THE ( 99th Bomb Group Historical Society

Vol. B No. s, Sep 1 1988

SOCIETY OFFICERS, 1988-1989 PRESIDENT - JOE KENNEY VICE-PRESIDENT - FRED HUEGLIN TREA�URER - WALTER BUTLER HISTORIAN - GEORGE F. COEN SECRETARY - DICK DEMPSEY EDITOR - GEORGE F, COEN J l AGE Greetings! THE PRE SIDENT'S MESS As we qontinue on into the sunnner, H01!, we begin to look into our next annual Reunion and this one is to be at McAllen; Texas. Jeff Wa�uespack is our Re­ union Chairman and things are shaping up in great fashiop. We shall be �ear­ ing shortly from the McAllen Chamber of Commerce directly to each of us. Jeff has a sheet drawn up covering our registration and programs to be attended and we look forward to attending this. next Reunion and seeing the "Confederate· Air Force perform on Saturday, February 18th, 1989. This should be a great show. From our last Bulletin I notice a request ·by Milton Radovsky, 10710 Lockridge Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20901 for those.of us who flew that mission to Linz, Austria. on July, 25th, 1944, and those who served on the ground crews to write him regarding that experience. Milton Radovsky flew his missions on a B-24, I believe, but he flew as a Navigator. I would encourage those who ran through the experience ·of Linz ori that date to accbmodate him. I plan to do so, that particular mission was a real "Hunker". David Halverson's Overseas Diary was well done and I felt most interesting in that same last Bulletin •. We need more of.the same from some more of you men. Dave is no more qualified as a writer than I am and yet he expressed himself clearly, leaving no doubt as to what happened. That's good reading. We need more of the same type of information from those of you who kept our planes flying and loaded properly and we need to hear from those who drove our Trucks and Jeeps and those of you who sweated us out when we were out. We believe that each one of our members has a very interesting experience to relate. We believe each experience lends something more to the fine information we are building up and this most certainly "SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT". Again, let me remind each of you of the up-�oming Reunion at McAllen, Texas on February 15th through the 19th, 1989. Jeff is working hard to see to it that all goe s well there. If any of you live somewhere nearby ot certainly would be great if you would lend Jeff a hand. tk-f CP CD {,Joe ·c. Kenney, Pre . -2- / - 3·

Here is the roster of the Fort Lauderdale Reunion of 1988, 2/25 ¥.ENNE'{ JOE MAUDIE courtesy of Julie Horowitz. We counted 247 names. PJEF: LACA PETER 4il8 LJDER RALPH ------HDQS SQDN------JUNE 2-5 1988 ------� ----- 4/4 NEERBAUN JESSE MINNA 4/8 i'!ORAT JOHN 3/30 ROMONTIO GEORGE MARYANN DATE MEMBERS NAME SUESTS ADDRESS CITY ST ZIP TEL $20.(10 5i3 SHANK PAUL RCVD $1(1.0Q BILL NANCY 2/11i'l" '."HALLWOOD REGISTRATION REGIST 4 I� ... , SMITH ------4i16 SOPP JII'!LEONARD LAURELVIRGINIA 4i28 STAATS STANLEY STAATS RICHARD BRAADMATEF: f: ;C ROBERT KATHLEEN ._ , ,,) 4i28 ALM .. SUEHNICHT ALVIN AL'nNlSON) T Addresses removed for privacy. 4/9 ANDERSON NARCELLUS ESTHER Addresses removed for privacy. 411 TENNESSEN GEORGE 3/2! GORDON IRA rnov ''.i1 3/14 FRED "' 4� �"' HACI< KATHER !NE · /4 i 4/12 WAGUESPACK JEFF LOIS .).11: HHWE HAROLD BETTY c; ,..,7 4/5 WAUER LOLI 8LORIA ,,.II£ ,,_\ HELEN HERMNSEN V.J. 3;4 WORTHING Tm; ROV KATHLEEN 4/3(! HUMBEL ROBEHT MARILYN ·"'\ ;.-;: 4/ 15 :ANON! ADAM 1..li.·-' ,TONES BEN WINNA 4130 LUECK MARVIN MARIAH 3/21 NEA!lER SCOTTY ; .-·· t ·-· / .;,� SCHROEDER ALLAN EVELYN 347th SQDN JUNE 2-5 1988 4/22 SCHWANBm RAY JO BEVERLEY DATE IIEHBEFS NAME GUESTS 4/29 SNYDER JAMES : (i(i 4/28 TERREL AUSTIN BETTY RCVD 120.00 $10. C!TY ST ZIP TEL 5/4 UPTHEGROVE (GENiFAY ELIZABETH REGISTRATION REGIST 3i2i WHITNOF:E JAMES 5/6 AMBROSE FRANK DOROTHY 4/14 BAKER ROY JUNE 51 l 2 BLAND JAMES BETTY 4/28 BOATWRIGHT LEW MARGARET 4/2�, BOHLS LEON KAY ------4113 BRO!i/N LLOYD DOROTHY ------3/4 BURRILL DONALD 6ERALDINE 2i6 AGNtW____ EUGENE 4/22 CARLOO: JOHN EVELYN 4/1' ANTAYA UO"Gt ,�mtv P lER6CASTOR BRYCE PIIR BARLOW D 4/30 CEPPARULO JOE MARGARET S/3 BELL �lNCENT LUCIANN 4/19 CHONODY JOSEPH GRACE 4/30 BlLHARZ CHAF:LE·; JANE 213 CHRISTIANSON WARREN 3il7 BROWN HOWARD BEA 2/16 DEMPSEY DICK GINNEY PIER C:AtmELLDS ROBERT 3/25 DOMANGUE NORRIS BARBARA 4114 CHANCE JOSEPH MABELLE 1125 ENGLISH FRANK 5/26 CHRISTIANSEN CHRIS SUE 41i4 6REEN ISADORE ROSE 4/21 CHURCH BILL 3/26 GREGOR'! DONALD VIR6INI PIER COFFIN GEORGE 4/29 HENRY 4/21 WALTER FRANCES CRIDER PAUL MARGIE 513 JACOBI HARV!N RUTH 5123 ESTES LEON 4/29 JUDGE THOMAS KAY 12 3/25 FAB!NIAK VICTOR 4/22 KNIPP ART 1111 GEOFFROY EDWARD 4i30 MCPARTLAND WILLIAM VIR61N[A RR 4118 GREAT�OUSE REX EDITH 4/23 MESSIN� PAUL EDITH 1 Pl E• GREELE JOSEPH 5/6 MIKOTA JOHN AILEEN 5_120 GYLEF: MANNY 5/7 KILLER RICHARD CARL BARBA SYSAN 4/11 JAMES 3i5 MITCHELL CHESTER MARGARE 3m HEADLEY CONRAD CAROL 2/17 MOORE ED MARY 4121 HOPEN LEONARD MERCEDES 4/23 PARSONS LES EDIE 4 i 1 i HU EGLIN FRED POLUTZER VIRGINIA DECKSTADER JENNINGS CAROL HINTON POLL! TZER HENRIETT AMITCELL JENNINGS PAUL;NE HINTON 4/25 POLLITZER JOHN 3/4 JENNINGS POLLITZER JANE RIDING JENNINGS ROSALIEHARVEY PAULINEHENDRIX 4i29 PRINE OVID RUBY 1/22 JUSZCZYK WALTER GRACE 4/21 REPKA JOHN BETTY 3/14 KELLSTROM KENNETH FLORENC� 4/11 ROCKEY JOSEPH BETTY I ' 4 3/26 BUSH WALLACE 4/13 BUTLER WALTER 3/3 SHAW BILL VI 4 J,'',,C i,. ,-1 CAPOBIANCO PHILIP 4/25 SHOLTIS JOSEPH JEANNE 4/9 CARNES RO 4/4 TOTH JOHN 4i22 CARROLL JOSEPH JULIA 5/2b TOTH ANITA SCHINDLER CEF'EK GEORf,E EVANGELJ N 3/11 WARNER NIKE & SHARON JONE 4115 CHAN�LER DONALD NARIE 3i11 WARNER L.B. (REDI NARY 4"! J COEN GEO.RGE 3i 16 COURY LOUIS 1127 DUNN SA� 348TH SllDN JUNE 2-5 1988 4/9 GOCKENBACH ROBERT SALLY 5ib HENDERSON WILLIAM lNEZ DATE MEHBERS NANE GUESTS 2/12 HENKE AL NARY RECVD$20.(IO $1(),(10 ADDRESS cm ST ZIP TEL 4/22 HORNUNG ROY NORINE 4/6 ms DANiEL JEAN 41, !• ... KEMP BERT 3128 KLLIKPS WALTER MARTY 5/19 BICKNER CHARLES RUTH 4.i26 KOT!JWSU JOHN DOREEN 4/21 BUCHANAN JANES BARBARA 1 /2(: M4RT!N WILBUR ELEANOR 4/2'1 CAPONE CARMEN PIEP M�Z:J MIKE PIER CARPENTER JAO 3/l; MC WETHY JOHN 4i22 COLLIER NOWLIN JEAN 4C, HCK!NNEY ROSS MARTHA 1/26 GENTIT EARNEST 3/17 HORTJti RILEY Bnn - 4/15 HINES SID VI J.:.', ., L� PEARC� FRAN�. JEAN 4/29 HOROWITZ JULES ANITA ! / ib' CURriS : A REESt 1/15 HYLE RICHARD ALICE 4'' ... _:.-,\ RIZZl!TTQ LOUiS 3/4 KASCH 1NSKA Cl ARE ELEANORE .• .... �· ROSS 111LPJ� ESTELLE 5/4 NACK ROBERT 3/14 SCHHi CHARLES NARiON 4i11 HAGEE l'IORTON VIRGINIA 4/29 SHELNUTT 0. W. GUEST 5i1Q NANCHESTER RUSS BERTHA 4il 1 SILVIS EARL 5/18 MCKINNEY THONAS 2123 SPARROW J w BOOTS 4i2l MELIX BILL DOT 4 •/·j> L ·' TAOPMINA SAM GRACE 5/3 PANEK TED AUDREY 4./2� THDRSSEN flONALD 5/3 PANEi: JOE� AUDREY PARK 4 i3(1 WALKER WllllAl'I IIASKINGTON 4/2i Pf:LOQUIN GERALD 4/29 POIRIER LEO LOLA � 4/?o ROBINSON ANTHONY FRANCES April 25, 1988 SLATER BARBARA Mr. George F. Coen 4/11 SLATEF: ROBERT MYRTLE 99th B.G. Historical Society 2i1Z. SNITH JANES NARJ OR IE 2908 Aliso Drive, NE 3/15 TRAPUZZANO JOHN LEE Albuquerque, NM 87110 4 /26 UPCHURCH JOE PAT VAN BUREN Dear George, 4121 WANSER DON BETTY I Several months ago in one of your newsletters I read where the only aircraft lost on 4/2q WHmORE WARREN ETHEL June 23,1944 was tail number 2106955. Since that was the day I went down, I assumed this 312! YAR!NA MICHAEL LETT IE I must have been my plane, although I have not been able to verify this number from my flightlogs or other official sources. I received the May 1, 1988 newsletter today and tail number 2106955 shows up on your 416SQ JUNE 2-5 1988 list of lost aircraft as having gone down on the 23rd of June 1944, but belonging to the 483 B.G. If the figures were transposed, this could be the 348th B.S. and it would still DATE l1El1BERS �ANE GUESTS cm TEL have been my plane. I was the pilot and crash-landed near Craiova in Rumania and became a RECYD $20.00 $10. (1(1 ADDRESS ST ZIP P.O.W. All of my crew survived. Incidentally, the name of the plane was the "ANTHONY J" and it had a large shamrock over which the name was painte d. I did not name it. I only ------it. lf you can straighten me out in any way, I would surely appreciate it. Keep up the i /11 BACHER ROBERT BILLIE it! 2/4 BARR BERNIE good work on the newsletter--! really enjoy i/1� BARTON TERRY RUBY Good Luck DIXIE 3i18C'") BLACK D.R. JIL BRAUNSART ROBERT JUANITA Harold w. Brazier 5 1 9 BRISGS TRA�' IS VIRGINIA 85330 Lorane Hwy 4/28 BUCKELEY PETER Eugene, OR 97405 4 t 11 BURNS WILLI�r. VIRGINIA 7 May 14,1988 Page 2. Otte ·iof our CAF mem'hers who is an airman at Williams, and who is Dear George et al; Sentimental Journey is in Chino this weekend at the Planes our AZ Wing Historian obtained a copy of the AF history from the of Fame Museum for an airshow. archives,of 44-6868, and it shows the aircraft ending up at I have been working with Dave Steffens as I have mentioned Walnut Grove A�kansas, so it did return to the Z.I, I can copy if before.and keeping busy. for your records if you wish. All it shows is assignment to 15AF, I noted with a great deal of interest the article in the not.the actual unit. Back to 44-6867... it was on one of the Berlin January 1988 issue of the newsletter about Aerotitus. Both #raids and took some cannon shells in the left inboard wing behind bill Somers and myself were captive participants in that 2 engine. I recall seeing a jeep under the wing with 4-6 program. Does the narrative of the �roup History include names G.I. 's standing on the jeep and with their torsos through the of those who participated? If so, could Bill and I obtain copies? opening.. the skin was peeled back around the opening.Perhaps I have been informed by the Medics, that crewmam�ers- who had someone has a picture. Corne to think of it, I'm not sure which the radium treatments are suject to cancer of the thyroid,or at squadron 44-6867 was assigned to,(I think it was the 348th.). least the possibility of eventually developing cancer. After My thoughts will be of all of you at reunion time,again the article appe�red,I took the information to my doctor and he sorry I could not make it. had me tested with negative results. They (the hospital) did enter the information in my records.If the narrative shows-a roster Regards, could we obtain a copy? Redundant question,I asked it further back. (d.1 We will not make the reunion in Fort Lauderdale,as my eldest son graduates that weekend from Southwest Medical School U. of .� �AS Texas at Dallas, and we will be moving him and his family back to :/// Scottsaale for his at Scottsdale Memorial Hospital �ear Jim; over that period. I will make an attempt next time. It is good to hear from you again. I have the license plate in my left rear window (99 B.G.) We have no information about the medical tests beyond what we have published.We will hope to hear from our several 99er Flight Surgeons of my car, and do what I can to promote the 99th. and post-war M.D.s. Enclosed is a copy of an interesting new organization ...• Our next chore WRTRIO will be to expand the Plane Roster using all of the comments which we have received. Dick Drain has put our Air Force Gunners... the president is my old next door neighbor or�ginal (crayon) data on his computer, so we may well may great strides. at Westover AFB in the 1960's ...Jim Zeangle. At present, the Since I took 52 days for the round trip to Fort Lauderdale, I cannot tackle the chore right now. Believe me, Jim, that trip was indeed organization is for enlisted gunners only... I disagree, I feel round. anyone who took the gunnery should be included without hasta la vista geo. regard for enlisted/officer status. We are all civilians now! My opiont Perhaps mention could be included in one of the newsletters. Dear George --- 29 June 1988 There are so many organizations so join it is hard to decide.· I took a closer look at my war diary after you published the serial However, the Aerial Gunner is a vanishing breed of cat, and I numbers of 99th BG A/C in the May 88 newsletter and came up with some names to go with the numbers. personnly feel it an honor to be able to join... not everyone do'es the same. 232015 Moonbeam McSwine 416th BS Ray Thompson, pilot I see where Jim Cellars is mentioned... he was our crewchief (ex-483rd BG) Don Thomas, copilot on 44-6868 in the (We flew a mission to Bob Geise, navigator 348th B.S.•... by the way, if more aircraft need Ploesti in this A/C) Dave Adams, bombardier identification, check Ken Rust's book 15th AF Story. I ?an identify Gene Nelson, TTG 44-6869 with the 416th, and I know we also had 44-0867 in the 348th Dick Drain, ROG toward the end. Marvin Burchett, BTG Don Wilson, RWG Ken Broughton, LWG Wesley Williams, TG B

232071 Turnip Termite 416th BS same crew as above (ex-483rd BG) 3424 Old Grantham Road Goldsboro , NC. 27530 (Note : You have this aircraft listed as MIA on 8 Feb 43 Thi was on of th e 4�3rd Al? the the 99th "stole" from the .483r� and Mr . George F. Coen they . did7 no; arrive until the spring of 1944 60 how could it be 2908 Aliso Or . NE MIA in 1943 . Maybe you mean 1945 since the 99th did n 0 t flY th eri Albuquerque , NM 87 110 first mission until 31 Mar 43. The 99th di'd, h owever y afl n o . Dear George; m i ssi o t G raz , Austria on 8 Feb 45 We fl w o t f r sions n is aircraft and it was still � w � w: � � �� ;!� f !� th re he ef t 9 The mission report for 17 Feb . 1944, Beachhead Installation n e summe r of 1944 . Please confirm and let me know. ) North of Anzio, indicates an aircraft in serious trouble. Actually two aircraft were involved in this memorable incident. Ref: Newsletters dat ed, 1 Nov.84, 1Nov. 85 1 Nov. 86 232039 Rabid Rabbit 416th BS Same crew as ab ove (ex-483rd BG) e n xcept Francis K Ha ft Our crew joined the 347th Sq . in N. Africa and this was (We flew a mission t o was the bombardier . Ploesti in this A/C ) our 30th mission. Bomb bay doors were opened over water (Dave Adams was trans­ at 19000 feet . The target was obscured by scattered clouds , o o t 15th AF Hqs f r duty and the bombs were not released. The formation turned back o . not inv lving flying ) over water , descended to 17000 feet, and made another approach There had been no enemy action . I was in the right waist , I can also confirm that 232035 was lost o o o ver Pl esti n 4-24-44 . scanning the terrain. SUddenly, , we were boxed in by heavy , Unfortu�ately I did not enter the name o f the A /C in my diary on e , , ly accurate flak bursts. The left waist gunner reported the t� seria� number. I believe that 035 was also one o f the 416th A/C n left wing man going down. I turned, saw the aircraft in sin�e I did ot enter numbers o f downed A/C in my diary that were assigned to other Squadrons . .a slow roll, almost on its back . A muffled expl osion shook our aircraft violently, closely followed by another that e lifted the right wing . I was thrown to my knees and against Whil flying 071 to Ploesti on 5-5-44 o e , an 88mm sh t our entir the fuselage, below the right waist window. I saw smoke prop assembly o ff the Nr 1 . engine We had it f o o the: h les trailing past the w·indow as I went down. Then on the intercom , in the aircraft also but we made it o � o ;� back h � :a; e e s �!LOT TO CREW , PREPARE TO BAIL OUT . REPEAT , PREPARE TO BAIL replac�d, the ho le s were patched up, a n w Y :� . d old 071 �s a!1 �!�� OUT . I was wearing a parachute harnes� but not the chute . go again in a short while. Only one o · go f' The next i e flew �er I felt enveloped in an invisible cocoon, that exerted pressure the navigator could not slide his drif o , t �eter ut t� �:k: a read ing . over my body , and held me firmly, against the fuselage . Only then did we discover that som n h d p v e a over the hole for the drift me ter. We h:� � I could not reach my chute, stowed less than three feet : g od t!u:h =��u� ��ai !�� -way . I had a narrow field of view through the window , but blamed it on the bad Italian w ine that someone had been drinking . could not see the ground. At one point , as we spiraled downward, I had a glimpse of two parachutes, high above , and several I have seen s everal references in our newsletter to the 483rd BG flak bursts in proximity . Suddenly, I fell away from the B-17 going down in flames over Nis, Yugoslavia . The picture was fuselage . As I recovered, and attached my chute, the ball widely published in many books and articles . The person who took that gunner , emerged from his turret , and I saw the left waist photo w�s T/Sgt �ichard J F o rtney, a ROG with the 483rd and a very gunner crawling toward his position. Then on the intercom , good friend of mine . We went to high school together and were drafted PILOT TO CREW, 00 NOT BAIL OUT. He then asked the radio at the same time . H e told me that he was checking the camera in the operator to send the co-pilot forward. The RO reported ca�era well and his knee hit the button that took that picture . He that he was not in the radio room, and I reported that he said the whole thing was accidental and he did not see the A/C going was not in the waist. I was ordered to the cockpit. down be low �im. He didn't even know he had this picture until they presented him an oak leaf cluster to his Air Medal for the event When I opened the forward radio room door, the bomb bay They also gave him an 8 x 10 print of this incident . I understand doors were open, no bombs remained in the bomb bay. flak that this A/C was one that we gave to the 483rd for one of their new holes were visible in the outer walls, and parts of the ones . Dick settled in La Mirada , CA after the war and died seve ral electrical system had been damaged by fire . The bomba rdier years ago o f a h eart attack . was in the co-pilots se at, attempting to feather the right outboard prop , when I entered th� cock pit.

