November 1944 - rafcamuseum.co.uk

November 1944

381st Bombardment Group Mission #209 – Hamburg, Germany 4th November

381st BG diary entry: An attempt was made to set up a mission to Hamburg Nov. 3, but it

was scrubbed.

We finally got flying the next day. It was mission No. 209 for the Group, and the target was

Hamburg. Col. Leber, with Capt. Watson as his pilot, was in personal command of our

contingent of 37 aircraft. It was 10/10 over the target and the bombing was done by

instruments. The flak was moderate and inaccurate, mainly of the barrage type. There

were no enemy aircraft. All our aircraft returned safely to base.

532nd BS diary entry: Today's mission was to attack Harburg, near Hamburg, the site of a

large refinery. Bombing was by PFF, while enemy aircraft opposition was nil and flak was

moderate, inaccurate, barrage type in the target area. Our ten pilots were: Lts Schomburg,

Schwartner, Bendall, Quinn, Devenish, Lazar, Bailey, Smith, Armstrong and Belskis.

533rd BS diary entry: Nine 533rd aircraft took part in a PFF attack on Hamburg today, with

CO Col Harry P. Leber, Jr. flying in the lead ship of the Air Division, Capt Ewing S. Watson

as his pilot. Flak at the target was heavy but inaccurate, while bombing results were

unobserved due to 10/10th cloud. No opposition was encountered and all ships returned

safely.

Our pilots today were: Lts Rolin, Tolchinsky, Nolan, Bigham, Hollendorfer, Johnson, Goldin

and Long.

534th BS diary entry: Led by Lt. Douglas and Lt. Kaurin, who led the low squadron of the

Group, 8 a/c attacked the oil refineries of Hamburg/Harburg, Germany. Owing to cloud

coverage bombing was accomplished by P.F.F. Enemy air opposition was reported as nil.

Flak was moderate, inaccurate, some tracking, mostly barrage type fire. Pilots that

participated: Lts. Douglas and Kaurin, Lts. Black, Brummett, Evans, Houk, Boyce, Parkison,

Schilling and Bowden. 2nd Lieutenants Fedak, Hospers, Martin, Scott, Stypula and

Thorndike appointed to 1st Lieutenant. Lt. Col. Briggs, Squadron Commander, relieved

from command and assigned to the 381st Headquarters where he will serve as Group

Operations Officer. Capt. D.L. Winter was assigned to the unit from the 532nd squadron

and assumes command of the squadron. The usual Saturday morning inspection was held

this date. Living quarters and site areas found to be in good condition.

535th BS diary entry: From an 08.16 hrs take off in clear, cold invigorating weather, eight

of nine squadron Forts participated with the group, which led the Air Division in a PFF

bombing over Hamburg. Flak was heavy but not too accurate, with bombs away through a

complete 10/10th cloud cover. No enemy aircraft were seen while we had a good escort.

Lt Sweetland aborted with engine trouble in "Tomahawk Warrior". Those pilots who

participated were: Lts Todd (with Stallings), Tuz, Miller, Lang, Beine, Bowser, Stuart and

Mitchell. Lt Angevine "mickey" operator flew with Col Leber in the lead bomber.

8th AF diary entry: 2 missions are flown. Mission 700: 1,160 bombers and 890 fighters are

dispatched in 6 forces to make PFF attacks on the oil industry in W Germany; 5 bombers

and 2 fighters are lost:

1. 228 B-17s are dispatched to hit the oil plant at Neunkirchen (151); secondary targets hit

are the marshalling yards at Saarbrucken (35) and Neunkirchen (13); 5 B-17s are

damaged. Escort is provided by 76 of 77 P-47s and 50 Ninth AF P-51s without loss.

2. 210 of 222 B-24s hit the Misburg oil plant at Hannover; 3 B-24s are lost and 93

damaged; 28 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 371 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 0-0-1

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

3. 257 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Harburg oil plant at Hamburg (238); targets of

opportunity are the aviation industry at Nordholz (9) and other (2); 9 B-17s are damaged.

Escort is provided by 124 of 139 P-51s; they claim 0-0-1 aircraft on the ground; 1 P-51 is

lost (pilot MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair.

4. 186 of 193 B-17s hit the Rhenania oil plant at Hamburg; 2 others hit targets of

opportunity; 2 B-17s are lost and 61 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 18 MIA. Escort is

provided by 110 P-51s without loss.

5. 91 of 119 B-17s hit the Welhun oil plant at Bottrop; 26 others hit the secondary, the

marshalling yard at Hamm; 24 B-17s are damaged. Escort is provided by 37 of 40 P-51s;

they claim 0-0-1 aircraft; 1 P-51 is lost.

6. 133 of 141 B-24s hit Gelsenkirchen/Nordstern without loss. Escort is provided by 50 of 54

P-47s. Mission 701: 3 B-17s and 6 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and

Germany during the night.

“More than 1,100 Flying Fortresses and Liberators of the Eighth Air Force and more than

800 supporting fighters struck the heaviest blow by daylight.

They attacked oil refineries at Misburg, near Hanover, and in the Hamburg-Harburg area”

“From “5,000-Plane Blow Rocks Reich Cities,” on page 6 of the link.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3223424/posts


Mission #210 – Frankfurt, Germany 5th November

381st BG diary entry: Frankfurt was the target for Nov. 5 and our 37-aircraft contingent

was led by Capt. Douglas L. Winter. It was 10/10 again over the target, although there was

a break to about 8/10 at the end of the bombing run. The bombing was accomplished by

PFF methods and results were unobserved. The meagre to moderate flak at Frankfurt was

fairly accurate. We had four battle damaged ships when the mission was over, and one

man wounded: S/Sgt Max A Blair, 532nd tail gunner, who received a mild flak injury to the

left thigh.

Nov. 5 was the beginning of a new plan for officers mess dances. The dance that night was

for officers of field grade and captains, only, and each of the women guests was expecially

[sic] invited. The crowd was small and the party much more sedate than previous brawls.

Opinions were mixed.

532nd BS diary entry: Today we attacked the marshalling yards at Frankfurt, so while

there was 8/10th could coverage, bombing was by PFF with results unobserved. Flak was

meagre to moderate and four of our ships suffered battle damage. Leading the high

squadron was Capt Herrington and Lt Miller, the others being: Lts Bendall, Lazar, Davis,

Marshall, Rautio, Schomburg, Smith and Schwartner.

533rd BS diary entry: The 533rd put up ten bombers, one borrowed from the 532nd, for

today's attack on the marshalling yards at Frankfurt. Briefed for a PFF job and visually;

lead elements used the instrument process, but low and high squadrons bombed visually

when large holes opened in the clouds just above the target. Crews reported large fires and

thick clouds of smoke, flak at the target ranged from moderate to accurate, but no enemy

aircraft seen.

Our pilots today were: Lts Orcutt, Roush, Bigham, Berkley, Winsor, Kinney, Steinwinter,

Nelson, Long and Goldin.

534th BS diary entry: Squadron Commander D.L. Winter and Capt. Bordner led the Group

and squadron on an operation against the railway marshalling yards of Frankfurt. 8/10ths

cloud coverage in the vicinity of target area forced crews to bomb by instruments. Results

were not observed. Meagre to moderate barrage and continuously pointed AA fire was

encountered en route. Fairly accurate fire encountered in the target area. Participating

were Lts. Thorndike, Giese, Evans, Ford, Williamson, Scholze, Schilling, Brummett – all

attacked the primary and returned safe to base.

