{My comments like this}
<15th AF history or unit history like this>
==========
May 1st — Grounded today because my left ear is stopped up by a cold. Have not been wearing the liner of my British Suit because it is too bulky in the Ball and I have been almost freezing, as my suit does not work properly and I have no heat around my knees. My left knee especially gets frozen because it is pressed up against metal part of turret eqjct {?} and has m.g. on left and sight on right taking all heat natural heat away. I am forced to stay in turret almost every trip because the only available oxygen hose is the short one in the turret. Newer ships have a longer one to the side but I have to stay partly in the turret to connect to interphone.
No Mission – Cancelled by weather
May 2 – Still Grounded. Planes went to N. Italy. Heard that clouds were so thick could not find target. While in clouds a Maechi tore thru formation not knowing it was there. Plans dropped their thous. lb bombs in Adriatic and returned.
<Fifteenth AF History: More than 250 B-24’s, most with fighter escort, attack La Spezia dock and harbor installations, marshalling yards at Castel Maggiore and Parma, railroad bridges at Faenza and Orbetello, and several targets of opportunity. Over 300 other heavy bombers are forced to abort because of weather.>
May 3rd. — No Mission today – no longer grounded.“ 4th & 5th. ““ 5th “ “ — Listened to experiences of twelve men who had been forced down in Yugo-Slavia & assisted by Partisans to escape
May 6th —
15th & 16th Missions
Brozov, Rumania – up at 5:30 – Briefing 6:15 – TRUCKS 9:00. Takeoff 7:55 – On Course 8:55 – Bombs Away 11:42 – Landed 3:30. Took Radar Ship – No lower ball so flew left waist- Lot more comfortable & less tiring than the ball – Got wonderful views of snow capped mountains of Yugo-Slavia and the “beautiful” & “blue” but actually magnificently muddy Danube – Quite a large number of bombers participating – No Ack-Ack close – Gunners seemed to turn it off when we came over and then threw an awful barrage at the next group – Bombs away at 20,500 ft – Our bombadier laid his right on it. Since we were lead ship for flight, the others dropped on us and all smacked right on target – The whole area was blanketed in smoke. No enemy aircraft and we got only a distant view of ours. Supposed to be over 200 enemy aircraft around target. Heard enemy aircraft smacked bombers heavily yesterday whey they hit Ploesti nearby. Lysni finished 50 missions today.
< About 300 B-17’s and B-24’s, escorted by P-51’s and P-38’s, bomb airfields, aircraft factory, and marshalling yards at Brasov.>
May 7th — Honor Guard for giving of medals.
May 8th — Scheduled Missions for Ploesti cancelled.
Reported to Orderly Room for infraction of Off Limits in San Pancrazio about a month ago. Given week’s hard labor and grounded.
Some {Sties? Locals?} were telling me that last night in San Pau the M.P.s took Army clothes off about 4 or 500 {Sties? Locals?} in the middle of town and even underwear under threat of guns & then laughed as they took pictures of them.
May 11th – Had briefing at 9:00 p.m. for next day. Scheduled for two separate missions – Rumors of 2nd Invasion. We asked to delay punishment to fly. Since 14 or 15 planes were being sent from our squadron, we were accepted.
May 12th Friday —
17th Mission
Prombioro, Italy – Awaken at 2:30 – takeoff 4:55 – Went up thru low overcast, accumulating snow on wings although it was warm on the ground. Quite a mess getting into formation because of the overcast Flares being shot as identification signals. On course 5:55. Went along front lines in Western side at 10,000 ft to put on show for ground troops. Then up along western edge to “target” harbor. No escort but no enemy action. However we went over target 3 times before Group Bomb. got his sights on target Plenty ack-ack but slight injury to ships only. Returned close to Anzio beachhead, Naples, Capri & S. Italy. Saw some nice old castles. Landed 12:30. Our crew not scheduled for 2nd Mission, which was eventually cancelled
Every plane (bombers and pursuits) were supposed to be over Italy today to knock out transportation facilities.
< Around 730 B-17’s and B-24’s (largest heavy bomber force used by Fifteenth AF on any day to this time) attack German HQs at Massa d’Albe and Monte Soratte; town of Civitavecchia; A/Fs at Tarquinia and in surrounding area; marshalling yards at Chivasso, Piombino, Marina di Carrara, Viareggio, and Ferrara; Orbetello I; Piombino harbor; docks and comm at San Stefano al Mare; harbor, marshalling yards, and railroad bridge at Chiavari; La Spezia marshalling yards and harbor; and several targets of opportunity. 26 P-38’s strafe Piacenza airfield. Other fighters fly over 250 sorties in support of bombing missions.>
May 13th – Not scheduled for mission. All combat crews are on alert & have been for last several days.
