april 1945 - rafcamuseum.co.uk

April 1945

381st Bombardment Group Mission #283 – Hoya A/F, Germany 4th April 1945

381st BG diary entry: We finally got operation on April 4. Our target was Hoya, Germany,

and the objective was a landing strip. It was Mission No. 283 for the Group. Our 37 aircraft

were commanded by Lt. Col. Shackley. The attack on Hoya was made after 10/10 clouds

prevented the formation from hitting the airfield at Reinsehlen. Accurate and meagre-to-

moderate flak was encountered immediately after bombs-away, and some of the aircraft

took a pasting. The bombing, performed visually despite an 8/10 undercast, was well done,

the explosives falling on the runways in good pattern.

There were two casualties:

F/O R. A Thomas, 532nd co-pilot, was severely wounded at the target and died in the

airplane on the way home. T/Sgt. Jack C. Poole, a 533rd gunner, was slightly wounded.

The I&E (Information and Education) program, hitherto rather lightly considered, took on a

new lease on life. Meeting and preparations speeded up. The base was being searched for

men who had teaching experience.

Meanwhile, the betting concentrated on whether or not we would complete 300 missions.

532nd BS diary entry: The target bombed by our group today was the Hoya landing

ground, Germany. We bombed visually through a hole in 9/10th cloud cover. Strike photos

show bomb hits close to the M.P.I. No E/A were encountered while the only flak was meagre

to moderate but very accurate in the target area. The pilots taking part were: Lts Seeley

and Rusch in the lead, along with: Lts Davis, Castille, Godwin, Price, Firlit, Bigelow, Baber

and Kreamer.

F/O Ralph A. Thomas was killed on this mission, and as it turned out, the last man of the

381st Bomb Group who was KIA.

533rd BS diary entry: Ten 533rd ships took part in today's attack on a landing strip at

Hoya, Germany, T/Sgt Jack C. Poole was slightly wounded in action. The bombardiers

attacked visually through 8/10th clouds, dropping 150 pound GPs with very good results.

Flak was meagre, but accurate, tracking our bombers just after bombs away.

534th BS diary entry: Squadron was led today by Capt. R.F. Gaw on a mission to Hoya

Landing field located at Hoya, Germany. Target was bombed visually through openings in

8/10ths clouds. Meagre flak was encountered in the target area. No enemy fighter aircraft

were encountered by our formation. Pilots and respective crews participating on this raid

are as follows: Lt. Aron, Lt. Prescott, Lt. Wheeler, Lt. Adelmeyer, Lt. Williams, Lt. Hull, Lt.

Hawkins, Lt. White, Lt. Maschoff, Lt. Rice and Lt. Hall.

535th BS diary entry: Nine squadron crews participated today in the group's attack on a

landing strip at Hoya, Germany. Bombardiers attacked visually through 10/10th clouds,

dropping 150-pound GPs with very good results. Flak was meagre but accurate, tracking our

bombers just after bomb run. There were no squadron casualties.

Pilots who took part were: Lts Greenspan (with Lt Garrett as lead), Brashear, McLaughlin,

Bowler, Robuck, Robinson, Scarsdale, Smith and Nugent.

8th AF diary entry: 2 missions are flown. Mission 926: 1,431 bombers and 866 fighters are

dispatched to hit airfields, a shipyard and a U-boat shipyard in Germany; they claim 30-4-

30 Luftwaffe aircraft; 10 bombers and 4 fighters are lost.

1. 438 B-24s are sent to hit Parchim (33) and Perleberg (29) Airfields; 97 hit Wesendorf

Airfield, the secondary; attacks are visual; they claim 6-4-6 aircraft; 6 B-24s are lost, 1

damaged beyond repair and 76 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 59 MIA. Escorting are 324 P-

47s and P-51s; the P-47s claim 14-0-20 aircraft and the P-51s claim 9-0-3 aircraft; 1 P-47

and 3 P-51s are lost. 2. 443 B-17s are sent to hit Fassberg Airfield (149); secondary targets

hit are Hoya (37) and Dedelsdorf (13) Airfields; targets of opportunity are Unterluss (39)

and other (24); bombing is visual; 1 B-17 is lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 58

damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 6 WIA and 4 MIA. The escort is 220 of 232 P-51s; 1 is lost.

3. 505 of 526 B-17s hit the Deutsche shipyard at Kiel using H2X radar; 2 others hit

Eggebeck Airfield, a target of opportunity; 3 B-17s are lost and 50 damaged; 27 airmen are

MIA. 208 of 223 P-51s without loss.

4. 22 of 24 B-17s fly a DISNEY mission attacking the Finkenwarder U-boat yard at Hamburg

without loss.

5. 19 P-51s fly a scouting mission and claim 0-0-1 aircraft.

6. 25 P-51s escort 8 F-5s and 2 P-38s on photo and radar reconnaissance missions over

Germany, claiming 1-0-0 aircraft.

7. 16 P-51s escort 1 OA-10 and 2 B-17s on air-sea-rescue patrols.

242nd Medical Diary: 4 April – Thirty seven aircraft led by Lt Col Shackley, took off at

06.00 hrs, the target an airfield at Hoya, Germany. Bombing was partly visual, with at least

one squadron hitting the target. Flak was meager but accurate.

There were two casualties: F/O Ralph A. Thomas, 532nd co-pilot, who killed by a severe flak

wound to the skull, while T/Sgt Jack C. Poole, 533dr top turret gunner received penetrating,

multiple but moderate wounds to his forehead.

The attack on Hoya A/F is not mentioned in “U-Boat Lair at Kiel Hit Again by ‘Forts’,” on

page 5 of the linked post.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3275896/posts


Mission #284 – Grafenwohr, Germany 5th April

381st BG diary entry: We were up again Thursday, April 5, and our target was an

ordnance depot at Grafenwohr. Maj. Bordner, in command of our 37 aircraft contingent,

described the operation as a milk run. The target was 8/10 covered and the run was made

by instruments with the low squadron, led by Capt. Scarborough, taking over for the

bombing because the lead’s equipment had gone out an hour before the target area was

reached. Results were unobserved. There was no flak and the Luftwaffe was still absent.

There were no losses or casualties.

532nd BS diary entry: The target today was an important ordnance depot at Grafenwohr.

Bombing was by instruments and results were unobserved. No enemy aircraft appeared and

flak was nil. Again Lts Seeley and Rusch were in the lead ship, along with: Lts Baker,

Castille, Godwin, Firlit, Gehret, Smith, McDonald and Poland.

533rd BS diary entry: Neither flak nor fighters defended the target for the group's 284th

mission, an ordnance depot at Grafenwohr, Germany, today when 5 ½ thousand pounds of

bombs were dropped by the group's 37 aircraft on the target. Results were unobserved the

attack being made through 2/10th clouds.

Captain Scarborough of the 535th led the mission after Major Bordner's (534th) H2X

equipment failed. All the ships returned safely with no casualties.

534th BS diary entry: An ordnance plant located at Grefenwhor, Germany was attacked by

11 aircraft of this organization. Formation was led to garget and back by Capt. C. Houk.

Bombing was accomplished by H2X methods and results reported as unobserved. Reports

on flak and enemy fighters encountered were nil. Flying in the formation led by Cat. Houk

were Lts. White, Maschoff, Stultz, Williams, C. Williams, Oldsman, Samo, Fink, Hull and Lt.

Hawkins.

535th BS diary entry: Capt Scarborough, our squadron leader today, took over as group

leader when Major Bordner's (534th) H2S equipment failed on the way in to the target, an

ordnance depot at Grafenwohr.

Neither flak nor enemy aircraft defended the objective, which caught 5,500 pounds of

1,000-pound and 500-pound bombs from each of the 37 bombers which roared over the

town. Bombing results were not observed, the attack being made through 8/10th undercast.

There were no casualties. (No pilots given).

242nd Medical Diary: 5th April – Thirty seven aircraft led by Major Bordner bombed an

airfield at Hoya, for the second day in succession. There was little flak, and no enemy

fighters seen. All aircraft returned OK with no casualties.

8th AF diary entry: 2 missions are flown. Mission 928: 1,358 bombers and 662 fighters

attack marshalling yards, ordnance depots, armament works and airfields in Germany; they

claim 8-0-6 aircraft; 10 bombers and 1 P-51 are lost:

1. 436 B-17s are dispatched to hit munitions dumps at Ingolstadt (211) and Grafenwohr

(94), and the marshalling yard at Bayreuth (73); targets of opportunity are Weiden (30)

and Nurnberg (1); the attacks are made visually; 1 B-17 is lost, 2 damaged beyond repair

and 2 damaged; 11 airmen are KIA and 2 WIA. Escorting are 182 of 201 P-51s; they claim

0-0-1 aircraft in the air and 7-0-3 on the ground.

2. 397 B-24s are sent to hit the marshalling yard at Plauen (151) and the munitions dump

at Bayreuth (39); targets of opportunity are the munitions dump at Grafenwohr (1) and

munitions plant at Ingolstadt (1); bombing is with H2X radar; 5 B-24s are lost and 5

damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 44 MIA. 280 P-47s and P-51s escort; they claim 1-0-2

aircraft in the air; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).

3. 521 B-17s are sent to hit the Unterschlauersbach Airfield (59), an aircraft parts factory

(13) and munitions depot (54) at Furth, and the Nurnberg S marshalling yard (37); 271

bombers hit the Nurnberg Station marshalling yard, the secondary; bombing is visual; 4 B-

17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 112 damaged; 8 airmen are KIA, 7 WIA and 39

MIA. The escort is 91 of 104 P-51s.

4. 4 B-17s fly scouting missions.

5. 18 P-51s escort 5 F-5s on photo reconnaissance missions over Germany.

6. 35 P-51s fly a scouting mission.

Mission 929: 12 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the

night.

“Switching its offensive suddenly after concentrating for a week on German naval

installations, the Eighth Air Force flew through heavy clouds to bomb the following targets.”

“Large ordnance depots at Ingolstadt, thirty miles northeast of Munich, and Grafenwoehr,

forty miles northeast of Nuremberg . . .”

From “5,000 Planes Rip Shrinking Reich,” on pages 11-12 of the linked post.



Mission #285 – Kohlenbissen, Germany 7th April

381st BG diary entry: Mission No. 385 was accomplished April 7 and the target was the

jet-propelled fighter base at Kohlenbissen. Capt. Cronin, former Group Operations Officer,

who took over command of the 535thSquadron when Maj. Taylor was moved to assistant

group operations officers, led our formation of 37 aircraft. Flying weather was good all the

way, but the ground was obscured by a 9/10 undercast at the target. The lead bombardier

managed to pick up the objective despite the clouds and the ground haze, and the bombing

was preformed visually with good results – the part of the lead squadron, at any rate. Only

two flak guns fired at our formation throughout the trek, and, although enemy planes were

reported in the vicinity, none were seen. There were no casualties.

The mission marked the 100th operation of the Fortress “Passaic Warrior”, christened last

July by Congressman Gordon Cornfield.

The transfer of Capt. Cronin brought a shuffling all around. Col. Hall and Col. Shackley still

occupy the commander and deputy spots, respectively. Maj. Sandman is now Group

operations officer. Capt. MacNeill is 532nd commander (although not on paper); Capt

Watson heads the 533rd; and Capt. Cronin the 535th. Maj. Winter is still CO of the 534th.

532nd BS diary entry: Today we bombed an airfield at Kohlenbissen, a very active jet

aircraft field. Bombing was visual and results were reported as good. Two jet aircraft were

observed but no attacks made on this group. Flak was meagre and inaccurate. Taking part

were: Lts Marshall and Molloy in the lead ship of the low squadron, with: Lts Firlit, Gehret,

Price, Poland, McDonald, Smith, Hughes and Sikes.

533rd BS diary entry: Nine squadron bombers and crews took part in today's group attack

by 37 aircraft on the jet-plane base at Kohlenbissen, Germany, with good results. Enemy

fighters were reported in the vicinity of the target, but none attacked our formation. Combat

men reported that only two flak guns were firing at the 381st bombers as they passed over

Kohlenbissen, returning the base safely and no casualties.

534th BS diary entry: Target for today was the landing ground located at Kholenbissen.

From this field German jet aircraft had been very active against us. Bombing was visual

with reports coming back as good. A number of jet aircraft were sighted but none made

attacks on our unit. Flak encountered was inaccurate. Participating were Lts. White,

Bradley, Adelmeyer, Fink, Hull, Zorski, O’Connel, Samo, Anderson, and Lt. Schrank.

535th BS diary entry: New squadron commander Capt Cronin led the group today, with

this outfit putting up nine of the total of 37 aircraft which attacked the jet-plane base at

Kohlenbissen, with good results for this squadron, not so good for the High and Low units.

This was the first time Capt Cronin has flown combat without his old 534th crew, with which

he completed 47 missions, today being his 48th, (18 on his second tour). Squadron

bombardier, Capt Palenik, managed to identify the airfield despite the broken clouds and

heavy ground haze obscuring it. Bandits were reported in the entire Hamburg area but no

enemy fighters were seen by any of our crews. Report has it only two flak runs fired at our

formation during the entire trip.

Today's pilots were: Capt Cronin (with Lt Smith), Lts Brashear, Hawley, Williamson, O'Neil,

Robinson, Williams, Bowler and Robuck, the latter finishing up today, along with his

engineer, T/Sgt Cleek.

242nd Medical Diary: 7th April – Captain Cronin led 37 aircraft to bomb an airfield at

Kohlenbissen, Germany. Results were excellent. No Flak, no enemy fighters, no casualties.

8th AF diary entry: Mission 931: 1,314 bombers and 898 fighters are dispatched to hit

airfields, oil and munitions depots and explosive plants in C and N Germany; all primary

targets are bombed visually; they meet 100+ conventional fighters and 50+ jets; the

German fighters attack fiercely and in the ensuing air battle down 15 heavy bombers; the

AAF claims 104-13-32 aircraft including a few jets:

1. 529 B-17s are sent to hit airfields at Kaltenkirchen (143) and Parchim (134), an oil depot

at Buchen (36) and a munitions depot at Gustrow (104); secondary targets hit are the

marshalling yards at Neumunster (37) and Schwerin (48); 1 other hit Salzwedel Airfield, a

target of opportunity; they claim 26-10-10 aircraft; 14 B-17s are lost and 117 damaged; 1

airman is KIA, 5 WIA and 117 MIA. Escorting are 317 of 338 P-51s; they claim 31-1-8

aircraft; 3 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair.

2. 340 B-24s are dispatched to hit explosive plants at Krummel (128) and Duneburg (168);

26 others hit the marshalling yard at Neumunster; they claim 14-2-6 aircraft; 3 B-24s are

lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 44 damaged; 6 airmen are KIA, 7 WIA and 25 MIA. The

escort is 252 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 30-0-7 aircraft; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and

1 damaged beyond repair.

3. 442 B-17s are sent to attack airfields at Wesendorf (107) and Kohlenbissen (93) and an

oil depot at Hitzacker (115); 92 hit Lundeburg, the secondary; targets of opportunity are

Fassberg Airfield (12) and the marshalling yard at Uelzen (13); they claim 0-0-1 aircraft; 27

B-17s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 3 WIA. 209 of 222 P-51s escort without loss.

4. 3 of 4 B-17s and 29 P-51s fly scouting missions.

5. 23 of 25 P-51s escort 12 F-5s on photo reconnaissance missions over Germany. The

374th and 376th Fighter Squadrons, 361st Fighter Group, move from Chievres, Belgium to

Little Walden, England with P-51s.

“Their airfield targets were bases for the enemy’s jet planes at Kohlenbissen, Wesendorf,

Parchim and Kaltenkirchen.”

From “Air Fleet Battles Nazis in Big Blow,” on page 11 of the link.



Mission #286 – Stendahl, Germany 8th April

381st BG diary entry: There was a mission Sunday and the target was the marshalling

yard at Stendahl. Maj. Krieger led our force of 37 aircraft. The bombing was accomplished

visually through an 8/10 undercast with only fair results. The formation was tracked for 90

seconds by meagre but accurate flak on the bombing run. The anti-aircraft fire cost us a

ship and its crew. Missing in action are:

2nd Lt. HE. Adelmeyer, pilot; 2nd Lt. J. N. Frampton, F/O N. E. Melvin, S/Sgt E. J. Dybicz,

T/Sgt J.H. Hayden, T/Sgt. R. L. Daily, Sgt. R. E. Cobb, and Sgt. E. P. Houser.

The aircraft was seen going down over the target with two engines afire. Three ‘chutes

were reported.

There was another casualty: Sgt. J. V. McCarthy, engineer on Larson’s crew, received

severe flak wound to the right thigh.

532nd BS diary entry: We took off today to bomb the underground storage depot at

Derben, because of cloud cover we bombed our #2 priority target, the railroad workshops at

Stendahl. Bombing was by H2X method and crews reported the target covered by fire and

smoke. No E/A were encountered and the only flak was moderate and out of range. Leading

the low squadron were: Lts Marshall and Seeley, with: Lts Poland, Hughes, Price, Gehret,

McDonald, Smith, Sikes and Firlit.

533rd BS diary entry: Again today the 533rd put nine bombers in the air for the group's

attack on the marshalling yards at Stendahl, Germany. Strike photos showed that our

bombs missed the objective which was bombed by instruments through 8/10th cloud cover.

Flak was meagre, but accurate and a 533rd gunner, Sgt John W. McCarthey was seriously

wounded, but all ship returned home.

534th BS diary entry: Briefed target for today was the underground oil storage depot at

Derben, Germany. Due to unfavorable weather over the primary – the #2 target was

attacked by H2X means. This #2 target was the R/W works located at Stendal, Germany.

Flak was meagre to moderate and fairly accurate in the target area. No fighters were

sighted. Participating on this mission were the following listed pilots and their respective

crews: Lts. Bradley, Zorksi, Samo, Maschoff, Adelmeyer, Anderson, Fithian, O’Connel,

Hawkins, Hull, Ashby and Lt. Oldsman. On this mission the squadron lost A/C 175-M with

Lt. Adelmeyer’s crew. This a/c was last sighted at 5123N-1002E at an altitude of 4,000 ft.

Aircraft was on fire and went into dive in an attempt to put fire out. The right wing badly

burned and aircraft was finally observed to start into spin and explode. 2 chutes were seen

to come out and open in the woods below. Listed are crew members:

H.E. Adelmeyer

J.N. Frampton

N.E. Melvin

Edward J. Dybiez

James H. Hayden

R.L. Daily

Robert E. Cobb

Edward P. Houser

535th BS diary entry: This squadron led the group again today, with Major Joe Krieger,

former squadron operations officer, now acting CO of the 532nd, at the spearhead, his pilot

being 1st Lt Ray Biene. Strike photos show we missed the objective, marshalling yards at

Stendahl, which were attacked through 8/10th clouds visually, with opposition from meagre

but accurate flak which cost the 534th a bomber and crew.

As was the case yesterday, flying weather was good to and from the target, but the

Stendahl area was covered. Tracking flak bracketed aircraft for 90 seconds.

Others flying for the squadron today were: Bush, Hawley, Williamson, Bowler, Nugent,

Wright, Smith and Rippe.

242nd Medical Diary: 8th April – Thirty seven aircraft led by Major Krieger took off and

bombed a locomotive works at Stendahl, near Hanover, Germany. Bombing was by

instruments, PFF, with fair results. Flak was meager but accurate.

Lt Adelmeyer’s aircraft caught fire and exploded near Kassel, while on withdrawal. His ship

was seen to crash into a large building which was set on fire. Three chutes were seen to

open but were fired on from a wood by automatic fire. Two crew members were later

reported safe and uninjured and they subsequently returned to base.

MIA 534th H/44-6173

Adelmeyer, Harvey E. 2nd Lt KIA Frampton, John N. 2nd Lt KIA

Melvin, Norman E. F/O KIA Dybicz, Edward J.* S/Sgt KIA

Daily, Richard L. T/Sgt KIA Hayden, James H. T/Sgt RTD

? Cobb, Robert E. Sgt KIA

None Houser, Edward P. Sgt RTD

8th AF diary entry: 3 missions are flown. Mission 932: 1,173 bombers and 794 fighters

attack various targets in Germany; 9 bombers and 1 fighter are lost:

1. 339 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Derben oil depot (31) and Schafstadt Airfield (73);

secondary targets hit are the Stendal marshalling yard workshops (73) and the marshalling

yard at Halberstadt (218); Derben is hit visually and the others targets visually and with

H2X radar; 4 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 55 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 5

WIA and 35 MIA. Escorting are 239 of 252 P-51s.

2. 522 B-17s are dispatched to hit the marshalling yards at Plauen (86), Hof (101) and Eger

(111) and an ordnance depot at Grafenwohr (203); the attacks are made visually and with

H2X radar; 5 B-17s are lost and 58 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 1 WIA and 43 MIA. 235 of

246 P-51s escort.

3. 302 B-24s are sent to hit the munitions depot at Bayreuth (51), the Blumenthal jet

aircraft factory at Furth (89) and the Unterschlauersbach (57) and Roth (91) Airfields

visually; 39 B-24s are damaged. The escort is 245 P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-47 is lost (pilot

MIA).

4. 10 B-17s fly a screening mission.

5. 28 P-51s fly a scouting mission; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair.


Mission 933: 11 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during the

night.

Mission 934: 12 B-24s bomb the Travemunde port area using PFF methods during the night.

The 13th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 7th Photographic Group

(Reconnaissance), moves from Mount Farm to Chalgrove, England with F-5s.

“Points bombed by the Eighth yesterday included rail yards at Stendal, twenty miles west of

Berlin . . .”

From “Air Battles Cost Nazis 86 Planes,” on page 7 of the link.



Mission #287 – Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 9th April

381st BG diary entry: Oberpfaffenhofen’s airfield was the target Monday, April 9, and our

contingent of 37 aircraft was commanded by 1st Lt. Seeley. We had a good day. Flying

weather was perfect and it was CAVU at the target. The bombardiers picked up the

objective from miles away and our bombs smashed the east-west runway. There was

meagre and inaccurate flak at Munich and there was no other opposition. There were no

losses and no casualties.

Back at the station, baseball practice was called for the Station team.

532nd BS diary entry: Oberpfaffenhofen airfield was our target for today, which was

bombed visually and wet prints show excellent results, exact pinpointing of our hits were

impossible because of smoke and fire from preceding groups. No E/A were around and the

only flak was moderate in and out of the area at Munich. Lts Seeley and Armstrong led the

"B" group of the 1st CBW, along with: Lts Hughes, Poland, Price, Gehret, McDonald, Fincher,

Sikes and Huff.

533rd BS diary entry: For the group's 287th mission, an attack on an airfield at

Oberpfaffenhofen, saw the 533rd put up ten ships and crews. Flying weather was perfect

virtually all the way over and bombardiers made a visual run on the target. The main

impact of the 381st group's bombs was directly on the east-west runway of the field. Flak,

meagre and accurate, was met at Munich.

Although briefing was held this morning at 06.00, take off was delayed until noon. Fog

hung over the field until lunchtime, when the day brightened and the temperature rose

sharply.

534th BS diary entry: The landing ground at Oberphaffenhofen, Germany was to be our

target for this date. The primary was bombed visually and crews reported excellent

results. No enemy fighter aircraft were encountered and the only fire was encountered at

Munchen which was just out of range. Participating were Lts. Meschoff, Hull, Stlutz, Samo,

Anderson, Elliott, Davis and Lt Hawkins.

535th BS diary entry: This mission was perfect and the squadron had ten crews in it.

Flying weather all the way over, plus conditions over the airfield target of Oberpfaffenhofen,

bombardiers slammed the base's east-west runway, fully justifying lead's '1-1' strike

message.

Flak from Munich was meagre and very inaccurate for our group. There were no enemy

aircraft. Crews unanimously agreed the Oberpfaffenhofen airfield is out of action for keeps.

Squadron pilots were: McLaughlin, O'Neil, Bowler, Williamson, Wright, Smith, Rippe,

Nugent, Williams and Robinson.

This mission almost did not get off. Planes did not take off until just after noon, although

briefing was held at 06.00 hrs. Fog blanketed the field in a tight grip all morning, but it's

contrast to the miserable chill damp with which the day began, the sky brightened and the

thermometer showed a good high reading all through the afternoon.

The station held its first basketball practice on the diamond, across from our Site, tonight.

Candidates for the team include our men: Gilvary, Condit, Wolfe, Keating and Begdzecki.

242nd Medical Diary: 9th April – Thirty seven aircraft, led by Lt Seeley, took off at 10.30

hrs and bombed an airfield at Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. Bombing was visual with good

results. Lt Hughes, 532nd, aborted after assembly and crash landed in southern England

with two engines out. Lt Earl C. Smith, the navigator, was injured in the landing, with hip

and pelvic dislocations, and hospitalized at Wilesbore County Hospital (British). There were

no other casualties.


dispatched to visually attack underground oil storage, an ammunition plant and 10 jet

airfields; they claim 85-1-60 Luftwaffe aircraft; 7 bombers and 5 fighters are lost:

1. 333 B-17s are sent to hit a munitons plant at Wolfratshausen (76) and Oberpfaffenhofen

(107) and Furstenfeldbruck (139) Airfields; 2 B-17s are damaged beyond repair and 12

damaged; 1 airman is WIA. Escorting are 137 of 146 P-51s; they claim 4-0-10 aircraft on

the ground.

2. 289 B-17s are sent to attack an oil depot (89) and airfield (66) at Neuburg and

Schleissheim Airfield (128); 3 B-17s are lost and 42 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 5 WIA and

56 MIA. The escort is 193 of 203 P-51s; they claim 1-0-3 aircraft in the air and 70-0-37 on

the ground; 3 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).

3. 228 B-17s are dispatched to hit Riem Airfield at Munich (212); 10 others hit the

secondary, the marshalling yard at Ingolstadt; 3 B-17sa re lost. 149 of 151 P-51s escort;

they claim 6-0-4 aircraft on the ground; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).

4. 402 B-24s are sent to hit airfields at Lechfeld (109), Memmingen (96), Leipheim (88) and

Landsberg (62) and Landsberg E landing ground (33); 1 B-24 is lost, 1 damaged beyond

repair and 7 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 1 WIA and 9 MIA. 193 of 205 P-51s escort

claiming 4-0-5 aircraft on the ground.

5. 58 P-47s fly a freelance mission in support of the bombers.


7. 24 of 25 P-51s fly scouting missions; 1 is lost (pilot MIA).

Mission 936: 10 of 11 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands and France during the night.

Mission 937: 14 B-24s bomb Stade Airfield during the night using PFF methods; 5

Mosquito's escort the bombers.

“The fields were at Fuerstenfeld-Bruck, Oberpfaffenhofen, Lechfeld, Leipheim, Memmingen,

Neuberg, Riem and Schliessheim and two at Landsberg.”

From “U.S. Air Blows Rip 10 Nazi ‘Jet’ Fields,” on pages 4-5 of the link.



Mission #288 – Oranienburg, Germany 10th April

381st BG diary entry: Oranieburg, the ordnance depot, just north of Berlin, was our target

on Tuesday, April 10, and our 37 aircraft formation was led by Capt. MacNeill. Maj. Harry T

Hance (sp?), Division assistant adjutant general, flew with the formation. It was his first

and only mission.

The Luftwaffe was up for once. Our crews reported 40 to 50 Jerries in the target area,

some of them “jetties”. Nevertheless, we were not attacked. Escorting Mustangs, engaged

in dogfights with the enemy aircraft, kept them away from the Fortresses, although a couple

of straggling bombs from other formations were reported under attack a couple of times.

The closest we came to an attack was just off the bomb run when an Me262 came barrelling

through the formation. He didn’t fire but our gunners blazed away at him and reported later

he was too fast to hit.

The bombing, accomplished under CAV conditions, was excellent. All three squadrons

dropped their eggs on the target. There were no losses or casualties.

532nd BS diary entry: An ordnance depot at Oranienburg just north of Berlin was our

target for today. It was attacked visually by squadrons with good to excellent results. The

only flak encountered was en route to the Wittenburg area and it was meagre and low,

there was none at the target. E/A opposition was nil. The "A" Group of the 1st CBW was led

by Capt McNeill, with: Lts Hendricks, Castille, Fincher, Sikes, Huff, Poland, Firlit and Davis.

533rd BS diary entry: During today's attack on Oranienburg, the Luftwaffe made a token

appearance but the 37 bombers of the 381st sustained no attacks. Between 30 and 40

ME109s and FW 190's appeared in the Berlin area, plus six or eight ME262's jet-propelled

fighters. Nine 533rd ships participated, all the complete formation came home safely.

Only one fighter came through our formation, a jet plane which tore through the bomber

stream from front to rear during the bomb run. All others were engaged by our Mustang

escort in dog-fights a great distance from the bombers.

534th BS diary entry: Target for today was the Ordnance works at Oranienburg,

Germany. This target was attacked visually by the squadron’s aircraft with results being

reported as good to excellent. No enemy aircraft were reported. Falk was meagre and low

for our formation. Taking part were pilots – Ashby, Aron, Bradley, Williams, Maschoff,

Fithian, White, Samo, Stow and Lt. Stultz.

535th BS diary entry: At last the Luftwaffe, although only a token show for this group,

which sustained no attack. With flying weather and air-ground visibility superior 35 group

aircraft, including 10 of ours, attacked an ordnance depot at Oranieburg with excellent

results. There was no flak.

In the Berlin area our crews saw between 30-40 ME109s and FW190s, six or eight ME262

jet-propelled aircraft. However the Jerry pilots were both outclassed and outnumbered by

our Mustang escort, which engaged enemy aircraft in dogfights a great distance from our

bombers, constantly turned off, harried and pursued any which tried to attack our

formation.

Although crewmen reported seeing one or two struggling Forts under attack (none from our

group) , they said the closest to an actual attack came in the form of one 'Jettie' which

whipped through the group from rear to front, without firing, during the bomb run.

Lead squadron had just turned off from bombs away, Low was turning, when the jet, an

ME262, made his dash. He was too fast both for our gunners, some of whom took

ineffectual pot-shots at him, and for the Mustangs chasing him. The latter were simply left

in his smoke, hanging in mid-air compared to the grease-streaked act he put on.

Squadron pilots were: Lts Hawley, McLaughlin, Bowler, Robinson, Smith, Perry, Williams,

Rippe, Wright and Williamson.

242nd Medical Diary: 10th April – Captain MacNeill led a formation of 37 aircraft which

bombed an ordnance depot at Oranienburg, 12 miles north of Berlin. Results were excellent

with no flak and no casualties. Three enemy jet fighters were seen but did not attack our

formation. All aircraft returned safely to this base.


dispatched to attack airfields known or suspected to be used by jet aircraft; about 60 jets

and a few conventional fighters attack the formations; 19 bombers and 8 fighters are lost;

the AAF claims 328-4-249 Luftwaffe aircraft:

1. 442 B-17s are sent to hit the Army HQ munitions depot (278) and airfield (139) at

Oranienburg; 11 hit Rechlin Airfield, the secondary; they claim 7-1-8 aircraft; 9 B-17s are

lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 50 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 84 MIA. Escorting are

273 of 289 P-51s; they claim 11.5-0-8 aircraft in the air and 56-0-32 on the ground; 4 P-

51s are lost (pilots MIA).

2. 132 of 144 B-17s hit Neuruppin Airfield; 9 others hit the marshalling yard at Stendal, the

secondary; 1 B-17 is lost and 44 damaged. The escort is 112 of 117 P-51s claiming 128-0-

94 aircraft on the ground; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).

3. 372 B-17s are sent to hit the Briest Airfield at Brandenburg (138), and Zerbst (75) and

Burg-Bei-Magdeburg (147) Airfields; they claim 10-3-4 aircraft; 8 B-17s are lost, 2

damaged beyond repair and 160 damaged; total losses for forces 2. and 3. are 1 KIA, 7

WIA and 80 MIA. 172 of 175 P-51s escort; they claim 6-0-2 aircraft in the air and 84-0-43

on the ground; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).

4. 357 B-24s hit Rechlin Airfield (159), Larz Airfield at Rechlin (103) and Parchim Airfield

(32); 9 others hit the marshalling yard at Wittenberge, a target of opportunity; 1 B-24 is

lost; 4 airmen are WIA and 11 MIA. The escort is 207 of 220 P-51s; they claim 1-0-1

aircraft in the air and 20-0-21 on the ground.

5. 59 of 62 P-47s fly a freelance mission for the bombers; they claim 2-0-2 aircraft in the

air and 41-0-66 on the ground.

6. 15 P-51s escort 20 of 21 F-5s on photo reconnaissance missions over Germany.

7. 30 P-51s fly a scouting mission; 1 is lost (pilot MIA).

Mission 939: 12 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands, France and Germany during the

night.

Mission 940: 13 of 14 B-24s bomb the Dessau rail depot by PFF methods during the night.

“The German command put a record number of jet-propelled planes into the air. Returning

American pilots told of hour-long battles against formations of forty at Oranienburg, Larz,

near Mueritz Lake, northwest of Berlin . . .”

From “U.S. Fliers Smash 397 Nazi Aircraft,” on page 8 of the link.



Mission #289 – Frieham, Germany 11th April

381st BG diary entry: The oil storage depot at Freiham, southwest of Munich, was the

target Wednesday, April 11. It was Mission No. 389 for us and the commander of our

contingent of 37 aircraft was Capt. Johnson, promoted three days before. Bad weather

encountered over France cleared to beautiful weather over Germany. Our target, clearly

visible from miles away, was still smoking from previous bombings and our explosives fell in

the thick of the smoke. The Luftwaffe, which had taken a pounding the day before, was not

in evidence and the excellent Mustang escort had no interference to run. Flak at the target

was meagre to moderate and accurate. The lead squadron, cutting off the target correctly,

escaped the roughest part of the flak, but the low caught it. A near burst in the tail of the

“Dee Marie” severely sounded Sgt. R. E. Forsyth, tail gunner, and his escape from death

was regarded as miraculous. He suffered hand, arm and leg wound.

On the return journey, two 535th squadron aircraft collided over Wilhemshaven. The Fort

flying Lt. Greenspan and Capt. Garret knocked the entire right horizontal stabilizer from the

Fort piloted by Lt. Brashear. Brashear brought his ship out of a flat spin 10,000 feet below

the level at which the impact occurred, and nursed it safely home. There were no injuries.

532nd BS diary entry: Ten ships of our squadron attacked an underground oil storage

depot at Freiham, Germany, nine miles SW of Munich. With visibility unlimited the target

was bombed visually and preliminary interrogation indicated good to excellent results. No

E/A were encountered while flak was moderate and accurate in the target area. Taking part

were: Lts Huff, Hughes, Price, Baker, Davis, Fincher, Poland, Gehret, Castille and Hendricks.

2nd Lt Earl C. Smith was seriously wounded on this mission and crash-landed at Dover on

the south coast.

533rd BS diary entry: Bad weather over France cleared to perfect visibility at the target

today and bombardiers visually unloaded their bombs on an oil storage depot at Freiham,

seven miles south-west of Munich. Nine aircraft from the 533rd took part, and the

formation returned safely. Our P-51 Mustang escort was perfect and there was only

moderate flak at the target. Two 535th aircraft collided in mid-air on the return flight but

both managed to make it back.

Nineteen EM returned from furloughs today; 1st Lts Jerry Pasek and Kenneth P. Schmalz left

for the 70th RD casual pool; Sgt Ed Krouse left for a 15-day course in radar maintenance at

RAF Cranwell, Lincs.

534th BS diary entry: Under the command of Capt. R.F. Gaw and Lt. Rice our squadron

was dispatched to attack oil storage depot located at Freiham, Germany. With visibility

unlimited the target was bombed successfully. Return crews reported that they had

excellent results. AA fire was moderate and inaccurate and no enemy fighters

encountered. Rounding out the squadron’s formation were pilots – Fink, Williams, Bradley,

Soma, Maschoff, Hawkins, Fithian, Hendricks, Stultz, and Lt. Rice with Capt. Gaw leading

the formation.

535th BS diary entry: This was a good mission, with bad weather over France clearing to

perfect visibility over Germany. Our target, an oil storage depot at Freiham, seven miles SW

of Munich, was clearly visible and had been heavily hit by groups ahead. We put our bombs

in the smoke of their strikes.

Flak at the target was meagre to moderate, but accurate. Other squadrons sustained

casualties and some major battle damage. Our Mustang escort was perfect all the way in

and the Luftwaffe, which round-up reports day took a terrible beating yesterday, did not

show today.

On the way home, over Ludwigshafen, two of our aircraft collided. Capt Garrett, as leader,

flying his last mission, on aircraft #44-8826 (No name) had its left wing tip ripped up, the

aileron pulled nearly off and several square feet of metal crushed.

But the miraculous happened to Lt Brashear, pilot of "RAFAAF", which lost its right

horizontal stabilizer, sheared completely away in the collision. He and co-pilot Lt Horn,

pulled the ship out of a flat spin that cost them 5,000 ft of altitude, plastered the entire

crew against the ceiling until the pilot managed to pry himself loose and get to the control

column.

Garrett and crew thought Brashear and his gang were down and out, when they saw them

plunge out of formation. But both aircraft made it home to base, Brashear and Horn by

holding the control columns forward until engineer T/Sgt James Edwards could chop a hole

in the instrument panel, lash the post in place so that the controls would hold and fight off

the ship's tendency to nose up and stall out. Edwards fitted a makeshift turnbuckle into the

wire binding, allowing pilot and co-pilot to exercise limited control in low ascents and

descents.

Garrett and Greenspan brought their bomber back without mishap, after being rocked on

the right wing in the accident. When Brashear got over the base, though, he had to remove

the controlling wire and brace his knees against the column to hold the nose down for the

landing. He actually accomplished, under full speed to keep her level, one of the best

landings ever seen here. Landing gear and tail wheel touched down just once, and there

wasn't so much as a bounce as "RAFAAF" tore down the runway.

M/Sgt Harry Gerberding, crew chief, sent his wreck over to the hangar afterward, where

they began cleaning off the aluminum fringe that marked all that was left of the stabilizer,

preparatory to fitting a new one. In addition to the two pilots mentioned, others on the

mission were: Lts Robinson, Perry, Smith, Williams, Hawley, Rippe and Wright.

242nd Medical Diary: 11th April – Thirty seven aircraft led by Capt Johnson took off at

08.00 hrs using a new type formation. The target was an oil storage plant at Freiham, near

Munich, which was bombed with good results.

Flak was meager and inaccurate except for one burst which exploded in the tail of Lt Samo’s

ship, 534th, severely wounding the tail gunner, Sgt Raymond R. Forsythe: Diagnosis:- right

thigh, severely penetrating, right forearm, perforated, severe, right hand, 1st and 2nd

fingers, distal phalanx with 4th finger, middle phalanx.


dispatched to hit a variety of targets in Germany; 1 B-17 is lost:

1. 445 B-17s are sent to hit the Freiham oil depot (300) and Kraiburg munitions plant

(133); secondary targets hit are the munitions depot at Landshut (1) and the marshalling

yard at Treuchtlingen (1); 1 B-17 is lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 15 damaged; 1

airman is WIA and 10 MIA. Escorting are 273 of 294 P-51s.

2. 509 B-17s are sent to hit the munitions depot (28) and marshalling yard (82) at

Landshut; the airfield (131) and marshalling yard (79) at Ingolstadt; and the marshalling

yards at Treuchtlingen (70) and Donauworth (108); no losses or casualties. The escort is

281 of 294 P-51s.

3. 346 B-24s are dispatched to hit Obertraubling Airfield (79), a munitions depot (31) and

an oil depot (80) at Regensburg, and the marshalling yards at Neumarkt (71) and Amberg

(73); 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair and 5 damaged; 22 airmen are KIA. 211 P-47s

and P-51s escort.

4. 3 B-17s and 28 of 29 P-51s fly scouting missions.

5. 52 P-51s fly a freelance sweep over Regensburg.


Mission 942: 9 B-24s drop leaflets in Germany during the night and 11 B-24s fly

CARPETBAGGER missions in Denmark.

“The bombers were opposed only by anti-aircraft guns as they pasted these targets:

“The oil and ordnance depots and airfield at Regensburg, the airfield and rail yards at

Ingolstadt, the explosives plant at Kraiburg, east of Munich; the ordnance depot at

Landshut, northeast of Munich; a second oil storage depot at Freiham, just west of Munich,

and the rail yards at Treuchlingen, Neumarkt, Donauworth and Amburg.”

From “Luftwaffe Shuns Our Fighters’ Bid,” on page 7 of the link.



Mission #290 – Neumunster, Germany 13th April

381st BG diary entry: Friday the Thirteenth was a mission day for us and the target was

the marshalling yard at Neumunster. Weather was good and Capt. Eager, lead bombardier,

was able to identify his target from 20 miles away. Strike photos show a pattern of bombs

right on the MPI. There was flak at the target but it burst behind us (we were informed the

398th lost its lead plane.) For us there were no losses or casualties.

532nd BS diary entry: Our #2 priority target was attacked by this group today, the rail

centre at Neumunster. It was bombed visually with excellent results. No E/A attacks were

reported while flak was meagre and inaccurate around the target. The pilots who

participated were: Lts Bailey, Davis, Castille, Fincher, Huff, Hendricks, Price, Baker and

Sikes.

533rd BS diary entry: Perfect weather conditions made today's raid on the marshalling

yards at Neumunster an excellent job. Bombardiers had plenty of time to synchronize and

the group's bombs smacked right on the target. Ten 533rd ships and crews took part, and

the whole formation returned OK. Flak burst behind our ships but no damage was sustained.

The following combat men left for the 70th RD casual pool: T/Sgts Lester J. LaRiviere, Victor

C. Gatzmeier, S/Sgts William C. Sprouse, Herbert G. Lovenson and Richard H. Davis.

The midnight news broadcast announced the sudden death of President Roosevelt, from

cerebral haemorrhage, at Warm Springs, Georgia. The news shocked all the men of the

squadron and many at first thought it could not be true and would later be denied. The

feeling of great personal loss was universal.

