COMMENTS & NOTES
MEMO 1:
CREW
1st Lt Curtis R. Biddick P KIA 17/8/43 Regensburg (with Lt Flesh Crew)
2nd Lt Hoyt L. Smith, CP POW 10/10/43 Munster (With crew of E.A.Kiessling)
2nd Lt Paul S. Warner NAV Grounded Bangor,Maine June 1943
1st Lt Dan B. McKay BOM POW 17/8/43 Regensburg (with Lt Flesh Crew)
T/Sgt Glover E. Barney TTE POW 17/8/43 Regensburg (with Lt Robert Knox Crew)
T/Sgt Ross H. Breckeen WG NOC
S/Sgt Joseph P. Eigen ROG POW Date & Mission Unknown
S/Sgt Roy L. Schellin BTG WIA 10/7/43 LeBourget-received DSC and PH for this mission, see below
S/Sgt John O. Stireman WG WIA 10/7/43 LeBourget-received DSC and PH for this mission, see below.
S/Sgt Alfred J. Vickers TG WIA 10/7/43 LeBourget (Purple Heart)
418th Sqdn. An "Original" crew. #28 A/C 42-30064 "Wild Cargo"
According to Dan McKay, Paul Warner "became ill in Bangor,Maine and was grounded there. He did not fly over to england with us." Roy Schellin, John Stireman and Al Vickers were all wounded severely in the 'Paris' raid. I heard they were scheduled to be shipped back to the States, but can't say positively that they were. The last I saw of them they were in the hospital in England "
Regensburg Mission: August 17, 1943
1ST LT WILLIAM R. FLESH P; See notes & crew listed below
F/O RICHARD L. SNYDER CP; KIA 17 AUG 43 REGENSBURG
2ND LT JOHN C. DENNIS NAV; POW " " "
1ST LT PAUL R. ENGLERT BOM; POW 6 SEP 43 STUTTGART(CREW 33)
T/SGT LAWRENCE E. GODBEY TTE; KIA 17 AUG 43 REGENSBURG
T/SGT ROBERT R. DEKAY ROG; KIA " " "
S/SGT WALTER HALUNKA BTG; POW " " "
S/SGT WILLIAM M. BLANK WG; POW " " "
S/SGT CLARENCE R. BOWLIN TG; POW " " "
S/SGT CHARLES F. VIELBIG WG; SEE NOTES
BILL FLESH WAS ON LEAVE AND CURTIS BIDDICK, OF CREW #28 REPLACED HIM. BIDDICK'S REGULAR BOMBARDIER, DAN McKAY ALSO REPLACED PAUL ENGLERT. BIDDICK WAS KIA AND McKAY, BADLY BURNED, A POW.
HOWARD J. BROCK OF CREW #35, FLEW FOR CHARLES VIELBIG AND WAS TAKEN PRISONER.
ABOUT FORTY MILES NORTHWEST OF REGENSBURG THE AIRCRAFT WAS HIT IN RIGHT SIDE OF THE NOSE AND FUSELAGE BY 20-MM ROUNDS, WOUNDING GODBEY AND STARTING AN INTENSE OXYGEN SYSTEM FIRE IN THE FLIGHT DECK AREA. THE CO-PILOT RICHARD SNYDER WAS SEEN STANDING ON THE WING, APPARENTLY HAVING EGRESSED THE AIRCRAFT THROUGH A HOLE IN THE FUSELAGE. IT IS THOUGHT THAT HE HIT THE STABLIZER WHEN HE LEFT THE WING, AT ANY RATE HIS BODY WAS LOCATED SOME THREE MONTHS LATER HANGING IN HIS CHUTE HARNESS FROM A TREE BRANCH. THIS IS THE INCEDENT MENTIONED BY BEIRNE LAY IN HIS ARTICLE ON THE REGENSBURG MISSION. OWEN "COWBOY" ROANE ALSO REPORTED SEEING SNYDER'S GALLANT BID TO ESCAPE THE DOOMED "ESCAPE KIT."(42-5860) LT ROANE REPORTED SEEING SNYDER CLIMB OUT ON THE WING AND REACH BACK INSIDE FOR HIS CHUTE PACK, PROABLY THE HOLE IN THE FUSELAGE WAS TOO SMALL TO GET THROUGH WEARING A CHUTE PACK. SNYDER BUCKLED ON HIS CHUTE WHILE STANDING IN THE FIRE RAGING ON THE WING. THE FACT HE DID NOT SURVIVE DOES NOT DIMISH HIS VALIANT EFFORT. HE WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN BY THE 100TH.
The following form contents were entered on 12th May 3
Date = 12 May 3 16:30:32
subject = 100thBG Feedback Form
messages = 1019
TYPE = Ask a question regarding history
RESPONSIBLE = 100TH BG HISTORIAN
EMAIL = rmckay@flatsurv.com
UNAME = James Reese McKay
CONNECTION = I am a relative of a 100th veteran
COMMENTS = My father, Dan Boies McKay, will turn 80 this June. He was the bombardier in Curtis R. "Pete" Biddick's crew. Their B-17 was shot down over Regensburg on August 17, 1943. The pilot, Lt. Biddick, and most of the crew were killed in action on this mission. My father and the radio operator survived and were POWs for the remainder of the war. I did not see anything in the missions history section about the Regensberg mission. Is that being worked on? My father could probably submit his account of this, although I have not talked to him about it in many years and I don't know how much detail he remembers after all these years.
My father did remember that someone named Gonzales replaced Paul Warner as navigator for the original Biddick crew. He couldn't remember his first name. He said that Gonzales had flown about 3 missions with them he thought. Most of the original Biddick crew had been shot up (all had survived their wounds as far as my father could remember) and were likely shipped back to the states by the time of the Regensberg raid. My father does not have a photo of the Biddick crew or any other crew. As far as he knows no one ever had such a photo. I will mail you one or two photos of my father though…
SUBMITTER INFORMATION
SUBMITTER: Claus Hanak
EMAIL: claus_hanak@t-online.de
PURPOSE: Ask a question
INTEREST: I am researching WW2 history
May 25, 2006
Dear Madam or Sir,
please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Claus Hanak and I live in Walldürn, a small town in South-West Germany, between Würzburg and Heidelberg. I am a historian and I am writing an academically study paper about an allied air attack on my hometown Walldürn in the Second World War. On July 21, 1944 twelve B-24 bombers from the 34. Bomb Group of 8th USAAF attacked Walldürn.
Talking to many contemporary witnesses, I found out that on August 17, 1943, there was another air-war incident near Walldürn. On that day – for the first time in war – American bomber squadrons flew over the town. German fighters attacked the flying fortresses and two aircraft were shot down and crashed near Walldürn. Those were the 100. Bomb Group aircraft B-17 »Escape Kit« flown by Lt. Curtis R. Biddick and the B-17 »Tweedle-O-Twill« flown by Lt. Ronald W. Braley.
Eyewitnesses reported that dramatic scenes had happened! The two aircraft crashed near the small villages Pülfringen and Schweinberg. Among other things balled out crew members were captured and injured airmen were medicated. The remains of the killed crew members were later buried at the local Catholic village cemeteries – with military honours, so contemporary witnesses told me. (Soon after the war, they were disinterred by US-Soldiers). The interviewed contemporary witnesses unanimously said, that the two villages were lucky, because the bombers crashed on the outskirts. An elder man – he was thirteen in 1943 – told me: “If I got the chance, I would thank Lt. Braley and his crew. He heaved the aircraft over Pülfringen, many people would have been killed, if the flying fortress had crashed in the middle of our hamlet!”
Therefore I am writing to you. Maybe you have some more information about the two aircrews. Are Ronald W. Braley and some members of his crew still alive? Are still some members of Curtis R. Biddicks crew alive? If you are interested I would be glad to give you the information I have concerning the two shooting downs.
Thank you for your co-operation. I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely yours
Claus Hanak M.A.
---> NOTE TO 100TH STAFF:
To include the submitter in your reply, you must manually enter the submitter's address (claus_hanak@t-online.de)in one of the address fields.
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STIREMAN, JOHN O.
Synopsis:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to John O. Stireman, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Waist Gunner of a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 100th Bombardment Group, EIGHTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 14 July 1943, against enemy ground targets in the European Theater of Operations. The personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by Staff Sergeant Stireman on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
Headquarters: European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 61 (1943)
Home Town: Superior, Wisconsin
SCHELLIN, ROY L.
Synopsis:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Roy L. Schellin, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Gunner of a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 100th Bombardment Group (H), EIGHTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 14 July 1943, against enemy targets in the European Theater of Operations. The personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by Staff Sergeant Schellin on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
Headquarters: European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 61 (1943)
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CREW
Lt Charles E.Harris P CPT 5/8/44 MAGDEBURG
Lt Manly W.Hall CP CPT 27/8/44 BERLIN
Lt Lloyd W.Coartney NAV CPT 5/8/44 MAGDEBURG
Lt John E.Dimel,Jr. BOM CPT 5/8/44 MAGDEBURG
T/Sgt Leighton B.Gaard ROG XFR Flew 21 Missions- 4/7/44 then transferred to Air Force communications unit in France)
T/Sgt Norman Howden,Jr TTE CPT 5/8/44 MAGDEBURG
S/Sgt Kenneth L.Nowland BTG XFR Completed 14 missions with this crew.
