COMMENTS & NOTES
MEMO 1:
CREW
CAPT. HENRY F. SMITH P CPT DATE & MISSION UNK
1ST LT WESLEY R. CARLTON CP KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
2ND LT MARK M. HERTZ NAV/BOM POW 28 JUL 44 MERSEBURG SN# 0-700104 (see note below)
T/SGT MILTON S. EDELSTEIN ROG KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
T/SGT HIKE B. BAGDASIAN TTE KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
SGT GARNET E. SYMINGTON BTG CPT 26 AUG 44 BREST (FLEW 18 MISSIONS WITH THIS CREW, ORIGINAL CREW LT BETHEA)
S/SGT PAUL J. HAHN LWG NOC (FLEW 12 MISSIONS CAPT SMITH CREW, THEN TO SPARE GUNNERS POOL)
S/SGT WILLIAM U. SCHAEFER RWG KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
S/SGT GEORGE E. WATROUS TG KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
350th Sqdn. Crew as of June 1944. Crew flew 14 mission in A/C 42-31991 MISS-CHIEF .
It appears this crew used a toggelier for many missions until July 18, 1944 when Lt Eppendorf became the permanent bombardier. CAPT SMITH WAS A GROUP COMMAND PILOT FROM JUNE 1944 UNTIL COMPLETION OF TOUR. He left the Crew after the June 25th Maquis Supply drop and the crew flew three missions with Lt G.W. Clark (original CP with Lt Tiahrt Crew) as pilot before Lt Wesley Carlton took over the Crew. 2nd Lt Hertz shows up in records as flying as the Navigator on this Crew but left the crew after the July 8, 1944 Clamecy-Joigny mission to become a Pathfinder Bombardier (Lead Crew) with the 100th Bomb Group and the 95th Bomb Group. Capt. Smith became 350th Bomb Squadron Operations Officer in Sept. 1944.
CREW make up from 30 AUG 44 to 11 SEPT 44
MACR #8817, Micro-fiche #3237 A/C #42-97154 Our Baby Hutchie
1ST LT WESLEY R. CARLTON P KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
2ND LT EDWARD F. NEU CP POW 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND (Pilot of own crew)
1ST LT HUGH R. DAVIDSON NAV POW 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND (from Lt Neu Crew)
1ST LT JACK L. EPPENDORF BOM KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND (from LT ROBERT A. WEGRZYNEK CREW)
T/SGT MILTON S. EDELSTEIN ROG KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
T/SGT HIKE B. BAGDASIAN TTE KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
S/SGT RALPH E. JACOBSON BTG KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
S/SGT WILLIAM U. SCHAEFER WG KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
S/SGT GEORGE E. WATROUS TG KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
350th Sqdn. Crew as of 30 Aug 44, Jack Eppendorf was orginally on the crew of R.A.Wegrzynek and Ralph Jacobson was on the original crew of L.W. Riegel, Lt Davidson from Lt Neu Crew.
MISSION LIST OF CAPT. HENRY SMITH AND LT. WESLEY CARLTON
# DATE TARGET PILOT/COPILOT A/C NUMBER A/C NAME
1. 18/6/44 MITBURG LT. SMITH 2102695 NO NAME
LT. W. CARLTON-CP
2. 19/6/44 CORME ECLUSE LT. SMITH 232009 BLACK CAT 13
LT. W. CARLTON-CP
3. 20/6/44 FALLERSLEBEN LT. SMITH 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. W. CARLTON-CP
4. 24/6/44 GRAND COURONNE LT. SMITH 231049 SUPERSTITIOUS ALOYSIOUS
LT. W. CARLTON-CP
5. 25/6/44 MAQUIS SUPPLY DROP LT SMITH 231074 CAHEPIT
LT W. CARLTON-CP
6. 6/7/44 FLEURY LT. G.W. CLARK 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. W. CARLTON-CP
7. 8/7/44 CLAMECY-JOIGNY LT. G.W. CLARK 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. W. CARLTON-CP
LT HERTZ LEAVES CREW TO BECOME RADAR/NAVIGATOR
8. 11/7/44 MUNICH LT. G.W. CLARK 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. W. CARLTON-CP
9. 18/7/44 KIEL LT. W. CARLTON 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. G.C. MALCOM-CP
10. 20/7/44 MERSEBURG LT. W. CARLTON 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. R. DYKEMAN-CP
11. 21/7/44 REGENSBURG LT. W. CARLTON 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. R. DYKEMAN-CP
12. 24/7/44 ST LO LT. W. CARLTON 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. R. DYKEMAN-CP
CREW REDUCED TO 9 MEN, S/SGT P.J. HAHN IS TAKEN OFF THE CREW AND SENT TO SPARE GUNNERS POOL
13. 25/7/44 ST LO LT. W. CARLTON 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. R. DYKEMAN-CP (Lt Dykeman is KIA on July 29, 1944 with Fitzroy Crew)
14. 31/7/44 MUNICH LT. W. CARLTON 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. E.F. NEU ?-CP
15. 2/8/44 TERGNIER LT. W. CARLTON 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. E.F. NEU ?-CP
16. 3/8/44 TROYES LT. W. CARLTON 297924 PARTY TONIGHT
LT. E.F. NEU ?-CP
17. 4/8/44 HAMBURG LT. W. CARLTON 338043 NO NAME
LT. E.F. NEU-CP
18. 5/8/44 MAGDEBURG LT. W. CARLTON 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. E.F. NEU-CP
19. 6/8/44 BERLIN LT. W. CARLTON 46089 LEADING LADY
LT. E.F. NEU-CP
20. 7/8/44 BEAUTOR LT. W. CARLTON 337882 HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
LT. E.F. NEU-CP
21. 26/8/44 BREST LT. W. CARLTON 46089 LEADING LADY
LT. E.F. NEU-CP
SGT G.E. SYMINGTON COMPLETES 35 MISSIONS AND IS REPLACED ON THE CREW BY S/SGT R.E.JACOBSON
22. 30/8/44 BREMEN LT. W. CARLTON 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. E.F. NEU-CP
23. 8/9/44 MAINZ LT. W. CARLTON 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. E.F. NEU-CP
24. 9/9/44 DUSSELDORF LT. W. CARLTON 338043 NO NAME
LT. E.F. NEU-CP
25. 10/9/44 NURNBURG LT. W. CARLTON 338043 NO NAME
LT. E.F. NEU-CP
26. 11/9/44 RUHLAND LT. W. CARLTON 297154 OUR BABY HUTCHIE (SHOT DOWN)
LT. E.F. NEU-CP
The following is quoted from a letter written by E.F.Neu dated 23 July 1945…pw
"……..we were flying in the low squadron numbering twelve aircraft of which 11 were shot down. Our ship was badly hit and on fire. Lt Carlton, who was flying in the right seat suffered wounds on the right side of his face and head. Lt. Carlton had his chute fastened to his harness the last time I saw him. While I was trying to move the Engineer's (Bagdasian) body from the escape hatch the ship exploded and I came to on the ground. Due to the fire in the bomb bay no one from the front of the ship could go to the rear, also the inter phone was shot out so no communications in the ship was possible.
