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9th Air Force

 

668th Bomb Sq. / 669th Bomb Sq. / 670th Bomb Sq. / 671st Bomb Sq.

February - May 1943

The Four Hundred and Sixteenth (416th) Bombardment Group Light was activated on 5 February, 1943, without personnel, at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma. The authority for the organization of this Group was contained in General Orders #3, Headquarter Army Air base, Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma, dated 4 February, 1943. The components making up the Group were the 668th, 669th, 670th and 671st Bombardment Squadrons Light.

The original transfer of fifty-one (51) Officers and two hundred and forty-one (241) Enlisted Men was made on 15 February, 1943. The source of the cadre was the 46th Bombardment Group and units from Will Rogers Field; from Blythe, Calif.; from Barksdale Field, La.; and a number of men with considerable overseas experience from the Third Air Force Replacement Center, Plant Park, Florida. These key personnel were, in most cases, soldiers of valuable experience, and their contributions were especially large.

Until 15 February, all personnel were attached to their parent organization for duty, rations, and quarters. However, on that date, the 46th Bombardment Group Light moved to the North side of Will Rogers Field, leaving the South side to the 416th Bombardment Group Light (further references will call it the 416th Bomb Group (L).

The Group originally operated as a Operational Training Unit under the III Air Support Command. Under the leadership of its young and energetic Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Richard D. Dick, the Group began to lay the foundation to cope with the administrative and operational problems it would soon face. The following Officers were assigned to the duties indicated:

Capt. Griffin R. BeattyGroup Operations Officer

Capt. Warren J. ConenGroup Surgeon Officer

Capt. William P. ThomasGroup Intelligence Officer

Capt. James W. Townsend..Group Adjutant Officer

2nd Lt. William L. Kinney.Group Materiel

The four men who were selected to be Commanding Officers of the four Squadrons had been together ever since their graduation from Flying School. They had gained valuable experience while on Desert maneuvers in California. They were:

Capt. John G. Napier..C.O. 668th

Capt. Robert F. Price..C.O. 669th

Capt. Raymond T. Schlanser..C.O. 670th

Capt. David L. WillettsC.O. 671st

The Group fell back on the parent Group, the 46th, for assistance with its training. Pilots were attached to the 46 Bomb Group for transition flying during the first three months of our existence. On 11 May, the first eight (8) planes were assigned to the 416th Group. One B-25C and one A-20-B was given to each of the 668th and 669th Squadrons. Two A-20-B's were assigned to each of the 670th and 671st Squadrons. Classes in all the military occupational specialties were conducted by the 46th Bomb Group until 1 June 1943. The Pilots attended Ground School, for five hours a day, in the following subjects: code, link trainer, aircraft recognition, operation and maintenance of the A-20 and B-25, air navigation, radio, instrument procedure, etc. The Intelligence personnel attended classes for one hour a day. Training films were shown, such as DIVIDE AND CONQUER which all personnel saw on 21 and 24, May.

The training of the mind was important, but the training and conditioning of the body was just as important to produce the type of soldier that Col. Dick wanted. Therefore a physical training program was set up. Both Officers and Enlisted Men participated in the program of Calisthenics and games. All men took a physical fitness test during the third week in May. The Group participated in a march and bivouac on 21 May. The Group experience of the bivouac was important. The men pitched shelter halves. They were instructed in how to camouflage and in camouflage discipline. After eating Supper, the Group returned to the Base.

Ceremonial Reviews were held on Saturday mornings, in which all available men paraded.

Moral during this period while at Will Rogers Field was high. Military courtesy and discipline was commendable. After an inspection tour and a formal review for Brg. General McDaniel, Col. Dick sent a letter of commendation to the members of the Group.

The Commanding Officers supervised their Squadrons closely. Those who were inexperienced profited greatly by this. Everyone looked eagerly to the future.

The enlisted personnel enjoyed the recreational activities and entertainment prepared for them. Typical of the recreation available to them were these events taken from a copy of FUN DIAL* and announcement paper:

RECREATION ON THE BASE

Sunday - - -Radio Broadcast

All-Girl Rodeo

Mystery Show

Monday - -Stag and Stunt

Tuesday - - - -Dance

Wednesday - -Dance

Thursday - - - Dance

Friday - - - - - Grab Bag Nite

Saturday - - - - Dance

These papers were designed by an Enlisted Man of the Group and posted weekly in the Squadron's barracks. Stories and pictures of personnel and activities were featured in two pages of Field News, the Base weekly newspaper.

Typical of the competitive spirit that had already arisen between the Squadrons of the Group was the interest shown in the Field Day planned by Lt. John Flummerfelt, Group Athletic Officer. The four Squadrons sent its representatives into events of all kinds from a horseshoe tournament to a mile relay. No less interest was shown in the Officers Softball League that started on May 20.

Despite the apparently full schedule of activities, the social life of the Group was not neglected. Dances were held on Tuesday and Thursday nights at the Base Recreation Hall for the Enlisted Men. For the Officers a letter date May 15, 1943 will describe one of their functions.

For every man you know who has ever tried to defy the laws of gravity, you will find one who has faced death. There are some who lose out in the struggle. On April 15, 2nd Lt. Eugene S. Hulette, while on temporary duty at Amarillo, Texas was killed on a routine training mission.

It was about the beginning of April when the Group began to function quite smoothly. On April 4, the Group was assigned to the 56th Bombardment Training Wing, General Order #8, III Air Support Command. Throughout that month and the next the Group progressed appreciably. On May 13, approval was received for Aircraft marking for the 671st Bomb Sq. Suddenly orders were given to the Commanding Officer at the Army Air Field, Lake Charles, La. 2nd Lt. William L. Eubank was designated as train commander.

SO 152 published June 1, transferred the remainder of the Group to Lake Charles, La., thus beginning the second phase of the History of the Group.

February 1944

The morning of 1 February 1944 was spent on a train cutting across the heart of England to a small town in East Anglia, Sybil and Castle Hedingham. At 1515 the men determined and boarded trucks that were waiting to take them to an R/F station one mile north of Wethersfield, Station 170.

The station, in the process of being constructed, was commanded by Squadron Leader Newnham of the RAF. In addition to the small RAF staff, four American units were already there. They were, the Fourth Service Group, 79th Station Complement, 129th Military Police Company, and 220th Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon Aviation.

The advance echelon that had arrived of 17 January supervised the quartering of the men and the section. Having been planned as a B-17 base, the field was found to proving ample space for a light Bombardment Group. At the time of our arrival, the strength of the Group consisted of one hundred and seventy-two (172) Officers and one thousand ninety -six (1096) Enlisted men.

The Group, now a component of the IX Bomber Command of the Ninth Air Force, was placed under the supervision of the 99th Combat Bombardment Wing. Ours was the first A-20 Group in the Bomber Command.

On 3 February, Lieutenant Colonel Thatcher, Commanding Officer of the 99th Wing, spoke to all the officers, acquainting them with the task that was before them, their duties and responsibilities. Ground school training was begun and conducted for the first two weeks by members of the Wing.

With the sections established and a training program set up, the Base prepared for a visit from Brigadier General Anderson, Commanding Officer of the IX Bomber Command. He arrived the morning of the 7th. The Group assembled in the hanger and the General was introduced by Colonel Mace. After a few words of welcome General Anderson told us what we could expect and what would be expected of us.

Administratively there had to be a mass rearranging of personnel. Under the administrative system in effect throughout the IX Bomber Command, the Squadron loses most of its identity. Sections such as Intelligence, Communications, Personnel and Transportation pool their personnel, both officer and enlisted, to form a Group organization. Operating as a combined unit tends to broaden the scope of activity and offers opportunity for more direct control; all of which leads to greater efficiency. Colonel Mace became Commanding Officer of the Station. Many other Group Officers assumed Station Officer duties. Engineering and Operations Sections of the Squadrons did not lose their separate identities. There was on question uppermost in the minds of all. That was, "When are we going to get some planes?" The A-20-G-25 planes that were expected were slow in arriving. The first plane was assigned to the Group on 4 February. On the 10th, Lieutenant Charles Stewart, Engineering Officer of the 669th Squadron became the first Squadron Engineering Officer to accept and sign for a plane. By 29 February the Group had received only 27 planes and of these some were A-20-Bs. Due to shortage of aircraft it became necessary for the Squadrons to arrange their flying schedules to obtain the maximum advantage from the planes available. On a local flight made on 14 February 2nd Lt. William D. Minnicks of Franklin, Kentucky was killed when is plane, and A-20-G stalled and dove into the ground. This was the first loss by the Group on foreign soil.

The failure of the planes to arrive afforded the Group added opportunity to establish and train its personnel more thoroughly for the combat missions that lay ahead. Intelligence personnel, particularly, attended Ninth Air Force, IX Bomber Command, and R.A.F. schools.

Twenty officers were transferred to the Group during the month. Of these thirteen were replacement pilots. One, 1st Lt. William L. Smith, was transferred to the Group and was appointed Group Bombardier. Four officers were added to the Group Cryptographic Security Section. Caption McClellan was named Group Gunnery Officer.

One of the major changes in personnel was the assignment of Major Robert F. Price to the command of the 668th Squadron. Major Clarence S. Towles who was relieved became the Assistant Group Operations Officer.

Throughout the month there were many changes made in ranks and grades. Major Townsend, who had been with the Group since it activation, when he was a Captain, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Captain Price, Willetts, Napier, Radetsky, and Roney became Majors.

As a reminder of Thursday afternoon in the "States", the Group and the 4th Service Group passes in a formal review before Colonel Mace and Squadron Leader Newham.

The strength of the Group on the last day to the month was 192 officers and 1,109 enlisted men.

March 1944

Whoever once said that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb was not referring to a March in England. Inclement weather was generally spread throughout the entire month. The month of February had been devoted entirely to training flights, but with the coming of March, we expected to start operational flying.

At the beginning of the month two diversionary missions were flown to the middle of the English Channel. The first combat mission was to be on 3 March. An attack on the Poix Airdrome in France was scheduled, but the flight of eighteen planes, led by Major Radetsky, was recalled at the French coast because of lack of fighter escort. One plane piloted by 2nd Lt. William S. Ostrander had to be ditched in the channel. Colonel Thatcher, Commanding Officer on the 99th Combat Wing, flew with the mission.

The second target, on 4 March, was the airdrome at Bernay St. Martins. Major Farmer led the formation of twenty-one planes but were recalled. On the 6th of March, Colonel Ford led twenty-one planes to the French coast in what was to be an attack on the Airfield at Conches, France. The formation turned back at the French coast and returned to the base because fighter rendezvous was not made.

The first successful mission was led by Major Towles, with Captain Dunn as Deputy Leader, on the 7th, against the same Airfield at Conches. Several of the twenty-one planes failed to drop their bombs, but 22,500 pounds of demolition bombs were dropped on the runways. The results were considered good.

After this, the fourth mission for the Group, bad weather again hampered operations. It was not until eleven days later, on the 18th of March, that the planes were able to take off to attack the enemy in France. The target, a military installation known as a Noball, was near the town of Vacquerres. Major Price led the formation. After they had passed the initial point, Major Price opened his bomb bay doors for the run and several bombs dropped out. The other planes thinking this was a signal dropped their bombs. Flak was encountered, but Lt. Poindexter's ship was the only one to return with any damage.

Thirty-three planes were sent out the next day with Major Towles as leader to attack a Noball target at Wisques in the Pas de Calais area. The mission had been run at a time when B-17's and B-26's were operating in the same area. In the course of the three passes made at the target by our planes, we suffered 100% battle damage. Lt. Vernon H. Powell, Bombardier-Navigator of the lead plane piloted by Major Meng, was hit in the side of the head by a piece of flak. His helmet absorbed the force of the blow, but Lt. Powell was knocked unconscious. Lt. Horace F. Pair had his plane well shot up and had to make a forced landing. He landed his plane with his two gunners, S/Sgt. Herbert A. Marion and Sgt. Victor P. Adams, on the slope of a hill just inside the English coastline near Hastings. The gunners escaped unscathed, but Lt. Pair broke an ankle in the landing. His plane burst into flames, but his gunners with the help of onlookers pulled him from the plane.

For the third straight day, on the 20th of March, our planes went out. Colonel Ford led twenty-eight planes against another Noball target in the Pas de Calais area. The bombing run was good. All ships returned safely. No flak was seen and no fighters were encountered.

On the 23rd, the first complete 36-ship formation was flown. Riding "piggyback" in the nose of a new A-20-J flown by Major Towles, the Group Navigator and Bombardier, Lt. Max A. Pepe and Lt. William L. Smith, led a formation in what was to be an attack on an Airfield at Montdidier. Major Radetsky, who had previous combat experience in England and North Africa, was Deputy Leader. The formation missed the target and flew to the outskirts of Paris. Excellent evasive action got them through the flak with a minimum of damage to the planes.

On the 26th, Colonel Ford led a formation of thirty-six planes on the most successful mission of the month. His bombardier and navigator were Lt. Peter G. Royalty and Lt. Henry T. Arrington., Major Campbell was Deputy Leader. The target was a Noball near the town of Vacqueriette. All planes returned safely with no damage. This was the last mission of the month. Bad weather kept the planes non-operational except those for local flying. A mission was scheduled for the last day of the month, but snow fell and covered the ground causing the mission to be scrubbed.

After the first month of combat operations, our planes had flown 229 sorties and had dropped 287 tons of bombs. There were no losses of planes or men over enemy territory. Eight men had received the Purple Heart. Colonel Mace and Captain Richard B. Prentiss had received the Air Medal.

Although the first hostilities against the enemy by the 416th was the main topic of the month, other events took place. On the 17th, the IX Bomber Command held an inspection of the Base. The results were most gratifying. At his Staff meeting on the 29th, Colonel Mace congratulated everyone who had tried so hard and succeeded so well in making it the best inspection that we had ever had.

Colonel Mace spoke to all personnel on the Base on the 25th in Hanger #1. There were many points that he wanted to clarify and he chose that opportunity to do it. The most important thing was that every single person should realize that he is vitally important in accomplishing the objective of our work, and our job was "to go out and drop bombs where we are told to".

The work of the Special Services became increasingly more important the moment that we arrived in the E.T.O. No longer would we have the recreational facilities found in most American towns available to us. All-Soldier shows helped to entertain the men. "This is It", the show that had entertained us on our trip was given of the 8th of February, for the Base Service Group, and on the 11th of February and 24th of March at Station 165. Lt. Gureasko, Special Services Officer, brought a Special Services variety show to our Base on 18 February. The show was entitled "Sky Blazers". Two other local "GI" talent shows were presented in February, the "Bombers Coon Gaitlies" and "Mat O'Jive". On 9 March, the first U.S.O. show, "Words and Music" played here. On the 19th, a second show, "Loop the Loop" entertained the personnel. Our local talent again got together and produced a show called "Like it or Lump It". Although it lasted only one night, it provided good entertainment. On the night of the 27th, Corporal M.F. Clark, of Unit M and Corporal James Priest, of Unit B, proved that they were tops on the Base in Ping-Pong and Checkers respectively.

During the month, Capt. Aaron McClallan was appointed Group Gunnery Officer. Lt. Thomas L. Van Over became Group Personal Equipment Officer, Lt. Colonel Theodore Aylesworth, who received his Senior Pilot's rating on 18 March, was appointed Group Training Officer. A permanent board was established on 29 March, to flight check the instrument flying proficiency of all rated pilots in the Group.

The strength as of the last day of the month was as follows:

668th Bomb Sq. 35 Officers 264 Enlisted Men

669th `` `` 37 `` `` 266 `` ``

670th `` `` 41 `` `` 267 `` ``

671st `` `` 38 `` `` 264 `` ``

Hq. 416th Group 36 `` `` 59 `` ``

Total ---191 -------1120

April 1944

The month of April began with the same bad weather that March had given us. Everyone was eagerly awaiting some good flying weather so that out planes could get back into the sky to prove our ability. One of our Pilots would not be with us on the first April mission, however. He was Lt. Horace F. Pair. Lt. Pair had broken an ankle when he crashed and his plane, returning from a mission in March. On the 4th he was transferred to the 48th General Hospital.

Some other changes in personnel occurred during the month. 1st Lt. Edmond V. Bond,Jr., was transferred into the Armament Section of the 669th Bombardment Squadron. 2nd Lt. Lloyd H. Perkins became Assistant Photo Interpreter. 1st Lt. Edward P. Arnold was transferred to MIS detachment, HQ. ETOUSA. On the 4th, Major Clarence S. Towles, Jr., left the Group to become Operations Officer for the 97th Combat Wing. At the end of the month the strength of the Group was:

668th BS 39 Officers 264 Enlisted Men

669th `` 37 `` 262 `` ``

670th `` 41 `` 268 `` ``

671st `` 35 `` 261 `` ``

Hq. 416 th 35 59

Total 185 `` 1114 `` ``

Distinguished guest visited the Base. During the month General Brereton, Commanding Officer of the Ninth Air Force and his Deputy Commander, General Royce, visited this Group, the latter on a two-day general visit. Colonel Backus, Commanding Officer of the 97th Combat Wing, arrived on the 3rd.

An event that we all awaited materialized on the 15th. It was on that day that the American Flag replaced the R.A.F. Flag on the pole in front of the Headquarters Building. The Base was turned over to the U.S.A.A.F. by the R.A.F. Commander, Squadron Leader Newman. At the same time Captain William Battersby was awarded the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross. S/Sgt. Arnold A. Stockham received the Distinguished Flying Cross. The awards were made by Colonel Mace. During the month, Lt. Hilary P. Cole received the Air Medal. Lt. McGlohn, S/Sgt. Prindle, S/Sgt. Bresnak, S/Sgt. Donahue, S/Sgt. Orr, S/Sgt. Griffin, S/Sgt. Worden, S/Sgt. Rzepka, and Sgt. Zeikus, received the Purple Heart.

In the Intelligence Section Major Thomas was appointed Top Secret Control Officer, Captain Robert G. Bailey was appointed to be his assistant.

In the field of entertainment and recreation, much was done. An Officers' Party was held on the 14th, at the Officers' Club. Young ladies from the nearby communities and nearby Army Bases added their charm to the occasion. A good orchestra and an almost ample supply of "Scotch" added to the festivities. A few days earlier "the finest Aero Club in the U.K." was opened. The occasion was a gala one with a Scottish Bagpipe Band in their traditional dress adding color. The new club was under the direction of Mr. Sigvard Rugland, Red Cross Field Director, Miss Margaret Cebrian, Club Director, and Mrs. Florence Jekyll, Managress, both Red Cross workers.

The first EM dance was held at the Aero Club on the 15th. Since that time a weekly Saturday night dance is held at the club. Two All-Soldier Shows, "Like it or Lump it", and "Dog Show" were the contributions from our local talents. A U.S.O. Camp Show, "On with the Show", struck a new high. Most of the sets were far over the average.

In keeping with General Brereton's theme, " Keep Mobile", the Group engaged in a practice move on the 17th. The move ran a bit off schedule, and generally brought out weaknesses. One on the most notable failures was the inability of many of the leaders to keep on the right roads. As a result a few days later, a map reading course was given to all Ground Officers by 1st Lt. Harold W. Anderson, of the Intelligence Department. As part of the program of training a course was mapped out. A team of two officers was assigned a jeep and a driver. They were given a map and the check points and were thus able to put their learning into practice.

The first operational mission to be completed in April was flown on the morning of the 10th. The mission was a costly one for us. Of the 38 planes that took off, three never returned. Two crews were lost due to Enemy Action. The third plane crash-landed at Bradwell Bay. It was flown by 1st Lt. Marion Street. His two gunners bailed out before he landed. The plane, badly shot up, was brought down in an excellent belly-landing so that Lt. Street was able to walk away from the wreckage uninjured. Second Lt. Arthur A. Raines and his two gunners, S/Sgt. Jack C. Nielsen and S/Sgt. Glenn J. Bender, were last seen shortly after leaving the target area losing altitude. 1st Lt. William E. Cramsie and his two gunners, S/Sgt. Charles R. Henshaw and S/Sgt. Jack (MMI) Steward, were last heard from calling for bearing while out over the English Channel. Lt. Raines, Lt. Cramsie, and their crews have been listed as "Missing in Action".

