381st BOMBARDMENT GROUP
WAR DIARY

Roll B0370: Frames 38-55

May 1944

May Day dawned clear but cold and the Daily Bulletin's reminder that this was the last day for issue of coal was not conducive to comfort.

The Group flew its ninth consecutive mission in nine consecutive days. The marshalling yards at Troyes, France, Southwest of Paris, was the target. The Group's contingent was composed of 24 aircraft under the command of 1st Lt. Armour C. Bowen, who flew in the lead ship "Mispah", with 1st Lt. Dale McCrory as his pilot. There was no flak at the target and the Luftwaffe was absent. Without opposition, and fortified by what the crews described as a "super-excellent" escort, the bombers made their way to the objective despite the thick ground haze, executed a long bomb run, and dropped tons of explosives on the target. A few of the aircraft picked up flak holes at the French coast returning home.

It was another of a long string of consecutive non-abortive missions for the Group. And for 1st Lt. Alphonse Kosuch, Bombardier, and T/Sgt. Robert L. Piznick, radio operator, of 1st Lt. Roderick T. Cahill's "Any Base?" it was the ninth consecutive mission in as many consecutive days.

2nd Lt. Leonars B. Zapinski, who again piloted a Fortress home with an engine knocked out by flak, earned the nickname "Three Engine Zapinski" with the mission and named his airplane "So What".

For the first time in ten days the crews were given a day of rest on the Second, and most of the crews elected to spend the time in the sack. The long stretch of consecutive operational days had left them tired.

On May Third the Daily Bulletin announced that each member of the Station would be allowed only one Liberty Run trip a week to Cambridge and convey officers were ordered to check the personnel to enforce that policy. The six-hour Cambridge trip and the weekly 24-hour pass was to be the extent of each man's freedom from the base, henceforth. General Order 66, published May 3, awarded the Purple Heart to 2nd Lt. Joseph R. Scott for a wound received in action April 26.

The crews took off for a shot at Berlin on May 4, but the mission was scrubbed after the Fortresses were in the air and the bombs were brought back to base.

All Station personnel were warned, May 5, to refrain from giving information regarding casualties in personal mail.

Thirty-five Fortresses, making up two Groups, formed the 381st's contingent for the mission against German installations as LaGlacerie, France, May 6. 1st Lt. Ralph B. Freeze, flying in "Dee Marie", with 1st Lt. Ronald E. Dorrington as his pilot; and Capt. Seth A. Armstead, in "Stage Door Canteen", piloted by 1st Lt. George W. Wilson, were the respective air commanders.

Many of the aircraft came back full of holes as a result of the intense flak they encountered but there were no losses and only one casualty, caused a slight flak would. Unable to find the target, because of the clouds, the Fortresses brought their bombs back to base.

Nineteen of our Fortresses led the Combat Wing over Berlin on May 7, with Lt. Col. Conway S. Hall, air executive, acting as wing commander, flying in the lead ship a pathfinder. The wing encountered intermittent flak all the way across Germany and plenty of anti-aircraft fire over Berlin, itself, but little of the stuff hit our formation.

"They were getting it up there, all right," said 2nd Lt. Harold C. Plog, a pilot, who was deputy commander, "but they appeared to be more interested in throwing it away than in hitting us. I guess there were so many Forts up there today they didn't know where to start shooting."

The Luftwaffe did not even make an appearance. The bombers made a long run and bombed on instruments.

2nd Lt. Michael W. Buchsbaum, bombardier of "Return Ticket", had a personal encounter with one of the few flak bursts to find the formation. A piece of shrapnel bounced off his helmet and shot through the roof of the nose compartment, leaving a hole large enough for Buchsbaum to put four fingers through.

A projected mission to Oldenburg on May 7 was scrubbed.

On May 8, the promotion of William G. Fullick, Group bombardier, to Major was announced. The promotion list included, also, Vernon W. Nicholson, 535th bombardier, who was elevated to captain, and Charles W. Nevius, bombardier, and Arthur L. Guertin, navigator, to first lieutenant.

Nevius and Guertin were among the few remaining original members of the Group. Both had been with Osce V. Jones when his "Georgia Rebel" had been forced to make a landing in Sweden after the attack upon Heroya, Norway. Interned in Sweden, they had been released through diplomatic means and came back on flying status with their outfit.

