June 21, 1994 Mission No 16

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.

Crew June 21, 1944-July 5, 1944

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.

June 23, 1944
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.

June 26, 1944 Mission No. 17
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)

Crew for June 26, 1944

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

June 28, 1944
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.

July 3, 1944 Mission No. 18
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"

July 5, 1944 Mission No. 19
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"

July 12, 1944 Mission No 20
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"

July 14, 1944 Mission No. 21
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

July 17, 1944 Mission No. 22
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"

July 19, 1944 Mission No. 23
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"

July 21, 1944 Mission No. 25
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"

July 24, 1944 Mission No. 26
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"

July 25, 1944 Mission No. 27
ST LO (GROUND SUPPORT) For some reason the Diary repeats the information for mission #25

A/C 97230 "LAY or BUST"