�11 your flights be CAVU I informed the pilot that the co-pilot and were missing , and the bomb bay doors were open . I then returned Dick Drain, 416th BS to the bumb bay and made an unsuccessful atte�ot to close Box 664 the doors. Westcliffe CO 81252 to !! Our pilot Robert C. Norton (God bless him where ever he may be) stated that a flak burst under , or in the bomb bay , released the bombs and started a fire . Another lifted the right wing violently, set the outboard engine on fire, and threw the aircraft to the left and off course . He was trying to stabilize the aircraft when he gave the prepare to bailout order. Dense smoke filled the cockpit, he could not see My own experience on a single plane night mission to the the instrument panel , and lost control. He held the controls Blackharrrner synthetic oil refinery near Ereslau , Poland , to in his right hand and in total darkness , fought desperately get H2X scope pictures firSd my imagination as to the possibil­ to overcome G forces and open the side window with his le ft . ities. We a. lso felt that we should get greater accuracy The smoke cleared when the window opened , he gained control because every plane would be mak ing an individual sightina. and leveled off at 7000 feet . The wing man ditched off Anzio I don 't believe this was borne out in actual results althouah and all crew members were rescued by US and British patrol assessment of results was practically nonexistent. I would­ boats . like to report that the " Lone Wolf" missions were hiahly successful. Unfortunately results were unmeci.surable- c>nd Sincerely losses were higher than expected. I don 't have a record of when they were discontinued but I think it was in January of �N . Hobbs 1945. We did conclude that the losses were crirnarilv we;ther related �ather than enerrr action. Pilot skill and E�X equipment malfunction surely contributed. Analvsis showed that 20% of the H2X sets failed before the end of- the average mission. As to your specific 0uestions about the irrpact on air crews of the Lone Wolf �i;sions , I can 't be of a areat deal of help. My ov-:11 experience was positive. I enj eyed. the · ·greater responsibility placed on the �adar-Naviaator for directing the plane to the tarset and bringing it back safely out of enemy territory. I �ould be interested in the experiences of other crew �errbers , especially FFF operators . Bannockburn Farms, Hector Macpherson, President, 29780 Church Drive, Albany, Oregon 97321, Ph. (503) 753-3022 As to the color of the planes , all PFF equipped Bl7Gs were silver, unpainted aluminum. I navioated one of the first April 2, 1988 to Italy , arriving Fpril 16, 1944. The �24s were painted olive , Dear George, I believe , but you will have to check this �ith B24 crews. By the tir..e "Lone i-Tolf" missions were initiated there were an I enjoyed meeting you at the 15th Air Force banquet in av�rage of 12 PFF equipped planes nssigned per bomb group, of Colorado Springs, but have been slow about getting back to which 6 could be expected tc be operational on any given day. you on specific items of mutual interest. The crews assigned to all missions were a Group responsibility Included herewith is the "Straight and Level" which and usually delegated tc squadron operations officers . To my documents the only comparison between the 15th Air Force and knov.rledge no SI)ecial training beyond the noril'.al briefinc. the 8th Air Force on the same target that I am aware of . As before each �ission was given. I suspect th?t consider�ble you can see, against Neuburg Air Drome the 15th did a much variations existed in the way cre�s were selected and traininq better . Also included is the "Straight and Level" given. covering the 19 January 1945 bombing by the 99th Bomb Group I of the marshalling yard at Brod, Yugoslavia. It is good to have a f a.irly complete file on the H2X ooerations remember the times we did an outstanding job. of the 15th A.ir Force includin<; a. target information file , a Monograph asse<:sing the accuracy of H2:� operations , "BoITibs I am enclosing the exchange of letters I have had with " of through the Undercast training Ir.anual , and a nuIPber of History Professor Richard Marcus of the "Straigr..t and Level" issues pertaining to borrb impacts of Wisconsin- Eau Claire on the "Lone Wolf" missions . That was to be FFF operations. Only a single pc?.ragranh in the rnonoaraph deals a unique and interesting undertaking that deserves with the Lone Wolf operations. You Mai have access fo ihis spotlighted as a footnote in the history of World War II air with additional infor�ation c?lready but if not I would be glad to share with combat . I will be supplying Professor Marcus you. information from my files. Professor Marcus brings up the subject of ''double-credit" versus single credit missions . Where was this determination made? All I know is that someone above squadron level made it. Could a plane that was shot up on what was a milk run to northern Italy for everyone else claim double credit? May be you or your readers can help us out . JI /2 1.J , o· mbs burst- On another sub� ect, I fl first Pathfin der mission nov ? . :; �r, , , The photoe:;rul.Jh �, ,s.· t.ae 99th 3om."o Group s . with the 99th to "Fischamend k . on 12 April 194�. We in· on the target' tne black r , t e rs tnc:it are v1s1b�.e are . o rev ;1: 0 ..t' p o bombs on radar sigh� in� . I suspect this may hav e f gm the boub ing done by � ? �s Gr ouos. 'l' he .Air ore h�d ���� �� r v r r � e �frst Pathfind�r led m f the 99th Bomb Group a� its target s the t\\o br1dg r til� i e and ma shall1:1g ��:1�: � :\: o r since I was �mong the r f t rning Navig�tors \ mole te n this ta ge t' . yards. Heconnaissance is no trai n e d as Mickeys to �� !;s�gne d. Can anyone verify an earlier date? ed .- 6 .:.,nip �- Tne <;,9th isorc.b Group us : -· . front foru.c1ticn citt--aci- I will get back with another letter sometime on the full t iis targE:t. .-...tta� 1.. unit leaders sig;1ted fer rate er. oe� . O bcx leaders oro;,pe � history f Pathfinder led missions of the lSt h Air F orce . In �f!ction, \g� t: eir ov;n rate. He su ts' 64/a . r � the meantime, keep u p the goo d work . of tne :i,r bcmbs \\ ere t u c� tae b iefed J.i?I . 'L ie pat­ v. 1 . �.1� :: d c �-a

. -...... A weekly s wmr.ary of bombing : 13 Jan to 19 Jan 1945 ...... !'repared by Assistant Chief of STRA IGHT ANO LEVEL Staff, A-3

...... A weekly summary of bombing: 17 M 8 r to 23 MP.r 1945 •••••••• Prepared by Assistant Chief of Staff, A-3 r .... --- ·--:--

Erect, Yugoslav ia - 19 Jan 1£145 . ... --.-. � J the 6rod, ru,::;o�.1::l:,r iu, \, as utt&C.r.ea' D" 111,, = tee• •n • ·Gr ,.. o�Ds OJ. Last Group over during � ng act 1c ... in Arter the raid b? the ?'ifteent11 Air .:.'c::ce to im_:J ede thE: ener..:.y 's aoJ.c.. i · by the Fifteenth Air Force. Air Force's Eeavies this area. IS /4- / NEUBURG A/D 21 March 1945 ' _When getting.very close, one B-24 was hit in an engine on fi�e and started Install8tions of this import nnt Jet A/C be.se \'.'ere totally ? . W�en this happened , he flew so close under us that we had devastated by Group s ·or the 304th Wing. _The late picture above t gain alt1tud e,which was difficult becaus righ�a�d e of other B-24 's on ur shows the density of the bomb conc entration. 500 lb bombs were above and our element on the left. Th is B-24 was hit a� used. Almost all buildings in the target area have been leveled. approxima!ely 1Js24� and started a gradual letdown continuing same on the In several areas not even the foundation� of buildings are di�­ beadi�g of 180 . While going down the tail-gunner counted nine chutes u tinguishable. Ten A/C , mostly Me 262' s, �ere destroyed or damaged. coming o t. After these chutes opened the plane went into a The ·w 1ng average for both the Red and Blue Forces wes 79.3% ,·:ith bank to the �eft and started burning faster. At lJ:27 it exploded the 456th receivin� the highest score--87.5%. All Groups were in and cra�hed in the sea at the approx. location of 45 05 'N-1J lO'E The radio man sent u the 70' s nnd 80 ' s. This mission compares favorably v:ith the 304th' s o t an emergency call giving kind of ship heading ' raid on Chivnsso M/T Depot on 22 June 1944 where 182.25 tons of number of chutes and location of crash . ' 250 lb GP 's were dropped by the 455th and 456th Bomb Groups com­ pletely destroying the target (see Bomb Plot) . The 55th and 47th Remaining 5 B-24's went ahead of us and then c ut underneath Wings "frRged" Neuburg with satisfRctory results. group and flew off at 10 and 11 o'clock then were noticed at 9 o'clock The Ei�hth Air Force attacked this target on 19 March with lPvel at lJ:45 approximately 20 miles away. When the B-24 was going moderate damage. This is one of the first targets for which dAm­ down , two of our escort P-47 's circled. flge of tlrn Eighth nnd Fifteenth could be compared. . . I ask right waist-gunner to read this and he added that on recog­ nition of B-24 we �l� stopped firing but then the left waist-gunner on � B-24 started firing so it resulted in his engine being hit. we are sure that we did not fire the shots that hit the B-24. We are under no ilius ions as to the probable clarity of the reproduction j-JJ1•v l'-, /,/ of the STRAIGHT AND LEVEL photographs . We are also aware that Steve ( .\ ,! i'I i ,/ ) L f/,/,f.'1,/,.,. Birdsall in Australia and)Ians-Heiri Stapfer in �witzerland have more L ·i vl! /_ ,'. }'--, fr JI t ft i l, 1( information than ue possess. Nevertheless, we wish to let everybody know of the existenceof yet another source of information. Perhaps �l when Hector MacPherso"n publishes we can read more of this interesting file. geo. Dear George: JOHN F. O'CONNELL 321 llh!DSH DRIVE After more research by Hans Stapfer in Switzerland. The B ..17 Dear George: BERWYN, PA. 19312 8 April 1988 #t-l.-..8187, which oame down into Swi terland Feb.• 27, 19-4:5, was not Bugs Buddy, Bubba Doo as I f'irst thought 1 t was·. Below is the letter sent to m• by Hans Stapter, with the explanation of #tt-8187 Re: Observations and questions about the 1/16/44 mission to Villaorba which appear on pages J9 landing in Switzerland. and 40 of the Mar. 1, 1988 Newsletter. Also on Feb.27,1945, anothe:r B 17 of the 3-4:6 th was shot Down O-Yer the target, A-Agsburg. ( #�4-{2or;,;)698) according to the miiH! ing On my most recent visit to the military archives in Washington , air crow report that I hav•• Cornelius Shields was the pilot. I came across a report of this mission hand-written after the Charles E, Jones n crew member is on our roster as a member of th• mission by Hank Schaller, a navigator in the J47th who was on the 99 th B,G.H.S. mission--as was I. Since it was prepared immediately after the mission and is not based on recollection or a diary, I thought The 3 Tisue.l statements in the report , were submitted by our members might be interested in reading it. The original is 2nd. Lt. Neal LBiebee, 2nd Lt. William M. Flynn and Sgt .Clark B. difficult to read , so I have typed this in the interests of legibility . Slade . I ae& that Vlm . M Flynn is a member of' the 99th. I would like to know the nick name or /-i:4-8187. I! anyone in Report on B-24 Shot Down #474 (Schaller's plane nu.mber) the ground crew or other knows, please drop me a card. The .infor­ ° mation I fir�t got was that Weary Willie and Bugs Buddy were Micke1 When coming off the target heading l80 our waist gunner noticed B 17s; which is now negative. 6 six planes off in the distance at 4 o'clock just about the time we were over the coast at the time of lJ:17. These planes were level with us at 19, 000 feet and were heading directly towards us . Since they came from nowhere we fired many bursts of shells at them both high and low. Our element was on the right side of the last wave , /:rr, h,t and our ship #474 was in #2 position. We saw that ships were B-24 's He,,.� - and that no enemy fighters were trailing them. In stead of staying I H"·,t outside and away from us they continued coming in at five o'clock and ffo;ter our gunners started to fire closer to them. Soon fire was returned by one of the B-24's yet the six ships continued to gain on us and f�ew not more than a 100 yards away with about 100 ft . of altitude higher. /(o (ro·""' 17 //�w s l

Germany bu always kept to the Hague Convention and only punished recaptured prisoner6 or war with minor di6ciplin11ry puni6hment. statements from Germ1my will still maintain these principles or international law. But England bas be6ides fighting al the front in an honest manner �� � ,�---1 instituted an illegal wurfare in non combat zones in the form of gangster We would really appreciate a statement for any bomber crew here in commamdos, terror bandits and sabotage troops even up to the frouliera my country, plus photos on the crew before coming to Switzerland . of Germany. Well, I e�ose for this time. Please keep in touch and all my best They s11yin IIcaptured secret and confidentialEnglish military pamphlet, wishes to you and yours. THE HANDBOOK Sincerley, OF MODERN IRREGULAR WARFARE:

.. . the daya when we could practise the rule, of 1port1- m11n1bip are over. For the lime being, every soldier mu,t be a potential gangster 11.nd must be prepared lo adopt their methods whenever necessary." Mr. and Mrs. David C. Conner oc. 7050 S.W. Hoodview Place July 23, 1988 ••The sphere of operations should always include the enemy's Beaverton, OR 97005 own country, any occupied territory, 1111d in certain circum• i;tances, such neutral countries as he .ii, using as a source of supply." Dear George ; England has with tl,e:;e instructions opened up a or,n Enclosed is a copy of my story which I would like to have you make a non military f of gangster war! part of the historical mater ials you have assemmbled for the 99th Bomb Group. I hope you enjoy reading it and get a few laughs. It Germany ia determined to safeguard her homeland, and especially her would not have been posssible for me to write the story as it is war industry and provisional centres for the fighting froots. Therefore without information I obtained through the 99th BGHS news letter. it bas become necessary to create strictly forbidden zones, called death zones, in which 1111 unauthorised trespassers will be immediately 1hol As I said in my earlier letter, I would like to have the following OD sight. notice in the next news letter: E&c11ping pri&0ners of war, entering such death zones, will certainly lose their lives. They are therefore in constant damger of being mistaken MEMOIRS OF A PRISONER OF WAR by David Conner for enemy agents or S11botage groups. A former member of the 99th Bomb Group tells of his adventures and Ur ent w11rnin iven 11 inst makin future esca es! mis-adventures as a cadet, combat pilot, and prisoner of war. 93 g e is e p e p pages plus illustrations, 8ij" X 11", in plastic cover. $6.00 per lo pl11in English: St11y in the c11mp where you will be safe! Breaking copy (includes mai l ing). Write to Dave Conn er, 7050 S.W. Hoodview out or it is now a damned dangerous act. Pl. , Beaverton, OR 97005 The chances of preservine your life are almost nil! stated in my All police and military guards hKVe been given the most strict orders Please note the price increase over the amount earlier to shoot on 1i�ht 1111 suspected persons. letter. I'm sorry I couldn't do it for any less. Please write and let me know what you think my story. I'll appreciate your co mments Escaping froni prison camps has cewwd to be a sport ! and advice. 18

I sat up until midnight last night reading Dave Conner 's absorbing experienceE Soidiers of tl1e British Commonwealth! while a guest of the Third Reich back in the old Death March days . Dave has compiled an absorbing account and a real asset to the historical record, especially in an age when so many clowns are re-writing history. Soldiers of the United States of America! Dave is areal good writer, and he had plenty to write of. The booklet also has several good maps, and is generally of " Co nJ1er �� BGHS. +ro � "Memot'rJ I very well-written . We include here two of the exhibits f�om the The great Bolshevik offensive has now crossed the frontiers of Germany. The men In the Moscow Kremlin booklet . geo believe the way is open for the conquest of the Western world. This will certainly be the decisive bottle for us. But It will also be the decisive battle for England, for the United States and for the mainte­ nance of Western civilisation. BERGEN EVENING RECORD Lost Arm after 15th Mission Hackensack, N.J. In Attack on Ploesti Fields Or whatever today remains of -,t. -· -� - September 1944 Nepil of Little Ferry Freed At Bucharest After The events In the Baltic States, In Poland, Hungary and Greece are proof enough for us all to see the Being Hospitalized Prisoner for 2 Months real program behind the mask of Moscow', soc.ailed "limited national aims" and reveals to us how Moscow interprets democratic principles both for the countries she hos conquered and also for Germany Shot down �ver the Ploesti oil fields in Romania and reported missing last July, Staff and for your countries as well. Sergeant Slavomir Nepil, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Nepil of 53 Redneck Avenue Little It is also clear enough today that the Issue at stoke Is not merely the destruction of Germany and Ferry, is completing a at home before returning to an Army hospital fo; further the extermination of the Germon race. The fate of your country too is at stake. This means the treatment and convalescence. fate of your wives, of your children, your home. It also means everything that make llfe livable, lovable and honorable for you. ON FIFTEENTH MISSION Each one of you who has watched the development of Bolshevism throughout this war knows in his In v�siting fr iends in the Borough, Sergeant Nepil recalled many interesting Innermost heart the truth about Bolshevism. Therefore we are now addressing you as white men to other experiences during his bombing missions. It was on his fifteenth mission that his bomber white men. This Is not on appeal. At least we feel there Is no alternofr!e for any of us, who feels was shot down . He was severely wounded in his left arm, necessitating amputation above the himself a citizen of our continent and our civilisation but to stop the red flood here and now. elbow. Extraordinary events demand extraordinary measures and decisions. One of these decisions is now put The fifteenth mission took place July 22 , and the target was the Ploesti oil fields. up to you. We address ourselves to you regardles; of your rank or of your nationality. AFter the attack, the bomber developed engine trouble, dropped out of formation, and was Soldiers I We are sure there are some amongst you v,ho have recognized the danger of Bolshevik-Com­ attacked by seven Nazi fighters. munism for-h:s own country. We are $Ure th< .-many of you . hove seen dearly what this-Wal-is- �(lW Nepil, a tail gunner, was hit in his left arm, but was able to parachute with several leading to. We are sure that many of you see what the consequences of the other members of his crew. Two members were killed in the fight. destruction of Europe - not just of Germany but of Europe - will mean to your own country. Therefore we want to make the following proposal to all of you. When he landed, Sergeant Nepil was picked up by Romanian soldiers and taken 12 miles We think that our fight has also become your fight If there ore some amongst you who are willing• to to a hospital near Bucharest. Here his arm, badly shattered, was amputated. take consequences and who ore willing to join the ranks of the German soldiers who fight In this REPORTED MISSING bottle which will decide both the fate of Germany and the fate of your countries we should like to know il We invite you to join our ranks and the tens of thousands of volunteers from the communist He remained in the hospital for 2 months for treatment , and in the meantime his crushed and conquered nations of eastern Europe, which have had to choose between submission under parents were notified that he was missing in action. When Romania and Russia agreed on an most brutal asiatic rule - or a national exlste,ce In the future under European Ideas, many of peace terms, as a prisoner of war he was freed. He was taken back to Italy, and then he which, of course ore your own Ideals. was flown into Mitchell Field, L.I. Whether you ore willing to fight In the front-line or In the service corps: we make you this solemn He is now completing a furlough at home, and will soon return for further treatment. promise: Whoever as a soldier of his own nation is willing to join the common front for the common cause, wl!I be freed immediately after the victory of the present offensive and can return to his own One of t.he highlights of his stay in Romania came when he saw the Russian army march country via Switzerland. into Bucharest . Since he knew Czechoslovakian , he was able to chat with the Russian All that we hove to ask from you Is the word of the gentleman not to fight directly or Indirectly for soldiers. the cause of Bolshivik-Communism so long as this war continues. Sergeant Nepil said he will never forget the young Russian Artillery officer he met . At this moment we do not ask you to _th.ir_l. -,bout Germany. We ask you to think about your own "He was eighteen years old but he had been fighting for three years. Like all the Russians country, we ask you just to measure the chances which you and your people at home would have to, I saw, he was very grim . They seemed to have only one thought ' and that was to get the in case the Bolshivik - Communism onslaught should overpower Europe. We must and we will put Germans and win the war ." an end to Bolshevism and we will achieve this under all circumstances. Please inform the convoy-officer of your decision and you will receive the privileges of our own men for we expect you to share their Nepil said the Nazi propaganda had been very effective among the Romanians. The Nazis duty. This is something which surpasses all national bounderies. The world today is confronted by the �ad told t�e Romanians that the United States had opened its prisons and sent the convicts fight of the east against the west We ask you to think It over. into the Air Forces with the primary assignment of bombing Romania. Are you for the culture of West or the barbaric asiatic East? BELIEVED GANGSTERS "That line fooled some of the Romanians," Nepil said, "and at first they actually thought we were gangsters. Can you imagine that? Well, we did some counterpropaganda ourselves. Whenever we could, we told the nurses and war attendants the truth , and they Make your decision now! spread the truth about us and the war among their friends . Those German lies were funny ,

• but they made us plenty sore." co11f/11{,(ec/ on p�,1e 'Z3 • A • v' • • •" ,: ,.• • •., �- • • 1' :, • t,,. • ...... • . • • ' . • • • :.J-. ! " • , • •• •. • •• 21 ( 2o . Sunday, Ju ne 5 1988 News/Sun-Sentinel,

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February 15, 1988 Hello Gunner, The officers of your · association have been busy since the 1987 reunion.· As you can see we : have changed our name to the Air .· Force Gunners Association and our good friend and fellow gunner :1- \ ·'v.• i• Jack �hompson designed a new Bulldog logo. This was done to :t \ •• allow all former/present enlisted Air Force gunners who flew : ;;:�� on ,medium or heavy bombers the opportunity to join our organ­ };.; ' �\ s,att phmo/JOE RAEOCE ization. A membership drive is underway . If you know S'Omeone Knipp trade jokes during their reunion Saturday. who would qualify , please let them know about us . Jim Smith, left, Jeff Waguespack and Art Bill Dayton is preparing the By-laws and articles of incorpora­ tion. We will become a non-profit Florida Corporation and the membership will receive a copy of the by-laws when they are reunite, swap tales completed. The by-laws will allow us to make annual contribu­ Airmen tions to the Airmen Memorial Museum in Suitland, Maryland and to the Air Force Enlisted Mens Widows and Dependents Home Fortresses located at Fort Walton Be�ch, Florida.