Air Medals were announced by General Order 3_5, Tech/Sgts. Joseph Nicatra (also of Jones' crew), Malvin Samuels and Arthur H. Andrewjewski, and to S/Sgts, David G. Gilwin and Lewis J. McGuire.

The Flying Fortresses went back to Berlin on the Eighth, after a mission to Luxembourg had been scrubbed, with 1st Lt. George W. Reese, 2_ yr-old assistant operations officer of the 533rd, in command of the 18 aircraft which represented the 381st Group. Lt. Reese flew in a Fortress piloted by 1st Lt. Milton F. Tarr.

Again there was a 10/10 undercast. The big bombers plowed through a field of "old flak bursts" to reach the target, which was bombed on instruments.

This time the Luftwaffe made at least a token attack, Lt. Merrill O. Burton, pilot of "Princess Pat", who had left our formation because he lost an engine, reported he saw Jerries attacking another Group to which he attached himself.

The Group's aircraft suffered little from flak and experienced no fighter attacks. There were no casualties.

Six Bronze Stars, newest decoration (virtually a junior Legion of Merit), were awarded to as many crew chiefs who had compiled records of 30 or more consecutive operations without abortives. The awards were made in General Order 347, dated May 9. The men honored were Master Sergeants John E. Fitzgerald, R.L.Helmert (recently transferred out), Robert E.Jurgensen, John F. Shanahan, Clarence T. Woelley and Harold L. Davis.

More and more preparations pointing toward the imminence of the Allied invasion of the German stronghold were being initiated by the base. The May Daily Bulletin for the Ninth authorized issue of two clips of ammunition for each carbine. The general opinion was that when the invasion began, the German retaliation would take the form of a counter-invasion, an attempt, possibly, by air-borne paratroops to cripple operational bases.

The Fortresses switched their attack from Berlin to France and 30 of our aircraft participated in the operation against the airfield at St. Dizier on May 9th.

The Group's contingent led the combat wing, with Col. Harry P. Leber, Jr., station commander, flying in the lead ship "Rotherhithe's Revenge", piloted by Capt. George K. Sanderman. Without enemy opposition of any kind, and fortified by a strong fighter escort , the bombers made a ten-minute run over the objective under perfect precision bombing conditions. Aided by the fact that they were to discern their objective from 30 miles away, the bombardiers did an excellent job. Returning crewmen told of the magnitude of the blows against the enemy airfields and rail centers and reported the entire Calais coast was "a mass of smoke". Col. Leber reported he saw _______ different enemy airfields well hit by the heavy bombers.

Physical fitness tests, for all Station personnel, were ordered on May 10. The men were required to run 300 yards, and to do as many chip-ups as they could. Scores varied.

Intensive training of the three new perimeter defense platoons, the mobile defense unit and the alert detachment and the military police was ordered. The training was aimed at preparing the men for possible invasion by enemy troops as a defense against the looming invasion of German-occupied Europe.

The mission to Rotenburg was scrubbed after the aircraft had taken off for the target. The planes brought their bombs back. They were over the North Sea when the recall went out.

General Order 353, dated May 11, awarded Air Medals to 2nd Lts. Maraus W. Todd, Jr., Charles R. Dayton, Victor R. Mc--sco, Donald I. Soles and Milan C. Snodgrass; F/Os James B. Chandler and Joseph W. Lawless; T/Sgt. Clarence A. Sprague; S/Sgt. Murl Simmons and Sgts Robert A Scharff, Richard W. Oberlin, and Max L. Rockey.

Another May 11 General Order, No. 356 awarded Air Medals to 2d Lts. Charles H. Eager, Edward B. Soltwedel and Forrest L. Campbell; S/Sgts. William L. Wheeler and Rodman W. Wallis and Sgts. Joseph S. Wilson, Fred D. Jenson, Walter A. Schillinger and Jerome D. Granlund. Nineteen Oak Leaf Clusters to the Air Medal were also awarded by the order.

The marshalling yard at Luxemburg was the target of the Flying Fortresses.

A mission with Munich as the target, was scrubbed early May 11, and another operation, with Sarreguominos, France, as its objective was substituted. The Group put 31 Fortresses in the air, with Lt. Col. David B. Kunkle, Jr., Group operations officer, as commander of the Combat Wing. He flew in the Fort "Dee Marie", piloted by 1st Lt. Howard N. Kesley. The primary target was hidden under a thick haze, and the formations made two passes at it, unhampered by the light flak, without being able to see it. Col. Kunkle's ship lost its right inboard engine as the result of a flak hit and 1st Lt. Ralph C. Freese, piloted by 1st Lt. Ronald B. Darrington, deputy leader, took over the command. Seeking targets of opportunity, 12 of our aircraft bombed Thienville, in France, and the other 19 poured their explosives on Battemburg, in Luxemburg.

