July, 1944

1. Non Operational.  Usual garrison duties.

2. Non Operational.  Usual garrison duties.

3. Non Operational.  Usual garrison duties.

4. First mission of the month called to attack the Tours La/Riche bridge which spans the Loire River.  The target was not attacked due to 10/10 clouds. All of our aircraft returned to base safe with full bomb load.  Enemy opposition was week as only moderate inaccurate flak was encountered and there was an absence of enemy fighter planes. Lts. Harding, Fine, Whitehead, Crossgrove, Inscho and Moore piloted their a/c to the target and back.  There were no losses, casualties or claims.  Lt. Milan C. Snodgrass and S/Sgt. Fred D. Jensen completed their tour of operations this date.  Both hold the Air Medal with three clusters and the DFC.

5. Non Operational.  Usual garrison duties.

6. Crews were briefed on targets located in Bremen, Germany.  This mission scrubbed and another is ordered.  9 A/C took off in near perfect weather to bomb the constructional works of Rely, France.  A complete absence of enemy opposition allowed our formations to make a good run on the target.  Crews reported bombing as excellent.  Some flak was observed but none was directed at or contingent.  All of our bombers returned safe to base.  Those participating are listed as follows:  Lt. Whitehead, Lt. Houston, Lt. Crossgrove, Lt. G. Moore, Lt. Inscho, Lt. Harding, Lt. Kaurin, Lt. Murray and Lt. Fine.

Assigned for duty with this organization this date are the following named co mbat crewmen:

7. The air armaments factories of Leipzig, Germany were objectives of our Forts on today’s mission.  Our formations encountered intense AA fire but went on to bomb the primary target with good results. Hits were reported on the assigned aiming point.  9 of our aircraft bombed and returned safe to base.  Under command of Lt. Whitehead, who led the low squadron in the lead group, the following pilots took part: Lt. Williams, Lt. Murphey, Lt. Murray, Lt. Moore, Lt. Gallagher.  Flying in the high squadron in the high group and led by Lt. Crossgrove were Lts. Fine, Kaurin and Houston.  Tour of operations was completed T/Sgt. Rodman W. Wallace this date.  He holds the DFC, Air Medal and three clusters to the Air Medal.

8. Constructional works located in Rely, France again designated as the target. Over the target weather was described as 8 to 10/10ths therefore our aircraft did not bomb.  Dense and persistent contrails also hampered visibility.  Those participating:  Lts. Crossgrove, Murphy, Evans, Whitehead, Harding and Skoglund.

2nd Lt. James M. Hopkins, T/Sgt. William L. Wheeler and S/Sgt. Walter A. Schillinger completed their tour of operations this date.  All three hold the DFC, the Air Medal and three oak leaf clusters to the Air Medal.

9. 6 crews were briefed this morning to attack targets located in Coubronne, France.  Targets were to have been the flying bomb sites located in this area.  Owing to poor visibility a target of opportunity was selected and bombed.  This target being the airfield at St. Omer.  Strike photos show bombs bursting on the runways and western portions of the field.  Results were described by crewmen as good.  There was meager, inaccurate, tracking flak from St. Omer but enemy aircraft failed to show.  Lts. Crossgrove, Murphy, Evans, Whitehead, Skoglund and Harding participated.  1st Lt. Ralph C. Crossgrove and S/Sgt. Bernard J. Mitchell completed their tour this date.  Lt. Crossgrove holds the DFC, the Air Medal and three clusters to the Air Medal.  S/Sgt. Mitchell holds the same awards.

10. Mission is called naming the bridge crossing the River Canche near Etaples, France as the target. Mission is scrubbed.

11. 7 A/C of this squadron attacked the railway center of Munich, Germany today.  Under command of Lt. White, who led the low squadron of the group, our A/C attacked the primary with results be unobserved.  PFF methods were used to bomb due to cloud coverage over the target area.  Those participating are as follows: Lt. White, Lt. Moore, Lt. Inscho, Lt. Hollman, Lt. Bjorness, Lt. Kaurin and Lt. Skoglund.  Intense, inaccurate barrage and tracking type fire was experienced at the target.  Again the Luftwaffe failed to appear.  There were no casualties or claims.

