Dan Moore ROG on Lt Forrester Crew Mission Diary - May 2008:

January 3, 1945-departed from Lincoln Nebraska by plane (B-17-44-6941-plane never saw combat service). January 4, arrived at Bangor Maine, January 5, 1945 flew to Goose Bay, Labrador, January 17, 1945 few from Goose Bay to Meeks Field, Iceland. January 19, 1945 flew from Meeks Field to Valley Wales in UK. January 20, 1945 left Valley Wales by train arrived Stone, England. February 3, 1945 arrived at Thorpe Abbotts-100th Bomb Group. Assigned to 350th Bomb Squadron.

Bombing Missions over Enemy Territory:

1. February 21, 1945, Nurnburg, Germany, Made PFF. Primary target was Berlin but changed plans because of weather. Heavy flak over target. We received 15 flak hits. Mission was 8 hrs long.

2. February 22, 1945, Plinger, Germany (Wehinger Rail Yards). Thrown out of formation three minutes from I. P. Spun down five thousand feet in less than a minute. We were in a bad spot for a while. 8 hours airborne.

3. February 26, 1945, Berlin, Germany. There was plenty of flak over Berlin. But it was rather inaccurate as we bombed PFF. We received a few holes. 8 hours airborne.

4. February 28, 1945, Kassel, Germany. A PFF milk run. Very little flak. No damage done to plane. 8 hours airborne.

5. March 3, 1945, Brunswick, Germany. First visual bomb run. Plenty of flak. Jet planes hit formation and got one Fort. Two other forts almost collided into us. In all it was a pretty rough day. 7 hours airborne.

6. March 4, 1945, Ulm, Germany. Another PFF milk run but weather made it rather bad flying. 8 hours airborne.

7. March 7, 1945, Siegen, Germany. PFF-rough day. Flew up the Ruhr Valley. There was plenty o flak over target. Those "krauts" are getting awfully good with those flak guns. No damage to our ship. 7 ½ hours.

8. March 9, 1945 Frankfurt, Germany. Visual target, plenty of flak. Over the target it was so thick you could darn near get out and walk on it. Enemy fighters were up but we weren’t attacked. 7 ½ hours.

9. March 10, 1945 Dortmund, Germany. Just another PFF milk run. Very little flak today. 7 ½ hours.

10. March 11, 1945, Hamburg, Germany. Lots of flak over target but very inaccurate . Our chaff must have had a good effect. 7 hours.

11. March 17, 1945, Plauen, Germany. A very long mission but nothing serious happened. Flak very inaccurate. No losses. 8 ½ hours

12. March 19, 1945 Jena, Germany. PFF bomb run. Bandits reported over target but we weren’t attacked. In all, just another milk run. 8 hours.

13. March 21, 1945, Plauen, Germany. Our second trip to Plauen and what a day. A visual target with lots of accurate flak. Jet fighters hit formation before and after bombs away. Lost two ships from Group. Tail gunner shot down one enemy plane. Plenty of excitement today. 7 ½ hours.

14. March 22, 1945, Alhorn, Germany. A visual milk run. No flak, No Fighters. Crew plenty tense from yesterday mission. 8 hours.

15. March 23, 1945, Unna, Germany. A visual run. Flak pretty heavy. We got two hits. Nothing serious. 8 hours.

16. March 24, 1945, Ziegenhain, Germany. Visual target. Hit jet fighter base. Eighth Air force went out twice today. Something new. Getting awfully tired flying so much. Need a rest. 7 hours.

17. March 28, 1945, Hanover Germany. PFF run. A rough target. Lots of flak and plenty accurate. We received some hits in wings and tail section. 8 hours.

18. April 3, 1945, Kiel, Canal, Germany. Made run PFF. Another rough target but flak rather inaccurate. 8 hours.

19. April 5, 1945, Nurnburg, Germany. Went back to Nurnburg again. Made visual run over target. Still as rough there as ever. Plenty of flak. 8 hours.

20. April 6, 1945, Leipzig, Germany. Made PFF. No flak but rather bad flying weather. Lots of dense contrails. Fighters expected but never attacked. 8 ½ hours.

Our Crew #36 after 20 Missions we were all promoted:

Crew was first assembled at Lincoln, Nebraska, September 1944. Completed Operational Training at Sioux City, Iowa in December 1944.

21. April 8, 1945. Eger, Czechoslovakia. Visual target. Long bomb run. No flak, No fighters. Just a long milk run. 8 hours.

22. April 9, 1945. Munich, Germany. A visual and very rough target. Largest straight run ever made by Eighth Air Force. We had two live one thousand pound bombs in bomb bay. Not a pleasant spot to be in. Not many flak hits. 8 hours.

23 April 14, 1945 Bordeaux (Royan), France. A visual target. Bombed German gun positions along the Southern Coast of France. No opposition. 8 hours.

24 April 15, 1945, Bordeaux (Royan), France. Another visual run over same target. Used new type jelly incendiary bomb. No opposition. 8 hours.

25. April 16, 1945, Bordeaux (Royan), France. Still bombing those German gun pockets. This run should just about wipe them out. No opposition. Saw one burst of flak. 8 hours.

26. April 18, 1945, Straubing, Germany. A visual bomb run. Sure flew deep into Germany today almost to Czechoslovakian border. Longest mission yet. Not many targets left. Last operational mission. No more heavy bombardment.

CHOWHOUND MISSIONS:

May 1 through May 6, 1945. Carried food rations to people in Holland. Flew in and dropped them from 200 feet. Made five trips.

May 11, 1945 Flew to Vienna, Austria and picked up French POW’s and brought them back to Paris, France.

May 15, 1945, Made another trip down in Austria for French POW’s.

May 22, 1945, Made another trip to Austria and picked up French POW’s . Just handled thirty a trip. Quite a load.

June 1-10, 1945, Went to Bangor, North Ireland on Furlough

June 12, 1945, Went to Casablanca, North Africa. Hauled 8th Air Force men. Spent night at Port Lyantry. Went via France, Spain.

June 20, 1945, Flew to Munich Germany

June 25, 1945, Cleared field to fly home. Now on orders.

June 28, 1945, Gunners on crew left for home today. Rest of Crew has been assigned to A. T. C. (Air Transport Command).

July 2, 1945, Flew to Munich, Germany

July 10, 1945, Flew to Ireland on four day pass.

July 20, 1945. Spent the weekend in Brennemen, Germany. Flew with the C. O. of the base, Lt Col. Wallace.

August 4, 1945, Our pilot went home today. We are still waiting.

September 18, 1945, Our Co-pilot went home. Just leaves myself, navigator and engineer.

October 9, 1945, Orders are we leave November 2, By boat.

December 10, 1945. Went aboard USS Europa today. Going home

December 17, 1945 Arrived in New York Harbor Pier 87

December 22, 1945. Was discharged from the U. S. Army Air Corp Today. Home to stay.

Source: 100th bomb Group Foundation database.