Between 50 and 60 enemy fighters made a head-on pass at the low elements of the formation on the way to the target. They were engaged, however, and driven off by P-51 Mustangs, part of the huge umbrella of American fighters which furnished escort for the bombers.

It was the first time in some time that the bomber gunners had been in battle range of the Jerries, although few of them broke away from the Mustangs to attempt attack. S/Sgt. Harold L. Jernigan. ball turret gunner of "Dreambaby", received credit for the only German listed as destroyed. It brought his total credits to three.

General Order 357, dated May 12, awarded Air Medals to T/Sgt. John S. O'Neal, S/Sgts. Patsy J. Savinetti, Hamilton B. Harper, Donald P. Shaub, Kenneth H. Cornell, Grover E. Padgett and Kenneth Starks; and Sgts. Albert E. McGlinsey, Berand J. Mitchell, Jacob R. Rush, Donald O. Davis, and Edward G. Craybill, Jr. in addition to 1 Oak Leaf Cluster.

Under command of Major Charles L. Halsey, 535th C.O., 19 Fortresses participated in an attack against the synthetic oil plant at Lutzkendorf, Germany, and columns of smoke, rising 15,000 feet in the air off the target, testified to the accuracy of the bombing. Although there was heavy ground haze, it did not obscure the target. The bombers picked up crops of flak holes but there were no casualties. The crews reported seeing a few enemy fighters but said the fighter escort kept them well away from the formation. All of our aircraft returned.

Distinguished Flying Crosses were awarded to 1st Lt. Raymond B. Conway and T/Sgt. Andrew Morris by General Order 363, dated May 13. The two completed their tour of duty. General Order 67, of the same date, awarded the Purple Heart to F/O Joseph F. Grace, who was wounded in action May 6.

Briefed for Posen, Poland, 32 aircraft took off early May 13 in two Groups, the first, flying with the 1st Combat Wing, under the command of 1st Lt. Ralph E. Freese, flying in "Dee Marie", with 1st Lt. Ronald B. Darrington as pilot; the second, flying with the composite Group, under command of Capt. Douglas L. Winter, flying in " Sleepy Time Gal", piloted by 1st Lt. Dale McCrory.

Clouds and thick haze obscured the primary and secondary targets. The 1st Combat Wing bombed Stalsgrund and the composite group dropped its explosives on Stettin. The formations encountered little flak and suffered no fighter attacks, although the composite Group reported that "about 70" enemy aircraft attacked the formation behind ours. Our gunners got shots at several Jerries which overran the formation they were attacking and claimed two shot down.

For the Group it was the tenth consecutive mission without a loss.

There was a lull in combat activity for the next six days. Three projected missions, the Orly Airfield May 15 and 16, and Rotenburg May 17, were scrubbed.

On the 14th, the Group held its first review and decorations parade in England. The entire personnel of the station except for skeleton crews paraded to the main runway on a cold, windy day, stood at attention while Col. Leber presented medals to a number of award winners (including Lt. Col. George G. Shackley and Major Charles L. Halsey) and presented, also, to members of a number of ground crews, silver bracelets given them by the Group in recognition of meritorious achievement in performance of duty. A review followed the ceremony, with the award winners receiving the salute together with Col. Leber and his staff.

An unusual problem was presented on May 15 with the receipt of a General Order announcing the award of a Bronze Star to M/Sgt. Elmer R. Beaird, a crew chief. During the great inspection of April 18, Beaird had been decorated with the Legion of Merit (for which he had been recommended by the Group awards committee) in an impromptu ceremony which took place in front of Beaird's plane, "The Avengeress". Lt. Gen. John H.`Lee had set up the decoration ceremony in the belief that he had that morning seen the order awarding the Legion of Merit to the Crew Chief.

The awards committee immediately convened to decided to request rescinding of the Bronze Star and award the higher decoration.

May 16, Col. Leber commended the entire personnel of the Station upon the fact that the Group had completed ten consecutive missions without an abortive.

On May 17, four more crew chiefs, M/Sgts. Harry Gerberding, William G. Hooper, Joseph J. Kohler and Robert N. Stafford received Bronze Star awards.