Lt. Carlton's wounds seemed to be serious from the way he was bleeding. S/Sgt Schaefer and Watrous were in the rear of the ship and due to fire and no inter phone we could not communicate with them, although they were ordered by Lt. Carlton and myself to leave the ship before out inter phone was shot out."
NOTE:
CREW
DATE: 28 July 1944 350th Sqdn A/C#42-97555 PATHFINDER "Island F for Fox" on loan from 95th BG
MISSION: Merseburg MACR#7880,Micro-fiche#2890
Capt Floyd H.Mason (349th Ops Officer) COM P POW
1st Lt James B.Noble P POW
2nd Lt Robert P.Lipps CP POW
1st Lt Edmund J.Kaufman RAD/NAV POW
1st Lt Robert W.Barry NAV POW (WIA)
2nd Lt Marcus M.Hertz BOM POW
T/Sgt Frank Cruz,Jr. TTE POW
T/Sgt Russell F.Ellis ROG POW
S/Sgt Arthur L.Roberts RWG KIA
S/Sgt William P.McNally TG KIA
S/Sgt Frederick F.Swartz LWG POW
Of the above,Noble, Cruz, Ellis, Roberts, McNally,and Swartz appear to be from the
original Noble crew. Lipps was from the M.C.Rumley crew. Kaufman from the R.A.
Wegrzynek crew. Barry from the H.E.Bethea crew. Lt Hertz was from Capt. Smith/Lt Wesly Carlton Crew.
Mason had joined the 100th withhis own crew on 28/11/43 and may have been on his 2nd tour.
Eyewitness Report: " At 0850 hours near 5043N-0802E,A/C #555 nosed down twice
and the group followed.Then the wheels were lowered and fire was seen in the
radio room. Looked as if it might be a flare fire. The A/C peeled off to the
right.A small explosion was seen in the right wing between #3 engine and the
fuselage. Ono man bailed out before the A/C left the formation. The others
followed. Nine chutes were seen to open and the tenth had not opened when the man
disappoared into the undercast. The fire in the A/C appeared to be out when it
plunged into the undercast flying steadily under AFCE control."
*************************************************************************************************************
CREW
2ND LT JOHN E. DAVID P KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST
2ND LT JOHN W. SIMMONS CP KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST
2ND LT THERON J. STOOKESBERRY NAV KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST
2ND LT EDWARD J. MIKOL BOM RFS Grounded after 27 Missions (See Goethel record for and amazing saga of
S/SGT HENRY J. HENDRICKSON ROG REC 3 SEP 44 BREST bravery & endurance in the North Sea)
S/SGT FRANK BARILI, JR TTE KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST
SGT CLARENCE E. WOOD BTG POW
SGT FRANK E. YATES LWG WIA 7 JUN 44 NANTES
SGT WALTER E. POTTER RWG KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST
SGT FRANCIS J. WALDSCHMIDT TG KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST
350th Sqdn.. Crew, as above, joined the 100th on 26 May 1944. When this crew joined the 100th on 26/5/44, Lt Edward J.Mikol was the bombardier, Sgt.Clarence E.Wood the ball turret gunner, and Sgt.Frank E.Yates a waist Gunner. Sgt Frank Yates was wounded in action on 7 Jun 44 and fill in gunners were used until crew was reduced to nine men. Fill in Gunners and missions:
SGT PAUL J. HAHN (from Lt Carlton Crew)
12 JUN 44 ROSIERES & DUNKIRK SHORE DEFENSES
15 JUN 44 WILSTER
19 JUN 44 CORME ECLUSE
S/SGT FRANCIS X. KERIN (from Lt Delbert Pearson Crew)
20 JUN 44 FALLERSLEBEN
21 JUN 44 RUHLAND
26 JUN 44 DROHOBYCZ
S/SGT H. LECAT (spare gunners pool)
3 JUL 44 ARAD, RUMANIA
SGT CLARENCE F. CHERRY (from the crew of Lt Julian Rogers)
11 JUL 44 MUNICH
12 JUL 44 MUNICH
14 JUL MAQUIS SUPPLY DROP
17 JUL 44 AUXERRE
18 JUL 44 KIEL
24 JUL 44 ST LO
CREW REDUCED TO 9 MEN ON 25 JUL 44 MISSION TO ST LO.
