Mission 138 - 1

2Lt Andrew L. Lux

303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 13820 Apr 1944

Target: Crossbow Targets at Sottevast & Mesmil Au Val, Fra.Crews Dispatched: 28

Crew Members Lost or Wounded: Lt. Lux KIA

S/Sgt. Schlottman WIA, Lt. Randall WIA

Length of Mission: 5 hours

Bomb Load: 6 x 1000 lb M44 & 2 x 500 lb AN-64 RDX bombs

Bombing Altitudes: 19,000, 19,400, 19,500 & 19,700 ft

Ammo Fired: 3,200 rounds

Eleven 303rd BG(H) B-17s comprising the 41 CBW-B Lead Group (359BS and427BS) took off and assembled on schedule. The twelve 41st CBW-B Low Group(360BS and 358BS) had assembly problems. The 379BG Squadron pulled into the

Low Squadron position scheduled for the 358BS and bombed in this location. Themakeshift Low Group pulled into position with the 41 CBS-B Lead Group. Lt. Moreau wasforced to assemble his 358BS with another 379BG lead Squadron. The composite427/359/360BS flying as the Lead Squadron in the 41 CBS-C Low Group assembled perinstructions.

Twenty-three aircraft attacked the V-weapon site at Sottevast, France. Five 427BSaircraft attacked Mesmil Au Val, France. There were no abortive aircraft. At the targetthere was 2/10 cloud cover at 2,000 feet with tops at 5,000 feet. Visibility was unlimited.

The five B-17s led by Maj. Shumake failed to rendezvous with the other Squadronsand flew alone. Shortly before reaching the target, Maj. Shumake's B-17 was hit by flakand was forced to immediately salvo its bombs. The other four B-17s in the formationdropped their bombs on this aircraft. There was no evidence as to where the bombs hit.The lead ship navigator, 1Lt. E.Z. Randall, was injured by the flak burst. On return, Maj.Shumake landed at Thorney Island.

Sixteen of the B-17s, led by Maj. Cole, dropped 126 1,000-lb. M44 bombson the primary target and jettisoned two 1,000-lb. M44 bombs into theEnglish Channel. One Fortress dropped its bombs with the 384BG.Bombing results were unobserved. The bombardier believed that he hitto the right of the assigned aiming point. No leaflets were dropped.S/Sgt. Jerome D. Schlottman received a splinter of flak in his eye. 2Lt.Andrew L. Lux, co-pilot on #42-31830 Marie, 359BS-N, piloted by 2Lt.Clinton A. Moser, was killed by flak fragments on the bomb run. He is

buried in Cambridge American Cemetery, England.

No enemy aircraft were observed. Friendly fighter support was excellent. Meagerflak was observed at Aldermay Island with intense and accurate flak at the target. Chaffdropped had no apparent effect in confusing the flak gunners. Only seven FW-190s wereseen. There were no attacks on Group aircraft.

Mission 138 - 2

Scorchy II #42-97058 (359BS) BN-V41st CBW-B Lead - Pilot Col W.L. Travis / CoPilot Capt A.C. Strickland

(Back L-R) Capt Alexander C. Strickland (CP-41CBW),

1Lt Walter E. Ulbricht (B-359BS), Col William L. Travis (P-41CBW),

1Lt Nicholas A. Pepe (N-360BS), 1Lt George M. Carroll (N-360BS)

(Front - not in order) T/Sgt William J. Huston (E), T/Sgt Charles R. Ferguson (R),

S/Sgt Lee Lanier, Jr. (BT), S/Sgt Anthony Laurinitis (TG),

S/Sgt Guy A. Lance (LWG), S/Sgt William E. Rein (RWG)

The bomber crews and citizens of London witnessed the entire 8th and 9th AirForces as they swept over the heart of London on their way to and from the target. Evenveteran combat men reported that this mass of bombers and fighters was an impressivesight. Over the coast of France the air was so full of planes that some crewmen said thataerial traffic cops would not have been out of place.

Major Cole said, "There were no enemy fighters at all — our own fighters were toothick. But that flak was as rough as any I've been through. The bombing was pretty good,I think." Major Alexander C. Strickland, Jr., 41 CBW, and previously with the 303BG, flewon the mission. All 303rd BG(H) bombers returned to England.

Mission 138 - 3

Route Map - Lead Group

Mission 138 - 4

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Lead Group

Cole-Quinn058

Marsh Meier 050 183

Hanselman483

Fackler Moser 807 830

Wood 096 Oranges Savage 051 241 Shope 060 Melton 020

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Low Group

Travis-Strickland841

O'Beirne Cecchini 048 204

Stevens7875

Johnston 158

Mission 138 - 5

Route Map - Composite Group

Mission 138 - 6

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point

Composite Group A w/379BG

Moreau 574 Hall Ames 669 028 Ferguson 583 Eisele McClure 386 739

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point

Composite Group B w/379BG

Shumake-Barnes432

Daum Williams 284 254

Sullivan9875

Combs 885

KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS

CREW POSITIONSCMP - 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 MISSIONKIA - 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 138 - 7

358th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

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

P Larson, Roy A., 2LtCP Duncan, Ronald E., 2LtNAV Spatt, Arnold I., 2LtNG Czeczotka, Theodore R., S/SgtENG 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 #42-31669 Shoo Shoo Baby

P Hall, Charles M., 2LtCP Stewart, Paul C., 2LtNAV Moller, Robert C., 2LtBOM Manze, Dario J., F/OENG Coe, Thomas E., Jr., S/SgtRWG Cast, James L., SgtRO Jones, Drackart L., SgtTG Cadlolo, Raymond E., SgtBT Jasinski, Joseph T., SgtLWG Sable, Roy A., Sgt

B-17G #42-31739 Pugnacious Peter

P McClure, Thomas R., 1LtCP Burks, Charles D., 2LtNAV Brady, Joseph E., 2LtBOM Stavast, James A., 2LtENG Swift, Herbert E., S/SgtLWG Kent, Amos, SgtRO Frazee, Francis L., SgtRWG Bahr, John W., SgtTG Senheiser, George A., SgtBT Duncan, George T., Sgt

B-17G #42-31583 Clover Leaf

P Ferguson, Wendell Z., 1LtCP Moody, James D., 2LtNAV Brown, James F., 2LtBOM Schmid, Ralph D., 2LtENG Matthews, David R., SgtLWG Basteau, Edward L., S/SgtRO Phillips, Robert B., S/SgtRWG Rogers, Thomas J., SgtTG Brooks, Richard S., SgtBT Rhodes, Kenneth G., Sgt

B-17G #42-31574 Ole George

P Moreau, Joseph A., 2LtCP Hudson, Hendric S., 2LtNAV Minkowitz, Samuel, 1LtBOM Hoover, William L., 1LtENG 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 #42-107028 (No Name)

P Ames, Walter J., Jr., 2LtCP Howell, Ernest F., 2LtNAV Williams, Grover C., 2LtNG Hickey, Thomas P., SgtENG 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

Mission 138 - 8

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-38050 Thunderbird

P Marsh, Richard K., 2LtCP Halpin, Robert H., 1LtNAV Bates, Robert L., 2LtBOM Corbin, Frederick A., F/OENG 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 #42-97284 Ain't Misbehavin

P Daum, Maurice G., 2LtCP Roth, Ernest L., 2LtNAV Forve, Frank F., 2LtTOG Kolling, Arthur J., S/SgtTT Wike, Leonard L., S/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

B-17G #42-39807 Nero

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

B-17G #42-31830 Marie

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

B-17G #42-31183 Bad Penny

P Meier, Russell W., 2LtCP Reed, John W., 2LtNAV Counts, George H., F/OBOM Smith, Ralph, 2LtENG Danford, Emmett J., S/SgtRO Connors, Joseph Q., S/SgtLWG Henson, Archie H., SgtRWG Colley, Smith K., SgtBT Richard, Vernon, SgtTG Butler, Ashley A., Sgt

B-17G #42-97058 Scorchy II

P Cole, Richard H., MajCP Quinn, Thomas J., 1LtNAV Lunde, Frithjof M., 1LtBOM Bowen, Ricahrd R., 1LtENG Bumgarner, Donald, T/SgtRO Vieira, Joseph, T/SgtBT Chraniuk, William, S/SgtTG Gorecki, Victor T., 2LtRWG Cueto, Frank Z., S/SgtLWG Rothrock, Harry J., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31483 Bonnie B

P Hanselman, Charles F., 1LtCP Rice, Charles M., 2LtNAV Carey, William D., 2LtTOG Livermore, William D., 1LtENG 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/SgtPAS Longworth, Edmund F., Maj

Mission 138 - 9

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17F #42-3158 Max

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 #42-107048 (No Name)

P O'Beirne, Nelson B., 2LtCP Duffield, Richard B., 2LtNAV Shipp, Gene K., 2LtBOM Nebhut, Kenneth E., S/SgtENG 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 #42-38204 (No Name)

P Cecchini, Anthony J., 2LtCP Fisher, Stanley L., 2LtNAV Veigel, Edward J., 2LtBOM McDevitt, Theodore D., 2LtENG Bachman, Clifford D., S/SgtRO Smith, Benjamin H., Jr., S/SgtBT Kepics, George, SgtTG Hudson, Ward A., SgtRWG Cogdell, Clarence L., SgtLWG O'Hearn, Robert J., Sgt

B-17G #42-31386 Sky Duster

P Eisele, Roy, 1LtCP Girard, Louis F., 2LtNAV Schenker, Murray, 2LtBOM Gladstone, Melvin, 2LtENG Cowley, Louis M., S/SgtRWG Bell, Richard L., SgtRO Millard, Ralph, S/SgtLWG Friedman, Szymon A., S/SgtBT Longoria, Efrain, SgtTG Vallee, Edward J., S/Sgt

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

P Stevens, Joseph E., 1LtCP McMahan, Eugene A., 1LtNAV Fleming, Samuel P., 1LtBOM Finley, Robert A., 1LtENG Brewster, John L., T/SgtRO Deerfield, Eddie, T/SgtBT Logan, Frank C., S/SgtTG Edwards, Marvin R., SgtRWG Fitko, Marion F., S/SgtLWG Cole, Edgar C., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-97254 Iza Vailable

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

B-17G #42-37841 Banshee

P Travis, William L., ColCP Strickland, Alexander C., CaptNAV Carroll, George M., 1LtNAV Pepe, Nicholas A., 1LtBOM Ulbricht, Walter E., 1LtENG Huston, William J., T/SgtRO Ferguson, Charles R., T/SgtBT Lanier, Lee, Jr., S/SgtTG Laurinitis, Anthony, S/SgtLWG Lance, Guy A., S/SgtRWG Rein, William E., S/Sgt

Mission 138 - 10

427th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-31060 Poque Ma Hone

P Shope, George W., Jr., 1LtCP Jenkins, Elton L., 2LtNAV Meagher, Robert W., 2LtBOM Smith, Nyle F., S/SgtTT Relyea, Ralph R., T/SgtRO Cohen, Leo, T/SgtBT Teno, James R., S/SgtTG Underwood, Clifford B., S/SgtLWG O'Neil, Austin J., SgtRWG Hadley, Owen W., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-39875 Buzz Blonde

P Sullivan, Francis X., 1LtCP Brangwin, Kenneth R., 2LtNAV Cronin, Ernest L., 1LtBOM Bawol, Walter S., 2LtTT Frey, James L., S/SgtBT Latta, Thomas B., T/SgtRO Sullivan, James J., T/SgtTG Stone, Vernon W., S/SgtRWG Swanson, Charles A., S/SgtRWG Keely, Eugene F., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-97096 (No Name)

P Wood, Vere A., 1LtCP Knutson, Wilmer A., 2LtNAV Peacock, Lawrence A., 1LtBOM Umphress, F.E., Jr., 1LtTT Tevis, John E., S/SgtBT Grant, Thomas V., S/SgtRO Kosher, Albert J., S/SgtLWG Heathershaw, Charles L., S/SgtTG LaFrenier, James E., S/SgtRWG Musashe, Michael, S/Sgt

B-17G #42-38051 My Yorkshire Dream

P Oranges, Chester N., 2LtCP Lawrenson, George C., 2LtNAV Whitman, John H., 2LtENG Wright, Edgar A., S/SgtTT Eisenhauer, James A., SgtBT Gentry, Richard A., SgtRO Sorese, Leonard V., S/SgtTG Franklin, Robert E., SgtRWG Korpi, Walfred J., S/SgtLWG Ward, Homer J., Jr., Sgt

B-17G #42-31241 Spirit of Wanette

P Savage, Gilbert T., 2LtCP Schwolow, John C., 2LtNAV Coffey, John B., 2LtBOM Coughlin, George A., 2LtTT Kelly, J.D., S/SgtBT Holt, Richard R., SgtTG Paul, Samuel D., S/SgtTG Stover, Edward J., SgtRWG Layton, Wilber A., SgtLWG Jefferson, Arthur G., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-38020 V-Packet

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 #42-39885 Sweet Rose O'Grady

P Combs, Americus V., III, 2LtCP Greenwood, Ernest G., 2LtNAV Brown, Thomas G., 1LtTG Helton, Edward, S/SgtTT Souder, Lee F., Jr., S/SgtBT McMahan, Bonnar P., S/SgtRO DuBray, Ernest D., Sgt TG McLaughlin, Jesse W., S/SgtRWG Rider, Wilbert, S/SgtLWG Doyle, Robert V., Sgt

B-17G #42-102432 Tiny Angel

P Barnes, Deane L., 1LtCP Shumake, Glynn F., MajNAV Randall, Everett Z., 1LtBOM Roode, William A.T., 1LtTT Sparks, Willie T., T/SgtBT Chancellor, John R., S/SgtRO Benevento, Andrew G., S/SgtTG Kendall, Dallas E., 2LtLWG Winters, Craig W., S/SgtRWG Price, John B., S/Sgt