533rd Bomb Sq.
381st Bomb Group (H)
WAR DIARY
Submitted by Pvt John Haggerty
MARCH 1945
1. With Capt Ewing S. Watson, 533rd CO, leading, the 37 ships of the 381st attacked marshalling yards at Stuttgart, without loss of aircraft, including nine from the 533rd. Weather was 6/10th most of the way, with 10/10th cover at the target. The formation strated a "Mickey" run, but shortly before the target was reached, the bombardier in the lead ship made a visual correction. Lead, high and low squadrons then dropped their explosives by "mickey". Flak was meagre and no enemy fighters were encountered.
A top turrt gunner in the 532nd bailed out over friendly territory on the way back to base when an engine fire alarmed him. Turning off the target, the bombers ran into a clear spot and crewmen were able to see back under ther cloud shelf over the target. Tail gunners said they saw bombs bursting across the marshalling yards, although the main pattern was slightly off.
Today's pilots were: Lts Privett, Fawcett, Pettitt, Oldsman, Saccomano, Cline, Goodwin, Eagle and Blankenship.
S/Sgts John A. Hoene and George E. Whitesell were released today and transferred to the 70th RD casual pool.
2. Led by Capt Tyson, group training officer, a force of 381st bombers, nine from the 533rd, took off this morning to attack Chemnitz. From the English Channel the cloud cover was from 2/10th to 4/10th. At the target itself there was a complete cloud cover, with scattered breaks. Bombing was carried out by instruments with results unobserved. Flak was negligible and no enemy aircraft seen.
Pilots today were: Lts Schmalz, Cline, Jones, Saccomano, Reynolds, Eagle, Oldsman, Goodwin and C. H. Carpenter (see below).
A lone Flying Fortress, the 533rd squadron's symbolically named "RAFAAF", bombed Cologne with a formation of RAF Lancasters. The ship, piloted by 2nd Lt Charles H. Carpenter, of Mobile, Ala., was an accidental member of the RAF formation. Carpenter had originally taken off for today's Eighth Air Force mission in another bomber, but returned to his base to get a new Fortress when his plane developed mechanical difficulties.
En route for the second time, and five minutes behind his formation, he searched the skies for the bomber stream. Far ahead he saw what he described as "a great blob of ships", so he "poured the coal on", and caught up with them. They turned out to be Lancasters, but it was then too late to seek out the 381st formation and Carpenter elected to "give the English a hand".
There was "all kinds of flak" at Cologne, in the words of 2nd Lt Sidney J. Silcock, the navigator. He described red, white and black bursts, as well as "a new kind of phosphorus flak that made an explosion as big as a house." The Fortress took its turn on the target with the rest of the bombers and the crew said the bombardier "laid them right in there".
"After all", said carpenter, "daylight bombing's our speciality so we couldn't let those Lancaster boys beat us at it!"
Coming back from the mission, the Lancasters spotted their added starter and proceeded to make the Fortress welcome in their own way. They sent challenges through the air, fired flares at "RAFAAF", and two of the Lancasters even flew formation across the Channel with the American bomber.
S/Sgts Martin G. Klein and Sidney Feldman were released and asigned to the 70th RD casual pool; two EM left on furlough.
3. Although 1,200 U.S. heavy bombers attacked Germany today, the 381st was on a stand down. The day was clear, cold and windy. A practice mission was held in the afternoon.
One combat officer and six EM left for rest homes and one EM went on furlough; the following were released and transferred to the 70th RD casual pool: 1st Lt Robert Anderson, T/Sgts Walter Doremus, Robert Pospisill and S/Sgt James P. Morgan.
Two new crews were assigned; 2nd Lts Richard Van Sant, Walter F. Scott, F/O William L. Moore, 2nd Lt Isadore Grzeskiewicz; Cpls Jerry E. Eshoo, Calvin D. Harper, Norman R. Pentecost, Leon K. Wolfe Jr. and Pvt Rudy J. Grafton.
2nd Lts Vernon W. Ashby, Harold E. Smith, F/O Joseph Cervone, 2nd Lt Malcolm C. Hanrahan; Cpls Donald R. Block, Raymond A. Kuehn, Harker P. Miley, Frank S. Newman and Kenneth C. York.
Pvts Ernest R. Dickerson, Frank J. Schmitt also joined the squadron.
4. A red alert was sounded on the base at 01.00 hrs when a piloted enemy aircraft was reported in the vicinity. The plane strafed the 486th BG Fortress base at Sudbury, Suffolk, using 20mm shells, but no attack was made on this base.
A tank factory at Ulm, Germany, was the target for today for 37 ships of the 381st, nine from the 533rd. Major Ike Taylor, of the 535th, was air commander for the operation. Weather was poor and there was a 10/10th cloud cover all the way to the target, where the formation was forced to resort to an instrument technique for bombing. Biggest difficulty was contrails, which were the worst encountered in months. No flak and no fighters were seen.
Pilots for today were: Lts Sutherland, Fawcett, Coates, Eagle, Nichols, Jones, Oldsman, Hacker and Cline.
Another red alert was sounded on the base shortly after 20.00 hrs. Enemy intruders were heard, and later, muffled explosions in the distance. The all-clear sounded at 21.00 hrs.
Capt Jim P. Leach was released from Group HQ and transferred to the 533rd; Sgt Andrew L. Ingles and Cpl Hugh J. Bracken Jr., left for TD with the Army Information Education Staff in London.
5. Led by Lt Col George G. Shackley, group Air Exec., 37 bombers of the 381st attacked Chemnitz today, dropping bombs by instrument sighting. Briefed target for the mission was Ruhland, which was to be attacked visually. Finding Ruhland completely covered by cloud, Col Shackley took the formation to Chemnitz, but results were unobserved. There was no flak over Chemnitz, but a heavy barrage was met while the bombers were passing Brux, Czechoslovakia. Two crews landed in France.
Pilots today: Lts Sutherland, Nichols, Reynolds, Saccomano, Eagle, Cline, Jones, Blankenship and Hacker.
Capt John W. Berkley and 1st Lt Burton H. Kinney returned from TD with the 5th Strategic Air Depot; four combat officers and seven combat EM left for the rest home; Sgt William T. Short returned to duty from a technical training school.
Promotions announced: Sgt Floyd E. Horton to S/Sgt; Cpl Pete P. Diaz to Sgt and Pfcs Edward G. Bailey and Frank L. Ciardullo to Cpl.
6. A stand down for today was received late last night.
The following combat officers were assigned to the 70th RD casual pool: 1st Lts Robert O. Stephens, Joseph H. Nolan, Henry H. Riza and Edgar C. Scoones.
S/Sgt Robert H. Harper was re-classified from 611 to 612 and S/Sgt Gerald R. Schmidt from 612 to 748.
7. Another stand down was received for today. Weather this morning was cloudy with good ground visibility but a low ceiling.
st Lt Robert J. Roush left for TD with the 482nd BG at Alconbury; 2nd Lts Charles H. carpenter and Sidney J. Silcock left for London to participate in a radio broadcast relating the story of their bombing Cologne with a RAF Lancaster formation; one EM went on furlough.
8. Under the command of Capt Edwin Bryce, of the 533rd, 37 bombers of the 381st took off this morning to attack the synthetic oil plant at Huls, Germany. There was one abort, a 534th ship, the 533rd supplied nine ships and crews.
Capt Bryce said the mission was "very successful" in spite of bad weather, which hampered the bombers all the way. Bombing was carried out by instrument technique through 10/10th clouds and results were unobserved. Flak was meagre to inaccurate at the target and no enemy fighters seen.
Participating were: Lts Sutherland, Crouse, Nichols, Jones, Cline, Oldsman, Goodwin, Blankenship and Eagle.
T/Sgt Joseph W. Sullivan was assigned today; Sgt Douglas G. Oviatt left for DS at the Burtonwood Repair Depot; Cpt Louis G. Ralston, squadron medical officer, returned from rest home.
9. Capt Scarborough of the 535th led a force of 381st bombers including ten of the 533rd, to an attack on the marshalling yards at Kassel today. Flak was meagre at the target and no enemy fighters met. Bombing was carried out through 10/10th cloud cover, and results, though unobserved are believed to be good. All ships returned safely with no casualties.
Taking part were: Lts Reynolds, Coates, Pettitt, Eagle, Goodwin, Roettger, Blankenship, Nichols, Urban and Cline
2nd Lts Charles H. Carpenter and Sidney J. Silcock returned to duty from DS in London; one EM left on furlough and two returned.
Tours completed, the following men were transferred to the 70th RD casual pool: T/Sgts Marcus J. Tremble, Claudio M. Wyatt, Francis Hrehocik, Jack L. Bressie, Clifford T. Owens, S/Sgt Clifford T. Owens, Chester J. Wolski and 1st Lt Samuel Goldin.
Promotions announced today were: S/Sgts to T/Sgts: Francis G. Ellers and Joseph J. Mancuso; Cpls to Sgts: Paul L. Berger, Charles A. Brown, Raymond R. English, Edward J. Etter, John W. Hensley, Stanley E. Beschta, Archie E. Christie, Francis M. Esser, Robert D. Hayes, John V. McCarthy, Eugene G. Sprowls, Leslie McNamire, William F. Olson and John H. Sweesy.
10. Nine bombers and crews of this squadron took part in today's GH bombing of railway yards at Sinsen, Germany. Due to thick cloud, results were uobserved. All aircraft returned safely with no casualties.
Our pilots were: Lts Fawcett, C. H. Carpenter, Coates, Peyton, Roettger, Urban, Blankenship, Goodwin and Hacker.
11. Flak was intense over Bremen today, but inaccurate for the 381st, as the group, including 10 ships and crews of the 533rd, attacked marshalling yards, the secondary target.Cloud cover was 10/10th all the way in and out and bombing results were unobserved. Flak was heavy but not damaging to our group. We met no hostiles.
Today's pilots were: Lts Coates, Nichols, Saccomano, Urban, Blankenship, Peyton, Goodwin, Pettitt, Roettger and Hacker.
2nd Lt William B. Paulus and Pfc Edward O. McPherson were assigned to the squadron today; Pfcs Vincent P. Garrity and Luther B. McRainey left for TD at Greenham Common, Berks., F/O Charles Tryka left for TD with 8th Air Force HQ; Sgt Andrew L. Ingles and Cpl Hugh J. Bracken left for TD in London.
Promotions included: Pfcs Edmund S. Pestana and Arthur E. Noll to Cpl; Sgt Marlan C. Van Over, S/Sgt Adolph Butler were re-classified fron 611 to 748; T/Sgt Paul S. Williams and Pfc Pad Hamon, Jr. were transferred to the 70th RD casual pool.
12. Capt Tyson of the 535th, led the group to an uneventful attack on marshalling yards at Dillenburg, where the squadrons bombed individually, using Gee-H method, through a 10/10th undercast. There was no flak and no enemy fighters seen. Nine bombers for the 533rd took part, and with the rest of the group, all returned home safely.
Pvt Henry A. Harris was given a special court martial at this station today, resulting in a sentence of four months hard labor and a forfeiture of $18.75 for a like period. Six EM left on furlough.
Today's pilots were: Lts Goodwin, Nicholls, Roettger, Crouse, Blankenship, Pettitt, Oldsman, Urban and Saccomano.
13. The group received a stand down order today. F/O Charles Tryka returned from TD at 8th Air Force HQ; Pvts Luther McRainey and Vincent P. Garrity returned from TD at Greenham Common, Berks.; S/Sgt Harry E. Deston and William Gildemeister returned from TD at the technical training school at RAF Kirkham, Lancs., Capt Louis G. Ralston left on furlough.
14. A single-track railway and a bridge at Vlotho was the target for a force of 36 bombers of the 381st today, nine from the 533rd took part in the attack.Cloud cover was solid 10/10th all the way and bombing results were unobserved.
Participating today were: Lts Sutherland, Crouse, Illig, Cline, Nichols, Jones, Eagle, Oldsman and Saccomano.
The following promotions were announced: S/Sgts to T/Sgts - Donald B. Butler and Gerald R. Schmit; from Cpl to Sgt: Donald R. Block, Jerry E. Eshoo, Calvin D. Harper, Raymond A. Kuehn, Harker F. Miley, Frank S. Newman, Norman E. Pentecost, Leon K. Wolfe, Jr., Kenneth C. York and Rudy J. Grafton.
The following were re-classified from 860 to 853: T/Sgt Charles P. Waterhouse; S/Sgts Ed. F. Hardisty, Charles H. Nicholas and Sgt Jack D. Larper. Sgt Robert J. Gonnering from 611 to 748.
2nd Lt Charles Carpenter left for TD in London to participate in a radio broadcast; three combat officers and seven EM left for a rest home; Pfc Milford H. Jones returned from DS in Manchester; 1st Lt Adrian G. Lemon left for DS at Station #102 Alconbury.
15. As "Tail-end Charlie" of the entire Eighth Air Force on the mission, 37 bombers of the 381st unloaded their bombs on Oranienburg. Flying weather was clear, ground haze prominent and smoke of previous bombings extremely dense at the target. Flak at the target was very accurate, wounding two 533rd men and killing another. All bombers returned safely. Nine 533rd ships took part in this attack.
Today's pilots were: Lts Fawcett, Oldsman, Nowicki, Eagle, Blankenship, Cline, Saccomano, Peyton and Carpenter (see below).
At 210 mph, late today, a 533rd ship #561 slammed down on to an RAF emergency landing field. The undercarriage collapsed and the entire tail section snapped off and two engine fires broke out as both great chunks of wreckage screamed along the broad cement runway.
British ambulances and crash crews got the situation in habd as the survivors of a 4 ½ hr solo flight over Germany and France, climbed from the smashed bomber. On top of the cockpit the bomber's pilot, 2nd Lt Charles H. Carpenter, cooly wound up the most gruelling and dramatic experience of his 34-mission combat career with a roll-call of his crewmen as they left the wreck.
Twenty-two year old Carpenter and his co-pilot, F/O Albert F. Gembler, had nursed a veritable "flying-wing" all the way home after a German flak shell exploding in the bomber's waist half an hour after bombs away at Oranienburg had destroyed all control cables to the rudder and stabilizers.
The waist-gunner, S/Sgt Walter J. Ahl, was killed instantly by shrapnel and concussion that knocked out the radio equipment, ripped away 15 feet of the right side of the fuselage and tore half a dozen holes, two and three feet in diameter, in the opposite side. Broken ends of oxygen lines and electrical wiring were everywhere and the tail wheel was jammed up in its well with the hydraulic strut punctured.
The slip stream roaring through the unprotected fuselage sucked out the tail gunner's parachute and the plane's own spare bail-out gear. Sgt Robert F. Kinzel, climbed out of his ball turret to discover that shrapnel and ripped his and the dead waist gunner's chutes in a hundred places.
Both the tail gunner, Sgt Robert L. Hinders and the radio man, S/Sgt Lloyd L. Shelton, were stunned by the force of the explosion and both were treated for temporary shock by Gembler and bombardier, 2nd Lt Charles A. Mann. Lt Carpenter began easing his airborne wreck, with only wing ailerons and throttles for control, over the course that brought them to Englamd in evening darkness, alone and hours behind its formation.
Engineer T/Sgt John R. Thrash, shot rocket flares to attract attention on the ground when 2nd Lt Louis R. Severance, figured they were over the blacked-out emergency base. They had actually passed the field when the responding ground lights went on, but Carpenter, using the engines to negotiate a wide, flat turn, came around for what he knew was his lone chance on an approach.
Thrash suffered a head cut in the high-speed landing, when Carpenter at the last minute used full throttle to override the plane's sudden tendency to stall and pancake in. British doctors treated Thrash on the spot and sent Hinders off for a night in a nearby American Field Hospital. Before letting the rest of the crew go, their hosts insisted upon serving them a dinner including fresh eggs and plenty of whisky-laden tea.All eight survivors are to return to duty soon.
T/Sgt Kamosuke Itokazu was today transferred to the 70th RD casual pool; four combat officers and five EM left for rest homes; M/Sgt Maury Wright, S/Sgt James Pearson, Sgts Robert Welsh and Robert D. Hubbard. was assigned to the squadron today.
16. A mission scheduled for Bohlen, Germany was scrubbed this morning.
17. In weather worse than briefed, with solid 10/10th cloud undercast all the way, and hampered by persistant contrails, 37 bombers of the 381st, ten from the 533rd, attacked the Karl Zeiss instrument plant at Jena, Germany, and the synthetic oil plane at Bohlen. Seven 533rd ships hit Jena, and three others dropped their explosives on Bohlen. In both cases bombing was by instruments and results unobserved. Flak was moderate and inaccurate at the target and no enemy fighters were encountered.
Our pilots for today were: Lts Jones, Cline, Saccomano, Oldsman, Hacker, Blankenship, Peyton, Jankowiak, Roettger and Goodwin.
F/O John J. McKenna was re-classified from 1034 to 1038.
18. Major Joseph Krieger, 535th operations officer, led the group to Berlin today, for an attack on the Schlosshaus railroad station through 4/10th undercast. Results of the bombing were undetermined.
Flying weather was good until the formation came within 50 miles of Berlin, when a 4/10th undercast began building up. Flak at the target varied from moderate to intense, and everyone agreed that all of it was accurate. Enemy fighters were reported in the area, but none seen by our crewmen. Our P-51 escort was excellent. Nine 533rd ships took part safely.
Today our pilots were: Lts Schmalz, Illig, Jones, Larson, Roettger, Peyton, Cline, Janowiak and Eagle.
1st Lt William Gilvary was transferred from this squadron to the 535th; Sgt Edward W. Smith was released and transferred to the 4207th Hospital Plant; two men left on furlough.
19. Briefed to attack flak battery installations at Plauen, bombers of the 381st, including nine of the 533rd, dropped explosives by PFF technique on the city of Plauen itself. Flak was meagre and inaccurate. All our planes returned safely with no casualties.
Pilots participating today were: Privett, Nichols, Saccomano, Peyton, Roettger, Coates, Jankowiak, Larson and Jones.
Capt Ralston and five EM returned from furlough.
20. The group received a stand down today. Promotions included: S/Sgts to T/Sgts: Edward A. Gonet, Edward J. Toth and George Lingor; from Sgt to S/Sgt: Weldon H. Brudlos, James F. Gibson, Robert Gonnering, James J. Neale, Raymond B. Wilbur, Bertram Davis, Joseph B. Ginsberg, Harold E. Hoover and Carl A. Robinson; Cpl Harlow Hill was re-classified from 405 to 611.
The following were released and sent the 70th RD casual pool: Capt John W. Berkley, 1st Lts Burton H. Kinney, D. P. Morgan, Gaetano S. DeVito and Rodney Leyton; S/Sgt Robert R. Warner, T/Sgts Howard Norman, Adolph B. Butler, Irving Schlom, Donald J. Ellingham and Robert S. Redmond.
21. The 381st attacked the Salzbergen airfield at Rheine today with a force of 37 aircraft, eight from the 533rd. Weather was clear at the target with considerable ground haze. Flak was meagre and did not begin until after lead and low squadrons had unloaded. Strike photos show hits on the aiming point with an excellent bomb pattern in the target area, while no enemy aircraft appeared. There were no losses.
The pilots who participated today were: Lts Fawcett, Nicholls, Saccamano, Pettitt, Roettger, Blankenship, Nowicki, Jankowiak and Larson.
F/O Charles Tryka left for TD at Eighth Air Force HQ on London for an indefinite period; 2nd Lt Joseph Nutt left for TD at the technical training school at RAF Kirkham, Lancs.; 2nd Lt Woodrow W. Holden was assigned to the squadron.
22. Military installations at Feldhausen, in the Ruhr, provided the target for an attack today by 37 bombers of the 381st, nine from the 533rd. Clear weather made an excellent visual bomb run possible, despite ground haze and smoke from previous bombings. Flak was moderate but accurate and a 533rd bomber, 44-8175 was shot down, with Capt Gotthardt, flying as group leader.
Today's pilots: Lts Fawcett (Missing in Action), Nichols, Saccamano, Pettitt, Roettger, Blankenship, Nowicki, Jankowiak and Larson.
MIA crew: 2nd Lt Robert Fawcett, Capt Robert J. Gotthardt, Capt George J. Stone, 1st Lt Peter Kowalski; S/Sgt Joseph H. Biglin, T/Sgt Lawrence A. Russelino, 2nd Lt Elbert Hiller (mickey op), Sgt Stanley H. Biskop, 2nd Lt Charles Banotai (GH-534th) and 2nd Lt Walter F. Scott (TG).
Four EM left on furlough, and the following were re-classified from 611 to 612: Sgts George A. Carmichael, Harold A. Carpenter and David T. Baird.
23. Thirty seven bombers of the 381st bombed the marshalling yards at Coesfeld, Germany, ten 533rd ships taking part. Without enemy opposition and sided by perfect weather and visibility, bombardiers laid their explosives dead on the target, and all came home safely.
Today's pilots were: Lts Nichols, Jankowiak, Oldsman, Eagle, Illig, Nowicki, Roettger, Larson, Blankenship and Peyton.
1st Lts Stuart G. Newman, Fred L. Crouse, Dale P. Morgan, Gaetano S. DeVito and S/Sgt Robert H. Harper were transferred to the 70th RD casual pool.
24. Today will be a memorable date in the history of this war. More than 1,300 gliders this morning carried 40,000 paratroops and airborne infantry across the Rhine in the area around Rees and Wesel in beginning the last great push to capture Berlin. A steady stream of gliders, towed by Dakots and Stirlings, soared over the base early this morning. Two missions, in indirect support of the gigantic air invasion, were carried out by the 381st today.
On the first, Capt Tyson, of the 535th, led the group to a perfect-weather bombing attack on the landing strip of Furstenau, Germany. Nine ships were provided by the 533rd. Strike photos show a excellent concentration of bombs on the target. Flak was meagre and inaccurate, but cost the 533rd another ship and crew; Ship 44-6478, piloted by Lt Jankowiak, was shot down.
Participants today were: (first mission) Lts Schmalz, Nowicki, Jones, Van Sant, Eagle, Blankenship, Roettger, Larson and Jankowiak (missing in action); (Second mission) C.H. Carpenter, Peyton and Ashby.
MIA crew: 2nd Lts Robert E. Jankowiak, Philip R. Roche, William D. Garrett, Herbert H. Levenson; S/Sgts James E. McGrath, Oscar J. Moberg, Sgts John W. Hensley, Paul L. Berger and Stanley E. Beschta.
On the second mission an attack on the main crossroads of the landing ground at Twente, Holland, three 533rd ships took part. Capt Palenick, lead bombardier, said there was ground haze at Twente, but that did not prevent him from dropping his bombs square on the target. Altogether, 12 group ships took part in the second mission. There was no enemy opposition on this attack and our P-51 escort was excellent.
Sgt Ernest J. Weirich left for TD at Station #582 Warton, Lancs.; three combat EM returned from the rest home and one from furlough; 1st Lt John Griffth was sent to the 70th RD casual pool; Harlow D. Hill was promoted from Cpl to Sgt; four combat officers and six EM left for rest homes.
25. Planes took off this morning shortly after 06.00 hrs for a mission to Zeitz, Germany, but were recalled within a hour.
Three ground EM returned from furlough; T/Sgts Adolph B. Butler, Irvin Schlom, Robert S. Redmond and Robert E. Tyler were released and transferred to the 70th RD casual pool. The following were assigned to the squadron today: Sgt Milton Siegel, Cpl Leonard F. Gawron, T/5 Chester J. Dziedzic and Pvt Richard P. Lynch. S/Sgt Kenneth V. Lowther left for TD at Station #102 Alconbury.
The following were re-classified from 611 to 612: S/Sgts Paul W. Schmidt, John L. Patrick, Joseph F. Phelan, John Howard, Ward A. Freeman, Leonard Fahnestock, Richard E. Davis, Edward B. Bailey, Daniel A. Adair, Herbert Levenson, Guadalupe Duran and Sgt Patrick Keenan.
26. Very bad weather conditions, with cloud and haze obscuring flying and visibility both in and out, disrupted the group's attack on Zeitz. A cloud bank completely covered the synthetic oil plant, the primary target, and this, plus a heavy flak barrage, led one crewman to describe conditions as "cumulo-bango".
The nine 533rd ships bombed here, while the lead and high squadrons went on to Plauen after the lead ship lost its bombsight to flak while circling Zeitz. One 53rd ship, #42-97882, piloted by Lt Van Sant, was forced to land in France because of a shortage of gas.
2nd Lt Joseph Nutt returned from DS; the following Cpls were assigned to the squadron today: Hubert C. Johnson and James R. Collins; T/Sgts Keith D. Halstead and Miles C. Bruner were released and transferred to the 70th RD casual pool.
27. A steady drizzle and overcast skies prevented a mission this morning intended for Fulda, Germany.
Promotions included: S/Sgt John W. Bunker to T/Sgt; Sgts George F. Carmichael, Harold A. Carpenter, William C. Gardiner, John W. Hitchens, William J. Howard, James W. Nowell, James E. McGrath, Oscar J. Moberg, Joseph P. Moriarty, Gilbert A. Tennet and William D. Wideman to S/Sgts.
28. Nine bombers of the 533rd were part of the 381st force which attacked Berlin today. Bombs were dropped through 10/10th cloud cover and results could not be observed. Flak was meagre and inaccurate over the city and no enemy fighters appeared. There were no losses.
1st Lt kenneth Schmalz left for London to participate in a radio broadcast; three EM left on furlough; four combat officers and fi EM left for rest homes; Sgt Francis Bergemeister was re-classified from 611 to 612 and Sgt Allen J. Smith from 275 to 405.
29. The group received a stand down order for today.
30. Heavy accurate flak was met after the bomb run at Bremen today, and one 535th ship was shot down. The formation, including nine aircraft from the 533rd, approached the target down a cloud-free "alley", had perfect visibility and did an excellent bombing job. Explosives were dropped in a tight pattern on the Besschwinag submarine and shipbuilding yards.
Today pilots were: Lts Privett, Eagle, Nichols, Riga, Saccomano, Aron, Hacker, Schrank and Nowicki.
31. Marshalling yards at Halle were attacked through 10/10th clouds today by H2X. Weather was good for flying but clouds covered the ground all the way in and out. Flak was meagre and inaccurate and no enemy aircraft encountered. Nine 533rd bombers took part, the complete formation returning safely.
S/Sgt Lester D. Stone was released and transferred to the 534th, Sgt Howard E. Day making the opposite move; S/Sgt David T. Baird was released and transferred to the 70th RD casual pool.
Squadron strength was 100 officers and 429 enlisted men.
> April 1945