In the afternoon 38 planes made an attack on a NOBALL target at Bonnieres and Beauvoir. Three planes dropped window between the two targets to protect the 37 planes that made the attack. The boxes led by Major Meng with, Lt. Powell,B/N, and Major Willetts with Lt. Peter C. Royalty, B/N, hit the targets squarely with 130x500 G.P. bombs. Bomber Command rated the results "good".

Flying a mission for the third straight day, on the 12th we attacked another military installation at Vacqueriette with 37 aircraft. Even with two Bomb Runs only 20 of the aircraft were able to bomb because of a heavy cloud cover. Colonel Farmer and Captain Huff led the two boxes. The results were unobserved. At the same time 6 of our A-20's dropped window in support of B-26's in an attack on Dunkerque. None of our planes received any battle damage.

On the following day two more NOBALL targets in the Pas de Calais area were attacked simultaneously. Although the results were unobserved at the time, reconnaissance showed a fair to good result. The 37 aircraft flying in two boxes were led by Major Willetts, with Lt. Royalty, B/N, and Major Meng, with Lt. Powell, B/N. Again nine of our aircraft supported three Marauder Groups in LeHavre attacks, dropping window.

After a four-day lapse in operations due to bad flying weather, 38 planes left to bomb the Marshalling yards at Charleroi/St. Martin, Belgium, on the 18th. The first box led by Major Meng with Lt. Powell, B/N, bombed the target with fair results. The second box led by Major Price with Lt. Hand, B/N, could not identify the target in time for a bomb run. Despite the long trip over enemy-occupied country, not a plane received battle damage.

A NOBALL target in the Bois de Huite Ruen was the objective on the next day. 35 planes dropped 138x500 G.P. bombs in a heavy concentration in the target area. For the second straight day there was no battle damage. Colonel Ford with Lt. Royalty,B/N, and Major Price with Lt. Hand,B/N, led the two boxes.

The 20th was the first day that we ran two fulll-strength missions in one day. In the morning 38 planes took off to bomb a NOBALL target at Corenfloe. A cloud cover of .8 to .9 hid the target so that no attack was made. Haze again obscured the target at Yvrench/Bois Carre from view from th 38 planes that took off in the afternoon. No attack was made.

The target that had escaped bombing the afternoon before was suspended on the following day. Although the first box led by Major Willets with Lt. Royalty, B/N, was far off the target, Major Price's box with Lt. Hand,B/N, dropped a good concentration of bombs in the target area with excellent results.

Again on the 22nd, in a morning and an afternoon mission two NOBALL Targets were attacked. In the morning the two boxes led by Major Campbell with Lt. William F. Palin,B/N, and Major Price with Lt. Hand,B/N, hit short of the target at Behen. In the afternoon, however, Major Willetts with Lt. Royalty,B/N, led his box on a good run and hit the target at Linghem with very good results. The second box led by Captain David Hulse with Lt. Conte, B/N, were too wide to make a bomb run.

Flying back for the sixth consecutive day, 37 aircraft dropped 143x500 G.P. bombs in an attack n a military installation at Bonnieres. For the first time the crews saw one of their own planes broken in half by flak over the target. The crew, 2nd Lt. Joseph T. Schouten, S/Sgt. Robert R. Williamson, and Sgt. Joseph E. Feistl, are all listed as "Missing in Action". Some of the other planes, seeing the bombs fall out of Lt. Schouten's stricken plane, mistook them for bombs from the lead plane and dropped on them. As a result the bombing was poor. Major Price with Lt. Hand, B/N, and Major Campbell with Lt. Palin, B/N, led the two boxes.

A day of cloudy weather broke the string of bombing days at six. A mission took off, but was recalled before it had gone to the coast. It was not recalled soon enough, though. While going through the overcast 2nd Lt. Arthur A. McDonald, lost control of his plane for some reason unknown. In the dive he lost a wing. He did manage to pull the plane out of the dive, and before he hit the ground, he maneuvered his plane in a last heroic effort to avoid crashing in the midst of a crowded city district. The plane struck in the only open area in the vicinity, exploding when the bombs hit the ground. The crew, Lt. McDonald, S/Sgt. Leroy (NMI) Barnard, and S/Sgt. Joseph J. Shields, were killed. Their remains have been interred in the American Military Cemetery at Cambridge, England.

The following day, the 25th, our planes attacked with renewed vigor. The morning mission produced good results against a NOBALL installation in the Bois d'Enger. The 37 planes attacking in two boxes led by Major Willetts with Lt. Royalty,B/N, and Captain Hulse with Lt. Conte,B/N, dropped only 71x500 G.P. bombs. Low clouds and shadows prevented recognition of the target by the second box leader. The bombs that were dropped had good results. The afternoon attack was made by 37 planes against coastal batteries at St. Pierre du Mont. The two boxes led by Major Meng with Lt. Powell,B/N, and Captain Dunn with Lt. Arrington,B/N, returned after dropping a heavy concentration of bombs in the target area with no battle damage.

Major Willetts with Lt. Royalty,B/N, and Capt. Battersby with Lt. Lytle,B/N, led 38 planes against a Marshalling yard at Louvain, Belgium, on the 26th. One hundred five-hundred-pound bombs were dropped with good results.

Ending our longest sustained sustained drive against the foe, we flew two missions on the 27th. The Marshalling Yards at Monceau-Sur-Sambre was protected by .7 to .8 cloud cover in the morning, which prevented any bombing. In the afternoon, however, our 36 aircraft completely battered the Marshalling Yards at Arras. A roundhouse, the aiming point, was demolished. Major Price with Lt. Hand, B/N, and Captain Dunn with Lt. Arrington, B/N, led the two boxes.

Mission no. 32 and 33 were flown on the last day of the month. In the morning three boxes led by Major Campbell, Captain Battersby, and Major Price scored good results against NOBALL target at Bonnieres. The 39 aircraft dispatched dropped 1515x500 G.P. bombs. Finishing the month in a blaze of glory, excellent results were achieved in the late afternoon attack on the Busigny Marshalling Yards. Major Meng with Lt. Powell, B/N, and Captain Dunn with Lt. Arrington, B/N, led the two boxes, which dropped 38 tons of bombs along 400 yards of the main target area. Lt. Renth was forced to land on an auxillary field along the coast after a hair-raising trip across France at low-level on one engine. Hitting and obstruction on the landing strip the plane was damaged beyond repair. Lt. Renth and his gunners, S/Sgt. LaHave and S/Sgt. Eppe escaped any personal injury.

A congratulatory telegram was received from General Anderson on the Busigny Mission.

Checking back on our operations during the month of April, the Group participated in 24 missions. Seven hundred and seventy-four sorties were flown in which 534_ tons of bombs were dropped.

May 1944

The battle continued in an over-rising concern pointing toward the day when the Armies of Hitler would have to stand face-to-face with the United Nations on his very own soil. To break the link between Germany's industry and the fighting front would be the role of the Air Force before D-/Day. The 416th Bomb Group (L) can be justly proud of the job it did in breaking this link. We flew thirty missions during the month of May, hitting many types of targets. Among them were marshalling yards, air fields, coastal defenses, no ball targets, and even a Naval Headquarters.

A short summary of each mission, mentioning each high point, follows:

On the first day of the month, Major Willetts, with Lt. Royalty, his Bombardier-Navigator, and Captain Clark, with Lt. Jones his Bombardier-Navigator, led 37 aircraft against the Charleroi/Montignies Marshalling Yards in Belgium. No flak was encountered and the bombing results were good.

That same afternoon, Major Campbell, with Lt. Palin, B/N, and Captain Battersby, with Lt. Lytie, B/N, led 37 planes across Belgium again. This time they attacked, with good results, the Marshalling Yards at Blanc Misseron. Foru planes suffered battle damage.

On the next day the Blanc Misseron Marshalling Yards was again the target for the 38 planes that took off. The first box led by Major Meng, Lt. Powell, B/N, smashed the target with excellent results. Poor visibility caused the second box, led by Captain Dunn, with Lt. Arrington, B/N, to mistake the yards at Valecciennes for the correct target.

Much damage was inflicted on the mistaken target, however. Four days of bad weather interfered before we were able to get off again. On the seventh, Blanc Misseron was chosen to be our target for the third straight time. Weather interfered though, and the mission was aborted. In the afternoon, another mission took off to bomb a NOBall target at Behan. Weather again caused it to be aborted. Eleven planes received battle damage.

Bad weather caused the mission to the Aerschot Marshalling Yards on the next morning to be aborted. Striking back in the afternoon, Major Willetts with Lt. Royalty, B/N, and Capt. Clark with Lt. Conte, B/N, led the boxes over the NOBALL installation at Behen. The 39 planes bombed in flights of sixes. The results were generally good. Four aircraft sustained battle damage. The Aerschot Marshalling Yards that had the day previous, the 8th, escaped because of bad weather, had suffered vital damage when 41 planes dropped 40 tons of bombs on it.

Split into three boxes, they were led by Major Campbell, with Lt. Palin, B/N, Capt. Battersby, with Lt. Lytle, B/N, and Capt. Hulse, with Lt. Conte, B/N. The engine turntable was severely damaged. A 3-bay workshop and a 3-bay building were partially destroyed. Forty-five cars were destroyed and all the tracks opposite the turntable were blocked by a large crater.

That afternoon, 40 aircraft attacked in three boxes, the NOBALL target at Bois D'Enfer. The first two boxes had fair results. The third made no attack when the target became obscured by haze. The box leaders were Major Meng, Captain McNulty, and Captain Dunn.

Two missions were flown on the 11th. In the morning, 38 planes took off. The second box led by Capt. Dunn, with Lt. Arrington, B/N, lost visual contact with box #1, and seeing no further escort, turned around and came home. First box, led by Major Willetts, with Lt. Royalty, B/N, hit the target with fair results. This box did find the fighter escort. Nine aircraft received battle damage. The target was the Corneille-eu-Vixen Airdrome.

The afternoon a formation of 38 planes bombed the Marshalling Yards at Arschot. Smoke coming up from the bomb bursts from the first box, led by Major Meng and Lt. Powell, B/N, hindered the second boxes's Bombardier-Navigator, Lt. Jones flying with Captain Clark, from aiming accurately. Results were fair. The intensity of the enemy's flak fire seems to be increasing. Fourteen planes were hit by flak.

On the morning of the 12th, an attack was made on an airfield at Monchy Breton. The results were fair. Major Price, with Lt. Hanna, B/N, and Captain Dunn, with Lt. Arrington, B/N, led the two boxes.

Shortly after those planes landed, 39 fresh crews took off to bomb a NOBALL at Beauvois-Fille. The course was to lead them through what had already gained the name "Flak Alley". The flak was there as it was expected, in all its intensity and accuratness. One plane received a direct hit from flak while in the target area. It burst into flames and crashed a mile west of the target. Two chutes were seen to come out of the plane. Its crew was 1st Lt. Robert Stockwell, pilot, 2nd Lt. Albert Jedinak, Bombardier-Navigator, S/Sgt. Hollis A. Foster and S/Sgt. Egon W. Rust, gunners. Lt. Stockwell had been with the Group almost from the beginning of its existence. Bombing in flights of sixes, there were three "Excellent" and three "Poor".

Going out again on the 13th, 42 aircraft in three boxes attacked the airdrome at Beauvois-Fille. The first box led by Major Campbell, with Lt. Palin, B/N, rated excellent results. The other two boxes, led by Captain McNulty and Lt. Osborne, with Lts. Bursiel and Forma as Bombardiers-Navigators, were not quite as accurate. The large hanger was hit and several other installations were severely damaged.

A day of cloudy weather postponed the next mission to the 15th. Although 37 aircraft took off to attack the Airdrome at Criel, only the first box dropped it bombs. Lt. Powell, Major Meng's Bombardier-Navigator, found a hole in the cloud patched sky and dropped his bombs squarely onto the aiming point. By the time that Lt. Conte, Captain Hulse's Bombardier-Navigator, came onto the target area, a cloud obscured the field from his view. Only one pass was made on the target. No flak was encountered along the route.

Three days of bad weather again kept the planes on the ground. It was late in the afternoon on the 19th when the next mission took off. Thirty-eight planes were sent out to knock out the coastal defense battery at Beauvois-Fille. Clouds prevented the first box from picking up the target. Captain Clark, with Lt. Jones, B/N, in the second box, was able to get a glance at it. The bombs were released with fair results. Major Price, with Lt. Hanna, B/N, led the flight box. On the return trip home, flying through a thick overcast, Lt. Joseph Crispino's plane spun out of control. He cleared his two gunners, Sgt. Thomas I. Welsh and Sgt. Roycen A. Copoceck to bail out. Then he jumped himself. The two gunners never did get out and the plane crashed. Lt. Crispino parachuted to earth with a leg fractured when his body was thrown against the planes tail assembly. He was transferred to an Evaluation Hospital to convalesce. The remains of the two gunners have been interred at the Cambridge Military Cemetery, Cambridge.

Mission #50 was completed in the afternoon on the 20th. It was a costly one for us. Thirty-eight planes took off. The planes were lost over enemy territory. One plane crashed landed in the U.K., destroyed, 26 planes returned with battle damage. Poor visibility caused the Montdier Airfield to be mistaken for the correct target, the airfield at Beauvois-Fille. From the planes that were lost, three chutes came from one, two chutes from the other. The crews of the planes were Lt. B.A. Bradford, S/Sgt. Clarence M. Gray, S/Sgt. Vern E. Moiver, Lt. Michael E. Kleopfel, S/Sgt. Ray Bankston, and S/Sgt. Leroy R. Shaw. It was Lt. Henderson who had to crash land in the U.K. Neither he nor his gunner were injured. The boxes were led by Major Willetts and Captain Dunn, with Lts. Royalty and Arrington as Bombardier-Navigators.

Another mission was scheduled in the same day before the weather became to dark to bomb. This time the target was at the airfield Cormeille-eu-Vexin. It was attacked by 35 aircraft led by Major Campbell, with Lt. Palin, B/N, and Captain Clark, with Lt. Jones, B/N. There were no losses, casualties, or battle damage; and the results were excellent. Concentration of bombs blanketed five blast shelters, destroying three. Two other shelters received direct hits or near misses. Two days later 38 planes took off to attack the same targets. Thirteen of the aircraft became separated from the formation during the ascent through the overcast and returned early. The two boxes were originally led by Major Meng and Captain Jackson. The planes that were able to locate it caught onto Lt. Jackson's box and went on to bomb the target. Again excellent results were achieved with hits on the large hanger, three blast shelters, and five unidentified buildings.

Two missions were sent out on the 14th to attack the airfield at Beaumont le Roger and Abbeville-Ducat. The first formation led by Major Willets and Captain Conant had poor results. The second formation, however, caused much destruction to the hangers and blast shelters of what was to be the home of the "Abbeville Kids", the crack ME 109 Fighter outfit. The boxes were led by Major Price, Captain Clark and Lt. Osborne.

The following day 37 aircraft made an attack on the Monchy/Breton airfield. Due to an error, the first box dropped prematurely. The second box dropped a good concentration of bombs, but oddly enough, they hit the ground close to the E.P.I. Concussion probably destroyed the hanger and adjacent buildings. The boxes were led by Major Meng and Captain McNulty.

The mission on the 26th against the Beauville-Tille airdrome was recalled by the Bomber Command after we were 20 miles into France. There was no fighter escort. No attack was made.

When we first began operations, Sunday became known as "Bloody Sunday". It seemed that every Sunday our planes were shot up more than on any other day.

Saturday, 17 May, was to be the exception. In the morning, our planes followed the 409th Bomb Group (L) on an attack on the Amiens Marshalling Yard. When they lost a box leader and a deputy leader; they soon strayed far from the course. Major Campbell decided to abandon the mission. Lt. Palin, his Bombardier-Navigator rose to the occasion, and led the planes back to the base. Several of the planes from the 409th Bomb Group (L) joined in on the tail end of our formation and returned to base. Captain Clark led the second box.

In the afternoon, we were the ones to lose planes. The target was again the Marshalling Yards at Amiens. Some led bombs hit the target with fair results. The majority of box 1 dropped on the No. 4 plane, which, having received a direct hit by flak, salvoed its bombs 10 seconds before the point for release. Six chutes were seen to come out of the planes flown by Lt. Guillon and Lt.Siracusa. Lt. Simms was hit in the arm by flak, and gave the order to his two gunners to bail out over France.

Lt. Simms managed to jockey the plane back across the Channel and crashed on the coast. Although badly injured, and plane completely damaged, he did an outstanding job getting the plane back on this side of the Channel. Lt. ___ was also hit over the target. He was last seen flying west from Amein, slowly losing altitude. No chutes were seen and nothing further was reported on him. The four crews were; Lt. Allen Guillion,Jr., S/Sgt.Grady F. ___ and S/Sgt. Gerald Coffey, Lt. Lucien J. Siracuse, S/Sgt. James ____, and S/Sgt. Floyd Brown, and S/Sgt. B. Boyer.

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And the chutes from Lt. Gullion's and Lt. Siracuse's plane came floating down. It was reported that light flak was fired at the parachutes from 3000 feet to the ground. The formation was led by Major Price, with Lt. ____, B/N, and Lt. Dubois, with Lt. Forma, B/N.

Shaken, yes, but no less determined, before the end of the next day our crews were off on three missions. An important Navel _.D.P. Headquarters at Bruges/St-Michel was the target in the morning. Bombing in boxes of 14's against a small target, the results were only fair. Major Meng, Captain Jackson, and Captain Dunn led the boxes.

Simultaneous attacks were made in the afternoon on NOBALL targets at Vacqueriette and Behen. The box led by Major Willetts, with Lt. Royalty,B/N, hit the first target with good concentration of bombs in the target area. The other box led by Major Campbell, with Lt. Palin, B/N, bombed the Behen area with excellent results. Continuing the excellent work, 36 planes dropped 35 tons of bombs on the ____ Airdrome with good to excellent results. The bombs hit a hanger and a fuel dump. Major Price and Lt. Osborne led the two boxes.

The 30th mission of the month, and the 63rd since we had begun operating, took off on the 30th. The target was the Airdrome at Denian-Prouvy. The first box scored excellent, the second poor.

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Major Willetts, with Lt. Royalty, B/N, and Lt. Marzolf, with Lt. Basnett, B/N, led the boxes.

The 416th had done a good job, and it was proud of itself. What was more, it was getting official recognition. A letter from Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory, ____ of the Allied Expeditionary Air Force, commended the Ninth Air Force for the best bombing against ___. An _____by Gen. Brereton gave the commendation on the Ninth Bomber Group. Two telegrams from Gen. Anderson on the official charts of the bombing accuracy of Group in command quickly led us to rationalize that ours was the best group in the E.T.O.

Certainly our record was able to stand against that of any other outfit. We had averaged a mission a day, and had hit every type of target assigned to us. The activities of the Bomber Command is covered in the month press release.

New faces were seen in the briefing room almost daily. The replacement crews were coming in almost continually to relieve the pressure that was on the original crews, and replacements were received ____ _______, especially, since they had visions of seven day operations, especially like the ones of the last 25 missions. Several crews were to complete their missions, and get their leaves in before the end of the month.

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Unfortunately, not all men are lost on the fields of battle. Many are lost during routine things for bombing the lines. On the ninth, Captain Battersbey, a veteran of submarine warfare in the Anti-Submarine Command, and the holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal, crashed to his death while test-hopping a plane in the vicinity of this Base. He had been one of the _____of our offensive, often being chosen to lead a box of planes. With him was Pvt. 1st class Charles W. Coleman, a parachute rigger. The accident happened so suddenly that neither man had a chance to bail out. Their bodies rest in the Cambridge American Military Cemetery, Cambridge, England.

Capt. J.T.S. Morris, Courts and ______ Officer, has kept busy during the month with the ______that are being earned by the Group.

February 1945

As the war progress, it became apparent that a base nearer the Front would be advantageous from an operational point of view. Although the weather in January and February was bad, as the days grew longer, at a base nearer the Front it would be possible to squeeze in two or three missions a day.

Such a move had been contemplated for a couple of months. It became a reality on the 5th of February when a reconnaissance echelon, made up of two officers and fifteen enlisted men from each unit, left for our new base, Station A-69 at Laon/Athies, about 3 miles east of the city of Laon. The field had formerly been occupied by the 323rd Bomb Group. It was built originally by the Germans.

The field was in very poor condition. Only one of the three runways was fit for operational use. One runway and 110 bomb craters in it which ad never been repaired. The other runway had been partially repaired. These two runways were tobe used as parking areas.

Of the five hangers still comparatively undamaged, four were assigned to the Squadron for use as mess halls. The fifth was to house the photo Laboratory and gunnery and bomb training equipment.

Taxi strips were full of holes and generally unserviceable. The Group had occupied the base for a matter of only a few days, however, before French Laborers were hired to begin repairing the damaged roadways. Before the month had passed, work had progress beyond expectations. Captain Bailey, Station 5-4, had succeeded in securing the equipment and labor that was so gravely needed.

Getting back to the movement, on the 9th, the 668th and 670th Bomb Squadrons left Station A-55 by train and truck for Station A-69. The 40/8 cars that had been part of every story of the First World War were used to carry our men and equipment. The trip was long and uncomfortable. The one redeeming feature was the comparatively mild weather. The snow had stopped falling and a few days of clear weather and dried the ground. The tents were taken down and set up again without too much difficulty. On the 14th, the 669th and 671st Bomb Squadrons departed for the new base. They were the last units to leave and cleared the field thoroughly. It was to be occupied by a troop carrier group. An inspection by the office of the Inspector General of the 9th Bombardment Division found the base in excellent condition when the 416th departed. Our rating was later change to "Superior".

The advantage to the new base was immediately apparent. In the first place, it was only about 100 miles from the Front. In the second place, the field had frequently been used as a diversionary field because the weather usually permitted flying. With this good weather upon us the nearness to the Front lines, our planes would be able to complete more missions than at any time previous. As far as living conditions were concerned and office space on the new Base, it offered many opportunities. We continued to live in tents, except the headquarters personnel who occupied a small group of barracks buildings still useable. The Group, which had occupied the Base before us, left quite a bit of usable lumber and a few shacks.

This lumber and the shacks were used for offices in the Squadrons. Group and Station headquarters took over a wooden framed building hidden in the woods at the eastern end of field. Th building had not been repaired and was in rather poor condition. French labor was used to make repairs on it and on other buildings in the area, making them useable once more. Someone spoke the truth when he said that we should be called not the 416th Bomb Group, but the 416th Engineering Group. It seemed that whenever we occupied a Base, into our hands fell the task of almost completely rebuilding it.

Work progressed rapidly on both the repairs of the field and the setting up of the units. Although most of us had dreaded the thought of moving, the comparatively good weather had made the move much simpler. The living sited and office sited were much better than they had been at Station A-55. And the operational advantages far overshadowed those at the former base. All in all, our future on the new Base looked much brighter.

The extended restriction made the work of the Special Service section more important than ever. Almost as soon as the Group occupied the new base, Special Services was showing movies. A German theatre that had been partially destroyed was repaired sufficiently so that in the last week of February the "Miles Bell Show" performed for us. The show was exceptionally good. The club occupied two buildings in the headquarters area. "Babs" and "Jean" of the Red Cross were serving doughnuts and coffee from their truck to the men around the base as they were at work.

The movement was the big event of the month for the Group. As far as personnel in the Group were concerned, there were more changes. Lieutenant Colonel W.J. Meng, who through his pleasantness, cooperation, and excellent work in the air and on the ground had become almost a legend in the Group, was transferred to the 27th to the 9th Bombardment Division where he was appointed Air Inspector. His departure was sincerely regretted, but the opportunity that it afforded him was well deserved. Major Ferris was relieved as Group Inspector and assumed the duties of Commanding Officer of the 670th Bomb Squadron. Major Dunn was transferred from command of the 670th Squadron to become Group Operations Officer. Within a few days, Lieutenant Colonel Radetsky was appointed Deputy Group Commander and Air Inspector. One f the older members of the Group as far as length of time in the Group was transferred to the Zone of the Interior for physical reasons. He was Captain William H. Naier, Group Ordnance Officer. First Lieutenant Carl J. Norris replaced him. Captain Naier left on the 7th. Capt. R.V. Wheeler was transferred from the 671st Bomb Squadron into Group Operations on the 20th. Major R.A. Clark, who had been on temporary duty at Bombardment Division on the 22nd to become A-3 Controller in charge of night diversions.

Several crewmembers returned to the Zone of the Interior during February after having completed their tours of duty. They were: Capt. D.H. Hulse, Captain E.E. DeMun, Captain R.E. Greenley, Staff Sergeants H. J. Syva, L.C. Burger, J.W. Galendar, and D.S. Blackford. Two pilots, gratuates of West Point, were taken to the U.S. for 30 days after which they will rejoin the Group. They were Captain D.F. Shea and First Lieutenant M.A. Zubon.

There were several changes in the status of men who had been missing in action or seriously wounded . . . . Staff Sergeant H.J. Wilde from MIA to POW; Staff Sergeant R.E. Wright from MIA to POW; Sergeant S.G. Novak, from MIA to POW; Staff Sergeant R.W. Rice, from MIA to KIA, Staff Sergeant C.W. Middleton, from MIA to POW; Staff Sergeant R.J.Colosimo, from MIA to POW; Sergeant G.W. Scott, from MIA to POW; Captain J.F.Meagher, from SWA to EUS; Staff Sergeant A.D. Garrett, from LWS to RTD. First Lieutenant Jack Fl Smith was presented the Distinguished Flying Cross by General Vandenberg at another Base. The usual Air Medals and Oak Leaf Clusters were awarded to combat crews. Lieutenant Poundstone rceived the Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster to the Purple Heart, the only Purple Heart of the month. Sergeant Walter T. Bladykas, a crew chief , was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

The war almost stood at a stalemate when February rolled around. Theardennes Bulge was a thing of the past. Our troops seemed to be making no effort toward any offensive. Instead, their gains were very small, mostly in the central part of the Front. We watched with great interest the rapid advances of the Russian Armies as they drove to within 35 miles of Berlin in the Frankfort-Berlin area. One thing seemed certain from the reports of our men who had visited our own ground forces at the front. There was a large massing of troops and equipment all along the front. The all offensive might start soon. Weather seemed to have delayed the war so far.

Here is a resume of our operations for the month of February.

The first mission of the month, mission No. 198, was an attack on the defended village of Schleiden on the 1st. The one box, led by Lt. Col. Willetts, Lt. Royalty,B/N, attacked the target using PPF technique. Results were unobserved due to cloud cover. There was no flak.

The mission on the 2nd was the opposite of the "milk run" on the 1st. The target, the Euskirchen supply center, was attacked visually. The range of results ran from good to excellent with hits scored on buildings, which blocked the roads and on the roads themselves. It had been used as an active supply and housing center for troops enroute to the front. Ground defenses started firing at the formation from the moment it crossed the bomb line until it came out of enemy territory. It varied from moderate to intense, but all of it was accurate. Twenty-two of the aircraft suffered battle damage; nineteen, category "A", and three, category "AC". Lieutenant D. E. Smith was flying a window plane. On the return trip he heard an explosion in the rear compartment of the plane. He called his gunners, but neither of them answered. He landed the plane safely at A-76. In the gunners compartment, he found Sergeant R. DeStafono dead. His body was badly broken. Only one small hole was visible in the plane, but the bulkhead had been sprung by the force of the unexplained explosion. The other gunner, Staff Sergeant D.R. Abriola, was seen to bail out after the explosion near Bolbark, in enemy territory, and is listed as MIA. The boxes, led by Major Price, Lt. Hand, B/N and Captain McNulty, Lt. Forma, B/N, scored good results.

On the 3rd, the Group attacked a type of target once considered suitable for the load carried by "heavies", the storage and repair depots at Berg/Gladbach. It was one of the most active depots used by the Germans, and was considered very well defended. The target was just a few miles east of Cologne. Weather was very bad so that it was necessary to bomb on a PPF plane. Results were unobserved. Moderate, accurate heavy flak was thrown up in the target area and four aircraft suffered battle damage. Only one box of planes took off; it was led by Capt. Stebbins, Lt. Calloway, B/N. One flight go separated from the formation in the bad weather, but went in to attack the same target with the 409th Bomb Group.

Again on the sixth, we attacked the same target on PPF because of the cloud cover. Although there were no observations of the results, photo reconnaissance found a factory and three large buildings damaged. A double track railroad between the target and Rosrath had been cut by three direct hits and through traffic was impossible. A road had also been cut. There was weak, inaccurate flak at the target and en route. Major Dunn, Lt. Brewer, B/N, and Captain Evans, Lt. McCartney, B/N, were the box leaders.

The big day arrived on the 8th. After an aerial barrage similar to that of St. Lo, the Canadian First Army was to step off in an offensive that was soon to reach the Rhine northwest of Dusseldorf. Weather again was very bad, but our planes went in to do an excellent job. A letter of commendation was received on the bombing. The mission marked the first time that we had bombed equipped solely with A-26's. The new A-26C with the glass nose led the flights and boxes. The planes carried 280-lb. fragmentation bombs, dropping by the Group.

The mission had been flown in the span of a few days more than last month. Col. Willetts, with Lt. Royalty and Lt. Muir,B/N, had the pleasure of leading the mission. Captain Pair, Lt. Corum, B/N, led the second box. While returning to the base, Lt. C. H. Stead called the control tower saying that he and only a few minutes fuel left. It was the last word heard from him. The plane was found later in a field near Villers St. George, where it had crashed. Lt. Stead was killed. His gunner, Sgt. C.E. Tranchina, was seriously injured in the crash and died the next day. Their bodies were interred at the American Military Cemetery, Solars Seine et Marae, France.The mission was successful and marked the beginning of a series of attacks all along the front.

On the following day, the 9th, while the 668th and 670th Bomb Squadron were packing their equipment preparatory to moving, two boxes of aircraft took off to attack the Kempen communictions center. The PPF plane did not drop and in the bad weather, the formation split up. Only one aircraft attacked the primary target with Gee equipment. Three aircraft attacked the town of Lichenare on Gee equipment. Nineteen aircraft dropped on ETA, in the vicinity of Scherfede. The formation encountered moderate accurate flak from Cologne and intense accurate flak from Dusseldorf and Dortmund. Six aircraft received category "A" damage. One plane, with Capt. H.M. Borman as pilot and Sgt. R.J. Perujo as gunner, was forced down by battle damage, which caused loss of gas at A-54. The nose wheel broke landing when the plane hit some buckled steel planking on the runway. The plane piloted by L.E.Cannon, with S/Sgt. J.W. Robinson as gunner, also crash-landed. They were forced down in a field just inside the bomb line. None of the crews were injured. Capt. Stebbins, Lt. Calloway, B/N, and Capt. Evans, Lt. McCartney,B/N, were the box leaders.

The following day, the 10th, military installations east of Munstereifel were attacked through clouds on PPF. A break in the clouds allowed the crews to see the results, which were excellent. Major Price, Lt. Forma and F/O Harvest and B and N, and Capt. Hulse, with Lts. Conte and Kupits as B and N, were the box leaders.

The following mission, on the 13th, was carried out by PPF in an attack on the motor transport center at Iserlohn. Unable to find the fighter escort, the formation attacked a secondary target on PPF, the town of Wittlich. An almost solid cloud cover prevented any observation f the ensuing results. Major Dunn, with Lt. Brewer,B/N, led the box that made up the formation.

Two missions took off to attack target in Germany on the 14th. In the morning, the armored motor vehicle repair depot at Mechornich was attacked. The first box, led by Col. Willetts, with Lts. Royalty and Basnett as B and N, dropped on their PPF plane. The leader of the second box, Capt. Pair, with Lts. Corum and Pair a B and N, was unable to release his bombs. He peeled away form the formation after he had attempted a second run on Gee equipment unsuccessfully. The deputy leader took over and led the box east toward the Rhine, where he made a sweeping turn and headed back to our lines. The second box encountered moderate to intense accurate flak from the moment it left the target area until it reached friendly territory. Ten aircraft suffered battle damage. The eleventh aircraft, believed hit by flak, was last seen going down in flames in the vicinity of Heinersheim. One chute emerged. The crew of three included Lts. J.J. Chalmers and L.W. Eckard, and S/Sgt. E. Fortuner. Photos showed a large freight station severely damaged and two smaller buildings damaged. At least 18 goods wagons were badly damaged or burned out, and three rail lines in the sidings were knocked out. At least two hits were scored on the roof on well-camouflaged concrete buildings, which were partly underground.

That afternoon, an ammunition dump in the woods near Rheinbach was attacked with excellent to superior results. Bright flashes in the target area indicate that some ammunition was hit. When it was decided to bomb by boxes, one flight did not receive the message. Because of the haze, it attacked the town of Ludendorf as a casual target. Moderate accurate flak was fired at the formation on the target and on the turn-off, but all planes returned safely. Major Price, Lts. Forum and Babbage as B and N, and Capt. Evans, Lt. McCartney and F/O Harvest as B and N, led the two boxes.

The ordnance depot at Unna was the target on the 16th. Moderate to intense accurate flak followed the planes on their bomb run over the target, and on the turn-off. The most intense flak seemed to be coming from Dortmund and Hann. The PPF plane was hit by flak and dropped n the town of amen, two miles NW of the primary target, with excellent results. One flight, realizing that the PPF plane was dropping early, tried to pick up the target alone. A thick haze prevented their recognizing it. They bombed the town of Kid Kaisearan with excellent results. Going in on the bomb run, the plane flown by F/O W. D. Wilson, with Sgt. E.F. Berkes gunner, was seen to nose up and then start downward, still under control. It went in the clouds at 6,000 feet and has not been heard from since. At about the same time, Lt. J.F. Allen's plane received a hit in his engine. He continued with the formation n single engine but was forced to salvo his bombs before the target and started back alone. He flew north to clear the Rhine Valley and called for a heading home. A voice over the radio told him that he was in friendly territory. Just then, about 20 bursts of flak came up off his tail. He headed west until he found what looked to be a friendly airfield and started to circle it. Not until he heard what sounded like a German accent did he realize how close he was too more danger. Finally, a British fighter field contacted him and led him in. he landed safely. There, he was told that he had been flying through some of the "hottest" flak areas in that section. He also learned that the Germans had been trying, unsuccessfully, for some time to cut in on radio communications. Capt. Stebbins, Lt. Calloway B-N, and Capt. Sommers, Lt. Kupits, B-N, led the two boxes.

Again on the 19th, the attack on the Wiesbaden ordnance depot had to be made of PPF. There were no observations of the results. Flak at the target was weak and inaccurate and there was no battle damage. Major Dunn, Lt. Brewer, B-N, and Col. Napier, Lt. Moore, B-N, were the box leaders.

Two missions were flown on the 21st. In the morning, road bridges at Geldern were the targets, with only two flights taking off. The first flight, led by Capt. Stebbins, F/O Blount B-N, made two runs on the target and was unable to synchronize. One the third run, he used fixed angle bomb and hit southwest of the aiming point. The second flight, led by Lt. Singletary, Lt. Rosenquist, B-N, was unable to synchronize on two runs over the target and chose as a casual target the town of Nieukerk. A cloud cover over the target caused added difficulty.

That afternoon, the Lage Railroad Bridge was attacked. Clouds, haze, and smoke from previous bombings obscured the aiming points. Estimating the probable location of the target, our aircraft bombed. Photos later showed a concentration of craters east of the bridge. Some craters were seen in the embankment at this point and the track was probably cut. Two planes suffered battle damage. A third plane, piloted by Lt. R.E. Johnson, returned on a single engine when flak had knocked it out over the target. He came in to land, but found that he was not going to make the field. He began to pull up and go around. Turning into his dead engine, the plane refused to climb. It crashed into the woods in the 670th Squadron area and piled through part of a living site. The men in the area, hearing the planes approach, ran for safety. Three did not get clear of the plane. Lt. Cook was killed instantly in his tent. Lts. V.S. Merritt and Sheley were struck by the parts of the plane. Lt. Merritt suffered a fracture of the leg. Lt. Sheley was more fortunate, breaking a small bone in his foot, from which he recovered in a short time.

The fuselage bent double at about the middle of the bomb bay. Lt. Johnson's body was flung out of the cockpit into one of the wheel housings. It required 45 minutes for medical officers to free him from the wreckage. He suffered a broken collarbone and minor facial injuries. He has been evacuated to a hospital in another zone of operations. His gunner, Sgt. Brandt, crawled from the wreckage uninjured except for shock. He was treated immediately with no further ill effects from the accident. Col. Willetts, Lt. Royalty and Lt. Basnett as B and N, led the first box; the second, was led by Capt. Pair, Lts. Muir and Coran as B and N.

For weeks, Intelligence and Operations know of plans for a series of attacks up and down the Western Front, aimed at disrupting the German communications network in one great blow. It was to be a maximum effort on the part of the Ninth Air Force, the Eighth Air Force, and the Royal Air Force. For the Ninth, it would be one of its most spectacular, but dangerous attacks. The 22nd, Washington's birthday, was the day for its execution. Three flights were to attack bridges at Miltenberg; two flights, railroad sidings and bridges at Hochost; one flight, the bridge at Munster; and the seventh flight, the Simmern marshalling yard. The bombing attacks on the first two targets and the last were to be made at about 10,000 feet. Peeling off by elements of two planes, the planes were to dive to the deck and strafe targets only of military importance. We had flown four experimental missions, bombing and strafing before. This, however, was the first time that we had made such an attack on a Group scale. The Munster Bridge was attacked in the usual manner, bombing from a medium altitude. All of the bombing attacks were successful, except the attack on Munster. Haze prevented clear recognition of the target so a section of railroad track and a bridge about 43 miles south of the primary target, near Mochesheim, was attacked with excellent results. There were smiles on the faces of those who had strafed. Most of the planes carried wing guns, which gave them 14 forward firing machine guns in addition to the four guns in the two turrets. The speed of the planes was the keynote of their success. The speed over the targets ranged from 400 500 miles per hour. A total of 63,605 rounds of ammunition were expended in addition to 55 tons of bombs that were dropped. The strafing claims included; 1 tank train destroyed and left burning, one horsedrawn vehicle destroyed, four heavy M/T destroyed, one railroad station damaged, six locomotives damaged, 15 buildings damaged, one light M/T damaged, five barges damaged, 16 goods wagons damaged plus several at Simmern, 15 buildings (barracks) damaged, oil tanks at Simmern damaged.

Box I, attacking Miltenberg, was led by Major Price, Lt. Forma and F/O Harvest as B and N. Two flights of box II, attacking Hochst, were led by Capt. Evans, Lt. McCartney and F/O Blount as B and N. Flight C of Box II, attacking Munster, was led by Lt. Grunig, Lt. Morris, B/N. The attack on Simmern, counted as a separate mission, was led by Lt. Rooney, Lt. Kirk, B/N. Photos showed approximately 11 craters visible in the railroad crossing, cutting at least seven damaged lines and destroying or damaging six wagons.

The formation encountered some weak but accurate flak coming out over the bomb line. There was light flak fired at the strafing planes. Three planes received minor battle damage and returned safely.

Settling back to the usual type of attack, two boxes of planes scored excellent results by PPF on the Golzsheim communications center on the Cologne Plain. Hits were scored on the main highway, on roads and buildings in the town. Only five bursts of flak, inaccurate, was fired at the formation in the target area. Col. Napier, Lts. Moore and McQuade as B and N, led the boxes.

Another communications center on the Cologne Plain at Viersen was attacked on the 24th. Equipment in the PPF plane failed, so the planes attacking with their own Gee equipment. On the last minute of the bomb run, the planes encountered moderate, accurate flak. Ten aircraft suffered battle damage. Results were unobserved through the clouds. Major Dunn, Lts. Brewer and Maltby as B and N, and Lt. Rooney, Lts. Kirk and Koch as B and N, led the two boxes.

