COMMENTS & NOTES
MEMO 1:
CREW
2nd Lt Donald C.Rice P CPT 17/7/44 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY (NOBALL)
2nd Lt Joseph S.Farcht CP CPT 25/7/44 ST. LO, GROUND SUPPORT (took over Lt Rumley's Crew, see below)
2nd Lt George E.Owens NAV KlA 18/3/44 GABLINGEN,LECHFELD,AUGSBURG,MUNICH (with Lt Stuke Crew)
2nd Lt William Cherry BOM/NAV CPT 17/7/44 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY (NOBALL)
Sgt Philip H.Rowe TTE CPT 17/7/44 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY (NOBALL)
Sgt Leslie M.Thompson ROG CPT 17/7/44 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY (NOBALL)
Sgt Robert E.Pryor BTG CPT 31/7/44 MUNICH, AERO ENGINES (with Lt Bethea Crew)
Sgt Harry C.Vaughn WG CPT 18/7/44 KIEL, HEMMINGSTADT, OIL (100TH "B")
Sgt William E.Stein WG CPT 31/7/44 MUNICH, AERO ENGINES (with Lt Bethea Crew)
Sgt Robert W.Pion TG CPT DATE UNKN
418th Sqdn. Crew,as above,joined the 100th Group on 9/3/44. Crew flew 42-97154 "OUR BABE"
Lt. George Owens was with the crew of D.J.Stuke on 18/3/44 when killed (see Stuke Crew below). After Lt Owens was lost, Lt Dort Payne flew as navigator on this crew from March 22, 1944 until May 13, 1944. Lt Farcht flew last mission as CP on June 2, 1944, He then took over Lt Martin Rumley's Crew in June 1944. Lt William Cherry took over Navigator duties on May 31, 1944 mission to Osnabruck and T/Sgt H.P. Lowe (from ther original crew of Lt Herb Alf) took over as Toggelier. See SPLASHER SIX (Winter 1984) for story of this crew's A/C "Our Babe" as told by Herschel Lowe who flew as toggalier.
Also see correspondence with Harry Vaughn in 418th file.
MISSIONS OF LT FARCHT AS CO PILOT ON LT RICE CREW:
Date Target Aircraft Nbr Co Pilot
3/22/1944 ORANIENBURG (BERLIN) 97154 OUR BABE
3/23/1944 BRUNSWICK/ WAGGUM 97154
3/26/1944 SCHKEUDITZ/JU-88 PLANT 97154
3/27/1944 BORDEAUX/ MERIGNAC 97154
3/28/1944 CHATEAUDUN/ EVREUX 97154
4/1/1944 LUDWIGSHAFEN 97154
4/7/1944 QUAKENBRUCK (SCRUBBED) 97154
4/8/1944 QUACKENBRUCK 97154
4/9/1944 KRZESINKI (POSEN) 97154
4/10/1944 RHEIMS 97154
4/11/1944 POSEN/ROSTOCK, POLAND 97154
4/12/1944 SCHEUDITZ (RECALL) 97154
5/7/1944 BERLIN 97154
5/11/1944 LIEGE 97154
5/13/1944 OSNABRUCK 97154
5/23/1944 TROYES 97154
5/24/1944 BERLIN 97154
5/28/1944 MAGDEBURG 97154
5/29/1944 LEIPZIG 97154
5/30/1944 TROYES 97154
5/31/1944 OSNABRUCK 97154
6/2/1944 BOULOGNE 97154 Last Mission for Lt Farcht with Rice Crew, becomes a 1st Pilot
MISSIONS OF LT FARCHT AS 1ST PILOT (DIARY IS FROM LT COLEMAN, CP)
CREW
LT JOSEPH B. FARCHT P CPT 25 JUL 44 ST LO, GROUND SUPPORT
LT LEONARD F. COLEMAN CP CPT 25 AUG 44 POLITZ, OIL REFINERY
2ND LT MILVOY RADULOVICH NAV CPT 25 AUG 44 POLITZ, OIL REFINERY
2ND LT WALLACE E. LOWANS BOM CPT 25 AUG 44 POLITZ, OIL REFINERY
S/SGT RALPH E. HARRIS ROG CPT 25 AUG 44 POLITZ, OIL REFINERY TAPS: 8 APR 1986
S/SGT FORREST G. SMITH TTE CPT 25 AUG 44 POLITZ, OIL REFINERY
SGT RAYMOND P. KAASA BTG CPT 25 AUG 44 POLITZ, OIL REFINERY
SGT PETER VAN HELMIN WG CPT 25 AUG 44 POLITZ, OIL REFINERY
SGT NORBERT T. KOCZENT WG NOC
SGT LEO J. KAMISNKI TG CPT 25 AUG 44 POLITZ, OIL REFINERY TAPS: 11 SEP 1971
Lt Joseph Fracht, copilot on Lt Donald Rice crew took over Lt Martin Rumley’s Crew in June 1944. Lt Coleman, from Lt Bethea crew, took over as copilot on this crew. The first time this crew appears on the combat loading list is the First Russian Shuttle mission June 21, 1944. Lt Farcht completed his tour on July 25th, 1944 mission to St Lo and the rest of the Crew (except Koczent) finished on the August 25, 1944 mission to Politz ON 25 AUG 44 Lt. L.F. COLEMAN WAS THE PILOT AND C.J. GUTEKUNST WAS THE CO-PILOT
June 21, 1944 Mission
Russia, this was a pretty big day for me. WE bombed an oil refinery plant at Ruhland, Germany. It is about 50 miles south east of Berlin. After Bombs away we continued on to this base at Mirograd, Russia. We were attacked by fighters just south of Warsaw Poland. We lost an engine and flews the rest of the way in on three. Our P-51's knocked down nine out of 12 ME 109's that made the attack.
