February, 1944

1. Squadron Commander, Capt. Arthur F. Briggs was to lead the Group on the first combat mission of the month.  Target was designated as Frankfurt, Germany – with the center of the old city on the River Main as the MPI.  Located in Frankfurt are some of the Reich’s most important war industries.  However, this mission was scrubbed due to adverse weather conditions.

2. Non Operational. Usual garrison duties.

3. Squadron Commander, Capt. Arthur F. Briggs led the Group and was combat wing commander for today’s operation against Wilhelmshaven, Germany.  Flying in the lead ship with Lt. A F. tucker, as his pilot, he took the Group’s contingent of bombers over the target and back.  Seven aircraft, beside the lead ship, of this squadron took part.  Pilots and their crews that participated were Lt. Kuhl, Lt. Muchway, Lt. Silvernale, Lt. Miller, Lt. Harlin, Lt. Henry and Lt. Dorrington. All aircraft dropped their lethal load on the PFF ship and were unable to report bombing results as there was a thick haze and a solid over and undercast.  Other conditions in the target area included light flak and a few enemy fighters.  There was an abundance of fighter escort and the gunners didn’t get a shot at “Jerry”.  There were no claims and no casualties.

4. Flying Forts from this squadron returned to Frankfurt, Germany today.  Though the target was obscured they dropped their explosives and returned safe to base.  Little enemy opposition was encountered in form of fighters; however, flak was intense and accurate.  Squadron leader Miller led Lt. Dorrington, Lt. Harlin, Lt. Dickey and Lt. Kuhl there and back.  Taking off but forced to abort were Lt. Muchway and Lt. Henry.  No claims by gunners and no casualties suffered.

5. Eight aircraft of this organization were dispatched, along with others of the Group, to attack the St. Avord airfield in France.  This ‘home’ of Nazi fighters and bombers was blasted to bits at the bombers will as visibility over the target was unlimited.  There were few fighters to oppose and flak was very weak.  Lts. Miller, Haushalter, Dorrington, Muchway, Rogers, Henry, Harlin and Dickey reported that the mission was a complete success.

6. Target for today was designated as the Nancy/Essey airfield in France.  Six ships of the squadron took off and flew to the target area without a single fighter attack and meager flak.  Unable to see the target because of could cover all A/C returned their bombs to base – following a strict rule of not bombing installations in France if the target cannot be pin-pointed.  Leading the squadron there and back were Lts. Tucker and Schomburg.  Those that flew are as follows: Lt. Kuhl, Lt. Henry, Lt. Silvernale, Lt. Rogers and Lt. Dickey.

7-8. Non Operational. Usual garrison duties.

9. Lt. Wayne G. Schomburg, Sqdn. Operations Officers with Lt. A.F. Tucker were to lead the 381st to Leipzig, Germany.  This squadron was to furnish 12 A/C and crews.  Those slated to go were Lt. Kuhl, Lt. Henry, Lt. Silvernale, Lt. Sellers, Lt. Hytinen, Lt. Miller, Lt. Dorrington, Lt. Harlin, Lt. Muchway and Lt. Rogers.  Located in Leipzig are important units of the Me 109 industry.  This mission was scrubbed due to unfavorable weather.

10. Non Operational. Usual garrison duties.

11. Nine ships were put up by this organization for today’s operation which carried them to Ludwigshafen, Germany.  Frankfurt was the briefed target but the formations deviated from course and Ludwigshafen was bombed instead. All A/C bombed with results being unobserved.  Flak was intense and fighters were out in force.  No claims by gunners and no casualties sustained as all ships returned safe to base.  Pilots with their crews that participated are as follows: Lt. Harlin, Lt. Dickey, Lt. Dorrington, Lt. Schomburg, Lt. Sellers, Lt. Hytinen, Lt. Silvernale, Lt. Kuhl and Lt. Henry.

12. Non Operational. Usual garrison duties.

13. Non Operational. Usual garrison duties. Captain Arthur F. Briggs, Squadron commander promoted to rank of Major. Capt. Robert O. Fricks transferred to Hq. 381st as Station Training Officer.

