532nd Bomb Sq.
381st Bomb Group (H)
WAR DIARY
Submitted by Lt. G.T. Kelley
DECEMBER 1944
1. Non Operational.
2. Non Operational. Capt McNeill went to France for Bomb Evaluation Board. 2nd Lts White, Mauldin and Winter promoted to 1st Lt.
3. The mission scheduled for today was scrubbed.
4. Lt Col Fitzgerald and Capt Klinkseik led the "B" Group of 1st CBW to attack the marshalling yards at Soest, Germany. Bombing was by GH equipment with results unobserved through 10/10th cloud over the target. No enemy aircraft were encountered, while there was just one report of meagre, inaccurate flak south of Koblenz, but otherwise nothing else. Other pilots were: Lts O'Connor, Mousseau, Worrell, Boyle, Schwartner, Nashold, Adamson and Smith.
5. Non Operational.
6. Non Operational.
7. Today the target was to be the railroad junction at Munster, but the mission was scrubbed.
8. Non Operational. 2nd Lt Worrell was promoted 1st Lt.
9. The target for today was the marshalling yard at Stuttgart, however due to 8/10th cloud over the target, bombing was done by PFF with visual assist. Results unobserved. The only flak encountered was moderate, inaccurate, tracking and black in the target area. Taking part were: Lts Belskis, O'Connor, Instone, Lazar, Smith, Boyle, Nashold, Mousseau, Tauro and Reseigh.
T/Sgts Larson and Kaluza of Lt Lazar's crew were seriously wounded.
10. The mission to bomb the Ordnance Depot at Mainz today, was scrubbed.
Promotions from 2nd Lt to 1st Lt went to: Armstrong, Belskis, Collett, Crooks, O'Connor, Sant, Schmitz and Wirt.
11. Nine ships from this squadron bombed the bridge over the Rhine at Mannheim, by GH equipment, with results unobserved due to 10/10th cumulus cloud over the target. Flak was moderate to intense and accurate tracking fire with some predicted concentration in the target area. Participating pilots were Lts Mousseau and Seeley in the led ship of the high squadron "C" Group, with: Lts Tauro, Taylor, Godwin, Copeland, Smith, Hughes and Belskis, the latter missing in action.
MIA crew: 1st Lt Leo Belskis, 2nd Lt Glenn C. Vaughn, 1st Lt James V. Collett, 2nd Lt Ross W. Perrin; T/Sgt Elvis A. McCoy, T/Sgt Walter R. Newman, S/Sgt Lynn J. Laurett Jr, S/Sgt Durward V. Suggs, S/Sgt Robert P. Rogers.
T/Sgt Larson died at 22.00 hrs in the 121st Station Hospital at Braintree, from the results of wounds received on the Stuttgart mission two days ago.
12. Today bombing was done through 10/10th cloud at Merseburg, where one of the largest sources of synthetic oil is located. Resulted were unobserved. Flak was moderate, inaccurate barrage and continuing fire from the target area which was generally low. Leading the formation was Capt Bryce and Lt Marshall, with: Lts Adamson, Godwin, Copeland, Smith, Lazar, Tauro and Hughes.
13. Non Operational. Four new crews were assigned today:
2nd Lts John B. Anderson, Paul G. Gayori, Leonard A. Wall, F/O Carl M. Forbes Jr; Cpls Carl E. Kemppainen, George R. Nessly, Homer L. Williams, Robert H. McGreevey, Curtis D. Wallace.
2nd Lt James M. Armstrong Jr, 1st Lt Roland E. Craig, 2nd Lt Ivans C. Bals; S/Sgt Louis Kiss; Cpls Eugene M. Cobb, Carl C. Janssen, L. M. Cass, Thomas A. Geiger, Robert L. Stover Jr.
2nd Lt John W. Firlit, 2nd Lt Edgar B. Sandford, F/O William R. Haeflinger, F/O Joseph J. Marcinkiewicz; Cpls Harold D. Taylor, Frank J. McGuire, Byron S. Taylor Jr, Charles G. Marshall, James R. Talbot.
2nd Lt Don G. Smith, F/O Charles F. Taylor, 2nd Lt Gerald R. Bigelow, 2nd Lt Robert L. Hickman, Cpls Albert H. Clark, Henry D. Gardner, Edward J. Solecki, Stephen L. Durkin, Clifford C. Grochowiak.
14. Non Operational.
15. The target for today was the railroad yards at Kassel, when bombing was done by PFF method due to 9/10th cloud cover and contrails. No enemy aircraft or flak was encountered. Those taking part were: Lt Col Fitzgerald and Capt Klinkseik leading the "B" Group of the 1st CBW, with: Lts Adamson, Godwin, Copeland, Tauro, Schwartner, Boyle, Taylor and Hughes.
T/Sgt Rafael C. Larsen was buried at the Americam Cemetery at Cambridge at 15.00 hrs. His entire crew and 15 additional men were present for the burial service. Flowers were placed on the grave. Today was also a mass burial and 21 men were buried today when Catholic, Protestant and Jewish chaplains officiated at the services and then came a volley of three shots followed by Taps being sounded.
16. Non Operational.
17. Non Operational.
18. Today bombs were dropped on the city of Cologne by PFF method with results unobserved. The flak encountered by was meagre and inaccurate in the target area. Those pilots taking part were: Lts Copeland, Hughes, Adamson, Lazar, Taylor, Godwin, Boyle, Instone, Schwartner and Rousch.
19. The mission scheduled for today was scrubbed. 2nd Lt Glenn C. Vaughn was promoted 1st Lt.
20. The mission scheduled for Cologne today was scrubbed.
Cpl Robert J. Dunham was sent out to purchase Christmas Trees for the squadron and Col Leber. He had them sprayed silver and red. In addition he had letters cut out from plywood with the words "Merry Christmas 532nd Bomb Squadron". Thet were hung by wire across the road, after they had been painted red, white and green. Christmas wreaths have been hung on the doors of Lt Col Fitzgerald's quarters, the orderly room and mail room.
21. Non Operational. Lts Anderson, Armstrong, Smith and Firlit's crews were given an indoctrination lecture.
22. Non Operational.
23. Non Operational.
24. The landing grounds in Germany directly behind the battle line were bombed. They were at Ettinghausen and Kirsch Gons. Bombing was visual and bomb strikes show MPI's covered with hits. Flak was generally meagre, accurate, except at St Vith and Stavelot where fairly accurate fire was encountered en route in and out. Our pilots for the raid were: Lts Adamson, O'Connor, Copeland, Rousch, Lazar, Worrell, Taylor, Instone, Armstrong, Smith and Tauro.
Two new crews were assigned: 2nd Lts William B. Poland Jr, Donald D. Sockrider, Otes Bennett Jr, Charles H. Beene; Cpls Francis M. Burgess, Jack N. Hext, William J. Powers, Jay C. Galvin, Thomas M. Kowalsky, Frederick S. Schnitman.
2nd Lt Herman F. Raker, F/O Alphonse J. Tamulevicz, 2nd Lt Robert Harris, F/O Cornelius M. Leahy; Cpls Thomas R. Beary, Burton J. Hill, Jake T. Lamm, Howard L. Hagemann, Willie L. Kilgore, David T. Thompson Jr.
25. The mission scheduled for today was scrubbed.
Free beer was served at the base pub, Station Theater and the WAAF Site from 2.30-4.30pm. T/Sgts and M/Sgts were invited to the officers club.
26. Non Operational.
27. Non Operational.
28. The target for today was the railroad bridge at Remagen, 12 miles SW of Bonn on the River Rhine. Bombing was visual but results were unobserved, while flak was very meagre and inaccurate in the target area. No enemy aircraft were observed. Leading the low squadron of "B" of the 1st CBW were Capt Bryce and Lt Marshall, supported by: Lts Taylor, Reseigh, Worrell, Instone, Hughes, Lazar and Smith. Lt Rousch aborted because of engine trouble.
1st Lt Dewhurst was promoted to captain.
Another new crew was assigned: 2nd Lt John T. Fincher, 2nd Lt Wilhelm O. Locke, 2nd Lt Paul V. Fraser, 2nd Lt William W. Hopson; S/Sgt Albert J. Hodel Jr; Cpl Paul C. Blanchard, Pvt Charles R. Garis, Sgt Richard Amsel, Cpl Salvatore R. Terrazas.
29. The mission planned today for Ruhrland was scrubbed.
30. The target bombed today was the ordnance depot at Mainz, Germany. Bombing was through 10/10th cloud by PFF method with results unobserved. A meagre amount of flak was encountered in rear of formation just after bombs away. Participating were: Lts Seeley, Adamson, Smith, Worrell, Strohmayer, Hughes, Lazar, Godwin and Rousch.
31. The target for today was the communications centre at Prum, Germany. Bombing was by GH method with results unobserved. No AA fire was on formation although meagre fire was seen in the distance near the target area. No enemy aircraft were around. In the lead ship were Lts Miller and O'Connor, the other pilots being: Lts Adamson, Godwin, Armstrong, Tauro, Smith, Schwartner, Hughes and Instone.
The squadron strength was 117 officers and 446 enlisted men.
Awards made at the end of the month: 25 Air Medals, 54 Oak Leaf Clusters, while the Purple Heart went to S/Sgt Jacob P. Kaluza.
> January 1945