Mission 085 - 1

303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 851 December 1943

Target: City area of Solingen, Germany (PFF Bombing)Crews Dispatched: 20 plus one spare

Crews Lost: 2Lt. G.W. Luke, Jr., 1 KIA, 7 POW, 2 EVD;

1 crewman with very bad frostbite

Length of Mission: 6 hours, 25 minutes

Bombing Load: 8x500 lb G.P. & 20 M47A1 65 lb Incendiaries

Bombing Altitude: 26,700 ft

Ammo Fired: 1,445 rounds

Twenty aircraft plus one spare were dispatched. Each B-17 was loaded with eight500-lb. bombs plus 20 M47A1 65-lb. incendiary bombs. Four aircraft aborted themission:#42-5854 Alley Oop 360BS (Bergeron) - The Fortress had low oil pressure.#42-5788 A.O.G. Not in Stock 360BS (McClellan) - The pilot's mike button was outand oxygen leaked 30 miles from base.#42-39785 Thru Hel'en Hiwater 358BS (Clark) - The B-17G developed low oilpressure and the navigator's oxygen leaked out.#42-5264 Yankee Doodle Dandy (spare aircraft) 358BS (Troppman) - The airplanedeveloped low oil pressure and had an oxygen leak.

The intense cold gave combat crews more trouble than enemy flak and fighterswhen temperatures at the 26,700 feet bombing altitude dropped below -40E. P-47s, P-38sand Spitfires supplied flawless fighter protection all the way in to the target and out to theenemy coast. Not one enemy fighter slipped through the fighter cover and attacked theformation. P-47s destroyed twenty German fighters with four probables and sevendamaged. Spotty anti-aircraft fire reached its greatest intensity over the Ruhr Valley on theway home. It caused little damage to the 303rd BG(H) B-17s. Bombs were droppedthrough solid cloud cover on the PFF aircraft.

A new B-17G on its fourth mission was missing. This was the first 303rd BG(H) lossof a B-17G. #42-39781 (No Name) 360BS, piloted by 2Lt. George W. Luke, Jr., was lastseen northwest of Aachen, Germany. It dropped out of the Group formation in a gradualturn to the right as if flying itself back into Germany. It crashed at Radingham, 10 km westof Lille, France.

2Lt. Gordon A. Ballagh recalled that flak hit his B-17 next to one of the inboardengines. They left the Group formation and were losing altitude when they were again hitby flak. This burst severed their control cables and the pilot ordered the crew to bail outnear Lille, France. He landed in soft ground while being observed by a French lady andher children. She shouted "Good Luck" in broken English. He was captured and made aPOW. 2Lt. Ballagh also recalled that the aircraft's name was Career Girl, although thereis no record of this name being used on a 303rd BG(H) B-17.

Mission 085 - 2

The pilot, 2Lt. Luke, became the first 8th Air Force POW to enter Stalag Luft I. Theco-pilot, 2Lt. Frank Mitchell, evaded capture and served with the underground untilFrance's liberation. Sgt. Ira J. Walter evaded capture for a week, was captured and madea POW at Stalag 17B. Sgt. Robert H. Washburn was killed by the Germans during anescape attempt. He was initially buried in the Lille, France cemetery under the name“Washburn RAF” and later interred at the Ardennes American Cemetery near Liege,Belgium.

Another new B-17G Fortress with no name, #42-31243 427BS, piloted by Lt. AlanEckhart, ditched in the English Channel at Pegwell Bay when the aircraft ran out of gas.The crew was picked up by Air-Sea Rescue and taken to Manston.

Maj. Snyder summed up the mission by stating, "I've been on a lot tougher ones,although there was a lot of flak in a few places, especially over the Ruhr. We had verygood fighter protection and I didn't see even one enemy plane." 2Lt. Linton Munroe,navigator on the B-17G Aloha 360BS, said he wasn't bothered at all. "Everywhere I lookedthere seemed to be hundreds of fighters–all P47s, P-38s or Spitfires. I didn't see even oneGerman plane today." "It was cold as hell today. We had good fighter cover and not toomuch flak, but the cold made the trip pretty rough," said S/Sgt. William H. Simpkins,engineer of Connecticut Yankee, 358BS. "I don't know where the Luftwaffe was today,"said Sgt. Harry Ross, tail gunner of Baltimore Bounce, 359BS. "But I'm glad they didn'tshow up. I was plenty busy trying to keep warm."

Two of the returning aircraft landed at Manston and one at Ridgewell. S/Sgt. W.L.Tharp, of Lt. Osborn's crew in #42-37757 360BS, had severe frostbite on his legs andwas hospitalized.

Vicious Virgin #42-5341 (427BS) GN-Q303rd BG Lead - Pilot 1Lt R.J. Hullar / CoPilot Maj E.E. Snyder

1Lt R.J. Hullar (P), Maj E.E. Snyder (CP),

1Lt P.W. Scroggins (N), Capt B.K. Butt (B), Lt W. Klint (TG-O)

T/Sgt G.E. Hoyt (R), T/Sgt D.W. Rice (E), S/Sgt N.A. Sampson (BT),

T/Sgt C. Fullem (WG), S/Sgt M.D. Miller (WG)

(crewmen are not in order)

Mission 085 - 3

Route Map

Mission 085 - 4

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point

Snyder-Hullar341

Sheets Emerson 786 893

Woddrop875

Humphreys Eckhart 060 243

Bergeron Reeder 854 605Clark Osborn Eich Shoup 785 757 448 894 Heller Quinn 973 561Lawlor Luke Daub Hungerford 055 781 257 629 McClellan Goolsby 788 177 Troppman 264

Four (4) aircraft aborted this mission:Lt. Bergeron in 854 Lt. Clark in 785Lt. McClellan in 788 Lt. Troppman in 264

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 085 - 5

358th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17F #42-29629 Connecticut Yankee

P Hungerford, Merle R., CaptCP Henderson, John F., 2LtNAV Wiggins, Warren S., 2LtBOM Monkres, Woodrow W., 2LtENG Simpkins, William H., S/SgtLWG Burkart, Ralph F., S/SgtRO Vosler, Forrest L., S/SgtBT Ruppel, Edward, SgtRWG Moody, Stanley N., SgtTG Buske, George W., Sgt

B-17G #42-37893 Bam Bam

P Emerson, Aubrey L., 2LtCP DaShiell, William C., 2LtNAV Sutherland, Thomas A., 2LtBOM DeLaura, Don J., 2LtENG Stevenson, Robert L., S/SgtBT Robinson, Authur H., SgtRO Radebaugh, Bernard J., S/SgtRWG Owen, Robert J., SgtTG Morrison, George J., SgtLWG McKinney, Clifford M., Sgt

B-17F #42-5264 Yankee Doodle Dandy

P Troppman, Walter W., 2LtCP Elder, Damon C., 2LtNAV Minkowitz, Samuel, 2LtBOM Armstrong, Charles C., 2LtENG Wilson, David L., S/SgtLWG Stender, Francis H., S/SgtRO Gilmore, Daniel F., S/SgtBT Mirenda, Frank J., SgtTG Swank, Verden D., SgtRWG Garcia, Mario D., Sgt(Abortive)

B-17G #42-39785 Thru Hel'en Hiwater

P Clark, Martin L., 2LtCP Watson, Jack W., 2LtNAV Leverton, John G., 2LtBOM Colvin, Vance R., 2LtENG Rowland, Samuel L., S/SgtLWG Stewart, Eugene R., SgtRO Romaniec, Harry, S/SgtRWG Fussner, William H., SgtTG Kosinski, Roman P., SgtBT Booth, Fred H., Sgt(Abortive)

Mission 085 - 6

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17F #41-24561 The Duchess

P Quinn, Thomas J., 2LtCP Hybert, Arthur J., 2LtNAV Howlett, Oscar D., 2LtBOM Van Zandt, Roland, 2LtENG Holper, Ralph M., T/SgtRWG Kalafut, Joe J., S/SgtRO Vieira, Joseph, T/SgtBT McCauley, Patrick N., S/SgtLWG Reynolds, James B., S/SgtTG Pelkey, Elwood R., S/SgtPHO Mahaffey, William D., Sgt

B-17F #41-24605 Knockout Dropper

P Reeder, D.M., 1LtCP Cole, Richard H., MajNAV Salk, Harvey M., 2LtBOM Vermillion, Earl E., 2LtENG Herod, Henry W., T/SgtLWG Hayes, John J., S/SgtRO Mowery, Ellis D., T/SgtRWG Hull, Kenneth W., S/SgtBT Wright, Samuel S., S/SgtTG Swan, Henry, S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31177 Lonesome Polecat

P Goolsby, Billy M., 2LtCP Savage, John N., 2LtNAV Towberman, P.E., 2LtBOM Bowen, Richard R., 2LtENG Rothrock, Harry J., SgtTT Newman, John F., S/SgtRO Greenhalgh, Chester W., S/SgtBT Montgomery, R.E., S/SgtTG Strobel, William A., SgtRWG Manchester, Robert E., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-5257 Miss Bea Haven

P Daub, Leroy E., 2LtCP Donalson, Douglas C., 2LtNAV Palmer, Gerald M., 2LtBOM Marlatt, Ray G., 2LtENG Barrett, John J., S/SgtRO Kelly, Victor S., S/Sgt RWG Haman, Ray T., SgtLWG Carter, Edward K., SgtBT Gilmore, Charles E., SgtTG Considine, Louis W., S/SgtPHO Hunter, Richard G., Sgt

B-17F #42-29894 Baltimore Bounce

P Shoup, Noel E., 2LtCP Callahan, Edward F., 2LtNAV Clark, Byron F., 2LtBOM Kelly, James H., Jr., 2LtENG Bragg, Ben W., S/SgtRWG Gribble, Robert F., SgtRO Harrison, Donald B., SgtLWG Mayhugh, W.D., SgtBT Hostetter, William L., Jr., SgtTG Ross, Harry C., Sgt

B-17F #42-3448 (No Name)

P Eich, Henry J., Jr. 2LtCP Woodside, William E., 2LtNAV Carroll, James E., 2LtBOM Stein, William G., 2LtENG Lenson, H., SgtBT Celoni, J.P., SgtRO Harvey, D.S., S/SgtRWG Erdmann, D.C., SgtLWG Maggia, Edmond A., S/SgtTG Gilstrap, R.M., Sgt

Mission 085 - 7

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17F #42-2973 Iza Vailable

P Heller, William C., LtCP Coppom, John F., LtNAV Zwayer, James P., LtBOM DeSousa, John, Jr., LtENG Huston, William J., T/SgtRWG Payne, George S., S/SgtRO Spoerri, Felix, T/SgtLWG Lanier, Leo, Jr., S/SgtBT Ayres, Arthur B., S/SgtTG Laurinitis, Anthony, S/Sgt

B-17G #42-37757 (No Name)

P Osborn, William C., Lt CP Jernigan, Jack, Jr., LtNAV Ross, Lawrence D., LtBOM Campbell, Nelson, LtENG Wolff, William E., S/SgtLWG Wolfe, Earl D., SgtRO Daniel, George L., S/SgtRWG Tharp, Willard L., S/SgtBT Fitzgerald, Lyle W., SgtTG Evans, Lawrence B., Sgt

B-17G #42-31055 Aloha

P Lawlor, John C., Jr., LtCP Hicks, David F., LtNAV Munroe, Linton S., Jr., LtBOM Stamper, William B., M/SgtENG Tower, Jack W., S/SgtRWG Baker, Nelson, SgtRO Esposito, Frank B., S/SgtLWG Krenek, Joe W., SgtBT Kuntashian, Warren V., Sgt TG Butler, Raymond K., Sgt

B-17F #42-5854 Alley Oop

P Bergeron, Willard H., LtCP DeWall, Hershel R., LtNAV Noland, James B., LtBOM DeFeis, Robert N., LtENG Carnathan, Hugh S., T/SgtRWG Frost, Carlyle A., S/SgtRO Cline, Leroy, T/SgtBT Hemmings, Norman A., S/SgtLWG Wilson, George W., S/SgtTG Appleton, Vernon R., S/Sgt(Abortive)

B-17G #42-39781 (No Name) CR-L

P Luke, George W., Jr., Lt POWCP Mitchell, Frank, Lt EVDNAV Ballagh, Gordon A., Lt POWBOM Dahnke, Leonard L., Lt POWENG Boren, Millard A., S/Sgt POWRWG Yeakel, Elwood D., Sgt POWRO Day, Ben T., S/Sgt POWLWG Wright, Sherman G., Sgt POWBT Washburn, Robert H., Sgt POW/KIATG Walter, Ira J., Sgt EVD/POW

Mission 085 - 8

427th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-31060 Poque Ma Hone

P Humphreys, Fred C., LtCP Clemons, James H., LtNAV Culpin, John J., Jr., LtBOM Orvis, George T., Jr., LtENG Janisch, Ferdinand J., T/SgtLWG Beach, Russell F., S/SgtRO Woods, Arthur H., T/SgtBT Ross, Madison H., S/SgtRWG Dare, Melvin M., S/SgtTG Sparks, William C., Sgt

B-17G #42-37875 Empress of D Street

P Woddrop, Edward M., Lt CP Culbertson, A.T., LtColNAV Brown, Elmer L., LtBOM Matthews, E.P., LtENG Watts, William A., S/SgtBT Plante, Royal F., S/SgtRO Mulholland, John J., T/SgtTG Baggs, Charles C., S/SgtRWG Valis, William, S/SgtLWG Hadley, Owen W., Sgt

B-17F #42-5341 Vicious Virgin

P Hullar, Robert J., LtCP Snyder, Edgar E., Jr., MajNAV Scroggins, Paul W., LtBOM Butt, Byron K., CaptENG Rice, Dale W., S/SgtTG Klint, Wilbur, LtRO Hoyt, George F., S/SgtBT Sampson, Norman A., S/SgtLWG Miller, Merlin D., S/SgtRWG Fullem, Charles, S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31243 (No Name) DCH

P Eckhart, Alan, Lt RESCP Jenkins, Elton L., Lt RESNAV Arvanites, George L., Lt RESBOM Meagher, Robert W., Lt RESTT Neuner, Francis X., Sgt RESBT Tambe, Angelo J., S/Sgt RESRO Kuehl, Fred T., S/Sgt RESTG Smith, Nyle F., S/Sgt RESLWG Madak, Edward P., S/Sgt RESRWG Musashe, Michael, Sgt RES

B-17G #42-39786 G.I. Sheets

P Sheets, Robert W., LtCP Jackman, Lon E., Jr., LtNAV Linnehan, Arthur, LtBOM Wallen, George A., LtENG Souder, Lee F., Jr., S/SgtBT King, Earl J., SgtRO DuBray, Ernest D., S/SgtTG Sullens, Tom C., SgtLWG Donnelly, James F., SgtRWG Smith, Leonard C., Sgt

B-17F #42-5788 A.O.G. Not in Stock

P McClellan, George S., Jr., LtCP Greenwood, Ernest G., LtNAV Kaliher, John C., LtBOM Cornish, Merlin L., LtENG Tempesta, David, T/SgtRWG Chiles, Alfred B., Jr., S/SgtRO Callihan, George A., T/SgtBT Yarian, Robert G., S/SgtTG Dugan, Charles E., S/SgtLWG Heaton, Barnell S., SgtRO O'Connor, William S., Sgt(Abortive)