Mission 072 - 1

H2S (later H2X) Pathfinder Radar Equipment

303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 7227 September 1943

Target: Port Area, Emden, GermanyCrews Dispatched: 20

Crews Lost: S/Sgt. W.E. Rein wounded by flak

Length of Mission: 5 hours, 50 minutes

Bomb Load: 40 M47A1 Incendiary bombs

Bombing Altitude: 25,000 ft

Ammo Fired: 6,655 rounds

Eighth Air Force General Eaker wassatisfied with the results of thePathfinder practice missions of 23 and

25 September and decided to use the Emdenmission as the first 8th Air Force operationaluse of Pathfinder aircraft. Emden was chosenas the first target because the contrastingreflections of water and land would show upon the H2S radar scopes more distinctly thanany land target.

Group aircraft were loaded with 1,000-lb general purpose H.E. M-44 bombs and100-lb M47A1 white phosphorous bombs.The 303rd BG(H) approached the target at25,000 feet to find 7/10 to 10/10 cloud cover and eight to ten miles visibility. 1Lt. DonaldF. DeCamp in B-17 Star Dust, 358BS, aborted the mission when the No. 2 engine throttlelinkage, vibrated apart and control of the engine was lost.

Due to an extremely steep, tight left turn immediately before the target was reachedto avoid a heavy cloud at the bombing altitude, the 303rd BG(H) formation was separatedfrom the Combat Wing at the target. Bombing instructions were to adhere to the policy ofdropping on the Pathfinder B-17s parachute flares with the lead Group bombing on theflares and other Groups dropping on the lead Group. The 303rd BG(H) lead shipbombardier 1Lt. Reinaldo J. Saiz, never saw bombs being dropped by the lead Group andwas unable to drop his bombs. During the subsequent confusion, three Group aircraftdropped their bombs in the vicinity of the target area--two on the city of Norden, Germany,one near the Island of Borkum and two jettisoned bombs into the North Sea.

Flak over the target was meager and inaccurate. Approximately 25 enemy fighterswere seen. Their attacks were not persistent due to the excellent fighter protection giventhe Group by P-47s. There was one slight casualty. S/Sgt. W.E. Rein, tail gunner on Lt.Brinkley's crew in #42-5483 Red Ass 360BS, was hit by a small anti-aircraft gunfiresplinter.

Mission 072 - 2

Many of the 303rd BG(H) crews were critical of the policy that required them onlyto drop bombs when the Group lead ship dropped theirs. They could have dropped theirbombs on the Pathfinder ships' parachute flares that were clearly visible. They alsorequested that the Pathfinders "should get better organized." Groups in other Divisionshad similar confusion and problems and most bombs fell far and wide from the target area.

AIR-SEA RESCUE MISSION: On the return trip to Emden several B-17s were seen indistress with parachutes observed. A hastily organized air-sea rescue effort was organizedto search in two areas. The emergency timing gave little time for mission preparation andorganization. Gee equipment, useful in overwater searches, was missing. Crewscomplained that they were not provided with food. The search was unsuccessful. The nextday, a second air-sea rescue search was conducted by 10 B-17s of the 358th and 427thBSs. Four areas were searched at an altitude of 300 to 500 feet. The wing of an RAFfighter and a small tethered balloon were observed. The search lasted about five hours.Returning crews suggested that further searches be conducted at an altitude of 1000 feetrather than lower altitudes.

Jersey Bounce #42-29664 (358BS) VK-C41st CBW High (359BS) - Pilot R.L. Mattison / CoPilot Capt H.E. Kalhoefer

(Back L-R) 1Lt Dav id A. Rich (N), S/Sgt James E. Schneider (BTG),

Lt Reinaldo J. Saiz (B), 1Lt Robert L. Mattison (P),

1Lt Norman N. Jacobsen (N), Capt Herbert E. Kalhoefer (CP)

(Front L-R) Lt Spencer F. Case (TG/O), S/Sgt Shuble A. Boling (LWG),

T/Sgt Lloyd E. Nordyke (RO), S/Sgt David G. McEachern (RWG),

S/Sgt Morton Luman (Photo), T/Sgt Frederick J. Green (FE)

Mission 072 - 3

Route Map

Mission 072 - 4

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point

Mattison664

Phelps Hanselman 177 029

Manning565

Brown Reeder 257 561

Casello Gamble 260 341Fyler Brinkley DeCamp Sanders 393 483 064 524 Jokerst Johnston 482 562McClellan Clifford Hendry Hartigan 619 221 360 605 Ness Woddrop 158 131

One aircraft aborted: 1Lt. DeCamp in 064

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 072 - 5

358th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17F #42-5341 Vicious Virgin

