Mission 033 - 1

303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 334 May 1943

Target: General Motor & Ford Motor Co. Plants,Antwerp, Belgium

Crews Dispatched: 27

Crews Wounded: 2 crewmembers had slight wounds

Length of Mission: 4 hours, 30 minutes

Bomb Load: 5 x 1,000 lb. General Purpose bombs

Bombing Altitude: 23,500 ft

Ammo Fired: 21,907 rounds

Enemy Aircraft Claims: 5 Destroyed, 1 Probable

Capt. C.F. Ball, CO 511BS 351BG, was on this mission flying as co-pilot. Capt. J.W.Fredericks was the lead pilot of the High Squadron, main 303rd BG(H) formation,in #42-29570 (No Name). Lt. Col. George L. Robinson led the VIII BC mission to

bomb the General Motors and Ford Company plants and warehouses at Antwerp, Belgium.Three of the four 1st Bombardment Wing Heavy Bombardment Groups participated, witheach contributing a Squadron in a fourth composite Group formation.

Six 303rd BG(H) planes aborted the mission:#42-5482, Cat-O-Nine Tails, 359BS (McClung). The ball turret gunner, S/Sgt. CarlPhillips, became sick.#42-5243, FDR's Potato Peeler Kids, 359BS (Bales). The Radio Operator, T/Sgt.Raymond Kilgore's mask froze and he passed out from a lack of oxygen.#42-5081, Luscious Lady, 427BS (Burch). The navigator, Lt. John D. Noblin,fainted from oxygen loss.#42-5483, Red Ass, 360BS (Clifton), #42-2973, Iza Vailable, 360BS (Trojan), and#42-29481, (No Name), 427BS (Jacques) all experienced mechanical problems.

The visibility on the trip was perfect. The bombers, with full fighter coverage to keepthe enemy off, made a faultless bomb run to drop 52 1/2 tons of 1,000-lb. bombs withdeadly accuracy right on the target.

The flak was slight and inaccurate and not many crews even saw as much as a puffof it. The bombers were escorted by RAF Spitfires and US P-47 Thunderbolts. From 30 to40 enemy FW-190s and ME-110s came in for an attack which lasted about 20 minutes.Crews said they never saw so many fighters in the air at one time, with the escort fightersdoing an excellent job at keeping them away. However, some came in through the fightercover to attack the bombers. They came in so close that on several occasions, it lookedas though they might collide with the Forts. Five enemy planes were claimed as destroyedand one damaged. Six to eight attacks were made on the 303rd Group.

Many of the gunners commented that they had not been briefed on the fact thatfriendly Spitfires and P-47s would escort them all the way to the target. As a result, manygunners fired on the Spitfires and Thunderbolts in the belief that they were German

Mission 033 - 2

Captains W. R. Calhoun and Clark Gable

fighters. One crew reported seeing a P-47 shoot down a Spitfire. Additional aircraftrecognition classes were requested for both bomber crews and fighter pilots. It was duringMay that P-47s began regular escorts for distances up to 200 miles.

All of the crews felt that the raid was a success. Great billows of smoke and flamesrose from the target area. Photographs confirmed that tremendous damage was done. Lt.Col. William A. Hatcher, commanding Officer of the 351st BG(H) at Polebrook who wasflying an orientation mission as co-pilot on the Fortress The '8' Ball MK II, piloted by Capt.William R. Calhoun, stated, "It was my second raid and it was a hell of a lot better than thefirst one which was Bremen. They tell me the bombing was perfect. I am learning a lot eachtime." Capt. Calhoun, a veteran of many bombing raids, said, "It was a good mission asfar as I am concerned. My bombardier, Capt. Robert Yonkman, told me that the bombingwas really something."

Maj. Keith Birlem, a former Washington Redskins professional football player, wasmaking his first mission on his birthday. He commented, " I never thought those Germanswould come so close. I was riding co-pilot to Capt. Eddie Broussard and one FW-190came right at us. If Capt. Broussard hadn't pulled up the nose, he would have hit us headon." S/Sgt. Hudson Choice, ball turret gunner in Capt. Broussard's ship, the ViciousVirgin, said, "First of all, the bombing was swell. That fighter that came so close to uspeeled over right under us and I got him, but good." S/Sgt. William Fleming, waist gunneron the Vicious Virgin, said, "I'll verify that FW-190 that Sgt. Choice shot down. I saw itcrash in flames." S/Sgt. Charles Stoper said, "I saw the bombs of the first four ships infront of us land right on the target. Plenty of flames and smoke came up. It was reallygood."

