1. Public Relations Officer 2nd Lt Saul B. Schwartz was promoted to 1st Lt.

2. Five squadron Forts took off at 16.30 hrs as part of the group's 21 ships, but the mission was recalled.

3. The next mission was against Rimilly airfield in France, when 22 Forts took off, 19 going over the target, five from the 535th, Lt Cormany aborted and Lt Zum and crew are missing in action. Lt Dowell reported Zum's ship heavily shot up by enemy fighters after sliding out of formation. Ten chutes reported; this occurred on the return trip, well inside France.
Taking part were: Lts Dowell, Hopp and Manchester, whose ship, nick-named "TS Too", was re-named "Tarfu", which it carried when assigned to the squadron.

MIA crew: 2nd Lts Benjamin J. Zum, Charles H. Hoover, John W. Willis, Luther C. Clark; T/Sgts Robert W. Italiano, Edwin B. Myers, S/Sgts Floyd H. Terry, Frank J. Crocittio, Charles F. Bang and Ferdinand Christofero.

Sgt John Thompson on Dowell's ship credited with one e/a damaged. T/Sgt Myers and S/Sgt Bang were members of Lt Chapman's veteran crew. Myers especially was considered one of the best combat men in the squadron, a sound radio man and an able gunner. S/Sgt Bang originally came overseas with a broken leg in a cast, getting around the doctors who wanted to keep him in the States, and making the crossing by boat with the ground echelon, in order to be able to re-join his crew in combat.

Today's bombing was successful. In the face of heavy calibre flak the bombardiers plastered hangars on the south side of the field.

4. A mission intended for Romilly-sur-Seine was scrubbed.

5. 1st Lt Hecker was transferred to the 532nd; 2nd Lt Black promoted 1st Lt.

6. The group sent 21 Forts against a spark plug factory at Stuttgart, a run of more than 1,250 miles. Incendiary bombs were carried. A complete overcast at the briefed target forced the group to look for another target, and the bombs were finally dropped on the marshalling yards at Offenburg, Germany.
No enemy aircraft were encountered, no claims and no casualties. Lt
Cormany again aborted, the three ships were flown by: Lts Manchester, Hopp and Dowell.

7. The group sent 15 Forts over the target, an airfield at Brussels-Evers. The ships left the field at 06.30hrs and returned about 10.00 hrs. A perfect mission, 500-pounders roaring down on hangars and runways. There was an excellent Thunderbolt escort, no enemy fighters bothered the formation and flak was meagre. No casualties, no claims.

The 535th sent three ships, flown by: Lts Manchester, Dowell and Hopp.

8. S/Sgt Merrill A. Tolbert, gunner, was assigned from the 7th Station Comp. Sq.

9. Eighteen Forts took off at 05.45 hrs, loaded with 60-pound anti-personnel bombs, the target being the airfield at Lille-Nord, France. Strike photos gave only a small idea of bombing effectiveness, but crewmen generally felt it was "good."
Lt Col Dunlop, deputy group commander, led the group with Lt Chapma as his pilot; the others being: Lts Dowell, Manchester and Hopp.

An afternoon mission against the S.A. Andre Citroen Engine Works, near Paris was scrubbed.

10. A mission to Bergen, Norway, was scrubbed.

11. Sgts J. Thompson, H. Thompson and Richard, gunners, promoted to S/Sgts today.

14. Lt Becker, bombardier, transferred to the 534th; in exchange for 2nd Lt Keith D. Moore.

A new combat crew was assigned today: 2nd Lts Waldo B. Crosson, Gayle Messenger, Edward J. Burke, John J. Curran; Sgts John L. Allen, Robert T. MacFarlane, Steve F. Bulsock, Norman J. Klima, S/Sgt Jesse J. Glawson and Sgt Robert N. Eloe.

15. A few hours after 17 Forts of this group passed over the German air base and repair depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, strike photos showed what happens when more that 62 tons of 500 and 1000 pound bombs are dropped dead on an objective. Views showed that hangars, workshops and runways were smothered by hits.

The Forts carried external bomb racks for the first time. Those ships which carried the half-ton bombs took one under each wing in the racks.

Col Nazzaro, group commander, with Col William M. Gross, 101st Combat Wing Commander, led a full Air Division. No claims, no casualties.

Four squadron ships took part: Lts Manchester, Chapman, Noxon and Hopp.

Another combat crew joined the squadron: 2nd Lts Carl O. Baer, Robert C. Remple, Edison Eichhorn, Thomas B. Nelson; S/Sgts Robert H. Vogelbaugh, John F. Moore, John T. Tully, James Rigat, Phillip Phillipuk and Edward J. Myers.

16. The group's 30th mission today, was the habor installations at Nantes, France, where our bombs dropped on an airbase SSE of the town. Clouds obscured the primary target. Two squadron Forts took off, but Lt Ridley aborted, Lt Minerich completing the mission.

2nd Lt Moore and S/Sgt Phillips flew in 534th ships.

17. A mission scheduled for Frankfurt was scrubbed. Today the squadron received a B-17G Fortress, in which the modifications is the addition of a "chin turret" for the bombardier. The ship is numbered 42-3540.

18. A mission to Nantes, France, was scrubbed.

19. Two promotions were announced today, 2nd Lts Specian (ordnance officer) and Smith (bombardier) to 1st Lt. Another B-17F was received, 42-30864.

20. Yet again a mission to Nantes was scrubbed, but this time the formation had already taken off and were recalled. 1st Lts Cormany and Manchester promoted captain.

21. A fourth mission in a row was scrubbed, today planned for Rheims. 1st Lt Eldon Jukes promoted captain and another ship assigned, B-17F 42-30765.

23. The squadron sent five ships with the group's formation, with an 04.45 hrs take off to hit shipping and docks at Nantes, the primary being absolutely plastered. Strike photos show nearby railway yards were also hit. The entire bombing was highly successful.

Today's pilots were: Capt Cormany, Lts Kemp, Hopp, Ridley and Dowell.

S/Sgt Girvan, Sgts Channell and Gugenheim each destroyed an e/a.

24. A mission planned for Frankfurt, Germany, was scrubbed. Another ship was assigned, 42-30852, nick-named "Chugalug Lulu II".

26. After meeting flak over Dieppe, 18 group Forts returned still carrying their bombs, the target. Muelan airfield, being completely overcast.

Five ships from this squadron were sent, group commander Col Nazzaro flew with Capt Cormany leading the First Bomb Division, other pilots being: Lts Ridley, Kemp, Dowell and Minerich.

27. Today the group attacked Emden, Germany, including four 535th ships. Despite 8/10th cloud cover, bombs were dropped on the primary target area, but results not yet defined.

Moderate flak over the target and later over the Frisian Islands coming back, and there was spirited enemy fighter opposition over Emden. No casualties.

Today's pilots: Capt Chapman, Lts Minerich, Kemp and Ridley.

Promotions: S/Sgt Phillips to T/Sgt; Sgt Gugenheim to S/Sgt; Pvt James E. Stewart to Sgt.

28. Another mission was scrubbed today.

29. This month the squadron flew nine missions, one more than last month; Two new combat crews were added; total claims being 3-0-1.