer, Major Landon C. Hendricks, in action on a mission to Anklam, Germany, the greater part of the trip being over the North Sea. Five squadron aircraft took part: Capt Withers, Gleichauf, Crozier, Cahow, McDaniel.

MIA crew: Capt Robert L. Withers, Major Hendricks, Capt William T. Turner, Capt Leo K. English; T/Sgts Charles C. McNeil, John L. Willdridge, S/Sgts Jerome Arbiter, Lloyd A. Howard, Ernest A. O'Hara, 2nd Lt William P. Duggan.

Another of our crews is missing in action, flying with the 535th: 1st Lt Herbert Carqueville, 2nd Lts Robert R. Parsons, Charles H. Smith, Thomas J. Cunningham; T/Sgts John B. Kapustka, Vito J. Gerulo, S/Sgts James J. Embardo, Anthony F. Fox, Elburn L. Greene, Emery M. Horne.

10. Capt Marvin D. Lord assigned temporarily from the 532nd, as squadron commander, succeeding Major Hendricks, MIA yesterday.

11. 2nd Lts George B. Hansen, William G. McElhare, John W. Bruning, William Johnson Jr were assigned. Sgt Maschmeyer reduced to Pvt.

13. The four officers and five EM  from rest homes at Stanbridge Earls and Chosley on 5 October, respectively, returned to duty. Today's mission proved to be a turnback.

14. The mission today was a return to the ball-bearing factory at Schweinfurt, when six of our aircraft took part, those pilots participating: Lts Cahow, Crozier. The four remaining ships were flown by our other squadrons, while flying as spares were: Lts Purus (B)  - 532nd , Jones (N) - 532nd , Gill (B) - 535th .

Major George G. Shackley, assumed command of squadron, relieving the temporary commander Capt Marvin D. Lord, who was transferred back to the 532nd.  Major Shackley succeeded Major Hendricks, MIA .

15. Lts Cahow, Parsons, DuBois and Leverette to rest home at Stanbridge Earls, their gunners: Pitts, Lancia, Kettner, Tedesco, Green and Bechtel to rest home at Chosley, Berks.

16. Pvts Englett, Hamon, Ice and Maxwell promoted to Pfcs.

17. Captain Ernest E. Murray appointed as squadron weights and balances officer in addition to his duties as squadron engineering officer; 1st Lt John J. Tutsock, squadron adjutant, names acting squadron supply officer in addition to his regular duties.

18. 1st Lt Robert L. Thayer transferred to Group HQ; 1st Lt Wilbur B. Botzong appointed communications officer, vice Thayer; 1st Lt Lawrence J. Potenza named squadron bombardier; 1st Lt James H. Bradley named as squadron navigator.

19. In addition to his normal duties as squadron ordnance officer, 1st Lt Julius L. Eichenbaum appointed squadron defense officer.

20. Today's mission was to Duren, Germany, for two of our ships flown by Lts Klein and Crozier.

21. Cpls Edward F. Hardisty and Jack D. Harper assigned.

22. Six new combat crewmen assigned: T/Sgt Edward J. Senk, Melvin A. Soderstrom, S/Sgts Frank P. Mitchley, John F. Skrapits, Leburn W. Townley, John E. Miskin.

Sgt Raymond Legg promoted to S/Sgt.

23. Those personnel sent to rest homes on 15 October returned to duty.

24. New crew assigned from AAF Station #112 Bovingdon were: 2nd Lts Eugene Schulz, Howard M. Plemmons, Walter A. Vonnegut, Hayden T. Brown; S/Sgt John Kulwinski, Christopher T. Camp, Charles F. Smith, John T. Farr, Mack Sexton Jr, Robert M. Trapnell. 

27. Assigned from 12th RCD were: Sgt William M. Drinkwater, Carroll E. Martin; Cpls Marvin A. Carson, Philip Kushner, Harlow D. Hill, Pvt Howard L. Plumlee.

S/Sgt Oscar K. Brannigan, Paul J. Tolene, Sgt Lee W. Rowland; Cpls Edward F. Fink, Charles E. Ward; Pvt Luther Carter assigned from 330th Service Squadron.

28. Pvt Daniel J. O'Donoghue assigned from 330th Service Group.

29. Sgt Luther B. McRainey reduced to Pvt.

30. Sent to rest homes were: Lts W.J. McDaniel, Gill, Klein; and Sgts Shepherd, Leazenby, Pope, Bunworth, Ray and Fields.

Pfc Davidson transferred to 534th


Squadron strength was 55 officers and 360 enlisted men.