COMMENTS & NOTES
MEMO 1:
CREW
2ND LT CECIL O. DANIELS P CPT 03 JAN 45 FULDA sn# 0-808196
2ND LT GORDON A. HANSEN CP CPT 03 JAN 45 FULDA finished with 33 missions
2ND LT JOHN V. LARSON NAV CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG (BECAME LEAD NAV ON LT SPURGEON PATHFINDER CREW)
2ND LT ROBERT L. STORY BOM WIA 17 OCT 44 COLOGNE (TAPS 1967)
CPL HOWARD A. DRALLE ROG WIA 03 OCT 44 NURNBURG
SGT SAMUEL M. WOLFE, JR. TTE WIA 15 OCT 44 COLOGNE (TAPS 1984)
CPL LESLIE P. MILLS BTG CPT 03 JAN 45 FULDA
CPL JOSEPH W. ADAMS, JR. WG GND FOR MEDICAL REASONS (CHRONIC AIR SICKNESS)
CPL WILLIAM KILPATRICK, JR WG REMOVED TO REDUCE TO 9 MAN CREW AND REASSIGNED TO CREW OF C.K. BAKER,
WOUNDED IN ACTION 30 NOV 44 ON 18TH MISSION.
CPL JORGEN N. NIELSEN TG CPT 03 JAN 45 FULDA
350th Sqdn. Crew 28. Crew, as above joined the 100th on 25 Jul 1944.
Crew flew "Spirit of Pittwood" #46297
Ground Crew Chief: Sgt John C. Riffle
Lt. Micheljon flew the first 2 missions as CP for crew orientation instead of Lt Gordon Hansen.
At Thorpe Abbotts, Lt John Larson was selected for lead crew training and replaced on the Daniels crew by F/O Richard A. Nesline who CPT on 3 Jan 1945 with 35 sorties. Promoted to 1st Lt before returning to the ZOI. (zone of the interior)
Howard Dralle was replaced by Sgt Robert G. "Dutch" Schultz who flew 17 missions before being assigned to another crew where he finished his tour. "Dutch Schultz came overseas with the Crew of Lt C.K. Baker
Joseph Adams was removed from crew after one mission and assigned to 350th operations by Maj. Rosenthal for medical reasons (chronic air sickness-see info below). He was replaced by S/Sgt Remi G. Eberenz from the A.S. Spear crew.
Sgt Sam Wolfe Jr TTE, hit in ankle 10/15/44 over Cologne on 19th Mission by Flak. Replacement unknown
Crew received 3 Purple Hearts and was credited with 3 Enemy A/C 1destroyed, 1 probable, 1 damaged (all info provided by Cecil O. Daniels, entered by mpf)
CREW flying at end of tour:
1st Lt Cecil O. Daniels Pilot
1st Lt Gordon A. Hansen CP
F/O Richard A. Nesline Nav
? Togglier
Sgt. Robert G."Dutch" Schultz ROG
? TTE
S/Sgt Leslie P. Mills BTG
S/Sgt Jorgen N. Nielson TG
S/Sgt Remi G. Eberenz WG
MISSIONS OF LT CECIL DANIELS CREW:
# Date Target # of A/C CALL Name
1. 8/4/44 Hamburg 42-97924 LN-H Party Tonight (only mission flown by S/Sgt Joseph Adams. Grounded due to air sickness)
2. 8/5/44 Magdeburg 43-37882 LN-W Happy-Go-Lucky (S/Sgt Remi G. Eberenz replaces S/Sgt Adams as Waist Gunner)
3. 8/6/44 BERLIN 43-38043 LN-T
4. 8/11/44 Paris 42-102958 LN-Z
5. 8/13/44 Nantes 42-102958 LN-Z
6. 8/14/44 Ludwigshaven 43-37882 LN-W Happy-Go-Lucky
7. 8/15/44 Venlo 42-31220 LN-P Fletcher's Castoria II
8. 8/24/44 Ruhland 44-6297 LN-X Spirit of Pittwood
9. 9/1/44 Mainz
10. 9/3/44 Crozon, Breast Penn.
11. 9/9/44 Dusseldorf
12. 9/10/44 Nurnburg
13. 9/25/44 Ludwigshaven
14. 9/26/44 Bremen
15. 9/27/44 Mainz
16. 9/28/44 Mersburg
17. 10/2/44 Kassel
18. 10/3/44 Nurnburg (T/Sgt Dralle Hit over Koblenz, Lost Leg. Replaced by Sgt. "Dutch" Schultz
19. 10/15/44 ` Cologne (Sgt Wolfe hit in ankle by flak, put in hospital. Replaced by unknown TTE)
20. 10/17/44 Cologne (Lt Story injured, flak in eye, replaced by unknown toggleer)
21. 10/19/44 Ludwigshaven
22. 10/22/44 Munster
23. 10/26/44 Hanover
24. 11/9/44 Saarbrucken
25. 11/21/44 Osnabruck
26. 12/4/44 Friedburg
27. 12/11/44 Coblenz
28. 12/18/44 Mainz
29. 12/25/44 Kaiserlautern
30. 12/27/44 Fulda
31. 12/29/44 Frankfurt
32. 12/30/44 Kassel
33. 12/31/44 Hamburg
34. 1/2/45 Bad Kreuznach
35. 1/3/45 Fulda
Flak leave: 10/5/44 to 10/12/44
*****************************************************************************************************
Thank you Michael. I only flew on our first mission on Aug. 4,1944 to Hamburg. After several pratcice missions was grounded for chronic Air Sickness. Rosie put me in the 350th operations office as a Clerk Typest. (thank goodness I learned to type in high school) as a Staff Sargent. That was my job until the 100th came home in Dec. 1945 on the Queen Mary. A 5 day trip and I was sick for 6 days from that trip. Even Daniels couldn't remember who replaced Wolf as Top Turret Engineer and Lt. Story (Bombardier) as Toggler. I did not keep a Diary - sorry. I might find some photo's. Where should I mail them?......JOSEPH ADAMS, WG.
In a message dated 12/19/2008 3:03:45 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, MPFaley writes:
Hi Joseph,
I will get this taken care of Sir. Can I ask you some questions concerning your time in the 100th BG?
How many missions did you fly before being taken off flying Status?
Do you have a list of those missions?
What was the medical reason for being grounded.
At the end of hostilities, Lt Daniels had a new Top Turret Engineer and Toggler, do you know who they were? These are the only two people I cannot pin down on the Crew?
Did you keep any kind of Diary you could share with us?
Rosie put you in 350th Operations, what was your Job there?
Do you have any Crew photos taken with you on the crew or with others you could share with us?
Thanks Joseph and sorry to hear about the loss of your Pilot.
Michael Faley
100th Bomb Group Historian
100th Bomb Group Photo Archives
In a message dated 12/19/2008 11:49:28 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, JAdams5075@aol.com writes:
I am trying to report the death of a Pilot of the 350th Sqdn. 2nd. Lt. Cecil O. Daniels age 86. He was the Pilot of "Spirit of Pittwood" from July 44 - Jan 45. Died on July 14, 2008 Watseka, Ill.
I was a former member of his crew. Joseph W. Adams JAdams5075@aol.com
S/Sgt Joseph Adams, original WG on Cecil O. Daniels crew and grounded due to chronic air sickness. “Rosie” assigned him to 350th BS HQ where he was a clerk throughout the remainder of the War. We asked Joe what took place at Squadron Operations before and after a mission since we rarely are able to hear about this perspective from individuals that were there. We encourage those who were Ground personnel to share their experiences with us……Michael P. Faley-100th Bomb Group Historian
Dear Michael,
I will attempt to answer the questions you asked me about in your email. Mission Alerts came from Group Headquarters, then to the four Squadrons. The flight crews would be put on alert but would not know what time until they were awakened by Squadron personnel (this was one of my jobs). This might be around two or three AM. The officers would go to officer’s mess for breakfast, the enlisted crew members to combat crew mess which was separate. Then they would all report to one building for briefing. This would be the first time they would find out where the target was that day. After briefing trucks, jeep’s, etc would take them to their respective hardstands and planes. At this time all equipment was checked as well as conferring with the ground mechanics about the plane. Ordnance would have loaded the bombs in all the planes before the crews arrived. The type of bombs used depended on the target selected and the field order.
When the mission returned we would wait at the runways and count the planes coming back. Hoping and praying all would return. At least everyone you knew. Then the crews were taken to de-briefing, usually getting a shot or two of booze to calm them down.
We did have a S-2 officer, however I think only one for the whole group. I do not think each squadron had one.
You asked about Col Lyster. I remember him very well. I had to wake him for every mission. He had his own private headquarters. Heat in the winter was provided with a round coke stove converted into an oil heater. The oil tank was outside the building and by gravity the oil was directed into the stove on gravel in the bottom. The heat was controlled by a small petcock in the copper tubing. Each time I would wake him he would lecture me on “the last time I either had it dripping too fast, therefore it got too hot, or not fast enough so it was too cold”. This was about the only contact I had with him other than in the 350th Sqdn office. The former flight CO’s of the 350th you asked about: Capt John P. Gibbons and Major Rosie Rosenthal were highly respected and admired by all of us. True Hero’s of the 100th BG.
Each Squadron Operation office would select which crews would be flying (on a rotation basis). This was posted on a large wall board which also included what position each crew would be flying. Group Headquarters would then inform each Squadron where they would fly in the Group. This wall board had rectangle squares outlined on a white background covered with a heavy clear plastic. We would print each pilots name over the rectangular space with a black wax marker. If a crew was lost or missing, the name was easily removed with lighter fluid and a mechanic rag. I think only 3 Squadrons from the 100th participated on most missions each time with one squadron standing down.
Joe Adams
350th Bomb Squadron HQ
************************************************************************************************************
NOTE:
CREW
Lt Paul L.Spurgeon P CPT 2 JAN 45 BAD KREUZNACH
Lt John E. David CP KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST (as pllot of own crew, see below)
Lt John V.Larson NAV CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG (Lead Nav originally from Lt C. Daniels Crew)
Lt Frederick H.Theesfeld BOM CPT 7 MAR 45 SIEGEN, MY (S.T.)
T/S&t E.S.Balcseniuk ROG NC
T/Sgt Alfred J.Vignols TTE CPT
S/Sgt W.R.Klein BTG NC
S/Sgt Thomas J.Dressel WG NC (Wounded 25/8/44 & month in hospital)
S/Sgt Robert .E.Kauffman TG NC ( TG on crew of A.D.Elbel when joined the 100th, see below)
350th Sqdn. Crew appears as above on Roster of 25/8/44 target: (POLITZ) as Crew #29. Thls was probably a "pick up" crew. ( this information is suspect concerning this crew, likely they flew together very little, perhaps only once..jb). Lt Spurgeon had a lead Crew and the actual make up of that crew is uncertain except for Lt Larson-Navigator who flew many if not all his missions with Lt Spurgeon. It is know that they were leading on Nov 2, 1944 to Merseburg with Col Sammy Barr as Command Pilot.
Lt Spurgeon took over "JIMB0" A/C 44-8226 LN-B in November 1944 and he selected the name. It was a nickname for his Stateside Wife. Jimbo was painted on the left hand side of the aircraft. On the cowlings of No 3 & 4 engines could be seen the names "Kay" and "Alice" probably put on by the ground crew.
See S.D.C. p.33 & 95 "JIMB0" A/C 44-8226 LN-B This was a Pathfinder aircraft originally assigned to the 95th Bomb Group (13th CBW HQ for Pathfinder Crews and Aircraft in Summer and early fall 1944) in October 1944. The practice during this time was to fly Pathfinder A/C from Horham to the surrounding airdromes to lead the 3rd Air Division Bomb Groups. In late October this practice ceased and Pathfinders were assigned to each Bomb Group and both Crews and planes were maintained at their own bases.
**********************************************************************************************************************************
MEMO 2:
