August, 1944

1. Led by Major Briggs and Lt. Kesley aircraft of this squadron attacked the Melun/Villaroche airfield that is located 5 miles north of Melun, France.  The primary was attacked successfully as crews reported their bombs bursting right on the runways.  Moderate flak was encountered from the initial point to the target.  No opposition en route either by flak or fighter aircraft.  The 8 pilots that took their crew and aircraft to the target and back were Major Briggs with Lt. Kesley, Lt. Williams, Lt. Skoglund, Lt. Moore, Lt. Murphy, Lt Bjorness, Lt. Gallagher and Lt. Douglas with Lt. Whitehead.  T/Sgt. Gentry T. Reed completed his tour of duty on this mission.  To date he holds the DFC, three Oak Leaf clusters and the Air Medal.  All men that did not get paid as of the last day of the previous month were paid today.

2. The largest synthetic oil plant in France, situated at harness, is to be attacked by Forts of our squadron.  Mission is cancelled.  The Squadron Orderly Room received information on the Victory War Bond Drive for the VIII Air Force today.  The squadron goal has been set as $22,000.00 in face value bonds.  The drive will run from 29 July to September 2nd.  Each bond holder will receive a stub and have the opportunity to win one of the three prizes offered by the VIII Air Force.

3. The Nord Railway marshalling yards of Mulhouse, France were attacked by nine of our aircraft this date.  Crews reported bombing results as unobserved due to cloud cover.  Anti-aircraft fire was moderate and accurate.  Participating on this raid were Lts. Soale, Sentner, Slavik, Penrod, Evans, Gallagher, Black, Harding and Wilcock.  At the target Lt. Wilcock’s ship was observed to be hit by flak and lose and engine.  Over the North Sea, on the return route, Lt. Wilcock radioed that his ship was in bad condition and that he was going to “bail” the crew.  A/C not observed at this point.  Lt. Wilcock was reported dead when picked up by Air-Sea Rescue patrols.  The rest of the crew is still missing.  Listed are members of this crew:

4. Bombing visually in clear weather we hit the experimental station in Peenemunde, Germany today.  Under command of Capt. Freese and Lt. Kaurin the entire formation bombed the primary with excellent results.  Lts. Moore, Soale, Slavik, Evans, Gallagher, Penrod, Black and Murphy took part.  AA fire in the target area was moderate but accurate.  Other A/C of the group sustained battle damage but ours remained unscathed.  There were no combats reported.

5. Flying in the High Group of the 1st “C” Combat wing and led by Capt. Freese with Lt. Whitehead our aircraft were dispatched and bombed the underground oil storage tanks located in Nienburg, Germany.  The target was reported as being well hit.  There were some AA fire at the enemy coast en route but none reported from the target area.  Lts. Harding, Williams, Inscho, Bjorness, Evans, Giese and Sentner participated.

Assigned this date for duty with the squadron are the following listed Combat Crews:

6. The Air Armaments factories at Brandenburg, Germany was attacked this date by 9 aircraft.  The primary was attacked visually and with good results.  A moderate barrage of flak was encountered today along the route and the target area.  There were no enemy fighter attacks though a number of dog fights were witnessed between our fighters and those of the enemy. Under the command of Major Briggs, squadron commander, and Lt. Whitehead the following participated: Capt. Freese with Lt. Kaurin, Lt. Giese, Lt. Soale, Lt. Murphy, Lt. Moore, Lt. Penrod, Lt. Williams, and Lt. Sentner.  Lt. Emerson E. Lewis, S/Sgt. Sheldon L. Oberstein and S/Sgt. Bill T. Fudge completed their tour on this mission.  All hold the DFC, the Air Medal and three clusters to the Air Medal.

7. The Fuel depots located at St. Florentin and Bourron-Marlotte were attacked by 9 aircraft of this organization today. On both targets the results were reported as good. There was no AA fire from either target though a little flak was encountered at crossings of the coast. Lts. Sentner, Giese, Evans, Williams, Williamson, Moore, Inscho and Harding took part. Lt. Albert J. Harding Jr. and T/Sgt. Emett N. Pope completed a tour of duty on this date. Both hold the DFC, the Air Medal and three oak leaf clusters to the Air Medal.