Sergeant Nepil returned with Sergeant John Domaracki, son of Mr . and Mrs. Wil�iam Domoracki of Cleveland, who was imprisoned in the same hospital ward, Bucharest prison camp, and returned on the same hospital ship to America with Nepil. They were among the 1,126 American airmen liberated when Romania joined the Allies. · over t o the Allies . They flocked They recalled their experiences when R omania swung , kissed them, and invited them into their 'plane around the Americans, patted them on the backs tha said. t neve airmen r was , the two ' dinner homes for hat we seem to have Old Faithful took off on a and was a a e om So McCoywent beforethe nt Nepil, who is 21 , attended Little Ferry �cho?ls 1 ; ��it today is a war story, beautiful moonlit morning. Mel's Sergea ructor �� ��: . � S but I wouldn't want co-pilot followed instructions by group commander, who wouli 19041 . He also serv ed as a gymnastic inst in charge of the investigation.\ High School in for many years. you to flinch. Most war falling asleep. �el makes a nice Association in Little Ferry , where he attended classes Wstories, I grant you, are usually landing and unloads his little said something like this: h r downers full of sadness and friends and takes off for the "Sir, I think I can make a . It wasa, Meyers, Flor ida, and Avon might say, a happy ending. the landing gear and the light patched-up creation of Italy as a tail gunner on a B-17. You see. I .had dinner the other comes on to prove I've done it. cannibalized parts from other! who has just retu ne t N�v d He has three brothers in service. They are Edward, f � ��� night with this retired Air Force Only trouble is, the green shade 17s. Furthermore, we never the Army ; and Lu�wi� , in ;n_g an wiJh lieutenant colonel. His name is gear light is off, and all I'm placed that plane on our supp� after a leave at home; Miroslav , in Italy with on the J. Sokol Association of Little Ferry. Mel Schulstad. He was a B-17 getting is a bright bare light in my list. It has no official status." Army . His father, Frank Ne pil, is secretary of T. pilot stationed with the 303rd So I unscrew the little light eyes. Aftera moment's pondering bomb group in a place called EMMETT WATSON and put it in my pocket. the group commander said: Molesworth, in central England. Times columnist On base leg, Mel began to milk "What you're tryingto tell mei He Anyone who was over there - the flaps down a little. that the airplane doesn't exist.1 Nothing to Do on His Day Off, Texan Goes Out this was in 1944 - can tell you He had been flying combat for remembers thinking this was 24 months and he "You could look at it that wi those raids over Germany had had 40 going to be the smoothest B-17 sir." and Grabs Himself a Big Nazi Messerschmitt very little in common with a missions, the last 20 of which landing in the history of recorded were in the lead position to touch "Well," said the commander ALGitRS, Algeria, Oct. 2 (Delayed) (AP )--You take a guy from Texas and things get picnic. for the aeronautics; he is going "you can't possibly have an I "We did a fair amount of 303rd. Old Faithful on the runway like a aw fully dull for him o v er here. . S�, even at age accident with an airplanethat partying between raids," Mel 26, it was no butterfly with sore feet. doesn't exist. And if there was' Especially if all he has to do is pilot a 8-17, named Cotton-Eyed Joe II. Schulstad was saying. "In fact, surpnse that Schulstad was operations officer accident, there is nothing to That's the way it was with CAPT. CHARLES B. COVERT OF San Antonio. Nothing much to our closing hours were when the for the base. It Barn! Crunch! Varooom! investigate." bartender said he'd poured all the was also no surprise that he had All four propellers are chewing do--bomb Rome yesterday , Messina today , La Spezia tomorrow, dodge a little flak, mix it authority to Schulstad smiled as he booze and it was time to go home. call down to the into the concrete. finished his story. "Andthat is with a few enemy fighter planes and let the machine-gunners take care of them and then back "Our flight surgeon called it hangar at 2 am. and say, "Fire up that B-I7, Somehow, in the process of exactly what happened," he saj to the base. Oh, hum! Another day, another dollar . You see, there was not really a 'therapeutic drinking.' Anyway, I'm going to taxi my milkingthe flaps down he had we had a party to celebrate July little friends home." "I retired as a lieutenant colo chance for a Texan with an itchy trigger finger to get in his licks. Schulstad inadvertently raised the landing in 1965. Nothing on my record Fourth, 1944. We invited some said: "The B-17 was gear. There was no light to warn shows there everwas an accid� •..Chuck took a postman's holiday and picked himself an ME-109, thus becoming one fighter pilots over from a nearby very special to us. We had an of the few bomber pilots to knock off an enemy interceptor in aerial combat . almost mystical him. Instead of the smoothest B- And I guess the good Lord's base about IO miles from affection for 17 landing ever, Mel had arrived looking after me ev,or since." Molesworth." those planes. No matter how bad It was his day off, as the boys back home would say . in a clatter of metal and a shower When the bomber crews slated to slap Foggia around found they weLe short a bombardier, Retired U. Col. Schulstad said they got shot up, they usually got of sparks. Fortunately, nothing Se.ait--Je Tivi..e.s. there was a specialrelatiortship you home. And this particularB- Chuck said shucks, he'd go along for the ride since Cotton-Eyed Joe II was being checked 17 had c::iught fire, but Old Faithful was a • Emmett Watson's column � betweenbomber �ups and a lot of battle damage. goner. Sunday, Tuesday and Thunlday inl over. fighter pilots. Whtiethe bomber "It was sort of re-created, you Northwest section ofThe Times. might say. The ground crews The next 10 days of Mel's life They hardly had cleared the target when Covert, searching the sky behind his machine boys ribbed the fighters a lot, they w�>Uld cannibalize parts - a were pure hell. He took an c.D. B03,F +,/1 gun up there in the bombardier 's greenhouse, saw the ME-109 coming in. felt a kinship because of the wing, an elevato_r, a landing �ear, enormous ribbingfrom his protection fighter planes gave B- whatever, anything to make 1t buddies. Here was Mr. Safety Gets His Messerschmidt. l 7s. "We called them 'our little flyable. We used it for training himself pulling that dumb stunt. "I knew that probably would be my only chance," he grinned. "So I started shooting friends,' " he said. and sort of as a lead plane to �et But worse, if you have an accident before anyone else could. At first, I was way off, but when he got in a little closer, I So on this ni�ht of July 4, the others organized on bombing you have to go before an ()Je af olog t'ze fdr 1944, the 303rd invited their little missions. We called it 'Old investigative board. His whole got the range and stopped him cold. That is, I set him on fire and the boys in the ball friends over for some therapeutic Faithful."' militarycareer was in ruins. once. a,5 4,n o,,//()(AJ ,, turret down below gave him a few more bursts for luck as he went under. But they said I festivities. It was a very patriotic Anyway, Schulstad loaded all As it hnppened, Schulstad's got him and I got credit for him." little blast. But along about 2 a.m. roommate was a man named Mel ftffA IJr· fo s/f t?, fo o,., then-Maior Schulstad noticed that his potted little friends aboard for McCoy, also a major. He was the Covert told the story before he knew there was a newspaperman around. He was shooting a number of his little friends were their 10-mile "taxi ride" home. "I 303rd's engineering officer. He AAF the bull with some of the boys out at the airport waiting on a plane going east. Somewhere snockered to the eyeballs. They didn't have a co-pilot who could was the guy who supervised all Sfor;1 - along the line, he aimed to pick up his orders to go home for a short leave. stand up," he said, "so I put our jeo. He had flown were in no shape to drive back to the mechanics and ground crews; fifty a lay-off. he had seen a guy who had seen his their own base. weather officer in the co-pilot's combat missions and he was due for seat and I told him, 'Put your feet he decided what planes should be orders for . • • • (UNFINISHED) A word here about Schulstad. here and your hands in your lap cannibalized-and what should be He was then only 26 years old, and don't TOUCH anything! scrapped. but the boys of the 303rd would "Now I've taken on quite a "I think I've got a way out of tell you that when he walk€d load of therapy myself and r am this " McCov said. "I'll go talk to saying to myself, 'You are the the group commander... As down the street he listed slightly world's best B-17 pilot, but McCoy confided his plan, to port. This was not because of because of all that therapy, you Schulstad brightened - any faint drinking. It was because his left better be super-careful.' " a candle in the dark. chest was weighted down with hope was medals and decorations, including two Distinguished Flying Crosses and six Air Medals.

I 24 25

HEADQUARTERS NINETY-NINTH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H) ARMY AIR FORCES '� 1- ME 109 Marion A. Alley Sgt 19020524 Office of the Intelligence Office 18 September 1943 1- ME 109 Steve Malaga (NMI ) S/Sgt 33276116 Up to this date, the 99th Bombardment Group has been awarded the following : 2- FW 190 Gene W. Royse S/Sgt 35358797 One Distinguished Service Cross Three Silver Stars 1- FW 190 N. Duncan T/Sgt 37373448 Nineteen Distinghished Flying Crosses 1- ME 109 Louis E. Walker S/Sgt 11054394 Twenty-Two Soldier's Medals Sixty-three Purple Hearts ME 109 John J. Tenis S/Sgt 31125631 Five hundred ninety-eight Air Medals One thousand two hundred forty-four O.L.C. to Air Medal 1- ME 110) Kenneth E. Titus Sgt 19067072 2- ME 109) ENEMY CLAIMS DESTROYED 1- ME 109 Eugene L. Cantley Sgt 15117210 DA TE: 25-6-43 1- ME 109 Thomas Harris Garrett 2nd Lt 0-729745 1- ME 109 James A. Harold S/Sgt 12050439 NO. & TYPE E/A NAME SE RIALRANK NO. HOME AD DRESS 1- MEas 109Harris GarrettThom Lt 2nd 1- ME 109 Harold Penoyor Sgt 36175983 0-7 29745 896 Lin cloln St - ME 210 David O. Fleming T/Sgt 36170277 St. Paul, 1- ME 109 James A. Harold S/Sgt 12050439 1- ME 109 Harold Penoyor Sgt 36175983 1- ME 109 Bueford Wayne Lippolt S/Sgt 36246358 1- ME 210 David 0. Fleming T/Sgt 36170277 1- ME 110 Paul A. Sled 2nd Lt 0-663423 1- ME 109 Bueford Wayne Lippolt S/Sgt 36246358 1- ME 109 Emillo M. Carrillo S/Sgt 20841708 1- ME 110 Paul A. Sled 2nd Lt 0-663423 1- ME 109 Edward P. May S/Sgt 17086848 1- ME 109 Emillo M. Carrillo S/Sgt 20841708 1- ME 109 Mar ion A. Alley Sgt 19020524 1- ME 109 Edward P. May S/Sgt 17086848 1- ME 109 Marion A. Alley Sgt 19020524 1- ME 109 Steve Malaga (NMI) S/Sgt 33276116 1- ME 109 Steve Malaga (NMI) S/Sgt 33276116 2- FW 190 Gene W. Royse S/Sgt 35358797 2- FE 190 Gene W. Royse S/Sgt 35358797 1- FW 190 N. Duncan T/Sgt 37373448 1- FW 190 N. Duncan T/Sgt 37373448 1- ME 109 Louis E. Walker S/Sgt 11054394 "HERE 'TIS" 2- ME 109 John J. Tenis ITALY 28 Jan S/Sgt 31125631 Published Weekly by the Special Service Section, Hg. 99th Bomb Group (H),' Vol II, 4 1- ME 110 ) Kenneth E. Titus Sgt 19067072 2- ME 109) USO SHOW--- 1- ME 109 Eugene L. Cantley Sgt 15117210 1- ME 109 James E. O'Brien "TIMES SQUARE," will be staged in the Group Theater Friday T/Sgt 37167301 The show is mounted by Johnny Woods of Earl Carrol 's afternoon ' 2 February at 430 Hours. and the Roxy circuit. A novel clay-modeling act in which caricatures of famous 1- ME 109 Thomas Harris Garrett 2nd Lt 0-729745 _ personalities are made is done by Duke �- and his female partner, Ju�ior. Russ Clark pulls the marionette strings of a drunk, a strip tease, a ap dancing skeleto , and a 1- ME 109 James A. Harold S/Sgt 12050439 � � 1- ME 109 Harold Penoyor piano-playing virtuoso. On the FEMALE side, the show offers Vicky Sharon, Vocalist, _of Sgt 36175983 musical comedy state and radio; Wanetta New, Vocalist, of Russ Morgan fame ; and Maxine Turner, featured dancer. 1- ME 210 David O. Fleming T/Sgt 36170277 POST-WAR AVIATION INFO 1- ME 109 Bueford Wayne Lippolt S/Sgt 36246358 For the men in the Group who are interested in post-war work in aviation, some helpful - ME 110 Paul A. Sled information has been compiled in the Special Service Office. This information includes a 2nd Lt 0-663423 list of the and offering courses in the various stages of 1- ME 109 [millo M. Carillo aeronautical training, a list of approved mechanic schools, a list �f �ivil Air Regul�tions S/Sgt 20841708 applicable to the various airmen certificates issued : Pilots Airline T ansport Pilots, 1- ME 109 Edward P. May S/Sgt 17086848 � � Lighter-Than-Air Pilots, Aircraft Mechanics, Aircra_ft Engine_ Mechanics, Parachute Technicians, Air Traffic Control Tower Operators, Aircraft Dispatchers, and Ground Instructors. The regulations on Pilot Certificates is on hand. Others may be ordered free. See Capt Trent for more details. 2(, 27 JAPANESE RESIDENT GUEST SPEAKER 416 Anyone who visited our Mess Hall t'other night at chow would have walked into a -----e------Janeway , ARC, who returned from residence in Japan just prior to Pearl sizable riot overshadowing the Civil War. Some rebel upped and yelled in his in accurate Harbor, will be the Thursday night guest speaker, following the G.I. Movies . barroom voice, "I can lick any Yankee in the hou se." When he woke up three days later in Mr . Janeway, while living among the Japanese, was an associate of Ambassador Grow . Callihan 's tent , he was a badly battered and bruised rebel. Guess who? ••••This is the Through his experience there, officially and otherwise, he has accumulated a thorough second week in a row that Cpl O'Shea, that short and antiquated beer drinking Irishman, has knowledge of the Japanese people and their national aspirations . It is expected that our failed to win a case of beer at the Bingo game. Seems that Lt Blum , the number caller got guest speaker will review , from the standpoin t of the Japanese, the background of events his wires crossed and Tommy has to suff�r ••••Some rumor monger staggered in the other leading up to our par ticipation in the Pacific War. It would be wise to come out and - get day with the best one yet. Quote: "There is a group known as the 99th Provisional Group the straight, first-hand, authoritativ e dope from a man who has made a study of the in training back home as replacements for the ground echelon of this group." What brand of Japanese his specialty. stuff are you taking these days, neighbor? ••••Shades of the House of David: _/Sgt Kirby "REPORT FROM TOKYO" and Earl Silvis have really grown cute ones. New York (CNS)--Excerpt from a report on the Americ an home front by Garo Hakano, Headquarters onetime New York correspondent of the Tokyo newspaper Asahi, as reported by DWI: Not legible ". • • In the war bond selling drives, Hollywood and Broadway actresses give one CHAPLAIN'S CORNER kiss for each bond. Also in nude dances , each time the actress strips off some of her Dr. Whyte, of Edinburgh , was famous for his pulpit prayers. He always found something clothes , spectators are made to buy bonds. Thus by barbaric methods they are bolstering to thank God for , even when times were bad. One stormy morning, a member of his the dime-store patriotism of the ig norant Yankee masses." congregation, following the famous preacher to church through a raging blizzard, thought to "FRAGS" himself, "This parson wil l have nothing to thank God for on a wretched morning like this." But Dr. Whyte began his prayer with these words , "We thank thee, 0 God, that it is not 346 always like this ." This week's news is headed by the greatest calamity of the year; the man who will We can echo that prayer about the mud and water in the areas right now. Spring and suffer most by it is Chuck Mil ler, of the residential section of our fine area. It seems the sun wil l dry it out again . that in a recent visit to our squadron , Chaplain Whitlock drove up to Miller's tent and When we get into spirit ual muddy waters, that prayer can help us then, too. God upon stepping out of the jeep, he fell in the mud. Now is that any way to receive company , provides resources for living by which we can rise above doubts and fears, depression and especially the Chap?. • ••We understand that Coleman's new Radar flash lights are lonliness if we will ask for them. But we need to remember the truth this tory reveals: not what they 're cracked up to be, your reporter can vouch for that fact . No questions A landlubber once asked an old boatman, "If one were to fall from this pier into please ••••On Wed . night , our Enlisted Men's club opened officially after being closed the water, would he be drowned?" With a quizzical smile the old man answered, for renovations, and a fin e job of remodeling by Joe, Moe, Vince, and their corps of "Well, no. It is n 't the fal ling into the water that drowns a man. It's staying workers, too numerous to mention. The boys opened the club in great style and except for a there that finishes him off." few muddy fingerprints on the walls, the club was in fine shape the following morning. We all have our muddy moments--but don 't have to stay in them. Stop looking at the It's too bad that some sort of competition for drinkers can't be organized in the group. mud--fix your eye on a star! Go to Church ! We 'd be sure to cop that . CHURCH Catholic: Sunday Mass Protestant: Sunday 1900, 1600, 1830 0800-347, 0845-0rd. 0930-348, 101 5-416 347 Wed. & Friday : 1830 It isn 't wise to try starting a putt-putt after it 's been washed in gasoline. Sgts 1830-Hq. Pellan and Donahoo can vouch for that . Sgt Donahoo is wearing his hair singed in the · front ••••Pf c , our communications clerk, is in fanticipating. Yeah,, he INQUIRING REPORTER expects to giv e birth to an idea soon. His first ••••We've had our elections for "Should Daisy Mae Catch and Marry officers of the Club and the results are as follows: Illegible�-�- L'il Abner Come Sadie Hawkins Day?" 348 CPL SYLVESTER DENT: Natchely ! Why is it that every time George Beukema hangs ?ne o� , he gets _ s� much pub�icity out of it? It happened again when the boys on Capt Rawlinson s crew finished their fifty . CPL RICHARD BAURMANN: No, why should she? She's getting along very well with out him , as Everywhere we went we heard the same thing--"Captain Rawlin 's crew is throwing a one, any fool can plain ly see. I can. and Beukera's there!"•••• They 're starting to call him " --the man who never S/SGT L.G. HASTINGS: SURE ! Then draw up some intimate cartoons of their home life to sell had it so good." The first man in the 348th to do two �ours in this theatre without. a as "feelthy" pictures. his sec nd. In , Capt Hemphil l, had a rough time getting started on � _ fact , at this writing, the score is : N-hours-5, Missions-0. We hear he really likes seeing the sun come SGT MC ILVAIN: My wife took a very desperate chance when she married me. Let Daisy gamble too. up. He made 9 H-hours before getting his 50th missio n on Tour no� 1 ••••L� te flood news: If the rains don't stop before the end of the month, according to reliable reports, PFC PANZARELLA: I never interfere where matters of the heart are concerned. let them supplies are to be dropped to the 348th by air . This system is already being used decide for themselves. successfully by the 416th. WARNING: Visitors entering the squadron area do so at their own risk. MSGT s. MILLER: Yes. Enough of this romance. SGT BENDER: Who pray tell is Daisy Mae and L'il Abner? 28 ?'J or e or e e se h r husband eeps an alliga� in MOVIE SCHEDULE Lansing, Mich: A local lady has s u d f divorc b cau � � e t e his old pets . r e e s animal t rainer and th 'ga or is on of MONDAY 29 JANUARY th e pa lor. S ems h wa an tr et car barn in the Bronx "WINGED VICTORY" rt thie f s tole a Third Avenue s e car from a Brooklyn· A spo -loving t r e s t t r e h e madcap mo o man n ver wa 1800-347 h, 416 h & Hq. and sped.madly downtown toot ling the ho n lik a fiend. ! t t r s in Brook±yn. 2000-346 h, 348 h & Ord. apprehended but t he s tolen streetca wa finally abandoned s e r Portsmouth, ha TUESDAY 30 JANUARY Mrs. Mary Dondero who was inst all d recently as Mayo of Portsmouth, N.H.: t t t e t . H e wrote ha he was ired of "MARK OF THE WHISTLER" with RICHARD DIX received a proposal of marriag from a Vermont residen 1800-346th, 348t h & O r d. r estaurant food. t t 2000-347 h, 416 h & Hq. t e er will inher it t is admitted o probat , h dog Jack Detroit: If he will of Mrs. N. Myers t ers e t erything to her pup and cu WEDNESDAY 31 JANUARY $20,000 and her son Joseph wi·1 g1 et nothi·ng. Mrs. My l f ev "ONE BODY TOO MANY" JACK HALEY & JEAN PARKER her son off without a dime. 1800-347th, 416th & Hq. 2000-346th, 348th & Ord. HEADQUARTERS NINETY-NINTH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H) ARMY AIR FORCES THURSDAY 1 FEBRUARY Office of the Intelligence Officer " G • I. MOV I ES" 1800-0ne showing only SPECIAL NARRATIVE REPORT MISSION : 28 February 1945 - SATURDAY 3 FEBRUARY l. "GILDERSLEEVE'S GHOST" with GILDERSLEEVE ENEMY RESISTANCE A. One (1) unident ified t/c aircraft , black in color, was s een at 1230 hours . This EXTRA ATTRACTIONS a/c passed below format ion at 20,000 feet and continued on its heading. THURSDAY 1 FEBRUARY TALK ON THE JAPANESE PEOPLE B. Flak: lhis g r oup encountered moderat e, accurate , h eavy flak, of predominant ly by an associate of Ambass . Grew tracking type. The flak was accurat e as to altitude and as to deflection. Our formation Immediately following the movies. was in the flak for approximately three (3) minutes . Thirteen ai r c r aft w ere damage d by flak, five sustaining major damage and eight minor damage. FRIDAY 2 FEBRUARY U.S.O. TROUPE 432 "TIMES SQUARE" 11. SIGNIFICANT OBSERVATIONS t o e t t e s Cas of four men and f ur wom n in an hour and wen y minut s how. A. Land: __ , 24,000 ' , 30 tanks of o il storage type were observed 1430-0ne s howing only. B. Air : 1000 - o v e r Flore nce a r ea, a co-pilot list ening on VHF heard a German e se o e e s t s e Pl a n te: Th r is a how hi Tu s. evening. This week only. conversat ion, v o ice said, "Do you hear me" and then c ount ed up to 30. Net was t hen --- off.

