Mission 052 - 1

LtCol Kermit D. Stevens

303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 5224 July 1943

Target: Nordisk Magnesium/Aluminum Factory, Heroya, Norway

Crews Dispatched: 20

Length of Mission: 7 hours, 45 minutes

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

Bombing Altitude: 15,350 ft

Ammo Fired: 2,700 rounds

The 303rd BG()H) was assigned a new Commanding Officeron 19 July 1943. Colonel Charles E. Marion was transferredto the 1st Bombardment Wing as Deputy Commanding

Officer, Operations. The new Commanding Officer was LieutenantColonel Kermit D. Stevens. LtCol Stevens was a member of theoriginal 8th Air Force contingent when the 8th Air Force wasconstituted at Savannah, Georgia on 19 January 1942. He waspart of the small 8th Air Force nucleolus that came to England inJanuary 1942 and served as the 8th Air Force Operations Officer.He became the longest serving 303rd BG(H) Commanding Officer,from 19 July 1943 to 01 September 1944.

The last week of July 1943 became known as “Blitz Week.”When General Eaker was informed that clear skies could be expected over Europe for afew days, he scheduled a series of six missions against German targets. Blitz Week beganwith Major Lewis E. Lyle flying in #42-29931 Satan's Workshop, leading twenty bomberson the longest trip to date to bomb Norway. LtCol. Kermit D. Stevens flew as co-pilot with1Lt. Guy H. McClung in #41-24605 Knockout Dropper in the 359th BS High Squadron leadB-17.

Each aircraft carried ten 500-lb bombs. The formations flew across the North Seaat 2,500 feet to conserve fuel before climbing to their 15,000 feet bombing altitude. Theyflew with full cloud cover until just before they reached the target as the high group in the103rd Provisional Bombardment Group (303rd, 379th and 384th BGs). Each Groupdecided to make separate bomb runs. A hole appeared in the clouds just before the 303rdBG(H) reached the target, which allowed a perfect bomb run. There was so much smokefrom the formations which had previously bombed that Maj. Lyle led his formation over thetarget twice before the bombardier, Lt. Bernard Rice released the bombs. When he didrelease them, it was necessary to aim for the center of the rising smoke columns.

There were no fighters observed by any of the Group crews, but the anti-aircraft firewas intense and accurate. One aircraft sustained major damage and nine received minordamage. There were no personnel casualties.

Mission 052 - 2

Maj. Lyle summed up the raid with this statement: "There was a pillar of smoke upto 6,000 feet before we got there. The ships that went ahead of us really bombed the hellout of it. The target was so smoky we had to make two passes in order to see it. Ourbombs landed right smack on it. It was the best mission I have been on. Heavybombardment at its best. There wasn't a fighter in the sky."

Lt. George Stallings in Alley Oop remarked, "A tedious trip but a good one. Bestof all, there were no fighters menacing us." Lt. Thomas E. Mulligan, riding as an observerof Fast Worker MK II said, "The Forts going in and coming out looked like traffic at 42ndStreet and Broadway in the good old days." Waist gunner S/Sgt. Norville Vaughn said,"Didn't see a thing. Clouds going over and coming back and too much smoke on thetarget. Just test-fired my guns, that's all." T/Sgt. Robert W. Noll, radio operator on Butchadded, "The only thing I saw was my mother's homeland, Norway. No shooting 'causethere was nothing to shoot at."

The Heroya, Norway mission--over 2,000 miles round trip--was a classic "textbook"mission. It was one of the most successful missions of the war. The plant, consideredessential to the German war effort had just been completed. The dedication ceremony wastaking place as the bombs began to drop. Destruction was so complete that the plantnever opened. Many top-ranking German and Norwegian collaborators attending thededication ceremony were killed.

American Red Cross Clubmobile visiting Molesworth. It was always welcome

with its coffee, donuts and conversation with pretty Red Cross Girls.

Mission 052 - 3

Route Map

Mission 052 - 4

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point

Lyle-Clifton931

Way Cogswell 483 973

Stallings854

Casello Van Wie 393 606

Rogan McClung-Stevens 664 605Kruse Sumarlidason Mattison Reeder 360 264 177 561 Lemmon Nix 192 635Timken Clark Pentz Loughnan 064 571 416 482 Shelhamer Cote 081 788

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 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 052 - 5

358th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17F #42-5360 Old Faithful

P Kruse, Richard L., 1LtCP Hendry, John W., Jr., 1LtNAV McNamara, Bernard T., 2LtBOM Webster, Richard E., 2LtENG Biddle, Loran C., T/SgtLWG Doherty, John J., S/SgtRO Brown, James J., T/SgtBT Humphries, Olwin L., S/SgtTG Abney, Howard L., S/SgtRWG Arasin, John C., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-29664 Jersey Bounce, Jr.

P Rogan, Dave L., 1LtCP Gamble, Donald, 1LtNAV Karraker, William H., 2LtBOM Coburn, Ralph F., 2LtENG Wagner, Clyde E., T/SgtLWG Vaughn, Norville, S/SgtRO Bland, Hugh N., T/SgtBT Scharch, Richard G., S/SgtTG Gilbert, Bill A., S/SgtRWG Schmeltzer, Charles S., Sgt

B-17F #42-3064 Star Dust

P Timken, Jack C., 1LtCP Kyse, Walter R., 2LtNAV Chamberlain, William V., 2LtBOM Solverson, Robert K., 2LtENG Knuth, Leland M., T/SgtRWG Redhead, George R., S/SgtRO Baxter, Jack, SgtBT Toy, James E., S/SgtTG Giassullo, Criscienzo N., S/SgtLWG Brooks, John W., Sgt

B-17F #42-5264 Yankee Doodle Dandy

P Sumarlidason, Arni L., 2LtCP Benepe, Louis M., 1LtNAV Cassidy, Raymond J., 2LtBOM Sager, Richard A., 2LtENG Backiel, Stanley J., T/SgtBT Stender, Francis H., S/SgtRO Grimm, Richard C., S/SgtRWG Clemens, Bruce R., T/SgtLWG Cassidy, Edward J., S/SgtTG Buske, George W., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-29571 Charley Horse

P Clark, Elmo E., F/OCP DeCamp, Donald F., 2LtNAV Haddock, Ralph M., 2LtBOM Galbraith, Robert E., 2LtENG Hembree, William T., T/SgtRO Brooke, Curtis O., T/SgtRWG Doback, Charles R., S/SgtBT Mathews, Frank M., S/SgtTG Jenkins, William H., S/SgtLWG Tracy, Richard J., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-3192 (No Name)

P Lemmon, John V., 1Lt CP Harper, William J., 2Lt NAV Gust, Darrell D., 2Lt BOM Stone, Elbert E., 2Lt ENG Berzansky, Andrew, T/Sgt RWG Beavers, Albert T., S/Sgt RO Zeller, Caryl C., T/Sgt BT Bagwell, Clayton R., S/Sgt TG Brown, Virgil E., S/Sgt LWG Briggs, Wayne E., S/Sgt PHO Luman, Morton, Sgt

Mission 052 - 6

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17F #42-5177 Fast Worker MK II

P Mattison, Robert L., 1LtCP Manning, John P., 2LtNAV Rich, David A., 1LtBOM Shafer, John H., 1LtENG Green, Frederick J., T/SgtRO Nordyke, Lloyd E., T/SgtTG McEachen, David C., S/SgtBT Schneider, James E., S/SgtLWG Case, Spencer F., 2LtTT Vogel, George W., S/SgtPHO Mulligan, Thomas E., 2Lt

B-17F #42-5482 Cat-O-Nine Tails

P Loughnan, Victor J., 2LtCP Gredvig, Winfield H., 2LtNAV Maxwell, James L., 2LtBOM Robinson, John M., 2LtENG High, Eugene W., T/SgtLWG Knorpp, Billy F., S/SgtRO Daley, Russell M., T/SgtBT McGee, Kenneth L., S/SgtRWG Barr, Gordon E., S/SgtTG McConaghy, Leo R., S/Sgt

B-17F #41-24635 The '8' Ball MK II

P Nix, James S., 1LtCP Phelps, Robert L., Jr., 1LtNAV Street, Benamin B., 1LtBOM Gordon, LeRoy V., 1LtENG Doran, Arnold S., T/SgtTT Jordan, Lloyd L., S/SgtRO McGee, Paul P., S/SgtTG Jones, John D., SgtBT Lemann, Paul C., S/SgtLWG Kerr, Joseph, S/SgtPAS Newell, Robert H., Capt

B-17F #41-24561 The Duchess

P Reeder, D.M., 2LtCP McLean, Ralph C., 2LtNAV Salk, Harvey M., 2LtBOM Vermillion, Earl E., 2LtENG Herod, Henry W., T/SgtLWG Hayes, John J., S/SgtRO Mowery, Ellis D., T/SgtRWG Hull, Kenneth W., S/SgtBT Wright, Samuel S., S/SgtTG Swan, Henry, S/Sgt

B-17F #41-24605 Knockout Dropper

P McClung, Guy H., 1LtCP Stevens, Kermit D., LtColNAV Jacobsen, Norman N., 2LtBOM Rothman, Theodore I., 2LtNAV Yonkman, Robert J., CaptENG Traban, James J., S/SgtRO Roberts, Raymond K., T/SgtTT Powell, Marvin F., S/SgtTG Piatek, Casimir P., S/SgtBT Joubert, Francis M., SgtLWG Ryan, Francis J., S/Sgt

B-17F #41-24416 Black Diamond Express

P Pentz, Arthur H., 1LtCP Brown, Malcolm E., 2LtNAV Alloway, Hillard C., 2LtBOM Philpit, Russell O., 1LtENG Kalhoefer, Herbert E., CaptBT Edwards, Hurd L., SgtRO Murray, Robert L., T/SgtRWG Horvath, Robert A., S/SgtTG Knudsen, Elmer T., SgtLWG Howard, George Z., S/SgtOBS Bolsover, Harold S., F/O

Mission 052 - 7

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17F #42-29606 Butch

P Van Wie, John A., LtCP Walsh, James D., LtNAV Blank, Paul, LtBOM Taylor, Robert L., LtENG Hlebasko, Albert, T/SgtBT Morton, Eugene L., S/SgtRO Noll, Robert W., T/SgtRWG Spring, Benjamin F., S/SgtLWG Swanson, Theodore G., S/SgtTG Bridges, Robert C., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-5393 Thumper Again

P Casello, John J., LtCP Huguenin, Wesley V., LtNAV Millner, Israel, LtBOM Fawcett, Jack B., LtENG Carnathan, Hugh S., T/SgtRWG Gray, Johnnie E., S/SgtRO Calco, Anthony, T/SgtLWG Frost, Carlyle A., S/SgtBT Ponder, Truly S., S/SgtTG Stout, Otis T., S/SgtGUN Plummer, Robert, S/SgtOBS Currie, Herman C., Lt

B-17F #42-5483 Red Ass

P Way, Arthur C., LtCP Fyler, Carl J., LtNAV Molnar, George, LtBOM Gibson, Steve M., LtENG Addison, Bill J., T/SgtLWG Stachowiak, Martin G., S/SgtRO Jillson, John S., S/SgtRWG Fisher, George C., S/SgtTG Kelly, Thomas F., T/SgtBT Ford, Ray D., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-2973 Iza Vailable

P Cogswell, Robert W., LtCP Tippet, Paul S., LtNAV Cobb, Edward L., LtBOM Kennedy, John B., LtENG Bengston, Gilbert E., T/SgtRWG Etheredge, Alvin, S/SgtRO Deerfield, Eddie, S/SgtBT Davis, Paul J., S/SgtLWG Brundage, Augustus V., S/SgtTG Timm, Harold R., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-29931 Satan's Workshop

P Lyle, Lewis E., MajCP Clifton, David S., LtNAV Wright, Howard R., LtBOM Rice, Bernard, LtNAV Rosenblum, Nathan J., LtENG Doss, Carroll P., T/SgtLWG Compo, Anthony, S/SgtRO Morrison, Eugene D., T/SgtBT Mitchell, John B., S/SgtRWG Jameson, Jimmie E., S/SgtTG Garvey, John L., LtOBS Villarreal, Rodolfo A., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-5854 Alley Oop

P Stallings, George V., Jr., Lt CP Bradbury, Joseph E., Lt NAV Kelley, James F., Lt BOM Kulesa, Frank E., Lt ENG Watson, James A., T/Sgt RWG Yattaw, Robert H., S/Sgt RO Kistulentz, Paul, T/SgtBT Stevens, A.S., T/Sgt TG Stickler, John J., S/Sgt LWG Pierson, Lawrence C., SgtOBS Henderson, Paul E., S/Sgt

Mission 052 - 8

427th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17F #42-5788 A.O.G. Not in Stock

P Cote, Addell A., LtCP Eckhart, Alan, LtNAV Barnhill, Wilbur R, LtBOM Hull, John W., LtENG Arter, John R., T/SgtBT May, Cecil M., S/SgtRO Reaves, Vaughan, T/SgtTG Gunsauls, Paul, S/SgtLWG Micek, John M., S/SgtRWG Keaton, Joe J., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-5081 Luscious Lady

P Shelhamer, David P., Jr., LtCP Tucker, Frederick W., LtNAV Kotz, Warren C., LtBOM Lewis, William L., LtENG Willet, John K., S/SgtBT Garrett, Frank O., SgtRO Harvie, Warren L., T/SgtTG Vateckas, Coster R., S/SgtLWG Barlow, Elmer O., T/SgtRWG Volz, Robert J., S/Sgt