Mission 312 - 1

5 February 1945 — Major William C. Hellerwas appointed Commanding Officer of the360th BS replacing LtCol Walter K. Shayler.Major Heller was transferred from the 303rdBG(H) Headquarters, having previouslyserved with the 360th BS and the 359th BS.

303rd BG (H) Combat Mission: No. 3126 February 1945

Target: Friedrichroda, Geisel, and Ostheim, GermanyVisual Targets of Opportunity

Crews Dispatched: 39

Length of Mission: 8 hours, 28 minutes

Bomb Load: 10 x 500 lb H.E. M43 bombs

Bombing Altitudes: 25,100, 23,500, & 25,900 ft

Ammo Fired: 580 rounds

Piloting the Scouting Force B-17G #42-31055 Aloha, 360BS, were Lt. Col. Walter K.Shayler (CO 360BS) and 1Lt. Logan B. Hatch.

Thirty-nine Group B-17s were dispatched to attackthe synthetic oil plant at Lutzkendorf, Germany (visualonly). The secondary target was the Dresden marshallingyard (visual or PFF) and the last resort was themarshalling yard at Chemnitz. Shortly before take-off, thesecondary and last resort targets were cancelled.Aircraft were ordered to attack targets of opportunity onthe routes back if the primary could not be attacked.Fortress #44-8351 (No Name), 358BS (Lt. Snider), hadmechanical problems after reaching enemy territory andreturned early.

Over the Continent and in the target area, thebombers encountered 9/10 low clouds with tops at 5,000feet. The primary target was covered with 10/10 cloudsand could not be bombed. Each of the three GroupSquadrons bombed separate targets of opportunity. TheLead Squadron dropped 120 500-lb. H.E. M43 bombs onOstheim, Germany from 25,100 feet with poor results.The Low Squadron dropped 120 500-lb. bombs and 10leaflet units on Friedrichroda, Germany from 23,500 feetwith possible fair results. The High Squadron dropped120 500-lb. bombs on Geisel, Germany from 25,900 feet doing minor damage.

There was no enemy air opposition or anti-aircraft fire. Friendly fighter support by273 1st AD P-51s was good until the formation broke up to attack individual targets. Letdowns and landings were by Squadrons. Ten aircraft landed at other bases due to weatherconditions. There were no casualties or damaged aircraft. Major Shumake believed thatthe mission was "pretty badly messed up." He stated that the mission should have beenscrubbed or should have had more than one assigned target. He reported that it wasdifficult to pick out good targets of opportunity, given the poor weather conditions.

Mission 312 - 2

B-17G #44-8590 (No Name) PFF (358BS) VK-Y

41st CBW-B Lead - Pilot 1Lt G.H. Fielder / CoPilot Maj G.F. Shumake

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group A

Fielder-Shumake8590 - PFF

Greene Snider 238 351

Heckendorf065

Erickson Gobrecht 999 7590

Walker Hewitt 427 011Greenbaum McLeod Schlecht Richardson 191 160 921 885 Garrett 096

Mission 312 - 3

1Lt Thomas M. O'Donnell Crew in the Official Photograph of the

100th Mission of B-17G #42-38050 Thunderbird 359BS (BN-U)(Due to a miss-count, it was actually only her 99th mission.)

(Back L-R) Sgt George F. Hoffman (TG), S/Sgt Louis H. Redhage (WG), 2Lt Raymond C. Crawford (B), 1Lt Thomas M. O'Donnell (P), 2Lt Zaven Jardarian (N),

Sgt Billy A. Gaumer (BTG), 2Lt Traynum D. Goulding (CP)(Front L-R) T/Sgt Sol Portney (RO), T/Sgt Norbert G. Fischer (E)

Crew Chief James Thomson is in the pilot's seat.

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group B

Kerwin-Bailey564 - PFF

Holmes Call 619 764

Rogers127

Harding Rybaltowski 767 609 Knudson Wertz 645 977O'Donnell Tarvid Barrat Bluethenthal 050 206 149 763 Proffitt 608

Mission 312 - 4

FRED E. CALL CREW - 359th BSB-17G Hell's Cargo #44-8734 (359BS) BN-C

(crew assigned 359BS: 19 Jan 1945)

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group C

Kuykendall-Losiewicz552 - PFF

Armfield Weaver 544 647

Arwood532

Statton St. Julien 842 523 Middlemas Petersen 516 081Edmunds Stiver Ayers Demian 451 563 060 248 Newell 517

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 GunnerWG - Waist GunnerLWG - Left Waist GunnerRWG - Right Waist GunnerGUN - GunnerVI - Voice InterpreterOBS - Observer

PAS - PassengerPHO - PhotographerY - Y-Operators (YRO,YO)RCM - Radio Cntr MeasuresSJ - Spot Jammer

RESULTS OF MISSIONKIA - Killed in actionWIA - Wounded in actionMIA - Missing in action

POW - Prisoner of warDOW - Died of woundsEVD - Evaded the enemyREP - RepatriatedRES - RescuedESC - EscapedBO - Bailed outDCH - DitchedCR-L - Crashed on landCR-S - Crashed at sea

Mission 312 - 5

358th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #43-38191 Shasta

P Greenbaum, Richard D., 2LtCP Sims, Allen R., 2LtNAV Nicastro, John J., F/OTOG Smith, Donald P., S/SgtENG McGreevy, James, T/SgtTG Hawes, Kenneth D., SgtRO Dalton, Denver, SgtBT Dooley, Patrick, SgtWG Frazier, Victor L., S/Sgt

B-17G #43-38999 Emma

P Erickson, Robert E., 2LtCP Cunningham, Neil E., 2LtNAV Feezel, Ralph S., 2LtTOG Quig, Francis X., SgtENG Sprinkles, Lebrow D., SgtWG Boone, Kenneth E., SgtRO Ennis, Charles S., SgtBT Carter, William J., SgtTG Crigger, Richard S., Sgt

B-17G #43-38238 (No Name)

P Greene, Robert E., 1LtCP Parson, Jerome G., 2LtNAV Milligan, William J., 2LtTOG Reimche, George K., S/SgtENG Rollinger, Joseph C., SgtWG Williams, Ira J., SgtRO Thompson, Joe C., SgtBT Covert, John L., SgtTG Jobe, Milton L., Sgt

B-17G #44-8427 Henn's Revenge

P Walker, Barton F., 2LtCP Smith, Orville H., F/ONAV Das, Mitchell C., 2LtTOG Magyar, Frank, SgtENG Wilhelm, Raymond G., SgtBT Diaczynski, Andrew J., SgtRO Jasut, Stanley, SgtWG Atkinson, Gerald V., SgtTG Massey, Ray N., Sgt

B-17G #43-37590 Neva-The Silver Lady

P Gobrecht, Harry D., 1LtCP Eby, Joe M., 2LtNAV Chambers, Rex, 2LtTOG Miller, Robert J., S/SgtENG Benefield, Lenville H., S/SgtWG Mays, Thomas G., SgtRO Quick, Edgar H., S/SgtBT McGrory, William P., S/SgtTG Buske, Phillip R., Sgt

B-17G #43-38065 Princess Pat 2

P Heckendorf, Marvin H., 1LtCP Gordon, Joseph, 2LtNAV Jones, George W., 2LtBOM Oettinger, George F., 2LtENG Gallman, Hubert W., T/SgtWG Barris, Robert L., SgtRO Windle, Bill, T/SgtTG Koerner, David M., SgtBT Lary, Raymond W., Sgt

Mission 312 - 6

358th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #43-39160 G for George

P McLeod, William S., 2LtCP Elkins, Richard A., 2LtNAV Hopkins, William B., 2LtTOG Stevenson, John L., T/SgtENG DeWillers, Edgar, SgtWG Rafferty, William A., SgtRO Guenin, Wayne E., T/SgtBT Nichols, William A., Jr., SgtTG James, Frank M., Sgt

B-17G #44-8351 (No Name) - PFF

P Snider, Harley D., 1LtCP Kunkel, Joe T., 2LtNAV McDonald, Walter N., 2LtMN Foltz, Leon P., F/OBOM Kruckemeyer, Thomas J., 2LtENG Work, John R., T/SgWG Kudder, Edward P., SgtRO Ludington, Robert S., T/SgtWG Wade, Murray W., S/Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

B-17G #43-39096 Sky Demon

P Garrett, Charles E., 2LtCP Castillo, Joseph L.A., F/ONAV Leonhirth, Junius, F/OTOG Day, Keith E., SgtENG Hohstadt, Hollis H., SgtWG Prudhoe, Charles E., SgtRO Henson, Jessey B., SgtBT Walczak, John, SgtTG Van Cleave, Joseph A., Sgt

