532nd Bomb Sq.
381st Bomb Group (H)
WAR DIARY
Submitted by Lt. G.T. Kelley
OCTOBER 1944
1. Non operational.
2. The mission for today was to Kassel, where bombing was done by instruments and results were unobserved. Flak was moderate but fairly accurate, while no enemy air opposition was met. Capt Neill, with Lt Klinkseik led the "A" Group of the 1st CBW. Those taking part were: Lts Morgan, Nashold, Davis, Bailey, Copeland, Schomburg, Lazar, and Belskis.
3. Non operational. Today is Stragglers Day for all men that haven't been through the gas chamber to check their gas masks.
4. The mission today was Cologne but it was scrubbed. Therefore Lt Col Fitzgerald gave a talk on military courtesy and discipline to all combat men in the squadron operation office.
Orders were received today that 2nd Miller was promoted to 1st Lt.
5. The mission flown today was Cologne, where bombing was done by PFF and results were unobserved through 10/10th cloud coverage. Flak was moderate and no air opposition met. Ten ships of our squadron took off, the pilots: Sunderland, Nashold, Worrell, Durbin, Copeland, Bendall, Lazar, Quinn, Marshall and Belskis.
A check of combat men's barracks was made to pick up and turn in all cups belonging to the mess hall and for unauthorized flying equipment in their possession.
6. A power plant at Stralsund, Germany was the target for today. Bombing was visual and the lead crews reported results as being good. Flak was moderate and accurate, while no fighters were met. Taking part were: Lts Morgan and Mousseau in the lead ship of the high squadron, with Worrell, Nashold, Sunderland, Copeland, Devenish, Durbin, Lazar and Belskis.
Capt DeSantis and Lt Dineen were on general courts martial duty today.
7. Nine of our aircraft took off today to bomb the depot at Zwickau, Germany, where a good bombing pattern was observed. Four enemy aircraft were encountered but no damage to our ships resulted. Flak was encountered at various places along the route, which was moderate and accurate. The pilots were: Lts Boyce, Marshall, Worrell, Schomburg, Seeley, Bendall, Reed, Belskis and Devenish.
The regular Saturday morning inspection of all areas took place.
8. The mission to Brux, Czechoslovakia was scrubbed. Lt Nashold promoted 1st Lt.
A British Variety Show, including radio's Tommy Trinder, Adelaide Hall and a supporting cast performed, was given at #2 hangar (Yeldham side of field) for all men and wounded from nearby hospitals. It was enjoyed by all.
9. Capt McNeill and Lt Guy led the "C" Group 1st CBW to bomb Schweinfurt today, but due to 10/10th cloud coverage bombing was done by PFF and results were unobserved and no aircraft were encountered. Flak was meagre and inaccurate. Our pilots were: Lts Miller, Nashold, Schomburg, Bendall, Marshall, Reed, Seeley and Copeland.
2nd Lt Judson Doyle returned to the base today after being MIA since a raid over Frankfurt weeks ago.
An inspection of all sites, the squadron mail, orderly and supply rooms by the base administrative inspector, Major Morton Joyce. Sites 1 and 6 were found in good condition, but site 2 needed policing plus more attention by both officers and orderlies in the barracks.
10. The mission scheduled for Bremen today, was scrubbed.
A check was made of gas masks of those men who previously did not go through the gas chamber.
11. Non operational. An indoctrination lecture was given to the officers on Lt Smith's crew.
12. The mission to attack Cologne today was scrubbed before take-off. The supplemental payroll for the month of September was received and paid.
13. Again the mission to Cologne was scrubbed.
14. Ten of this squadron took off to bomb Cologne. Bombing was done by PFF method and results were unobserved. No enemy aircraft were encountered, and flak was moderate and accurate. Taking part were: Lts Sunderland, Worrell, Devenish, Durbin, Belskis, Copeland, Marshall, Schomburg, Bailey and Reseigh.
In this mission Lt Reseigh was seriously wounded, Lt Rautio and T/Sgt Nushy slightly wounded. They returned after having #3 and #4 engines shot out on the bomb run. Lt Rautio and T/Sgt Nushy piloted the ship home from the target while F/O Winicki navigated home on pilot's compass as all navigation equipment was out of commission.
The regular Saturday morning inspection of all sites took place. General condition was satisfactory with a great deal of improvement shown on all sites.
15. The target was again Cologne for today. This time the marshalling yards in the SW edge of the city was the target. Bombing was again by PFF and results unobserved. Enemy aircraft opposition was nil although flak was encountered in the target area. Our pilots were: Lts Guy, Miller, Devenish, Sunderland, Belskis, Copeland, Durbin, Nashold, Marshall and Worrell.
16. Non operational.
17. This unit led the low squadron in the "B" Group of the 1st CBW, yet again with Cologne as the target, which was bombed by PFF method once and unknown results. Three ME 410s were sighted but no attacks were made on our formation. Flak was moderate and inaccurate. Our pilots were: Lts Morgan and Miller in the lead, Copeland, Worrell, Davis, Nashold, Belskis, Schomburg, Marshall and Lazar.
18. Mission planned for Kassel, was scrubbed. Usual camp details.
19. Today the group's target was an oil depot at Ludwigshafen, but due to 9/10th cloud coverage Mannheim was bombed by PFF with results unobserved. Flak was meagre and generally inaccurate, while no aircraft were encountered. Our pilots were led by Capt McNeill and Lt Klinkseik, along with: Lts Devenish, Schomburg, Lazar, Marshall, Quinn, Smith, O'Connor and Schwartner.
20. Non operational. Usual camp duties performed.
21. Non operational. There was the regular Saturday morning inspection of all sites, and a general improvement was noticed of all barracks.
22. Non operational. F/O Paul V. Griffin assigned as Squadron Supply Officer.
23. Non operational. F/O Belskis promoted to 2nd Lt. A consignment of linoleum was received and is being laid in the barracks.
24. The mission planned for today to Ludwigshafen again, was scrubbed. F/O Perry commissioned as 2nd Lt. All men in the squadron went through the gas chamber today for check up.
25. Bombs were dropped on Hamburg today by PFF with results unobserved. Flak was moderate to intense over the target, but no fighter opposition was met. Today's pilots were: Lts Sunderland, Worrell, O'Connor, Durbin, Marshall, Copeland, Lazar, Quinn, Smith and Schwartner.
Lts Morgan's and Devenish's crews went to the rest home today.
26. The target for today was Munster, Germany, but 10/10th cloud prevented observation of bombing results. Flak was meagre and inaccurate and no enemy opposition was met. Today's participants were led by Lts O'Connor and Miller, with: Lts Copeland, Worrell, Davis, Lazar, Bailey, Quinn, Schwartner and Belskis.
27. The mission for Mannheim today was scrubbed. Another new crew was assigned: 2nd Lts Lloyd T. Adamason, Archie E. Baden, Warren Whiting; Cpls Alfred J. Berman, Cedric D. Cowell, John J. Murphy Jr, Morris Brody, Luther M. Dennis, Floyd A. Orr.
Major Morton Joyce made a check of all barracks on Site #1 to locate equipment or food that should be in the mess halls. Some was found and returned to the consolidated mess hall.
28. The transportation center of Munster was the target for today. Bombing was done by PFF, crews reporting bombs hitting the city although haze prevented detailed observations. Moderate but very accurate AA fire was encountered in the target area. No enemy aircraft were met. Taking part were: Lts Bryce and Seeley, Bendall, Bailey, Davis, Belskis, Wood, Lazar, Marshall and Nashold, the latter landing in Brussels.
The regular Saturday morning inspection of all sites took place. The barracks on Site #1 showed a great improvement since the linoleum was laid on the floors.
29. Non operational.
30. The primary target of today's operation was the synthetic oil plant at Gelsenkirchen. Cloud cover prevented bombing visually and therefore bombs were dropped by PFF method. No enemy aircraft were encountered and flak was meagre and inaccurate. The pilots on this mission were led by Capt McNeill and Lt Klinkseik in the lead ship of the "B" Group of the 1st CBW, the others being: Lts Worrell, Seeley, Rautio, Copeland, Bailey, Quinn, Lazar and Belskis.
31. Non operational. Lt Nashold and crew left for rest home.
The strength of the squadron was 109 officers and 427 enlisted men.
The month's awards included an Oak Leaf Cluster to the DFC for Lt Col Fitzgerald for superb leadership on the Emden mission of 27 August. Other DFCs went to: 2nd Lt Arthur W. Bailey, 1st Lt Warren C. Davis, 2nd Lt Robert W. Devenish, 2nd Lt Edward B. Grazul, 1st Lt Russell J. Hadley, 2nd Lt Frank F. Kleinwechter Jr, 2nd Lt David R. Rautio, 2nd Lt James C. Schomburg, 2nd Lt Stanley L. Smolen, 2nd Lt William E. Stewart, 2nd Lt Lloyd E. Sunderland, S/Sgt Fred D. Bare, S/Sgt Otto W. Baumann, Sgt Harry L. Brown, Sgt Thomas H. Cavanaugh, Sgt John A, Culp, S/Sgt Herbert J. Dubberstein, S/Sgt Eugene F. Gay, S/Sgt James E. Lane, Cpl Arthur E. Nolte, Cpl Richard L. Snyder, Sgt Charles Valine.
Purple Hearts went to: 2nd Lt David R. Rautio, 2nd Lt Charles W. Reseigh, S/Sgt John M. Nushy, Sgt Alex Pine; there were 10 Air Medals and 94 Oak Leaf Clusters.
> November 1944