533rd Bomb Sq.
381st Bomb Group (H)
WAR DIARY
Submitted by Pvt John Haggerty
SEPTEMBER 1944
1. Ten Fortresses of the 533rd took off this morning to attack the chemical works at Ludwigshafen, but they were recalled by the Division air commander because of poor weather when reaching France.
A new combat crew joined the squadron today: 2nd Lts Joseph F. Nolan, Donald F. Urban, John A. Conklin, Arthur S. Carter; Cpls Robert S. Redmond, John Howard, George W. Whitesell, John A. Hoene, Joseph F. Phelan and Claudie H. Wyatt.
Leaving for the Furzedown House, Station #563, Worcs., rest home today were: 1st Lts LaPierre, Gittleman, Robinson and Jones; S/Sgt McCool and Sgt Imhof left for Keythorpe Hall, Station #566, Leics.
Thirty EM left on 7-day furloughs; All men of the station were warned today to observe the retreat ceremony.
2. Despite day-long drizzling rain, Bing Crosby and his troupe of entertainers staged a two hour show this afternoon, in Hangar #1, attracting thousands of American and Allied servicemen and civilians. The show was the first of a program of events tying in with the ARC Aeroclub's anniversary and the "home stretch" in the Victory Squadron War Bond Drive.
Tonight a mammoth dance will be staged in a hangar at Great Yeldham, at the back of the railroad station, where two bands will offer continuous music for dancing. By popular vote, a "beauty queen" will be chosen from among British servicewomen attending the dance. The winner will cristen a new Flying Fortress called "Smashing Time" on Sunday afternoon at a ceremony on the line. The name used for the christening was submitted by S/Sgt George A. Ranger, of the 533rd, who won himself a 48 hr pass for his efforts.
The Eighth Air Force war bond drive came to an end today. By a last minute spurt, the 533rd led all other 381st squadrons in bond purchases. They bought $32,875 worth of bonds, more than $10,000 above the established goal of $22,000.
3. Ten bombers of the 533rd took part in an attack on the synthetic oil refineries at Ludwigshafen today. The target was covered in 10/10th cloud and crewmen were unable to observe results of their bombing. Moderate but accurate flak was encountered in the target area, but there was no enemy fighter opposition. All ships returned home safely.
The Fortress "Smashing Time" was christened this afternoon on the line by blond, beautiful Pvt Cynthia Burville, of the A.T.S., who was chosen as beauty queen at last night's dance at Great Yeldham.
1st Lt Cowan was promoted to captain and 2nd Lt Schein to 1st Lt.
4. Non operational. No change in squadron status was noted in the morning reports.
5. Announcement of the promotion of the following 533rd officers from 2nd to 1st Lt was made in the Daily Bulletin today: William S. Bigham Jr., Eugene P. Weisser, Morton Yolofsky, Howard H. Kronick and Dale P. Windsor.
There was no mission today and the usual garrison duties were carried out.
6. Two missions planned for today were scrubbed. The first one called was an attack on Genshagen, near Berlin, the other was to have been Bremen.
Pvt Marcos Ortiz, 7th Station Complement Squadron was found guilty at a General Court Martial of an attempt to stab Pfc Paul J. Simmons, 533rd. Ortiz was dishonorably discharged and sentenced to two years hard labor.
The following Sgts were promoted to S/Sgt: Bassett, Berkowitz, Grim, Groft, Gildermeister, Imhof, Matthews, Miller, Myers, Staubitz and Wiggins.
Seven officers and 79 EM were transferred to the 8th AFRD, Station #594, Jefferson Hall, Staffordshire; one officer and one EM left on 7-day furloughs.
7. Non-operational. The following officers and EM were assigned today: 2nd Lts Gordon Johnson, Gaetano DeVito, William Pettitt, Thomas Schilling, Miles Baldwin; S/Sgts Walter Chas, Jack Poole, William Brown, Jack Callan; Sgts Jack Scott, Adolph Butler, V. Gatzeneir, Jack House; Cpls Thomas Schmidt, Joseph Morin, John Patrick and Paul Schmidt.
8. Nine 533rd ships took part in an attack on Ludwigshafen today, bat again results went unobserved because of heavy cloud over the target. Flak was moderate to intense, but no enemy aircraft were encountered.
Sgt Norman left for rest home at Walhampton House, Station #558, Hants.; 1st Lts Masterson, Bigham and Kronick left for rest home at Moulsford Manor, Station #511, Berks.; thirty EM returned to the station after completing furloughs.
9. Thirteen 533rd ships took part in an attack today on targets at Baden-Baden, however 10/10th cloud cover made observation of bombing impossible. Again our ships met no opposition, but flak was reported as moderate. One 533rd enlisted man, Sgt Robert J. Sharp was seriously wounded.
1st Lts Renick and Nelson were promoted captain; S/Sgts Imhof and McCool returned to duty from rest home.
10. Today six ships from this squadron took part in attack on Gaggenau, Germany. Bombing results were reported as excellent. Flak was meagre and no enemy aircraft were encountered, however one of our aircraft is missing in action, 44-6095, flown by Lt Germano.
MIA crew: 2nd Lts Ernest Germano, James M. Grey, Edward Spaniol, Richard Tierney; Sgt Harry Siders, S/Sgts William Shelley, John S. Diedrich, Sgts Cloyde R. Goody and Alexander Donaldson.
Promotions include: S/Sgt McKeone to T/Sgt; Sgts to S/Sgts: Coats, Sharp and Pospisill. Returning from the rest home are: 1st Lts Gittleman, LaPierre and Jones, while the following NCOs made the opposite trip: S/Sgts Conklin, Greathouse and Kirkpatrick.
Pvt Halbach to attend packing and crating school at Station #547 Abbots Ripton; T/Sgt William J. Yanek, formerly missing in action, was transferred today to Mitchell Field, NY.
11. Ten 533rd aircraft participated in an attack on oil storage depots at Merseburg today. Combat crewmen reported observing bomb burst clusters in the target area. Flak was moderate and fairly accurate but no enemy fighters encountered.
Pfc Pekala was today transferred to the 881st Chemical Company on the base, in exchange for Pfc Raymond Dougan; also transferred was S/Sgt Mason to the 8th AFRD. The following were promoted to Sgts: Charkowski, Sprouse, Barker and Hayes.
12. The 533rd put nine bombers in the air for today's mission to Brux, Czechoslovakia. Bombing results were unobserved. No enemy fighters were encountered and flak was moderate, however Sgt Lydell A. Hayes was killed in action.
1st Lt Robinson returned from the rest home today; one officer and one EM returned from furlough, while 37 EM left on furlough.
13. Non-operational. No change.
14. A mission scheduled for Genshagen, Berlin, today was scrubbed. 1st Lt William L. Bonar was transferred to 12th RCD; The following were promoted Sgt: Hafner, Hoene, Howard, Phelan, Redmond, Whitesell and Wyatt.
15. Non-operational. S/Sgt William G. Stone and Sgt Frank W. Porter were reduced in rank to Pvt.
16. A mission scheduled for Eindhoven, Holland, was scrubbed. Sgts Barker and Charnowski, 533rd combat gunners seriously wounded in action, are undergoing treatment at the 217th General Hospital, near Paris.
Pfc Halbach returned from packing and crating school, at Station #547 Abbots Ripton.
17. Eleven 533rd bombers took part in an attack on enemy tank concentrations and gun emplacements near Eindhoven, Holland, today. The attack was in direct support of American and Allied troops advancing in this sector. Bombing results were reported to be excellent. The bombers met no flak or fighter opposition.
Promotions: S/Sgts Capshaw, Hammer and Tencich to T/Sgts; Sgts Brown, Ellingham, Ferrera, Goudeket, Graham, Hiney, Meek, Morgan, Norman, Parks, Stowe and Sullivan to S/Sgt.
18. Lt Col George G. Shackley, 533rd commander returned today after a rest furlough in the United States, thus relieving Major George K. Sandman, who stood in during the interim. Also returning to duty are Capt Watson and 1st Lt Stone.
Captain Bruning, who has been on detached service with the 1st Combat wing, is now transferred to 8th AFRD, along with Lts Carroll, Greene and Mattison; T/Sgts Nunn and Smith, and S/Sgts Conklin and Garl also went to the 8th AFRD.
19. Under the command of Lt Col David E. Kunkle, Jr., group operations officer, nine 533rd aircraft were part of the striking force which blasted the marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, today. He flew in 44-8010, piloted by 1st Lt R.C. LaPierre. No enemy fighters were encountered and flak in the target area was moderate.
1st Lt Gilvary left on a 7-day furlough; 37 EM returned from furlough.
20. A mission to Kiel, German was cancelled. No change.
21. Ten bombers of the 533rd took part in an attack on Mainz, Germany today. Bombing results were unobserved. Flak in the target area was meagre to moderate, and no aircraft opposition encountered.
All organisations were ordered today to conduct a two hour per week course of practical training in military courtesy and discipline; 31 enlisted men left on a 7-day furlough.
22. Nine Fortresses of the 533rd took part in today's raid on Kassel, Germany. Bombing was by PFF and results were unobserved. Combat men reported meagre to moderate flak and total absence of fighter opposition.
The following 2nd Lts were promoted to 1st Lts: Gills, Kampfer, Lane, ross and Stancampiano; Sgt Hardy left for detached service at Station #102 Alconbury; 1st Lt Stewart left on furlough.
23. Non-operational. Three EM left on furlough; 2nd Lt Wetzel transferred to 12th RCD casual pool.
24. Non-operational. T/Sgt Carl Staats and John E. Barnes left the squadron to return to the United States; Pvt Jones returned from furlough.
25. Marshalling yards at Frankfurt, Germany, were the target for nine bombers of the 533rd , when bombing was done by PFF and results unobserved while flak was moderate to intense, but no enemy fighters were encountered. However one of our ships, flown by Lt Gills in missing in action.
MIA crew: 1st Lt Oscar W. Gills, 2nd Lts Charles Prenatt, Donald K. Adams, William Rudisill; S/Sgts Paul E. Parks, Minor H. Stowe, Sgts Shelby W. Cook, Leo V. Krainz and Harold A. Mourning.
2nd Lt Baker was promoted to 1st Lt; other promotions: from Sgt to S/Sgt: Doremus, Guilfoyle, Hines, Norman and Staszko; 1st Lt John D. Cochran transferred to 27th Air Transport Group HQ; one enlisted man left on furlough and another returned.
26. Nine squadron Fortresses participated in today's attack on Osnabruck, Germany. Bombing results were reported as good. Flak in the target area was meagre to moderate and no enemy fighters were seen.
First Sgt Tom Burns left on 7-day furlough today, as did Sgt Nubilo; S/Sgt John T. Farr, formerly missing in action, was re-assigned to the squadron from HQ, UK base; All men of the squadron had their gas masks checked today at the gas chamber.
27. The 533rd dispatched ten bombers for an attack on Cologne, but because of heavy cloud bombing was unobserved. No air opposition was met while meagre of moderate flak was encountered in the target area.
A new crew was assigned today: 2nd Lts Samuel Goldwin, Alfred Reynolds, Robert H. Anderson, Stuart G. Newman; S/Sgt Marcus J. Tremble, Sgt Frank B. Clements, Cpls Jack L. Bressie, Ralph G. Engleman, Robert J. Gilbert and Robert J. Gonnering.
Sgt Keffer, seriously wounded in action, is under treatment at the 8th British Hospital, Brussels, Belgium; Major George K. Sandman left the station to return to the United States for a rest furlough; five EM and five officers left for rest home, while S/Sgt Harper return to duty from a rest home.
28. Nine 533rd bombers took part in an attack on Magdeburg, Germany, where bombing was accomplished by PFF and results unobserved. No fighter opposition was met and flak was terms meagre.
1st Lt Larson was transferred to the 634th BS today; 31 EM returned from furlough.
29. Non-operational. 2nd Lt Leon Wagner was transferred from the 7th Station Complement Squadron; three EM returned from furloughs.
30. Non-operational. Another new crew joined us: 2nd Lts William K. Privett, Robert F. Coates, Charles A. Tryka, D. P. Morgan; Cpls John H. Andrews, Miles G. Bruner, Guadelupe Duran, Keith D. Halstead, Herbert Lovenson and John H. Orrall.
Four officers and four EM transferred to the 70th RD, Station #594, Jefferson Hall, Staffordshire.
> October 1944