Mission 040 - 1

303rd BG(H) Combat Mission No. 4029 May 1943

Target: Submarine Locks and Docks Area, St. Nazaire, FranceCrews Dispatched: 30

Crews Lost: Lt. Trojan & crew - 1 KIA, 9 POW

Length of Mission: 5 hours, 40 minutes

Bomb Load: 2 x 2,000 lb G.P. M-34 bombs

Bombing Altitudes: 24,900 ft & 26,000 ft

Ammo Fired: 69,075 rounds

Enemy Aircraft Claims: 2 Destroyed, 1 Possible, 1 Damaged

Thirty Flying Fortresses left Molesworth to join in one of the largest VIII Air Forcedaylight bombing raids of the war. Maj. Glenn E. Hagenbuch, CO 427BS(H)commanded the Group formation.

Two aircraft aborted the mission:#42-29955, Mr. Five by Five, 427BS (Lipe). The Fortress experienced filings in theoil sump.#42-3192, (No Name), (O'Connor). The ball turret gunner passed out.

The 28 remaining aircraft flew in perfect weather, unescorted over land, to make aperfect bomb run. Little flak was encountered on the way into the target over the Frenchcoast, but the bursts were inaccurate with no damage until the target was reached. Overthe target intense and very accurate flak was filling the air. Some crews reported hearingpieces of shrapnel banging against the skin of their planes. Bomb sighting was perfect andbombs landed well on the aiming point and target area. Some attempt was made toconceal the target with a smoke screen.

Considerable enemy aircraft opposition was reported with as many as 35 to 40seen. There were five encounters with the Group claiming two destroyed , one possibleand one damaged.

Yardbird, #42-41-24602, 360BS, piloted by 1Lt. Joseph E. Trojan, an original 303rdBG(H) failed to return. The Fortress was last seen leaving the target after having beendisabled by flak. It was subsequently hit by attacking FW-190s and ME-109s which causedthe aircraft to crash. Eight parachutes were seen leaving Yardbird, which exploded with aburst of fire when it hit the ground. 1Lt. Thomas S. Vaughan was killed and Lt. Trojan, 1Lt.Parley W. Madsen, Jr., 1Lt. Jack W. Stewart, S/Sgt. Paul H. Prescott, S/Sgt. Cecil E.Craft, S/Sgt. Joseph R. Sunderlin, S/Sgt. Martin A. Semonick, S/Sgt. Frank W. Bartlett,and S/Sgt. Lincoln T. O'Connell were captured by the enemy and taken prisoner. S/Sgt.Prescott died in a German hospital at Paris-Clichy on 4 June 1943, about 20 days afterbecoming a POW. He is buried in Epinal American Cemetery near Vosges, France. S/Sgt.Bartlett was badly wounded and was repatriated in 1944.

Mission 040 - 2

Formation commander Maj. Hagenbuch commented, "It was a good trip. Our boysflew in a tight formation. I have never seen so many B-17s in the air. It sure looked goodto me. My bombardier, Capt. Dieffenbach, said the bombs were right in there." 1Lt. MelSchulstad, a pilot flying as the official tail gunner observer on Maj. Hagenbuch's plane,said, "Our formation was perfect. Although most of the attacks were from the tail, theydidn't come in too close. Fighters were picking on the stragglers mostly or waiting for them.The target must have been bombed well because it was completely covered with smokewhen I got to see it."

Capt. Joseph Strickland, navigator for Capt. Calhoun in the Wallaroo, #42-3029,359BS, reported excellent results by commenting, "The bombing was excellent. They triedto hide the target in a smoke screen, but it was too late. We were the ones that laid in thesmoke screen. Fighters weren't too bad, but the flak is getting back to where it used to be."

Some of the crew of the Fortress Pappy were enthusiastic about the results. Thepilot, 1Lt. William J. Cline, said, "It was a good trip. Not too many fighters against us,although they were working over the Group ahead of us." Pappy's co-pilot, 2Lt. ThomasE. Mulligan, said, "I thought it was OK, too. There sure were a lot of Forts ahead of us,as far as you would see." Lt. Leroy V. Gordon, bombardier, said, "There were bombs allover the place. We sure gave it hell. The aiming point was smothered and large puffs ofblack smoke came up from the building alongside the wharf." Engineer and top turretgunner, S/Sgt. Lloyd Jordan, said, "I didn't see too many fighters, although I shot onedown. He was riding up alongside of us, and then all of a sudden he peeled off as if toattack the ships behind us. Then is when I let him have it and he went down."

Crew Reports of Enemy Aircraft Destroyed and Damaged

S/Sgt. L.L. Jordan (624) FW-190 Destroyed

S/Sgt. G.W. Henderson (221) FW-190 Damaged

S/Sgt. A.W. Sherg (392) FW-190 Destroyed

Sgt. O.T. Stout (260) FW-190 Possible

Mission 040 - 3

Route Map

Mission 040 - 4

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point

Hagenbuch619

James Strickland 360 392

Southworth221

Burch Lipe 587 955

Fredericks Calhoun 788 029Palmer Trojan Mattison Pentz 483 602 177 640 Griffin Roller 434 605Stallings Clifton Haines Cline 393 973 430 624

Two (2) aircraft aborted this mission:Lt. Lipe in 955 Lt. O’Connor in 192

303rd Aircraft Which Flew in Composite Group

with 379th BG(H)

Nolan792

Timken Jess 656 432

O'Connor192

Thompson Lemmon 635 571

Smith 846 Mack McClung 606 482 Broussard 081 Van Wie Casello 468 260

Mission 040 - 5

A.O.G. Not-in-Stock #42-5788 (360BS) PU-HPart of 103rd PBCW Lead Group (18 B-17s) - Lead Crew Low Squadron Flight (6 B-17s) (360BS)

Pilot Capt J.W. Fredericks / CoPilot Lt A.C. Way

(Back L-R) unidentified, unidentified, T/Sgt M.S. Hlastala (E),

S/Sgt H.L. Collins (RWG), S/Sgt H.H. Nardine (BTG)

(Front L-R) Lt A.C. Way (CP), Lt M.S. Fonorow (B),

Capt J.W. Fredericks (P), Lt Otis W. Hoyt (N), unidentified

unidentified crewmen are:

S/Sgt G.H. Schneiderman (LWG), T/Sgt R.J. Smith (R), Sgt G.A. Murphy (TG)

(Capt L.W. Blythe, 360th BS Pilot, (not in photo) also flew as an Observer.)

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 MISSIONKIA - 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 040 - 6

358th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17F #42-29635 Augerhead

P Thompson, Frank H., 2LtCP Joy, Ripley W., 2LtNAV McConnen, James R., 2LtBOM McCord, Lawrence E., 2LtENG Welch, James R., S/SgtTT Fulanovich, Charles J., S/SgtRO McGuire, Robert J., T/SgtBT Nakaniski, Ralph, S/SgtTG Aubrey, Eldred L., S/SgtRWG Wilson, Donald R., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-5792 The Mugger

P Nolan, Robert J., CaptCP Mitchell, Kirk R., CaptNAV Anderson, William J., 2LtBOM Hopper, Richard R., 1LtENG Hively, Roy J., T/SgtBT Mathews, Frank M., S/SgtRO Hamill, Milton, T/SgtRWG Isham, Laurence W., S/SgtTG Swaffer, Calvin A., 2LtLWG Goff, James P., S/SgtPAS Jackson, W.M., Maj

B-17F #42-5432 The Hunting Club

P Jess, Ray W., 2LtCP Gunn, Harold W., 2LtNAV Davidson, Robert P., 2LtBOM Zasadil, Frank E., 1LtENG Smith, Harold E., T/SgtRWG Hardacre, Charles F., S/SgtRO Godzinski, Joseph J., T/SgtBT Johnson, Byron W., S/SgtLWG Hall, Sidney V., SgtTG White, Frank M., Sgt

B-17F #42-29571 Charley Horse

P Lemmon, John V., 1LtCP Clark, Elmo E., F/ONAV Gust, Darrell D., 2LtBOM Stone, Elbert E., 2LtENG Berzansky, Andrew, T/SgtRWG Beavers, Albert T., S/SgtRO Zeller, Caryl C., T/SgtBT Carroll, Albert V., S/SgtTG Brown, Virgil E., S/SgtLWG Briggs, Wayne E., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-29656 The Terrible Ten

P Timken, Jack C., 1LtCP Wright, George E., 2LtNAV Chamberlain, William V., 2LtBOM Solverson, Robert K., 2LtENG Koenig, Bernard H., T/SgtRWG Paiva, Joseph B., SgtRO Baxter, Jack, T/SgtBT Toy, James E., SgtTG Giassullo, Criscienzo N., S/SgtLWG Redhead, George R., Sgt

B-17F #42-3192 (No Name)

P O'Connor, Robert S., 2Lt CP Hurlburt, Donald W., 2LtNAV Grant, Donald L., 1LtBOM Steele, Earl A., 2LtENG Ziemer, Frederick B., T/SgtBT Maxwell, Samuel P., S/SgtRO Warren, Russell M., T/SgtRWG Smith, Robert H., S/SgtTG Sadler, James K., S/SgtLWG Heaps, Theodore C., S/Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

Mission 040 - 7

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17F #42-5430 Pappy/Good Snuf

P Haines, Rolland M., 1LtCP Kramer, Mayer, 2LtNAV Delorenzo, D.D., 2LtBOM Morse, Anthony E., 2LtENG Garcia, Robert A., S/SgtRO Kalk, Kenneth T.M., T/SgtTG Davis, Charles E., S/SgtRWG Martin, Raymond W., S/SgtBT Foster, Allen G., S/SgtLWG Morgan, Robert L., Sgt

B-17F #42-29624 Pappy

P Cline, William J., 1LtCP Mulligan, Thomas E., 2LtNAV Street, Benjamin B., lLtBOM Gordon, LeRoy V., 1LtENG Doran, Arnold S., T/SgtRO McGee, Paul C., T/SgtTG Milliff, Mike C., S/SgtRWG Jordan, Lloyd L., S/SgtBT Lemann, Paul C., S/SgtLWG Kerr, Joseph, SgtPAS Rahn, Lehman H., 1Lt

B-17F #42-5177 Fast Worker MK II

P Mattison, Robert L., 1LtCP Case, Spencer F., 2LtNAV Rich, David A., 1LtBOM Shafer, John H., 1LtENG Green, Frederick J., T/SgtRO Nordyke, Lloyd E., T/SgtTG McEachern, David C., S/SgtBT Schneider, James E., S/SgtRWG Rettinhouse, Robert A., S/SgtLWG Vogel, George W., Sgt

B-17F #42-29640 Old Ironsides

P Pentz, Arthur H., 1LtCP Phelps, Robert L., Jr., 1LtNAV Jacobsen, Norman N., 2LtBOM Philpit, Russell O., 1LtENG Hernan, Howard E., T/SgtBT Edwards, Hurd L., Sgt.RO Murray, Robert L., T/SgtRWG Horvath, Robert A., S/SgtTG Knudsen, Elmer T., SgtLWG Howard, George Z., S/Sgt

B-17F #41-24605 Knockout Dropper

P Roller, Jack, CaptCP Kruse, Richard L., 2LtNAV Henson, Walter C., 1LtBOM Shoup, John R., Jr., 2LtENG Marcelonis, Joseph G., S/SgtRO Williams, Lemuel T., T/SgtTT Ketron, Frank M., S/SgtBT Beringer, John L., Jr., S/SgtTG Burnham, Arthur L., S/SgtLWG Gonsalves, John D., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-29846 (No Name)

P Smith, Sanford T., CaptCP Farrell, Lawrence C., 2LtNAV Summers, Thomas E., 1LtBOM Dwyer, Robert P., 1LtENG Hardaway, Sidney T., T/SgtRO York, Robert F., T/SgtLWG Bachert, Kurt W., S/SgtBT Tibbles, Russell F., S/SgtTG Howard, Earl R., SgtRWG Wilson, Benton F., S/SgtPAS Sapienza, Samuel T., 1Lt

B-17F #42-5482 Cat-O-Nine Tails

P McClung, Guy H., 1LtCP Miller, Arthur W., 2LtNAV Stettler, Donald G., 2LtBOM Rothman, Theodore I., 2LtENG Coykendall, Ralph A., T/SgtRWG Traban, James J., S/SgtRO Roberts, Raymond K., T/SgtTG Piatek, Casimir P., S/SgtBT Catozza, Peter P., S/SgtLWG Ryan, Francis J., S/SgtPHO Kagey, Martin I., Jr., Sgt

B-17F #42-3029 Wallaroo

P Calhoun, William R., Jr., CaptCP Nix, James S., 1LtNAV Strickland, Joseph M., CaptBOM Yonkman, Robert J., CaptENG Zaorski, Roman R., T/SgtRO Terry, Charles R., T/SgtLWG Fortunak, Richard C., S/SgtBT Mulgrew, William C., S/SgtTG Stephen, Willard W., S/SgtRWG Murphy, Murel A., S/Sgt

Mission 040 - 8

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17F #42-5468 Quinine-Bitter Dose

P Van Wie, John A., LtCP Walsh, James D., LtNAV Blank, Paul, LtBOM Rice, Bernard, LtENG Hlebasko, Albert, T/SgtBT Morton, Eugene L., S/SgtRO Noll, Robert W., T/SgtRWG Spring, Benjamin F., S/SgtLWG Swanson, Theodore G., S/SgtTG Bridges, Robert C., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-2973 Iza Vailable

P Clifton, David S., LtCP Garvey, John L., LtNAV Wright, Howard R., LtBOM Currie, Herman C., LtENG Doss, Carroll P., T/SgtLWG Compo, Anthony, S/SgtRO Hogue, Earl, T/SgtBT Crissman, Fred T., SgtTG Villarreal, Rodolfo A., S/SgtRWG Jameson, Jimmie E., Sgt

B-17F #42-5393 Just For Laughs

P Stallings, George V., Jr., LtCP Bradbury, Joseph E., LtNAV Kelley, James F., LtBOM Kulesa, Frank E., LtENG Watson, James A., T/SgtLWG Yattaw, Robert H., S/SgtRO Jones, Dick W., S/SgtBT Stevens, A.S., T/SgtTG Stickler, John J., S/SgtRWG Klasnick, Joseph S., Sgt

B-17F #42-5483 Red Ass

P Palmer, Joseph F., LtCP Sheldon, Robert M., LtNAV Rosenblum, Nathan J., LtBOM Kieffer, Claude M., Lt ENG Duffey, Elmer E., S/SgtRO Gullage, Edmund, T/SgtLWG Hornbacher, Norman E., SgtBT Owen, Burl M., S/SgtTG Hodges, Alva E., S/SgtRWG Holder, Samuel A., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-5260 Yardbird II

P Casello, John J., LtCP Huguenin, Wesley V., LtNAV Effinger, Lawrence E., LtBOM Fawcett, Jack B., LtENG Carnathan, Hugh S., T/SgtRWG Gray, Johnnie E., S/SgtRO Calco, Anthony, T/SgtBT Ponder, Truly S., S/SgtTG Stout, Otis T., S/Sgt

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

P Fredericks, Jacob W., CaptCP Way, Arthur C., LtNAV Hoyt, Otis A., LtBOM Fonorow, Milton S., LtENG Hlastala, Michael S., T/SgtLWG Schneiderman, Henry G., S/SgtRO Smith, Richard J., T/SgtBT Nardine, Howard H., S/SgtRWG Collins, Harvie L., S/SgtTG Murray, Gilbert A., Jr., SgtPAS Blythe, Leon W., Capt

Mission 040 - 9

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont’d.

B-17F #42-29606 Butch

P Mack, David W., LtCP Barhaug, Ragnar, LtNAV Smith, Roland M., LtBOM Cox, Charles J., LtENG Deitch, Daniel T., T/SgtLWG Stewart, Carl C., S/SgtRO Cicinelli, Salvatore J., S/SgtTG Biernacki, Joseph J., S/SgtBT Peterson, Andrew C., S/SgtRWG Spitzfaden, Robert E., Sgt

B-17F #41-24602 Yardbird - CR-L

P Trojan, Joseph E., 1Lt BO/POWCP Vaughan, Thomas S., 1Lt KIANAV Madsen, Parley W., Jr., 1Lt BO/POWBOM Stewart, Jack W., 1Lt BO/POWENG Prescott, Paul H., S/Sgt POW/DOWLWG Semonick, Martin A., S/Sgt BO/POWRO Craft, Cecil E., S/Sgt BO/POWBT Sunderlin, Joseph R., S/Sgt BO/POWTG Bartlett, Frank W. S/Sgt BO/WIA/POWLWG O'Connell, Lincoln T., S/Sgt BO/POW

B-17F #42-5434 Lady Luck

P Griffin, Loyd D., LtCP Swanson, Walter C., LtNAV Preston, William M., LtBOM Taylor, Robert L., LtENG Eason, William M., T/SgtLWG Edwards, Samuel L., S/SgtRO Schwartz, Vernon E., T/SgtTG Wiegand, Lynwood D., S/SgtBT Plummer, Robert, S/SgtRWG Henderson, Paul E., S/Sgt

Mission 040 - 10

427th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17 #41-24587 Bad Check

P Burch, Armand F., LtCP Cardwell, Burt J., LtNAV Noblin, John D., LtBOM Butt, Byron K., LtENG Storer, Charles R., S/SgtBT Bourdon, Louis F., S/SgtRO Ashworth, George W., S/SgtRWG Arnold, Robert W., S/SgtTG Brown, Howard T., S/SgtLWG Cooney, Robert M., SgtOBS Grobe, David E., Jr., 1Lt

B-17F #42-5081 Luscious Lady

P Broussard, Edward J., Jr., CaptCP LeFevre, William G., LtNAV Herman, Charles L., LtBOM Sherwood, Lyle D., LtENG Smock, Edmund L., T/SgtRO Karanson, William A., Jr., T/SgtBT Choice, Hudson, S/SgtLWG Hairr, Elwood F., S/SgtRWG Koch, Vernon E., S/SgtTG Jurosek, Bernard, Sgt

B-17F #42-29955 Mr. Five by Five

P Lipe, Fort W., LtCP Pratt, James N., LtNAV Boner, Allen M., LtBOM Smith, Abbott M., Jr., LtENG Good, James K., T/Sgt BT Sink, Robert K., S/SgtRO Brandfas, Dale F., T/SgtTG Serpa, Joseph E., S/SgtLWG Hinds, Durward L., S/SgtRWG Barron, Dante G., Sgt(Abortive)

B-17F #42-5221 Son

P Southworth, Billy B., Jr., CaptCP Mackin, George T., LtNAV McElwain, Richard E., LtBOM Rohrlich, Robert E., LtENG Zipfel, Charles E., T/SgtBT Belk, Jack, S/SgtRO Doughty, Edward J., T/SgtTG Henderson, George W., S/SgtRWG Harmon, Edward Z., S/SgtLWG Brandt, Waldo B., S/Sgt

B-17F #42-5392 Stric Nine

P Strickland, Alexander C., LtCP Olsen, Curtis M., LtNAV Hokans, Carl A., LtBOM Lamme, Edwin G., LtENG Baart, James C., T/SgtBT Peck, Raymond R., S/SgtRO Martel, Albert E., Jr., T/SgtRWG Scheuerer, Joseph E., S/SgtTG Sherg, Anthony W., S/SgtLWG McGill, Edward E., Sgt

B-17F #42-5360 Old Faithful

P James, Jacob C., LtCP Ness, Howard C., LtNAV Scroggins, Paul W., LtBOM Witt, Walter E., LtENG Johnson, Otto D., SgtBR Longo, Angelo L., SgtRO Jessee, Jesse J., T/SgtTG Misiak, Frank L., S/SgtLWG Smith, Delvyn, S/SgtRWG Tripp, Jesse E., S/Sgt

B-17F #41-24619 S for Sugar

P Hagenbuch, Glenn E., MajCP Snyder, Edgar E., Jr., CaptNAV Soha, Walter M., CaptBOM Dieffenbach, Albert W., CaptENG Means, Lucian W., Jr., T/SgtBT Jenkins, Robert R., S/SgtRO Amos, Lee H., T/SgtLWG Bryant, Carson, S/SgtTG Schulstad, Louis M., LtRWG Coomes, Clarence S., S/SgtPAS Lame, Louis A., Capt

INDEXHistorical Information303rd Bomb Group (H) OverviewHell's Angels (origin of the name)Group & Squadron Commanders303rd StationsCredited CampaignsDistinguished Unit CitationThe First 300 MissionsMajor Individual AwardsGoldfish ClubLongest Flying B-17s303rd Stats and FactsHell's Angels vs Memphis BelleBooks & PublicationsIndex to 303rd Stories

Air SupportIndex of Flying PersonnelIndex of Missions (Reports)Index of Aircraft

Ground SupportIndex of Ground Support Personnel303rd BG(H) HeadquartersS-2 Intelligence SectionMolesworth Chaplains

358th Bombardment Squadron (H)359th Bombardment Squadron (H)360th Bombardment Squadron (H)427th Bombardment Squadron (H)444th Sub Depot1681st Ordnance S&M Company (AVN)1114th Quartermaster Company425th Air Service Group3rd Station Complement SquadronCompany E, 156th Infantry (Military Police)1199th Military Police Company2097th Engineers Fire Fighting Platoon863rd Chemical Company3rd Provisional Gas Defense Detachment18th Weather Squadron - Detachment #107202nd Finance Section249th Medical Dispensary8th Air Force Dental Detachment (At Large)303rd Station Hospital

Photo and Art GalleriesCrew PhotosSupport Unit PhotosGround Crews & Nose ArtPaintings and ArtworkVideo Clip (Target for Today)

CasualtiesKilled in ActionPrisoners of WarPOW Camp InformationInterneesEscapees & EvadeesMissing Air Crew Reports