T o g

Combat Mission History

Of

Captain Leland Stanford Simpson

UNITED STATES ARMY AIR CORPS -- WORLD WAR II

EIGHTH AIR FORCE -- European Theater of Operations

Second Air Division -- Second Combat Wing

445th Bomb Group (H) HQ Section 1943 445th Bomb Group (H) 701st Squadron 1944 445th Bomb Group (H) HQ Section 1945

Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

Undated photograph of Captain Leland Stanford Simpson. He went by the nickname of ‘Spike’. He was born April 13, 1918 in Herkimer, NY and passed away January 15, 1967 in Odessa, TX at the age of 48.

He served with the 445th Bomb Group (Heavy) as Group Bombardier, Squadron Bombardier for the 701st Bomb Squadron and later as the Station Armament Officer. He flew over to England with Col Terrill (445th Group Commander) as the Group Bombardier. Spike flew a total of 35 missions between January 11, 1944 and March 24, 1945. He returned to the Zone of the Interior for 3 months to attend a staff officer school, then returned to the 445th and continued flying missions.

After the war, he started a photo finishing business in Odessa, TX where he became a very prominent businessman. He was married twice and had four children by those marriages.

Page 2 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

This Personal Mission History has been prepared from original 445th Bomb Group records found in the National Archives and Records Agency (NARA) in College Park, Maryland.

Compiled by:

Michael S. Simpson Captain, USAFR

E-Mail: [email protected]

The 445th Bomb group’s website can be found at:

http://www.445BG.org

Page 3 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

HOW TO READ THE ENCLOSED DOCUMENTS

The Cover is self-explained except for aircraft silhouette. The image is either a photograph (if possible) of the aircraft flown on the first mission, or a color image with the appropriate markings.

Each group within the Second Air Division could be identified by individual group marking on the tail fin/rudder assembly. Originally, the 445th was identified with a large white circle on the upper portion of the fin with the letter ‘F’ in the middle. Below that was the aircraft’s radio call letter. Early in 1944, the designation was changed to a solid black fin with a horizontal white stripe. The radio call letter was placed in the center of the stripe.

Two large letters on the side of the fuselage and just forward of the tail assembly defined the squadron the aircraft was assigned to. A smaller letter identified the radio call letter for the aircraft. There were four squadrons in the 445th Bomb Group:

700th - IS 701st - MK 702nd - WV 703rd - RN

The 445 Group Mission History details the individual’s mission number, date and the group mission number, the city, country and target, type and size of bombs used. It also indicates the accuracy of bombs dropped, the number of aircraft over the target, number of ships lost (if any) and the approximate total flying time which included getting into formation.

The Personal Mission History defines the individual’s combat record by mission number and date flown. The name of the city and a general description of the target is included with each mission. The aircraft flown on that mission has been identified by tail number, radio call letter and name, if any, for the aircraft. The crew manifest for each mission on which the subject took part, indicates the other crew members, their job, and their rank at the time. The crew member for which this document has been prepared is highlighted in bold type.

Integrated into the Personal Mission History is the 8th Air Force Mission Summaries to show the role of the 445th Bomb Group in the air campaign

Page 4 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps against Germany conducted by the 8th Air Force. This section includes the 8th Air Force Field Order Number, the total number of all aircraft dispatched against the targets in the field order, and what fighter escort was provided. At the end of each day’s summary, a table has been added to show the 445th’s effort. The table includes the group’s mission number, target, number of aircraft launched and the number of aircraft lost on that mission (if any).

Page 5 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

NOTES OF INTEREST

A few items of interest that I have been questioned about: WEATHER was never “Just Cause” to abort a scheduled mission take off! Even when visibility was zero/zero and less than 50 feet. Only the time between aircraft cleared for takeoff was increased from 30 seconds to one minute. At the time the 445th Bomb Group became operational as a part of the Second Combat Wing, Second Division, Eighth Air Force; a combat tour was defined as being 25 combat missions. An Air Medal was presented to each aircrew member for each five missions completed. On completion of a tour, the airman received the Distinguished Flying Cross instead of another Air Medal. Each of these awards was specified in writing, on General Orders, issued by Second Division Headquarters. On April 23rd 1944, a tour was re-defined as being 30 combat missions and the required missions for receiving the Air Medal was increased to six. The Distinguished Flying Cross was given at 30 missions instead of the Air Medal. By the end of May 1944, a Combat Tour was again redefined as being 35 missions. A Lead Crew (three per squadron) flew each day, whether on a mission or not and thus accumulated many additional flying hours. Since it could take twice as long (in calendar days) to complete a tour. Crews in this category were only required to fly 30 missions. On March 1, 1945 the 701st Squadron was officially designated as the “Lead Crew Squadron” requiring crew adjustments throughout the Group. Definition of a Combat Mission: We have found that while the Group was credited with a combat mission once the takeoff has occurred. If Division HQ later issued a “Recall Order”, the mission did not count for the individual crews. If a mission was aborted by order of the Air Commander, the mission might or might not be counted. This could be true even within a group. On one or two occasions we have had to make, a “judgment decision” based on other documents. One thing was certain; no air crewman flew beyond his pre-defined combat tour unless he volunteered to do so.

Page 6 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

Credits

The information contained herein has been assembled from historical documents found in the National Archives, College Park, MD. and notes taken from the personal collection of Richard F. Gelvin, a former Navigator with the 700th Bomb Squadron, 445th Bomb Group (Heavy).

The 445th Bombardment Group (Heavy), a segment of the Second Combat Wing, Second Air Division, Eighth Air Force, was officially credited with 280 combat missions. Their first mission was on 13 December 1943 and their last was on 25 April 1945. During those 280 missions, a total of 109 aircraft were lost as a result of enemy action. Missing Air Crew Reports (MACRs) were generated and have been requested to complete the information available about the 445th.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

I must first thank Edward W. Zobac and Richard F. Gelvin. Ed is the son of S/Sgt. Robert W. Zobac, a waist gunner in the 700th Squadron. Following his father’s death in 1977, Ed became interested in his father’s WW II experiences. Richard F. ‘Dick’ Gelvin was a lead navigator with the 700th Bomb Squadron. When Dick learned of the material available from the National Archives in College Park, MD, he planned to spend a week at the Archives, collecting information. When Ed learned of Dick’s proposed trip, he helped plan the trip via e-mails, and a whole new approach for their transport, timing, and lodging for the trip emerged. Ed drove from his home in Ft. Wayne, IN to Washington, DC and Dick flew in from Mesa, AZ. They spent a week there and had transportation to and from a local motel. Their plan was to go through the boxes of records, making copies of crew load lists, and any other records that they thought might be needed (mission summaries, Missing Air Crew Reports (MACRs), intelligence reports, etc.).

Thanks, seems a very small acknowledgement of Kitty Strickland Shore, widow of Lt. Jennis (Jack) M. Strickland. Jack was a lead pilot in the 700th and was killed on a mission supporting Operation Varsity (the last airborne operation of World War 2) just prior to the end of the war in Europe. Kitty (d. April, 2002) lived in nearby Chevy Chase, MD, and “wanted to help”. She ran the copier for most of the 4,000+ selected documents.

Page 7 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

Very special thanks go to Mary Beth Barnard, daughter of S/Sgt Harold Kennedy, who was a waist gunner in the 701st Squadron. At that time Mary Beth was vice president historian at THE MIGHTY EIGHTH AIR FORCE MUSEUM in Savannah, GA. It was her guidance through the labyrinth of military documents at the Archives that made Dick and Ed’s trip a success.

Thanks also to The Kassel Mission Memorial Association for their support and encouragement of this project. Although the association has halted operations, the Kassel Mission Historical Society has stepped in to keep the memory of the Kassel Mission alive.

Marilyn Burns Parylak, my Mother-In-Law, encouraged me to learn more about my family and has provided many good ideas for research and where to look for info. Her interest in genealogy was one of the reasons I started searching.

Last, but not least, I must thank my Father, Captain Leland S. ‘Spike’ Simpson, for striking a spark of interest in me, even though it finally caught on many years after his death. It was my interest, like Ed Zobac, to learn more of my Dad’s military service. My search led me to Dick and Ed and a multitude of former 445th members. They are the driving force behind the 445th’s website and these Personal Mission Histories.

Michael S. Simpson Webmaster, 445th Bomb Group website 445th Bomb Group Historian

Page 8 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

BATTLE HONORS

The following are the battles and campaigns for which the 445th Bomb Group was given official battle participation credit as outlined in War Department General Orders and the French Republic.

AIR OFFENSIVE, EUROPE Time limitation --- 4 Jul 42 to 5 Jun 44

NORMANDY Time limitation --- 6 Jun 44 to 24 Jul 44

NORTHERN FRANCE Time limitation --- 25 Jul 44 to 14 Sep 44

RHINELAND Time limitation --- 15 Sep 44 to 21 Mar 45

ARDENNES Time limitation --- 15 Sep 44 to 21 Mar 45

CENTRAL EUROPE Time limitation --- 22 Mar 45 to 11 May 45

The French government awarded members of the 445th Bomb Group the French Croix de Guerre with Palm in recognition of the unit’s efforts to liberate France.

FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE with PALM Time limitation --- 1 Dec 43 to 1 Feb 45

Page 9 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

Figure 1 - Base Map

Page 10 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

Group Acft Acft Acft Flying Mission Date Target Ctry Target Type Bomb Type Results Over Sent Lost Time Number Tgt Brunswick (P) Aviation Industry; 0 11 01/11/44 GE 500# IB Recalled 25 0 7:00 Meppen (T/O) Bridge 21 27 02/22/44 Gotha GE Aviation Industry 120# M-1 Recalled 28 2 0 7:30 32 03/05/44 Cognac FR German Air Field 500# GP Unobs 23 17 0 6:30 47 04/08/44 Brunswick GE Aviation Industry 500# GP Excellent 37 33 0 7:00 49 04/10/44 Tours FR German Air Field 100# IB Poor 27 12 0 5:30 50 04/11/44 Oschersleben GE Aviation Industry 1000# GP Excellent 26 24 0 8:00 51 04/12/44 Zwickau GE Aviation Industry 100# IB Abort 27 26 5 7:30 91 06/06/44 Caen FR Bridge 500# GP Unobs 11 11 0 6:45 250# GP 93 06/07/44 Argentan FR Bridge Unobs 23 22 0 7:00 300# GP 95 06/10/44 Dreux FR German Air Field 250# GP Excellent 23 15 1 5:39 1000# GP 99 06/12/44 Rennes FR Bridge Fair 17 17 1 7:00 2000# GP Montfort-Sur- 100 06/13/44 FR Bridge 500# GP Unobs 33 21 0 7:30 Meu 102 06/17/44 Bretigny FR German Air Field 500# GP Unobs 24 15 0 6:30 100# M-1 103 06/18/44 Stade GE German Air Field 500# GP Unobs 48 45 0 7:00 100# IB 100# GP 109 06/23/44 Sautrecourt FR V-1 Launch Site Excellent 24 22 0 5:30 100# M-1 119 07/06/44 Pas-De-Calais FR V-1 Launch Site 500# GP Excellent 35 30 0 3:30 100# GP 123 07/12/44 Munich GE German Air Field Unobs 47 43 0 10:15 500# GP 124 07/13/44 Saarbrucken GE Marshalling Yard 500# IB Unobs 31 20 0 6:30 50/100# 127 07/18/44 Caen FR Troop Support Poor 44 43 0 5:35 IB

Page 11 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

Group Acft Acft Acft Flying Mission Date Target Ctry Target Type Bomb Type Results Over Sent Lost Time Number Tgt 10/500# 128 07/19/44 Leipheim GE German Air Field GP or Excellent 37 37 0 7:30 48/120 IB 133 07/25/44 St-Lo FR Troop Support 500# GP Excellent 48 47 1 5:00 138 08/02/44 Sens FR Fuel Depot 250# GP Excellent 36 34 0 7:45 Estampes 250# GP 139 08/03/44 FR German Air Field Fair 36 34 0 7:00 Mondesire 500# GP 1000# GP 148 08/13/44 St-Malo FR Coastal Batteries Excellent 44 43 0 6:00 2000# GP 500# GP 153 08/24/44 Brunswick GE Aviation Industry Good 36 34 0 7:50 500# IB 500# GP 154 08/25/44 Wismar GE Aviation Industry Excellent 44 44 0 7:15 500# IB 226 02/03/45 Madgeburg GE Marshalling Yard 1000# GP Unobs 42 31 0 7:30 227 02/06/45 Madgeburg GE Marshalling Yard 500# GP Unobs 43 41 0 8:00 Station & 500# GP 234 02/21/45 Nürnberg GE Unobs 44 39 0 9:00 Marshalling Yard 500# IB 235 02/22/45 Halberstadt GE Marshalling Yard 500# GP Good 46 21 0 7:30 500# GP 239 02/26/45 Berlin GE Marshalling Yard Unobs 33 31 0 8:30 500# IB 246 03/05/45 Hamburg GE Oil Industry 500# GP Unobs 11 11 0 7:00 252 03/12/45 Swinemünde GE Marshalling Yards 1000# GP Unobs 39 33 0 8:30 500# GP 256 03/19/45 Neuburg GE German Air Field Good 21 21 0 9:00 500# IB Hemmingstedt Oil Industry (P) 257 03/20/45 GE 500# GP Abort 13 11 1 7:00 Heligoland Flak Batteries (T/O) 262 03/24/45 Wesel GE Allied Drop Zone Cargo Good 29 27 2 5:30

Page 12 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

The following information contains the 8th Army Air Force Summaries of Combat Operations in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). The Mission number after the date is the 8th AAF Field Order Number. The tabular data at the end of a particular day’s operations are the specifics pertaining to the 445th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 2nd Combat Wing, 2nd Air Division. Msn # refers to the 445th’s operational mission and the sequence in which they occurred. A/C Sent refers to the number of aircraft dispatched to the target of the day and A/C Lost indicates how many aircraft were lost on that mission from the 445th.

The following is the crew load list (and passengers) for the initial overseas movement of the 445th Bomb Group (Heavy). This crew departed Sioux City, Iowa 09 Oct 43 and arrive Tibenham, England 18 Nov 43. They were the first of the crews and staff personnel to arrive.

Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position S/N: Cook Leo L 1st Lt Pilot O-434081 Unger George E 2nd Lt Copilot O-749358 Rayford Marshall H Jr 2nd Lt Navigator O-750216 Roberts Jack W 2nd Lt Bombardier O-668777 Moulton Robert E S/Sgt Engineer 19055225 Westphal Gunther R Sgt Radio Operator 32533949 Fugate Harrison L Sgt Ball Turret Gunner 15336889 Brunst Robert J Sgt Left Waist Gunner 35519231 Clark Johnnie R Sgt Right Waist Gunner 18138923 Conwell Edward W Sgt Tail Turret Gunner 33283448

Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position S/N: Terrill Robert H Lt Col Group Commander O-18633 Carson Durbon Capt Group Navigator O-728362 Pallourous James L 1st Lt Group Supply (S-4) O-561807 Simpson Leland S Sr 1st Lt Group Bombardier O-1288801

What follows is a chronological listing of missions flown, including the 8th Air Force summary of missions flown on that particular day.

Page 13 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

TUESDAY, 11 JANUARY 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 182: Three aviation industry targets in Germany are hit; fierce opposition estimated at 500 Luftwaffe fighters is encountered and 60 bombers and 5 fighters are lost.

177 B-17's are dispatched to Oschersleben; 139 hit the primary and 20 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 174-32-63 Luftwaffe aircraft; 34 B-17's are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 83 damaged; casualties are 9 KIA, 11 WIA and 349 MIA.

114 B-17's are dispatched to Halberstadt; 52 hit the primary and 55 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 35-11-19 Luftwaffe aircraft; 8 B-17's are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 42 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 18 WIA and 81 MIA. 177 P-47's and 44 Ninth Air Force P-51's escort; they claim 29-11-14 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 P-47's are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 4 P-47's and 1 P-51 are damaged; casualties are 2 KIA and 2 MIA. Major James H Howard, a P-51 pilot of the 354th Fighter Group, shot down an Me 110 and then found himself the lone escort for a B-17 group being attacked by 30 Luftwaffe aircraft. For the next 30 minutes, he kept turning into the enemy fighters and firing until only one gun was firing; by this time, he was credited with 2-1-2 Luftwaffe aircraft and saved the B-17's. Major Howard was awarded the Medal of Honor.

234 B-17's and 138 B-24's are dispatched to Brunswick; 47 B-17's hit the primary, 114 hit Osnabruck, 25 hit Bielefeld, 22 hit Peine, 10 hit Herford and 1 hit Nienburg; no B-24's hit the primary, 58 hit Meppen, 1 hits Lingen and 7 hit other targets; they claim 19-17-16 Luftwaffe aircraft; 16 B-17's and 2 B-24's are lost, 1 each damaged beyond repair and 47 B- 17's and 7 B-24's damaged; casualties are 5 WIA and 176 MIA. This mission is escorted by 49 P-38's and 322 P-47's; they claim 2-1-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-38 and 2 P-47's are lost and 1 P-47 is damaged; casualties are 1 MIA. Among the PFF aircraft are 4 B-24's, this being the first time B-24's are used in this capacity.

Aircraft: B-24H-01-FO - 42-7601 - N - "Sin Ship" - 702nd BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Schneck Ralph H 1st Lt Pilot Graham James M Jr 1st Lt Copilot Brooke Whitfield G 2nd Lt Navigator Painter Charles E 2nd Lt Bombardier Simpson Leland S Sr 1st Lt Bombardier Capobianco Sabastiano A T/Sgt Engineer Urbanik Albert J T/Sgt Radio Operator Sloman Archie R S/Sgt Ball Turret Pursel Wilburn G S/Sgt Waist Gunner Robison David W S/Sgt Waist Gunner Flynn Joseph H S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 11 01/11 Brunswick, GE 25 0

HQ 96th Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) is activated at Horsham St Faith, England.

Page 14 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

TUESDAY, 22 FEBRUARY 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

HQ VIII Bomber Command is redesignated as HQ, Eighth Air Force.

Mission 230: "Big Week" continues with 799 aircraft dispatched against German aviation and Luftwaffe airfields; 41 bombers and 11 fighters are lost.

289 B-17s are dispatched against aviation industry targets at Aschersleben (34 bomb), Bernburg (47 bomb) and Halberstadt (18 bomb) in conjunction with a Fifteenth Air Force raid on Regensburg, Germany; 32 hit Bunde, 19 hit Wernegerode, 15 hit Magdeburg, 9 hit Marburg and 7 hit other targets of opportunity; they claim 32-18-17 Luftwaffe aircraft; 38 B-17s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 141 damaged; casualties are 35 KIA, 30 WIA and 367 MIA.

333 B-17s are dispatched to Schweinfurt but severe weather prevents aircraft from forming properly and they are forced to abandon the mission prior to crossing the enemy coast; 2 B- 17s are damaged.

177 B-24s are dispatched but they are recalled when 100 miles (160 km) inland; since they were over Germany, they sought targets of opportunity but strong winds drove the bombers over The Netherlands and their bombs hit Enschede, Arnhem, Nijmegen and Deventer; they claim 2-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 B-24s are lost and 3 damaged; casualties are 30 MIA.

Aircraft: B-24J-095-CO - 42-100358 – U+ - "" - 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Douglass Guy C 1st Lt Pilot Casey Maurice F Jr Maj Air Commander Lavine Hal 2nd Lt Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier Spahn Alphonse J Capt Bombardier Baldwin Alvin T T/Sgt Engineer Eckles Glen R T/Sgt Radio Operator De Lucia Bernard L S/Sgt Waist Gunner Fritz Charles H S/Sgt Waist Gunner Martin John T Jr S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 27 02/22 Gotha, GE 28 0

These missions are escorted by 67 P-38s, 535 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s, and 57 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; the P-38s claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft, 1 P-38 is damaged beyond repair and 6 are damaged; the P-47s claim 39-6-15 Luftwaffe aircraft, 8 P-47s are lost and 12 damaged, 8 pilots are MIA; the P-51s claim 19-1-10 Luftwaffe aircraft, 3 P-51s are lost and 3 damaged, 3 pilot are MIA.

Page 15 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

SUNDAY, 5 MARCH 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 248: 219 B-24s are dispatched to hit airfields at Mont De Marsan, Cayeux and Bordeaux/Merignac, France but bad cloud conditions force a target change and multiple aborts; 62 hit Bergerac Airfield, 60 hit Cognac/Château Bernard Airfield, 41 hit Landes de Bussac Airfield and 1 hits La Roche Airfield; they claim 14-2-5 Luftwaffe aircraft; 4 B-24s are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 23 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 35 MIA.

Aircraft: B-24H-01-FO - 42-7526 - R - "Will-er Run" - 702nd BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Kluksdal Nils 1st Lt Pilot Dobson James M 2nd Lt Copilot Martin Lloyd J Maj Air Commander Keller Ralph G 2nd Lt Pilotage Navigator Kidder James N 2nd Lt Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier Jenkins Averett B S/Sgt Engineer Bowlsby Malcomb T T/Sgt Radio Operator Gursky Joe A S/Sgt Ball Turret Turner James M Jr S/Sgt Waist Gunner Mikkelson Arnold B S/Sgt Waist Gunner Rice Eugene S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 32 03/05 Cognac A/F, FR 23 0

Escort is provided by 34 P-38s, 185 P-47s and 88 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; 2 P-38s are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 1 pilot is killed and another MIA; 1 P-47 is damaged and 1 pilot is KIA; the P-51s claim 14-0-6 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 0-0-6 on the ground; 3 P-51s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; 1 pilot is WIA and 4 MIA.

Mission 249: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 250 bundles of leaflets on Le Mans, Paris, Orleans and Reims, France at 2132-2152 hours without loss.

A CARPETBAGGER mission is also flown.

Page 16 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

SATURDAY, 8 APRIL 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 291: 3 separate forces, a total of 664 bombers divided into 13 combat wings, escorted by 780 fighters, are dispatched against airfields in NW Germany and aircraft factories in the Brunswick area; 34 bombers and 23 fighters are lost.

59 of 59 B-17s hit Oldenburg Airfield; 32 B-17s are damaged; casualties are 5 WIA.

255 B-17s are dispatched to Achmer, Quakenbruck and Rheine Airfields; 83 hit Quakenbruck, 60 hit Achmer, 41 hit Rheine, 22 hit Twente Enschede, 21 hit Hesepe, 19 hit Handorf and 3 hit targets of opportunity; 4 B-17s are lost and 128 damaged; casualties are 1 KIA, 3 WIA and 40 MIA.

350 B-24s are dispatched to aviation industry targets in Brunswick; 190 hit the primary, 59 hit Rosslingen, 48 hit Langenhagen Airfield and 6 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 58- 9-32 Luftwaffe aircraft; 30 B-24s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 87 damaged; casualties are 8 KIA, 23 WIA and 300 MIA.

Aircraft: B-24J-95-CO - 42-100358 – U+ - "" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Douglass Guy C 1st Lt Pilot McCormack George 2nd Lt Copilot Lavine Hal 1st Lt Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier Baldwin Alvin T T/Sgt Engineer Eckels Glen R T/Sgt Radio Operator Fritz Charles H S/Sgt Ball Turret De Lucia Bernard L S/Sgt Waist Gunner Moore Jennings B S/Sgt Waist Gunner Martin John T Jr S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 47 04/08 Brunswick, GE 37 0

Escort is provided by 136 P-38s, 438 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 206 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; the fighters claim 88-3-46 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 49-6-38 on the ground: 5 P-38s are lost and 3 damaged, 5 pilots are MIA; 4 P-47s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 12 damaged, 4 pilots are MIA; 14 P-51s are lost and 3 damaged, 14 pilots are MIA.

Mission 292: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 1 million leaflets on Liege, Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp, and Mont-sur- Sombre, Belgium at 2215-2227 hours without loss.

Page 17 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

MONDAY, 10 APRIL 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 295: 729 bombers and 496 fighters are dispatched to hit aviation industry targets and airfields in Belgium and France; 3 bombers and 2 fighters are lost.

238 B-17s are dispatched to bomb aviation industry targets in Belgium; 123 bomb the aviation industry and airfield at Evere, 52 hit Brussels / Melsbroek Airfield, 39 hit aviation industry targets at Brussels, and 20 hit Bergen op Zoom; 1 B-17 is lost and 99 damaged; casualties are 4 WIA and 10 MIA.

248 B-17s are dispatched to hit aviation industry targets and airfields in Belgium and France; in Belgium, 62 hit Maldagem Airfield, 60 hit Diest / Schaffen Airfield and 42 hit Florennes / Juzaine Airfield; in France, 21 hit Courcelles and 21 hit Beaumont sur Oise Airfield; they claim 0-2-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 B-17 is lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 19 damaged; casualties are 10 MIA.

243 B-24s are dispatched to hit the airfield and aviation industry targets; in Belgium, 151 hit the airfield and aviation industry at Bourges; in France, 28 hit Orleans/Bricy Airfield, 21 hit Romarantin Airfield and 15 hit V-weapon sites at Marquise/Mimoyecques; they claim 6- 0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 B-24 is lost and 3 damaged; casualties are 1 WIA and 10 MIA.

Aircraft: B-24J-100-CO - 42-100426 – Y+ - "Scrap Drive" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Douglass Guy C 1st Lt Pilot Cook Carl L Jr 1st Lt Air Commander Lavine Hal 1st Lt Navigator Hull Stephen S 2nd Lt Pilotage Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier Baldwin Alvin T T/Sgt Engineer Eckels Glen R T/Sgt Radio Operator Fritz Charles H S/Sgt Ball Turret Gunner De Lucia Bernard L S/Sgt Waist Gunner Moore Jennings B S/Sgt Waist Gunner Martin John T Jr S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 49 04/10 Tours, FR 27 0

Escort is provided by 51 P-38s, 295 P-47s and 150 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s: P-38s have no claims or losses; P-47s claim 12-0-7 Luftwaffe aircraft, 1 P-47 is lost and 4 damaged, 1 pilot is MIA; P-51s claim 40-0-16 aircraft, 1 P-51 is lost and 1 damaged, 1 pilot is MIA.

Mission 296: Three forces are dispatched on fighter-bomber missions; all include P-38 Droopsnoot aircraft: 39 P-38s are dispatched to attack Florennes / Juzaine Airfield, Belgium; no losses or claims; 51 P-38s and 7 P-47s are dispatched to attack St Dizier, France; the primary is

Page 18 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps cloud covered and 16 P-38s attack Coulommiers Airfield, France; 2 P-38s are lost and 1 damaged; 2 pilots are MIA; the P-47s claim 2-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; 28 P- 38s and 46 P-47s are dispatched to bomb Gutersloh, Germany; 1 P-38 is lost, the pilot is MIA.

Mission 297: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 2 million leaflets on Lille, Le Mans, Chartres, Reims and Orleans, France at 2212-2258 hours local without loss.

23 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER operations.

Page 19 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

TUESDAY, 11 APRIL 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 298: 917 bombers and 819 fighters are dispatched in 3 separate forces to bomb production centers (primarily fighter aircraft factories) and targets of opportunity in N Germany; 64 bombers are lost, one of the heaviest single-day losses of World War II. The bombers also drop 2.4 million leaflets. Details are:

341 B-17s are dispatched to hit aviation industry targets at Sorau (108 bomb) and Cottbus (17 bomb); 127 hit Stettin, 20 hit Trechel, 16 hit Dobberphel and 23 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 12-2-3 Luftwaffe aircraft; 19 B-17s are lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 190 damaged; casualties are 12 KIA, 13 WIA and 200 MIA.

Of 302 B-17s dispatched, 172 hit Rostock, 52 hit Politz, 35 hit the industrial area at Arnimswalde and 15 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 34-20-19 Luftwaffe aircraft; 33 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 153 damaged; casualties are 2 KIA, 9 WIA and 330 MIA.

274 B-24s are dispatched to hit aviation industry targets at Oschersleben (121 bomb) and Berenburg (99 bomb); 9 bomb aviation industry targets at Halberstadt, 9 bomb Eisleben and 5 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 27-2-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 12 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 63 damaged; casualties are 5 KIA, 9 WIA and 122 MIA.

Aircraft: B-24J-100-CO - 42-100404 – S+ - "The Grim Reaper" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Douglass Guy C 1st Lt Pilot McBroom Gerald E 2nd Lt Copilot Lavine Hal 2nd Lt Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier Baldwin Alvin T T/Sgt Engineer Eckels Glen R T/Sgt Radio Operator Fritz Charles H S/Sgt Ball Turret Gunner De Lucia Bernard L S/Sgt Waist Gunner Moore Jennings B S/Sgt Waist Gunner Martin John T Jr S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 50 04/11 Oschersleben, GE 26 0

Escort is provided by 124 P-38s, 454 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 241 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; the fighters claim 51-5-25 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 65-0-67 on the grounds: no P-38s are lost; 7 P-47s are lost and 16 damaged, 7 pilots are MIA; 9 P- 51s are lost and 13 damaged, 9 pilots are MIA.

Mission 299: 5 of 5 B-17s drop 2 million leaflets on Paris, Rouen, Le Mans, Rennes, Vichy, Lyon, Limoges and Toulouse between 2301 and 0055 hours local without loss.

Page 20 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

12 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER operations.

Page 21 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

WEDNESDAY, 12 APRIL 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 300: 455 bombers and 766 fighters dispatched to bomb industrial targets at Schweinfurt, Zwickau, Oschersleben, Schkeuditz, Halle and Leipzig are forced to abandon the mission because of haze and multilayer clouds; Luftwaffe fighter opposition is concentrated over N France and the bombers claim 10-6-7 fighters; 6 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; 5 B-24s are lost and 25 damaged; casualties are 12 KIA, 16 WIA and 56 MIA.

Aircraft: B-24J-95-CO - 42-100358 – U+ - "" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Douglass Guy C 1st Lt Pilot Kreidler Howard E Maj Air Commander Lavine Hal 1st Lt Observer West Benjamine S 1st Lt Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier Baldwin Alvin T T/Sgt Engineer Eckels Glen R T/Sgt Radio Operator Fritz Charles H S/Sgt Ball Turret Gunner De Lucia Bernard L S/Sgt Waist Gunner Moore Jennings B S/Sgt Waist Gunner Constantinos Nicholas A S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 51 04/12 Zwickau, GE 27 5

Escort is provided by 124 P-38s, 449 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-47s and 193 Eighth and Ninth Air Force P-51s; they claim 18-1-3 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-8 on the ground; 3 P-38s and 2 P-51s are lost, 2 P-47s are damaged beyond repair and 3 P-38s, 17 P-47s and 1 P-51 are damaged; 5 pilots are MIA.

HQ, 353rd Fighter Group moves from Metfield to Raydon, England.

Page 22 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

TUESDAY, 6 JUNE 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

The Eighth Air Force reaches its top strength as the 493rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) becomes operational, making a total of 40 heavy bomber groups now operational. Heavy bombers fly 4 missions in support of the Normandy invasion:

Mission 394-A: At first light, 659 of 882 B-17s and 418 of 543 B-24s hit coastal targets in the area of the invasion beaches between Le Havre and Cherbourg; overcast and inability of the bombers to locate (or absence of) PFF leaders causes failure of some units to attack; 1 B-24 is lost, 1 B- 24 is damaged beyond repair and 14 B-17s and 1 B-24 are damaged; 12 airmen are KIA, 2 WIA and 13 MIA.

Mission 394-B: The second mission strikes at transportation chokepoints in towns immediately around the assault area; total cloud cover causes 84 B-17s and 259 B-24s dispatched to return with their bombs but 37 B-24s manage to bomb secondary target of Argentan; 2 B-24s are lost and 1 B-17 is damaged; no casualties.

Mission 395-A: The third mission is dispatched against the important communications center of Caen; 58 of 73 B-24s bomb through overcast skies without loss.

Aircraft: B-24J-50-CO – 42-73509 – T+ - "" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Wright Arthur R 1st Lt Pilot Riblet Phillip D Jr 2nd Lt Copilot Capuano Anthony 2nd Lt Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier DeHay Richard S T/Sgt Engineer Cahoon Bud T T/Sgt Radio Operator Verburg William M S/Sgt Tail Turret Gunner

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 91 06/06 Caen, FR 11 0

Page 23 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

WEDNESDAY, 7 JUNE 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

The Allied Expeditionary Air Force (AEAF) directs air attacks against congested points to delay movement of more enemy forces into the assault area.

Mission 397: 182 B-17s and 291 B-24s, including 20 PFFs, are dispatched; of the B-17s, 58 hit Conde sur Noireau, 60 hit Flers, and 54 hit Falaise; of the B-24s, 66 hit Argentan, 19 hit Vascoeuil, 61 hit Laigle and 83 hit Lisieux; 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 17 B-17s are damaged; 8 airmen are KIA and 3 WIA.

Aircraft: B-24H-25-FO – 42-95280 – D+ - "" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Wright Arthur R 1st Lt Pilot Evans Franklin B 2nd Lt Copilot Tabit Charles Jr 2nd Lt Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier DeHay Richard S T/Sgt Engineer Troy Robert F T/Sgt Radio Operator Verburg William M S/Sgt Tail Turret Gunner

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 93 06/07 Argentan, FR 23 0

Mission 398: 487 B-17s and 88 B-24s are dispatched; the primary targets for the B-17s are Nantes (190 bomb) and the Kerlin / Bastard Airfield (132 bomb); 23 B-17s hit Niort and 40 hit the Nantes Bridge; the primary target for the B-24s is Tours / La Roche (12 bomb) and 13 hit Pouance, 13 hit Blain, 13 hit Chateaubriand, 25 hit Laval Airfield, 12 hit Vitre and 3 hit Tours; 1 B-17 and 1 B-24 are lost, 1 B-17 and 7 B-24s are damaged beyond repair and 78 B-17s and 96 B-24s are damaged; 21 airmen are KIA, 12 WIA and 12 MIA. Heavy cloud prevents almost 100 others from bombing targets.

VIII Fighter Command furnishes area support for beachhead areas in the early morning and to heavy bomber operations at midday and in the late afternoon, at the same time maintaining harassment of communications and flying shipping patrol. 526 P-38s and 294 P-51s patrol the beachhead and provide escort in N France; they claim 2-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 0-0-2 on the ground; 8 P-51s are lost; 1 airman is KIA and 7 MIA. 505 P-47s and 148 P-51s engage in general strafing over N France and claim 29-1-12 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 25-0-12 on the ground; 10 P-47s and 4 P-51s are lost and 3 P-51s are damaged beyond repair; 1 airman is KIA and 12 MIA.

Mission 399: 10 B-17s drop leaflets over The Netherlands, France and Belgium.

14 B-24s participate in CARPETBAGGER operations in France.

Page 24 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

SATURDAY, 10 JUNE 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 403: Bad weather restricts operations to NW France; 883 bombers and 1,491 fighter sorties are flown but 200+ bombers abort due to cloud conditions; 1 bomber and 24 fighters are lost.

507 B-17s are dispatched to Equihen (24 bomb), Hardelot (23 bomb), St Gabriel (26 bomb), Gael Airfield (36 bomb), Nantes / Bouguenais Airfield (55 bomb), Vannes Airfield (59 bomb), Berck (26 bomb), Merlimont Plage (39 bomb), and Toucquet-Paris-Plage (10 bomb); 1 B-17 is damaged beyond repair and 36 damaged; 6 airmen are KIA and 4 WIA.

257 B-24s are dispatched to Wimereau (23 bomb), Boulogne (34 bomb), Dreux Airfield (26 bomb), Evreux/Fauville Airfield (65 bomb) and Boulogne (13 bomb); 39 others hit Conches Airfield; 1 B-24 is lost, 2 are damaged beyond repair and 28 damaged; 10 airmen are MIA.

Aircraft: B-24H-15-CF – 41-29483 – A+ - "Rough Riders" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Wright Arthur R 1st Lt Pilot Evans Franklin B 2nd Lt Copilot Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier Peterson Howard M S/Sgt Nose Turret Gunner DeHay Richard S T/Sgt Engineer Troy Robert F T/Sgt Radio Operator Breech Richard H S/Sgt Waist Gunner Deshazer Marvin E S/Sgt Tail Turret Gunner

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 95 06/10 Dreux, FR 23 1

119 B-24s are dispatched to Château dun Airfield (45 bomb) and Orleans/Bricy Airfield (66 bomb) without loss.

VIII Fighter Command missions during the day are:

405 P-38s fly sweep and escort; they claim 5-2-1 Luftwaffe aircraft.

3 P-47s and 364 P-51s provided escort for the bombers above; they claim 0-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; 7 fighters are lost. 506 P-47s and 213 P-51s fly fighter-bomber missions against communications targets in the beachhead area; they claim 8-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-1 on the ground; 15 P-47s and 2 P-51 are lost; 3 P-47s and a P- 51 are damaged beyond repair. During the day, 1 fighter pilot is KIA and 24 are MIA.

Mission 404: During the evening, 11 B-17s drop leaflets on Norway and France without loss.

Page 25 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

MONDAY, 12 JUNE 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 407: With bad weather over top priority targets in Germany, 1,442 bombers are dispatched against airfields and landing grounds in NE France and rail and road bridges on the Brest Peninsula; 691 of 769 B-17s and 586 of 673 B-24s hit 16 airfields and 6 railroad bridges in the Rennes and St Nazaire area; they claim 1-1-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 6 B-17s and 2 B-24s are lost; 1 B-17 and 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair; and 188 B-17s and 52 B-24s are damaged; 7 airmen are KIA, 14 WIA and 58 MIA.

Aircraft: B-24H-01-CF – 41-29146 – P - "Nita" – 702nd BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Wright Arthur R 1st Lt Pilot Evans Franklin B 2nd Lt Copilot Tabit Charles Jr 2nd Lt Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier DeHay Richard S T/Sgt Engineer Troy Robert F T/Sgt Radio Operator Peterson Howard M S/Sgt Waist Gunner Deshazer Marvin E S/Sgt Tail Turret Gunner

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 99 06/12 Rennes, FR 17 1

988 fighter sorties are flown with the loss of 16 aircraft; 15 pilots are MIA:

234 P-38s, 80 P-47s and 201 P-51s fly escort, sweeps and patrols over the Channel NW of Paris and in the Rennes area; they claim 20-0-8 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-0 on the ground; 3 P-38s, 1 P-47 and 3 P-51s are lost; 1 P-38 is damaged beyond repair.

93 P-38s and 183 P-47s fly fighter-bomber missions against 5 railroad bridges in the Tours- Paris area; they claim 5-0-2 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 1-0-0 on the ground; 1 P-38 and 8 P-47s are lost; 1 each is damaged beyond repair.

45 P-38s and 152 P-51s fly escort for Ninth Air Force A-20s and B-26s.

Mission 408: 7 of 7 B-17s drop leaflets on France and Belgium during the night without loss.

16 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions.

Page 26 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

TUESDAY, 13 JUNE 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO): STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

The first V-1 "buzz bomb" lands in S England; more land during the night of 13/14 Jun, and throughout the rest of the month. Bad weather cancels large-scale bombing of high priority targets in Germany; overcast bombing against tactical targets in NW France is undertaken:

Mission 409: In the first mission of the day cloud cover is less than anticipated and visual runs are made by 129 of 139 B-17s against Evreux / Fauville Airfield (37 bomb), Dreux Airfield (52 bomb) and St Andre de L'Eure (40 bomb); 30 B-17s are damaged; escort is provided by 101 of 113 P-51s dispatched; they claim 4-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft.

Mission 410: In the second mission, 112 B-17s and 260 B-24s are dispatched:

B-17s to Beaumont-sur-Oise Airfield (41 bomb) and Beauvais / Nivelliers Airfield (56 bomb); 15 B-17s are damaged.

148 B-24s to Dinard / Pleurtuit Airfield (10 bomb), Ploermel Bridge (26 bomb), Vannes Bride (19 bomb), Vicomte-sur-Rance Bridge (24 bomb), Montfort-sur-Meu Bridge (21 bomb), Porcaro Bridge (12 bomb) and 3 others hit targets of opportunity; 2 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 16 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 19 MIA.

Aircraft: B-24H-25-FO - 42-95098 – E+ - "" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Wright Arthur R 1st Lt Pilot Evans Franklin B 2nd Lt Observer Withey James T 2nd Lt Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier McNeill Grahame O S/Sgt Nose Turret Gunner Peterson Howard M S/Sgt Engineer Troy Robert F T/Sgt Radio Operator Breech Richard H S/Sgt Waist Gunner Deshazer Marvin E S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 100 06/13 Guer & Montfort, FR 33 0

Escort for Mission 410 is provided by 12 P-38s, 47 P-47s and 174 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost and the pilot is MIA.

Other fighter sorties during the day are:

97 P-38s are dispatched on fighter-bomber missions (58 bomb) and 17 hit La Poissonniere Montjean; 2 P-38s are lost and the pilots are MIA.

Page 27 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

199 P-47s are dispatched to La Port Boulet (90 attack), Montlouis (24 attack), transport targets (33 attack) and Chinon (31 attack); they claim 2-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-47 is lost and 1 damaged beyond repair; 2 pilots are MIA.

35 P-51s fly escort for fighter bombers.

12 P-38s and 35 P-47s escort Ninth Air Force bombers.

62 of 64 P-38s fly patrol over the English Channel.

Mission 411: 8 of 8 B-17s drop leaflets on France during the night.

6 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions over France.

Page 28 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

SATURDAY, 17 JUNE 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Targets in France, primarily airfields, are hit; 2 B-17s are lost; fighters fly 1,027 sorties during the day and destroy 15 locomotives, train cars, trucks and other vehicles.

Mission 418: 232 of 332 bombers attack targets in France:

Of 174 B-17s, 52 hit Monchy-Breton Airfield, 31 hit a railroad bridge at Noyen, 18 hit Château dun Airfield and 18 hit Villiers / L'Eveque Airfield; 2 B-17s are lost and 22 damaged; 22 airmen are MIA; escort is provided by 43 P-38s, 39 P-47s and 90 P-51s; they claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot is MIA).

Of 158 B-24s, 28 hit Laval Airfield, 26 hit Guyancourt/Caudron Airfield, 18 hit Le Mans / Arnage Airfield, 17 hit Bretigny Airfield, 12 hit Brunnelles, 9 hit Melun Airfield, 1 hits Dreux, 1 hits St Valery and 1 hits a target of opportunity; escort is provided by 87 P-47s and 170 P-51s; they claim 2-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 3-0-0 on the ground; no losses or casualties.

Aircraft: B-24H-25-FO - 42-95098 – E+ - "" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Wright Arthur R 1st Lt Pilot Evans Franklin B 2nd Lt Copilot Withey James T 2nd Lt Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier DeHay Richard S T/Sgt Engineer Troy Robert F T/Sgt Radio Operator Breech Richard H S/Sgt Ball Turret Gunner Peterson Howard M S/Sgt Waist Gunner Deshazer Marvin E S/Sgt Waist Gunner Verburg William M S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 102 06/17 Bretigny, FR 24 0

99 P-38s fly fighter-bomber missions against railroad bridges at Corbie and Peronne; 4 P- 38s are lost (pilots are MIA).

Mission 419: Of 312 B-24s dispatched, 80 hit Angers Airfield, 75 hit Laval Airfield, 55 hit Tours Airfield, 38 hit Essay airstrip, 25 hit Lonray airstrip and 1 hits Le Mans; 1 B-24 is lost and 35 damaged; 10 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 122 P-47s and 148 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot is MIA).

49 P-38s and 39 P-47s, escorted by 47 P-38s, make fighter-bomber attacks on Corbie- Peronne railroad bridges; 2 P-38s are lost (pilots are MIA).

Mission 420:

Page 29 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

9 of 10 B-17s drop leaflets in France during the night.

Page 30 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

SUNDAY, 18 JUNE 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 421: 1,378 bombers are dispatched to targets in Germany; 11 bombers are lost, 10 to AA fire and 1 to unknown causes:

Of 890 B-17s dispatched, 381 bomb Hamburg, 88 hit Hannover-Misburg oil refinery, 85 hit the Bremen area; 60 hit Hannover, 54 hit Hamburg-Eurotank oil refinery, 38 hit Hamburg- Ossag oil refinery, 36 hit Hamburg-Schindler oil refinery, 18 hit Bremen-Oslebshausen; 18 hit Hamburg-Ebano oil refinery and 5 hit targets of opportunity; 7 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 284 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 10 WIA and 70 MIA.

Of 488 B-24s, 168 hit Hamburg, 107 bomb Bremerhaven, 58 attack the Watten V-weapon sites, France, 54 hit Brunsbuttel, 45 hit Stade Airfield, 28 hit Wesermunde, 13 hit Husum Airfield, 9 hit Nordenham, 8 hit Helgoland Airfield, 5 hit targets of opportunity and 1 hits Wrist marshalling yard; 4 B-24s are lost and 53 damaged; 8 airmen are WIA and 39 MIA.

Aircraft: B-24H-25-FO - 42-95098 – E+ - "" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Wright Arthur R 1st Lt Pilot Evans Franklin B 2nd Lt Copilot Withey James T 2nd Lt Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier DeHay Richard S T/Sgt Engineer Troy Robert F T/Sgt Radio Operator Breech Richard H S/Sgt Ball Turret Gunner Peterson Howard M S/Sgt Waist Gunner Deshazer Marvin E S/Sgt Waist Gunner Verburg William M S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 103 06/18 Stade A/F, GE 48 0

Escort is provided by 198 P-38s, 172 P-47s and 215 P-51s; 1 P-38 is damaged beyond repair; no losses or claims.

Other VIII Fighter Command missions in France are:

94 of 98 P-38s and 82 of 87 P-47s attack railroad bridges in the St Quentin area without loss.

47 P-51s make a sweep of the Dol de Bretagne area; 3 P-51s are lost (pilots are MIA).

Mission 422: 9 B-24s are dispatched on CARPETBAGGER missions in France; 1 B-24 hits a tree at the drop zone.

Page 31 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

FRIDAY, 23 JUNE 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 435: At midday, 110 of 134 B-17s and 102 of 106 B-24s attack 12 CROSSBOW (V-weapon) installations, damaging at least 6 of them; 3 B-17s and 2 B-24s are damaged. Fighter support is furnished by 4 P-51 groups (141 of 161 aircraft) all of which afterward strafe transportation targets in the Paris area, destroying 3 locomotives, 100 pieces of rolling stock, and 14 motor vehicles; An exploding ammunition train causes a low-flying P-51 to crash, the only aircraft lost on the mission (pilot is MIA).

Aircraft: B-24J-100-CO - 42-100404 – S+ - "The Grim Reaper" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Wright Arthur R 1st Lt Pilot Evans Franklin B 2nd Lt Copilot Withey James T 2nd Lt Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier DeHay Richard S T/Sgt Engineer Troy Robert F T/Sgt Radio Operator Breech Richard H S/Sgt Ball Turret Gunner Peterson Howard M S/Sgt Waist Gunner Deshazer Marvin E S/Sgt Waist Gunner Verburg William M S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 109 06/23 Sautrecourt, FR 24 0

Mission 436: During the late afternoon, 109 B-17s are dispatched to Nanteuil; 13 hit the primary and 2 hit targets of opportunity; the rest abort due to heavy cloud cover; 1 B-17 is lost and 2 are damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 10 MIA. Of 219 B-24s dispatched to airfields in France, 113 hit Juvincourt, 46 hit Leon / Athies, 23 hit Coulommiers and 1 hits Soissons; 6 B-24s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 81 are damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 3 WIA and 58 MIA. Escort is provided by 155 P-47s and 83 P-51s; afterwards part of a P-47 group bombs and strafes a marshalling yard while the remainder of the group bombs and strafes a train carrying trucks and armored cars, destroying the locomotive, 3 trucks, and an armored car, and damaging 20 freight cars.

169 of 195 P-38s fly fighter-bomber missions in the Paris area; 2 P-38s are lost (pilots are MIA.

Page 32 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

THURSDAY, 6 JULY 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 455: In the morning, missions are flown to France and Germany:

800 bombers and 224 fighters are dispatched to bomb 18 V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area; 556 of 641 B-17s and 133 of 159 B-24s bomb; 1 B-17 is damaged beyond repair; 161 B-17s and 59 B-24s are damaged; 2 airmen are KIA and 3 WIA. Escort is provided by 141 P-38s and 83 P-51s; they claim 4-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-38 is lost (pilot is MIA).

229 of 262 B-24s bomb the dock area at Kiel, Germany and 1 hits a target of opportunity; 3 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 105 damaged; 8 airmen are WIA and 22 MIA. Escort is provided by 168 of 189 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot is MIA).

Mission 456: In the late afternoon 73 of 104 B-17s and 148 of 176 B-24s strike 6 V-weapon sites and supply installations, 3 railroad bridges, a highway bridge, and an airfield in N France. Escort is provided by 443 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-47 is lost; afterwards a squadron of P-47s dive-bombs 3 airfields in the Conches area.

Aircraft: B-24J-1-FO - 42-50579 – R+ - "Little Audrey" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Wright Arthur R 1st Lt Pilot Evans Franklin B 2nd Lt Copilot Withey James T 2nd Lt Navigator Bohn James A Jr 2nd Lt Pilotage Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier DeHay Richard S T/Sgt Engineer Troy Robert F T/Sgt Radio Operator Peterson Howard M S/Sgt Waist Gunner Deshazer Marvin E S/Sgt Waist Gunner Breech Richard H S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost Tactical Target 14 (Mont Louis Feam, 119 07/06 35 0 Vignacourt Hasi-Maisnel)

212 P-38s and P-47s, fly fighter-bomber missions against rail and road traffic in the Paris area; they claim 11-1-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 2 P-47s are lost (pilots are MIA).

Mission 457: 7 of 7 B-17s drop leaflets in Belgium and France during the night.

20 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions; 1 B-24 is lost. A C-47 makes the first landing at a secret airstrip in the Ain, France area.

Page 33 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 468: 131 B-24s, escorted by 144 Royal Air Force (RAF) Spitfires, are dispatched to bomb 10 CROSSBOW (V-weapon) sites in the Rouen area but abort because of a thick blanket of low cloud over the target area; no losses.

Mission 469: 1,271 bombers and 803 fighters are dispatched to bomb Munich, Germany; 1,124 bombers bomb the city of Munich, 16 hit Enstingen and 10 hit targets of opportunity; 24 bombers are lost, 4 are damaged beyond repair and 297 are damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 7 WIA and 216 MIA. Escort is provided by 717 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-38 is damaged beyond repair (pilot is WIA).

Aircraft: B-24J-1-NT - 42-78483 – A+ - "" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Wright Arthur R 1st Lt Pilot Evans Franklin B 2nd Lt Copilot Withey James T 2nd Lt Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier Verburg William M S/Sgt Nose Turret Gunner DeHay Richard S T/Sgt Engineer Troy Robert F T/Sgt Radio Operator Peterson Howard M S/Sgt Waist Gunner Deshazer Marvin E S/Sgt Waist Gunner Breech Richard H S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 123 07/12 Munich, GE 47 0

Mission 470: During the night, 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France.

Page 34 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

THURSDAY, 13 JULY 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 471: 1,043 bombers and 609 fighters in 3 forces are dispatched to bomb targets in Germany; 10 bombers and 5 fighters are lost:

Of 399 B-17s, 356 bomb Munich, 6 bomb the railroad at Munich and 3 hit targets of opportunity; 4 B-17s are lost, 1 is damaged beyond repair and 156 damaged; 8 airmen are KIA, 7 WIA and 36 MIA. Escort is provided by 292 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; they claim 2-1-2 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-38 and 1 P-47 are lost.

Of 278 B-17s, 139 bomb Munich, 100 hit an aircraft engine plant at Munich and 3 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 11-4-8 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 B-17s are lost, 2 are damaged beyond repair and 129 damaged; 9 airmen are WIA and 50 MIA. Escort is provided by 170 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost and 1 P-38 is damaged beyond repair.

Of 366 B-24s, 298 hit Saarbrucken marshalling yards and 3 hit targets of opportunity; 1 B- 24 is lost, 7 damaged beyond repair and 31 damaged; 23 airmen are KIA, 9 WIA and 19 MIA. Escort is provided by 81 of 85 P-51s; 1 P-51 is lost and 1 damaged beyond repair.

Aircraft: B-24J-1-FO - 42-50579 – R+ - "Little Audrey" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Wright Arthur R 1st Lt Pilot Evans Franklin B 2nd Lt Copilot Withey James T 2nd Lt Navigator Johnson Philip R 2nd Lt Pilotage Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier DeHay Richard S T/Sgt Engineer Troy Robert F T/Sgt Radio Operator Verburg William M S/Sgt Waist Gunner Deshazer Marvin E S/Sgt Waist Gunner Breech Richard H S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 124 07/13 Saarbrucken, GE 31 0

28 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

Page 35 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

TUESDAY, 18 JULY 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 481: 1,394 bombers and 476 fighters are dispatched to hit targets in Germany and tactical targets in France; 3 bombers and 3 fighters are lost:

644 B-24s are dispatched, in conjunction with Ninth Air Force and RAF Bomber Command, to bomb enemy equipment and troop concentrations in support of the assault by the British Second Army in the Caen area; 249 hit Solier, 146 hit Frenouville, 139 hit Troarns, 23 hit Hubert la Folie and 12 hit the Mezidon marshalling yard; 1 B-24 is lost, 2 are damaged beyond repair and 182 are damaged. 90 RAF Spitfires fly uneventful support for the B-24s.

Aircraft: B-24J-1-NT - 42-78483 – A+ - "" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Wright Arthur R 1st Lt Pilot Evans Franklin B 2nd Lt Copilot Withey James T 2nd Lt Navigator Slupski Richard R 2nd Lt Pilotage Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier DeHay Richard S T/Sgt Engineer Troy Robert F T/Sgt Radio Operator Breech Richard H S/Sgt Waist Gunner Deshazer Marvin E S/Sgt Waist Gunner Verburg William M S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 127 07/18 Area Bombing 44 0

Of 291 B-17s, 107 hit the Kiel port area, 55 hit the Hemminstedt oil refinery and 54 hit Cuxhaven; 21 B-17s are damaged. Escort is provided by 48 P-38s and 84 P-51s without loss.

Of 459 B-17s, 377 hit the Peenemunde experimental establishment, scientific HQ at Zinnowitz, and marshalling yards at Stralsund; 3 B-17s are lost and 64 damaged. Escort is provided by 297 P-38s and P-51s; they claim 21-0-12 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 P-51s are lost (2 pilot are MIA) and 1 is damaged beyond repair.

25 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions in France during the night; 1 B-24 collides with an RAF aircraft over France and is lost.

Page 36 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

WEDNESDAY, 19 JULY 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 482: 1,082 of 1,242 B-17s and B-24s and 670 of 761 P-38s, P-47s, and P-51s dispatched, operating in 5 forces, attack targets in W and SW Germany including 2 plants producing hydrogen peroxide (an ingredient in V-weapon fuels), a chemical plant, 2 aircraft factories, 4 ball bearing plants, 6 marshalling yards, 4 airfields, and a river dam; 17 bombers and 7 fighters are lost. Attacks in the Munich area are followed, within 90 minutes, by Fifteenth Air Force attacks. 731 fighters, operating in 19 separate units support the bombers; 8 of these units afterwards strafe ground targets, including parked aircraft, locomotives and rolling stock, and road vehicles. The bombers claim 6-4-4 Luftwaffe aircraft; the fighters claim 17- 0-4 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 38-0-14 on the ground.

Aircraft: B-24J-1-NT - 42-78483 – A+ - "" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Wright Arthur R 1st Lt Pilot Evans Franklin B 2nd Lt Copilot Withey James T 2nd Lt Navigator Capuano Anthony 2nd Lt Pilotage Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier DeHay Richard S T/Sgt Engineer Troy Robert F T/Sgt Radio Operator Breech Richard H S/Sgt Waist Gunner Peterson Howard M S/Sgt Waist Gunner Deshazer Marvin E S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 128 07/19 Leipheim A/F, GE 44 0

Mission 483: 5 of 5 B-17s drop leaflets in France and Belgium during the night.

5 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

Page 37 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

TUESDAY, 25 JULY 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 494: 1,581 bombers and 500 fighters are dispatched to support a US First Army assault (Operation COBRA) with saturation bombing in the VII Corps area in the Marigny-Saint- Gilles region, just W of Saint-Lo; 5 bombers and 2 fighters are lost; 843 of 917 B-17s and 647 of 664 B-24s hit the Periers/St Lo area and 13 B-17s hit targets of opportunity; 1 B-17 and 4 B-24s are lost, 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair and 41 B-17s and 132 B-24s are damaged; 9 airmen are WIA and 46 MIA. Escort is provided by 483 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s and also provide escort for Ninth Air Force B-26s; they claim 12-1-3 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 2-0-0 on the ground; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots are MIA) and 5 damaged. Due to a wind change and their orders to drop on the smoke, bombs from 35 bombers fall within US lines; 102 US troops, including Lieutenant General Lesley J McNair, are killed and 380 wounded.

Aircraft: B-24J-1-NT - 42-78483 – A+ - "" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Wright Arthur R 1st Lt Pilot Evans Franklin B 2nd Lt Copilot Withey James T 2nd Lt Navigator Johnson Philip R 2nd Lt Pilotage Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier DeHay Richard S T/Sgt Engineer Troy Robert F T/Sgt Radio Operator Peterson Howard M S/Sgt Waist Gunner Deshazer Marvin E S/Sgt Waist Gunner Verburg William M S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 133 07/25 Tactical Target 19 (St Lo) 47 0

Mission 295: Late in the afternoon 106 B-24s are dispatched to bomb the Brussels / Melsbroek Airfield, Belgium but they are recalled because of heavy cloud formations. Escort for this mission is provided by 26 P-38s and 110 P-51s.

1 P-38 and 78 P-47s fly a fighter-bomber mission against the Fournival / Bois de Mont fuel dump; they claim 0-0-1 aircraft; 1 P-38 and 4 P-47s are damaged.

17 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

Page 38 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

WEDNESDAY, 2 AUGUST 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Two missions are flown today.

Mission 510: 319 bombers and 158 fighters are dispatched to attack oil and supply dumps and bridges in the Paris area (number in parenthesis indicates number of bombers attacking); 2 bombers and 2 fighters are lost:

Targets for 156 B-17s are Paris / Gennevilliers (51), Paris / Dugny (38), Mery-sur-Oise (37), Bernay marshalling yard (12), Courtalain rail junction (7) and targets of opportunity (4); 2 B-17s are lost and 47 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 2 WIA and 18 MIA.

Targets for 163 B-24s are bridges at Neuvy-sur-Loire (36), Nogent-sur-Seine (31), Mantereau (28); 26 hit Sens oil depot; airfields at St Dizier (12) and Creton (3); and Pacy- sur-Armancon (10); 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 23 damaged; 2 airmen are WIA.

Aircraft: B-24J-1-FO - 42-50710 – E+ - "" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Wright Arthur R 1st Lt Pilot Bowen Rowe D Jr Capt Air Commander Evans Franklin B 2nd Lt Observer Withey James T 2nd Lt Navigator Capuano Anthony 2nd Lt Pilotage Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier DeHay Richard S T/Sgt Engineer Troy Robert F T/Sgt Radio Operator Breech Richard H S/Sgt Waist Gunner Deshazer Marvin E S/Sgt Waist Gunner Verburg William M S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 138 08/02 Sens Fuel Dump, FR 27 0

The two forces above are escorted by 132 of 158 P-51s; 2 P-51s are lost and 1 damaged; 1 pilot is KIA and 2 MIA.

Mission 511: 517 bombers and 249 fighters are dispatched to attack CROSSBOW (V-weapon) sites and bridges in France; 3 bombers and 5 fighters are lost:

Of 195 B-17s, 77 hit V-weapon sites, and rail bridges at Jussy (31), Aulnoye (21), Beautor (21) and Crocal de St Quentin (11); 3 B-17s are lost and 45 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA, 1 WIA and 28 MIA.

Of 322 B-24s, 182 hit V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais area, 22 hit Thennes Bridge, 12 hit Peronne Rail Bridge, 11 hit Achiet Airfield and 8 hit targets of opportunity; 5 B-24s are

Page 39 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps damaged beyond repair and 78 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA. Escort for the 2 forces above is provided by 236 of 249 P-51s; 5 are lost and 1 is damaged beyond repair; 5 pilots are MIA.

49 P-38s, 183 P-47s and 51 P-51s fly fighter-bomber missions against rail and road transport in the Paris-Amiens-Brussels-St Quentin area; they claim 1-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 P-47 and 1 P-51 are lost, 1 P-38 is damaged beyond repair and 6 P-47s and 2 P-51s are damaged; 2 pilots are MIA.

42 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

Page 40 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

THURSDAY, 3 AUGUST 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Two missions are flown.

Mission 512: 672 bombers and 352 fighters are dispatched to hit rail and other targets in the French/German border area and oil dumps and bridges SE of Paris; 6 bombers and 6 fighters are lost:

Of 345 B-17s, 106 hit the Merkwille Oil Refinery, 68 hit Strasbourg marshalling yard, 62 hit Saarbrucken marshalling yard, 54 hit Mulhouse marshalling yard, 16 hit Toul/Croix de Metz Airfield, 11 hit a railroad near Saarbrucken and 6 hit targets of opportunity; they claim 4-1- 1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 6 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 98 damaged; 9 airmen are KIA, 9 WIA and 54 MIA. Escort is provided by 175 of 200 P-51s; they claim 6-0-0 aircraft in the air and 5-0-1 on the ground; 6 P-51s are lost (pilots are MIA).

Of 155 B-17s, 38 hit Troyes Bridge and 36 hit Joigny/La Roche Bridge; 11 B-17s are damaged. Escort is provided by 96 of 103 P-51s.

Of 172 B-24s, 27 hit Conches Airfield, 12 hit Melun marshalling yard, 11 hit Estampes Mondesir Airfield and 3 hit targets of opportunity; 51 B-24s are damaged. Escort is provided by 47 P-47s.

Aircraft: B-24J-1-FO - 42-50710 – E+ - "" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Wright Arthur R 1st Lt Pilot Evans Franklin B 2nd Lt Copilot Withey James T 2nd Lt Navigator Capuano Anthony 2nd Lt Pilotage Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier DeHay Richard S T/Sgt Engineer Troy Robert F T/Sgt Radio Operator Breech Richard H S/Sgt Waist Gunner Peterson Howard M S/Sgt Waist Gunner Verburg William M S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 139 08/03 Estampes A/F; Orly; Melun M/Y, FR 36 0

Mission 513: 482 bombers and 178 fighters are dispatched to oil installations and dumps in the Brussels, Paris and Lille areas and CROSSBOW (V-weapon) sites in the Pas de Calais; 2 bombers are lost:

112 of 126 B-17s and 117 of 121 B-24s hit V-weapon sites in the Pas de Calais; 1 B-24 is lost; 6 B-17s and 20 B-24s are damaged. Escort is provided by 43 of 46 P-51s.

Page 41 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

Of 76 B-24s, 62 hit Brussels / Vivorde, 10 hit Ghent / Terneuzen and 1 hits a target of opportunity; 1 B-24 is damaged beyond repair and 49 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA. Escort is provided by 33 of 36 P-47s.

Of 159 B-24s, 49 hit Harnes, 28 hit Courchelettes, 22 hit Pas de Calais V-weapons sites, 10 hit Lille / Marquette, 10 hit Lille / Sequedin and 8 hit Ghent marshalling yard; 1 B-24 is lost, 3 damaged beyond repair and 38 damaged; 4 airmen are KIA, 4 WIA and 10 MIA. Escort is provided by 90 of 96 P-51s.

133 P-38s and P-47s fly fighter-bomber missions against rail traffic in the Metz-Strasbourg- Saarbrucken area; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft in the air and 1-0-0 on the ground; 1 P-47 is lost.

Page 42 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

SUNDAY, 13 AUGUST 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

4 missions are flown:

Mission 548: 1,264 bombers and 131 fighters are dispatched to make visual attacks in support of ground forces on coastal batteries and transportation choke points between Le Havre and Paris; 12 bombers are lost:

Of 798 B-17s, 634 hit battle area targets, 69 hit Le Manoir Bridge and 54 hit targets of opportunity; 7 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 484 damaged; 2 airmen are KIA, 8 WIA and 63 MIA.

Of 466 B-24s, 347 hit battle area targets, 69 hit Isle de Cezembre and 34 hit St Malo; 5 B- 24s are lost; 1 airman is KIA, 4 WIA and 50 MIA.

Aircraft: B-24J-1-FO - 42-50710 – E+ - "" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Wright Arthur R 1st Lt Pilot Smith Donald H 2nd Lt Copilot Evans Franklin B 2nd Lt Observer Carpenter William O 2nd Lt Navigator Capuano Anthony 2nd Lt Pilotage Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier DeHay Richard S T/Sgt Engineer Troy Robert F T/Sgt Radio Operator Peterson Howard M S/Sgt Waist Gunner Deshazer Marvin E S/Sgt Waist Gunner Verburg William M S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 148 08/13 Isle of St. Malo, FR 44 0

The 2 forces above are escorted by 131 of 136 P-51s.

Mission 549: 1 APHRODITE B-17 with 2,000-pounds (907 kgs) of bombs is launched against Le Havre; B- 17, P-38 and Mosquito support aircraft assist; the target is missed and the Mosquito is destroyed by the exploding bombs.

Mission 550: 2 of 4 B-17s fly a Micro H test mission to La Chenaie rail junction.

Mission 551: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets in France, the Netherlands and Belgium during the night.

36 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions during the night.

Page 43 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

844 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s fly fighter-bomber missions against transportation targets in the Seine River area; they claim 0-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; 4 P-47s and 9 P- 51s are lost, 4 P-47s are damaged beyond repair and 1 P-47 is damaged; 1 pilot is KIA, 1 WIA and 13 MIA.

Page 44 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

THURSDAY, 24 AUGUST 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 568: 1,319 bombers and 739 fighters are dispatched on visual attacks on strategic targets in Germany with some PFF on targets of opportunity; 26 bombers and 4 fighters are lost; targets are (numbers in parenthesis indicate bombers attacking):

433 B-24s are dispatched to attack aviation industry targets at Brunswick / Waggum (125), Brunswick / Querum (99) and Hannover / Langenhagen (72) and an oil refinery at Misburg (88); 5 others hit targets of opportunity; they claim 0-0-1 aircraft; 5 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 183 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 54 MIA. Escort is provided by 248 P-38s, P-47s and P-51s; they claim 2-0-0 aircraft in the air and 8-0-0 on the ground; 2 P-51s are lost and 2 damaged; 1 pilot is MIA.

Aircraft: B-24J-1-FO - 42-50710 – E+ - "" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Wright Arthur R 1st Lt Pilot Evans Franklin B 2nd Lt Copilot Withey James T 2nd Lt Navigator Capuano Anthony 2nd Lt Pilotage Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier DeHay Richard S T/Sgt Engineer Troy Robert F T/Sgt Radio Operator Peterson Howard M S/Sgt Waist Gunner Deshazer Marvin E S/Sgt Waist Gunner Breech Richard H S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 153 08/24 Brunswick, GE 36 0

451 B-17s are dispatched to hit Merseburg oil refinery (185), Weimar (129) and Kolleda Airfield (30); targets of opportunity hit are airfields at Goslar (37), Nordhausen (11), Vorden (11) and Stade (2), and Leipzig (10) plus 7 others; they claim 10-3-3 aircraft; 16 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 189 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA, 39 WIA and 148 MIA. Escort is provided by 121 of 152 P-51s; they claim 4-0-1 aircraft without loss.

383 B-17s are dispatched to hit oil industry targets at Brux (139), Ruhland (135) and Freital (65); 15 hit targets of opportunity; 3 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 143 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 5 WIA and 18 MIA. Escort is provided by 240 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 4-0-0 aircraft in the air and 6-0-0 on the ground; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots are MIA) and 1 is damaged.

43 of 52 B-24s hit Kiel / Walther; 3 others hit Hemminstedt Airfield and 2 hit targets of opportunity; 2 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 32 damaged; 27 airmen are MIA. Escort is provided by 17 of 17 P-51s without loss.

Mission 569: 1 B-17 drops leaflets on Brest, France during the night.

Page 45 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

FRIDAY, 25 AUGUST 1944 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Four missions are flown.

Mission 570: 1,191 bombers and 708 fighters make visual bombing attacks against aircraft component plants, Luftwaffe experimental stations and the synthetic oil industry; 18 bombers and 7 fighters are lost; numbers in parenthesis indicate number of bombers attacking the target:

435 B-24s are dispatched to hit aircraft component plants at Rostock (116), Schwerin (106), Wismar (91) and Lubeck (81); 11 others hit Grossenbrode Airfield and 4 hit targets of opportunity; 5 B-24s are lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 55 damaged; 5 airmen are WIA and 64 MIA. Escort is provided by 243 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 11-2-3 aircraft; 1 P-51 is lost.

Aircraft: B-24J-1-FO - 42-50592 – N+ - "Lady Marian" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Kleeman Carlton R Capt Pilot Eike Lester I 1st Lt Copilot Antilla John V 2nd Lt Pilotage Navigator Johnson Philip R 1st Lt Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier Collins Ralph L T/Sgt Engineer Brishaber Bruce G T/Sgt Radio Operator Payton Robert D S/Sgt Waist Gunner Speilvogel Nathan S/Sgt Waist Gunner Chostner John H S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 154 08/25 Wismar A/F, GE & Hangerson, GE 48 0

380 B-17s are dispatched to the Rechlin Experimental Station (179) and oil refinery at Politz (169); 6 others hit targets of opportunity; 8 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 182 damaged; 10 airmen are WIA and 64 MIA. Escort is provided by 215 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 4-0-2 aircraft on the ground; 4 P-51s are lost.

376 B-17s are dispatched to the Peenemunde Experimental Station (146), Neubrandenburg Airfield (108) and Anklam Airfield (73); 21 others hit Parow Airfield and 5 hit targets of opportunity; 5 B-17s are lost and 75 damaged; 1 airman is KIA, 9 WIA and 45 MIA. Escort is provided by 171 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 36-0-28 aircraft on the ground; 2 P-51s are lost.

Mission 571: 10 of 10 B-24s fly an Azon glide bomb mission to Moerdijke, the Netherlands but the target is missed. Escort is provided by 36 of 36 P-47s without loss.

Mission 572: 107 bombers and 172 fighters are dispatched to make visual attacks on liquid oxygen and ammonia plants in Belgium and N France:

Page 46 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

31 of 38 B-17s hit Henin Littard without loss.

69 B-24s are dispatched to hit Willerbroeck (18), Tertre (17), Tiller / Liege (12) and La Louviere (10); 4 others hit St Trond Airfield and 1 hits a target of opportunity; 24 B-24s are damaged and 4 airmen are WIA.

Escort for Mission 572 is provided by 152 P-38s and P-51s without loss.

Mission 573: 6 of 6 B-17s drop leaflets on France and Belgium during the night.

1 C-47 flies a CARPETBAGGER mission during the night.

Page 47 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

SATURDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 1945 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

2 missions are flown.

Mission 817: 1,437 bombers and 948 fighters are dispatched in a major strike on Berlin by B-17s while B- 24s hit the synthetic oil industry at Magdeburg; they claim 38-1-18 Luftwaffe aircraft; 25 bombers and 8 fighters are lost:

1,003 B-17s are sent to hit the Tempelhof marshalling yard in Berlin (937); targets of opportunity are Bad Zwischenahn (1), Bromsche (1), Gatow (13), Luneburg (2), Sogel (1) and other (1); 23 B-17s are lost, 6 damaged beyond repair and 339 damaged; 18 airmen are KIA, 11 WIA and 189 MIA. Escort is provided by 575 of 613 P-51s; they claim 12-1-0 aircraft in the air and 17-0-11 on the ground; 7 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 2 damaged beyond repair.

434 B-24s are dispatched to hit the Rothensee oil plant at Magdeburg (116); 246 hit a target of last resort, the marshalling yard at Magdeburg; targets of opportunity are Wesermunde (17), Mockern (12), Cuxhaven (9), Yechta Airfield (2) and other (3); 2 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 58 damaged; 19 airmen are MIA. Escorting are 210 of 232 P-51s without loss.

Aircraft: B-24JSH-1-FO - 42-95562 – A+ - "Super Chief" – 703rd BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Kautz Wilbert G Capt Pilot Casey Maurice F Jr Maj Air Commander Byrnes Richard E 2nd Lt Copilot Best Raymond H 2nd Lt Navigator Brown William M 1st Lt Radar Navigator Ryan Francis X 2nd Lt Pilotage Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier Gawronski Raymond R T/Sgt Engineer Gams Ralph T/Sgt Radio Operator Volk Albert L S/Sgt Waist Gunner Jarrett Dilmus L Jr S/Sgt Waist Gunner Bergstrand Richard A S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 226 02/03 Magdeburg/Bremmerhausen (T/O), GE 41 0

41 of 44 P-47s fly a sweep over Friedersdorf Airfield; they claim 9-0-6 aircraft in the air; 1 P-47 is lost (pilot MIA).

35 P-51s fly a scouting mission.

24 P-51s escort 9 F-5s and 7 Spitfires on a photo reconnaissance mission over Germany.

Mission 818: 1 B-17 and 10 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands and W Germany during the night. Page 48 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

TUESDAY, 6 FEBRUARY 1945 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 821: 1,383 bombers and 904 fighters are dispatched to attack oil targets in Germany; the expected clear weather does not materialize and the bombers attack secondary targets and targets of opportunity using H2X radar; they claim 4-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 5 bombers and 4 fighters are lost:

474 of 949 B-17s hit the secondary target in 2 forces, the marshalling yard at Chemnitz; targets of opportunity are the Gotha marshalling yard (88), Giessen (68), Saalfeld (39), Ohrdruf (35), Eisfeld (34), Schmalkalden (32), Greiz (22), Zwickau (22), Eisenach (13), Waltershausen (12), Dirlos (12), Ostheim (12), Friedrichroda (11), Steinbach (2), Meppen (1), Reichenbach (1), Schmalkalden (1), and other (1); 3 B-17s are lost, 13 damaged beyond repair and 115 damaged; 41 airmen are KIA, 7 WIA and 24 MIA. Escorting are 545 of 588 P-51s; they claim 1-0-1 aircraft in the air and 3-0-0 on the ground; 4 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA) and 7 damaged beyond repair.

418 of 434 B-24s hit the secondary target, the marshalling yard at Magdeburg; targets of opportunity are the Meppen Bridge (1) and Quakenbruck (1); 2 B-24s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 61 damaged; 18 airmen are MIA. The escort is 235 of 262 P-51s without loss.

Aircraft: B-24JSH-1-FO - 42-95562 – A+ - "Super Chief" – 703rd BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Kautz Wilbert G Capt Pilot Byrnes Richard E 2nd Lt Copilot Best Raymond H 2nd Lt Navigator Brown William M 1st Lt Radar Navigator Ryan Francis X 2nd Lt Pilotage Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier Gawronski Raymond R T/Sgt Engineer Gams Ralph T/Sgt Radio Operator Volk Albert L S/Sgt Waist Gunner Dowling Samuel F S/Sgt Waist Gunner Bergstrand Richard A S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 227 02/06 Magdeburg, GE 41 0

33 of 38 P-51s fly a scouting mission without loss.

8 P-51s escort photo reconnaissance aircraft over Germany.

8 P-51s escort air-sea-rescue aircraft.

Page 49 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

WEDNESDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 1945 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

2 missions are flown.

Mission 839: 1,262 bombers and 792 fighters are dispatched to again attack the tank plant, main railroad station, marshalling yards and locomotive shops at Nurnberg, Germany using H2X radar; they claim 4-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft on the ground; 7 fighters are lost:

830 of 867 B-17s hit the marshalling yard; 11 others hit targets of opportunity; 1 B-17 is damaged beyond repair and 298 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 6 WIA. Escorting are 373 of 391 P-51s; they claim 2-0-0 aircraft; 2 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).

375 of 395 B-24s hit the station and marshalling yard at Nurnberg, Germany; targets of opportunity are Speyer (1) and other (2); 63 B-24s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 3 WIA. The escort is 175 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 2-0-0 aircraft; 3 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).

Aircraft: B-24J-1-FO - 42-50574 – V - "Stormy" – 703rd BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Davis Donald H Capt Pilot Castle Donald O Capt Air Commander Wood Mark D 1st Lt Copilot Blair Morgan M 1st Lt Navigator Thomas Robert W 2nd Lt Pilotage Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier Ciesla Frank A T/Sgt Engineer Potter Kenneth F T/Sgt Radio Operator Byers William J Sgt Waist Gunner Stezzi Albert J Sgt Waist Gunner Romberger Ray C S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 234 02/21 Nurnberg, GE 44 0

45 of 46 P-51s make a sweep of the Meiningen-Coburg-Nurnberg area; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).

98 of 101 P-51s escort Ninth AF B-26s; they claim 0-0-1 aircraft.

23 of 31 P-51s fly a scouting mission; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).

29 of 30 P-51s escort 10 F-5s and 7 Spitfires on a photo reconnaissance mission over Germany.

Mission 840: During the night of 21/22 Feb, 25 of 29 B-24s attack the Duisburg power and gas stations using PFF; 2 B-24s are lost.

Page 50 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

THURSDAY, 22 FEBRUARY 1945 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

Mission 841: 1,428 bombers and 862 fighters commence Operation CLARION, a joint RAF, Eighth, Ninth and Fifteenth AF operation with the objective of paralyzing the already decimated German rail and road system; most attacks were made visually; bombing was conducted from an optimum 10,000 feet (3,048 m) to achieve accuracy at target without flak defenses; they claim 28-2-43 Luftwaffe aircraft; 7 bombers and 13 fighters are lost:

522 B-17s are sent to hit marshalling yards at Bamberg (64), Zwickau (2) and Kitzingen (1); targets of opportunity are Ansbach (143), Donaueschingen (24), Reutlingen (25), Ulm (77), Freiburg (21), Hafingen (10), the marshalling yards at Aalen (24), Neustadt (26), Singen (8), Schwenningen (22), and Villgen (11) and other (42); some attacks are made with H2X radar; they claim 0-0-1 aircraft; 2 B-17s are lost and 29 damaged; 2 airmen are WIA and 19 MIA. Escorting are 163 of 168 P-51s; 3 are lost (pilots MIA).

452 B-24s are dispatched to hit marshalling yards at Halberstadt (51), Sangerhausen (11), Nordhausen (30), Vienenburg (23), Peine (52), Hildesheim (55), Kreiensen (48), and Northeim (48); targets of opportunity are Nordhausen (11), Ottbergen (10), the rail and highway bridge at Lindern (1) and marshalling yards at Wallhausen (19), Oker (8), Eschwege (30), Goettingen (29) and Celle (8) and other (1); 4 B-24s are lost and 68 damaged; 2 airmen are WIA and 38 MIA. 246 P-47s and P-51s escort; they claim 19-0-16 aircraft on the ground; 4 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).

Aircraft: B-24JSH-1-FO - 42-95562 – A+ - "Super Chief" – 703rd BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Davis Donald H Capt Pilot Fleming Carl LtCol Air Commander Wood Mark D 1st Lt Copilot Blair Morgan M 1st Lt Navigator Posner Stephen M 1st Lt H2X Operator Head Charles W Maj Pilotage Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier Ciesla Frank A T/Sgt Engineer Potter Kenneth F T/Sgt Radio Operator Byers William J Sgt Waist Gunner Stezzi Albert J Sgt Waist Gunner Romberger Ray C S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 235 02/22 Halberstadt / Vienenburg / Nordhausen, GE 46 0

454 B-17s are sent to hit Wittenberg (72), Stendhal (73), Salzwedel (59), Uelzen (73), Wittstock (11), Luneburg (39), and Ludwigslust (48); targets of opportunity are Grabow (13), Kobbelitz (24), Dannenberg (12) and Klotze (13). The escort is 268 of 280 P-51s; they claim 4-2-18 aircraft in the air and 3-0-5 on the ground; 5 P-51s are lost (pilots MIA).

99 of 103 P-51s fly a freelance mission in support of the bombers; they claim 2-0-0 aircraft in the air; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA). Page 51 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

28 of 32 P-51s fly a scouting mission; they claim 2-0-3 aircraft on the ground.

13 P-51s escort 10 F-5s and 5 Spitfires on photo reconnaissance missions over Germany.

Page 52 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

MONDAY, 26 FEBRUARY 1945 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

2 missions are flown.

Mission 849: 1,207 bombers and 726 fighters are dispatched to make H2X radar attacks on three Berlin rail stations; they claim 6-0-0 Luftwaffe aircraft; 3 B-17s and 3 P-51s are lost:

377 B-17s are sent to hit the Schlesischer rail station (363); 1 hits Osnabruck, a target of opportunity; 2 B-17s are lost and 21 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 18 MIA. 214 of 244 P- 51s escort claiming 4-0-0 aircraft in the air.

446 B-17s set out to hit the Alexanderplatz rail station (418); 4 others hit a target of opportunity; 1 B-17s is lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 43 damaged; 8 airmen are KIA, 2 WIA and 9 MIA. Escorting are 232 of 240 P-51s; they claim 2-0-0 aircraft on the ground; 3 P-51s are lost (2 pilots MIA).

361 B-24s are dispatched to hit the North rail station (285); 37 hit Eberswalde, the secondary target; 4 hit a target of opportunity; 2 B-24s are damaged beyond repair and 26 damaged; 3 airmen are WIA and 3 MIA. The escort is 20 P-47s and 190 P-51s.

Aircraft: B-24JSH-1-FO - 42-95562 – A+ - "Super Chief" – 703rd BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Davis Donald H Capt Pilot Tracey Ford P Maj Air Commander Wood Mark D 1st Lt Copilot Blair Morgan M 1st Lt Navigator Posner Stephen M 1st Lt H2X Operator Thomas Robert W 2nd Lt Pilotage Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier Ciesla Frank A T/Sgt Engineer Potter Kenneth F T/Sgt Radio Operator Byers William J Sgt Waist Gunner Stezzi Albert J Sgt Waist Gunner Romberger Ray C S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 239 02/26 Berlin M/Y, GE 33 0

17 B-17s and 6 B-24s fly screening missions.

31 of 32 P-51 fly a scouting mission.

Mission 850: During the night, 12 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands and Germany; and 5 B-24s fly a CARPETBAGGER mission.

Page 53 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

MONDAY, 5 MARCH 1945 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

3 missions are flown.

Mission 865: 429 bombers and 689 fighters are dispatched to hit oil targets in Germany; the primary target for the B-17s is the synthetic oil plant at Ruhland but weather forces them to hit the secondary target; all bombing is with H2X radar; 1 B-17 is lost:

233 of 303 B-17s hit the secondary target, the marshalling yard at Chemnitz; targets of opportunity are Plauen (34) and Fulda (9); 1 B-17 is lost and 15 damaged; 9 airmen are MIA. Escorting are 369 of 420 P-51s; 3 P-51s are damaged beyond repair and 1 pilot is KIA.

120 of 126 B-24s hit the Harburg oil refinery at Hamburg without loss. The escort is 186 P- 47s and P-51s without loss.

Aircraft: B-24JSH-5-FO - 42-51480 – C - "Sweet Sue" – 703rd BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Davis Donald H Capt Pilot Fleming Carl LtCol Air Commander Wood Mark D 1st Lt Copilot Blair Morgan M 1st Lt Navigator Posner Stephen M 1st Lt H2X Operator Thomas Robert W 2nd Lt Pilotage Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier Ciesla Frank A T/Sgt Engineer Potter Kenneth F T/Sgt Radio Operator Byers William J Sgt Waist Gunner Stezzi Albert J Sgt Waist Gunner Romberger Ray C S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 246 03/05 Harburg, GE 11 0

27 P-51s attack the marshalling yard at Kreuztal; 1 P-51 is damaged beyond repair.

28 P-51s fly a scouting mission.

14 P-51s escort 4 F-5s on a photo reconnaissance mission over Germany.

Mission 866: 21 of 24 B-24s bomb the Wiesbaden rail station by PFF markers during the night.

Mission 867: 9 of 11 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands, France and Germany during the night.

Page 54 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

MONDAY, 12 MARCH 1945 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

2 missions are flown.

Mission 883: 1,355 bombers and 797 fighters are dispatched to hit marshalling yards in Germany by PFF; they claim 4-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft; 1 B-17 and 4 fighters are lost:

220 of 227 B-24s and 441 of 450 B-17s attack the marshalling yard at Swinemunde; 1 other hit the marshalling yard at Husum, a target of opportunity; all attacks are made with H2X radar; 1 B-17 is lost, 6 B-17s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 10 MIA. Escorting are 412 of 452 P-51s; they claim 4-0-1 aircraft in the air; 4 P-51s are lost (3 pilots MIA).

Aircraft: B-24JSH-5-FO - 42-51547 – B+ - "" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Kautz Wilbert G Capt Pilot Byrnes Richard E 2nd Lt Copilot Best Raymond H 2nd Lt Navigator Myers Donald L 1st Lt H2X Operator Ryan Francis R 2nd Lt Pilotage Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier Gawronski Raymond R T/Sgt Engineer Gams Ralph T/Sgt Radio Operator Alexanderwicz Edmund Sgt Top Turret Gunner Miller Dallas W S/Sgt Waist Gunner Volk Albert L S/Sgt Waist Gunner Bergstrand Richard H S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 252 03/12 Swinemunde, GE 33 0

154 B-24s are sent to hit the marshalling yards at Friedberg (75) and Wetzlar (74) using Gee-H; 2 airmen are WIA.

298 B-17s are dispatched to attack the marshalling yards at Siegen (141) and Marburg (113); 24 hit the secondary target, the marshalling yard at Frankfurt using Micro H; 4 B-17s are damaged.

226 B-17s are sent to bomb the marshalling yards at Betzdorf (116) and Dillenburg (110) using Gee-H without loss.

The 2nd, 3rd and 4th forces above are escorted by 192 P-47s and P-51s without loss.

97 of 108 P-51s fly a sweep to support the bombers without loss.

10 P-51s escort 5 F-5s and 2 Spitfires on photo reconnaissance missions over Germany.

23 of 24 P-51s fly a scouting mission.

Page 55 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

Mission 884: 11 of 12 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands and Germany during the night and 4 of 10 B-24s fly a CARPETBAGGER mission.

Page 56 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

MONDAY, 19 MARCH 1945 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

2 missions are flown.

Mission 896: 1,273 bombers and 675 fighters are dispatched to hit airfields and industrial targets in Germany visually and with H2X radar; clouds force 2 of the 3 forces to hit secondaries; 100+ Luftwaffe fighters including 36 Me 262s in formation (largest number of jets seen as a unit) are encountered; the AAF claims 41-3-19 Luftwaffe aircraft (including 3 Me 262s); 6 bombers and 10 fighters are lost:

Cloud cover prevents 496 B-17s from hitting the primary targets; secondaries hit are the optical works at Jena (197) and the motor vehicle plant at Zwickau (177); targets of opportunity are Plauen (32), the marshalling yards at Fulda (44) and Saalfeld (10) and other (4); bombing is by H2X radar with some visual attacks; they claim 1-1-2 aircraft; 4 B- 17s are lost, 4 damaged beyond repair and 121 damaged; 9 airmen are KIA, 5 WIA and 49 MIA. Escorting are 183 of 198 P-51s; they claim 2-0-3 aircraft; 4 P-51s are lost.

Cloud cover forces 404 of 436 B-17s to hit the industrial area at Plauen, the secondary target using H2X radar; targets of opportunity, bombed visually, are the Fulda marshalling yard (20) and Prissig (1); 1 B-17 is lost, 2 damaged beyond repair and 4 damaged; 9 airmen are KIA, 3 WIA and 9 MIA. The escort is 141 of 153 P-51s.

341 B-24s are dispatched to hit airfields at Neuburg (125) and Leipheim (84) and jet aircraft plant at Baumenheim (126) visually; 1 B-24 is lost; 11 airmen are MIA. 175 of 194 P-51s escort; they claim 5-0-0 aircraft without loss.

Aircraft: B-24JSH-5-FO - 42-51480 – C - "Sweet Sue" – 703rd BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Davis Donald H Capt Pilot Ham Charles R 1st Lt Air Commander Wood Mark D 1st Lt Copilot Blair Morgan M 1st Lt Navigator Posner Stephen M 1st Lt H2X Operator Thomas Robert W 2nd Lt Pilotage Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier Ciesla Frank A T/Sgt Engineer Potter Kenneth F T/Sgt Radio Operator Byers William J S/Sgt Waist Gunner Stezzi Albert J S/Sgt Waist Gunner Romberger Ray C S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 256 03/19 Neuburg A/F, GE 21 0

95 of 98 P-51s fly a freelance sweep for the bombers; they claim 33-2-14 aircraft; 6 P-51s are lost.

Page 57 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

2 of 4 P-51s escort 15 F-5s and 2 Spitfires on a photo reconnaissance mission over Germany.

Mission 897: 11 of 12 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands and Germany during the night.

Page 58 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

TUESDAY, 20 MARCH 1945 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

3 missions are flown.

Mission 898: 451 bombers and 355 fighters are dispatched to hit the shipyard and dock area at Hamburg and an oil refinery; they claim 14-3-17 Luftwaffe aircraft; 4 bombers and 2 P-51s are lost:

13 of 152 B-17s hit the Blohm & Voss U-boat yard at Hamburg; 133 others hit the secondary, the port area at Hamburg; bombing is visual; they claim 1-0-3 aircraft; 1 airman is KIA and 2 WIA. Escorting are 70 of 79 P-51s; they claim 0-0-2 aircraft.

149 of 162 B-17s hit the secondary target, the Hamburg port area, using H2X radar; 1 other hits the Nordholz Airfield, a target of opportunity; they claim 5-3-2 aircraft; 3 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 54 damaged; 27 airmen are MIA. The escort is 72 of 75 P-51s; they claim 0-0-2 aircraft.

114 of 129 B-24s attack the oil refinery at Hemminstedt; 1 B-24 is lost and 9 damaged; 12 airmen are MIA. 75 P-51s escort; they claim 2-0-1 aircraft in the air and 1-0-2 on the ground; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).

Aircraft: B-24JSH-5-FO - 42-51480 – D+ - "Sweet Sue" – 701st BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Davis Donald H Capt Pilot Burke John T Maj Air Commander Wood Mark D 1st Lt Copilot Blair Morgan M 1st Lt Navigator Posner Stephen M 1st Lt H2X Operator Thomas Robert W 2nd Lt Pilotage Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier Ciesla Frank A T/Sgt Engineer Potter Kenneth F T/Sgt Radio Operator Byers William J S/Sgt Waist Gunner Stezzi Albert J S/Sgt Waist Gunner Romberger Ray C S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 257 03/20 Heligoland, GE 13 1

6 B-17s fly a screening mission without loss.

2 B-17s and 26 of 27 P-51s fly scouting missions.

78 of 82 P-51s fly a strafing mission in the Bremen-Hannover area; they claim 2-0-3 aircraft in the air and 3-0-2 on the ground; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA).

17 P-51s escort 11 F-5s and 2 Spitfires on photo reconnaissance missions over Germany.

Mission 899: Page 59 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

1 B-17, escorted by 4 P-51s, bombs Oberursel at 1650 hours from 25,000 feet (7,620 m); this is the first operational test of Micro-H Mk II radar.

Mission 900: 12 B-24s drop leaflets in the Netherlands and Germany and 2 A-26s fly CARPETBAGGER missions (1 A-26 is lost).

Page 60 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

SATURDAY, 24 MARCH 1945 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) AIRBORNE OPERATIONS (IX Troop Carrier Command):

2,000+ transports and gliders drop and land the British 6th Airborne and US 17th Airborne Divisions (plus artillery, vehicles, ammunition, and other supplies) E of the Rhine River N and NW of Wessel as the British Second and US Ninth Armies cross the river to the NW and SE.

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force):

2 missions are flown.

Mission 911: In conjunction with the allied ground forces assault across the lower Rhine River (Operation VARSITY) the Eighth flies bombing, supply, and armed reconnaissance missions; during the day, 1,749 bomber sorties and 1,375 fighter sorties are flown to attack airfields visually in W and NW Germany in the morning and afternoon and drop supplies to US and British troops at midday; they claim 54-0-6 Luftwaffe aircraft; 19 bombers and 9 fighters are lost;

175 of 179 B-17s bomb Vechta Airfield in the morning; 1 hits Rheine Airfield, a target of opportunity; 1 B-17 is lost; 1 airman is WIA and 9 MIA.

527 B-17s are sent to hit Steenwijk (114), Zwischenahn (74), Varel (88), Varrelbusch (113) and Plantlunne (13) Airfields in the morning; targets of opportunity are Wittmundhaafen Airfield (13) and other (2); 1 B-17 is lost and 2 damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 9 MIA.

294 B-17s are dispatched to hit Rheine (36), Hopsten (62), Vechtel at Furstenau (72), Achmer (73) and Hesepe (36) Airfields in the morning; 1 other hits a target of opportunity; they claim 1-0-0 aircraft; 3 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 100 damaged; 8 airmen are KIA, 5 WIA and 28 MIA.

All 58 B-24s hit Nordhorn Airfield without loss.

The 4 forces above have 1,158 P-47s and P-51s flying area support; they claim 53-0-2 aircraft in the air and 0-0-4 on the ground; 9 P-51s are lost (8 pilots MIA).

At midday, 240 B-24s are sent to drop supplies in the US (122) and British (118) assault areas flying at 300 to 400-feet (91 to 122 m); 14 B-24s are lost (mostly to small arms fire), 4 damaged beyond repair and 103 damaged; 5 airmen are KIA, 30 WIA and 116 MIA.

Page 61 of 62 Personal Mission History Leland Stanford Simpson Captain, US Army Air Corps

Aircraft: B-24J-5-FO - 42-50811 – E - "Patty Girl" – 703rd BS Last Name First Name Initial Succ Rank Position Davis Donald H Capt Pilot Wood Mark D 1st Lt Copilot Blair Morgan M 1st Lt Navigator Posner Stephen M 1st Lt H2X Operator Thomas Robert W 2nd Lt Pilotage Navigator Simpson Leland S Sr Capt Bombardier Ciesla Frank A T/Sgt Engineer Potter Kenneth F T/Sgt Radio Operator Byers William J S/Sgt Waist Gunner Stezzi Albert J S/Sgt Waist Gunner Romberger Ray C S/Sgt Tail Turret

Msn # Date Target A/C Sent A/C Lost 262 03/24 Wessel, GE 29 2

182 B-24s are sent to hit Stormede (96) and Kirtorf (65) Airfields in the afternoon; 9 hit Ziegenhain Airfield, the secondary, and 11 hit the Treysa marshalling yard, a target of opportunity; 16 B-24s are damaged.

114 B-17s are sent to hit Ziegenhain Airfield (104) in the afternoon; 6 others hit Siegen marshalling yard, the secondary; 2 B-17s are damaged.

152 of 153 B-17s hit Enschede Airfield at Twente; 20 B-17s are damaged.

The 3 forces above are escorted by 95 P-47s and P-51s without loss.

2 B-17s and 19 of 20 P-51s fly scouting missions; 1 P-51 is lost

8 P-51s escort 4 Mosquitoes that monitor operations for the bombers.

17 P-51s escort 19 aircraft on photo reconnaissance missions over Germany.

Mission 912: 10 of 12 B-24s drop leaflets in Germany and the Netherlands during the night and 24 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions over Scandinavia.

The 859th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 492nd Bombardment Group (Heavy) [attached to the 2641st Special Group (Provisional)] moves from Brindisi to Rosignano, Italy with B- 24s and C-47s (the squadron is flying CARPETBAGGER missions in the MTO).

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