Mission 131 - 1

B-17G #42-31669 Shoo Shoo Baby 358BS (VK-J)

303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 13129 March 1944

Target: Barracks area, Stedorf, GermanyCrews Dispatched: 22

Length of Mission: 7 hours, 50 minutes

Bomb Load: 10 x 100 lb G.P. bombs plus 42 x M47A1 Incendiaries

Bombing Altitude: 20,800 ft

Ammo Fired: 320 rounds

Twenty-two Fortresses took off to bomb the M.I.A.G. factory at Waggum, just north ofBrunswick. Due to the cloud cover over the primary and secondary targets and theinability of the PFF lead B-17 to drop its bombs and flares, the briefed targets were

not attacked. An attempt was made to bomb an airdrome, but the low Group picked it asa target of opportunity and passed underneath the 303rd BG(H) formation. The Group'slead bombardier dropped on Stedorf, 14 miles southeast of Bremen, as the undercastclosed in only a short bomb run could be made. Some hits were seen in the barracks areaon the edge of the town. 198 100-lb. M30 bombs and 626 65-lb. M47A1 incendiary bombswere dropped from 20,800 feet.

The Group again encountered little opposition. The flak was meager and four aircrafthad minor damage. From 20 to 25 enemy fighters were seen, but there were no attacks.Due to the extremely poor visibility at Molesworth upon return, five aircraft landed at otherbases and then flew to Molesworth during the late afternoon. There were no casualties.

1Lt. Joe R. Worthley, pilot of #42-31669Shoo Shoo Baby, said, "We didn't haveany opposition at all. A few fighters cameup, but our escort chased them away. Theflak was so meager that it never botheredus. The primary target was covered withclouds, so we dropped on a target ofopportunity and came home." S/Sgt. JohnL. Hunt, tail gunner on Shoo Shoo Baby,said the fighter escort saved the Forts froma lot of trouble. "About 30 FW-190s cameup to attack us," he said, "but the P-47scame down at them and the FWs headedfor the clouds. I saw a couple of dogfights

develop, but most of the German planes got away. Don't let anyone kid you. There are stillplenty of German fighters."

Capt. Robert P. Livingston, statistical officer, 303rd BG(H) HQ, flew as an observerin #42-31340, Miss Liberty, 360BS-D, piloted by 1Lt. Fred Wilson.

Mission 131 - 2

EARL N. THOMAS CREW - 360th BS (crew assigned 360BS: 11 Jan 1944)

(Back L-R) Capt Earl N. Thomas (P), 1Lt Edgar C. Miller (CP),

1Lt Clarence V. Walenta (N), 1Lt Harold L. Scott (B)

(Front L-R) T/Sgt John W. Mason (E), S/Sgt Carl O. Books (WG ),

S/Sgt William F lenniken (WG), T/Sgt Gayther B. Crowder (R),

S/Sgt Roy D. Harvey (TG), S/Sgt Harold A. Johnston (BTG)

OUR BIGGEST ENEMY — WEATHER OVER ENGLAND29 March 1944 — Mission # 131

Ed Miller’s Memories and Recollections

We were damn lucky to get back on the ground today. The weather was so badthat we almost lost the top of our tail fin as we had to go below some “high lines” whenanother B-17, wandering around looking for its base, almost took us out. Tommy did somemighty fine flying today. He saved us all with his ability to toss “Miss Umbriago” aroundand get her on the ground without a scratch. Five of our aircraft had to land at otherbases, and we received a “Commendation from 8th Air Forces Headquarters” for landingsafely under extremely bad weather conditions.

Today the 8th Air Force started its campaign to soften up the Pas De Calais areaas 77 B-24's were dispatched to hit a military installation in this area. It was the first ofmany missions in this area before D Day.

The primary target for today was the M.I.A.G. aircraft plant in Brunswick but it wascovered with 10/10 clouds, so the secondary targets were hit. For the 303rd, we droppedbombs on a barracks area near Stedorf, Germany, which was 14 miles southeast ofBremen, Germany. The anti-aircraft artillery was in good form today as we had fouraircraft with damage. Crew members saw between 30 to 40 FW-190s, but a group of P-47s, flying overhead, swarmed down on them and they hightailed it for cloud cover.

May we never see weather at Molesworth like this again. We flew between 100and 300 feet above the ground for most of the way from the English coast. It was a bitharrowing and extremely dangerous with aircraft wandering around, looking for a placeto sit down. In most cases, when they saw a runway, they maneuvered their aircraft toland, irrespective of whether it was their home base or not.

Mission 131 - 3

Thunderbird Crew Enlisted Men(L-R) Walter E. Hein (BTG), Robert L. Rosier (E), Thomas J. Dickman (WG),

Richard K. Baer (TG), James S. Andrus (R), Leonard L. Wike (WG)

From the Journal of Vern L. Moncur, 359th BS PilotMISSION #26

Date: March 29, 1944Target: Brunswick, Germany

Altitude: 24,000 feetPlane: U-050 "Thunderbird"

Position: No. 6, High Squadron, High Group

This was the most worthless raid we ever went on. We didn't bomb our target andthe target we finally bombed was of no importance. About all we did was plow up a fewacres of corn for the Krauts. We fought bad weather all the way to the enemy coast. Onour return, we were faced with an almost solid mass of clouds that were dropping loweras we went inland.

At the coast the base of the clouds was 800 feet. By the time we finally got to ourbase, we were flying at 120 feet above the ground and had very little or no visibility. Wewere actually feeling our way over the tops of the trees and low hills. As we were circlingour field at about 100 feet in an attempt to find a runway on which to land, we were almostrun over by three B-17s that were flying around the field in the wrong direction. That wasthe nearest we ever came to "getting it" in bad weather. I don't believe we could everhave been that lucky again. Just a short time before this, we were almost run over by aB-24. We received no battle damage and no crew member was injured, though we sawabout twenty German fighters under us at one time.

Mission 131 - 4

Route Map

Mission 131 - 5

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point

Mackin-Litman574

Ferguson Larson 224 037

Worthley669

Viets Ames 617 002

Wilson Daub 340 168Lynch O'Beirne Savage Eisenhart 754 204 177 830 Glass Young 590 483Thomas Eisele Moncur Assenheimer 187 048 050 386 Holdcroft Newell 552 405

Estes Jones Spare - 051 Spare - 200

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 131 - 6

358th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-32037 (No Name)

P Larson, Roy A., 2LtCP Duncan, Ronald E., 2LtNAV Mikulich, Louis F., 2LtBOM Wilson, Claud, Jr., 2LtENG Campbell, Thomas J., SgtBT Brim, Lee R., SgtRO Culp, Everett E., SgtLWG Schinker, Arthur W., SgtTG Hodge, Herman L., SgtRWG Gamon, Edward J., Sgt

B-17G #42-31224 Hell in the Heavens

P Ferguson, Wendell Z., 2LtCP Moody, James D., 2LtNAV Shamban, Marcus F., 2LtBOM Schmid, Ralph D., 2LtENG Matthews, David R., SgtLWG Smithson, Clyde E., SgtRO Phillips, Robert B., S/SgtRWG Rogers, Thomas J., SgtTG Brooks, Richard S., SgtBT Rhodes, Kenneth G., Sgt

B-17G #42-107002 Mairzy Doats

P Ames, Walter J., Jr., 2LtCP Howell, Ernest F., 2LtNAV Williams, Grover C., 2LtBOM Campbell, William D., 2LtENG West, Jerome H., SgtRWG Stafford, Sheldon A., SgtRO Lesser, Edward R., SgtLWG Strickland, Frank L., SgtTG MacFarland, Kendall H., S/SgtBT Stone, Robert L., Jr., Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

B-17G #42-97617 (No Name)

P Viets, John B., 2LtCP Bennett, John C., 2LtNAV Heibert, David C., F/OBOM Rodgers, Burton, 2LtENG Robinson, Frank E., S/SgtLWG Madarchik, Michael, SgtRO York, Franklin F., S/SgtRWG Rademacher, Don J., SgtTG Ferrell, William R., SgtBT Holland, Ambrose J., Sgt

B-17G #42-31669 Shoo Shoo Baby

P Worthley, Joe R., 1LtCP Miller, Campbell, 2LtNAV Williams, Jack N., 2LtBOM Morrison, James P., 2LtENG Haggerty, Jerome J., T/SgtRWG Delaney, Jessie L., S/SgtRO Rumpf, Charles W., T/SgtLWG Balzano, Christopher, S/SgtTG Hunt, John L., S/SgtBT Chaddick, Neal T., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31574 Ole George

P Mackin, George T., CaptCP Litman, Arnold S., 1LtNAV Minkowitz, Samuel, 1LtBOM Mack, Austin J., 2LtENG Smith, George A., S/SgtTG Castillo, Buenaventura L., S/SgtRO Ebbighausen, Francis R., T/SgtBT Ruppel, Edward, S/SgtRWG Stender, Francis H., T/SgtLWG Miller, Victor R., S/Sgt

Mission 131 - 7

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-31386 Sky Duster

P Assenheimer, Edwin H., 1LtCP Sassone, Joseph C., 2LtNAV Sanders, Coleman, 2LtTOG Moening, Herman G., SgtENG Mayhugh, John C., S/SgtRO Mouser, Lloyd C., T/SgtLWG Jones, Derrell S., S/SgtRWG Thorne, Arver E., S/SgtBT Franceschini, James V., SgtTG Robb, Charles W., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-38050 Thunderbird

P Moncur, Vern L., 1LtCP Peterson, Edwin V., 2LtNAV Brooks, James, 2LtBOM Chang, David K.S., 2LtENG Rosier, Robert L., S/SgtRO Andrus, James S., S/SgtBT Hein, Walter E., S/SgtRWG Baer, Richard K., S/SgtLWG Dickman, Thomas J., S/SgtTG Wike, Leonard L., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31405 Wallaroo MK II

P Newell, Noel N., 1LtCP Donalson, Douglas C., 2LtNAV Klingensmith, Russell S., 2LtBOM Yelsky, Fred B., 2LtENG Freinwald, Earl C., T/SgtLWG McGee, Richard, S/SgtRO Weepie, Robert F., T/SgtRWG Mendel, Myron R., S/SgtBT Hart, Edgar B., S/SgtTG Atkinson, William E., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31483 Bonnie B

P Young, Elmer W., 1LtCP Cunningham, Robert L., 2LtNAV Schoner, George R., 2LtBOM Corbin, Frederick A., F/OENG Steele, John C., T/SgtRO Dulick, Steve, T/SgtBT Lebeck, Richard H., S/SgtRWG Rohaly, Andy, S/SgtLWG Withrow, John W., S/SgtTG Stapleton, Bill, S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31830 Marie

P Eisenhart, William E., 1LtCP Rice, Charles M., 2LtNAV Carey, William D., 2LtTOG Kolling, Albert J., S/SgtENG Broderick, George V., T/SgtRO Ratford, Edward V., T/SgtBT Jaehne, Charles R., S/SgtTG Barmak, Paul J., S/SgtRWG Neathery, Ralph E., S/SgtLWG Gilcrease, Roland L., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-38168 Dear Mom

P Daub, Leroy E., 1LtCP Harrison, Weldon O., 2LtNAV Palmer, Gerald M., 1LtBOM Ulbricht, Walter E., 2LtENG Carter, Edward K., S/SgtRO Kelly, Victor S., T/Sgt RWG McKenna, Robert I., S/SgtLWG Haman, Ray T., S/SgtBT Gilmore, Charles E., T/SgtTG Considine, Louis W., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31177 Lonesome Polecat

P Savage, John N., 1LtCP Marsh, Richard K., 2LtNAV Walsh, Myles J., 2LtBOM Joyce, John D., 2LtENG Davis, Eugene B., S/SgtRO Minks, George A., S/SgtBT Munson, James E., S/SgtTG Moessner, Raymond J., S/SgtLWG Rogers, Warren G., SgtRWG Dean, Raymond N., Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

Mission 131 - 8

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-31754 (No Name)

P Lynch, Robert J., 2LtCP Cohl, Jules R., 2LtNAV Sbrolla, Emilio M., 2LtBOM Merz, Dick W., 2LtENG Roszell, Thomas M., SgtRO Schuler, Frank H., SgtBT Chudej, Josef R., SgtTG Krogh, Kenneth R., SgtLWG Schoonmaker, Elwood, Jr., SgtRWG Pleasanton, Kenneth H., Sgt

B-17G #42-97187 Miss Umbriago

P Thomas, Earl N., 1LtCP Miller, Edgar C., 2LtNAV Walenta, Clarence V., 2LtBOM Scott, Harold L., 2LtENG Mason, John W., T/SgtRWG Flenniken, William, S/SgtRO DeWitte, Victor W., S/SgtTG Harvey, Roy D., S/SgtBT Johnston, Harold A., SgtLWG Books, Carl O., Sgt

B-17G #42-107048 (No Name)

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

B-17G #42-97552 The Road Back

P Holdcroft, Lloyd L., 1LtCP Bradley, Clyde W., Jr., 2LtNAV Pace, Charles M., 2LtBOM O'Donnell, John J., 2LtENG DeMarco, John A., S/SgtRWG Hustus, Walter L., SgtRO Francis, Walter G., S/SgtLWG Huddleston, D.O., S/SgtBT Kern, Lloyd F., SgtTG Krumholz, Robert A., Sgt

B-17G #42-97590 Virgin Mary

P Glass, Henry F., 1LtCP McMahan, Eugene A. 2LtNAV Pepe, Nicholas A., 2LtBOM Robrock, Paul A., 2LtENG Carbillano, Dominick J., SgtLWG Stellato, Francis A., S/SgtRO Miller, Gordon R., T/SgtRWG Patrone, Frank, S/SgtBT Michael, David O., S/SgtTG Roberts, James E., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-38204 (No Name)

P O'Beirne, Nelson B., 2LtCP Duffield, Richard B., 2LtNAV Shipp, Gene K., 2LtBOM Dello Buono, Thomas J., 2LtENG 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 #42-31340 Miss Liberty

P Wilson, Fred F., 1LtCP Bowen, James W., 2LtNAV Przybyszewski, Henry S., LtBOM Fahlbusch, Joseph F., 2LENG Hubley, Warren G., S/SgtRO Mirkin, Herman H., T/SgtLWG Petree, Wendell R., S/SgtBT Webbink, Elvin F., S/SgtTG Roads, Dwight W., Jr., S/SgtRWG Goland, Harry, T/SgtOBS Livingston, Robert P., Capt

Mission 131 - 9

427th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-38051 My Yorkshire Dream

P Estes, Shirley W., LtCP Byers, Ballard T., LtNAV Shemwell, John T., 2LtBOM Minter, Thomas W., LtTT Price, Jack J., S/SgtBT Wiley, Nathan H., SgtRO Wagner, Wayne, S/SgtTG Ross, Samuel C., S/SgtRWG Silrum, Orvis K., SgtLWG Ford, Thomas P., Sgt(Spare - Returned)

B-17G #42-31200 Old Crow

P Jones, Wilbur H., 2LtCP Wallace, Walstein W., 2LtNAV Skarsten, Albert B., 2LtBOM Kennedy, William J., 2Lt TT Weed, Lowrey A., Jr., S/SgtBT Calnon, Frederick N., S/SgtRO Kosher, Albert J., SgtTG Musashe, Michael, Sgt LWG Thompson, Frederick A., SgtRWG Dimowitz, Morris, Sgt(Spare - Returned)

Commendation

The following Letter Hq 8th AF, File 201.22, dated 31 March 44,

"Commendation" is quoted for the information of all personnel concerned:

The performance of the units of the 1st Division on 29 March in landing safely underextremely bad weather conditions all the aircraft which returned from the day's mission,merits special commendation. At the time of their arrival over base, the weatherunexpectedly became very bad and some of the landings were made in the face ofconditions of extremely low ceiling and visibility. That your units were able to do thiswithout the loss of a single aircraft speaks well for their competence and for their trainingand supervision. I wish you would convey to the crews and commanders concerned mycongratulations for this exceptionally fine piece of work.