Meanwhile, May 15, General Order 371 awarded Air Medals to 2nd Lt. Allen Osterburg, Rensselaer J. Murray and James O. Parkman; S/Sgt. Elvin E. Young and Sgt. Thomas E. Snyder. Nineteen Clusters to the Air Medal were awarded in the same order.

May 16, General Order 374 awarded Air Medals to 2nd Lts. Holly W. Boots, Lester A. Gillette, James H. Long, Raymond C. _ollman, Charles R. Neumeister, Purvis W. Runyan, Richard L. Kellum, and Lee A. Nelson; and M/Sgt Charles P. Stermer.

May 16, also, General Order 373 awarded the DFC to William G. Fullick for extraordinary achievement as lead bombardier on six extremely successful missions.

Thirty five Oak Leaf Clusters to the Air Medal were awarded by General Order 378, dated May 17.

Back to combat operations on the 19th, 39 aircraft participated in the mass attack on Berlin. Under command of Lt. Col. David S. Kunkel, Jr., the formation found broken clouds at the target and "flak all over the place". Grim highlights of the operation was the more than five minutes in which the formation received a constant battering from the anti-aircraft guns. But the formation never faltered and dropped its explosives with telling effect. Every ship returned to home base with battle scars. Two of our aircraft were missing. They were the first losses sustained by the Group during May.

Listed as missing in action as a result of the operation were:

1st Lt. Earl Sharp, pilot; 2nd Lt. Dorance Garner, co-pilot; 2nd Lt. Wayne T. Hardwick, navigator; 2nd Lt. Francis W. Britenbaker, bombardier; T/Sgt. William K. Suchy, radio operator; T/Sgt. Jarrett Schoepf, top turret; S/Sgt. Merrill L. Pennybacker, ball turret; S/Sgt. Gerald J. Rutiglianmo, waist; and S/Sgt. Follis D. Bratton, tail gunner, all of the 533d. The five enlisted men were subsequently listed as prisoners of war.

1st Lt. Harold C. Blog, pilot; 2nd Lt. Frederick L. Dill, co-pilot; F/O George W. Dennis, navigator; F/O Henry Miller, bombardier; T/Sgt. John W. Heidebrink, radio, T/Sgt. Jack L. Thompson, top turret; S/Sgt. Stanley Poloski, ball turret; S/Sgt. Samuel D. Humphrey, waist, and S/Sgt Cornelius C. Anderson, tail. Dill, Heidebrink, Thompson, Poloski and Anderson were subsequently listed as prisoners of war.

General Order 397, dated May 20, awarded DFCs to 2nd Lt. William L. Mineo, 1^st Lt. Edward L. Kerrigan, and T/Sgt Claude T. Caffey, all of whom completed their tour of duty.

Led by Lt. Col. George G. Shackley, 13 Fortresses took part in a mission against against Villacublay Airdrome, north of Paris, May 20. In the famous Fortress "Rotherhithe's Revenge", piloted by 1st Lt. George K. Sandman, Col. Shackley led his formation to the target and back almost without incident. It was CAVU at the objective, flak was meager, and there were no enemy fighters. The bombardiers hit the target hard.

A projected "doubleheader" mission with Ludwigshafen as its objective, was scrubbed later in the day.

Meanwhile, the preparations against a German counter-invasion or attacks against this airfield took another step forward. Night time guard was posted at Headquarters and a daily password system was inaugurated.

The Group received a commendation from Col. William M. Gross, Combat Wing Commander, upon performance in April. Mentioned specifically were the Group's bombing record, formation flying ability and low abortion rate.

Air Medals, awarded by General Order 401, dated May 21, went to 1st Lt. Thomas E. Barnicle, 2nd Lts. Samuel H. Whitehead, Warren R. Johnson, and Corbin J. Robertson; S/Sgts. Emmett W. Pope, Josiah T. Hank, and John T, Jenson and Sgts. Gentry T. ____ and Bill T. Hodge. The same order awarded 27 Oak Leaf Clusters to the Air Medal.

The officer's tea hour was transferred to the officer's mess from the Aeroclub where it had flourished since it had been established some months ago.

The fortresses bombed Kiel May 22 with little opposition. Led by Maj. Arthur F. Briggs, 26 of our aircraft took part in the operation. The formation found patchy clouds along the course. There was moderate flak at the target. Some of the crews reported 15 to 20 enemy fighters "trying to come through the clouds", but said the P-38's got to them and drove them off. Bombing results were believed good. There were no losses.

Headed for Weipay, near Metz, 26 of our aircraft took part in the operation of May 23. Col. Henry P. Leber, Jr., who led our contingent, was Combat Wing Commander for the mission.

The formation encountered an almost solid undercast all the way, except for a few scattered holes. The primary was completely covered. Finding a hole over a target at Hamburg, the Fortresses made two runs and dropped their explosives with good effect. The big bombers encountered only a little flak. The crews reported 12 to 15 Me109's in the distance but experienced no attacks.

DFCs awarded by General Order 405, May 23, went to Lt. Col. Conway S. Hall, Group Air Executive,for achievement as Wing Commander in a number of missions, and to 2^nd Lt. Nicholas M. Donnantuono, who was bombardier on the mission of April 30. Lt. Donnantuono became lead bombardier on that mission when the lead ship was forced to leave the formation, and he led the Fortresses to a good bombing job in spite of these difficulties.

The same day General Order 406, awarded the Silver Star, for gallantry, to 1^st Lt. Daniel C. Henry, who flew his ship back from Berlin after a flak burst had almost blown the Fortress in two.

Order No. 405 of May 23, Air Medals to 2nd Lts. Joseph A. Albers, Jr., Earl L. Reno, Elevin E. Andrews, Howard W. Yates and Marvin L. Brown; S/Sgt. Hugo E. Pancheri; and Sgts. William F. _ad_y and Merrill W. Meyer. The same order awarded 22 clusters.

May 24 saw the Fortresses returning to Berlin to write a large page in Group history. We lost six aircraft on the mission, of the 39 the Group dispatched.

Lt. Col. John R. Fitzgerald led the Group contingent. The formations encountered dense clouds and persistent con trails, as well as thick haze, until they reached Berlin, where the weather cleared enough to give the crews a good look at Friedrichstrasse, which was their objective. There was the usual intense flak over the Reich's capital, but the Fortresses ploughed through it. Although one of the squadrons bombed visually the formation employed instrument aids, and the results were reported as good.

About 60 to 75 Jerries slammed into the formation just after it turned off the target. The German's made only one pass, for the American fighter escort arrived on the scene a few seconds later, but several of our aircraft were hit. The Jerries came in wing-tip to wing-tip "shooting frantically" and the bomber gunners made their fire power felt. The Group turned in a large number of claims.

The six ship loss included the loss of two aircraft by collision.

Feature stories of the day were written by three aircraft.

One the famous "Stage Door Canteen", flown by 1st Lt. Arthur J. Bailey, sustained a loss of its hydraulic system, as well as other damage in the fighter attack. Knocked out of formation and returning home alone, it was further shot up by flak as it passed over Bremen.

The Fortress made a precarious landing using parachutes in place of the lost brakes and the entire crew climbed out unhurt.

The Fortress "Joanne", piloted by 1st Lt. John W. Williams flew through a "sheet of flames" caused by the collision and explosion of two aircraft directly in front of it. The fire almost burned off "Joanne.s" tail, and aileron and both rudders. Williams and his co-pilot 2nd Lt. Paul D. Lear, Jr., had to open their sliding cockpit windows to scrub enough soot from the windshield to permit them to see ahead, but they managed to bring the ship home with its crew unhurt. The tail gunner had bailed out over Germany, evidently unable to stand the heat of the flames.

1st Lt. Lawrence B. Wallerstein, flying his 29th mission and his first as a pilot, brought another Fortress, "Sweet Patootie", safe home under even more difficult handicaps. The fighter attack had knocked out the No. 2 engine and knocked the cowling from No. 1. The No. 4 was smoking. With one engine really pulling and with two others threatening to quit at any moment, Wallerstein made the trip home alone. The crew was unhurt

Listed as missing on the operation were:

2nd Lt. Carl H. Dasso, pilot; 2nd Lt. William L. Matson, co-pilot; 2nd Lt. Philip J. Barkett, navigator; 2nd Lt. Norman B. Isom, bombardier; S/Sgt. Anthony P. Madero, radio; S/Sgt Oscar S. Wright, top turret; Cpl. Paul A. Williams, ball turret; Sgts. Marshall E. Ross, waist, and Chester E. Herron, tail. Barkett, Williams, Ross and Herron were subsequently accounted for as prisoners of war.

