Mission 165 - 1

DOUGLAS C. VAN WEELDEN CREW - 359th BS

(crew assigned 359BS: 04 May 1944)(Back L-R) Sgt Philip A. Olander (E-POW), S/Sgt Ralph E. Ledogar (R-KIA),

S/Sgt William K. Forsythe (WG-KIA), Sgt Urban L. Raterman (BT-POW),Sgt John Welch (WG), Sgt John K. Barry (TG-KIA)

(Front L-R) 2Lt Douglas C. Van Weelden (P-POW), 2Lt William A. Sysel (CP-KIA),2Lt Robert W. Saumsiegle (N-POW), F/O Ronald J. Vincent (B-POW)

303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 16530 May 1944

Target: Junkers Aircraft Plant & Airfield at Halberstadt, Ger.Crews Dispatched: 39

Crews Lost: Lt. Van Weelden - 4 KIA, 5 POW

Length of Mission: 6 hours, 30 minutes

Bomb Load: 8 x 500 lb G.P. M43 and 500 lb. RDX bombs

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

Ammo Fired: 1,205 rounds

Splitting up into two separate Groups, 303rd BG(H) Fortresses hit two targets in theHalberstadt area. One was the airdrome near Halberstadt, and the other the factoryitself, just on the edge of the city. Bombing in conditions of good visibility, no

opposition was encountered over the target except for other formations of bombers thatmade traffic a little hazardous. The bombardiers were annoyed as they tried to set theirsights while confronted by prop wash from other Groups. Bombing was accomplished from23,000 and 22,500 feet, dropping 330 550-lb. G.P. M43 and 20 500-lb. RDX bombs. Flakwas practically non-existent for both Groups. One aircraft in the 303BG-B formationsustained minor flak damage. From 40 to 75 enemy fighters were reported. There wereno enemy aircraft attacks or claims.

Mission 165 - 2

B-17G #42-31213 Pistol Packin' Mama 359BS (BN-Z)

Aircraft #42-31213 Pistol Packin' Mama, 359BS, piloted by 1Lt. Douglas C. VanWeelden, started out in the No. 2 position, but dropped to the No. 6 position shortly aftercrossing the Dutch border into Germany. The No. 2 engine smoked slightly until the bombswere dropped, then it started to smoke violently and the propeller was feathered. Fromthere on out to the Zuider Zee, the B-17 kept dropping back slowly, but seemed to be ingood shape. By the time the Zuider Zee was crossed, it was about four miles behind and2,000 feet below the Group formation.

Lt. Van Weelden later advised that the formation had flown a double bomb run. Onthe second run, he couldn't make the turn and lagged behind the formation. ME-109sspotted the B-17 and inflicted additional damage on the Fortresses. After giving the bail-out order, he flew the aircraft alone for "quite a distance." After landing and being captured,he was told that the bodies of the co-pilot, radio operator, waist gunner and tail gunner hadbeen found near his crashed B-17. He knew this was untrue because of the distance hehad flown since they had bailed out. He believes they were shot by the Germans.Crewmembers killed were: 2Lt. William A. Sysel, S/Sgt. Ralph E. Ledogar, S/Sgt. WilliamK. Forsythe and Sgt. John K. Barry. Lt. Sysel, S/Sgt. Ledogar and S/Sgt. Forsythe areburied in Ardennes American Cemetery near Liege, Belgium. Sgt. Barry is buried inNetherlands American Cemetery, Martgratten, Netherlands. Lt. Van Weelden, 1Lt. RobertW. Saumsiegle, 1Lt. Ronald J. Vincent, Sgt. Phillip A. Olander and Sgt. Urban L.Raterman were captured and taken prisoner.

Capt. Peter Packard, who led the factory attack said, "We didn't have any fighteropposition ourselves, but there were a lot of ME-109s cruising around the area. Flak didn'tbother us at all." Capt. Richard Dubell, who led the airdrome bombing, experienced amission similar to Capt. Packard's.