535th BS diary entry: The 534th led the group to Frankfurt today bombing marshalling

yards there in the face of moderate to heavy fairly accurate flak, which wounded a 532nd

crewman. Nine of our squadron crews took part and ten ships.

Crews were set for a PFF job, but only the lead elements bombed that way. High and low

squadrons took partial advantage of a large hole which appeared over the marshalling yard

target and got credit for a visual assist performance. Red flashes and plenty of smoke, with

combat wings coming in behind us to pour their bombs into the holocaust, were reported.

There were no enemy aircraft around. Our planes returned at 14.00 hrs, landing into a

strong cross wind which blew in a heavy downpour about 15.00. The Red Cross Clubmobile

was on hand with hot coffee, do'nuts, candy and cigarettes for the returning airmen, but the

briefing block kiwis managed to get their full share.

Our pilots were: Lts Davison, Smith, Marbury, Metts, Levitoff, Biene, Sweetland,

Springmeyer and Thornton. The 532nd flew our "Me and My Gal".

S/Sgt Harold W. Hofer has left for home. He is the squadron's first combat man to finish a

tour of duty without receiving an automatic DFC. He has, however, been specially

recommended for the decoration.

8th AF diary entry: 2 missions are flown. Mission 702: 1,272 bombers and 666 fighters in 3

forces attack marshalling yards in W Germany; H2X radar is used by all forces; 12 bombers

and 6 fighters are lost.

1. 452 B-17s are dispatched to the marshalling yard at Frankfurt (396); 36 hit the

marshalling yard at Hanau and 4 hit other targets; 1 B-17s is lost, 2 damaged beyond repair

and 126 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 3 WIA and MIA. Escort is provided by 206 P-47s and P-

51s; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA)

2. 454 B-17s are dispatched to hit the marshalling yard (219) and industrial area (177) at

Ludwigshafen; targets of opportunity are the marshalling yard at Kaiserslautern (33) and

other (4); 11 B-17s are lost and 298 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 5 WIA and 103 MIA. Escort

is provided by 192 P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).

3. 333 of 366 B-24s hit the secondary target, the Karlsruhe marshalling yard; 12 others hit

Landau; 3 B-24s are damaged beyond repair and 28 damaged; 6 airmen are KIA and 8

WIA. Escort is provided by 228 P-47s and P-51s; 2 P-47s and 1 P-51 are lost (pilots are

MIA). Mission 703: 3 B-17s and 7 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and

Germany during the night without loss.

“Riding through what one flier described as a ‘hell’ of flak, more than 1,200 heavy bombers

of the United States Eighth Air Force blasted the great war factories and railway yards of

Ludwigshafen, Frankfort on the Main and Karlsruhe today in the aerial offensive that has

seen nearly 5,000 Allied bombers and 3,000 fighters over Germany during the weekend.”

From “U.S. ‘Heavies’ Pound Rhineland Areas,” on pages 11-12 of the link.



Mission #211 – Hamburg, Germany 6th November

381st BG diary entry: We went back to Hamburg Nov 6 with Capt. Frank L. Tyson,

535th operations officers, as commander of the 37 aircraft formation. The 8/10 to 9/10

cumulus, plus middle cloud, plus smoke screen at the target made it necessary to call again

up on the PFF technique. There were strike photos, however, and they showed hits on the

North side of the river at Hamburg, a little northeast of the MPI. There were no enemy

aircraft. We lost two Fortresses on the mission to the moderate to intense and extremely

accurate flak defending the city. Missing in action are:

2nd Lt. Julius Levitoff, pilot.

2nd Lt. John F. Champion, Jr., copilot

2nd Lt. Joseph W. Byrnes, navigator

S/Sgt. Joseph C. Ward, togeleer

S/Sgt. Gil H. Menedez

S/Sgt. Alfred J. Kreutz

S/Sgt. Carl E. Gates

S/Sgt. Anthoy Skrinski, Jr.

S/Sgt. Bruce M. Hillard

**************

2nd Lt. Dudley K. Brummett, pilot

2nd Lt. Boyd C. Fox, Jr., copilot

2nd Lt. Alfred Fox, navigator

2nd Lt. William G. Barker, bombardier

Sgt. Leonard A. Carmichael

Sgt. Charles D. Dugger

Sgt. John Watson

Sgt. Thomas J. Lyons

Sgt. Frank N. Horach, Jr.

Levitoff’s Fortress “For me and My Gal”, was last seen at 10.54 in the target area its no. 3

engine propeller gone after a direct flak hit. The Fortress dropped back and nosed down.

Two to five objects were seen coming out of the plane. They disappeared into the clouds.

Probabilities are these might have been bailers out performing delayed jumps.

Brummett was last heard of at noon. Oil was streaming from his no. 1 engine and his left

wing tip was smoking. Over the VHF the pilot reported he was turning back toward the

continent because of a hole in his gas tank. They were last seen under control heading back

toward Germany.

532nd BS diary entry: Target for today was again Hamburg, with bombing results good

after a visual attack, despite moderate to intense accurate flak encountered in the target

area. Those who participated were, leading: Capt Herrington and Lt Morgan, with: Lts

Devenish, Belskis, Sunderland O'Connor, Marshall, Bailey, Schwartner and Smith.

533rd BS diary entry: Nine bombers and crews of the 533rd took part in an attack on oil

refineries at Hamburg. Capt Jim Tyson, 535th operations officer, led the formation. Weather

was excellent until the formation approached the target, when a 6/10th cumulus cloud

cover built up.

The lead ship bombed PFF, as briefed, but the rest of the group bombed off the lead ship's

wingman, a ship forced to salvo its bombs after being hit by flak. Results were unobserved.

Flak at the target was moderate, but accurate and a 535th ship was knocked down. No

enemy fighters were encountered while our bombers were protected by a powerful escort.

Today's pilots were: Lts Roush, Nelson, Nolan, Tolchinsky, Winsor, Long, Kinney, Rolin and

Fenton.

534th BS diary entry: 10 a/c of this squadron were dispatched against oil refineries in

Hamburg, Germany. Aircraft bombed the assigned primary and hits were observed in the

target area. There was an absence of enemy opposition in the air while flak was moderate

to intense and extremely accurate in the target area. Lts. Parkison, Rice, Boyce, Giese,

Schilling, Williamson and Brummett took part. Our ship flew in both the high and low

squadrons of the formation. This mission cost the squadron Lt. Brummett’s crew and

aircraft. Brummett’s aircraft was reported with oil coming from one engine and the left

wing tip smoking. Over VHF – Brummett state that he was gong back toward the enemy

coast as there was hole in one of his gas tanks. When last seen his a/c was still under

control. Present status of crew - Missing in Action. Listed are members of lost crew:

2nd Lt. D.K.Brummett

2nd Lt. B.C. Fox Jr.

2nd Lt. A. Fox

2nd Lt. W.G. Barker

Sgt. C.D. Duggen

Sgt. L.A. Carmichael

Sgt. J.F. Watson

Sgt. T.J. Lyons

Sgt. F.N. Horsch, Jr.

535th BS diary entry: The squadron suffered its first total crew loss in 65 consecutive

missions today when a direct flak hit burst in #3 engine over opil refinery targets at

Harburg, knocked out Lt Levitoff, in M/Sgt Ed "Mouse" Davis's "Chug-a-Lug IV", out of

formation. He was last seen going down under control, but there has been no further or

more definite report.