On 3 Sep 44 this crew went down in the North Sea. Lt Mikol, Sgts Yates and Sgt Wood were not aboard. Hendrickson was picked up by British sea boat and returned to Thorpe Abbotts. The six men KIA are memorialized on the Wall of the Missing at the Brittany American Cemetery.
Lt John D. Goethel, from the W.G.Stansbury crew, was aboard in place of E.J. Mikol and was rescued . S/Sgt CARL FONG was aboard in place of Wood and was also rescued. Lt Goethel became the crews Bombardier starting 14 Aug 44 mission to Ludwigshaven.
Diary compliments of Lucy Hughes (11/30/2004):
I have come into possession of a diary written by someone from this crew (John E. David crew), but frustratingly there is no name. It is, however, a fascinating record of all the crew's missions until they went down on 3rd Sep '44. Here's the first part just to see if anyone recognises any names. . .
Mike Faley observation (12/1/2004):
There is only ONE choice for the writer of this log based on the excerpt you posted. Based on the loans owed and the fact the diary ends after 31 missions, it really comes down to S/SGT FRANK BARILI, JR TTE . The reason for this deduction is that the opening of the diary has them going to the Walsh for gunnery practice, that would eliminate the officers. That leaves the enlisted men and based on process of elimination from the loans, that leaves S/Sgt Barili.
Left Camp Kilmer, New Brunswick, New Jersey, April 22 1944. Boarded that date.
Sailed from New York N. Y. April 23 1944 on the British Merchantman “Arawa” 14. 000 tons.
Docked on May 6 1944 at Liverpool, England.
First Base in England; Nelson Hall, about 3 miles from Stone, about 40 miles South East of Liverpool. Building look as if they were formerly used to house women war workers: and are fairly new.
Left Nelson Hall 5-12-44 went to gunnery school at the “Wash” near Snettisham Eng. Lived in tents. Left gunnery school 5. 27. 44.
Came to the 100 bomb group the 350 bomb squadron.
Base is about 18 miles SSW of Norwich Eng.
Made my first mission on June 2 1944. Bombed coastal guns in Pas de Calais area just north of Boulougn (sic. ). It was the milk run of all milk runs. Flak was seen a long way off.
ON JULY 26 WE GOT A SEVEN DAY FLAK LEAVE.
Went to the rest home which was three miles east of Worcester. Its name was Spetchley Park. It was a beautiful old home build (sic) in the middle of the 19th Century. Lot of pictures and a hugh (sic) library, also had a suit of armour valued at more than £400. Met the very nicest bunch of Red Cross girls that I’ve ever met. Their names were Alice Hanly (?), Joyce Palmer, Martha Brush, Mikey McKee and Muscles (?) (Marge).
The C. O. was Major Smith. Adj was 2LT Evans. The medical Officer was a swell fellow from Houston Tex. I shot skeet, played tennis, volleyball, baseball, fished and went horseback riding. Breakfast was from 8. 00 to 10. 00. Dinner was at 13. 00, supper was at 19. 30. Had afternoon tea at 16. 00 and a snack at 23. 00 (?). Had the best time I’ve had in two years. Leaving was like leaving home.
RECORD OF OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
N. 1 June 2
Sent up as air spares. Got a place in formation. Target: coastal guns about 2 miles north of Boulogne, France. No fighters. Light flak about 1. 5 miles off.
N. 2 June 4
Target: coastal guns south of Boulogne, France. No fighters; light flak about a mile ahead of us.
N. 3 June 5
Mission briefed for visual bombardment of Abbeyville, France. Overcast at primary target prevented bombing. Flak was light to medium and very accurate. When in on secondary target from new I. P. and bombed Boulogne area. Flak here light and inaccurate. No fighters.
N. 4 June 6
INVASION BEGINS
Awakened at 23. 15, briefing 01. 15; take off at 03. 35. Our target was on Cherbourg peninsula, coastal gun installations, 400 yard inshore. Our bomb dropped 400 yards on height/right? ahead of our own troops. Zero hour was 07, 35. Bombs away was 07. 17. Bomb load was four tons including two 1000lbs carried externally and twelve 500 lbs internally. There were 10, 000 allied aircraft out that morning. Bombing altitude was only 15, 000 ft. There were aircraft as far as one could see coming over the invasion coast in waves. Didn’t see much on the ground.
N. 5 June 7
Target; bridge at Nantes, France. Flak was light to moderate but very accurate. S/Sgt. Frank E. Yates our left waste gunner was hit just below the kidney by flak. Bomb load was two 2000 lbs bombs. Our prop ran away twice. Once on the bomb run due to faulty adjustment of prop governor.
N. 6 June 11
Sent up as air spares. Briefed to bomb flak installations at La Havre (?) France. There were no abortions in our group. We got in with another group with a square K on their tail. Made bomb run but bombs were not dropped. Turned back to make second run, but our engine began to smoke and catch fire. Had to feather dive and return.
N. 7 June 12
Target: enemy airfield in France. Field was already hit. We flew around France; got over Dunkirk and got light scattered flak that was very accurate. Saw one of our ships hit to the rear of 4 catch afire, explode and go down. Load was 100 lbs demo’s (?).
N. 8 June 15
Target: oil refineries near Hannover, Germany. Undercast bombing of primary, secondary and last short targets. The 95 and 390 groups headed for home. We went back in after a target of opportunity (?). Hit unidentified installation at Wilster, Germany. Flak came up almost constantly while we were over Germany. Bombing alt. 20, 000 ft.