May 17th
18th Mission
Porto San Steffano – Went along the Western Lines again to keep up the offensive and really smashed the harbor of San Steffano. Our bombing hasn’t been to accurate but we seem to hit it right on the head. No fighter protection but no enemy aircraft sighted. Flack fairly heavy. Other ships got a good number of holes. We only got three.
<More than 450 B-24’s and B-17’s bomb Piombino and San Stefano al Mare harbors and shipping in the areas, harbor area and nearby steel works in Portoferraio, causeway at Orbetello, marshalling yards at Ancona, and town of Bihac. P-38’s strafe airfields at Ghedi, Villafranca di Verona, Modena, Forli, and Reggio Emilia while other fighters fly over 130 sorties of escort duty.>
May 19th
19th Mission – Porto La Spezio
Up at 2:30 – Take off at Sunrise – Back at 2:30 – Had P-38&51’s – no enemy action. Went past Cassini again. We’re getting wonderful views of Naples, Mt Vesuvius, Copera, Corsica; Sardinia, etc. Blasted the port. Suppose to have 72 guns but we got little flack.
<Heavy Bombers hit communications targets, ports, and oil storage in NE, C, and NW Italy. Over 500 B-17’s and B-24’s hit railroad bridges at Latisana, Tagliamento, Casarsa della Delizia, and Rimini, marshalling yards at Forli, Faenza, and Bologna, oil storage at Porto Marghera, port and marshalling yard at La Spezia, harbor at Leghorn, and harbor and rail installations at Genoa. Fighters fly over 250 sorties in support. These operations are notable for absence of fighter opposition.>
We are to fly only every other day now but what with lectures on Escape and Gunnery and cleaning guns we don’t have much time to rest. I heard some wonderful escape stories which I won’t be able to repeat.
Flew to Naples. Caught boat to Capri. Remained 6 days. Saw Ciano’s Villa, Ruins of Casteliogne and Tiberius’s Castle (also Blue Grotto) and ancient lighthouse. Did lots of hiking and shopping. Returned to Naples on 7th day. Remained in Naples about four days waiting for a plane. Did a lot of walking and seeing shows returned to field June 3. Glad to get back. Am plenty tired from “rest” camp. (Buzzed Capria on way back) Heard we lost several ships while I was at rest camp.
< On 24 May, 620-plus B-17’s and B-24’s attack Avisio viaduct, Atzgersdorf aircraft components factory, town of Neunkirchen, airfields at Munchendorf, Graz, Wollersdorf, Bad Voslau and Zagreb, and Varazdin marshalling yard. Escorting fighters fly over 250 sorties. Enemy fighter opposition is especially heavy against Bad Voslau force, downing 6 HBs.>
<On 31 May, 480-plus B-17’s and B-24’s bomb oil refineries and communications targets in Ploesti area. Fighters fly over 200 sorties in support. 15 heavy bombers are lost to flak and fighters. Over 40 enemy airplanes are shot down.>
June 4 Genoa, Italy – 20th Mission — Went up West Coast of Italy. Smacked railway yards “on the nose” with 100 pounders. Little flack. No damage. No enemy activity. Escort around target. Returned without mishap. Got put on guard from 7:30 pm to 7:00 am. Dozed off several times. Seems there are paratroopers and saboteurs around.
< More than 650 B-17’s and B-24’s attack communications targets in NW Italy and on both sides of FrancoItalian frontier, hitting marshalling yards and repair works at Turin, marshalling yards at Genoa and Novi Ligure, bridges at Gad and Orelle, and viaducts at Recco and Antheor. Fighters fly over 200 sorties in support of the heavy bombers.>
June 5 No Mission – Cleaned guns.
