Mission

ON THIS DAY...SEPTEMBER 30,1944

On September 29, although the 100BG was under a ‘Stand Down’ order, a two-hour practice mission went up into the overcast sky. The airmen not scheduled to fly were able to catch up on sleep and some training while many of the ground personnel were finalizing the preparations for the big ‘200th mission’ party planned for the last day of the month. The 418th’s Squadron diary tells us, “Announcement plug the great fiesta. We hope we'll have a stand down for the party day. Indeed, until 2200 the white flag flew while everyone polished shoes, buttons for the great affaire. A notice on the bulletin board says to wear class A Uniform. Alas, at 2200 the blue standby flag went up.”

On the morning of September 30, twenty-five crews were awakened for their next mission, all having hoped that the ‘Stand Down’ order would have continued. James Smith, WG on Walter Charles’ crew tells us, “They gave us a day off due to the weather and dragged us out this A.M. This was the day of the big 200th mission blowout and we didn’t particularly care about flying.” 

Awakened in the 349th Squadron area was twenty-one year-old Edward Talmage from Petersburg, Virginia. His crew, along with those of Glenn Rojohn, Ethan Porter, Leo Ross and David Raiford had all been recently reassigned from the 95BG to the 100BG due to its need of immediate replacements after the heavy losses sustained on the September 11 mission. Talmage was scheduled to fly that day, his #1 combat mission, as copilot to Charles Streed.

The 3rd Division’s Groups were being briefed for a mission to Bielefeld, Germany, ninety miles south of Bremen and thirty miles southeast of Osnabrück, where its marshalling yards and surroundings were being targeted.

Leading the 3rd Division that day would be the 13A CBW, led by the 95BG which would also fly as its High group. The 390BG would fly as its Low. The 13B CBW would be led by the 100BG, also flying as the High group with its Command pilots of Major John Wallace and Major Joseph Zeller. The 390BG would fly a second group as the 13B's Low group.

All B-17s departed the Thorpe Abbotts successfully starting at 0923 hours. Its Wing and Division assembly were made without any difficulties and the 100BG took its place in the Division line, departing the English coast at Southwold at 1136 hours.

Crossing the sea, the 100BG crossed the continental coast thirty minutes later at Ostend, Belgium and an hour later, the IP had been reached over Horstmar, Germany and the bomb bay doors were opened as the formations made the turn onto the bomb run.

Cloud coverage of 6/10, and moderate contrails had obstructed vision for the primary target so bombs were away via PFF on the ordnance depot target at Bielefeld at 1307 hours from 23000 feet. There was no flak over the target and the men were relieved by their good luck. Roland Hetrick, Navigator on Walter Radke’s B-17 tells us, “We were very surprised because they forgot to shoot at us. They don't usually do things like that. Our trip was really quite uneventful. We were a little bit mad because they made us fly. We were to have our 200th mission party starting at about noon. We really didn't miss much but we were still mad. Today we flew our own ship for the first time, It is o.k. too”

The Rally Point was met at 1310 hours and by 1422 hours, the 100BG’s formations were exiting the enemy coast in Holland when unexpected flak was encountered, reminding the crews that they were never safe until they were back on the ground at Thorpe Abbotts. James Smith continued, “But it was a good mission. Didn’t have any flak over the target and no fighters on our group, but when we came across the coast of Holland we started letting down too soon and some battery was tracking us. They got about 10 bursts up and they were right in there. No ships were lost but they got a big hole in our stabilizer and a couple more small ones. Some guy had his “head up and locked” or it wouldn’t have happened.” And Robert Kazee on Willis Miller’s crew added, “…We experienced some flak as we passed over the coast but since we were anxious to get back to the party it didn’t seem too bad.”

After a six and one-half hour flight, four of which were spent on oxygen, all B-17s were seen in formation over the field at 1520 hours and everyone was ready  to get down and get over to the party...not to mention to the girls and the beer. Glenn Smiley on Thomas Anderson’s crew tells us, “…no flak, several rockets, some other fellows saw fighter but none of us did. Not very rough. Though Fiesta Party today so all paddle feet got beer and were well on their way before we got down.”

After the crews had Interrogation, they cleaned up and donned their Dress A uniforms, and headed over to the celebrations. The 100th Bomb Group’s 200th Mission celebration had commenced at 1000 hours while the crews were on the mission but were scheduled to continue through the night and into the next day. The descriptive entry about the celebration in the 418th Squadron diary entry gives us an insight into what the men enjoyed as the experienced a piece of their American life back home.

“Today is the day of the big party. Early in the morning the girls began to arrive. Some came from nearby towns. Some from London. For the past week or more specially printed invitations were available at group GQ to invite girls to the base. Special transportation was arranged.

In the dispersals adjacent to the 349th hangar a carnival had been set up. There were flying swings, a whirla round, "Dodgems" Shooting gallery, all sorts of pinball games and penny catching gambling devices plus a few automatic one-armed bandits. Right by a stripped tent housing a performing mouse act was set up a tent of G.I. canvas that dispenses hot dogs for free: they started at 1600. The buns were a bit too sweet for real hotdog buns, but the doggies were strictly American. The line for this was formed at 1515. The ice cream stand opened at the same time. Real cones. Real ice cream, and a perpetual mob about it. G.I's, Officers, Wrens, ATS, the sharp looking CWACS, and little urchins who live on the base were all after those cones… All during the afternoon on the other side of the perimeter track by the 349th hangar the barbecue was readying. Under a tent of canvas the cooks tended rows of barbequed roasts lying by trenches filled with glowing coals. A hundred yards to the left were lined up barrels of beer free for the taking and put to constant good use. At 1630 the barbeque began to be passed out… About 1640 the first loads of wrens and ATS began to come in.

Just before the barbeque opened up a long black '41 buick sedan preceded by two white gauntleted motorcycle M.P's came turning into the hardstand that held the "Colonel's Men," This was a tent with latticed walls. From the long black car stepped General Doolittle and his staff. The Officer In Charge of the M.P. Guard of honor yelled "Attention" and went into a brace that must have recalled cadet days to many observing Officers. General Doolittle then inspected the guard, going slowly down the lines of stiff M.P.s, Then he and Colonel Jefferies and all the staff entered the "Den" and the throng of G.I.s and Officers dispersed back to the chow line.

Since light was fading rapidly, most of the men and guests were drifting towards the hangar. Although the dance was not scheduled to begin until 2000, the bands began playing an hour ahead of time. I say bands advisedly for we had two, their stands set up side by side. They were to play in relays for the remainder of the night… The two bands were at the end of the hangar with a great American flag as a back drop. At 2000 General Doolittle appeared to make the opening speech. Because of lamentable accoustics, not a word was distinguishable, but he received a good hand…The officers meanwhile were having their dance at their club with a third orchestra. There was plenty of music on the base that night. Some of the lads got a bit too much of english mild and bitter under their belts. But the MPs were quite efficient in preventing any serious squabbles.

Robert Kazee added, "The dance started at 1900 in #2 hangar with about 1,500 women on the base-USAC, ATS, WAAF’s, WREN’s and civilian girls from as far away as London. The hangar dance remained me that on September 1st before my 1st mission we had the Glenn Miller band in this same hangar performing with men everywhere, even hanging fro the supporting structure...but the party was a big success and lasted for 2 days and longer for some, I understand because it took MP’s several days to find all the girls and get them off the base."

Crews flying the mission: Miller, Marmorine, Baker, Charles, Streed, Willoughby, Bailey, Geller, Anderson, Furrer, Grigg, Radke, Jenkins, Gay, Ivosevic, Delaney, Kramp, McLaughlin, C Williams, Kennedy, Hempy, Downing, Lundquist, Fory, Seamans