8. A tactical target, in direct support of the ground troops in France, is given as the day's mission. Bombing is to be done in the area of Cauvicourt - about ten miles south/east of Caen. Returning crews reported hitting their assigned MIP's. All a/c bombed from an unusually low altitude. Altitudes this mission ranged from 12 to 14,000 feet. Intense AA fire that was very accurate was attributed to this factor. One officer and three enlisted men completed their tour of operations on today's mission. 1st Lt. Samuel H. Whitehead, S/Sgt. Edward Y. Odian, T/Sgt. Ernest B. Gatten and S/Sgt. Palmer Van Horn are those completing a tour of duty. All hold the DFC, the Air Medal and the three clusters to the Air medal.

9. Crews were briefed to attack targets in Munchen, Germany.  Due to bad weather our aircraft did not reach the briefed primary.  A target of opportunity was selected and bombed.  This target was the railway marshalling yards of Saarbrucken, Germany.  Results were reported as excellent.  Moderate flak was experienced at the target while there was an absence of fighter opposition.  There were no losses or casualties sustained.  Today’s formation was led by Lt. Soale, and Lt. Douglas with Lts. Gallagher, Evans, Murphy, Moore and Slavik participating.  1st Lt. Albert A. Saleeby and S/Sgt. Paul N. Pearlin completed their tour of duty on this mission.  Both hold the Air Medal   with three clusters and the DFC.

10. Non Operational.  Usual garrison duties.

11. Tactical targets on Brest Peninsula attacked by Aircraft of this squadron today.  Crews reported their bombs were right on their assigned objectives.  6 crews participated – a/c were piloted by Lts. Penrod, Sentner, Williams, Bjorness, Murphy and Slavik.  There was little enemy opposition.  T/Sgt. Ernest Conatser, S/Sgt. Jerry D. Herstine and S/Sgt. Harry (NMI) Applebaum completed their tour of duty today.  All three men hold the DFC, three oak leaf clusters to the Air Medal and the Air Medal.  The squadron supply Officer and supply sergeant attended a meeting at the station S-4 office in order that they [could] decide what the unit needs in case it had to move on a 48 hour notice.

12. Non Operational.  Usual garrison duties. 1st Lt. Delchamps was relieved from duty and assignment as squadron engineering officer and assigned to the 91st Bomb Group.

13. Tactical targets in the area of Rouen, France were attacked.  Crews reported that their target had been hit.  There was no enemy air opposition and flak was only meager.  Formation was led by Capt. Freese and Lt. Kaurin.  Other participating were Lts. Skoglund, Sentner, Black, Fine, Giese, Williamson, Moore, Inscho.  James W. Gonzales – F/O completed his tour of duty on this mission.  1st Lt. George Steidle assigned and joined from Hq. 1st Bomb Division as squadron engineering officer.

14. The airdrome at Metz/ Frescaty, France was attacked by aircraft of this squadron today. Results were reported as excellent.  There was no E/A opposition and flak was nil.  Leading the low group of the 1st A Combat Wing were Lts. Douglas and Kaurin.  Also participating were Lts. Bjorness, Skoglund, Williamson, Black, Fine, Moore, Wilkenson and Sentner.

15. Today the squadron bombed the airfield located at Ostheim (nr. Cologne) with excellent results being reported by returning crewmen.  Under command of Lt. Col. Hall, Deputy Group Commander, and Lt. Kesley the following piloted their crew and aircraft to the target: Lt. Soale with Capt. Freese, Lt. Giese, Lt. Penrod, Lt. Black, Lt. Williamson, Lt. Murphey, Lt. Wilkenson and Lt. Inscho.  Moderate to intense and accurate flak was experienced at the target area while there was an absence of enemy fighter activity.

1st Lt. Howard N. Kesley, Sqdn Operations Officer, appointed Captain this date.  2nd Lts. Penrod and Smith appointed to 1st Lt. Major Briggs, Squadron Commander, to 12th RCD for transfer to the States.  Major Briggs has completed 31 operations over enemy occupied territory and will return to the Squadron after a period of rest.  Captain Douglas L. Winter of the 532nd Squadron assumes command in the absence of Major Briggs.  T/Sgt. Paul E. Harris completed his tour of duty this date.  1st Lt. Donald I. Soale completed his also.  Both hold the DFC, the Air Medal and three clusters to the Air Medal.

16. An airfield located at Halle, Germany was the squadrons target for today.  Partly covered by cloud the airfield was attacked by PFF and visual sightings. There were no fighter attacks and moderate flak was encountered en route and to the target.  Lt. Fine, Lt. Slavik, Lt. Penrod, Lt. Inscho, Lt. Black, Lt. Giese, Lt. Wilkenson, Lt. Murphy, Lt. Moore and Lt. Williamson participated on this raid.

