351st Bomb Group

1. 1. Roll Call and Assign Aircraft and Spares.
   2. Stations  –0607
   3. Start Engines –0707
   4. Taxi  –0717
   5. Take off –0732
   6. Depart Base –0757
2. Target for today: Aircraft factory at Anklam, secondary is Tutow airfield, last resort target is Rostock aircraft factory at not less than 19,000.
   Loading: 3 x 1000 G.P. [General Purpose] + 5 M47A1 Incendiary Bombs. 1 full bomb bay [fuel tank] or 500 gallons in Tokyo Tanks.
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 381st, Low 91st, 1st C.W.[Combat Wing] 2nd C.W., Air Commander - Col. Burns.
7. Diversions and other efforts -
   Mediums in Lille Area & Woendrecht.
   2nd ATF [Air Task Force] 2 C.W.'s 3rd Division leaving coast of Jaelland at zero + 15 [minutes] to Marienburg [Germany].
   3rd ATF 2 C.W.'s 2nd Division leaving coast of Jaelland at zero + 20 to Danzig.
   4th ATF 1 C.W. 3rd Division leaving coast of Jaelland at zero + 45 to Gdynia.
   5th ATF 40th C.W. leaving Cromer behind us to Gdynia.
8. Fighter Cover -
   1. Type and No. - 1 Group of P-47's to sweep Lee warden area and
      Rendezvous - 5400-0400 [Lat. & Long.] at zero + 193 [minutes] and stay as long as possible.
      Duration and Departure
   2. Royal Navy destroyers & Corvettes will Air-Sea Rescue along line Cromer to 5525-0820E. All of them on constant SOS watch.
9. Special Instructions - All a/c [aircraft] of 1st ATF will drop bomb bay tanks when empty or 30 miles from Danish coast. Watch flying over neutral country. Go to Sweden for forced landing. Groups will go alone if rendezvous are not completed. Bombardiers drop only on lead or deputy [lead]. Pilots lay off because tail gunners see bombs away from the rear. Pilots open Bomb bays at I.P. [Initial Point of Bomb Run], VHF signal.
10. C.O's [Commanding Officer's] Comment - Very important target, absolutely cannot afford to have illegitimate abortives. Wheels down before aborting.
11. Dismissal of all but Pilots and Co-Pilots

12. 	Call Sign		Letter	Flares
    1st C.W. [Combat Wing]	Goonchild		RR [Red Red]
    91st Group	Goonchild Red	A
    351 Group	Goonchild White	J
    381st Group	Goonchild Blue	L
    1st C.W. Command Post	Figleaf
    Air Commander 1st ATF	Neptune
    40th C.W.	Bullpen		YY [Yellow Yellow]
    41st C.W.	Fatgal		GG [Green Green]

    
    

    Spits [Spitfires] -			Bombers -		Ground Sector -
    P-47's -			Bombers -		Ground Sector -

    
    

    VHF Channels		Channel		Ships Monitor
    1st C.W.		A		All ships except following
    Air Commander		B		Wilson and Crismon on B to relay
    Spits
    P-47's		D		Nardi and Maser on D to relay

13. Colors of the day:

    Time	Color	Ident.	Challenge
    0700 - 1300	RR [Red Red]	C	L
    1300 - 1900	GG	R	J
    1900 - 0100	GY	F	L

14. Flying Control - A. Taxi Plan, B. Runways and Taxi Strips, C. Spares
15. Conclusion - Abortives in 1st division were 18 yesterday, we had seven of them. The 381st last seven.
    If ground fog persists climb straight ahead until on top.
    Maintain group defensive and C.W. defensive formation until reaching English coast. Remember 4th Wing disaster.

1. This group took-off at 0732. Twenty-one (21) aircraft were assigned and twenty-one (21) took off. There were no abortives and five (5) aircraft are missing. Six (6) men were wounded, one (1) seriously. Two (2) aircraft landed elsewhere, and returned to base after refueling.
2. Battle Damage was very heavy and extensive, mostly due to rocket blasts. It seems to be the general opinion that 13,000 feet is too low to fly and fight with B-17’s; main reason being vulnerable to low altitude fighters.
3. Flak was meager and inaccurate. Bombing was made on C-1 and results are indefinite due to smoke over the target.

1. The take off and rendezvous was carried out without incident and the 351st departed Cromer at 0833. The planned route was followed in its entirety.
2. The visibility was excellent over the target and bombs were dropped on the primary at 1145 on a magnetic heading of 50° at an altitude of 13,000 feet.
3. Navigation over the North Sea was carried out by dead reckoning with the aid of “Gee” and the A.P.I. [Air Position Indicator]. “Gee” was jammed by the enemy in the vicinity of 0600 degrees East. From the Danish Coast to the target the A.P.I. was used in conjunction with pilotage. The first “Gee” fix on the return route was at 54°05'N-06°20'E.
4. The A.P.I. gave excellent results, but would probably be much better with a fluxgate type compass instead of the D.R. [Dead Reckoning] which it uses at present.
5. An excellent job of precision navigation was done by Lt. Stackhouse of the 511th Squadron who lead the group on this mission.

