532nd Bomb Sq.
381st Bomb Group (H)
WAR DIARY
Submitted by Lt. G.T. Kelley
APRIL 1944
6. The mission to Oberpffaffenhofen was scrubbed before take-off.
7. The mission to Oldenburg was also scrubbed.
8. The target for today was the airfield at Oldenburg, a base for single engined fighters. Pilots of this unit were: Lts McCrory, Ezzell, Thomas, Cahill, Bradner, Thompson, Klinksiek. All crews returned safely reporting that bombs landed squarely on the target. No enemy aircraft were seen, but moderate to intense flak was encountered over the target.
9. Eight aircraft of this squadron took off this morning on a mission to Gdynia, Poland, but were recalled before reaching the target.
10. Two targets were designated for the group today. Aircraft from this squadron attacked at aircraft factory at Brussels, Belgium. Capt Winter and Lt McNeill led the 381st with: Lts Thomas, Blog, Bowen, Klinksiek, Ezzell, Cahill and Zapinski. No enemy aircraft opposition was met but very accurate, though meagre flak was encountered over the target area.
11. Aircraft from this squadron attacked Sorau, Germany today with excellent results. The marshalling yards received many direct hits and the town its self was reported in flames. Only three ME 109s were encountered. Our pilots were: Lts Blog, Devine, Zapinski, McCrory, Klinkseik, Thomas, Cahill, Ezzell, Martin and Bowen.
12. The following new crew members were assigned: Lts Herbert C. Cann, F/O William Bonar, Edward R. Adams, Harold G. Jennings; Sgts Marshall Blom, Albert McGlinsey, James C. Burrows, Patsy J. Savinetti, Ross L. Glatfelder, Erling A. Anderson.
13. The ball-bearing factory at Schweinfurt, again was the target for this group, our pilots being: Lts Bowen, Klinkseik, Thomas, Thompson, Ezzell, Bradner, Blog and McCrory. The factory had been put back in production after early bomb attacks severely damaged it. Bombing results were reported as good.
14. Two new crews were assigned today: 1st Lt James Tyson, 2nd Lts William Doherty, John Howland; Sgts Henry White, Charles Churchill, Robert Miller, Richard Jensen, Arnold Farmer.
1st Lt Carl Clark, 2nd Lt Bayard Nelson, Leon Obler; Sgts James Calderaro, Joseph Schwartz, Harold Hepfinger, John Nosal, Charles Harrington.
17. The mission scheduled for today was the airfield at Leon/Couvres, France but the objective was scrubbed.
18. The target for today was the Heinkel aircraft component works at Oranienburg. This plant was the most important part of the Heinkel set up as it produced 30-40% of He 177s per month. All crews of this squadron returned safely reporting results as good. The pilots were: Capt Winter and Lt McCrory, with Lts Blog, Ezzell, Thompson, Klinkseik and Zapinski.
19. Capt Winter and Lts Ezzell, Thompson, Klinkseik, Zapinski, Thomas, Martin and Bradner, were the pilots that attacked Eschwege airfield, with excellent results.
20. Nine aircraft of this squadron were dispatched to attack the LePlouy Ferme airfield, France. Bombs were not dropped due to a 10/10th cloud cover, which prevented the target being seen.
21. The mission planned for Merseburg, Germany, was scrubbed.
A new crew assigned was: lts Jack Sutherlin, Raymond Sullivan, David Schwartz, Guy Ferranti; Sgts John DuPre, John Eckhoff, George Samuelian, Anthony Valdez, Joseph Warner, Ivory Wilson.
22. Hamm, Germany, was the object of today's attack with excellent bombing results being reported. Our pilots were: Lts Bradner, Bowen, Zapinski, Thompson, Ezzell, Martin and Devine. Flak was meagre and no enemy aircraft encountered.
23. Another new crew was assigned: Hanley Cupernall, Frank Scurlock, James Sneed, Charles Young; Sgts Frank Heinze, Bertram Yankton, Anthony Diamante, Loren Murphy, Harold Morris, Kirby Putnam.
24. Excellent bombing results were reported after the attack on Erding, Germany's air equipment depot. Our pilots were: Lts Bowen, Klinksiek, Bradner, Thomas, Zapinski, Martin, Cahill and Blog. No flak or enemy aircraft encountered.
25. The target designated for today's assault was the Metz/Frescaty airfield in France. Those taking part were: Lts Bowen, Klinkseik, Bradner, Thompson, Cahill, Blog and Zapinski, who all returned safely.
T/Sgt Paul K. Ellis finished up today.
26. The center of the industrial area of Brunswick was attacked today when Major Fitzgerald and Lt Bowen led the 381st . Other pilots were: Lts Devine, Bradner, Thomas, Blog, Martin, Cahill, Klinkseik and Zapinski, who all reported results as unobserved as there was 10/10th overcast and bombs were dropped by PFF.
27. Lts Thompson, Cahill, Ezzell, Thomas and Cann took off on a mission to La Glacerie, France, but the target was not attacked.
S/Sgt Frederick (Doc) Formby Jr, formerly with the 19th Bomb Group, with whom he completed 62 missions and also as an observer on naval aircraft in the South Pacific, today completed his eighth mission with the squadron. He has flown all positions on aircraft, even as that of observer.
28. The St Avord airfield in France was attacked today with excellent bombing results reported. Participating were: Lts McCrory, Cahill, Ezzell, Thomas, Devine, Cann and Blog. Meagre but determined enemy opposition was encountered by the squadron, while there was accurate flak over the target.
Lt Roderick Cahill and his crew completed five missions in five days, an unusual feat for a heavy bombardment crew.
29. The center of Berlin was showered with thousand pound bombs today with good results. Some 8-10 ME 109s were encountered en route and flak in the target area was reported as intense and accurate. Taking part were: Lts Thompson, Martin, McCrory, Zapinski, Blog, Thomas, Devine and Cann.
T/Sgt Bertie Barnett, 532nd BS crew chief of #575 Mizpah, up to this date has completed 30 out of the last 32 missions without an abort.
30. The airfield at Lyons was the target for today, when our pilots were: Lts McCrory, Klinkseik, Ezzell and Cahill. The MPI was smothered in one thousand pounders. There was no flak and no enemy aircraft encountered.
Heading the list of promotions this month is squadron commander, Major John J. Fitzgerald, to Lt. Colonel; 1st Lt Silva to Captain; 2nd Lts H. Tidwell, R. Cahill, W. Chappell, F. Pilger, H. Grover, Bailey, E. Bryce, R. Conway, A. Kozuch, J. O'Neal, W. Beardon, C. Ezzell, J. Turner, H. Matty, R. Thompson, G. Klinkseik, W. Thomas and Derrington.
Strength for the squadron at the end of the month was 86 officers and 406 enlisted men.
During the month many awards were presented to the combat crew men of this squadron as follows: three Distinguished Flying Crosses to 2nd Lt Edward A. Bryce Jr, T/Sgt Richard Charnack, T/Sgt Albert F. Suchy; Four Purple Hearts to: 2nd Lt Othmer G. Widosh, S/Sgt Oliver K. Stuart, S/Sgt Herbert D. Walker, S/Sgt George J. Pastro. There were 69 Air Medals and 72 Oak Leaf Clusters.
> May 1944