Mission 1
March 2nd, 1944
Today was quite a thrill for us as we flew our first real mission. We’ve been anxious to see what we are in for. So now we have a “little” idea what it is. The target was a piston ring factory at Frankfort, Germany. Frankfort is usually a pretty hot spot. We flew Lady Luck with Capt. Bogush as command pilot. We didn’t see any enemy planes, but we saw our first flak. It was pretty heavy. It looked so harmless, just like puffs of black smoke in the sky, but it was more than smoke as we could see by one of our planes that was shot up. One plane had to ditch in the Channel and lost about half the crew.
Mission 2
March 5, 1944
I do believe this combat has plenty of thrills, chills and spills cause yesterday, the 5th was quite a day for us. Again we were flying Lady Luck and luck must of been with us. We had a little trouble on take off and were late. We couldn’t find our own group so we joined the 392 group who was to hit the same target. Lt. Hoobler was grounded so Lt. Thompson flew with us. His first mission. We went to Bordeaux, France but finally ended up bombing an air field at Cognac. Again we hit some heavy flak and I heard our navigator swear for the first time when a piece came through the nose just missing him by an inch. I saw my first enemy fighters when three ME 109’s made a pass thru the formation. I was practically spell bound when I saw them which was just for a second as it was a nose attack. The group was cruising pretty fast and as our ship was a little heavy on gas consumption we were pretty low. We were over England when three engines conked out because of lack of fuel. We were losing altitude pretty fast but quick thinking by our engineer came in handy. He rushed to the bomb bays and put all engines on cross feed to the one tank that still had gas in it. There was an air field near on which we made a hurried landing. We didn’t have enough gas left to circle the field again. Those few minutes were about the worst I ever put in. I think we all learned to pray in a hurry. The field was a new one. Lt. Thompson crawled out and said, “I don’t know where I’m at, but I’m glad to be here”. Some colored boy wanted to know if we’d been over chasing Jerry or was Jerry chasing us. The field was just a few miles from here but as it was a new field we had trouble getting gas so we stayed there last night and came home today. Today Lt. Thompson’s crew went to Berlin and failed to return. Neither did Pete’s crew and three others. Capt. “Smilin” Jack Bogush missing too.
Mission 3
March 8, 1944
I must say it is sure a grand feeling to be back in England tonight and I don’t care much for England. We had quite a day as we went to Berlin known as “Big B” to us. We flew Satan’s Mate and everything went pretty well until we got into heavy flak at Hanover going in. Capt. Booth was flying as Command pilot and at that point he was hit by a piece of flak. I was standing right behind him and when he jumped about a foot off the seat I thought his electric suit had shocked him. The flak took the tips off the fingers of his right hand, the top off his right knee and then lodged in the back of his left leg. We were at 25,000 feet where it was 40 below zero so the wounds didn’t bleed much. I called Lt. Moore up from the waist and we did what we could for the Capt. then Moore took the co-pilot seat. I kept working with him. His electric trousers were in such a condition I was afraid they would short out so I disconnected them and turned the heat up on his coat & gloves. I wrapped blankets & coats around his legs to try and keep them warm. I don’t think he will be handicapped permanently but he will be laid up for some time. He sure took it like a man and wouldn’t let me give him any morphine. I should’ve anyway. We went on in and the group did a swell job on the ball bearing factory. I got a glance at it and it was in ruins. I was pretty busy most of the time but it seemed like we would never get home. We had some bombs hung up that we couldn’t get out so we landed with them to get the Capt. to a doctor. We had about 10 flak holes. One life raft was ruined. Two of our ships are missing. The 8th air force lost about 35 heavies today. (Toll’s guns were froze all the way)
Mission 4
March 26, 1944
Today after a much needed rest we got another raid. We got up at 3:00 and were briefed to hit an aircraft factory in Germany but due to bad weather it was scrubbed. At noon we finally got another target. We flew as group lead in Lady Luck with Major O’Niel- our CO - as command pilot. We were supposed to hit a rocket installation in Calais area but due to a navigational error we couldn’t find the target. By being off course we got over Abbeyville and into the worst flak so far. It was bursting all around us and Major O’Niel was practically screaming all the time to get the h--- away from there. We were all ready to leave -but fast- We brought our bombs back. We were only up four hours but that was enough time to get about five flak holes.
Mission 5
April 8, 1944
Wow! The missions before this one were milk runs compared to the one today. I’ve read of aerial battles and now I can say I’ve seen one. We flew Lady Luck leading the 2nd section with Major O’Niel as command pilot. We went to Brunswick, Germany. I’ve never seen so much flak before but it was pretty inaccurate. We were jumped by enemy fighters about the time we entered Germany and from then on to the target and then all the way back to the Channel it was a furious running battle. There must of been about 200 enemy fighters in all, mostly ME 109’s and they would attack in waves of about 20 planes. We had fighter escort but is was out numbered so it seemed like we didn’t have any, but they were sure doing their best. We all owe those fighter pilots a lot. It was sure a terrible sight to see. There were bombers and fighters going down all around us. The sky was just full of burning and exploding planes & too few parachutes. It was possible to see the 20 mm shells bursting like sparklers in the night and then a plane or so would spin in. On one pass I saw three B24’s go down from the combat wing ahead and then three from the group flying our high right. It was about 20 below zero but we didn’t need any heat. We were sweating as it was. I would’ve given anything for a gun. I never thought I would give up but today I almost gave up hope of coming back. Our sqdn. lost Wabbit Twaks. The last we saw it was on fire going down with three 109s right on its tail. Lt. Davidson brought his ship back and it was completely riddled but not a man hurt. He flew along low on our right so we kept our eyes on him cause we knew he was in bad shape as we could see the large 20 mm holes, etc. Innis got credit for one fighter that I’m not sure he got cause he didn’t have a sight but Toll and Donovan who really mowed one down didn’t get credit for any. It was given to some Lt. who was flying a nose turret in the ship behind us. He was operating his turret by hand so I really don’t believe he got it. The 8th air force lost over 30 heavies today. I think the only hole we got was in the dome of the tail turret. We sure earned our air medal today!!
Mission 6
April 10, 1944
Oh happy days. Why can’t we have more like the one today. We flew as Deputy lead in Satan’s Mate with Major Jameason as command pilot. The target was an air field & factory located about the center of France at the city of Bourges. We were leading the 96th wing & today was the first time it has flown as a wing. It was overcast all the way but cleared up right at the target. The bombing was good but the best was that we didn’t see any flak or fighters. This one today brought our morale up some I think.
Mission 7
April 20, 1944
Well this evening we flew another noball raid and again we brought our bombs back as the lead ship said the target was under a cloud. We carried 8 1,000 lb bombs. We flew the Flak Magnet but for once we didn’t get hit even though there was a lot of flak. I am satisfied in one respect anyway and that is that I don’t think we will be bothered with paddlefeet (or ground officers as they are called) again. Today’s was a short mission so some of them wanted to be big shots and go on a mission. Well they got to, Lt. Carter our supply officer flew with one crew. They got shot up & crash landed near London. Lt. Carter had to jump. I think that was his first and last mission. If they want to fly combat they should get on a crew and not wait on an easy one. I think it tickled all of us.
Mission 8
April 25, 1944
It was Germany for us again today. We flew Bomb-ah-dear as an element leader to a rail yard at Mannheim. I’m afraid we didn’t do much good as the target was covered by clouds and we didn’t have a P.F.F. ship. Our group was leading the 8th air force for the first time. We ran into meager flak at about five places. Okie had a piece of flak come thru the dome of his turret just missing his head. We had one attack by about 10 enemy fighters near Paris but our grand fighter support took care of them. The last I saw was about 20 of our P 47’s hot on their tails. We weren’t so lucky though cause just that one attack cost us one bomber. It was Lt. Combs of another sqdn. flying deputy lead. It must of had the controls shot out cause it nosed up and then spun in. It leveled off for a few seconds at about 5,000 feet. I think most of the fellows got out. We had two bombs that didn’t release and on the way back I was looking out up front when I heard a bang right behind me. I thought I’d had it but it was just that the bombs had released & dropped through the door. We came back minus one door and the last part on three engines. I thought we never would get back as we were bucking a strong head wind.
Mission 9
May 1st, 1944
We got in off pass last night just in time to eat and go to briefing. We flew Lady Luck leading one section. The target was a noball target. We were only over France a few minutes as our I.P. was at Dover, England. There was a lot of flak but Lady Luck wasn’t touched. Only five ships dropped on the target. We were one of those. That part of the coast looks like cheese it has so many holes in it from bombs.
Mission 10
May 4, 1944
I was a little worried when we took off cause we were going to Brusnwick where we ran into swarms of fighters the last time. We flew Lady Luck leading the 2nd section with Major Henson as command pilot. The vapor trails were so bad that we were recalled about 20 minutes from the target. No flak, no fighters, no nothing! The forts were going to Big B.
Mission 11
May 7, 1944
The target was Germany again today. We flew Lady Luck as deputy lead with Capt. Freeman as command pilot. He’s a good one to fly with. The target was at Osnabruck a very hot target, but we were bombing through clouds so even though the flak was heavy it followed our chaff. We didn’t encounter any fighters which we are thankful for. This could’ve been an extremely rough mission. The forts hit Big B.
Mission 12
May 8, 1944
It looks like the 8th of the month is always our rough day. Today we flew Lady Luck to “Little B” or Brunswick as it is called. As we were only leading the high right element in the 2nd section we got to fly without a command pilot. Lt. Sullivan flew as navigator cause Lt. Haley has left for G.H. school. The forts went on to Berlin again today. We encountered gobs of heavy flak but our group seemed to be at the right place at the right time cause we missed all the flak, but of course it never is very accurate when it is overcast. The enemy fighters were up in swarms. The fighters seemed to be after the forts today and were we ever glad. There was a group of forts flying out on our left and swarms of fighters about 50 at a time would pull up and go through them with a nose attack. Then they would pull around for another pass. All I can say is that the forts sure caught it today. Losses will be around 40 heavies. We had one attack by 6 ME 109’s from low and behind. We weren’t hit but 20 mm’s were going on all sides & some bursted within three feet of the tail. Our group didn’t lose any except one on take off. Four men got out alive, which was a miracle.
Mission 13
May 9, 1944
I guess number 13 wasn’t unlucky unless it was unlucky for those people on the target. We flew Lady Luck leading 2nd section with Major Hensler as command, Lt. Sullivan as navigator, Lt. Thompson in nose turret to help pick out the target. Toll didn’t fly. The target was an airfield at St. Trond, Belgium. It was a night fighter base and Lt. Hoobler really laid them in there. I think our section was the best the first, but the whole group did a grand job. A little flak. ___
_
_
Mission 14
May 12, 1944
Well today was another long one. We flew Lady Luck as group deputy lead. Capt. “Pinky” Moore flew as command. It was his 29th mission. The target was a synthetic oil refinery near Lupzig, Germany. The Germans were trying to lay a smoke screen over the target but they were a little late. There was some flak but we hit the target. Boy that was a pretty sight. There was smoke & flame up to at least 12,000 feet from some targets in that area. I saw a fort group really demolish one refinery. We saw some good dogfights, but the escort kept them away from our group. The 8th air force lost over 30 today so some boys really caught it. Our #2 engine ran out of gas while we were still an hour over Europe. We had a strong head wind going in so it seemed like ages before we got to the target.
Mission 15
June 7, 1944 (D-Day plus 1)
Oh, what a day! I must say this was the most interesting so far. It was our first since moving to Hardwick. We led our old group, the 458th to the town of Lisieux, France just past our troops. The bombing wasn’t very good as the G.H. Beacon wasn’t working and it was a little too cloudy for visual bombing. We didn’t encounter any flak or fighters but we had to feather #2 because the prop ran away. It was clear just at the beachhead. Below was the most exciting scene I ever expect to see. The Channel was full of ships, boats, landing craft, etc. There was all kinds and sizes with hundreds of allied fighters giving them cover. The battle ships were shelling some coastal target and some coast gun must have returned the fire cause I saw some hits very close to one of our large ships. I hope we get to go back tomorrow!
Mission 16
June 8, 1944
Today we led the 2nd section of the 458 flying Yard Bird with Capt. Freeman as Command. The target was a bridge at Averanches, France. The weather was bad and we had a lot of trouble forming. We went ahead even though most ships turned back. It was overcast so we bombed G.H. #3 threw oil so bad we finally had to feather it. “No flak, no fighters” We flew over London which was the most interesting part.
Mission 17
June 11, 1944
We were a little late getting off this morning cause they had to change plugs on #1 at the last minute. We flew “R” with a capt for a command pilot. We led the 467th leading the 2nd div. The target was an airfield north of Paris. We went in on a G.H. run but Hoobler could see the target so he took over. Well he found out his bomb sight wouldn’t work so he told Haley to take it on G.H., but it was too late so we made a 2nd run letting the deputy lead do the bombing. We hit the target okay. “No flak, no fighters” but the next group got some flak.
Mission 18
June 13, 1944
Today was a long day. We got up at 0200 AM for a mission which was canceled. We finally took off at 1615 leading the 489th to a bridge in France. We were flying “Z” a new silver ship with Lt. Goodfellow as command. The bombing was visual with fair results. “No flak, no fighters.” We got back about 2335.
Mission 19
June 16, 1944
One of the group’s ships cracked up when it landed from a training flight. No one was hurt and you should’ve seen them get out and run. The left landing gear gave way. We flew a new silver ship called the Latrine Rumor today. It was a noball raid and I hope we did some good cause the Germans have been sending over the pilotless aircraft or rockets on the London area. They are about equal to a 1,000 lb bomb. We led part of the 489th. We bombed by G.H. “No flak, no fighters.”
Mission 20
June 17, 1944
We went in at 23,000 feet today flying our new silver job “K”. We led the 458th to an airfield southwest of Paris. Capt Ollem flew command. We couldn’t get our bomb racks unlocked so we had to bring our bombs back. “No flak. No fighters except gobs of P51’s”
Mission 21 & 22
June 19, 1944
Today was a busy day. We flew our new ship on two missions to the same target. It was a noball target. Major Heaton flew command. The last mission he flew pilot & Lt. Clark rode on the flight deck. On the first one we got some bad flak at the target and it really scared me cause Donovan was in the bomb bay to make sure we got our smoke bomb out for the rest of the ships to drop by. It was bursting right beneath us so close we could hear it. We got flak at two places the 2nd mission. There wasn’t so much but it was very, very accurate. Too accurate for comfort yet we only got one hole. I saw one bomber from another group go down in flames and crash in the city of Burges, Belgium. I don’t think anyone got out. We bombed G.H. but it was clear this afternoon.
Mission 23
June 20, 1944
Today was another noball raid and a little rough if I must say so. We got an early start by getting up at 1230 with take off at 4:30 and back at 8:30. We were flying our own ship “K” leading the 492nd. We had a 1st Lt. for command. It was fairly clear but we bombed G.H. with fair results. We didn’t see any fighters but the flak was bad. We did everything possible to get out of it but to no avail. We got about a dozen hits the largest being about 5 by 9 inches. Every ship in our Sqdn was hit today. Lt. Bushes navigator was hit.
Mission 24
June 22, 1944
I think after today we’d better thank the Lord for little favors. Capt. Mitchell flew with us in our own ship leading the 491st to another noball target northeast of Abbeyville. There was just a few scattered clouds so we bombed visual and with excellent results. I hope I never see or hear any more flak as I did today. Those gunners were sure putting it up around that lead ship. We got into it on the bomb run and most of the way out. It was very heavy and too accurate. When it gets close enough to hear it’s too close. Again it was impossible to get out of it and as the result our ship was hit all over. I guess we had about 150 holes. There are 12 gas cells and 11 of them hit. Toll had some plexiglass knocked in his face when a piece went through the dome of his turret. I was down by the bomb bays watching the results of our bombs and the command pilot was looking over my shoulder. He says I ducked once but he must of been wrong cause I never raised up. We got hit in the bomb bay just before bombs away. Those rocket sites have first priority now that they are hitting London. I think the Germans have their best AA gunners protecting them too. Our ship will be in Sub Depot for some time. I think I broke all speed records for sending in a bomb strike message today. We were still in flak so I didn’t waste any time. They got it the first time. I wonder if the guy who copied it had any idea how scared I was just then.
Mission 25
June 27, 1944
We had one of those days that makes a fellow grow old before his time today. We flew “R” leading the 448th with Capt Smith as command. The Target was a Marshaling yards about 25 miles north of Paris. We didn’t see any fighters but ah that flak. We really got it again today. I don’t know how they can put that AA fire up about five miles and get it so close. This today was even worse than the last mission. Demkey got about five holes in his nose turret that knocked glass in his face. It knocked the electric and hydraulic system out of Toll’s tail turret. There was a hole about 25 inches long above the right waist window. The worst part was the oxygen line was hit before we even got to the target. Part of us were out of oxygen in no time flat. We were just ready to hit the deck when I called the pilot that we could double up so I took off for the nose where there was still oxygen. I almost passed out before I got there. Okie went to the waist and the command pilot used the large walk around bottle so we were able to lead them on into the target. We bombed GH & hit the target. It was sure a relief to get back today. We had at least 60 flak hits including three of the engines that will have to be changed.
Mission 26
July 2, 1944
The worst part of the one today was the command pilot, Major Wallace. He was a cross old devil but Lt. Clark set him right when we got down. We led the 467th to a noball target. No fighters and as it was overcast the flak was at our chaff. We bombed from 24,000 feet.
Mission 27
July 4, 1944
We celebrated the fourth today by hitting an airfield back of the beachhead. We flew our own ship “K” and led part of the 392nd. For once we didn’t have a command pilot so Lt. Moore flew pilot & Clark co-pilot. We really got along swell even if we did have to go to 26,000 feet to get above the clouds & vapor trails. We had a swell GH run with no flak, no fighters which sure helps my morale.
Mission 28
July 5, 1944
We didn’t do so good today. We flew “K” leading the 467th to an air field just out of Brussels, Belgium. Capt Beatty flew command. We missed the target and got a flak hit in #4 over the target. It will have to be changed. The flak was accurate but there wasn’t very much of it. No fighters.
Mission 29
July 23, 1944
Today was our first mission since returning from the rest home. We flew the Calais Clipper and led the 389th. Capt Henchman flew command. We bombed an air field near Paris. We flew at 24,000 feet and bombed G.H. as there was an overcast - for which we were thankful for. Our chaff worked against their radar cause the flak was low & behind us. No fighters.
Mission 30
August 8, 1944
It seems that my roughest missions always come on the 8th of the month as my four worst missions have been on that date. Today was the last one in this tour and I’m greatly relieved. I flew with Capt. Darughty today as his radio operator is finished. We went in at 14,000 feet which is the lowest yet and a mile or so too low to suit me. We were by ourself but this time I was glad cause if we’d had a formation with us I don’t think we would be here to tell it. We were to drop five British flare bombs on the target which was a small village just in front of our own troops. The reason was to make it so the first & third division of forts could pick up the target easier and be sure on not getting behind our own lines. It was very interesting as we went in over Cherbourg. There was a couple of convoys heading into the port. It looked like the harbor was pretty well cleaned up as it was full of shipping. I could see about five small vessels the Germans had sunk to block the harbor. The shell holes in the large harbor forts were very visible. From there on I saw lots of villages that were mainly shell holes & crators. The red crosses marking the hospitals were very plain to see so there really shouldn’t be any excuse for the Germans to bomb them. They’ve built a great number of aircraft landing strips. I was really enjoying it till we got to Vire and turned on the I.P. At about that time we crossed the German lines and did they ever give us the works. I never saw so much flak in my life and it was accurate. I think a lot of it came from German tanks cause their 88 mm will reach 14,000 feet easily. Anyway as we were by ourself we did violent evasive action to try and get through safely. We turned as high as 90 degree turns but is was still too close for comfort. We got the flares on the edge of the target but I don’t know how we did with such a bomb run. If we held a course for a few seconds the flak was right on us but the navigator & bombardier did a grand job. The bombardier took the shortest run I’ve ever known but it was good. By the time I got the bomb doors shut after watching the flares hit, we were at 16,000 feet and climbing fast. It was just a couple minutes till we were back over our lines but we were in that heavy flak for about 15 minutes. I think there were 10 of the scaredest men on that ship I’ve ever seen. Maybe it was because it was the last mission for 8 of us & 29 for the other two. We really came home in a hurry. The forts were suppose to come in at 12,000 feet and they couldn’t do very much evasive action as they were in formation. Flak got the first three forts. Our fighters were down on the deck strafing every gun they could find so it was quite a sight to see. We were very lucky cause we only got hit about 15 times.