A 30-day period of mourning will be observed for the late President. Station colors will fly at

half mast and all social activities will be suspended for a month. The 533rd squadron party,

scheduled for tonight, will not be held.

Six squadron men were released for transfer to the Infantry: Pfcs Preston Graybill, Allen J.

Mayeux, Herbert W. Kosier, Charles A. Teige, Pvts Ernest P. Reil and Henry A. Harris, who

was released from the guardhouse, the unexecuted part of his sentence remitted.

534th BS diary entry: Aircraft of the squadron today attacked the railway center of

Neumunster, Germany. Target was hit visually with results being reported as excellent. No

e/a attacks were reported and flak being reported by crews as meager and inaccurate.

Pilots completed this mission were: Lts. Lee, Hall, Klunge, Peterson, Lynch, O’Connell, Fink,

Williams, and Lt. Zorski. Captains Ackerman and Houk led the squadron to their target and

back to base.

535th BS diary entry: Group leader called today's the perfect mission, in which we made a

visual attack on the marshalling yards at Neumunster with clobber results. Flak burst behind

our group and there were no enemy aircraft on hand. Bombardiers had plenty of time and

VACU conditions, made the most of both, unloading twelve 500-pound demos apiece from

20,000ft.

Capt Garrett led the squadron with Lt Wulf as his pilot, the others being: Lts Brashear,

McLaughlin, Williamson, Wright, Smith, Williams, Perry and Cotea.

Midnight news today announced the sudden death yesterday of President Roosevelt, resting

at Warm Springs, Ga. Cause was cerebral haemorrhage; Harry S. Truman has been sworn

into office.

In observance of a period of mourning for the late President, station colors will stand at

half-mast for 30 days; all social functions and festivities on base are suspended through 19

April.

West Pointer Thomas S. Garrett, pilot, is promoted the captain and former 2nd Lts Valentino

J. Malleus, Raymond J. O'Brien, Leo B. Nugent and J. W. Scarsdale to 1st Lts.

The following tour of duty men left for home: 2nd Lt Arthur E. Rehm, T/Sgt Meyer W.

Johnson, S/Sgts Milton E. LeBar, Lawrence S. Abbott and Irving L. Dunham.

Third contingent of volunteers for the infantry are: Sgt Douglas S. Turner, Pfcs James

Dorofee, George L. Tebb, Archie Hill, Kenneth Willey; Cpl Harry A. Paris; all left today.

242nd Medical Diary: 13th April – Thirty seven aircraft led by Capt Ackerman bombed the

railway yards at Neumunster, Germany, visually with good results. There was no flak, no

enemy fighters, and no casualties as all ship returned home OK.

8th AF diary entry: 3 missions are flown. Mission 945: The AAF claims 284-0-220 Luftwaffe

aircraft.

1. 212 B-17s, escorted by 256 of 278 P-51s, attack the marshalling yard at Neumunster

visually; 2 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 3 damaged; 8 airmen are KIA, 3

WIA and 17 MIA. The escort claims 137-0-83 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air; 6 P-51s are lost

(pilots MIA).

2. 97 P-47s and P-51s fly a freelance mission in support of the bombers; they claim 147-0-

137 aircraft on the ground; 1 P-47 and 1 P-51 are lost; both pilots are MIA.

3. 8 P-51s fly a scouting mission.

4. 11 of 13 P-51s escort 10 F-5s on photo reconnaissance missions over Germany.

Mission 946: 10 of 12 B-24s bomb the Beizenburg rail junction during the night without

loss.

Mission 947: During the night, 10 of 11 B-24s drop leaflets in France and Germany and 1 of

4 B-24s completes a CARPETBAGGER mission to Denmark.

The 328th Fighter Squadron, 352d Fighter Group, moves from Chievres, Belgium to Bodney,

England with P-51s.

“The operation of the eighth’s heavy bombers against Neumuenster, a junction on the main

rail line from Kiel to Hamburg, was aimed at cutting the Germans’ overland supply route

from Denmark to the battle area.”

From “321 Added to Toll of German Planes,” on page 9 of the link.


Mission #291 – Bordeaux (Soulac-sur-Mer), France 15th April

381st BG diary entry: “Any Minute Now” the London papers announced Sunday, April 15,

as our formation of 37 aircraft, led by Maj. Sandman, took off for Soulac-sur-Mer, near

Bordeaux, in France, to attack one of the last remaining pockets of German resistance

there. The target was a group of gun emplacements and we led the Wing. Weather was


perfect and so was the bombing, performed from 15,000 feet. Pictures show only one bomb

landing outside the pattern. The job was carried out just head of a bombardment of

Bordeaux by the French fleet.

At the control tower, at 1630 hours, a memorial service was held for Pres. Roosevelt.

532nd BS diary entry: [Entry missing.]

533rd BS diary entry: The group now has 291 missions and the feeling is growing that we

may not reach 300 before the end of the war. The 291st was completed today when 37 of

our bombers led the First Combat Wing to a perfect attack on gun emplacements before

Bordeaux, one of the last pockets of German resistance along the French coast.

The exact target for the mission was Soulac-sur-Mer, and the bombardiers reported ideal

weather conditions and a total lack of enemy opposition. Strike photos show concentrated

bursts by 1,000 and 2,000 pound bombs directly on the aiming point and MPI. French

warships, standing just off the coast, started a terrific bombardment of Bordeaux just

after our ships turned off the bomb run. All nine of the 533rd returned safely.

Men of the squadron joined with others of the group in a brief memorial service for

President Roosevelt before the control tower at 16.30 hrs today.

534th BS diary entry: Led by Capt. Ackerman, 9 aircraft of the squadron were dispatched

to attack a strong point at Soulac-Sur-Mer, France. This point was held by the Germans at

the mouth of the Gironde River that flows to the city of Bordeaux. Our aircraft bombed

visually with results being excellent. Soon after bombing this objective, French troops

were to move in and take possession. Participating on this mission were Lts. Hall, Davis

Williams, Rice, Samo, O’Connel, Peterson, Fink, and Lt. Hawkins.

535th BS diary entry: With American and Russian armies only 100 miles apart in the

Dresden area and British and American troops in northern Germany, cutting across country

towards Berlin almost without opposition, London daily are carrying wide-open "Any minute

now" headlines. Everyone feels the end of organized German resistant is imminent.

Eighth Air Force today repeated yesterday's attack on the Bordeaux area (we did not

participate), central stronghold of one of the German pockets of resistance on the French

coast.

This group, leading First Combat Wing, sent 37 aircraft to a visual attack, in perfect

weather, entire unopposed, against gun-emplacements defending Bordeaux, at Soulac-sur-

Mer. All outfits accomplished perfect 'pickle-barrel' jobs, coming home with some of the

most effective, graphic strike photos in our combat history.

The operation was carried out just ahead of a bombardment of this area by units of the

French fleet, lying offshore. There big guns opened up as our planes turned off the bomb

run. The squadron sent nine crews, each bomber carried two 2,000-pound and two 1,000-

pound bombs, which raised a terrific smoke.

Our pilots were: Lts Biene (with Capt Scarborough), Bush, Hawley, Cotea, Bowler, Rippe,

Scarsdale, Malleus and Williams.

At the control tower at 16.30 hrs today, several hundred officers and men of the station

gathered for a brief memorial service for the late President.

Bomb-sight maintenance specialist, Cpl Stephen Fejnor (?), has been assigned on limited

service.

Capt Cronin is at Braintree hospital for a minor operation on nose cartilage, which has been

giving him some trouble under the oxygen mask in combat.

242nd Medical Diary: 15th April – Major Sandman led 37 ships from this command and

bombed enemy 77mm gun emplacements, near Bordeaux. Bombing results were excellent,

no enemy fighters or flak were seen and all aircraft returned safely home.

8th AF diary entry: 3 missions are flown. Mission 951: 1,348 unescorted bombers are

dispatched to visually attack strongpoints on the French Atlantic coast; the first two forces

below make the sole operational employment of napalm bomb by the Eighth AF against

German ground installations (pillboxes, gunpits, tank trenches, and heavy gun

emplacements); the results are negligible and HQ recommends its discontinuance against

this type of target:

1. 492 of 529 B-17s hit four strongpoints and flak batteries in the Royan area; 5 B-17s are

damaged.

2. 341 of 359 B-24s hit six strongpoints and flak batteries in the Royan area; 1 B-24 is

damaged beyond repair and 3 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA.

3. 442 of 457 B-17s hit 9 strongpoints and flak batteries in the Bordeaux/Royan, Pointe

Grave and Pointe Courbre area without loss.

4. 3 B-17s and 20 P-51s fly scouting missions.

5. 107 of 109 P-51s support Ninth AF B-26s; 1 is lost (pilot MIA).

6. 6 of 7 P-51s escort 6 F-5s on photo reconnaissance missions over Royan and Germany.

Mission 952: 1 Mosquito and 9 B-24s abort a mission to Lechfeld Airfield during the night.

Mission 953: 10 of 11 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany during

the night.

“More than 1,300 Flying Fortresses and Liberators of the United States Eighth Air Force

prepared the way for today’s successful assault by drenching the enemy’s positions on both

sides of the Gironde controlling the route to Bordeaux with about 460,000 gallons of liquid

fire that bathed in flame the German positions and strong points.”

From “French Smash Into Royen In Drive to Open Bordeaux,” on pages 6-7 of the link.



Mission #292 – Regensburg 16th April

381st BG diary entry: We went to Regensburg the next day, completing Mission No. 292,

with Capt. Tyson in command of our 37 aircraft. Our target was a railroad bridge and

although the weather was good, the bombs fell short. The formation turned off just short of

the tracking flak after the bomb run. There were no enemy aircraft in sight.

About noon today, a P-51 Mustang, believed to be carrying 1st Lt. Joe D. Nelson, former

533rd Squadron pilot, buzzed the tower and crashed into a field off the Little Yeldham road.

The pilot was killed and his body so badly burned as to preclude immediate identification.

A new set-up came into effect on the Station, April 16 with the activation of the 432nd Air

Service Group. Col. Reed was named commanding officer of the new organization which is

composed of the 858th Air Engineering Squadron and the 682nd Air Material Squadron, as

well as the 432nd Headquarters and Base Service Squadron.

The new organization took over all of the old ground units except the 881st Chemical

Company detachment. Lt. Col. Jolicoueur became executive officer and headquarters CO.

Major Olas D. Miller was named CO of the 682nd, and Capt. Mitchell M. Hall, Jr., was made

CO of the 858th. Maj. Greenlee became ground executive of the Bomb Group in place of

Col. Reed.

532nd BS diary entry: The target for today was the railroad bridge over the Danube, at

Regensburg. It was attacked visually but the prints indicate the bombs fell short of the

target hitting the west approaches to the bridge. No E/A were encountered, flak was meagre

to moderate and encountered at Nurnberg and the target area. Pilots taking part were: Lts

Bailey, Sikes, Hendricks, Instone, McDonald, Baker, Firlit, Huff and Fraser.

