November, 1943

1. Usual Garrison duties.

2. Usual Garrison duties.

3. Six aircraft of this Squadron, flying high squadron in the Group, took off at 0920 and followed the route as briefed to their target of Wilhemshaven, Germany (Port Area).  Approximately 15 to 20 E/A were reported but no attacks were made on the Squadron or the Groups total of 27 ships.  Crews attributed lack of enemy attacks to the excellent fighter cover provided by the P-38’s.  At the target area Anti-Aircraft fire was meager to moderate.  Bombs were released over the target but no observations were made due to a heavy cloud cover.  All A/C returned safe to base and landing made at 1527.  Pilots with respective crews that participated on this mission are: Capt. Charles Olh, Lt. Don J. Rutan, Lt. W. Schomburg, Lt. Daniel Hagerty, Lt. Richard Neiderriter, and Lt. Silvernale.

4. The 534th was to fly low squadron in the group on today’s mission which was to carry them to the heart of the Ruhr, Gelsinkirchen, Germany.  Target is to be the Central Station Marshalling Yards and the Schalker Verin Iron and Steel Works.  This operation was scrubbed prior to take off.

5. Again flying low squadron in the Group – six of our Flying Forts participated on an operation to Gelsinkirchen, Germany.  Riding through intense flak, the heaviest our airman have ever seen, all A/C made a bomb run and dropped their load on the target which was the important railway center and the Schalker Verin iron and steel works.  Many hits were observed in and around the target area.  A few enemy fighters filtered through the tight fighter escort provided by P-40’s.  However, one “jerry” failed and S/Sgt. Grover S. Bonsell of Lt. Hagarty’s crew received credit for an enemy aircraft destroyed.  1st Lt. George W. Heinz, bombardier from Capt. C. Ohl’s aircraft, was the first airman of this station to complete his operational tour of duty as today marked his 25th bomber mission over enemy occupied territory.  In the same ship that Lt. Heinz finished up, Capt. C. Ohl, the pilot, was seriously wounded.  1st Lt. Martin Downey, the copilot sustained wrist and nose wounds.  Pilots and crews that took part on this mission are as follows:  Capt. Charles Ohl, Lt. Don J. Rutan, Lt. W. Schomburg, Lt. Daniel Hagarty, Lt. Richard Niederriter, and Lt. Silvernale.  All of the squadrons aircraft made it back to the base at 1525 having take off at 1000 hours.

6. The Squadron was scheduled to lead the Group on an operation to Emden, Germany.  Major D. E. Kunkel, Jr., squadron C.O. was to lead the formation to the center of Emden.  However, the mission was scrubbed at the last minute.

7. Six of our Forts returned to the Ruhr valley today to bomb the railways of Wesel, Germany.  The groups 20 A/C were under command of Major D.E. Kunkel, Jr., as our Squadron lead the formation over the target. Major Kunkel flew in the lead ship with Capt. Robert O. Fricks.  Other pilots, their crews and A/C that took part were Lts. Hofkin, Niederriter, Rutan, Hagarty and Silvernale. This operation was described as successful by those that participated.  All A/C bombed but observations were not made, due to heavy cloud cover. AA Fire was weak, fighter attacks were nil and in general the mission went well.  Formation was off at 0820 and all made safe landings at 1305 hours.  This flight marked the completion of Combat duty for 1st Lt. Raymond P. Lyons, navigator of Capt. Robert Frick’s crew.  T/Sgt. William F. Vance, ball turret operator of the same ship also made his 25th today.  These two airmen ran the sqdn’s total of those completing their tour to three.

8. Nuess, Germany is the designated target for today.  Centered in the city are the Marshalling yards and the Bauer & Schaurte Bolt Factories.  Scrubbed before briefing.

9-10. With the coming of new crews to our squadron, Operations officers, training officers, etc., are kept busy processing the new men.  Many of these new crews are to be assigned to us for duty while others are to be attached for training and then assigned to others squadrons or groups.  Those assigned are as follows:

10. Mission was planned to Bremen, Germany.  This failed to materialize.  Mission is scrubbed.

11. Flying Forts of this Squadron took off to bomb the railway yards and canals of Wesel, Germany.  Weather over the enemy coast was unfavorable and all A/C returned to base with bomb loads.  Pilots and crews that attempted this mission were: Lt. D.J. Rutan, Lt. Neiderriter, Miller, Lt. Hagaryty, Lt. Silvernale, Lt. Hofkin.  This is listed as an abortive mission.