Capt Tyson, squadron operations officer, led the group as a combat wing today, and nine of

our crews, ten aircraft, contributed to the lead squadron. Flying weather was excellent up to

the target, where a 6/10th cumulus cloud cover made bombing observations impossible. No

enemy aircraft were encountered today and the escort was "sufficient".

It is thought results were not good and that bombs fell two minutes short of their objectives

because of accidental release. Lt Levitoff's bombardier salvoed his load when the flak hit

them, and rearward elements apparently mistakenly bombed off him instead of the PFF, to

which he was flying wingman. Only the PFF leader bombed as briefed.

Pilots for today were: Lts O'Connor, Miller, Rojohn, Garrett, Springmeyer, Thornton, Bowser

and Levitoff.

MIA crew: 2nd Lts Julius Levitoff, John F. Champion Jr, Joseph M. Byrnes; S/Sgts Joseph C.

Ward, Alfred J. Dreutz, Gil Y. Menendez, Carl E. Gates, Anthony Skrinski and Bruce M.

Hillard.

With the exception of Lt Yates' engineer and navigator, who bailed out under fighter attack

near Dessau last August, the squadron has had 64 no-loss missions since 4 July when Lt

Bobrof failed to return.

8th AF diary entry: Mission 704: 1,131 bombers and 802 fighters in 6 forces make PFF

attacks on the oil industry in W Germany; 5 bombers and 5 fighters are lost:

1. 291 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Harburg (142) and Rhenania (138) oil refineries at

Hamburg; 3 others hit the Lubeck oil refinery at Hamburg; 4 B-17s are lost and 103

damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 2 WIA and 36 MIA. Escort is 238 of 258 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost

(pilot MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair.

2. 262 B-17s are dispatched to hit the aviation industry at Neumunster (23); 231 hit the

secondary, the Neumunster marshalling yard; 3 others hit targets of opportunity; 10 B-17s

are damaged; 1 airman is KIA. Escort is 93 of 102 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).

3. 215 B-24s are dispatched to hit the Mittelland Canal at Minden; 2 others hit targets of

opportunity; 1 B-24 is lost and 31 damaged; 10 airmen are MIA. 43 of 44 P-47s escort

without loss.

4. 101 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Bottrop oil refinery; 12 others hit the secondary, the

marshalling yard at Hamm; 39 B-17s are damaged. 257 of 271 P-51s escort without loss.

5. 143 B-24s are dispatched to hit the Sterkrade oil refinery (134); 1 other hit Vreden; 27

B-24s are damaged. 40 of 43 P-51s escort claiming 0-0-1 aircraft; 3 P-51s are lost (pilots

MIA).

6. 119 B-17s are dispatched to hit the benzol oil plant at Duisburg (65); 43 hit a target of

opportunity, the marshalling yard at Rheydt; 18 B-17s are damaged. 51 of 54 P-47s escort

without loss.

30 P-51s of the Scouting Forces patrol the area without loss.

“The United States Eighth Air Force sent out by daylight 1,100 to 1,200 heavy bombers that

pounded oil, industrial and railway targets in the Hamburg area and the Ruhr.”

From “RAF Rips Coblenz in Bombing Drive,” on page 10 of the link.



Mission #212 – Metz, France 9th November

381st BG diary entry: There were no more missions until Nov. 9. The target that day were

gun emplacements and pill boxes at Ouvr de Chesny, in North France. Our 37 aircraft were

commanded by Lt. Col. Fitzgerald. We had one abortive and the spare also returned early.

The rest of the formation went on to the target where they found a 10/10 undercast,

decreasing to about 6/10 at the end of the bombing run. The Pathfinder ship led as far as

the IP where the G/H Fortress took over and led the way to the bombing. The results were

unobserved. Anti-aircraft fire was meagre and inaccurate, but it increased in intensity after

the Group got to the target. There were no enemy aircraft. The Group sustained no losses.

That evening a USO cast, featuring Peggy Wood, Clare Luce (not the Congresswoman) and

Rollo Peters, all ranking New York stage stars, put on the Noel Coward “Blithe Spirit” in the

station theatre. The show stayed here three days, giving extra performances, including to

which sounded from the neighbouring hospitals were invited.

532nd BS diary entry: Today the mission was in direct support of the ground troops in the

Metz area, the target being gun emplacements. The "A" Group of the 1st CBW was led by

Col Fitzgerald and Lt Klinkseik, while deputy lead was Capt Herrington and Lt Schomburg.

Other pilots were: Lt Belskis, Sunderland, Rautio, Armstrong, Devenish, Smith and

Schwartner.

1st Lt Gomez, T/Sgt Grisham, S/Sgt Burt and S/Sgt Gonzales are all reported as Prisoners

of War.

533rd BS diary entry: Nine 533rd planes and crews took part in today's tactical bombing

mission in support of General Patton's Third Army at Ouvre-Chesny/Nord, in France.

Bombing was by PFF through an 8/10th undercast. The targets were enemy heavy gun

batteries and fortifications. Flak at the target was meagre and inaccurate and no enemy

fighters seen. Allied fighter escort was very strong. We lent one of our ships to the 535th.

Pilots participating were: Lts Masterson, Bigham, Nolan, Gotthardt, Carr, Nelson, Roush,

Long and Riza.

"Blythe Spirit", Noel Coward's smash London stage hit, was performed here twice today by

the original cast. Weather was cold and windy, with occasional breaks in the clouds and

spots of sunlight.

534th BS diary entry: Direct support to ground troops in and around Metz was given by

our a/c on today’s mission. Gun emplacements and forts holding strategic positions were

attacked with the results being unobserved. All bombing was accomplished by G-H

methods. AA fire was meagre; fire being inaccurate over the target. None encountered

elsewhere. No enemy fighters encountered or sighted. Lts. Jones and Ackerman, flying in

the lead ship, led the high squadron which was composed of Lts. Williamson, Thorndike,

Thornton, Slavik, Bowden, Gaw, Scholze, Schilling and Rice.

535th BS diary entry: Eight squadron planes, ten crews, were in the group's milk-run trip

to Ouvres-Chesny/Nord, for a tactical bombing in support of Patton's Third Army. Bombs

were released by PFF with a visual assist through an 8/10th undercast, and were directed

against enemy heavy gun emplacements and fortifications. A maximum effort.

Flak meant about 16 bursts from one round, these breaking low and apparently not directed

at our formations. Hundreds of Mustangs and Thunderbolts played at will through and

around our bomber elements with nothing to occupy them, since the Luftwaffe did not show

again.

Participating were: Lts Metts, Marbury, Lang, Garrett, Clark, Osborne, Stuart, Thornton,

Rojohn and Springmeyer. The 534th lent us two ships, we lent them one and the 533rd.

Ground notes: A professional London cast offered us two performances of "Blythe Sprit"

here today. Weather was cold and windy, but with enough sun through a broken overcast to

brighten things periodically.


dispatched to hit front line strongpoints and tactical targets in the Metz and Thionville,

France areas; 4 bombers and 5 fighters are lost:

1. 460 B-17s are dispatched to hit transportation targets at Thionville (47); 276 hit the

secondary, the marshalling yard at Saarbrucken; targets of opportunity are Saarlautern

(34) and other (3); 4 B-17s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 96 damaged; 8 airmen

are KIA, 6 WIA and 27 MIA. Escort is provided by 187 of 192 P-51s without loss.

2. 437 B-17s are dispatched to hit transportation targets at Metz (345); 41 hit the

secondary, the marshalling yard at Saarbrucken; 28 hit Koblenz; 3 B-17s are damaged

beyond repair and 13 damaged; 19 airment are KIA. Escort is provided by 176 of 184 P-51s

without loss.

