Mission 247 - 1

303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 24727 September 1944

Target: Marshalling Yards at Cologne, GermanyCrews Dispatched: 39

Length of Mission: 6 hours

Bomb Load: 12 x 500 lb G.P. M43 bombs

Bombing Altitudes: 24,600, 24,200 & 23,800 ft

Ammo Fired: 1,790 rounds

The 303rd BG(H) B-17s dropped 442 500-lb. G.P. M43 bombs from 24,600, 24,200and 23,800 ft. One aircraft dropped leaflets. Aircraft #42-107206 Old Black Magic,359BS (Lt. Miller) was hit by flak before reaching the target and the bombs wouldn't

release. They were jettisoned over the English Channel on the return trip. There were8/10 to 10/10 low clouds and no middle or high clouds in the target area. Bombing resultswere unobserved. Friendly fighter support by 221 P-47s and P-51s was good. No enemyaircraft were seen. Flak was moderate to intense and extremely accurate over the target.Twenty-two aircraft sustained major and thirteen, minor damage. Chaff had no effect.Three returning crewmen were slightly wounded.

2Lt. William F. Miller, pilot of #42-107206 Old Black Magic, reported on the returntrip from Cologne. His co-pilot was 2Lt. John D. Hill, Jr.:

We were bombing Cologne and just a split-second before "bombs away," we tooka lot of flak in the left wing. The No. 1 engine was knocked out, but wouldn't feather. Thepropeller control still worked so it didn't run away. Our 400-cycle AC was burned out andthe radio receivers were dead. The rudder trim cable was shot in two and the elevatorcable was held together by only one of several small cables which made up the wholebundle. I suspected the left tire was flat (it was).

I waited until the rest of the Group had landed and then made a pass. On thedownwind leg, I remembered that the flap indicator wouldn't be working so I was not topay any attention to it. I knew I didn't want to get flaps and gear down until I knew we hadthe runway made. On the final approach, I called for the gear and got it, along with thegreen light from the tower. I remembered that the flap indicator was going to show zero,but forgot that I hadn't put them down anyhow. When we were very close to the ground,I called for and got flaps. About this time, we passed over the end of the runway and Ichopped the power.

I was astonished when the airplane suddenly went to full left rudder. In trying tocontrol the thing and keep it from cartwheeling, I decided to take it around and try again.Full power on the three good engines got us started all right, but shortly thereafter I felta throttle control kicking against the palm of my hand. Instantly I knew that the turbo blastgates were locked in the position where they had been at altitude when we got hit and wewere pulling far too much manifold pressure. As fast as I could, I throttled back to 46"manifold pressure and the go-around continued uneventfully; we got back down nicely,flopping on the flat left tire and sliding on the braked right one.

Mission 247 - 2

Aerial Photograph of the beautiful Cathedral in Cologne, France.

Fortunately, it was undamaged by 303rd Bombs.

We were told that a big fireball came out of No. 4 when we started the go-aroundand exceeded the manifold pressure. People on the ground thought we were going topack it in. The maintenance officer called me later and told me I had pulled 62" ofmanifold pressure on the three engines. Nos. 2 and 3 wouldn't start; No. 4 had thrown arod and cracked two other cylinders. I suppose it was exciting for those watching, but Iwas too busy to share in the fun!

Mission 247 - 3

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group A

Cole-Cunningham137 - PFF

Frazier Whitlock 050 125 - PFF

Baltes Crawford 609 930Lorentz Carney Michaelis Connelly 604 944 055 329 Jenkins Chance 309 326Mickle Miller 289 7206

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group B

Flowers-Ashwell281

Glasgow Caplinger 597 060

Hullar Shields 311 805Ackerman Cureton Foley Railing 885 248 893 861 Dubose Newton 166 411Drewry O'Leary 099 875

Mission 247 - 4

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group C

Riseden-Johnson191

White Lord 949 739

Vermeer Baehr 574 330Glass Twomey Hallum Juns 006 186 200 298 Mayer McCutcheon 176 8206McKinley Freeman 590 945

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 247 - 5

358th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #43-37590 Neva-The Silver Lady

P McKinley, Ralph C., 2LtCP Harwick, James A., 2LtNAV Long, Donald C., Jr., 2LtBOM Splawn, Elzic B., S/SgtENG Jones, Burlen, SgtWG Devaney, Thomas J., SgtRO Moll, Richard S., SgtBT Clark, Woodrow E., SgtTG Soule, Evan R., Sgt

B-17G #43-38206 Silver Fox

P McCutcheon, George E., 1LtCP McGilvray, Richard L., 2LtNAV Starr, Ben, 2LtTOG Garcia, Robert L., S/SgtENG Burcham, Johnnie O., S/SgtWG Foulk, Donald H., SgtRO Alexander, John C., S/SgtBT Aberdeen, James E., CplTG Kinsman, George R., Sgt

B-17G #42-102945 Sweet Pea

P Freeman, Clyde E., 2LtCP Canning, Glenn R., 2LtNAV Goldstein, Sheldon, 2LtBOM Birkenseer, Donald L., 2LtENG Fleck, Peter J., SgtTG Caporusso, Frank J., SgtRO VanLier, Donald E., SgtWG Martin, Robert G., SgtBT Chesney, Alan D., Sgt

B-17G #44-6006 (No Name)

P Glass, Leroy E., 2LtP Chunat, Orlyn D., 2LtNAV Haider, Joseph C., 2LtBOM Boland, Anthony J., 2LtENG Eide, Richard W., S/SgtBT Trumbull, Vernon L., SgtRO Brady, James M., SgtWG Hodges, Grady H., SgtTG Davis, Mark M., Sgt

B-17G #43-38186 (No Name)

P Twomey, John M., 2LtCP Ross, James E., 2LtNAV Hansen, Heber D., 2LtBOM McDade, Maurie S., 2LtENG Shaw, Vergil A., SgtTG Hammond, Walter E., SgtRO Bzik, Paul J., SgtBT Johnson, Morrin T., SgtWG Martin, Jack E., Sgt

B-17G #42-97949 (No Name)

P White, Franklin F., 1LtCP Bowman, William B., 2LtNAV Kaufman, Seymour, F/OBOM Ross, Robert M., 2LtENG Adams, William J., S/SgtWG Hein, Monroe C., S/SgtRO Vesely, Henry L., S/SgtBT Gilman, Frederick S., S/SgtTG Campbell, James R., S/Sgt

Mission 247 - 6

358th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #43-38191 Shasta

P Riseden, Jack W., 1LtCP Johnson, Hugh B., 1LtNAV Metko, Eaerl D., 2LtBOM Morris, Warren B., 1LtENG Edwards, Eugene F., T/SgtWG Beck, Harold P., S/SgtRO Carter, Robert D., T/SgtTG Douglass, Earl B., 2LtBT Blinebury, Joseph A., S/Sgt

B-17G #43-38176 Bouncing Betty II

P Mayer, Walter J., 1LtCP Gradle, Raymond B., 2LtNAV Simons, Robert A., 2LtBOM Rogers, Oron J., 2LtENG Hicks, Douglas E., S/SgtTG Withers, Frederick J., SgtRO Tuescher, Ernest, S/SgtBT Messerich, Jerome R., S/SgtWG Gendron, Ernest J., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31739 Pugnacious Peter

P Lord, Truman R., 2LtCP Phillips, Clifton N., 2LtNAV Anderson, Arvid, 2LtBOM Ruiz, Arthur F., 2LtENG Winiger, Bernard A., SgtTG Ferguson, William H., SgtRO Hatfield, Earl G., SgtBT Stephenson, Oscar D., Jr., SgtWG Martin, David S., Sgt

B-17G #42-31574 Ole George

P Vermeer, Bernard E., 1Lt CP Byrnes, James H., 2Lt NAV Zarelli, Michael L., 1Lt BOM Sachau, William D., 2Lt ENG Varvil, Willis E., S/Sgt WG Schley, John G., S/Sgt RO Moon, Charles E., S/Sgt TG Kennedy, Robert F., S/Sgt BT Ferris, James H., Sgt

Mission 247 - 7

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #43-38604 (No Name)

P Lorentz, Arthur, 1LtCP Scott, Robert H., 2LtNAV Smith, William A., 2LtBOM Hewitt, LeRoy A., 2LtENG Kreager, Jon B., SgtRO Ringen, Walter E., SgtBT Ingalls, Earl F., CplTG Greenwald, Paul L., SgtWG Gonser, Dwight W., Cpl

B-17G #42-97944 Daddy's Delight

P Carney, Walter J., 1LtCP Hickey, James A., 2LtNAV Donovan, James R., 1LtBOM Cooney, Thomas E., 2LtENG Turner, Harold L., S/SgtRO Foster, Albert A., S/SgtBT Kayrallah, Emil, SgtTG Howe, Clarence H., SgtWG Encinas, William, Sgt

B-17G #44-6309 Duchess' Granddaughter

P Jenkins, Harry F., 1LtCP Blanchard, Samuel B., 2LtNAV Nute, Gordon B., 2LtBOM Protzman, John W., 2LtENG Lainson, Colin C., SgtRO Loosemore, Wesley G., S/SgtBT Fydrychowski, John J., SgtTG Cregan, John M., SgtWG Allen, Charles G., Sgt

B-17G #44-8137 (No Name) - PFF

P Cole, Richard H., LtColCP Cunningham, Robert L., 1LtNAV Counts, George H., 1LtNAV Kelly, Thomas N., 1LtNAV Lifshus, Lawrence, 2LtBOM Hoover, William L., 1LtENG Ela, Lyman E., T/SgtRO Vieira, Joseph, T/SgtTG Ward, Duane G., 2LtWG Franceshini, James V., S/Sgt

B-17G #43-38609 (No Name)

P Baltes, George E., 1LtCP Marble, Robert A., 2LtNAV Susskind, Harold A., 1LtBOM Smith, Teddy A., 1LtENG Stenger, John J., Jr., S/SgtRO Giltenboth, Charles L., S/SgtBT Kanz, Milton C., SgtTG Posluszny, Branislaw B., SgtWG Godsey, Austin C., Sgt

B-17G #43-38289 Sweet LaRhonda

P Mickle, James D., 1LtCP Clark, Loren M., F/ONAV O'Dell, Benjamin L., 2LtBOM Schulze, William A., 2LtENG Humphrey, William B., CplRO Eagon, Dennis G., CplBT Garcia, Leonard A., CplTG Van Zile, Raymond J., CplWG Wentz, Robert D., Cpl

Mission 247 - 8

EUGENE C. FRAZIER CREW - 359th BS(crew assigned 359BS: 21 Aug 1944)

(Back L-R) Sgt William J. Zielinski (WG), 2Lt Laurie H. Campbell (CP), Sgt Luther McCullough (TG),Sgt Donald W. Trainor (R), 2Lt Andrew T. Goettman (N), 2Lt Richard B. Barlow (B), 2Lt Eugene C. Frazier (P)

(Front L-R) Sgt Raymond H. Charron (BT), Sgt Eston R. Anderson (WG), S/Sgt Gilbert C. Borges (E)

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #44-8125 Sparky - PFF

P Whitlock, Garland M., 1LtCP Knolle, William C., 2LtNAV Macaulay, Edward H., 2LtBOM Glover, Fred E., 2LtENG Popovich, William G., S/SgtRO Pomicter, Stanley, Jr., S/SgWG Boyle, Francis L., Jr., SgtTG ??, D.W., F/O (427th)WG Hawrat, Edward D., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-107206 Old Black Magic

P Miller, William F., 2LtCP Hill, John D., Jr., 2LtNAV Conn, Arthur A., Jr., 2LtBOM Tyree, Joseph C., 2LtENG Waldron, Leo F., CplRO Smolar, Max, CplBT Ball, Warren G., CplTG Hutson, Johnny C., CplWG Zelnio, Anthony D., Cpl(Abortive Sortie)

B-17G #44-8326 (No Name)

P Chance, Arthur F., 1LtCP Johnson, Robert H., 2LtNAV McCarver, Eugene D., 2LtBOM Couch, William M., 2LtENG Menasco, Elmer W., SgtRO Miller, Albert, SgtBT Moss, Shirley L., SgtTG Hejna, Dennis R., SgtWG Torre, Leo A., Sgt

B-17G #42-38050 Thunderbird

P Frazier, Eugene C., 2LtCP Campbell, Laurie H., 2LtNAV Goettman, Andrew T., 2LtBOM Barlow, Richard B., 2LtENG Borges, Gilbert C., S/SgtRO Trainor, Donald W., SgtBT Charron, Raymond H., SgtTG McCullough, Luther, Jr., SgtWG Anderson, Eston R., Sgt

Mission 247 - 9

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-97893 Minnie the Moocher

P Foley, Norment, 1LtCP Rowe, Robert A., 2LtNAV Conklin, James M., 2LtBOM Littlefield, Robert I., 2LtENG Snell, Edward A., S/SgtRO Johnson, Vernelle V., S/SgtTG Stewart, Charles R., SgtBT Waltmire, Harrel A., Jr., SgtWG Clippinger, Robert E., S/Sgt

B-17G #43-37930 (No Name)

P Crawford, William C., 1LtCP Kidd, Warren D., 2LtNAV Wade, Robert E., 2LtBOM Bays, Gordon C., 2LtENG LeRoux, Lyle W., T/SgtRO Miller, William L., T/SgtBT Whitney, Daniel F., S/SgtWG Baker, Thomas E., Jr., SgtTG Barder, Emmett R., S/Sgt

B-17G #43-38200 (No Name)

P Hallum, Bertrand, Jr., 2Lt CP Romstad, Alfred M., 2Lt NAV Olson, Charles F., 2Lt BOM Fetzko, John, Jr., 2Lt ENG Young, Horace B., S/Sgt RO Botkin, Jack S., S/Sgt BT Ax, Heinz R., Sgt TG Stewart, George E., S/SgtWG Stroud, George E., Jr., Sgt

B-17G #42-31055 Aloha

P Michaelis, Arthur D., 1LtCP Sapak, Aloysius I., 2LtNAV Lillig, Thomas J., 2LtBOM Rudolph, Gabriel, 2LtENG Jones, Donald E., S/SgtRO Jensen, Dale E., S/SgtBT Barth, Harry W., SgtTG Healy, Edward P., SgtWG Hlavac, George A., Sgt

B-17G #42-97298 The Floose

P Juns, Frank, 2LtCP Beasley, Roland C., 2LtNAV Harding, Warren G., 2LtBOM Thomas, Edward H., 2LtENG Girard, Louis P., S/SgtRO Wimer, Maurice H., SgtBT Oberly, Eldridge C., SgtTG Englis, Hiram E., CplWG Branin, James J., Cpl

B-17G #44-8330 (No Name)

P Baehr, Kenneth C., 1LtCP King, John E., 2LtNAV Peacock, Thomas I., 1LtBOM Smith, William H., 1LtENG Jamison, Charles A., T/SgtBT Decker, Bruce O., S/SgtRO Ploeger, Jesse, T/SgtTG Keipper, Carl E., S/SgtWG Baldwin, Kenton F., S/Sgt

Mission 247 - 10

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #42-97329 Flak Hack

P Connelly, Ben L., 1LtCP House, Frederick L., 2LtNAV Levin, Albert, 2LtBOM Shelley, David R., 2LtENG Cole, Bethel A., T/SgtRO Schneider, Dale E., S/SgtBT Evans, Ralph V., SgtTG Bur, Robert D., SgtWG Odegaard, Duane J., Sgt

B-17G #42-97861 Iza Vailable III

P Railing, Charles F., Jr., 2LtCP McCarl, Howard D., 2LtNAV Leibovitz, Meyer, 2LtBOM Willson, Louis H., 2LtENG Mellon, James B., Jr., SgtRO Hanna, William M., SgtBT Burgeson, Lawrence L., SgtTG Barber, Ralph K., SgtWG Cole, Lorne R., Sgt

B-17G #42-97805 (No Name)

P Shields, Edward F., 2LtCP Cooter, William M., 2LtNAV Stanghor, Bruce O., 2LtBOM Lee, Wilbur W., 2LtENG Nagel, Leeland J., S/SgtRO Dennerle, Almo W., S/SgtBT Horwitz, Charles, SgtTG Skubal, Joseph J., SgtWG Sheehan, Arthur E., Jr., Sgt

Mission 247 - 11

427th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-107099 Old 99

P Drewry, James A., 1LtCP Schneider, Richard H., 2LtNAV Mayo, Archie W., 2LtBOM Burke, James D., 2LtTT Dorrah, Walter R., S/SgtTG Morin, Donald P., S/Sgt RO Nash, Leslie G., S/SgtBT Schulz, Paul H., S/SgtWG Koch, Edwin H., Sgt

B-17G #42-39875 Buzz Blonde

P O'Leary, James W., 2LtCP Reed, Louis E., 2LtNAV Kacere, Michael J., 2LtBOM Lyda, Robert E., 2LtTT Kernodle, John T., SgtBT Czerwonka, Joseph A., S/SgtRO DeVaney, Bernard C., SgtTG Carver, Harold R., SgtWG DeCicco, Frank C., Jr., Sgt

B-17G #42-102411 Miss Lace

P Newton, George C., 2LtCP Raley, Stonewall J., 2LtNAV Jenkins, John I., 2LtBOM Lewis, Willard L., Jr., 2LtTT Sutton, Marvin A., S/SgtBT Hartog, Samuel S., SgtRO Corn, Byron D., SgtTG Karr, Leslie E., SgtWG Henry, Donivan D., Sgt

B-17G #42-31060 Poque Ma Hone

P Caplinger, Auston O., 1LtCP Spruner, Donald L., 2LtNAV Katz, Edwin Harold, 2LtBOM Bober, Stanley, 2LtTT Johnson, O.D., S/SgtBT Jacobs, Carroll W., Jr., SgtRO Mittell, Philip P., S/SgtTG Barnes, Charlie, T/SgtWG Olds, Andrew R., Sgt

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

P Ackerman, Stewart S., Jr., 2LtCP Barrios, Alfred R., 2LtNAV Dubois, Benjamin, 2LtBOM Oswald, Alois G., Jr., 2LtTT Creaghan, Robert E., Sgt BT Highfill, Thomas W., SgtRO Ribesky, John V., Jr., SgtTG Wiencek, Edward J., Sgt WG Proper, George M., Sgt

B-17G #44-6166 The Red

P Dubose, Carl L., Jr., 1LtCP Droll, Louis P., 2LtNAV Laverty, Leo E., 2LtBOM Olson, William E., 2LtTT Jones, Jesse T., Jr., S/SgtBT Kidd, Robert E., S/SgtRO Kollmar, Donald L., S/SgtTG Watson, Byron W., SgtWG Balint, Daniel, Jr., SgtPHO Skinner, Donald E., Sgt

Mission 247 - 12

427th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #43-38248 Jigger Rooche II

P Cureton, Peter F., Jr., 1Lt CP Nally, Paul E., 2LtNAV Ulrich, Carl L., 2LtBOM Drew, William F., 2LtWG Bourlier, Donald W., S/SgtBT Burford, Joseph A., Sgt RO Ellis, James A., S/SgtBT Grove, John W., SgtTT Celichowski, Ervin M., Sgt

B-17G #42-97311 Shoo Shoo Baby

P Hullar, Robert J., CaptCP Healy, Richard F., 1LtNAV Emmet, John P., 2LtBOM Sandhagen, Paull R., 2LtTT Robertson, Joseph J., T/SgtBT Leal, Raymond T., T/SgtRO Smith, Phillip E., S/SgtTG Whitlow, Zane O., SgtWG DeLiso, Vincent A., Sgt

B-17G #43-37597 Earthquake McGoon

P Glasgow, Charles G., 1LtCP Ashford, George H., 2LtNAV Cashman, John H., Jr., 2LtBOM Goff, Homer W., 2LtWG McGlinn, John H., S/SgtBT McConathy, Jethern J., Jr., SgtRO Britz, Robert T., SgtTG Miller, James T., SgtTT Lisabeth, Hilaire A., Sgt

B-17G #42-97281 Queenie

P Flowers, Selwyn D., 1LtCP Ashwell, Silas B., 1LtNAV Stuart, Norman L., 2LtBOM Coughlin, George A., 1LtTT Kiely, Joseph P., T/SgtBT McCormick, Lewis J., SgtRO Kopriva, Charles P., S/SgtTG Morrow, John E., 2LtWG Howell, Charles E., SgtPHO Skinner, Donald E., Sgt