FARCHT J.S. LT P 6/21/1944 RUHLAND 32090 Silver Dollar
COLEMAN L.F. LT CP 6/21/1944 RUHLAND 32090 Silver Dollar
RADULOVICH M. LT NAV 6/21/1944 RUHLAND 32090 Silver Dollar
LOWANS W.F. LT BOM 6/21/1944 RUHLAND 32090 Silver Dollar
HARRIS R.E. T/SGT ROG 6/21/1944 RUHLAND 32090 Silver Dollar
SMITH F.G. T/SGT TTE 6/21/1944 RUHLAND 32090 Silver Dollar
KASSA R.P. S/SGT BTG 6/21/1944 RUHLAND 32090 Silver Dollar
HELMIN P.V. S/SGT RWG 6/21/1944 RUHLAND 32090 Silver Dollar
KOCZENT N.T. S/SGT LWG 6/21/1944 RUHLAND 32090 Silver Dollar
KAMINSKI L.J. S/SGT TG 6/21/1944 RUHLAND 32090 Silver Dollar
June 26, 1944 Mission
Today we left Russia and bombed an oil refinery in northern Poland and then continued to land in Foggia, Italy. There was quite a lot of flak over the target but nobody got hurt. (Promoted to 1st Lieutenant on this day…mpf)
FARCHT J.S. LT P 6/26/1944 DROHOBYCZ 32090 Silver Dollar
COLEMAN L.F. LT CP 6/26/1944 DROHOBYCZ 32090 Silver Dollar
RADULOVICH M. LT NAV 6/26/1944 DROHOBYCZ 32090 Silver Dollar
LOWANS W.F. LT BOM 6/26/1944 DROHOBYCZ 32090 Silver Dollar
HARRIS R.E. T/SGT ROG 6/26/1944 DROHOBYCZ 32090 Silver Dollar
SMITH F.G. T/SGT TTE 6/26/1944 DROHOBYCZ 32090 Silver Dollar
KASSA R.P. S/SGT BTG 6/26/1944 DROHOBYCZ 32090 Silver Dollar
HELMIN P.V. S/SGT RWG 6/26/1944 DROHOBYCZ 32090 Silver Dollar
KOCZENT N.T. S/SGT LWG 6/26/1944 DROHOBYCZ 32090 Silver Dollar
KAMINSKI L.J. S/SGT TG 6/26/1944 DROHOBYCZ 32090 Silver Dollar
July 3, 1944 Mission
Went on a mission from here (Foggia, Italy…mpf) today with the Fifteenth Air Force. We hit a railway marshalling yard at Arad, Rumainia. Saw some flak about five miles away. Wish all my missions were this easy.