"SPORTS FOR SPORTS" C. Flak Position: Illegible . t o e t e t t r e r Ping Pong: Even h ugh th 346 h was so confid n that hey w ote up a column d sc ibing D. Smoke Screen s : 1150 - 33,000', smoke s creen at 40/_, 20/ Very small e r t t r t e s e th ir victo y, Hq. won he playoff ma ch fo h championship. In hair-rai ing match s, on t op o f a hill. Smoke was billowing in a large vo lume. smoke s creen, e s e so t s r t s e ts e r ------Rub n tein , Micha l n, Ma hu , and Zwe dling won heir ingl se whil Tidma sh chalked fair coverage of warehouse and small t own up a victory for his side. Vest and Sebolev ski took the double s t o make the final s core 4-3 in favor of Hq. One unusual aspect of the match wa s t he yelling, stamping , whistling , I I I. CONCLUSIONS t t r t t s s applauding spec a o s loudly led by Mo Goldman. The only hing tha wa mi sing from a A. Total Losses: None t e s e s t t t e ro t o o t ypical B'klyn gam wa th ab ence of pop bo tles . Don' ge m w ng h ugh--we l ved i B. Damage : From Flak: 13 (5 major - 8 minor) e t e e t e o a and it made th match all he mor xciting. It would be a good hing if some of th ther a 3 wounded (2 slight - 1 serious) squadrons backed their team like the 346th. C. Victories: None. ' Basketball: The 346t h Rat t lers can evidently show the ping pong team something about D. Corrections on Telephone Mission Report: None . winning games. By beating the 702nd Eng. last w e ek, t hey r e t ained the i r hold on first place in t h e American league . Spe ar and L t . W ellborne cer t ainly were hot in their last game and are mainly responsible for t he 36-30 drubbing they handed t he Eng. The fine MISSIONS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH, 1945 it t e amwork and pas sing o f t he whole s quad makes a cinch t o cop fir s t place in t h e MISSION e ague--only two more games t e r o l o go. We'r pulling fo y u! NUMBER --DATE TARGET 1 NEWS FROM HOME 352 March 1945 Moosebierbaum 0/R , Austria Boston: This s ign hangs in t he window o f a S o u t h Boston pe t ship: "Cats Trained to 353 2 March 1945 Linz M/Y , Austria Scratch your Ba ck." 354 4 March 1945 Sopron W. M/Y, Hungary 355 8 March 1945 Hegyzhalon M/Y , Hungary Indianapolis: Sant a Clau se r an int o a pack of t rouble in Indianapolis . En route t o a 356 9 March 1945 Bruck M/Y , Austria cost ume party h e was picked up f or drunken driving. His bundle of t oys , police discovered, 357 10 March 1945 Verona-Perona RR Br ., I t aly cont ained several jugs of rye. 358 12 March 1945 Florisdor f 0/R, Austria Kansas City:. This add ran in a recent edit ion of the Kansas Cit y S t ar , "Wanted: Cigar store att endant . Low but first crack at popular br and cigarettes." ',O 31

