Mission 134 - 1

303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 13411 April 1944

Target: City of Sorau, GermanyCrews Dispatched: 33

Length of Mission: 10 hours, 38 minutes

Bomb Load: 16 x 100 lb G.P. & 8 x 500 lb M17 incendiary bombs

Bombing Altitudes: Group A - 13,000 ft; Group B - 11,000 ft

Ammo Fired: 2,860 rounds

Two of the thirty-three aircraft airborne and dispatched returned early:#42-37875, Empress of D Street, 427BS-A (Flesh) - gasoline shortage.#42-31177, Lonesome Polecat, 359BS-L (Daum) - failed to find the formation.

One Group B-17 bombed with the 351BG.

The Low Group dropped 239 500-lb. M17 incendiary bomb clusters from 11,000feet. The High Group dropped 478 100-lb. M30 G.P. bombs from 13,000 feet. One aircraftjettisoned an M17 bomb over Germany. Clouds of 6/10 to 8/10 density covered theContinent. Visual bombing of the primary target was permitted through a break in theclouds.

No flak was experienced at the target. Meager and accurate flak was encountereden route. Three aircraft sustained flak battle damage. From one to five enemy fighters wereobserved, but there were no attacks or claims. Friendly fighter support was good. Therewere no casualties and all aircraft returned safely to Molesworth after 10 hours, 38 minutesof flying.

1Lt. Deane Barnes, lead ship co-pilot with Col. Travis, reported, "Some of the boyssaw our bombs and said it looked pretty good. We had a break in weather over the targetjust long enough to make a good bomb run and get our bombs away. A few minutes laterwould have been bad. We didn't have any opposition at all." Capt. George Mackin, pilotof the other lead ship, said, "I had to pinch myself to believe it — 700 miles over enemyterritory and not a single enemy fighter. I'm not certain how the bombing came out. Wehad poor visibility and a short bomb run."

S/Sgt. Charles L. Heathershaw, waist gunner saw the bombing and said, "OurGroup dropped their bombs right in the center of the target and the Group behind usseemed to be doing a good job, too." The ball turret gunner, Sgt. Vernon Parrish, also gota good look when the bombs were dropped." The bombs from our Group spread all overthe target area when they hit," Sgt. Parrish said. "When we left, the place was a mess ofsmoke and dust."

On this mission photographs were taken of the new part of Stalag Luft 3, theGerman POW camp at Sagan, Germany.

2Lt. N.B. O'Beirne was flying in #42-31340 Miss Liberty 360BS-D. The tail wheelwas not properly checked prior to landing and collapsed when it hit the runway. The aircraftwas badly damaged.

Mission 134 - 2

ELEVEN HOURS IN THE AIR— AT LOW ALTITUDES11 APRIL 1944 — MISSION #134

Ed Miller’s Memories and Recollections

Seventeen hundred miles (1,700) over enemy territory required flying time ofeleven hours. Today was the first time that the Thomas Crew lead the 360th BombSquadron. The higher up’s have finally realized that we have a top-notch crew. Thatshould be pretty clear as everybody that flew with us knew that we flew pretty damn goodformation. I say “we’ as Tommy let me fly quite a bit — we switched off every 15 minutesas I recall, especially after he had gained confidence in my ability to fly pretty goodformation.

Today the 8th Air Force put up 643 B-17s and 241 B-24s to bomb six FW-190sand Junkers assembly and components plants very deep in Central and EasternGermany. These bombers were escorted by 13 fighter groups from the 8th and 4 fightergroups from the 9th Air Force’s 3rd Division.

These targets for the 1st Air Division were Sorau, Cottus, Stettin and Arnimswalde.For the 2nd Air Division they were Oschersleben and Bernberg. And for the 3rd AirDivision were Politz, Stettin, Trostock and Arnimswalde. The 303rd Bomb Group put upa full group and two separate squadrons. The main group was lead by Captain GeorgeMackin, Commander of the 358th Bomb Squadron. 1Lt Earl N. Thomas lead the LowSquadron in aircraft #42-31060 “Poque Ma Hone” which was borrowed from anothersquadron. 1Lt LeRoy E. Daub of the 359th Bomb Squadron lead the high Squadron inaircraft #42-31483 “Bonnie B.”