Bombardier 1Lt. Mark Mathis stated, "I believe weput both General Motors and Mr. Ford out of business inAntwerp today. We had a beautiful bomb run and thebombs were right on the mark." S/Sgt. Fred Meddaugh,tail gunner on Hell's Angels, commented, "It was a swellshow, plenty of fighter support and bombing, couldn'thave been better." 1Lt. Joseph Strickland navigator onThe '8' Ball MK II, had a close call. "A 20mm shell cut myflying boot almost in half," he remarked. "I believe it wasas good bombing as we have done. Never saw so manyfighters in my life. Both ours and the Germans." 1Lt. LyleSherwood, lead ship bombardier, said, "The aiming wasperfect. We couldn't miss as our pictures will prove."

Capt. Clark Gable flew as an observer in the leadB-17, The '8' Ball MK II. Enemy fighters slightly damagedthis aircraft. Capt. Gable manned the radio room gun.

Gable and his cameraman chose to begin combat filming on his VIII Air Force combatgunnery training motion picture with a seasoned B-17 Group. He would finish filming withthe 351st BG(H) when it finished its theater indoctrination and entered combat. Thefinished combat film was used as the core of the motion picture, "Combat America."

Mission 033 - 3

Route Map

Mission 033 - 4

B-17F Son #42-5221 (427BS) GN-Z102nd PBCW Main 303BG Lead (427BS) - Pilot LtCol G.L. Robinson / CoPilot Capt B.B. Southworth

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point

Robinson-Southworth221

Hayes Lipe 392 520

Broussard341

Burch Jacques 081 481

Baldwin Fredericks 577 570Timken Jess Trojan Stallings 656 432 973 393 Nolan Griffin 664 788McDonald Thompson Mack Van Wie 792 9635 606 571 Oxrider Clifton 264 483

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 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 033 - 5

The '8' Ball MkII #41-24635 (359BS) BN-O102nd PBCW Lead - Pilot Capt W.R. Calhoun / CoPilot LtCol W.A. Hatcher

(L-R) S/Sgt W.C. Mulgrew (BT), S/Sgt R.C. Fortunak (WG), T/Sgt R.R. Zaorski (E), S/Sgt M.A. Murphy (WG),Capt R.J. Yonkman (B), LtCol W.A. Hatcher (CP 351st), Capt W.R. Calhoun (P), 1Lt J.M. Strickland (N),

T/Sgt C.R. Terry (R), S/Sgt W.W. Stephen (TG), Capt Clark Gable (351st passenger)

303rd Aircraft in Composite Group

with 305th BG(H) and 91st BG(H) Groups

Calhoun 4635 Campbell Cline 561 177 Bales 243 Haines Pentz 029 624 McClung 482

Crew Report of Enemy Aircraft Destroyed or Damaged

S/Sgt. J.E. Bruskotter (792) FW-190 Claimed

T/Sgt. J.R. Welch (9635) FW-190 Claimed

T/Sgt. J.E. Rodriguez (577) FW-190 Probable

S/Sgt. R. Nakaniski (9635) FW-190 Claimed

Sgt. W.H. Bruns (624) ME-109 Claimed

Sgt. Hudson Choice (341) FW-190 Claimed

Mission 033 - 6

358th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17F #42-5792 The Mugger

P McDonald, James M., 1LtCP Rogan, Dave L., 1LtNAV Clement, Richard W., 1LtBOM Montgomery, James H., Jr., 1LtENG Fanning, David D., T/SgtRWG Zioance, John, S/SgtRO Carpenter, Glenn S., T/SgtBT Bruskotter, James E., S/SgtTG Sterling, Robert W., S/SgtLWG Koenig, Bernard H., T/Sgt

B-17F #41-24577 Hell's Angels

P Baldwin, Irl E., CaptCP Ledaux, Elzia, CaptNAV Madsen, Parley W., Jr., 1LtBOM Bone, Donald R., 1LtENG Rodriguez, James E., Jr., T/SgtRWG Meddaugh, Allerton F., S/SgtRO Warren, Russell M., T/SgtBT Brody, Harry J., S/SgtLWG Weiskopf, Dennis, S/SgtTG Godwin, Harold E., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-5432 The Hunting Club

P Jess, Ray W., 2LtCP Gunn, Harold W., 2LtNAV Davidson, Robert P., 2LtBOM Box, Charles M., 2LtENG Smith, Harold E., T/SgtRWG Hardacre, Charles F., S/SgtRO Godzinski, Joseph J., T/SgtBT Johnson, Byron W., S/SgtLWG Wood, James A., T/SgtTG White, Frank M., SgtPHO Luman, Morton, Sgt

B-17F #42-29656 The Terrible Ten

P Timken, Jack C., 1LtCP Wright, George E., 2LtNAV Chamberlain, William V., 2LtBOM Solverson, Robert K., 2LtENG Knuth, Leland N., S/SgtRWG Paiva, Joseph B., SgtRO Baxter, Jack, T/SgtBT Toy, James E., S/SgtTG Giassullo, Criscienzo N., S/SgtLWG Redhead, George R., Sgt

B-17F #42-5264 Yankee Doodle Dandy

P Oxrider, George J., 1Lt CP Hurlburt, Donald W., 2LtNAV Grant, Donald L., 2LtBOM Steele, Earl A., 2LtENG Ziemer, Frederick B., T/SgtBT Smith, Robert H., S/SgtRO Dasher, Everett A., T/SgtRWG Maxwell, Samuel P., S/SgtTG Sadler, James K., S/SgtLWG Heaps, Theodore C., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-29635 Augerhead

P Thompson, Frank H., 2LtCP Sumarlidason, Arni L., 2LtNAV O'Connor, James R., 2LtBOM McCord, Lawrence E., 2LtENG Welch, James R., S/SgtTT Fulanovich, Charles J., S/SgtRO Hogue, Earl, T/SgtBT Nakaniski, Ralph, S/SgtTG Aubrey, Eldred L., S/SgtRWG Wilson, Donald R., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-29664 Jersey Bounce, Jr.

P Nolan, Robert J., CaptCP Kruse, Richard L., 2LtNAV Anderson, William J., 2LtBOM Hopper, Richard R., 1LtENG Hively, Roy J., T/SgtBT Mathews, Frank M., SgtRO Hamill, Milton, T/SgtTG Bitter, Emile V., Jr., S/SgtLWG Isham, Lawrence W., S/SgtRWG Goff, James P., S/Sgt

Mission 033 - 7

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17F #41-24561 The Duchess

P Campbell, Claude W., 1LtCP Miller, Arthur W., 2LtNAV Ririe, George M., 2LtBOM Boutelle, Winston E., 2LtENG Hernan, Howard E., T/SgtRO Kraft, Harold A., T/SgtRWG Bachert, Kurt W., S/SgtBT Catozza, Peter P., S/SgtTG Quick, George D., S/SgtLWG Wilson, Benton, Sgt

B-17F #42-5243 FDR's Potato Peeler Kids

P Bales, Ross C., CaptCP Dooley, Walter E., 1LtNAV McColl, Daniel A., 1LtBOM Cargill, William D., 2LtENG Winter, Raymond K., Jr., T/SgtRG O'Reilly, Francis W., S/SgtRO Kilgore, Raymond H., T/SgtBT Zsamper, Joseph G., S/SgtTG Snell, Jack D., S/SgtRWG Van Ravenstein, Edward A., S/SgtPAS Neff, William J., Capt(Abortive Sortie)

B-17F #42-3029 Wallaroo

P Haines, Rolland M., 1LtCP Kramer, Mayer, 2LtNAV Delorenzo, D.D., 2LtBOM Morse, Anthony E., 2LtENG Garcia, Robert A., S/SGtRO Kalk, Kenneth T.M., T/SgtTG Davis, Charles E., S/SgtLWG Martin, Raymond W., S/SgtBT Foster, Allen G., S/SgtRWG Morgan, Robert L., Sgt

B-17F #42-29624 Pappy

P Pentz, Arthur H., 1LtCP Wallace, Robert W., 2LtNAV Jacobsen, Norman N., 2LtBOM Philpit, Russell O., 2LtENG Dougherty, John A., T/SgtRO Murray, Robert L., S/SgtLWG Horvath, Robert A., SgtBT Bruns, William H., Jr., SGtTG Knudsen, Elmer T., SgtRWG Howard, George Z., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-5177 Fast Worker MK II

P Cline, William J., 1LtCP Mulligan, Thomas E., 2LtNAV Street, Benjamin B., 1LtBOM Gordon, LeRoy V., 1LtENG Doran, Arnold S., T/SgtRO McGee, Paul P., T/SgtTG Milliff, Mike C., S/SgtRWG Jordan, Lloyd L., S/SgtBT Lemann, Paul C., S/SgtLWG Kerr, Joseph, Sgt

B-17F #41-24635 The '8' Ball MK II

P Calhoun, William R., Jr., CaptCP Hatcher, W.A., LtCol (351BG)NAV Strickland, Joseph M., 1LtBOM Yonkman, Robert J., 1LtENG Zaorski, Roman R., T/SgtRO Terry, Charles R., T/SgtLWG Fortunak, Richard C., S/SgtBT Mulgrew, William C., S/SgtTG Stephen, Willard W, S/SgtRWG Murphy, Murel A., S/SgtPAS Gable, Clark, Capt

B-17F #42-5482 Cat-O-Nine Tails

P McClung, Guy H., 1LtCP Nix, James S., 1LtNAV Stettler, Donald G., 2LtBOM Rothman, Theodore I., 2LtENG Coykendall, Ralph A., T/SgtRWG Traban, James J., S/SgtRO McCoy, Gordon K., SgtTG Piatek, Casimir P., S/SgtBT Phillips, Carl W., S/SgtLWG Ryan, Francis J., S/SgtPHO Kagey, Martin I., Jr., Sgt(Abortive)

Mission 033 - 8

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17F #42-5393 Thumper Again

P Stallings, George V., Jr., LtCP Bradbury, Joseph E., LtNAV Kelley, James F., LtBOM Kieffer, Claude M., LtENG Watson, James A., T/SgtLWG Yattaw, Robert H., S/SgtRO Jones, Dick W., S/SgtBT Semonick, Martin A., S/SgtTG Stickler, John J., S/SgtRWG Kelly, Thomas F., T/Sgt

B-17F #42-29571 Charley Horse

P Van Wie, John A., LtCP Vaughan, Thomas S., LtNAV Blank, Paul, LtBOM Rice, Bernard, LtENG Hlebasko, Albert, T/SgtBT Morton, Eugene L., S/SgtRO Noll, Robert W., T/SgtRWG Spring, Benjamin F., S/SgtLWG Swanson, Theodore G., S/SgtTG Bridges, Robert C., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-5788 A.O.G. Not in Stock

P Griffin, Loyd D., LtCP Swanson, Walter C., LtNAV Preston, William M., LtBOM Taylor, Robert L., LtENG Eason, William M., T/SgtLWG Edwards, Samuel L., S/SgtRO Schwartz, Vernon E., T/SgtTG Wiegand, Lynwood D., S/SgtBT Plummer, Robert, S/SgtRWG Henderson, Paul E., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-29606 Butch

P Mack, David W., LtCP Barhaug, Ragnar, LtNAV Smith, Roland M., LtBOM Saiz, Reinaldo J., LtENG Deitch, Daniel T., T/SgtLWG Stewart, Carl C., S/SgtRO Cicinelli, Salvatore J., S/SgtTG Biernacki, Joseph J., S/SgtBT Peterson, Andrew C., S/SgtRWG Spitzfaden, Robert E., Sgt

B-17F #42-29570 (No Name)

P Fredericks, Jacob W., CaptCP Ball, C.F., Capt (351 GP)NAV Hoyt, Otis A., LtBOM Fonorow, Milton S., LtENG Hlastala, Michael S., T/SgtLWG Schneiderman, Henry G., S/SgtRO Smith, Richard J., T/SgtBT Nardine, Howard H., S/SgtTG Murray, Gilbert A., Jr., SgtRWG Collins, Harvie L., S/SgtOBS Tippet, Paul S., Lt

B-17F #42-5483 Red Ass

P Clifton, David S., LtCP Garvey, John L., LtNAV Wright, Howard R., LtBOM Currie, Herman C., LtENG Doss, Carroll P., T/SgtRWG Compo, Anthony, S/SgtRO Morrison, Eugene D., T/SgtBT Mitchell, John B., S/SgtTG Villarreal, Rodolfo A., S/SgtLWG Jameson, Jimmie E., Sgt(Abortive)

B-17F #42-2973 Iza Vailable

P Trojan, Joseph E., LtCP Way, Arthur C., LtNAV Auman, Rictor H., LtBOM Stewart, Jack W., LtENG Hassler, Kenneth C., T/SgtRWG Klasnick, Joseph S., SgtRO Lindewall, Erick K., T/SgtBT Sunderlin, Joseph R., S/SgtTG Bartlett, Frank W., S/SgtLWG O'Connell, Lincoln T., S/SgtOBS Quinney, Donald E., Capt(Abortive)

Mission 033 - 9

427th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17 #42-5081 Luscious Lady

P Burch, Armand F., LtCP Cardwell, Burt J., LtNAV Noblin, John D., LtBOM Butt, Byron K., LtENG Barlow, Benjamin, T/SgtBT Bourdon, Louis F., S/SgtRO Ashworth, George W., S/SgtLWG Arnold, Robert W., S/SgtTG Brown, Howard T., S/SgtRWG Cooney, Robert M., Sgt(Abortive)

B-17F #42-29520 (No Name)

P Lipe, Fort W., LtCP Woodley, Robert F., LtNAV McElwain, Richard E., LtBOM Mathis, Rhude Mark, 1LtENG Gray, J.R., T/SgtBT Sink, Robert K., S/SgtRO Brandfas, Dale F., T/SgtTG Serpa, Joseph E., S/SgtLWG Hinds, Durward L., S/SgtRWG Barron, Dante G., Sgt

B-17F # 42-5392 Stric Nine

P Hayes, Ralph S., Jr., LtCP Rolfson, Jack G., LtNAV Illgen, Frederick, J., LtBOM Blythe, Leon W., CaptENG Good, James K., T/SgtTG Bednarchuk, Antonio, S/SgtRO Jessee, Jesse J., T/SgtLWG Smith, Delvyn, S/SgtRWG Hairr, Elwood F., S/SgtBT Johnson, Otto D., Sgt

B-17F #42-5341 Vicious Virgin

P Broussard, Edward J., Jr., CaptCP Birlem, Keith C., MajNAV Herman, Charles L., LtBOM Smith, Abbott M., Jr., LtENG Smock, Edmund L., T/SgtRO Karanson, William A., Jr., T/SgtBT Choice, Hudson, S/SgtLWG Fleming, William W., S/SgtRWG Storer, Charles R., S/SgtTG Jurosek, Bernard, Sgt

B-17F #42-5221 Son

P Robinson, George L., LtColCP Southworth, Billy B., Jr., CaptNAV Soha, Walter M., CaptBOM Sherwood, Lyle D., LtNAV Menees, R.W., LtENG Zipfel, Charles E., T/SgtRO Doughty, Edward J., T/SgtBT Belk, Jack, S/SgtTG Henderson, George W., S/SgtLWG Brandt, Waldo B., S/SgtRWG Harmon, Edward Z., S/Sgt

B-17F # 42-29481 (No Name)

P Jacques, Chester D., LtCP Holder, Alvin D., LtNAV Bradshaw, John W., LtBOM Carlson, Robert C.A., LtENG Good, James K., T/SgtRWG Clapshaw, Keith L., S/SgtRO Vasel, Warren T., SgtBT Longo, Angelo L., SgtTG Kirkpatrick, Ward M., S/SgtLWG Ryan, Clayton W., Sgt(Abortive)