2nd Lt. Walter K. Higgins, pilot; 2nd Lt. Herbert W. Burns, co-pilot; 2nd Lt. James A. Beck, navigator; 1st Lt. Robert W. Hughes, bombardier; T/Sgt. Eddie Delgado, radio; T/Sgt John S. Baird, top turret; Sgt. Robert H. Thompson, ball turret; S/Sgt. Franklin R. Collister, waist; and Cpl. Robert F. Smith, tail. Hughes, was subsequently reported a prisoner of war.

1st Lt. Clarence Wainwright, pilot; 2nd Lts. Howard W. Latton, co-pilot; Harry T. Dorn, navigator, and James R. Counts, bombardier; S/Sgt. Walter K. Haga, radio; S/Sgt Lowell D. Kennedy, top turret; Sgt. Charles Kruge, ball turret; Sgt. T. Stephens, waist; and Sgt. Floyd W. Malley, tail. All were unreported.

1st Lt. Clarence W. Ezzell, pilot; 2nd Lt. John L. Meyer, co-pilot; F/O Edward R. Adams, navigator; and 2nd Lt. William O. Wilson, bombardier; T/Sgt Louis K. Baker, radio; T/Sgt. Weslie K. Peck, top turret; S/Sgt. Harm R. Beninga, ball turret; S/Sgt Lloyd L. Harvey, waist; S/Sgt. Carl Schaaf, Tail. All were unreported.

1st Lt. Carl A. Gardon, pilot; 2nd Lts. Archie W. Sornberger, co-pilot; Edward B. Soltwedel, navigator and William C, Mosley, bombardier; S/Sgt. Donald P. Schaub, radio; S/Sgt. Kenneth H. Cornell, top turret; S/Sgt. Allen E. Shaw, ball turret; S/Sgts. Jacob R. Rush, waist, and John S. O'Neal, tail. Schaub, Cornell, Rush and O'Neal have been reported prisoners of war.

1st Lt. John A. Wardencki, pilot; 2nd Lts. Charles M. Dayton, co-pilot; William W. Morrison, navigator, and Willard I. Blackfield, bombardier; and S/Sgt. Robert E. Miller, radio; T/Sgt. Warren H. Backelin, top turret; S/Sgt. Charles Anderson, ball turret; S/Sgt. George S. Elliott, waist and S/Sgt. Harold R. Telzerow, tail. All are unreported.

S/Sgt. Jack E. Ross, tail gunner of Lt. William's ship was unreported.

DFCS, awarded General Order 409, dated May 24, went to 1st Lt. Connors C. Myers and James R. Turner; and S/Sgts. Glenn E. Davis, Frank M. Hancock, Lloyd O. Laughon, and John L. Ryan, all of whom completed their tours of duty.

Col. Leber commended the 532nd Squadron for its record of 27 consecutive no-loss missions on May 24.

May 25, twenty-six of our aircraft led by Col. Harry P. Leber, Jr., who acted as combat wing commander, hit the airfield at Nancy/Essey, France, with no opposition. Col. Leber flew in the lead ship piloted by Capt. George K, Sandman. There was no flak and no enemy fighters were seen. Bombing results were excellent.

Another mission alerted for the afternoon of May 25 and aimed at Munich was scrubbed.

A three day check by the Theater Censor's office revealed the 381st Group lowest in 1st Division in number of mail security violations. The report pointed out that officer violations exceeded those of enlisted men.

Daily Bulletin of May 27 announced that applications for ballots for the election in the United States were now being received.

General Order 412, dated May 25, awarded Air Medals to 2nd Lts. Archie W. Sorberger, Bernard Goodman, Woodrow W. Tyler, Lorance E. Hamilton, Roy K. Flint, Jr., Robert J. Kluthe, Wayne A. Schobert, Davis Schwartz, and Emerson E. Lewis; T/Sgts. William G. Seymour, John C. DuPre; S/Sgts. Russell H. Adams, James E. Dixon, Ronald F. Founds, Robert Q. Pope, and James W. Thompson; Sgts. Coral C. Highsmith, Julian D. Hill, Thomas G. Bowser, Jr., Chester W. Erringer, Jr., Morton L. Ex, David Jensen, James L. Judd and Samuel T. White, Jr. 3 Oak Leaf Clusters also were awarded.

DFCs were awarded by General Order 415, dated May 26, to 1st Lt. Lawrence B. Wallerstein and T/Sgt. Frederick W. Perkins, Jr., who completed their tours of duty.

General Order 416, dated May 27, awarded Air Medals to 2nd Lts. John W.Winter, Jack E. Sutherlin, Ray D. Sullivan, and Guy F. Ferranti; S/Sgts. Charles J. McMullen, Edward Y. Odian; Sgts. Walter J. Doremus, Sela P. Pantazelos, Richard Schneider, George W. Miller, JOHN E. Eckoff, Joseph A. Warner, George Samuelian, Henry W. Harris, and Harold T. Shenkel. The order also awarded 28 Clusters.

DFCs were awarded to T/Sgt. Robert H. Pinnick and Warren F. Fields, who completed their missions, by General Order 420, dated May 27.

The Fortresses attacked Ludwigshafen May 27, with 1st Lt. Howard N. Kesley in command of our contingent of 13 aircraft. Visibility was good, and our formations suffered little damage from the intense flak at the target. American fighters engaged the defending Luftwaffe planes and kept them away from the bombers. Crewmen reported "plenty of dogfights". One squadron of Jerries made a single pass at the formation ahead of ours. The bombers made a good run and hit the target.

One of our aircraft failed to return. Listed as missing are:

2nd Lt. Andrew H. Stuart, pilot; 2nd Lts. Glen S. Call, Co-pilot, Don H. Blyth, navigator, and Charles K. Eisen, bombardier; and S/Sgt. Aurelius W. Jones, radio, S/Sgt. Frederick W. Harrison, top turret; Sgt. Herman H. Kaplan, ball turret; S/Sgt. Harold B. Mickey, waist; and Sgt. Peter Selig, tail. All are unreported.

Purple Hearts were awarded to 2nd Lt. Emory H. Baird, wounded May 24, and T/Sgt. Floyd C. Hanson and Sgt. Nicholas M. Rotz, wounded May 19, by General Order 72, dated May 28.

Dessau was the briefed target of the Fortresses on May 28 and 29 of our aircraft participated. The commander was Maj. Charles L. Halsey. Clouds covered the primary and the bombers let fly at two targets, Polits and Frankfort, instead.

The lead formation encountered meager flak, but the high group ploughed through an intense concentration of anti-aircraft fire to bomb Frankfort. There were enemy fighters around but the attacks were on other Groups.

"Tomahawk Warrior", flown by 2nd Lt. Robert G. Beackley, ran into trouble. Lt. Beackley piloted his new Fortress with its brand new crew safely home although he was forced to come back alone from Germany at tree-top altitude. His No. 2 and No. 3 engines "went out", evidently because of mechanical failure.

The Fortresses made the long trip to Posen, Poland May 29, to bomb marshalling yards and other objectives. In command of the Group's contingent of 19 aircraft was 1st Lt. Dale McCrory, who reported "clear and beautiful weather". Flak was meager and there were no enemy fighter attacks on our formation, although the crews saw a flight of "about 12" Jerries making an attack on the formation ahead of ours over Denmark on the way home. They began a glancing blow at our formation but compact formation flying discouraged them and they broke off without coming in. Three ships landed away from base because of fuel shortage, but there were no losses.

General Order No. 426, dated May 29, awarded DFCs to 1st Lt. William R. Cronin, 2nd Lt. Julian G. O'Neal, T/Sgt. Glen M. Dick and James G. Farina; and S/Sgts. John T. Yergo, Robert L. Fain, Joseph A. Guttadauro and James O. Keesling, all of whom had completed their missions and were ready to be sent home for 30-day furloughs prior to beginning their second tour of duty.

The Junker plant at Dassau took a terrific pounding from the Flying Fortresses on May 30.

Col. William M. Gross, Combat Wing Commander, led the Air Division on the mission flying in a 381st ship piloted by Capt. George K. Sandman. Intense flak and between 40 and 50 enemy fighters defended the target.

Despite difficulties, and despite the fact that the lead aircraft sustained three direct hits which filled the nose and cockpit with smoke, Col. Gross led his formation unerringly over the objective and strike photos show bombs landing right on the aiming point.

Col. Gross paid tribute to the work of the lead team. Capt. Sandman, Capt. William H. Johnson, bombardier, and Capt. John W. Bruning, navigator, were decorated with the DFC by teletype within 24 hours after completion of the mission.

Three of our aircraft failed to return. Missing in action were:

2nd Lts. John J. Monahan, Pilot, Kenneth C. Cea, co-pilot, and Leland M. Haas, navigator; T/Sgt. William M. Hoyle, toggeleer; S/Sgts. John Valinski, radio, and Loebert G. Catter, top turret, and Sgts. Jerome D. Granlund, ball turret, Morris N. Emmanuelson, waist, and John B. Bryan, tail.

1st Lt. Merril O. Burton, pilot; 2nd Lts. David L. Bredeson, co-pilot, and Alvin C. Berry, navigator; S/Sgt. Robert J. Hammond, bombardier; S/Sgt. James E. Marbry, radio; T/Sgt. John T. Eylens, top turret; S/Sgt. Ralph J. Powell, ball turret; Sgt Robert Hittel, waist, and Sgt. Victor C. Pillot, tail.

1st Lt. Leonard E. Zapinski, pilot; 2nd Lts. Othmer Widosh, co-pilot, David P. Fuller, navigator, and Howard Van Buskirk, bombardier; S/Sgt. George J. Pastre, radio; T/Sgt. William E. Webb, top turret; S/Sgt. James E. Wilson, ball turret; S/Sgt. Hamilton B. Harper, waist, and S/Sgt. Donald A. Harness. tail.

Missing also were 2nd Lt. Robert J. Kluthe, co-pilot, and S/Sgt. James E. Dixon, engineer and top turret gunner, of 1st Lt. Howard Yates' Fortress "Me and My Gal". The two bailed out seconds after a fighter attack had knocked the Fortress's No. 2 engine out and thrown the bomber out of formation. "Me and My Gal" engaged in a 20 minute hand-to-hand fight with 30 attacking Jerries, with Yates performing prodigies of evasive action believed impossible in a Fortress. The gunners knocked out three of the attackers in the battle. The bomber lost its no. 1 engine and Yates made the return trip with two right-side engines alone turning.

Capt. William H. Johnson, who won a DFC cluster with the Mission on May 30, was awarded his DFC by General Order 430, May 30, for completion of his missions. On the same order the DFC was also awarded to 1st Lt. Richard J. Schmidt, S/Sgt. Wilton K. Hill and T/Sgt. Albert Atz.

Flying through heavy clouds, Flying Fortresses bombed the Florrennes airdrome in Belgium on May 31. The briefed target was Mulhouse, France, and 25 aircraft of the 381st took part in the mission, with Lt. Col. John E. Fitzgerald Jr. commanding. He flew in the ship "Silver Gate", with Capt. Douglas L. Winter as his pilot.

Clouds building up ahead of them made the penetration impossible, so the Fortresses sought and found a target of opportunity for bombing. The formation encountered no enemy aircraft and very meager flak.

DFCs were awarded to T/Sgt. Louis S. Kalmer and S/Sgt. Ralph J. Powell, who completed their missions, General Order No. 431, dated May 31.

Air Medals were awarded to the following officers and enlisted men by General Order No. 432, dated May 31: 2nd Lt. Francis J. Treanor, Lester E. Fine, and Charles W. Young; S/Sgt. Charles W. Gilberts, Albert W. Fahey, Jr., and Wayne M. Coffey; Sgts. James M. Moorhead, Willard C. Berney and Orby K. Putnam.

On May 28 Col. Leber left for the rest home. Lt. Col. Conway S. Hall took over command of the station pending the commanding officer's return.

May was an excellent operational month for the Group. We completed 19 missions, raising our total to 122. Bombing results were unusually good and the Group continued its march into first place in this theater of operations for bombs within 2,000 feet of the aiming point.

In almost every department, the Group towered above the First Division averages. We received credit for 8 enemy fighters destroyed, three more than any other organization in the division. We expended 13,00 of ammunition for each aircraft destroyed; the Division average was 33,707 for each aircraft.

Through the course of the month we lost 12 bombers, their crews, totaling 108 men, and three others who bailed out of stricken ships. With one gunner killed, our casualties totaled 112 men for the month. Nine were wounded.

Throughout the month we lost 22 combat crews, including those transferred out and those who completed their missions, and received 14 new crews. For the month we maintained an average of 84 percent for percentage of aircraft operational, a figure which compares very well with the Division average of 76 per cent. Only .4 per cent of the aircraft dispatched on missions returned early without receiving credit for a mission. The Division average was 4.8 per cent. Only two of our aircraft returned early throughout the month, whereas the next best figure in the Division was 1.25.

Throughout the month we averaged 25 aircraft for each mission; - the Division average was 19, and an average of better than 24 of our aircraft attacked the target each mission, while the Division averaged only 14.

END MONTH OF MAY 1944