Mission 165 - 3

Princes Pat #42-102453 (358BS) VK-J

41st CBW-A High (358BS) - Pilot 1Lt J.A. Moreau / CoPilot Capt P.L.M. Packard

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group A

Moreau-Packard453

Oliver Way 583 037

Baker006

Latshaw 086

Moser Benham 058 298Arnold Van Weelden Davis Watson 483 213 154 893 Marsh Sirany 177 050Tulloss Thompson Meier Carpenter 781 496 284 206 Oranges Fackler Spare - 405 076

Mission 165 - 4

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group B

Barnes-Dubell2432

Flick Lehmann 423 060

Raistrick311

Allen Gallagher 200 096

Jones Williams 281 405Savage Mitchell Christian Eisele 099 569 546 841 O'Beirne Johnston 187 340McMillan Evans Bartholomew Parker 805 590 1432 997 Long Spare - 048

KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS

CREW POSITIONSCMP - 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 MISSION

KIA - 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 165 - 5

358th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-38154 (No Name)

P Davis, William C., 2LtCP Graham, Edward, Jr., 2LtNAV Hamm, Willard A., 2LtBOM Alderson, Raleigh L., 2LtENG Johnson, Walter K., S/SgtRO Sandler, David L., S/SgtBT Clarke, Kenneth, SgtTG Hiland, Robert L., SgtRWG Roseland, Ralph A., SgtLWG Rogers, Joseph S., Sgt

B-17G #44-6086 My Blonde Baby

P Latshaw, William E., 2LtCP Kirkland, Robert A., F/ONAV Ivy, Wallis S., 2LtBOM Doan, Curtis E., 2LtENG Pickens, Donald E., S/SgtRWG Murphy, Joseph A., SgtRO Tidwell, Andrew W., S/SgtTG Hedrick, Warren L., SgtBT Ginn, William E., SgtLWG Miller, Horace J., Sgt

B-17G #42-37893 Bam Bam

P Watson, John P., 2LtCP Neely, Glenn H., 2LtNAV Claeys, Ronald, 2LtBOM Borg, John E., 2LtENG Hollifield, Robert G., SgtRWG Kapes, Paul J., S/SgtRO White, John H., S/SgtBT Goldfarb, Wallace, SgtTG Cummings, James E., SgtLWG Byerly, William C., Sgt

B-17G #42-31583 Clover Leaf

P Oliver, Sam, 1LtCP Shankweiler, Stanley R., 2LtNAV Contos, Spiros P., 2Lt BOM Chapple, Harry, 2LtENG Haskell, Whitney, S/SgtRWG Imbrogno, Americo S., SgtRO Kissling, John P., S/SgtBT Russell, Francis H., T/SgtTG Humphries, Wayne, SgtLWG Scalco, Robert, Sgt

B-17G #42-32037 (No Name)

P Way, Henry G., 1LtCP Raese, Warren G., 2LtNAV Sigurdson, Elden A., 2LtBOM Bell, Julian P., 2LtENG Lynam, Stanley A., S/SgtTT Paolino, Vincent C., SgtRO May, James G., S/SgtBT LaFleur, Paul L., SgtTG Parks, Robert E., SgtRWG Manning, Robert L., Sgt

B-17G #44-6006 (No Name)

P Baker, John M., 2LtCP Whittall, Ernest A., 2LtNAV Coe, Charles F., 2LtBOM Belles, Frank G., 2LtENG Kishbaugh, Warren L., S/SgtTT Reichman, Fred P., SgtRO Jennings, Archie R., S/SgtBT Bertasso, Joseph S., SgtTG Peters, Archie D., SgtRWG Parker, Stanton A., Sgt

Mission 165 - 6

358th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #42-97298 The Floose

P Benham, Philip O., 2LtCP Lojewski, Telephor, 2LtNAV Shamban, Marcus F., 2LtBOM Larson, Albert W., 2LtENG Van Drunen, Cornellius, S/SgtRWG Stafford, Sheldon A., S/SgtRO Lesser, Edward R., S/SgtBT Hill, Reginald L., SgtTG Dellinger, Lenoir E., SgtLWG Bonenberger, Robert E., Sgt

B-17G #42-107002 Mairzy Doats

P Johnson, Harlan J., 2LtCP Wright, Charles E., 2LtNAV Hamilton, Bruce B., 2LtBOM Oyler, William B., F/OENG Braun, Duane M., S/SgtRWG Stidham, Robert L., SgtRO Cottrell, Barton T., SgtTG Buddingh, Frederick, SgtBT George, William R., SgtLWG Ciglar, Joseph, Sgt(Abortive)

