APO 520, NY, NY

30 JUNE 1944

SUMMARY OF THE SQUADRON HISTORY FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE

The first mission of the month was flown on the 2^nd of June and the target was the Marshalling Yards at Szolnok, Hungary.  Nine of our bombers had their bombs on the target, from all reports this was a very good mission, and with a good bomb pattern.  No flak or fighters were seen, and all of our ships returned safely.  Captain beck left us again to go to the General Hospital in Bari.

June the 5^th, on the day that Rome was entered by the “Yanka”, our crews were briefed to hit Borgo Val di Taro, Italy.  All 10 of the ships made it over the target and back home.  We didn’t run into any flak; however, flak was seen around Bologna, and no E/A intercepted our ships.  The target that the men were briefed for was missed, but the RR lines were blasted.

The second big day of this month was the 6^th when our army and the British crossed the English Channel and secured a “Beach-Head”.  We all hope this will be the beginning of the end.  Our bombers hit Ploesti, Roumania, and as usual the flak was heavy, accurate and intense, all nine of our ships made it over the target, and back to the base; however, Lt. Moss lost as Super Charger over the target and had to draw 30 to 60 inches of mercury to keep up with the formation.  They broke formation after they were well away from the target and decided to try and make Yugoslavia, after making it by throwing out all the guns and flak suits they decided to try and make it in.  Contact was kept with the radio station at Foggia at all times.  After landing on an airfield near Foggia, with a cup full of gasoline, they refueled and came on home.

June the 9^th was the first time we have hit Germany.  The target was Munich, and it is believed the Industrial part of the city was well hit.  However, there was an undercast and the extent of damage is unknown.  S/Sgt. Drezek, Lt. Moss’s ball turret gunner had a probable on a ME-109.  Major Robert E. Applegate was promoted to Lt. Colonel.  1^st Lt. Mixson to Captain and Lt. Fulks to 1^st Lt.

The 13^th of every month has to come at the same time in every month and the month of June is no exception.  So we will blame today’s mission on that fact.  The target was to be Munich, Germany again, and due to a little trouble in the navigation the boys found themselves all over the southern part of Europe – Switzerland included.  On the way back Porto Marghera was bombed.

After 7 days of stand-downs we flew a mission to Trieste, Italy; however, the planes had to return to the base with their bombs due to weather conditions over the target.

On the 23^rd the mission was to Giurgiu, Roumania.  The flak was moderate, but one piece found its way to S/Sgt. Norris Krivitsky’s turret, and his right eye was injured by broken glass.  Sgt. Krivitsky was awarded the Purple Heart, the only one for the Squadron this month.

The toughest mission of the month was Korneuberg, Austria.  Not only was the flak bad, but the sky was full of E/A.  It was reported that Group lost one plane on this mission.  S/Sgt. “Casey” Jones added a ME-109 to his credit.  After playing a few burst on him the ME blew up in mid-air.

On June the 27^th the following officers received orders that made them 1^st Lt’s:  Lt’s Colavito, Dietrick, Dubal, Ambrose, Antotoso, Arbuthnot, Childrey, Kearn, Ruber, Hume, Phillips, Platt, Pogue, Sage, and Wilson.

During the month of June 10 combat missions were flown,  The large number of “Stand Downs” this month was not due to our ships being grounded, but the weather conditions in Southern Europe, and the Balkins was bad.  We lost no planes, and none of our men are Missing in Action.  A number of our men were able to go to Rest Camps, Capri, 49^th Bomb Wing Rest Camp, etc.  They were all very pleased with their visits, and it seems to have done them a lot of good.  S/Sgt. Morris Krivitsky was awarded the Purple Heart, 1 E/A was shot out of the sky and one probable.  Major Applegate was promoted to Lt. Colonel, and 1^st Lt. Mixson to Captain.  16 2^nd Lt’s made 1^st.  We had an average of 8.5 ships over the target per mission, and 5 missions that we participated in were scored Good, Excellent or Superior.

APO 520, NY, NY

30 JUNE 1944

EXTRACTS FROM THE SQUADRON HISTORY FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE

June 1.  No combat mission was flown today.  Promotions for EM were posted.

June 2.  The first mission of the month was flown today, and the target was the Marshalling Yards at Szolnok, Hungary.  Nine of our bombers had their bombs on the target.  From all reports this was a good mission, and the target was well covered.  Captain Bock left us again to go to the 25^th General Hospital in Bari.

June 3.  No combat mission was flown today.  Lt. Weems’s crew came back to us from the 766^th Squadron.

June 4.  The mission today was to Orelle, France.  Nine of our bombers had their bombs on target, and one had to jettison them at the I.P.  There was no flak or fighters, and due to smoke at the target there were no observations, but it is believed the target was well hit.

June 5.  On the same day that the allies entered Rome our bombers were briefed to hit Berge Vel De Toro, Italy.  All 10 of them made it over the target and back home.  We didn’t run into any flak; however, flak was seen around Bologna, and no E/A intercepted our ships.  The target that the men were briefed for was missed, but the RR lines were blasted.

June 6.  Today the Invasion of Europe started, and our bombers hit Ploesti, Rumania.  As usual the flak was heavy, accurate and intense.  All ten of our ships made it over the target and back to the base safely; however, Lt. Moss lost a super charger over the target and had to draw 50 to 60 inches of mercury to keep up with the formation.  They broke formation after they were well away from the target and decided to try and make Yugoslavia; after making it by throwing out all the guns and flak suits they decided to try and make it on in.  Contact was kept with the radio station at Foggia throughout the flight.  After making it to an airfield near Foggia they refueled and came on home.  Fighters were encountered on this mission, but kept their distance.

June 7.  The 41^st mission was the viaduct at Antheor, France.  Of the eight ships that took off only 6 of them made it over the target, the other two had to jettison their bombs and return early.  A couple of the ships had flak holes; however, the flak was light and no fighters were seen.  The results of this raid were fair but most of the bomb pattern was over the target.

June 8.  No combat mission was flown today.

June 9.  We hit Germany for the first time today.  The target was Munich, and it is believed that the industrial part of the city was well hit.  However there was an undercast and the extent of damage is unknown.  One of the ships had to abort, and they hit a RR bridge on the way back to the base.  At the bridge they were jumped by 3 ME-109’s and Sgt. Drezek, the ball turret gunner, on Lt. Moss’s crew got a probable on one of them.  The last that was seen of the ME was smoking on the way to the ground.  The orders came in today making Major Applegate a Lt. Colonel, and Lt. Mixson a Captain, also Lt. Fulks was promoted to 1^st Lt.

June 10.  The mission today was to the oil storage tanks, and refinery at Porto Marghera, Italy.  From the photographs and observations we blew up quite a bit of oil today.  We had eight bombers over the target, and the flak was light, also no fighters.

June 11.  The crews were briefed this morning for Giurgiu, Rumania, making the 44^th for the Group.  The flak for this area was accurate and a few ME-109’s were seen, however none of them made a pass at our bombers.  Bombing today wasn’t as good as usual, and we had one abortion.

June 12.  No combat mission was flown today.

June 13.  The intended target today was Munich, Germany, but something went wrong somewhere, and the boys found themselves all over the southern part of Europe – Switzerland included.  There were so many abortions that they decided to come back, and on the way in they plastered Porto Marghera, Italy again.

June 14.  The 46^th mission was the gasoline refinery plants at Szony, Hungary.  We has 11 ships take off and 11 over the target.  All of our ships returned safely by 1430.  The results of this mission were very good.  Some flak was seen around the target area, but it didn’t come near our ships.

June 15.  No combat mission was flown today.

June 16.  No combat mission was flown today.

June 17.  No combat mission was flown today.

June 18.  No combat mission was flown today.

June 19.  No combat mission was flown today.

June 20.  No combat mission was flown today.

June 21.  No combat mission was flown today.

June 22.  Not much can be said for the mission today.  The crews were briefed to hit Trieste, Italy, but when they arrived the target was 10/10 covered, so they had to return to the base with their bombs.  This was the 47^th mission for the Group and the first we have flown in 7 days.  A little flak, but no fighters were encountered.

June 23.  The mission today was to Giurgiu, Rumania and was the 48^th for the Group.  We had 9 ships over the target.  The flak was moderate; however, S/Sgt. Morris Krivitsky was slightly injured in his right eye, due to glass broken by flak on top of hit turret.  Outside of this mishap all of our ships returned safely by 1630.  By reports the target was well hit, and smoke was seen to 10,000 feet.

June 24.  No combat mission was flown today.

June 25.  The men were briefed to hit France again today, the target being Avignon, France.  Nine of our ships took off, and we had nine over the target.  The bomb pattern was good, but a little to the left.  Not much flak, and no fighters were seen.

June 26.  The target for today was Korneuburg, Austria.  It was the 50^th for the Group, and was one of the toughest missions on the month.  Not only was the flak bad, but also the sky was full of E/A.  We had eight ships over the target, but the bomb pattern was a little to the left.  All of our crews returned safely, but it is reported that the Group lost one.  S/Sgt. “Casey” Jones added a ME-109 to his credit.  After playing a few bursts on him the ME blew up in mid-air.

June 27.  No combat mission was flown today.  The following 2^nd Lt’s were promoted to 1^st Lt.:  Calavito, Dietrick, Dubal, Ambrose, Amoroso, Arbuthnot, Childrey, Hearn, Huber, Hume, Phillips, Platt, Pogue, Sage, and Wilson.

June 28.  The M/Y at Bucharest, Rumania was the target for today’s mission, but due to a malfunction of the bomb rack in the lead ship, they dropped their bombs a little late.  However, it was a nice bomb pattern right in the center of Bucharest.  Ten of the 785^th’s bombers hit the city.  The Jerry’s got a little confused and threw their Ack-Ack a little low so our bombers weren’t bothered too much by it.  A few E/A were seen but kept their distance.

June 29.  No combat mission was flown today.

June 30.  The target today was the synthetic oil refinery at Blechhammer, Germany.  The weather was bad above Lake Balaton and the ships returned to the base with their bombs.  This makes the 52nd mission for the Group, and the 18^th for the month of June.

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