Mission 139 - 1

303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 13922 April 1944

Target: Marshalling Yards, Hamm, GermanyCrews Dispatched: 30

Crews Lost: Lt. Seddon & Lt. Larson

Crew Members Lost or Wounded: 1 crewman injured

Length of Mission: 6 hours, 25 minutes

Bomb Load: 12 x 500 lb M-64 G.P. bombs

Bombing Altitudes: Group A 22,000 ft; Group B 23,500 ft

Ammo Fired: 550 rounds

The marshalling yards at Hamm, important German rail junction, received a terrificpounding today as bombers from this group joined other Eighth Air Force Fortressesin an effort that left the place in ruins. As the bombers left, large fires were seen

raging in the city and in the neighborhood adjacent to the marshalling yards, while theyards proper were covered with a pall of smoke and dust that already reached up to 10,000feet.

Anti-aircraft fire furnished the only opposition to the Fortresses today and, while itwas not particularly intense, two lucky bursts accounted for two of the bombers from thisbase. Parachutes were seen coming out as the ships went down. Ten aircraft sustainedflak battle damage, one major and nine minor.

There were no clouds at the target and visibility was unlimited. Enemy fighters werenowhere to be found today as P-47s, P-51s and P-38s buzzed around the formations ina close escort all the way to and from the target. Even on the airfields over which thebombers passed, no enemy aircraft were seen. The mission was led by Col. Kermit D.Stevens of Eugene and Portland, Oregon, Group Commander. All planes took off between1625-1635 hours. Only one returned early, #42-31177 Lonesome Polecat, 359BS-L(Meier), with No. 1 engine failure.

The 303BG-A lead Group dropped 216 500-lb. AN-M64 bombs from 22,000 feet.The 303BG-B high Group dropped 128 500-lb. AN-M64 bombs from 23,500 feet. BothGroups bombed the primary target. One high Group B-17 jettisoned its bombs. One aircraftin each Group was lost after being hit by flak.

2Lt. John R. Seddon and his 358BS crew in #42-39807 Nero, were flying a 359BSB-17 in a composition Squadron formation led by a 360BS crew. Nero was having troublewith the No. 3 engine just after "bombs away." The engine almost quit and then would startup again with power surging on and off intermittently. Lt. Seddon appeared to be unableto feather the prop, could not hold formation, and dropped back. When last seen, theFortress appeared to be under control and holding altitude. Sgt. Mummery reported thatthe B-17 was hit by ME-109s after leaving the formation. The German pilot, after furtherdisabling the aircraft, lowered and raised his landing gear as a signal for the Fortress toland. The crew elected to bail out. At this time the B-17 was in a flat spin that made exitsdifficult. S/Sgt. Edward R. Rogers, Sgt. Donald F. Maloney and Sgt. William T. Mummery

Mission 139 - 2

ROY A. LARSON CREW - 358th BS (crew assigned 358BS: 19 Feb 1944 - photo: Alexandria AAB, LA - Nov 1943)

(Back L-R) Sgt Everett E. Culp (R-POW), Sgt Thomas J. Campbell (E-KIA),Sgt Duane P. Thayer (RWG-POW), Sgt Lee Ray Brim (BT-POW),

Sgt Herman L. Hodge (TG-POW/KIA), Sgt Arthur W. Schinker (LWG-POW) (Front L-R) 2Lt Louis F. Mikulich (N), 2Lt Claude Wilson, Jr. (B),2Lt Roy A. Larson (P-KIA), 2Lt Ronald E. Duncan (CP-POW) (2Lt Herbert E. Levy (N-POW) and 2Lt Milton Feinman (B-KIA)

were substitute Crewman for Mikulich and Wilson)

landed near Wevelghen and were captured. They could see Nero crash and the enginebroke off and plunged through a farmhouse. The Germans told them that several civilianswere killed as a result of the crash. Lt. Seddon managed to evade capture and returnedto Molesworth on 6 October 1944. 2Lt. Walter A. Meldrich also evaded capture. 2Lt.Charles D. Burks, 2Lt. George M. Fitzpatrick, S/Sgt. John C. Hess, Sgt. John Nemchick,and Sgt. I.E. Holcomb, were all captured by the enemy and taken prisoner.

Thru Hel'en Hiwater, #42-39785, piloted by 2Lt. Roy A. Larson, was flying in the No.5 position. In the vicinity of Werl, Germany, it received a direct hit from anti-aircraft fire.The No. 1 engine caught on fire and it went into a spiral until it hit the ground. One gunnerreported seeing six parachutes, another gunner reported seeing nine. S/Sgt. Everett E.Culp later disclosed that a Thru Hel'en Hiwater engine and gas tank had been hit by flak"causing an inferno." He was thrown into the tail section near the tail wheel just before thetail separated from the fuselage. After disentangling himself from the severed controlcables wrapped around him, he was thrown from the separated tail section and made asuccessful parachute jump, landing on the edge of a gulch with rocks below. The tailgunner, Sgt. Herman L. Hodge, also landed on the edge of a gulch and was dragged overthe edge into the rocks by his partially inflated parachute. He was captured, but died thenext day from a fractured skull and other injuries. Lt. Larson, 2Lt. Milton Feinman andS/Sgt. Thomas J. Campbell were killed. 2Lt. Ronald E. Duncan, 2Lt. Herbert E. Levy, Jr.,S/Sgt. Everett E. Culp, Sgt. Lee R. Brim, Sgt. Arthur W. Schinker and Sgt. Duane P.Thayer were all captured and became POWs.

Mission 139 - 3

444th Sub Depot Engine Shop Crew(Back L-R) unknown, unknown, S/Sgt Jack Rake, unknown,

T/Sgt Sam Masington (Shop Chief) S/Sgt Doal L. Yocum, Jr., Sgt William E. "Ox" Hanna

(Front L-R) T/Sgt George J. Frickel (Shop Chief), unknown,

Sgt Raymond A. Espinoza, Sgt Miglerina S/Sgt Thomas Hogan

The returning aircraft landed in the dark between 2200 and 2311 hours. Col.Stevens, Group commander said, "It was pretty uneventful for us today. Nothing botheredus and we dropped our bombs in a cloud of smoke and dust in the marshalling yards. Thewhole place seemed to be on fire by the time we got there." 1Lt. Fred T. Clark, Leadbombardier from Chicago, Illinois, said the results should have been good. "The whole citywas in flames when we left. I had my aiming point in my bombsight before the Groupahead smothered it with their bombs, so I just let mine go in the middle of the smoke theyraised."

KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS

CREW POSITIONS

CMP - Command PilotP - PilotCP - Co-PilotNAV - NavigatorANV - Ass't. NavigatorMNV - Mickey NavigatorENG - EngineerBOM - BombardierRO - Radio Operator

TOG - TogglierBT - Ball Turret OperatorTT - Top Turret OperatorTG - Tail GunnerNG - Nose GunnerRG - Radio GunnerWG - Waist GunnerLWG - Left Waist GunnerRWG - Right Waist GunnerGUN - Gunner

VI - Voice InterpreterOBS - ObserverPAS - PassengerPHO - Photographer

RESULTS OF MISSIONKIA - Killed in actionWIA - Wounded in actionMIA - Missing in actionPOW - Prisoner of war

DOW - Died of woundsEVD - Evaded the enemyINT - Interned in neu cntryREP - RepatriatedRES - RescuedESC - EscapedBO - Bailed outDCH - DitchedCR-L - Crashed on landCR-S - Crashed at sea

Mission 139 - 4

Route Map

Mission 139 - 5

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group A

Brinkley-K. Stevens260

Earhart Williams 432 048

J. Stevens546

Cecchini O'Beirne 204 187

Wood Taylor 096 669G. Savage O'Hare McClure Stewart 875 020 739 028 Shope Hofmann 060 622Estes Jenkins Larson Maxey 051 423 785 224

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group B

Daub-Heller058

Newell Meier 405 177

Hanselman830

Assenheimer J. Savage 272 284

Wilson 841 Johnston Seddon 213 807 Lynch 254 Marsh Melton 050 027

One (1) aircraft aborted this mission: Lt. Meier in 177

Mission 139 - 6

358th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-39785 Thru Hel'en Hiwater

P Larson, Roy A., 2Lt KIACP Duncan, Ronald E., 2Lt POWNAV Levy, Herbert E., Jr., 2Lt POWBOM Feinman, Milton, 2Lt KIAENG Campbell, Thomas J., Sgt KIABT Brim, Lee R., Sgt POWRO Culp, Everett E., Sgt POWLWG Schinker, Arthur W., Sgt POWTG Hodge, Herman L., Sgt POW/DOWRWG Thayer, Duane P., Sgt POW

B-17G #42-31739 Pugnacious Peter

P McClure, Thomas R., 1LtCP Miller, Campbell, 2LtNAV Brady, Joseph E., 2LtBOM Stavast, James A., 2LtENG Swift, Herbert E., S/SgtLWG Kent, Amos, SgtRO Frazee, Francis L., SgtTG Allred, Parlan R., SgtRWG Senheiser, George A., SgtBT Duncan, George T., Sgt

B-17G #42-39807 Nero

P Seddon, John R., 2Lt EVDCP Burks, Charles D., 2Lt POWNAV Fitzpatrick, George M., 2Lt POWBOM Meldrich, Walter A., 2Lt EVDENG Rogers, Edward E., S/Sgt POWLWG Nemchick, John, Sgt POWRO Hess, John C., S/Sgt POWRWG Holcomb, I.L., Sgt POWTG Mummery, William T., Sgt POWBT Maloney, Donald F., Sgt POW

B-17G #42-97622 Paper Dollie

P Hofmann, Raymond, 2LtCP Howell, Ernest F., 2LtNAV Minkowitz, Samuel, 1LtBOM Israelson, Elmer P., 2LtENG Blakeney, William R., Jr., S/SgtBT Crenshaw, Ollie G., SgtRO Berman, Seymour, S/SgtRWG Miller, David I., SgtLWG Bahr, John W., SgtTG Hickey, David I., Sgt

B-17G #42-107028 (No Name)

P Stewart, Paul C., 2LtCP Heape, Rudolph H., 2LtNAV Moller, Robert C., 2LtBOM Manze, Dario J., F/OENG Coe, Thomas E., Jr., S/SgtRWG Cast, James L., SgtRO Jones, Drackart L., SgtTG Cadlolo, Raymond E., SgtBT Jasinski, Joseph T., SgtLWG Sable, Roy A., Sgt

B-17G #42-31669 Shoo Shoo Baby

P Taylor, James B., 1LtCP Moreau, Joseph A., 2LtNAV Binder, Carroll, Jr., 2LtBOM Larson, Albert W., 2LtENG Jones, Douglas L., S/SgtTG Cox, James B., S/SgtRO Dulin, Woodroe G., S/SgtBT Czeczotka, Theodore R., SgtRWG Schweinebraten, Leslie H., SgtLWG Loveland, William H., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31224 Hell in the Heavens

P Maxey, Frank, 2LtCP Knight, R.A., 2LtNAV Shamban, Marcus F., 2LtBOM Spatt, Arnold I., 2LtENG Gonsalves, John D., S/SgtLWG Johnston, Wendell B., SgtRO Rabun, Clifford G., SgtBT Swain, Norman F., PvtTG Angelo, George L., S/SgtRWG Hodgins, Robert A., Sgt

Mission 139 - 7

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-38050 Thunderbird

P Marsh, Richard K., 2LtCP Moyer, William G., 2LtNAV Forve, Frank F., 2LtBOM Corbin, Frederick A., F/OENG Davis, Eugene B., S/SgtRO Minks, George A., S/SgtBT Munson, James E., S/SgtTG Moessner, Raymond J., S/SgtRWG Rogers, Warren G., SgtLWG Dean, Raymond N., Sgt

B-17G #42-31830 Marie

P Hanselman, Charles F., 1LtCP Halpin, Robert N., 1LtNAV Carey, William D., 2LtBOM Joyce, John D., 2LtENG Fouss, Howard E., T/SgtLWG Jaouen, Robert F., T/SgtRO Zitzler, George A., T/SgtRWG Armstrong, Keith N., S/SgtBT Williams, Walter S., S/SgtTG Tybuszewski, Mitchel J., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31405 Wallaroo MK II

P Newell, Noel N., 1LtCP Donalson, Douglas C., 2LtNAV Rawlings, Loren F., 2LtBOM Yelsky, Fred B., 2LtENG Freinwald, Earl C., T/SgtRWG McGee, Richard, S/SgtRO Weepie, Robert F., T/SgtLWG Mendel, Myron R., S/SgtBT Hart, Edgar B., S/SgtTG Atkinson, William E., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-97272 Duchess' Daughter

P Assenheimer, Edwin H., 1LtCP Sassone, Joseph C., 2LtNAV Bates, Robert L., 2LtTOG Meier, Wayne G., SgtENG Mayhugh, John C., S/SgtRO Mouser, Lloyd C., T/SgtLWG Rettinhouse, Robert A., S/SgtRWG Robichaud, Joseph E., S/SgtBT Jaehne, Charles R., S/SgtTG Robb, Charles W., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-97284 Ain't Misbehavin