These two attacks were the beginning of a series of attacks made on targets on the Cologne Plain prior to and during the drive of the American First and Ninth Armies to the Rhine.

Another of these attacks was made on the 25th on the Kerpen road junction. Thirty-six planes made the attack, dropping on the lead plane of the first box with excellent results. Bombs covered the aiming points, destroying buildings and cutting or blocking several roads. At least two direct hits were scored on railroad tracks. Moderate accurate flak was fired at the formation from about one-minute before the bombs went away until the formation came out over the bomb line on the way back. Six aircraft suffered category "A" battle damage; two, category "AC" and one aircraft was hit by flak over the target. The left engine was knocked completely out of the nacelle and the plane turned over on its back. It went out of control and into a spin. No chutes were seen. The crew, Lt. J.J. Farley and Sgt. E.R. Hardesty, are listed as MIA. Col. Willetts, Lts. Royalty and Basnett as B and N, and Capt. Pair, Lts. Corum and Muir as B and N, led the two boxes.

That afternoon, a second mission took off, this time to attack the Horvenich communications center. It was a PPF attack through a solid cloud cover. There was no flak. Major Price, Lts. Forma and McCartney as B and N, and Captain Anderson, Lts. Babbage and Shaft as B and N, were the box leaders.

The following day, the 26th, flying our ninth mission in six days, thirty-eight aircraft took off to attack road junctions in Sindorf. The PPF plane was unable to release its bombs. The box leader contacted "Roselee", as his Gee equipment was not operating. "Roselee" vectored the planes of the first box in on the town of Munstereifel and gave them the signal when to attack. Entirely by coincidence, the second box also chose the town of Munstereifel as a secondary and attacked on Gee. One aircraft was forced to drop from formation by engine trouble. It joined the 410th Bomb Group and dropped on its target, a communications center at wickrath. There was no flak. The two boxes were led by Col. Napier, Lts. Moore and McQuade as B and N, and Capt. Stebbins, Lts. Calloway and Johnson as B and N.

The last mission of the month, no. 127, was flown on the 28th. The target to be attacked was the still very important ordnance depot at Unna. A 10/10ths-cloud cover hung over Germany. A last minute equipment failure in the PPF plane of the first box prevented it from bombing. It was too late for the box leader to make a Gee run. As a result, he led his box on to attack the marshalling yards a Seigen on his own Gee equipment. The PPF equipment worked fine in the second PPF plane so that the second box leader was able to attack the primary target. Twenty-eight and one-half tons of incendiary bombs were dropped on each of the targets. The box leaders were Major Dunn, Lts. Brewer and Maltby as B and N, and Lt. Rooney, Lts. Kirk and Koch as B and N.

Despite the inclement February weather, our Group had flown 32 missions. This was only a few missions less than we had flown during some of our best operational months. On these missions, 707 individual sorties were flown and 1032_ tons of bombs were dropped on many installations. A month-end summary published by the Public Relations Office ties our operations with the general plan of battle for the whole of the 9th Bombardment Division.

March 1945

The strength of the Group at the end of February was 253 officers and 1221 enlisted men. At the end of March our strength was:

668th Bomb Sq. 52 Officers 268 Enlisted Men

669th Bomb Sq. 59 Officers 291 Enlisted Men

670th Bomb Sq. 63 Officers 294 Enlisted Men

671st Bomb Sq. 65 Officers 284 Enlisted Men

HQ. 416th 33 Officers 55

Total 272 1210

Among changes in personnel during the month, Major Price, who completed his tour of duty, left for the States. Major McNulty became Commanding Officer of the 668th Bomb Squadron. Major Price had been one of the original members of the Group. On the Original orders of the Group, he was placed in command of the 668th Bomb Sq., but he was immediately reassigned to the 669th Bomb Sq. He served as its commander until October 1943. Early in 1944, he was made Commanding Officer of the 668th Bomb Sq. again. He was the first of our Commanding Officers to complete his tur of duty and return to the States. He with his Bombardier-Navigator, Lt. Hand, had been one of our most successful bombing teams. Just a few days before his departure, Colonel Aylsworth presented him with the Distinguished Flying Cross at a staff meeting.

Many more of our crewmembers left for the Zone of the Interior during the month of March, including Major R.F.Price, Captains R.L. Behlmer, C.C. Mish, and E.B. Kreb; First Lieutenants W.F. Tripp Jr., R. Conte, J.F. Smith, J.C. Sewell, and E.J. Renth, Staff Sergeants P.C. Euga, E.L. Schafer, A. Teran, D.H. DeBower, R.G. Schrom, and R.F. Stobert, and Technical Sergeant J.F. Goggin. Staff Sergeants K.G. Lagerman, M.E. Diaz, and R.W. Cheuveront returned to the States to attend the A.A.F. Flexible Gunnery School. Captain F.J. Harrold was to return for 30 days after completing his temporary duty with the ground forces.

Changes in the status of several crew members formerly listed as MIA were received: Staff Sergeant L. Ashton from MIA to POW; 2nd Lt. J.B. Saidla from MIA to POW; Staff Sergeant J.S. Wing from MIA to POW; Sergeants A.F. Cavanaugh from MIA to POW; J. M. Harris from MIA to POW; Sergeant A.D. Wylie from MIA to KIA; Captain R.B. Prentiss from MIA to KIA; 1st Lt. F.H. Bursiel from MIA to KIA; Staff Sergeant D.M. Brown from MIA to KIA.

First Lieutenant Norman V. Shainberg, a POW, was returned to duty in the States under military control, having lost a leg while in the hands of the Germans. Captain P.G. Atkinson was returned to duty from SWA.

"Ted's Terrors", the cream of the 416th basketball players, were our representatives at a tournament held at the headquarters of the 9th Bombardment Division. They came through their first game against the Bombay Headquarters quintet with flying colors, 48-34. In the finals, however, they lost their drive and were defeated, 40-26, by the team from the 397th Bomb Group. "Ted's Terrors" were: Major C.C. Wysocki, T/Sgt. F.J. Russo, Sgt. C.L. Heisel, S/Sgt. Charles R. Nordstrom, Pfc. Charles R. Bohles, T/Sgt. H. T. Hunter, S/Sgt. Jack L. Campbell, Sgt. Charles D. Donovan, Sgt. P. D. Cookingham, Sgt. Harold Stevens, and Cpl. J.A. Mapes.

A G.I. talent show, "Off Limits", furnished some pleasant entertainment at the Station Theatre on the 20th to supplement the usual movies held throughout the Base. A dance was held for the Enlisted Men on the 21st at the 668th Mess Hall. Young ladies from nearby towns were invited. The favorable comment was a mark of its success. A French civilian variety show from Paris entertained on the 25th.

There had been a noticeable lack of hospitality among the people of Laon. Whether or not it was dur to the severe damage done to the city by Allied bombing, coldness did exist. Both as a friendly gesture at this Easter Season and also in an attempt to help win the favor of the local people, on the 24th, candy which had been donated by the soldiers of our base and doughnuts given by the Red Cross were distributed to over 850 French youngsters who were celebrating their first liberated Easter. Because the children would have a vacation from school during Easter Week, Saturday, the 25th, was the day chosen for the affair. The children, whose ages ranged from four to seven years, gathered at the Laon Schools and the Hotel de La Ville to receive the "goodies" from a committee consisting of Lieutenant Colonel Townsend, Major Thomas, Lieutenant Suttner, Staff Sergeant Max, and Corporal Yost. The mayor of Laon and schoolteachers were there to enjoy the occasion with the children. The affair was very much of a success and helped promote much friendlier relations with the townspeople than had ever existed before. A letters of thanks from the Academic Inspector of Aisne is symbolic of the thanks and gratitude of the townspeople.

The party was instrumental in starting a French Welcome Committee. Our soldiers were invited into French homes to enjoy their hospitality and friendship. Many took advantage of this opportunity to dine with them and at the same time to come to know the French people better.

The Aero Club opened on the 25th.

Easter week was a busy week for Chaplain, P.C. Penticoff. He conducted Protestant services throughout Holy Week with communion services on Easter Sunday. The Catholic Chaplain of the Fourth Service Group conducted services for those of the Catholic faith. Many, both Protestant and Catholic attended Easter Services in the famous old cathedral at Rheims.

The awards and decorations section was kept busy writing up the work that our men were doing. The nation's second highest military decoration, the Distinguished Service Cross, was awarded to First Lieutenant John W. Kehoe and Major Leland C. Nielsen. Lt. Kehoe, now MIA, was given the award for "extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy while serving as pilot of an A-26 type aircraft on a mission to Munstereifel, Germany 25 December 1944. Major Nielson received the award for "extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy while serving as pilot of an A-26 type aircraft in a bombing and strafing mission near Blankenheim, Germany, 23 January 1945. These two men were the second and third in the history of our Group to receive this high award. The only other man to hold it was Lt. Tommie J. Sims.

Several Distinguished Flying Crosses were also awarded. Among the recipients were Staff Sergeant Irving Binney, Captain Hilary P. Cole, Lt. William J. Greene, Captain E.B. Kreh, Captain P.F.E. MacManus Jr., Captain LaVern A. Marzolf, and Lt. R.H. Smith, and a Bronze oak leaf cluster to the D.F.C. to Staff Sergeant R.K.Riley. All of these men have returned to the Zone of the Interior. As has been mentioned before, the D.F.C. was awarded to Major Price before his return to the States. At a ceremony at the 409th Bomb Group station, Lt. Col. Willetts, and Major Dunn and McNulty were awarded the D.F.C. Major General Samuel E. Anderson pinned the decorations on our officers.

Captain William P. Kinney, Group S-4, and one of the original members of the Group, whose work has been an "outstanding factor in the success of our operations," was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Others who received the same award were T/Sgt. ME. Bjertness, a crew chief; S/Sgt. W.M.Max, of Special Services; Sgt. Carl Valentine, a crew chief. All received the award for "Meritorious achievement in direct support of military operations."

Purple Hearts were awarded to Lieutenants Wesley D. Chitty Jr. and L.W. Kdstrom, and Pfc. Edwin L. Gur. The usual Air Medals and Oak Leaf Clusters were awarded to our crewmen.

There was a tremendous influx of new combat personnel into the Group during the month of March. Some of the personnel had just arrived overseas from the States. Others had been with combat group in the E.T.O. prior to joining us. The 386th, formerly equipped with B-26s, had been converted to an A-26 Group. This meant they were overstrengthed in combat personnel. This overstrength was mostly in Bombardiers and Navigators. They were reassigned to the 416th and to other A-26 Groups. A now pre-operational ground training program was set-up so that these new crews could, in the shortest possible time, be cleared for flying and relieve the burden which had been placed on the old crews.

The operational effort of our Group and other bomb groups over Europe at the end of February and the first of March was a certain indication of great events on the ground. Our troops had pushed forward to the West Bank of the Rhine in all sectors. There, the advance halted momentarily. Finally on the 8th of March, the news flashed across the world that a bridge had been taken intact, spanning the Rhine at Ramagen, by the American First Army. Troops poured across the Rhine at Ramagen; by the time the Germans were able to shell the bridge in the river, enough auxiliary bridges had been built to make the bridgehead secure. A congratulatory message was received from Secretary of the Navy Forrestal and Speaker Rayburn of the House of Representatives for the part all of us played in this achivement.

The real offensive east of the Rhine began on the 24th when airborne troops crossed the river north of the Ruhr in an area, which had been saturated by our bombing. At the time, our Third Army pushed off near Frankfurt. Once the crossing had been made, our troops and armor began to run rampant over enemy territory, taking thousands of prisoners, either too weary to continue fighting or too well beaten to fight back. The Ruhr Valley was the one stumbling block in our advances. If supplies and reinforcements could be kept from the Ruhr, soon our troops would be able to strangle it with attacks from all sides; the Ninth Air Force was assigned the task of isolating the Ruhr. In a series of well-concentrated and effective blows, against marshalling yards, bridges, and communications and supply centers, the troops in the Ruhr were soon isolated. Our troops encircled the area from the east to make the isolation complete. From that moment on, it was just a matter of time before the famous Ruhr garrison fell. A letter of commendation was received from General Eisenhower on the great job done by the Ninth Air Force.

February and early March missions might be called the "PPF" campaign. For a large part of these two months, our missions were Pathfinder missions flown often in extremely bad weather. None the less, the successes achieved are gratifying to each who had a part in them. Letters of commendation from General Anderson, General Backus and from General Vandenburg, commanding the Ninth Air Force, reveal the value of our attacks.

One other commendation was received from General Williams, commanding the IX Troop Carrier Command, passed on by General Anderson. It concerned the splendid cooperation given which made the airborne operation of the 24th highly successful.

Here is a summary of our operations for March 1945.

When mission no. 218, the first mission of March, took off in the early afternoon of the first, it was to begin the most active month of our operations and also some of the greatest advance of our Armies on the ground. That first March mission was to attack the Giessen ordnance depot on PPF. No fighters showed up to escort our formation. When the equipment in the PPF plane failed, it attacked the town of Brunn, just over the bombline. The two boxes were led by Major Dunn, Lts. Brewer and Basnett, B/N, and Lt. Buskirk, Lts. Hanna and Muir, B/N, dropped on the PPF plane. There was no flak.

Again on the 2nd, PPF was employed to attack warehouses at Iserlohn through 10/10-cloud cover. There was no flak. The two boxes were lead by Capt. Evans, Lt. McCartney and F/O Blount, B/N, and Captain Anderson, Lts. Babbage and Shaft,B/N. The mission marked the finish of our first year of operations.

The Giessean ordnance depot was attacked on the 3rd through a solid cloud cover. For the third day running, enemy flak guns were silent. Lt. Col. Napier, Lts. Moore and McQuade, B/N, and Captain Miller, Lts. Conner and Johnson, B/N, were the box leaders.

On the 4th, marshalling yards at the Huls were attacked on PPF. There were openings in the clouds, which permitted observation. Crews reported hits in the north choke point and in the middle of the yards. Through these same holes, enemy gunners were able to spot the formation. Weak and inaccurate flak was encountered at the target and on the turn off, but there was no battle damage. Weather became worse as the planes returned. Coming down through the overcast, Lt. Hackley's plane went momentarily out of control. His gunner, Sargeant Koons, bailed out although he had not been told to do so. The gunner landed safely near Charleroi. Lt. Hackley brought the plane under control and landed it safely at our base. Only one box, led by Capt. Stebbins, Lts. Calloway and McQuade, B/N, made the attack.

The fifth was the first two-mission day in March. In the morning, marshalling yards at Marburg were attacked by 37 aircraft, dropping over 55 tons of 500-pound demolition bombs on PPF. There was no flak, and no observations of the results. Major Dunn, Lts. Brewer and Basnett,B/N, led the first box; Lt. Buskirk, Lts. Hanna and Muir, B/N, led the second.

That afternoon, the Bingen yards were attacked behind two PPF planes. There was weak, inaccurate flak at the target. Capt. Stebbins, Lts. Calloway and McQuade, B/N, and Captain Anderson, Lt. Babbage and F/O Harvest, B/N, were the box leaders. Reconnaissance over the target five days later found very heavy damage to the yards.

Flying their seventh mission in six days, two boxes, led by Lt. Col. Napier, Lts. Moore and McQuade, B/N, and Capt. Miller, Lts. Conner and Johnson, B/N, bombed the Opladen marshalling yards on PPF. Crews reported that the bombs cut completely across the northern end of the yards. There was no flak. The planes made their attack without fighter escort.

After a day of rest, the sector transport depot at Wulfrath was attacked on the 8th, using PPF through a solid cloud cover. There was no flak. An assortment of 500 pound incendiary bombs, and 250 and 500 pound demolition bombs were carried. The box leaders were Capt. Stebbins, Lts. Calloway and McQuade, B/N, and Lt. Rooney, Lts. Kirk and McNutt, B/N.

Two missions were flown on the 9th. The Butzbach marshalling yards were to be attacked. The first box attacked on PPF. The equipment in the second PPF plane failed so the leader of the second box took over the lead and bombed the Werterburg communications center with good results. An ME 163 jet plane and an ME 210 fighter were reported, but neither made an attack. Again there was no flak. Major Dunn, Lts. Brewer and Beck,B/N, and Lt. Brown, Lts. Kerns and Muir, B/N, led the two boxes.

The second mission of the day was another PPF attack on the Wulfen ammunition filling plant. There were clouds over the target, but these were some observations of the results: many fires were seen in the target area; many buildings burst into flames as though set afire by gasoline. Three patterns circled the aiming point. Weak, inaccurate flak at the target caused minor battle damage. Although FW 190s were reported along the route, they never came in close enough to be identified. Capt. Evans, Lts. McCartney and Babbage, B/N, and Capt. Stanley, F/O Blount and Lt. Shaft, B/N, led the two boxes. General Backus flew as an observer with Capt. Evans.

The Dillenberg marshalling yards were attacked on the 10th, using PPF through solid clouds. Gee fixes indicated excellent results. There was no flak. Lt. Col. Napier, Lts. Moore and McQuade, B/N, and Capt. Miller, Lts. Conner and Enman, B/N led the two boxes.

Again, on the morning of the 11th, a solid cloud cover over the Lippe airstrip made it necessary to attack with PPF equipment. There was no flak as 268-500 pound demolition bombs were dropped. Capt. Stebbins, Lts. Calloway and McQuade, B/N, and Capt. Rooney, Lts. Kerns and Muir, B/N, were box leaders.

The Wulfen ammunition filling plant that had been attacked on the 9th was attacked again in the afternoon of the 11th. PPF was used. As on the 9th, weak, inaccurate flak was encountered at the target. Major Dunn, Lts. Brewer and Beck,B/N, and Lt. Brown, Lts. Kerns and Muir, B/N, were the two box leaders.

On the morning of the 12th, 304x500 demolition bombs were dropped. The mission was carried out on PPF, on the Lorch marshalling yards. There were no observations. The box leaders were Capt. Evans, Lts. McCartney and Babbage, B/N, and Capt. Stanley, F/O Blount and Lt. Shaft, B/N.

German equipment and supplies were being rushed to the area of our Ramagen bridgehead through the Mummebech yards. As a result, on the afternoon of the 12th, one Group attacked the yards on PPF. Although weak, inaccurate flak was experienced at the bomb line in, there was no battle damage. Lt. Col. Napier, Lts. Moore and Calloway, B/N, led the first box; Capt. Miller, Lts. Conner and Johnson, B/N, the second.

The 13th saw two more missions. The first attack was made against the jet-fighter airfield at Rheine on PPF. Although fighters were based on the field, none rose up to challenge the formation as the planes turned off the target. Moderated, accurate flak filled the sky and five planes received battle damage. A sixth plane, piloted by Lt. C.S. Jordan, was also hit. When his wheels would not come down for a landing, he was forced to take a crash landing at Station A-70. The landing was a magnificent job. The fuselage was skinned and the props were bent. That was the extent of the damage. The plane was turned over to the depot for repairs. Riding with him were his gunner, S/Sgt. H. F. Jensen and an observer from the 11th Armored Division, S/Sgt. E.E. Bolton. None of the crew was injured. Later, photo reconnaissance showed the airfield covered with craters, and runways destroyed. Capt. Stebbins, Lts. Calloway and Powell, B/N, and Major Ferris, Lts. Royalty and Boch, B/N, were the box leaders.

That afternoon, the Huston marshalling yards were attacked. The PPF plane was unable to keep with the formation so the box leaders attempted visual runs. Haze obscured the target, but after two runs, they dropped by boxes on a combination of Gee equipment and ETA. The results were estimated as fair. Moderate, accurate flak was experienced at the bomb line, but there was no battle damage. The two box leaders were Major Dunn, Lts. Brewer and Corum, B/N, and Lt. Brown, Lts. Kerns and Muir, B/N.

Continuing this aerial offensive to isolate the Ruhr Valley, a railroad bridge at Nieder-Marsburg was the target on the 14th. Heavy haze in the target area and similarity of terrain made the bridge difficult to identify. One flight blanketed the approach to the bridge. One flight misidentified the target and bombed another Railroad Bridge, 3_ miles southwest of the target. Their bombs blanketed one of the approaches to the bridge. Capt. Evans, Lts. McCartney and Shaft, B/N, led the first box; Lt. Rooney, Lts. Kirk and McNutt, B/N, the second.

Incendiary bombs were dropped on the Pirmasens road junction on the 15th. For the first time in over a month, the weather was ideal. Taking advantage of the weather, our bombardiers did an excellent job. The town almost completely covered with smoke and flames after the attack. Just before our main formation reached the target, six planes carrying 250-pound fragmentation bombs attacked flak positions at the target area. Their job was well done, because only a few bursts of inaccurate flak experienced. The mission, led by Lt. Col. Napier, Lt. Moore and Johnson, B/N, and Capt. Miller, Lts. Conner and Enman, B/N, was the 20th in eight days.

A day of rest followed this mission, but on the next day the 17th, the attack was continued with even more vigor. Two more missions were flown. The first target was a road junction at Altenkirchen. An almost solid cloud cover hung over the target and there was no flak. PPF equipment was used. Results were unobserved. Lt. Rooney, Lts. Kirk and Moore, B/N, and Major Ferris, Lts. Royalty and Koon, B/N, led our boxes.

The target in the afternoon was the Bad Homburg marshalling yards. Bad weather caused the formations to be late going into the target. The PPF planes were told to hold their bombs. The formation scattered in the clouds. The first flight used Gee to attack the briefing secondary target, Weilburg. The other two flights of the first box used Gee to attack Montabeur. Most of the second box attacked Weilburg on Gee equipment. Four aircraft, separated from the rest of the formation, dropped their bombs on German territory. There was no flak. Major Dunn, Lts. Brewer and Muir, B/N, and Lt. C.J. Brown, Lts. Kerns, B/N, led the two boxes.

Throughout the pages of our History, two words have stood out, "Bloody Sunday". The 18th was one of our bloodiest Sundays. Two PPF planes led our two boxes in to attack on the Worms communications center. Up to the Rhine, a solid cloud cover hung over the ground. It cleared at the Rhine. The PPF planes began their long bomb run. At the bomb time, intense, accurate flak was shot up. The leader of the first box called the PPF plane, saying that he was going to attempt a visual run, but asked him to stay in the lead in case a visual run was not possible. The first box dropped visually, as did the PPF plane. The leader of the second box decided on a visual attack from visual I.P. They turned left before the target and went to the visual I. P. continued to the target, except for a momentary break. When the second box turned off for its visual I.P., they passed out of the flak area. But going into the target, they experienced moderate flak up to the target.

Four planes were presumed to be lost to flak when they failed to return to base. The planes went down in the vicinity of the PPF IP, northeast of the town of Bingen. Two planes went down in the vicinity of the target. Twenty-three other planes suffered battle damage; 17 category "A", and six, category "AC". Only one returning crew member was injured, Lt. W.D. Chitty Jr. He counted over 80 holes in his plane, 20 in one engine and yet the engine ran. Flak cracked both his windshields and grazed his wrist. An 88mm shell crashed through the cockpit of Lt. Carver's plane and exploded over his head. He was uninjured.

No chutes were seen to emerge from any of the planes that were lost. The crews are all listed as MIA.

# 261 received direct hits in the left engine between the PPF IP and the target. It was last seen disintegrating and in flames, going down at a undetermined point. Lt. J.P. Kenny and S/Sgt. J.J. Sittarich were the crew.

#521 received a direct hit on the turn off the target. Both engines were smoking and it was losing altitude but apparently under control. It might have been the plane seen to hit the ground near Johannisberg. After flames broke out in the right engine nacelle, the right wing broke off about 3,000 feet above the ground. The crew included Lt. R.H. Cornell, Lt. R.E. Enman, and S/Sgt. A. Carter.

#237 received a direct hit in the right wing and was seen to hit the ground in flames near Bingen. The crew was Lt. W.B. Jokinen and Sgt. E.J. Creeden.

The bombs of the first box fell in two patterns in the town, causing extensive damage to buildings, roads, and railroad tracks. Box two scored hits in the marshalling yards and a highway overpass All in all, many tracks were out, ten cars were destroyed, four warehouses damaged, 85 buildings damaged, roads and street out, and the overpass probably destroyed.

The box leaders were Capt. Evans, Lts. McCartney and Freed,B/N, and Capt. Anderson, Lts. Babbage and Roman,B/N.

Appalled yes, but none the less determined, two boxes led by PPF planes took off that afternoon to attack the Kreutzel marshalling yards. The second box attacked the target on PPF without incident. The PPF plane of the first box pulled away on the bomb run without attacking. Gee equipment and Channel __ in the lead plane of the first box was not operating, so he told the leader of the second flight to take over. Lt. C.J. Brown. Lt. Brown's Gee equipment was jammed too. He called "Bullseye" and asked to be vectored to the target. After flying headings for an hour, Lt. Brown's Gee equipment began to work and he went in to bomb the target on Gee. This box encountered weak, inaccurate flak at the bomb line out. Cloud cover, ranging from 9 to 10/10, extended over enemy territory. The boxes were led by Lt. Col. Napier, Lts. Miller and Hulgrew;B/N, and Captain Miller, Lts. Conner and Wrubbelle, B/N.

The 19th was an extremely active day for the Group. One box f 24 planes attacked the Lage Railroad Bridge with excellent results. Moderate, accurate flak at the bomb line in and out caused battle damage to nine planes. Major Ferris, Lts. Royalty and Moore,B/N, led the box.

At the same time, 18 more planes attacked the Nassau road junctions. Again the results were excellent, with hits on the railroad, buildings, and roads. Lt. Rooney, Lt. Firk and F/O T.L. Goss, B/N, led the box.

A third box of 18 aircraft attacked the Schweim marshalling yards with a box of the 409th Bomb Group. Again attacking visibly by flights, the formation scored excellent results with all bombers scoring hits in the yards. Major Dunn, Lts. Brewer and Muir, B/N, led the box.

Slowing down somewhat to catch our breath on the 20th, only one mission was flown. The target was the Geaesecke marshalling yards. The PPF, which was leading the formation, developed engine trouble at the I.P. and had to leave the formation. A large cloud hung over the target and after three runs without success, the leader of the first box led the formation to the briefed secondary target, the town of Westerberg a total of 76 tons of bombs were dropped on the already badly hit town. The first box wiped out the center of the town. Noticing activity in the yards nearby, the bombardier in the second box changed his aiming point at the last minute. It threw of his accuracy and his bombs landed in the woods, but some cut minor roads. The two boxes were led by Major Schafer and Lts. Hand and Roman,B/N, and Capt. Evans, Lts McCartney and Freed, B/N. Although the formation passed over several heavily defended Ruhr towns, only on the third run over the primary target was weak, inaccurate flak encountered.

The Coenfeld road junction in Holland was attacked by 37 aircraft dropping 500-pound incendiaries on the morning of the 21st. Fires from the bombing swept from one end of the town to the other. Smoke from previous bombings interfered with the sighting. None the less, the results were excellent. The course took the planes over most of Holland and yet flak was never more than meager. The boxes were led by Capt. Miller, with Lts. ____ and McCartney, Lt. Col. Napier, with Lts.___and ___, B/N.

The next paragraph not legible.

Due to the similarity of target and terrain, the flights attacked the town of Stadtlohn with excellent results. The rest of the formation scored excellent to superior results on the primary target, dropping 1,000-pounders. Results on the three flak positions were unobserved because of the type of bomb used. Weak to moderated flak was encountered from the bomb line to the target. Major Ferris, Lts. Royalty and McNutt,B/N, and Captain Rooney, recently promoted, Lt. Kirk,B/N, were the box leaders.

Coming back over friendly territory about 35 miles northeast of St. Trond, Capt. Anderson, leading the second flight of the first box, was attempting to regain his position in the first box. He slid his plane over the plane flown by Captain Rooney and chewed of its tail. The two planes collided in mid-air and fell to the ground and burned. Lt. Kirk,B/N in Capt. Rooney's plane, bailed out safely with only minor injuries. All the others were killed in the crash, which happened without warning. Captain Rooney was completing his 65th mission when the accident occurred. The reason for the crash is unknown. Flying with Captain Anderson were Lt. W. Babbage, Lt. L.J. Foran, and S/Sgt. S. Heitell. Captain Rooney had Capt. C.C. Slaughter of the Infantry and Sgt. R.J. Kamischke flying with him. Lt. W.E. Downing's gunner, Sgt. A.D. Sgroi, flying in # 4 position behind Capt. Rooney, realized that a collision was imminent. He opened the bomb bay doors, preparing to bail out. The drag on the plane was sufficient to slow it down and keep t out of the way of the colliding planes. Had it not been for his action, his plane might well have been struck by Captain Anderson's plane. Sgt. Sgroi was slightly injured in the eye during the collision.

The sudden concentration on the area on the east bank of the Rhine above the Ruhr was an indication of a possible jump across the Rhine in that area. Two more missions on the 22nd hit the town of Berken in this area. In the morning, dropping 100-pound bombs, 34 aircraft scored excellent to superior results. Two flights misidentified the target and bombed the towns of Sudlohn and Stedtlohn with good results. Three planes scored excellent results with 260-pound fragmentation bombs on flak positions. Flak was moderate and accurate and six planes suffered battle damage, Lt. Fer's plane was unable to make it back to the base because of battle damage and crash-landed near Station Y-55. Although the plane was washed out, neither he nor his gunner, Staff Sergeant A.A. Rojas, were injured. The box leaders were Major Dunn, Lt. Brewer and F/O A.J.Lehneis, B/N, and Lt. C.J. Brown, Lt. Kerns, B/N.

Going back after the same town in the afternoon, smoke from the morning's bombing almost completely obscured the target. Unable to see the target on the first run, the formation dropped on Gee equipment on the second run. There was no flak. One gunner reported a single engine fighter plane approaching the formation form below at seven o'clock. Making a pass from one o'clock and firing tracers, it closed in to 800 yards. The gunner did not return his fire and made no claims. The P-47 escort steered the fighter away. Major Shaefer, Lts. Hand and Reeves, B/N, and Capt. Stanley, F/O Blount and Lt. M.P. Schlefer,B/N, were the box leaders. Brigadier General Backus, commanding the 97th Combat Wing, rode as an observer with Major Shaefer.

The Dinslaken factory area was attacked by a maximum effort on the morning of the 23rd. Excellent results were scored, destroying a large portion of the factory area and nearby roads and buildings. The one general observation concerned the amount of smoke in the target area and along the west bank of the Rhine. The bombing of the Allied Air Forces in the past few days had turned the German towns and villages into huge bonfires. On our side of the river, however, with a move anticipated, mile after mile of the riverbank was concealed behind a continuous smoke screen. As yet, on crossing of the river was reported.

There was weak but very accurate flak in the target area and five planes suffered category "A" battle damage. Lt. Ford's plane was hit by flak on the first run over the target. He broke away from the formation and headed for friendly territory, still carrying his 1,000-pound bombs on single engine, escorted by P-47's. At about 4,000 feet, his other engine stopped. With his bomb bays full of bombs and without any power, he glided his plane to the ground for a crash landing. He was only slightly injured in the landing. His gunner, Staff Sergeant Freeland W. Tharp, bailed out without an order form the pilot over enemy territory and is now MIA. The box leaders were Capt. Miller, Lts. Conner and Johnson,B/N, and Lt. Col. Napier, Lt. Moore and F/O Wrubelle, B/N.

Our 250th mission, the 23rd of the month and our 50th in 43 days, took off in the afternoon of the 23rd. This time the town of Dinslaken was attacked. Smoke from our morning's bombing still hung over the target. Three boxes of eight flights dropped 64 tons of a new type of incendiary bomb, which was supposed to be inextinguishable. The fires swept through the town. Counter-battery fire was very effective because weak, inaccurate flak was encountered. The three boxes were led by Major Ferris, Lts. Royalty and McNutt, B/N, Lt. Brewster, with Lt. Dennis and F/O F.J. Conley,B/N, and Capt. Tutt, with Lt. L.A. Orr,B/N.

On the 24th, in a dawn attack in cooperation with a long awaited push by our ground forces, two boxes of aircraft, led by Major Dunn, with Lt. Brewer and F/O A.J. Lehneis, B/N, and Lt. Brown, Lt. Kerns,B/N, made an attack on flak positions at Ihling Kamps, east of Bocholt, dropping 735x260-pound fragmentation bombs on the lead plane of the first box, which attacked visually. The lead bombardier misidentified the target and bombed on the edge of the town of Rhede, one mile east of the target. Hits were scored on the railroad, roads, and buildings.

Two planes led by C.Jordan, Lt. Mulgrew, B/N, were assigned to attack another flak position with the 409th Bomb Group, scoring excellent results.

As our planes returned to the field, overhead, C-47 Dakotas and gliders were heading eastward to participate in the mass offensive, after rallying over Laon. Our crews reported even more C-47's and gliders in the target area as they made their attack. At that time, there was report of any landing of our troops on the east bank of the Rhine. Within two hours, the world heard the news that the Rhine had been crossed both in the north by our airborne troops and in the south by General Patton's Third Army.

The second mission of the day took off while our troops were pushing across the Rhine to attack a railroad bridge north of the town of Colbe. The bombs of at least one flight were centered on the bridge. The others fell close by. The east Side of the bridge was severely damaged and the bridge was now unserviceable. Some f the bombs landed in the woods and caused violent explosions; railroad tracks and roads were out. Only one box, led by Major Shaefer, Lts. Hand and Reeves,B/N, made the attack.

For the fifth day running, on the 25th, two missions were flown. The morning mission was a full-scale attack on the road junctions at Altenkirehen. Buildings in the northwestern and central part of the town were destroyed. Buildings were left burning in five separate places. Road traffic was blocked by debris and craters. Crossing the bomb line, some weak inaccurate flak was fired at the formation. As 19 approached the target on the bomb run, it experienced moderate accurate flak. Twenty-two planes suffered battle damage; seven of them were category "AC". Lt. Barausky's plane was hit in the right engine on the bomb run and it was knocked out. He feathered his prop, continued on to the target, and dropped his bombs. He got a heading back to Y-57 and prepared to crash land. His B/N, Lt. Sheehan, came back in the cockpit to brace himself. The right strut had been shot up and the right tire shot out. He chose the dirt portion of the field for his landing. He feathered his left engine (his right was already feathered). Both the gunner and the bombardier jettisoned their hatches, so that they could get out of the plane quickly. The left engine was torn off as the plane sank into the grass. The gunner, Sergeant Hall, was slightly injured. Captain Miller, Lts. Conner and Johnson,B/N, and Captain Stebins, Lt. Calloway, B/N, were the box leaders.

That afternoon, one of our most successful missions was flown. Two boxes of 37 aircraft attacked the very important and heavily trafficked marshallingy yard at Fulda, a key point for the transfer of supplies and equipment to German troops facing General Patton's bridgehead. Two Superior and four Excellents were scored. Violent explosions indicated that the yards contained ammunition or fuel. One hundred and twenty-five freight cars were destroyed or damaged; 47 hits were scored on the tracks; eight hits on the railroad overpass probably destroying it; there were ten hits on railroad workshops, 23 on other buildings, and 15 on roads, cutting them. Major Ferris, Lts. Royalty and McNutt, B/N, and Lt. Brewster, with Lt. Dennis and F/O Conley,B/N, led this successful mission.

The Gemunden marshalling yards were successfully attacked on the following day, the 26th. The target was a great distance from our base, but, because of the rapid advances made by General Patton's troops, it was just a few miles ahead of the bomb line in his sector. The yards were the junction point of four separate rail lines. Two superiors and three excellents were scored. The choke points, tracks, cars, and surrounding workshops were destroyed or severely damaged. Lt. Brown, Lts. Kerns and Brewer, B/N, and Lt. Buskirk, with Lt. Hanna,B/N, led the two boxes.

The fine weather began to cloud up and on the 27th, no mission took off. However, on the 28th, one mission was run even though the weather was extremely bad. Thirty-eight planes attempted to bomb the oil storage depot at Ebrach. Trying to get through the overcast, the formation split. Two PPF planes were leading the two boxes. Twenty-nine planes dropped on the PPF plane. Gee fixes indicated poor results with the bombs hitting far east of the target. Four planes attacked a railroad and autobahn crossing on Gee equipment when they became separated from the formation. Two planes bombed near Wurzburg. One plane dropped near Wa_lchern; one, over enemy territory, but the location was not determined. One plane, with a crew of F/O H. G. Gunkel and Sergeant L.J. Grzpna, disappeared from the formation and is unaccounted for. The crew is listed on MIA. It was last seen going through the overcast at the start of the bomb run. Major Shaefer, Lts. Hand and Reeves, B/N, and Capt. Evans, with Lts. McCartney and Myrold,B/N, led the two boxes.

There were no missions on the 29th. On the 30th, an ordnance depot and barracks area at Hann Nunden were attacked. A 7/10ths to 8/10ths cloud cover made it necessary to bomb on two PPF planes. There were no observations of the results. Three aircraft suffered battle damage. The box leaders were Major Ferris and Lt. Brewster.

The Wurzburg storage depot was the target in the morning of the 31st. Patchy weather made target identification difficult. The leader of the first box decided to bomb on its PPF plane. The leader of the second box made a visual attack. Bombing by boxes, the results as seen through the clouds appeared to be excellent. Violent explosions and clouds of smoke that billowed high into the sky followed the attack in which 222x500-pound incendiary bombs were dropped. There was moderate, accurate flak during the last few seconds of the bomb run. Although four aircraft received battle damage, all planes returned safely. Capt. Miller, Lt. Connor and F/O Wrubelle, B/N, led the first box; Lt. Col. Napier, Lt. Moore, B/N, led the second box.

Mission # 259, the forty-second mission of the month took off in the afternoon. It was an uneventful PPF attack on the Marienburg storage area, just south of Wurzburg. A few crews reported hits in the target area. The first box leader was Lt. Brown, Lts. Kerns and Brewer,B/N; Lt. Buskirk, Lt. Hanna,B/N, led the second box. It was the last mission of the month of March.

In our first full year of operations, ending 2 March 1945, our Group flew 219 missions, including 7,486 individual sorties, dropping 6394_ tons of bombs. However, during the month of March 1945, our Group flew 1615 sorties on 42 missions and dropped a total of 2565 _ tons of bombs, a bit more that 40% of the total tonnage dropped during the first year of operations, although we had flown only one-fifth as many missions. During that first year of operations 72 aircraft were lost, either over enemy or friendly territory, due to enemy action, or .9% of the total number of sorties flown.

April 1945

Easter Day , April 1945, with its religious services and significance, ushered in one of the strangest months in the history of World War II. No longer did we think that the bombs we dropped were as a pebble on a beach, lost among the others. Instead, as he month slipped by, each ton of bombs dropped seemed to show a definite reaction and bring about a new change in the bomb line. The Germans were on the run and we now knew that it was only a matter of time before an unconditional surrender would be made.

The question in the minds of most of us, now, seemed not to be, When will V-E Day come, but what will the terms of surrender, so that we will not have to fight again in another decade or two?. The Yalta conference, held some months ago, had decided on some of the terms to be demanded. The San Francisco conference, to begin on April 25, attended to delegates from the Allied Nations, was to decide on the terms of final settlement. Our champion at these conferences was our President, Franklin D. Roosevelt. His astuteness, understanding of the problems, and diplomacy had won him the confidence of the whole world. Then a fall fell on us. The news reached us on the morning of the 13th that President Roosevelt had died at his summer home at Hot Springs, Georgia, on the 12th. The average American soldier knew that with his passing, had gone one of our greatest assurance of a just and lasting peace. A period of 30 days of mourning was proclaimed by the new President, Harry S. Truman. A memorial service was held on the 670th Bomb Squadron s athletic field on the 15th, Chaplains Penticoff and Doyle conducted the service, attended by all available personnel from all units on the base.

The events of the following few days were watched closely to see what changes in policy would be made by the new President. Mr. Truman issued a statement that he would continue to carry out the policies of the late President and would make no immediate changes in the cabinet.

April might easily be called Inspection Month. One the 3 rd and 4th, the Office of the Inspector General of the 9th Bombardment Division made a complete administrative inspection of the Group and Station. The Group and Station received a Superior rating. This was the second consecutive Superior rating given to the Group in an administrative inspection by that office.

On the 9th, Colonel Stramney, a reclassification specialist from ETOUSA, arrived to spend a few days on the Base. He flew on a couple of missions so that he might understand the conditions under which our combat crewmen worked and lived and thereby make any needed recommendations for improvements.

A Bombardment Division Personnel survey, audit, and inspection team arrived on the 28th to make a 10-day inspection of personnel records, checking them for accuracy and agreement. The team, composed of an officer and three enlisted men, was under the supervision of Captain James M. Lynch Jr.

Throughout the month, there were changes in personnel and assignment, Major Wn. P. Thomas, Intelligence officer for the Group since its activation in February, 1943, was transferred to the headquarters of the European Civil Affairs Division on 6 April. He was succeded by Capt. H.B. Sheridan, who had been I.O. of the 670th Bomb Sq. since the Group s inception. Capt. H. W. Anderson and Lt. L.H. Perkins were appointed Top-Secret control officer and assistant control officer. When Lt. Col. Napier returned to the U.S. after completing his tour of duty, Major Shaefer became commanding officer of the 669th Bomb Squadron. Capt. R.V. Wheeler was appointed assistant Group Operations officer on the 22 nd. The strength of the Group on the last day of April was:

Hq. 416 th 33 Officers 56 Enlisted Men

668 th Bomb Sq. (L) 48 Officers 275 Enlisted Men

669 th Bomb Sq. (L) 56 Officers 272 Enlisted Men

670 th Bomb Sq. (L) 61 Officers 269 Enlisted Men

671 st Bomb Sq. (L) 54 Officers 269 Enlisted Men

Total ---------- 252 1141

Among those who had completed their tours of duty and had returned to the Zone of the Interior were Lt. Col. J.G. Napier, First Lieutenants F.W. Henderson, A.E. Herman, W.A. Merchant, F.H. Miller T.J.Murray, A.H. Maltby, E.R.Hayter, R.J. Basnett, R.J. McQuade, J.K. Colquitt, H.J. Montrose, J.J. Lackovich, D.L. Withington III; Staff Seargeants E.P. Brzesinski, R.J. Brown

R.W.Carstene, H.E.Fessler, C.Fetko Jr., C.F.Floyd, H.J.Nowoskieiski, H.J.Roberts, J.W.Robinson, R.P.Sharp Jr., S.Kochan Jr., J.A.Hummer, D.E.Burns, M.Bookach, F.P.Basford, H.R.Davis, T.Connery Jr., A.H.Vinson Jr., L.E.McElhattan, C.F.Huss, M.Hall, A.A.Cianciosi, and H.G.Wiggins.

There were several changes in the status of men listed as MIA: Lt. R.K. Cruze MIA to KIA; S/Sgt. A.L.Nielsen from MIA to KIA; S/Sgt. P.C.Field from MIA to KIA; Lt. R.R.Svenson from MIA to KIA; Sgt. E.J.Creeden, from MIA to POW; Lt . C.J.Vars, from MIA to LIA; Capt. R.V. Miracle, from MIA to KIA; S/Sgt. F.M.Tharp, from MIA to KIA; Sgt. R.L.Ernstrom, from MIA to KIA.

Lt. W.R. Jokinen, who had been listed as MIA, was captured by the enemy. While being marched off in a POW column, he escaped in the darkness and found his way back to our lines and eventually back to our Group. His gunner, Sgt. Creeden, was at the head of the POW column and could not be informed of the scheme to be carried out by his pilot and was marched off to a POW camp. Sgt. C.E. Tranchins, who had been seriously wounded in a crash landing in January, in which his pilot, Lt. Steed, was killed, was evacuated to the States.

With the coming of warmer April weather, more time was devoted to the improvements of runways No. 1 and 3, used as parking areas, were partially repaired so that they could also be used as taxi strips. Runway # 2, used for operations, was continually in need of repair. Loose stones in the touchdown areas had caused minor damage to our aircraft and had been especially hard on tires.

To partly remedy the situation, was used to cover the touchdown section at each end of the runway. Landscaping became a favorite pastime around the base. Shrubs found in some of the bombed-out living sites on the base were transplanted to our living sites. Headquarters building was also beautified.

The flagpole was moved. French workmen laid a cement base around it. They planted a row of flowers on each side of the walk leading from the road to the building. The grounds around it was leveled and grass seed planted. The green foliage of the trees and bushes added to the newfound beauty of the base.

The job of providing sufficient entertainment and recreation for the men was cared for very capably by the Aero Club and Special Services. The Aero Club celebrated its first anniversary with a dance on the 9th. Music, dancing, and refreshments were all on the program. This was the first of a series of Monday night dances for the enlisted men held at the club. On the other night, the club was always open for doughnuts, Ping-Pong, bridge, chess, and reading. Special Services brought several USO shows to the base. Of course, there were the usual nightly movies in either the unit mess halls or the Station Theatre. A softball league was formed up of teams representing all units of the base. The much-publicized Champagne Valley League opened on the 23 rd. The baseball league was made up of seven teams from Station A68, A69, and A70. In their first game, Colonel Aylesworth was there to toss the first ball. On the 18th, the IX AFSC Band played at the Unit A mess hall. To provide further recreational activities, volley ball courts and horseshoe pits, as well as softball diamonds, were constructed in the squadron areas. A swimming pool, located near the motor pool, was completed near the end f the month and was ready for use. A heating unit was attached so that the temperature of the water could be regulated. A field day, scheduled for the 29th, was cancelled due to the cold, rainy weather.

On the 6th, an old familiar face returned to pay a short visit. It was Brigadier General Harold L. Mace, who had been commanding officer of the Group when it arrived overseas. His familiar Hi Boy, greeted everyone at Colonel Aylesworth' s staff meeting. General Mace now commands the 98th Combat Bomb Wing.

During the month, a Soldiers Medal was awarded to S/Sgt.C.V.Hinker for having promptly and courageously defusing a 1,000-pound bomb when it had fallen on the bomb-bay doors, forcing them partly open. Wind, blowing on the arming vane, had started to arm the bomb. His courage saved himself, his pilot, and the plane from possible destruction.

Corporal W.E.Lane, and Intelligence clerk, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. His ability and trustworthiness in handling secret target material had made him an important part in the conduct of our military operations. Several crew chiefs were also awarded the Bronze Star Medal for their work keeping the planes in exceptional fine operational conditions under very difficult handicaps. Among them were Master Sergeant R.M.Slifko, T/Sgts. C.S.Curtis, C.J.Seutscher, and O.T.Hagerman and Staff Sergeant K.Ekler. Colonel Aylesworth pinned the Bronze Star Medan, which had been awarded a month previously, on S/Sgt. Edwin A. Max. Purple Hearts were awarded to Lt. R.K.Johnson, F/O Robert W. Harvest, Sergeant H.E. Brandt, and Sgt. W.C.Buckley. In addition, the usual Air Medals and Oak Leaf Clusters were awarded.

Also, during the month, orders were received giving the Group battle credit for participation in the campaign of Northern France, and the Battle of Germany. For those of us who had been in the Group prior to D-Day, we were now allowed to wear four bronze service stars on out theatre ribbon for the Air Offensive, Europe, and the Germany Campaign. The Northern France Campaign dated from 25 July 1944 to 14 September 1944. The German Campaign began on 15 September 1944

The award of the Motor Vehicle Driver s Badge was made to Pfcs. J.W.Lyde, S.J.Bellagamba, and C.F.Lee. Although they were dated in January 1945, the orders were not received until April for the award by the French government of the Croix de Guerre to seven members of the Group. They were Colonel T.R Aylesworth, Lt. Col. L.F.Dunn, J.C.Napier, and D.L.Willetts, Ma jor R.F.Price, Capt. R.S. Rudisill, and Capt. A.R.Hand.

The awards were made, signed by General de Galle, for exceptional deeds of war during the course of operations, which liberated France.

Three letters of commendations were received by the Group during the month of April.On the 3rd, a TWX, signed by General Eisenhower, commended us and all others who had a part in bringing about the complete encirclement of the Ruhr Valley. Letters of commendation from Lt. Bradley and Major General Vandenberg commended us as part of the 9th Bombardment Division for the great part our attacks played in reducing the fighting efficiency of the German Army. The third commendation, signed by Major General Anderson, congratulated the Group on the splendid job and the flying and bombing done during an attack on the Hof Railroad Bridge on the afternoon of 12 April.

Staff Sergeant Harold G.Wiggins, a gunner in the 670th Bomb Sq., devised a gadget to enable the gunner to release any hung-up bombs. The main escape hatch for a gunner was the open bomb bay. A switch in the gunner s compartment opened the bomb bay doors and salvoed the bombs. A hung up bomb, however, might block the passageway and prevent him from abandoning the plane. Sergeant Wiggins invention was a rod, about three feet long with an angle-shaped end. By means of this rod, he was able to release the bomb from its shackles. The device was adopted by our Group and submitted to Bomber Division for possible adoption by other A-26 Groups.

Impulse or radio-release bombing had been experimented with by our communications section for almost a year. Although it had been proven very successful in experimental flights, because of lack of equipment, it had been tried on a small scale on very few missions. By April of this year, however, sufficient sets were available for at least four flights of a formation. Throughout the month of April, it was used intermittently and with success each time. The moment the bombardier in the lead lane released his bombs, a radio-signal was transmitted to the other planes of that flight which would automatically release their bombs at the same precise instant. The wingman had nothing to do with releasing the bombs other than to open the bomb-bay doors and turn on the bombing switches. The use of impulse bombing meant the elimination of pilot lag and thereby made the pattern more compact.

The final stages of the battle of Germany were already underway when April Fools Day came around. The need for aerial cooperation diminished no less now that our troops were racing deep into Central Germany. When it became apparent that the enemy might try to hole up in the Bavarian Alps, is what soon became known as the National Redoubt, only air power could prevent the troops in the north from escaping to the south. For this reason, on several missions our planes flew almost to their extreme range to knock out marshalling yards and bridges. Returning from many of these missions, the crews were able to see some of the destruction caused by their bombs and see why Germany was now fighting for the defense of Berlin.

Mission # 260, the first mission in April, was flown on the third. It was an attack in which 76 tons of bombs were dropped on the marshalling yards at Hemeln, using PPF technique. The formation climbed to 16,000 feet. A few crews reported that through a small break in the clouds they saw the bombs bursting in the yards and in the town. The formation encountered weak but accurate flak between the I.P. and the target. A few bursts also came up at the R.P., where Lt. James P. Phillips plane was hit. He feathered his engine and returned to base on single engine.

He was able to get the engine operating over our base and landed on both engines although he was able to get very little power from his damaged engine. The formation split up after leaving the target in bad weather. Major Sommers headed back alone and traveled directly across the Ruhr pocket. Which our troops created. At low altitude, his gunner, Staff Sereant Kalen Heath, fired at a few flak guns as he sped by but he could make no claims. The box leaders were Lt. Col. Willetts, with Lts. Powell and Reeves B/N, and Capt. Evans, with Lts. McCartney and Myrrold, B/N.

Again on the 4th , clouds in the target area necessitated the use of PPF equipment in attacking the Crailsheim barracks area. The formation of 39 aircraft dropped a total of 58 tons of incendiary bombs on the target. Although the results were not observed, photo reconnaissance later found the barracks almost entirely gutted. Capt. Miller, Lts. Conner and Moore, B/N, led the first box; Lt. Blomgren, Lts. Johnson and Morley, B/N, led the second box.

Principally because of the extreme distance of any suitable targets, the third mission of the month was not flown until the 8th, when 42 planes attacked te Munchen-Berandorf railroad sidings and oil storage tanks. Crews reported violent explosions in the storage area and many hits on the railroad sidings. Photo interpretation found three tanks destroyed one large storage type building one-half destroyed, and two other storage buildings damaged. Craters blocked the roads in at least four places. There was no flak, but one plane suffered battle damage when a bomb dropped from another flight exploded prematurely under his plane. Due to the similarity of terrain and smoke, one flight misidentified the target and dropped 4\'bd miles southwest of the target. The three boxes were led by Major Ferris wirh Lts. Royalty and McNutt, Lt. Brewster, Lt. Dennis and F/O Conley, B/N, and Capt. Tutt, Lt. Orr, B/N.

In the afternoon of the eight, the Sonderhousen road junctions on the point of the Third Armys thrust toward Leipzig were attacked. Despite heavy smoke and haze, four flights scored excellent results. A fifth flight lost the formation and later taged onto what was thought to be our formation. It bombed with the first flight of the formation on the secondary target, Bad Frankenhousen, with unobserved results. It was not until the formation turned of te target that they could see the tail markings of the 396 the Bomb Group. Unable to pick up the primary target, one other flight chose the town of Nordhausen as a casual target. It was later learned that Nordhausen had contained a large death camp, where the Germans had perpetrated some of their greatest crimes against the civilized world. Because of the poor visibility, bombing altitudes ranging from 4,500 feet to 9,000 feet were reported. The box leaders were Lt. Brown, Lt. Kerns and F/O Lehneis, B/N, and Lt. Buskirk, with Lt. Hanna, B/N.

The 9th was another two-mission day. In an early morning mission, 44 aircraft took off to attack an ordnance depot at Anberg-Kummersbruck, dropping 500-pound incendiary bombs. Bombing visually by flight under ideal weather conditions, the target was destroyed. Because of the importance of the depot, four Groups had been chosen to attack it. By the time our Group approached it, all of our aiming points were obscured by smoke. Picking new aiming points in the parts, which appeared to be yet, untouched, our bombardiers wrought further destruction and also cut railroads yards. Several truck convoys were also reported. There was no flak. The three boxes were led by Major McNulty (Lts. Powell and Myrrold, B/N), Capt. Evans (Lt. McCartney, B/N, and Capt. Dufault (F/O Cardinale, B/N.)

Two boxes took off in the afternoon on another long-range attack on the Saalfeld marshalling yards. The enormous yards were to be attacked by two other Groups of our wing. The yards were again covered with smoke by the time our attack began. Dive of six flights scored excellent to superior results,however, eliminating any possibility of the yards being used in the near future. The bombs blanketed wagons, trucks, and servicing facilities. The engine roundhouse was more than 1/3 destroyed and six engines probably destroyed at least 50 hits on the tracks, and 28 on the roads. The other flight, trying to synchronize into the drifting smoke, hit off the edge of the yards. The box leaders were Capt. Miller (Lt. Conner and F/O Wrubelle, B/N) and Lt. Blomgren with Lt. Johnson, B/N. Lt. D.L.Price returned early from the mission. When his gunners' turret would not operate, he called the box leader, but he was unsuccessful. He wobbled his wings and then hit an air pocket. The heavy jolt broke the bomb shackles. His gunner, Sgt. J.F.Reicher, reported that the bombs were rolling around in the bomb bay. Although supposedly safe, the arming vane of one of the bombs had begun to revolve. He dropped three bombs in an open field near our base; two of them exploded. The fourth did not fall out. Sgt. Reicher crawled in the bomb bay and kicked it out. It was this bomb that had the spinning arming vane. Lt. Price then returned safely to base.

Not even a week ago would we have dreamed of attacking a target in Czechoslovakia because of the great distances involved. Yet the progress of the war had been so rapid that an attack on a giant viaduct at Eger was necessary to stop German troops in the north from escaping to the Redoubt area of the south. The mission, flown by 25 planes, was an extremely long one - - -over - -800 - - miles - - and yet, as Major Ferris put it, It was a perfect mission. The weather was Ideal; navigation was excellent and bombing was superior. Crews reported that the bombs severed the viaduct. Some bombs also extended across a dam and nearby factory area. Reconnaissance showed the viaduct out in two places, the dam severely damaged, and two large factory-type buildings destroyed by the 1,000 pounders that were dropped. Our Group had the honor of being the first bomber unit of the Ninth Air Force to attack a target in Czechoslovakia. Among those who flew on this mission were Brig. Gen. Backus, Col. Britt (Division Flak Officer) and Col Stramney, a reclassification specialist from ETOUSA who was visiting the base for a few days. Flying as B/N with Major Ferris were Lts. Kirk and McNutt. There was no flak anywhere along the route.

While the first mission of the day was returning from its target in Czechoslovakia, 22 more planes took off to attack buildings, which housed oil pumps for an underground storage at Stasssfurt/Deopolds-Hall. Crews reported large sheets of flame and smoke that climbed 6-7,000 feet into the sky. Many of the buildings were destroyed or damaged. Forty-four tons of bombs were dropped on the target. Three airfields were observed to have planes dispersed on them, but there was no fighter reaction. Lt. Brown, with Lts. Kerns and Orr, B/N, led the formation.

A full-scale effort in the morning of the 11th put 47 planes into the air to attack the Bernburg marshalling yard. A total of 282x500 pound demolition bombs were dropped on the target with results ranging from good to excellent. Bombs blanketed the southern choke point of the yards, many goods wagons, and buildings adjacent to the yards. Other bombs covered railroad sidings and storage sheds. Many large fires were started, possibly burning oil or ammunition. No complete photo interpretation was possible because_____ \'bd of the yards were still obscured by smoke. The three boxes were led by Major McNulty, Capt. Evans, and Lt. Lackovich. That afternoon, our planes made a deep penetration into Germany to attack the Zwickau marshalling yards. The yards were completely destroyed by the 37 attacking planes. Between 80 and 100 freight cars were destroyed or damaged, 40 to 50 direct hits cut out the tracks, and three buildings were destroyed or severely damaged. Capt. Miller, with Lts. Conner and Vollmayer,B/N, and Lt. Blomgren, Lt. Johnson, B/N led the two boxes.

Going into territory never before attacked by our Group, 42 planes took off in the morning of the 12th to attack the Kempton ordnance depot near the Swiss border. Previous to this time, tactical targets in that area had been attacked almost solely by the First TAF. Weather over the base was cloudy. It became worse over enemy territory. The formation flew through almost an hour of rain.

The target was to be attacked visually only because of the proximity of a POW camp. The cloud base was at about 5500 feet, making attack impossible. To drop any lower would have forced the formation to fly over mountain ranges, which rose up that high. The planes returned with their 500-pound incendiary bombs.

One bomb inside Major Ferris's plane broke open inside the bomb bay. He opened his doors over the practice bombing range and got rid of the dangerous load. Enroute to the target, six bursts of inaccurate flak were seen crossing the bomb line. Through small breaks in the clouds, crews were able to see German airfields. Several of them appeared to be in excellent condition, but deserted. The box leaders were Major Ferris, Lt. Brewster, and Capt. Pair.

Although the weather did not improve, 27 aircraft took off that afternoon to attack the Hof Railroad Bridge farther north from the morning' s target. Weather forced the formation down to 5200 feet to make their attack. The bomb patterns completely surrounded the bridge. There were four direct hits on the railroad tracks, eight on the roads, and 20 buildings destroyed or damaged in addition to the destruction of the bridge. A commendation was received from Gen. Anderson on the fine job done in getting to the target and bombing it in bad weather. The planes returned to the base in the middle of a driving rainstorm. Only one plane was diverted to another field. There was no flak. Lt. Brown, with Lts. Kerns and Hanna, B/N, led the single box, which made the attack. This was the eighth mission flown in four days and all but one had been extremely successful.

With the bomb line moving ahead by leaps and bounds, and no targets available in the central part of our lines, our planes took off about noon of the 15th after a couple of days of rest to attack the Ulm marshalling yards, southeast of Stuttgart. An almost solid cloud cover necessitated the use of PPF equipment. Results were unobserved. Photo reconnaissance on the following day found 12 hits in the area just south of the main sorting sidings, causing minor damage to tracks and rolling stock. Through traffic was still possible, however. Weak, inaccurate flak was experienced coming out over the bomb line near Freiburg. The formation was to be led by Capt. Evans, but when he was forced to abort, Capt. Stanley (F/O Blount, and Lt. Myrrold, B/N) took over the lead in the second box.

Two missions were flown on the 16th. In the morning, 31 out of 38 planes dropped 186x500 lb. incendiary clusters on the built-up area of the town of Zerbat, seven miles ahead of the Second Armored Division and 83 rd Infantry Division. One flight was unable to bomb because the briefed TOT time limit ran out before a second run could be made. A collision course with other flights prevented bombing on the first run.

Although smoke from a previous attack hung over the target, excellent results were scored on the marshalling yards and in the town itself. In the yards, 100-150 wagons were destroyed, eight sheds, three warehouses, and 25-30 other buildings were set afire. Smoke made it impossible to estimate the damage done to the town, although flames were seen shooting up through the smoke. Major Shaefer (Lts. Hand and Conner, B/N) and Major Sommers (Lts. Kupits and Vollmayer,B/N), led the two boxes. There was weak but accurate flak on the bomb run and two aircraft suffered battle damage.

The target in the afternoon was the Wittenburg marshalling yards. Only one flight, led by Lt. Parker, Lt. Shaft,B/N, was able to make an attack because of dense smoke and clouds. This flight flew a slightly different course, which enabled the bombardier to see the target. Crewmembers reported excellent results. Moderate to intense, accurate flak was encountered at the target and on the turn off, but only two planes received battle damage. The two box leaders were Capt. Evans (Lt. Dennis and F/O Conley, B/N).

The 17th was another two-mission day. The heavily defended city of Mageburg was the target. Excellent results were scored on the town and its marshalling yard. One flight misidentified the target and caused extensive damage to buildings and roads 2 miles southwest of the original aiming point. The three box leaders were Major Dunn (Lts. Brewer and Kerns,B/N), Lt. Buskirk (Lt. Hanna and F/O Przywitowski, B/N), and Lt. Parker, Lt. Sharft, B/N.

The target in the afternoon was the very important Tubingen ordnance depot. Five flights scored good to excellent results on the target with many hits on the ordnance buildings, and other buildings and roads in the target area. Because of a bomb release malfunction, the other flights did not bomb, although it made four runs on the target. The first box was led by Capt. Evans (Lts. McCartney and Myrrold, B/N) and Capt. Stanley, F/O Blount, B/N.

After a morning mission was recalled before it could cross into enemy territory, 38 planes took off in the afternoon of the 19 th to attack the Neu-Ulm marshalling yards, the second largest between Munich and Nuremburg. All 38 planes dropped their load of 4x100 lb. bombs squarely on the target. Out of six flights, four superiors and two excellents were scored. Between 150-160 cars were destroyed, 40 bursts on the tracks cut them, several roads were cut, and 22 buildings were destroyed or damaged. Enemy fighters were reported over the radio to be in the target area. One single engine fighter closed in on the formation while it was circling the R.P. Sergeant Felix Di Orio fired two short bursts, but made no claims. The approaching plane broke away at about 800 yards and disappeared. Sgt. Di Orio was the only man in the formation to spot the fighter and was unable to identify it as to type.

The box leaders were Capt. Miller (Lts. Conner and Vollmayer,B/N), and Major Sommers (Lts. Kupits and F/O Cardinale, B/N). Two equally successful attacks on the 20th went a long way toward striking the knockout punch to Hitlers armored and air might. In the morning, the Deggendorf ordnance depot was left buried under smoke and flames. Four flights used impulse bombing very successfully. The depot was severely damaged; 30-35 hits on smaller buildings, and 5-10 hits on the roads. Damage cause by two flights could not be assessed because of the smoke and flames.

When the bombs in one plane would not release over the target, his flight leader led him to the town of Viechtach, which he bombed with excellent results. Moderate, accurate flak was fired at the flight from this town, but there was no battle damage. The rest of the formation did not experience any flak The two boxes of 44 planes were led by Major Ferris (Lts. Kirk and McNutt, B/N) and Lt. Brewster (Lt. Dennis and F/O Conley, B/N).

In the afternoon of the 20th, the German Air Force fuel storage depot at Annaburg was attacked. Dropping 100-pound demolition bombs, the attack, which started many fires, was highly successful. Many roads were cut, 12 buildings destroyed, and 500 hits were scored in the fuel storage area. There was no flak. Lt. Hale landed his plane with a flat tire. The propeller was bent as the plane swerved of the runway over rough ground. There was no further injury to the plane or crew.

Three boxes made the attack. They were led by Major Dunn (Lts. Brewer and Hanna, B/N) and Lt. Brown (Lt. Kerns,B/N), and Lt. Prucha (Lt. Reeves, B/N).

Again on the 21st, our Group, for the second time in a month, was the first Ninth Air Force bomber group to strike a new country, Austria. The target was the Attang-Puecheim marshalling yards, about 25 miles southeast of Linz, Austria, on the direct route to the National Redoubt area in western Austria. The trip, our longest to date, totaled 970 miles. Bad weather forced the formation down to 8,200 feet to bomb. High mountains in the area made this a dangerous altitude, but there were no accidents. The target was completely destroyed by the attack. The formation scored four superiors and three excellents. Estimated 300-500 freight cars were destroyed along with one roundhouse and 25 buildings. All tracks were severed, as were several roads. The bomb patterns were exceptionally compact; four flights used impulse bombing.

Returning, some flights almost on the deck, the formation flew directly over an airfield at Erding. Crews reported that they could see Jerries scurrying for shelter as the formation approached, expecting to be bombed. When no bombs were dropped, they came out of hiding and fired weak, light flak at the last flight of the formation. Lt. Hackley's plane suffered battle damage but in return, his gunner, S/Sgt. O.T. Hawk, fired at the Germans with his turret guns. He inflicted some light damage before his guns jammed.

There were many observations. On the airfield at Erding, as many as 50 planes were reported, including ME 109\rquote s, HE 111\rquote s, JU 88\rquote s, JU 52\rquote s, and ME 163s. None of these planes challenged our formation, however. Special convoys were sighted, including one large armored convoy - - this convoy was reported immediately to fighter-ground control. Several trains were also reported.

Weather at the Base was getting steadily worse, so the 40 planes were diverted to A-64 for the night. Two others were diverted to Y-64. The leaders of the three boxes were Capt. Evans (Lts. McCartney and Myrrold, B/N), Capt. Stanley (F/O Blount, B/N) and Lt. D.O.Turner (Lts. McGivern and Morley, B/N).

Bad weather began to roll in, which kept the planes on the ground until the 24th, when the target was a jet fighter field at Landau, near Strauing. Our two boxes were led by two Shoran-equipped aircraft. An equipment failure prevented the Shoran planes from making an attack even after two runs. Our own Gee equipment was inoperative so that the attack was abandoned. A 9/10-cloud cover prevented any visual bombing. This was the first time Shoran, a new method of blind bombing, was employed by the Group. Shoran equipment installed in A-26 Invaders was to replace the older Pathfinder equipment installed in B-26 Marauders.

Major Shaefer (Lts. Hand and Conner,B/N) and Lt. Blomgren (Lt. Johnson, B/N), led the two boxes.

On the 25}{\fs22\super th}{\fs22 , 38 aircraft attacked the Freilassing ordnance depot. One flight of six planes attacked two flak positions near the target in elements of three about 2 minutes before the main attack. They dropped 132x100 lb. fragmentation bombs with excellent results. The formation encountered no flak.

Buildings and installations in the depot area were severely damaged; roads and railroad tracks were out. Many fires were also kindled. The two boxes were led by Major Ferris (Lts. Kirk and McNutt, B/N), and Lt. Hall (Lts. Goss and F/O Conley,B/N). The two elements attacking the flak positions were led by Lt. Van Noordam (F/O Brandt, B/N) and Capt. Dufault (F/O Cardinale,B/N).

As April drew toward a close, we had been to the bomb lines of our Armies and the Russian Armies pushing closer and closer together. Around the 20th, a security silence veiled the advance of the Reds. The Germans carried reports of Red troops on the outskirts of Berlin and other by-passing it to the south. Finally, a short but exciting TWX was posted on the situation map that the Red Army had linked up with the forces of the Americans First Army at Trogan, northeast of Leipzig. Germany was cut in half.

That afternoon, the 26th, 44 aircraft filled a landing ground at Platting, in the lower part of what remained of Germany, with bombs and bomb craters. A total of 968x100-lb. fragmentation bombs fell on the landing ground; 66x100 fragmentation bombs kept gun positions silent while the main attack went on. There was no flak.

The pictures available at briefing were very out-dated and inadequate. When the bombardiers tried to find their aiming points, they discovered that the field had since been reconstructed. Choosing secondary aiming points, in every case but one, they scored two superiors and four excellents. The other bombardier, Lt. P.G.McGivern, flying with D.O. Turner, was able to identify his aiming point and scored excellent. Many hits were scored on revetments and airstrips.

May 1945

How much longer would the war in Europe go on? When May Day arrived, we all knew that the end was near. Just how near was a question that only time would tell.

On the first day of the month, two boxes of aircraft took off to attack the Stod ammunition dump. Bad weather during the last few days of April made flying impossible. During the time, however, our ground forces had continued their drive forward and had joined with the Russians to cut Germany in half. Our forces had pushed into Munich and into the Bavarian Redoubt. When our planes reached enemy territory, bad weather built up. It was impossible to get in to the target. The formation crossed the bomb-line for about two minutes before it was forced to abandon the attack. There was no flak or enemy opposition. The box leaders were Capt. Evans (Lts. McCartney and Myrold, B/N and Capt. Stanley, F/O Blount, B/N.

Two days later , on the 3rd, our planes went back to Czechoslovakia to attack the Stod ammunition dump again. Two boxes of aircraft made the attack behind two planes employing Shoran equipment. The results were unobserved through a 10/10-cloud cover. The boxes were led by Major Shaefer (Capt. Hand and Lt. Dant, B/N) and Captain Blomgren, Lt. Johnson, B/N. This mission, No. 285, was the last mission flown by the Group before the final capitulation of the enemy on V-E Day, 8 May 1945.

The break-up of Germany came fast. On the first of May, it was reported that Hitler died. The report and no official confirmation, however. On the second, at 1200 GMT, German troops in Italy and western Austria surrendered unconditionally to Field Marshall Sir Harold Alexander. Russia also announces the fall of Berlin to Red Army troops.

Three days later, effective 0800 hours on the 5th, all German forces in Holland, Denmark, NW Germany, Helogoland, and the Frisien Islands surrendered to Field Marshall Sir Bernard L. Montgomery. Also a premature announcement that the remainder of German troops had surrendered brought a joyous celebration on the Base. War news the next morning saddened the hearts of many for the report had been false.

Finally, the real news broke. At 0241 hours on the morning f the seventh, German officers signed the unconditional surrender presented by the Western Allies and Soviet Russia about 35 miles from our base at Reims. The official announcement of the surrender was made simultaneously in Washington, London, and Moscow, at 1500 hours on the 8th, which was officially designed as V-E Day. All hostilities were to cease as of 0001 hours on the 9th.

Messages of Congratulations poured into the Message Center. Their themes were fundamentally the same, thanking all of us who had brought about the victory.

On V-E Day, Colonel Aylesworth addressed a gathering of all personnel at the hardstand in the 671st area. He emphasized the wonderful record made by the Group and also the task still to be performed. He also expanded on the "point system" which had been set up to govern the discharge of men not vitally needed for the continuance of the war in the Pacific.

Shortly after V-E Day, the Group instituted a policy which was every wish of many men on the ground, who, day after day saw the planes take off and hours later heard the stories from the returning crewmen of the complete destruction of Germany. A sightseeing tour was planned and each day, for as long as it was practicable, the planes were loaded with ground personnel who got their first look at beaten Germany. They looked at the ruins of Cologne, the Ruhr, the Remagan bridgehead, the Rhine Valley from almost tree-top level. The camera man shot four of these men throughout various stages of their journey and what he photographed is among the exhibits.

Despite the progress of the war, plans had been made to move the Group to a more advanced base, Station Y-80, near Weisbaden, Germany. With a movement of troops to Germany soon to take place, emphasis was placed on a program of training in exterior and interior guard duty. Guard mounts and at least one 24-hour tour of guard duty were to be included as part of the training. On the 5th, a reconnaissance echelon moved onto the new base. An advanced echelon made up of the 669th and 671st Bomb Squadrons was packed and ready to depart by train and truck on the morning of the 7th. At suppertime on the 6th, however, an announcement told of the cancellation of the move.

Station A-69 was to be an ordnance redeployment depot. Tents were pitched in unoccupied parts of the field. It was necessary that the Group be moved to another base if it was to continue with its training.

The training program was intensified on the 16th, with each pilot to complete 20 hours of instrument flying and five hours of night flying. Dinghy drills in the swimming pool were part of the ground training.

While the program was in "full swing", orders were received to move the Group to Station A-59 at Cormeilles-en-Vexin about four miles northwest of Pontoise. On the 19th, an advanced party arrived at the new field. A day later, the 669th and 671st Bomb Squadrons, which made up the advance echelon moved by truck convoy to Station A-59. The air echelon arrived on the 24th; the rear echelon, of the 668th and 670th Bomb Squadrons, arrived by motor convoy on the 25th. The move was made with the assistance of two Quartermaster trucking companies.

An inspection of the former base at Laon by the inspector General of the 9th Air Division found the Station was left in superior condition.

Colonel Aylesworth assumed command of Station A-59 on the 25th. The new base was in far better condition for flying. The NW-SE runway was in excellent condition. The NW-SE runway was being repaired and would soon be available.

Although hardstands were crowded, there was sufficient parking space available. The hangers were either partially destroyed or completely destroyed so that they were of little value. Part of this destruction resulted from attacks made by our Group in May 1944 when the field was still in the hands of the enemy.

Group headquarters occupied a chateau in the town of Cormeilles-en-Vexin. Most of the larger Group offices were housed in the chateau. Others were located throughout the town of Cormeilles.

Living conditions for headquarters personnel were a great improvement. Some lived in the chateau; other moved into buildings in the town. The squadrons were less fortunate than heretofore. Because it was thought that our stay on the Continent might be not long, it was felt that transporting tent floors would not be worth the effort. Three of the four squadrons found their living sites in the middle of hay fields. The usual rain, which always seems to plaque our moves, turned these areas into mud holes. It was not unusual to see shoes caked with mud ankle high.

Changes in personnel, now that the war in Europe was concluded, were frequent. The "point system" as it became known to all GI's, was published. An adjusted service-rating card was filled out for each man in the Group. A critical score of 85 points, the number necessary to become eligible for discharge, was the goal of most GIs. Four types of credit were considered: service credit, overseas credit, combat credit, and parenthood credit. One pilot was awarded for each month in the service; one point for each month overseas; 5 points for each combat award such as battle participation credits, Air Medals, and other decorations; and 12 points for each child under 18 years of age.

The first of the lucky "85-ers" left near the end of the month. Along with them were a few who, over 40 years of age, were offered discharges. They included: Master Sergeants Norman L. Stone and Russel W. Waddell; Technical Sergeants Albert L. Brewer, Richard C. Fisher, Kenneth J. Polson, Robert E. Behny, Samuel Hamman, Staff Sergeants Herman Franzel, Joseph D. Muldoon, Samuel snider, Sergeants John T. Carroll, James M. Chestnut, Lara T. Backe, Richard F. Smyth, Clifford W. Eickhoff, Will C. Reed, Richard T. Lorenz, Carl S. Champlin, Corporal Roland O. Pierce and John H. Johnson.

Two men who had completed their tours of duty were also returned to the Zone of the Interior. They were Major Hirem Conant and First Lieutenant Wayne E. Downing, who had flown 64 [actually 86] missions.

The 9th Bombardment Division, which had formerly been known as the 9th Bomber Command, was again renamed, this time the 9th Air Division. A farewell message was received on the 18th from Major General Samuel E. Anderson who had commanded it. He was succeeded by Brigadier General Richard C. Sanders, who had been chief of staff. Also Lieutenant General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, who had commanded the Ninth Air Force, returned to the United States. His successor was Major General Otto P. Keyland.

In our own Group, Major Joseph W. Bird was assigned to the Group as assistant Group Operations Officer. He had just arrived overseas on his first assignment form a third Air Force training base. Lt. Michael Zubon, who had returned after a leave in the States, was placed on temporary duty with the Headquarters of the United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe. Working with the Director of Intelligence, he dealt with the securing and study of the latest types of German equipment and German documents, which might be useful in our war against Japan.

The 7th War Loan campaign, extending from 1 May to 7 July 1945, was pursued with interest by the members of the Group who gave not only of their lives, but of their wealth to promote the cause for which we fought.

Social Service continued its activities. Shortly before we left Station A-69, a USO Camp Show, "Comment Tally Ho" was presented for the entertainment of the troops. On the new base, movies were held nightly in one of the theatres. A large tent in the 669th area and a hanger in the 671st area were used as theatres.

The Aero Club on the base was ideally located in the town of Cormeilles. A dance was held there for the enlisted men on the 27th. The floor space was rather limited so that when the French welcome Committee opened a club in Poatoise, the dance was transferred to that club to be held every Saturday night. The reading room, part of the Information and Education program, occupied a part in the daily life of many. Its adequate supply of good books offered a source of quiet relaxation. Because of the unsettled condition of our future, the complete educational program was delayed for the time being.

The Champaign Valley League, which had been progressing very well, was unofficially concluded on the 13th of May. Because of the distance between the fields since our move, it became impossible to continue the League with four victories and only one loss. Captain Zesiger was appointed the new athletic director and instituted a program of physical training for ground and combat personnel.

Awards and decorations meant something more to each of us now that they could get "points" toward their discharge. According to War Department GO #33, dated 1 May `45, the Battle of Germany was redesignated as the Battle of the Ardennes, the Battle of the Rhineland, and the Battle of Central Germany. As yet, nothing official had been received authorizing us to wear the battle stars for these three new campaigns.

The highest award for the month was the Distinguished Service Cross, which went to Captain Paul G. Atkinson Jr. for extraordinary heroism during a low-level attack on 23 January 1945. His bombardier-navigator, 1st Lt. Dale G. Ackerson, was awarded the Silver Star. The Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded posthumously to 1st Lt. F.H. Bursiel who was killed on Christmas Day. Others who received the DFCs were Capt. Carl S. Stanley, 1st Lts. Julien F. Allen, John A. Buskirk, Lovick E Cannon, Wesley D. Chitty Jr., Capt. R.B.Hall, 1st Lts. Russel Ford, James Colquitt, Willard W. DuBose, Earl R. Hayter, Floyd Henderson, Arthur D. Herman, Joseph Lackovich, R.J. McQuade, James H. Montrose, Donald L. Moore, Jankson C. Sewell, Jack L. Burg(MIA), Ralph Conte, Wayne E. Downing, Ernest L. Johnson, L.R. McBride, Robert G. Meredith, Michael Zubon, Capts. E.E. Delfun, Joseph Kupits, R.V. Miracle (MIA), G.F. Bertmus, Wm. A. Peck, David A. Hulse, Majors H.L. Sommers,G.M. McNulty, R.F. Price, Lts. Cols. J.C. Napier, L.Dunn, David A. Willetts, Staff Sergeants Douglas Hantske, Earnest E. Kelly, and R.W. McDonald. A Soldiers' Medal was awarded to S/Sgt. Daniel Chest. Bronze Star Medals were awarded to several, including M/Sgts. Robert L. Amick, Robert E. Atchison, James T. Howard, Norman L. Stone, Thruman B. Strickland, Clarence R. Young, T/Sgts. Clifford D. Body, Herman E. Keebaugh, Edward J. Russo, S/Sgts. Michael Clark, Roy E. Gettle, Robert R. Hanson, Elmo W. Cline, William R Springer, Drexal R. Wells, Lawrence R. Wite, Lt. Col. J.W. Townsend, M/Sgt. Dennie B. Brosset, T/Sgt. A.L. Brewer, T/Sgt. John S. Craig, and Sgt. Vito G. Zukauskas. Many Air Medals and Oak Leaf Clusters to the Air Medals were also awarded. Among those who received the Air Medal was Major Murdock W. Campbell who had been a German Prisoner of War since D-Day and had just been liberated.

At a ceremony held at the 410th Bombardment Group, Colonel Theodore R. Aylesworth, Lts. Cols. David A. Willetts, L.F. Dunn, and Captain Arvid R. Hand received the French Croix de Guerre from General Backus.

With the war concluded a program of training was set up. Many personnel were sent to schools to obtain knowledge, which would be extremely useful in the Pacific. Most of the schools were held in England. The schools included American Aviation Ammunition, Driver's Maintenance, Fuel Service Maintenance, General Hydraulics, Electric Maintenance, RAF Intelligence, A/C Recognition, POW and Escape and Evasion, Cryptographic Devices, and P& W Wasp R-2800 engine school of Technical Training.

Strafing and map bombing ranges were secured. Contemplating much low-level work in the Pacific, this type of range was exceptionally valuable. For strafing, two nose guns and two wing guns were fired. The training progress set up for combat personnel included:

A schedule of calls for the day was begun on the 30th. Plans were also made for the first of a series of Saturday morning reviews to begin on the second of June. Also to begin on that day was the first of a usual Saturday morning personal inspection of barracks and uniforms.

Far from the battle zone, but just as important to us as the winning of the war was the conference held at San Francisco. It had begun in April and would probably continue throughout most of June. That conference at which all of the Allied Nations were represented was planning the world of the future - - - a world in which there would be found only in history books. The magazines, "Army Talks", contained a discussion of the five points of US Foreign Policy which were to guide our representatives at the Conference. A later copy of the magazine discussed the conference. The two brought out some of the lessons that would in the future to perhaps keep us from another war. The distribution of these two magazines was well received and began many discussions among members of the Group.

As our Armies overran Germany, they continued to come across German Prisoner of War camps. Many of these camps contained former members of our Group who had been captured. These official changes in status were received by the Personnel Section:

Major Murdock W. Campbell, from POW to RMC; 1st Lt. John J. Chalmers, from POW to RMC; Capt. R.H. Cornell, from POW to RMC; 2nd Lts. Charles Church, Albert Jedinak, Donald A. Wipperman, all from POW to RMC; Staff Sergeant Daniel R. Abriola, from MIA to RMC; S/Sgts. Clarence M. Gray and Harold F. Hatch, from POW to RMC; Sergeants Harry W. Larsen and Stanley G. Novak and 2nd Lt. Anton P. Nikas, from POW to RMC; Staff Sergeants A.F. Cavanaugh, J.M. Harris, G.W. Scott, R.E. Wright, and 1st Lt. Al W. Gullion, from POW to RMC; Staff Sergeant Joseph L. Keeper, from POW to RMC (hospitalized for non-battle wounds); S/Sgt. H. R. Shatter, from POW to RMC; 1st Lt. .G. Akerson, from SWA to EUS; S/Sgt. Kim Fortuner, from MIA to RMC.

Getting back to our operations, which ceased in this theatre on V-E Day, although or last mission was flown of 3 May, two missions were flown in the month of May with 67.5 tons of bombs being dropped and 71 sorties being flown. Looking back over our total operations in the European Theatre, our Group flew 285 missions in exactly 14 months. During that time we had dropped 10,959.95 tons of bombs while flying 10,026 sorties. An operational record compiled by the Intelligence Department from their records provides an overall picture of the nature of our operations in the European Theatre.

Unit Strength for May:

HQ. 33 Officers 61 Enlisted Men

668th Bomb Sq. 57 Officers 285 Enlisted Men

669th Bomb Sq. 56 Officers 279 Enlisted Men

670th Bomb Sq. 58 Officers 276 Enlisted Men

671st Bomb Sq. 54 Officers 274 Enlisted Men

July 1945

Throughout the month of July the effort of the entire Group was devoted to getting prepared to add our might t the already powerful air force units attacking the Japanese Empire in the Pacific. Our preparations included the completion of our flying training to meet ATC requirements. Engines with 480 hours or more were changed. All "line" sections worked feverishly to make these and other needed changes on the planes. Armament had to apply corrosion preventive to all the guns on the planes and tape them for protection against the weather. Communications had to change the frequency of the radios to the international frequency. Extra transmitters were also installed in each of the planes.

During all of this ground school was being conducted. Flying personnel were instructed in the use of Loran equipment, dinghy drill, escape and evasion in the Pacific Theatre, and aircraft recognition. All personnel attended classes in orientation on the Japanese War, Oriental culture, and Far Eastern terrain and climate. Training films augmented other lectures on the care and use of small arms, first and second echelon automotive maintenance, and tropical diseases.

On the 12, our warning orders were received. Three days later, the first coverage in planes and crews departed from Station A-59 for the Air Assembly Area at Station A-74 Cambrai, France. The remainder of the planes and crews left during the next five days. The crews were to ferry the planes over the southern route to the States. There they would pick up new planes and rejoin the Group at a Base somewhere in the Pacific Theatre. The A-26 B's carried a three-man crew - - -a pilot, a gunner, and a crew chief. The A-26 C's carried a bombardier-navigator in addition to the other three men. Many of these crews had high critical scores, and it was doubtful whether many of them would ever rejoin the Group. When Colonel Aylesworth left with the Air echelon, Lt. Col. Townsend assumed command of the Group Echelon as of 22 July 1945.

While in Cambrai, about four days before the scheduled departure of the Air Echelon, a hailstorm caused considerable damage to our planes. This, together with the shortage of belly tanks, needed for the long over-water trip across the Southern Atlantic, slowed the departure from Cambrai. Although there was some trouble with the planes mechanically, there was only one fatality. 1st. Lt. Robert J. Hanna, who had done as outstanding job as a bombardier-navigator, was scheduled to return to the States with a plane flown by a crew from the 391st Bomb Group (M). After having taken off from Marseille, the plane plunged in the Mediterranean. The crew was lost.

A pre-POW audit team inspected the records of every man in the Group from the 13th to the 15th. Also on the 15th , personnel were restricted to the base pending a movement of the Group to an Assembly Area. Cholera shots were given to everyone who had not received one in the six months previous.

The USSTAF POW team arrived on the 16th. At the conclusion of their inspection, the Group was pronounced ready to continue its operations in the Pacific Theatre.

A routine inspection the Ninth Air Force POW team was the last before the Group was ready to move. As soon as the inspection was completed, the work of loading the baggage train began.

The baggage train, the headquarters motor convoy, and the troops - - -loaded into 40 and 8 cars - - - left Pontoise on the 26th for Camp Chicago in the Assembly Area pending direct shipment to the Southern Pacific. These convoys arrived early on the 27th. Early that same morning, the remainder of the motor convoy left Station A-59 and arrived at Camp Chicago before noon.

Camp Chicago was located between Rheime and Laon, not too far from our old Base, Station A-69 at Laon Athies. Although all of our troops lived in tents, cement floors made them fairly comfortable. The unit orderly rooms and supply rooms were set up in Nissen huts for the first time since we had left England. Large Nissen huts were used for the individual squadron mess halls. Post Exchanges, movies and USO Camp Shows were attractions of which we all took advantage. The huge Red Cross and well-stocked library were often filled with 416th men.

There was little work to be done the first couple of days, and the men enjoyed the leisure moments either resting or getting acquainted with the base. Suddenly we received a call to process all of our records and equipment. Knowing that the sooner we completed this processing, the sooner passes, furloughs, and leaves would be obtainable, everyone worked hard at it. The processing was completed within two days - - -in sufficient time to beat the deadline set for this work. The date set for the completion of our equipment processing, records processing, and waterproofing was 2 August. Our personnel readiness date was 1 September. We were further informed that the Ground Echelon of the Group would leave Camp Chicago and the Assembly Area Command prior to 5 September 1945 for the Pacific Theater.

Getting back to some of the events of July which did not pertain directly to the movement to Camp Chicago, on the 11th censorship was resumed.

Every type of aircraft used by the USAAF in the war against Germany was placed on exhibit under the Eiffel Tower in Paris. "Tom Swift's Flying Machine", from the 669th Bomb Sq. (L) received much attention from those who attended the Paris exhibit for the A-26 Invader was still the newest and most secret plane of the war.

Two Brigadier Generals, Sanders and Backus, visited the base at Station A-59 on the 14th. General Sanders pinned the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star Medal on Col. Aylesworth in a ceremony held in Col. Aylesworth's office.

One of the highest awards won by anyone in the Group, and the only one of its kind ever received by a member of the 416th, was pinned on Corp. Lester H. McPeak of the 670th Bomb Sq. (L). He received the Legion of Merit. As an armament mechanic he had devised many adjustments and modifications for both the A-20 Havocs and the A-26 Invaders. These were accepted on several occasions by the Army Air Forces and were incorporated in further modifications of these planes. Col. Aylesworth made the presentation at a ceremony held on the lawn of the headquarters building on the 24th.

There were no operational missions during the month. We received credit for participation in the Battle of the Rhine Land and the Campaign of Central Germany during the month.

The glad news was released on the 25th that we had hoped for and worked for a year and a half. At that time we were informed that the Distinguished Unit Badge or the Presidential Citation had been awarded to the Group for our members of the Group. Major Conen had been Group Surgeon since the activation of the 416th. His place in the Group was taken by Major Bernard Lowenstein.

After our departure from Station A-59, an inspection team from the Ninth Air Division found the vacated base in excellent condition. When we reached Camp Chicago we were officially transferred out of the Ninth Air Force into the Assembly Area Command. The Commanding Officers of the four Squadrons left with the Air Echelon. Those who were appointed Commanding Officers of the Ground Echelons were:

668th Bomb Sq. (L) Capt. Geffinger

669th Bomb Sq. (L) Capt. Haubrich

670th Bomb Sq. (L) Capt. Breece

671st Bomb Sq. (L) Maj. Morris

The strength of the Group on the last day of July read:

668th Bomb Sq. (L) 15 Officers 237 Enlisted Men

669th Bomb Sq. (L) 14 Officers 243 Enlisted Men

670th Bomb Sq. (L) 15 Officers 242 Enlisted Men

671st Bomb Sq. (L) 15 Officers 243 Enlisted Men

Hq. 416th ------ 21 -------61

Total ------------------80 -------1026

August 1945

Knowing that the Group was scheduled to go directly to the Pacific Theater, the interest of everyone turned to the war in that Theatre. Between the Army Air Forces and the Navy Air Forces, all of the main Japanese home islands were being subjected to daily bombings. The Japanese Navy was almost completely destroyed. Lack of aerial opposition was the direct result of many fighter strikes against Japanese airfields. The only serious Japanese opposition in the air was the Kamikaze or suicide planes, which attacked our naval units. All in all, by the first of August, it became apparent to the rest of the world that Japan was already a defeated nation.

Then on the 5th, the greatest blows fell. Russia declared war on Japan and its armies began an unrelenting drive through Manchuria. But a few hours before evening, American scientists reached in the "Flash Gordon Era" and unleashed the most destructive weapon ever before used by man. One bomb, the atomic bomb, almost completely destroyed the city of Hiroshima and its populace of hundreds of thousands.

Still the Japanese did not utter a word of surrender.

Again a single B-29 Superfortress flew over Japan. Again it dropped a single atomic bomb. This time the important city of Nagasaki was almost completely disintegrated.

The world looked on aghast realizing that here was a weapon that, if used by an unscrupulous enemy, could wipe out mankind. Even the Japs who had hoped to rule the world if they had to fight one hundred years could not stand the thought of further attacks such as these. However, we must remember that Japan had been beaten to its knees even before the atomic bomb was used.

At 1300 (French summer time) on the 10th, radios blurted out the news that Japan had sued for peace. Her terms were that she would accept the terms of the Potsdam Conference if the Emperor would be retained as the head of the Japanese government. On the 11th, the allies radioed Japan that they would accept the Japanese surrender with the Emperor as head of the government, but under strict military control. The world awaited Japan's reply.

At 2400 hours G.M.T. on the 14th, the great news was broadcaster. Japan agreed to accept our terms.

This surrender placed a different light on military movement to the Pacific Theater. Direct redeployment from the E.T.O. to the Pacific ceased. Our orders were changed near the end of August to read redeployment to the Pacific via the States.

Our readiness date remained 5 September, and so little remained for the Group to do until a call was received from Port Commander. All equipment that could be turned in was turned in and accounted for. Shortages were filled. Other equipment was processed and made combat serviceable.

For the majority of personnel there was little to do. Leaves and furloughs to England, the Riviera, Switzerland, Italy and other parts of France were given to as many men as possible. One, two, and three-day passes were issued. In the meantime the men spent their leisure moments at movies, USO shows, the Aero Club, the library, or at the PX eating ice cream or drinking beer. Softball diamonds were always in use during good weather. After VJ Day, censorship regulations were relaxed and once again the men were able to seal their own envelopes.

A further screening of personnel during the month transferred 91 men out of the Group who had critical scores of 59 or less. This took place after the Group was notified that it was going directly to the Pacific Theater.

At the end of the month, special purpose vehicles and Group headquarters T/E equipment was sent to the Port Commander at Marseille. This was our first step toward boarding the boat for home.

Strength of the Group at the end of August was:

668th Bomb Sq. (L) 15 Officers 239 Enlisted Men

669th Bomb Sq. (L) 15 Officers 242 Enlisted Men

670th Bomb Sq. (L) 15 Officers 241 Enlisted Men

671st Bomb Sq (L) ... 15 Officers 242 Enlisted Men

Hq. 416th .........21 ........64

Total .........81 ....1028

There were no campaigns during the month for which we received battle credit. The Group participated in no operational missions during the month.

September 1945

Although hostilities with the axis powers had ceased completely during the month of August with the fall of Japan, September was a month of continuos preparation for the coming overseas movement of the 416th Bombardment Group (L). Quasi-official word had been received from United States Forces, European Theater Headquarters that some direct shipments to the Far eastern and Southwest Pacific Theaters would be cancelled, but it was not until 6 September 1945 that official orders were received rerouting the Group from its destination in a former combat theater to the United States for the purpose of being demobilized.

With the change in orders came continued preparation in the form of a change over in personnel, the processing and turning in of equipment necessary for forces remaining in the theater, and the movement to the United States which for most members of the Group meant separation from the armed forces and return to civilian life. Until point scores were lowered again, there would be some who would return to the United States in reception station groups for furloughs, leaves, and further duty and volunteer officers who would do likewise. But these were few in comparison to the many who were to accept discharge and release from active duty.

The unit on 1 September was still at Camp Chicago near Laon, France, and under the jurisdiction of the Assembly Area Command, Headquarters Rheims, France. Immediately after the receipt of movement orders on 6 September, United States Air Forces in Europe Headquarters issued orders that all personnel who did not have the required number of points (59 points) for return to the United States would be transferred from the unit and replaced by other personnel. The changeover was effected during the period 9-11 September when some 92 enlisted personnel were transferred to occupation forces and high point personnel from other occupation forces arrived as replacements.

In view of the fact that the unit was shortly to be demobilized, all equipment other than that prescribed as minimum essential equipment for housekeeping purposes was turned in to supply functions at Camp Chicago.

On 13 September orders were received from Assembly Area Command Headquarters in Rheims, France, to move the unit from its present location to the Calas Staging Area near Marseille, France, for redeployment to the United States. The movement commenced on the 15 of the month when Headquarters, 668th, 669th, and 670th Bomb Squadrons of the Group moved on one train

(Main 5315-17) at 1214 hours from St. Erme railhead near the camp. The Group considered itself fortunate in having received chair cars for the movement instead of 40 and 8's usually used for troop transport in France, which were reminiscent of World War I and occasionally appeared, form look of deterioration, to have served in both wars.

The 671st Bomb Squadron departed from Camp Chicago with other units on a later train at 1720 hours.

Although there were no sleeping or eating facilities aboard the train, the trip was made somewhat comfortable in that frequent stops were made for hot meals enroute. Enlisted men and officers alike attempted to make themselves comfortable by sleeping on chairs, floors and by slinging hammocks.

It was 0530 hours on the morning of 17 September when the organization arrived at the railhead, Johnson Spur, near the Calas Staging Area, debarking from the train approximately one hour later to ride in semi-trailers on winding and narrow roads, which led up to the plateau where the camp was situated.

No time was wasted in the immediate commencement of processing for the continuance of the movement to the United States and the unit was informed on the same morning that it was to be ready to move by water n the 23rd of September. On that date, the 668th, 669th, ad the 670th Squadrons were warned to move on the 27th and their ship was designated to be the SS Marine Panther, an Army transport. The actual movement was delayed and they sailed on the 30th of September. Next to be warned and alerted was the 671st Bomb Squadron, which sailed on 1 October on the SS Torens. The destinations of the Marine Panther and SS Torrens were New York and Boston, respectively.

Headquarters of the Bomb Group received its warning orders on 29 September to sail on 2 October on the Colorado Springs, a Victory Ship.

Among he original members of the group who left in September was Captain Maurice B. Sheridan, Group Intelligence Officer, who received orders to proceed to his home in Colorado because of an emergency. Another member was T/Sgt. Matthew G. Blair who returned home for the same reason.

The strength of Group Headquarters on 30 September was 31 Officers and 73 Enlisted Men.

October 1945

When the month of October 1945 rolled around, it was to bring to last phase the activities of the 416th Bomb Group (L), which had commenced in February of 1943. For the unit, which had gone through multiple transitional phases in the United States before going into combat in the European theater, where it had performed brilliantly, was to be demobilized in accordance with current War Department policies upon the termination of hostilities with the Axis powers.

Although anticipation of personnel was heightened by the fact that the unit was to return to the United States, the month commenced with a disappointment. According to original schedule, Headquarters of the Bomb Group was t sail on the second of October on the S.S. Colorado Springs Victory. However, after the departure of the 668, 669, 670, and 671 Bomb Squadrons, work was received that the S.S. Colorado Springs Victory had been delayed from sailing from its port in the United States and would not arrive in Marseilles, France until 12 October. After a few days, the consist of the S.S. Colorado Springs Victory was changed to the S.S. Blue Island Victory which was already in the port of Marseilles. Upon inquiry, it was determined that the latter would not be ready to sail until approximately 10 October since repairs had to be made to the boilers of the ship.

Meanwhile, personnel of the Group headquarters, while waiting, contented themselves with the various special services and other activities, which the Calas Staging Area had to offer. These came in the form of movies, USO shows, and athletic facilities, much the same as at Camp Chicago.

The long awaited order to proceed with embarkation came on the evening of 9 October. After an early reveille, on 10 October, the unit departed the Calas Staging Area at 0900 for the port of Marseilles, France where the S.S. Blue Island Victory was berthed at Pier D, Berth 28. Due to last minute repairs, actual departure of the ship did not occur until 0700 on the morning of 11 October. For the first time since the unit was overseas, it served without a chaplain when on the afternoon of 10 October, Chaplain (Captain) Lloyd E. Mottley was transferred because he lacked the required number of points (75) for return to the United States.

Aboard ship, the journey was pleasant during the period in the Mediterranean Sea, but the second day in the Atlantic Ocean brought stormy weather and a spell of seasickness to some unfortunate members of the Group. The trip was accentuated by other periods of rolling seas, but most personnel had by that time found their sea legs.

Twenty-two months of overseas service in England and France was terminated for the Group when it arrived at Boston Port of Embarkation, Mass, on 22 October 1945. Upon debarkation which took place 23 October 1945, the group moved by rail to Camp Myles Standish where the final stage in demobilization was to take place, the transfer of personnel to reception and separation centers, the turning in of all equipment, and shipping records to prescribed storage deports.

Orders for demobilization were received from Headquarters Camp Myles Standish on 23 October 1945 to be effective 0001 hours 25 October 1945. On 24 October 1945 all processing was completed, bringing to a finale the activities of the unit, which had accomplished its mission of aiding in the bringing of the Nazis to their feet in surrender.