17. Non Operational.  Usual garrison duties.

18. Non Operational.  Usual garrison duties.

19. Non Operational.  Usual garrison duties. Usual Saturday morning inspections of huts and sites.

20. Non Operational.  Usual garrison duties. There is a mobile unit at the Station Hospital taking blood which is urgently needed by hospitals throughout England.  A number of the men have donated a pint of blood.  Major Arthur F. Briggs, Squadron Commander, now on leave to the States appointed to Lt. Col. 1st lt. Ross G. Banks, Squadron Intelligence Officer, appointed to Captain.

21. Non Operational.  Usual garrison duties. Commitments are being taken for purchases of War Bonds for the current drive.  Bonds may be purchased and later for during the Months of Sept., Oct., and November.

22. Non Operational.  Usual garrison duties.

23. Russelheim, Germany named as the target for the day.  Mission scrubbed.

24. The land armaments factory in Weimar, Germany was attacked today by 8 aircraft of this squadron.  Bombing results were reported as excellent. Crews reported a meager and moderate amount of flak from the Initial Point to the target.  There was no fighter opposition and no ground opposition en route.  Participating were Lts. Kaurin with Douglas, Williamson, Skoglund, Evans, Sentner, Wilkenson, Fulton and Giese.  Lt. William F. Skoglund completed his tour of duty today.  He holds the DFC, the Air medal and three Oak Leaf Clusters to the Air Medal.  Assigned for duty this date is the following listed combat crew:

25. The airfield at Neubrandenburg, Germany was attacked by 7 of our ships today.  Bombing results were reported as excellent.  No fighter opposition and only meager flak was encountered.  Under command of Captains Winter and Kesley – the following attacked the target and completed the mission successfully: Lt. Cronin with Lt. Martyniak, Lt. Murphy, Lt. Bjorness, Lt. Fine, Lt. Smith, Lt. Black, Lt. Williams.  1st Lts Edwin M. Switzer, and Robert P. Burrell completed their tour today.  S/Sgt. John J. Kukasik completed his tour also.  All men hold the DFC, the Air Medal and three Oak Leaf Clusters.

26. One of the three largest Synthetic Oil plants in Germany was attacked today by our aircraft.  This target was situated in the heart of the Ruhr Valley. Crews reported that the bombing results on Gelsinkirchen were unobserved.  They stated that flak was very accurate and intense.  Again there was an absence of enemy fighter activity.  Lt. Cronin and Martyniak were squadron lead.  Other pilots that participated are: Lt. Slavik, Lt. Evans, Lt. Wilkenson, Lt. Gallagher, Lt. Fine, Lt. Fulton, Lt. Bjorness and Lt. Smith.  Those comp letting their tour of duty were 1st Lt. Lester E. Fine, 1st Lt. Robert E. Teira, Sgt. Michael Lombardi, S/Sgt. Rex L. Scott.  All men hold the DFC, the Air Medal and three clusters to the Air Medal.  Usual Saturday morning inspection of huts and sites.

27. Lts. Murphey, Williamson, Penrod, Scholze, Bjorness, Gallagher, Sentner, Slavik, Evans and Wilkenson were to participate on an operational mission to Berlin.  However bad weather hampered the formation’s penetration deep into Germany.  The lead s hip selected a target of opportunity and bombed with results being reported as good.  This target was the Dock area of Emden.  Flak was moderate while there was no fighter opposition.  All A/C bombed and all returned safe to base.

28. Non Operational.  Usual garrison duties.

29. Non Operational.  Usual garrison duties.

30. 9 A/C of this squadron attacked the Kiel Naval Armaments works of Kiel, Germany.  This target was bombed by PFF means and results were reported as unobserved.  Flak was moderate and there was no fighter opposition.  Lt. Douglas and Martyniak led the squadron composed of Lts. Williams, Black, Murphy, Gallagher, Fulton, Penrod, Wilkenson, and Scholze.

31. Non Operational.  Pay day for all enlisted men.  A special War Bond table was set up with Capt. O’Brien, 1st Sgt. Hartley and S/Sgt. Reitz paying the men and selling bonds or taking commitments for them.  An early count showed that the Squadron had exceeded it’s set quota.  At the months end – strength for the squadron stands at: 449 enlisted men and 112 officers.