P Savage, John N., 1LtCP Rice, Charles H., 2LtNAV Livermore, William C., 1LtTOG Kolling, Arthur J., S/SgtTT Merrow, Robert K., SgtRO Montgomery, Robert E., S/SgtBT Gilcrease, Roland L., S/SgtTG Barmak, Paul J., S/SgtRWG Savela, Wilho A., SgtLWG Thorne, Arver E., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-97058 Scorchy II

P Heller, William C., CaptCP Daub, Leroy E., 1LtNAV Lunde, Frithjof M., 1LtBOM Hoover, William L., 1LtENG Carter, Edward K., S/SgtRO Kelly, Victor S., T/Sgt TG Gorecki, Victor T., 2LtRWG Haman, Ray T., S/SgtBT Gilmore, Charles E., T/SgtLWG Considine, Louis W., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31177 Lonesome Polecat

P Meier, Russell W., 2LtCP Reed, John W., 2LtNAV Counts, George H., F/OBOM Smith, Ralph, 2LtENG Danford, Emmett J., S/SgtRO Connors, Joseph Q., S/SgtLWG Henson, Archie H., SgtRWG Colley, Smith K., SgtBT Richard, Vernon, SgtTG Butler, Ashley A., Sgt(Abortive)

Mission 139 - 8

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-97187 Miss Umbriago

P O'Beirne, Nelson B., 2LtCP Duffield, Richard B., 2LtNAV Shipp, Gene K., 2LtBOM Nebhut, Kenneth E., S/SgtENG Henselman, Miles A., S/SgtRO Blumberg, Marvin R., S/SgtBT Faraone, Sam S., SgtTG Studt, Allo L., SgtRWG Rogers, Winford E., SgtLWG Cammack, Francis C., Sgt

B-17G #42-38204 (No Name)

P Cecchini, Anthony J., 2LtCP Fisher, Stanley L., 2LtNAV Veigel, Edward J., 2LtBOM McDevitt, Theodore D., 2LtENG Bachman, Clifford D., S/SgtRO Smith, Benjamin H., Jr., S/SgtBT Kepics, George, SgtTG Hudson, Ward A., SgtRWG Cogdell, Clarence L., SgtLWG O'Hearn, Robert J., Sgt

B-17G #42-97254 Iza Vailable Too

P Lynch, Robert J., 2LtCP Francis, John R., 2LtNAV Sbrolla, Emilio M., 2LtBOM Merz, Dick W., 2LtENG Roszell, Thomas M., SgtRO Schuler, Frank H., SgtBT Chudej, Josef R., SgtTG Krogh, Kenneth R., SgtLWG Schoonmaker, Elwood, Jr., SgtRWG Pleasanton, Kenneth H., Sgt

B-17G #42-107048 (No Name)

P Williams, John T., 2LtCP Coats, Niel, 2LtNAV Fazio, Joseph J., 2LtBOM Grunseth, Roald J., 2LtENG Schwenke, Howard A., S/SgtRO Barber, Stewart, L., S/SgtBT Whitten, Cleveland W., SgtTG Ott, John E., SgtRWG Northam, James W., SgtLWG Mitchell, John B., Sgt

B-17G #42-31432 Old Glory

P Earhart, Amon E., 1LtCP Evans, Earnest N., 2LtNAV Ross, Lawrence D., 2LtBOM Cottrell, John W., 1LtENG Huston, William J., T/SgtRO Villasenor, Oscar, S/SgtBT Lanier, Lee, Jr., S/SgtTG Laurinitis, Anthony, S/SgtRWG Huddleston, D.O., SgtLWG Logan, Frank C., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-97260 Bow-Ur-Neck Stevens

P Brinkley, Pharis C., CaptCP Stevens, Kermit D., ColNAV Davis, Darius R., CaptNAV Pepe, Nicholas A., 1LtBOM Clark, Fred T., 1LtENG Worthington, Arthur J., T/SgtRO Snyder, Richard N., S/SgtBT Reid, Harold C., S/SgtTG Rein, William E., S/SgtRWG Ferguson, Charles R., T/SgtLWG Lance, Guy A., S/Sgt

Mission 139 - 9

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #42-31213 Pistol Packin' Mama

P Johnston, Donald M., 2LtCP Heussler, Robert W., 2LtNAV Schultz, Milo R., 2LtBOM Davis, Paul J., S/SgtENG Barnum, Abraham E., M/SgtRO Treece, Charles E., S/SgtBT Pesetsky, Paul W., SgtTG Nestok, Frank, SgtRWG Smith, Herbert L., SgtLWG Turner, Kenzie H., Sgt

B-17G #42-97546 Idaliza

P Stevens, Joseph E., 1LtCP Ellsworth, Paul R., 2LtNAV Fleming, Samuel P., 1LtBOM Finley, Robert A., 1LtENG Brewster, John L., T/SgtRO Deerfield, Eddie, T/SgtBT Michael, David O., S/SgtTG Edwards, Marvin R., SgtRWG Fitko, Marion F., S/SgtLWG Cole, Edgar C., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-37841 Banshee

P Wilson, Fred F., 1LtCP Bowen, James W., 2LtNAV Przybyszewski, Henry S., LtBOM Fahlbusch, Joseph F., 2LENG Hubley, Warren G., S/SgtRO Mirkin, Herman H., T/SgtLWG Petree, Wendell R., S/SgtBT Webbink, Elvin F., S/SgtTG Roads, Dwight W., Jr., S/SgtRWG Goland, Harry, T/SgtOBS Smith, Carlton M., 1Lt

Mission 139 - 10

427th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-31060 Poque Ma Hone

P Shope, George W., Jr., 1LtCP Bohle, Howard J., 2LtNAV Kauffman, Harold F., 2LtBOM Kennedy, William J., 2LtTT Relyea, Ralph R., T/SgtRO Cohen, Leo, T/SgtBT Teno, James R., S/SgtTG Smith, Nyle F., S/SgtLWG O'Neil, Austin J., SgtRWG Hadley, Owen W., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-97096 (No Name)

P Wood, Vere A., 1LtCP Greenwood, Ernest G., 2LtNAV Brown, Thomas G., 1LtBOM Kurnik, Walter F., 1LtTT Tevis, John E., S/SgtBT Grant, Thomas V., S/SgtRO Jensen, Henry J., S/SgtRWG Heathershaw, Charles L., S/SgtTG Underwood, Clifford B., S/SgtRWG Musashe, Michael, S/Sgt

B-17G #42-37875 Empress of D Street

P Savage, Gilbert T., 2LtCP Schwolow, John C., 2LtNAV Coffey, John B., 2LtBOM Coughlin, George A., 2LtTT Kelly, J.D., S/SgtBT Holt, Richard R., SgtTG Paul, Samuel D., S/SgtTG Stover, Edward J., SgtRWG Layton, Wilber A., SgtLWG Jefferson, Arthur G., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31423 Jigger Rooche

P Jenkins, Elton L., 2LtCP Sayers, Darwin D., 2LtNAV Brown, John K., 2LtBOM Nevills, Joseph J., 2Lt TT Eisenhauer, James A., SgtBT Gentry, Richard A., S/SgtRO Sorese, Leonard V., S/SgtTG Franklin, Robert E., SgtRWG Korpi, Walfred J., S/SgtLWG Ward, Homer J., Jr., Sgt

B-17G #42-32027 Betty Jane

P Melton, James H., 1LtCP Belknap, Robert W., 2LtNAV Frechter, Harry G., 2LtBOM Clapp, Keith W., 2LtTT Weed, Lowrey A., Jr., T/SgtBT Moore, John J., Jr., S/SgtRO Stoberl, Donald L., S/SgtTG Anderson, Ralph R., SgtLWG LaPlante, Willard R., SgtRWG Miller, Norman L., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-38051 My Yorkshire Dream

P Estes, Shirley W., LtCP Fisher, James H., 2LtNAV Shemwell, John T., 2LtBOM Minter, Thomas W., 2LtTT Price, Jack J., S/SgtBT Wiley, Nathan H., S/SgtRO Duncan, Donald K., S/SgtTG Ross, Samuel C., S/SgtRWG Silrum, Orvis K., SgtLWG Ford, Thomas P., Sgt

B-17G #42-38020 V-Packet

P O'Hare, Phil W., 2LtCP McCall, Robert S., 2LtNAV Cronin, Ernest L., 1LtBOM Wright, Edgar A., S/SgtTT Souder, Lee F., Jr., SgtRO DuBray, Ernest D., SgtBT McMahan, Bonnar P., S/SgtTG McLaughlin, Jesse W., S/SgtLWG Doyle, Edward J., SgtRWG Rider, Wilbert, Sgt