12. The factories of Bayerische-Motorenwerke A.G., located in Allach (Nr. Munich), were designated as target for today.  Again PFF methods were employed and the target area was unobserved at time of bombs away.  Enemy fighter opposition was nil and flak was reported as moderate to intense, inaccurate and barrage and tracking type.  Under command of Lt. White – Lts. Williams, Gallagher, Skoglund, Inscho and Hollman completed this mission. Our squadron was flying in the high box in the lead group of the 1st “A” Combat Wing.  All aircraft returned safe to base.  No casualties, no losses and no claims on today’s operation.

While other aircraft in the squadron were on the operation to Allach, several crews were brief to attack constructional targets at Fresnoy, France.  This mission was scrubbed.

13. The Aero-engine works of Munchen are designated as today’s target.  Though conditions over the target were hazy a visual sighting was made and crews reported bombs falling in the built up area.  Flak was moderate to intense, while fighter opposition was nil.  Under command of Lt. H.N. Kesley, squadron operations officers, the following named pilots completed this operation: Lt. Inscho, Lt. Martyniak, Lt. Hollman, Lt. Skoglund, Lt. Evans, Lt. Murphy, Lt. Williams and Lt. Bjorness.  The squadron lost eight combat crewmen and an aircraft just after take-off for this mission.  Lt Houston’s a/c developed mechanical difficulty and crashed just off the field.  All men were killed with the exception of the pilot, who was thrown clear.  Listed are those KIA:

14. The synthetic oil plants located in Merseburg (Leuna) are given as target for today.  The mission is scrubbed.

The following name officers were promoted from 2nd to 1st Lts.

1st Lt. L.W. King appointed to Captain.

15. Non Operational. Usual garrison duties.

Assigned for duty with this organization this date are the following listed combat crewmen:

16. The Aero-engine works of Allach were assigned targets for our a/c today.  9 A/C took off at 0430 hours and were led by Lt. White who was leading the high squadron of the high group in the 1st “A” CBW.  10/10ths cloud cover at the target area prevented a visual sighting and bombs were released on what is believed to be Augsburg by using PFF.  Results could not be observed.  Moderate flak was encountered and only one enemy aircraft was sighted.  There were no losses, no casualties or claims made.  Lts. White, Moore, Harding, Skoglund, Williams, Gallagher, Kaurin, Bjorness and Inscho completed the mission.

17. Non Operational.  Usual garrison duties.

18. Under command of Capt. Freese and Lt. Martyniak, who led the squadron and the 1st “B” CBW – Lts. Murphy, Moore, Murray, Hollman, Inscho and Evans attacked the experimental station for flying bombs and rockets at Pennemunde, located in northeastern Germany.  The target was attacked visually with reports of excellent bombing coming from the crews.  E/A reaction was nil and only moderate, inaccurate flak was encountered from the target.  All of our bombers returned to base without serious damage or casualty.  2nd Lt. Robert A. Douglas appointed 1st Lt. this date.

19. The airfield located at Lechfeld, Germany was designated as the target for today’s raid.  Weak enemy opposition enabled our a/c to make a good run and bomb the primary visually.  Results were reported as excellent.  Meager to moderate, inaccurate flak was encountered and there was an absence of fighter opposition.  Lts. Harding, Kaurin, Evans, Hollman, Gallagher, Moore, Murray, White, Murphy and Inscho participated on today’s operation.  1st Lt. W.K. White, pilot, completed his tour of operations this date.  Lt. White holds the DFC, Air Medal and three clusters to the Air Medal.

20. Under command of Major A.F. Briggs, Squadron Commander, and Lt. Kesley, Squadron Operations Officer, who led to 1st “C” Combat Wing – Lts. Gallagher, Bjorness, Harding, Williams, Murray, Evans, Black and Capt. Freese with Lt. Hollman attacked the aero-engine factories of Dassau, Germany with excellent results. There was little enemy fighter opposition while intense, tracking and accurate anti-aircraft fire was experienced at the target.  Al aircraft returned safe to base with only minor battle damage; this damage was sustained by only several ships.  Today’s mission concluded the tour of duty for four of our combat crewmen.  Listed are those that completed their tour and awards held by each:

Assigned this date for duty with this organization were three combat crews.  These crews are listed:

21. The ball bearing factories located in Schweinfurt, Germany were attacked by aircraft of this squadron on today’s mission with excellent results.  Crews reported bombs right on the target.  E/A reaction for aircraft of this squadron were nil.  Intense, accurate, tracking and barrage type fire was experienced at the target.  There were no claims, no casualties or losses sustained.  Led by Lts. Martyniak and Murray – Lts. Murphy, Kaurin, Black, Gallagher and Evans successfully completed the mission.