14. Mission is scrubbed soon after target was designated.  To have been construction works of Lottingam/Les Grande Bois, France.

1st Lts. Miller and Gilchrist promoted to rank of Captain.

15. Non Operational. Usual garrison duties.

16. Non Operational. Usual garrison duties.2nd Lt. Harlin promoted to 1st Lt. 1st Lt. A.F. Tucker promoted to Captain.

17. Mission called to bomb the constructional works and military installations of Freval, France.  Mission is scrubbed.

18. Non Operational. Usual garrison duties.

19. Non Operational. Usual garrison duties.

20. Today’s target is to be the fighter components works of the city of Leipzig, Germany.  Same type targets in Oschersleben to be attacked by another force of bombers.  A/C of this squadron are to go to both targets.  Ten “Forts” were airborne and attacked their briefed target with excellent results.  All ships bombed the target with excellent results.  All ships bombed the target with the exception of Lt. Dorrington who was forced to abort.  There was heavy flak and fighter opposition along the entire route.  Sgt. Cecil L. Jernigan received credit for an E/A damaged in a running battle over the target area.

Today marked the 25th bomber mission and completion of tour of operational duty of two combat crewmen.  Both Capt. A.F. Tucker and T/Sgt. Chas E. Raglin did the last one.  Both hold the same awards.  Those being: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, and the DFC.

21. Brief to bomb the airfield Gutersloh, Germany – 10 of our ships took off and ran  into adverse weather conditions.  A target of opportunity was selected and bombed without observing results due to the solid undercast that prevailed.  Pilots that took their crews and A/C to the target of opportunity are as listed: Lt. Silvernale, Lt. Sellers, Lt. Meyers, Lt. Rogers, Lt. Haushalter, Lt. Hytinen and Lt. Dorrington.  Enemy fighter opposition was encountered and S/Sgt. Harry Lee Destroyed a Nazi fighter plane.  Flak was intense and accurate.  Finish his 24th mission over enemy territory was S/Sgt. Grover S. Bonsall who to date holds the Purple Heart, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, and the DFC.

22. Unfavorable weather forced a number of our bombers to return to base today.  Their target was to have been the aircraft components works of Oschersleben, Germany.  Those that were able to tack onto a formation did successfully unload on a target of opportunity.  This target being Bunde, Germany.  Lt. Hytinen, Lt. Sharp, Lt. Rogers bombed.  Lt. Miller, Lt. Henry, Lt. Dorrington, Lt. Harlin, Lt. Haushlater, Lt. Sellers returned early.  Bombing results were unobserved due to undercast and haze.

23. Non Operational. Usual garrison duties.

24. Going to a target that our Forts had visited twice before and giving it the third going over since we became operations – 8 of our “Forts” bombed the ball bearing works in Schweinfurt today.  Though flak and fighters were ever present and no serious damaged was inflicted to our A/C or crews.  Strike photographs bear out the story of returning crewmen that reported the target as being destroyed.  Lts. Miller, Dickey, Henry, Dorrington, Sellers, Haushalter, Harlin and Rogers bombed successfully.  S/Sgt. James E. West and T/Sgt. Robert G. Tichy finished their combat operations today as both had 24 bomber missions prior to today.  West holds the Air Medal, 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and the DFC.  Tichy holds the Air Medal, 4 Oak Leaf Clusters and the DFC.

25. Taking off for a long haul that carried our bombers to near the Alps our bombers hit the Messerschmitt factory at Augsburg, Germany.  Leading the main formation put up by the 381st was 1st Lt. John A. Silvernale of this squadron.  Bombing results were very good.  Enemy activity was not very strong against the formations.  Flak and fighters were encountered; however, all ships returned safe to base and there were no casualties or claims.

Four complete combat crews were assigned to this organization for duty this date.  Crews listed:

26. Non Operational. Usual garrison duties.

27. Non Operational. Usual garrison duties.

28. Non Operational. Usual garrison duties.

29. Mission called to bomb Jeyer Airfield just 9 and ½ miles west Wilhelmshaven, Germany.  Mission is scrubbed.

Total enlisted and officer personnel strength at end of month stands at 390 EM and 72 Officers.