P Gamble, Donald, 1LtCP Kyse, Walter R., 2LtNAV McSween, William D., 2LtBOM Coburn, Ralph F., 2LtENG Wagner, Clyde E., T/SgtRWG Vaughn, Norville, S/SgtRO Bland, Hugh N., T/SgtBT Scharch, Richard G., S/SgtTG Gilbert, Bill A., S/SgtLWG Schmeltzer, Charles S., S/Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

B-17F #41-24562 Sky Wolf

CP Johnston, John R., 1Lt CP Lake, Lester A., Jr., 2LtNAV Karraker, William H., 2Lt BOM Sweet, William D., 2Lt ENG Lopez, Rudolph S., T/Sgt RWG Mills, James E., S/Sgt RO Matthews, James O., T/SgtBT Griffin, Edward W., S/Sgt TG Moody, John P., S/Sgt LWG Cobb, Edward N., S/Sgt (Abortive Sortie)

B-17F #42-5360 Old Faithful

P Hendry, John W., Jr., 1LtCP Wise, Calder L., 2LtNAV McNamara, Bernard T., 2LtBOM Webster, Richard E., 2LtENG Biddle, Loran C., T/SgtTG Doherty, John J., S/SgtRO Brown, James J., T/SgtBT Hargrave, Alfred J., SgtRWG Raesley, Wilmer G., SgtLWG Arasin, John C., S/Sgt PHO Moffett, Ralph M., Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

B-17F #42-29524 Meat Hound

P Sanders, Roy C., 2LtCP Nogash, Henry F., 2LtNAV Wood, Gordon W., 2LtBOM Peed, Philip A., 2LtENG Rozek, Joseph A., T/SgtRWG Carll, Martin V., SgtRO Trest, James G., T/SgtBT Kremer, Mathias J., S/SgtTG Cockrum, Alfred E., S/SgtLWG Smith, Riker K., S/Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

B-17F #42-3064 Star Dust

P DeCamp, Donald F., 1LtCP Emerson, Aubrey L., 2LtNAV Haddock, Ralph M., 2LtBOM Galbraith, Robert E., 2LtENG Hembree, William T., T/SgtRO King, Robert E., SgtLWG Hoffman, Robert W., SgtBT Witherwax, Leon J., SgtTG Tracy, Richard J., S/SgtRWG McLawhorn, Jerry C., Sgt(Abortive)

B-17F #41-24605 Knockout Dropper

P Hartigan, William R., 2LtCP Campbell, Paul W., 2LtNAV Douthett, Lorin F., 2LtBOM Dorsey, Bernard F., 2LtENG Resto, Clement, T/SgtLWG Lowther, John W., S/SgtRO Ward, Robert L., T/SgtRWG Dove, Charles J., S/SgtBT Stoddard, Val F., S/SgtTG Ince, James T., S/SgtPHO Martin, Wallace G., Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

Mission 072 - 6

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17F #42-5257 Miss Bea Haven

P Brown, Malcolm E., 1LtCP Szelwian, Felix T., 2LtNAV Alloway, Hillard C., 2LtBOM Schreidell, Matthew, 2LtENG Wright, Malcolm, S/SgtRO Cirello, Ralph T., T/SgtLWG Boucher, Henry C., S/SgtBT Konecko, John, SgtTG Boggs, Calvin E., S/SgtTT Manchester, Robert E., Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

B-17F #41-24565 Idaho Potato Peeler

P Manning, John P., 1LtCP Blossom, George H., 2LtNAV Antman, Jack, 2LtBOM Shafer, John H., 1LtENG Keesling, George R., T/SgtTG Jennings, Harley F., S/SgtRO Fitzsimmons, Kenneth P., T/SgtRWG Santella, Albert C., S/SgtBT Mace, LeRoy L., S/SgtLWG McKenna, Robert I., Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

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

P Phelps, Robert L., Jr., 1LtCP Bolsover, Harold S., F/ONAV Johnson, Lloyd S., 2LtBOM Rothman, Theodore I., 1LtENG Powell, Marvin F., S/SgtTT Robb, Charles W., SgtRO McGee, Paul P., S/SgtBT Joubert, Francis M., SgtTG Perryman, Jack L., SgtLWG Robichaud, Joseph E., Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

B-17F #41-24561 The Duchess

P Reeder, D.M., 1LtCP McLean, Ralph C., 2LtNAV Salk, Harvey M., 2LtBOM Vermillion, Earl E., 2LtENG Herod, Henry W., T/SgtTG Hayes, John J., S/SgtRO Mowery, Ellis D., T/SgtLWG Hull, Kenneth W., S/SgtBT Wright, Samuel S., S/SgtRWG Newman, John N., S/SgtPHO Mahffey, William D., Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

B-17F #42-3029 Wallaroo

P Hanselman, Charles F., 2LtCP Calwell, Lucien B., 2Lt NAV Ramsey, Elijah W., Jr., 2LtBOM Livermore, William D., 2LtENG Fouss, Howard E., T/SgtTT Laubert, Robert J., S/SgtRO Mouser, Lloyd C., SgtRWG Williams, Walter S., S/SgtBT Armstrong, Keith N., S/SgtTG Tybuszewski, Mitchel J., S/Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

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

P Mattison, Robert L., 1LtCP Kalhoefer, Herbert E., CaptNAV Jacobsen, Norman N., 1LtNAV Rich, David A., 1LtBOM Shafer, John H., 1LtENG Green, Frederick J., T/SgtRO Nordyke, Lloyd E., T/SgtRWG McEachern, David C., S/SgtBT Schneider, James E., S/SgtLWG Boling, Shuble A., SgtTG Case, Spencer F., 1LtPHO Morton, Luman, S/Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

Mission 072 - 7

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17F #42-5393 Thumper Again

P Fyler, Carl J., 1LtCP Ward, Robert C., LtNAV Davis, Darius R., LtBOM Gibson, Steve M., LtENG Addison, Bill J., T/SgtRWG Fisher, George C., S/SgtRO Jillson, John S., S/SgtBT Ford, Ray D., S/SgtTG Sawicki, Joseph R., S/SgtLWG Stachowiak, Martin G., Sgt(Sortie)

B-17F #42-5260 Yardbird II

P Casello, John J., CaptCP Jackson, Theodore M., LtNAV Molnar, George, LtBOM Rice, Bernard, LtENG Carnathan, Hugh S., T/SgtRG Stout, Otis T., S/SgtRO Calco, Anthony, T/SgtLWG Frost, Carlyle A., S/SgtBT Ponder, Truly S., S/SgtRWG Gray, Johnnie E., S/Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

B-17F #42-5483 Red Ass

P Brinkley, Pharis C., LtCP Parrott, John H., LtNAV Becker, Sylvester J., LtBOM Petrolino, James S., LtENG Worthington, Arthur J., T/SgtLWG Lance, Guy A., S/SgtRO Snyder, Richard N., T/SgtRWG Ferguson, Charles R., S/SgtBT Reid, Harold C., S/SgtTG Rein, William E., S/Sgt(Sortie)

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

P Jokerst, Leonard E., LtCP Bergeron, Willard H., LtNAV Noland, James B., LtBOM DeFeis, Robert N., LtENG Serwa, Alphonse B., T/SgtRWG Stephen, William H., S/SgtRO Cline, Leroy, T/SgtBT Stevens, A.S., T/SgtLWG Wilson, George W., S/SgtTG Appleton, Vernon R., S/SgtPHO Chuhran, Erven A., Sgt(Sortie)

Mission 072 - 8

427th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17 #42-3131 Flak Wolf

P Woddrop, Edward M., Lt CP Henderson, Grover C., LtNAV Iverson, Ingvald M., LtBOM Bierman, Leonard B., LtENG Barlow, Benjamin, T/SgtBT Allen, Glen R., S/SgtRO Mulholland, John J., T/SgtLWG Baggs, Charles C., S/SgtTG Valis, William, S/SgtRWG Priestly, Van B., S/Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

B-17F #41-24619 S for Sugar

P McClellan, George S., Jr., LtCP Greenwood, Ernest G., LtNAV Kotz, Warren C., LtBOM Cornish, Merlin L., LtENG Tempesta, David, T/SgtRWG Chiles, Alfred B., Jr., S/SgtRO Callihan, George A., T/SgtBT Yarian, Robert G., S/SgtLWG Heaton, Barnell S., SgtTG Dugan, Charles E., S/Sgt(Sortie)

B-17F #42-5221 Son

P Clifford, Bernard J., LtCP Jahn, Charles O., LtNAV Stata, Charles M., LtBOM Bruce, Robert V., LtENG Dyke, Andrew A., LtTT Horning, A.E., S/SgtRO Hartzog, F.G., T/SgtBT Gale, Charles L., S/SgtTG Heller, W.O., S/SgtLWG McLarty, J.L., S/Sgt(Sortie)

B-17F #42-3158 Max

P Ness, Howard C., LtCP Barker, John C., LtNAV Doyle, Robert V., LtBOM Reeder, John J., LtENG Walsh, Charles E., T/SgtBT Tambe, Angelo L., S/SgtRO Ratliff, Leonard E., T/SgtLWG McGrew, Robert H., S/SgtRWG Hoff, Henry, SgtTG Ferguson, Jack D., Sgt(Sortie)