Mission 113 - 1

303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 11325 February 1944

Target: Group A - Messerschmitt A/C Factory, Augsburg, Ger.Group B - V.K.F. Ball Bearing Works, Stuttgart, Ger.

Crews Dispatched: Group A - 19; Group B - 12

Crew Members Lost or Wounded: 6 crewmen wounded by flak

Length of Mission: 9 hours, 15 minutes

Bomb Load: Group A - 12 x 500 lb bombs,

Group B - 3 or 6 x 1000 lb bombs

Bombing Altitude: Group A - 22,100 ft; Group B - 21,100 ft

Ammo Fired: 3,780 rounds

Big Week continued with 8th Air Force attacks on three Messerschmitt aircraftproduction centers plus an important ball-bearing factory. The 303rd BG(H) had 31aircraft airborne with 29 dispatched. Four aircraft returned early:#42-31471 Doolittle's Destroyer, 360BS-E (Thomas), runaway prop.#42-3158 Max, 427BS-Y (Hoeg), No. 4 engine throwing oil.#42-31423 Jigger Rooche, 427BS-M (Estes), No manifold pressure on No. 3.#42-38050 Thunderbird, 359BS-U (Glass), wounded photographer.

Fifteen aircraft of the main "A" Group bombed Augsburg with 155 500-lb. G.P.bombs from 22,100 feet. Ten B-17s of the 303/384 composite "B" Group bombed Stuttgartwith 36 1,000-lb. G.P. bombs from 21,200 feet. Except for a slight ground haze, theweather over the Continent was excellent. Augsburg bombing results were excellent.Stuttgart results were poor to fair. All bombing was visual–PFF was used only fornavigation. There were no contrails.

Both Groups experienced moderate to intense and accurate flak. The main "A"Group sustained one wounded crewman and 15 damaged aircraft and the "B" Group hadeight wounded crewmen and nine damaged aircraft–all from flak. Enemy fighter oppositionwas generally weak with only a few attacks on the Group. Strung-out fighter support overthe route resulted in no support over the target area for about one hour. Co-pilot, Lt. JohnC. Cook was hit by flak in his arm. Pilot, Lt. Robert W. Snyder was hit in the neck. Theywere flying in #42-97617 (No Name).

Bombing excellence was a tribute to the courage of the bombardiers who stayedcrouched over their bombsights through one of the worst flak barrages ever encounteredby the 303rd BG(H). Nearly every Group B-17 had several holes to testify to the accuracyof the German gunners.

Credit for the successful operations went to Maj. Shumake, who took a CombatWing to Augsburg, and Maj. Cole, who led a Group to attack Stuttgart. Both men madealmost identical reports on their missions. Maj. Shumake said, "I think we did a darnedgood job as far as bombing is concerned. We didn't have much trouble until we got overthe target, but they really gave it to us there. We didn't get jumped by fighters, but we could

Mission 113 - 2

Ole George #42-31574 (358BS) VK-G41st CBW-A Lead (358BS) - Pilot Capt D. Gamble / CoPilot Maj G.F Shumake

(Back Row L-R) Maj. G.F Shumake (CP), Capt. J.B. Fawcett (B),Capt. D. Gamble (P), 1Lt H.H. Steely (N), Capt. N.N. Jacobsen (N)

(Front - not in order) T/Sgt C.E. Wagner (E), S/Sgt N. Vaughn (WG),T/Sgt H.N. Bland (R), S/Sgt C.S. Schmeltzer (WG),

S/Sgt F.H. Stender (TG), T/Sgt R.G. Scharch (BT, 2nd from right)

hear other Groups calling for help. It was a long, rough haul, but worth it." Maj. Cole said,"Our Group had excellent bombing. All of our bombs went right in there. There was a lotof smoke coming up from the target when we left."

Capt. Gamble, who piloted Maj. Shumake, said he had seen enough flak to last himfor a long time, and "We had flak all the way and it was pretty fierce. "Luckily our fighterskept the Germans away from us and we had a good bomb run in spite of the flak. Ourbombardier did a swell job and our bombs seemed to go right into the target. "When ourpilot said we were at the French border, I looked back at Augsburg and could still seesmoke coming up from our target. It was a big black column and it seemed to be gettingbigger," Davis said. S/Sgt. Elwood R. Pelkey, waist gunner on The '8' Ball MK II whichwent to Stuttgart, reported lots of smoke there, too. "We could see black smoke coming upfrom Stuttgart thirty minutes after we left the place," he said.

Mission 113 - 3

Route Map

Mission 113 - 4

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group A

Shumake-Gamble574

Snyder Bensel 617 PFF B-17F #42-3492 812BS/482BG

Watson583

Gorman Taylor 739 893

Henderson Wilson 051 340Estes Sullivan Thomas DeWall 423 020 471 432 McGarry Lawlor 241 841 Wood Glass Holdcroft 200 050 168 Bordelon 213

#42-39885 Sweet Rose O'Grady (Headlee), assembled with 357th Group and bombedStuttgart. Flew #2 position in Low Squadron.#42-3158 Max, (Hoeg), assembled with 381st Group, but returned early to Base.

Four (4) aircraft aborted this mission:Lt. Thomas in 471Lt. Hoeg in 158Lt. Estes in 423Lt. Glass in 050

Mission 113 - 5

Composite Group with 384th Group

Cole635

Dahleen Savage 183 306

Shoup605

Hybert Edwards 830 561

Young 393 Bech Eisenhart 823 973 Harrison 616 Maxey Melton 629 795

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 113 - 6

358th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-37893 Bam Bam

P Taylor, James B., 1LtCP Hall, Charles M., 2LtNAV Levy, Herbert E., 2LtBOM Schmid, Ralph D., 2LtENG Jones, Douglas J., S/SgtBT Czeczotka, Theodore R., SgtRO Dulin, Woodroe G., S/SgtRWG Schweinebraten, Leslie H., SgtTG Cox, James B., S/SgtLWG Loveland, William H., Sgt

B-17G #42-31739 Pugnacious Peter

P Gorman, Quentin J., 2LtCP Hofmann, Raymond, 2LtNAV Binder, Carroll, 2LtBOM Israelson, Elmo P., 2LtENG Blakeney, William R., Jr., S/SgtBT Crenshaw, Ollie G., SgtRO Berman, Seymour, S/SgtLWG Galloway, John B., SgtTG Maxwell, Verle J., SgtRWG Jensen, Bob, Sgt.

B-17F #42-29629 Connecticut Yankee

P Maxey, Frank, 2LtCP Knight, R.A., 2LtNAV Shamban, Marcus F., 2LtBOM Spatt, Arnold I., 2LtENG Gonsalves, John D., S/SgtLWG Gamon, Edward J., SgtRO Rabun, Clifford G., SgtBT Swain, Norman F., SgtTG Angelo, George L., S/SgtRWG Hodgins, Robert A., SgtPHO Barteau, Edward L., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31583 Clover Leaf

P Watson, Jack W., 1LtCP Burns, James R., 2LtNAV Connors, Edward B., 2LtBOM Feinman, Milton, 2LtENG Hoffman, Robert W., S/SgtRWG Daniels, Herbert A., SgtRO Kistulentz, Paul, SgtBT Gibbs, Paul M., SgtTG McArthur, Robert G., SgtRWG Smythe, Samuel W., Sgt

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

P Snyder, Robert W., 2LtCP Cook, John H., 2LtNAV Williams, Jack N., 2LtBOM Morrison, James P., 2LtENG Haggerty, Jerome J., S/SgtLWG Delaney, Jessie L., SgtRO Rumpf, Charles W., S/SgtRWG Balzano, Christopher, SgtTG Hunt, John L., SgtBT Chadick, Neal T., Sgt

B-17G #42-31574 Ole George

P Gamble, Donald, CaptCP Shumake, Glynn F., MajNAV Steely, Hobart H., 1LtNAV Jacobsen, Norman N., CaptBOM Fawcett, Jack W., CaptENG Wagner, Clyde E., T/SgtLWG Vaughn, Norville, S/SgtRO Bland, Hugh N., T/SgtBT Scharch, Richard G., S/SgtRWG Schmeltzer, Charles S., S/SgtTG Stender, Francis H., S/Sgt

Mission 113 - 7

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-31830 Marie

P Hybert, Arthur J., 1LtCP Harrison, Weldon O., 2LtNAV Towberman, Paul E., 2LtBOM Kelly, James H., Jr., 2LtENG Broderick, George V., S/SgtRO Ratford, Edward V., S/SgtLWG Gilcrease, Roland L., SgtBT Jaehne, Charles R., S/SgtRWG Kolenda, Frank M., SgtTG Barmak, Paul J., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-5306 (No Name)

P Savage, John N., 2LtCP 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 Ferrell, William R., Sgt

B-17G #42-31183 Bad Penny

P Dahleen, Howard D., 1LtCP Rice, Charles M., 2LtNAV Klingensmith, Russell S., 2LtBOM Gauthier, Raymond W., 2LtENG Newman, John F., S/SgtRO Swanson, Charles E., T/SgtRWG Smith, Harding W., S/SgtLWG Manchester, Robert E., S/SgtBT Hirn, Edward M., S/SgtTG Covington, Charles G., S/Sgt

B-17F #41-24561 The Duchess

P Edwards, Kenneth C., 2LtCP Peterson, Edwin V., 2LtNAV Sanders, Coleman, 2LtBOM Anderson, Everett J., 2LtENG Johnson, Kenneth V., S/SgtRO Kennedy, Herbert W., S/SgtBT Hein, Walter E., S/SgtLWG Champagne, Adam, SgtTG Kowalk, Francis H., SgtRWG Abernathy, Fay S., Cpl

B-17F #42-29823 (No Name)

P Bech, G. Neil, Jr., 1LtCP Hall, Franklin M., 2LtNAV Cotter, Edward R., 2LtBOM Corbin, Frederick A., F/OENG Sanelli, Floyd L., T/SgtRWG Boatwright, Edward C., S/SgtRO Dennis, Julian E., T/SgtBT Johnson, Lawrence G., S/SgtLWG Cundiff, Robert W., SgtTG Murphy, Carl B., Sgt

B-17F #42-2973 Iza Vailable

P Eisenhart, William E., 2LtCP Sassone, Joseph C., 2LtNAV Carey, William D., 2LtBOM Van Zandt, Roland, 1LtENG Mayhugh, John C., Jr., S/SgtRO Mouser, Lloyd C., T/SgtBT McCauley, Patrick N., S/SgtTG Tybuszewski, Mitchell, S/SgtRWG Robichaud, Joseph E., S/SgtLWG Hermann, Kurt J., II, T/SgtPHO Hunter, Robert G., S/Sgt

Mission 113 - 8

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17F #41-24605 Knock-Out Dropper

P Shoup, Noel E., 1LtCP Litherland, James, 2LtNAV Howlett, Oscar D., 1LtBOM Ulbricht, Walter E., 2LtENG Bragg, Ben W., T/SgtRWG Gribble, Robert F., S/SgtRO Rose, William A., SgtLWG Asvestos, Nick, S/SgtBT Hostetter, William L., S/SgtTG Ross, Harry C., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-5393 Thumper Again

P Young, Elmer W., 2LtCP Cunningham, Billy A., 2LtNAV Schoner, George R., 2LtBOM Yelsky, Fred B., 2LtENG Steele, John C., T/SgtRO Dulick, Steve, T/SgtBT Lebeck, Richard H., S/SgtRWG Rohaly, Andrew, Jr., S/SgtLWG Withrow, John W., S/SgtTG Stapelton, Bill, S/Sgt

B-17F #41-24635 The '8' Ball MK II

P Cole, Richard H., MajCP Blossom, George H., 2LtNAV Palmer, Gerald M., 1LtBOM Bowman, Richard R., 1LtENG Kalafut, Joseph J., S/SgtRO Vieira, Joseph, T/SgtRWG Pelkey, Elwood R., S/SgtBT Bergman, Harvey F., S/SgtLWG Reynolds, James B., S/SgtTG Gorecki, Victor T., Jr., 2Lt

Mission 113 - 9

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-31432 Old Glory

P DeWall, Hershel R., 2LtCP Hicks, David F., 2LtNAV Becker, Sylvester J., 1LtBOM Peterson, Elmer L., S/SgtENG Green, Jack E., S/SgtRWG Hosso, Harry V., S/SgtRO Bonn, Charles J., SgtLWG Ayres, Arthur B., S/SgtBG Hemmings, Norman A., S/SgtTG Davis, Paul J., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31471 Doolittle's Destroyer

P Thomas, Earl N., 2LtCP Miller, Edgar C., 2LtNAV Walenta, Clarence V., 2LtBOM Scott, Harold L., 2LtENG Mason, John W., T/SgtTG Harvey, Roy D., SgtRO Crowder, Gayther B., T/SgtRWG Bacon, Charles N., SgtBT Johnston, Harold A., SgtLWG Books, Carl O., Sgt(Abortive)

B-17G #42-38168 Dear Mom

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 Slusser, Walter C., SgtBT Kern, Lloyd F., SgtTG Krumholz, Robert A., Sgt

B-17G #42-31213 Pistol Packin' Mama

P Bordelon, Berton A., 1LtCP Coons, Charles L., 2LtNAV Cromwell, Frederick P., 2LtBOM Cottrell, John W., 2LtENG Barker, Forrest, S/SgtRWG Adams, Donald K., S/SgtRO Fontana, Joseph L., S/SgtLWG Patterson, Harry L., S/SgtBT Harrington, Joseph F., S/SgtTG Couch, Ted, Sgt

B-17G #42-31340 Miss Liberty

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

B-17G #42-37841 Banshee

P Lawlor, John C., Jr., 1LtCP Chapman, John M., 2LtNAV Munroe, Linton S., Jr., 2LtBOM Barker, Havelock W., 2LtENG Tower, Jack W., T/SgtRWG Huddleston, D.O., S/SgtRO Esposito, Frank B., T/SgtLWG Krenek, Joe W., S/SgtBT Kuntashian, Warren V., S/Sgt TG Butler, Raymond K., S/SgtPHO Lovett, William F., Sgt

B-17G #42-38050 Thunderbird

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/SgtPHO Buckley, Paul E., Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

Mission 113 - 10

427th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-39885 Sweet Rose O'Grady

P Headlee, Dale C., LtCP Fogerson, Joseph E., F/ONAV Schweitzer, Jerome D., LtBOM Handley, Donald J., LtENG Klunk, James A., S/SgtBT Almanzor, Berton F., SgtRO Moberg, Chester H., S/SgtTG Bell, Alton R., SgtLWG Wilson, Robert J., SgtRWG Hoff, Henry, Sgt

B-17G #42-38051 My Yorkshire Dream

P Henderson, Grover C., LtCP Sayers, Darwin D., LtNAV Arvanites, George L., LtBOM Umphress, F.E., Jr., LtENG Weed, L.A., Jr., S/SgtBT Teno, James R., S/SgtRO Cohen, Leo, T/SgtTG LaFrenier, James E., S/Sgt RWG Wright, Edgar A., S/SgtLWG Musashe, Michael, S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31423 Jigger Rooche

P Estes, Shirley W., LtCP Byers, Ballard T., LtNAV Minter, Thomas W., LtBOM Shemwell, John T., LtENG Price, Jack J., S/SgtBT Wiley, Nathan H., SgtRO Wagner, Wayne, S/SgtTG Noah, Norbert O., SgtRWG Silrum, Orvis K., SgtLWG Ross, Samuel C., Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

B-17F #42-29795 Flying Bitch

P Melton, James H., LtCP Belknap, Robert W., LtNAV Frechter, Harry G., LtBOM Clapp, Keith W., LtENG Rusinak, John C., S/SgtBT Moore, John J., Jr., SgtRO Stoberl, Donald L., S/SgtTG Anderson, Ralph R., SgtLWG Doyle, Edward J., SgtRWG LaPlant, Willard R., Sgt

B-17G #42-38020 V-Packet

P Sullivan, Francis X., LtCP Brangwin, Kenneth R., LtNAV Eccleston, Edward F., LtBOM Bawol, Walter S., LtENG Frey, James L., S/SgtBT Latta, Thomas B., T/SgtRO Sullivan, James J., T /SgtTG Stone, Vernon W., S/SgtRWG Swanson, Charles A., S/SgtLWG Keely, Eugene F., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-3158 Max

P Hoeg, Kenneth A., LtCP O'Hare, Phil W., LtNAV Olsen, Kenneth L., LtBOM Cronin, Ernest L., LtENG Relyea, Ralph R., T/SgtBT McMahan, Bonnar P., S/SgtRO Benevento, Andrew G., S/SgtRWG Hadley, Owen W., S/SgtLWG Vargas, Michael A., S/SgtTG McLaughlin, Jesse W., S/Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

Mission 113 - 11

427th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #42-31616 Spirit of Flak Wolf

P Harrison, Emmittes S., Jr., LtCP Bastean, Stephen B., LtNAV Kurnik, Walter F., LtBOM Biedanski, Edmund J., LtENG Rombach, Joseph H., S/SgtBT Dye, James W., S/SgtRO Volmer, Lawrence O., T/SgtTG Vateckas, Coster R., S/SgtLWG Campbell, Kenneth H., S/SgtRWG Hawk, Kenneth L., S/SgtPHO Gervais, Joseph J., Sgt

B-17G #42-31200 Old Crow

P Wood, Vere A., LtCP Knutson, Wilmer A., LtNAV Pinnette, William S., LtBOM Brown, Thomas G., LtENG Watts, William A., T/SgtBT Grant, Thomas V., S/SgtRO Brooks, Winnie R., S/SgTG Helton, Edward, SgtRWG Heathershaw, Charles L., SgtLWG Tevis, John E., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31241 Spirit of Wanette

P McGarry, John J., Jr., LtCP Cotham, Willie C., LtNAV Halligan, Robert W., LtBOM Foe, Kenneth D., LtENG Grace, Henry J., S/SgtBT Plante, Royal F., S/SgtRO Wilson, Elmer A., S/SgtTG Serpa, Joseph E., S/SgtLWG Brown, Edgar S., SgtRWG Hilborn, Ervin, SgtPHO Mulberry, Harold F., Sgt

This was the last mission of "Big Week," 20-25 February 1944. Like the other missionsduring "Big Week" this mission was costly in terms of crewmen and aircraft:

First Division Losses: 13 crews and aircraft

Second Division Losses: 6 crews and aircraft

Third Division Losses: 11 crews and aircraft

Total Division Losses: 30 crews and aircraft

Mission 113 - 12

303rd BG(H) COMMENDATIONS: "BIG WEEK" COMBAT PERFORMANCE

COMMENDATIONS:

1. The following TWX, 29 Feb 44, is quoted for the information of all personnel, this station:"RESTRICTED - 1 BD F1242G FOLLOWING MESG RECEIVED FROM 8AF QUOTE:RESTRICTED 8AF F2434B GEN ARNOLD DESIRED FOLLOWING MESG BROUGHT TOATTENTION OF ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR COMD. WITH A RELENTLESS DETERMINATIONDEMANDING THE RESPECT OF EVERYONE IN THE AAF, YOU ARE DRIVING HOME ANATTACK WHICH IS DESTROYING GERMANY’S VERY VITALS. THE STRONGEST DEFENSESA DESPERATE ENEMY CAN DEVISE ARE NOT STOPPING YOU. YOU HAVE HAD HEAVYLOSSES BUT YOU ARE INFLICTING HEAVIER ONES ON THE ENEMY. YOUR ATTACKS ONREGENSBURG, LEIPZIG, BERNBURG, GOTHA AND OTHER FIGHTER FACTORIES SO VITALTO THE ENEMY ARE WIPING OUT GERMAN FIGHTER PRODUCTION AND LAYING THEFOUNDATION FOR DECISIVE AND FINAL OPERATIONS IN THE FUTURE. FOR CONTINUINGTO DEAL SUCH DESTRUCTIVE BLOWS AT THE HEART OF GERMANY, I SEND ALL OF YOUMY BEST WISHES. FOR THE SUPERB JOB YOU ARE DOING, I COMMEND ALL RANKSFROM TOP TO BOTTOM. SGD ARNOLD UNQUOTE."

HEADQUARTERS

41 ST COMBAT BOMBARDMENT WING (H)

A.P.O. 634 U.S. ARMY

26 February 1944

SUBJECT: Commendation.

TO: Commanding Officer, 303rd Bomb Group (H), APO 634.

1. It has been stated by competent authority that since 8 February 1944 the damage inflicted onthe German air Force has been greater than that of all previous operations combined.

2. It gives me great pleasure to inform you that the tremendous improvement in the performanceof your organizations has been such that the superb bombing done during this period was to a verygreat extent responsible for this grave damage to the enemy. The Bomb Pattern on Ascherslebenwas excellent, in fact the damage done here alone was sufficient to warrant the effort and justifythe losses of the entire force dispatched. The pattern laid on the target lat Leipzig by your GroupI believe was the only bombing that has ever been as accurate and concentrated that 100% of thebombs fell with in one thousand (1000) feet of the aiming point.

3. I desire that you bring this letter to the attention of every man in your organization and expressto them my deep appreciation of the outstanding job they have done under very adverse weatherconditions. The ground personnel have worked long hard hours in very uncomfortable conditions,but their labors have been more than justified and I'm they will be gratified to know their work hascertainly brought the final victory nearer by many months.

ROBERT F. TRAVIS

Brigadier General, A. C. Commanding