3. 402 B-24s are dispatched to hit transportation targets at Metz (385); 15 hit the

secondary, the marshalling yard at Saarbrucken; 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 5

damaged. Escort is provided by 113 of 119 P-51s; 3 P-51s are damaged beyond repair.

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

5. 139 P-47s and P-51s fly fighter-bomber missions in the Frankfurt-Lannheim area of

Germany; 1 P-47 and 4 P-51s are lost; 4 pilots are MIA. 6. 30 of 32 P-51s fly a scouting

forces mission.

Mission 708: 5 B-17s and 12 B-24s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Germany

during the night.

The 27th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 7th Photographic Group (Reconnaissance)

(attached to VIII Air Force Service Command), moves from Mount Farm, England to

Denain/Prouvy, France with F-5s.

“The United States Eighth Air Force hurled more than 1,300 bombers and more than 700

fighter bombers into the assault against the tactical targets in the area, running from

around Metz to as far east as Saarbruecken, in the heaviest tactical air operation of the war

since D-day.”

From the lead article, “Long Strides Made,” on pages 2-3 of the link.



Mission #213 – Cologne, Germany 10th November

381st BG diary entry: We went to Cologne on the Tenth and Col. Leber, with Captain

Watson as his pilot, was again in the lead ship of the 37 aircraft formation. It was 10/10 to

8/10 at the target and bombing was done by G/H equipment with a Pathfinder assist. Flak

was moderate and fairly accurate. We lost no aircraft but an unfortunate accident cost us

one man:

1st Lt. LeRoy Drummond, 535th bombardier,

He was killed when, just off the bombing run, the Fortress flying above Drummond’s ship

with three bombs fouled in the bay, suddenly got rid of its load. Two of the bombs ripped

off the nose of Drummond’s Fortress and fell clear. The third crashed into the nose

compartment and hit Lt. Drummond on the head, killing him instantly. The bomb remained

jammed in the floor of the nose for about 45 minutes before it could be dislodged and

dropped out of the forward hatch. The rest of the crew, unharmed, were hospitalised upon

return to base. They were shocked by the accident to Drummond.

532nd BS diary entry: Cologne was today's target which was bombed by instruments with

results unobserved. AA fire was moderate and fairly accurate over the target but no enemy

aircraft were encountered. Our pilots who took part were: Lts Schomburg, Nashold, Lazar,

Devenish, Adamson, Bromander, Bailey, Armstrong, Schwartner and Rautio.

There was an accident on the perimeter track at 05.20 hrs today, when Cpls John J. Corley

and Raymond Timm, were hit by a truck driven by Pfc Cawey (ordinance), unfortunately

injuries to Corley proved fatal.

533rd BS diary entry: Col Leber led the group again today, aboard a 532nd ship with Capt

Ewing Watson as his pilot. The mission was an PFF attack on Cologne carried out in the face

of moderate flak. Bombing results were unobserved. Eight 533rd ships took part.

A 535th bombardier, 1st Lt Leroy Drummond was killed today, when a bomb fell on the

nose of his ship from one above. It failed to explode but crushed the unfortunate airman.

Back at base Cpl John J. Corley, 533rd ground crew was killed early this morning when he

was hit by a truck on the perimeter track. Corley was walking to chow when the accident

took place.

Pilots participating were: Lts Steinwinter, Riza, Rolin, Johnson, Goldin, Gotthardt, Carr and

Privett.

534th BS diary entry: Target for today: Cologne, Germany. Capt. Cronin and Lt. Kaurin,

flying the lead position together, led the low squadron of “A” Group to the target and back.

Bombing was again on G-H with no results being reported by returning crewmen.

Completing today’s mission were: Lts. Schilling, Scholze, Slavik, Sentner, Thorndike,

Bowden, Williamson and Rice. No fighters encountered. AA fire was moderate, fairly

accurate and continuous following. All a/c returned safe to base with exception of Lt.

Schilling who landed in Belgium.

535th BS diary entry: Lt Floyd Metts and his crew are in the hospital tonight after

undergoing a nerve-racking and tragic ordeal which involved the accidental death of their

bombardier and long-time crewmate, 1st Lt Leroy Drummond.

Just off the bomb-run, a PFF operation against Cologne, three 110-pound bombs which had

jammed in a Fort flying above Metts' "Hell's Angels", fell clear and struck the latter bomber.

Two tore off the plexi-glass nose and fell clear, but the third, entering the nose

compartment between the astrodome and the windshield, hit Lt Drummond on the head,

killing him instantly. This bomb remained jammed in the floor of the nose compartment for

about 45 minutes before it could be dislodged and dropped out the forward escape hatch.

The rest of the crew, uninjured were hospitalized overnight for rest. Top turret man Sgt

Albert Atz, was not aware of Drummond's death until they landed, although he knew the

ship had been hit.

The mission itself encountered moderate flak, no enemy aircraft and a solid cloud undercast

at the target. Lt Springmeyer aborted in the 534th ship "Colonel Bub", which developed

engine trouble shortly after take-off. Other pilots were: Lts Todd, Smith, Clark, Miller,

Beine, O'Connor, Osborne and Metts

8th AF diary entry: 2 missions are flown. Mission 709: 752 bombers and 808 fighters in 3

forces are dispatched to make PFF attack on airfields in W Germany; 4 bombers are lost.

1. 302 B-24s are dispatched to hit the Langendiebach Airfield at Hanau (229); 61 hit the

secondary, the marshalling yard at Hanau; 1 B-24 is lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 46

damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 2 WIA and 9 MIA. Escort is provided by 261 P-47s and P-51s;

they claim 4-0-0 aircraft without loss.

2. 235 B-17s are dispatched to hit Wiesbaden Airfield (105); 73 hit the secondary,

Wiesbaden/Halle; 4 others hit targets of opportunity; 2 B-17s are lost, 4 damaged beyond

repair and 90 damaged; 7 airmen are WIA and 20 MIA. Escort is provided by 142 of 154 P-

51s without loss. 3. 203 B-17s are dispatched to hit the Butzweilerhof (96) and Ostheim

(97) Airfields at Cologne; 1 B-17s is lost and 95 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 5 WIA and 9

MIA. Escort is provided by 182 of 191 P-51s; they claim 2-0-0 aircraft without loss.

4. 12 of 12 B-17s fly a screening mission.

5. 79 of 87 P-47s hit communications targets in N and C Germany; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft

on the ground.

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

7. 58 of 60 P-51s make strafing runs in Germany.

Mission 711: 6 B_17s and 9 B-24s (1 abort) drop leaflets on the Netherlands and Germany

during the night without loss.

“Striking for the second consecutive day in support of American Army drives along

Germany’s western frontiers, more than 750 United States heavy bombers, escorted by 600

or more fighters, dropped an estimated 40,000 bombs today on military transport, industrial

plants and four enemy airfields in the regions of Frankfort on the Main and Cologne.”

From “U.S. Bombers Rip 4 Reich Airfields,” on page 12 of the link.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3225747/post


Mission #214 – Eschweiller, Germany 16th November

381st BG diary entry: The Nov. 16 mission had enemy lines at Eschweiler, six miles

northwest of Aachen, as its objective. Our 36 aircraft were under the command of Capt.

Douglas L. Winter. Although it was 10/10 when the formation reached the continental

coast, the weather cleared over the target and the bombardier was able to take over from

the Mickey for a visual run six miles from the release line. The bombs hit on the MPI and

formed a tight pattern to the east. The opposition was nil. There was meagre and

inaccurate flak but it didn’t even start coming up until the lead group had finished its run.

There was no air opposition.

532nd BS diary entry: The target for today was in direct support of the ground troops at

Eschweiler, Germany, eight miles east of Aachen. The target was bombed visually with

excellent results. Meagre accurate AA fire was encountered just after bombs away. The

pilots who took part were: Lts Bryce and Seeley in the lead ship of the high squadron, with:

Lts Lazar, Nashold, Davis, Adamson, Bendall, Bailey, Ausmus and Boyle.

Sgt Howard D. Allshouse was married to Miss Peggy Elizabeth Stannard of #1 Foundry

Place, Haverhill, Suffolk, at East Ham Registry Office today.

533rd BS diary entry: Ten squadron bombers took part in today's tactical mission in

support of General Simpson's Ninth US Army. The formation bombed from seven to 20

miles ahead of our lines in the Duren-Eschweiler area, near Aachen. The explosives were

dropped by PFF through a heavy undercast, flak was meagre and all ships came home

safely with only slight battle damage.

Today's pilots were: Lts Privett, Orcutt, Nelson, Long, Steinwinter, Tolchinsky, Hollendorfer,

Johnson, Goldin and Nolan.

Convicted by special court-martial, Pvt Gustavo D. McMullen was sentenced to be confined

to hard labour here for six months and to forfeit $25.33 a month for a like period.

534th BS diary entry: Today’s target, in support of ground forces, was bombed visually

with excellent results by 8 of our a/c. The squadron and group formation was led by

Captains Winter and Bordner. Eschweiler, Germany, 8 miles E. of Aachem, was the target.

Located in this area were many strong points and enemy defenses. Photos show bomb

bursts extending from the assigned MPI to the east. No flak encountered en route and only

meagre, black, inaccurate, tracking flak came up after bombs away. No enemy air

opposition encountered. Those taking part are as listed: Captain Winter and Herdner, Lts.

Kaurin, Boyce, Ford, Sentner, Giese and Replinger.

535th BS diary entry: Another tactical operation today, this time in support of Gen

Simpson's Ninth Army, and Gen Lodge's First Army, attempting a breakthrough in the

Duren-Eschweiler area, near Aachen. Bombing was PFF with briefed release arranged to

send explosives down seven to 20 miles ahead of our lines. The run met some flak but ships

returned without structural battle damage, coming in at 14.15 hrs to a "feeler" landing in

bad haze.

The squadron sent nine crews flown by Lts: Simmons, Mitchell, Lang, Sweetland,

Springmeyer, Bowser, Beine, Rojohn and Stuart.

Captain CW Bordner

The 534th squadron and group formation was led by Captains Winter and Bordner.

8th AF diary entry: Mission 715: 1,243 bombers and 282 fighters, along with Ninth AF and

Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft, are dispatched to attack tactical targets E of Aachen,

Germany in support of the US First and Ninth Armies' offensive; 1 fighter is lost:

1. 486 of 495 B-17s hit transportation targets in the Duren area; 1 B-17 is damaged beyond

repair and 8 damaged; 1 airman is WIA. Escort is 151 of 159 P-51s; 1 is damaged beyond

repair.

2. 490 of 501 B-17s and 228 of 243 B-24s hit transportation targets in the Eschweiler area;

2 B-17s are damaged beyond repair and 8 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 2 WIA and 6 MIA.

Escort is 98 of 107 P-51s; 1 is lost (pilot MIA) and 3 damaged beyond repair.

4 of 4 B-17s fly a screening force mission.

16 of 16 P-51s fly a scouting force mission.

“In the classic pattern of St. Lo and Caen, two great forces of Allied heavy bombers – more

than 1,200 from the United States Eighth Air Force and nearly as many from the Royal Air

Force – laid down a great barrage of at least 8,000 tons of bombs today on German

fortified towns, strong points, field batteries and anti-aircraft guns in the path of the

attacking Allied armies east and north of Aachen.”

From “8,000 Tons Dropped,” on page 5 of the link.


Mission #215 – Friedburg & Merseburg, Germany 21st November

381st BG diary entry: We got to fly again Nov. 21 and our target was the synthetic oil

refinery at Mersebourg. Major Taylor led our contingent of 37 aircraft. It was 10/10 at the


target again, and the bombing was performed by the use of PFF methods. We hit the

primary, but results were unobserved. The 144 incendiaries carried by the Group were

retained until the formation reached Friedberg where they were dropped visually with

results which were described as excellent. There was no flak at Friedberg, but there was

plenty of it at the primary. It was intense and accurate and it gave rise to a crop of wounds

and forced one of our aircraft to crash land in Brussels.

2nd Lt. William G. Pettit, 533rd co-pilot, who was in the aircraft that landed away from base,

suffered a sprained left ankle when he parachuted from Fortress. His ‘chute had been

damaged by flak and refused to open, he had to rip it apart in the air and just opened in

time to prevent more serious injury when he hit the ground.

The others wounded were S/Sgt. Earl E. Emell, 535th togeleer, who received mild face

abrasions; 2nd Lt. George Kaluger, 534th bombardier, who suffered conjunctivitis; T/Sgt

Clifford T. Owens, 533rd radio operator, who was severely wounded in the left leg; 2nd Lt.

Charles G. Banotai, 534th navigator, who suffered from conjunctivitis.

532nd BS diary entry: The target for today was the synthetic oil plant at Merseburg.

Bombing was done through 10/10th cloud by PFF and results were unobserved. The group

also dropped incendiaries at Friedburg, Germany, on the built up area near the marshalling

yards. No enemy aircraft were encountered, but flak was intense and accurate around

Merseburg. Our pilots were: Lts Morgan and Mousseau in the lead ship of the low squadron,

others: Lts Adamson, Rautio, Davis, Schwartner, Nashold, Hill, Tauro and Godwin.

533rd BS diary entry: Nine crews and eight ships of this squadron took part in a PFF attack

on the synthetic oil plants at Merseburg, the formation led by 535th CO, Major Ike Taylor.

Weather was good until the Forts were about 75 miles from the objective, then high

cumulus clouds made formation flying difficult and the bomb run was considered

satisfactory. Bombing results could not be observed, flak was moderate but accurate. One

535th gunner was slightly wounded.

Pilots for today were: Lts LaCouture, Winsor, Kinney, Rolin, Long, Baker, Roush, Nolan and

Carr.

534th BS diary entry: Synthetic oil plants at Merseburg were attacked by our a/c today.

Bombing was accomplished by P.F.F. methods. Incendiaries carried by our ships were

dropped on Friedburg, a target of opportunity. Intense flak was encountered at Merseburg

with none coming from Friedburg. Pilots participating are listed as follows: Holt, Zorski,

Wilkenson, Williamson, Boyce, Replinger, Rice, Sentner, Heuk, and Gaw. Squadron

commander Capt. D.L. Winter appointed to Major.

535th BS diary entry: Major Taylor led the group to Merseburg for an instrument bombing

against synthetic oil plants there. Lt Osborne aborted in M/Sgt Carrier's "In Like Errol".

The major reported weather good up to about 75 miles from the target, where the

formation ran into thin but troublesome clouds at their altitude. This made both flying and

bombing difficult and the CO believes the latter probably is unsatisfactory. It was a straight

"mickey" deal which calls for the best of formations, which we definitely did not have.

Flak was moderate but very accurate. Luck was against Metts' crew again. Their bomber

caught several unusually close bursts and S/Sgt Omer Godfrey, tail gunner, was hit in the

left arm near the elbow by a piece of shrapnel that came through a heavy flak patch, the

flooring behind him and all his clothing to get him. It only reddened, did not break the skin,

but he reported his arm numb for several minutes afterwards.

Our group saw no enemy fighters, had a perfect escort of their own and slipped over some

stray flak at the Zuider Zee, going in, before catching the biggest work-over at the target.

Participating were: Lts Demagalski, O'Connor, Lang, Metts, Sweetland, Greenspan, Stuart,

Springmeyer and Osborne, who aborted.

Lt Witt, Division PRO, says today's story should go the 8th AF's fighters. Early reports from

two groups of the little friends left a total of 30 enemy aircraft destroyed in the air. Where

were they ? We're still in the luck.

T/Sgt Robert Blair and S/Sgt Joseph Rybak finished their tours flaying with Major Taylor

today. Blair is going home, but Rybak will stay on as an instructor.


dispatched to make PFF attacks using H2X on oil targets in Germany; they claim 73-7-25

Luftwaffe aircraft; 25 bombers and 15 fighters are lost:

1. 421 B-17s are sent to hit the Leuna synthetic oil plant at Merseburg (200); targets of

opportunity are Meppen (24), Friedburg (21), Hersfeld (12) and Hunfeld (12) marshalling

yards, flak gun batteries at Merseburg (12), Leeuwarden Airfield (11), Apolda (10) the

Autobahn at Hersfeld (10), Quakenbruck (10), and other (69); the AAF claims 1-0-1

aircraft; 14 B-17s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 205 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 16

WIA and 129 MIA. Escort is 268 of 310 P-51s; they claim 63-7-20 aircraft in the air and 3-

0-2 on the ground; 9 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).

2. 402 B-17s are sent to Sterkrade, Lendorf and Hamburg but hit the secondary, the

Osnarbruck marshalling yard (166) and last resort targets, i.e., Giessen marshalling yard

(77), Wetzlar (62), Lingen (24), Koblenz marshalling yard (23), Bielefeld marshalling yard

(9), and targets of opportunity (35); 7 B-17s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 142

damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 6 WIA and 65 MIA. Escort is 382 of 420 P-51s; 4 P-51s are lost

(pilots MIA).

3. 366 B-24s are sent to hit the Dpag (178) and Rhenania (171) oil plants at Hamburg; 4 B-

24s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 220 damaged; 19 airmen are KIA, 8 WIA and 89

MIA. Escort is 177 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 5-0-2 aircraft in the air and 2-0-1 on the

ground; 1 P-47 and 1 P-51 are lost (pilots MIA).

4. 12 of 12 B-17s fly a screening mission.

5. 31 of 33 P-51s fly a scouting mission.


during the night.

“More than 1,250 United States Eighth Air Force heavy bombers escorted by more than

1,100 fighters from the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces smashed at the sprawling Leuna

synthetic plat at Merseburg in the Leipzig area . . .”

From “U.S. Bombing Costs Nazis 80 Aircraft,” on pages 7-8 of the link.


Mission #216 – Merseburg, Germany 25th November


381st BG diary entry: We went back to Kerseburg Nov. 25 with Capt. MacNeill leading our

contingent of 37 aircraft. It was an almost uneventful mission. The 10/10 cloud cover at

the target necessitated PFF bombing and results were unobserved. There was intense,

accurate, tracking flak. One of our aircraft landed away from base but the rest all returned

safely and there were no casualties.

532nd BS diary entry: The target for today was the synthetic oil plant at Merseburg.

Bombing was done through 10/10th cloud by PFF and results were unobserved. The group

also dropped incendiaries at Friedburg, Germany, on the built up area near the marshalling

yards. No enemy aircraft were encountered, but flak was intense and accurate around

Merseburg. Our pilots were: Lts Morgan and Mousseau in the lead ship of the low squadron,

others: Lts Adamson, Rautio, Davis, Schwartner, Nashold, Hill, Tauro and Godwin.

533rd BS diary entry: The 533rd put up nine bombers in the air for today's attack on

Hamburg, but one borrowed from the 532nd, which carried Lt Col George G. Shackley,

533rd commander and formation leader. Bombing was carried out by PFF technique and

results were unobserved. Heavy flak met the ships on bombs away, but no enemy fighters

were seen.

Today's pilots were: Lts Watson, Nolan, Carr, Rolin, Kinney, Long, Tolchinsky, Roush and

Baker.

534th BS diary entry: Under command of Captain Cronin and Jones – Lts. Williamson,

Wilkenson, Slavik, Schilling, Parkison, Sentner, Giese, and Gaw bombed the synthetic oil

works located in Merseburg, Germany. Bombing done by P.F.F. with no results being

observed. Intense, accurate, tracking a barrage type fire was encountered in the target

area. There was no enemy fighter opposition. All a/c bombed and returned safe to base.

The usual Saturday morning inspection was held today. Living quarters and sites found in

good condition.

535th BS diary entry: The I. G. Farbenindustrie synthetic oil plant at Merseburg was

attacked by our bombers today. The job was full PFF, and the target was a secondary. Flak

was heavy but not too accurate, but the 533rd had one crew land in friendly territory on the

continent, with battle damage. Our fighter escort was good and seen chasing a couple of

ME109's at a great distance from the target area.

One-man mission goes on the books for Lt Bill Clark, who turned back early in a

malfunctioning bomber, grabbed another and set off to catch the formation. He couldn't, so,

through flak and skirted by three non-attacking jet-propelled enemy fighters, bombed

riverside target at Coblenz, returned safely and alone through undercast, and an hour ahead

of the formation.

These were our pilots: Lts Marbury, Metts, Rojohn, Thornton, Garrett, Miller, Sweetland,

Clark, Osborne and Greenspan. The 532nd and 534th loaned us a ship.


dispatched to hit the synthetic oil plant at Merseburg, Germany using H2X and a marshalling

yard; 8 bombers and 6 fighters are lost:

1. 671 of 766 hit the Leuna oil plant at Merseburg and 9 hit targets of opportunity; 8 B-17s

are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 197 damaged; 7 airmen are KIA, 5 WIA and 64 MIA.

Escort is 716 of 800 P-51s; they claim 9-0-8 aircraft on the ground; 6 P-51s are lost (pilots

MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair.

2. 254 of 271 B-24s hit the Bingen marshalling yard; 43 B-24s are damaged; 1 airman is

WIA. Escort is 129 of 130 P-47s.


during the night.

“The main target of our bombers in a three-way attack was the Leuna synthetic oil plant,

which covers an area over two miles long and a half mile wide at Merseburg.”

From “U.S. Planes renew Reich Oil bombing,” on page 7 of the link.



Mission #217 – Altenbaken, Germany 26th November

381st BG diary entry: There was another mission Nov 26, and the target was the railway

viaduct at Altenbaken, a vital point in the railway line from the Ruhr to Kassel. Col. Leber

was in personal command, against, and we put up the customary 37 aircraft. The weather

was pretty good when we reached the Zuyder Zee, but it built-up, over the continent, to

10/10 at the target. The bombing was performed by use of the High Squadron’s G/H

equipment, the mickey in the lead ship have “gone out”. The lead group made a 360 degree

turn on the higher squadron’s smoke markers. Results were unobserved. There was no

flak at the target and the only opposition encountered was some meagre and inaccurate AA

fire at Zwolle on the way in. There was no air opposition, either except for one Jerry

fighter. We lost a ship and crew nevertheless.

The missing are:

2nd Lt. Kyle S. Smith, pilot,

2nd Lt. Donald F. McGurk, copilot,

F/O Melvin A. LaLuzerne, navigator,

S/Sgt. Byron F. Wear, togeleer, and the following gunners:

Sgt. Lester F. Colson,

Sgt. Gustave E. Contreras,

Sgt. Thomas Arnold, and

Sgt. Francis R. Delange,

The Fortress was last seen at 52-38 North 06-77 East. It was under attack by a single

enemy aircraft and crews from the other Fortresses reported they saw the Jerry go down

and crash into the earth. The Fortress, its pilot reported via VHF, had three engines out and

had two of its bombs fouled in the bomb bay. The stricken bomber asked for fighter

support. It was not seen thereafter.

532nd BS diary entry: Today the squadron attacked the railway viaduct at Altenbeken,

Germany, bombing accomplished by GH equipment with results unobserved. About 40 to 60

FW 190s and Me 109s passed under our formation and attacked the group behind us but

not our formation. The only flak encountered was meagre and inaccurate at Zwolle, Holland.

Those who took part were: Lts Worrell, Bendall, Copeland, Adamson, Schwartner, Nashold,

Godwin, Tauro, Hill and Smith, the latter missing in action.

MIA crew: Lts Kyle Smith, Donald McGurk, F/O Melvin LaLuzerne; S/Sgt Byron Wear, Sgts

Leslie Colson, Robert Porter, Gustavo Contreras, Thomas Arnold and Francis Lange.

533rd BS diary entry: Fine, clear weather with plenty of sunshine gave promise of visual

bombing today as the group took off for an attack on a railroad viaduct near Altenbecken,

north-east of Paderborn on the northern border of the Ruhr Valley. Group C.O. Col Harry P.

Leber, led the mission, with Capt Ewing S. Watson as his pilot.

According to Col Leber, weather over Germany was clear until the Fortresses neared the

objective. Then heavy cloud covered the target, and Major William Fullick, group

bombardier, was forced to resort to instruments. He described the results as "poor". Flak

was meagre at the target.

Other pilots on this mission were: Lts Nelson, Coombs, Pearce, Goldin, Baker, Gotthardt,

Steinwiner and Rolin.

The men reported as MIA yesterday returned to duty; T/Sgts Bentley and Bowman returned

from TD on the continent.

534th BS diary entry: The railway viaduct at Altenbeken, Germany was attacked by 9 a/c

of this organization today. Bombing was accomplished by G-H equipment and results were

reported as unobserved. There was no AA fire encountered or observed at target but en

route to the target – meagre, inaccurate, tracking fire was encountered at Zwolls, Holland.

Approximately 50 to 60 enemy fighters were sighted as they passed under the formation to

attack a group of bombers behind us. No attacks reported on our squadron. Capt. Douglas

and Lt. Kaurin led the squadron which was composed of Lts. Scholze, Williamson, Slavik,

Gaw, Wilkenson, Sentner, Replinger and Giese.

535th BS diary entry: This morning was sunny and really beautiful as our bombers took off

about 08.30 hrs, with Group Commander Leber leading an operation against the railroad

junction near Altenbeken, northeast of Paderborn on the eastern border of the Ruhr Valley.

According to Col Leber the only cloud in Germany hovered directly over our target. Said

Group Bombardier Fullick of the PFF bombing he was forced to resort to: "I think we hit a

field."

Flak was meagre just before the bomb run but virtually non-existant over the target.

Weather was excellent all the way in until the formation was ten minutes from the target,

when the clouds got in the way. Fighters attacked other groups bombing in the general

vicinity today, but none troubled us.

Pilots participating were: Lts Davison, Smith, Thornton, Moulton, Rojohn, Clark,

Springmeyer, Greenspan and Mitchell. Col Leber flew on "The Alamo", with Capt Ewing

Watson, 533rd as pilot).

Now Major Fullick – Group Bombardier


dispatched to make attacks on rail viaducts, marshalling yards and oil installations in W

Germany; all but 1 attack is with radar; about 550 Luftwaffe fighters intercept and 34

bombers and 9 fighters are lost; the AAF claims 133-14-42 aircraft:

1. 406 B-17s are sent to hit an oil refinery at Misburg (243) and a rail viaduct at Altenbekin

(118); 19 hit the secondary, the marshalling yard at Osnabruck; 3 others hit a target of

opportunity; they claim 4-6-7 aircraft; 10 B-17s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 160

damaged; 4 airmen are KIA, 6 WIA and 93 MIA. Escorting are 292 P-47s and P-51s; they

claim 67-2-11 aircraft; 3 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 2 damaged beyond repair.

2. 350 B-24s are sent to hit the Schidesche rail viaduct at Bielefeld (240) and the Misburg

oil refinery (57); targets of opportunity are Hannover marshaling yard (26) and other (1);

they claim 12-5-4 aircraft; 21 B-24s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 53 damaged;

15 airmen are KIA, 6 WIA and 196 MIA. Escorting are 208 P-47s and P-1s; they claim 42-0-

18 aircraft; 2 P-47s and 3 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).

3. 381 B-17s are sent to hit the marshaling yard at Hamm (266); other marshalling yards

hit are at Gutersloh (37), Bielefeld (36), Herford (24) plus 3 hit other targets; 3 B-17s are

lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 86 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 27 MIA. Escorting are

132 of 138 P-51s; they claim 3-0-1 aircraft on the ground; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).

4. 36 of 36 P-51s fly a scouting mission; they claim 5-1-2 aircraft without loss.

Mission 726: 8 B-17s and 6 B-24s drop leaflets on France, the Netherlands and Germany

during the night.

“In addition to the big Misburg oil works, our bombers blasted the rail yards at Hamm and

an important four-track concrete railway viaduct at Bielefeld . . .” (Altenbeken is to the east

of Hamm.)

From “Misburg Oil Plant Blasted; 50 American Aircraft Lost,” on page 7 of the link.


Mission #218 – Misburg, Germany 29th November

381st BG diary entry: Col. Leber led the formation again on Nov. 29 and the target was

the oil refinery at Misburg. A 10/10 undercast prevailed at the target again, and Pff

bombing was performed. There was meagre and inaccurate flak at the target and it was

mainly behind us. We did hit some moderate flak at Oanabruck and some more of the

meagre variety at Zwolle and Amsterdam, but the opposition was not too tough. There

were no enemy aircraft and there were no losses.



532nd BS diary entry: Today we bombed the oil refinery at Misburg, near Hanover.

Bombing was by instruments through 10/10th cloud and results unobserved. No enemy

aircraft were seen and flak was meagre an inaccurate. Leading the high squadron were: Lts

Morgan and Mousseau, with: Lts Bendall, Boyle, Sunderland, Adamson, Schwartner,

Copeland, Tauro and Godwin.

Pay received for enlisted men. Combat men are paid at 19.00 hrs as they may go on a

mission tomorrow, thus not delay turning back of the payrolls.

533rd BS diary entry: Our group led the Air Division to a 10/10th PFF bombing job on the

oil refineries at Misburg today. Ten crews took part, one flying a 535th ship. Flak for our

formation was light. Bombing results could not be observed and no enemy fighters seen.

Participating were: Lts Orcutt, Steinwinter, Pearce, Baker, Privett, Johnson, Carr, Coombs,

nelson and Goldin.

534th BS diary entry: Today our aircraft bombed the oil refineries located at Misburg,

Germany. Bombing was done by instruments. Crews reported that they were unable to

observe results. Enemy fighters were not encountered and AA fire was meager and

inaccurate. Capt. Bordner and Col. Leber, Group C.O., led the formation composed of pilots

– Scholze, Boyce, Slavik, Williamson, Wilkenson, Sentner, Giese and Bowden.

535th BS diary entry: The group led the Air Division to Misburg, to accomplish a 10/10th

PFF bombing against oil refineries there. Some meagre flak was encountered before the I.P.

but there was none on the bomb run or at bombs away. It seems our group managed to slip

in between two big flak barrages, with a group behind us catching some of the second

offering fairly heavily. No enemy aircraft showed up and our vast escort had another free

ride of it.

The target attacked was briefed as secondary, with the primary at Dollbeggen, a tiny village

22 miles east of Hannover, and home of an oil storage depot. Dollbeggen could be attacked

visually only. Last resort would have been the city of Osnabruck.

We furnished nine crews and 11 ships, the pilots being: Capt Scarborough, Lts O'Connor,

Springmeyer, Stuart, Beine, Osborne, Rojohn, Clark and Thornton. The 532nd used "Sunkist

Special" and 533rd "Me and My Gal."


dispatched to make PFF attacks on viaduct rail targets and oil refineries in Germany; 1

bomber is lost:

1. 445 B-17s are sent to hit the oil refinery at Misburg (391); targets of opportunity are

Osnabrcuk (36) and others (5); 6 B-17s are damaged. Escorting are 419 P-47s and P-51s

without loss.

2. 307 B-24s are sent to hit the Schildesche rail viaduct at Bielefeld (152) and the

Altenbeken rail viaduct (144); 2 others hit targets of opportunity; 1 B-24 is lost and 9

damaged; 10 airmen are MIA. Escorting are 261 P-47s and P-51s without loss.

3. 312 B-17s are sent to hit the Hamm marshalling yard (294); 4 others hit targets of

opportunity; 1 B-17 is damaged beyond repair and 87 damaged; 3 airmen are WIA.

Escorting are 112 of 120 P-51s without loss.

4. 12 of 13 B-17s fly a screen mission and hit a target of opportunity. Escorting are 26 of 32

P-47s without loss.


Mission 730: 6 B-17s and 7 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands and Germany during the

night.

“The Flying Fortresses and Liberators bombed for the second time in four days the large oil

refinery at Misburg, near Hanover . . .”

From “2,000 U.S. Planes Pace Hits in Reich,” on page 11 of the link.



Mission #219 – Zeitz, Germany 30th November

381st BG diary entry: The last mission of the month was reserved for the last day. The

target was the synthetic oil plant at Zietz and our 37 aircraft were led by Major Taylor who

flew with Capt. Jemagalski as his pilot. Before they reached the target the lead ship was

forced to abort because of mechanical failure and Capt. Menton and Lt. Berkeley, of the

533rd, took over leadership. The formations enjoyed bad weather, as usual, with snow in

some areas, and dense persistent contrails at 26,000 feet. There was a 9/10 middle cloud

at the target with some cumulus underneath that, but there was a hole over the objective

and the bombing was performed visually. There was intense, accurate tracking flak

defending the place but the Luftwaffe was not present. There were no casualties and no

losses, although Sgt. Allen Taylor, 532nd ball turret gunner, suffered frost bite in the toes

and was grounded for five days as a result.

532nd BS diary entry: Nine of this squadron took off this morning to attack Zeitz,

Germany, where crews reported hits in the population areas, also fires burning there. No

enemy aircraft were met but flak was intense and accurate in the target area. Taking part

were Capt Bryce and Lt Marshall in the lead of the low squadron, and: Lts Bendall,

Armstrong, Worrell, Adamson, Schwartner, Nashold. Godwin and Tauro.

533rd BS diary entry: Eight 533rd ships and nine crews took part on an oil storage depot

at Zeitz, a small city near Merseburg. The lead was taken over by the 533rd with Capt John

A. Fenton after Major Ike Taylor 535th commander was forced to turn back 15 minutes

before reaching the target. Bombing was PFF and results were not observed. Flak was

heavy, but all our ships returned safely. News reports say that 56 American bombers were

lost to flak today.

The pilots were: Berkley, Nolan, Privett, Tolchinsky, Riza, Goldin, Pearce, Baker and

Coombs.

534th BS diary entry: The oil works located in Zeitz were attacked by 10 of the squadron’s

“Forts” on today’s operation. Returning crews reported hits in the populated areas of the

city and large fire burning in the area of the oil plants. There were no attacks by enemy

fighters and intense, accurate, tracking AA fire was encountered. Participants: Lt. Scholze,

Lt. Boyce, Lt. Wilkenson, Lt. Replinger, Lt. Gaw, Lt. Giese, Lt. Rice, Lt. Williamson, Lt.

Bowden and Lt. Lynch.

535th BS diary entry: Major Taylor, in a 09.00 hrs take off, led the group all the way to a

point 15 minutes before the I.P. where his bomber's #1 engine blew the manifold head,

forced him to relinquish the lead and turn back. The 533rd took over the lead for a PFF

attack on oil stores east of Zeitz, a small town near Merseburg. Flak was heavy but not

accurate and there we no enemy aircraft.

(Late radio reports says 56 American heavies were lost to flak on today's operation. The old

381st luck again.)

Luckiest of all today, though, was a Lt Geise, of the 533rd, who returned early with one

engine out, dropping his fully loaded bomber on the the runway hard. The right wheel strut

of the landing gear collapsed and several tons of gasoline, bombs and plane skidded halfway

down the runway, dragging the right wing. The runway lost a couple of button lights and the

448th hangar boys got themselves a wreck to patch up, but there were no casualties.

Other pilots for today were: Lts Smith, Bowser, Stuart, Garrett, Greenspan, Springmeyer,

Osborne and Sweetland.


dispatched to hit synthetic oil plants in SE Germany and rail targets; intense accurate flak

downs 29 bombers and 3 fighters are lost:

1. 451 B-17s are sent to hit the Zeitz (132) and Bohlen (68) oil plants; 116 hit the

secondary, the Leuna oil plant at Merseburg; targets of opportunity are Gotha (22), Gera

(17), Rudolstadt (17), Fulda (12), Saalfeld (12), Ohrdruf (10), Meerane (6) and other (9);

11 B-17s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 287 damaged; 8 airmen are KIA, 16 WIA

and 100 MIA. Escorting are 357 of 384 P-51s; they claim 4-0-0 aircraft in the air; 2 P-51s

are lost (pilots MIA).

2. 539 B-17s are sent to hit the Leuna oil plant at Merseburg (301) and the Lutzkendorf

(169) oil plant; targets of opportunity are Zeitz oil plant (19), Weissenfels (9) and other

(12); 17 B-17s are lost, 6 damaged beyond repair and 325 damaged; 17 airmen are KIA,

42 WIA and 295 MIA. Escorting are 452 P-47s and P-51s; 2 P-51s are damaged beyond

repair.

3. 291 B-24s are sent to hit marshalling yards at Neunkirchen (180) and Homburg (104).

Escorting are 56 of 60 P-47s; 1 P-47 is lost (pilot MIA).


Mission 732: 7 B-17s and 6 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands and Germany during the

night.

“This force attacked four synthetic plants at Bohlen, Zeitz, Merseburg and Lutzkendorf, all in

the Leipzig area.”

From “56 Bombers Lost,” on page 6 of the link.




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November 1944 - rafcamuseum.co.uk