359 13 March 1945 Regensburg M/Y, Germany B. Air: 1344 - 20,000 ' ,45/SON, 14/40E , strange B-17 j oined format ion in front of 360 14 March 1945 Almesfuzito 0/R, Hungary 99th andwas sh ot at , lat er t ried to join 99th Bomb Group formation. Vert ical st abalizer 361 15 March 1945 Schwartzheide Syn 0/R, G ermany was black /-l01ns - He;r,· NtJ fe . 3e.o, IJ-88 362 16 March 1945 Florisdorf 0/R, Austria 363 19 March 1945 Lendshut M/Y , Germany C. Smo ke Screens: 1225 - 23,000' ,scatt ered and thin smoke screen covering �� 364 20 March 1945 Kerneuberg 0/R , Austria --- miles, at 48/1 0N, 12/20E . 365 21 March 1945 Florisdorf O/R, Austria 1230 - 47/40N, 12/�E , smoke screen at Salsburg. Smoke pots in a line 3 miles N orth of 366 22 March 1945 Ruhland 0/R, Germany town. 367 23 March 1945 Ruhland o/R, Germany ll I. CONCLUSION 368 24 March 1945 Daimler B enz Tk. Wks., G ermany o 369 25 March 1945 Prague Kbely A/D, Czechoslovakia A. Total L sses: None - 370 26 March 1945 Weiner Neustadt M/Y/ Austria B. Damages : From Flak 3 minor 371 30 March 1945 Vienna N. Goods Depot , Aust ria C. Victories: None. 372 31 March 1945 Linz Main Stat ion, Aust ria D. Corrections on T e lephone Mission Report : None . � SPECIAL NARRATIVE REPORT "HERE 'TIS" MISSION: 1 March 1945 - Moosbierbaum 0/R, Austria 1 TALY 4 Feb. 45 Publ e c e 1. ENEMY RESISTANCE ished W ekly by the Spe ial S rvice Section , Hq. 99th Bomb Group (H). Vol II-6 A. Fighters : No e nemy aircraft were observed on today 's mission. ALL GIRL ORCHESTRA AT FLAGELLA B. Flak : [his group at tac k e d 2 t argets t oday. Over Moosbierbaum, slig ht , D'Ar t ega's All t Girl Orches ra will not tour the Bomb Groups , but will play in the accurate , heavy, barrage type flak was encountered. This flak was encount ered for the Flagella n _ most for five days beginni g Thursday evenin g, 6 February, at 1930 Hrs. It is part after bombs had been dro pped. The flak was inaccurate as to alt itude and deflect ion . schedul d Friday n n t � afternoon a d igh , Saturday night, Sun day afternoon and night , a nd Over Villada, mode rat e, fairly accurat e, heavy flak was encountered. T h is flak was Monday night t t n . Af ernoon ime is 1400 Hours; ight 1930 Hours. No tickets necessary· first fairly accurate as to altitude and deflection. Two (2) of our aircraft were damaged, come first s erved. ' sustaining minor damage . Flak at Villada was of barrage t ype and was encountered for about four (4) minutes. BALL TURRET COVER INVENTED II. SIGNIFICANT OBSERVATIONS S/Sgt George Fierbaugh , 348th, put out by the difficulty of removing while i n flight the accumulation of mud on his bal l turret window, proceeded to rect ify the sit uat i on . By A. Flak Posit ions: Villada, N-F/A-N means of a c ouple of screws at about 1 and 10 o'clock on t he window as well as a bar across the bot tom, Fierbaugh discovered that he could faste n a cover o; the window that Gyor, 47/ , 17/� , just o ne burst observed could easily be removed while i n flight, saving no little trouble and providing much Moosbierbaum c learer vision t o the ball gunner. B. Illegible END-OF-COURSE TESTS URGED C. Air: Illegible Many of t h e men in our Group who received self-teaching text s last fall should have III. CONCLUSIONS : progressed far enough by this time to apply for an end-o f-course test if he desires. I t is wise to be examined in your particular subject , so that you may get a cert ificate of having A. Total Losses: None. s�ccessf�lly compl eted the c ourse and so that t he grade and r ecord of completion may be B. Damage : From Flak: 2 minor f�led with the Armed Forces Inst it ute. The AFI , upon your request , will negot iate for y ou Victories: None t o h t c n c. with a school of c _ollege o determine h w muc credit a par icular s hool will gra t you D. Corrections on Teleph one Mission Report : None. n i t n c o for k �wledge_ ga ned hrough correspo dence or self-tea hing courses. Some day y u may want this service, and the Armed For ces Inst itute will be unable to h elp y ou unless i t h as record of your having sat isfactorily complet ed work on a s elf-t eaching course. SPECIAL NARRATIVE REPORT c See or all Capt Tren t i n the Hq Spec ial Service ce t MISSION : 2 March 1945 - LINZ M/Y, AUSTRIA Offi if you wan this service. Examinations are free t o e nlisted men; they cost Officers $2 .00. I. ENEMY RESISTANCE : BARBER SHOP QUARTET CONTEST : No enemy aircraft were o bserved or enc ountered on today's mission. A. Fighters A Barber Shop Quartet contest under the sponsorship of Special Service Section MTOU SA, t h t e · Flak: This gro up e n countered moderat e, inaccura e, eavy flak over the arg : is ow e ing conducted throughout this Theater. Our Group will compete in the Foggia Area, B. c e Le � ? of barrage and t racking type. Flak was encountered about 30 se onds b f? Adriat ic Zon e c on tes t . Dat es for Area competitio n have not been announced, but squadrons The flak""°"was t ction and l�sted for about 1 1/2 minutes. The flak was off as o defl� are urged to ge their quartets organized. There is no limit to the number of quartets we bombs were dropped on n � the last squadr i the e but altitude was fairly good. The flak was fairly accurate as to can ent r. Prizes for winners will c onsist of War Bonds and special ly decorated and Group and 3 aircraft sust ained minor flak damage. desi�ned souvenirs. If circumstances permit , Theater champions may t our the T h eat er as a portion of an entert ainment unit . II. SIGNlFlCANT OBSERVAT lONS . - very litt le Some contest rules follow: A. Land: 1205 _ 22,000' , 46/20N , 12/45E , Linz M/Yds repaired rolling stock. a. Each quartet will sing only three numbers. 1307 - 25,300' , A/C at 42/15N, 14/16E - 25 s/c a/ c . b. No single number will last more than five minut es. 1338 - 21,000', 7 t/c a/c , A/D, 47/12N, 14/42E, also 5 s/e a/ c . c. Eac h quartet must sing "Down By the Old Mill St ream" as one of th e three numbers 1340 - 21,000' , �� M/Yds, 47/13N, 14/40E . sung. 33 d. Two of the three numbers may be selected by the quartet . Hq e. Costuming will not be considered in judging the winners. New officers were elected this week for our club. Dent is Pres , and Michaelson is his f. One accompanist using any instrument may be included in the quartet , or the vice. Sheffield, Sull ivan and Shapiro are the House Committee members, while Swerdling, accompanist may be a fifth member but must not sing. Koch and Walters work on getting some entertainment for you boys. Frank Medici has consented to remain Submit names of entries to the following Men : 346th-Corp Corcoran; 347th-Sgt Axelrod; treasurer again and deserves a hand--for it 's a thankless job. This 348th-Sgt Buekenan; 416th-Corp Morrow; Hq-Pfc Zwerdling. crew of energetic beavers have made extensive plans for remodeling the club, and are already at work. Every man can have a hand in building up a club equal to a New York night FIVE POINT LANDING club if he does one or two things. Firstly, he can contribute a few bucks to the fund so Three point landings are what pilots strive for in setting down an aircraft after a new chairs and tables can be purchased. Everyone should be able to do this. And those of flight, but a five pointer took place recently. It might well be termed A crash landing, you who wan t to help by wielding a paint brush or hammering a nail--well, just drop by the for as Sgt John Wiggin, Hq FRO, was making a short hop to the latrine outside the hospital club anytime and help the boys along. Charlie Karchnyak, our interior decorator will show in the "wee small hours" a few morninqs ago, his sleep-fogged eyes failed to see the foot you what to do . I' scra�er well hidden behind the outswinging door, and with full ground speed ahead, caught a CHAPLAIN'S CORNER I toe in same, took off again and landed on the steel taxi strip, lighting on both hands , I both knees , and his abundant stomach at one and the same time. After bouncing a few times, There is something seriously wrong with a person who has lost his sense of humor. God he came to rest and found himself with a mere scratch. He can't even get a Purple Heart gave us laughter as a tonic for the soul; nothing replaces the proper perspective on life I for the rough mission. better than a hearty laugh. Those of us overseas are in danger of developing irritations and depressions , "FRAGS" self-pity and hyper-critical attitudes toward others. We tend to take everything, 346th especially the things that happen to use personally, too seriously. There is a funny side, too. And our morale depends on how well we see that, The most intriguing game of this week came about because of two utterances that spewed forth from the mouth of one V.S. SEARLES. Said V.S. to Ryan the other morning, "What did Special Service deserves hearty praise for providing many entertainments and you do with those letters you put in my pocket?" About an hour later, Searles came out movies--they help a lot. But organized programs and movies are not the whole struggle! with this gem , "I think l'll get a shave before I get Ryan's haircut." You figure it out . There is something that we ourselves must do. We need to remember that an American .Our new traffic cop, FRANK O'DONNELL claims a teriffic drop in accidents this past characteristic is the willingness to laugh in the face of difficulties and troubles--to see week . The reason, said Frank, is that no one has any transportation. Everybody is the funny side, We need, each one of us, to develop this ability to face life with a sense walking, even LINKLATER ..••Mine Host Louie Levenson has gone back to school. He is now of humor--to do it consciously and unconsciously , habitually . a student at Cook and Barbers University at Bari. After Louie graduates, he will be given This has been called a war of nerves. The person with a sense of humor is less likely a medallion struck from a C ration can •.••We want the whole wide world to know that ART to fall victim of nerves than those who tear themselves down "sweating it out." Let us be PORTER, of Bath, Maine, painted the Day Room practically by himself. Another of Art 's many like the Cat in "Alice in Wonderland" and let the grih be the last thing to go. talents is winning Oak Leaf Clusters to his Air Medal •.••We feel it only fair to warn In the fina l analysis, a sense of true humour is the result of a deep confidence in you that Capt Richmeir is going to pre-flight the "Rocket ." This freak of nature is the God and his goodness--a confidence that at the heart of the universe, things are all right , only automobile we know of whose front wheels roll forward and back wheels roll backward. that wrongs cannot possibly win in the long run, and that there if Joy in everything. Get 347th yourself right with God, and the other things will fall into their proper place. Go to Church ! Attention Frank Buck, Tarman etc. We have a man who belongs right up in the big leagues of the animal hunting game . CPL MAKHAUSKAS set a snare the other night and caught CHURCH SCHEDULE not one, but two savage beasts--two ferocious, man-eating one inch mice ••••'' I just put a Catholic: Monday Mass gallon of oil into the weapons carrier. I guess that should be enough" said CPL ZINKOFSKY 0800 , 1600 , 1830 to SGT BOBCO . That loud noise resulting was Bobco blowing his top •.••CPL ALVA "POP" ROSSER our mail orderly is again moving his place of business. Part of the plan for Protestant: Sunday 0800-347; 0845-0rd; improving our day room ••••Sweat it out fellows. We should have our bar ready pretty 0930-348; 101 5-416 soon. I guess we 'd better put in a few cases of vadka for the Reds when they get down 1830-Hq. here. However, let's not be too hasty about packing our barracks bags--wait a week or two. 348th HOSPITALIZED AT THE 99th Life in the 348th last week centered around the three Rs--rain, rumors and Russia. Going to the hospital isn't the old bugaboo that it used to be for now the Group's own The rain continued, the rumors flew and the Ru ssians marched on . Over in the P.X., Pop hospital is in fine running order and has been for some time. Equipped with a ward of som Hollani and Bob Avant got up a little pool to see when Joe Stalin's boys would reach : 16_ or 17 beds, the patients that formerly were "quarters" c Berlin. The latest date in the pool is March 3rd. Maybe they are a little too optimistic, �ses o_r the ones that would ordinarily be sent to the 61st for a period of internment for but the way things are going you can never tell . • • . "H-hour Hemphill" did it again. mil? ailments, now rest �p betwe�n sheets �n the base hospital . Here ones friends may After sweating out nine H-hours, he put himself on the leading list for the tenth time, easily pay a call on a patient, mail and rations do not take the sweating out that is then took his name off. That day they flew a mission •••.Is it true that Elmer Gill and neces�ary �way from the base, and the squadron Medical Officers may care for their own men Grady Landford have written for reservations at a Dallas hotel for July 4th? Evidently on their daily calls. they haven't heard that all Texans in the armed forces are slated for six months in Burma _ X-rays , laboratory tests and fine care of the patients night and day make it a when we really open up on the Japs ...•We 'll match Jamie Fontana's board against any in hosp�tal_ the Group can be proud of. Headsets for radio entertainment dangle over each bed the group right now . That'll be just the thing when he gets into the infantry •..•Hope and �n inclement weather, �hey even hav � running water over each bed. However, the you boys are giving George Boukoma your cooperation in getting the show ready . The other �Ospital does not b?ast of this last convenience and plans for rectifying the situation are squadrons are practically all set with theirs and we'll have to get on the ball. in progress. Seriously though , it is a fine place and no one should feel reluctant to "turn himself in" to his infirmary if he is not well. Eisman Freeman ' and their little helper "PISTO FY" will serve you meals in bed and make you comfy . 34 35 MOV IE SCHEDULE SGT ALLEN A. WELLS: If the veterans of this war an organization which will MONDAY 5 FEBRUARY better man's understanding of his fellow man and if the world which will seek a fuller and "CRIME BY NIGHT" with more equitable of Nature's resources for all people, if the veterans of this war bvelieve that their common experiences have broadened their understanding of these matters, JANE WYMAN & JEROME COF MAN I believe they would do well to solidify their forces for the work ahead by forming their 1600-347th, 416th & Hq. THURSDAY 8 FEBRUARY own organization. 2000-346th, 348th & Ord. "G .1. MOV lES" NO. 63 WEDNESDAY 7 FEBRUARY 1800-0ne showing only PFC ALLEN ZWERDLING: In twenty years, a new organization would be as conservative and inept as the A.L. But let's have a new one while we're still young and enthused. "TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT" with SATURDAY 10 FEBRUARY PHIL BAKER "ABROAD WITH TWO YANKS" with NEWS FROM HOME 1800-346th, 348th, & Ord. WILLIAM BENDIX, DENNIS O'KEEFE be 2000-347th, 416th & Hq. le Want Ads Wanted : A strong horse to do the work of a country minister.--Conn. paper BOMBARDIER-PHOTOGRAPHER se e Wanted: Man to do paperhanging in exchange for permanent wave--. When Captain Albert Beals decided to take a camera along on a mission, nothing much Joplin, Mo. paper was thought about it, but when he came back it was discovered that he had taken some extraordinary shots. It was his unusual vapor trail shot that adorne this week 's "FRONT Wanted: One wealthy wife, by young unemployed man of Tallahassee, not bad looking and had PAGE" as well as the Jan 28th ' s Sunday Stars and Stripes. From now on, however, the only experience in Madison--Tallahassee, Fla. paper pictures Capt. Beals will be shooting will be of bathing beauties on Lake Eire's shores. Wanted : Job. Honest man. Will take anything--Jacksonville, Fla. paper That's right, he 's packing his ping pong paddle, dice, and toothbrush and is heading home. Swap: Drink mixer, glasses, tray etc ., for a good baby carriage--Ossining, N.Y. paper Sports for Sports ISAF - Basketball: The 346th Rattlers wound up the regular season in a tie for first place. The Page 18 SORTIE play-off with an aggregation known as the Bombers will be announced in a later edition of Here Tis. SWISS INTERNESS ASSOCIATION - Joseph FLYING JACKETS - There's a program for you Last Thursday night, the Rattlers whipped the Gremlins 48 to 30. The game was marked Krajewski writes that the Association has located WW II aviators who are wondering what to do with by the sensational second half come-back of the Rattlers for at the half they were behind current addresses for hundreds of former Swiss your A-2 flight jackets. The father of an Air Force 24 to 16. Ed Spear, the league's high scorer started off the second half properly by interness. If you would like to locate former friends Academy cadet will help arrange for the donation of dribbling through the whole Gremlin team to reach pay-dirt with a neat lay-up shot. With who were interned or would like to join, the Associa­ old A-2 jackets directly to worthy cadets. The this as an inspiration, Welborn, , Tidmarsh and Scholowski really got rolling tion address is: 1010 Radnor Avenue, Pine Beach, NJ program is designed to encourage the vet and cad�t and dropped the ball in from all over the court to finish the game with a decisive lead. to correspond so that the vet can hand down some 08741. Please enclose a self addressed and stamped WW II aviation lore to a future aviator and at the Sidelights: Mo Goldman, the manpower specialist in the 346th, yelled himself out of a day It. envelope. same time, learn a bit about the latest crop of cadets a week. the other day. Down at the basketball game, he told Tidman he could have the next :n and the Academy. A jacket with its history is day off if he scored a basket. Tiddy came close to getting a three day pass by accounting inspirational to these cadets and is a direct oppor­ for ten points. While on the subject of Mo, be sure to come down to the day room during tunity to share your history and heritage with a the ping pong tournament--Goldie has developed a new secret weapon, the V164. Details are 50- Jl>'1 J'Ss /ovi future Air Force leader. If interested, contact Cullen not known but Mo claims it will put them on top in a breeze. Hot.,.) a hou f Wilder, 1014 Gloucester Court, Sunnyvale, CA 94087; INQUIRING REPORTER (408) 720-0709. !Ed's Note: While the program is not Ccxfs ( formally connected with the Academy, I have received a "Should World War II Veterans join the American Legion or form one of their own?" letter from the cadet who helps select the cadets and SGT RAYMOND BROGAN: We should join the same organizations as our fathers did. By working administers the program at the Academy and I am satisfied with already established outfits, we can help immeasurably to perpetuate the high ideals of that this is a worthwhile and unique opportunity.I our fathers. 4Sl�f B.c'J b f3(1 6 i:ct r.s fe 11J OJ SGT HERBERT LAMSON : The American legion has only succeeded in prostituting its alleged 'j aims. I fail to see any raison d'etre for any such organization. ------HISTOR\' ------f 21 CAPT JAME MURPHY : A single organization would be stronger than two . William McGuire, Group Gunnery Officer. Major Herschel Personnel activities included the following: Four key Mahon, 727th Operations Officer, finished up his missions S/SGT ARTHUR REID: I believe we should organize ourselves . We are in conflict the likes officers were promoted to captain on the first of the month, and being "war-weary" went to recuperate in the States on the of which was unknown to mankind. Veterans of this war have seen with their own eyes what they were: Captain Henry Richardson, Group Statistical 2nd of the month, Lt. William Finley, Group Weather Officer, the Nazi has done. He will never forget, never let it happen again. Officer; Captain WilbertJacobs, 725th Squadron S-2; Captain left for the 99th Bomb Group on the 4th and Lt. Williams J.W. Ramsey, 725th Engineering Officer; and, Captain who joined us last month took over his duties. Lt. Finley had SGT LARRY BJORNEBY : MDaintain the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. They have long been one of the most remarkable characters in this much to offer and any faults can be rectified by new blood. organization. 37 2 May 1988 Dear George - To help fill in the name blanks of Covert 's aircraft: The first was named Cotton-Eyed Shipping Get,�; Joe and the crew officers were C.B. Covert, pilot; James Hagen, Co-pilot; Jack E. Cook, navigator; and Wm . Barney , bombadier. The 2nd plane he named Cotton-Eyed Joe Il [Sqdn Pounding at JJ; 34 7th]. 4 .....nm.. "<<1��. l do not know the enlisted crew, but Hagen or Jack Cook would. Nor do I know who became his co-pilot when Hagen got his own crew. Chuck flew in yellow cowboy boots he had Naples L{i_;: worn in Helotis, Texas where we danced Cotton-Eyed Joe (the dance) every Sat . nite & Sun By the AIOoelated J>reu. afternoon during our courtin' days. He named his airplanes that because he said if any Massive fleets of Allied aircraft, including hundreds o( plane could be as bodacious as that dance, he'd get home ! I pray & thank God he did. I American Flying Fortresses, blasted at Axis Industrial, U-boat. just wish he'd lived past his 54th birthday so he could enjoy growing old with all you a;.i shipping strongholds from Kiel in the north to Na.pl� In · ,Naples ) • ! the south Sunday and Monday, causing heavy damage and by Axis account a big loss of life. Someday, i'd love to write an article for you on the wives point of view as we In a Monday daylight raid, "a large force of U. S. Flying traveled from combat "get tin" ready" station to station. We had some interesting things Fortresses raided near Antwerp, Belgium. . 1 Bgoo����' ..., Ono). happen and learned a lot about prayer once you'd left the States. Smashing atMaJ Naples,.. key. mainland supply port for Tunis�, n�rb: 100 . of Gen. l&m.es H. .Doolittle's fou.r�moto.rfl(l the ve of Rew �-. and Lieut. col. I hope to go to the '89 reunion in Mc Allen . I realize its getting late in life. I giants carried out the. greatest raid of the war on th&t city from Q. ,f.9. Quick200 ot Salt Lake City, utah. I French North African bases Sunday. Nearly tons of bombs were, I will also celebrate my 50th high school graduation in SA in '89. s While these were spreading a cloud across Axis hopes In the dropped in 15 minutes. I a Fighter opposition was weak and' Mediterranean, another huge force of 188 American Fortresse! the majority of the almost five- · l keep in touch with Cantwell & vice versa. Hope we can get him to a reunion in TX. thundered over the Renault tank and motor factory at th·e out­ score bomber crews saw no sign of We are still dancing Cotton-Eyed Joe here--but slower!! skirts of Paris In the greatest American raid of the war from enemy aircraft. Of the few which Britain. did challenge the Fortresses, a num- /JJ., ee �. Best regards, ber were damaged. I • 11 · t ..,_ These blows were followed Sunday night by Britain's bl:,i Large clear patches in the cloudy ��..e_. v , � I bombers which dropped more than 1000 tons of bombs OJl 1Uej; 0 Maxine K. Covert sky over Naples enabled the born- f'I' ,. • · • f tJ-.J German naval base and U-boat building center. Essen, seoqn,f ' bardlers to line up the tugets most blitzed city of the Reich, had Its heaviest raid in ree� accurately, observers said. and huge · A LLI ED HEADQUARTERS, ever found Fred G. Moseley? clouds or smoke quickly b!llowed up North · Has anyone weeks on Saturday night. Africa, April 5-IUPJ-Bi'·' from the objectives. / fleets of American bombers in� P.S. I would love to know what the final end of either of those planes was and who piloted SHIPS21 BOMBED. ! eluding �!most 100 Flying 'Fort·35 :· it after Oct '43, when Covert came home after his 50th. LONDON, April 5.- (!P)-The Al­ Of the ships damaged in the resses, hit or damaged about giers radio reported t-Oday American harbor, three were !lners. Bomb e�mY ve:5cls m the ?ig Italian forces, spearheaded by tanks, were bursts were reported to have cov- port_ 9� Naples . and adJacent wa- furiously attacking Germ.an posi­ ered97 the Capodichlno air field, where ters, a c�mmu11:1que announced ot- tions east of Maknassy on the cen­ aircraft were observed on the day, · while Untted . States grountl tral Tunisian front after Intense · ground. forces drnve the Germans from two Sear Maxine; artUJery preparation. Just before the Fortresses hit I . �ore hills i� southwest1;;m The American troops In the Mak- , A. Naples, Mitchell bombers dropped Tu.nis1a. . nassy sector represent the north- . Our thaktJ heavy loads of explosives on the ; T�e aerral attacks on the main We have searched the phone books of Virginia and the District em-most of two columns under : harbor of Ce.rloforte on the south- • Italian supply polt of Naples and General Patton, which have been : west coast of Sardi�ia. The crews ! on . ships in -Sicilian and Sardinian ; of Columbia FOR Moseley with no sucess. We wish to check out thIUSting toward the sea In a threat , /vfa r_Jare f reported they hit a coastal vessel : waters gave the Italian ma inland I the �lfn or that he has some film of the 99th . Perhaps some of our to Field Marshal Rommel's flank. I · r.nd uine sm,�n boats a.nd started its first taste of high altitude : fires in the boaty:uds ' a warehouse . bombing by the Northwest African Gentle Readers will be able to help us .. Thank you for writing 1 12 airforceH. commanded by Maj. Gen. ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN Bo af�rjhf a.nd along the waterfr�nt. (The Ita- 1 30 persons ' J ames Doolittle. - We would like to print your account of life back in the Zone NOR� AFRICA, Apr!J 5.-CA'J-U. llan communique said -£y were kllled and Injured in Car- Almost two l1undrcd tons of Of The Interior . geo S. Flying Fortresses smashed Naples ffli.S bombs were dropped on Naples in In · the greatest raid of the war loforte.) Another Mitcheli formation set the 15-minute attack and 27 out of a�a!nst that Tyrrhenian sea supply I 97 aircra!t on the nearb Capo Di , ?Qrt yesterday as the American pa.J �. afire two ships in an attack on the . . ;,' 'Sicilian channel convoy and destroy- Cluno a1rf1cld were h_1t on the San Antonian S1:cond army corJJ6 repulsed a Ger­ rou d All F I . two Messerschmltts which at- g . the American ort- mancounter-11ttack in the El Guetar : ed 1 ress �1eturned to base. Jt11Ctor and continued the drive to- ; . tempted to intervene. ! . The attac� on Naple� was the -t.lown into Rome, one of the 'boys wa.rd a junction with the British ! DOG FIGHTS. : sixth Amencan au· raid on the I Yank Over :Home Eighth army, !b wa.s · left his waist gun long enough to Dies in Action announced Sgt. Eldin A. Davl.s or Tacoma, port, but it was four times heav- t.oday. Kirkland pick up a violin he had borrowl:!d Wash., a.nd Sgt. Robert O. j ��1· !han ai1y previous bombing of / Names of one San Antonian . �early 100 ot . the four-engined , of Plant City, Fla., were credited ;,ap1c�, wnere the Amer,c·au� 1,o from the Red Cross and FortreSlles from Maj: Gen . 1 Dropped Bombs offered a killed ln action and two others .James H. · with these two victories. fa1· have not lost a plane in attacks i l'endition of 'Yankee Doodle.' Doolittle's air force stole the show So wounded were released Wednesday One of the Lightning pilots es- from the l\Iiddle East cir from this l history yesterday aftemQQn. 'with the raid corUng the Mttchells, Lieut. John sector. repeated itself-and he fid• by the war department. .on. Naples, the . .tlr,t against the B. Cappo, hit the water during a Ten ships, including two liners, i 'n Grabbed Fiddle Idled while Rome burned," Captain Dead is Flight Officer Horace A . base from French··North African . Burrell said. bases. · · · · dog fight and his propeller was were hit in Naples habol'. A fire Bolik, killed In the North African :(n far-flung otterisfve operations damaged. He managed to cllmb was started on one ship. A re- OMAHA, Sept. 12 (IP).-One Yank bof-� iteVHs. area. His mother,432 Mrs. Annie It. which pocked .enemy air fields, again, however, and engaged in an- , pairship and three submarines and really fiddled while Rome burned Eollk, lives at Tenth street. blasted an enemy· convoy In the other brush · with the Germans. ! a cluster of small vessels also were tf'o Then he reached home safely. ! hit, while se,·en merchantmen in , during the first bombing assault ,mn. ho, The wounded are Lleut. Col. John Sic!llan narrows and rained destruc­ tion on Naples and the Sardlnlan Western desert air force fighter l a floating dock, a liner and two ' the Italian rapi tal, Capt. Harry Mar-.�y'1 re+ B. De Russy, and Lieut', Col. LeRoy bombers attacked two alrdromes In '. escort vessels were damaged. Fires 4,_Ralney. The former's wife, Mrs.1046 harbor of Carloforte, the Allled air Burrell of Omaha, pilot of a bomb­ Boa-f-r,vf1' J fore� Jost five planes, according to the southern Tunisian sector, Inter. were started on the qu,1ys and in j �1 � De Russy, lives at , ceptlng two formations or enemy adjacent industrial areas. er in the raid, wrote his parents. Shook avenue, whlie the latter's an official announcement. .;:-, ·;e.J Eleven en:emy planes were shot bombers wlth•f!ghter cover, Spitfire At nearby Capo Di Chino air- "After bombs were on their way wife, Mrs.230 Pauline L. Rainey, re­ I patrols chw.ed them away from : field, bomb bursts covered thc iides at North drive. down In combat and at least 29 ·were destroyed on the ground. j their targets and shot down five : field. Only weak fighter opposi­ Also listed 8.5 killed In the North Three formations of • Fortresses ' Messerschmitt.s. tion was encountered, but the African area were Pfc. Manuel made the Naples raid. They were I bombers met rather heavy anti- · Diaz, of Edinburg and Capt. Loran led by Col. Stanley J. Donovan of aircraft fire. J. Stewart, of Kingsville. Portland, Maine; � Another South Texan wounded is Pvt. Rafael Cano of Mercedes. (Con�ued on Pue 2. CQl 5) 38 � We are unable to give proper thanks and credit to the member who sent this in, because in the typing process the editor somehow FortsWhi geo When all guns were knocked out p let this copy get separated fron the or iginal . Sorry . of action, the pilot, First Lieut. fort· s Albert E. Davis o! Modesto, Calif., w·,n gave the oraer to ball out. Waist U.S.S. Macomb (DMS 23) August IYanks Survive Gunner Sgt. John Withrow of Grand Nazis in 29, 1945 Junction, Colo., went first, then a Sergeant Dorr, a photographer mak­ A,·r Battle Anchored in Tokio Bay, Japan ing his first trip with .the crew; 'FierceBat tle then Bombardier First Lieut. Vin- Italy Duel Dear Mother ; cent E. S of c"a!Ifornla; navi- � o. Peter gator First �feut. He!!)e.r;t 0 (Continued25 From Page one) of Hollywood, Ca!ir., (a musical ar­ In spite of all the other events that have occurred in the last few weeks pertaining to the ver s ,·c·,1y mated more parked on the ranger for Walt Disney studios) and end of the war , nothing has made it seem so real as the heading on this letter. The very Sicily finally the pilot, Huckabee and ALLIED HEADQUARTERS ground. Over IN Fleming. NORTH AFRICA, July 6.-(A')- Three fortreses were lost. fact that we are allowed to tell our whereabouts is somehow more concrete evidence that the By CLINTON GREEN, ' "The plane was in a spin when I Allied air u. I. N, S. Staff Correopoadeai, forces, spearheaded by They handed the Germans 11uch war is over , than even the fact that at the present time we are anchored in Tokio Bay , just Jumped," said Huckabee. ··1 saw it S Flying Fortresses which AMERICAN FORCES IN i I shot i savage mauling that throughout WITH crash In flamea as we floated down." down 41 enemy fighters over Ger­ off the Yokosuki Naval Base, and in plain sight of the sacred volcano of Japan , Mt . SICILY, Delayed - (INS) - Two ! "SWEAT QUT" RAIDS bin!, struck paralyzing the rest of the day only about 10 first Italian- : blows at Axis Fujiyama. American filers - the Within 15 minutes after hitting r€Sistance yesterday cYer enemy fighters rose tc meet suc­ be released by: Sicily and held prisoners to the ground, the men were taken Sardinia. ceeding boml:Er formations. P-38 Yank invasion forces - were found! moved by It has been an unforgettable experience, witnessing the end of the war . We were underway prisoners and ambulance It first was announced30 the Fort­ Lightnings downed five of these. lying wounded In a. h06pltal in the. to a Catholic hospital, where they resses had shot s , a mission down fighters NAZIS DESPERATE from Okinawa for a combat sweep operation off the western coast of the Kyushi amall town or Ra.gu$8. today. were treated for their wounds. The but tonight it was stated Sgt, Allen B. officially , when the first news of the surrender reached us. The ship They were First pilot and Withrow were the only after complete checking and The Germans made desperate and involving quite a bit of risk Temple, Texas,

Yes, tomorrow the troops go ashore to occupy Japan! Since we anchored this morning, we MISSION SUCCESS w� Nazi Air Force The battle over Gerbini l�ted have watched the harbor slowly fill with ships of all types , some loaded with troops , ready only 15 minutes and , '1'!1e Al)Je4 aerial off11Q8iv11 PAJ,ERMO RAIDED the Fortre dlng in 1i.Jy 1t6eJf. to make what is probably the first bloodless invasion of the Pacific War . It is going to 30 victims all V:ere registered w� •Pf-'e& cl,eap tQ In that time. 4Jnerican µ�rawr bllmb. er� ffQl!1. , The deinoraliilng forays caused Shaky; Spaatz d t to ln� iwo be a thrilling sight, as are all amphibious invasions. But this one especially, be cause Their true mJ+->ion which wa to the �!tl !i, � 1116!> re damage to tour enemy merchant ' · 5 IIJIP'¥"tll-n� llijalllf airdf� in ships at Termini, destroyed scores it is the last . cas ca d e hi g h explosive over the iiouthern Italy b daylight planes and y and R of railroad cars and trucks, and Says U.S. Did It installations at Gerblnl, A F Lancaster& swung down ove� was accomplished with g damaged stations, balTacks and From day to day I'll write and tell you as much as I can. Right now , I'm going to say hardly lesa the A lps_ f rom EngI dan to pulverize . · success. Bomb splinters tore throu h liridges huddles commurucations In northern Italy. · American Mltchells In two strong goodnight, as we had a 0300 reveille this morning, and it has been a long, exciting day . I ALLIED HEADUARQTER.S 'in of plane.s sitting on tl\e ground, destroying and damag1'1l,l fOUR, W4VES Qf P@�T,. waves dropped almost 100 tons of North Africa, t hope this letter finds everything as usual at home. Aug. 18 (APL-The many, MacJlum bombers 1,n4 fi&"q�J'r ,1 explosives on the city and port of German Air For�e I& s aggering, Lt. Hangars and administration build- bc)ffi.b.ers ,courged th" !!ll.elllJI tn Palermo. They reported a blanket Love to all , Gen, Cart A. Spaatz declared in an 1ngs were hit and smoke wa.s rislnr SJ.cily by nlillt and �Y, rillmlg I o! fire spread over the city during adcirea& to American Flying For• high when the big bombers left. r�4 and r�!r epmm1.mica� ll!ld i the four hour,s the r11-ids persisted. MeanwhUe h erhe n Paterno, an eastern Siellian town John Williams Sibole tress crewss returning from their other Allied unlu were f!VWi Ulf . t ov ,lp pr?M1tt.w sv.eeplng out enemy air-nests on tq MJled tQl'ct. J, near Cata.nia, received a severe bo bl 0 fields Tues- SardiniaR and Sicily. n · blasting by Mitchell,. da� n�h !tr::r:! iri1:. s !i/.iFJ;ee epe�y aircraft1 �� �e- A. F. Welllngtons plastered stmyad IJYMK t.J)e d 14yan�II\ An lecl Allied coastal aircraft sank or Thecommander of the Northwe t Villac!dro · Naples Left African Air Forces credited Ameri- airfield In Sardinia. and &!}AAtini;,�nt ·�Id, the severely damaged at least 20,QOO g th e city of Catania In Sicily, bomb- !Qlll. Qf �van 4Jjed �tt: , tons of enemy shipping within 24 o can daylight precision bombin Ing k enemy 24-H ur Attac shipping In the harbor The Allies' famous · one-two hours. One large merchantman was Leaves i with part of the decline of the . German Airt Force. This, he said, there puµch, deHvered i:ly four sW�Vl!!I o1 torpedoed of! the north coast of At lea.st three other major bases American Flying Fortresse In day- Sardinia. 11 · has revolu ionized warfare. · in Ruins by_ Spaatz, keenest exponent of day, for Axis air defenses In the Medi- ligt).t and by tile �- /,.. Jl.'s WeU­ The daylight Liberator attack Sm ok g Ruin in light precision bombing in the Al- terranean were attacked by South IIlgtons at niJht, was e111�ls>yedus to from the Middle. East struck the in · s s African Naple and American alrtorces. give Naples a tremendo main airdrome and two satellite lied Air Forces of the world, had bat­ an electrifying effect on his audi- ?.i.ltchell Bostona and Baltlmorea terinJ. !leldg at Foggia In Southern Italy, ence of several thousand ofticen raided &everal Sicilian alrdromes. The �f-µolll' bombardmeptt,Q w,i.s cau.sing many fires an/i explostrms. 24-Hour Raid (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) was�'t on the . N�ples platform A communique said three enem:, · . waiting for a tram. craft were left burning at one and men. OTHER FOES DOWNED �sc,rll)ed here fl.6 compar11i:lle ijle On the trip Into Italy the Lib· warehouses and locomotive sheds He was introduced by the group Besides the 30 victories officially previous day's "annih/Jat/on '' att.i.ck erators strewed lncemliarles over SQUADRON COMM. LLEWEL- field and that bombs fell among commander, LT. COL. LEROY A. attributed to Fortress on Messlilll llat.eway to the 1t�lan tµe countryside, and upon the re� HEADQUARTERS IN still were seen burning furiously gunners and ALLIED on the neck of land that sticks out LYN T. BOATWRIGHT JR., 12· other craft. Hangars, work­ RAINEY of San Antonio, Texu. five scored by Lightning pilot& also 1p11,jn)�pd, �hlch literally dtstjpye4 tum journey reporte4 �eeing forestot NORTH AFRICA, July 16 (JP).­ nearly to the Italian peninsula. BROWNWOOD, TEXAS, said his shops and administration buildings When Spaatz col!lpared the once- o_ver Gerbini, Allied headquarters an are!l two miles Jong il.Ilil ope fires at 114etaponto on the rulf The great Italian main�and P?rt feared German air lo�oe to v five planes mile wide. �r,.,_z�s; . Taranto. ruins "You get the impression that the formation caught the Naples de- were heavily hit. had been destroyed by of . Naples lay in smokmg 'punch-drunk boxer his airmer Malta aircraft and coastal iQUad- SJCJLV flff.JS SPQ.i�D . Thursd�y un�el' whole of Sicily is slowly burning fenders "completely by surprise." On the trip into Italy the Liber­ . Friday, crusheQcks, e !'-t Na.pl�. dirept �ult...),baf that swept the island rom those shot down tlle WIH" • torpedo te.ctory Messina .fromthe soil of Sicily the dreds f emy merchant ships at Termini, journey reported seeing forest by planes of the Northwest A!- houses 11-lld lo�omottve shieds still were reported on dtpots, stor­ dawn to dusk. "Targets are be · railroad cars fires at Metaponto on the Gulf of on. hits wrevuws Jay. - destroyed ·scores of rican air forces. · were seen purping furiously tpe age bui)dings, � roundhouse and Qn coming scarcer by the hour." and trucks, and damaged stations, Taranto. Four oil fires also were The swarms area · Twenty-four solid hours of bom­ Italian Port of enemy fighters neck of land that stic� O\/.t Witnh} a nt!lroad overpass In an It was officially announced that barrac\{s and bridges. started. One plane was missing the heaviest bomber met over Gerbini gave new indica- three J)1iles of the Italian penm� mushrooming with fires and explo­ bardment by enemy aerial resistance was de- American Mitchells in two strong from the Middle East raids. tions the · · ·· · · ot for­ from North Africa left Axis has rushed aerial re- sula. sions. The last two Wjj.ves formations creasing by the hour. "Very few waves dropped almost 100 ton� of A British communique offered lnforcemen� to the Mediterranea . '·You get the lmprei;slon th11,t th11 were unable to observe re· Naples . fountainhead of enemy re­ n tresses for enemy aircraft were see·n during explosives on the city and port of scant details of the long flight At the eastern end of the Med- whole of Sicily Is slowly tiw-plng suits because of smoke. Four of 23 inforce'ments and :supplies the day and few attempted to fight, Of · ap es In lterranean, were shot down They reported, that a made by its four-engined Lancas­ N I • Palermo. small bodies of British up," said a crewman of an Ameri- enemy interceptors Sicily, an inferno, its arsena! _all X nsmg although our fighters and bombers blanket of fire spread over the city ters to hit Northern Italy, saying tr<>?ps dashed on to the beaches ot �an mect1wn bomber, one of hup, by the unescorted Fprtre5$es. but demolished and smoke flew back and forth at will, slriff- during the four h011rs the raids merely that an electric transformer IS•held Crete from shallow dreds plunked In our eggs any• feet. � draft that swept the islanli fron+ "We more than 20,000 ing transport and communications," persisted. and .switching stations were attack- \e�sels. Sunday night, raided air• dawn to dusk. "Targets are �e.C.OIJl· way," said Sgt. MotTls Seiler Qf Allied aerial offensive was 1 The an announcement said. Paterno, an eastern Sicilian town ed. The purpose of the raid appar- BI azln• ·g R u·ns fields, destroyed grounded planet !ng scii,rcerwas by the hour:• · 1 New york City. "l'Jll liUfll glaj! l While spreading deep into Italy. Hit Nearly Everything, near Catania, which is the next ently was to upset communications - left a number of oil dumps afire, It officially ,mnounced that wisn't ori '..he Naple/i platforl'!l the brunt of I Naples was bearing Besides the Royal arsenal and objective of the British 8th Army, between the Northern Italian in· Al,11 EP HJ\:4�tJAA�M,..- ffi :and withdrew safely. The raid waa !JleJny aerial resh1�ce wa� de- WJllting for a train." Thursday's smashing attack, Amer­ '.orpedo factory at Naples, direct received a severe blasting by dustrial areas and the invaded NOfl/fH 4FRic�, .July J8 -(.f).,,,-,r a"'=""''"'·nnounced last night In a Cairo !reaslng by the hour. •very few /'Squadron Comm!!,nder. Lleweljyn from !he � .,....,.,... Jr., of BrQwnwood, ican Liberator bombers hits were reported on depots, stor· Mitchells. southern region. -4 memy ''""" "'" ,� �· �,,1 T. Boatwright· East tore into two im­ - In a broadcast to the Greek pa. Jl!-Y and few atf£mpt.1Ei to ! , Texas, said his !Qrrpat!Pn cau·ght Middle age buildings, a roundhouse and Allied coastal aircraft sank or (An Italian communique report· Jiap� J y 1µ kl j �t portant enemy airdromes in South• · fl- lifflP. Jig fa JJJ �'W , triots on Crete, the British minis- altpough . our flgp��4 •nd . .._ . iI the Naples defen4ers "completely on a railroad overpass in an area severely damaged at least 20,000 ed that �aples, Foggia and Genoa Cl'�a u nder the �� atagge� ern Italy by daylight and heavy · g try of Information In London quick- flew }?acjc !lnd !Qftl)' at wll.f-_ . ;,- by surprise." mushrooming with fires and ex- tons of enemy shipping within 24 were raided by Allied planes. As Allied l!erial ly n ,:. Sicily as Sun7 RAF Lancasters swung down over plosions. The last two waves of hours. One large merchantman there was no mention of an attack assault that virtually po� �d out that_ "this ts not an Ing transport and commu��� "It's as quiet !n E�glan� to pul­ Wiped MeliSJna of Invasion and cautioned them not an 11-nnounc,emeq�_ �Id . . ·, f.:':.'.e� day nliht in a. small tqwn," re- the Alps from. Fortresses were unable to observe was torpedoed off the north coast on "G enoa· in Allied dispatches, it • 'folfrom t)u aoU r communtcahons m North­ Sicily the to betray themselves by premature ported Lieut. Lester J. Ruegse�­ verize results because of smoke. Four of of Sardinia. was possible that the Lancasters prev•nus�»4 day · t>t resistance. Kan., a war��wk ern Italy. dropped their bombs ·on or near : gler of Salina,. 23 enemy interceptors were shot The daylight Liberator attack 'l'wenty-fo11r �O!JTII '"The day is coming when participating in the c�nt1q l Communications. the Middle East struck the that northern city. The Italians . the ! pilot �� Rake Sicily's down by the unescorted Fortresses'. from oombardment by the heaviest ,signal will t-e given for the war. ; sweeps behind the e!)ell)y Jines. I fighte_r• "We plunked our eggs in any- main · airdrome and two satellite said their fighters shot down four wit and Medium bombers and bmJ"lQeJ' tomuition,s from Nqrth .riors of C�ete to tight side by sid( , didn't see a single enemy plane the enemy in way," said Sgt. Morris Seiler of fields at Foggia in Southern Italy, four-engined Allied planes over 1 fl!i� shat bombers scourged . 4frJca left Naples, toimtaa.l)ea" h the mva.slon forces to exact hitd only one burst o! night . and �ay: raking New York City. "I'm sure glad I causing_�any fires and exl)losions. Naples). r+ of J1.1stice for t Sicily by epe111y Jelpforcement.s your enemy's crimesthi • at me." and rail commumcabon� and and sµPJ111e,s the broad�t added. "Vnt!l road t giving tight overhead protection to SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE OFFICE o,: B!.cl)y, a blatjnr fnferno, i� stay 1n. your placea." Allied forces fighting in the south INTERNAL 11. r11nal 11U but d.emolished. and east of the island. Sixteen .eriemy aircraft were d�stroyed Camp Bowie, Texas day, an Allied an­ during the 10, 1943 houncement said, against the loss Date March of ·seven Allied craft. .!!..._ L The Allies' famoui: one-two Name __.!L�··lar�ga�r�e�t 1�V«_Bo��a�t�wr�i �g �h �t ����� punch, delivered bY. four w�ves of American Flying Fortresses m day­ light and by the RAF's sturdy Wellingtons at night, was em­ ployed to give Naples a tremen­ dous battering. The 24-hour bombardment was described here as comparable to the previous day's "annihilation" attack on Messina, gateway to the Italian mainland, which literally destroyed an area two miles long and one mile wide. Ammunition Train Blast. Aerial photographs showed that a·n ammunition train had exploded in the Messina port area. Docks. 4Z 4.J the North African mountains out to the sea. One of the crew says: "They'll be surprised. From the fi les of Gordon B. Olsen They don 't think we dare to bomb the Eternal City." I went up into the control cabin and tal ked with the pilots. Our pilot, Maj Whitmore , RAYMOND CLAPPER - BROADCAST has a snapshot of his wife and 2-year old baby pasted on the instrument panel. It was July 19, 1943 taken in Palm Beach , Florida. He says it helps a lot to have them smiling at him. Right now, everything is quiet. The automatic pilot does the work and there is little to do for This is Raymond Clapper speaking from al lied force headquarters in North Africa. the moment. You would be surprised how much dull time there is on a trip like this one to Rome. You just fly along mile after mi le over water. You know this is an historic event, Most of today I have spent in the nose of a B-17 Flyi ng Fortress which went to Rome the first bombing of Rome--and that modern bombs make ruins in a flash where it takes and back. nature centuries. We had been warned1 that we might run into considerable flak. But that This has been a rather long day , beginning out on the bomber station when we were is al l some time off and you don t wo rry about it now. The run was six hundred mi les to cal led at five1 fifteen this morning. It was still dark--and quite chilly. We washed up in the target--a total trip of seven hours. the colonel s tent and had a quick breakfast of wheat cakes and coffee. Then at six At 10:10, we put on our parachutes. Now the first fe eling of excitement appears. We thirty, crews goi ng on the bombing mission met in the briefi ng tent. That was when the have just started the climb. We adj ust our oxygen masks and wi 11 wear them for the next crews were told they wo uld go to Rome today. I wish you could have been there in that two hours , or until we are we ll out to sea again. large tent full of American flyers. The group leader is Colonel Fay R. Upthegrove, whose We shoul d pick up our initial poi nt--that is the beginning of the home stretch to the wi fe now lives in Olean, New York. He was on the pl atform standing before an enormous target--in about an hou r, the navigator says. You sit down on the parachute and find it bl ackboard on which had been chal ked all data regarding the bombing mission to Rome. The makes a good seat and you relax again. The weather is still perfect. Nobody can talk much colonel had a stick and he expl ained the flight data to the crews--the formations that now with the masks on, but the crewmembers talk with a throat microphone that fits around would be flown , what each formation would do , the route, the points to mark the changes of the neck. course, the exact location of the San Lorenzo railroad marshalling yards which were to be The bombadier is studying his charts closely now. He must be able to recognize the target of our group. The colonel particularly emphasized that every crew was to be on instantly the pinpoint aimi ng point as it comes up into his bombsight. Al l of the wo rk guard against any accidental bombing of churches or other nonmi litary targets--and he used that has been done; the building of the planes , the making of the bombs , the infinite some rough language to drive home his point. The Vatican is across the river, three to planning of the mission , weeks and months of work and thousands of dollar1 s of expenses, ·and four miles from the rai l road yards , but some other ancient churches are quite near the the lives that have been risked , are all invested now upon the bombadier s accuracy. If he target. Each pilot, navigator, and bombardier was given large aerial photographs and maps misses, then it has all been in vain. When the lead bombadi er drops the other planes drop on which the forbi1 dden areas were clearly marked--with notations in large letters that also. So this young man becomes intent now, and is bent over his work. By 10:45, the these locations 1 must on no account be damaged. 11 That notation was made for the Vatican, navigator and the bombadier are watching intently out of the wi ndows searching the sky for the St. Paolo Basilica, St. John Lateran, and Santa Maria Maygiore. Areas in which bombs enemy fighters. We have one hour to go now. Within a few minutes, the first wave will be were to be dropped were marked wi th precision. Crews were told that if smoke or cl ouds over Rome. You wonder what a shock that will be--in broad dayl ight--j ust before noon. It made it difficult to be certain what they were hitting, not to drop their bombs. I know is warm in our nose compartment , in spite of the altitude. I wore the light tropical from this briefi ng session and also from what high officers in the Ai r Force have told me, suntan army shirt and trousers and was warm, without any jacket at all. You think how that the question of confining damage to military targets was given the most careful wonderful these boys are--doi1 ng this job the way they do , and good natured ; not surly, not attention throughout the months in which the bombing of Rome was being arranged. mi litarists--most of them don t think of themsel ves as military men and are waiting to get After all of the fl i ght details had been checked over, the correct time was given. At back to civilian life--yet they love this being around airplanes. At 11:05, our bombadier the end of the time check, the colonel said: "Okay. That is all." begins adj usting his bombsight in earnest. He is notified what his ground speed over the I met my pilot, Maj Warren B. Whitmore, of Jacksonville, Florida. This is his forty­ target will be. We are still climbing hard to get up around 25 ,000 feet. The coast of fi rst time out so you feel he knows what he is doing. Our copilot was Co lonel R.H. Smith, Italy shows up very clearly now. We see Lake Bracciano. We reached the coast of Italy at of Nashville, who was on his thirtieth mission. Then I met the two young officers with the appointed time and place. We went in so as to come down on Rome from the north. The whom I was to spend seven hours in the nose of our Fortress; the bombadier, Lt Charles P. bombadier turned around and hel d up his thumb and forefinger in a ci rcle to indicate a Gough , of Denver, and Lt Bill Berube , the navigator--al11 l of them young, friendly, cleancut, perfect landfall. At 11:15, the navigator swings the machine gun loose. We can see smoke matter-of-fact American youths. As the pilot said-- This is just another mission to us." over Rome--far off to the south--out of the right-hand window of the nose compartment. At Then we went out to the ship. They threw my parachute and Mae West and musette bag up into 11:20, we turn in and cross to land. The wing was blowing large clouds eastward in the the compartment through a trip door. I went in through a rear door of the ship, squeezed vicinity of Rome. Formations had been over ahead of us--we we re the second wave. They in sideways through the narrow catwalk over the bombay, crowding in between bombs--500 dropped their bombs a few minutes ago. At 11:30, we see some flak off to the left. The pounders--stacked ready for Rome. puffs are small land bl ack. Not very near to us, yet I find my mouth becoming quite dry. Then I crawled through a small hatch and finally wormed through to the pl exiglass nose The bomb doors were opened and you could hear the rush of air which that caused. The section. There you straighten up into a chamber about six by ten feet at its greatest bombadier was now shouting to the interphone guiding the pilot over the target. Out dimensions. The bombadier has his bombsight and a little swivel chair. The navigator has through the right window I could see the Vatican and St. Peters clearly--and very wi de of a small ledge on the left-hand side. Leather flying jackets, fur-li ned gloves , fur boots, our path--we could not have hit them except by turning and going over that way. The life jackets, and parachutes are all thrown around carelessly in corners. There are cases rai l road yards of San Lorenzo were coming up fast now. AT 11:39, we dropped our bombs and of amm unition, cartridge belts which run up to the machine gu ns, and all kinds of gear the bombadier gave the traditional call--"Bombs away." He then turned to the nose machine around the place. On one side is the oxygen apparatus. There are the switch panels for gun and began watching with the navigator for enemy fi ghters. We could see flak ahead--a the bombs. The gadgets seem endless. You wonder how a after a life time could barrage of it. But it was breaking well ahead of us. The ship rocked sl ightly, but master all of this equipment. How a youngster does it in a few months is even more of a nothing hit us. Part of the flak was breaking below us. But two enemy fighters roared mystery. The navigator is humming as he puts his papers ·in order while we are waiting for past us--and all of our Fortress guns threw a barrage of 50-cal ibre machine gun fire after the take1 off. At 8:05, we take off , with no more excitement than attends an eight a.m. the fighters , but they got away. They made no effort to attack. Those are the only two plane s departure from LaGuardia ai rport. We circle around whi le other planes are taking fighters we saw from our compartment in the nose of the Fortress. None of the flak hit. By off and as easily as birds do it, we suddenly are all in formation mo ving majestically over 11:45, we we re heading out to sea. The whole thing lasted only about 15 minutes and the critical part of it only 5 minutes. 44 4S At the height of the commotion, when two of ou ma i guns in our smal l compartment Armistice Signed were going one of our gadgets, an astro compass,.fe �1 o �� �� its bracket in the dome hatch Recalling the d a a and hit the floor near me wi th a crash. The navigator.heard it above his machine gun fire y rmistice was signed, he told a were a of how the Bulg rians thought they and turned around quickly--he though� flak had knocked in t h e dome. That was the peak of Russi ns and for that reason everything was decked out in red. The Bulgarian women the e citement �n our part of the sh1 p wore red dresses. Peas ants in the fields x Americans wore red sashes around the waists. When the Within 5 mi nutes more , we were ou t t O sea--and in a few minutes , safely cl ear of enemy were being evacuated from Bulgaria by tr half a ain, people would cut a w atermelon our maps . The crew was checked by interphone and all reported nd hold up the red pieces to sho in fighter range. We folded up w them they were friendly. All nazi insignia a n n K-rations and settled down for the run removed from trains, buses, and buildings a w s okay . At 12:20, �e took off the oxy1� � f5a nd red flags replaced them. ��n��� the tim esti ed before we back home. We arrived over our h ome 1el s ahead of e mat Reported missing in action Jan. 10, Lt Knox was listed with this c asualty left th is morning. 14, when his wife, Mrs Ma status until July rgaret R. Knox, 2818 Guadalupe, lea a The mission itself was successful in.t�at bombs hit their targets , no ships w re lost, a a rned that he was prisoner of � war. The n vig tor went overseas in September, no men injured, and only weak enemy opposition was encountered. That was the way it seemed 1943. Lt a a a of our B-17 too. Knox is gr du te of Austin high a a Out there ,· n the nose school nd ttended the University of Texa And now we go back to New York for a brief message from t h e k ma f ers o Whi·te Owl s • his enlistment in March, 1942. s until _ ___ ..

Dec 22, 1954 5-23-87 FROM A 15 TH AIR FORCE BOMBER BASE--Sta ff Sergeant a a Thom s T. Brown, 22-year old AAF Mr. George Coen (Histori n & Editor) 99th BG Flying Fortress tail gunner of a 40 Ferry St., Be con, N.Y., has been a with shoot a credited offici lly 2908 Aliso Dr. NE ing down Messerschmitt 109 fighter a Fortress pl ne--one of eight destroyed by his Albuquerque, NM 871 10 group, in the December 10th raid on Innsbruck, Austria. George: Brown's vic tory--his first in aerial combat--was a · crew who saw verified by nother member of his In going through some of my belongings, I ran across a cl1pp· 1ng f ram the "Austin the Jerry crash into a mountain. a a a a Americ n," our local p per, d ted October 11 , • 1944 It h d yellowed with time and the copy "The enemy plane swept a up from below nd to my left," Brown s aid is not too clear. battle. "I fired about in describing the 200 rounds. When the Jerry was 400 yards a into flames a out he pe led off, burst If you can use it fine, and if not, disregard. nd went down." The gunner is ma a Best regards rried to Estell A. Brown of the Ferry St. address. Art White 347th S-2 FROM A 15 AIR FORCE BOMBER BASE--Tecnnical Sergeant Joseph J. Macchi averna , 22-year-old AAF Flying Fortress gunner of 4 R aymond Pl ace, D anbury, Conn., is on his way Austin Fort Navigator Returns to B�se back to the States for a rest after completing 50 combat missions with the 15th U.S. Air After Watching Armistice in Bulgaria Force. From the "Austin American, Wednesday, October 11, 1944 The gunner, a former Danbury High School sports star, began combat flying June 5, First Lt J ames W. Knox, 21, of Austin, na�1g· at o� on a 15th air force Flying Fortress, 1943, and has been credited with one enemy aircraft destroyed in aerial b attle. He ha s has returned to his base in Italy from a Bulgarian prison c amp. been aw arded the Air Medal. . . Lt Knox, son of c apt and Mrs. warren P. Knox of 506 East 16th, was on a �1ss1on to M acchiaverna was graduated in 1940 from D anbury High, where he earned 12 letters in Sofia Jan 10, when h1·s a 1· rpl ane w as hit by flak over the t arget and two engines were sports, includinq boxing, basketball and football. He also won a football scholarship to knocked out. providence and attended the school from 1940 to 1941. Unmarried, he entered the army Jan 6, 1942. The story of this mission and his experiences that followed comes from his Italian base. FROM A 15TH AIR FORCE BOMBER BASE--Technical Sergeant John E. Briggs, 29-year-old AAF Ship Attacked Flying Fortress engineer-gunner of 165 Wayside Dr., Nogales, Ariz., has been credited · officially with shooting down a Messerschmitt 109 fighter plane--his fifth victory in Immediately a fter the arget h1. hi w as attacked by 12 enemy fighters. a a a a a le�v mg t ' \ : ir eri l comb t--during the Fortress r id on Athena-Eleusis irdrome in Greece December 20. Another engine was set �n fire by 20mm _c anno s he l om the fighters. Unable to cove (sic) over the mountains o� one engine, � e an d . the rest of the crew p arachuted to the Brigg's victory w as verified by other members of his crew who saw the enemy plane ground and were immediately picked up by the Bulgarian troops. crash on the ground. a a a a a a "The enemy plane approached to the right of our tail and his 20 mm. shells were "The food nd medic l· aid w s very poor n d sever l men had to undergo mputations a a bursting all around," Briggs said in describing the battle. I opened fire at 1000 yards without the aid of nesthetic as t �ere w s none t b h ad " Lt K nox l t dre a e • "The 11· ving conditions weren't any better either. We _wer: i�trod�ced to countless species of bugs, and pumped 250 rounds in short bursts. The engine burst into flames and the propeller a a a stopped. It went down." insects, and lice. During the course o f our 1nt e�rog tion. ' · the Bulg ri n officers were very harsh and tried to force us to submit to their quest1on1ng. " Briggs, who received the Purple Heart when he was shot out of his top turret on his first mission, once put out a fire in his pl ane over the target and has crash l anded twice, I is a former Nogales High School and University of Mexico City football star. His wife, Irene Briggs, resides at 1712 Vista Ave., Boise, Id a. 47

FROM A 15TH AIR FORCE BOMBER BASE--On h i s w ay b a ck to the St ates for a rest i s HISTORY Techni ca l Sergeant P at r i ck H. Barron, 36-year-old AAF Flying For t ress e nginee r -gunne r of NINETY-NINTH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H) 5232 Terry Av e ., Dall as, T ex., who h as complet ed 50 bombing missi ons w ith the 15th U.S. Air e a e n Forc e . Pl ans w re underw y i n Jun , 1942, for a ew heavy bombardment group which would be cal led the 99th and for whi ch equipment was assigned at Orlando, Fla. But it wasn 't unti l a e an a i n ec l e a i i r e B rron b g comb t fly ng May 24, 2943, a d r al s b st mission to Fogg a A rd om 25 September that orders were cut at Gowen Field, Boise, Ida ., activating the personnel for in e t e e e e e r a a Italy S p mb r 7 wh n th flak was thick and 35 en my fighte s tt cked. the unit . The cadre came from the 6th, 43rd, 52nd, and 411th Squadr ons at Gowen and became e i a a e a n e r r "W picked up 31 holes n our ship th t d y," he said . "It looked pretty rough for us the nucl us of the 346th, 347th, 348th, and 416th Squ dro s of th 99th Flying Fo t ess i e i a i e a e l v e na r m a an i for a wh le, but w d d good job of bomb ng and got back hom s f l y ." Group. Co . Fay R. Upthegro was desig ted g oup co m nder d Lt. Col. Leroy A. Ra ney w as appointed deputy commander. The gunn e r h as b een awarde d the Air M e d a l w i t h 10 O ak Leaf Cl ust er s. A n ativ e of i e a n r n a t a lla a l a n n i a Ar dmore, Okl a ., B arron was empl oyed as a mech anic for United Motor Serv i ce of Da llas un t l The group b g t aini g W W l , Wash., movi g the ce to S oux City, I . i l el re v na e a l a a n e n e l n enter ing the army March 1, 1942 . He is married to Gr ace B arron of the T erry Ave. addr ess. Wh e the flight ech on cei ed fi l ch ck-out t Sa in , K s., th gou d che o occupied s a tell ite f iel ds a t Wate r town and Mi tchel l , S.D. I n J anuar y, 1943, the fl ight eche lon took off for o verse as duty and a rrived in North Africa vi a the southern route e an e i e r a t a an FROM A 15TH AIR FORCE BOMBER BASE--V ter of th h storic Rom id, S ff Serge t through South Amer ica. G r oundmen , meanwhi le, wer e processed at T i nker Field, Oklahoma e l e l n rtr a nner n a d Rudol ph S id , 27-y ar-o d AAF Flyi g Fo ess t il gu of 1?4-21 99th �t., �o � Isl � , City, and then proceeded to embark ation po int at Camp Kilmer, N.J. On 29 April 1943, the a a e t a r a r e t a t er n m in i i n i N.Y., is on his w y b ck to th S tes fo s f completi g 50 bo b g m ss o s w th groun d echelon embarked on the U.S.S. Edmund B. Alexande r, which w as forced to drop out of e t i r c th 15 h U.S. A For e. convoy because of faulty engines, but reached Oran on 12 M ay 1943 without i ncident. d e an m n n t r ai n e i t r ec a Sei l b g co bat flyi g Ju e 25 1943 wi h a d o M ssina, Sic ly, bu lls From a base at Navarin, near Const antine, Algeri a, the air ech elon had flown its first a i n e n i i me i i l en m a t e r a d best miss o to G rbi A rdro n Si� y J�ly 5 wh ore th n 100 figh s ttacke mission 28 M arch 1943, ag a inst Vil lacidro air drom e i n Sar dinia . C r ews were oper ating r r e r a i n his Fo t ss fo m t o . without gr oundme n until the gr oun d echel on arri ved in M a y . On 5 Jul y 1943, the group •i e e a a a a ed n m a e a m an The flak and fighters wer terr ific, " h s id. "We v ir tu l ly had to fight our w y to b ttl off 100 e e y fighters to co v er Gerv i n i ir drom i n Sicil y with fr g bo bs d the targe t and back. I was gl ad to reach our home fiel d safely. Our ship picke d up a lot e a r n ed a Presi d e n tial C i t a tion . Later the 99th moved to a base at Oudna, Tunisi a, near of hol es." Tunis, where on Thanksgiv ing D ay , 25 Nov . 1943, Lt. Col . Wayne Thurman succeeded Col. Upthegrove as comm anding officer . The group helped blast Si cily, Sardin ia, Italy, Southern e n ne a e n a a t e i a l n e a e v e Th gu r h s b e w rded h A r Med with_ i� O k Leaf Clust �s. A n�ti of France, G ermany and Greece, before mov ing to Tortorella a irdr ome near Foggi a, Italy, i n e em l e a an a m anic n an n en e i N w York City, he was p oy d s uto obi�e mech in Lo g Isl d u til t r ng the mid-December, 1943. army J u ne 23, 1943 • He is mar r i ed to Anne Seidl of Long Isl an d (same address.) Col. Ch ar les W. l awr ence ( now Brig. Gen.) took over the 99th rei ns i n 19 December, and FROM A 15TH AIR FORCE BOMBER BASE--Cr ed i t e d with two e n�my a ircraft destr oyed in Col. Thurman became CO on 26 January when Col. Lawrence became 5th Wing comm ander . W i th aerial combat st aff Serge ant Frank P. Lemino, 23-y ear-old AAF Flying Fortress tail gunne r the n e w-bo r n 15th AAF the 99th helped blast Ploest i 's oil and the aircraft and synthe tic of 1442 Fish�upp Ave., Whi ting, I n d., is on h is_way back to the St ates for a rest after oil plants of Germany and Austr ia . On 23 April 1944 the group cover ed an aircraft plant at completing 50 bombing miss ions w ith th e 15th U.S. Air Force. Wiener Neust adt so wel l d e spite e nemy opposi t i o n that a cluster to the Pr e sid e n tial Citati on was awarded. Col . Ford J. L au er, CO since 15 F ebru ary, led the first shuttle to m n e a c m a t n n i a m i i n e n i a l n Le i i b g n o b flyi g Ju e 22, 1? 43, w th ss o to L ghor , t y, a d i e e e a a e Russ a . Whil in the Z.I. he was r pl aced by Col. T.J. M yer n d L t . Col . J m s A. n i ec e r t a ai n a a n e n a e a e a a r e d e fi shed up d mbe 15 wi h r d o P du in orth r It ly. H h s be n w d th B arnett, but returned 22 September to again head the group. Ai r Medal w ith 11 oak L e af Clust e rs. As of 29 Dec. 1944, the 99th has flown 324 mi ssions and B,711 sort i es whil e dropping nat v i t e nn r e a m a n i st n a e l A i e of Wh ting, h gu e was employ d s a chi _for I l �d Ste Corp. of 20,078 tons of bombs. Its members h ave earned 8 D istinguish ed Service Crosses, 8 l egion of n iana ar n n e a e i n a ri I d H bor, I d. , n l r n t m s u m r ed� i i ie e u ti e te i g h r y July 28, 1942 . H Merits, 29 S lver Stars, 260 Distinguished F ly ng Crosses, 45 Sold rs M dals, 30 Bronze e e al FROM A 15TH AIR FORCE BOMBER E - ter f th histor ic Rom raid, Techn ic Stars, 349 Purple Hearts and 2,870 Air Medals. �i F /� �: � a e a en n r r e r t o r , of 1054 He Sergeant F loyd A. Du ow, 28-ye�r -old y ss r dio op � . a e e e n in a a t c l ti g 50 bomb g Av e ., Council Bluffs, I ., _is on his w y �:�k o the St t s aft r omp missions w i th the 15th U.S. Air Force . · r i n e r n t a a r e d a i r in n en m n a a t flying J n 26 1943 with a a d o L gho , I l y , nd FROM A 15TH AIR FORCE BOMBE� BASE--C edit offici lly w th dest o y g a � y Du ow beg n comb e a . . a a a e r e a r e ne aer a l a er e n n e ear l in i a e i i a n i i r n , G ece, nd G m ny. he y -old_AAF � � g part c ip t d n m ssions to t rgets �i \ ci Y, S dini , Fr c fight r pla in i comb t, Staff S g a t A drew Cl m, Jr ., 34- n e a r t n nn a e e d m in i h as been aw ar ded the Air Med al. Fortress tail gun r of 70 o k st., New B i ai , Co ., h s compl t 50 bo b g m ssions i i n r a e c n w th the 15th U.S. A r Fo ce. i n a at m m Jeff rso High S hool i A n at v e of Coun cil Bluffs, Du ow w s gr du ed fro Tho as a a e n e a e a i a e i n ai a e n a n n m nt nt army M y 28, l t r r c m v l e t r 1932 and worked o r lro ds in his hom tow d i O h u il eri q th C m b gged he f ghte -- Messe s h itt 109--o r Nap �s, I�aly, on th For ress a d e e n a e i t e r n n a ea l 1942 : H e is u nmarried . of Aug. 1, 1943. h has be decor t d w th h Ai Medal with i e O k L f C usters. · • i a a n a i n er v e t e nn e 0 r n r n e e i · n a m l A t ve of Wi n s ill , Pa., h gu er is th s�n f M a d M s. A dr w Cl m, Sr ., BASE--Cred t e d w i th destr oyi g n ene y f ghter in eri _ 1 FROM A 15TH AIR FORCE BOMBER e e a e e a e a n e n t r n Fortr ss of N w B r itain. Unm rri d, h w s employ d as mac h i ist s h e lper M.H. Rhod s, I c., of m a l e n e rg 2 y e ld AAF Flyi g co � t' Technica S rgea G ar e e a i \ t � �� i�: ���� \ i a t e ta r a r n n t r l e ea s :; : :�y b ck o th S tes fo H tfo d u til ent ri g h my Apr 23, 1942 . en n e er-gunn r o f • 2· 03 N 8 h s e . h gi ' · rc e e i n i i Fo e rest aft r compl t ng 50 bombing missio s w th the 15th u • s • A r • . a e m n a ai n er Neust dt, n b agge d the f ight· �-- es s sch it 109--i r d o Wien Diethor _ . a en a a e a : : n �� i a n m nd has be w rd d Austria, Nov ember . He also particip e i e h storic r id o Ro e the Air Medal with 10 o ak Leaf C lusters. s in n e a at r town high chool 1937, A native of Jean ett , Diethorn w s g r adu ed f o� his home a 0 . ' an n e a e e n lv nia e C Of Je ett until and was e mployed as rubber work r w�t� th P� nsy Rubb r a e n a r entering the a rmy J n. 13, 1942 . h is u m r ied. 48

//� : -�--1 } Y)UA-' -<}L,1,.,u 7' Section One: Page 38 THE SUNDAY STAR·LEDGER, August 7, 1988 s . ' • .Friday,· November 21� '1986/�t�n�:_�t :if' , KEEPING A LEGEND ALIVE _ Yillage erects. Jitoottmellt·to Boonton memorial to honor the Doolittle who did a lot B-17 crew that'tried·to save Poland'

By DORYDEVLIN By 1he AleoGlated. Prw LOMIANKI, Poland·- Villagers Gen. Jimmy Doolittle broke flying an '!CO�ds throu�bout North America, led who witnessed the crash of lie first U.S. air attack on Amert� warplane shot down by ·· Japan during World already.. left the area. Most of the-­ D. Christy �were takencaptive by d War II and charmed German artillery during , supplies fell into Germanhands. .the· Germans and returned;,t«r .the tcbers throughout the world with war n have fUlfilledwhat they felt F. erected a Mrs., N�egodziscz,, 76, · said' she · United States after thewar.- -- robatic moves. was an obligation and saw thousands of parachutes car­ Mrs. Niegodziscz and otber7-vt1- rhe three:star U.S. Air Force gen­ honor Utecrew. . � ·· But it is the work �ral 1s most widely known for bis role monument to �g metal �ylindricai supply con­ Jage residents buried the eiglH':oth· he did in Boon­ 10 The 9-feet-tall stone .memorial, \ou Town�hip in the late 1920s that �be famo�s April 18, 1942, Tokyo in Poland tainers floating- to · the ground�- -She ers in a common grave 50 � nts h!S legendary Raid-the first U.S. air attack on believed to be the first --�__ she noticed one of the planes� from herhouse. In 1946, tbe�ti'cxties; � place in aviation soldiers, waserected -- -�- - �wry. Japan. for American -:--·--- -· were transferred to the·. mtlltary aftera five-year campaign. losing altitude . Doolittle, working with the likes of The attack did more to boost U.S. young Americans_ "I was standing there wfth my . cemetery in Warsaw ·and·a-1.ear •_r Ambrose Sperry, morale than it did damage to Japan "They were later returnedto tbe United 'Stat es. helped design · trying to save our Pola�" said.· father," she said. "It was coming f�rst electronic instruments allow­ and it lifted Doolittle to the rank of 'in from the northeast; burning, losing .On Sept. 21, the monwriem was pilots brigadier general and earned him the stanislaw Niegodziscz whqJi.ves • to '.fly blind' in bad weather. about 200 yaftlsfrom parts that were falling to the unveiled in a ceremony atten4ed , engineering and production of Congressional Medal of Honor. The gen­ a farmhouse by villagers · and veterans. grQUp. the thecrash site in Lomianlti,six · mi· ground." t ment '!as done at the Aircraft eral was played by Spencer Tracv in She said she saw one · airman The monument is located in a � Corp. in Boonton Township, les north olWarsaw. and America to small military-civilian cemetery ttle completed many test flights "We want all ',of ·-floaiing to the gi-;und -�� about a mile from the cramSite. ve th� t�wns�ip at night and the movie "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" know whatthey ��· he said. parac�u�e, waying a in fog that depicted the attack. '"Til We white hand­ Polish soldiers killed during. ·the tore his historic blind flight on Se t Tbe . B-17, nickJttimed ker�hief at approaching. German 1939 Nazi inva�on alsoburied are 929, at Mitchell Field on Through the remainder of the war, Meet Again," was ·shot down Sept. soldiers. lud� Long �: the general commanded the 12th Air aboard. there. . • 18, 1944, with a crew of 10 '.' A German went to him and 10 ,.. Force in North Africa, the 15th Air survived. ur The names of an crew merr,� �or the short _time he spent Gtn. Two of them shot him With a pisto " Mrs. Nie� bers were inscribed on a brass. in Jimmy Doollttlt Force in Italy and the 8th Air Force in plane was one of 107 Ameri• Morria County, Doohttle left an indeli­ No mere '30 The gQdziscz said, pausing to brush plaque. · • "-R: second' hero England and in the Pacific Theater. supplies that b' �ark and made many friends ac­ Doolittle, who is in failing health, can aircraft dropping Killed in the crash · were Lt.· cording to the township day for Polish partisans fighting historian. lives in Carmel, Calif. He also is cred­ uprising. Francis Akins of Derry, Pa: (the' ited with the first coast-to-coast flight the Nazis in the Warsaw pilot); 1st Lt. Forrest D. Shaw of To honor bis time there Boonton About 220,000 Poles ,were killed '!OWDShip offi�ials and A commmee ot Yankee Air ft'orce in less than 24 hours in 1922 from Pablo Exeter, N.H. (Utt co-pilot); �"t Lt.• the Y�nkee Air Beach, Fla., to San Antonio, Texas, to during 63-daythe battle. l'.orce northeast �ivision, a group dedi­ members, Boonton Township commit· outside the farmhouse Ely_ Berenson of. New Jerse:;· (The ctted to preservmg tee_membei:s and the township histori­ San Diego. Standing navi�at�r); and 1st Lt. Myron S/ U.S. aviation his­ recently, Niegodziscz's wife, Jani· tory, are planning to erect a memorial an 1s working on the memorial, but In the years following bis work at the day :the Merrill of New· Jersey (the born-· to the 91-year-old fu�d raising has not begun, Mueller na, reminisced about ace near an old hang­ Aircraft Radio, Boonton Township resi­ was shotdown. hardier). ar named for him on the former Air­ said. Because of the township's warm dents followed Doolittle's plane Also, gunmen Sgt. Frankde Ci!.' craft Radio reception, the plans have been upgrad­ "We thought it was the day of . Corp. property off Rock- through the newspapers and remem­ she said. "There lis of New Jerst./; Sgt. George A. 81""�yVa11�y Road. ed from a small plaque to a sculpted bered the days he walked through the the liberation," MacPhee of Massachusetts; Sgt. bust that could co.5t nearly $20,000, he was a whole cloud of plane.s. It back tears from thecomers· of her Th� invention at streets wearing bis flight gear with a sun." eyes. "I will never forget, to the '_Valte� P. Shimshock,,_of Minneapo­ Aircraft Radio of said. pair of goggles pulledover his fore­ blocked out the lis, Mmn. ; and Sgt. Paul F. Haney the altimeter and directional gyro But, mo.5tagree, Doolittle is worth The planes dropped arms, food day I die, the face of that young paved the head, said Jean Ricker, the township . man, alive, so close to the ground, of West Virginia. way for scheduled air flight it. Those who know him and those who historian. and clothing for partisans in the only know of him usewords like legend forest. The waving his handkerchief." At the top of the monument the "I was just a little girl, but in nearby Kampinos villagers wrote : "To the me�ory and hero to describe the decorated those days, we always looked up in the Americans were unaware at the Two survivors - Sgt. Marcus L. and safer flying, and added one more pilot. that most of the partisans had Shook of Missouri and Sgt. James of the heroic crew that brought" achieve�ent. to DoolitUe's air when there was an airplane going time help to the Warsaw uprising in. the Jong list of . "Jimmy Doolittle was always my by, and we alwar,s knew when it was accomplishments. idol, not only for what be did for civil Jimmy Doolittle,' Ricker : :iid. He al­ plane of U.S.A. Air Force B-17, "til· "T�at was the whole key to instru­ aviation, but what he did during the ways ended his flights with a loop-the­ we meet again.' Shot down Sept, · ment flight," said Richard D. Foster war and before the war," Mueller said. loop maneuver. 18, 1944,by German artillery." for�er general manager of Aircraft "He flew racing planes and was the "He was a real daredevil," Ricker Radio Corp. lead in many record-breakingeven ts." said. The last time Doolittle came to "A lot of aviators flying today in "When we losehim, we have lost ba_d weather owe a lot to his efforts ,, the leading aviation legend in the Unit· Boonton Township was in 1979 for a NEWS , DUES & VIEWS �Id Otto Mu�ller, chairman of the Doo­ ed States," added Herbert Fisher, a 50th anniversary celebration of the little �emonal committee for the Yan­ Jong-time friend of Doolittle's and the pilot's blind flight on the Aircraft Jfadio kee Air_ Force. Mueller approached the former chief test pilot at Curtiss­ property. First - I wish to thank every one of you for the lovely plaque township a few months 86?0 with the Wright Corp. "There just isn't anything Since then, Aircraft Radio Corp. ch the o in aviation that he hasn't done." bas dissolved and the Breed Corp. now wh � �tfit gave me at Fort Lauderdale. It was a complete sur­ prise, and since I had never in my life received anythi'ng li'ke tha,� , Idea for the memorial and-was struck occupies its buildings. But the hangar . by the enthusiasm be received. named after Jimmy Doolittle st!}h I was indeed at a loss for words. Again , many heartfelt thanks . stands._ /Jt,lt H,k �,l�s -(!) George 5/ We found the following information about computers in Edward Teller 's Folks, the Plane List has been compiled with prospective authors BETTER A SHIELD THAN A SWORD page 189. in vi w. I must � have assumed that all of the 99ers could read my mind QUOT ES The right-hand . column has now been labelled SOURCES to make plain that CHAPTER 24 any author may get valuable information, sometimes in the MACHINES AND ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET from form of pictures, the persons named. The column is not intended to be recordbut a historical it is intended to promote the flow of information . Author 's note . The following essay was first presented as a speech *e . have received a lovely printout of the Plane list from Dick at the Science and Information Onslaught Symposium, which was held at the Drain . We have not read it critically yet, it seems that we must now 10s Alamos National Laboratory on June 4, 1981. revise our thinking and go to a higher standard of accuracy . Thank I am indebted to Dorothy Parker for having written, and to Mary you, Dick . geo . Argo for having found, the following poem: Ballade of Unfortunate Mammals COMBAT LOSS ANALYSIS Love is sharper than stones or sticks TWELFTH AIR FORCE Lone September 1943 as the sea and deeper blue; Loud in the night as a clock that ticks; No. Lo•t Longer-lived than the Wandering Jew . No. Lo•t & Mheing Show me a love was done and through, Type Sortie• Numb ar Per 100 Number Per 100 Nuaber Tell me a kiss escaped its debt ! Aircraft Flown Lo•t Sortie• Mieeing Sortie• Damaged Son, to your death you will pay your due- Women and elephants never forget. B-17 1.764 12 .68 8 1.13 1 2 B-24 105 2 1.9.so0 1.90 Ever a man, alas, would mix; B-25 3,394 17 2 .56 61 Ever a man, heigh-ho, must woo; B-26 l, 718 9 .52 2 .64 1 So he 's left in the world-old fix; A-36 2,289 11 .48 .48 12 Thus is furthered the sale of rue . P-38 3,393 31 .91 1 .94 1 Son, your chances are thin and few- P-40 1,785 4 .22 - .22 2 Won 't you ponder before you 're set? P-51 198 1 .51 .51 Shoot if you must, but hold in view Spit Z,408 1 .04 .04 women and elephants never forget .

Total 17,054 88 13 80 Down from Caesar past Joynson-Hicks Echoes the warning ever new; Total Loeeea, 8 Nov 13 1,136 Though they 're trained to amusing tricks, 1942 -- 30 Sep 1943 925 Gentler, they, than the pigeon 's coo, Careful, son, of the cursed two- Either one is a dangerous pet; Natural history proves it 's true- Women and elephants never forget.

Your editor has long been puzzled by one decision of the High L'ENVOI command. In September, 1943 the 44th Bomb Group, a B-24 outfit, was Prince, a precept I'd leave for you, coined in Eden, existing yet : based at the 99th 's field in Tunisia for two missions on their way Skirt the parlor and shun the zoo- back to England. The 44th and the 99th flew on the same days to targets Women and elephants never forget . in the same area, but the B-17s were sent to hit the seaports while the B-24s were sent to inland targets . Now since the 44th had been Now that I have your full attention let me heartily recommend on the low-level raid on Ploesti in August, with abundant casualties, D�ctor . Teller 's book to all . Why only last week I found myself and since both planes had the range to reach the targets easily, why lis�ening to an account of how the USSR had only reacted to the in the world did not the brass send the B-17s inland and maybe have . acti�ns of big bad Amerika, whereupon I recalled Dr . Teller 's the Liberators simultaneously massage the harbors? This would have the is that what is at issue is the capability to make a first more equalized the risks . I did not like it then, and I do not like � str�ke . Dr . . T�ller says that heavy warheads are needed for first it now ! qeorqe strike capability, while lighter more mobile weapons are needed for �efence . Of course the US is accused of having more warheads, This Editorial Office has to work with a lead of about five months, a natural result of our opting for the defensive str� . we which makes it difficult to be timely . For instance, even though have here an e�cellent chance to monitor the long-range intentions it is now barefoot weather, we are preparing our Sadie Hawkins Day of the aforesaid Soviet Union, which has specialized in very large copy . Does anybody out there remember when Hub Zemke 's fighter group warheads . undertook torack,., up 100 Krauts by Sadie Hawkins Day? _ Doctor Teller ' s book is a collection of essays previously publi �hed elsewhere . As you may guess from the lyrics filched from its pages, the Doctor has a sense of humor . geo. 52 53

A MAN CALLED INTREPID cont. FLYING FOR'rR3SSES Jablonski 1965 The unadvertised tragedy in the loss of Tobruk was the innocent by While it rri.ade good sense in wartime to fly over enemy cities and help given Ronnnel the U.S. Military Attache in Caire, Colonel Bonner Fellers . bomb them, that was not the purpase of strategic bombardment . Targets , and Svery detail of British operations had been radi oed by Fellers to the Military especially populated areas , were not bombed at randor:1.; there was careful sel­ Intelligence in Washington - and, because they had broken the State Department Is s:broy tho en­ ection of targets and the ;nis sion of the heavy bo�,1bers was to de by Black code , ehich he was using, to the Gerrmns as well. Every morning at bre ak- emy' s facilities for making war, to make it impossible for :1.i:1 to fight 1ast, General Rommel had been present ed with a concise appre ciation of his denYing" him weapons , ma chines, and fuel. qpponent's plans , location of units, strength, and morale . Since January 1942, l'his�concept has been called by one GArrna.n w,..iter "wasteful , in- Rommel had been receiving the very information nee ded to reverse his fo rtunes. hu.,nane and ineffective .'! The impl ication is that a war waged otherwise P• 420 would be humane and not wasteful . • • • • Another (fact ) is that the high comr:iand of the u. s. Air Force , in warti:.1e , was not dedicated to saving the Whe n security was finally lifted in 197L., he (I(il�s Copeland) wrote lives of enemy civilions but to keeping its own losses down while doing its in the Spectator: "We Americans bumbled aeout Britain launching out on what job . In modern war the in"1o cent suffer with the guilty; there is no sharp we thought were new tacks, only to have it brought home to us that the British and civilian. The latter supplies the former had been there first and we were muddying the waters ••••There was our gaming distinction between soldier ·1 with the means . P• xii by which carefully briefed American officers imagined themselves in the shoes of the German General Staff and ga�ed out how they would react to the General Curtis E. LeM.ay, Chief of Staff of the Air Force and an various alternative moves (the British) General Staff were contemplating. outstanding air leader during the Se cond World War, told me that "tha Air For ce For not always acting on the results, we thought our commanders fools and in­ kind of grew up with the B-17. Iy was as tough an airplane as was ever built. co�petemts. Eventually we were told that they knew exactly what intelligence . It did everything we It was a good hone st plane wetoll fly." - a pilot's airplane :xiv the Germans were acting upon - for the simple reason that it was they who fur­ asked it to do and did it p. nished it through the 'double X' operation which John Masterman revealed thirty that (the British) General Staff al so knew years later. We were not told were One lead ing British writer on aviation, Peter Masefield, went so rma they were reading B-17 what counter-moves the--zre ns about to make , because far as to suegest that the was not suited to European co:nbat and that the the Ger:nans ' top secret orders - often before ( Gerr.ian) co�anders in the .field Ame ricP.n aircraft industry would do better to drop it and turn to building the were receiving them. P • 436 ne w Lancaster for night bombardment . p. 31 On Wednesday, September 23rd, (1942 ) ULTRA picked up German signals He (l-:ajor General George C. Ke nne y) qµ.ickly antagonized a nur1b er disclosing that Ro·:;imel had quit the desert to be 'tneated :for nas al diphtheria, of his peers by gQine to bat for his ::kids", the youngsters v1ho fle\'1 the planes chronic stomach ailments, and poor blood circulation. Mussolini saw him in that fought the b�ttles. He tanBled with the Services of SupP ly whe n he di s­ Rome the next day and expressed the view that Rommel's ailments were psycho­ covered a colonel 11 whose passion for paper work effe ctually stopp ed the iss­ logical. ULTRA took note . All was reported through Stephenson tQ Roosevelt . 11 The uing of supplies" and Who ,firmly believed that it was 11 about time these con­ President commented the.t Rom..-nel mus t have suffered a demorilization more diet intell­ bat units learned how to do their paper work properly. Euch needed supplies, severe because he had been accustor:ied to a of victorieswe "based on therefore , ·1,ere not sent to combat zones because a re quisition was not made igence from ins ide the British camp which , thank God, have now terminated." out properly. Ke nne y decided then and there that the pompous little colonel P• 44L- was obviously suffering fron "overwork and fatigue through tropical service" and shipped him home . Eis successor was informe d that he would fill the ne eds I.Iurphy had11 pretty well pinpointed the enemy's agents A flood of "s�curity lea s and gossip was of the kids whatever the state of the forms , p . 72 � directed toward them. 1'he N;zi command headquarters at .ieisbaden, analyzing the false renorts concluded that the Alli d armada was heading for Dakar, so McLaughlin observed the eftects of the bombing (at Ma.rienburg ) � me 2,000· mlies from the impending action. The uernan, Mediterranean Fleet, long-range aircraft, U-boat wolf-packs and rai d­ firsthand when he and other prisoners were set to work clearing out the wre c kage ers were tnus misdirected away from the and pulling out dead Germans . scene of action. Even the passage o� 151 Allied ships through the narrow Gibraltar strait was misinterpreted "It was every bit as bloody good fun as opening Christmas parcels," #ith the help of planted reports; double he said later af t were agents told their Ger:m.n contacts ter he had arrived back in England as a repatriated prisoner. hat the ships ru shing aid to starving Malta. p/41+6 P • 137 One by one the nen in the distress ed plane ju.�ped. As he floated 1 down 3gan became the target of three FW-190s firing at him, helpless in his German "flying bombs' finally did strike southern England, but the n enemy could calculate parachute . 11hey came in, · ana di you know what? - they started shooting at precisely only the arrival time , not the nlace for each r:.rs . Egan's 1 it tle boy Johnny, who told himself that this was a situation he �issle. rn e deception plan was to reports we st of London at the tin� when couldn' t talk himself out of. My others struck inside the city or to the east and send these reports to Gerw..any chute was now full of holes , and so was Mrs . through double Egan' s little boy. agents. rhe Germans kept correcting their aim. The mean point !/ of i�pact was thus 'I'hey came back for pnother pass at me , and I took a very din view moved eastward about two :.-:1iles a week, redirecting the rockets beyond the London region to less densely populated areas . of the whole thing. ·rhey finally left, probab ly thinking tba� I a.m very dead, Morriso not knowing that I am Irish." p� 200 n, a socialist member of the British War Cabinet, protested against secret-warfare experts deciding that citizens of Kent or Esse:x should be killed ins1 tead of 1 Londoners . ·1Var is an evil thing," Churooill said in a secret War Cabinet session. "Do you wish us to surrender, Mr. :Morrison?" �f orris on shook his head angrily. 1 , re atly 11 11 lowering b.· is· Tg;!1d � fear, sir, that in order to. _live, replied Churchill,. , we must play God. p. LJ..5b -55 -

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP 9-' BG HS 1988 DUES $15 1981-1987 NEWSLETTERS, $5 per year. 81__ 82 __ 83 __ 84 85 86 87 __TOTAL i'illi DES'.'RU C i'IO�l OF DRESDEH Irving o al enemy targets were often located in and near cent� rs Als , vit NAME______SQ UADRON__ __or ASSOC. of population. It was clear t o all of us that many civ�lians would be k1lle� __ r n rge ts were attacked. de n�ver permitted this ADDRESS or e dered ho:-1eless when such ta ______� NEW _RENE WAL r re a vital targe t. I did not believe then, ana I do not believe __ facto to spa s o s or guns hould -- that a fac tory turning out planes, b mbs, tanks , ubmarines, CITY :-- STATE now r *** ------* ------* ZIP PHONE to nreve�t hazards to enemy civil populations , pa ticularly civilian� ------* -----* * ------* ---* be ;pared our Gallan worlting in those plants turning out �unitions later to be hurled at Mail to Walter Butler - 8608 Bellehaven Place NE - n ions f ory Albuquerque NM 87 112 soldiers , sailors nnd airme n. A skilled worker � a German :.1uni� ��! Make check payable to 99BGHS. Your s s 1.n un f · • address label shows the date was contributing to our casualties ju t as certainly a enenies i to which you are paid up. I ra c. Eaker, in the foreword, P• We do Lt. General not stop the subscriptions of deceased members, we extend the subscription gratis o n • • • for an extra year . But please remember to send us Profess r S. Zuckerman as leader of the Oxford Ex.tramural U it any change of address . was able to deduce that ' the lethal pressure for man was between h.00 and 50 0 fl $ pounds per s quare inch' ; c ross-checks with air raids on British cities s howe d $ $ $ $ $ this esti�ate to be of the right order. Previously the lethal pressure had been placed at around 5 pounds per s quare inch • • • • Curiously ••• no Government scie ntist inve s tigated the leth- al ity of bombs from the standpoint of smoke and gas-poisoning which , • • • �------FIFTEENTH------, resulted in at least s eventy percent of all fatalities. P • 37 I AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION I I I Sir Arthur Harris has obs erve d that the only international re striction I New Member Renewal Date I s r I I which he con idered to be binding upon him and his command during the wa was Name an agreement dating back to the Franco -Prussian War , which prohibited the releas e I I of explosive objects from gas-filled dirigibles; this restriction, as he points I Mai 1 ing Address Rank I I Number/Street I out , was ri�idly complied with throughout the Second �o �d War by Bomber Com::iand. I City/State Zip Code I p 8 I D Annual Membership ($15) Check Enclosed (Tax Deductible) I I IT D Life Membership I I ($150) Check Enclosed (Tax Deductible) I D Life Membership The natives of New Guinea went back to their settled life as gar­ I Installment Payment $ Enclosed I deners, fishermen, it inerant and servants. The war had r1ade an I D Active D Retired D Separated D Friend of Fifteenth I enormous impact on the ir lives and remote villages had been visited by 15th AF Unit Date white men for the first time . What had impressed them nost was the run­ I 15th AF Unit Date I ount of goods that the Allies could call up from Australia where an all­ I Mail Check and Application to: I powerful white god taught them the s ecret techniques of manufacture. Fifteenth Air Force Association • P.O. Box 6325 • March Air Force Base, CA 92518 In the Ma

NON-PROFIT 99th Bomb Gp Historical Society ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE Walter H. Butler · Treasurer PAIO 8608 Bellehaven Pl. N.E. PERMIT NO. 388 Albuquerque. New Mexico 87112 Albuquo,quo, N.M.

FORWARDING AND RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED ADDRESS CORRECTION REQ.UES'TI

J.O.Grizzell Ht • '+ Box 2'?0 A Paris, 'L'N 38242

Sep 198.8

C HANG·es OF ADRESS

William NJ 08701 Raymond McPart land MI 48197 Fred c. LHueg. Nestorlin NJ 0702-0 Novis w. Womack TX 797 20 Fred c. Eaton SC 29928 Rudolph Menchl MI 490 17 Wesley Bridston CA 92675

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86 1 John w. Baxendale VT 05452 34· 862 Dionysios Papadatos NY 14217 34· 863 Ben w. Swift FL 33308 411