533rd BS diary entry: Today nine bombers of the 533rd took part in the group's attack on

the railway bridge at Regensburg, Germany. Although the weather was good and there were

no enemy fighter attacks, our bombs fell short. Moderate flak burst behind our formation,

which was protected by a strong escort of P-51s.

The Fortress flown by Lt Fink, 534th, was forced down near Mannheim with engine trouble

but all our squadron arrived home safely.

534th BS diary entry: Railway bridge over the River Danube at Regensburg, Germany was

our assigned target for today. This target was attacked visually but photos show that

bombs fell short of their mark. However, the approaches to the bridge were well hit. Flak

was meager and moderate. No enemy aircraft were encountered. Participating were Lts.

Zorski, Torvestad, O’Connel, Samo, Maschoff, Pink, Hull, Hawkins and Lt. Fithian.

535th BS diary entry: Capt Tyson, with Lt Biene as his pilot, led the group, including nine

of our ships, to an attack on a railroad bridge at Regensburg, but the bomb pattern fell

short. Flak was ahead of us, there were no enemy aircraft encountered and we had solid all-

the-way Mustang escort.

As well as Biene, our other pilots were: Lts Brashear, McLaughlin, Bowler, Robinson, Rippe,

Wright, Cotea and Williams.

On the return trip one bomber from another squadron landed for an engine change at

Mannheim, Germany. It’s getting to be quite a war!

Under a new administrative set-up we now have the 432nd Air Service Group activated on

the base. It is a consolidation of all squadron service units except the 18th Weather

Squadron detachment and the 881st Chemical Co. Detachment "A". The Units now are:

432nd HQ and Base Service Sq.; 858th Air Engineering Sq.; 682nd Air Material Sq.

None of this effects the basic operation of the base, but means moving for many men, much

paperwork and new jobs for such officers as Lt Col Reed, former group Ground Exec., who

now takes command of the service group, and corresponding move-ups in the Bomb Group

HQ set-up.

2nd Lt Frank J. Kappler, navigator, has been promoted to 1st Lt, at last. Now he can take

the oak leaf clusters off that trick-set of gold bars. In fact, he can take off those gold bars.

As he frequently has done!

242nd Medical Diary: 16th April – Thirty seven aircraft led by Capt Tyson took off with the

target a railway bridge near Regensburg, Germany. Bombing was visual. The bridge did not

receive a direct hit but one end of it may have been damaged. Flak was meager and

inaccurate and there was no battle damage and all aircraft except one 535th, which landed

in France with an engine out.

Since the loss of the Elbe river bridgehead yesterday, there was a hurry call for more men

for the infantry. Naturally the Medical Department suffered, losing three more ambulance

drivers to the ground forces. To compensate for the inadequate personnel, all medical

officers have secured a driver’s license.

The Group Surgeon is on a three day leave and higher command has delegated the

squadron surgeons as “good will” ambassadors to promote American-American relations

between the officers of Ridgewell and the Army Nurses of Braintree. Capt Cohler spent the

day in the air with four nurses and one officer from our neighboring installation (121st

Station Hospital). His efforts to be a good host were so appreciated that in the future I’m

afraid the job will be given definitely to a medical officer.

1st Lt Joe D. Nelson, 533rd, who completed and operational tour in B-17s about six weeks

ago, has been flying a Weather Recon. P-51 from Bassingbourn and has frequently seen

over the field and buzzed at low level, on several occasions knocking leaves from the trees.

Today he dived into a perfect slow roll over the 535th area. His engine cut out then cut out

again and he tried to zoom the ship upward but the engine cut out again and he crashed

and burned in a field about two miles from this base.

8th AF diary entry: 3 missions are flown. Mission 954: In the afternoon, 1,252 bombers

and 913 fighters are dispatched to attack rail targets in Germany; they claim 727-0-373

Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 B-24 and 31 fighters are lost.

1. 273 of 306 B-24s bomb the marshalling yard at Landshut; 1 B-24 is lost, 2 damaged

beyond repair and 8 damaged; 7 airmen are MIA. Escorting are 299 P-47s and P-51s; they

claim 228-0-109 aircraft on the ground; 1 P-47 and 16 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).

2. 454 B-17s are sent to hit the marshalling yard (148), East rail bridge (72) and West rail

bridge (74) at Regensburg, the Platting marshalling yard (77) and rail bridge at Straubing

(76); 2 B-17s are damaged. The escort is 240 of 262 P-51s; they claim 2-0-0 aircraft in the

air and 86-0-66 on the ground; 3 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).

3. 286 of 298 P-51s fly a freelance mission in support of the bombers attacking 40+ landing

grounds in Germany and Czechoslovakia; they claim 1-0-1 aircraft in the air and 410-0-198

on the ground; 9 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).

4. 19 of 22 P-51s fly a scouting mission.

5. 16 P-51s escort 10 F-5s on photo reconnaissance missions over Germany; 2 P-51s are

lost (pilots MIA).

Mission 955: During the morning, 485 of 489 B-17s bomb the tank ditch defense line at

Pointe de Grave on the S side of the Gironde estuary in the Bordeaux area in support of the

ground assault in that area; 14 B-17s are damaged.

Mission 956: During the night, 11 of 12 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and

Germany.

“A rail yard and a bridge at Regensburg and yards at Landshut and Plattling and a bridge at

Strausing, all twenty-four to thirty-four miles south and southeast of Regensburg, were the

main targets.”

From “Luftwaffe is ‘Out’,” on page 6 of the link.



Mission #293 – Dresden 17th April

381st BG diary entry: With Maj. Bordner in the lead ship, 37 of our aircraft attacked

engine sheds at the Dresden marshalling yards for Mission No. 293 Tuesday, April 17. We

led the entire Eighth Air Force for the mission. High clouds made flying difficult but visibility

downward was all right at the target and the bombing was done visually. Results were not

too good. The pattern looked a little short of the objective. Flak was meagre and tracking

but only the high squadron caught it and there were no casualties, nor was there much

damage. Enemy aircraft were reported in the target area, and they were said to have

attacked the groups immediately behind us, but we experienced no difficulties.

532nd BS diary entry: Today our ships went to Dresden to attack the locomotive repair

depot, which was bombed visually but wet prints show the results as poor. Air opposition

was nil and flak meagre and inaccurate. Lts Kreamer and Bailey led the high squadron,

with: Lts Huff, McDonald, Hendricks, Instone, Baker, Firlit, Van Steenkist, and Castille.

533rd BS diary entry: With the 381st leading the entire Eighth Air Force, nine bombers of

the 533rd participated in an attack on railways sheds at the lower end of the Dresden

marshalling yards. For the second successive time, bombing results were poor, the pattern

again bursting short of the objective.

Flak was meagre and caused little damage, while enemy fighters were reported in the

vicinity and most attacked the 91st BG and the 398th BG. Weather over Germany was very

cloudy, making heavy going for the pilots, but all came back to base OK.

534th BS diary entry: Led by Major Bordner and Capt. Gaw, 9 of our aircraft today took

part in the raid on Dresden, Germany. Major Bordner was flying in the lead aircraft of the

group formation. 534th was lead squadron, which was composed of the following pilots and

their respective crews: Lts. Hawkins, Maschoff, Torvestad, Fithian, Jones, Hull, Stultz,

Williams and Lt. O’Connell. We bombed the primary visually with results being reported as

poor. No E/A were encountered and AA fire was meager and inaccurate in the target area.

All aircraft and crews returned safe to this base.

535th BS diary entry: The group led the Eighth Air Force today, with a visual attack on

railroad engine sheds on the lower end of Dresden marshalling yards. Nine squadron crews

took part, piloted by Lt Greenspan (with leader Capt Scarborough), Lts Brashear, Bowler,

Williamson, Robinson, Wright, Perry, Cotea and Rippe.

Bombing results were called poor, for the second day in a row. The pattern again fell short

of the objective. Flak was meagre, tracking stuff, which caught only the High squadron,

which suffered slight damage, but no casualties. Bandits were reported in the area, actually

attacked the 91st and 398th BGs behind us. Our luck held again. Clouds over Germany

made difficult going for pilots, but afforded nice cover for enemy fighters. Each of our

bombardiers unloaded twelve 500-pounders from 21,000 ft.

242nd Medical Diary: 17th April – Thirty seven aircraft, with Major Bordner leading the

entire Eighth Air Force formation, took off at 10.15 hrs and bombed marshalling yards at

Dresden, Germany. Results were excellent. The high squadron received some flak, and

enemy jet planes hit some formations but did not attack this group. All aircraft returned

safely to this base.


dispatched to hit rail targets in E Germany and W Czechoslovakia; 50 Luftwaffe fighters are

encountered, mostly jets and the AAF claims a total of 300-0-119 aircraft destroyed on the

ground and in the air (including 4 jets); 8 bombers and 17 fighters are lost.

1. 450 B-17s are dispatched to hit the rail center (152) and marshalling yard (276) at

Dresden; they claim 1-0-1 aircraft; 6 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 130

damaged; 6 airmen are WIA and 50 MIA. Escorting are 230 of 257 P-51s; they claim 2-0-3

aircraft in the air and 91-0-37 on the ground; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).

2. 410 B-17s are sent to the Dresden area (76), rail junction and station at Aussig (86), and

oil depot and marshalling yard at Roundnice (115); 86 hit the secondary target, the

marshalling yard at Dresden; 2 B-17s are lost and 47 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 18

MIA. 265 of 276 P-51s escort claiming 11-0-2 aircraft in the air and 142-0-47 on the

ground; 14 P-51s are lost; 2 pilots are WIA and 14 MIA.

3. 194 B-24s are sent to hit the rail center and junction at Fischern (55), the rail junction

and industry at Kladno (36), rail junction and bridge at Falkenau (37) and railroad, rail

industry and marshalling yard at Beroun (61) without loss. The escort is 228 P-47s and P-

51s; they claim 53-0-29 aircraft on the ground; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).

4. 24 of 25 P-51s fly scouting missions.


Mission 958: During the night of 17/18 Apr, 10 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the

Netherlands and Germany and 19 of 20 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions.

“Fliers ‘Kill’ 440 More Nazi Planes; 8th Bombs Dresden-Prague Rails,” on page 8 of the link.