N. 9 June 19
Target: airfield in southern France about 100 miles from Spain. I counted only 9 bursts of flak. This was my longest raid to date.
N. 10 June 20
Target: plant making Ju. 8 wings and parts at Feldershavan Ger. Smoke from target rose 10, 000 ft also other targets in area hit. Smoke from oil refinery near Hanover rose about 18000 ft. These bombed targets were one of the greatest sights I’ve seen.
N. 11 June 21
Target, oil refinery at Rhurland Ger. About 40 miles south east of Berlin. Saw Berlin. Continued on to American airbase in Russia. Landed at MIROVGRAD. We thus completed the first England to Russia bombing mission. Flying time was 11. 45.
Three planes left formation due to lack of fuel, made Russian bases. We only had a few minutes fuel left when we landed. The wing was hit by Me 109s (?) just after we passed by Warsaw Poland. An enemy recon plane photographed us just after our landing.
June 22, we flew to Karkov for fear of enemy bombing. They did bomb later that night.
At Poltava they caught the 96 and destroyed 40-42 B17s.
June 23 + 24 + 25 Stayed and slept in a wrecked building in the suburbs of Karkov. Food was terrible. The latrine was a ments? People interested in us and ship. Seem to like us and ship. The last night we slept under plane’s wings in sleeping bag. Went back to Mirovgrad, and that we when to KIRVOGRAD slept again in sleeping bags. In the morn we again went back to Mirovgrad bombed up.
N. 12 June 26
Target, oil refinery at DROHOBYCZ in Polish Galicia? Flak was light. Fighter were around but escort took care of them. Flying time nine hours. Landed at 463th Bomb Group near Foggia, Italy. Assigned to 773th Sqdn for quarters and rations. Took it easy, visited Foggia and swam in the Adriatic for the next few days before and after the next mission.
N. 13 July 3
Flew with 15th air force. Target; marshalling yards at ARAD, RUMANIA. Light nearly no flak. No fighter. Easiest one yet…
N. 14 July 5
Target: marshalling yards at Beziere France on coast near Marseilles. Light flak at target. Few fighters, escort took care of them. Saw a B25 of 15 A. F. go down at Marseilles. Saw two P51s jump a Ml (?)109. Flying time about ten and a half hour. Shuttle run was 1000 miles of combat flying and made military history.
DAWS MARRIED JULY 7.
N. 15 July 11
Target: jet propelled plane plant at Munich Ger. Light flak, no fighters. Bomb load was five 1000 lbs S1 said we hit 31 miles from target. Bombing was by P. F. F. because of 10/10 cloud cover.
N. 16 July 12
Same target as yesterday. Heavy flak at target. It left a path through the middle through which we flew. No fighters. Bomb load was four 500 lbs and 5 cluster of incendiaries. Bomb alt. 24500.
N. 17 July 14
Took supply bombs to partisans in France. Dropped them on a big meadow in the hills near Toulle France. Dropped chests from 500 ft.
N. 18 July 17
Target was a railroad bridge at Auxerre. Flak was light saw no fighters. Bomb load was two 2000 lbs.
N. 19 July 18
Target was dock installations at Kiel Germany. Heavy flak was moderately accurate. No fighter. Bombing altitude was 26000 ft.
N. 20 July 24
Target: German troops ahead of our troops near St. Lo. Bomb load was anti personnel bombs. Moderate flak. Saw a B24 go down. Due to overcast we did not drop our bombs. F. T. 09. 00
No. 21 July 25
Same target as the last mission. Dropped our bombs from 12000 ft due to overcast. Saw a crew bail out of a B17 that was hit by flak. Flak was light and there were no fighters. (mpf. Crew reduced to 9 men)
JULY 25, 1944 STARTED FLAK LEAVE.
N. 22 Aug. 4
Target: oil refinery at Harburg Ger. Bomb run took us over Hamburg Ger. Bomb load was twenty 250lbs. Bomb alt was 26000 ft. Fighters were in area. Flak was intense. S2 said we in range of 170 heavy guns. Had mixture (?) control on n. 2 engine shot away. F. T. 07. 00
N. 23 Aug 5
Target: The Krupt Works at Magdeburg Ger. Plant made tanks. Bombing results were excellent. Flak was a moderate barrage just before and up to target. Bombing altitude was 24000 ft. Fighters were in area three different times, were beat off by escort. Saw a B17 get a direct flak hit. It blew up bombs and everything. Bounced our ship aournd. It made an orange burst of fire. I couldn’t see the ship, only the huge sheet of orange and brown gray smoke. It was hit just under us. When it exploded it set afire another ship that went down in flames. Two chutes came out of the one that blew up, but Wally, our tail gunner, said that they both looked dead. No-one could have lived through that. I thought it got our tail gunner it was so close. Bomb load was five 1000 lbs F. T. 07. 00
N. 24 Aug 6
Target: Berlin Ger. Factory making engines for FW190s and Ju88s, three miles south of center of city. Flak was intense but inaccurate, there were no fighters seen. Formation spread out after bombs away. Bomb load was ten 500lbs. Bomb alt. Was 26000 ft. Ran short of O2 due to leak in rt waiste (?) system. Ball turret had to get out at Hamburg on way back. F. T. 08. 30
N. 25 Aug 7
Target; Bridge hear La Fare Fran. Clouds cover over target and secondary target prevented dropping bombs. Brought the six 1000lbs home. Went right over Brussels Belg. In a huge cloud. F. T. 6. 30.
N. 26 Aug 8
Target; was near Caen, Was German Hq and front lines which were holding up British tank advance. Bomb load was twelve 500s internal and two 1000lbs external. Bomb alt was 11. 000ft. Flak was extremely accurate. I saw a B17 get a direct hit behind the ball turret. Its tail broke off and broke up. The ship nosed down and went down. I saw no-one get out. Lead ship was hit on n. 2 engine cut. One blade nearly all off. Ships were badly shot up. Many had wounded aboard.
N. 27 Aug 13
Target: was a road. We bombed in 3 ship elements. We bombed German lines of retreat, helping to close the trap. There were hundreds of columns of smoke coming up from France where elements had bombed. We bombed somewhere between Le Mans and Caen. Bomb load was thirty-eight 100lbs. Demolition bombs. Bomb alt. Was 18. 800 feet. Flying time 5. 30 hours. Saw 3 of our ships go down, two of them looked like direct flak hits. No fighters.
N. 28 Aug 14
Target: was the S. B. Farben oil refinery at Ludwigshafen Ger. We had to abort after we had been over Holland 15 mins due to a blown exhaust stack and subsequent loss of manifold pressure on n. 1 engine. We landed with our bomb load.
N. 29 Aug 15
Target; an airfield near ????? Holland. The RAF was there too hitting other fields in the area. Saw two of them go down. We carried twenty 250lbs bombs with delayed action fuses. Bomb alt was 20200 ft. F. T. 4:60.
N. 30 Aug 24, 44
Target: was for the second time the oil refinery at Ruhland Ger. Flak was heavier than last time: was medium to heavy of barrage type. Bomb load was ten 500 lbs, bombing alt. Was 24, 600 ft. No fighters. Visiual bombing, results excellent. F. T. 08:15
N. 31
???
OUTSTANDING LOANS
W. Sorter 418 Sqn
W. Bean 390 B. Gr.
J. Held 447 B. Gr.
F. Yates
C. Wood
W . Potter
H. Hendrickson
J. David
T. Stooksberry
W. Potter
Witteri (? illegible because wrote PAID on top)
A/C #42-97924 "PARTY TONIGHT" MACR # 8843, Microfiche # 3248
EYEWITNESS: "A/C #924 aborted at 0843 hours with #2 engine on fire At 0846
hours the plane began its turn back,losing altitude fast and two men bailed out.
At 0848 hours, three more men bailed out. At 0852 hours, the A/C hit the water
and exploded."
Those rescued believed they were in the water about an hour before being picked
up by Britlsh sea craft.
When this crew joined the 100th on 26/5/44, Lt Edward J.Mikol was the bombardier,
Sgt.Clarence E.Wood the ball turret gunner, and Sgt.Frank E.Yates a waist Gunner.
On this last mission the A/C went down in the North sea a, according to the Sqdn.
History, and only Goethel, Fong and Hendrichson were rescued.
T.N.H.I.S.G. p.129 : Apparently the A/C had mechanical problems and on way
to target David warned the crew to Jump. Immediately the A/C plunged and
only three men got out. "I don't know exactly what happened," Goethel sald
later. "We got out of the ship somehow and I was falling end over end. I pulled
at the rip cord on the chute but it wouldn't work. Then I tore open the flaps
with my hands and the chute finally came out. I wasn't very high off the water
then. All three of us fell into the channel about the same place though as the tlme
went on we drifted farther and farther apart. We didn't have any dlnghy and so
it was up to us to keep afloat as best we could. . . . . . ."
As the three of them floated in the water, a British destroyer came along slde and
scooped first one and then another. They had been in the sea about 1.5 hours
but recovered and came back to the base from Portsmouth by train.
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CREW
Lt Paul L.Spurgeon P CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG
Lt John E. David CP KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST (as pilot of own crew, see below) replaced F/O C.G. Sharemet on Politz mission
Lt John V.Larson NAV CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG (Lead Nav, originally from Lt C. Daniels Crew, see below)
Lt Frederick H.Theesfeld BOM CPT 7 MAR 45 SIEGEN, MY (S.T.) (FLEW 31 MISSIONS)
T/Sgt E.S.Balcseniuk ROG CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ?
T/Sgt Alfred J.Vignola TTE CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ?
S/Sgt W.R. Klein BTG NOC Replaced on crew by Radar Operator in late October 44 when this became a lead crew,
S/Sgt Thomas J.Dressel WG WIA (Wounded 25/8/44 POLITZ & month in hospital)
S/Sgt Robert E.Kauffman TG NOC ( Flew 21 missions on crew of A.D.Elbel, last one on 8/8/44, then in spare gunners pool , see below)
350th Sqdn. Crew appears as above on Roster of 25/8/44 target: (POLITZ) as Crew #29. Thls was probably a "pick up" crew. ( this information is suspect concerning this crew, likely they flew together very little, perhaps only once..jb). Lt Spurgeon had a lead Crew and the actual make up is listed below. It is know that they were leading on Nov 2, 1944 to Merseburg with Col Sammy Barr as Command Pilot.
Other Members who flew on this Crew
Lt R.A Nesline-Nav (replaced Lt Larson on Lt Daniels Crew) Flew as NAV on first mission of Spurgeon Crew 8/8/44
Lt J.D. Goethel-Bom (from Lt David Crew) Flew as BOM on first mission of Spurgeon Crew 8/8/44
Lt Spurgeon took over "JIMB0" A/C 44-8226 LN-B in November 1944 and he selected the name. It was a nickname for his Stateside Wife. Jimbo was painted on the left hand side of the aircraft. On the cowlings of No 3 & 4 engines could be seen the names "Kay" and "Alice" probably put on by the ground crew.
See S.D.C. p.33 & 95 "JIMB0" A/C 44-8226 LN-B This was a Pathfinder aircraft originally assigned to the 95th Bomb Group (13th CBW HQ for Pathfinder Crews and Aircraft in Summer and early fall 1944) in October 1944. The practice during this time was to fly Pathfinder A/C from Horham to the surrounding airdromes to lead the 3rd Air Division Bomb Groups. In late October this practice ceased and Pathfinders were assigned to each Bomb Group and both Crews and planes were maintained at their own bases.
THIS WAS THE MAKE-UP OF LT PAUL SPURGEON'S LEAD CREW.
LT PAUL SPURGEON P CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG
LT C.G. SHAREMET CP CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ?
LT JOHN V. LARSON NAV CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ((Lead Nav originally from Lt C. Daniels Crew, see below)
LT FREDERICK H. THEESFELD BOM CPT 7 MAR 45 DATTELN, SIEGEN, MY (S.T.)
T/SGT ALFRED VIGNOLA TTE CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ?
T/SGT E.S. BALCSENIUK ROG CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ?
S/SGT W.R. KLEIN BTG NOC (replaced by Radar Operator in late October 44 when this became a lead crew)
S/SGT P.J. HAHN WG NOC (orignal LWG on Capt H. Smith Crew, replaced Sgt Dressel after he was wounded on 25/8/1944 Politz)
S/SGT L.S. "Andy" ANDERSON TG CPT 28 Jan 45 DUISBURG (replaced Sgt Kauffman)
Now based on mission completions and photo evidence, Lt Theesfeld came off this crew at some point since he completes two months after the Spurgeon Crew does. Also S/Sgt Dressel returns to the Crew but not sure in what capacity since photo evidence shows both Hahn (who replaced Dressel when he was injured on Aug 25, 1944) and Dressel in Crew photos.
Missions of Lt Spurgeon based on Mission list of S/Sgt Anderson and Opts database mpf 2012:
Date Target # of A/C Call Sign a/cName Pilot Comments
08-Aug-44 St Sylvain 43-38043 LN-T Spurgeon Lt Nesline flew as NAV, Lt Goethel flew as BOM, Anderson-TG
25-Aug-44 Politz 43-38076 LN-S Aces and Eights Spurgeon Lt J.E.David flew as CP, Lt Larson-NAV joins crew
(S/Sgt Dressel WG is wounded, S/Sgt Kauffman is TG)
26-Aug-44 Brest 43-38076 LN-S Aces and Eights Spurgeon (S/Sgt Hahn becomes fill in WG, S/Sgt Kauffman is TG)
01-Sep-44 Mainz (recalled) 43-38076 LN-S Aces and Eights Spurgeon (S/Sgt Anderson returns as permenant TG)
03-Sep-44 Brest 43-38076 LN-S Aces and Eights Spurgeon
05-Sep-44 Stuttgart 43-38076 LN-S Aces and Eights Spurgeon
08-Sep-44 Mainz 43-37863 LN-L Leading Lady Spurgeon (S/Sgt(Kaufman flies as WG on mission)
12-Sep-44 Magdeburg 44-6297 LN-X Spirit of Pittwood Spurgeon
13-Sep-44 Sindelfingen 43-37994 LN-D My Blue Heaven Spurgeon
18-Sep-44 Warsaw 43-38437 LN-S Spurgeon
19-Sep-44 Szolnok (from Russia) 43-38437 LN-S Spurgeon
28-Sep-44 Merseburg 43-38437 LN-S Spurgeon
03-Oct-44 Nurnburg Spurgeon
06-Oct-44 BERLIN Spurgeon
26-Oct-44 Hanover Spurgeon (Believe this is the first mission as a Lead Crew…mpf)
02-Nov-44 Merseburg 44-8226 LN-B Jimbo Spurgeon Col Sammy Barr Command Pilot, leading 100th
05-Nov-44 Ludwigshaven Spurgeon
21-Nov-44 Osnabruck Spurgeon
29-Nov-44 Hamm Spurgeon (F/O C.G.Sharemet promoted to 2nd Lt.)
12-Dec-44 Darmstadt Spurgeon
25-Dec-44 Kaiserlautern Spurgeon
30-Dec-44 Kassel Spurgeon
02-Jan-45 Bad Kreuznach 44-8226 LN-B Jimbo Spurgeon
03-Jan-45 Fulda Spurgeon
10-Jan-45 Cologne Spurgeon
13-Jan-45 Mainz Spurgeon
21-Jan-45 Mannheim Spurgeon
28-Jan-45 Duisburg Spurgeon
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LT DAVID NOTES:
CREW
2ND LT JOHN E. DAVID P KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST (flew as CP on Lt Spurgeon Crew on 25/8/44 Politz mission)
2ND LT JOHN W. SIMMONS CP KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST
2ND LT THERON J. STOOKESBERRY NAV KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST
2ND LT EDWARD J. MIKOL BOM RFS (See Goethel record for and amazing saga of
LT JOHN GOETHEL BOM REC 3 SEP 44 BREST bravery & endurance in the North Sea)
S/SGT HENRY J. HENDRICKSON ROG REC
S/SGT FRANK BARILI, JR TTE KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST
SGT CLARENCE E. WOOD BTG POW
SGT FRANK E. YATES WG NOC
SGT WALTER E. POTTER WG KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST
SGT FRANCIS J. WALDSCHMIDT TG KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST
350th Sqdn.. Crew, as above, joined the 100th on 26 May 1944. Apparently Frank Yates was removed when crews were reduced to nine men.
On 3 Sep 44 this crew went down in the North Sea. Lt Mikol, Sgts Yates and Wood were not aboard. Hendrickson was picked up by British sea boat and returned to Thorpe Abbotts. The six men KIA are memorialized on the Wall of the Missing at the Brittany American Cemetary.
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LT J.V. LARSON NOTES:
CREW
2ND LT CECIL O. DANIELS P CPT 03 JAN 45 FULDA sn# 0-808196
2ND LT GORDON A. HANSEN CP CPT 03 JAN 45 FULDA finished with 33 missions
2ND LT JOHN V. LARSON NAV CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG(BECAME LEAD NAV ON LT SPURGEON PATHFINDER CREW)
2ND LT ROBERT L. STORY BOM WIA 17 OCT 44 COLOGNE (TAPS 1967)
CPL HOWARD A. DRALLE ROG WIA 03 OCT 44 NURNBURG
SGT SAMUEL M. WOLFE, JR. TTE WIA 15 OCT 44 COLOGNE (TAPS 1984)
CPL LESLIE P. MILLS BTG CPT 03 JAN 45 FULDA
CPL JOSEPH W. ADAMS, JR. WG GND FOR MEDICAL REASONS (CHRONIC AIR SICKNESS)
CPL WILLIAM KILPATRICK, JR WG REMOVED TO REDUCE TO 9 MAN CREW AND REASSIGNED TO CREW OF C.K. BAKER,
WOUNDED IN ACTION 30 NOV 44 ON 18TH MISSION.
CPL JORGEN N. NIELSEN TG CPT 03 JAN 45 FULDA
350th Sqdn. Crew 28. Crew, as above joined the 100th on 25 Jul 1944.
Crew flew "Spirit of Pittwood" #46297
Ground Crew Chief: Sgt John C. Riffle
Lt .Micheljon flew the first 2 missions as CP for crew orientation instead of Lt Gordon Hansen.
At Thorpe Abbotts, Lt John Larson was selected for lead crew training and replaced on the Daniels crew by F/O Richard A. Nesline who CPT on 3 Jan 1945 with 35 sorties. Promoted to 1st Lt before returning to the ZOI. (zone of the interior)
Missions of Lt John V. Larson with Lt Daniels Crew
8-Aug-44 Hamburg 42-97924 LN-H Party Toni Daniels
5-Aug-44 Magdeburg 43-37882 LN-W Happy-Go Daniels
6-Aug-44 Berlin 43-38043 LN-T Daniels
11-Aug-44 Villacoublay 42-102958 LN-Z Daniels
13-Aug-44 Nantes 42-102958 LN-Z Daniels
14-Aug-44 Ludwigshaven 43-37882 LN-W Happy-Go-Lucky Daniels
15-Aug-44 Venlo 42-31220 LN-P Fletcastoria II Daniels
24-Aug-44 Ruhland 44-6297 LN-X Spiriwo Daniels
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S/SGT KAUFFMAN NOTES:
CREW
F/O ARLON D. ELBEL P CPT 25 SEP 44 LUDWIGSHAVEN
F/0 THOMAS D. TAYLOR CP CPT 26 SEP 44 BREMEN (FILL IN CP WITH LT WILLOUGHBY CREW))
2ND LT JOSEPH M. GLADDEN NAV CPT 25 SEP 44 LUDWIGSHAVEN
2ND LT ROBERT D. FISHER BOM CPT 26 SEP 44 BREMEN
T/SGT E.T. GEHRMAN TTE CPT 25 SEP 44 LUDWIGSHAVEN
SGT FRANCIS J. TRUSCOTT ROG CPT 25 SEP 44 LUDWIGSHAVEN
SGT ARTHUR F. WHITTEN BTG CPT 25 SEP 44 LUDWIGSHAVEN
SGT ROBERT E. KAUFFMAN RWG NOC FLEW 21 MISSIONS WITH THIS CREW, THEN SENT TO SPARE GUNNERS POOL
SGT DANIEL E. WALTON TG NOC FLEW 32 MISSIONS WITH THIS CREW LAST RECORDED MISSION WITH CREW
350TH SQDN.. CREW, AS ABOVE, JOINED THE 100TH ON 29 MAY 44.
Believe this crew came overseas with only one waist gunner. A SGT E.E. DEVERE, a spare gunner filled in at LWG for the first 4 missions this crew flew. The LWG position would continue to be filled by spare gunners. When crews were reduced to nine men in late July 1944, Sgt Kauffman and a Sgt Stommes traded off flying missions with the crew as waist gunners. Kauffman was later taken off the crew after 8 Aug 44 mission and put in Spare gunners Pool. Records show that he flew 4 missions as a TG with Lt Spurgeon Crew in Aug/Sept. 1944. Sgt W. Stommes (Stemmes/Stommos) filled in on 14 missions as a left waist gunner. Starting on August 15th, Sgt Bracco flew as WG on this crews final 9 missions
CREW ROSTER OF 19 SEP 44 HAS WALTON, KAUFFMAN, & GEHRMAN REPLACED BY JACK BOURNE & SALVATORE J. BRACCO, FROM THE AUSTIN DUNLAP CREW, AND ROBBIE L. GILL FROM THE A.S. SPEAR CREW. ON 11 AUG 44 KAUFFMAN WAS REPLACED BY T/SGT GEHRMAN.
On 11/8/44,Jack Conger (from Lt Giles Crew) was flying with the crew of Lt. A.D.Elbel as WG, replaceing Sgt. Kauffman. Lt Taylor completed his last two msisons as a fill in CP with Lt Willoughby Crew.
Date Aircraft Nbr Target
6/2/1944 102958 BOULOGNE
6/4/1944 102958 BOULOGNE
6/5/1944 102958 BOULOGNE(CHG)
6/6/1944 102958 FALAISE/OUISTREHAM
6/7/1944 102958 NANTES (BRIDGES)
6/8/1944 32009 TOURS (BRIDGES)
6/12/1944 102958 ROSIERES & DUNKIRK
6/15/1944 102958 MITBURG & WILSTER
6/19/1944 37686 CORME ECLUSE, AF
6/20/1944 37621 FALLERSLEBEN
6/21/1944 102958 RUHLAND
6/26/1944 102958 DROHOBYCZ
7/3/1944 102958 ARAD (RUMANIA)
7/5/1944 102958 BEZIER (FROM ITLAY)
7/11/1944 102958 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
7/21/1944 102958 REGENSBURG
7/24/1944 102958 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/25/1944 102958 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/28/1944 102958 MERSEBURG
7/29/1944 102958 MERSEBURG
8/2/1944 102657 TERGNIER/LAFERE
8/3/1944 37882 TROYES (RAIL YARD)
8/5/1944 37994 MAGDEBURG
8/7/1944 102598 BEAUTOR (BRIDGES)
8/8/1944 102598 ST. SYLVIAN Last mission S/Sgt Kauffman flies with Elbel Crew, sent to spare gunners pool
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S/SGT P.J. HAHN NOTES:
CREW
CAPT. HENRY F. SMITH P CPT DATE & MISSION UNK
1ST LT WESLEY R. CARLTON CP KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
2ND LT MARK M. HERTZ NAV/BOM POW 28 JUL 44 MERSEBURG SN# 0-700104 (see note below)
T/SGT MILTON S. EDELSTEIN ROG KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
T/SGT HIKE H. BAGDASIAN TTE KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
SGT GARNET E. SYMINGTON BTG CPT 26 AUG 44 BREST (FLEW 18 MISSIONS WITH THIS CREW, ORIGINAL CREW LT BETHEA)
S/SGT PAUL J. HAHN LWG NOC (FLEW 12 MISSIONS CAPT SMITH CREW, THEN TO SPARE GUNNERS POOL)
S/SGT WILLIAM U. SCHAEFER RWG KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
S/SGT GEORGE E. WATROUS TG KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
350th Sqdn. Crew as of June 1944. Crew flew 14 mission in A/C 42-31991 MISS-CHIEF .
It appears this crew used a toggelier for many missions until July 18, 1944 when Lt Eppendorf became the permanent bombardier. CAPT SMITH WAS A GROUP COMMAND PILOT FROM JUNE 1944 UNTIL COMPLETION OF TOUR. He left the Crew after the June 25th Maquis Supply drop and the crew flew three missions with Lt G.W. Clark (original CP with Lt Tiahrt Crew) as pilot before Lt Wesley Carlton took over the Crew. 2nd Lt Hertz shows up in records as flying as the Navigator on this Crew but left the crew after the July 8, 1944 Clamecy-Joigny mission to become a Pathfinder Bombardier (Lead Crew) with the 100th Bomb Group and the 95th Bomb Group. Capt. Smith became 350th Bomb Squadron Operations Officer in Sept. 1944.
CREW make up from 30 AUG 44 to 11 SEPT 44
MACR #8817, Micro-fiche #3237 A/C #42-97154 Our Baby Hutchie
1ST LT WESLEY R. CARLTON P KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
2ND LT EDWARD F. NEU CP POW 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND (Pilot of own crew)
1ST LT HUGH R. DAVIDSON NAV POW 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND (from Lt Neu Crew)
1ST LT JACK L. EPPENDORF BOM KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND (from LT ROBERT A. WEGRZYNEK CREW)
T/SGT MILTON S. EDELSTEIN ROG KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
T/SGT HIKE H. BAGDASIAN TTE KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
S/SGT RALPH E. JACOBSON BTG KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
S/SGT WILLIAM U. SCHAEFER WG KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
S/SGT GEORGE E. WATROUS TG KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
350th Sqdn. Crew as of 30 Aug 44, Jack Eppendorf was orginally on the crew of R.A.Wegrzynek and Ralph Jacobson was on the original crew of L.W. Riegel, Lt Davidson from Lt Neu Crew.
MISSION LIST OF CAPT. HENRY SMITH AND LT. WESLEY CARLTON
# DATE TARGET PILOT/COPILOT A/C NUMBER A/C NAME
1. 18/6/44 MITBURG LT. SMITH 2102695 NO NAME
LT. W. CARLTON-CP
2. 19/6/44 CORME ECLUSE LT. SMITH 232009 BLACK CAT 13
LT. W. CARLTON-CP
3. 20/6/44 FALLERSLEBEN LT. SMITH 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. W. CARLTON-CP
4. 24/6/44 GRAND COURONNE LT. SMITH 231049 SUPERSTITIOUS ALOYSIOUS
LT. W. CARLTON-CP
5. 25/6/44 MAQUIS SUPPLY DROP LT SMITH 231074 CAHEPIT
LT W. CARLTON-CP
6. 6/7/44 FLEURY LT. G.W. CLARK 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. W. CARLTON-CP
7. 8/7/44 CLAMECY-JOIGNY LT. G.W. CLARK 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. W. CARLTON-CP
LT HERTZ LEAVES CREW TO BECOME RADAR/NAVIGATOR
8. 11/7/44 MUNICH LT. G.W. CLARK 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. W. CARLTON-CP
9. 18/7/44 KIEL LT. W. CARLTON 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. G.C. MALCOM-CP
10. 20/7/44 MERSEBURG LT. W. CARLTON 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. R. DYKEMAN-CP
11. 21/7/44 REGENSBURG LT. W. CARLTON 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. R. DYKEMAN-CP
12. 24/7/44 ST LO LT. W. CARLTON 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. R. DYKEMAN-CP
CREW REDUCED TO 9 MEN, S/SGT P.J. HAHN IS TAKEN OFF THE CREW AND SENT TO SPARE GUNNERS POOL
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MEMO 2: