S E C R E T 444Th Bombardment Squadron OUTLINE HISTORY, February 1945 Hq 444Th Bombardment Squadron SECRET 320Th Bomb Group
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S E C R E T 444th Bombardment Squadron OUTLINE HISTORY, February 1945 Hq 444th Bombardment Squadron SECRET 320th Bomb Group BY AUTH C.O. APO # 374 444th Bombardment Squadron 28 February 1944 INITIALS 2 March 1945 SUBJECT; Historical Records. TO : COMMANDING GENERAL, 1st Tactical Air Force "THROUGH CHANNELS" - ATTENTION: HISTORIAN 1. Outline History of the 444th Bombardment Squadron for the period 1 February 1945 to 28 February 1945. a. Present Designation 444th Bombardment Squadron; 320th Bomb Group, 42nd Bomb Wing; xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, 1st Tactical Air Force (Provisional). b. Changes in Organization (1) Changes in Deisgnation: None. (2) Echelons or Units (a) Transferred: None (b) On DS or TD: None. (c) Attached to other Hqs for operational control: None. (3) Change of Commanding Officers: None. (4) Changes of Staff Officers ( not applicable to Gp or Sq). None. (5) Changes in T/O: None. c. Strength, Commisioned and Enlisted, for the month of February 1945. Off F/O W/O EM TOTAL a. At Beginning 85 1 0 354 440 b. Net Increase 10 2 0 3 15 c. Net Decrease 0 0 0 0 0 d. At End 95 3 0 357 455 -1- S E C R E T S E C R E T d. Stations of Units or Echelons 1. Name of Station: Dijon Air Base, France a. Date of Arrival: 22 November, 1944. b. Date of Departure: Presently here. e. Movements of unit or echelons None. (1) From to None. a. Purpose b. Dates c. Means of Transportation d. Conditions of roads, conveyances, and weather. f. Campaigns (1) Name: German (2) Duration; From 1 February ‘45 to 28 February ‘45 g. Operations (1) Campaign: German (2) Nature of Operations: Precision bombing of dumps, Communications and Troop Concentrations. (3) Number of Missions and Sorties for period: 14 Missions, 158 Sorties. (4) Results of the most important missions: On 19 Feb. 1945, a mission to Lahr Barracks and Supply Area completely destroyed this target. All crews but one participating were recommended for the Air Medal, h. Command Officers in important missions Major Cahan, Captain Ramage. i. Losses in action: Officers and Enlisted Men (1) Mission and dates a. Killed: none b. Wounded none c. Missing none d. Taken Prisoner: none 2- S-E-C-R-E-T S E C R E T j. Personnel who have distinguished themselves in action. Name RANK AWARD [ILLEGIBLE] R. A. Ramage Captain D.F.C. “Extraordinary achievement While participating in Aerial Flight.” B. C. Delosier 1st Lt. D.F.C. (As above). O. E. Davidson 1st Sgt. Bronze Star “Meritorious achievement while performing outstanding services.” k. Photographs being submitted: None. 2. Inclosed are War Diary 444th Bombardment Squadron for the period 1 February 1945 to 28 February 1945 For the Commanding Officer: (signature) GIBSON G. RAMSAY, 1st Lt., Air Corps, Squadron Historian 1 Incls * War Diary and Narrative Special Accounts (if any) Supporting Documents (if any) Photographs (if any) -3- S E C R E T S E C R E T SHEET NO. 1 WAR DIARY 444TH BOMB SQUADRON 320TH BOMB GROUP (M). Month of February, 1945 Prepared by G. G. RAMSAY, 1ST Lt., Air Corps. DAY EVENTS 1. The month is starting off with the usual non-flying weather keeping the planes on the ground and the flying personnel in a restless frame of mind. The change from extreme cold weather to rain and pea- soup fog has not helped boost morale any either. Conversation centers around the Russian advance and there is much speculation as to when Berlin will fall and the consequences thereof. 2. The weather man slipped today and we were able to complete a mission, 9 sorties to a Stores Dump at Zell, Germany. A fair concentration of bombs fell on the target. The usual bridge, poker, red- dog and crap games took up the remainder of the time for the Officers. 3. Another non-operational day today on account of the lowering skies. However, the always- present Briefing took place and the invigorating ride to and from was not lacking. Let us not lose these daily briefings. The weather is rather balmy but without sunshine and quite a few of the boys are headed for town to give the Dijon belles a treat. There will be many an “overhang” tomorrow A.M. 4. Again the mission was cancelled due to weather. Ou r snow has about left us and rain has set in. However, the daily ride to briefing is still with us. The mail service for the last month or so has been worse than bad. Mail seems to be taking any where from 1 month to 6 weeks to reach us from the States. 5. Our inactivity still continues and for the same reason:- Bad weather. The personnel is now starting to discuss the possibility of another “soiree” on Washington’s birthday. The idea has met with quite a bit of enthusiasm. S E C R E T SHEET NO. 2 WAR DIARY 444TH BOMB SQUADRON 320TH BOMB GROUP (M). Month of February, 1945 Prepared by G. G. RAMSAY, 1ST Lt., Air Corps. 5-Cont Our Officers’ Mess Officer is going home and Lt Goldman has been appointed to take his place. Maybe the food will taste different. We hope so. 6. Mission again cancelled due to weather. If it wasn’t for the routine Army work, our stay would be one great big “Cook’s Tour”, all expenses paid. Rest camp at Paris is again operating and being somewhat enjoyed by the members of of the squadron fortunate enough to be sent there. Ye historian even has hopes of getting there. 7. Again the mission was cancelled due to weather, and routine training, the sa ck, and cards kept the personnel occupied somewhat. A meeting of all Officers was held and the C.O. informed us that no Officer would be allowed to drive a vehicle into Dijon. An enlisted man driver would have to be taken along. This order reduces by 20% the number of Officers who can go to town at night, as only one jeep is available. The “town truck” leaves before the Officers finish eating and is always overcrowded on the return trip. It’s a tough campaign! 8. One mission, 16 sorties today to the Loffingen RR Bridge. The weather was good, no flak was encountered but due to slight error the target was missed. Better luck next time. Morale around quarters was very high, due to the mission, and champagne flowed quite freely last night. Surprising as it seems, the ready cash is still very evenly divided and Lady Luck is still pursued by the sporting element in the squadron. Generally, by this time of the month, a select few are custodians of most of the money. 9. Another day of operations. One mission, 9 sorties was flown to Hernberg S E C R E T SHEET NO. 3 WAR DIARY 444TH BOMB SQUADRON 320TH BOMB GROUP (M). Month of February, 1945 Prepared by G. G. RAMSAY, 1ST Lt., Air Corps. 9-Cont RR Bridge and unfortunately it was not a complete success. We missed the target but achieved a small measure of satisfaction by hitting the approaches. 10. It was non-operational today due to inclement weather. The personnel is “sweating out” their turns to go to rest camp, either Paris or a ski camp in the French Alps. Both have their good points, although the returning rest-campers claim that the winter sports in Paris are tops, even though held in- doors. 11. A meeting of all Officers was held in the mess hall and it was decided to hold another party and dance on March 2nd. A nominal assessment of $5.00 was agreed upon, more headaches and hangovers in view, thank the Lord. A mission was scheduled but cancelled due to weather. 12. We almost had a complete mission today. The ships took off but were recalled just after take-off due to overcast at the target. No mission credit was given. 13. A mission, 15 sorties to Labach, Germany was started but not completed. The planes turned back before reaching the target due to bad weather. However the personnel received credit for a mission as they were over enemy territory. All is quiet on the “Chateau” front except for spasmodic outbursts of song in the Club bar occasioned by scotch or champagne. 14. Two missions, 14 sorties took off today, one to bomb gun positions and the other to bomb the Labach M/Y in Germany. Both were successful. However, the one to bomb Labach ran into weather and bombed Lahr Barracks instead almost completely demolishing the target. Every crew except one was credited with a 100% raid and an Air Medal was thus earned. The one crew left out in S E C R E T SHEET NO. 4 WAR DIARY 444TH BOMB SQUADRON 320TH BOMB GROUP (M). Month of February, 1945 Prepared by G. G. RAMSAY, 1ST Lt., Air Corps. 14-Cont the cold had a bomb rack malfunction and salvoed in the target area. As luck would have it, their bombs also hit the target but due to manner of the bombs being released, an Air Medal could not be recommended. 15. One mission, 13 sorties was flown today to Offenburg M/Y, Germany and was very satisfactory. 16, 17 & 18 There comes a three day period of operational inactivity due to bad weather either at base or over the proposed targets and the time is taken up with training flights, house keeping, trips to Dijon and just plain “Bull sessions” while waiting for the skies to clear.