Mission #294 – Elsterwerda & Falkenberg, Germany 19th April

381st BG diary entry: The briefed target for Thursday, April 19 (our Mission No. 294) was

the marshalling yard at Elsterwerda, near Leipzig. Our 37 aircraft were commanded by

Capt. Seeley, who was promoted the day before. The weather was good, less than 2/10 on

the target. But a stiff cross wind of more than the 30 degree drift the bombardiers can kill,

hampered the bombing. The high and low squadrons bombed at Elsterwerda with poor

results. Seeley took the lead group over the target three times without success because the

bombardier just couldn’t get synchronized. The latter finally lined up on Falkenburg, the

last time over, and bombed the marshalling yard there. Seeley caused some consternation

back at base by erroneously sending in a 104 strike message. It should read 4-1.

532nd BS diary entry: Our target for today was the railroad bridge at Elsterwerda 16 miles

west of Ruhrland, and important link in the east-west German supply lines. Our squadron

which led the group, did not bomb the #1 target, but hit the rail centre at Falkenberg

visually with good results. No enemy opposition was encountered and flak was meagre and

inaccurate in the Ruhrland area. Lt Seeley led the group with Lt Bailey, the other pilots

being: Lts Baker, Castille, Van Steenkist, Instone, Firlit, Poland, McDonald and Sikes.

533rd BS diary entry: A strong cross-wind, causing drift greater than the 30-degrees

correctable by the bombsight, sabotaged today's mission, the group's 294th. Only the 533rd

and 535th were able to drop their bombs on the marshalling yards at Elsterwerda, as

briefed, with unobserved results. The lead squadron unloaded on Falkenburg with excellent

results, though it was a fourth choice objective. Our nine bombers attacked Elsterwerda and

all returned safely.

534th BS diary entry: 10 Aircraft of this squadron were dispatched to attack the railroad

bridge located at Elsterwerda, Germany. Some of our aircraft attacked the primary, while

others were forced, by unfavourable weather to bomb the marshalling yards at Falkenberg,

Germany. Results at both targets were described as good. Flak was meagre and

inaccurate. Taking part on this mission were Lts. Hawkins, Elliot, Cotea?, Stultz, Anderson,

O’Connel, Torvestad, Williams, Klunge and Majors Taylor and Wallick.

535th BS diary entry: This was one of those things best forgotten, if you're interested in

painting the squadron's escutcheon in bright colours. Not exactly the 535th's fault, but we

dropped our bombs on marshalling yards at Elsterwerda, as assigned, with unobserved

results, although the group leader did not.

The story was that, although weather was better than briefed and clouds only 2/10th over

the target, a strong cross wind caused drift greater than the maximum X 30 degrees

correctable by bombsight. So Lead did not drop on the primary. After Low and High

(including us) had let their bombs go, they stood off waiting for the lead to find a target.

The latter finally did so, the railroad junction at Falkenberg, with excellent results although

it was a fourth choice objective.

Flak was only observed, not felt, being meagre and bursting far below us at Elsterwerda. No

enemy aircraft were seen. Flying for the squadron were: Major Taylor; Lts McLaughlin,

Bush, Williamson, Robinson, Cotea, Smith, Rippe, Perry and Garvey. GH Navigators, Kelley

and Boomershine flew with the 533rd and 534th, respectively.

242nd Medical Diary: 19th April – Captain Seeley led the 37 aircraft from this base, taking

off at 06.30 hrs to bomb marshalling yards at Elsterwerda, Germany. Bombing was visual,

the primary target being attacked by the high and low squadrons, both missing the target

completely. All aircraft returned safely to base. No flak, no fighters, no casualties. Weather

excellent.

8th AF diary entry: 2 missions are flown. Mission 961: 605 B-17s and 584 P-51s are

dispatched to make visual attacks on rail targets in SE Germany and NW Czechoslovakia;

they claim 18-1-5 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 B-17s and 2 P-51s are lost:

1. 284 B-17s are sent to hit the marshalling yards at Elsterwerda (135) and Falkenberg

(143); 27 are damaged. Escorting are 191 of 204 P-51s; they claim 5-0-0 aircraft; 1 P-51 is

lost (pilot MIA).

2. 321 B-17s are dispatched to hit the railroad industry and rail bridge at Pirna (115) and

Karlsbad (87) and the marshalling yard at Aussig (109); they claim 6-1-2 aircraft; 5 B-17s

are lost and 13 damaged; 46 airmen are MIA. The escort is 197 of 206 P-51s; they claim 7-

0-3 aircraft.

3. 138 of 154 P-51s fly a freelance mission in support of the B-17s.

4. 14 P-51s fly weather reconnaissance missions.

5. 6 P-51s escort 7 F-5s on photo reconnaissance missions over Germany; 1 P-51 is lost

(pilot MIA).

During the night of 19/20 Apr, 11 of 16 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions to Norway; 2 B-

24s are lost.

“The Eighth Air Force hit at least five targets today in the narrowing corridor between the

American and Soviet armies-Falkenberg, forty miles northeast of Dresden; Elsterwarda,

thirty miles north of Dresden; . . .”

From “6-Ton Bombs Blast Helgoland Again,” on page 9 of the link.



Mission #295 – Brandenburg, Germany 20th April

381st BG diary entry: Mission No. 296 on Friday, April 20, had as its target the marshalling

yard at Brandenburg. Because of the fiasco of the day before, every ranking flying man on

the base, with the exception of Lt. Col. Shackley and Capt. Cronin, was ordered out on the

mission, which was led by Capt. Ewing S. Watson. Even Col. Hall flew, although he went in

the unarmed Little Rockette as an observer.

Flak was meagre but accurate, one burst touching off the flares in Capt. Watson’s aircraft.

The weather was good and so was the bombing. There were no losses and no casualties.

532nd BS diary entry: Today we went to Brandenburg, where we bombed very important

railroad facilities with a good concentration of bombs near the M.P.I. E/A were not

encountered while flak was meagre, sporadic although fairly accurate on the bomb run. The

high squadron in the "B" Group 1st CBW was led by Capt McNeill and Lt Armstrong, others

being: Lts Instone, Huff, Poland, Marshall, Van Steenkist, Bailey, Fincher, Price and Sikes.

533rd BS diary entry: Because yesterday's mission was so poorly handled, every ranking

officer, with the exception of Lt Col Shackley and Capt Cronin, were ordered on today's

mission by Lt Col Conway Hall, group CO, who led the group personally.

Weather was good and the bombers laid their explosives right on the target, the railway

junction at Brandenburg, sighting visually. We saw no enemy fighters and flak was meagre,

but accurate. The 533rd put up 11 aircraft and ten crews, and all returned safely.

534th BS diary entry: The important railway marshalling yards located at Brandenburg,

Germany were attacked by 10 aircraft of our organization this date. Under command of

Major Bordner and Capt. Ackerman – Lts. Samo, Elliott, Marelius, Stultz, Anderson,

O’Connell, Klunge, Hawkins, Hull, Anderson and Majors Taylor and Wallick took part. Our

target was bombed visually with results being reported as excellent. No e/a were

encountered and AA fire was meagre and reported as fairly accurate.

535th BS diary entry: As a result of yesterday's fiasco, every 'wheel' on the base,

excepting only Lt Col George Shackley and Capt Bill Cronin, were ordered on today's

mission by order of Lt Col Hall, who led the group himself.

The boys produced. Engine shops and the railroad junction in general at Brandenburg were

bombed visually with good results. Flak was meagre but accurate. There were no enemy

aircraft and no casualties.

Major Krieger, who is assigned to the 532nd but still feels more on home around our end of

the field, led the squadron, with Lt Biene as his pilot. Others were: Capt Scarborough (with

Lt Hermann as toggler), Capts Garrett and Smith, Lts Brashear, Williamson, Bowler, Cotea,

McLaughlin and Bush.

Capt Palenik flew as lead bombardier for the squadron. Probably one could say, totalling up

for the group as a whole, that there were more tracks over the target than in it today. Capt

Cronin would have gone, but he had just got out of the hospital.

242nd Medical Diary: 20th April – Forty aircraft led by Capt Watson took off at 06.25 hrs

and bombed marshalling yards at Brandenburg, Germany, visually with good results. Flak

was meager and inaccurate, although one burst caused a fire in the tail of the lead ship

which was brought under control and extinguished. No enemy fighters were seen, and there

were no casualties, when all ships returned home safely.

8th AF diary entry: Mission 962: 837 bombers and 890 fighters are dispatched to hit rail

targets NNW to SSW of Berlin, Bavaria and Czechoslovakia; they claim 7-0-4 Luftwaffe

aircraft; 1 B-17 is lost:

1. 319 B-17s are sent to hit the rail industry at Nauen (82) and marshalling yards at

Wustermark (77), Neuruppin (57) and Oranienburg (82); 1 hits Neuruppin Airfield, a target

of opportunity; 15 B-17s are damaged and 1 airman WIA. Escorting are 258 of 271 P-51s; 1

is lost.

2. 289 B-17s are dispatched to attack marshalling yards at Brandenburg (137), Seddin (66)

and Treuenbrietzen (82); 1 B-17 is lost and 10 damaged; 10 airmen are MIA. The escort is

227 of 241 P-51s.

3. 223 B-24s are sent to hit a rail bridge and junction at Zwiesel (56); marshalling yard and

rail junction at Muhldorf (53) and the railroad and rail junction at Irrenlohe (55) and Klatovy

(54); 1 hits the secondary target, the marshalling yard at Straubing; no losses, damage or

casualties. 228 P-47s and P-51s escort.

4. 100 of 108 P-51s fly a freelance fighter sweep for Forces 2 and 3 above; they claim 7-0-4

aircraft in the air.

5. 6 B-17s fly a screening mission.

6. 22 of 25 P-51s fly a scouting mission.


During the night of 20/21 Apr, 12 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions to Norway; 2 B-24s

are lost.

“The Fortresses blasted yards and other railway facilities at Brandenburg, Seddin,

Treuenbrietzen, Nauen, Wuestermark, Neuruppin and Oranienurg.”

From “Allied Air Power Pounds at Berlin,” on page 7 of the link.



Mission #296 – Munich, Germany 21st April

381st BG diary entry: With Lt. Col. Shackley in the lead ship, 37 of our aircraft participated

in the attack on the marshalling yards at Munich on Saturday, April 21. It was Mission No.

296. As a mission it was completely uneventful. All over Germany the weather was bad, a

10/10 undercast prevailing. There was no flak and there were, of course, no fighters. The

bombing was done by instruments and the results were unobserved.

With an eye on the 300th mission, Col. Hall called combat wing and asked that this Group be

given an “A ?ead” the fourth operation hence. He was assured every effort would be made

to do so.

532nd BS diary entry: Through 10/10th cloud today we bombed the marshalling yards at

Munich by H2X methods with results unobserved. One ME 262 was observed but no attack

was made, while flak was meagre and inaccurate in the target area. We flew in the low

squadron today, being led by Lts Marshall and McDonald, others being: Lts Huff, Van

Steenkist, Castille, Fincher, McMurty, Sikes, Hendricks and Davis.

533rd BS diary entry: For an attack on the marshalling yards at Munich today, the 533rd

put up nine bombers for the group formation which dropped explosives by instruments

through 10/10th clouds and results were unobserved. There was no opposition and all ships

returned with no casualties.

534th BS diary entry: Through 10/10ths cloud coverage, 10 of our aircraft bombed the

marshalling yards at Munich. Bombing was accomplished by H2X technique. Anti-Aircraft

fire was meager and inaccurate in the target area. Participating were Lts. Torvestad,

Holland, O’Connell, Hawkins, Klunge, Anderson, Williams, Hull and Lt. Maschoff.

535th BS diary entry: Our nine plane formation led the group today, with Lt Col Shackley

spearheading the do with Lt Biene as his pilot. Along with them were: Lts Brashear,

Robinson, Hawley, Williams, Smith, Perry, Blizzard and F/O Hearn.

The target was the marshalling yards at Munich, which were attacked PFF through solid

10/10th cloud without observation of any sort of opposition - an uneventful trip.

242nd Medical Diary: 21st April – Thirty seven aircraft led by Lt Col Shackley bombed

marshalling yards at Munich by instruments, but results were unobserved. No flak, no

fighters, no casualties and all ships came home OK.

8th AF diary entry: 2 missions are flown. Mission 963: 532 bombers and 444 fighters

attack jet fighter airfields and rail targets in SE Germany; 2 bombers and 2 fighters are lost:

1. 111 of 113 B-17s hit the marshalling yard at Munich, a target of last resort, with H2X

radar; 1 B-17 is damaged beyond repair and 5 damaged. Escorting are 90 P-51s; 1 is

damaged beyond repair.

2. 186 B-24s are sent to hit the Salzburg marshalling yard and rail bridge but abort the

mission due to 10/10 cloud cover; 1 B-24 is lost and 4 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 12

MIA. The escort is 99 of 109 P-51s.

3. 6 of 232 B-17s hit the secondary target, the Amlech Airfield at Landsberg; 212 hit a

target of last resort, the town of Ingolstadt; 1 B-17 is lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 1

damaged; 8 airmen are KIA and 7 MIA. 144 of 160 P-51s escort; 2 are lost (pilots MIA).

4. 1 B-17 and 23 P-51s fly scouting missions.

5. 48 of 57 P-47s fly a fighter sweep in the Salzburg area.

6. 4 of 5 P-51s escort 3 F-5s on photo reconnaissance missions over Germany.

Mission 964: During the night of 21/22 Apr, 10 of 11 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the

Netherlands and Germany.

“Fortresses Bomb Munich Rail Lines,” on pages 8-9 of the link.



22nd April: It's a cold, wet and windy day. The 381st is stood down. There's a plan to have the men marching today but it's chopped The London stage production 'Love in Idleness', starring Lynn Fontaine and Alfred Lunt, is presented at the old station theatre.

242nd Medical Diary: 23rd April – A B-17 piloted by Capt Ackerman, 534th, which was

transporting men on pass and leave to Belfast, N. Ireland, crashed into a mountain, called

North Barrule, on the Isle of Man. All 31 personnel on board were killed. Bodies were

brought back to this station by plane, Major Blount, Capt Lisnow and Sgt Lemasters, making

the trip along with Lt Col Hall and others. Burial was at the American Military Cemetery,

Cambridge, on Friday, with a large attendance from this station, members from every

organization being among the personnel killed.

The 432nd Air Service Group was formed at this station, other units, with the exception of

the Bomb Group and 881st Chemical Company being absorbed into the new group.

2nd Lt Stanley A. Johnson, MAC, left for Grafton Underwood, and 2nd Lt Leo D. Stewart

arrived to take over duties as MAC officer for the new service group.

Mission #297 – Pilsen, Czechoslovakia 25th April

381st BG diary entry: Wednesday, April 25th, the Group flew a mission to Bilsen, with Maj.

Bordner in the lead ship. Mission No. 297, it turned out to the Group’s final combat

operation. As a bombing expedition it was a washout, for all but two of aircraft brought

their explosives back to base. Although the flying weather was good, it was 10/10 over the

target and the leaders refused to take a chance for fear that the bombs might fall on

friends.

The trip was no picnic. Maj. Bornder was quoted as saying “I’ll brain the next guy who tells

me the war is over”. The flak was intense and accurate, and, although our aircraft escaped

the worst of it, returning crews reported they saw several B-17s from other Groups going

down over the target.

We had only one casualty, S/Sgt. B. C. Brock, Lt. Marshall’s waist gunner, was wounded,

moderately severely.

Back at the base the papers carried the news of the opening of the ‘Frisco conference. And

speculation was rife regarding the possibility that the Americans and English linked up with

the Russians in Germany.

Believers in the theory of symmetry drew quite a bit of support from the fact that Pilsen was

our last mission. For, the day after our operations began, June 22, 1943; there was

accident on the line which cost us 23 dead. The accident on the Isle of Man, which cost us

31, occurred just before our final mission.

532nd BS diary entry: What turned out to be the last operational mission of the 532nd

Bomb Squadron in the ETO was made today. This made a total of 297 missions for the

group. The target was an airfield just south of Pilsen, Czechoslovakia. Cloud cover

prevented visual bombing and all ships returned with their bombs except Lt Davis who

bombed on smoke markers of the previous group with unobserved results. No E/A were

encountered but flak was intense and very accurate in the target area. Lts Marshall and

Armstrong led the squadron, along with: Lts Castille, Van Steenkist, McMurty, Fincher,

Sikes, Huff, Hendricks and Davis.

533rd BS diary entry: On the group's 297th mission today, an attack on an industrial

objective at Pilsen, Czechoslovakia, only two of the formation of 37 bombers released their

bomb loads. Weather was very bad, and flak in the vicinity of the target was heavy. The

533rd put up seven ships and crews for the mission and all came home OK.

Three EM left today on furloughs. Russell C. Now, convicted on summary court martial, was

reduced to Pvt and ordered to forfeit $30 of his pay for one month. He is to be confined to

base for three months.

534th BS diary entry: Seven aircraft of the squadron today participated on a mission to

Pilson, Czechoslovakia. Could cover prevented visual observation of the target and all

aircraft returned their bombs to base. Participating were Lts. Anderson, Torvestad, Stultz,

Rice, Hawkins, Holland and Lt. Williams.

535th BS diary entry: Only two of our 37 aircraft bombed today, as the rest brought their

bombs home from a 'cumulo-bango' trip to Pilsen, where they sought an industrial

objective.

Weather was terrible and flak in the Pilsen area heavy and accurate, although this group

came through well. Bombing was not carried through, except unauthorizedly by two ships of

another squadron, because of Czechoslovakia's status as an occupied country.

Flying for the squadron were: Capt Garrett (with Lt Wulf), Lts Bush, Smith, Williams,

Garvey, Rippe and Larson.

242nd Medical Diary: 25 April – Major Border led 37 aircraft, taking off at 06.30 hrs to

bomb an airfield at Pilsen, Czechoslovakia. The target was obscured by clouds and could not

be sufficiently visualized to drop bombs. Flak was moderate and accurate.

There was one casualty, S/Sgt Burr C. Brock, 532nd waist gunner, received a slight flak

wound.

With the sun setting fast over Hitler’s Reich, it looks as if this may be the last operational

mission in this theater for this group.

8th AF diary entry: 2 missions are flown. Mission 968: 589 bombers and 486 fighters fly

the final heavy bomber mission against an industrial target, airfields and rail targets in SE

Germany and Czechoslovakia; they claim 1-1-0 Luftwaffe aircraft (including an Ar 234 jet);

6 bombers and 1 fighter are lost:

1. 307 B-17s are sent to hit the airfield (78) and Skokda armament works at Pilsen,

Czechoslovakia; 6 B-17s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 180 damaged; 8 airmen

are WIA and 42 MIA. Escorting are 188 of 206 P-51s.

2. 282 B-24s are sent to hit marshalling yards at Salzburg (109), Bad Reichenhall (56) and

Hallein (57) and electrical transformers at Traunstein (56); 20 B-24s are damaged; 1

airman is WIA. The escort is 203 of 216 P-51s; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft in the air.

3. 17 of 19 P-51s fly a sweep of the Prague-Linz area claiming 0-1-0 aircraft in the air; 1 P-

51 is lost.

4. 17 of 19 P-51s fly a screening mission.

5. 4 P-51s escort 2 OA-10s on an air-sea-rescue mission.

6. 22 P-51s escort 5 F-5s on photo reconnaissance missions over Germany and

Czechoslovakia.

7. 88 of 98 P-51s escort RAF bombers.

Mission 969: During the night of 25/26 Apr, 11 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the

Netherlands and Germany. 12 B-24s and 1 A-26 are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER

missions to Norway; 7 aircraft complete the mission.

“The Royal Air Force carried the war right to Adolf Hitler’s doorstep today, blasting his

Berchtesgaden chalet and near-by mountain-top retreat with six-ton bombs, while the

United states Eighth Air Force attacked the vast Skoda arms works at Pilsen in

Czechoslovakia and four rail targets near Berchtesgaden, capital of the Nazis Alpine

retreat.”

From “RAF 6-Ton bombs Score Hits On Hitler’s Mountain Chalet,” on page 8 of the link.



26th April: 42-97267 'Tomahawk Warrior', flown by Albert J. Cotea, comes in on a practice

mission about 1330 ablaze on her right wing. Lt Cotea taxis off the runway onto the perimeter track where the crew abandons her. She's carrying twenty 250lb bombs. 'Tomahawk Warrior' burns for 15 minutes before the entire load goes up blasting a hole 40' x 20' x 18" deep in perimeter track.

There are no casualties except for the B-17. Station utility begins repairs on the perimeter track and fixes it in four hours. 'Tomahawk Warrior' was a 97-mission bomber which had

survived a crash-landing on the Continent and returned after extensive repairs.

27th April: There is intermittent rain during the morning. The 381st is stood down again. It will be a sombre day for the Group as a whole. The 31 men who died on North Barrule, Isle of Man, are buried at the American Military Cemetery at Madingley, near Cambridge. The cemetery was established as a temporary cemetery in 1943, using land donated to the

United States by Cambridge University. Throngs wish to attend. A Squadron CO tells Chaplain Brown, who is leading the service: "This hit where it hurt most". Seventeen truckloads of men from Ridgewell attend. It's the largest funeral to be held at Madingley to date.

30th April: Congressman Gordon Canfield of Passaic, New Jersey, arrives to christen 44-

6163 'Passaic Warrior'

april 1945 - rafcamuseum.co.uk

Documents