B-17G #44-8590 (No Name) - PFF

P Fielder, George H., 1LtCP Shumake, Glynn F., MajNAV Jacobsen, Norman N., CaptNAV Fearn, Charles A., 1LtMN Garrett, Robert N., 1LtBOM Gorham, Raymond M., 1LtENG Cavagnaro, James E., T/SgtWG Cox, Lyle M., T/SgtRO Buie, Neil C., T/SgtTG Hower, Frederick C., 2Lt

Mission 312 - 7

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #43-38767 (No Name)

P Harding, Lawrence T., 2LtCP Force, James G., 2LtNAV Garvey, Richard J., 2LtTOG Otto, Kenneth, Jr., SgtENG O'Brien, William J., SgtRO Cornelius, Russell B., SgtBt Lammers, Roger G., SgtTG Johnson, Robert O., SgtWG Holden, Robert R., Sgt

B-17G #43-38645 (No Name)

P Knudson, Darwin D., 1LtCP Heitman, David E., 2LtNAV Bielski, Casimir, Jr., 2LtTOG Wilson, Johnnie R., S/SgtENG Lainson, Colin C., S/SgtRO Jones, Walter N., Jr., SgtBT Meichtry, Leo R., SgtTG McDonald, Billy L., SgtWG Schoonover, Howard D., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-38050 Thunderbird

P O'Donnell, Thomas M., 2LtCP Goulding, Traynum D., 2LtNAV Jardarian, Zaven, 2LtTOG Connor, Joseph C., T/SgtENG Fischer, Norbert G., SgtRO Portney, Sol, S/SgtBT Gaumer, Billy A., SgtTG Hoffman, George F., SgtWG Redhage, Louis H., Sgt

B-17G #43-39127 (No Name)

P Rogers, Clem W., 2LtCP Powlus, Vernon F., F/ONAV Brown, Bernard J., 2LtBOM Webber, Gale M., 2LtENG Reese, Bobbie B., SgtRO Wysocki, John F., SgtBT Simpson, James A., S/SgtTG Palsa, Rudolph, SgtWG Westfall, Byron D., Sgt

B-17G #43-38609 (No Name)

P Rybaltowski, Vincent, 2LtCP Olson, John A., 2LtNAV McLeod, Harry A., 2LtTOG Goudy, William E., S/SgtENG Perlowitz, Murray A., SgtRO Capps, Douglas M., SgtBT Hollingsworth, Donald M., SgtTG Reseigh, John R., SgtWG Vitiritto, Joseph A., Sgt

B-17G #43-38608 Lucille

P Proffitt, John S., 1LtCP Ogborn, Maurice E., 2LtNAV Finke, John C., 2LtTOG McGuire, William E., S/SgtENG Young, James W., SSgtRO Norris, Cornie, Jr., S/SgtBT Bechtold, Robert E., S/SgtTG O'Neal, Howard F., S/SgtWG Rose, G.L., S/Sgt

Mission 312 - 8

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #44-8564 (No Name) - PFF

P Kerwin, Charles E., MajCP Bailey, Jack W., 2LtNAV Davis, Daryl W., 2LtMN Weil, Frank P., 1LtBOM Dodson, Jasper C., 1LtENG Miller, Harry C., T/SgtRO Zellar, Donald W., T/SgtTG Schopplein, Orin H., 2LtWG Peters, Arthur R., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-107206 Old Black Magic

P Tarvid, Arthur J., 2LtCP Grandwilliams, Louis C., F/ONAV Hudson, Glenn V., 2LtTOG Roberts, James P., S/SgtENG Jenkins, Maurice L., SgtRO Root, Carmen W., SgtBT Muchmore, Gale F., SgtTG Dimick, Richard D., SgtWG Carlson, Dale H., Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

B-17G #43-38764 (No Name)

P Call, Fred E., 2LtCP Wilson, Carl V., 2LtNAV Fisher, William H., 2LtBOM Mieslich, Morris, F/OENG Myers, Ernest L., SgtRO Sussman, Martin, SgtBT Hager, Mark I., SgtTG Moser, Lawrence B., SgtWG Tanner, Henry C., Sgt

B-17G #43-38619 (No Name)

P Holmes, Alfred M., 2LtCP Haynes, Eugene, 2LtNAV Simon, Albert, 2LtBOM Mitchell, Robert C., 1LtENG Sprague, Wendell P., Jr., SgtRO Prehatny, Joseph R., S/SgtBT Vowels, Donovan E., S/SgtTG Bartkowski, Edward L., SgtWG Eckert, Merle W., SgtYR Zimmerman, Harold H., Sgt

Mission 312 - 9

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-102544 Sack Time

P Armfield, John M., 2LtCP Marten, Dudley V., 2LtNAV Stewart, James L., 2LtTOG Valdes, George J., S/SgtENG Lemon, James M., Jr., SgtRO Haynes, Donald L., SgtBT McNeel, Morgan L., S/SgtTG Peter, Rpbert C., SgtWG Goggin, Edward F., Sgt

B-17G #43-38532 (No Name)

P Arwood, Joe B., 1LtCP Muth, Clifford F., 1LtNAV Fowler, William C., 2LtBOM Carney, Felix A., 2LtENG Power, Thomas B., SgtRO Curry, Paul A., T/SgtBT Hulterstrum, Joseph F., SgtTG Sanchez, Crespin E., SgtWG Linn, James B., Sgt

B-17G #44-6523 (No Name)

P St. Julien, John D., 1LtCP Lucien, Ralph A., 2LtNAV Kiehlkopf, George, 2LtTOG Gerstel, Charles L., S/SgtENG Mitchell, William E., S/SgtRO Flanigan, John J., SgtBT Farthing, Richard M., SgtTG Evans, Marlin D., S/SgtWG McLellan, Raymond L., Sgt

B-17G #43-38842 (No Name)

P Statton, Roy F., 2LtCP Schroll, David A., 2LtNAV Donahue, Thomas R., 2LtTOG Woods, Heiber J., SgtENG Rhodes, William H., SgtRO Knowles, Charles D., SgtBT Buchanan, Paul A., S/SgtTG Free, Ennis B., Jr., S/SgtWG Maxson, Gordon H., Sgt

B-17G #44-6516 My Darling

P Middlemas, Arthur B., 1LtCP Schultz, John W., 2LtNAV Cooley, Royal D., 2LtTOG Giancola, James V., S/SgtENG Marshall, Leroy H., SgtRO Avenia, James J., SgtBT Parrish, George K., S/SgtTG Cranshaw, John A., S/SgtWG Maurer, John L., S/Sgt

B-17G #43-38451 (No Name)

P Edmunds, Robert E., 2LtCP Bristol, Clarence D., 2LtNAV Lofquist, Gordon B., 2LtTOG Odegaard, Duane J., S/SgtENG Hammel, Norman D., SgtRO Polo, Matthew N., SgtBT Farnham, Gordon W., SgtTG Rumberger, Frank C., SgtWG King, Raymond H., Sgt

Mission 312 - 10

B-17 42-31055 Aloha 360BS (PU-J) Nose Art

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #43-38563 Jackie

P Stiver, Merrill M., 2LtCP Kacus, Alexander, F/ONAV Beasley, Leon O., 2LtBOM Hight, Basil D., 2LtENG Auer, Kenneth R., SgtRO Godley, Walter M., SgtBT Pilgrim, Robert W., SgtTG Ciezadlo, Eugene F., S/SgtWG Marchionda, Guido P., S/Sgt

B-17G #44-6517 Old Cock

P Newell, Richard M., 2LtCP Bentley, Andrew K., 2LtNAV Dwyer, Marion J., 2LtBOM West, Albert G., F/OENG Fleming, James A., SgtRO Kirtner, Billy L., S/SgtBT Beckman, Charles W., SgtTG Moore, Bill A., SgtWG Mulqueen, John J., Sgt

Scouting AircraftB-17G #42-31055 Aloha

P Shayler, Walter K., LtColCP Hatch, Logan B., 1LtNAV McCarty, Mike D., 1LtENG Fuczka, Peter, T/SgtRO Broughton, Averell, T/Sgt

B-17G #44-8647 (No Name)

P Weaver, Jack W., 1LtCP Chalmers, John D., F/ONAV Polkadla, William J., 2LtBOM Harrison, Lewis S., 2LtENG Murphy, Jason, S/SgtRO Cole, Robert L., S/SgtBT Lardie, Thomas D., SgtTG Bailey, Arthur L., SgtWG Yepes, William J., Sgt

B-17G #44-8552 (No Name) - PFF

P Kuykendall, Roger L., 1LtCP Losiewicz, Benjamin, 1LtNAV Papp, Melvin E., 1LtPFF Gibson, Cater M., 2LtBOM Puryear, James L., 1LtENG Evans, Harry D., T/SgtRO Barton, Forrest E., T/SgtBT Boone, Everett D., S/SgtWG Alexander, John P., S/SgtTG Hardy, James H., F/O

Mission 312 - 11

427th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-31060 Poque Ma Hone

P Ayers, Roger D, 2LtCP Danna, Joseph, 2LtNAV Wagner, Charles D., 2Lt TOG Hardin, Joe A., S/SgtTT Rys, Valentine J., SgtBT Bailey, George E., SgtRO Morris, Allen L., SgtTG Turkovich, Charles J., SgtWG Clarkson, Robert T., Sgt

B-17G #44-6977 Better Do'er

P Wertz, Robert M., 1LtCP Durst, Melvin A., 2LtNAV Rogge, Richard W., 2LtTOG Garrett, Joe W., T/SgtTT Warne, Ralph W., SgtBT Jensen, Kenneth E., SgtRO Giering, Edward J., S/SgtTG Bennett, Kenneth A., SgtWG Campbell, Walter C., Sgt

B-17G #44-6921 (No Name)

P Schlecht, Walter J., 1LtCP Ferrari, Walter J., 2LtNAV Tanner, Merlin A., 2LtTOG Delcher, Merlin S., S/SgtTT Hedison, Ara H., S/SgtBT Hocknell, Raymond A., SgtRO Hradiskey, Joseph R., S/SgtTG Herod, William J., S/SgtWG Warburton, Arlis F., S/Sgt

B-17G #43-39149 (No Name)

P Barrat, Robert J., 2LtCP Harvey, Dean, 2LtNAV Best, Shirl P., F/OTOG Karp, William T., SgtTT Reiss, Raymond F., SgtBT Linhart, Louis N., SgtRO Lazarowicz, Matthew, SgtTG Emerson, George H., SgtWG Link, Herbert D., Sgt

B-17G #43-38248 Jigger Rooche II

P Demian, Julius C., F/OCP Weatherby, Earl R., F/ONAV Tractman, Bernard L., F/OTOG Ross, Joseph M., Jr., SgtTT Leach, Harry L., SgtBT Wilson, Alfred D., SgtRO Lombardi, Donato J., SgtTG Buford, Thomas A., SgtWG Sears, William A., Sgt

B-17G #43-39081 (No Name)

P Petersen, William H., 1LtCP Candido, Anthony N., 2LtNAV Bason, William A., 2LtTOG Prince, John B., T/SgtTT Zarrella, Anthony A., S/SgtBT Hartog, Samuel S., S/SgtRO Whitely, Cull W., Jr., S/Sgt TG Coleman, Loyd, S/SgtWG Tanner, Loyd H., S/Sgt

Mission 312 - 12

427th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #43-38763 (No Name)

P Bluethenthal, Arthur, 2LtCP Nemer, Alfred K., 1LtNAV Schulz, Harry H., 2LtTOG Ganson, Howard H., T/SgtTT Bohrer, Floyd S., SgtBT Canfield, Marion L., SgtRO Volpini, Peter M., SgtTG Doherty, Floyd C., Jr., SgtWG Kerr, Paul L., Sgt

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

P Richardson, Thomas W., 2LtCP Ayling, Peter D., 2LtNAV Cohen, Leo, F/OTOG Ladd, John M., SgtTT Kiely, Joseph P., T/SgtBT Graves, John M., SgtRO Hendrix, Frank H., SgtWG Wakefield, Richard E., SgtTG Higginbotham, Frank D., Sgt

B-17G #43-39011 (No Name)

P Hewitt, Donald I., 2LtCP Wilson, Jack G., 2LtNAV Natoli, Sam J., 1LtTOG Leas, Harry D., S/SgtTT Sabo, Stephen R., S/SgtBT Kohlmayer, Garth G., S/Sgt RO Schmidt, Elmer J., S/SgtTG Agrifoglio, Benjamin M., SgtWG Mussi, James L., Sgt