George Northsea: The War Years

Transcription

1941 - 1945
George Northsea: The War Years
by Steven Northsea
April 28, 2015
George Northsea - The War Years
1941-42
George is listed in the 1941 East High Yearbook as Class of 1941 and his picture and the "senior"
comments about him are below:
We do know that he was living with his parents at 1223 15th Ave in Rockford, Illinois in 1941. The
Rockford, Illinois city directory for 1941 lists him there and his occupation as a laborer.
The Rockford City Directory of 1942 lists George at the same address and his occupation is now
"Electrician." George says in a journal written in 1990, "I completed high school in January of 1942
(actually 1941), but graduation ceremony wasn't until June. In the meantime I went to Los Angeles,
California. I tried a couple of times getting a job as I was only 17 years old. I finally went to work for Van
De Camp restaurant and drive-in as a bus boy. 6 days a week, $20.00 a week and two meals a day. The
waitresses pitched in each week from their tips for the bus boys. That was another 3 or 4 dollars a week.
I was fortunate to find a garage apartment a few blocks from work - $3 a week. I spent about $1.00 on
laundry and $2.00 on cigarettes. I saved money." (italics mine)
"The first part of May, I quit my job to go back to Rockford (Illinois) for graduation. I hitch hiked 2000
miles in 4 days. I arrived at my family's house at 4:00 AM one morning. On my trip my meals consisted
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of Hot Cakes and coffee 15¢. When I awakened my mother she was happy to see me and fixed a huge
breakfast for me.After graduation I went to work for a pie company delivering pies - $18.00 a week.
Living at home I was able to save more money a bought my first car - 1932 Ford V8."
"When WW II broke out, I wanted to enlist but my father would not sign the papers. I was working as an
industrial apprentice electrician. I never had to sign up for the draft* but when it was getting close our
father signed the papers so I could go into the US Army Air Corp. This was in December of 1942, but I
was not called in until Feb of 1943."
*We know however, that George did register for the draft as we have a copy of his draft card which says
he registered on the 29th of June 1942.
George went to Camp Grant, Illinois where he received the Identification Card pictured on the next
page on December 12 of 1942. Elizabeth, his wife to be, had a picture taken of herself talking on the
phone with him.
Elizabeth on the Phone With George in
December of 1942 When He Was at Camp
Grant.
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Camp Grant was a U.S. Army facility located in the southern outskirts of Rockford, Illinois named in
honor of General Ulysses S. Grant. Camp Grant, which at one point consisted of over 18,000 acres, was
in operation from 1917 to the late 1940s
George's Identification Card
George actually enlisted in the Army Air Corps Enlisted Reserves. "The creation of a backlog of duly
qualified applicants for aviation cadet training had been a paramount objective of the Air Corps since
September 1940, when the Selective Service Act became law. The operation of the draft, plus the
increased recruiting activity of the Navy and of industry, had put the Air Corps in a position where it
feared serious competition for the type of young men that met its high physical and mental standards.
The most practical way to insure against the loss of this potential aviation cadet personnel was to enlist
qualified candidates in a reserve aviation cadet grade and place them on inactive status until such time
as they would be called to active duty to fill training school quotas.
Two attempts were made in the prewar period to obtain permission for the creation of such a grade in
an enlisted reserve corps, but in each instance the request was disapproved. The opposition came
principally from the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1, who argued that the Air Corps would lay itself open to a
charge of fostering a method of draft evasion, and from TAG, who argued that procurement was
proceeding at a satisfactory rate and that the creation of such a grade would require long study within
the War Department and the establishment of appropriate administrative machinery in each corps area.
The fact that as late as 17 September 1941 the Air Corps had not yet appointed as aviation cadets a total
of 6,500 qualified candidates who were on its list of eligibles undoubtedly militated against the proposal
to create an additional personnel pool. Within two months, however, after the enlarged training
facilities for the 30,000-pilot training program had become available, the qualified candidates were
being absorbed in the training classes at a rate faster than recruiting officials could replenish the supply,
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a fact which prompted the decision to abandon the long-standing college requirement. After Pearl
Harbor, when the stops were all pulled on recruiting, the number of men who applied and were
accepted for aircrew training was so great that the Air Corps could not accommodate them, even at its
expanded training centers. But training rates at the same time were being raised much higher, and the
very confusion which attended current efforts to recruit and "store" the thousands of men who would
be needed strengthened the argument for an enlisted reserve. Consequently, the request was made for
the third time, and this time successfully. The Air Corps' contention that an arrangement of this nature
was required in order to control the flow into training no longer needed to be argued, and approval was
given to establish the Air Corps Enlisted Reserve (ACER) as of April 1942. The recently reinstituted quota
system was promptly abandoned and aviation cadet examining boards were expected to recruit enough
men to insure a constant pool of 54,000 qualified applicants.
Until mid-December 1942 all civilian applicants who could qualify for aviation cadet training were
enlisted in the ACER pending a call to active duty. The plan was sufficiently flexible to appeal to men
both in and out of school or college. To those between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six who could
pass the physical and mental examinations for aviation cadet training, three courses of action were now
open. Each applicant who qualified could elect:1) to enlist for active duty as a private in the Army Air
Corps (unassigned), earmarked for aviation cadet appointment and training as facilities became
available; 2) to enlist in the ACER and remain at his civilian job until called to active duty, at which time
he would receive appointment to aviation cadet status; or 3) if enrolled full time in an accredited college
, enlist as a private in the ACER and continue in college until graduation or withdrawal, but with the
understanding that the deferment could be terminated at any time by the Secretary of War. ( from -http
://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/VI/AAF-VI-15.html "The Army Air Forces in World War II").
George chose option 2 as in his own words, " I was working as an industrial apprentice electrician." He
and hundreds others were put on hold as indicated by this December article Liz pasted in her scrapbook.
George's cousin Earl G Northsea was also on the waiting list. (last paragraph)
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We know that George sent Elizabeth a birthday card to express his sentiments on December 22, 1942.
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And on December25th of 1942 the young couple exchanged sentimental Christmas cards.
Liz to George Christmas 1942
George to Liz Christmas 1942
Interestingly enough Elizabeth also put a floor plan to a house in Rolling Green (suburb of Rockford) on
this page in the scrapbook. It is labeled "Our House in Rolling Green."
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1943
But the wait was not long as indicated by the above February 10, 1943 article. On February 16th there
was a going away party for George and Elizabeth saved the napkin pictured below.
George must have left on February 18 as Elizabeth saved this matchbook from Henrici's Restaurant on
the main floor of the Merchandise Mart in Chicago and labeled it George leaving.
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Soon after they separated, George wrote Liz a short letter. In her scrap book she calls it "First Word from
George after he left - February 18, 1943.
"Dear Liz,
It's 8:30 and we are still in Chicago. It will take about another hour before we will be able to leave here.
Maybe longer. We won't be able to write until we get there so I had better write to you I thought. They
just fed us a good supper. There is about 500 guys here. We may get a sleeper so it won't be so bad
going down there. Call up my folks and say hello. Tell them I'll write when I get down there. Already I
miss you. Say hello to everyone. Give some of my love to my mother and keep some yourself.
Love,
George"
George wanted to be a pilot and says in the above quoted journal that he was "assigned to Chennault
Field for evaluation and medical tests. "
Based upon Elizabeth's scrapbook we think that George did not get to Chennault and the failed vision
test until later in the year. We know that he went to Laredo again in the fall of 1943.
In February George was shipped out to Laredo, Texas at Sheppard Field where he was from February 28,
1943 until March 29, 1943. But he obviously had more on his mind than basic training as he sent Liz this
cartoon from Laredo. She pasted it in her scrapbook. It is dated 3/2/1943.
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George was sent to train as an Aviation/Student in Jonesboro, Arkansas on March 31 through July 17th
of 1943 as is evidenced by the scrapbook. The Veteran's Administration has this Master Index card on
file where George is Listed as an aviation student, PVT, in the Army Air Forces College training
detachment.
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George's cousin Earl G. Northsea was also at Jonesboro and Liz visited there in May of 1943. George also
sent Liz an Easter card from there with his Jonesboro addressed pasted in the card. (Easter Sunday in
1943 was April 25th.) The card is pictured below.
George lists his address as:
College Tng. Det. (air crew)
Flight C Room 416
Jonesboro, Arkansas
On April 24th of 1943, George sent Liz the propaganda piece on the next page called "Hate Your Enemy"
from his training at Jonesboro. During active American involvement in World War II (1941–45),
propaganda was used to increase support for the war and commitment to an Allied victory. This piece
was obviously meant to fire up the troops against the enemy.
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In May of 1943 Liz visits George and his cousin Earl and at Jonesboro. Earl's wife Lucille was there as well
as George's youngest sister, Pearl. The following are the pictures she took and post cards collected on
the trip. The header below is from Liz's scrapbook. The picture captions are Liz's.
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Lucille and Earl
Jonesboro May '43
George and Earl
Jonesboro May '43
Earl
Lucille and George
Jonesboro May '43
George
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George With His Butch
George, Ronnie, Earl
Earl
On the Campus
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"Neal, McKasken, George "
"The Bright Star"
Earl, George and Their "Arkansas Mother"
(Mrs. Hester)
George and Mrs. Hester
"Us Kids Again"
Women (l. to r.) Pearl, Lucille and Liz
Men (l. to r.) Earl, George
[Italics Mine]
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E
Earl, Pearl, George "Cousins"
Elizabeth - May '43
Earl
Earl and Lucille Getting Ready
A/S Northsea
"Unexpected"
The next section of the scrapbook is pictures and postcards from Elizabeth's trip to Jonesboro. She
stopped on the way in Pana, Illinois. Pana, Illinois is 319 miles south of Rockford and is 320 miles from
Jonesboro so it was a logical place to stop. Liz kept a souvenir from the Pana Hotel and bought two post
cards.
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On the way home Elizabeth came through a flood. The flood of May 1943 effected many states, but
Elizabeth took pictures at LaSalle and Peru Illinois which are on the Illinois river about 70 miles south of
Rockford. Starting May 20, 1943 the Illinois River went on a rampage following heavy spring rains and
soared to a flood crest of 17 feet above normal. Newspaper reports indicated that in Illinois alone the
floods inundated over 1,000,000 acres of crop land and left 80,000 people homeless.
The other place she mentions and the one she would have come through first on her way home is
Vandalia, Illinois which is on the Kaskaskie River and is about 70 miles east northeast of St. Louis. The
Levees there gave way before the pressure of high water on the Kaskaskia River. A 40 foot section of the
levee east of Vandalia flooded 12,000 acres of farmland and threatened a number of homes. But,
reports said, the break served to relieve some of the water pressure and was believed to have saved
Vandalia's municipal water system from being flooded. The six flood pictures are on the next two pages.
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Elizabeth also picked up a series of post cards in Jonesboro and put them in her scrapbook with labels on
the ones from the school where George was being trained.
Barber Shop Hospital Mess Hall
Geo's First Quarters
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Officer's Quarters (Administration)
Geo's Last Living Quarters
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George sent Liz one very interesting thing during his time at Jonesboro. He sent her the lyrics of the song
" Pistol Packin' Mama" which was a 1943 song composed by Al Dexter. The song is notable in that it was
the first number one on the Juke Box Folk Records chart, which was later known as the Hot Country
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Songs chart. The version performed by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters was the first number on the
Juke Box Folk records charts followed by the original version (recorded March 18, 1942) performed by Al
Dexter.
Pistol Packin' Mama by Al Dexter, 1943
Drinkin' beer in a cabaret And I was havin' fun!
Until one night she caught me right, And now I'm on the run
Lay that pistol down Babe, Lay that pistol down,
Pistol Packin' Mama, Lay that pistol down.
She kicked out my windshield, She hit me over the head,
She cussed and cried, and said I lied, And I wished that I was dead.
Drinkin' beer in a cabaret, And dancing with a blonde,
Until one night she shot out the light, Bang! That blonde was gone.
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I'll see you every night Babe, I'll woo you every day,
I'll be your regular Daddy, If you'll put that gun away.
Pistol Packin' Mama, Lay that pistol down.Now down there was old Al Dexter, He always had
his fun,
But with some lead. she shot him dead, His Honkin' days are done.
Recorded in 1943 by Al Dexter, an ol' East Texas boy from Troup.
On May 29th of 1943 Liz sent George her senior graduation announcement. It was addressed as
follows:
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Elizabeth had three graduation robe photos in the scrapbook.
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George gave to Liz a graduation locket as evidenced by the locket envelope she lovingly saved in the
scrapbook.
Not long after Elizabeth's graduation, George himself was on his way to graduation in the AAF 79th
training college class. Prior to that the couple planned two weeks in Jonesboro. The couple would spend
two weekends together. George prepared the following budget for the event.
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Liz's scrapbook for these two weekends is titled "Jonesboro June 11 to 28, '43". Some of the pictures
are missing, but we know from the captions that there was "The Picnic at the Park in Jonesboro." One
missing picture was captioned "Lucille" and another "Earl and George Packing Up the Remains," so we
know Earl and Lucille were there. The second page in that part of the scrapbook gives a clue as to what
the two couples and their friends in the training class ate. The title for this section is "Picnic at the Park 'Fried Chicken." One of the surviving pictures we believe George took was Liz posing for George in a tree.
The picture is titled "Guess Who." Another is of George eating watermelon at the picnic. Another of Earl
and George cleaning up.
Guess Who
A Man and His Melon
Earl and George Cleaning Up
Elizabeth had prepared for the trip by collecting information about Jonesboro as evidenced by this
magazine spread called "Jonesboro Housekeeping" which Elizabeth pasted into her scrapbook. The
magazine spread gives us a sense of the times in Jonesboro in 1943. There is an emphasis on home life,
but also how it is impacted by the war. The home grown vegetables, home sewn clothing and fashions of
the times take us back to when the young couple were obviously happy together, yet also heavily
impacted by the fact George was in the service and that they knew he was going off to a war overseas.
We can only imagine the dichotomy of emotions that ran through this very young relationship.
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On July 15, 1943 the Army Air Force 79th College training class graduated at Jonesboro.
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On July 26th of 1943 George sent Liz this article called "Shucks, It Don't Matter."
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He also sent this information on how the Flight Officer Act effects him as he is getting ready to head off
to Aviation School.
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On July 31, 1943 Elizabeth sent a card to Aviation/Student George. He is in Wing 1, Squad 105, Flight G
of AA2CC - SAACC in San Antonio, Texas. In the scrapbook it was labeled "Just for George."
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AV/S George sent Liz the Booklet below on the San Antonio Cadet Academy.
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The booklet gives us an idea of what George was looking forward to as an aviation cadet pursuing his
dream to fly.
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George also sent this poem called "Benediction" which he found in the September issue of "Judge"
Magazine.
Poem
Cover of Judge for the October 1943 Issue
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Judge was a weekly satirical magazine published in the United States from 1881 to 1947. I could not find
the cover of the September issue, but the October issue gives us an idea of what George was reading.
The full text of the poem follows:
Benediction
Love, I thought was over-rated
Strictly small town stuff
I always thought it was created
As a blind-man's bluff.
Orange blossoms were a joke
So was holding hands.
Promises went up in smoke
Or snapped like rubber bands.
In his handwriting, George writes
about the first three stanzas "This is me before April 15,1942"
(The day he met Elizabeth at the
East high Dance.)
Talk of marriage was a bore,
Walks were exercise.
All I did at night was snore (wolf)*
And I thought I was wise.
But suddenly you came along
Darn cupid sent his dart
And the I knew I'd been wrong
For he had found my heart.
He writes about the last two
stanzas - 'This is me now."
So now I am like all the rest
But, strange to say, I like it best.
-Joseph Perez
But August 1943 was a month that shattered George's hopes of becoming a pilot. He was shipped to
Chennault Field in Louisiana for a flight pilot physical.
Chennault Field
In June 1941, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury leased the Lake Charles Municipal Airport to the federal
government to build the Lake Charles Army Flying School, an advanced flying school for single-engine
fighter pilots. It had two auxiliary fields for emergency and overflow landings and takeoffs. The airfield
was assigned to the Army Air Corps Training Command, Gulf Coast Training Center.
The 481st School Squadron was reassigned to Lake Charles AAF on 10 February 1942, being redesignated as the 481st Single Engine Flying Training Squadron (Advanced) on 28 October, used the
North American AT-6 Texan. The 482d and 483d squadrons were assigned shortly afterwards; being part
of the 60th and 61st Single Engine Flying Training Groups (Advanced)
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Advanced single-engine flight training was performed at Lake Charles until 13 January 1943 when it was
reassigned to the newly established Aloe Army Airfield, Texas. AAF Flying Training Command was replac
ed by Third Air Force, which established a tactical bomber group training school at the airfield, being redesignated as Lake Charles Army Airfield. Known units assigned were:
 386th Bombardment Group (Medium), February–May 1943 (B-26 Marauder)
 416th Bombardment Group (Light), June–November 1943 (A-20 Havoc)
 In May 1943, the 336th Bombardment Group (Medium) was activated as a B-26 Marauder
Replacement Training Unit. The 418th Bomb Group (Light) was also established in August as an
A-20 RTU, but it never was manned or equipped.
But none of these groups were to be for George at this time. In his words, "I didn't make it thru the
medical. My depth perception was bad. They stamped my papers '500' meaning Ground Duty Only. I
was a disappointed young man."
There were several attempts to cheer up George in his disappointment. One card was sent by Elizabeth
to now Private George A Northsea of the 605 Training Group.
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Another was a card and poem from a family friend Mrs. V. Cesar. The card was addressed to Private
George A Northsea 3rd Gunnery Student SLAAF in Laredo
Elizabeth titled this card in her scrapbook as "George Washed Out of Cadets."
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CARD
Poem Attached
As you can see by her message at the bottom of the card Mrs. Cesar was trying to get George to focus
on other possibilities after he washed out of flight training.
Elizabeth, as only the one you love can do, knew an even better encouragement for a lonely GI facing
disappointment. She sent the two pictures on the next page, one of her and one of a pin up for many a
GI of that era - Jane Russell.
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Elizabeth Fall 1943
Jane Russell
George was sent to Sheppard Field in Laredo, Texas in August 1943. George still wanted to fly and,
interestingly enough, the powers that be felt his vision would not be a problem if he were a gunner, so
determined to fly one way or the other, George enrolled in gunnery school. He was shipped out to
gunnery school in Laredo, Texas at Laredo Army Airfield, a facility which instructed recruits in aerial
gunnery during World War II. George was trained on the .50 and .30 caliber Browning guns and their
platforms for B-17's and the B-24 Liberator Bomber where he would eventually be assigned as a nose
gunner.
Most Training was Done on the Ground
B-24 Liberator Nose Turret
The newspaper says he received his army air corps gunners wings at the end of the first week in
September of 1943 and received a furlough before he was to report to Salt Lake City for further training.
George's own account is somewhat different than reported in the newspaper. He says after Laredo, he
was sent to Pueblo, Colorado for a more weeks of training and was assigned as a member of a crew for a
B-24 Liberator Bomber, 10 members to a crew.
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George was made Private at Laredo as evidenced by his stripes in Liz's scrap book and the label, "George
Wins Wings and Stripes at Laredo."
WW II Army Air Force Aerial Gunner Wings
George and the crew were then transferred Westover Field near Springfield, Massachusetts to be
assigned a plane of their own. The mission of Westover was to organize and provide initial training to
new combat units. Pilots, navigators, bombardiers, flexible gunners and other aircrew would arrive and
be assigned to newly-organized squadrons and groups. Newly-manufactured B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24
Liberator heavy bombers and P-47 Thunderbolt fighters and other aircraft would be ferried to Westover
and be assigned to the newly-formed units to begin their first phase of combat group training. After the
personnel were assigned to aircraft as aircrews and squadrons, the airmen's training consisted of
aircraft familiarity, formation flying and other basic skills. Once trained he said he was denied furlough,
but got a three day pass to come back to Rockford to "see his family and girlfriend."
George received his corporal and sergeant stripes at Westover as evidenced by Liz's scrapbook
notations.
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It was more than one family he saw because Liz's souvenir flag in her scrapbook is labeled "Blackhawk at
Byron -Steak Dinner for George - Northsea's, Kennedy's and Fosse's." The Northseas were George's
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family as well as the Fosses since two of George's sisters married Fosse brothers. The Kennedys were
Elizabeth's family.
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Liz titled the pictures of the leave in her scrapbook "Furlough - March 9, 1943."
The top left picture is George with Warren Fosse (Butch) and Janice Fosse (Susie), his nephew and
niece. (Sister Rosie's children). The top right picture is of George and his mother Selma Anderson
Northsea. the bottom left picture is of George and his sister Rosie. The bottom right is again George and
his nephew and niece. Liz playfully title this picture, "Three Kids."
The leave in March of 1944 was marked by several romantic gestures. In March for St. Patrick's day, it
was a natural for George and Liz to attend the annual G.A.A. dance. George gave to Liz a daffodil corsage
which she kept for her scrapbook. Also there was the obligatory green bow which she wore and also
kept. Elizabeth's genealogy on her dad's side was Scots-Irish and she was always ready to celebrate St.
Patrick's Day on every March 17th.
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On Saturday Night March 13, 1943 the young couple were at "Rainbow Gardens," a dance pavilion three
miles east of Belvedere, Illinois. George gave Liz an orchid corsage which she pressed and saved
labeling it "Orchid! Saturday Night March Leave "Rainbow gardens."
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1944
There do not seem to be any remaining records of George before he gets overseas, but Elizabeth in her
scrapbook documents the journey to Italy under a picture of George as he celebrates his birthday
"somewhere in Europe" in April 1944.
Elizabeth tells us the complete story in her scrapbook labeled "Italy Bound."She says of his journey,
"From Westover Field, Mass. to Mitchel Field N.Y. to Morrison Field. Fla,- to Trinidad. to Brazil to Africa to Tunisia to Italy."
Mitchell Field located on the Hempstead Plains of Long Island, New York was in 1940 the location of the
Air Defense Command, a command charged with the mission of developing the air defense for cities,
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vital industrial areas, continental bases, and military facilities in the United States. During 1943, Mitchel
AAF became a staging area for B-24 Liberator and crews before they were sent overseas.
George was definitely in New York City March 16 and 17, 1944 as he sent Liz back souvenirs of his
weekend leave. On Thursday evening March 16, 1944 he attended the Ziegfield Follies at the Imperial
Theater. He sent Liz the playbill, his ticket and the program which she saved.
The inside page samples of the playbill give us a sense of the times in March 1944 and the entertainment
George experienced in this "National Institution Glorifying the American Girl."
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Page 2
Page 3
Page 5
Page 7
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Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 13
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Page 13
Page 15
Page 17
Page 18
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Page 20
Page 22
On page 16 in the diagram of the
theater, George indicates for Liz where
he and crewmate Bob (probably Sgt
Rogers) were sitting.
Page 24
Page 16
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On Friday George stayed at the Hotel Knickerbocker and ate at the American Theater Wing Stage Door
Canteen before attending the 2:15 P.M. matinee of "Ladies Be Seated" at the Blue Network Studio on
West 48th Street. The show was a radio game show that is described as "Hilarious game show that will
make you laugh." Ed and Polly East hosted the show in New York. The show aired the Blue Network,
Jun. 4, 1943 - Jun. 23, 1944. It moved to ABC, Jun. 26, 1944 - Jan., 1950. George sent Liz mementos of
this occasion and she kept them in her scrapbook.
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That evening George went to Madison Square Garden where the main event was a bout between Beau
Jack and Al Davis. George sent Liz his program and ticket stub which of course ended up in the
scrapbook.
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Notice the upper left hand corner of the fight program page 2 on the previous page where there are
instructions to the crowd for "In the Event of an Air Raid Alert."
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George had some more time off in New York as evidenced by this picture with his crewmates in
labeled "New York City on March 26th, 1944."
"George (2nd from right) at New York City March 26, 1944"
After New York, George flew to Morrison Field, Fla. Morrison Army Airfield was located where
Palm Beach International Airport is now located. This site is located in the Southeast region of
the state. The latitude and longitude of the site is 26-40-59.383N / 080-05-44.139W. With the
increased war activity in Europe, the U.S. Army Air Corps began the conversion of Morrison
Field for military purposes during 1941. Morrison Field was dedicated in honor of Grace K.
Morrison, county airfield pioneer, when opened in 1936. The 313th Material Squadron,
previously operating at the Miami Municipal Airport, moved to Morrison in April 1942. Charged
with maintaining aircraft of the Ferry Command as well as handling all air cargo and airport
facility maintenance, the 1,000 man cadre worked around the clock seven days a week to keep
the planes in the air. Base personnel overhauled and repaired aircraft and then tested for
airworthiness before releasing the plane to service.
The Palm Beach Post in a historical look back wrote, " After Pearl Harbor, the Morrison Field
Army Air Force Command was activated. “The base was like a swarm of bees,” the late Louis
Zorzi, who managed the field’s officer’s club during the war — and whose son Ed helped
manage Palm Beach County’s airports — said in 1977.
A little more than a month later, on Jan. 19, 1942, the Air Transport Command began
operation. The army bought still more land, increasing the airport to 2,270 acres. Runways and
other facilities were built, expanded or renovated, and water and sewer service brought in.
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During the war, about 3,000 people were stationed at the field. Virtually every U.S. bomber
destined for battle flew out of West Palm Beach, and about 45,000 fighters trained at or left
from Morrison Field. About 6,000 planes passed through in the eight months before D-day. And
the base maintained many giant C-54 cargo planes that “flew the hump” to supply Chinese
fighting the Japanese invasion. On June 30, 1947, the U.S. Army Air Force, successor to the
Army Air Corps, deactivated Morrison Field. A year later, it gave the airport back to Palm Beach
County. On Aug. 11, 1947, county commissioners changed the name to Palm Beach
International Airport; that became official Sept. 27, 1948.
From Morrison, George flew to Trinidad. there he probably landed at Waller Army Air Force
Base in northeastern Trinidad. It is located five miles southwest of Valencia. Waller became part
of the 'South Atlantic Air Route to Europe" which became the most often used method of
getting aircraft to the African and European theaters of war. Air Transport Command flew
planes from South Florida to Waller and then to Belem Airfield in Brazil then across the south
Atlantic Ocean to Freetown Airport in Sierra Leone on the West coast of Africa.
George probably read this sign with
interest while on the ground in
Trinidad.
Belem, Brazil houses the Val de Cans Airport. With the outbreak of World War II air bases and
airports located on the Brazilian coast became immensely important in the support of
transportation of aircraft, personnel and equipment across the South Atlantic Ocean to Sierra
Leone in West Africa. These facilities provided the necessary logistical support for the
thousands of planes that, manufactured in Canada and the United States were moved to North
Africa and Europe.
After protracted negotiations between Brazil and the United States, airstrips were built at
Belem for the Air Transport Command with two runways measuring 1,500 x 45 meters on a
basis of concrete and asphalt and comprising modern airport facilities, able to meet efficiently
civil aviation and military needs.
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Coordinates are 01°23′05″S 048°28′44″W
Liz pasted a souvenir of Brazil into the scrapbook indicating George did some shopping while on
the ground in Belem. He sent Elizabeth five pair of silk hose from Brazil. The package is
preserved in her scrapbook.
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From Brazil, George flew across the south Atlantic Ocean to Sierra Leone on the West coast of
Africa.
.
From the west coast of Africa George flew to Tunisia which had been liberated from the Axis by
the British and American forces in May of 1943.
77
From Tunisia it was a jump across the Mediterranean Sea to Italy where George and his
crewmates joined the 15th Army Air Force on 11 April at Stornara Field in Italy. George joined
the 744th Bomb Squadron of the 456th Bomb Group.
15th Army Air Force Patch
744th Bomb Squadron Patch
456th Bomb Group Patch
According to the April 11, 1944 Morning report the following ten (4) officers and (6)enlisted
men reported for duty: Lunt, Willis R, 2nd Lt.; Jackson, Thomas S, 2nd Lt.; McKay, Robert G.,
2nd Lt.; Dale, Lewis G., 2nd Lt., Campbell, Leslie G., S/Sgt.; Rodgers, Robert M., S/Sgt.; Tate,
Frederick J., Sgt.; Ogden, Jack W., Sgt; Corby, Lewis C., Sgt; and Northsea, George A, Sgt.
This was the primary crew that George would fly with for his "50" missions. In his words though
he wanted to get his missions over with and get back to Elizabeth so he also flew with other
planes on the off days for his plane's crew.
The Morning report of 12 April further identified the roles of the men in the crew. The pilot was
2nd Lt. Lunt who achieved that rank on 30 August 1943. The co-pilot was 2nd Lt. Jackson who
achieved that rank on 3 November 1943. The navigator was 2nd Lt. McKay who achieved that
rank 24 Dec 1943 and the Bombardier was 2nd Lt. Dale who achieved that rank 27 March 1943.
The six enlisted men are also listed on that report.
Stornara Airfield was a semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield located approximately 14km
(10mi) west of Cerignola in Apulia, Italy. Its single PSP runway with extensive taxiway and
hardstand parking areas and steel control tower were built by the US Army Corps Of Engineers
in September 1943. The air field opened in January 1944. The only known unit to operate from
the field was the 456th Bombardment Group, from January 1944 until July 1945. 456BG
consisted of 744, 745, 746 and 747 Bomb Squadrons, flying B-24 Liberators. The airfield
remained operational until the end of the war and the airfield closed in August 1945.
Stornara was a part of the The Foggia Airfield Complex. Foggia was not an airfield but a range of
about 30 airfields on the Tavoliere plain around Foggia, Apulia, Italy. The area had already been
of strategic importance during World War I, but it became even more so during the Albanian
and Greek campaigns of 1940-1941. When the Germans took over these campaigns they also
took over operations at the area's airfields, because of their proximity to Greece and Albania,
both just across the Adriatic Sea. The bases in the area were also used to refine experimental
weapons like the SD Ruhrstahl 1400, better known to the Allies as the 'Fritz X-1'.
When the Armistice between the Allies and the Italians came into effect in September 1943, the
area was completely taken over by the Germans and the "Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana"
78
(National Republican Air Force, or ANR) remaining loyal to the Mussollini government. The
airfields were severely bombed by the USAAF and RAF in 1943 before the British 8th Army
conquered the region during the Italian campaign. The US Army Corps of Engineers then
repaired the captured airfields for use by heavy bombers and built new ones for operations
against Nazi-occupied Europe and Germany. The airfields were used by 12th and 15th Air Force
units, as well as the RAF. The complex did not just stretch out in the province of Foggia, but also
well into Bari, Molise and Basilicata.
Albert Speer, Hitler's Minister for Armaments, commented in his memoirs: "I could see omens
of the war's end almost every day in the blue southern sky when, flying provocatively low, the
bombers of the American Fifteenth Air Force crossed the Alps from their Italian bases to attack
German Industrial targets." This is one indication of the importance of the Foggia Airfield
Complex.
You can see Stornara (red arrow) just north of the 41 degree line and east of 16 degree
longitude on the map below:
79
Stornara, and the locations of the different subordinate units at the field
The 456th Bombardment Group was formed May 1943 at Wendover Field AB, Utah.
It was based at Cerignola, Italy. It was inactivated October 1945. The squadrons were the
744th BS, 745th BS, 746th BS, and 747th BS. The tail markings of the 456th are pictured below.
456th Tail Markings
80
Stornara Airfield was located approximately 14km west of Cerignola, 41°17′24.39″N
015°44′26.22″E. It was a semi-permanent heavy bomber airfield used by Fifteenth Air Force.
Built by COE beginning in September 1943., it had a single PSP runway with extensive
taxiway and hardstand parking areas and a steel control tower. It opened January 1944 and
the airfield was in operation until end of war, closing in August 1945. The field was
abandoned and land returned to agricultural use. Even today, a faint scarring of land from
former airfield use is still visible on aerial photography.
Photo above, orientated to the true North (photo via Google EarthHacks.com)
The airfield was dismantled after the war and today it is an agricultural area.
Faint scarring of the land in aerial photography like Google Earth is the only evidence left.
The field was occupied by the 456th Bombardment Group, (B-24 Liberators) from January
1944-July 1945. George, in an April 2007 interview by grand-son-in-law Tony Pecora, said 63
years later, in one of the few times he had ever spoken or communicated of the war, that he
was there from April 10 to July 20, 1944. The morning report of April 11 confirms his
recollection.
81
Known Missions of George
George's first mission must have made him wonder about his future as on 12 April the unit
encountered its first severe air combat with German fighters. Over 100 intercepted the
mission to the airfield at Bad Vöslau, Austria, and in a 40-minute battle shot down three
Liberators. The mission flown by the 15th Air Force, 304th Air Wing, 456th Bomb Group,
744th Bomb Squadron on 12 April 1944 was reported in the Morning Report (Every day of
World War II, whether in training or during the most explosive warfare, a 3 1/4 by 7-inch
Morning Report issued from each infantry company, artillery battery, and all other basic
units, to higher headquarters.) or Record of Events as follows:
"12 Planes with 40 Officers and 61 EM (enlisted men) took off at 0655, with 48,000 pounds
of Demolition Bombs to bomb an Airdrome and Munitions Plant at Vaslau, Austria. One
plane returned to base at 1000 Plexiglass blew off nose turret. [Not George's plane as he
was a nose gunner and this did not happen to him (italics mine)] Mission completed. The
planes returned at 1500. 150 enemy aircraft attacked the formation. 9 enemy craft were
shot down, 1 probably shot down & 2 damaged. All planes returned to home base, Flak was
heavy, but inaccurate. Weather was clear."
Stornara Field to Vaslau, Austria
82
In his book Fifteenth Air Force against the Axis, Combat Missions over Europe during
World War II , Kevin A. Mahoney (hereafter referred to as Mahoney) wrote on page 109, "
"The 304th Bomb Wing attacked a third aircraft assembly factory and airfield at Bad Voslau
bombing through intense accurate flak with 140 Liberators. The raid damaged hangers and
barracks, holed the landing field, and destroyed ten aircraft. Seventy to eighty twin-engine
enemy fighters attacked the bombers for over half an hour, firing rockets head-on, while
others dropped aerial bombs. The bombers claimed twenty-four destroyed and seven
probables, but lost six Liberators, three from the 456th, two from the 454th and one from
the 459th Bomb Group. The 454th Bomb group earned a Distinguished Unit Citation.
One hundred forty-two P-38s from the 1st, 14th, and 82nd fighter Groups and fifty-one P47s from the 325th flew escort and fought about eighty enemy fighters, most Me 109s and
claimed 16 destroyed and four probables, with seven confirmed for the 325th, and four for
the 82nd. The 325th lost a Thuderbolt (P-47) in the engagement."
USAAF-History-WWII-1944-(http://www.asisbiz.com/usaf/USAAF-History-WWII-1944.html)
reports on Wednesday April 12, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 483BG(H)
with B-17s becomes operational, increasing the number of combat status bomber groups to
17. Bad weather lifts, permitting bomber operations; almost 450 B-17s and B-24s attack
targets in Austria and Yugoslavia; the B-17s hit aircraft factories at Fischamend Markt,
Austria and Split, Yugoslavia; the B-24s hit the industrial area at Wiener Neustadt and Bad
Voslau, Austria and the marshalling yard and air depot at Zagreb, Yugoslavia; 200+ P-38s and
P-47s provide escort; the bombers and fighters claim 30+ enemy aircraft shot down; 8 US
airplanes are known lost and several more fail to return.
P-38 from the 14th Fighter Group
P-47 from the 325th Fighter Group
On 13 April 1944 the 15th Air Force, 304th Air Wing, 456th Bomb Group, 744th Bomb Squadron
Morning Report/Record of Events reports: "10 planes with 40 officers and 58 enlisted men took
off at 0630 with 40,000 lbs. of Demolition Bombs, took off to bomb an Airdrome, and Aircraft
Assembly Plant at Budapest, Hungary. Mission completed. The planes returned at 1550. 10
enemy aircraft were encountered. No enemy aircraft were shot down. All planes returned to
base. Flak was heavy, intense and accurate. Weather was poor.
83
Mahoney (p 111) writes," "Another airfield near Budapest, Tokol, put up mostly intense
accurate flak during a raid by 122 Liberators from the 304th Bomb Wing that destroyed a
number of aircraft, damaged several hangars, and hit all major installations of the adjoining
aircraft factory. Approximately 35 enemy fighters attacked the bombers at the initial point. The
bombers claimed twelve destroyed and four probables, but lost six B-24's; four from the 454th
group and two from the 459th."
reports on Thursday April 13, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 535 heavy
bombers (largest bomber mission to date) bomb targets in Hungary; the B-17s bomb an aircraft
plant and depot at Gyor; the B-24s bomb an aircraft factory at Budapest and air depots at
Budapest, Tokol and Vecses; fighter opposition and AA account for 14 US bombers and 1 fighter
shot down; 40 enemy fighters are claimed shot down and 120+ aircraft destroyed on the
ground.
779BS(H), 464BG(H), arrives at Pantanella Airfield, Italy from the US with B-24s; first Mission is
30 Apr.
Budapest, Hungary is "as the crow flies"
about 760 Km or 472 miles from Stornara Field, Italy
Morning Report/Record of Events reports: "12 Planes with 40 Officers & 60 EM took off at 0835
with 50,000 lbs. of Demolition Bombs, to bomb the Marshalling Yards at Bucharest, Romania.
The weather was cloudy and this target was not bombed. the secondary target which was the
town of Bucharest on an ETA was also covered , and not bombed. The tertiary target which was
84
the Marshalling Yards at Nis, Yugoslavia was bombed. The planes returned at 1640. 8 ME109's
(illegible) but no enemy planes were shot down. All planes returned to home base. Flak was
moderate, heavy, and accurate."
Stornara Air Base to Bucharest, Romania (Black) and to Nis, Yogoslavia (now Serbia) (Red)
B-24 Liberator Bombers
On his birthday 15 April 1944, George did not fly. The Rockford Morning Star newspaper of April
16 contained the article on the next page about him.
85
He flew again on the 16th which fits the pattern he reported in his 1990 journal and the 2007
interview with Tony. He said, 'We would fly three days in a row and then take one day off."
Morning Report/Record of Events reports: "11 Planes with 41 Officers and <illegible> EM took
off at 0740 with 50,000 lbs. of Demolition Bombs to bomb the M/Y at Brascu, Rumania. weather
over target was overcast. The secondary target which was the airdrome at Tornu Severin,
Rumania, was bombed instead. The planes returned at 1338, No enemy aircraft was
encountered. All planes returned to base. There was no flak."
Mahoney (p. 113) writes that "At the airfield at Turnu Severin, 68 B-24's from the 455th and
456th Bomb Groups destroyed eleven aircraft and damaged hangars, barracks and
administration buildings, and cratered the landing field. Crews did not see flak at either
location."
reports on Sunday April 16, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 31FG with P-51s
(transferred from 12AF on 1Apr) begins operations. It becomes the fifth operational FG of the
15AF.
432 B-17s and B-24s hit targets in Rumania and Yugoslavia; B-17s bomb the industrial area at
Belgrade, Yugoslavia and an aircraft plant at Brasov, Rumania; B-24s hit marshalling yards at
86
Brasov and Turnu Severin, Rumania; 90+ fighters fly escort while 50+ others, failing to
rendezvous with the bombers, strafe trains on the Craiova line E of Turnu Severin."
Location of Drobeta-Turnu Severin (It is situated in western Oltenia, at the edge of the Topolnița
depression, 220 km south-east of Timişoara, 113 km west of Craiova and 353 km west of
Bucharest.)
Coordinates: 44°34′N 22°40′E Country:
Romania County: Mehedinți County.
Morning Report/Record of Events reports: "10 Planes with 40 officers and 60 EM took off at
0915 to bomb the M/Y (Rail Marshalling Yards) at Sofia, Bulgaria. Mission completed. All planes
returned to home base at 1505. 3 enemy aircraft were encountered. None shot down. Flak was
heavy, light, accurate. Weather was good."
Mahoney (p. 114) reports, "With and escort of 46 P-51s from the 31st, 44 Lightnings (P-38) from
the 14th fighter group and 24 325th p-47s, the 27th and 304th Bomb Wings attacked the
marshalling yards at Sofia Bulgaria with 250 B-24s. The attack cut main rail lines and damaged a
warehouse, repair shops, the main station, rolling stock, a rubber factory and residential areas.
Flak was generally intense and accurate and twenty to thirty Me 109s and FW 190s, and a few
Ju 88s attacked the formation; the 98th bomb group particularly viciously. The bombers claimed
14 destroyed and two probables. The fighters claimed 7 destroyed and one probable, with four
confirmed to the 325th and three to the 31st, for the loss of a Mustang"
reports on Monday April 17, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 470 B-17s and B24s hit targets in Bulgaria and Yugoslavia; B-17s bomb the industrial area, air depot and
marshalling yard at Belgrade, Yugoslavia; B-24s bomb the marshalling yard at Sofia, Bulgaria;
200+ fighters escort the mission s; US aircraft claim 25 enemy aircraft downed in combat."
87
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
The "as the crow flies" distance between Stornara, Italy and Sofia, Bulgaria is 855 kilometers
or 532 miles.
Morning Report/Record of Events reports: "11 Planes with 41 officers and 60 EM took off at
1010, to bomb the M/Y at Opincina, Italy with 50,000 lbs. of demolition Bombs. Mission
completed. The planes returned to home base at 1500. 5 enemy craft were encountered. No
planes were shot down. Weather over target was overcast. Flak was heavy, moderate."
The village Opčine/Opicina was a stronghold in German defence of Triest. It was fortified by
many concrete bunkers and defended by 36 guns of 88-150 mm. It was commanded by the
commander of fortress sapper headquarters no. 30. In the beginning he had several hundred
men but their number increased to over 3000.
Mahoney on p115 reports, "The 456th and 461st Bomb Groups bombed alternates with 70
Liberators through slight inaccurate flak; the 456th the marshalling yards at Aurisina and the
461st a railroad bridge near Casara. Bombs hit near the bridge and on a highway, but missed the
marshalling yards. 5 Me 109s attacked the 456th inflicting little, or no damage."
USAAF-History-WWII-1944 (http://www.asisbiz.com/usaf/USAAF-History-WWII-1944.html)
reports on Thursday April 20, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 300+ B-17s and
B-24s attack targets in Italy; the B-17s bomb marshalling yards at Ancona, Castelfranco, Padua
and Vicenza and Venice harbor installations; the B-24s hit marshalling yards at Mestre, Reviso
88
and Fano, Venice harbor, Monfalcone dockyards and Trieste; 180+ other heavy bombers
dispatched against communications targets in N Italy are forced to abort due to bad weather;
about 250 fighters provide cover for the bombing raids."
The straight line flight distance between Stornara and Opicina is about 644 Km or 401.4 miles
Morning Report/Record of Events reports: "11 Planes with 40 officers and 40 enlisted men took
off at 0900 with 50,000 lbs of Demolition bombs to bomb Bucharest, Romania. Weather was
undercast all the way to the target, and over target area. No bombs were dropped and all
planes returned to home base. 50 enemy aircraft were encountered. 1 enemy craft was shot
down. S/Sgt Rizzotti was shot in the abdomen, and taken to hospital. Lt. Bernstein was hit in the
eye by Plexiglas shattered by enemy fire and was treated in the dispensary. Flak was heavy,
moderate, and accurate. Time of return 1630."
Other reports said, Bucharest World War II bombings were primarily bombings of railroad
targets and oil targets. Bucharest stored and distributed much of Ploiești's refined oil products.
the railroad yards and oil storage facilities were important targets in the allies war against the
Axis.
The enemy planes attacking the bombers were Ju 88 and Me 109's.
89
Junker Ju 88
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Junkers Ju 88 was a Luftwaffe twin-engine multirole combat aircraft and was one of the
most versatile combat aircraft of the war. Like a number of other Luftwaffe bombers, it was not
only used successfully as a bomber, but in this battle as a heavy fighter.
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was often mistakenly referred to by allied fliers as the ME 109. The Bf
109 was the most produced fighter aircraft in history, with almost 34,000 planes produced from
1936 up to April 1945.
Mahoney (p. 117) reports, "A recall order sent after takeoff did not reach several groups who
continued on to their targets in Romania. 91 Liberators from the 451st, 454th, 455th, 456th,
459th and 461st Bomb groups bombed the marshalling yards at Bucharest but observed no
results because of overcast. Crews reported generally intense and accurate flak and
fifty to seventy-five fighters hit the formation near Belgrade until the escort drove them off. The
bombers claimed ten destroyed and thirteen probables, but lost eight Liberators: four from the
455th and two each from the 4564th and 456th."
reports on Friday April 21, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 100+ B-24s bomb
marshalling yards at Bucharest, Rumania; all 17 bomb groups dispatched are recalled due to bad
weather but 7 groups fail to receive the recall signal; 150+ P-38s and P-51s are dispatched as
escort; 40+ rendezvous with the B-24s and battle some 30 fighters that attack the bomber force;
the other fighters, failing to meet the bombers, engage about 40 fighters; bombers and fighters
claim 35 aerial combat victories; 10 US aircraft are shot down."
Morning Report/Record of Events reports: "10 Planes with 40 officers and 60 enlisted men took
off at 1045, with 50,000 lbs of Composition B Demolition Bombs to bomb and airdrome and
aircraft assembly plant at Bad Voslau, Austria. Mission completed. All planes returned to home
base at 1645. 40 enemy craft were encountered. No enemy planes were shot down. T/Sgt
Beland was injured in the leg by Flak. Flak was heavy, moderate and accurate. Weather was
good."
Mahoney (p. 118) reported, "At the airfield at Bad Voslau, 171 B-24s from the 304th Bomb wing
and the 451st and 461st Bomb Groups escorted by 130 P-38's from the first and 82nd fighter
group bombed the field. Their bombs hit all the hangers and damaged the administration
90
building, barracks, and a boiler house, the landing field, and a number of aircraft. There was no
report of flak, but approximately fifty enemy fighters, most Me 109s, hit the bombers, including
a head on attack by twenty-five of them. About forty enemy fighters hit the trailing group in the
formation, the 456th, with more than a dozen of them closing to within fifty yards of the
Liberators, but the first fighter group soon drove them away. The bombers claimed 16 destroyed
and eight probables, while the escort claimed eleven destroyed, with six confirmed as destroyed
to the first and three to the 82nd. The 456th group lost three Liberators, including one
abandoned over Italy, and the 459th and 461st Bomb groups one each, as well. The 459th
received a Distinguished Service Cross for this mission."
reports on Sunday April 23, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): Weather clears
and bombers can resume operations. 500+ B-17s and B-24s attack aircraft factories and airfields
in Austria; the B-17s hit the Wiener Neustadt industrial area; the B-24s hit industrial areas at
Schwechat and Bad Voslau and an air depot at Wiener-Neustadt; close to 300 fighters provide
support; many enemy fighters attack fiercely, downing 12 bombers and 1 fighter; the bombers
and escorts claim 40+ air victories."
Bad Voslau, Austria AC Factory 04/23/1944 (pictures from 459th group)
This may very well be the mission George once spoke of as his greatest moment of fear except
for the Ploetsi oil fields. He said he was reaching down to get a dropped part and heard a woosh.
When he sat upright the plexiglass had a shell hole right where his head had just been. He saw a
fighter closing in and began to fire immediately, but In his words, " I had to clean up my
underwear when we got back to base."
One flier from another group described the enemy plane attack: "There was quite a battle when
91
we bombed this target. The fighters crossed us up, instead of pulling out over the flak areas, ...
the fighters bulled in from all directions. We lost quite a few men and planes ..."
The large picture below was taken by George's 456th group and shows bomb hits at Bad Voslau
by them as well.
War theater Number 12 (Bad Voslau) 456th group (4/23/1944)
92
The intersection of the red line and the point of the placement dot is Bad Voslau, Austria
which was a straight line distance from Stornara Field, Italy of about 988 km or 614 miles.
Morning Report/Record of Events reports: "7 Planes with 27 Officers and 42 enlisted men took
off with 50,000 lbs of Demolition Bombs to bomb the M/Y at Bucharest Romania. 1 plane
returned at 1310 when electrical system went out. Mission completed. All planes returned to
home base at 1600. No enemy craft were encountered. Flak was heavy intense and accurate.
Weather was good over enemy territory."
Mahoney (page 118) reports, "As the Fifteenth returned to Romanian targets, 207 B-24s
from the 451st, 454th, 455th, 456th, 459th and 461st Bomb Groups bombed the marshalling
yards at Bucharest through intense but inaccurate flak. The Liberators damaged repair
buildings, a round house, tracks and choke points, but some bombs fell in the city. The 14th
Fighter group escorted the bombers with 48 Lightnings, but did not encounter the thirty Me
109s and FW 190s that attacked the bombers. Bomb gunners claimed six destroyed, but the
451st and 161st Bomb groups each lost a Liberator."
An M/Y or marshalling yard is a railroad yard found at freight train stations that is used to
separate railroad cars on to one of several tracks where freight trains that consist of isolated
93
cars must be made into trains and divided according to their destinations. They are important
targets for keeping war materials from reaching the enemy. Bucharest was bombed mainly to
interrupt military transports from Romania to the Eastern Front.
reports on Monday April 24, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 520+ bombers
attack targets in Rumania, Yugoslavia, and Italy; B-17s bomb a marshalling yard at Ploesti,
Rumania, an aircraft factory in Belgrade, Yugoslavia and the Ancona-Rimini railroad line (this is
the first Azon Mission by 5 B-17s); the B-24s bomb marshalling yards at Ploesti and Bucharest,
Rumania; 250+ fighters fly support for the bombers."
The direct line flight from Stornara Field to Bucharest is about 633 km or 394 miles.
off at 0915 with 50,500 lbs of Demolition Bombs to bomb the aircraft factory and airdrome at
Turin, Aeritalia, Italy. Mission completed. 12 enemy planes were encountered, none were shot
down. One B-24 with 4 officers and 7 enlisted men was forced down due to mechanical failure.
Lt. Allan was injured in the leg by enemy fire. Flak was heavy, moderate, and accurate. Weather
was good. 10 planes returned to home base at 1615."
Other reports indicate that On April 25 a total of 118 Liberators bombed the aircraft factory and
hit airframe assembly buildings, hangers and the landing field as well as Fiat steel works and the
city. between 12 and 15 fighters attacked the 456th Bomb Group. The 456th lost one liberator.
Mahoney (p. 120) reports that on April 25, 1944, "Over Italy 38 P-47s from the 325th Fighter
Group excorted the 304th Bomb Wing attack on the Aeritlia Aircraft factory at Turin, after the
5th Bomb wing turned back because of bad weather. 118 Liberators bombed the factory
through mostly intense, accurate flak and hit airframe assembly buildings, hangers and the
landing field, as well as Fiat steel works and the city. About 15 fighters attacked the 456th
94
Bomb Group and a single FW 190 made a pass at the 455th Bomb Group, but the escort drove
all of them off and later tangled with almost 20 Me 109s and 7 Italian Mc 205s, claiming two as
destroyed, with only one confirmed. The bombers claimed six destroyed, and two probables,
with the 459th losing a liberator in a collision. The 456th lost a Liberator as well."
reports on Tuesday April 25, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): In Italy, around
150 B-24s bomb an aircraft factory at Turin, marshalling yard and bridge at Parma, marshalling
yard at Ferrara and several targets of opportunity; 300+ B-24s and B-17s are forced to abort
missions due to bad weather; 100+ fighters escort the bomber mission s into north Italy."
Turin Aeritalia Airport is the home of Aero Club Torino and is in a straight line about 855 km
or 532 miles from Stornara Air Field
off at 1155 with 50,500 lbs. of Demolition Bombs to bomb the Port Facilities at Porto San
Stefano, Italy. Mission completed. No enemy planes were encountered. All planes returned to
home at 1735. Flak was heavy, moderate and accurate. Weather was good.
Mahoney (p. 121) reported, ""The 304th Bomb Wing and the 376th Bomb Group, escorted by
47 P-38s from the 1st Fighter group and 48 p-47s from the 325th Fighter group struck another
Italian Port, Porto San Stefano with 170 Liberators. Their attack damaged docks and
warehouses in the harbor, an industrial area as well as the town. Flak was moderate and
accurate shooting down two B-24s from the 455th."
95
reports on Friday April 28, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): Clearing weather
again permits bomber operations; 450+ B-17s and B-24s attack targets in Italy; 188 B-17s bomb
Piombino Steel Works and port; 168 B-24s bomb the port area at San Stefano al Mare; and 108
B-24s bomb the port area at Orbetello; P-38s, P-51s and P-47s provide escort. 32(Photo)RS,
90(Photo)WR, arrives at San Severo, Italy from the US with F-5s; first Mission is 18 May."
Porto Santo Stefano, Grosseto, Italy was about 507 km or 315 miles from Stornara Field as the
crow flies.
Morning Report/Record of Events reports: "10 planes with 30 officers and (unreadable) enlisted
men took off at 0840 with 50,000 lbs of Demolition Bombs to bomb the M/Y at Milan, Italy.
Mission completed. All planes returned to home base at 1810. Flak was moderate, heavy and
accurate. Weather was clear."
Mahoney (p. 122) reported, " "The 304th Bomb Wing escorted by 31 P-51s from the 31st
Fighter group " bombed the marshalling yards at Milan with 121 B-24s, but almost 1/4 of the
fighters returned early. The raid damaged repair shops, a roundhouse, freight cars, sidings,
tracks, and the main rail line, along with two factories. Crews reported mostly modest and
inaccurate flak, and the escort tangled with four enemy fighters near the target and shot down
96
a Ju 88 shadowing the bombers for flak batteries, later confirmed. Six more fighters attacked
the bombers at the target and gunners claimed two destroyed."
reports on Sunday April 30, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 464BG(H) with
B-24s becomes the 19th operational bomb group. Around 500 bombers, with fighter escort,
attack targets in Italy; B-17s hit industrial areas at Milan and Varese and the Reggio Emilia air
depot; the B-24s bomb marshalling yards at Alessandria and Milan."
P-51Ds of the 31st Fighter Group in echelon left formation.
Junkers Ju 88
97
German 88 Flak Battery 1944
The straight line distance from Stornara Field to Milan, Italy was about 780 km or 485 miles.
98
On 5 May 1944 the 15th Air Force, 304th Air Wing, 456th Bomb Group, 744th Bomb Squadron
off at 1035 with 50,000 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the oil refinery at Ploesti Rumania.
Mission completed with excellent results. 4 enemy planes were encountered, none were shot
down. All planes returned to home base at 1715. Weather was excellent all the way. Flack was
heavy, intense and accurate."
Mahoney (p. 127) reported, " One hundred fifty-three Lightnings from the 1st, 14th, and 82nd
Fighter Groups and forty-two P-51s from the 31st Fighter Group escorted a massive raid by 166
B-17s from the 5th Bomb Wing and 319 B-24s from the 449th, 450th, 451st, 454th, 455th,
456th, 459th, 460th, 461st Bomb Groups to the marshalling yards and oil pumping station at
Ploesti. Most bomb concentrations lit storage tanks at the Astra Oil Refinery, starting large fires,
and part of the Phoenix Oil Refinery, badly damaging storage tanks and a lubricating plant.
Some bombs hit several other refineries and a marshalling yard, damaging tracks and tank cars.
Flak was intense and accurate and about sixty fighters, most Me 109s and Romanian IAR 80s,
made attacks on the escort while more attacked the bombers, closing to within one hundred
yards, some firing rockets. About thirty more fighters attacked the formation on the return
flight after the escort dropped back to cover some stragglers. The bombers claimed fourteen
destroyed and three probables. The fighters claimed nine destroyed, four probables with the
31st later credited with nine destroyed. Three Fortresses from the 463rd and one from the 97th
Bomb Group went down, as did five Liberators from the 449th, three from the 456th, two from
the 451st, and one each from the 455th and 460th Bomb Groups. The 14th and 82nd Fighter
Groups each lost a Lightning."
reports on Friday May 5, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 465BG(H) with B24s becomes operational, making a total of 20 heavy bomber groups operational in the 15AF.
640+ bombers (the largest force to date) attack targets in Rumania and Yugoslavia; the B-17s
hit marshalling yards at Ploesti/Campina and Brasnov, Rumania; the B-24s hit the marshalling
yard at Ploesti and troop concentrations at Podgoricu, Yugoslavia; fighters fly 240+ sorties in
support."
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The straight line distance from Stornara Field Italy to Ploesti Romania was about 1155 km or
718 miles
off at 0815 with 50,500 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the marshalling yards at Campina,
Rumania. Mission completed with excellent results. 6 enemy aircraft were encountered. One
plane returned home with gas leak at 1141. The remainder of the planes returned at 1515. Flak
was heavy, intense, and accurate. Weather was good.
Mahoney (p. 129) reported, "The raid on the marshalling yards at Campina by 135 more B-24s
of the 30. Bomb Wing damaged tracks, tank cars, storage tanks, buildings, and a machine
factory. Crews reported intense, accurate flak and four fighters attacked the 454th while about
forty more, most Me 109s, attacked the 459th through their own flak, closing to within fifty
yards, some peeling off to draw off the escort. Six fighters attacked the 456th twice, and a
dozen more Me 109s hit the 455th, followed by six more later. The escort of fifty-one P-38s
from the 14th Fighter Group fought with more than twenty German and Romanian fighters that
dove through the bomber formation. The bombers claimed thirteen destroyed and four
probables; the escort two destroyed, later confirmed, and two probables. The 459th lost five B24s, the 455th one and a Lieu., from the 14th went down, as well."
reports on Saturday May 6, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): About 300 B-17s
and B-24s, escorted by P-51s and P-38s, hit targets in Rumania; the B-17s attack an aircraft
factory at Brasov and marshalling yard at Turnu Severin; the B-24s bomb Ploesti/Campina
marshalling yard and an aircraft factory at Brasov."
100
The straight line distance from Stornara Field, Italy to Campina, Rumania is about 1078 km or
670 miles. The Campina marshalling yards were near the Ploetsi oil fields and key to enemy
fuel supplies. The oil campaigns began eventually to do what they were designed to do cause the Germans to use more oil than they could supply.
Morning Report/Record of Events reports: 9 planes with 36 officers, and 55 enlisted men took
off at 0820 with 45,500 lbs of demolition bombs to bomb the marshalling yard at Bucharest
Rumania. 4 enemy craft were encountered. None were shot down. All planes returned to home
base at 1525. Flak was heavy, intense, and accurate. Weather was hazy all the way, and over
target area."
Mahoney (p. 130) reported, "Romania continued to receive attention, as 157 Fortresses from
the 2nd, 97th, 99th, 301st, and 463rd Bomb Groups, with 272 Liberators from the 47th, 49th,
and 304th Bomb Wings, bombed the Grivita and Calla marshalling yards at Bucharest. One
hundred sixty-three Lightnings from the lot, 14th, and 82nd Fighter Groups, with another thirtysix P-51s from the 31st Fighter Group, escorted the mission in stages. The 449th and 450th, as
well as most of the 459th, returned to base withoot. bombing, but two 459th Liberators joined
the 49th Bomb Wing. At Grivita, bombs cut tracks, damaged an engine depot, warehouses,
workshops, and a fuel storage tank, and destroyed many rail cars. Bombs lit the main line and
destroyed many freight cars at Chita, but some landed in the town. Flak was mostly intense and
accurate and the escort drove off most enemy fighter attacks on the 5th and 49th Bomb Wings.
The 14th Fighter Group engaged twelve German and Romanian fighters over the target, while
the 31st took on another six fighters, then twelve more, just after bombs away. The 14th and
31st Fighter Groups claimed ten destroyed, with five confirmed for the 14th and four for the
31st, but the 14th Fighter Group lost a Lightning. Ten fighters attacked the 98th Bomb Group,
seven more the 455th, and one the 454th and bomber gunners claimed twelve destroyed and
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two probables. One B-17 from the 97th ditched and three B-24s went down, two from the
454th and one from the 98th."
The Romanian Military History Forum reports the raids from the enemy perspective, "The
targets from 7 may 1944 on Bucharest was the Chitila, Griviţa Giuleşti and Gara de Nord area .
The American bombs hit also the center area of Bucharest among Dâmbvoţia river, Caşin
church and St. Vineri church. It was also destroyed C.A.M. Belvedere, 3 schools (nr. 27, 28 and
51); and damaged: 4 high schools (B. Delavrancea, Doamna Stanca, Industrial de fete and A.
Vlaicu), 4 hospitals (Miltar, Regina Maria, Viting and Macarie children hospital), some
warehouses (Saniar al Armatei, Ministerulu Sănătaţii, de medicamente al C.A.S.S., al Crucii
Roşii). It also damaged the St. Vineri church, Cercul Militar, Inspectoratul General Finaciar,
Percepţiile ficale nr. 1 and 12, Judecătoria from Roma street, Administraţia Financiară a
sectorului nr. 1, The Cometa fireman station, the Bonaparte Post Office (and primary school
near the post office), the Cartea Românească workshops, Leonida and Saral garages, the silk
factories Viviliana and Lessel and Iron Industry factory. It was also heavily damaged Gara de
Nord (4 rails destroyed, and the Bucureşti-Chitila, Podul Grand and Băneasa-Chitila rails heavily
damaged), the Bucharest C.F.'s warehouses (o lot of waggons had burned), Depoul Bucureşti
Mărfuri, and the Regie, Militari and Bucureşti-Triaj stations. The residential districts Steaua and
Giuleşti were also hit by American bombs. Destroyed buildings: 904; Damaged buildings: 788.
411 people were killed and another 920 wounded."
This different perspective gives us an idea of the true destruction of the bombing campaign, but
it was believed to be strategically necessary to defeat the Germans and win the war. The large
number of casualties can be explained by the fact that, "They bombed the Northern Railway
Station (Gara de Nord) and the marshalling yards, hitting trains filled with refugees from
Moldavia."
reports on Sunday May 7, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 420+ B-17s and B24s bomb targets in Rumania and Yugoslavia; the B-17s and B-24s hit marshalling yards at
Bucharest, Rumania and 38 B-17s also hit a railroad bridge at Belgrade, Yugoslavia; 62 P-51s
escort heavy bombers to the target and 53 provide withdrawal escort; 84 P-38s fly target cover.
off at 0735 with 50,000 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb an Air Craft Factory at Weiner
Neustadt, Austria. Mission completed with damaging results. All planes returned to home base
at 1425. 90 enemy aircraft were encountered and 5 were shot down. Flak was heavy, intense
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and accurate. Weather was poor all the way to target and over the target area. Sgt Donald
Switzer was injured when shattered glass from a flak hit him in the eye."
Mahoney (p. 131) reported, " The entire 5th and 55th Bomb Wmgs, along with the 455th and
456th Bomb Groups, attacked the aircraft factory at Weiner Neustadt, Austria with 175 B-17s
and 129 B-24s and badly damaged machine and workshops in the factory, and a barracks area,
possibly a labor camp. Fighter attacks began before the bombers reached the target that put up
intense, accurate flak. Up to ninety closed to within 150 yards of the bombers over Wiener
Neustadt and the latter claimed twenty-three destroyed and eleven probables, but lost twentyone aircraft. The 463rd lost seven Fortresses and the 97th, 99th, and 483rd Bomb Groups one
each. The 456th lost five Liberators, the 460th four, and the 464th two, and the 456th received
a Distinguished Unit citation for the raid."
reports on Wednesday May 10, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 485BG(H)
with B-24s is declared operational, giving the 15AF its planned operational strength of 21
bomber groups. The 52FG with P-51s also begins operations with the Fifteenth on this date,
making a total of 6 FGs. Around 400 bombers attack targets at Wiener Neustadt Austria; B-17s
bomb aviation industry targets; B-24s bomb the industrial area and an air depot; 200+ fighters
provide support; 300+ bombers are forced to abort due to bad weather which has halted
operations for the past few days; opposition is fierce; 21bombers and 1 fighter are lost; US
aircraft claim 50 aircraft."
The targets in and around Wiener Neustadt included the marshalling yards, the Wiener
Neustädter Flugzeugwerke (WNF) aircraft factory (effectively an extension of Messerschmitt)
and the Raxwerke plants of Wiener Neustädter Lokomotivfabrik (two of which used forced
labor from the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp).
The three WNF plants (W.N.F. Fischamend, W.N.F. Klagenfurt, W.N.F. Bad Voslau) were targets
of the Combined Bomber Offensive against the German aircraft industry. WNF manufactured
Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters and repaired Junkers bombers and heavy fighters (German:
Zerstörer). The Hirtenberger Patronen Zündhutchen und Metallwarenfabrik was an ammunition
factory nearby.
103
The straight line distance from Stornara Field, Italy to Wiener
Neustadt, Austria was about 950 km or 550 miles. The target
was the Wiener Neustädter Flugzeugwerke (WNF) aircraft
factory (effectively an extension of Messerschmitt).
Above is what the bombers saw of the factory from the air.
104
This picture shows the bombing of the factory.
off at 0515 with 50,500 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the marshalling yard and railroad
junction at Fidenza, Italy. Weather over the target made it impossible to bomb, and as a result
the secondary target, the marshalling yard and bridge at Lavagna, Italy was bombed. One plane
consisting of four officers and six enlisted men fell out of formation and it is believed it landed
at Corsica. However there is no confirmation of this fact as yet. 10 planes returned to home
base at 1230. No enemy fighters were encountered. There was no flak. The entire mission was
in clouds throughout."
Mahoney (p. 132-133) reported, " Without meeting any opposition, thirty-seven B-24s of the
456th Bomb Group did strike another marshalling yard and a railroad bridge, at Chiavari and cut
through rail lines and sidings and damaged a long freight train and a railroad bridge. Two more
had joined the raid on La Spezia. The confusion in location between Lavagna and Chiavari is
resolved by the map below showing them within 1.5 miles of each other. Lavagna is probably
where the damage was done.
reports on Friday May 12, 1944 that " MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): In Italy, around
105
730 B-17s and B-24s (largest force to date) attack German HQ at Massa d'Albe and Monte
Soratte; town of Civitavecchia; airfields at Tarquinia and in the surrounding area; marshalling
yards at Chivasso, Piombino, Marina di Carrara, Viareggio and Ferrara; Orbetello Island;
Piombino harbor; docks and communications at San Stefano al Mare ; harbor, marshalling yard
and railroad bridge at Chiavari; La Spesia marshalling yard and harbor; and several targets of
opportunity; 25 P-38s strafe Piacenza Airfield; other fighters fly 250+ sorties in support of
bombing missions."
The black line is to Fidenza and the red line is to Lavagna from Stornara Field. We do not know at
what point they diverted from Fidenza to Lavagna, but the straight line distance from Stornara
Field to Lavagna is about 760 km or 473 miles.
106
off at 1050 with 50,000 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the marshalling yards at Bologna,
Italy. Mission completed with excellent results. Two planes returned at 1315 with engine
trouble. Eight planes returned at 1630. No enemy aircraft were encountered. Flak was heavy,
moderate and very inaccurate. Weather was clear with a ground haze of about 10,000 feet,
Remark of record events of 12 May 1944 pertaining to four officers and six enlisted men MIA,
was confirmed and all officers and enlisted men are safe,"
Mahoney (p. 133) reported, "With an escort of forty-seven P-38s from the 1st Fighter Group,
twenty-nine B-24s from the 456th Bomb Group bombed the Borgo Marshalling Yards in
Bologna through slight, inaccurate flak where the Liberators cut rail lines through the yard and
severely damaged a bypass."
reports on Saturday May 13, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): In Italy,
bombers continue interdiction in support of the ground forces. 670+ B-17s and B-24s mostly
with fighter escort, attack marshalling yards at Trento, Bronzola, Fidenza, Piacenza, Faenza,
Imola, Cesena, Modena, Parma, San Rufillo, Borgo San Lorenzo, Castel Maggiore and Bologna
and hit railroad bridges at Bolzano and Avisio; and fighters sweep the Bologna-Modena area."
The straight line distance between Stornara Field and Bologna, Italy is about 585 km or 363 miles.
107
off at 0930 with 50,000 lbs. of fragmentation bomb clusters to bomb the Air Drome at Riggio
Mando, Italy. Mission completed. One planes returned at 1200 with engine trouble. No enemy
aircraft were encountered.. No enemy aircraft were encountered. Flak was heavy, moderate
and very inaccurate. Weather was good. The nine remaining planes returned at 1405.
Mahoney (p. 135) reported, " Seventy-five B-24s from the 456th and 459th Bomb Groups
covered the landing field with fragmentation bombs, destroyed fifteen aircraft, and damaged
hangars and workshops at the airfield at Reggio Emilio, in a mission that encountered only
slight, inaccurate flak. Forty-two P-51s from the 314 Fighter Group, briefed for the escort, could
not rendezvous with the bombers."
reports on Sunday May 14, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): Just over 700
bombers attack targets in Italy; B-17s hit marshalling yards at Ferrara and Mantua and an air
depot at Piacenza; B-24s hit Vicenza marshalling yard and air depots at Piacenza and Reggio
Emilia; fighters fly 170+ sorties in escort; 48 P-38s strafe Aviano and Villaorba airfields. HQ 52FG
and 4th and 5th move from Corsica to Madna Airfield, Italy with P-51s."
The straight line distance from Stornara to Reggio Emilio is about 633 km or 394 miles.
108
off at 0740 with 50,000 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the Oil refineries at Ploesti, Rumania.
Mission completed. No enemy planes encountered. All planes returned to home base at 1530.
No injuries. Weather 6/10th coverage, cloudy over target. All they could see was outline of the
town. Flak was moderate, heavy, and fairly accurate."
Mahoney (p. 136) reported, " Bad weather over Romania prevented many groups from
bombing their targets at Ploesti and the 98th, 376th, 450th, and 451st Bomb Groups could not
complete their missions. ... The Dacia Romana Refinery at Ploesti, was undamaged when
seventy-seven B-24s from the 455th and 456th Bomb Groups bombed it, through intense,
accurate flak mild overcast. Five enemy fighters attacked both groups over the target and two
more went after a straggler, but the escort drove them away, yet the 455th lost three
Liberators on the mission."
reports on Thursday May 19, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): Almost 450
bombers, mostly with fighter escort, hit targets in Rumania and Yugoslavia; both B-17s and B24s bomb the industrial area at Ploesti, Rumania and the marshalling yard at Belgrade,
Yugoslavia; the B-17s also hit the marshalling yard at Nis, Yugoslavia; 300+ other bombers
abandon the mission s because of bad weather; fighters strafe airfields at Nis and Scutari,
Yugoslavia."
off at 0740 with 50,000 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the Harbor Installations at Genoa,
Italy. The weather was cloudy and the target was not bombed. The secondary target which was
the marshalling yards and munitions factory at Alessandria, Italy was also covered, and not
bombed. The tertiary target, which was the Harbor Installations and marshalling yards at
Legborn, Italy was bombed. The planes returned at 1225. No enemy planes encountered. All
planes returned to home base. No injuries. Weather to targets and back was 6/10th coverage.
Flak was moderate, heavy, and fairly accurate."
Mahoney (p. 139) reported, "Seventy-four B-24s from the 456th and 459th Bomb Groups
destroyed a chemical factory, and damaged docks, a ship, and an iron factory, in the harbor at
Leghorn, an alternate target bombed through largely moderate, but accurate flak. Some
bombs, however, fell in the city."
109
reports on Friday May 19, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 500+ bombers hit
communications targets, ports, and oil storage in NE, C, and, W Italy; B-17s hit oil storage
facilities at Porto Marghera and railroad bridges at Casarea, Latisana and Rimini; B-24s hit port
areas at La Spezia and Leghorn; fighters fly 250+ sorties in support. These operations are
notable for the absence of enemy fighter opposition."
Morning Report/Record of Events reports: "Planes returned to home base because of poor
weather."
off at 0720 with 50,000 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the concentrations at Masina Italy.
No bombs wer dropped as target was overcast. No enemy craft was encountered. Two planes
with 13 enlisted men and eight officers crashed into each other over home field. eight officers
and one enlisted men were killed. One enlisted man was taken to the hospital. The remaining
eight planes returned at 1125. The flak was light and inaccurate."
110
Mahoney (p. 141) reported, "Bad weather continued to hamper operations in Italy.... Fifty-five
Liberators from the 456th and 459th Bomb Groups, escorted by forty-six P-38s from the 82nd
Fighter Group, bombed a troop concentration near Val Masino. The 456th did not bomb
because of overcast, but lost two B-24s in a collision on the return flight."
reports on Tuesday May 23, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): In Italy, 300+ B17s and B-24s concentrate attacks on troop concentrations and communications in the rear of
the battle area, at Avezzano, Subiaco, Valmontone, Marino (Masino), Nemi and Grottaferrata;
P-38s and P-51s provide escort; other P-38s, covered by P-47s, strafe the airfield at Ferrara."
The straight line distance from Stornara Field to Masino, Italy is about 912 km or 567 miles.
off at 0630, with 24,00 lbs of fragmentation bomb clusters, to bomb Munchendorf air Drome,
Austria. Mission completed. One plane failed to return. One plane returned at 1040 with engine
trouble. One plane crashed on take-off, no injuries to personnel. No enemy planes
encountered. Flak, none. Weather complete overcast over Yugoslavia. 6 to 8 tenths coverage
over target."
111
Mahoney (p. 141) reported, "Liberators also attacked targets in Austria Eighty-three from the
304th Bomb Wmg raided the airfield at Munchendorf, through mostly intense, accurate flak, ...
The raid at Munchendorf missed the airfield, but hit a dispersal area... About fifteen enemy
fighters attacked the formation near Graz, and forty to fifty more, including two-engine
fighters, attacked near Weiner-Neuman. ... The bombers claimed one enemy fighter destroyed,
while the 31st Fighter Group claimed nine destroyed, later confirmed and eight probables.
Liberator losses comprised two from the 455th, including one that ditched, and one each from
the 454th and 456th Bomb Groups. The 31st lost two P-51s as well."
reports on Wednesday May 24, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 620+
bombers attack targets in targets in Austria and Italy; B-17s bomb the Avisio, Italy railroad
viaduct and Atzgersdorf, Austria aircraft components factory; B-24s bomb airfields at
Wollersdorf, Bad Voslau, Graz and Munchendorf, Austria; escorting fighters fly 250+ sorties;
enemy fighter opposition is especially heavy against the B-24s attacking Bad Voslau, downing 6
heavy bombers."
Straight line distance from Stornara Field, Italy to Munchendorf, Austria is about 912 Km or
567 miles. This mission would have been considered deep behind enemy lines.
112
Morning Report/Record of Events reports: "9 Planes with 29 Officers, & 42 Enlisted men took
off at 1010 with 33,600 lbs of Fragmentation Cluster Bombs to Bomb the Air Drome and
installations at Piacenza, Italy. Mission completed with excellent results. 25 enemy craft were
encountered. None were shot down. All planes returned to home base at 1550. Flak was slight
accurate and heavy. Weather was good all the way."
Mahoney (p. 143) reported, "Also in Italy, forty-two P-38s from the 14th Fighter Group escorted
the 304th Bomb Wing as 150 Liberators bombed the airfield at Piacenza without opposition.
They hit dispersal areas and destroyed thirteen fighters and five bombers. Between forty to
fifty fighters jumped the formation at the target, some firing rockets, and the bombers claimed
nine destroyed and seven probables. The Lightnings claimed seven destroyed and one probable
with eight eventually confirmed, for the loss of a 14th Fighter Group P-38."
reports on Thursday May 25, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 340+ bombers
attack targets in France and Italy; B-17s attack the marshalling yard at Lyon, France; B-24s
attack marshalling yards at Amberieux, Toulon and Givors, France, and in Italy, the port area at
Monfalcone, airfield at Piancenza and industrial area at Porto Marghera; P-38s and P-51s fly
200+ sorties in support."
The straight line distance from Stornara Field to Piacenza, Italy was about 814 km or 506
miles. The bombing of the airfields was a part of the ongoing mission of allied bombers to
cripple or destroy the German aircraft fighter strength and weaken the Luftwaffe.
113
Morning Report/Record of Events reports: "7 Planes with 51 Officers, & 45 enlisted men took
off at 0640 with 35,000 lbs of demolition bombs to bomb the marshalling yards at Grenoble,
France. Mission completed, No enemy planes was encountered. There was no flak. Weather
CAVU. All planes returned to home base at 1450." (CAVU = Ceiling And Visibility Unrestricted
[colloquial variants include Clear And Visibility Unrestricted and Clear Above Visibility
Unrestricted])
Mahoney (p. 145) reported, "The 455th and 456th Bomb Groups bombed the marshalling yard
with sixty-five B-24s, scoring hits that cut the main rail line through the yard and damaged
tracks and approximately sixty freight cars, although some bombs fell outside the yard."
reports on Friday May 26, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): Almost 700
bombers hit targets in France and Yugoslavia; B-17s bomb the marshalling yard at St Etienne,
France; B-24s hit a bridge over the Var River, marshalling yards at Lyon/ Vaise, Lyon/Mouche,
Chambery, Grenoble and Nice, France and troop concentrations at Bihac, Yugoslavia; fighters
escort the bombers and strafe and dive-bomb the airfield at Donji Zemunik, Yugoslavia."
The straight line distance from Stornara Field, Italy to Grenoble, France was about 1167 km or
725 miles. This was part of the Heavy Allied bombings to cut off German reinforcement
troops to the ground battle in Italy.
Morning Report/Record of Events reports: " 8 Planes with 32 Officers, and 48 enlisted men took
114
off at 0620 with 32,000 lbs of GP Demolition Bombs to bomb the A/D (air drome) at
Montpieliar-Fretorgues, France. Mission completed. 0ne plane returned early with engine
trouble. 11 enemy craft were encountered. None were shot down. Flak was moderate,
accurate and heavy. Weather was CAVU. The remaining 7 planes returned to home base at
1420."
Mahoney (p. 146) reported, " A mission to the airfield near Montpellier by 139 B-24s from the
304th Bomb Wing, with an escort of forty-five P-51s from the 31st Fighter Group, destroyed
three aircraft, damaged hangars, warehouses, vehicles, administration buildings, and an
ammunition dump. Bombs also cratered the runway and landing field. Flak was mostly intense
and accurate and seven fighters attacked the bombers, with rockets and cannons, but the
escort drove them off. The 454th and 459th Bomb Groups each lost a B-24, the 31st lost a
Mustang."
reports on Saturday May 27, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): Almost 700
bombers hit France; B-17s bomb the marshalling yard at Avignon; B-24s bomb airfields at
Montpellier and Salon and marshalling yards at Nimes, Marseille/St Charles and Marseille/La
Blancharde; escort is provided by P-38s and P-51s."
The straight line distance from Stornara Field, Italy to Montpieliar-Fretorgues, France was
about 1330 km or 827 miles.
Morning Report/Record of Events reports: "10 Planes with 40 Officers, and 60 enlisted men
took off at 0710 with 50,000 lbs of Demolition Bombs to bomb the Marshalling Yards at Turin,
Italy. Weather over target was 10/10 coverage, ,and no bombs were dropped. Formation
proceeded to secondary target, Harbor Installations at Genoa, Italy, but did not drop
115
bombs. No enemy craft encountered. Flak, moderate, accurate, and heavy. All planes returned
to home base at 1410."
Mahoney (p. 148) reported, " The only bombers in action were the 304th Bomb Wing on
missions to Italy, escorted by thirty-seven P-51s from the 325th Fighter Group. As part of a
limited bombing program, sixty-seven B-24s from the 455th and 456th Bomb Groups struck the
harbor at Gent, through moderate, accurate flak, as an alternate target, where the bombers
damaged docks, several moored ships, dry docks, the shipyard, rail stations, and oil storage
tanks."
reports on Sunday May 28, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): "In Italy, 100+ B24s bomb Genoa harbor and Vercelli marshalling yard and troop concentrations at Niksic,
Yugoslavia. In Yugoslavia, P-38s fly fighter sweeps against airfields in the Kurilovec area and
vehicles, communications lines and targets of opportunity in the Knin-Bihac-Banjaluka area. HQ
332FG and 301 and 302d FSs move from Capodichino to Ramitelli Airfield, Italy with P-47s."
Morning Report/Record of Events reports: " 10 Planes with 36 officers and 56 enlisted men took
off at 0710 with 40,000 lbs of GP Demolition Bombs. First, unit of planes hit troop
concentrations at Zegar Yugoslavia. The second unit hit troop concentrations at Zavalje,
Yuqoslavia. Both units scored perfect hits. No enemy craft encountered. No flak. All
planes returned to home base at 1100. Weather was CAVU.
10 Planes, with 38 Officers, and 55 enlisted men took off at 1405, with 40,000 lbs of GP
Demolition Bombs to bomb troop concentrations at Draven, Yugoslavia, Mission completed
with excellent results, No enemy craft encountered, No flak, Weather was CAVU. All planes
returned to home base at 1735."
Mahoney (p. 146) reported, " The 304th Bomb Wing was over Yugoslavia, bombing
concentrations of German Troops to support Partisan forces pressed by a German offensive.
36 B-24s from the 456th Bomb Group bombed Zegar and Zavalje. Their bombs hit inside the
Town at Zeger, while most dropped at Zavalje fell outside it. The Group flew another mission
against German troops at Drvar (Draven) that afternoon with thirty-five aircraft and some
bombs landed in the center of the town."
reports on Monday May 29, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): "829 bombers
(largest number of bombers completing attacks in a single day up to this time) bomb targets in
116
Austria and Yugoslavia; B-17s and B-24s attack an aircraft factory at Wollesdorf, Austria; B-24s
also attack industrial areas at Wiener Neustadt and Atzgersdorf, Austria and troop
concentrations at Poderica, Yugoslavia. P-38s and P-51s escort the Austrian missions while P38s accompany B-24s to Yugoslav targets and afterwards strafe numerous targets of
opportunity; fighter opposition over Yugoslavia is negligible but around 150 fighters attempt
interception over Austria, principally in the Wiener-Neustadt area; 23 AAF aircraft are lost; the
bombers and fighters claim 60+ fighters shot down."
The straight line distance from Stornara Field in Italy to
Zavalje, Yugoslaviia was about 443 km or 276 miles.
Drvar, Yugoslaviia was about 380 km or 236 miles.
117
Morning Report/Record of Events reports: " 10 planes with 40 officers and 60 enlisted men took
off at 0705 with 48,000 lbs of Cluster Fragmentation Bombs to bomb the air drome at Wells,
Austria. Mission completed with excellent coverage. No enemy craft encountered.
Flak was moderate, accurate, and heavy. Weather was CAVU All planes returned to home base
at 1335.
Mahoney (p. 149) reported, "The Fifteenth focused on Austria, as both the 304th Bomb Wing
and 49th Bomb Wings struck the airfield and aircraft factory at Wels with 236 B-24s. Seventyeight P-38s from the 1st and 14th Fighter Groups and forty-four P-51s from the 52nd Fighter
Group provided the escort. At the airfield, the bombing hit hangars, barracks, workshops, and
the landing field with twenty-six aircraft claimed as destroyed. The raid also badly damaged
several buildings in the aircraft fact, and hit the adjoining marshalling yard. The mission
encountered slight, accurate flak and the 484th Bomb Group, and the escort, tangled with
fighters. The 52nd Fighter Group had a short dog fight with four Me 109s and seven more
attacked the rear of the 484th's formation at the target. The 52nd Fighter Group claimed three
enemy fighters destroyed, with all later confirmed, b. the 484th made no claims. The 455th
Bomb Group lost one bomber, hit by the bombs of another aircraft, and the 52nd Fighter Group
lost a Mustang in the melee."
reports on Tuesday May 30, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): "Nearly 500
bombers attack targets in Austria and Yugoslavia; B-17s attack the marshalling yard at Zagreb,
Yugoslavia; B-24s attack aircraft factories at Wels, Ebreichadorf, Pottendorf, Neudorfl and
Neunkirchen, Austria; P-38s and P-51s provide escort and many of the fighters strafe targets of
opportunity in areas around Zut, Brod, Susak, Bihac, Medak, and along the Karlovac-Livno road,
Yugoslavia."
The straight line distance from Stornara Field in Italy to Wels, Austria
was about 1140 km or 708 miles.
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Morning Report/Record of Events reports: "9 Planes with 37 Officers, and 55 enlisted men took
off at 0600 with 40,000 lbs of demolition bombs to bomb the Ploetsi Oil Refinery. Mission
completed with excellent coverage. 2 Planes returned early with engine trouble. 3 men, 2
officers and one enlisted man bailed out of one plane over target. One plane was ditched at this
field with no casualties. S/Sgt Crumpton was hit in the neck with flak, and was taken to
hospital. 22 enemy aircraft were encountered. 1 enemy craft destroyed. Flak: was heavy,
intense, and accurate. Weather CAVU. The 6 remaining planes returned to home base at 1550."
Mahoney (p. 150) reported, " The Fifteenth bombed five oil refineries at Ploesti. ... The 304th
Bomb Wing attacked the Unirea Speraniza Oil Refinery with 123 Liberators. Despite the smoke
screen, many bombs fell inside the refinery, destroying several storage tanks and some small
buildings, while others fell in the city and one string of bombs hit the Astra Romano refinery.
Flak was, as expected, intense and accurate and fighters attacked three groups. Ten attempted
to hit the 455th, but the escort drove them off while twenty-seven Me 109s, IAR 80s, and a JU
88, attacked the 456th, some firing rockets. The 459th received the attention of twelve fighters
for about twenty minutes against the rear of their formation. The bombers claimed six
destroyed and five probables. The 454th and 459th Bomb Groups each lost it bomber and the
crew of a third, from the 456th, abandoned their aircraft near base."
The IAR 80 was a Romanian World War II low-wing, monoplane, all-metal monocoque fighter
and ground-attack aircraft.
reports on Wednesday May 31, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): "480+ B-17s
and B-24s bomb oil refineries and communications targets in the Ploesti, Rumania area; fighters
fly 200+ sorties in support; 15 bombers are lost to flak and fighters; 40+ enemy aircraft are shot
down."
119
B-24 Liberators of the Fifteenth Air Force bomb the oil cracking plant at the Concordia
Vega refinery, one of many targets around Ploesti, on May 31, 1944. [Image: U.S. Air
Force]
On 2 June 1944 the 15th Air Force, 304th Air Wing, 456th Bomb Group, 744th Bomb Squadron
off at 0540, with 30,000 lbs. of Demolition Bombs, to bomb the marshalling yards at Miskolc,
Hungary. Mission completed. No enemy craft encountered. Flak was heavy, slight, and accurate.
Weather was cloudy all the way to the target, and target was covered by broken clouds. All
planes returned to home base at 1240."
Mahoney (p. 157) reported, " Another mission to the marshalling yards at Miskolc, by ninetyeight B-24s from the 455th, 456th, and 459th Bomb Groups with an escort of forty-three P-38s
from the 1st Fighter Group, cut main lines and damaged a freight depot, the station, freight cars,
and a round house, as well as commercial and residential areas."
reports on Friday June 2, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): "Shuttle-bombing
between Italy and the USSR (Operation FRANTIC) is started. Under command of Lieutenant
General Ira C Eaker, 130 B-17s, escorted by 70 P-51s, bomb the marshalling yard at Debreczen,
Hungary and land in the Soviet Union-the B-17s at Poltava and Mirgorod, the P-51s at Piryatin. 1
B-17 is lost over the target; 27 other B-17s, forced off course en route to the Oradea, Rumania
marshalling yard, also hit Debreczen. Nearly 400 other B-24s attack marshalling yards at Szeged,
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Miskolc and Szolnok, Hungary and Simeria, Rumania. P-51s and P-38s provide escort."
The straight line distance from Stornara Field in Italy to Miskolc, Hungary was about 988 km
or 614 miles. The USAAF bombed the station as a part of Operation Frantic Joe. Many bombs
fell on the city centre instead, claiming 206 lives (420 were wounded)
.
Miskolc Marshalling Yards from the air.
Morning Report/Record of Events reports: "10 planes with 38 officers, and 54 enlisted men took
off at 0710 with 50,00 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the marshalling yards at Alessandria,
Italy. Weather over target was completely covered by clouds. Secondary target, the marshalling
yard at Genoa, Italy, was bombed although this target was partially covered. No enemy craft
121
were encountered. Flak was intense, accurate and heavy. All planes returned to home base at
1345."
Mahoney (p. 159) reported, "Encountering intense, accurate flak that accounted for two B-24s
lost by the 454th Bomb Group, two hundred-eighteen Liberators from the 376th and 450th
Bomb Groups and the 304th Bomb Wing bombed the west marshalling yard in Genoa (an
alternate target for the 304th). The raid blocked rail traffic and damaged a locomotive shed,
sidings, the station, and rail junction. Some bombs struck a highway bridge, a viaduct, factories,
gas storage, and the docks."
reports on Sunday June 4, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): "550+ B-17s and B24s attack communications in NW Italy and on both sides of the Franco-Italian frontier. In
France, B-17s hit the Antheor railroad viaduct and Var River railroad bridges. In Italy, B-24s hit
the marshalling yards at Genoa, Turin, Savona and Novi Ligure, the viaduct at Recco, and the
railroad bridges at Orelle and Gad. Fighters fly 200+ sorties in support of the heavy bombers."
Morning Report/Record of Events reports: "8 Planes with 34 Officers and 54 enlisted men took
off at 0535 with 40,000 lbs. of demolition Bombs to bomb Brasov, Rumania. Mission completed.
3 enemy craft encountered. None shot down. One plane returned early because of engine
trouble. Flak was heavy, fairly accurate and slight. Weather was clear, with a slight. haze over
target. All planes returned to home base at 1300."
Mahoney (p. 162) reported, "The 454th, 455th, and 456th Bomb Groups hit the marshaling yard
at Brasov, Romania with one hundred Liberators and an escort of thirty-nine P-51s from the
52nd Fighter Group."
reports on Tuesday June 6, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): Shuttlebombing
(Operation FRANTIC) continues as 104 B-17s and 42 P-51s (having flown to the USSR from Italy
on 2 Jun) attack the airfield at Galati, Rumania and return to Soviet shuttle bases; 8 enemy
fighters are shot down and 2 P-51s are lost. 570+ other bombers, with fighter escort, hit targets
from bases in Italy, i.e., in Yugoslavia, B-17s hit the Belgrade marshalling yard and Turnu-Severin
canal installations, and in Rumania, B-24s hit Ploesti oil refineries and the marshalling yard at
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Brasov. 100FS, 332FG, moves from Capodichino to Ramitelli Airfield, Italy with P-47s."
The straight line distance from Stornara Field in Italy to Brasov, Romania was about 1900 km
or 1181 miles.
Morning Report/Record of Events reports: "'10 Planes with 42 Officers; and 60 enlisted men
took off at 0645 with 60,000 lbs of Demolition Bombs to bomb the shipyard at Sestre Ponente,
Italy. (which is in Genoa, Italy). There was an overcast above the target, and no bombs were
dropped. The secondary target, which was the docks at Savona, Italy were bombed instead. No
enemy A/C encountered. There was no flak. All planes returned to home base at 1310."'
Mahoney (p. 163) reported, "The 15th was back over Italy again ... The 455th and 456th Bomb
Groups from the 304th Wing also found their primary overcast. Without encountering any
opposition, the 456th bombed a rail junction at Savona with thirty-seven aircraft, where their
aircraft damaged repair shops, storage tanks, rolling stock, and a steel factory.
reports on Wednesday June 7, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): " The 15AF
reaches its planned operational strength of 21heavy bomber groups and 7 fighter groups as the
332FG begins operations with P-47s. In Italy, 340 B-17s and B-24s, some with fighter cover, hit
Leghorn dock and harbor installations, Voltri shipyards, Savona railroad junction, and Vado
Ligure marshalling yard; 42 P-38s bomb the Recco viaduct and 32 P-47s fly an uneventful sweep
over the Fenara-Bologna area. In France, the Antheor viaduct and Var River bridge are hit."
123
While the original target (Sestre Ponente) on 7 June was slightly north of Genoa, the actual
target (Savona) bombed due to weather was southeast of Genoa.
off at 0605 with 40,000 lbs. of incendiary bombs to bomb the marshalling yards at Munich,
Germany. Mission completed. There were two injuries. Captain Mulligan was hit in the left foot
by flak and S/Sgt. Chester was hit in the leg by flak. Flak was heavy, intense and accurate. No
enemy aircraft encountered. There was an undercast at the target. All planes returned to home
at 1300."
Mahoney (p. 164) reported, "In a mission to several targets in the Munich area, fifty-five B-17s
from the two groups of the 5th Bomb Wing not on the Russian shuttle mission, the 301st and
463rd, bombed the industrial area of the city as an alternate target. They accompanied 285
Liberators from the 98th, 376th, 450th, 454th, 456th, 459th, 460th, 484th, and 485th Bomb
Groups. One quarter of the B-24s turned back before bombing. Cloud cover prevented detailed
reporting of the bombing results, but many of the bombs fell wide of the target. The attackers
encountered intense, accurate flak and two groups encountered enemy fighters. Almost thirty
Me 109s, OW 190s, and one Ju 88 attacked the 459th for twenty minutes while nineteen more
struck the 485th, flying through their formation, then picking on stragglers. Another seven
attacked the bomber formation on the return flight, over northern Italy. The bombers claimed
seven destroyed and fourteen probables, but lost one Fortress and thirteen Liberators: a B-17
from the 463rd Bomb Group, one B-24 from the 98th, two from the 450th, five from the 459th
and five more from the 485th Bomb Group."
124
reports on Friday June 9, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): " Around 500 B-17s
and B-24s attack targets in Germany and Italy; B-17s hit the industrial area and air depot at
Munich, Germany; B-24s also hit the industrial area and ordinance depot at Munich and oil
storage at Porto Marghera, Italy; P-47s, P-38s and P-51s fly 250+ sorties in support of the
Munich raids; the bombers and fighters claim 30+ aircraft destroyed; 13 AAF aircraft are lost."
Munich, Germany is about 1140 km or 740 miles.
125
B-24 from the 456th Bomb Group
off at 0820 with 57,000 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the air drome at Ferrara, Italy. No
enemy aircraft encountered. Mission completed. Flak was heavy, very accurate and intense.
Weather was CAVU. All planes returned to home base at 1240."
Mahoney (p. 166) reported, " The Fifteenth returned to Italy, in strength.... Encountering
generally moderate flak of varying accuracy, the 304th Bomb Wing struck the airfield at Ferrara
with 141 B-24s, escorted by thirty-eight P-51s from the 52nd Fighter Group. This raid destroyed
an aircraft and damaged dispersal areas, hangars, barracks, administration buildings, flak
emplacements, and a nearby locomotive depot. Although enemy fighters appeared, no attacks
took place."
reports on Saturday June 10, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 550+ B-17s and
B-24s attack targets in Italy; B-17s hit a marshalling yard at Mestre and oil storage and
marshalling yard at Porto Marghera; B-24s hit oil refinery at Trieste, air depot at Ferrara and the
town of Ancona. P-51s and P-38s fly escort, and in Rumania, strafe targets of opportunity
between Bucharest and the Danube River and S of Craiova, and dive-bomb an oil refinery at
Ploesti."
126
Ferrara, Italy is about 823 km or 511 miles.
off at 0540 with 49,000 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the oil storage docks at Giurgio,
Romania. No enemy aircraft encountered, all planes returned to home base, with no injuries to
personnel. Flak was moderate accurate and heavy. Weather was good. All planes returned at
1225."
Mahoney (p. 167) reported, " The 49th and 304th Bomb Wings damaged loading docks, a
number of storage tanks, an a pumping station, a train ferry, and a small shipyard during their
attack on a storage targets at Giurgiu, Romania with 246 B-24s, made through moderate,
accurate flak. They also hit the marshalling yard, damaged a choke point, tracks, sidings, freight
cars, and a sugar refinery. Dime waves of twenty to thirty fighters attacked the 49th over the
target for about half an hour, closing to within one hundred yards of the bombers With twinengine fighters firing rockets. A lone fighter tried, unsuccessfully, to shoot down a straggling
455th Liberator, but was itself shot down. Eighty-eight P-38s from the 1st and 14th Fighter
Groups flew as escort and the 14th tangled with twenty-two enemy fighters that tried to
reach the bombers, driving them away. The fighters claimed five destroyed in the air, and one
on the ground, With four later confirmed for the 14th and one for the 1st. The bombers claimed
twenty-six destroyed and nine probables, but the 451st and 455th each lost a Liberator; the
127
461st two, the 484th three, totaling seven Liberators lost on the raid."
reports on Sunday June 11, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 126 B-17s and 60
P-51s depart Russian shuttle bases for Italy to complete the first FRANTIC operation. On the way
121 B-17s bomb the Focsani, Rumania airfield; 1 B-l7 is lost. 540+ other B-17s and B-24s attack
targets in Rumania and Yugoslavia; the B-17s attack the Smederevo, Yugoslavia marshalling yard;
the B-24s attack oil installations at Constanta and Giurpiu, Rumania (both raids having fighter
escorts); the AAF claims 60 aircraft destroyed during the days missions. 99FS, 332FG (attached
to 86FG, Twelfth AF), moves from Pignataro to Ciampino, Italy with P-47s."
Giurgio, Romania is about 1077 km or 669 miles.
off at 0625 with 60,000 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the BMW aircraft factory in Munich,
Germany. Enemy aircraft encountered: 10 Me 109s, 7 FW 190s, and 2 ME 110s. Enemy aircraft
destroyed: None. Injuries to returning personnel: None. 8 planes returned to home base at
1310. 2 planes failed to return. 1 officer and 3 enlisted men survived crash of one plane and
returned to home base uninjured. Flak was heavy, very accurate and intense. Weather was
CAVU."
Mahoney (p. 168) reported, "The mission to the Bayerische Engine Factory, in the
Oberwiesenfeld section of Munich by 138 Liberators of the 304th Bomb Wing, escorted by
thirty-four P-51s from the 325th Fighter Group, hit buildings now believed to have been part of
128
the concentration camp located there, as well as workshops, storage sheds, a heat treatment
building, and an unloading area. Bombs also destroyed an aircraft on the adjacent airfield.
About seventy enemy fighters attacked the bombers during the mission that met intense,
accurate flak. The fighter attacks began with eleven Me 109s and 152 88s striking the 456th
Bomb Group on the way to the target, but the majority occurred over the factory before the
escort drove them off. The bombers claimed eight fighters destroyed and one probable; the
escort three destroyed and two damaged with four later confirmed. The bombers lost seven
Liberators: the 455th one, 456th two, and the 459th four, including two in a collision, one that
ditched, and another that crashed in Allied territory in Italy."
reports on Tuesday June 13, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 560+ B-17s and
B-24s, most with fighter escorts, attack targets in Germany and Italy; B-17s attack aircraft
component plants at Munich-Allach; B-24s marshalling yards at Innsbruck and Munich,
Germany and the industrial area at Porto Marghera, Italy; they claim 30+ Luftwaffe aircraft shot
down; 10 AAF aircraft are lost and several others are missing."
Two Me-110s in Flight
off at 0625 with 45,000 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the oil refinery at Winter Haufau,
Austria. 9 planes returned to home base at 1350. Enemy aircraft encountered: 10 ME 109s, 6
FW 190s and 5 Ju 88s. Enemy Aircraft Destroyed: None. 2 officers wounded and hospitalized
upon completion of mission. Flak: heavy, intense, accurate. Weather: CAVU."
129
Mahoney (p. 173) reported, "Seventy-six B-24s from the rest of the 304th Bomb Wing, the
455th and 456th Bomb Groups, hit the Winterhafen oil storage facility in Vienna, with escort
for the Schwechat mission. Overcast made accurate bombing difficult. Some bombs struck
storage tanks and a pump house in the refinery, while. others landed on the nearby Lobau
Refinery, a bridge approach, river port facilities, and residential and industrial areas. The facility
put up intense, accurate flak, but twelve Me 109s and FW 190s attacked the formation over the
target, some closing to within fifty yards of the bombers, and each group lost two Liberators."
reports on Friday June 16, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): Almost 600
bombers attack targets in Austria and Czechoslovakia; the B-17s attack the Kragan and
Florisdorf oil refineries around Vienna; the B-24s bomb the industrial area at Bratislava,
Czechoslovakia and the Lobau and Schwechat oil refineries and Winterhafen oil depot in the
Vienna area. Between 200 and 250 fighters attack the formations and 15 AAF aircraft are shot
down; the bombers and escorting fighters claim 70 aircraft destroyed."
The straight line distance from Stornara Field in Italy to the Winterhafen oil storage facility in
Vienna was about 1394 km or 896 miles.
130
off at 0720 with 40,500 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the M/T repair depot northeast of
Chivasso, Italy. All planes returned safely to home base at 1405. Enemy aircraft encounter:
None. Injuries: None. Flak: None. Weather: CAVU."
Mahoney (p. 174) reported, "The Fifteenth returned to Italian targets ... The remainder of the
304th Bomb Wing, eighty-two Liberators from the 455th and 456th Bomb Groups, hit all
buildings in the motor vehicle factory, at Chivasso and destroyed a number of vehicles, without
encountering opposition. The 52nd Fighter Group escorted both missions with thirty-eight P51s."
reports on Thursday June 22, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): Following 5
consecutive days of bad weather 600+ B-17s and B-24s bomb targets in N Italy; B-17s hit
marshalling yards at Fornova di Taro, Modena and Parma; B-24s hit 6 marshalling yards and 2
bridges in Italy, an automobile factory at Turin and an automobile depot at Chivasso; fighters fly
250+ sorties in support of the missions."
The straight line distance from Stornara Field in Italy
to Chivasso, Italy was about 869 km or 540 miles.
131
off at 0635 with 30,000 lbs. of incendiary bombs to bomb the marshalling yard at Buchaust,
Rumani. The weather was cloudy so the target was not bombed. The secondary target was the
marshalling yard at Nis, Yugoslavia, was bombed. All planes returned safely to home base at
1140. Enemy aircraft encountered: None. Injuries: None. Flak: Scant, inaccurate, medium.
Weather: Overcast and poor weather encountered in Yugoslavia. Planes never reached primary
target because of weather, over the secondary target weather was fairly good."
Mahoney (p. 176) reported, "Most of the 47th and 304th Bomb Wings turned back upon
encountering heavy overcast at the Yugoslav coast. The escort for the 304th Bomb Wing, fortyfour Lightnings from the 14th Fighter Group, continued on to the target, and then returned to
base. The 376th and 456th Bomb Groups continued on to hit the marshalling yards at Nis,
through slight, inaccurate flak, with fifty-one B-24s, escorted at the target by twenty P-38s from
the 82nd Fighter Group returning from Ploesti. More than a third did not bomb because of
interference on the bomb run, but those that did hit a freight train along with buildings outside
the yards."
Tonnage Dropped by 456th Bomb Group from February 1, 1944 to April 30, 1945
reports on Friday June 23, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 400+ B-17s and B132
24s attack oil targets in Rumania; the B-17s hit oil refineries at Ploesti; the B-24s also hit oil
refineries at Ploesti and oil storage at Guirgiu. 100+ US aircraft are shot down; the bombers and
escorting fighters claim 30+ aircraft destroyed."
The distance from Stornara Air Field Italy to Bucharest Romania was about 946 km or 588
miles and Nis was on the straight line path at 558 km or 347 miles.
Types of Bombs Mentioned in Morning Reports
The morning reports usually mention demolition bombs, but the following describes all the
different bombs mentioned so far in the morning reports.
GP Bombs: GP bombs usually have an explosive weight equal to approximately 50 percent of
the total weight of the bomb. These bombs normally weigh from 250 to 2000 pounds and
produce relatively good blast and fragmentation. GP bombs can be used against a variety of
targets. Since the body case is approximately one-half-inch thick, the casing creates a
fragmentation effect at the moment of detonation. Also, since the explosive filler constitutes
approximately 50 percent of the total weight, considerable damage from the blast effect can be
expected at the point of detonation. In addition to these effects, a mining effect can be gained
through the use of delayed-action fuses
133
Demolition Bombs: Demolition bombs have an explosive weight equal to approximately 65 to
80 percent of the total weight. These bombs have a relatively thin-walled casing to maximize
blast effects while penetration and fragmentation effects are limited.
Fragmentation Bombs: These bombs are intended to disperse and project high-velocity
fragments. The fragments are the principle damage mechanism of the weapons, with blast
effects being a secondary consideration. The charge to total weight ratio varies from 10 to 20
percent.
Incendiary Bombs: With incendiary bombs fire is effective in interrupting operations of enemy
personnel and in damaging supplies stored in the open. Incendiaries produce intense, localized
heat designed to ignite adjacent combustible target materials.
Fragmentation and incendiary bombs were often dropped in clusters as they were smaller than
GP and Demolition bombs.
(Bomb descriptions taken and adapted from http://www.uxoinfo.com/ordcategories.cfm)
B-24 Dropping Fragmentation Bombs
Morning Report/Record of Events reports: "9 planes with (illegible) officers and 54 enlisted men
took off at 0615 with 45,000 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the railroad repair shops at
Craiova, Rumania. All planes returned safely to home base at 1235. Enemy aircraft encountered:
None. Injuries: None. Flak: None. Weather: Good over target with slight haze."
Mahoney (p. 177) reported, "Over Romania, 145 B-24s from the 304th Bomb Wing attacked the
railway repair depot at Craiova, without opposition, escorted by thirty-five P-3Ss from the 82nd
Fighter Group that missed the rendezvous but continued on to the target, joined by eight from the
31st Fighter that became separated from their group. The Liberators cut main rail lines, and
damaged repair shops and other buildings in the depot A single F W 190 attacked a straggling
B-24 and eight Me 109s went after an early-returning bomber, but P-38s rescued it, claiming
seven destroyed in the fight, all later confirmed. The mission cost the 459th Bomb Group a
Liberator that ditched."
reports on Saturday June 24, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 335 bombers
attack targets in Rumania; B-17s attack the railroad bridge at Piatra; B-24s bomb the railroad
repair depot at Craiova and oil refinery at Ploesti; 33 P-51s sweep the Ploesti-Bucharest area
while other P-51s, P-38s, and P-47s fly 220+ sorties in support of the bombers; the bombers and
fighters claim 20+ aircraft shot down; 10 US aircraft are downed and several others are
missing."
134
The distance from Stornara Air Field Italy to Craiova Romania was about 748 km or465 miles.
off a5 0530 with 60,000 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb their primary target at Avignon,
France, but their target area which was a bridge, was covered in smoke, so was not bombed.
Planes then proceeded to their secondary target at Miramas, France, but this targeting area
which was a marshalling yard was also not bombed because of an overcast, so planes
proceeded to their target of opportunity and dropped their bombs on the marshalling yard and
Avignon, France. All planes returned safely to their home base at 1325. Enemy aircraft
encountered: None. Injuries: None. Flak: scant inaccurate and heavy. Weather: Going to and
from the mission and over the secondary target, there was an overcast. Target of opportunity
was clear."
Mahoney (p. 146) reported, " The Fifteenth returned to French targets for the day.... Sixtyseven Liberators from the 454th and 459th Bomb Groups attacked the western marshalling
Yard at Avignon, joined by thirteen from the 456th Bomb Group as smoke obscured their
briefed target. Their raid cut all main rail lines and damaged a freight depot, choke point, and a
number of rail cars. Crews reported mostly intense and accurate flak and fifteen Me 109s
attacked the 459th at the initial point, but the escort, thirty-one P-38s from the 52nd Fighter
Group, drove them away. Bomber gunners claimed one enemy fighter as a probable, but the
459th lost a Liberator...."
reports on Sunday June 25, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 650+ bombers
135
attack targets in France; B-17s attack the marshalling yard and oil installations at Sete; B-24s
bomb the industrial area at Sete, the marshalling yard at Avignon and harbor facilities at
Toulon; fighters fly almost 200 sorties in support; 1 FG strafes targets along the Fiume, ItalySenje, Yugoslavia road and at other points on the Istrian peninsula."
The straight line distance from Stornara Air Field Italy to Avignon, France was about 915 km
or 569 miles.
Avignon (red circle) was one of the principal rail lines of Southern France according to AAF
historical map above.
136
off at 0550 with 45,000 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the oil refinery at Moosbierbaum,
Austria. 1 plane failed to return to home base. 9 planes returned to home base at 1240. Enemy
aircraft encountered: 50 Me 109's, 20 FW 190's; 15 Ju 88's and 25 ME 110's. Enemy aircraft
destroyed: 4 Me 109's. Injuries: 10 officers and 3 enlisted men wounded by flak, 1 enlisted man
killed by flak. Flak: Intense, heavy, accurate. Weather: Good, CAVU."
Mahoney (p. 178) reported, " Near Vienna, 142 Liberators from the 304th Bomb Wing bombed
the oil refinery at Noosbierbaum, escorted by thirty-seven P-51s from the 52nd Fighter Group_
Their attack damaged oil storage tanks, fertilizer and sulphuric acid plants, and a barracks at the
concentration camp in the refinery. The refinery put up intense, accurate flak and between fifty
and one hundred-fitly enemy fighters, a mix of single and twin-engine fighters, attacked each
group aggressively for more than half an hour. The fighter escort claimed fifteen destroyed, all
later confirmed and one probable. The 455th received a Distinguished Unit Citation for this
mission, but eighteen Liberators went down: ten from the 455th, three from the 454th with
three more by the 459th, and two from the 456th Bomb Groups."
The straight line distance from Stornara Air Field Italy to Moosbierbaum, Austria was about
760 km or 472 miles. Yet another mission attacking essential petroleum storage and
refineries to cripple the German air force.
reports on Monday June 26, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 677 B-17s and
B-24s attack targets in the Vienna, Austria area, hitting an aircraft factory at Schwechat,
137
marshalling yard at Vienna/Floridsdorf, and oil refineries at Korneuburg, Vienna/Floridsdorf,
Moosbierbaum, Schwechat, Winterhafen, and Lobau; fighters fly 260+ sorties in support; an
estimated 150 to 175 enemy fighters attack the formations; nearly 30 US aircraft (mostly
bombers) are lost; US claims total 60+ enemy fighters."
On 28 June 1944 the 15th Air force, 304th Air Wing, 456th Bomb Group, 744th Bomb Squadron
off at 0630 with 30,000 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the airdrome at Karlovo, Bulgaria. All
planes returned safely to their home base at 1305. Enemy aircraft encountered: None. Injuries:
None. Flak: scant inaccurate and heavy. Weather: Good."
Mahoney (p. 181) reported, "Over Bulgaria, the 304th Bomb Wing struck the airfield at Karlovo
through slight, but inaccurate flak, with 138 B-24s, escorted, in stages, by thirty-six P-4's from
the 332nd Fighter Group and thirty-nine P-38s from the 14th Fighter Group. The raid destroyed
twenty-two aircraft and damaged workshops: hangars, the administration building, barracks,
and fuel storage tanks
reports on Wednesday June 28, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 229 B-24s
bomb marshalling yards and 2 oil refineries at Bucharest, Rumania; 138 others hit Karlovo
Airfield, Bulgaria; 40 fighters carry out a sweep over the Bucharest area while other fighters fly
230+ sorties in escort of the B-24s; 20+ enemy fighters are claimed shot down, mostly by the
fighters during the sweep over Bucharest."
The straight line distance from Stornara Air Field Italy to Karlovo, Bulgaria was about 777 km
or 483 miles. Another crippling blow to the Luftwaffe.
off at 0705 with 40,000 lbs. of demolition bombs, a heavy wall of clouds was encountered so
target of opportunity, which was the marshalling yards at Kapsovar, Austria* was bombed. All
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planes returned safely to home base at 1300. Enemy aircraft encountered: None. Flak: scant
inaccurate and heavy. Weather: Clear, until about 50 miles above Pecs, Austria. when a wall of
clouds was encountered. Planes could not get through so it was necessary to bomb target of
opportunity." (*actually Kapsovar, Hungary)
Mahoney (p. 182) reported, "Thirty-seven B- 24s from the 456th and 460th Bomb Group
attacked the marshalling yard at Kaposvar, Hungary without opposition. The Liberators
damaged a choke point, tracks, and several freight trains."
reports on Friday June 30, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): Bad weather
causes 450+ bombers and 150+ fighters to abort missions. 188 B-17s and B-24s, escorted by
138 fighters, hit an airfield at Zagreb, Yugoslavia and targets of opportunity in Hungary and
Yugoslavia, including marshalling yards at Kaposvar, Osztopan and Split, a highway bridge at
Brac Island, airfield at Banjaluka, and the city of Budapest, Hungary."
The straight line distance from Stornara Air Field Italy to Pecs, Hungary was about 552 km or
343 miles. And then from Pecs to Kaposvar was an additional 48 km or 30 miles and then 568
km or 353 miles back to home base.
On 2 July 1944 the 15th Air Force, 304th Air Wing, 456th Bomb Group, 744th Bomb Squadron
off at 0645 with 40,500 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the oil refinery at Budapest,
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Hungary. 5 planes failed to return to home base. 4 planes returned at 1255.Injuries: 3 enlisted
men hospitalized and 1 enlisted man killed. Enemy aircraft encountered: 50 Me 109's. Enemy
aircraft destroyed 12 Me 109's, 1 Me 109 probable. Flak: moderate, accurate and heavy.
Weather: Clear, slight haze."
Mahoney (p. 186) reported, " The month began with missions to Hungary... Fitly-nine B-24s
from the 455th and 456th Bomb Groups bombed an oil target in Budapest, the Shell Oil
Refinery, through intense, accurate flak and damaged storage tanks, distillation units.. a pump
house, and other buildings. About sixty Me 109s and FW 190s attacked the bombers just after
bombs away, closing to within 200 yards. Gunners claimed twelve destroyed and eight
probables, but the 456th lost six Liberators while earning a Distinguished Unit Citation." (This
was the 456ths second Distinguished Unit Citation.)
The straight line distance from Stornara Air Field Italy to Budapest, Hungary was about
711km or 442 miles. Hungarian oil refineries and storage tanks, important to the German war
machine, were destroyed by the American air raid.
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reports on Sunday July 2, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 620+ bombers hit
targets in Hungary and Yugoslavia; B-24s attack 2 marshalling yards, an airfield, and 2 oil
refineries at Budapest, Hungary; B-17s bomb an industrial area at Gyor and a railroad bridge at
Szolnok, Hungary and marshalling yards at Brod and Vinkovci, Yugoslavia; fighters sweep over
the Budapest area; bombers and fighters claim 50+ fighters shot down; 14 US aircraft are shot
down and as many more are missing."
off at 0815 with 15,000 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the Steel Works at Bucharest,
Romania. All planes returned safely to home base at 0345. Injuries: None. Enemy aircraft
encountered: None. Flak: inaccurate, intense, heavy. Weather: 7/10 coverage over target,
enroute weather fair."
Mahoney (p. 188) reported, " The 455th, 456th, and 459th Bomb Groups attacked targets in
Bucharest with ninety-four Liberators, joined by an aircraft from the 55th Bomb Wing. Despite
overcast and moderate, accurate flak, bombs hit workshops and other buildings in the factory,
as well as the adjoining Titan Oil Refinery, the briefed target of the 454th Bomb Group.
Although crews reported moderate, but inaccurate flak, thirty-four B-24s from the 454th
missed the Titan Refinery, hitting a nearby brick factory, causing some fires. Between forty to
forty-five Me 109s tried to attack the bombers, but the forty-four P-51s from the 31st Fighter
Group flying as escort drove them off. The fighters claimed three as destroyed with all later
confirmed."
reports on Monday July 3, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 600+ B-17s and B24s attack targets in Rumania and Yugoslavia including oil storage, oil refinery, and locomotive
works at Bucharest, oil storage at Giurgiu, railroad targets at Turnu-Severin, a bridge at Piatra,
marshalling yards at Arad and Timisoara, a bridge at Szeged, and oil storage at Belgrade;
fighters fly 250+ sorties in support of the missions."
We must note here that the 744th is definitely decimated as only three B-24's fly. On July 6 only
two fly and on July 7 and 8 only four planes fly. Finally on the 12th the group reaches seven
planes and 9 on the 20th but often fewer than nine on other days and never a full contingent as
long as George remains in Italy.
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Unexploded bomb on street in Bucharest
off at 0750 with 10,000 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the Oil Refinery at Trieste, Italy. Both
planes returned safely to home base at 1220. Injuries: None. Enemy aircraft encountered:
None. Flak: scant, inaccurate, and heavy. Weather: Good, slight ground haze."
Mahoney (p. 192) reported, "Facing only slight inaccurate flak, the 304th Bomb Wing hit the oil
refinery in northern Trieste with 114 B-24s, escorted by 38 P-38s from the 14th Fighter group.
The raid destroyed some tank cars, damaged oil storage tanks, work and repair shops, and the
power station, and hit the inactive ocean liner Stockholm in the harbor too."
reports on Thursday July 6, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): In Italy, 530+ B17s and B-24s attack the Verona marshalling yard, Bergamo steel works, Avisio viaduct,
Tagliamento-Casarsa della Delizia railroad bridge, Aviano oil and gasoline storage, Porto
Marghera oil storage, and Trieste oil refinery; P-51s and P-38s provide escort; and the 99FS,
332FG, moves from Orbetello to Ramitelli with P-51s."
142
Aerial bombardment of Trieste Note falling bombs in
center of picture; and exploding anti aircraft.
143
The picture below is one found in Elizabeth's scrapbook and is from George's bomber marking
bombs for missions and Nazi Crosses for kills as a plane. The Woman was the one painted on
George's Bomber.
Pictures of George's Plane Saved in Elizabeth's Scrapbook
off at 0700 with 20,000 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the Oil Refinery and coke plant at
Odertal, Germany. All planes returned safely to home base at 1450. Injuries: None. Enemy
aircraft encountered: None. Flak: moderate, fairly accurate, heavy. Weather: Good."
Mahoney (p. 193) reported, "At a third German synthetic refinery, at Odental, 106 b-24s from
the 304th Bomb Wing bombed through intense, accurate flak and damaged treatment plants,
storage facilities, a cooling tower, coking facilities, and rail sidings."
reports on Friday July 7, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 560+ bombers
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attack in Germany and Yugoslavia; B-17s bomb 2 synthetic oil plants at Blechhammer,
Germany; B-24s also hit Blechhammer and a synthetic oil and coking plant at Odertal, Germany
and Zagreb, Yugoslavia Airfield and marshalling yard; the bombers and fighter escorts claim 50+
aircraft shot down during fierce battle with 275- 300 fighters mainly in the Vienna-Budapest
area; 18 US aircraft are listed as destroyed and a larger number missing."
The straight line distance from Stornara Air Field Italy to Odertal, Germany was about 1194
km or 742 miles.
The production of synthetic fuel was essential to the German war effort. The onset of Allied air
attacks on the hydrogenation plants in 1944 foiled all expectations and sounded the death knell
145
for the German war machine. Raids successively reduced fuel production and continued into
the spring of 1945. The severity of the raids was immediately recognized by the Germans.
Between 30 June 1944 and 19 January 1945, Albert Speer directed five memoranda to Hitler
which left no doubt about the increasingly serious situation. Speer pointed out that the attacks
in May and June had reduced the output of aviation fuel by 90 percent.
off at 0730 with 19,200 lbs. of Fragmentation Bomb Clusters, to bomb the L/G yard at Vienna,
Muchendorf, Austria. Another formation of bombers were directly over the primary target, so it
was not bombed. Planes then proceeded on and bombed the secondary target, which was the
airdrome 5 miles west of Veszprem, Austria. 1 plane returned early because of engine leaking
oil, and finally quit running all together. Bombs were jettisoned in the Adriatic Sea while
returning to home base. 3 planes returned safely to the home base at 1345. Enemy aircraft
encountered: 12 Me 109's. Enemy aircraft destroyed: None. Flak: Moderate, intense, accurate,
heavy. Weather: CAVU."
Mahoney (p. 195) reported, "The remaining group, the 456th, hit the airfield at Veszprem with
twenty-four B-24s, and six from the 459th, and their attack destroyed two aircraft and damaged
hangars and barracks. Crews reported slight, inaccurate flak as ten enemy fighters attacked the
bombers over the target with two fighters claimed as destroyed."
reports on Saturday July 8, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): In Austria, 520+
B-17s and B-24s attack targets in the Vienna, Austria area bombing refineries at Vosendorf and
Korneuburg, the airfield at Zwolfaxing, Markersdorf, and Munchendorf, and marshalling yard
and oil storage at Vienna/Floridsdorf, and the airfield at Veszprem; fighters fly 200+ sorties in
support of the bomber mission s which are opposed by 100+ fighters; 14 US aircraft are lost;
heavy bombers and fighters claim 50+ fighters shot down."
The straight line distance from Stornara Air Field Italy to Vienna is about
746 km or 463 miles and from Vienna to Veszperm was about 164 km or 108 miles
and the return to Stornara Field was about 655 km or 407 miles.
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off at 0720 with 35,000 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the marshalling yards at Miramas,
France. All planes returned at 1550. Enemy aircraft encountered: None. Injuries: None. Flak:
Intense, accurate, heavy. Weather: Clear over target."
The straight line distance from Stornara Air Field, Italy to Miramas, France
is about 890 km or 553 miles
Mahoney (p. 197) reported, " As all of the Fifteenth returned to France. 111 B-24s from the
304th Bomb Wing attacked the marshalling yard at Mirmas, facing moderate, accurate flak. The
attack damaged sidings and tracks, cut the main line, and destroyed or damaged more than
three hundred rail cars, and demolished an acid factory nearby. Three fighters attempted to
attack the 459th Bomb Group, but the escort of thirty-eight P-51s from the 52nd Fighter Group
quickly drove them off."
reports on Wednesday July 12, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 420+ B-24s
attack targets in SE France, scoring numerous hits on Nimes and Miramas marshalling yards and
cutting rail lines at the Theoule-sur-Mer bridge and Var River bridge in Provence; around 50
enemy fighters oppose the mission s; the bombers and escorting fighters claim 14 shot down; 7
AAF aircraft are lost."
off at 0800 with 25,000 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the oil refinery at Fiume, Italy, but
bombs were not dropped because of undercast over the target. Planes then proceeded on to
their secondary target and bombed the oil refinery at Port Marghera, Italy. All planes returned
safely to home base 1310. Enemy aircraft encountered: None. Injuries: None. Flak: Moderate,
accurate, heavy. Weather: Undercast over primary target, cloudy over secondary target."
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Mahoney (p. 197) reported, " An oil storage facility at Porto Marghera was the target of 125 B24s from the 455th, 456th, 460th, 465th, and 485th Bomb Groups, escorted by thirty-six P-38s
from the 82nd Fighter Group. Their Liberators damaged a number of oil storage tanks, an
aluminum factory, a coke and gas plant, a tanker, and some docks. Moderate, accurate flak shot
down one P-38."
The straight line distance from Stornara Air Field, Italy to Fiume is about
103 km or 64 miles and from Fiume to Porta Marghera was about 542km or 336 miles
and the return to Stornara Field was about 522 km or 324 miles.
reports on Thursday July 13, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): 581bombers
attack targets in NE Italy; B-17s hit marshalling yards at Mestre and railroad bridges at Latisana,
Pinzano al Tagliamento and Venzone; B-24s bomb marshalling yards at Brescia, Mantova and
Verona, and oil storage at Porto Marghera and Trieste; P-38s and P-51s fly escort; other P-51s
carry out a sweep over the Po River Valley."
off at 0700 with 35,000 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the oil refinery at Ploesti, Rumania.
All planes returned safely to home base 1405. Enemy aircraft encountered: None. Injuries:
None. Flak: Moderate, accurate, heavy. Weather: Poor, 5/10 coverage, undercast."
Mahoney (p. 200) reported, "Mounting another large mission to Ploesti, three wings bombed
refineries using PFF, as the 1st and 14th Fighter Groups flew general cover for them with
ninety-two P-38s.... The Daicia Romano Oil Refinery received similar treatment from three of
the four groups of the 304th Bomb Wing, escorted by fifty-four P-51s from the 325th Fighter
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Group. The smoke screen effected accuracy here, as well and their ninety-nine Liberators
inflicted little new damage to the refinery. Crews reported intense, accurate flak and the 455th
Bomb Group lost two Liberators: the 454th and 456th one each."
reports on Saturday July 15, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): In Rumania,
600+ B-17s and B-24s bomb 4 oil refineries in the Ploesti area and the Teleajenul pumping
station; and P-51s and P-38s fly 300+ escort sorties."
B-24's Fly Over Ploesti Oil fields to cut off
fuel supplies to German troops and planes.
off at 0625 with 33,600 lbs. of fragmentation bomb clusters to bomb the aerodrome at
Munchendorf, Austria. This target, and all other targets, were completely covered, so all planes
returned safely to home base with full bomb load at 1315. Enemy aircraft encountered: 10 Me
109's. Enemy aircraft destroyed: None. Injuries: None. Flak: Intense, accurate, heavy. Weather:
All targets completely covered."
Mahoney (p. 201) reported, " Among several Austrian targets struck by the Fifteenth, fifty-six B24s of the 454th and 459th Bomb Groups, with an escort of thirty-eight P-51s from the find
Fighter Group, bombed the airfield at Munchendorf through intense, accurate flak. Cloud cover
prevented observation of results and the 455th and 456th from bombing. Five fighters attacked
the 456th Bomb Group who claimed two destroyed and one probable. The escort,
encountering thirty fighters near Vieruia, split into two sections with one engaging twenty
fighters above the overcast and the second tangling with about twenty more twin-engine
fighters, below. The 52nd claimed ten destroyed, with eight confirmed, but lost two P-51s."
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reports on Sunday July 6, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): In Austria, around
380 bombers attack oil and aircraft targets in the Vienna area, bombing Munchendorf Airfield,
Winterhafen oil depot, Vienna marshalling yard, and Wiener Neudorf engine factory; P-51s and
P-38s fly 150+ sorties in escort while 132 other P-51s sweep the Vienna area; 100+ fighters
oppose the raids; 10 AAF aircraft are lost and several others are missing; AAF claims of fighters
shot down total 30+."
This cutaway of the B-24 shows where the bombs were loaded (red circle) and the nose turret
(blue circle) where George would have been located.
off at 0925 with 40,000 lbs. of demolition bombs to bomb the railroad bridge at Avignon,
France. 6 planes returned safely to home base 1615. Enemy aircraft encountered: 2 FW 190's, 3
Ju 88's and 10 Me 109's. Enemy aircraft destroyed: One. Injuries: None. Flak: Intense, accurate,
heavy. Weather: CAVU. (19 men in two planes that failed to return.)"
Mahoney (p. 202) reported, " Action turned to France for the day. Attacking through moderate,
but accurate flak, the 304th Bomb Wing hit two communications targets in France. The 454th
and 455th Bomb Groups struck the marshalling yard at Avignon with fifty-six B-24s where they
damaged or destroyed at least one hundred rail cars and hit some buildings and tacks. Five Me
109s attacked the formation and the 454th claimed one destroyed, but the 455th lost one
Liberator. The remainder of the 304th Wing, fifty-two B-24s from the 456th and 459th Bomb
Groups, bombed the rail bridges at Avignon. The 459th missed the target as flak had knocked
out the lead ship's bombsight, but bombs still cut tracks on the approaches of one bridge and
hit the marshalling yard with damage as noted earlier. Eight fighters attacked the bombers and
each group lost a Liberator. The escort for the 304th, forty-six P-51s of the 332nd Fighter
Group, escorted the bombers and tangled with five enemy fighters, claiming three as destroyed
with all later confirmed."
150
reports on Monday July 17, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): In France, 162 B24s attack a marshalling yard and railroad bridges at Avignon and railroad bridges at Arles and
Tarascon; P-51s and P-38s provide escort."
off at 0720 with 45,000 lbs. of incendiaries to bomb the Maybach Moterwerks, at
Friedrichshafen, Germany. All planes returned safely at 1355. Enemy aircraft encountered:
None. Injuries: None. Flak: Moderate, accurate, heavy. Weather: CAVU over target."
Mahoney (p. 205) reported, "Another aircraft factory at Friedrichshafen. the Maybach Aircraft
Factory, was the target of 123 B-24s from the 304th Bomb Wing with an escort of forty P-51s
from the 52nd Fighter Group. The raid damaged testing buildings, the drawing office, the
administration building, and several machine shops. Crews reported generally intense, accurate
flak. The 454th and 459th lost two Liberators each, one of the latter crashing in Switzerland, as
did one from the 456th.
The 332nd Fighter Group escorted the bombers on the flight to the target with forty-seven P51s. Twenty of them intercepted ten enemy fighters near Udine and then returned to base as
the remainder continued with the bombers. The Group claimed four enemy aircraft destroyed_
all later confirmed."
reports on Thursday July 20, 1944 that "MTO - STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (15AF): Around 450 B17s and B-24s bomb targets in Germany; B-17s attack the airfield at Memmingen; B-24s bomb
the airfield, Zeppelin works, and aircraft factory at Friedrichshafen; P-38s and P-51s provide
escort and, with the bombers, claim 19 aircraft shot down."
Friedrichshafen lies in the Bodenseekreis district, on Lake Constance in the extreme south of
Germany, and at the time it was at the edge of the German nightfighter defences. Targets
included the Dornier Flugzeugwerke aircraft works at Manzell, the Maybach tank engine
factory, the Luftschiffbau Zeppelin aircraft works and its Oberraderach test facility near
Raderach, and the Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen (Literally "gearwheel factory Friedrichshafen")
tank gearbox factory.
151
The straight line distance from Stornara Air Field, Italy to
Friedrichshafen, Germany is about 822km or 510 miles.
George in his interview with son-in-law Tony indicated his last mission was on July 20. He was
sent on rest leave on the 23rd. But in his words, "the last mission I flew scared the shit because
usually we bomb (hand motions a smooth rise) and then kept going on a cruise with the
squadron and then split out and joined again. Well, we were getting shot down that way so
they didn't tell me that this was the first mission that as soon as you dropped your bombs you
took off and joined later. So Christ, we dropped our bombs and did that and I said, 'What the
hell's happening? What's the matter? What's the matter, this is my last mission?'
And they said, ' Oh. no. We're going home. OK!'"
And George made it back to home base safely on his last mission. He describes it as follows, "I
finally finished my 50th mission and I will never forget that because when I got my 50th mission
I was flying with a different crew and God they were congratulating me and all and I was flying
with the lead ship. They only flew about once every two weeks - the guys that lead the group and I flew with them. Anyway when we were walking away I was with the officers and the other
152
gunners were still with the ship. And this 2nd Lieutenant said, 'Hey Sarge, you gotta change the
ammunition on your guns. You better get back there."
And I said, 'I did my number 50, I ain't gonna never use those guns again. You change the...'
He said, 'Yes sir, Sarge!' he gave me a salute and damn if he didn't change the ammunition on
the guns. I knew I wasn't going to fire them again. Once you got your 50 missions you're done."
George telling the story of his 50th mission to great-grandson Ryan Northsea.
The significance of fifty missions related to the rotation policy in World War II of the seven
numbered air forces (Fifth, Eighth, Ninth, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fifteenth [George's] and
twentieth. The rotation policies were established to prevent burn out or combat fatigue of
fighter and bomber crews. In 1942, Lt. Gen. George H. Brett found many pilots and bomber
crews were being "burnt out" in combat and sent a a message to Lt Gen Henry H Arnold,
Commanding general of the U.S. Army Air Force warning that "Unless replacements are
available the Air Force will lose valuable personnel through excessive combat duty."
153
The morning report of 23 July 1944 shows George being assigned rest leave as his 50 missions
were up.
154
On page 2 of the same report shown on the next page he is assigned to the "Isle of Capri."
155
The morning report of 29 July 1944 indicates George on Temporary duty on the Isle of Capri.
156
Elizabeth in her scrapbook pasted post cards from Isle of Capri that George bought as souvenirs.
Italy Cards top Capri Dal Monte di Tiberio & Capri Spiaggia
157
Italy Cards Top Capri - 1 Faraglioni & Capri - La Grotta Azzurra
158
Italy Cards TOP Capri La Ceriosa & Capri Marina Grande L'approdo
159
Italy Cards top Capri Marina Grande & Capri I Faraglioni
160
Italy Cards top Capri Marina Piccola e i Faraflioni & Capri Daila Terrazza Delta Funicolare
161
And on the 31 July Morning report George is listed to be sent back to the states.
Orders pictured on the next page were issued on 1 August 1944 assigning George and 259 other
enlisted men to the 433rd Replacement Company of the 31st Replacement Company of the 7th
Replacement Depot.
162
Top of Page 1
Top of Page 5 Showing George's Name
The 16 August Morning Report on the next page shows (underlined in Yellow) the section
ordering George back to the states. He is listed on page two of the attached list.
George could not leave for the states right away due to Operation Dragoon, the invasion of
Southern France which finally took place August 16 as described in the paper above.
163
August 16 Morning report
164
Morning report of 16 August Attached List Top of Page 1
16 August Morning report List Page 2 (George's name Circled)
165
George in his interview with grandson-in-law Tony described the end of his tour this way.
" They sent me to the isle of Capri for a week - you know just to relax. And i never got to the Isle
of Capri. They sent me there after my missions were done and I met a WAC. She was stationed
in the city there. I forget where it is now (Naples.) It is right across from the isle of Capri. And
well I figured I'd just go AWOL for a while and spend some time with her and when I got back - I
met her at the isle of Capri - and when I got back to the mainland I met guys from my squadron
and they said, 'Where the hell you been, they're looking for you. You're goin' home.'
So I didn't go out with the gal and headed home and I sat there for three weeks waiting for the
invasion of Southern France so we could take off. And when we took off we were the first
bunch of veterans ; army, navy, and air corps people; coming back to the United States and
there were 30 ships and there was thousands of us got back to New York City. It didn't bother
me so much, but it bothered the infantry men. When they got back they handed us coffee coffee we been drinking coffee for three years. "Ain't they got no milk here in New York City. In
nothing flat I think every dairy in New York City had a truck down there passing out milk to
those guys.
Like I said it didn't bother me because I had milk because we went to a farm there (near
Stornara) where we were based and get milk from him. But they hadn't had milk for more than
three years."
"And then I went down to a city - I can't think what the city it was (Naples), but it was on the
Mediterranean somewhere - waiting for my ride home and i sat there and waited for the
invasion of southern France. . . They finally went and put us on a ship. 15 days on a ship to
come home. 10 days just to get over there."
" Then when I got home I got back to Rockford the 1st of September and told my girlfriend,
'Well, we can get married now.' Hell, she wasn't really set to get married the 15th of
September. Then they told me I would be going down to Miami and spending a month there
and I could bring my wife down there with me."
There is a slight discrepancy in what was going to happen and what actually happened. George
was to report to Miami Beach and he could bring his wife with him. However, he received a
telegram saying that due to crowded conditions at the hotel he could not bring his wife. His
disappointment was only intensified when he arrived and they asked where his wife was. He
called it a "typical army goof up". Instead of staying the full time in Miami he pushed his
training and returned to Belleview and Scott Field after two weeks. But the Miami trip always
remained with him and years later he would move his family to Florida (1960).
166
The next record we have is the extract of Army Order 213 report of September 1, 1944 which
shows George in a group which had reported to Ft. Sheridan, Illinois near Chicago. The order
then sends George on to Miami. In 1898, during the Spanish American War, Fort Sheridan
became a mobilization, training, and administrative center and continued to house these
functions through World War II, when over 500,000 men and women were processed through
military service at the fort. George reported there on September 9, 1944 after arriving in New
York on September 1, 1944
Ft. Sheridan Illinois
167
In Miami Beach, medical exams and classification interviews will help determine George's new
assignment. The mission of the Miami Beach Post was to put the returning enlisted men into
the right job once physical and mental readiness for reassignment is determined. During the
processing the returning men were housed in an ocean front motel and would have access to
many facilities for rest and recreation in a year round beneficial climate. We know that George
arrived at Army Air Forces Redistribution Station No. 2 in Miami Beach for reassignment
processing after completing his tour of duty outside the continental United States.
The Morning report of 9 September 1944 shows 20 Enlisted men on route to Miami Beach.
168
9 September 1944 Morning Report
We know that George did not immediately report to Miami Beach as on September
16, 1944 he married his "girlfriend" Elizabeth Ann Kennedy in Rockford, Illinois. (See
" The Kennedy-Northsea Wedding of 1944"). The young couple also
honeymooned in Chicago from the 17th through 20th of September.
It is the 1 October 1944 Morning report that actually shows in an attached list
George assigned to the Miami Beach Station No. 2 Section M & Flt K-293-SS.
169
Morning Report 1 October 1944
The Personnel Memorandum 174 shown on the next page lists George's Section and Flight.
170
Personnel Memorandum 1 Oct Page 11
Since George was now separated from his new bride, he asked the time be shortened and on
the Morning report for 10 October 1944 we see he is transferred to Scott Field, Illinois. Scott
field was located in St. Claire county near Bellevile, Illinois outside St. Louis and was
approximately 300 miles from Rockford. The 13 October Morning report shows George arriving
at Scott Field and assigned to Training Command 3505th AAFBU. At Scott george was trained to
be a Radio Operator and learned the fundamentals of radio and International Morse Code.
Scott AFB - WWII postcard" by United States Army Air Forces
171
10 October Morning Report
13 October Morning Report
1945
George and Elizabeth would stay at Scott Field for over a year until two months after the war
officially ended when Japanese officials signed the surrender on the USS Missouri in Tokyo
Harbor. Their first child Steven was born October 2, 1945. Finally on 8 November 1945,
Special Order No. 312 granted honorable discharge and George would shortly thereafter return
to civilian life.
The Morning report of 10 November 1945 has the 8 November discharge order and 10
November Roster attached.
172
8 November Page 1 Top
One of Subsequent pages with George Listed Near the bottom
Excerpts From 10 November Discharge Roster
173
The Morning report of 13 November indicates the mass separation of enlisted men and officers.
13 November Morning Report
George's enlisted record and report of separation and honorable discharge were issued 13
November 1945 at Scott Field Illinois.
174
175
176
Below is George's two page separation qualification record including military education and
medals awarded.
Page 1
177
Page 2
178
Also from the records at St. Louis we were able to locate his Air Medal Decoration card.
Medals and Awards
The first Distinguished Unit Citation issued to Dad's group was for an attack on Wiener
Neustadt on 10 May 1944 when the group pressed on despite bad weather that forced others
to turn back. The Distinguished Unit Citation was established by Executive Order No. 9075, on
February 26th 1942. This order made it possible for the Secretary of War to issue citations in
the name of the President of the United States to units of US Armed Forces and their Allies for
heroism in action against an armed enemy from December 7th 1941 onwards. The unit must
display such gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under
extremely difficult and hazardous conditions as to set it apart and above other units
participating in the same campaign. This act should be equal to that of an individual who could
obtain the Distinguished Service Cross for it.
Distinguished Unit Citation, World War II
Issued:
Wiener Neustadt, 10 May 1944
Budapest, 2 July 1944
George by his participation in this mission and the 2 July Mission would have been authorized
to wear these ribbons along with the following battle ribbon.
179
European Theater of Operations Ribbon (George's would have had one bronze star on it.)
In addition, George was awarded four Air Medals. The medal is awarded to anyone who, while
serving in any capacity in or with the Armed Forces of the United States, distinguishes himself
or herself by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.
George would have also have been authorized to wear the air medal ribbon with three oak leaf
cluster.
Air Medal Ribbon
An oak leaf cluster is a miniature bronze twig of four oak leaves with three acorns on the stem
that is authorized by the Armed Forces as a ribbon device for a specific set of decorations and a
wards of the United States Army Air Force, and to denote subsequent decorations and awards.
The bronze oak leaf cluster represents one additional award, while the silver oak leaf cluster is
worn in lieu of five bronze oak leaf clusters. Oak leaf clusters are worn with the stems of the
leaves pointing to the wearer’s right. For medals, 13/32 inch oak leaf clusters are worn on the
medal's suspension ribbon.
Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters
180
George was also awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal for "Exemplary behavior, efficiency,
and fidelity in active Federal Military service."
Good Conduct Medal
George was also authorized to wear the World War II Victory Medal for serving in the armed
forces between the dates of December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946. George's actual dates
of service were 12 December 1942 until 13 November 1945.
World War II Victory Medal
Victory Medal Back Side
181

George Northsea: The War Years

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