22. Non Operational.  Usual garrison duties.

23. Non Operational.  Usual garrison duties.

24. 13 A/C of this squadron were ordered to attack, with others of the group, concentrations of enemy troops and equipment in the area south of St. Lo.  Under command of Capt. Freese and Lt. Martyniak all of our aircraft bombed their assigned target with excellent results.  There was no enemy fighter opposition and only light flak was encountered.  These flak positions were silenced by artillery fire from our ground forces in and around St. Lo.  Those participating are as follows: Capt. Freese with Lt. Martyniak, Lt. Hading, Lt. Penrod, Lt. Murphy, Lt. Evans, Lt. Skoglund, Lt. Black, Lt. Williams, Lt. Murray, Lt. Gallagher, Lt. Bjorness, Lt. Inscho and Lt. Moore.

1st Lt. F. Slaughter appointed Captain this date.

25. Today’s mission had our bombers after the same targets as yesterday.  Results were again reported as excellent and crews were of the opinion that this trip did the job thoroughly.  Meager, inaccurate flak was experienced and enemy fighters failed to appear.  Again led by Capt. Freese and Lt. Martyniak these crews completed the mission successfully: Lt. Kaurin, Lt. Skoglund, Lt. Penrod, Lt. Inscho, Lt. Evans, Lt. Black, Lt. Bjorness, Lt. Williams, Lt. Murray, Lt. Gallagher, Lt. Murphy and Lt. Moore.  1st Lts. R.J. Murray and John W. Hanrahan completed their tour of duty this date.  Both hold the Air Medal with three clusters and the DFC.

26. The Diesel and Aero engine factories of Daimler-Benz A.G. were assigned as primary targets for today’s mission.  Field Order cancels mission.  These factories are located in Berlin, Germany.

27. Munchen, Germany given as the day’s target.  This mission is scrubbed. We were to furnish ten aircraft for this operation.

2nd Lts. Fine, Fedak, Gallagher, Hamilton, Inscho, Kaurin, Kline, Lombardi, Williams, Russell, Moore were appointed 1st Lts this date.

28. Synthetic Oil plants and ammonia and nitrogen works located in Merseburg, Germany were attacked by A/C of our squadron today.  The bombers centered their explosives on the target by using PFF equipment.  Our formations encountered inaccurate, moderate to intense flak and no fighters.  6 crews, led by Lt. Soale, took part. Lt. Soale, Lt. Lewis, Lt. Penrod, Lt. Moore, Lt. Evans, Lt. Murphy and Lt. Black piloted aircraft to the target and back.

29. 9 A/C today attacked same targets as yesterday.  Crews stated that they again bombed by PFF and were off the belief that their bombs hit the target area.  While there was an absence of enemy fighter opposition – flak was intense and accurate.  Lt. Martyniak and Lt. Whitehead led the low group of the 1st A combat wing with Lts. Fine, Skoglund, Inscho, Penrod, Soale, Bjorness and Gallagher composing the squadron and part of another element.

S/Sgt. Eldon E. Lucken Completed his tour of duty on today’s mission.  Sgt. Lucken holds the DFC, the Air Medal and three clusters to the Air Medal.

30. Non Operational.  Usual garrison duties.

31. Lts. Douglas and Whitehead led 8 a/c of this squadron to targets in Allach, Germany.  The primary was bombed visually but crews did not observed results because of smoke and cloud.  Fighter reaction was nil for our aircraft.  Flak was accurate, intense and of the tracking type.  There were no losses or casualties.

S/Sgt. Frank (NMI) Rego and S/Sgt. Amos W. Braun completed their last mission on this trip.  Both hold the Air Medal with three clusters and the DFC.

At the close of the month the Squadron’s strength stands at: 455 Enlisted Men and 107 Officers.