13. The 534th was scheduled to fly high squadron in the Group.  Six of our A/C were up to attack the submarine and ship building yards on the river Weser in Bremen, Germany.  Due to unfavorable weather conditions all A/C returned to base with all bombs.  A/C flew to approximately 53 – 30’ N, 01 –10’E, where the turn back was made.

14. Flying high Squadron in the 381st Group this squadron participated on the Group’s second raid to Norway.  Target was the Molybdneum mine of Norway’s little town of Knaben.  6 A/C took off and upon reaching the target area had to make two bomb runs before “bombs away”.  Results of bombing were reported as unobserved.  AA Fire was mild and a enemy air opposition was very weak as only two enemy aircraft were reported. Finishing up their tour of operations on this one were 1st Lt. Martin Downey, S/Sgt. Tanney, S/Sgt. Schnieder, S/Sgt. Whitford, S/Sgt. Dean F. Sword and S/Sgt. Scott.  Capt O. Ohl was allowed his 25th when records revealed that on a previous raid, that was recorded as abortive, was counted as a mission since his A/C had penetrated enemy territory.  Pilots with their respective crews that took part on this raid are: Capt. Robert O. Fricks, Lt. Niederriter, Lt. Hofkin, Lt. Rutan, Lt. Silvernale and Lt. Schomburg.

15. Stand downs were frequent orders due to unfavorable operational weather.

20. There was a formation of all available personnel for the purpose of presenting the Good Conduct medal to those deserving.  Major Kunkel made the presentations.

23. The target is designated and the Forts were due to bomb the City of Breman, Germany.  However mission as called off.

24. The same target is ordered for today.  This too was scrubbed.

26. After being scrubbed twice in a row, the mission to Bremen, Germany was finally pulled.  Six of our A/C flew high squadron of the composite group that flew with the 1st Combat Bomb Wing, the other A/C with Capt. Robert O. Fricks and crew flew in the lead squadron of the Group.  All A/C except Lt. Hytinen’s 845 bombed the target area successfully.  Results of bombing were unobserved as crews reported heavy cloud coverage and haze.  AA Fire over the target was reported as intense but meager on the way in and out.  Little or no fighter opposition was experienced as fighter support was described as “excellent”.  Flying their 25th mission were Capt. Robert O. Fricks and S/Sgt. Daniel A. Vina.  Crew Captains that took part are: Capt. Robert Fricks, Lt. D. Hagarty, Lt. Silvernale, Lt. W. Schomburg, Lt. H. Hytinen, and Lt R. Niederriter.

29. Six of our Forts were again to go to Bremen, Germany.  Flying the low squadron of the Group our ships were airborne at 1045 hours.  However all A/C turned back due to abandonment of mission by Division Air Commander.  Target was not reached and all A/C returned all bombs to base landing at 1540. Lt. D Hagarty was squadron leader with Lts. Silvernale, Hytinen, Schomburg, Niederriter and Miller participating on the raid.

30. With Major Kunkel leading the Squadron, which led the composite Group, 6 of our A/C took off at 0745 to Solingen, Germany.  There they were to bomb the Aero-Engine casting works of Rudolf Rautenback.  Halfway across the channel A/C turned back due to poor flying conditions.  In the attempt were: Major D.E. Kunkel and Lt. A Tucker, Lt. Silvernale, Lt. Hytinen, Lt. Schomburg, Lt. Niederriter and Lt. Miller.

Many of the Combat crewmen were presented with awards for outstanding achievement during their tour of duty.  This month’s list is as follows:

At the months end total number of personnel stands at 77 Officers and 389 Enlisted men.  During the month 1st Lt. James E. O’Brien was promoted to Capt and Flight Officer Howard N. Kealey was commissioned a 2nd Lt.