B-17G #42-102453 Princess Pat

P Moreau, Joseph A., 1LtCP Packard, Peter L.M., CaptNAV Mikulich, Louis F., 1LtNAV Krouskup, Wayne E., 2LtBOM Armstrong, Charles C., CaptENG Rossman, Carl H., SgtRWG Tate, Royce G., SgtRO Lowe, Gareth W., SgtLWG Tomasini, Michael, SgtTG Stender, Francis H., T/SgtBT Ross, Ben A., Sgt

Mission 165 - 7

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

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

P Van Weelden, Douglas C., 2Lt POWCP Sysel, William A., 2Lt POW/KIANAV Saumsiegle, Robert W., 1Lt POWBOM Vincent, Ronald J., 1Lt POWENG Olander, Phillip A., S/Sgt POWRO Ledogar, Ralph E., S/Sgt POW/KIABT Raterman, Urban L., Sgt POWTG Barry, John K., Sgt POW/KIAWG Forsythe, William K., S/Sgt POW/KIA

B-17G #42-38050 Thunderbird

P Sirany, George R., 2LtCP Batton, James H., 2LtNAV Ehrke, Warren D., 2LtBOM Prussman, Henry G., 2LtENG Matthews, Fred T., S/SgtRO Van Horn, Everett E., S/SgtBT Bale, Gordon E., SgtTG McPherson, Frank V., S/SgtWG Stephenson, Thomas O., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-97058 Scorchy II

P Moser, Clinton A., 1LtCP Cunningham, Robert L., 2LtNAV Walsh, Myles J., 1LtBOM Joyce, John D., 1LtENG Mays, Pearl E., S/SgtRO Zionkoski, John T., S/SgtTT Duffey, Willis A., SgtBT Parrish, Vernon, SgtTG Seelock, Joseph J., Sgt

B-17G #44-6076 Liberty Run

P Fackler, David E., 1LtCP Paton, Wallace L., 2LtNAV Andreason, Rolf W., 2LtBOM Campbell, Frank P., 2LtENG Schlottman, Jerome D., S/Sgt RO McLaughlin, William C., S/SgtBT McIntyre, Harold W., S/SgtTG Pohlman, Wilbert F., S/SgtLWG Brewer, Ray, S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31483 Bonnie B

P Arnold, William J., 2LtCP Altman, Maurice V., 2LtNAV Claster, Stanley M., 2LtBOM Callahan, Ellsworth D., 2LtENG Williams, Robert M., S/SgtRO Moreira, Joseph A., S/SgtBT McClure, James D., SgtTG Surrell, John M., CplWG Lichtenwalter, Ralph W., Cpl

B-17G #42-97781 The '8' Ball MK III

P Tulloss, John W., 1LtCP London, Walter H., Jr., 2LtNAV Hollingsworth, William, 2LtBOM Grove, Terril M., 1LtENG Robinson, Charles R., T/SgtRO Montgomery, Robert E., T/SgtBT Jenkins, Crawford W., S/SgtTG O'Connor, Julian J., SgtWG Richard, John, Sgt.

Mission 165 - 8

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #42-107206 Old Black Magic

P Carpenter, Arthur G., 2LtCP Whitaker, Joseph C., 2LtNAV Reid, George E., F/OBOM Day, Dean K., 2LtENG Pordham, Jack F., S/SgtRO Bortolotti, Barney J., S/SgtBT Dean, Raymond N., S/SgtTG Nichols, Dalbee, SgtWG Vanlandingham, John C., Sgt

B-17G #42-102496 Special Delivery

P Thompson, Lawrence C., CaptCP Johnson, Richard O., 2LtNAV Young, Warren I., F/OBOM Champ, William J., 2LtENG Hammons, Charles G., S/SgtRO Hamann, Delos, H., S/SgtBT Stephan, Kenneth R., SgtTG Held, Armin C., SgtWG Lemley, Jack A., Sgt

B-17G #42-31177 Lonesome Polecat

P Marsh, Richard K., 1LtCP Moyer, William G., 2LtNAV Riley, Milton S., 2LtTOG Merrow, Robert K., S/SgtE Ela, Lyman E., S/SgtRO Rose, William A., PvtBT Salmon, Earl D., S/SgtTG Miller, Theodore G., S/SgtWG Arendt, John L., S/Sgt

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

P Meier, Russell W., 1LtCP Reed, John W., 2LtNAV Prince, Alan M., 2LtTOG Kolling, Arthur J., S/SgtENG Danford, Emmett J., S/SgtRO Connors, Joseph Q., S/SgtRWG Titsworth, William E., S/SgtBT Richard, Vernon, SgtTG Butler, Ashley A., Sgt

Mission 165 - 9

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-97546 Idaliza

P Christian, Max A., 2LtCP Francis, John R., 2LtNAV Cotner, Nyle E., 2LtBOM Parrilla, Rufe H., 2LtENG Kuczewski, William J., SgtRO Tibbetts, Arthur P., S/SgtBT Weaver, Thomas E., S/SgtTG Elmore, Kenneth L., SgtWG Britt, Jack E., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-97405 Mary Cary

P Williams, John T., 1LtCP Coats, Niel, 2LtNAV Shipp, Gene K., 2LtBOM Cascio, Guiseppe, 1LtENG Schwenke, Howard A., T/SgtRO Barber, Stewart, L., T/SgtBT Whitten, Cleveland W., S/SgtTG Ott, John E., S/SgtWG Northam, James W., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-37841 Banshee

P Eisele, Roy, 1LtCP Girard, Louis F., 2LtNAV Schenker, Murray, 2LtBOM Gladstone, Melvin, 2Lt ENG Cowley, Louis M., S/SgtRO Millard, Ralph, S/SgtWG Friedman, Szymon A., S/SgtBT Longoria, Efrain, SgtTG Vallee, Edward J., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31997 (No Name)

P Parker, John T., 2LtCP Anderson, John G., 2LtNAV Lacey, Norman R., 2LtBOM Pence, Granville A., 2LtENG Wall, Claudia W., S/SgtRO Grace, Charles, Jr., S/SgtBT Rhyne, Samuel A., SgtTG Szczudlo, Joseph W., SgtWG Fox, John L., Sgt

B-17G #42-97805 (No Name)

P McMillan, Murdock B., 1LtCP Polezoes, Stanley, 2LtNAV Shaw, Marvin E., 2LtBOM Heitman, Alfred V., SgtENG Herr, Allen H., SgtRO Noller, Paul J., S/SgtBT Karp, Harold, SgtTG Cain, Leroy H., SgtWG Nebhut, Kenneth E., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31432 Old Glory

P Bartholomew, Dale E., 2LtCP Ross, James A., 2LtNAV Blume, William H., III, 2LtBOM Andreason, Joseph G., 2LtENG Litwiller, Harold D., S/SgtRO Allard, Charles G., S/SgtBT Smith, Victor H., S/SgtTG Blackwell, Haywood E., Jr., SgtWG Lowe, Ralph R., Sgt

Mission 165 - 10

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #42-31340 Miss Liberty

P Johnston, Donald M., 1LtCP Heussler, Robert W., 2LtNAV Schultz, Milo R., 2LtBOM Sudderth, Ralph M., 2LtENG Barnum, Abraham E., M/SgtRO Treece, Charles E., T/SgtBT Pesetsky, Paul W., S/SgtTG Nestok, Frank, S/SgtWG Turner, Kenzie H., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-97187 Miss Umbriago

P O'Beirne, Nelson B., 1LtCP Duffield, Richard B., 2LtNAV Grunseth, Roald J., 2LtBOM Clark, Fred T., 1LtENG 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 #42-97590 Virgin Mary

P Evans, Ernest N., 1LtCP Fisher, Stanley L., 2LtNAV Edwards, Frank A., 2LtBOM McDevitt, Theodore D., 2LtENG Bachman, Clifford D., T/SgtRO Smith, Benjamin H., T/SgtBT Kepics, George, S/SgtLWG O'Hearn, Robert J., S/SgtRWG Cogdell, Clarence L., S/Sgt

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

P Long, Paul H., 2LtCP Caldwell, Frederick J., 2LtNAV Vell, Ona L., 2LtBOM Beasley, Edward E., 2LtENG Mours, John D., S/SgtRO Habich, Arthur L., S/SgtBT Flammia, Joseph E., S/SgtTG Olson, Keith R., SgtWG Abbott, Wesley C., Sgt(Spare - Returned)

Mission 165 - 11

427th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

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

P Gallagher, John W., Jr., 2LtCP Bitel, Peter, 2LtNAV Hibbard, Troy W., 2LtBOM Tow, Weyman J., 2LtTT Lynn, William V., SgtBT Kail, Nicholas F., SgtRO Gervais, Joseph R., S/SgtTG Jacques, Warren, SgtLWG Joyce, Jess, SgtRWG Soltero, John, Sgt

B-17G #42-107099 Old 99

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

B-17G #42-31200 Old Crow

P Allen, Charles R., 1LtCP Parham, James S., 2LtNAV Thurmon, John A., 2LtBOM Bourgeault, Louis H., 2LtTT Rusinak, John C., T/SgtBT Knedler, Lee F., SgtRO Reed, John H., S/SgtTG Stansbury, Edward P., SgtRWG Foerster, LeRoy H.M., SgtLWG Bohenstiel, Robert L., Sgt

B-17G #42-102569 Miss Lace

P Mitchell, Fred E., 2LtCP Ferguson, Gilbert L., 2LtNAV Rafferty, Henry E., Jr., 2LtBOM Isaac, Kenneth W., 2LtTT Cavagnol, Joseph J., S/SgtBT Landa, Hyman J., SgtRO Parr, Joe A., S/SgtLWG O'Neill, Austin J., SgtRWG Byers, William R., S/SgtTG Carpenter, Robert R., Sgt

B-17G #42-97311 Shoo Shoo Baby

P Raistrick, Albert G., 2LtCP Johnson, Charles E., Jr., 2LtNAV Pero, Aloyius R., 2LtBOM Dombrowski, Alexander, 2LtTT Alston, Madison I., T/SgtBT Hollritt, Alfred K., SgtRO Yonge, Walter C., SgtTG Czerwonka, Joseph A., SgtRWG Gude, Richard C., SgtLWG Conlan, Thomas J., T/Sgt

B-17G #42-31423 Jigger Rooche

P Flick, Chester E., 2LtCP Keating, Donald W., 2LtNAV Curley, Walter A., 2LtBOM Fontaine, Clifford F., S/SgtTT Forry, Harvey W., S/SgtTG Montfort, Theo T., SgtRO Abeyta, J. Charles, S/SgtBT Eberly, Charles P., S/SgtRWG Brock, Charley F., SgtLWG Ford, Thomas P., S/Sgt

Mission 165 - 12

427th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #42-97281 Queenie

P Jones, Wilbur H., 2LtCP Wallace, Walstein W., 2LtNAV Whitman, John H., 2LtBOM Kennedy, William J., 2LtTT Duerr, William P., T/SgtBT Calnon, Frederick N., S/SgtRO Kosher, Albert J., T/SgtTG LaFrenier, James E., S/SgtRWG Thompson, Frederick A., SgtLWG Dimowitz, Morris, Sgt

B-17G #42-31060 Poque Ma Hone

P Lehmann, Elroy C., 2LtCP Heil, Lee C., 2LtNAV Gast, William J., 2LtBOM Miller, Charles F., 2LtTT Sydor, Joseph, S/SgtBT Koon, Bennie, SgtRO Kelley, James D., S/SgtTG Ruhge, Wayne L., SgtLWG Garlick, Darrell L., SgtRWG Glass, David, Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

B-17G #42-102432 Tiny Angel

P Barnes, Deane L., CaptCP Dubell, Richard P., CaptNAV Olsen, Kenneth L., 1LtNAV Coffey, John B., 2LtBOM McCormick, James E., CaptTT Sparks, Willie T., T/SgtBT Chancellor, John R., S/SgtRO Benevento, Andrew G., S/SgtTG McCall, Robert S., 2LtLWG Winters, Craig W., S/SgtRWG Price, John B., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31405 Wallaroo MK II

P Oranges, Chester N., 2LtCP Lawrenson, George C., 2LtNAV Gepner, Isadore, 2Lt BOM Harper, Kenneth L., 2LtTT Eisenhauer, James A., SgtBT Gentry, Richard A., SgtRO Sorese, Leonard V., S/SgtTG Franklin, Robert E., SgtRWG Korpi, Walfred J., S/SgtLWG Miller, Norman L., S/Sgt