FARCHT J.S. LT P 7/3/1944 ARAD (RUMANIA) 78 32090
COLEMAN L.F. LT CP 7/3/1944 ARAD (RUMANIA) 78 32090
RADULOVICH M. LT NAV 7/3/1944 ARAD (RUMANIA) 78 32090
LOWANS W.F. LT BOM 7/3/1944 ARAD (RUMANIA) 78 32090
HARRIS R.E. T/SGT ROG 7/3/1944 ARAD (RUMANIA) 78 32090
SMITH F.G. T/SGT TTE 7/3/1944 ARAD (RUMANIA) 78 32090
KASSA R.P. S/SGT BTG 7/3/1944 ARAD (RUMANIA) 78 32090
HELMIN P.V. S/SGT RWG 7/3/1944 ARAD (RUMANIA) 78 32090
KOCZENT N.T. S/SGT LWG 7/3/1944 ARAD (RUMANIA) 78 32090
KAMINSKI L.J. S/SGT TG 7/3/1944 ARAD (RUMANIA) 78 32090
A/C 32090 "SILVER DOLLAR"
July 5, 1944 Mission
Back in England again. We left Italy this morning to bomb a railway yard at Bezier in Southern France. There was no flak all the way back. No fighters got up to where we were. The P-51's went down and got several Me 109's while they were taking off
FARCHT J.S. LT P 7/5/1944 BEZIER (FROM ITLAY) 78 32090
COLEMAN L.F. LT CP 7/5/1944 BEZIER (FROM ITLAY) 78 32090
RADULOVICH M. LT NAV 7/5/1944 BEZIER (FROM ITLAY) 78 32090
LOWANS W.F. LT BOM 7/5/1944 BEZIER (FROM ITLAY) 78 32090
HARRIS R.E. T/SGT ROG 7/5/1944 BEZIER (FROM ITLAY) 78 32090
SMITH F.G. T/SGT TTE 7/5/1944 BEZIER (FROM ITLAY) 78 32090
KASSA R.P. S/SGT BTG 7/5/1944 BEZIER (FROM ITLAY) 78 32090
HELMIN P.V. S/SGT RWG 7/5/1944 BEZIER (FROM ITLAY) 78 32090
KOCZENT N.T. S/SGT LWG 7/5/1944 BEZIER (FROM ITLAY) 78 32090
KAMINSKI L.J. S/SGT TG 7/5/1944 BEZIER (FROM ITLAY) 78 32090
A/C 32090 "SILVER DOLLAR"
July 12, 1944 Mission
Today we bombed Munich, Germany. This was a pretty rough target last fall but is not quite as bad now. The Flak was pretty heavy but no fighters.
FARCHT J.S. LT P 7/12/1944 MUNICH (IND. AREA) 78 97230
COLEMAN L.F. LT CP 7/12/1944 MUNICH (IND. AREA) 78 97230
RADULOVICH M. LT NAV 7/12/1944 MUNICH (IND. AREA) 78 97230
LOWANS W.F. LT BOM 7/12/1944 MUNICH (IND. AREA) 78 97230
HARRIS R.E. T/SGT ROG 7/12/1944 MUNICH (IND. AREA) 78 97230
SMITH F.G. T/SGT TTE 7/12/1944 MUNICH (IND. AREA) 78 97230
KASSA R.P. S/SGT BTG 7/12/1944 MUNICH (IND. AREA) 78 97230
HELMIN P.V. S/SGT RWG 7/12/1944 MUNICH (IND. AREA) 78 97230
KOCZENT N.T. S/SGT LWG 7/12/1944 MUNICH (IND. AREA) 78 97230
KAMINSKI L.J. S/SGT TG 7/12/1944 MUNICH (IND. AREA) 78 97230A
A/C 97230 "LAY or BUST"
July 17, 1944 Mission
This was another pretty easy target. A railway bridge at Dijon (AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY…mpf) France. There was no flak . We hit the bridge.
FARCHT J.S. LT P 7/17/1944 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY 78 97230
COLEMAN L.F. LT CP 7/17/1944 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY 78 97230
RADULOVICH M. LT NAV 7/17/1944 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY 78 97230
LOWANS W.F. LT BOM 7/17/1944 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY 78 97230
HARRIS R.E. T/SGT ROG 7/17/1944 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY 78 97230
SMITH F.G. T/SGT TTE 7/17/1944 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY 78 97230
KASSA R.P. S/SGT BTG 7/17/1944 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY 78 97230
HELMIN P.V. S/SGT RWG 7/17/1944 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY 78 97230
KOCZENT H.T. S/SGT LWG 7/17/1944 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY 78 97230
KAMINSKI L.J. S/SGT TG 7/17/1944 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY 78 97230
A/C 97230 "LAY or BUST"
July 19, 1944 Mission
Today another rought one, Schweinfurt, Germany. The flak was really good & don't think I eve had so many bursts come so close. We got quite a few holes in our ship but no serious damage. 97230 Lay or Bust
FARCHT J.S. LT P 7/19/1944 SCHWEINFURT & DUREN 78 97230
COLEMAN L.F. LT CP 7/19/1944 SCHWEINFURT & DUREN 78 97230
RADULOVICH M. LT NAV 7/19/1944 SCHWEINFURT & DUREN 78 97230
LOWANS W.F. LT BOM 7/19/1944 SCHWEINFURT & DUREN 78 97230
HARRIS R.E. T/SGT ROG 7/19/1944 SCHWEINFURT & DUREN 78 97230
SMITH F.G. T/SGT TTE 7/19/1944 SCHWEINFURT & DUREN 78 97230
KASSA R.P. S/SGT BTG 7/19/1944 SCHWEINFURT & DUREN 78 97230
HELMIN P.V. S/SGT RWG 7/19/1944 SCHWEINFURT & DUREN 78 97230
KOCZENT H.T. S/SGT LWG 7/19/1944 SCHWEINFURT & DUREN 78 97230
KAMINSKI L.J. S/SGT TG 7/19/1944 SCHWEINFURT & DUREN 78 97230
July 20, 1944 Mission
Today was an oil refinery at Merseburg, Germany. There was really some flak at the target. Our squadron C.O. got his at the target and didn't get home. I was flying his right wing when he got hit. He dropped out of formation and came along behind for a long time but couldn't make it home. He made a crash landing somewhere in Belgium. Everybody got out of the plane O.K. They had a good chance of getting away in Belgium. We got a a few more holes in our ship.
FARCHT J.S. LT P 7/20/1944 MERSEBURG 78 97230
COLEMAN L.F. LT CP 7/20/1944 MERSEBURG 78 97230
RADULOVICH M. LT NAV 7/20/1944 MERSEBURG 78 97230
LOWANS W.F. LT BOM 7/20/1944 MERSEBURG 78 97230
HARRIS R.E. T/SGT ROG 7/20/1944 MERSEBURG 78 97230
SMITH F.G. T/SGT TTE 7/20/1944 MERSEBURG 78 97230
KASSA R.P. S/SGT BTG 7/20/1944 MERSEBURG 78 97230
HELMIN P.V. S/SGT RWG 7/20/1944 MERSEBURG 78 97230
KOCZENT H.T. S/SGT LWG 7/20/1944 MERSEBURG 78 97230
KAMINSKI L.J. S/SGT TG 7/20/1944 MERSEBURG 78 97230
A/C 97230 "LAY or BUST"
July 21, 1944 Mission
These targets are getting to be a habit. Today was Regensburg, Germany. We ran into some bad weather in southern Germany. They led the formation into some clouds, when we came out, the Group was all scattered out. We flew in with a group from the first division and bombed with them. There was heavy flak over the target which was a F.W. (FW 190) Engine plant. We got several hits but no damage.
FARCHT J.S. LT P 7/21/1944 REGENSBURG 78 97230
COLEMAN L.F. LT CP 7/21/1944 REGENSBURG 78 97230
RADULOVICH M. LT NAV 7/21/1944 REGENSBURG 78 97230
LOWANS W.F. LT BOM 7/21/1944 REGENSBURG 78 97230
HARRIS R.E. T/SGT ROG 7/21/1944 REGENSBURG 78 97230
SMITH F.G. T/SGT TTE 7/21/1944 REGENSBURG 78 97230
KASSA R.P. S/SGT BTG 7/21/1944 REGENSBURG 78 97230
HELMIN P.V. S/SGT RWG 7/21/1944 REGENSBURG 78 97230
KOCZENT H.T. S/SGT LWG 7/21/1944 REGENSBURG 78 97230
KAMINSKI L.J. S/SGT TG 7/21/1944 REGENSBURG 78 97230
A/C 97230 "LAY or BUST"
July 24, 1944 Mission
Today we started out to drop bombs on the German lines in Normandy (ST. LO) The target was overcast so didn't drop the bombs. Didn't want to drop them on our own troops
FARCHT J.S. LT P 7/24/1944 ST LO (GND SUPPORT) 78 97230
COLEMAN L.F. LT CP 7/24/1944 ST LO (GND SUPPORT) 78 97230
RADULOVICH M. LT NAV 7/24/1944 ST LO (GND SUPPORT) 78 97230
LOWANS W.F. LT BOM 7/24/1944 ST LO (GND SUPPORT) 78 97230
HARRIS R.E. T/SGT ROG 7/24/1944 ST LO (GND SUPPORT) 78 97230
SMITH F.G. T/SGT TTE 7/24/1944 ST LO (GND SUPPORT) 78 97230
KASSA R.P. S/SGT BTG 7/24/1944 ST LO (GND SUPPORT) 78 97230
HELMIN P.V. S/SGT RWG 7/24/1944 ST LO (GND SUPPORT) 78 97230
KOCZENT H.T. S/SGT LWG 7/24/1944 ST LO (GND SUPPORT) 78 97230
KAMINSKI L.J. S/SGT TG 7/24/1944 ST LO (GND SUPPORT) 78 97230
A/C 97230 "LAY or BUST"
July 25, 1944 Mission
ST LO (GROUND SUPPORT) For some reason the Diary repeats the information for mission #25
FARCHT J.S. LT P 7/25/1944 ST LO (GND SUPPORT) 78 97230
COLEMAN L.F. LT CP 7/25/1944 ST LO (GND SUPPORT) 78 97230
RADULOVICH M. LT NAV 7/25/1944 ST LO (GND SUPPORT) 78 97230
LOWANS W.F. LT BOM 7/25/1944 ST LO (GND SUPPORT) 78 97230
HARRIS R.E. T/SGT ROG 7/25/1944 ST LO (GND SUPPORT) 78 97230
SMITH F.G. T/SGT TTE 7/25/1944 ST LO (GND SUPPORT) 78 97230
KASSA R.P. S/SGT BTG 7/25/1944 ST LO (GND SUPPORT) 78 97230
HELMIN P.V. S/SGT RWG 7/25/1944 ST LO (GND SUPPORT) 78 97230
KOCZENT H.T. S/SGT LWG 7/25/1944 ST LO (GND SUPPORT) 78 97230
KAMINSKI L.J. S/SGT TG 7/25/1944 ST LO (GND SUPPORT) 78 97230
A/C 97230 "LAY or BUST"
MEMO 2:
PHOTOS:
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Joseph S. Farcht Crew (left to right): Standing: Wallace F. Lowans, Leonard F. Coleman, Peter V. Helmin Forrest G. Smith, Joseph S. Farcht, Leo Kaminski. Kneeling: Ralph E. Harris, Milroy Radulovich, Raymond P. Kaasa, Norbert T. Koczent. Photo courtesy of Leonard Aubert - 8 Feb 2006. Photo ID by Peter Helmin - 8 Feb 2006 Farcht crew information |
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Lay or Bust A-2 belonging to Ralph Harris, ROG on the M. C. Rumley and J. S. Farcht crews.
Photo courtesy of Leonard Aubert |
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Lay or Bust A-2 belonging to Forrest Smith, TTE on the M. C. Rumley and J. S. Farcht crews.
Photo courtesy of Leonard Aubert |
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Russian Shuttle - Crews resting - note the 418th's "LAY OR BUST" in the foreground. (100th Photo Archives) |
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Joseph S. Farcht crew: Standing (left to right); Wallace F. Lowans, Leonard F. Coleman, Peter V. Helmin, Forrest G. Smith, Joseph B. Farcht and Leo J. Kaminski. Kneeling; Ralph I. Harris, Milroy Radulovich, Raymond P. Kaasa and Norbert T. Kocznet. Detailed Information Photo courtesy of Leonard Aubert and documentation by Peter Helmin. |
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Lt Fracht Crew at German airfield in Italy. Farcht crew information |
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Joseph S. Farcht Enlisted Crew In Italy with JU-88 (left to right): Ralph E. Harris, Norbert T. Koczent, Forrest G. Smith, Peter V. Helmin, Raymond P. Kaasa, Leo J. Kaminski.Photo courtesy of Leonard Aubert - 8 Feb 2006 Photo ID by Peter Helmin - 8 Feb 2006 Farcht crew information |
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Lt. Joseph S. Farcht crew in front of Lay or Bust (L to R) Standing: Wallace F. Lowans, Leonard F. Coleman, Peter V. Helmin, Forrest G. Smith, Joseph S. Farcht, Leo Kaminski.
Kneeling: Ralph E. Harris, Milroy Radulovich, Raymond P. Kaasa, Norbert T. Koczent. (Photo courtesy of Ernest Havecker and his family: Eileen Rosenthal and Jodi Womack.) Farcht crew information |
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Lt Farcht A-2 Jacket, Jacket donated to 100th BG Foundation by Farcht Family |
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front of Lt Joseph Farcht A-2 Jacket |
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Lt Joseph Farcht A-2 Jacket. |
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lt Farcht Fleece line high altitude pants |
SERVED IN:
- RICE, Donald C. - P
- FARCHT, Joseph S. - CP/P
- OWENS, George E. - NAV
- PAYNE, Dort B. - NAV
- CHERRY, William - BOM/NAV
- ROWE, Philip H. - TTE
- THOMPSON, Leslie M. - ROG
- PRYOR, Robert E. - BTG
- STEIN, William E. - WG
- VAUGHN, Harry C. - WG
- PION, Robert W. - TG
- RUDY, J.J. - TG