COMMENTS & NOTES
MEMO 1:
CREW
1st Lt Jerome S. Garrison P FEH
F/O Warren A. Storz CP FEH
2nd Lt Francis J. Dolan NAV RFS After 6 Missions, Replaced by Lt Wallace Polanskyfrom Lt Ellis Crew (see below)
2nd Lt George N. Yee BOM FEH
S/Sgt Harold F. Castaldo TTE CPT 8 APR 45 EGER, MY (CZECH), replaced by T/Sgt Robert May from Lt Batterman/Lt Knowles Crew
T/Sgt Steve J/ Kowalski ROG FEH
Sgt William H. Andrews BTG FEH
S/Sgt George F. Miller WG FEH sn# 3386826
Cpl Robert J. Mackeigan TG RFS After 2 Missions. Crew Flew with fill in TG's until 3/28/45 when S/Sgt. Elmer Hooper from Lt
Batterman/Lt Knowles Crew was assigned full time to crew (see below)
351st Sqdn.. Crew, as above, joined the 100th on 21 Jan 1945
After six missions, Lt Wallace Polansky from Lt Robert Ellis Crew replaced Lt Dolan. After 2 missions, S/Sgt Elmer Hooper from Lt Batterman/Lt Knowles Crew replaced Cpl Mackeigan. S/Sgt Castaldo was replaced by T/Sgt Robert May from Lt Batterman/Lt Knowles Crew. Crew flew SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R. On March 28, 1945 this crew flew SKIPPER II on its 100th MISSION to Hanover.
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REPLY TO: Princess_c6@yahoo.com
SUBMITTER: Mrs. Jodi Castaldo
EMAIL: Princess_c6@yahoo.com
PURPOSE: Contact Splasher Six editor
INTEREST: I am researching specific crews or aircraft
MISSIONS OF S/SGT GEORGE F. MILLER (mpf 2003)
1. 06/02/45 BOHLEN/ ZWICKAU,TOWN (T.O.) ( flown with another crew)
19/02/45 MUNSTER 44-8632 EP-H (FIRST MISSION FOR GARRISON CREW)
2. 21/02/45 NURNBURG SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
3. 22/02/45 DONAUESCHINGEN SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
4. 23/02/45 TREUCHTLINGEN SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
5. 26/02/45 BERLIN SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
6. 28/02/45 KASSEL SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
7. 02/03/45 RUHLAND & DRESDEN SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R C-SQDN,HIGH FLGT,SHIP # 3
8. 04/03/45 ULM SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
9. 10/03/45 DORTMUND SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R B-SQDN,HIGH FLGT LEAD
10. 12/03/45 SWEINEMUNDE SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R C-SQDN,HIGH FLGT LEAD
11. 17/03/45 PLAUEN 43-38963 EP-E
12. 22/03/45 ALHORN SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
13. 24/03/45 STEENWIJK SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R B-SQDN,SHIP #2
14. 24/03/45 ZIEGENHAIN (SECOND MISSION THIS DAY) SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
15. 28/03/45 HANOVER (100th Mission for SKIPPER II) SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R C-SQDN, ELEMENT 2, SHIP # 2
16. 30/03/45 HAMBURG SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
17. 31/03/45 ZEITZ 43-38975 LN-Z B-SQDN,ELEMENT 2, SHIP # 3
18. 04/04/45 KIEL SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R C-SQDN, ELEMENT 2, SHIP # 2
19. 05/04/45 NURNBURG SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
20. 07/04/45 BUCHEN SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R A-SQDN,ELEMENT 2 LEAD
21. 08/04/45 EGER SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R C-SQDN,ELEMENT 1, SHIP # 3
22. 09/04/45 MUNICH "QUITTIN' TIME" 42-31530 EP-X D-SQDN,ELEMENT 2 LEAD
23. 10/04/45 BURG-bei-MAGDEBURG "QUITTIN' TIME" 42-31530 EP-X B-SQDN, ELEMENT 2 LEAD
24. 11/04/45 LANDSHUT SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R , A-SQDN, ELEMENT 2 LEAD
CHOWHOUND (FOOD DROPS)
3 MAY,1945 BERGEN/HILVERSUM, D-SQDN,ELEMENT 2 LEAD. SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
4 MAY,1945 (SCRUBBED/WEATHER) B-SQDN,ELEMENT 2 LEAD SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
5 MAY,1945, BERGEN/HILVERSUM, B-SQDN,ELEMENT 2 LEAD. SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
19 MAY,1945 HORSCHING, 44-8917 EP-K, HARDSTAND # 3, B-SQDN, ELEMENT 1, SHIP # 3
MISSIONS OF SGT WILLIAM ANDREWS
1. 06/02/45 ZWICKAU,TOWN (T.O.) SCROOGES STOOGES 43-38397 XR-D (CREW BAILED OUT OVER FRANCE, RTD)
2. 19/02/45 OSNABRUCK/MUNSTER 44-8632 EP-H
3. 21/02/45 NURNBURG SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
4. 22/02/45 DONAUESCHINGEN SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
5. 23/02/45 TREUCHTLINGEN SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
6. 26/02/45 BERLIN SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
7. 28/02/45 KASSEL SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
8. 02/03/45 RUHLAND & DRESDEN SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R C-SQDN,HIGH FLGT,SHIP # 3
9. 04/03/45 ULM SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
10. 10/03/45 DORTMUND SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R B-SQDN,HIGH FLGT LEAD
11. 12/03/45 SWEINEMUNDE SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R C-SQDN,HIGH FLGT LEAD
12. 17/03/45 PLAUEN 43-38963 EP-E
13. 22/03/45 ALHORN SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
14. 24/03/45 STEENWIJK SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R B-SQDN,SHIP #2
15. 24/03/45 ZIEGENHAIN (SECOND MISSION THIS DAY) SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
16. 28/03/45 HANOVER (100th Mission for SKIPPER II) SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R C-SQDN, ELEMENT 2, SHIP # 2
17. 30/03/45 HAMBURG SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
18. 31/03/45 ZEITZ 43-38975 LN-Z B-SQDN,ELEMENT 2, SHIP # 3
19. 04/04/45 KIEL SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R C-SQDN, ELEMENT 2, SHIP # 2
20. 05/04/45 NURNBURG SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
21. 07/04/45 BUCHEN SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R A-SQDN,ELEMENT 2 LEAD
22. 08/04/45 EGER (CZECH) SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R C-SQDN,ELEMENT 1, SHIP # 3
23. 09/04/45 MUNICH "QUITTIN' TIME" 42-31530 EP-X D-SQDN,ELEMENT 2 LEAD
24. 10/04/45 BURG-bei-MAGDEBURG "QUITTIN' TIME" 42-31530 EP-X B-SQDN, ELEMENT 2 LEAD
25. 11/04/45 LANDSHUT SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R , A-SQDN, ELEMENT 2 LEAD
CHOWHOUND (FOOD DROPS)
3 MAY,1945 BERGEN/HILVERSUM, D-SQDN,ELEMENT 2 LEAD. SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
4 MAY,1945 (SCRUBBED/WEATHER) B-SQDN,ELEMENT 2 LEAD SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
5 MAY,1945, BERGEN/HILVERSUM, B-SQDN,ELEMENT 2 LEAD. SKIPPER II 42-31708 EP-R
19 MAY,1945 HORSCHING, 44-8917 EP-K, HARDSTAND # 3, B-SQDN, ELEMENT 1, SHIP # 3
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Unsolved Mystery…Solved!
Splasher Six Volume 29, Fall 1998, No. 3
Cindy Goodman, Editor
Close This Window
The French village of Saone-et-Liore enjoyed the peaceful interlude of a cold February afternoon, appreciating a day that seemed far removed from the violence of the way that had ravaged Europe for the past several years. As grassy fields swayed in the stiff breeze, a shadow fell across the town causing those below to gaze nervously over their heads. Usually only visible to the townspeople by a glowing contrail far above, the familiar outline of the giant warbird skipped easily over the rooftops and swooped gracefully across a field to a gentle landing. As it rested in eerie silence, the startled villagers rushed to render assistance to what must surely be injured crewmen. They were astonished to find the plane completely empty! The only clue to its incredible journey lay in the numbers 338397, and the big Square D painted on its tail…
Fifty-two years later, in 1997, Grant Fuller, Executive Vice President of the 100th Bomb Group Association, received a letter from Serge Blandin, an air researcher and founder of the Air-Britain Historians. Blandin explained he had traced a plane, which landed near Lyon (this crash site is wrong, the location where 43-38397/Square D belly landed empty is precisely Fontaines, indeed located in the Département de la Saône-et-Loire, Région de la Bourgogne, in France. Fontaines is not near Lyons. Lyons is located 140 km away in another Département (Département du Rhône, Région Rhône-Alpes …mpf), to the 100th Bomb Group, 349th Bomb Squadron, and asked for Grant’s assistance. Fuller immediately contacted Jan Riddling, 100th BG Association Membership Chairman and 100th aircraft authority. Jan started to work on the project in November of 1997.
After reviewing all the records at her disposal, Riddling hit a brick wall. 100th records from 1945 are incomplete and information on this particular aircraft was sketchy at best. Riddling turned to her old friend and fellow researcher Mike Howell, of the 390 Memorial Museum Foundation for assistance. (The 390th Bomb Group, along with the 100th Bomb Group and the 95th Bomb Group, comprised the 13th Combat Air Wing of the 3rd Air Division, 8th Air Force, and share some records.) With the resources available, Howell was able to plug the missing information and shed new light on the long-standing mystery.
Aircraft 43-38397 was manned by the Lt. Jerome S. Garrison crew of the 351st Squadron. This crew had not received a permanent aircraft assignment. On February 6, 1945, they flew a plane with the markings of the 349th Squadron. They crew comprised Pilot Jerome S. Garrison, Co-Pilot Warren A.Storz, Navigator Fransis J. Dolon, Bombardier George Yee, Top Turret Engineer Harold F. Castaldo, Radio Gunner Steve J. Kowalski, Waist Gunner William H. Andrews, Waist Gunner George F. Miller, and Tail Gunner Robert J. MacKeigan.
Riddling checked the membership of the 100th Bomb Group Association and found only George Miller as an active member. She called him and inquired whether or not he had flown the Chemnitz mission of 6 Feb 45. Miller confirmed that Chemnitz had been his first mission and that he and his crew had bailed out over France. He assumed his aircraft had crashed, and was quite surprised and thrilled to learn that his plane had flown on and landed near Saone-et-Loire. When I talked to George, he was able to provide some more information on the "mystery" aircraft.
"We abandoned ship because we were out of fuel after becoming hopelessly lost and wandering around all day after leaving the target area. We had lost an engine while still over the English Channel on the way to the target. Garrison elected to continue on to the target by drifting back successively to the groups behind us in the bomber stream rather than about this, our very first mission. Shortly after bombs away we ran out of trailing groups and had to start descending in order to keep the last group in sight. Eventually, we entered the undercast where we became lost. The weather was bad and the headwinds were very high. (Page 182 of Century Bombers states that only half of the ships made it back to the base due to these winds.)
"We were finally ordered to bail our, but we did not have the slightest idea where we were. Fortunately for us, we were in a liberated area of France. We were rounded up by French civilians who treated us royally once they were convinced that we were Americans. The entire crew got together the next morning and was taken to Lyon by American MPs. We eventually returned to Thorpe abbots to continue our tour of duty.
"I had always assumed that the ship had crashed and been demolished, and first heard otherwise from Jan Riddling in November, 1997,k more than a half century after the fact. It was her good detective work in following up on Serge Blandin’s 6/12/97 letter, which made me aware of the ultimate fate of my ship. I think it is a rather amazing story to have learned after all these years. I have corresponded with Serge Blandin, who was hoping to try to locate people in the village who may have helped us on that day."
William H. Andrews, Waist Gunner on the crew, was also surprised to hear that his ship had survived, because he had landed in a fairly rough terrain. "In fact, it was kind-of snowing…kind of a bad day. After I’d gotten out I could see that I was coming down in some kind of farm field surrounded by trees. How that airplane made a perfect belly landing without being completely demolished is beyond me. So many planes from the 8th ended up lost that day because we had about a 150-knot crosswind.
"I was alone and didn’t see any of the rest of my crew. I knew that everybody had gotten out. The pilot and flight engineer were the last two to leave. Following procedures, I hid my chute in a streambed and was heading up to the barn. The area was hilly, and I came across a bunch of children at the top of a hill. They came tome, and I was able to use some of my high school French to talk to them. There was a GI truck down the road at a farmhouse, so I went down there with the children. A man with the Free French came out and took me prisoner until I could prove I was American. They put me in the back of the jeep and took me to the police station. Miller, Dolan, and several others, were there. MacKeigan had hurt his leg and was in the hospital. It was a terrible way to start our first mission. We were kept in Lyon for several day s before being taken back to Thorpe Abbotts."
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In a message dated 3/12/2010 8:52:59 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, sin5ga@yahoo.fr writes:
To: Mr. Michael P. Faley from the 100th Bomb Group Foundation - Historian
GRANT FULLER, 100th BG Foundation
10634 N. Evers Park Drive
Houston, TX 77024
USA
I_III_General feedback: location where aircraft 43-38397/Square D belly landed in February 6th, 1945.
Dear Sir,
I am Xavier Alfonsi and I am a French citizen.
I am also the grandson of Renée Alfonsi who lived before the wartime and until the 1980’s in a village called Fontaines (Saône-et-Loire), Burgundy, France.
Sixty-five years later, this is still the very location where the unmanned B-17 (aircraft 43-38397/Square D) from the Bloody Hundredth had belly landed on February 6th, 1945.
A few days ago I wrote a letter to my two daughters as I do every week/two weeks (they live abroad with their Dutch mother). My purpose is to tell them about the story of their French family, especially their French great-grandmother. This includes also WWII-related events like the B-17 belly landing.
Like so many other anonymous civilians, my grand-mother experienced the 3 steps of a war process:
1. Beginning: her husband was reported missing in action in May 1940 in the French Ardennes theatre; he was later reported to have been killed by shrapnels from a JU-87 dive-bomber Stuka,
2. Occupying territory: her house was put in a requisition by and for German soldiers,
3. End: liberation from Nazis came from U.S. GI’s and Free French troops (Forces Françaises Libres (F.F.L.) and Forces Françaises de l’Intérieur (F.F.I.)), among which, for the former, the operational symbol of the 43-38397/Square D.
At this time, I had no specific clues regarding the exact serial number and the tail code letter. The single “package” of documents I had by myself was only two snapshots of the ship and three photographs of the crew and the pilot (the latter ones described as such by a hand-written legend).
At the beginning, I cross-checked the two “re-built” systemic identification markings and I searched on the Internet some information referring to the B-17 aircraft type. From search to search, I was not surprised to see the ship linked to the 8th Air Force (I know a bit about what is called today vintage aircraft). From that, I found out that her serial number and tail code letter make her refer to the 100Th Bomb Group (Heavy).
I thus typed her serial number on your well-organized website and discovered the report called Unsolved mystery…Solved! (Splasher Six,Volume 29, Fall 1998, No. 3 Cindy Goodman, Editor). I was then… astonished to find out that the first snapshot illustrating the Unsolved Mystery…Solved! Report is the same one that is hanging on the wall of my room…! (See attached document in pdf format = 43-38397_Square D).
Considering that you already know about Saône-et-Loire, all this may sound not new for you, but the location where 43-38397/Square D belly landed empty is precisely Fontaines, indeed located in the Département de la Saône-et-Loire, Région de la Bourgogne, in France.
Fontaines is not near Lyons. Lyons is located 140 km away in another Département (Département du Rhône, Région Rhône-Alpes).
Should you not have been previously informed by researchers/historians, this little piece of information might complete your records.
I have the highest esteem for the air crews who did their job in such a terrifying and appalling environment (combat box formation, bad weather, coldness, English Channel crossing, collisions, Jagd-Gruppe, AAA…). These are today our elderly as civilians from that time also are: those who fought, those who were KIA or made POW or escaped…, those who suffered on roads, in their houses, in concentration camps… from the war strategies and their consequences and generally speaking those actors and witnesses who are still living today sixty-five years after WWII ended up.
In such terms, according to the following statement made available by Mrs. Jan Riddling quoting Waist Gunner George F. Miller:
“It was her good detective work in following up on Serge Blandin’s 6/12/97 letter, which made me aware of the ultimate fate of my ship. I think it is a rather amazing story to have learned after all these years. I have corresponded with Serge Blandin, who was hoping to try to locate people in the village who may have helped us on that day."”,
would some of you, yourself as the Historian of the 100th Bomb Group Foundation or/and Mrs. Jan Riddling or/and Mrs. Cindy Goodman or/and of course Mr. George F. Miller as an actor of this event and “an active member” of the 100th Bomb Group Association, have the opportunity to express your interest into the location where the 43-38397/Square D, “swooping gracefully”, finally belly landed and “rested in eerie silence”, you are welcome to use the contact details.
In future times, I would like to be able to inform my two daughters as the expression of continuity of life so as to make WWII family memories sustainable through new generations, be my daughters in France, The Netherlands, Europe or anywhere else in the world.
Yours sincerely,
Xavier Alfonsi
PS: please find two other mails relating to this event.
To: Mr. Michael P. Faley from the 100th Bomb Group Foundation - Historian
III_III Request: Air crew and pilot photographs_43-338397/Square D
Dear Sir,
The house where my grand-mother, Renée Alfonsi, lived in those years is still existing. My aunt (her daughter) who was nine years-old in February, 1945 still remembers two staff who were around visiting my grand-mother and spending their free time with an older cousin of my aunt, Pierre Billey (died in the 1990’s) who later enlisted in the French Air Force (Armée de l’Air).
The staff is supposed to have stayed in the vicinity for one month. My aunt remembers two first names: Buck and Michael. Would you know who they were?
Please find herewith three attached photographs:
1. the first one is about the crew; it is also available on your website under the name of the Lt. Jerome S. Garrison;
Jerome S. Garrison crew: (left to right) Rear; Unknown, Kenneth Lemmons-Crew Chief, Jerome S. Garrison, Warren A. Storz, George F. Miller and William H. Andrews, Front; Unknown, Steve J. Kowalski, Unknown, E. F. Hooper, W. H. Polansky and George N. Yee.
2. the second one seems to depict the same crew members;
Jerome S. Garrison crew: (left to right) Rear; George F. Miller, Kenneth Lemmons, George N. Yee, Jerome S. Garrison, E. F. Hooper and Steve J. Kowalski, Front; Harold F. Costaldo, William H. Andrews and R. B. May.
3. at last, the third one is supposed to represent the pilot (Lt. Jerome S. Garrison?). (it is Willaim Andrews-BTG..mpf)
Yours sincerely,
Xavier Alfonsi
*****************************************************************************************************************
NOTES:
CREW
2ND LT ROBERT C. ELLIS P FEH
2ND LT FRANCIS G. BEEDLE CP KIA 03 APR 45 KIEL, SUB YARDS (shot down with Lt Baldwin Crew)
2ND LT WALLACE H. POLANSKY NAV FEH (to Lt Garrison Crew)
CPL CECIL W. GIBERSON TTE FEH
CPL KEEVIN MORIARTY ROG FEH
CPL JOHN A. COCKERHAM TOG FEH
CPL RUSSELL G. KENDIG TG FEH
CPL FREDERICK J. RANDLEMAN WG FEH
CPL HOWARD O. WEBER RAD POW 03 APR 45 KIEL, SUB YARDS ( shot down with Lt Baldwin Crew)
351ST SQDN.. CREW, AS ABOVE, JOINED THE 100TH ON 15 NOV 44.
***********************************************************************************************************
CREW
2nd Lt Paul B. Batterman P FEH (CP on Capt. Hutchinson Lead Crew)
F/0 Raymond Stiller CP FEH
2nd Lt Norman "The Kid" Graham NAV FEH (NAV on Capt Hutchinson Lead Crew) SEE BELOW
2nd Lt Arthur R. Zemske BOM CPT 6 APR 45 LEIPZIG (BOM on Capt. Hutchinson Lead Crew)
Cpl Thomas H. Fagan ROG FEH (ROG on Capt. Hutchinson Lead Crew) SEE BELOW
Cpl Robert B. May TTE FEH (went to Lt Garrison Crew in April 45) SEE BELOW
Cpl Reid G. Jensen RWG FEH
Cpl Leon E. Hebert,Jr. LWG FEH (moved to BTG, OLC for Air Medal for EAC destroyed)
Cpl Elmer F .Hooper TG FEH Flew 29 Missions (went to Lt Garrison Crew in March 45) SEE BELOW
Cpl Robert C. Mackey BTG NOC
351st Sqdn. Crew,as above,joined 100th Group on 5/10/44.
No memory of Robert.Mackey after reaching England. He probably was removed to reduce crew to nine men.
From a letter from Norm Graham, Navigator on the P.B. Batterman Crew, dated 24/3/83 we learn:
"Lt Batterman broke his arm riding a bicycle after joining the 100th on 5/10/44 and Jim Knowles was assigned as pilot of the Batterman crew. Zemske & Graham then placed on the crew of Dave Hutchinson. Later, Batterman joined the Hutchinson crew as CP and Tom Fagan as ROG. Finished tour. Ray Stiller, Bob May, Reid Jensen, Leon Hebert and Elmer Hooper stayed with Knowles crew.”
James W.Knowles was the original CP on crew of Jack L.Gay. Lt Knowles first mission with the Batterman crew was 26 Nov 44 to Hamm. Lt. Knowles was replaced as first pilot on the Batterman crew by Lt Stevenson (see Sgt Hooper diary) starting on 20 Jan 45. 1st Lt Daniel Shaffer 0-765734 was the Navigator. Lt Stevenson completed his missions on 9 Feb 45, mission to Weimar. After this point S/Sgt Hooper and T/Sgt May go to spare gunners pool. Hopper flies missions with Lt Garrison and Knowles in Feb/Mar 45 before being assigned to Garrison’s Crew permanently on 28/3/45 mission to Hanover. T/Sgt May is assigned to the Garrison Crew after April 8, 1945. S/Sgt Hooper would finish with Lt Garrison's Crew.
After the 31 Dec 44 mission to Hamburg, Lt Batterman and Sgt Fagan go to Lt Hutchinson's Lead Crew to replace the Co-pilot and ROG who were KIA and SWA respectively. Lt Batterman would fly as Formation Officer/Tail Gunner on the Hutchinson Crew. Lt Batterman flew as a fill in Co-Pilot with Lt Rosenbaum/Lt Kodas Crew on 17 Jan 45 Hamburg mission. Batterman also flew some missions as co-pilot on Lt Streich Crew…(from Leon Schwartz-Streich Crew)
Lt Graham joins Lt Hutchinson Lead Crew as Navigator after Dec 12, 1944 Mission to Darmstadt and Lt Zemske joins Hutchinson Crew in Late Feb 45 when Lt Paterno joins Jesse Wofford’s Lead Crew.
We have only two records of Lt Knowles flying as 1st pilot after Dec 31, 1944, one on March 17, 1945 to Plauen flying 42-31530 “QUITTIN' TIME” and another the following day March 18, 1945 flying 44-8503 "BABY BUNTY" LN-A, an a/c from the 350th BS to Berlin. According to S/Sgt Hooper diary, 3-17-45, Plauen, Ger . Knowles was pilot, Lt Brown, a new pilot, flew as co-pilot. Lt. Linn – Bombardier – Levine was waist gunner, Hooper as TG. My best guess for this big lapse of time for Knowles not flying a mission after Dec 31, 1944 is that he may have gone to 351st Sqdn operations…mpf 2006
Elmer F. Hooper in the E.T.O.
Hometown news releases
S/Sgt Elmer F. Hooper Wins Air Medal
S/Sgt Elmer F. (Tim) Hooper, son of Mr. & Mrs. E. F. Hooper of 422 Sunset Street, has been awarded the Air Medal, it was learned here this week.
The Cherokean is a tail gunner on a B-17 serving with the Eighth Air Force and based “Somewhere in England”. He has been overseas since the first part of September (1944).
S/Sgt Hooper graduated from Wilson High School in 1943 and worked during the summer and early fall as a lineman for the Illinois Central Railroad. He enlisted in the service the latter part of November 1942 and completed his gunnery training in Kingman, Arizona.
He was sent to Lincoln, Nebraska where he was assigned to a bomber crew, and then received combat training at Rapid City, S.D., before going returning to Lincoln for overseas orders.
Fights off Nazi Sky Attack
S/Sgt Elmer F. Hooper helped to repel one of the most frenzied attacks ever staged by the Luftwaffe against American Bombers, according to a dispatch from an Eighth Air Force bomber station in England. The 20 year old former lineman at Chicago, IL now a tail-gunner on the Flying Fortress “Skipper” fired until his last cartridge was gone at Messerschmitts, Focke Wulfs, and even jet propelled planes during the course of a mission over synthetic oil plants at Hamburg, Germany.
“We flew the tightest formation I ever saw, “ said S/Sgt Hooper, the son of Mr. And Mrs. E.F. Hooper of Cherokee, Iowa,“But the Jerries kept coming in, in groups of four or five making about ten passes against our formations. We gunners in the tail positions got it worst, because they kept coming in behind us. We met them with a hail of fire. The fight lasted more than thirty minutes, and several Forts went down, but we got plenty of Jerries too.”
Recently the winner of the Air Medal, S/Sgt Hoopers flies with the 100th Bombardment Group, Third Division, Eighth Air Force. He entered the Air Corps in February 1943.”
The Army Career of E. F. Hooper
Serial # 16185969 in the E.T.O.
Stations (Domestic)
Fresno, California
Tempe, Arizona
Santa Anna, California
Tulare, California
Denver, Colorado
Kingman, Arizona
Lincoln, Nebraska
Rapid City, South Dakota
Lincoln, Nebraska
Grenier, New Hampshire
Stations (Overseas)
Vally, Wales, United Kingdom
Stone, England
Diss, England (Thorpe Abbotts)
Crew:
Paul B. Batterman Pilot
Raymond Stiller Co-Pilot
Norman Graham Navigator
Arthur R. Zemske Bombardier
Robert B. May Engineer (TTE)
Thomas H. Fagan Radio Operator
Robert C. Mackey Ball Turret Gunner
Leon E. Hebert L. Waist Gunner
Ried G. Jensen R. Waist Gunner
Elmer F. Hooper Tail Gunner
Changes:
Lt James W. Knowles Pilot
Leon Hebert Ball Turret
Promotions
Corporal May 8, 1944
Sgt. Nov 1, 1944
S/Sgt Feb 1, 1945
Elmer F. Hooper’s Mission Log;
Mission # 1 Merseburg 30-10-44
Bomb Load - 20/ 250#
Time: 5:30
Target today was synthetic oil plant at Merseburg, Germany - was first time I saw own plane making contrails. Flak Suit heavy and fighter escort loomed good. Recalled so not bombs dropped, no flak nor fighters was encountered. Pilot was Lt. Kodas, out pilot grounded because of a bike accident.
Mission # 2, 11-2-44, Merseburg, Ger
Bomb Load - 20/ 250 #
Time - 8:30
Today we did it, target was synethic oil plant - saw first flak today and was I scared. Encountered no fighters but were reported in the area. Saw three bombers go down in flames. Flak suit good but too small to hide behind and I wanted to be small. Fighter escort or P-51’s and P-38’s. Picked up 34 flak holes with two in the tail, Pilot Kodas, Batterman acting Co-Pilot.
Mission # 3, 11-9-44, Saarburg, Ger (SAARBRUCKEN)
Bomb Load - 6/1000#
Time - 7:40
Target today was the marshaling yards to help in the battle for Metz. Flak light and no fighters encountered, no escort, ground covered with snow around target. Passed over Pas de Calis - area covered with bomb craters. Saw White Cliffs of Dover. Snow and rain made landing difficult. Flew mission with Lt. Charles. At 20,000 feet - 40° below.
(Accompanying news story)
Heavies Help Advance
5 Divisions in Line: Go for Metz
Moving up in the wake of on of the strongest blows against enemy positions in the path of ground forces. Lt. General George S. Patton’s Third Army continued yesterday to make progress in the new offensive on the Metz-Nancy front, throwing forces across the Moselle River north of Metz and pouring reinforcements across the Seille to the south.
With a cloud of 1,300 Forts bombing targets in the Metz area, the doughboys brought their two-day total of places captured to 16, including Cheminot, only ten miles below the German Metz bastion.
Mission # 4, 11-26-44 Hamm, Ger.
Bomb Load: 6/1000#
Time: 6:10
Target today was the marshaling yards. Flak was light and fairly accurate - no enemy fighters encountered. Had a photographer on board, should have some nice photographs of target. Was a bit scared and said a silent prayer. First mission with Lt. Knowles for new pilot. 26,000 feet and 45° below.
(Accompanying News Release)
Luftwaffe up, 8th Fighters KO 110 More
For the second time in six days the Luftwaffe, yesterday, took to the sky in force and according to preliminary reports Eighth Air Force fighter pilots recorded another banner day by shooting down at least 110 of the enemy fighters. Another 12 Nazi craft were shot down by the heavies’ gunners. The pursuits destroyed another seven enemy planes on the ground in a strafing attack.
Last Thursday Eighth Fighters shot down 73 enemy aircraft. The record bag of 134 Nazi craft was established Nov 2nd. In two large scale operations over the weekend more than 2,100 heavies of the 8th hammered oil and rail objectives in the Reich. Saturday’s assault on the synthetic oil plants at Leuna and Lutzkendorf, near Merseburg, and rail yards at Bingen, a communications center west of Mainz, was carried out by more than 1,000 Forts and Libs, shepherded by over 1,000 Mustangs, Thunderbolts and Lightning of both the 8th and 9th Air Forces. There was no enemy fighter opposition. 8th losses in Saturday’s operation were 12 bombers and five fighters. Yesterday’s US losses were 37 heavies and 12
pursuits.
Mission # 5, 11-29-44, Hamm, Ger.
Bomb Load: 10/500# & 4 incendiaries
Time: 6:20
Target today was marshalling yards. Flak was light, no bandits encountered. Wasn’t so scared today. 24,000 feet & 32° below.
(Accompanying News Release)
1,000 Heavies Bomb Oil, Rails; Luftwaffe Refuses Challenge
The Luftwaffe refused the challenge yesterday when more than 1,000 Fortresses and Liberators of the 8th Air Force escorted by over 1,000 Mustangs, thunderbolts and Lightnings of both the 8th and 9th Air Forces bombed the oil refinery at Misburg, rail targets at Hamm and other targets in Northwestern Germany. Four bombers and no fighters were lost. This was the 8th’s tenth attack on the large refinery at Misburg, near Hanover, over which area Germany fighters were encountered in force Sunday, when fighter pilots shot down 114 enemy craft and the heavy gunners bagged 16 more. Some of the pursuits carried out strafing attacks and reported shooing up 11 locomotives, 28 rail cars and six barges.
Bombing was done in adverse weather.
Mission # 6, 12-2-44, Koblenz, Ger.
Bomb Load: 12/500#
Time: 7:00 hours
Target today was marshaling yards, but mission was recalled because of weather. Second element lead group of 8th Air Force - no flak or fighters encountered. 27,000 feet & 32° below.
Mission # 7, 12-5-44, Berlin, Ger.
Bomb Load: 22/250#
Time: 7:30
Target today was tank factory. Saw a mid-air collision of two P-51’s - flak was light, sent up red flak to call in fighters. After bombs away bandits were in the area, but the escort intercepted The most dog-fights on my tail, saw one shot down -but which? Wasn’t too scared but expected the worst. 22,000 feet & 47° below.
(Accompanying News Release)
8th Air Force fighters pilots slugged it out with the Luftwaffe in the skies over Berlin, yesterday and shot down more than 80 enemy fighters. More than 800 Mustangs and Thunderbolts covered more than 550 Fortresses and Liberators of the 8th in attacks on industrial targets in the Berlin area and railway yards at Munster. Berlin was last attacked by 8th heavies on October 6th. The capital was once the most heavily defended area in the Reich.
Mission # 8, 12-12-44, Darmstadt, Ger.
Bomb Load 10/500# & 2 Incd.
Time:6:30
Target for today was marshaling yards. Lost two engines at the I.P., landed in Belgium, spent two days and nights in a tent. By truck into France, spent a day and night there. Was set for crash landing, but Norm found a landing strip, was dam worried for a while. Left Skipper II in Belgium. Saw wrecked Jerry tanks, trucks and other equipment along the roads. Took pictures of interesting sights.
(Accompanying New Releases)
1,250 U.S. Heavies Hit Reich Again
Following up the previous day’s terrific assault on rail objectives in the Reich, more than 2,000 U.S. heavy bombers and fighters for the second straight day hammered rail objectives in the Frankfurt area Tuesday, as well as the Leuna synthetic oil plant near Merseburg. Meantime, it was disclosed that all of the synthetic oil plants in the Ruhr now had been knocked out of production by Allied bombing. Upward of 1,250 Fortresses and Liberators covered by approximately 900 Mustangs, Thunderbolts and Lightning of both the 8th and 9th Air Forces, were dispatched Tuesday, 8th heavies pounded rail yards at Hanau and Darmstadt visually, while rail facilities at Aschaffenburg were bombed through clouds and visually.
Mission # 9, 12-24-44, Biblis, Ger.
Bomb Load:34/100# GP
Time: 8:45
(Accompanying News Release)
Record Bomb Blow - 8th AF’s Yule Gift to Nazis. Over 2,00 Heavies - Biggest Single Mission - Unload on Christmas Eve. While the weather closed in again yesterday to curtail air activity against enemy the 8th Air Force was still counting up the results of it’s Christmas present to the Nazi, delivered Sunday by more than 2,000 heavy bombers and 900 fighters, the largest force of heavies ever flown on a single mission. Sunday’s big air attack was part of a weekend pattern, which continued yesterday, designed to pound the hell out of all communication lines supplying and reinforcing the German Armies in their current offensive. It was in direct support of the US First Army forces which have been rolled back unto Belgium by the weight of the German drive. Taking advantage of clear weather, the Dec. 24th mission started for Germany in the morning and the first bombers were entering Germany as the tail of the tremendous column was leaving England.
Mission # 10, 12-30-44, Kassel, Ger.
Bomb Load:12/500# GP
Time:7:00
Target for today was the marshaling yards. Flak was moderate and inaccurate. Bandits in 20-mile area but saw none. New Navigator on ship. 26,000 feet & 46° below.
Mission # 11, 12-31-44, Hamburg, Ger.
Bomb Load:20/250# GP
Time:8:00
Target today was an oil plant. Today was a big show. Target was visual and flak was heavy and accurate. After leaving target hit by 30 to 40 fighters, mostly FW-190’s, was dam scared but did my job. Claim one FW, picked up a few holes, ship was “Quittin Time”. Lost 12 ships today and some buddies. 26,000 feet and 46° below. Our group got 23 of 26 enemy aircraft. Our crew got one destroyed and four one half damaged.
(Accompanying News Release)
1,300 Heavies Out in Year’s Final Blow
In their final blow of 1944 - the ninth in as many days - the 8th Air Force yesterday dispatched more than 1,100 heavy bombers, escorted by 700 fighters to smash at a variety of strategic and tactical targets in Germany, including six rail bridges over the Rhine and Moselle in Coblenz area. Other targets were oil refineries, rail yards, airfields and communications as well as U-boat pens. Yesterday was the second straight day in which the 8th sent out more than 1,100 Fortresses and Liberators. The day’s large scale operation saw the heavies covered by over 650 Mustangs and Thunderbolts, strike at German communications lines behind the battle-front for the eighth consecutive day. In the first enemy fighter opposition encountered by the 8th in four days at least 52 German planes were shot down by 8th AF
fighters.
Bombers Bag 28
The bombers-gunners claimed shooting down and additional 26 enemy fighters. The 8th lost 35 bombers and ten fighters, but some of the pursuits were believed to have landed in friendly territory, while Saturday’s losses were eight heavies and three fighters. Targets for the heavies yesterday were oil refineries at Hamburg, Harburg and Misburg (near Hanover), the first strategic objectives hit in the nine-day period; U-Boat pens at Hamburg; Harburg and Misburg (near Hanover), the first strategic objective hit in the nine day period; Me-262 jet aircraft factories at Wenzendorf, just south of Hamburg; two small rail yards in the southwest Ruhr; six rail bridges over the Rhine, Moselle and other rivers opposite the battle area in the Coblenz area, and four detraining points and communications centers handling traffic or German Forces.
Mission # 13, 1-20-45, Heilbronn, Ger.
Bomb Load:6/1000# GP
Time: 7:00
Target for today was a marshaling yard. Saw no flak over target, but had one hole in bombay? Cold today - 26,000 feet & 51° below and came back to England at 2,700 feet. Pilot was Lt. Stephenson. (Lt Stevenson and Nav is 1st Lt Daniel Shaffer 0-765734…mpf)
Mission #14, 1-28-45, Duisburg, Ger.
Bomb Load:6/1000 GP
Time: 5:50
Target today was a bridge at Duisburg. Bombed visually and hit the wrong bridge. Flew ship with spot jammer. Flak was moderate, wasn’t hit. 26,000 feet & 47° bike. Broke off in three ship elements after bombs away to evade flak. Field was closed in with snow storm so we had to circle around sweating out landing. I was in the tail - boy what a cloud of snow.
(Accompanying News Release)
8th Attacks Nazi Oil, Rails on Birthday
The 8th Air Force, which set up it’s first headquarters in a Savannah, Georgia National Guard Armory with 74 officers, 81 Enlisted men and no planes, marked the third anniversary of it’s activation yesterday by dispatching over 1,250 planes and 10,000 airmen to lash at oil plants, rail roads and bridges in the Reich.
The raid ended a four-day lull in operations and coming two years and day after the fist US bombing attack made on Germany, completed the first 1,000 bomber attack since Jan. 10th. The 1,000 Fortresses and Liberators covered by 250 Mustangs, still had to battle severe weather conditions that were mild, however, compared with those that enforced the four days of inactivity.
Liberators of the 2nd Air Division struck at the roots of the German synthetic oil industry when, through opening in the clouds, they plastered the plants at Kaiserstuhl and Gnedsenau which produce coke, from which benzol stems. The Germans are reported to have been mixing benzol with gasoline to stretch their dwindling fuel supplies, which according to Lt. Gen. Carl Spaatz, USSTAF Commander, are smaller than at any other time in the war.
Railway targets hit were Gremberg yards, four miles southeast of Cologne, the Hohenbudberg railway bridge over the Rhine at Duisberg, and the Rheinhausen railway bridge over the Rhine at Duisburg. The broad Hohenzollern road and rail bridge at Cologne, hit by 8th bombers on Jan. 14, was attacked again yesterday.
It was a double shellacking for the Gremberg yards. The RAF also ended a lull in operations yesterday by sending a strong force of Lancaster’s screened by Mustangs and Spitfires, to hit the yards serving Cologne and the Western Front.
Mission #15, 1-29-45, Kassel, Ger.
Bomb Load:12/500# Incd.
Time: 6:30
Target for today was rail yards and depot. Flak light and was inaccurate - no bandits. Bombs Away at 1152 hours at 25,000 feet, 47° below., Flew lead low element “C” Group, pilot was Steve.
(Accompanying News Release)
Nazi Tank Plant, Railroads Blasted By 1,150 Heavies
Renewed activities of the 8th Air Force grew in intensity yesterday as more than 1,850 planes - 1,150 of them heavy bombers – knifed at railroads and a tank factory in the Reich. Six marshaling yards in West Germany and the Herchel and Sohn works, former locomotive and truck factory east of Cologne now turning out Tiger and Panther tanks, felt the weight of the 8th bombs.
Biggest target of the day was the marshaling yard at Hamm where it is usual for 10,000 railroad cars to be handled daily along the 30 miles of tracks. Rail lines serving the Ruhr at Kassel, where the Herschel and Sohn works are located, and at Coblenz and Munster, in northwest Germany.
There was light fighter opposition near Bremen with the 55th Mustang Group coming out of it with four kills on Me-109’s. Other groups in the escorting force of 700 Mustangs and Thunderbolts swooped low to shoot up rail yards, airfields and road conveys.
The RAF continued it’s renewed offensive yesterday, too, as strong force of Lancaster’s covered by Mustangs of the RAF Fighter Command, blasted the marshaling yards at Krefeld, just south of Duisburg.
Berlin, where evacuation of certain government offices is underway because of the Russian advances, according to reports from neutral countries, had further worries Sunday night when RAF planes hit the German capital in three waves spaced a half hour apart.
Mission #16, 2-6-45, Zwickau, Ger.
Bomb Load:10/500#
Time:9:30
Two plans for today, “A” target was in Leipzig area, “B” target was Berlin. Was I scared when they drew the curtain –nervous twitch. Due to weather we hit a target of opportunity. Hit a little flak at the Dutch Coast – not bad. No flak over target. After target flak walked up and hit tail – did it dive for cover. Head Winds of 130 MPH. Thought we’d never get out of Germany. Bombs away 26,000 feet and 38° below. Flew ever Brussels low, good time seeing Belgium from the air.
(Accompanying News Release)
1,300 heavies Strike German Industry, Rails.
Heavy bombers of the 8th Air Force slashed at Germany yesterday for the first time since Saturday’s record blow on Berlin as over 1,300 Fortresses and Liberators, defended by some 830 Mustangs and Thunderbolts attacked industrial targets in the center of the Reich, mainly in the Magdeburg, Leipzig and Chemnitz areas. Two Mustang fighter groups, the 4th and 55th peeled off in sectors near Leipzig and Frankfurt-on-Main to shoot up rail targets and airfields. Between them they got 29 locomotives, 37 freight cars and three planes. Pilots of the 55th riddled a Nazi troop train sending frantic Jerries streaming out of windows and doors and left the locomotive and cars smoking. The 4th blew up an ammunition train, pouncing on it with a hail of bullets that set off a total of 14 box cars filled with explosives.
The RAF, too, was busy during Monday night and yesterday morning with Squadrons of speedy Mosquitoes stinging Berlin and rail communications in northwest Germany. Wellington’s of Coastal Command ranged over the Dutch Coast in bad weather to slam U-boat pens along the coast.
Meanwhile reports filtered in from neutral capitals, according to Reuters, picturing Berlin fires still burning after Saturday’s great raid, with time bombs still exploding and rescue squads wearing gas masks due to the thick smoke. Many of the bombs cascaded into the center of the city, smashing water mains, making firemen helpless against flames.
Mission #17, 2-9-45, Weimar, GER.
Bomb Load:10-500
Time:7:30
Today we were headed for synthetic oil plant at Bolin and a rough time. Bombed secondary target which was a machinery factory. A few puffs of flak after we left the target, but was behind us. Jet jobs were flying in and out of the formation, though I didn’t see them. Was Lt. Stevenson’s last mission, also S/Sgt McBath. S/Sgt Miller flew his 16th mission with us. Jensen’s heated suit burned out, he tried to fly the ball but wasn’t successful. 25,000 feet and 42° below.
(Accompanying News Release)
Non-Stop Air Attack Open Way for Drive Into Northern Reich
While a fleet of 1,300 escorted 8th Air Force bomber struck at strategic targets feeding German armies in the West and the RAF continued it’s tactical support of ground armies – the Canadian 1st and the US 1st and 3rd – penetrated deeper into Siegfried line positions. As the heavies smashed at oil plants and marshaling yards against scattered Luftwaffe opposition, 850 protecting fighters destroyed 71 Nazi craft in the air, including five jet propelled, and 43 on the ground, and strafed enemy airfields and communications…
Enemy fighter opposition was the heaviest encountered by the 8th in some time. Jets attacked the bombers for the first time. The shield of US fighters shot down 23 planes, including five jets and destroyed 43 on the ground. The bombers hit a synthetic oil plant at Lutzkendord south of Halle an armament and motor transport plant t Weimar, near Leipzig marshaling yards.
Mission # 18, 2-19-45, Osnabruck, Ger.
Bomb Load:12/500#
Time:5:30
Target today was marshaling yards. No bandits and flak was light. Bombed PFF at 24,000 feet and 35° below. Flew with Lt.Garrison, his second mission, Miller flew as Waist Gunner.
(Accompanying News Release)
1,100 Heavies Hit Nazi Rails
More than 1,100 8th heavies resumed the air offensive against Nazi communications and industrial targets yesterday after a day of inactivity, hammering objectives at Osnabruck, Rhiene and Seiger and pounding areas in the Ruhr. The Libs and Forts were escorted by 500 Mustangs and Thunderbolts which dived low to strafe communication lines. One group of fighters accounted for nine trucks and five railway cars, while another destroyed 148 locomotives and 363 rail cars in the he Hanover area. The Krauts also took it from the British and US bombers based in Italy. Lancaster’s of the RAF Bomber Command escorted by Mustangs, yesterday afternoon attacked the important communication center of Wesel in support of Canadian 1st Army’s offensive.
Mission 19 3-17-45, Plauen, Ger
Bomb Load 12/500# GP
Time:9:00
Target today was a textile plant making parts for tanks – was bound for Ruhland but weather stopped us. Flak light, none over target – saw barrage balloons in harbor near Antwerp. Knowles was pilot. Brown, a new pilot, flew as co-pilot. Lt. Linn – Bombardier – Levine was waist gunner. 28,000 feet & 34° below.
Mission # 20, 3-28-45, Hanover, Ger.
Bomb Load:8/500# M17’s
Time:7:00
Target today was a marshaling yards. We took off in the rain, weather bad all day. Flak was supposed to be heavy but was very light. Flew with Garrison’s crew, I’m assigned to it now. Today we flew in Skipper II, first time since I went down in it. It was mission 100 on the ship. Formed over France today. Airfields over there have really been bombed. Yep, is was scared again – but who isn’t?
(Accompanying News Release)
900 Heavies Hit Berlin, Hanover Plants
The 8th Air Force aimed twin blows yesterday at Germany’s inner circle of war industry and what may be it’s last remaining industrial trump card when over 400 Fortresses bombed war plants in suburban Berlin and more than 500 ranged over Hanover to hit factories and railroad marshaling yards. Significantly, ack ack gunners in Berlin and Hanover yesterday threw up a stiff unbrella of flak, indicating that the Nazis, in expectation of savage attacks yet to come, may not yet have stripped their vital industries in central Germany.
Some fliers over Berlin, where tanks, armored vehicles and weapons factories were attacked, reported particularly heavy barrages of ack ack fire besides thick clouds, which made bombing by instrument necessary in most cases. Clouds also covered Hanover, where the targets included plants making half-tracks and other armored vehicles. Some 350 Mustangs shielded the bombers yesterday, but ran into no enemy fighters, a further gauge of the effectiveness of the 8th and 15th Air Force’s recent saturation assault on German airfields and plane factories. Attacks on oil objectives were carried on
yesterday by medium bombers of the 9th Air Force, which flew deep into the Reich to strike oil stores southeast of Paderborn and east of Wuzsburg. Fighter-bomber pilots reported a general eastward movement of German transports.
Mission # 21, 3-30-45, Hamburg, Ger
Bomb Load:6/1000# NAVY
Time:7:40
Hit oil again today. Third time there and all most last. Flak in horizontal stabilizer through tail, four big holes. One piece set off ammo in box. The closest I come to being hit yet and I did think I was. Flak was ample and accurate. Fighters and jets were up but escort took care of them. Came close to ditching, gas trouble. Bombs away 1333 hours at 24,000 feet & 32 ° below. Heated suit shot our – 280 flak guns at target.
Mission # 22, 3-31-45, Zeitz, Ger.
Bomb Load:24/250# GP
Time:8:00
Struck at Jerries oil again, an oil refinery. Target in Leipzig area. Drew flak from Merseburg. Flak was ample and accurate, was a bit more scared. Those guys were post-graduate. Picked up a few holes in the tail, nothing bad. Bombed visual from 24,000 feet & 37° below. Up at one in the morning to go on this tour of the Reich. Was tight when I went to bed and still so when I got up and I was sick during the mission – wow. Flew ship 975 of 349th Sqdn.
(Accompanying News Release)
March Record Month for 8th
Heavy bombers of the 8th were idle yesterday after rounding out their greatest month of the war on Saturday, when more than 1,300 Fortresses and Liberators protected by 850 fighters attacked the rail, industrial and oil targets in Germany.
Mission # 23, 4/3/45, Kiel, Ger.
Bomb Load:12/500# GP-RDX
Time:4:00
The sub pens got a pasting today. Also after shipping, went in and out North Sea route. Quite a mix up, we got to the I.P. bombed PFF from 23,000 feet, bombs away at 1043 hours. Flak was ample but not too accurate. Visual it would be rough. Up at 0230 hours this morning. Mission ‘103’ on the Skipper today. There were 120 guns around the target, temperature was 40° below. No bandits reported. Took off at 0705 and landed at 1405 hours.
Mission #24, 4-5-45, Nurnberg, Ger.
Bomb Load:6/1000#
Time:8:00
Out to help Patton today. Bombed the marshaling yards visually from 24,70 feet. Bombs away at 1138 hours. Flak was ample but not accurate, 150 guns at the target. We formed over France at 21,000 feet, clouds up to 26,000. Weather bad coming back. Ran into flak coming over coast. Did some strafing from 600 feet - more fun. Flew low over Germany west of the Rhine. Country and towns shelled flat. Temperature was 37° below, windows frosted a lot.
Mission #25, 4-7-45, Buchen, Ger.
Bomb Load:6/1000# RDX
Time:8:00
Attacked oil storage from 15,000 feet. Was PFF with visual corrections. Attacked at 1300 by ME-109’s, lasted about 28 minutes. One ME-109 ramed into the wing of a 17 in “C” Squadron. Fort went down in flames. Another fighter rammed the tail of a 17, broke off horizontal stabilizer plus bad damage to the vertical fin. Ship came back OK. Took off at 0900 hours and landed at 1700 hours. Bombs away at 1327 hours. Flak light and accurate. Temperature was 25° below. Shot down six aircraft, was 106th mission on Skipper II.
Mission #26, 4-8-45, Eger Czechoslovakia
Bomb Load:10/500-2-M17 INCD.
Time:8:40
Bombed marshaling yards visual from 15,500 feet & Temperature 20° below. Bandits and jets reported in the area. Escorts drove them off. Flak free target for a change. Gilbert’s crew finished today. Bombs away at 1234 hours. Engineer of crew finished his second tour – was 107th mission on Skipper II.
Mission #27, 4-9-45, Munich, Ger.
Bomb Load:4/100 NVY 4- M17
Time:9:00
Bombed airfield visual from 23,400 feet and really plastered it. Saw two ships that were sunk off the Dutch Coast. Passed by Regensburg. Saw Alps, were really beautiful. Flak was light and inaccurate much to my surprise. Fighter escort was wonderful, no bandits reported. Took off at 1140 and landed at 2040 hours. Bombs away at 1658 hours. Mission was delayed three times a half hour each, fog was the cause of it. Flew ship #530, “Quittin Time”.
Mission #28, 4-10-45, Berg, Ger.
Bomb Load:6/500# 4 M17 INCD.
Time:7:35
Bombed airfield today from 20,000 feet, was visual. At I.P. about 15 jet jobs hit us from 6 o’clock low. Out left wing man had dropped back due to a feathered engine. The jets shot him down. Left wing on fire when he went down. Saw a lot of gliders today on the fields of Holland. Took off this morning at 1045 and arrived back at 1820 houts. Feeling tired I wrote a short V-Mail home, first in six days. Too tired to write. We feathered No #2 engine after bombs away - no flak so briefed but Flak was Heavy..
Mission #29, 4-11-45, Landshut, Ger.
Bomb Load:8/500# 4 - M17 INCD
Time:8:15
Bombed small arms factory visually from 18,000 feet. Temperature was 15° below. Led the 13th Combat Wing over the target. Was 100th Bomb Group’s 300th mission and an easy one. Encountered no flak or fighters. Was early a the fighter Rally Point and didn’t pick them up until on the way out. Took off at 0830 this morning and landed at 1345 hours. Flew Skipper II, it’s 108th mission. This was my last combat mission..
Mission #30, 5-3-45, Hilversum, Holland
Dropped food to the Dutch today from low altitude. Flew over German occupied territory at 400 feet to do it. Many people waving. Expressed their thanks by by “Thank You” signs ont he ground. Saw a dummy tank and guns but no Jerries. Flew Skipper II, crew chief Ken Lemmons went along. No mission credit.
Mission #31, 5-6-45, Alkmaar, Holland
Time: 2:50
Another Chow Hound mission. Went over as single ships and dropped on white crosses in a field. Dropped a sock full of things just for the hell of it. Were flags on every house because the Jerries surrendered. All were happy and waving for joy. Last time up in the E.T.O.
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I would like to inform you that my brother, SSgt William H. Andrews/Ball Turret Gunner/ Jerome S. Garrison crew - Skipper II/351st Sqdr – 100th Bomb group/ died on October 24, 2008 at his home in Lancaster, Ca. His DOB was October 24, 1925. He flew 24 missions with the 100th, February 6, 1945 to war’s end.
If you need additional information, I will be most happy to provide it.
John E. Andrews
27210-150th Ave E.
Graham, Wa 9833-7164
425-417-1994
cloudance@centurytel.net
MEMO 2:
