351st Bomb Group

1. 1. Roll Call and Assign Aircraft.
   2. Stations  –0630
   3. Start Engines –0730 - 0745
   4. Taxi  –0740 - 0755
   5. Take off –0755 - 0810
   6. Return to Base –1411
   7. C.O.'s [Commanding Officers] Comment -
2. Target for today: 1. A/C [Aircraft] component factory & indurtrial area, Solingen, Germany.
   2. I.G. Farben Industry at Laverkusen, Germany
   Loading: 8 x 500 [lb. +] 20 American Incendiaries.
3. S-2 [Intelligence] –
4. Navigator:
   1. Wing Rendezvous:
   2. Altitude and time on Oxygen:
   3. Route in, I.P. [Initial Point of Bomb Run], Return:
   4. C.W. [Combat Wing] dispersal point:
   5. Emergency Fields
5. Weather -
6. Operations -
   1. Wing Formation - Lead - 351st, High - 351st, Low - 401st
      1st C.W.[Combat Wing] - _____, Air Commander - Col. Peasley.
      SOP [Standard Operating Procedure] - Pilots & Navigators to report to Group Operations as soon after landing as possiple - Polebrook is Point "P".
      Angels & Devils [Thousands of feet above or below ordered altitude.]
7. Diversions and other efforts -
   1st two combat wings on Laverkusen, Germany.
   2nd Division to follow us as closely as possible.
   
8. Fighter Cover -
   1. Type and No. - 1 Group of P-47's from 5125-0500 [Weelde, Belgium] to limit of range.
      
   2. Type and No. - 1 Group of P-47's from 5100-0610 [near Geilenkirchen, Germany] to limit of range.
      
   3. Type and No. - 1 Group of P-47's from 5056-0725 [10 miles East of Cologne] to limit of range.
      
   4. Type and No. - 1 Group of P-47's from 5110-0620 [3 miles West of Mönchengladbach, Germany] to limit of range.
      
   5. Type and No. - 5 Squadrons of Spits [Spitfires] to furnish withdrawl for 1st division from 5130-0500 [Just South of Tilburg, Netherlands] to limit of range.
      
9. Special Instructions -
   1. PFF [Pathfinder Force] VHF code word for I.P. [Initial Point of Bomb Run]: Penalized.
   2. Visual sighting if possible.
   3. Enemy A/C [Aircraft] attacking through vapor trails of our A/C.
   4. Each A/C of lead group of 41st CBW [Combat Wing] fire a red flare at time of bomb release.
   5. Each Group & Squadron Leader will fire one YY [Yellow Yellow] flare at I.P.
   Lea' group High Sqdn. flew too high yesterday.
10. C.O's [Commanding Officer's] Comment -
11. Dismissal of all but Pilots and Co-Pilots

12. 	Call Sign	[Tail] Letter		Flares
    1st C.W. [Combat Wing]	Goonchild			RR [Red Red]
    1st Composite C.B.W. Leader	Ragweed
    351st Group	Ragweed Red	J		RR
    401st Group	Ragweed White	S
    351st High	Ragweed Blue	J
    1st C.W. Command Post
    Air Commander	Goldbrick
    40th C.W.	Bullpen			YY
    41st C.W.	Fatgal			GG

    
    

    Spits [Spitfires] - Garlic Two	Bombers - Dipeg two one		Ground Sector - Spicecake
    P-47's - Denner two	Bombers - Kenton two-one		Ground Sector - Free Gift

    
    

    VHF Channels		Channel		Ships Monitor
    1st C.W. Composite		A		All Ships Except
    				Lead Group [Plane #'s]	High Group [Plane #'s]
    Air Commander		B		1162, 9823	9761, 9857
    Spits		C		9860, 9848	3140, 3523
    P-47's		D		9821, 0866	5824, 9834

13. Colors of the day:

    Time	Color	Ident.	Challenge
    0700 - 1300	GY [Green Yellow]	V	S
    1300 - 1900	R-RR	X	P

14. Flying Control - A. Taxi Plan, B. Runways and Taxi Strips, C. Spares
15. Conclusion -

1. Twenty-one aircraft, including the two Pathfinder aircraft, took off as scheduled.
2. One aircraft returned from within England due to mechanical failure.
3. Due to the failure of PFF equipment in the aircraft leading the Division Formation, the 351st Group Leader took over the lead position of the Division formation.
4. The target was attacked at 1159. Bombing results were not observed.
5. Flak was intense and accurate. Fighter attacks were pressed home in the target area while the fighter escort was absent.
6. The 40th Combat Wing was followed on the return route.
7. One aircraft is missing, while six landed at various RAF fields because of fuel shortage of mechanical difficulties.

1. Twenty-one aircraft of the High Combat Box took off as scheduled and formed over the field at 18,000 feet. The Wing rendezvous was carried out as planned.
2. Four aircraft returned early due to mechanical failures.
3. Flak in the target area was moderate and generally accurate. The formation suffered less battle damage than did the Lead Combat Box. Enemy aircraft attacks were pressed home in the target area while friendly fighter cover was not present.
4. Bombs were away at 1200 hours. The Lead aircraft did not see the bombs away from the Combat Wing Leader, and as a result did not drop on him. Most of the other aircraft, however, did drop on the 40th Combat Wing Leader, on orders from the Air Division Commander. Bombs from the lead aircraft were jettisoned in the Channel.
5. The return trip was made without incident. This formation returned south of course, following the 40th Combat Wing.
6. One aircraft is missing in action.

1. The 351st "B" Group flying in the High position of the 1st Composite Combat Wing fell in trail of the Combat Wing Lead Group upon reaching the IP because the 40th Combat Wing had forced him out of position. On the bombing approach the 40th Combat Wing was in the position that should have been occupied by the 351st "B" Group. The Air Division Commander ordered the 351st "B" Group to release on the bombs of the 40th Combat Wing. Bombs were released on the leader of the 40th Combat Wing with very little difficulty. Twenty seconds after releasing the 500 Lb. G.P.[General Purpose] bombs, the Incendiaries were released.

1. Take-off from Base was as planned, and the Group left the field at 18,000 ft. The Wing rendezvoused as planned, and proceeded to the Division assembly line.
2. The Lead Wing of the Division was eight (8) minutes late, and as a result, all Wings left the coast abreast. The Lead Wing's PFF [Pathfinder Force] equipment was out of order, so the First Composite Combat Wing took the lead. We proceeded by DR [Dead Reckoning] to the IP [Initial Point of Bomb Run], and the primary was bombed as planned, on PFF over a ten-tenths (10/10) undercast at 25,000 ft.
3. Fighter opposition was light, and flak over the Ruhr was intense. Fighter escort was good, except in the Target area.
4. The return trip was made South of course by the 40th Combat Wing, and we followed them home, letting down early because of high Cirrus clouds.
5. Five (5) aircraft returned early, because of mechanical difficulty.
6. Two (2) aircraft are mission at time of writing.
7. Twelve (12) aircraft landed at other fields due to fuel shortage and mechanical failures.

Bombardier - 1st Lt. E.E. Evans  Pilot - Major J.T. Stewart Navigator - Capt. C.L. Maze
Aircraft # 42-3490  Take-off - 0755  Landed - at Alconbury
Objective - Solingen, Germany
Aiming Point (MPI)[Mean Point of Impact] - Center of City
Initial Point - Rosbach
Method of Attack - Wing
Number of Planes in Group - 20    Composite Group -
Number of Planes in Each Unit Performing Sighting Operations -
Number A/C Dropping Bombs by own sighting operation - PFF
Deflection and Range sighting, Group -    Composite Group -
Range Sighting only, Group -    Composite Group -
Bombs, Types and Sizes - M-43 500# G.P. M-47A-1 100#
Number of Bombs Loaded - 152 M-43 378 M-47    Released - 144 M-43 358 M-47
Fusing, Nose - 1/10 and Instantaneous    Tail - 1/40
Synchronization - PFF

Type of Release - Train
Point of Impact If Seen - Unobserved
Mean Temp. Metro 18° Actual 18°
Winds - Altitude - 25,000 Ft.  Direction - Est. 35° Actual 40°  Velocity - Est. 100 Actual 65  Temp C. - Est. -44° C. Actual -44° C. Note: Group released on PFF Bombs

1. No damage assessment can be made on mission of December 1 because of 10/10 cloud coverage over target area. Three cameras obtained prints, but only thick cloud formations can be seen.
2. There were fifteen cameras on the mission; three aborted, four inoperative due to cold, four landed elsewhere, one still missing, and three printed.

1. The target for 1 December 1943 was the Ruhr town of Solingen, Germany. Due to heavy cloud cover, the bombing results were unobserved, and it was impossible to get photographic coverage of bomb bursts.
2. 19 A/C and 2 PFF A/C took off at 0755 hrs. as lead box of the CW [Combat Wing], but A/C 9860 was forced to turn back at 52°34'N - 00°52'E within England from 22,000 feet at 1016 hrs. when No. 1 engine failed. The remaining A/C continued into enemy territory on a course slightly north of the one briefed, bombed through 10/10 clouds on a heading of about 340°, and proceeded back to home base on a course far south of the scheduled route. The main body landed at home base at 1425 hrs., but six aircraft landed short of home due to various causes as yet undetermined. They are as follows: A/C 9861 and 731 at Framlingham; A/C 9835 and 9850 at Martlesham Heath; A/C 7780 at Laken Heath; and A/C 9831 at Knettisell. A/C 847 [42-37847] was lost to E/A [Enemy Aircraft] attacks just past the target and was seen to spiral down out of formation by A/C N-774 [42-37774], leader of the second element, high squadron ahead of the element in which A/C 847 was flying. As yet definite destruction has not been confirmed, but the A/C is missing.
3. About 50 E/A, ME-109s and FW-190s, were encountered by this box within a half hour of the target both in and out. The heaviest attacks were made around the I.P. [Initial Point of Bomb Run] when there was a gap in the P-47 fighter cover for several minutes. Attacks were principally from head on, above and level, but there were some from out of the thin clouds below at the tail by white ME-109s. An instance of aerial bombing was reported, but the generally practiced strategy of the E/A seemed to be to engage the escort and cause it to run out of gas, then attack the bombers when the escort had to leave because of a low fuel supply. Fighter cover was generally good. Our claims are for one E/A destroyed and three probables. Reports are not yet complete. Our casualties are one man dead from lack of oxygen. He is James T. Phillips, tail gunner on A/C 731 [42-37731].
4. Meager, inaccurate, black flak was encountered first by this box flying lead group of the CW at 25,000 feet over Overflakkee Island [Netherlands] at 1100 hrs. Moderate black flak, accurate for height and fair for deflection, was met near Duren at 1120 hrs. Flak from about seven guns was reported at Roermond; this was black and accurate for height and deflection. At Ostend at 1204 hrs. accurate black fire from an estimated 12 guns was encountered.
5. Weather over the target consisted of towering cumulus 8-10/10 clouds with tops as high as 24,000 feet. The target was not visible.
6. Our A/C 1162 and 9925 observed a small white balloon, about three feet in diameter, float through the formation near the I.P.[Initial Point of Bomb Run], but did not know what purpose it was serving.

1. The target for today was the center of the city of Solingen, Germany. Results were unobserved, and photographs show nothing to enlighten knowledge of the results.
2. 21 A/C took off at 0812, reaching the target at 1205. A/C 9863 and A/C 3509 were unable to see the PFF ship drop its bombs, the former jettisoning its bombs in the Channel on the way back and the latter dropping its bombs on Aachen, Germany. A/C 7845 turned back half-way across the Channel at 1055 because the oxygen system failed and jettisoned its bombs in the Channel. A/C 3523 turned back at 1010 hrs. in the vicinity of Kings Lynn because of the burning out of an exhaust collecter ring. A/C 9948 turned back at 1015 hrs. in the vicinity of Fakenham because of the failure of the oxygen system and because one supercharger went out. A/C 9853 turned back at 1035 just inland from Lowesteft because of supercharger trouble. These three planes brought their bombs back. A/C 9654 and A/C 5824 landed at Framlingham on return; A/C6151 landed at Horham, A/C 9858 landed at Laken Heath, and A/C 9762 landed at Woodbridge on return. It is believed that all these ships landed away from this field due to lack of fuel.
3. Approximately 30 E/A were seen by members of this Group, these being ME-109s and FW-190s, with particular emphasis on the ME-109s. The attacks started in the vicinity of the I.P., just as soon as the fighter support was missing, and continued until about ten minutes past the target when the friendly aircraft reappeared. There was not a great number of attacks on this group, the principal power of the enemy seeming to have been thrown at lower formations. The attacks that were made on this group were made particularly between eleven and two o'clock from both below and above. Those attacks coming from above were against the high squadron and these from below were mostly against the low side of the squadron. There were no casualties in this group. Fighter support was reported as being very good except for the lapse just before and after the target. This group had no combat claims.
4. Over the coast going in flak was meager and inaccurate both for height and deflection. A few bursts of inaccurate white flak was reported in the area of Eindhoven. Meager to moderate flak, good for height but poor for deflection, was encountered in the vicinity of Aachen. Over the Ruhr, after leaving the target, flak was moderate, good for height but poor for deflection. Over the coast on the route out meager flak was encountered from the airdrome near Ostend which was good for height but poor for deflection.
5. Weather was reported as being 5/10's clouds over the Channel, and a little way inland, which grew into an overcast of 8/10's to 10/10's in the target area.

1. In compliance with Co-ordination Memorandum No. 3, 19 July, 1943, the following data on the Mission of 1 December, 1943 is submitted.
   1. 1. No. of Aircraft Assigned:  19
         No. Failed to Take-off:  0
         No. of Abortives:  1
         No. Missing:  1
   2. 1. 351st Bomb Group flew the Lead Combat Box of the 1st Combat Bomb Wing formation.
      2. The bombing altitude was 23,600 feet (True altitude above Target).
      3. In addition, two Pathfinder aircraft of the 482nd Bomb Group flew as Lead and Deputy Lead Ships.

1. In compliance with Co-ordination Memorandum No. 3, 19 July, 1943, the following data on the Mission of 1 December, 1943 is submitted.
   1. 1. No. of Aircraft Assigned:  21
         No. Failed to Take-off:  0
         No. of Abortives:  4
         No. Missing:  1
   2. 1. 351st Bomb Group flew the High Combat Box of the 1st Combat Bomb Wing formation.
      2. The bombing altitude was 24,600 feet (True altitude above Target).

Target - Solingen, Germany
1. Route followed. - NW end of Overflakkee Island - 5 mi. SW of Bonn - Freudenberg - Target - Eupen [Belgium] Ostend [Belgium].
2. Visibility at Target. - 9-10/10 cloud. Dense non-persistant contrails.
3. No. of A/C over Target: 18 plus 2 PFF
4. General Axis of attack. - 344° True
5. How long did formation fly straight and level before bombing? - 1 minute
6. Turn after bombing. - 110 degree left turn.
7. Position of Group in relation to other Groups: Lead group of 1st Composite Combat Wing.
8. What evasive action was taken? - 5 degree right and left turns.
9. A short description of Flak en route. - Our formation flying at 25,000 feet first encountered meager, inaccurate flak while crossing Overflakkee Island at 1100. An estimated seven guns were reported at Roermond, fairly accurate for height and deflection. Moderate flak, accurate for height and fair for deflection, was encountered in the vicinity of Duren at 1129. Flak was observed in the vicinity of Cologne and Bonn as our formation was passing to the south and making the turn before the I.P.; this was not aimed at out formation, and was probably a barrage. Moderate flak was encountered during the three-minute period after our formation left the target; it was accurate, probably continuous following, although some crews reported a barrage below our altitude (25,000 feet). There was also a barrage reported at Dusseldorf, accurate for our altitude. At the coast going out, in the vicinity of Ostend, at 1304, accurate fire from an estimated 12 guns was encountered. Meager inaccurate fire, probably from a ship, was observed five miles north-west of Ostend.
10. Any other comments, phenomena, etc. -

Target - Solingen, Germany
1. Route followed. - Landfall at western tip of Overflakee Island – 8 mi. west of Koblenz – 2 mi. east of Freudenberg – Solingen (target) – 3 mi. SE of Tongres – 2 mi. NE of Ostend.
2. Visibility at Target. - 9-10/10 clouds.
3. No. of A/C over Target: 17
4. General Axis of attack. - 338° True
5. How long did formation fly straight and level before bombing? - 1 minute
6. Turn after bombing. - 97° Left turn
7. Position of Group in relation to other Groups: High group in 1st Composite Combat Wing.
8. What evasive action was taken? - 5°turns right and left.
9. A short description of Flak en route. - This formation flying at 26,000' first encountered flak upon crossing over Flakee Island on route in. This flak was meager, inaccurate, and may have come from Schouwen Island. One crew reported a few bursts of inaccurate white flak in the area of Eindhoven. Meager to moderate flak was reported in the area of Aachen. Good for height but poor for deflection. Meager flak, good for height but poor for deflection was reported at Duren. A barrage was seen over Bonn, but this group was out of range. Moderate flak was encountered immediately after leaving target, and continued for approx. 3 min. while crossing Ruhr. This was probably continuous following and was good for height but poor for deflection. A barrage was seen to the north over Dusseldorf, but this group was well out of range. Over the coast on route out at 1313 flak from an estimated 12 gun battery near the Ostend airdrome was good for height but poor for deflection. This group maintained an altitude of 26,000 feet from landfall on route in through Ruhr. The let down was started near Tongres and at Ostend altitude was 21,000 feet.
10. Any other comments, phenomena, etc. -

1. The following comments were made by the Lead Group at interrogation of this date"
A/C 9925 – Pathfinder should fly level instead of high: Lt. Holsapple. Enlisted men's mess line is too long in morning; should feed on both sides: Enlisted Men.
A/C 7774 – Heaters on guns worked very well; should be put on all guns: All gunners.
A/C 3495 – Want side guns in nose of this ship. Microphones needed on oxygen masks. Guns need covers. Leader of 2nd element, High squadron, flew too low: Lt. McClelland.
A/C 0866 – Need flak suits. Run oxygen and rheostat cords from floor instead of top of plane for waist gunners. Need mikes for masks: Lt. Putman.
A/C 7832 – Need more flak suits! Flak suit saved one man's life on our ship: Lt. Clay.
A/C 0994 – Can something be done to prevent frost on windows, especially top turret: All crew. There is only 1 oxygen outlet in radio room of the A/C; it causes confusion of cords for all come from same side: Lt. Floden.
[Signed] John L. Scott, Major, Air Corps, Group S-2 [Intelligence]

1. Following are the comments of the High Group made at interrogation of this date":
A/C 9863 – Capt. Winters: "We should have SOP [Standard Operating Procedure] and stick to it for PFF signals. There is too much changing around."
A/C 7714 – Officers and EM [Enlisted Men] were awakened too late to have breakfast.
A/C 9761 – Tracers in turrets. More flak suits. Lt. Litsinger.
A/C 9857 – Top turret froze up. Suggest a curtain on bulkhead No. 1 door to prevent air circulation.
[Signed] John L. Scott, Major, Air Corps, Group S-2 [Intelligence]

1. The following hot news was collected at interrogation after the mission of this date:
   1. A/C H – 509 [According to the J Form there was no H plane in 509th on this mission. It may have been 42-3141 of the 508th or 42-29831 of the 510th.] Reported a B-17 exploding in air just after the a/c left the Ruhr valley. No parachutes were seen, no fighters were about, and crews believe flak hit it. The a/c was believed to be a J ship. The tail came off and the a/c went down burning. Its height was 25,000 feet.
   2. A/C 882-L [42-29882] reported a B-17 from the 401st Group under e/a [enemy aircraft] attack 15 minutes past the target, about 1215. The No.2 engine was on fire and the a/c fell out of formation; the tail then fell off and the whole plane disintegrated.
   3. A/C N-7774 [42-37774] saw a B-17 at 1215 hours in the element behind – the third element of high squadron – hit by an FW-190. The a/c stayed in formation for ten minutes, then fell out and was hit my more e/a. It was last seen going down in a spiral.
   4. A/C D-511 [42-39761] saw a B-17 blow up at 1213, height 26,000 feet, 16 minutes after bombs away. The b-17 had a white triangle on its tail; no other markings observed. Four chutes were seen.
   5. A/C L-510 [42-29925] saw, 1230 hours, just after target, a B-17 explode in air; the waist had been on fire before the explosion.
   6. A/C V-511 [42-31162] reported a B-17, call letter D, going down in flames about 1210, just past target. The a/c was high and to the left of Lead Group. Four chutes were seen.
   7. A/C C-510 [42-3495] also saw a B-17 explode about 1210, with two parachutes visible. The a/c peeled out of our High Group.

1. Abortives
   1. Airplane No. 42-29860, 509th Squadron, returned early, Pilot reported oil pressure on #1 Engine fluctuating to 55 PSI. Oil pressure set at 5 PSI and ground checked at 75 PSI constant.
2. Battle Damage.
   1. Airplane No. 42-3141, 508th Squadron, small flak hole in leading edge of right wing between #3 and #4 Engines. Small flak hole in right wing underside between #3 and #4 Engines, gas tank punctured.
   2. Airplane No. 42-37774, 508th Squadron, Landing light lens on left wing broken by flak. Five small flak holes underside of right wing, damaging flaps and Tokio tanks. Small flak hole through bottom of chin turret.
   3. Airplane No. 42-30994, 508th Squadron, One .20mm hole in right outer wing panel at trailing edge, skin and wing braces damaged.
   4. Airplane No. 42-3542, Small flak hole in skin of left wing underside near #1 Engine, skin damage only.
   5. Airplane No. 42-37832, 509th Squadron. Flak hole through vertical stabilizer. Flak hole in skin of fuselage above left waist window. Flak hole through fabric of left elevator. One flak hole through left aileron and trailing edge of wing. Two small flak [holes] on underside of wing near #1 Engine.
   6. Airplane No. 42-30499, 509th Squadron, small flak hole in fabric of tight elevator.
   7. Airplane No. 42-39823, 510th Squadron, Flak hole in boot of vertical fin. Flak hole in right wing topside outboard panel, skin, corrugation and stringer damaged. Flak hole in fuselage beneath left horizontal stabilizer, skin and bulkheads of Station #10 and #11 damaged.
   8. Airplane No. 42-29925, 510th Squadron, small flak hole in leading edge of right wing. Two small flak holes in skin of left wing behind #1 Engine near trailing edge, skin, corrugation and stringer damaged.

   TOTAL A/C DAMAGED		MINOR DAMAGE		BY FLAK		BY FIGHTER
   8		8		7		1

1. Abortives
   1. Airplane No. 42-37845, 509th Squadron, returned early because of low oxygen supply. Investigation revealed that system with outlets in Tail Gunner's, Left Waist, and Radio Operator's positions had only 100 pounds pressure upon landing. Recharger froze open when refilling A-4 bottle, however, the A-4 bottle was left in, stopping the leak. In haste one of the Waist Gunners removed the bottle and the pressure decreased to the afore mentioned 100 PSI.
   2. Airplane No. 42-39853, 510th Squadron, returned early because of low boost on #2 Supercharger at altitude – 15 inches [Hg intake manifold pressure].
   3. Airplane No. 42-29948, 510th Squadron, returned early because #3 Engine ran rough. This was caused by a cracked exhaust stack and low boost on #3 Supercharger – 25 inches [Hg intake manifold pressure].
   4. Airplane No. 42-3523, 510th Squadron, returned early because of high engine temperature. Investigation revealed a broken exhaust stack on #4 Engine, causing the engine to run hot and burn up the engine. This engine is being changed.
2. Battle Damage
   1. Airplane No. 42-39714, 510th Squadron, One 7.9 mm hole in tip of right horizontal stabilizer.
   2. Airplane No. 42-39761, 511th Squadron, One .50 caliber hole through left horizontal stabilizer from left waist gun.

   TOTAL A/C DAMAGED		MINOR DAMAGE		BY FIGHTER		BY FLAK		BY FRIEND		BY FLAK & FIGHTER
   2		2		1		1

1. Abortives
   1. Airplane No. 42-29860, 509th Squadron, returned early, Pilot reported oil pressure on #1 Engine fluctuating to 55 PSI. Oil pressure set at 5 PSI and ground checked at 75 PSI constant.
2. Other Equipment and Personnel failures.
   1. The following Engineering failures were reported with the number of cases in parenthesis: oil Coolers (4) Tail Wheel retracting Motor (1) Internal Engine failure (2) supercharger failure (1)
   2. The following Armament failures are reported with the number of cases in parenthesis: Chin turret azimuth motor burned out (1) Feed chute jammed (1) Extractor broke (1) Three cases of frozen guns (3)
   3. The following failures other than Armament and Engineering were reported with the number of cases in parenthesis: Failure of heated boots (1) Gloves burned out (3) Throat Mike defective (1)

1. Abortives
   1. Airplane No. 42-37845, 509th Squadron, returned early because of low oxygen supply. Investigation revealed that system with outlets in Tail Gunner's, Left Waist, and Radio Operator's positions had only 100 pounds pressure upon landing. Recharger froze open when refilling A-4 bottle, however, the A-4 bottle was left in, stopping the leak. In haste one of the Waist Gunners removed the bottle and the pressure decreased to the afore mentioned 100 PSI.
   2. Airplane No. 42-39853, 510th Squadron, returned early because of low boost on #2 Supercharger at altitude – 15 inches [Hg intake manifold pressure].
   3. Airplane No. 42-29948, 510th Squadron, returned early because #3 Engine ran rough. This was caused by a cracked exhaust stack and low boost on #3 Supercharger – 25 inches [Hg intake manifold pressure].
   4. Airplane No. 42-3523, 510th Squadron, returned early because of high engine temperature. Investigation revealed a broken exhaust stack on #4 Engine, causing the engine to run hot and burn up the engine. This engine is being changed.
2. Other Equipment and Personnel failures.
   1. The following Engineering failures were reported with the number of cases in parenthesis: Oil Coolers leaking (6) Supercharger failure (1)
   2. The following Armament failures were reported with the number of cases in parenthesis: Broken Barrel Extension (1) Weak drive spring (1) Loose projectiles in ammunition (1) Frozen guns (4)
   3. The following failures were reported other than Engineering and Armament with the number of cases in parenthesis. Suit Burned out (1) Gloves Burned out (2) Boots burned out (3) Mike switch faulty in ball turret (1)

1. The following malfunctions were reported at interrogation of the Lead Group this date:
   1. A/C 9925 – BTG [Ball Turret Gun] froze. RWG [Right Waist Gun] froze.
   2. A/C 7774 – Chin turret gun faulty.
   3. A/C 3495 – Right BTG [Ball Turret Gun] out. Chin turret gun froze.
   4. A/C 0866 – Nose guns ammo boxes not properly placed. WG [Waist Gunner] intercommunication cord too short to allow forward firing of guns.
   5. A/C 7832 –TG [Tail gun] froze. Chin turret stuck; azimuth movement difficult.
   6. A/C 0994 – LWG [Left Waist Gun] feed chute bent. BTG [Ball Turret Gun] went out. TG [Tail Gun] extractor broke. LWG feed chute jammed. RO [Radio Operator] ammo wouldn't feed through chute.

1. The following malfunctions were reported at interrogation of the High Group this date:
   1. A/C 7827 – Right BTG gun out.
   2. A/C 9863 – One BTG gun froze; also a leak in the hydraulic system.
   3. A/C 9882 – LWG gun had broken barrel extension. Both tail guns wouldn't feed properly.
   4. A/C 9834 – Right chin turret not working properly, seemed like faulty ammunition. RWG had short rounds. Azimuth clutch wouldn't lock on Ball Turret. After ammunition box was half empty, RWG wouldn't pick up any more. Top turret iced up.
   5. A/C 7714 – Tail guns and radio guns froze. Chin Turret froze up.
   6. A/C 9761 – Several cases of split shell casings. Loose projectiles in ammunition.
   7. A/C 0857 – LTG gun had split case of bulged round. Gun jammed.

1. 1. The following armament malfunctions and failures were reported upon the completion of the Mission of 1 December, 1943.
   1. A/C – 42-29925 – Ball turret guns frozen. Right waist gun frozen.
   2. A/C – 42-30866 – Nose gun ammunition boxes not properly placed. Waist gun intercommunication cord too short to allow forward firing of guns.
   3. A/C – 42-37832 – Chin turret azimuth motor burned out.
   4. A/C – 42-30994 – Tail gun extractor broke. Left waist gun feed chute jammed. Radio gun would not feed through chute.
2. The necessary repairs and adjustments have been made.

1. The following armament malfunctions and failures were reported upon the completion of the Mission of 1 December, 1943.
   1. A/C – 42-29863 – One ball turret gun frozen.
   2. A/C – 42-29882 – Left waist gun had broken barrel extension.
   3. A/C – 42-39834 – Azimuth clutch in ball turret would not lock due to a weak drive spring.
   4. A/C – 42-37714 – Tail and radio guns frozen. Chin turret guns frozen.
   5. A/C – 42-39761 – Loose projectiles in ammunition.
   6. A/C – 42-30857 – left tail gun jammed because of loose head space.
2. The necessary repairs and adjustments have been made.

1. The Station Ordnance Officer has reported the following expenditures of Ammunition and Bombs for the Lead Combat Box for the Mission of 1 December, 1943. (Solingen, Germany)

2. Those aircraft not yet having returned to base are assumed to have expended their bombs.
[Signed] Robert B. Stratton, 1st. Lt., Air Corps, Statistical Officer.

1. The Station Ordnance Officer has reported the following expenditures of Ammunition and Bombs for the High Combat Box of the Mission of 1 December, 1943. (Solingen, Germany)

2. Those aircraft not yet having returned to base are assumed to have expended their bombs.
[Signed] Robert B. Stratton, 1st. Lt., Air Corps, Statistical Officer.

Missing Air Crew Report (MACR):

A/C# 42-37847   DS-R  Pilot: Lt. Plant  A/C's 3rd Mission   MACR # 1658

Aircraft Loss Circumstances:

42-37847, piloted by Lt. Plant, was lost to enemy fighters, spiraling down out of control just after the target.

Individual Accounts of Crewmen Fates:

• Pilot - 2nd Lt. Plant, James M., From Oregon, POW at Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang Prussia 54-12, Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated.
• Co-pilot - 2nd Lt. Smith, Frederick A., From Alabama, POW at Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang Prussia 54-12, Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated.
• Navigator - 2nd Lt. Larson, Fred, From Pennsylvania, POW at Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang Prussia 54-12, Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated.
• Bombardier - 2nd Lt. Dillard, Wayne W., From Texas, POW at Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang Prussia 54-12, Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated.
• Top Turret Gunner - Sgt. Harkins, Thomas F. - Co-pilot reported: [He] was hit in the head by 20 mm fired by FW 190 coming in on the tail. Killed instantly and body remained with the ship.
• Radio Operator - T/Sgt. Hunter, Byron L., From Rhode Island, POW at Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria 48-15, Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated.
• Left Waist Gunner - Sgt. Rowe, John R., From New York, POW at Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria 48-15, Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated.
• Right Waist Gunner - Sgt. Hobbs, Jakey F., From Indiana, POW at Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria 48-15, Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated.
• Ball Turret Gunner - Sgt. O'Neill, Paul C. - T/Sgt. Hunter reported: I came back to the waist to bail out and he was waiting there. He seemed to be in a daze and he had no chute on. He said he had no chute left. His parachute was shot up so he asked if he could ride with me. I was very willing so he hooked himself to me then said he was ready so I asked Hill to give us a push to ensure clearing the plane. His harmess was also shot up and when my chute opened his harness gave way and he fell off. I last saw him falling below.
  
  [Sgt. Hill reported:] He [Sgt. O'Neill] had an English type parachute pack and an American type harness. They both have eyes on them instead of one having eyes and one having J hooks to snap together. Instead of staying with the ship he chose to bail out on T/Sgt. Byron L. Hunter's back. When T/Sgt. Hunter pulled the rip cord the force was too great and Sgt. O'Neill lost his grip. Our position at time of bail out should have been approximatly 5 miles South East of Deun.
  
  [1st Lt. Hill reported:] Radio Operator was in shocked condition and it was approx. 3 hours before a coherent statement could be obtained, which was that Sgt. O'Neill had jumped on his back and had slid off when chute opened.
• Tail Gunner - S/Sgt. Hill, John W., From Connecticut, POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11, Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated.

Burial Records:

The burial records below courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission. http://www.abmc.gov

• Thomas F. Harkins, Sergeant, From: Indiana, Date of Death: December 01, 1943, Buried: Plot I Row 8 Grave 28, Luxembourg American Cemetery, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. Awards: Purple Heart
• Paul C. O'Neill, Sergeant, From: Massachusetts, Date of Death: December 01, 1943, Buried: Plot I Row 10 Grave 27, Luxembourg American Cemetery, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. Awards: Purple Heart

Click on Photo to Enlarge

A/C# 42-3140   RQ-P   "Patty Ann II"   Pilot: Capt. Harris   A/C's 19th Mission   MACR # 1550

 Aircraft Loss Circumstances:

[The Missing Air Crew Report includes an Eyewittness Description report which reads:]
The following summary is an eyewitness description of the ditching in the Channel of Plane #42-3140, Pilot - 1st Lt. Eugene P. Harris, as given by T/Sgt. Orville R. Click, Radio operator of the plane:
The pilot, Lt. Harris was forced to ditch due to lack of gasoline. Nobody was injured due to the ditching, and all the crew managed to get into dinghies. The plane sank in two minutes at approximately 1400, 5 miles off Dunkerque, France on December 1, 1943. The ten men were divided into four dinghies - two large ones and two small ones. Due to rough seas and a strong wind the small dinghy carrying Tigue, O'Donoghue and Mellott drifted away from the others, and to the best of anyone's knowledge they are still missing. The remaining seven men then rearranged themselves in the 3 remaining dinghies - Briscoe, Miles, Harris and Click occupying one of the large ones, to which was tied the other large one containing Lucyk, Smith and McLain. While drifting around, Miles died from exposure and Harris became delerious. When a strong wave upset their dinghy, the bodies of Miles and Harris were seen to submerge. Later Miles' body washed ashore in England, but Harris' body has never been seen again. While continuing to drift in the Channel, McLain and Briscoe died from shock and exposure. Their bodies and the three remaining live men - Lucyk, Click and Smith were all picked up by the Air Sea Rescue Service.

[Other documents in the MACR report:] Dec. 1, 1943 we ditched in the English Channel and on the night of the 3rd of Dec. a bad storm hit us - Harris and Miles along with the others were washed out of their Dinghy. When we pulled in the men that were hanging on the dinghy Harris and Miles were missing. Harris was believed dead when washed out of the raft due to the cold. His body I don't believe was ever found.

Individual Accounts of Crewmen Fates. Information taken from MACR 1550:

• Pilot - Harris, Eugene P., 1st Lt. - Tail Gunner Raymond Smith reported: Dec 1, 1943 we ditched in the English Channel and on the night of the 3rd of Dec. a bad storm hit us. Harris and Miles along with the others were washed out of their dinghy. When we pulled in the men that were hanging on the dinghy Harris and Miles were missing. Harris was believed dead when washed out of the raft due to the cold. His body I don't believe was ever found.
• Co-pilot - O'Donoghue, James J., 2nd Lt. - O'Donoghue, Mellott and Tigue were last seen drifting away from us on a one man dinghy the afternoon we ditched. Their direction was towards the English coast which was about twenty miles away. They could never have survived the waves that night.
• Navigator - Briscoe, Tommy A., 1st Lt. - Briscoe was the last man to die. This happened the morning of Dec. 4, 1943 a few hours before we were picked up by the RAF Air Sea Rescue. His body was taken aboard the boat.
• Bombardier/Nose Gunner - McLain, John L. S/Sgt. - Died on the afternoon of the third of Dec. from Exposure. His body was taken aboard the air sea rescue boat.
• Top Turret Gunner - Tigue, Charles E., T/Sgt. - He was last seen drifting away in a one man dinghy with two other crew members. He could not have survived the high waves in a one man dinghy.
• Radio Operator - Click, Orville R., T/Sgt. - Survived and was rescued by RAF Air Sea Rescue.
• Left Waist Gunner - Lucyk, Paul, S/Sgt. - Survived and was rescued by RAF Air Sea Rescue.
• Right Waist Gunner - Mellott, Harold R., S/Sgt. - He was last seen drifting away in a one man dinghy with two other crew members. He could not have survived the rough seas of the Channel in a one man dinghy.
• Ball Turret Gunner - Miles, Mitchell D., S/Sgt. - Miles died in the evening of Dec 3, 1943. His body was washed into the sea later that night by a large wave which swamped the dinghy he was in. His body was found on the English coast and is buried in London.
• Tail Gunner - Smith, Raymond L., S/Sgt. - Survived and was rescued by RAF Air Sea Rescue.

Burial Records:

The burial records below courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission. http://www.abmc.gov

• Pilot - Harris, Eugene P., Captain, From: Mississippi, Date of Death: December 03, 1943, Memorialized: Tablets of the Missing, Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupre, Belgium. Awards: Purple Heart, Air Medal 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.
• Co-pilot - O'Donoghue, James J., 2nd Lt. - From: New York, Date of Death: December 01, 1943, Memorialized: Tablets of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England. Awards: Purple Heart, Air Medal.
• Navigator - Briscoe, Tommy A., 1st Lt. - From: Nebraska, Date of Death: December 04, 1943, Buried: Plot C Row 1 Grave 11, Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England. Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.
• Bombardier/Nose Gunner - McLain, John L., S/Sgt. - All Saints Braddock Catholic Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA Plot: Soldier Section. Headstone inscription - S/SGT 509TH BOMB SQ, 8TH AIR FORCE, KILLED IN ACTION.
• Top Turret Gunner - Tigue, Charles E., T/Sgt. - From: Wisconsin, Date of Death: December 01, 1943, Memorialized: Tablets of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England. Awards: Purple Heart, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.
• Right Waist Gunner - Mellott, Harold R., S/Sgt. - From: Maryland, Date of Death: December 01, 1943, Memorialized: Tablets of the Missing, Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupre, Belgium. Awards: Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
• Ball Turret Gunner - Miles, Mitchell D., S/Sgt. - Burial: Knippa Cemetery, Knippa, Uvalde County,Texas, USA

Click on Photo to Enlarge