Adverse weather conditions prevailed over the western part of Germany. Theenemy contrived one of his most severe and well-coordinated defenses marked by theskillful handling of a considerable number of twin engine day fighters in the Stettin areaand single engine fighters in the Hannover-Oschersleben area. Flak was moderate andgenerally accurate. 51 B-17s and 12 B-24 bombers and 16 fighters were lost. Fighterclaims were very high today as many of the German pilots wanted to fight. Claims were115 destroyed, 11 probably destroyed and 88 damaged, but 63 of those destroyed wereon the ground.

The 2nd Air Division flew a northerly route which crossed the Danish peninsula butour part of the mission followed the same route that we have taken so many times beforewhen we went to Berlin. In fact, Colonel Travis, who lead the 41st CBW CompositeGroup, reported a big river right south of Berlin to be in an overflow stage. Across thewestern part of Germany, we flew at 16,000 feet and experienced intense and accurateflak around the Hannover area, but slipped around the large concentrations of anti-aircraftbatteries for the rest of the way. Three of our aircraft received serious flak damage.

At the target the Group dropped down to 11,000 feet to bomb the F-190 assemblyplant outside of Sorau, Germany. Cloud cover was about 6/10s but the lead bombardier,1Lt Charles C. Armstrong of the 358th Bomb Squadron picked out the target and reportsfrom our gunners, who viewed the results, indicated it was pretty well covered with ourbombs.

But eleven hours, even though it was at a lower altitude, was a long time to becarrying around those heavy “flak vests.”

Mission 134 - 3

Route Map

Mission 134 - 4

Old Glory #42-31432 (360BS) PU-N41st CBW-A Composite High Lead - Pilot Col W.L. Travis / CoPilot 1Lt D.L. Barnes

(Back L-R) 1Lt J.P. Zwayer (B), 2Lt A.G. Raistrick (TG-O), Col W.L. Travis (P),1Lt D.L. Barnes (CP), 1Lt G.M. Carroll (N)

(Front - not in order) T/Sgt W.T. Sparks (E), S/Sgt J.R. Chancellor (BT), S/Sgt A.G. Benevento (R),S/Sgt J.B. Price (WG), S/Sgt C.W. Winters (WG)

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group A

Travis-Barnes432

Melton Jones 027 423

Young 384th 284 Holdcroft Moser Marsh 546 272 050 Worthley 583 Wood Maxey 020 785

Two (2) aircraft aborted this mission: Lt. Flesh in 875, Lt. Daum in 177

Mission 134 - 5

B-17G Ole George #42-31574 (358BS) VK-G303rd CBW-A Low Lead - Pilot Capt G.T. Mackin / CoPilot 1Lt A.S. Litman(Back) Capt George T. Mackin (P)[3rd from Left], 1Lt Arnold S. Litman (CP),

1Lt Lawrence C. Merthan (N), 1Lt Charles C. Armstrong (B) (Front) T/Sgt George A. Smith (E), T/Sgt Francis R. Ebbighausen (R),

Sgt Paul M. Gibbs (BT), S/Sgt Buenaventura L. Castillo (RW),S/Sgt Victor R. Miller (LW), T/Sgt Francis H. Stender (TG)

(crewmen are not in order - far right, unknown ground crewman)

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group B

Mackin-Litman574

Viets Ames 669 028

Moreau622

Snyder Larson 224 002

Thomas Daub 060 483Williams Johnston Calwell 204 254 183 Glass Headlee 590 885Stevens O'Beirne McManus Estes 841 340 405 051 Eisele Edwards 048 386

Mission 134 - 6

358th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-31669 Shoo Shoo Baby

P Viets, John B., 2LtCP Bennett, John C., 2LtNAV Heibert, David C., F/OBOM Rodgers, Burton, 2LtENG Robinson, Frank E., S/SgtLWG Madarchik, Michael, SgtRO York, Franklin F., S/SgtRWG Rademacher, Don J., SgtTG Ferrell, William R., SgtBT Holland, Ambrose J., Sgt

B-17G #42-39785 Thru Hel'en Hiwater

P Maxey, Frank, 2LtCP Knight, R.A., 2LtNAV Shamban, Marcus F., 2LtBOM Spatt, Arnold I., 2LtENG Gonsalves, John D., S/SgtLWG Johnston, Wendell B., SgtRO Rabun, Clifford G., SgtBT Swain, Norman F., PvtTG Angelo, George L., S/SgtRWG Hodgins, Robert A., Sgt

B-17G #42-31224 Hell in the Heavens

P Snyder, Robert W., 2LtCP McClure, Thomas R., 1LtNAV Brady, Joseph E., 2LtBOM Stavast, James A., 2LtENG Swift, Herbert E., S/SgtLWG Kent, Amos, SgtRO Frazee, Francis L., SgtRWG Gamon, Edward J., SgtTG Senheiser, George A., SgtBT Vodicka, Leonard R., Sgt

B-17G #42-107002 Mairzy Doats

P Larson, Roy A., 2LtCP Duncan, Ronald E., 2LtNAV Kelly, William T., 2LtBOM Larson, Albert W., 2LtENG Campbell, Thomas J., SgtBT Brim, Lee R., SgtRO Culp, Everett E., SgtLWG Schinker, Arthur W., SgtTG Hodge, Herman L., SgtRWG Thayer, Duane P., Sgt

B-17G #42-107028 (No Name)

P Ames, Walter J., Jr., 2LtCP Howell, Ernest F., 2LtNAV Williams, Grover C., 2LtBOM Campbell, William D., 2LtENG West, Jerome H., SgtRWG Stafford, Sheldon A., SgtRO Lesser, Edward R., SgtLWG Stone, Robert L., Jr., SgtTG MacFarland, Kendall H., S/SgtBT Ruppel, Edward, S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31583 Clover Leaf

P Worthley, Joe R., 1LtCP Miller, Campbell, 2LtNAV Levy, Herbert E., Jr., 2LtBOM Feinman, Milton, 2LtENG Haggerty, Jerome J., T/SgtRWG Delaney, Jessie L., S/SgtRO Rumpf, Charles W., T/SgtBT Chadick, Neal T., S/SgtTG Hunt, John L., S/SgtLWG Balzano, Christopher, S/Sgt

KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS

CREW POSITIONS

CMP - Command PilotP - PilotCP - Co-PilotNAV - NavigatorANV - Ass't. NavigatorMNV - Mickey NavigatorENG - EngineerBOM - BombardierRO - Radio Operator

TOG - TogglierBT - Ball Turret OperatorTT - Top Turret OperatorTG - Tail GunnerNG - Nose GunnerRG - Radio GunnerWG - Waist GunnerLWG - Left Waist GunnerRWG - Right Waist GunnerGUN - Gunner

VI - Voice InterpreterOBS - ObserverPAS - PassengerPHO - Photographer

RESULTS OF MISSION

KIA - Killed in actionWIA - Wounded in actionMIA - Missing in actionPOW - Prisoner of war

DOW - Died of woundsEVD - Evaded the enemyINT - Interned in neu cntryREP - RepatriatedRES - RescuedESC - EscapedBO - Bailed outDCH - DitchedCR-L - Crashed on landCR-S - Crashed at sea

Mission 134 - 7

358th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #42-97622 Paper Dollie

P Moreau, Joseph A., 2LtCP Hudson, Hendric S., 2LtNAV Binder, Carroll, Jr., 2LtBOM Israelson, Elmer P., 2LtENG Rossman, Carl H., SgtRWG Tate, Royce G., SgtRO Lowe, Gareth W., SgtLWG Tomasini, Michael, SgtTG Fox, Howard E., SgtBT Ross, Ben A., Sgt

B-17G #42-32037 (No Name)

P Hofmann, Raymond, 2LtCP Brothers, Calvin S., 2LtNAV Brown, James F., 2LtBOM Schmid, Ralph D., 2LtENG Blakeney, William R., Jr., S/SgtBT Crenshaw, Ollie G., SgtRO Berman, Seymour, S/SgtRWG Lawson, Tracy W., S/SgtLWG Bahr, John W., SgtTG Hendin, Bernard J., Sgt

B-17G #42-31574 Ole George

P Mackin, George T., CaptCP Litman, Arnold S., 1LtNAV Merthan, Lawrence C., 1LtBOM Armstrong, Charles C., 1LtENG Smith, George A., S/SgtRWG Castillo, Buenaventura L., S/SgtRO Ebbighausen, Francis R., T/SgtBT Gibbs, Paul M., SgtTG Stender, Francis H., T/SgtLWG Miller, Victor R., S/Sgt

Mission 134 - 8

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-31386 Sky Duster

P Edwards, Kenneth C., 1LtCP Peterson, Edwin V., 2LtNAV Sanders, Coleman, 2LtBOM Corbin, Frederick A., F/OENG Johnson, Kenneth V., S/SgtRO Kennedy, Herbert W., S/SgtBT Guzman, Abel G., SgtLWG Champagne, Adam, S/SgtTG Kowalk, Francis H., S/SgtRWG Abernathy, Fay S., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31830 Marie

P Hanselman, Charles F., 1LtCP Donalson, Douglas C., 2LtNAV Carey, William D., 2LtTOG Merrow, Robert K., SgtENG Fouss, Howard E., T/SgtLWG Jaouen, Robert F., T/SgtRO Zitzler, George A., T/SgtRWG Armstrong, Keith N., S/SgtBT Williams, Walter S., S/SgtTG Tybuszewski, Mitchel J., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31405 Wallaroo MK II

P McManus, Henry, 2LtCP Gorecki, Victor T., 2LtNAV Carroll, Charles P., 2LtBOM Cecot, Chester R., 2LtENG Row, Robert A., T/SgtRO Colburn, Robert P., T/SgtRWG Doezema, Albert, S/SgtLWG Jewett, William B., S/SgtBT Davies, John W., S/SgtTG Cowles, Clifton G., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-97272 Duchess' Daughter

P Moser, Clinton A., 2Lt.CP Lux, Andrew L., 2LtNAV Andreasen, Rolf W., 2LtBOM Campbell, Frank P., 2LtENG Mays, Pearl E., S/SgtRO Zionkoski, John T., S/SgtBT Parrish, Vernon, SgtTG Seelock, Joseph J., SgtTT Duffey, Willis A., SgtLWG Raines, Donald E., Sgt

B-17G #42-97284 Ain't Misbehavin

P Young, Elmer W., 1LtCP Cunningham, Robert L., 2LtNAV Schoner, George R., 2LtBOM Trawicki, George J., 2LtENG Steele, John C., T/SgtRO Dulick, Steve, T/SgtBT Lebeck, Richard H., S/SgtRWG Rohaly, Andy, S/SgtLWG Withrow, John W., S/SgtTG Stapleton, Bill, S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31483 Bonnie B

P Daub, Leroy E., 1LtCP Rice, Charles M., 2LtNAV Palmer, Gerald M., 1LtBOM Ulbricht, Walter E., 1LtENG Carter, Edward K., S/SgtRO Kelly, Victor S., T/Sgt RWG McKenna, Robert I., S/SgtLWG Haman, Ray T., S/SgtBT Gilmore, Charles E., T/SgtTG Considine, Louis W., S/Sgt

Mission 134 - 9

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #42-38050 Thunderbird

P Marsh, Richard K., 2LtCP Sassone, Joseph C., 2LtNAV Walsh, Myles J., 2LtBOM Joyce, John D., 2LtENG Davis, Eugene B., S/SgtRO Minks, George A., S/SgtBT Munson, James E., S/SgtTG Moessner, Raymond J., S/SgtRWG Rogers, Warren G., SgtLWG Dean, Raymond N., Sgt

B-17G #42-31183 Bad Penny

P Calwell, Lucien B., 2LtCP Fackler, David E., 2LtNAV Hogan, Paul G., 2LtBOM Nance, George G., 2LtENG Schlottman Jerome D., S/SgtRO Prendergast, Bert T., S/SgtBT McIntyre, Harold W., SgtTG Pohlman, Wilbert F., SgtLWG Brewer, Ray, SgtRWG Tipton, Bill B., Sgt

B-17G #42-31177 Lonesome Polecat

P Daum, Maurice G., 2LtCP Gibbons, Donald L., 2Lt NAV Forve, Frank F., 2LtBOM Grove, Terril M., 2LtENG Matthews, Fred T., T/SgtRO Rose, William A., S/SgtBT Jenkins, Crawford E., S/SgtTG Taylor, Burt W., S/SgtLWG Sampson, Dale A., S/SgtRWG Frederick, Lee W., S/Sgt(Abortive)

Mission 134 - 10

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-37841 Banshee

P Stevens, Joseph E., 2LtCP Ellsworth, Paul R., 2LtNAV Fleming, Samuel P., 2LtBOM Finley, Robert A., 2LtENG Brewster, John L., T/SgtRO Deerfield, Eddie, T/SgtBT Reid, Harold C., S/SgtTG Edwards, Marvin R., SgtRWG Fitko, Marion F., S/SgtLWG Cole, Edgar C., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-107048 (No Name)

P Eisele, Roy, 2LtCP Girard, Louis F., 2LtNAV Schenker, Murray, 2LtBOM Gladstone, Melvin, 2LtENG Cowley, Louis M., S/SgtRWG Bell, Richard L., SgtRO Millard, Ralph, S/SgtLWG Butler, Raymond, S/SgtBT Longoria, Efrain, SgtTG Vallee, Edward J., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31340 Miss Liberty

P O'Beirne, Nelson B., 2LtCP Duffield, Richard B., 2LtNAV Shipp, Gene K., 2LtBOM Dello Buono, Thomas J., 2LtENG Henselman, Miles A., S/SgtRO Blumberg, Marvin R., S/SgtBT Faraone, Sam S., SgtTG Studt, Allo L., SgtRWG Rogers, Winford E., SgtLWG Cammack, Francis C., Sgt

B-17G #42-97590 Virgin Mary

P Glass, Henry F., 1LtCP Fisher, Samuel L., 2LtNAV Pepe, Nicholas A., 2LtBOM Robrock, Paul A., 2LtENG Carbillano, Dominick J., SgtLWG Stellato, Francis A., S/SgtRO Miller, Gordon R., T/SgtRWG Patrone, Frank, S/SgtBT Michael, David O., S/SgtTG Roberts, James E., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31060 Poque Ma Hone

P Thomas, Earl N., 1LtCP Miller, Edgar C., 2LtNAV Walenta, Clarence V., 2LtBOM Scott, Harold L., 2LtENG Mason, John W., T/SgtRWG Flenniken, William, S/SgtRO DeWitte, Victor W., S/SgtTG Harvey, Roy D., S/SgtBT Johnston, Harold A., SgtLWG Books, Carl O., Sgt

B-17G #42-97546 Idaliza

P Holdcroft, Lloyd L., 1LtCP Bradley, Clyde W., Jr., 2LtNAV Pace, Charles M., 2LtBOM O'Donnell, John J., 2LtENG DeMarco, John A., S/SgtRWG Hustus, Walter L., SgtRO Francis, Walter G., S/SgtLWG Slusser, Walter C., S/SgtBT Kern, Lloyd F., SgtTG Krumholz, Robert A., Sgt

B-17G #42-97254 Iza Vailable Too

P Johnston, Donald M., 2LtCP Heussler, Robert W., 2LtNAV Schultz, Milo R., 2LtBOM Davis, Paul J., S/SgtENG Barnum, Abraham E., M/SgtRO Treece, Charles E., S/SgtBT Pesetsky, Paul W., SgtTG Nestok, Frank, SgtRWG Smith, Herbert L., SgtLWG Turner, Kenzie H., Sgt

B-17G #42-38204 (No Name)

P Williams, John T., 2LtCP Coats, Niel, 2LtNAV Fazio, Joseph J., 2LtBOM Grunseth, Roald J., 2LtENG Schwenke, Howard A., S/SgtRO Barber, Stewart, L., S/SgtBT Whitten, Cleveland W., SgtTG Ott, John E., SgtRWG Northam, James W., SgtLWG Mitchell, John B., Sgt

Mission 134 - 11

427th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-31423 Jigger Rooche

P Jones, Wilbur H., 2LtCP Wallace, Walstein W., 2LtNAV Skarsten, Albert B., 2LtBOM Kennedy, William J., 2Lt TT Duerr, William P., S/SgtBT Calnon, Frederick N., S/SgtRO Kosher, Albert J., SgtTG LaFrenier, James E., S/SgtLWG Thompson, Frederick A., SgtRWG Dimowitz, Morris, Sgt

B-17G #42-38020 V-Packet

P Wood, Vere A., 1LtCP Knutson, Wilmer A., 2LtNAV Pinnette, William S., 2LtBOM Landry, Robert J., 2LtTT Tevis, John E., S/SgtBT Grant, Thomas V., S/SgtRO Brooks, Winnie R., T/SgtLWG Heathershaw, Charles L., S/SgtTG Musashe, Michael, S/SgtRWG Doyle, Edward J., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-39885 Sweet Rose O'Grady

P Headlee, Dale C., 2LtCP Fogerson, Joseph E., F/ONAV Schweitzer, Jerome D., 2LtBOM Handley, Donald J., 2LtENG Klunk, James A., S/SgtBT Almanzor, Berton F., S/Sgt RO Moberg, Chester H., S/SgtTG Bell, Alton R., S/SgtLWG Wilson, Robert J., S/SgtRWG Kyle, Clarence, S/Sgt

B-17G #42-32027 Betty Jane

P Melton, James H., 1LtCP Belknap, Robert W., 2LtNAV Frechter, Harry G., 2LtBOM Clapp, Keith W., 2LtTT Weed, Lowrey A., Jr., T/SgtBT Moore, John J., Jr., S/SgtRO Stoberl, Donald L., S/SgtTG Anderson, Ralph R., SgtLWG LaPlante, Willard R., SgtRWG Miller, Norman L., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-38051 My Yorkshire Dream

P Estes, Shirley W., LtCP Byers, Ballard T., LtNAV Shemwell, John T., 2LtBOM Minter, Thomas W., LtTT Price, Jack J., S/SgtBT Teno, James R., S/SgtRO Wagner, Wayne, S/SgtTG Ross, Samuel C., S/SgtRWG Silrum, Orvis K., SgtLWG Ford, Thomas P., Sgt

B-17G #42-31432 Old Glory

P Travis, William L., ColCP Barnes, Deane L., 1LtNAV Carroll, George M., 1LtBOM Zwayer, James P., 1LtENG Sparks, Willie T., T/SgtBT Chancellor, John R., S/SgtRO Benevento, Andrew G., S/SgtTG Raistrick, Albert G., 2LtLWG Winters, Craig W., S/SgtRWG Price, John B., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-37875 Empress of D Street

P Flesh, William R., 1LtCP O'Hare, Phil W., 2LtNAV Kurnik, Walter F., 2LtBOM Biedanski, Edmund J., 2LtTT Souder, Lee F., Jr., SgtRO Volmer, Lawrence D., T/SgtBT McMahan, Bonnar P., S/SgtTG McLaughlin, Jesse W., S/SgtLWG Kossin, Jack, S/SgtRWG Rider, Wilbert, Sgt(Abortive)