1. The I.P.[Initial Point of Bomb Run] was reached at 1137 and an initial course of 43° was set for the target that was later changed to 53°
2. The M.P.I. [Mean Point of Impact] was obscured by smoke from hits of the preceding Wing. However, enough of the terrain was visible to sight on the apparent location of the M.P.I.
3. The C-1 system [autopilot] didn't function efficiently for course corrections, however, the sight was synchronized on the target and bombs were dropped at 1145.
4. Due to an immediate left turn over the target, after bombs were dropped, a visual observation was not possible.

1. The Group take off and assembly was as briefed. VHF contact with the 381st and 91st Bomb Groups was made while this group was assembling over the field.
2. We proceeded along course to Thetford and arrived on time; then turned to Cromer. Immediately after the turn, the 91st Bomb Group joined the formation. The 381st was waiting at Cromer and completed the wing formation there.
3. The lead combat wing had formed on our left and proceeded out to sea on course in that position. Due to the fact that the groups comprising the lead combat wing flew very loosely, as did ours, we were unable to cross over until altitude was reached and we were approaching the Danish Coast.
4. From this point almost to the IP, the wing flew in echelon left position. Just prior to the IP, this wing again crossed over and took up interval for the bomb run to the right of the lead combat wing. The bomb run was uneventful and interval worked out very nicely.
5. The rally after bombing was good, but this wing was never able to close on the lead combat wing until practically across Denmark. For this reason, we bore the brunt of the fighter attacks. Every effort was made to overtake the lead wing and although, they did “S” some, it was not enough to close the distance.
6. In the North Sea, we had one other attack by enemy fighters but it was not severe. Fighter attacks were determined and strong numerically.
7. The wing formation was good, the navigation was excellent, and air discipline was good. VHF worked, but was extremely noisy the entire mission. C-1 was used on the bomb run, but was somewhat erratic.
8. There were no abortives in this group and five (5) of our aircraft failed to return.

Bombardier - 1st Lt. William A. Winter  Pilot - Capt. John B. Carraway Navigator - 1st Lt. Carl B. Stackhouse
Aircraft # 42-29863  Take-off - 0732  Landed - 1532
Objective - Works Shops at Anklam
Aiming Point - Work Shops
Initial Point - Neubrandenburg
Method of Attack - Group
Number of Planes in Unit - 21
Number of Planes in Each Unit Performing Sighting Operations - 1
Time of Attack -  Time of Release - 1145
Approx. Length of Straight Approach - 40 seconds
Synchronization - On
Information at Release Point:
Altitude, True Above Target - 13,390
Calculated Indicated Air Speed - 150 M.P.H.
True Air Speed - 187 M.P.H.
Wind Direction - 328° True
Wind Velocity - 30 M.P.H.
True Heading - 37°
Drift - 9°
True Track - 63°
D.S. - 179  Trail - 30   ATF - 25.59   Ten. D.A. - .35
Type of Release - Train
Point of Impact If Seen - No
Winds - Altitude - 13,000 Ft.  Direction - Est. 328° Actual 328°  Velocity - Est. 15 Actual 30  Temp C. - Est. -6° C. Actual -2° C.

1. The target was at Anklam, Germany, and photo coverage was given by cameras in ships 850, 093 and 821. Photos were not clear, and damage assessment is impossible due to smoke covering the entire city and target area.
2. Photo No. 1 on 850 shows bombs away. They are to the left of the city and approximately one mile away from the heart of the town.
   1. Photo No. 2 shows bombs in track to the middle the city.
   2. Photo No. 4 shows the only burst that can be definitely spotted through the smoke. It is 540 feet above the bridge across the river and scored possible hits on two boats along the dock.
3. Photo No. 1 on 093 shows bombs away at approximately the same place as above photos.
   1. Photo No. 15 shows two clear bursts on the upper end of the city, approximately a mile from the target.
4. Smoke covers the city for an area of a square mile, with the heaviest concentration being in the center of the city, and stretching eastward to the target area. Smoke over the target itself is somewhat thinner than in other sections and there is evidence of fire in this area. Two workshop buildings show up as being unhit. No bomb bursts are seen outside of the city area.

1. The target for this date’s mission was Arado Aircraft Factory at Anklam, Germany. Photo evidence seems to indicate that the bombs from this Group probably hit in the center of town. There is evidence of smoke in the target area, and the smoke from the previous Wing obscured our pattern.
2. Twenty-one A/C were dispatched and none returned early. Five A/C were lost, one just prior to the target and the remainder between the target and the western coast of Denmark.
3. Some two hundred enemy A/C [aircraft] were seen throughout the mission. These consisted of JU 88’s, ME 110’s, ME 210’s, ME 109’s, and FW 190’s. The majority of attacks were made by the first two named, which were painted black and are obviously night fighters. The FW 190’s, which were yellow-nosed, and the ME 109’s, which had black cowlings with red spinners were encountered over Denmark. Attacks were made between 1030 and 1400 hours. Most E/A [enemy aircraft] employed rocket guns. A four-engined, twin-finned plane, similar to a B-24 or a Halifax, shot heavy shells at our Group from well out of range and seemed to direct fire of the other E/A.
   1. Our claims: 32 destroyed, 5 probables, and 11 damaged.
   2. Casualties: 4 slightly wounded, 1 seriously wounded, 51 missing.
   3. No friendly fighter support was seen.
4. Six to eight bursts of flak from a flak ship at Marrebaek [Denmark] and installations at Gedserhead [Denmark]; a fixed barrage at Rostock [Germany], and four bursts at Brons, was the only flak seen. None of it was effective.
5. Weather over enemy territory, although there was some haze, offered ten mile visibility. In the area west of the target, in Germany, a great number of military installations were observed. 40 twin engined planes were parked at the A/D [Airdrome] at Ribnitz. A 20 ship convoy, heading towards Copenhagen, was spotted at 55°10'N-11°0'E. E/A [Enemy Aircraft] flying above our formation were reported using wires to foul the propellers.

1. In compliance with Co-ordination Memorandum No. 3, 19 July, 1943, the following data on the Mission of 17 August is submitted.
   1. 1. No. of Aircraft Assigned: 21
         No. Failed to Take-off: 0
         No. of Abortives: 0
         No. Missing: 5
   2. 1. b. The 351st Bomb Group flew the Lead Combat Box in the 1st Combat Wing Formation.
      2. (2) The bombing altitude was 13,390 feet (true altitude above target).

Target - Anklam
1. Route followed. - Over [Unreadable] tip of Fano Island – Rodding, Fjelstrup, Turup, Ringe, Lundeborg, Femo Island, Marrebaek, Wustrow to left turn just prior Neubrandenburg, (I.P.) on course to Anklam (Target), wide left turn over Murchin, Züssow back on course at [Unreadable], on course over Graal, North of Fehmarn Island, Sonderborg out at Brons.
2. Visibility at Target. - No contrails. Visibility at target – good.
3. No. of A/C over Target: 20
4. General Axis of attack. - 43° True
5. How long did formation fly straight and level before bombing? - 40 seconds
6. Turn after bombing. - Left turn
7. Position of Group in relation to other Groups: 351 lead, 91st low, 381 high.
8. What evasive action was taken? - Shallow “S”ing – turn at Target
9. A short description of Flak en route. - No flak encountered on route until over Marrebaek where flak ship and installations at Gedserhead fired 6 to 8 bursts. Fair height and deflection evidently “seen” following. On route to target and back to [Possibly says Brons] no flak encountered. Just over the coast, Rostock installations threw up a fixed barrage. Intense, black bursts were seen over the city with several bursts good for height but just short of formation. No further flak encountered until coming out over Brøns where [Unreadable] Island fired 4 bursts which were good for altitude but trailing. Seen following used throughout except barrage at Rostock.
10. Any other comments, phenomena, etc. - DO 217’s – ME 210’s – JU 88’s were seen to attack in formations of 4 to 8 on the nose of our ships, with rocket guns. The projectiles could be seen to leave a slight tracer effect and explode with a black burst similar to flak; it is believed S/E [Single Engine] fighters carry a lighter cannon than T/E Twin Engine] since they came in closer and the bursts were smaller.

A/C 093: There were no flak suits in the A/C. – Lt. Lynch.
A/C 151: E/A were firing rockets into the tight formations. – Lt. Peck.
Links on cartridge belts were breaking. Why? - Gunners.
A/C 140: Aren’t first aid kits supposed to have sulfanilamide powder in them, or some other disinfectant? - Lt. Harris.
A/C 120: “Back to France. No more 13,000 feet stuff.” - Capt. O'Mohundro.
A/C 812: There was not enough ammunition for this mission, even though we were very conservative.
New ammunition worked very well. When it hits a ship, it doesn’t bounce; it goes right through.
Every plane should have bullet-proof glass in cockpit – a 20 mm. shell hit our Glass and was stopped; glass only cracked. – Lt. Strouse.
A/C 096: I would like to have Lt. E. E. Welch as permanent co-pilot. – Lt. Crismon.
[Signed] John L. Scott, Major, Air Corps, Group S-2 [Intelligence]

1. Following is the summary of hot news as determined by interrogation:
   1. A/C Y-509 [42-29863] reports 4 B-17’s from this Group down just past the target about 1200 hours, from an altitude of 13,000 feet. Three of the A/C were going down under attack; from a fourth A/C nine (9) chutes appeared before the plane blew up. This A/C was believed to be Capt. Morse’s.
   2. A/C O-509 [42-3120] saw 10 chutes from the A/C above at the same time.
   3. A/C Y-509 [42-29863] saw a B-17 believed to be Lt. Turley’s, down near Sylt Island on course, at 1248, just off the Danish coast.
   4. A/C O-509 [42-3120] reports 5 parachutes from the preceding plane. One chute, believed to be Lt. William’s, caught on the A/C’s wing and was torn. The location is given as the North Sea just off Denmark.

1. Abortives.
   1. None.
2. Battle Damage.
   1. Airplane No. 42-29821, 508th Squadron. Two flak holes left stab.[horizontal stabilizer]. One flak hole leading edge right Stabilizer. Considerable damage to right side of fuselage rear of radio gun by small pieces of flak. Two flak holes right aileron. Two small creases between #3 and #4 nacelle, edge of wing caused by shell cases. Two shell case creases in leading edge of wing between fuselage and #3 nacelle. One flak hole in #3 cowling. Large flak hole in plexi-glass nose section. One shell case hole in vertical stabilizer.
   2. Airplane 42-6151, 508th Squadron. One flak hole through left stabilizer. One large flak hole through left wing and wing tanks. Two flak holes bottom left wing. Two shell case holes left side of vertical stabilizer.
   3. Airplane No. 42-5823, 508th Squadron. One flak hole left elevator. Three flak holes left edge vertical stabilizer. One 20 mm. hole through left wing. Two flak holes in bottom right wing. One 20 mm. hole bottom right wing. One flak hole in fuselage near life raft compartment. One flak hole left side dorsal fin. One flak hole right side dorsal fin. One flak hole left side vertical. stabilizer.
   4. Airplane No. 42-30499, 509th Squadron. Two 20 mm. holes leading edge left stabilizer. One 20 mm. hole leading edge right stabilizer. One 20 mm. hole through fuselage rear of waist gun position. One 20 mm. hole through fuselage at waist gunners position. One 20 mm. through right wing, inboard panel. Eight 20 mm. holes top of fuselage around upper turret.
   5. Airplane 42- 3120, 509th Squadron. One 20 mm. hole right elevator. One .30 cal. hole right outboard wing panel, damaged tanks. Three flak holes left side of vertical stabilizer. Twenty flak holes right side vertical stabilizer.
   6. Airplane 42-29863, 509th Squadron. One shell case crease top left wing. Ball turret stops damaged by operation.
   7. Airplane 42-29812, 509th Squadron. Two .30 cal. holes top left wing. One shell case hole leading edge right stabilizer. One shell case tear outer wing panel top right wing. One flak hole right side fuselage near radio compartment. One 20 mm. hole co-pilot’s window.
   8. Airplane No. 42-3140, 509th Squadron. One 20 mm. hole right stabilizer. One flak hole left elevator. Two 20 mm. holes left side of fuselage on each side of waist window. One 13.9 mm. hole top of left wing. Five .30 cal. holes left side of fuselage at pilot’s compartment. One 20 mm. hole #2 nacelle. One 20 mm. hole #4 propeller. One flak hole left side dorsal fin. One 20 mm. hole left side vertical stabilizer.
   9. Airplane 42-29850, 510th Squadron. One .30 cal. hole left wing trailing edge and flap. One flak hole left wing. One flak hole bottom left stabilizer. One flak hole dorsal fin. One shell case hole leading edge left stabilizer. One flak hole right elevator. One flak hole bottom of fuselage forward of ball turret.
   10. Airplane 42-3495, 510th Squadron. One .30 cal. hole top right wing. One flak hole right aileron. One .30 cal. hole right side of fuselage behind co-pilot’s compartment. One flak hole top of pilot’s compartment. One flak hole right side of rudder. One .30 cal. left wing damaging tank. One flak hole bottom of chin turret.
   11. Airplane 42-3093, 510th Squadron. Three .30 cal. holes bottom left wing. One flak hole #1 supercharger. One flak hole leading edge left wing between #1 and #2 nacelles. Four flak holes bottom left wing, damaging main tanks and Tokyo tanks. One flak hole right bomb bay door. Two .30 cal. holes right side of fuselage under navigator’s compartment. One .30 cal. hole #4 engine cowl and rocker box cover. One 20 mm. hole through right wing damaging gas tank and spar. Two flak holes through right wing. One flak hole vertical stabilizer. One .30 cal. hole dorsal fin. One flak hole top edge right elevator. One flak hole bottom of fuselage near main entrance.
   12. Airplane No. 42-30857, 510th Squadron. Two .30 cal. holes in fuselage behind pilot’s compartment. One flak hole right side of fuselage behind co- pilot’s window. One flak hole in rudder. One .30 cal. hole right elevator. One flak hole right stabilizer. Two .30 cal. bullet holes, bottom right wing. One flak hole bottom right side navigator’s compartment.
   13. Airplane 42-29831, 510th Squadron. One flak hole leading edge right wing. One flak hole through right wing tip. Four shell case creases top left wing. One flak hole through right wing near trailing edge. One flak hole bottom inboard left inboard wing panel. One flak hole #2 nacelle. One flak hole right bomb bay door. Two flak holes bottom right wing. One flak hole right aileron. One flak hole bottom of fuselage below navigator’s compartment. One flak hole vertical stabilizer. Severe battle damage to left stabilizer and elevator by left waist gunner. One flak hole #1 prop blade.
   14. Airplane No. 42-29877, 511th Squadron. One .30 cal. hole right elevator. One rocket hole under right wing outward of #4 nacelle. Numerous holes top surface of both wings due to flak or rockets. One flak hole leading edge left stabilizer. Two flak holes bottom right wing. One flak hole bottom left wing. One flak hole left wing. One flak hole right fuselage, below navigator’s compartment.
   15. Airplane No. 42-29849, 511th Squadron. One flak hole right side of fuselage above waist window. One flak hole top of fuselage rear of radio gun.
   16. Airplane No. 42-6096, 511th Squadron. Shell case crease leading edge of right stabilizer tip. One flak hole through top right wing edge. One .30 cal. hole left aileron.

   TOTAL A/C DAMAGED		MINOR DAMAGE		BY FLAK & FRIEND		BY FLAK & FIGHTER		BY FIGHTER		BY FRIEND		BY FIGHTER, FLAK & FRIEND		BY FLAK
   16		16		3		7		1		1		3		1

3. Five aircraft were lost due to enemy action.

1. Following are the malfunctions as determined by interrogation:
   1. A/C 812: Center nose-charging handle broke. Pin that holds trigger bar fell out. - Sgt. Sowell.
   2. A/C 499: Both side guns had jam feeds. – Sgts. Heard & McLain. Radio gun malfunctions. – Sgt. Patten. Top turret guns both jammed. – Sgt. Poltrone.
   3. A/C 863: Check on the C-1 Pilot [Autopilot]. – Lt. Winter. Charging handle off center nose gun. – Lt. Winter. R/W handle off. – Sgt. Schmidt. Top turret left hand trigger switch on control handle had broken spring. The Right gun malfunctions. – Sgt. Schrock
   4. A/C 140: Left waist gun jammed. – Sgt. Lucyk.
   5. A/C 093: Short rounds and broken links. – Gunners.
   6. A/C 849: Left nose gun safety would not work. - Lt. Chenoweth.
   7. A/C 495: Left top turret gun jammed. – Sgt. Campbell. Left chin turret gun jammed. – Lt. Conroy. Radio gun charging handle broke. – Sgt. Vecchione.
   8. A/C 831: Top turret azimuth control out; ball turret solenoid vibrated off back plate.
   9. A/C 877: Top turret right gun malfunctioned. Left turret gun has ruptured cotter.
   10. A/C 857: Top turret left gun would not feed. Right solenoid jumped out after bursts.
   11. A/C 823: Left waist firing pin spring broken or weak.
   12. A/C 821: Upper turret guns (left) worked spasmodically. Navigator’s gun fired only one at a time.

1. The Station Ordnance Officer has submitted the following expenditure of ammunition for the mission of 9 October, 1943.

1. The following malfunctions were reported upon completion of the mission of 9 October, 1943.
   1. A/C 42-29812 - Charging handle on center nose gun broke after excessive firing.
   2. A/C 42-29863 - Charging handle on center nose gun broke after excessive firing. Right waist gun charging handle also broke.
   3. A/C 42-3093 - Short rounds and broken links in all positions. Defective ammunition.
   4. A/C 42-3495 - Left top turret gun jammed – cleared by immediate action. Left chin turret gun jammed – ammunition piled up at gun. Charging handle broke on Radio gun.
   5. A/C 42-29831 - In top turret, nut in eccentric gear box vibrated loose.
   6. A/C 42-30857 - Back plate latch in top turret became very weak and back plate came loose.
   7. A/C 42-29877 - Left tail gun had ruptured case. Defective ammunition.
2. Prolonged firing caused these malfunctions; and all of the necessary repairs and adjustments have been made.

1. Following are the deficiencies and disabilities as determined by interrogation:
A/C 096: Interphone malfunctioned. – Lt. Crismon.
A/C 495: Heated suit out. – Sgt. Bigham. Heated gloves out. – Sgt. Scaffidi.
A/C 857: Radio operator’s heated suit damaged. – Sgt. Flanagan.
  Ball turret gunner dropped his escape kit out of ship. – S/Sgt. Romero.
A/C 821: Co-Pilot and R/W [Right Waist] oxygen system shot out. – Lt. Craven
  Sgt. Cox. Ball Turret gloves were ripped up. – S/Sgt. McCullough.
[Signed] John L. Scott, Major, Air Corps, Group S-2 [Intelligence]

1. Total No. A/C in each Squadron and Letters of each:

   Sqdn 508th A/C: 9868–K, 9821–F, 6151–M, 5823–C	(3)
   Sqdn 509th A/C: 9863–Y, 0499–Q, 9812–U, 3120–O, 3140–P	(5)
   Sqdn 510th A/C: 9850–G, 0857–J, 9831–H, 3093–K, 3495–C, 0867–N, 3152–A	(7)
   Sqdn 511th A/C: 6096–W, 9849–U, 0790–Q, 9630–R, 9877–X	(5)

2. Target: GY-4830
   
3. Station call sign and Operational call sign respectively of each Squadron

   Squadron	508 Ops:	JPX		Squadron	510 Ops:	KMN
   	Sta:	Disclose			Sta:	Cupping
   Squadron	509 Ops	NOF		Squadron	511 Ops:	WMK
   	Sta:	Seagreen			Sta:	Ranger

4. Taxi Time – 1st A/C 0717;     Take-Off Time 1st A/C 0732;     E.T.D. Over Field 0757

5. Time:	Height:	Place of crossing English Coast OUT:
   0832	1,000 Ft	Cromer

6. Time:	Height:	Place of Recrossing Enemy Coast:
   1309	13,000 Ft	55°16'N-08°33'E

7. Time:	Height:	Place of crossing English Coast IN:
   1515	2,000 Ft	Cromer

8. E.T.R.(Estimated Time of Return): 1545 Hours
9. MF/DF [Medium Frequency/Direction Finder] Section: G
10. Bomb load of Each A/C:
    Squadron: 508 3–1000 pound, Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/100 Tail & 5 M-47 A1 IB's [Incendiary Bombs]
    Squadron: 509 3–1000 pound, Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/100 Tail & 5 M-47 A1 IB's [Incendiary Bombs]
    Squadron: 510 3–1000 pound, Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/100 Tail & 5 M-47 A1 IB's [Incendiary Bombs]
    Squadron: 511 3–1000 pound, Fuse - 1/10 Nose, 1/100 Tail & 5 M-47 A1 IB's [Incendiary Bombs]
11. Fuel Load of each A/C: 2100 Gallons
12. Actual Times Off and Return by Squadrons and A/C Letters:

    Squadron	A/C Letter	A.T.O.	A.T.R.	Squadron	A/C Letter	A.T.O.	A.T.R.
    508	9868–K	0744	MIA	509	9863–Y	0732	1536
    	9821–F	0745	1545		0499–Q	0743	1534
    	6151–M	0740½	1546½		9812–U	0743½	1542
    Landed RAF Attlebridge	5823–C	0741			3120–O	0745	1535
    					3140–W	0746½	1531
    510	9850–G	0736	1539	511	6096–W	0733	1543
    Landed RAF Little Snoring	0857–J	0737			9849–U	0732½	1544
    	9831–H	0736½	1540		0790–Q	0733	MIA
    	3093–K	0738	1537		9603–R	0735½	MIA
    	3495–C	0740	1533		9877–X	0734	1532
    	0867–N	0739	MIA
    	3152–A	0742	MIA

    Report Compiled By Rocky Civizzio, T/Sgt.
    

A/C 790 - #1 - 2nd element Lead Squadron lost to E/A [Enemy Aircraft] prior to target.
A/C 152, 603, 868, 867 lost to Enemy Aircraft after target.

Mission No. 47 – October 9, 1943 The Group was briefed to attack the Arado Aircraft Factory at Anklam, Germany. The crews were very concerned when confronted by the mission details. It was the longest flight to date, with expected moderate to heavy flak concentrations. After the briefing, Sgt. Pete Zibas, the engineer on Lt. Garcia’s aircraft, recalls the gunners clamoring for an additional four cans of ammunition per gun. Twenty-one planes were led by Colonel Burns, Captain Carraway, and Lt. Norris with Lt. Stackhouse navigating and Lt. Winter as bombardier. The formation crossed the North Sea at 4,000 feet and prior to climbing to bombing altitude, the fuel was cross-fed into the main tanks and the bomb bay tanks jettisoned. As this operation was being carried out in Flight Officer Warring’s ship, 42-3152, fire broke out, but the crew managed to extinguish the flames and the ship continued in formation. Shortly after crossing the Danish coast, the first fighter attacks commenced. Thirty to fifty ME 109s pressed home many close attacks. The first plane to be hit was the second element lead, 42-30790, flown by Captain Morse. A burst of 20mm exploded in the left wing setting it on fire. Captain Morse dropped his wheels and left the formation under control. All the crew bailed out safely. At the start of the bomb run the enemy fighters broke off their attacks, leaving the formation to suffer the attentions of the Anklam flak gunners. Smoke from the bombs of the preceding combat wing obscured the target and as a consequence most of the bombs fell in the center of the city. Flight Officer Warring was still experiencing mechanical difficulties. He was force to jettison his bombs after the target when the bomb bay doors had to be hand-cranked open. The formation turned for home and flew straight into the Luftwaffe’s assembled forces. ME 110s and a few JU 88s stood off and fired rockets into the formation. Lt. Maser’s aircraft, 42-29603, left the formation with its ailerons shot out and number three engine on fire. All ten crewmen bailed out from the stricken aircraft, but only nine survived. What happened to Sgt. Gorsuch, the ball turret gunner, is not known. Sgt. Gorsuch was on his 25th mission, having substituted for the regular crew member, Sgt. Nadeau, who had been wounded on a previous mission. At the same time Lt. Christman, in 42-30867, and the luckless Flight Officer Warring went down. Despite injuries to several of Flight Officer Warring’s crew, they all managed to bail out. Eight members of Lt. Christman’s crew survived. Sgt. Blais and Butterback were killed in the fighter attack. The fighter attacks persisted for some three and a half-hours after leaving the target. In the final stages, ME 109s and FW 190s from coastal fields joined in the attacks. It is believed that it was these fighters that shot down 42-29868, flown by Lt. Turley. Only Lt. Williams, the copilot, and Sgt. Curtis, the top turret gunner, survived the crash into the North Sea. They were picked up by the Germans near the Danish coast. When the Group landed at Polebrook it was found that Lt. Nardi’s ship, 42-29877, had returned with an unexploded rocket wedged in the main spar.

A/C# 42-30790   DS-Q  "Cue Ball"  Capt. Morse   A/C's 2nd Mission   MACR # 878

According to the book, "The 351st Bomb Group in WWII" page 18, "The first plane to be hit was 42-30790, flown by Capt. Morse. A burst of 20mm exploded in the left wing setting it on fire. Captain Morse dropped his wheels and left the formation under control. All the crew bailed out safely."
According to the MACR the plane crashed just west of Anklam, Germany.

• Pilot - MORSE HARRY B JR, From California, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11)
• Co-pilot - NICOLESCU, GORGE V, From Oregon, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
• Navigator - SHAW, CHARLES M, From Missouri, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11)
• Bombardier - FINCHER, B C JR, From North Carolina, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11)
• Top Turret Gunner - DOUBLEDEE, WILLIAM J, From Ohio, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg- Langwasser) 49-11
• Radio Operator - LEE, GEORGE R, From Pennsylvania, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
• Left Waist Gunner - HILL, JOSEPH E, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria 48-15
• Right Waist Gunner - PETTUS, CARL, From District of Columbia, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria 48-15
• Ball Turret Gunner - VANDERLAAN, JAMES H, From Michigan, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg- Langwasser) 49-11
• Tail Gunner - MARCIAL, TORRIDO, From New York, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
• Photographer - GETCHELL, RICHARD H, From Maine, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11

A/C# 42-3152   TU-A  "Sleepy Lagoon"   F.O. Warring   A/C's 17th Mission   MACR # 876

Documents above show that this plane was brought down by enemy fighters after the target. The MACR shows it crashed near Schleiswig, Germany.

• Pilot - WARRING, WILLIAM H, From California, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
• Co-pilot - DAVIS, HOWARD A, From Texas, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11)
• Navigator - POLIN, MAX, From Pennsylvania, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
• Nose Gunner - HENNIS, DAVID E, From West Virginia, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria 48-15
• Top Turret Gunner - SCHMITT, GORDON L, From Texas, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
• Radio Operator - KLIMP, THOMAS H, From Illinois, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
• Left Waist Gunner - QUILLIN, JAMES J, From Illinois, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria 48-15
• Right Waist Gunner - SUMMERS, VIRGIL V JR, From Ohio, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria 48-15
• Ball Turret Gunner - VLHA, VICTOR V, From Texas, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag Luft 4 Gross-Tychow (formerly Heydekrug) Pomerania, Prussia (moved to Wobbelin Bei Ludwigslust) (To Usedom Bei Savenmunde) 54-16
• Tail Gunner - Killough, Wyndell H, - The MACR shows that Wyndell Killough was found in the wreckage of the plane by the Germans, who told the crew he had been hit in the head. One crew member stated the tail had been damaged during enemy aircraft attacks.

• S/Sgt. Wyndell H. Killough is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., Texas.

A/C# 42-29603   DS-R  "Spit Ball"  1st Lt. Maser  A/C's 15th Mission   MACR # 875

Plane was shot down by enemy fighters after the target and crashed near Flensburg, Germany.

• Pilot - MASER, HOWARD G, From New York State, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11)
• Co-pilot - L'ABBEE, DONALD L, From Massachusetts, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
• Navigator - EAGLE, MORRIS S, From Texas, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang Prussia 54-12
• Nose Gunner - FERGUSON, HOWARD J, From Pennsylvania, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria 48-15
• Top Turret Gunner - SANFORD, EVERRETT L, From Louisiana, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria 48-15
• Radio Operator - WALSH, PAUL M, From Wisconsin, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser)49-11
• Left Waist Gunner - MC GEE, WILLIAM R, From Virginia, Returned to Military Control, POW at Luftwaffe Lazaret 4/XI Wismar Mecklenberg 54-11
• Right Waist Gunner - CRUM, HAROLD R, From Illinois, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
• Ball Turret Gunner - GORSUCH, KENNETH W, From Missouri, Killed in Action
• Tail Gunner - MORGAN, MALVERN H JR, From North Carolina, Returned to Military Control, No POW camp noted in National Archives records.

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

• Kenneth W. Gorsuch, Staff Sergeant, Entered the Service From: Missouri, Date of Death: October 09, 1943, Buried: Plot A Row 21 Grave 10, Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupre, Belgium, Awards: Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal

A/C# 42-29868   YB-K  "The Venus"  Lt. Turley  A/C's 23rd Mission   MACR #15557

According to the MACR the Top Turret Gunner, Curis, stated the Aircraft exploded in air. His statement reads, "To the best of my knowledge - the first man to leave the ship was Silverman - bombardier - followed by Coe - Navigator - the third to leave was Williams - Co-pilot. I, Curis, followed Williams. As near as I can Judge this happened somewhere over the Baltic Sea. We were hit by an Me 109. The ship caught fire immediately - it exploded after I bailed out. I pulled my rip-cord just as I left the forward hatch, and the first thing I saw was part of a tail assembly floating thru the air. I landed in water. A German boat picked me up about an hour later. Though I was beaten up quite badly, I did make an effort to encourage the Germans to search for the others. Williams was next to be picked up and the third fellow to be picked up was Teal, T/Sgt (Not on our crew). The Germans didn't give up their search immediately - but continued for some time. Tho no others were picked up. The last I saw of Williams was in a German interrogation camp. He was in good health."

• Pilot - 1st Lt. TURLEY, JOSEPH H. - is listed as a casualty in the National Archives WWII Honor List of Dead and Missing.
• Co-pilot - 1st Lt. WILLIAMS, FRANK E JR, From Colorado, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg- Langwasser) 49-11
• Navigator - 2nd Lt. COE, ROBERT W, Missing in Action.
• Bombardier - 2nd Lt. SILVERMAN, ABRAHAM, [From German records] "His body washed ashore on 10 Oct 1943 at Fedslette, southeast of Rudkoebing on the Isle of Langeland, Denmark and was buried in the cemetery at Maglaby on Langeland, grave No. A 11-?? on 13 October 1943, at 0700 hrs."
• Top Turret Gunner - T/Sgt. CURIS, THEODORE P, From Rhode Island, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria 48-15
• Radio Operator - T/Sgt. BRANTZ, THEODORE W, Missing in Action.
• Left Waist Gunner - S/Sgt. HAMMOND, RAYMOND A, Missing in Action.
• Right Waist Gunner - S/Sgt. HARMON, NELSON O, Missing in Action.
• Ball Turret Gunner - Sgt. JEANES, ALVIN L, Missing in Action.
• Tail Gunner - S/Sgt. TRASK, WILLIAM E, Missing in Action.

The burial records below courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission. http://www.abmc.gov and Find A Grave.com http://www.findagrave.com

• Abraham Silverman, Second Lieutenant, Date of Death: October 09, 1943, Buried, Montefiore Cemetery, Springfield Gardens, Queens County, New York
  Plot Gate: 352/S Block:77 Row: 009R Grave:6
• Robert W. Coe, Second Lieutenant, Entered the Service From: New York, Date of Death: October 09, 1943, Memorialized: Tablets of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England, Awards - Purple Heart, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.
• Raymond A. Hammond, Staff Sergeant, Entered the Service From: Michigan, Date of Death: October 09, 1943, Memorialized: Tablets of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England, Awards - Purple Heart, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.
• Alvin L. Jeanes, Sergeant, Entered the Service From: Indiana, Date of Death: October 09, 1943, Memorialized: Tablets of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England. Awards - Purple Heart, Air Medal.
• William E. Trask, Staff Sergeant, Entered the Service From: Maine, Date of Death: October 09, 1943, Memorialized: Tablets of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England, Awards - Purple Heart, Air Medal

A/C# 42-30867   TU-N  1st Lt. Christman  A/C's 2nd Mission   MACR #1035

According to Mission Documents and "The 351st Bomb Group Book," enemy fighters brought down the plane after the target. Sgts. Blais and Butterback were killed in the fighter attack.

• Pilot - 1st Lt. CHRISTMAN, LLOYD A, From Minnesota, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11)
• Co-pilot - 1st Lt. LAIRD, JAMES D, From Kentucky, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg- Langwasser) 49-11
• Navigator - 2nd Lt. HANCY, ELDRED E, From Michigan - Missing in Action.
• Bombardier - 1st Lt. HEMM, JOHN J, From Ohio, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11)
• Top Turret Gunner - T/Sgt. SHARP, COMMODORE I, From Tennessee, Returned to Military Control, POW at Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
• Radio Operator - T/Sgt. PRESSEL, DAVID F, From Indiana - Missing in Action.
• Left Waist Gunner - S/Sgt. WHITE, JAMES D, From Alabama, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria 48-15
• Right Waist Gunner - S/Sgt. KLINK, WILLIAM D, From Montana, Returned to Military Control, POW at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg- Langwasser) 49-11
• Ball Turret Gunner - S/Sgt. BUTTERBACH, JOHN R, From Pennsylvania - Missing in Action.
• Tail Gunner - S/Sgt. BLAIS, EDMOND J, From New York - Killed in Action

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

• ELDRED E. HANCY, Second Lieutenant, Entered the Service From: Michigan, Date of Death: October 09, 1943, Memorialized: Tablets of the Missing, Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands. Awards - Purple Heart, Air Medal.
• DAVID F. PRESSEL, Technical Sergeant, Entered the Service From: Indiana, Date of Death: October 09, 1943, Memorialized: Tablets of the Missing, Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands. Awards - Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
• EDMOND J. BLAIS, Staff Sergeant, Entered the Service From: New York, Date of Death: October 09, 1943, Buried: Plot C Row 1 Grave 36, Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupre, Belgium. Awards - Purple Heart, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster