381st Bomb Group (H)
War Diary
Roll BO370: Frames 206-212
May 1945
United States Strategic Air Forces in European Theater - Eighth Air Force First Air Division - First Combat Wing - 381st Bombardment Group (H)
MAY (1945)
Papers of May 1 printed the German announcement of Hitler's death and the assumption of leadership by Admiral Doenitz. There was no activity on the base with the exception of hot rumors and preparations for ---E program. Bets were that we would still be here in September.
A photo mission to Oschersleben, planned for Wednesday May 2, was scrubbed. It took place the following day, however, with Maj. Sardent, pilot and Capt. Fairbanks, navigator, who had both been on the original Oschersleben mission, Jan. 11, 1944, in the aircraft and with Capt. Hawkins and S/Sgt Kleinmeier, of the photo department, with Capt. Schwartz, public relations officer, flying along. Story and pictures were scheduled to appear in the next issue of the First Division magazine.
May 7 a teletype announced the German surrender at 0200 hours in the morning. Without further ado, the Station prepared to celebrate. A ceremony was held at the control tower at 0600 hours, in the misty morn, with Col. Hall giving a brief summary of the Group's activities in the course of which he announced that we had lost 165 aircraft and approximately 1290 men. We had accounted for 223 enemy aircraft destroyed, 40 probably destroyed, and 167 damaged. We had dropped more that 22,000 tons of bombs.
Our biggest day for fighters was Oschersleben, Jan 11, 1944, when we knocked down 28 Jerries. Our biggest single loss was the first Schweinfurt, August 17, 1943, when 11 of our aircraft and ten of our crews failed to return from the mission.
Immediately after the ceremony, the Station was thrown open for celebration. More than _00 pounds worth of beer was provided for the enlisted men, and the officer's and NCO clubs threw their bars wide open. There were fireworks on the line after the ceremony but they were not too easily visible because of the mist. All base vehicles were impounded to lessen the possibility of accidents. All personnel were restricted to base.
Pictures of the celebration were in London late in the afternoon.
The day wound up with 20 officers and enlisted men spending the night in the Station Klink.
We were among the few (with the City of New York) who celebrated on the Seventh. The official VE-Day celebration was scheduled for the Eighth. Other stations called in frequently through the course of the day to ask what the hell all the excitement was about. The surrounding towns were completely dislocated. The school children just failed to go to classes. A teacher called the station to ask if the holiday were official and if she could take off too.
There was an apparent return to normalcy on May 8, although very little work was done. There were ugly rumors. One story said that a plan of drill and inspection, two hours every day, was in process of formation and events substantiated it. The plan was discontinued however, before it went into effect.
Our aircraft began to fly "rubbernecking tours" over France and Germany. The first trip was for holders of the Bronze Star, mainly crew chiefs.
Col. Hall, Major Sandman, Maj. Thayer and Capt. Rudell were drawn for 20th Air Force and it was rumored they would leave the Group Approximately June First for their new assignments. Col. Shackley's name was subsequently added to the list.
Thursday, May 10, we put up 30 odd aircraft for a trip to bring out of Germany repatriated American prisoners of war. Col. Hall took off at 0500 hours to be the first on the ground at Lubeck, where we were to pick up our men, to set up a ground control unit to bring the aircraft in. Maj. Sandman, flying photo and public relations men from Division in addition to Capt Swartz, followed him in.
We picked up a part of a load at Lubeck and dispatched 12 of our aircraft to Rhein to pick up others. All told we brought back more than 800 men, dropping them near Paris, France/ At Rhein Col. Hall, reluctant to leave any POWs behind, crammed the last two Forts full to make certain he would get everybody off.
Wednesday May 16 a teletype announcement told us we were one of the Groups to be sent back to the States and a fever of preparation and packing set in.
The first flight to the Zone of the Interior was scheduled for Saturday, May 19, but it was scrubbed.
The first batch left for home, 20 aircraft, each carrying 20 men, including the crew (one of whom was the crew chief), Monday May 21. The itinerary was Valley, Wales; Iceland, Newfoundland, Bradley Field, Conn.
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Excerpt from Daily Bulletin No. 126, 6 May 45
OFFICER' PROMOTIONS: Following officers' promotions in AUS is announced"
2nd Lt to 1ST LT
RICHARD W. BOWLER, 535th B Sq TURNER G. BRASJEAR, JR 535th B Sq DOUGLAS
A. BRIDGES, 535th B Sq WILLIAM G. BUSH, 535th B Sq
ROY E. COOK, 535th B Sq RAYMOND D. DAHLGREN, 535th B Sq
JOHN W. FIBLIT, 532nd B Sq PAUL V. FRASER, 532nd B Sq
ROBERT B. HARRIS, 532nd B Sq ARTHUR HOLMBERG, 535th B Sq
JOSEPH A. HUMMEL, 535th B Sq HARLAN F. KRIETE, 535TH B Sq
HERBERT H. MCLAUGHLIN, 535th B Sq RUSSELL T. RIPPE, 535TH B Sq
LAWRENCE A. SMITH, 535th B Sq CHARLES B. WILLIAMS, 535th B Sq
CHARLES F. WRIGHT, 535th B Sq ELMER B. WULF, 535th B Sq
Excerpt from Daily Bulletin No. 127, 7 May 45
1. Detail for today:
Station OD: 2d Lt Robert G. Pope, Hq 381st Bomb Gp (H)
Hq Duty O : Capt George W. Porter, 533rd Bomb Sq (H)
Convoy O : Liberty Run Cancelled
Convoy O : Liberty Run Cancelled
Sq Site 2 : 532nd Bomb Sq (H).
2. V-E_DAY_PLANS:
(1) All Department Heads will free as many men as possible in order that they may participate in the activities for the day.
(2) The Officers' Mess Bar. NCO Club Bar, Station Beer Parlor, and Aero- Club will be open from 100 hours to midnight today, no special activities are planned.
(3) No regular meals will be served at noon or in the evening, but snacks will be available from 1100 hours to 2400 hours today.
(4) All personnel will be restricted to the limits of the station, except for those who must leave on official business, until 0700 hours, 8 May 45. From 0700, 8 May 45, until 0700 hours, 9 May 45, all personnel will be limited to a travel radius of 20 miles, except for official business. Authorization for official trips may be secured from Station Headquarters.
(5) The Station Theater will have shows at 1000, 1200, 1400, 1600, 1800, 2000, and 2200 hours today.
All personnel must remember that we are in a foreign country and therefore must conduct ourselves in an exemplary and agreeable manner when dealing with all civilians. We will not be able to do all the things which British Civilians are entitled to do and higher headquarters will not tolerate any violation of regulations at this time. Severe disciplinary action will follow for any offenders from this command
FROM DAILY BULLETIN NO. 128, 8 MAY 1945
2. Discharge: Enlisted personnel 42 years of age or over may now apply for discharge. Inquire at Orderly Rooms for particulars.
* * * * * *
5. Restriction:
(1) Except in case of Official Business, the following rules will apply for today and tomorrow, 8 May and Wednesday, 9 May 45.
(a) At the Unit Commanders desire, short passes not to exceed six hours may be issued to the small communities nearby within a ten mile radius. (This does not include over-nite passes).
(b) No travel warrants will be issued.
(c) There will be no Liberty-Run.
(d) Special cases may be taken up with the Unit Commanders concerned.
(2) It is the desire of the Commanding General of this Division that the contact with civilians for the next two days be held to a minimum and that the conduct of the Officers and Enlisted Men of the Eighth Air Force be absolutely above reproach. It is expected that the members of this command will cooperate to the fullest.
> June 1945 to Deactivation