June 6. – Ploesti: up at 2:00 am – Takeoff 5:20. At target 9:20. Led group in “Mickey” Ship. – Left Waist – Radar failed. Huge smoke cloud covered entire area of Ploesti. Never saw as many bombers all on way to bomb Rumania. Did not sight fighter cover till almost there. Did not drop bombs because a group of planes flew below us just as we were to release. Lt. Col of our Squadron flew Co-Pilot and decided not to go in again. Intense curtain of ack-ack over target. Decided to bomb alternate target – Craivo marshalling yard. About ¾ hour later we got jumped by 15-20 ME’s. One ship’s engines caught fire and we saw crew bail out. Another ship had ball gunner killed and two others seriously injured. Some of crew of other ship bailed out. I couldn’t get any shots at enemy aircraft because other ships were in way. I did take a long shot about 2,000 yards just for the hell of it. Returned to field, otherwise, O.K.
{A “Mickey Ship” had secret radar and navigation equipment to allow for bombing in low visibility. The radar was installed in lieu of the ball turret. Thus, Dad was Left Waist Gunner on this mission. B-24 Mickey Ships had a grey paint job.}
June 10th – Trieste & Ancona
23rd Mission
Up at 3:00 am. Went over Trieste Oil Storage hit target cloudy so headed for Ancona with Bomb Bay doors opened almost all the way. Dropped bombs in field at Ancona. Little flack. No enemy action but suspense was terrible. We flew close to Italian Coast almost all the way which was unusual.
< More than 550 B-17’s and B-24’s attack oil stores at Porto Marghera, oil refinery at Trieste, marshalling yards at Mestre, Trieste, and Ancona, and air field at Ferrara. P-51’s and P-38’s fly escort, strafe targets of opportunity between Bucharest and Danube R and S of Craiova, and dive-bomb an oil refinery at Ploesti.>
June 11th – Constanta, Rumania
24 & 25th Missions
Up at 2:30 a.m. Saw no escort all the way over. P-38 over target and short way back. On oxygen almost all the way about 5 ½ hours. Last time and this trip my sighting window has been obscured by leaking hydraulic fluid. Luckily we were not attacked as I could not see. There are still traces of snow in mountains of Yugoslavia. Saw Black Sea. Dropped bombs in it. An awful trip to do just that. Other groups hit part of Oil Storage. No flak holes.
Expect some big ones from now on. This outfit has hit Munich twice in last few days. Am halfway on missions. Guarding ships every other night.
<540-plus B-17’s and B-24’s attack oil installations at Constanta and Giurgiu (both raids having fighter escorts) oil refinery and marshalling yards at Smederovo. The heavy bombers and fighters claim total of 50 airplanes destroyed during the day’s missions.>
June 15 – Mission called off because of weather over target. We were to hit a refinery in Austria.
< Weather cancels bombing operations. P-51’s and P-38’s strafe La Jasse, Orange/Plan de Dieu, Orange/Caritat, Avignon/Chateau-Blanc, and Avignon/Pujaut airfields.>
June 16 –
26th & 27th Bratislava, Czecho-Slovakia – Refinery & marshalling yard.
Over target at 10:00 am – Returned to field at 1:00 pm.
In “Mickey Ship” leading 1st Section – Lt Col. Ione Lloheron {?} as co-pilot. Myself as Left Waist – Had strict orders not to fire during bomb run – Our escort was 15 min. ahead of us – We got jumped shortly past initial point – All of our section dropped bombs on a Wing Ship in error, miles from target – Our bombardier dropped a mile from target because of mistake in setting up sight. (Luckily 2nd & 3rd Sections dropped bombs “on the nose” and blasted target – Smoke rose about 15 to 20 thousand feet – could be seen about 75 miles away)
Me-110’s & 210’s (about 20-30) swarmed around us – Since we were lead ship we were not permitted to fire. Lead ship in “C” Section (only a few missions to go) went down. Top turret got ship which crashed into no. 2 engine (German pilot bailed out before it hit) Left wing cylinder cowl fell off. Ship turned over on its back and went end over end. One chute seen. Three others also but no chutes seen to open. (A bunch of swell guys gone) Another ship shot up a bit. One man shot 3 times. Crashed at landing because of tire puncture. Crew saved. – Saw a few P-51’s chasing enemy aircraft, but too few.
{Although “friendly fire” accidents were all too common, I believe Dad means that the other bombers dropped their bombs at the wrong location based on a miscue from the Wing Ship. Not that the Wing Ship bore the brunt.}
<From the 376th history: “For the outstanding and highly successful mission on June 16, 1944, when the entire set-up of tanks, oil refineries, distillation and cracking plants at Bratislava, Czechoslovakia were utterly destroyed, the 376th won its third citation as a Distinguished Unit.”>
<Almost 600 heavy bombers attack oil targets at Vienna and Bratislava. Between 200 and 250 fighters attack the formations and 15 US aircraft are shot down. Heavy bombers and escorting fighters claim 70 airplanes destroyed.>
<650-plus B-17’s and B-24’s attack marshalling yards and oil installations at Sete and Balaruc-le-Vieux, telephone exchange at Le Pontet, railroad bridges at Tarascon and Arles, marshalling yards and bridges at Avignon, and harbor facilities along S coast of France. Fighters fly almost 200 sorties in support. 1 fighter group strafes targets along Fiume-Senje road and at other points on Istrian peninsula.”>
June 26th
31st & 32nd. Schwechat (near Vienna, Austria)
Tough flack over target. Lots of escort. Four planes went down around target. Most of crews parachutes sighted. We collect two holes. One going thru bomb bay door and wall. I got the piece of flack which fell in a reinforcing ledge. We dropped incendiaries and it was the most terrible sight I have ever seen, to see the bombs twinkling all over the target like stars.
<677 B-17’s and B-24’s attack targets in Vienna area, hitting aircraft factory at Schwechat, M/Y at Vienna/Floridsdorf, and refineries at Korneuburg, Vienna/Floridsdorf, Moosbierbaum, Schwechat, Winterhafen, and Lobau. FIghters fly over 260 sorties in support. An estimated 150 to 175 enemy fighters attack formations. Nearly 30 US aircraft (mostly heavy bombers) are lost. US claims total more than 60 enemy fighters.>
June 27th —
33rd Mission – Headed for Budapest, Hungary but were forced to turn back because of clouds. We dropped over 250lb Demolitions on Brod, Yugoslavia marshalling yard. Right on the nose. We won’t have to go there again until they rebuild it.
<Around 300 B-17’s and B-24’s bomb marshalling yards at Budapest and Brod. 75 to 90 enemy fighters attack the formations. 3 heavy bombers are lost. Heavy bombers and escorting fighters claim over 30 planes shot down. 90 P-51’s sweep Budapest area, claiming 7 fighters destroyed.>
June 28th Stand down. Gunner’s lecture
(We have lost seven planes out of this squadron alone in the past month and a half. We had enough crews for a while so that we could fly every other day but we will have to fly almost every day now. I believe we will be moving further north soon. The squadron is training for air raids and parachutists. Combat crews have to guard planes. This winter and spring a practice air raid was un-thought of and the shelter trenches were filled in by dirt or water. Lately they have all been re-dug although the ground troops are about 40 miles from Florence. Of course there are German airfields in nearby YugoSlavia. However, I think the runways are being widened and lengthened for B-29’s. Someone was telling me that a group of planes went on a practice mission and were jumped on by German planes, losing two. —
17 Missions to go.
{Keep in mind, Operation Overlord (the codename for the Allied invasion of northwest Europe) assault phase (known as Operation Neptune) began on D-Day 6 June 1944 and ended on 30 June 1944, when the Allies had established a firm foothold in Normandy. Operation Overlord also began on D-Day, and continued until Allied forces crossed the River Seine on 19 August 1944. Only the bottom half of Italy was in Allied hands in June 1944.}
July 2, 1944
34 & 35 Budapest, Hungary — Vesces A/D
Lead ship of group — Dropped our bombs right on the nose hitting a few planes & buildings & hangars. However our frags were too concentrated and most of the planes which were dispersed over the fields escaped damage. No enemy action, strong escort, little flack but lost one plane, cause unknown. Reported as No. 2 engine catching fire, then it is believed gas tank exploded, plane fell to pieces. No chutes seen. We seem to lose at least one plane out of one group every time we go out.
My crew is almost finished. Most are up today (July 3) as spares which will have them 3 or 4 to go. I have been asking operations to put me up as a spare but they are evidently giving preference to those with least missions to go. Hope to finish in July.
{Dad’s last mission was 12 Aug 44}
Rumors still prevalent that we are going to Suchia. Another is that we are moving to Foggia.
A new penalty is two extra missions for missing briefing or other similar offenses. There is talk of one fellow from another squadron who had finished his 50 missions had to go on another and went down.
{”…going to Suchia. Another is that we are moving to Foggia…” that is, the airfield currently located half way up the heel of the boot will redeploy further north as the Army invades Europe. The 376th Bombardment Group had arrived at San Pancrazio Airfield Italy on 17 Nov 43. I have yet to find any record of them moving north from there.}
July 4
36th Mission Pitesti, Roumania Railroad Bridge
Hit bridge w/ 500 lb. – Good pattern — no flack, no enemy action. Right on double mission line and was even approved by Group but Wing disapproved.
{That means they might have gotten credit for 2 missions and been that much closer to having 50, but it was not OK’d}
<250-plus B-17’s and B-24’s bomb bridge and railroad repair works at Pitesti and oil refinery at Brasov. 350-plus fighters escort Heavy Bombers and carry out sweeps in target area. Claims of enemy fighters destroyed total 17. 1 fighter group strafes 2 landing grounds and a troop train in Yugoslavia on return trip to base.>
July 6th
37th Mission — Casarsa, Italy, NE of Venice – Railroad to Road Bridge
Good hits w/500lb – no flack – no enemy activity. Best kind of mission as we were over water practically all the way.
Two fellows, Mc Grath (Radio) and Bagby (tail) who substituted for Oatman finished today.
<530-plus B-17’s and B-24’s attack Verona marshalling yards, Bergamo steel works, Avisio viaduct, Tagliamento-Casarsa della Delizia railroad bridge, Aviano oil and gasoline storage, Porto Marghera oil storage, and Trieste oil refinery. P-51’s and P-38’s provide escort.>
July 8th
38 & 39 Mission – A/D
500 lbs — 1st Section missed initial point & came around 180, we were leading second Section and dropped on 1st run but Pilot was not sure we were right by the time he was convinced, Bombardier had only about 45 sec. to drop. Bombs fell short and then we had to dodge our section around to miss Vienna and come in behind 1st Section when it finished. A few tight moments but everything came out O.K.
{Haven’t figured out what “A/D” means for sure, but 376th records of Dad’s 50 missions shows this one as Markersdorf airfield. So A/D probably means “aerodrome”. “Came around 180”, means they turned back for another run at the target. This is a pretty daring move since the target is now alert for you.}
<520-plus heavy bombers attack targets in Vienna area, bombing refineries at Vosendorf and Korneuburg, airfield at Zwolfaxing, Markersdorf, and Munchendorf, and marshalling yards and oil storage at Vienna/Floridsdorf, and airfields at Veszprem. Fighters fly well over 200 sorties in support of heavy bomber missions which are opposed by more than 100 fighters. 14 US aircraft are lost. Heavy bombers and fighters claim more than 50 fighters shot down.>
{This next entry is the last page of notes from Dad’s memoirs of his combat missions. I suspect there were no other pages as this marks the point where his crew had completed their missions and left. Dad was left as a spare to pick up his remaining 11 missions on various crews. I find this entry very poignant. But first, Dad’s total combat hours were 265 hours and 45 minutes and his last 11 missions were:
9 July 44 Ploesti, Roumania
12 July 44 Var, France
13 July 44 Verona, Italy
26 July 44 Markersdorf, Austria (counted as 2)
31 July 44 Tergoviate, Roumania
3 August 44 Aviviso, Italy
6 August 44 Toulon, France
9 August 44 Budapest, Hungary
12 August 44 Marseille, France}
{”our former C.O.” below, refers to Squadron C.O. as Col Robert H. Warren serves as commander of the Group from 22 Feb 45 to September 45. From the 376th web site: “On 22 February, 1945, Colonel Robert H. Warren assumed command of the 376th Bomb Group. Colonel Warren comes to the 376th, not as a stranger, but as an old friend, as he commanded the 515th Squadron for several months early in 1944. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, and won his pilot’s wings at Maxwell Field in March 1941. Col. Warren, like his predecessors, is a strict and most fair officer; a ‘brass hat’ without ostentatious display of brass.”}
{Dad’s last entry:}
“All my crew finished today. So I’ll be either a spare or be assigned to some other crew, to finish my remaining eleven.
A terrible thing happened today. Two ships in first section collided about two hours out. One blew up immediately and the blast was worse than any ack ack I ever heard. Waist gunner said he felt the heat. Our right wing man’s wing seemed to go right thru the fiery mess. The other ship fell into the water and exploded. Only one open chute was seen. Another burning chute appeared to be carrying a dead man. The snooper ship, a B-25, carry Lt.Col. Warren, our former C.O. circled the spot and called Air Sea Rescue.
I believe one of the fellows was in Phase Training with me and went to Capri with us. Lt. Shepard was one of the pilots.”
