303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 255

Mission 255 - 1

TRUMAN R. LORD CREW - 358th BS(crew assigned 358BS: 06 Sep 1944)

(Back L-R) Sgt Bernard A. Winiger (E), Sgt Robert H. Brown (WG),Sgt Earl G. Hatfield (R), Sgt William H. Ferguson (TG)

Sgt Armin Weiss (BT), Sgt Oscar D. Stephenson, Jr. (WG)(Front L-R) 2Lt Truman R. Lord (P), 2Lt Clifton N. Phillips (CP),

2Lt Arvid Anderson (N), 2Lt Arthur F. Ruiz (B)

303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 25511 October 1944

Target: Synthetic Oil Plant at Wesseling, Germany (1 & 2 SQ)Marshalling Yards at Koblenz, Germany (3 & 4 SQ)

Crews Dispatched: 47

Crews Lost: Lt. Lord, 6 KIA, 3 POW; Lt. Price, 9 POW

Length of Mission: 6 hours, 15 minutes

Bomb Load: 6 x 1,000 lb H.E. M43 bombs

Bombing Altitudes: 26,300 & 25,000 ft

Ammo Fired: 2,110 rounds

The 303rd BG(H) aircraft bombed two targets. Twenty-two B-17s of the Nos. 1 and2 Squadrons dropped 129 1,000-lb. H.E. M43 bombs on the primary target atWesseling from 26,300 and 25,000 ft. GEE-H equipment was utilized. Although the

Squadrons found a break in the clouds at the target, results were unobserved.

Twenty-two Fortresses of the Nos. 3 and 4 Squadrons dropped 118 1,000-lb. bombson the secondary target at Koblenz, using PFF equipment. There were 10/10 middleclouds with tops at 15,000 to 17,000 ft., and, again, results were unobserved.

Two aircraft turned back: #43-38532 (No Name) 360BS (Lt. Juns) had an enginefailure; #42-31830 Marie, 359BS (Lt. Haynes) — with one engine out, the aircraft couldnot stay with the formation at the IP.

A few German jetswere seen, but there wereno attacks. Friendly fightersupport by 139 P-47s wasg o o d . I n t e n s e a ndextremely accurate flak wase n c o u n t e r e d n e a rWesseling, causing 19instances of major and 10of minor damage, andwounding 10 crewmen.Chaff had no effect on theanti-aircraft fire.

Aircraft #43-38200(No Name), 360BS, pilotedby 2Lt. Truman R. Lord,received a direct flak hitbetween its Nos. 1 and 2engines. It was seen to

Mission 255 - 2

Nose Art on B-17G #42-31739Pugnacious Peter (358BS) VK-PRadio Callsign was "P-for-Peter."

Crew added "Pugnacious"(eager and ready to fight).

ERNEST C. PRICE CREW - 358th BS(crew assigned 358BS: 23 Sep 1944)

(Back L-R) 1Lt Ernest C. Price (P), 1Lt Frederick C. Hower (CP), 2Lt Leonard S. Patillo (N), 2Lt Fred B. Creel (B)(Front L-R) Sgt Paul R. Bilchak (TG), Sgt William E. Noel (E), Sgt Michael T. Postek (R),

Sgt Keith E. Day (R), Sgt John F. Reed (WG), Sgt Raymond L. Cole (BT)

smoke immediately. It pulled off to the left, went down in a steep dive, and exploded atabout 15,000 ft. near Wessling, Germany. Three parachutes were observed at the timethat the B-17 exploded. Lt Lord, 2Lt Clifton N. Phillips, 2Lt Arthur F. Ruiz, Sgt. BernardA. Winiger, Sgt. Earl G. Hatfield, Jr. and Sgt. Armin Weiss were killed in the crash. LtRuis, Sgt. Winiger and Sgt. Weiss are buried in Netherlands American Cemetery,Martgratten, Netherlands. 2Lt. Arvid Anderson, Sgt. Robert H. Brown and Sgt. WilliamH. Ferguson were captured and became POWs.

Pugnacious Peter #42-31739, 358BS, piloted by1Lt. Ernest C. Price, was on its 85th combat mission.It received a direct hit on one of the outboard engines,setting it on fire. It pulled off to the left, started down,and blew up near Wessling, Germany. No parachuteswere seen. Lt. Price, 2Lt. Charles E. Thomas, 2Lt.Leonard S. Patillo, 2Lt. Fred B. Creel, Sgt. William E.Noel, Sgt. Michael T. Postek, Sgt. Raymond L. Cole,Sgt. John F. Reed, and Sgt. Paul R. Bilchak werecaptured and became POWs.

Mission 255 - 3

Stalag Luft III

sketch by POW 2Lt Harold W. Gunn

LIKE THEY TOLD ME — HOOK UP YOUR CHUTE2Lt Truman R. Lord Crew

Memories of Lt. Arvid Anderson

On our seventh mission, on October 11, 1944, the fifth to Cologne area, our B-17was hit directly by anti-aircraft fire. The plane went into a sharp spin and exploded. I wasblown out of the nose. The cold air revived me and I pulled my chest type chute whichwas hooked on one side. As the chute opened, it began to curl and I put my arm in theback of my head to keep it open. I landed in a tree on a farmer’s field. As I came to theground, I was met by a farmer who took me to Wehrmacht. The farmer spoke English.He had been an American POW in World War I and had been well treated. I wasfortunate because I had heard that other Americans had been shot by civilians.

I owe my life also to Major Hobart Steely, Squadron Navigator of the 358th,because he told me to always wear the chute with at least one side hooked because youmight not have time to put it on. He was so right.

After being taken intocustody, I and other POWs weretaken to Frankfurt, where I wasinterrogated for nine days. TheGermans thought I knew something,but I didn’t. They, however, calledme a terror flyer and a Chicagogangster, because my home townwas Hammond, Indiana next door toChicago. They apparently had allpersonal details from newspapers inthe U.S.A.

Thereafter, I and others weresent to Stalag III – south compoundin Sagan, Germany where Iremained until the forced march at

the end of January. After 50 kilometers, we were loaded into 40 x 8 foot train cars, 50men each and transported over three days to Moosburg, to Stalag VII A, where weremained until liberated by General Patton’s army in early May, 1945.

I did not learn until after the war that two other crew members, R. H. Brown, WaistGunner, and Bill H. Ferguson, Tail Gunner, survived. They were able to crawl out of thesevered body of the plane, which had broken apart. I was fairly certain that the otherofficers and crew members had been killed in the explosion, but the Germans never toldme. I lasted the average of seven missions. We went to the Cologne area five times andwe were hit by flak five times. The other missions were to Hamburg, which wasuneventful, and to Dresden, where I saw my one and only German jet.

Mission 255 - 4

CLYDE E. FREEMAN CREW - 358th BS(crew assigned 358BS: 17 Aug 1944 - photo: July 1944)

(Back L-R) 2Lt Clyde E. Freeman (P), 2Lt Glenn R. Canning (CP),2Lt Donald L. Birkenseer (B), 2Lt Sheldon Goldstein (N)

(Front L-R) S/Sgt Alan D. Chesney (BT), Sgt Robert G. Martin (WG),T/Sgt Donald E. Vanlier (R), S/Sgt Frank J. Caporusso (TG), T/Sgt Peter J. Fleck (E)

RELEASING BOMBS WITH A SCREW DRIVER

Unusual Experiences of T/Sgt Donald E. Vanlier

I was flying with the Lt. Freeman crew on “Bouncing Betty III” 43-38554 (VK-B) on11 October 1944 and it was a rough mission for us. The target was the Synthetic Oil Plantat Wesseling, Germany. We were flying tail end charley, I think.

As we went over the target, the sky opened up and the flak was very accurate.We lost the two wing men, 2Lt Price and 1Lt Lord. We were hit in the right inboardengine. At the same time, the cable to release the three 1,000 pound General PurposeBombs on that side was cut.

We were losing altitude fast and it was my job, as radio man, to get those bombsout of the bomb bay, some way or other. So with a screw driver to release the bombs,and a walk around oxygen bottle, I had to lay on my stomach, on the catwalk, and releasethe lower of the three bombs. Then I had to get back into the radio room, change to a fulloxygen bottle and go back in the bomb bay, and release the other two bombs.

We limped home a few hundred feet over the English Channel, on three enginesand all alone. As T/Sgt Fleck said, “We really sweated this one out.” Thank God wemade it. He has a bomb tag for every mission that we flew.

Mission 255 - 5

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group A

Flowers-Healy038 - PFF

Reid Bliss 057 166

Cureton Brown 621 666Van Antwerp Roberts O'Leary Gano 597 060 311 411 R. Davis 197 Ackerman Dubose 099 248

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group B

Johnson-Seidel557 - PFF

Price Vermeer 739 574

Paullin Goering 191 462McCutcheon Holm Lord Fielder 442 298 200 238 McKinley 065 Freeman White 554 326

Mission 255 - 6

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group C

Cunningham-Kerwin256 - PFF

Embrey Akers 502 537

Jenkins Underdown 781 050J. Davis Virag Gould Frazier 258 944 604 609 Carney 484 Lorentz Haynes 289 830

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group D

Kuykendall-Norris137 - PFF

Kallet Nafius 504 544

Baehr Grisham 516 945Butler Gravrock Eisenwinter Juns 517 055 705 532 Foley 451 McCutchan 861

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 255 - 7

358th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #43-38442 (No Name)

P McCutcheon, George E., 1LtCP McGilvray, Richard L., 2LtNAV Starr, Ben, 2LtBOM Severson, Jack O., T/SgtENG Burcham, Johnnie O., T/SgtWG Foulk, Donald H., S/SgtRO Alexander, John C., S/SgtBT Aberdeen, James E., S/SgtTG Kinsman, George R., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-38238 (No Name)

P Fielder, George H., 1LtCP Dorsett, John D., 2LtNAV Buckner, James C., 2LtBOM Kruckemeyer, Thomas J., 2LtENG Cavagnaro, James E., SgtWG Pizzolato, Gasper, Jr., SgtRO Buie, Neil C., SgtBT Denning, Glenn J., SgtTG Cox, Lyle H., Sgt

B-17G #43-38554 Bouncing Betty III

P Freeman, Clyde E., 2LtCP Canning, Glenn R., 2LtNAV Goldstein, Sheldon, 2LtBOM Splawn, Elzic B., T/SgtENG Fleck, Peter J., SgtTG Caporusso, Frank J., SgtRO VanLier, Donald E., SgtWG Martin, Robert G., SgtBT Chesney, Alan D., Sgt

B-17G #42-102945 Sweet Pea

P Grisham, Rufus W., Jr., 2LtCP Cox, William H., 2LtNAV Hartel, Gale E., 2LtBOM Celich, Nicholas J., 2LtENG Scheuermann, Edwin P., S/SgtBT Loessin, Gerhard W., Jr., SgtRO Post, Harry R., SgtWG Buie, Ben M., SgtTG Willis, Arnold, Sgt

B-17G #42-97298 The Floose

P Holm, Maurice M., 2LtCP Fletcher, Harold D., F/ONAV Howard, Paul A., 2LtTOG Garcia, Robert L., S/SgtENG Compton, M.C., SgtWG Huck, Robert L., SgtRO Dale, John A., SgtBT Ebert, Preston P., SgtTG Copeland, George E., Sgt

B-17G #43-38191 Shasta

P Paullin, James R., 1LtCP Hinton, William B., 2LtNAV Hunt, John W., Jr., 2LtBOM Carloss, Earl W., 1LtENG Johnson, James P., T/SgtBT Biestek, Stanley H., S/SgtRO Thomas, Henry T., T/SgtWG Foster, William D., S/SgtTG Butler, Woodley O., S/Sgt

B-17G #43-38065 Princess Pat 2

P McKinley, Ralph C., 2LtCP Harwick, James A., 2LtNAV Long, Donald C., Jr., 2LtBOM Davis, Edward A., 2LtENG Jones, Burlen, SgtWG Devaney, Thomas J., SgtRO Moll, Richard S., SgtBT Clark, Woodrow E., SgtTG Soule, Evan R., Sgt

B-17G #42-31739 Pugnacious Peter CR-L

P Price, Ernest C., 1Lt POWCP Thomas, Charles E., 2Lt POWNAV Patillo, Leonard S., 2Lt POWBOM Creel, Fred B., 2Lt POWENG Noel, William E., Sgt POWWG Reed, John F., Sgt POWRO Postek, Michael T., Sgt POWBT Cole, Raymond L., Sgt POWTG Bilchak, Paul R., Sgt POW

Mission 255 - 8

358th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #43-38200 (No Name) CR-L

P Lord, Truman R., 2Lt KIACP Phillips, Clifton N., 2Lt KIANAV Anderson, Arvid, 2Lt POWBOM Ruiz, Arthur F., 2Lt KIAENG Winiger, Bernard A., Sgt KIATG Ferguson, William H., Sgt POWRO Hatfield, Earl G., Sgt KIABT Weiss, Armin, Sgt KIAWG Brown, Robert H., Sgt POW

B-17G #44-8326 (No Name)

P White, Franklin F., 1LtCP Hower, Frederick C., 2LtNAV Kaufman, Seymour, F/OBOM Ross, Robert M., 2LtENG Adams, William J., S/SgtWG Hein, Monroe C., S/SgtRO Vesely, Henry L., S/SgtBT Gilman, Frederick S., S/SgtTG Campbell, James R., S/Sgt

B-17G #43-38462 Teddy's Rough Riders

P Goering, Werner G., 1LtCP Rencher, Jack P., 2LtNAV Markt, Rex H., F/OBOM Birkenseer, Donald L., 2LtENG Gustafson, Orall R., S/SgtRO Brodzinski, Chester, S/SgtBT Rowe, Thomas M., S/SgtWG Houseman, Clarence W., SgtTG Mahan, Weldon T., Sgt

B-17G #42-31574 Ole George

P Vermeer, Bernard E., 1Lt CP Byrnes, James H., 2Lt NAV Poehlman, Robert F., 2Lt BOM Sachau, William D., 2Lt ENG Varvil, Willis E., S/Sgt WG Schley, John G., S/Sgt RO LaPerch, William J., S/Sgt TG Kennedy, Robert F., S/Sgt BT Ferris, James H., Sgt

B-17G #42-97557 Mercy's Madhouse - PFF

P Johnson, Hugh B., 1LtCP Seidel, Harry S., 2LtNAV Weber, George P., 2LtNAV Beyeler, Earl R., 2LtBOM Green, George A., 2LtENG Edwards, Eugene F., T/SgtWG Beck, Harold P., S/SgtRO Carter, Robert D., T/SgtTG Judd, Chester G., 2Lt

Mission 255 - 9


B-17G #43-37537 Queen of Hearts

P Akers, Robert O., 1LtCP Giddings, Leslie W., 2LtNAV Lewtas, Ralph A., 2LtBOM Smith, Ralph L., 1LtENG Shanker, Herbert, T/SgtRO Meyer, Gerald E., T/Sgt BT Saam, Donal W., S/SgtTG Martin, Anthony B., SgtWG Meyer, Fulton R., S/Sgt

B-17G #43-38604 (No Name)

P Gould, Graham C., 1LtCP Lasker, Yale, 2LtNAV Leigh, Thomas W., Jr., 1LtTOG Connor, Joseph C., SgtENG Mogck, Leonard, T/SgtRO Anderson, Augustus C., T/SgtBT Thompson, Val E., S/SgtTG Gloria, Tony N., SgtWG Bandy, Peter C., Sgt

B-17G #43-38258 Forget Me Not Olly

P Davis, Jack T., 1LtCP Kohnstedt, Donald L., 2LtNAV Hellesvig, Vernon M., 1LtBOM Guiciardi, Nino L., F/OENG Bloom, Dave, SgtRO Lewnfield, Rex E., T/SgtBT Martin, Richard A., SgtTG Brown, Marvin W., SgtWG Harris, Everette G., Sgt

B-17G #42-38050 Thunderbird

P Underdown, Sidney L., 2LtCP Knolle, William C., 2LtNAV Kenny, John P., 2LtBOM Tyree, Joseph C., 2LtENG Kuwik, John J., S/SgtRO Carman, Nolan W., S/SgtBT Guptill, Walter R., SgtTG Stevens, Richard G., SgtWG Botton, Pius L., Sgt

B-17G #44-6502 (No Name)

P Embrey, Henry C., 2LtCP Sharp, Bryant M., 2LtNAV Hewitt, Leroy A., 2LtBOM Mitchell, Robert C., 2LtENG Miller, Harry C., S/SgtRO Zellar, Donald W., SgtBT Duerr, Richard B., SgtTG Gavin, William E., SgtWG Peters, Arthur R., Sgt

B-17G #42-102484 Heller's Angel

P Carney, Walter J., 1LtCP Hickey, James A., 2LtNAV Donovan, James R., 1LtBOM Cooney, Thomas E., 2LtENG Turner, Harold L., T/SgtRO Foster, Albert A., T/SgtBT Kayrallah, Emil, S/SgtTG Howe, Clarence H., S/SgtWG Encinas, William S/Sgt

B-17G #42-97944 Daddy's Delight

P Virag, Andy R., 1LtCP Beeman, Richard, 2LtNAV Durkin, James A., 1LtTOG Cappucci, Joseph R., T/SgtENG Jeter, James E., Jr., S/SgtRO Vrabel, Cyril A., S/SgtBT Gurka, Stanley, Jr., SgtTG Bowman, John H., SgtWG Allerton, Jack R., Sgt

B-17G #42-31830 Marie

P Haynes, Charles D., 2LtCP McClurg, Galt L., 2LtNAV Beder, Harrison K., 2LtBOM Dando, Charles A., 2LtENG Sherrill, Elliotte W., SgtRO Deen, Oscar A., SgtBT Freese, Paul D., SgtWG Hrych, Robert C., SgtTG Ipsen, Allen L., Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

Mission 255 - 10


B-17G #43-38609 (No Name)

P Frazier, Eugene C., 2LtCP Campbell, Laurie H., 2LtNAV Goettman, Andrew T., 2LtBOM Barlow, Richard B., 2LtENG Borges, Gilbert C., S/SgtRO Trainor, Donald W., SgtBT Charron, Raymond H., SgtTG McCullough, Luther, Jr., SgtWG Anderson, Eston R., Sgt

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

P Jenkins, Harry F., 1LtCP Blanchard, Samuel B., 2LtNAV Nute, Gordon B., 1LtBOM Reynolds, Ralph J., 1LtENG Lainson, Colin C., SgtRO Loosemore, Wesley G., S/SgtBT Fydrychowski, John J., SgtTG Cregan, John M., SgtWG Allen, Charles G., Sgt

B-17G #43-38289 Sweet LaRhonda

P Lorentz, Arthur, 1LtCP Scott, Robert H., 2LtNAV Smith, William A., 2LtTOG Clubine, Frederick D., SgtENG Kreager, Jon B., SgtRO Lawson, Lucien P., S/SgtBT Ingalls, Earl F., CplTG Greenwald, Paul L., SgtWG Gonser, Dwight W., Sgt

B-17G #44-8256 Yankee Girl - PFF

P Cunningham, Robert L., 1LtCP Kerwin, Charles E., MajNAV Hammond, Raymond D., 2LtNAV Lifshus, Lawrence, 2LtBOM Scheibman, Herman B., 2LtENG Gauthier, Leon C., T/SgtRO Ringen, Walter E., S/SgtBT Zielinski, William J., SgtTG Ward, Duane G., 2Lt

Mission 255 - 11


B-17G #44-6517 Old Cock

P Butler, Milton C., 1LtCP Lovell, Brook H., 2LtNAV Rudolph, Gabriel, 2LtBOM Hackler, Maurice G., 2LtENG Bird, Harry G., SgtRO Christ, Donald R., SgtBT Miller, Donald E., SgtTG Johnson, David T., Jr., SgtWG Odegaard, Duane J., Sgt

B-17G #42-97861 Iza Vailable III

P McCutchan, Eugene R., 2LtCP Schuchard, Virgil R., 2LtNAV Conard, Willard G., 2LtBOM Fetzko, John, 2LtENG Kress, Richard H., S/SgtRO Frey, Alan E., SgtBT Scott, Howard E., SgtTG Wherry, Robert E., SgtWG Pearson, George D., Sgt

B-17G #42-102544 Sack Time

P Nafius, Verner H., 1LtCP Smith, Richard L., 2LtNAV Orenstein, Harold A., 2LtBOM Duros, Constentine J., 1LtENG Ellis, Richard R., S/SgtRO Fegette, Iva L., T/SgtTG Jinkens, Billy B., S/SgtWG Rydquist, Roy K., S/SgtBT McGinley, James E., S/Sgt

B-17G #44-6516 My Darling

P Baehr, Kenneth C., 1LtCP Slingsby, Harold G., MajNAV Conklin, James M., 2LtBOM Smith, William H., 1LtENG Keipper, Carl E., S/SgtBT Decker, Bruce O., S/SgtRO Ploeger, Jesse, T/SgtTG Hudson, Ward A., S/SgtWG Baldwin, Kenton F., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31055 Aloha

P Gravrock, Howard C., 2LtCP Losiewicz, Benjamin, 2LtNAV Klanian, Charles S., 2LtBOM Downey, Francis G., 2LtENG Levine, Raymond, T/SgtRO Engleman, George B., T/SgtBT Relford, Robert R., SgtTG Hensel, Phillip W., SgtWG Elliott, John C., S/Sgt

B-17G #44-6504 (No Name)

P Kallet, Sidney, 2LtCP Muth, Clifford F., 2LtNAV McCarty, Mike D., 2LtBOM Harrison, Lewis S., 2LtENG Lewis, William J., SgtRO Clarke, Frank W., SgtBT Macy, Edward J., SgtTG Terreri, Joseph, SgtWG Killelea, Raymond J., Sgt

Mission 255 - 12


B-17G #44-8137 (No Name) - PFF

P Kuykendall, Roger L., 1LtCP Norris, Loy R., 2LtNAV Mundell, William K., F/ONAV Charlton, Rufus S., 2LtBOM Cummins, James E., 2LtENG Evans, Harry D., S/SgtBT Boone, Everett D., SgtRO Barton, Forrest E., S/SgtTG Lovold, Ole, 2LtWG Alexander, John P., Sgt

B-17G #43-38451 (No Name)

P Foley, Norment, 1LtCP Rowe, Robert A., 2LtNAV Littlefield, Robert I., 2LtBOM Woodbury, Benton R., 1LtENG Snell, Edward A., S/SgtRO Johnson, Vernelle V., S/SgtTG Stewart, Charles R., SgtBT Waltmire, Harrel A., Jr., SgtWG Price, Kirkland T., S/Sgt

B-17G #43-38532 (No Name)

P Juns, Frank, 1LtCP Beasley, Roland C., 2LtNAV Harding, Warren G., 2LtBOM Thomas, Edward H., 2LtENG LeRoux, Lyle W., T/SgtRO Wimer, Maurice H., SgtBT Oberly, Eldridge C., SgtTG Englis, Hiram E., CplWG Branin, James J., Cpl(Abortive)

Mission 255 - 13


B-17G #43-37597 Earthquake McGoon

P Van Antwerp, Robert G., 2LtCP Rose, Jack W., 2LtNAV Morrison, Martin, 2LtBOM Nazarian, John K., 2LtTT Dyson, Flake S., SgtBT Brinkley, Lynn M., SgtRO Harper, Hiram C., SgtTG McCall, Lamar H., SgtWG Cottle, Clyde J., Jr., Sgt

B-17G #43-38705 (No Name)

P Eisenwinter, Philip D., 1LtCP Waggoner, Richard C., 2LtNAV Norman, Frederick J., 2LtBOM Campbell, Robert C., 2LtTT Simone, S.P., SgtBT Veljkov, Paul, SgtRO Islava, Joseph O., T/SgtTG Grossman, Howard A., SgtWG Sutton, Marvin A., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-97311 Shoo Shoo Baby

P O'Leary, James W., 2LtCP Reed, Louis E., 2LtNAV Kacere, Michael J., 2LtBOM Lyda, Robert E., 2LtTT Kernodle, John T., SgtBT Czerwonka, Joseph A., S/SgtRO DeVaney, Bernard C., SgtTG Carver, Harold R., SgtWG DeCicco, Frank C., Jr., Sgt

B-17G #42-102411 Miss Lace

P Gano, Frederick, 2LtCP Flanders, Wesley J., 2LtNAV Maniscalco, John B., F/OBOM Blessing, Gerald D., 2LtTT Anthony, George E., SgtBT Coyle, Arthur J., SgtRO Longo, Angelo L., S/SgtTG Nelson, Edward F., SgtWG Clare, Donald T., Sgt

B-17G #43-37666 Full House

P Brown, Tracy D., Jr., 1LtCP Lawrenson, George C., 1LtNAV Emmet, John P., 2LtBOM Olson, William E., 2LtTT Duffek, Francis T., S/SgtBT Born, Robert S., SgtRO Bridge, Howard R., T/SgtTG Blim, Raymond C., SgtWG Fisher, Clelland F., S/Sgt

B-17G #43-38197 (No Name)

P Davis, Robert W., 2LtCP Sayre, Dorwin D., 2LtNAV Martin, Walter E., F/OBOM Bryan, Fred W., F/OTT Hiibner, Okey L., S/SgtBT Johnson, Charles H., S/SgtRO Pope, Lester L., S/SgtTG Henry, Donivan D., S/SgtWG Smirnes, E. "Nick", Jr., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-107099 Old 99

P Ackerman, Stewart S., Jr., 2LtCP Barrios, Alfred R., 2LtNAV Dubois, Benjamin, 2LtBOM Oswald, Alois G., Jr., 2LtTT Creaghan, Robert E., Sgt BT Highfill, Thomas W., SgtRO Ribesky, John V., Jr., SgtTG Wiencek, Edward J., Sgt WG Proper, George M., Sgt

B-17G #43-38248 Jigger Rooche II

P Dubose, Carl L., Jr., 1LtCP Bean, John R., 2LtNAV Jenkins, John I., 2LtBOM Bober, Stanley, 2LtTT Jones, Jesse T., Jr., S/SgtBT Kidd, Robert E., S/SgtRO Kollmar, Donald L., S/SgtTG Watson, Byron W., SgtWG Balint, Daniel, Jr., Sgt

Mission 255 - 14


B-17G #43-38621 50 Ragged

P Cureton, Peter F., Jr., 1Lt CP Smith, Donald R., 2LtNAV Rusk, Donald M., 1LtBOM Lewis, Willard L., Jr., 2LtTT Willison, Warren, T/SgtBT Burford, Joseph A., Sgt RO Ellis, James A., S/SgtWG Bourlier, Donald W., S/SgtTG Celichowski, Ervin M., Sgt

B-17G #43-31060 Poque Ma Hone

P Roberts, Ingersall J., 1LtCP Bluethenthal, Arthur, 2LtNAV Clark, Floyd L., F/OBOM Long, Lloyd I., F/OBT Carlson, Harold A., SgtTT Riveland, Alf, SgtRO Renzi, Frank, SgtTG Barber, Albert P., SgtWG Campbell, Gerald R., Sgt

B-17G #44-8038 (No Name) - PFF

P Flowers, Selwyn D., 1LtCP Healy, Richard F., 1LtNAV Katz, Edwin Harold, 2LtNAV Tollack, Howard V., 1LtNAV Desmond, MacChesney, 1LtBOM Ulrich, Carl L., 2LtTT Kiely, Joseph P., T/SgtBT McCormick, Lewis J., S/SgtRO Kopriva, Charles P., S/SgtTG Harris, John R., 2LtWG Howell, Charles E., S/SgtPHO Skinner, Donald E., Sgt

B-17G #44-6166 The Red

P Bliss, Robert P., 1LtCP Morrow, John E., 2LtNAV Spooner, Ramon L., 2LtBOM Webster, Charles M., 1LtTT Shumar, Carl K., T/SgtBT Eakins, Charles A, Jr., S/SgtRO Herman, Benjamin, T/SgtTG Plesinger, Michael J., S/SgtWG Curry, Richard L., S/Sgt

B-17G #43-38057 (No Name)

P Reid, Clair P., 2LtCP Droll, Louis P., 2LtNAV Rogge, Richard W., 2LtBOM Natoli, Sam J., 2LtTT Arnott, David H., SgtBT Casciola, Benedict L., SgtRO Elling, Myron A., SgtTG Lowe, Joseph W., SgtWG McArdle, John H., Sgt

Mission 255 - 15

GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENTby Ramiro M. “Tony” Gonzalez

Crew Chief – 360th Bomb Squadron

To the B-17 heavy bomber pilots who played such an important role indelivering us from Nazi tyranny, and its devastating consequences in World WarII, I take my hat off and with due reverence, bow. Yes, it was “Team Work,” byeveryone at Molesworth, but they were the leaders.

The mighty 303rd Bombardment Group, and the 360th Bomb Squadron inparticular (of which I was a member), had a shaky beginning. Primarily, it wasbecause of the original squadron commander, who didn’t or couldn’t live up to hispledge or oath as an officer and leader. This sad situation was soon corrected bya replacement, that became the major pride and asset to our Squadron, Group,and I will venture to say, to the whole 8th Air Force.

When I first meet General Lew Lyle, he was Captain Lyle, as our SquadronCommander, and flew the aircraft that I worked on. This same aircraft becamethe ship leading the Squadron all along, but with a different pilot. Thediscrepancies used by the original pilot to abort rough missions, disappeared orwere none existent when Captain Lyle took over. He “lead” by precept andexample, and was loved and respected by all.

Captain Lyle’s leadership qualities were soon acknowledged and rewardedby his higher ups, which eventually ascended him to his present rank as a MajorGeneral.

The ground crews commented favorably in his behalf and was aninspiration to all of us, and I imagine that the pilots that he led, had the sameconcept of his daring educated risk, as he lead them into battle. He defied theodds and cheated reality many, many times.

Because of his unselfish demeanor, and strong disciplined character, hiscrew looked up to him, with confidence and composure, and fought gallantlyagainst what seemed to be unbeatable odds. Many fine men perished during thistime, officers and enlisted men who were exposed to anti-aircraft guns andfighters.

With the fighters, our gunners had what some of them would call a “sportingchance,” because they could shoot back at them. But with the “flak” they were“sitting ducks,” and couldn’t take evasive action while on the bomb run, or deviatefrom their course, as the bombardier had to drop the bombs on the target. Duringthis brief, critical period of time their odds of surviving decreased considerably. Ifa ship got knocked out of the sky, another took his position for protection andsecurity. The maintenance of the bomber formation was essential for adequatefire power against the German fighters.

Documents

303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 255