S/Sgt Joseph H.Blume RWG CPT 5/8/44 MAGDEBURG
WIA 22/3/44 ORANIENBURG/BERLIN (PURPLE HEART)
S/Sgt Peter R.Zyskowski LWG WIA 22/3/44 ORANIENBURG/BERLIN (PURPLE HEART)
WIA 10/4/44 RHEIMS (PURPLE HEART) recovered & then 'transferred
S/Sgt Joseph L.Oyler TG SWA 10/4/44 RHEIMS (PURPLE HEART ( Returned To USA after recovery)
Crew,as above, joined the 100th in March 1944.First mission on 19/3/44 418th Sqdn.
T/SGT H.H. GREENFIELD TOOK OVER AS ROG AFTER JULY 4, 1944
S/SGT ROY L. SCHELLIN TOOK OVER AS BTG ON JUNE 2, 1944 (FROM LT BIDDICK CREW)
S/SGT W.R.HEATHMAN FLIES AS REPLACEMENT FOR BLUME ON MARCH 23 & 31, 1944 (FROM CAPT LAURO CREW)
S/SGT JIM MACK (FROM ROSENTHAL CREW) FLIES AS REPLACEMENT FOR BLUME FROM APRIL 1-10, 1944
S/SGT JOHN RYBAK TAKES OVER LWG POSITION ON APRIL 24, 1944
S/SGT ART TIRRELL TAKES OVER AS TG ON APRIL 24, 1944 (FROM CAPT LAURO CREW)
See C.E.Harris correspondence in 418th file.
FOLLOWING IS MISSION LIST OF HARRIS CREW COMPILIED IN 1991 BY COL HARRIS.
HARRIS CREW
MARCH TO AUGUST 1944
# DATE TARGET COMMENT FLT TIME
1 3/19/44 NOBALL 4:00
2 3/22/44 BERLIN HIT OVER BERLIN, 88 MM
THROUGH WING. ZYSKOWSKI &
BLUME WOUNDED. OXYGEN AND
RADIO OUT. RTN ON DECK. 8:45
3. 3/23/44 BRUNSWICK CENTER OF CITY 7:30
3/31/44 LUDWIGSHAVEN (RECALLED)
4. 4/1/44 RECALL 4:45
5. 4/8/44 QUACKENBRUCK 6:15
4/9/44 POSEN (RECALLED)
6. 4/10/44 RHEIMS, FR. FIGHTERS, ZYSKOWSKI
WOUNDED FOR 2ND TIME.
RTN ALONE. 6:00
7. 4/24/44 FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GREAT VIEW OF ALPS 9:30
8. 4/26/44 BRUNSWICK 7:45
9. 4/27/44 FRANCE 5:00
10. 4/27/44 NO-BALL BIRTHDAY PRESENT TWO MISSIONS 6:30
11. 4/29/44 BERLIN 9:00
12. 5/1/44 LEAD CLASSIFIED MAJOR FULLER (1ST LEAD) 6:30
13. 5/8/44 LEAD LA GLACERIE, FR. COM PILOT UNK 4:50
14. 5/28/44 LEAD MADGEBURG MAJOR FULLER.. DIMEL (BTG)
SHOT DOWN TWO FIGHTERS.. 8:15
15. 6/2/44 LEAD FR. NO-BALL COM PILOT UNK 5:15
16. 6/6/44 LEAD D_DAY NORMANDIE CAPT GORSKI 7:30
17. 6/7/44 LEAD NANTES COM PILOT UNK 7:15
18. 6/18/44 LEAD BRUNSBUTTELKOOG CAPT GORSKI 7:30
19. 6/20/44 LEAD FALLERSLEBEN COM PILOT UNK 7:15
20. 6/21/44 LEAD BERLIN (BASDORF) COM PILOT GORSKI;
MAIN GROUP TO RUSSIA;
OUR GROUP A DIVERSION, CAPT GORSKI,
COMMAND PILOT WOUNDED
BY FLAK. COURTNEY & DIMEL EARN DFC. 9:45
21. 7/4/44 GIEN, FRANCE 6:15
22. 7/7/44 GOTTLINGEN, GER 7:14
23. 7/8/44 LEAD Le LENTE, FR. CAPT HOWARD 4:15
24. 7/14/44 PPF SOUTH FRANCE FIRST PATHFINDER MISSION,
MAQUIS SUPPLY DROP. 8:00
25. 7/19/44 PPF SCHWEINFURT LT COL BENNETT 7:00
26. 7/20/44 PFF MERSEBURG LT COL ROSENTHAL 8:45
27. 7/29/44 PFF MERSEBURG MAJOR ZELLER 8:00
28. 7/31/44 PFF MUNCIH LT COL KIDD 8:30
29. 8/5/44 PFF MAGDEBURG LT COL ROSENTHAL 7:30
THE END !!!!!!!
NOTE: CAPT KRETOW WAS THE RADAR OPERATOR ON ALL PATHFINDER MISSIONS
LLOYD W. COARTNEY, 90
BORN 20 AUG 1919
DIED 21 JAN 2010
NAV,418thBS,
2nd lt. Charles E Harris crew
CPT 8/5/44 MADGEBURG
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Letter to Paul West
12105 Amhassador Drive
#533
Colorado Springs, CO 80921-3642
November 18, 1993
Dear Paul:
Was good seeing you again in Little Rock. But you were so busy that we really didn't have a chance to chat. Next time! I'm sure you know, though, how much we appreciate your interest and what you're doing for the hundredth.
Our crew is trying to "resurrect" the Bastille Day (July 14) parachute mission to the Marquis. It was our first Pathfinder mission with Mike Crete. My Navigator, Lloyd Coartney (who was with us in Little Rock) said that "Big Pete" Peterson flew with us that day as the second navigator; that the PFF went o~ the blink shortly after take-off, and that he and Pete dead reckoned the mission nearly the entire way due to weather. As we descended thru the overcast they had it figured that there should be a lake to our right. There was! We then headed for the open field where the Marquis were waiting This was just west of the Alps. We made a dry run on the field to make sure we were right, then a 360 and dropped on the next approach. We're sure that we were the first ones in as there were no signs of prior chutes. I do remember glancing down and seeing all those brave guys down there. As I remember, we dropped from about 600 feet.
What none of us can remember is who was our Command Pilot. Having the PFF, (and Big Pete), we think it must have been a
13th Wing lead. Which brings up, was John Bennett with us? remember very well that he was with us on the July 19 mission to Schweinfurt, but p. 130-131 of "Century Bombers" tells that the Frenchman- Lt Jean Vallion-- flew with Bennett on the 14th. I'm sure we'd remember him if he'd been with us. So, if we weren't with Bennett, why did we have PFF and a second Navigator?? Just possibly you have the answer.
I think that I sent you some mission sheets last year, but I have no record, so am enclosing copies of the few I have.
Have ramble on enough. Dare say you get many requests like this, but you asked for it!!!
If you ever get out this way, be sure and let me know. We're living in a beautiful retirement center (Liberty Heights), We have guest apts. here which we'd be glad to reserve for you. As I write I'm looking out on the AF Academy. We're on the east side of the Valley; the Academy is on the west side- about a 15 minute ride for us, as we can cut straight across. There's a lot to see and do here. Lt Gen. "But" Clark, a prior Supt. of the Academy, is here with us. He was the Senior Officer in Stalag 3; was shot down in '42 while flying a Spitfire with the RAF.
All the best,
Chuck Harris
Orders deploying Harris crew to ETO dated 10 Feb 1944..
SECRET
GRENIER FIELD
MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
STA. 16, NAW, ATC
..
(OPERATIONS ORDERS )
NO.........................................14
10 February 1944
EXTRACT
1. The following named crew WP by air in the aircraft as indicated below at the proper time from Grenier Field, 'Manchester, New Hampshire, via North Atlantic Route to the European Theater of Operations, London, England, reporting upon arrival to the Commander, 8th Air Force Service Command, Air Transport Command Terminals of Arrival British Isles, for further assignment and duty with the 8th Air ~orce.
X PROVISIONAL BOMB GROUP
Shipment No. FX_ BJ
Project No. 92419-R
APO No. 12760-RJ-55
B_l7G - Crcw #55 #42-31895
Pilot 2nd .Lt. Charles E.,Harris 0-749162
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt.Manly W. Hall, Jr. 0-755578
Navigator 2nd Lt. Lloyd W. Coartney 0-698264
Bombardier 2nd Lt. John E. Dimell, Jr. - 0-685073
Engineer Sgt..Norman (NMI) Howden, Jr. 11114810
Radio Operator. Cpl. Leighton B. Gaard 19203172
Arm. Gunner Sgt. Joscph H. Blume, Jr. . 3Z767743
Career Gunner Sgt. Joscph L. Oyler 15354702
Career Gunner Sgt. Pctcr R, Zyskowski 32741614
Career Gunner Sgt. Kenncth L. Nowland 12169351
This is- a Permanent change of station.
ln lieu of subsistence a flat per diem of seven dollars ($7.00) is Authorized for travel and for periods of temporary duty enroute to final destination when, necessary for officers and flight officers, in accordance with existing law end regulations. Payment of mileage is not authorized. Such times as the individual is billeted and subsisted, as outlined in WD Memorandum K- 35-2-42, September 30, 1942, his per diem will be suspended.
A flat per diem of seven dollars ($7.00) is authorized for enlisted men for travel and for periods of temporary duty enroute to final destination in accordance with existing law and regulations, if travel is performed by air. For travel by rail and for periods of delay enroute to final destination, monetary allowance, in lieu of rations and quarters is prescribed in accordance with AR 35-4520.
SECRET
MEMO 2: