418th Sqdn. Crew, as above, joined the 100th Group on 7/4/44. Crew flew plane possibly named "Who Done It". On 4/8/44, Bethea was grounded and sent to Medical Board for Observation. On 25/8/44, Lt. L. F. Coleman was flying as pilot of a crew comprised mostly of men from the M. C. Rumley crew.

Plane "Who Done It " is only mentioned in Lt Coleman's letter. Seemed to be just as he arrived in Europe. He did take his final combat training at Thorpe Abbott.

CREW SERVICE NUMBERS:

Today Started my tour of operational combat duty in the E. T. O. Our crew was put on operations yesterday and was alerted for the mission today. Get up was 0300 hrs and was briefed at 0400 hrs on a target S. W. of Berlin. The target was a synthetic Oil plant south of Leipzig, Germany. The mission was scrubbed 40 minutes before take off time. Was rather glad it was as it being my first mission it was rather long and heavy flak most of the way. Alerted again for tomorrow.

Went on my first mission today. The raid was on Friedrichshaven, Germany. Hit the target and it was completely destroyed. Had some flak over the target. We got two flak holes in our ship. No enemy fighters came up. The raid was very long being in the air about 9 hrs.

Went out again today. The target a Junkers assembly and repairs plant at Dijon, France. WE encountered no flak over the target but had none on the way out over the French coast. Our fighter cover was good and no enemy fighters appeared. I would just as soon I never see a German fighter.

Didn't have to fly today, it felt good to get to sleep most of the day. I was kind of tired after flying two missions in two days. We are alerted for tomorrow so will probably go out again.

Today has been a long day. We did something today that the Eighth Air Force hasn't done before. We made one raid and then landed the plane and made the second raid this afternoon. Our first mission was a short run over the Channel to bomb a secret instillation (V-1 rockets…mpf) on the French coast. It is believed to be a rocket instillation. The flak was pretty heavy and very accurate. We didn't get any hits. The second mission we took off at 1500 hrs and bombed an airfield in France, it was just south of Luxemburg & west of the German border. I saw two B-17's go down on this trip One was from our Group the other was from another Group. The flak was quite heavy over the target but we managed to dodge it all. We got up at 0300 hrs this morning and didn't get back until 2300 hrs so we had quite a long day. We logged 13 hrs flying time. We are going on a two day pass in the morning so will have a little next.

Went to London on pass and had a very good time. That town is really something . It was good to get away from the base.

Today was my day to get the air medal. Completed my fifth mission. Bombed a marshalling yard in Western Germany (Saarabrucken). Did a good job. Today was the first time I have seen enemy fighters, four ME 109"s attacked our squadron. The Plane on our right wing got about 3/4ths of his rudder shot off. They missed our plane completely but passed just over our head. They really come through fast when they attack.

Today we hit the big target, BERLIN. It was a pretty long haul. Our first raid in 6 days. They really dropped a lot of bombs on Berlin. The flak was really bad. Going in on the bomb run it just looked like a solid wall. I can't see how planes can get through so much flak without getytin hit more thatn they do. We got about four hits on our plane. We lost one plane today. We are alerted tonight so will probably go out again tomorrow.

Today was BERLIN again. We had to come back before we got to the target. We came back alone from about 125 miles inside of Germany. I guess they really had a rough time over the city today with a lot of fighter attacks. We didn't lose any planes.

This was really a good mission. Went to LAON/COUVRON an airport in Eastern France. Hit the target and done a good job. Didn't see any flak or fighters.

Today we started to a target in Germany. Ran into bad weather about the time we got to the enemy coast so had to turn around and come back,

Went on my ninth mission this afternoon. Bombed a marshalling yard at Liege, Belgium. I think we hit the target. There was a lot of smoke down there. We ran into some pretty bad flak. About the most accurate I have seen. WE got 3 holes in our plane. One plane in our group got a direct hit by an 88mm. It exploded in mid air. Saw about 4 chutes come out of it.

Flew my first mission today in about two weeks. Bombed a Marshalling yard at Brussels, Belgium. It was a pretty easy mission, not much flak.

Bombed a target at STRASSBOURG, in southern France today. The target was a D. B. Engine parts plant. Had some pretty good flak not too accurate. Got 3 holes in the left wing.

Had a pretty rough day today. The target was a synthetic oil plant at Magdeburg, Germany. I guess the Germanys didn't want it bombed very bad. They sure as hell tried to keep us from hitting it. German fighters hit us just before we got to the target. Those boys really come in on us. They made about 4 passes one wave after another all in less than 3 minutes. The lead ship we were flying off from went down. We got one engine hit and had to feather it. We flew all the way back on three engines, This 17 flies pretty good on three engines. That’s the first time I have had to fly one on three engines. The group ahead of us lost about 8 planes. Guess we were pretty lucky. Our ball turrret gunner got one ME 109. The tail gunner got a probable.

Our target today was an oil refinery and storage plant in Leipzig, Germany another pretty trip. The flak was pretty bad. We only lost one ship. Picked up a couple of flak holes in our plane.

Today was the big day. Our Group flew two missions. Our target was the town of FALAISE, France. The weather was very poor. Only got one look at the channel on the way over. There were sure a lot of boasts at the beachhead. We didn't encounter any enemy opposition.

The target today was a railroad yard at Tours, France. We got a little flak over the target outside of that we had no opposition. Our crew led the 13th Combat Wing. I had another experience. I rode as tail gunner for the purpose of directing the formation (Formation Officer…mpf). The tail isn't a bad place to ride but I would rather be in the cockpit.

Russia, this was a pretty big day for me. WE bombed an oil refinery plant at Ruhland, Germany. It is about 50 miles south east of Berlin. After Bombs away we continued on to this base at Mirograd, Russia. We were attacked by fighters just south of Warsaw Poland. We lost an engine and flews the rest of the way in on three. Our P-51's knocked down nine out of 12 ME 109's that made the attack.

June 22, 1944,

Last night one of the other fields where our planes are parked was bombed. The Germans destroyed something like 20 B-17's on the ground. The Russians here at the field say they will bomb this field tonight.

Last night the Germans bombed our field . All the airplanes left about 8:00 last night and went to Konkof so there were only five ships left. One of them was ours because it had one engine off. Our plane wasn't hit. What a fire Works. Sure was glad I was in that slit trench.

Today we left Russia and bombed an oil refinery in northern Poland and then continued to land in Foggia, Italy. There was quite a lot of flak over the target but nobody got hurt. (Promoted to 1st Lieutenant on this day…mpf)

Lt Joseph Fracht, copilot on Lt Donald Rice crew took over Lt Martin Rumley’s Crew in June 1944. Lt Coleman, from Lt Bethea crew, took over as copilot on this crew. The first time this crew appears on the combat loading list is the First Russian Shuttle mission. Lt Farcht completed his tour on July 25th, 1944 mission to St Lo and the rest of the Crew (except Koczent) finished on the August 25, 1944 mission to Politz ON 25 AUG 44 Lt. L. F. COLEMAN WAS THE PILOT AND C. J. GUTEKUNST WAS THE CO-PILOT

I kind of like it around here. We all went out to the beach this afternoon. There is really a swell beach on the Adriatic sea. Would like to stay here and swim for about a week.

Went on a mission from here (Foggia, Italy…mpf) today with the Fifteenth Air Force. We hit a railway marshalling yard at Arad, Rumainia. Saw some flak about five miles away. Wish all my missions were this easy.

A/C 32090 "SILVER DOLLAR"

Back in England again. We left Italy this morning to bomb a railway yard at Bezier in Southern France. There was no flak all the way back. No fighters got up to where we were. The P-51's went down and got several Me 109's while they were taking off

A/C 32090 "SILVER DOLLAR"

Today we bombed Munich, Germany. This was a pretty rough target last fall but is not quite as bad now. The Flak was pretty heavy but no fighters.

A/C 97230 "LAY or BUST"

This was quite a new deal today. We carried supplies to a bunch of French Patriots down east of Bordeaux, France. We went in over the designated field at about 300 feet and dropped the supply containers by parachute. We carried about 3, 600 pounds. The French were out waving at us and acted very pleased to see so many planes. MAQUIS SUPPLY DROP

6092 Dixie’s Delight

This was another pretty easy target. A railway bridge at Dijon (AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY…mpf) France. There was no flak . We hit the bridge.

A/C 97230 "LAY or BUST"

Today another rough one, Schweinfurt, Germany. The flak was really good & don't think I eve had so many bursts come so close. We got quite a few holes in our ship but no serious damage. 97230 Lay or Bust

July 20, 1944 Mission No. 24

Today was an oil refinery at Merseburg, Germany. There was really some flak at the target. Our squadron C. O. got his at the target and didn't get home. I was flying his right wing when he got hit. He dropped out of formation and came along behind for a long time but couldn't make it home. He made a crash landing somewhere in Belgium. Everybody got out of the plane O. K. They had a good chance of getting away in Belgium. We got a a few more holes in our ship.

A/C 97230 "LAY or BUST"

These targets are getting to be a habit. Today was Regensburg, Germany. We ran into some bad weather in southern Germany. They led the formation into some clouds, when we came out, the Group was all scattered out. We flew in with a group from the first division and bombed with them. There was heavy flak over the target which was a F. W. (FW 190) Engine plant. We got several hits but no damage.

A/C 97230 "LAY or BUST"

Today we started out to drop bombs on the German lines in Normandy (ST. LO) The target was overcast so didn't drop the bombs. Didn't want to drop them on our own troops

A/C 97230 "LAY or BUST"

ST LO (GROUND SUPPORT) For some reason the Diary repeats the information for mission #25

A/C 97230 "LAY or BUST"

Flew my first one as a First Pilot today. Got along fine. We bombed the oil refinery at Merseburg again, picked up a few flak holes again but nothing very bad. My Crew is going on a seven day flak leave now before we fly again.

A/C 297154 OUR BABY HUTCHIE

Got back from leave last night. Today our target was a bridge in France. The weather was so bad we couldn't bomb so we had to bring our bombs home.

A/C 97230 "LAY or BUST"

This was another one to help out the British and Canadian Troops. We dropped frag bombs on German troops east of Caen, France (ST. SYLVAIN…mpf). Our altitude was only 12, 000 ft. The flak was really rough. Got a lot of damage but nobody hurt.

Bombed some highways just west of Paris today. There Germans were supposed to be retreating down the highways. We did a good job on the roads. Got an engine shot out!

A/C 297071 ANDY’S DANDY’S

The Oil refinery at Ludwigshaven was our target today. Not a bad mission at all. There was a lot of flak at the target but not much damage just a few holes.

A/C 297230 LAY OR BUST

Bombed an airfield in Northern Belgium today. No flak at the target.

A/C 297230 LAY OR BUST

Today we bombed the oil refinery at Ruhland, Germany. This is the same target we bombed on the way to Russia. There was quite a lot of flak but no damage.

A/C 297230 LAY OR BUST

Got a nice one for the last one. An oil Refinery at Politz, Germany. There was some real good flak and we got some pretty close hits. We got about 16 holes in our Plane.

A/C 297230 LAY OR BUST

Mike: Today I got in contact with Col Gutekunst. He was on the orders that sent a crew from the 100th 418th to RAF Station Catterick to film a movie. Uncle Leonard Coleman was pilot and Charles was Co pilot. Col Gutekunst was wonderful to talk to. They did spend 18 days on the RAF Base after they completed their missions. Col Gutekunst explained they rode about 3 hrs in a truck to get to RAF Station Catterick. The name of the movie is "THIS SIDE OF THE OCEAN" A British film about Americans taking over British Air Bases. Any ideas where to find this movie, that had 418th crews in it? It is not made for the RAF as we thought before. Thanks, Leonard Aubert (Nephew of Lt Coleman)

CONFIDENTIAL
HEADQUARTERS ARMY AIR FORCE STATION NO. 139
APO 559
Special Orders -- 26 August 1944
Number 231

E X T R A C T

8. The foll named O's and EM, 418th Bomb Sq, WP via Rail and/or GMV fr AAF Sta 139 to AAF Sta 155, reporting not later than 1600 26 Aug 44, thence WP via military aircraft to RAF Station Catterick, RUAT to Squadron Leader Norman Lloyd, on TD for a period of app two (2) weeks. CTRS

26 August 1944
Crew sent to RAF Catterick for two weeks to Film "THIS SIDE OF THE OCEAN" (mpf. . 2005)

Aircraft not to be used for flights by civilians and neither personnel nor aircraft to be subjected to any risks other than those incidental to normal flight.

Reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses will be paid in accordance with Cir 63, ETOUSA 44, as amended.

TONT. TDN. 60-136 P 432-02 A 212/50425. Rail and /or GMV. (Auth: TWX Hq 3d Bomb Division A-1015-C, 26 Aug 44. )

By order of Lt. Col JEFFREY
HORACE L. VARIAN, JR. ,
Captain, Air Corps, Adjutant.

OFFICIAL:

DALE Z. HOBBS
Captain, Air Corps, Ass't Adjutant.

Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
ETO ribbon with 3 Battle Stars (Air Offensive Europe, Normandy, Rhineland)

DATE: 28 July 1944
350th Sqdn -- A/C#42-97555 PATHFINDER "Island F for Fox" on loan from 95th BG
MISSION: Merseburg MACR#7880, Micro-fiche#2890

Of the above, Noble, Cruz, Ellis, Roberts, McNally, and Swartz appear to be from the original Noble crew. Lipps was from the M. C. Rumley crew. Kaufman from the R. A. Wegrzynek crew. Hertz from Lt Smith/Lt W. Carlton crew, Barry from the H. E. Bethea crew.

Mason had joined the 100th with his own crew on 28/11/43 and may have been on his 2nd tour.

Eyewitness Report: " At 0850 hours near 5043N-0802E, A/C #555 nosed down twice and the group followed. Then the wheels were lowered and fire was seen in the radio room. Looked as if it might be a flare fire. The A/C peeled off to the right. A small explosion was seen in the right wing between #3 engine and the fuselage. Ono man bailed out before the A/C left the formation. The others followed. Nine chutes were seen to open and the tenth had not opened when the man disappeared into the undercast. The fire in the A/C appeared to be out when it plunged into the undercast flying steadily under AFCE control. "

SUBJECT:Casualty Information of Crew Members.

a. Activities before leaving aircraft: - Captain Mason was the first crew member to leave the A/C via a front exit. He departed with his harness on, but not fastened, and his parachute in his left hand, approxlmately 2 1/2 minutes after the explosion. Sgt. Roberts, who was the engineer and top turret gunner and not the right waist gunner(as shown on questionnaire), had not left at time of my departure; however, according to information as given to me by the bombardier, at a subsequent date, there was no one left in front end of the ship when he left. It can be therefore assumed that Sgt. Roberts succeeded in bailing out. Sgt. McNally, being a waist gunner, would bail out via the rear exits. All communication with the back of the ship had gone dead at the time of the explosion. I have no way of stating whether this crew member ever left the ship from personal knowledge. However, from information received from Capt. E. J. Kaufman, Radar Navigator, McNally bailed out at about the same time as he did.

First thing I could tell you is, that 42-97555 crashed on the ground, which belongs to the small town of OFFDILLN. This is a small town in the direct vicinity of the city of HAIGER. If you have a map, you should look 45 Miles NORTH of Frankfurt / Main.

If you are interested in a larger topographical map of this area, let me know !!

Two things I could add, without any look into the case file of 42-97555 :

1. ) James B. Noble, was captured near the town of GUNTERSDORF, which is ca. 4 Miles South West of HERBORN and ca. 14 Miles South South West of the crash site.

2. ) Marcus M. Hertz was captured near the town of HOLZHAUSEN, which is ca. 8 Miles WEST of the crash site. I believe, that he was at least 1 day "on the run" before he was caught.

3. )1st Lt. Robert W. BARRY did come down by chute directly in the town of WEIDELBACH. He landed on a wooden roof of a small barn in the town. He got injured on his breast and his arms by bailing out. The mass of Germans crowded together and get him from the roof. Some of the Germans were armed and shout to shoot him, but the mass of the people decided to safe his life and to bring him to a hospital. Barry was brought to the house of the major, whos name was Mr. Hof. Here, Reihard BECKER, gave him medical treatment. There were at least 2 young girls in German Red Cross uniforms around him. Later on that day, he was put on a cow-drawn-vehicle and brought to Ewersbach rail road station. From here, he moved by train to Herborn, where he stayed in the Miltary Hospital until 17th October 1944.

Again, many, many thanks for the photo and do not wait, if you have any question.

Sincerely,
Claudio BECKER