Mission 233 - 1

303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 23327 August 1944

Target: Airfield at Esbjerg, DenmarkCrews Dispatched: 37

Crews Lost: Lt. Yarnall, 8 KIA, 1 POW; Lt. Hallum, 1 KIA, 8 B/O

Length of Mission: 8 hours, 55 minutes

Bomb Load: 5 x 1,000 lb G.P. M44 & 10 x 500 lb M17 Incendiary

Bombing Altitudes: 20,800 & 19,700 ft

Ammo Fired: 43,825 rounds

Thirty-seven 303rd BG(H) aircraft took off to attack the Focke-Wulf assembly plant atJohannisthal, near Berlin. Berlin was the target if PFF bombing was used. Thesecondary target was Rechlin/Lars airfield, Germany, and the last resort targets were

the Perleburg and Sohwer airfields in Germany. No aircraft returned early. The 303rdBG(H) furnished the weather B-17.

High clouds made it impossible to reach any of the assigned targets. Over Denmarkthere were 6/10 to 8/10 towering cumulus clouds. The target, the Esbjaerg, Denmarkairfield, was bombed through a break in the undercast. Aircraft dropped 115 1,000-lb. G.P.M44 and 10 500-lb. M17 incendiary bombs from 20,800 and 19,700 ft. The lead Group hitin a hangar area, while the low Group hit a railroad track west of the airfield. Only one B-17in the high Group dropped its bombs. B-17G #43-37590 Neva -The Silver Lady, 359BS (Lt.Whittall), failed to bomb because the bomb bay switches were not turned on.

No enemy aircraft were seen and friendly fighter support was excellent. Chaff didnot break up properly and had very little effect. Moderate and accurate flak wasencountered at the target. Two aircraft sustained major and thirteen, minor battle damage.Returning B-17s contained one wounded crewman. Two Fortresses received direct hits byflak.

#43-37629 (No Name), 360BS, piloted by 1Lt. Winfield L. Yarnall, was flying in theNo. 1 position, low Squadron, low Group. It received a direct hit in the fuselage just backof the wings near Esbjaerg, Denmark. It immediately broke in half and fell away in twopieces. No parachutes were seen. Lt. Yarnall, 2Lt. Louis A. Bertich, 2Lt. Isaac N.Sanford, Jr., 2Lt. Harry B. Britter, T/Sgt. Anthony Fidares, T/Sgt. Albert W. Baker, Jr.,S/Sgt. Rubin Taxon and S/Sgt. Dominick DiSalvo were all killed. T/Sgt. Baker is buriedin Ardennes American Cemetery near Liege, Belgium. S/Sgt. Melvin Birenbach wascaptured by the enemy and became a POW.

#42-37841 Banshee, 360BS, piloted by 1Lt. Bertrand Hallum, Jr., was hit overEsbjaerg and the tail was blown off, including the rudder, parts of the elevators, and a littlebit of the stabilizer. The tail gunner, S/Sgt. Milt I. Ross, was killed when the whole tailsection was blown off in small pieces. Lt. Hallum was able to fly the aircraft back toEngland. Near Middlesham, he ordered the crew to bail out and let the B-17 crash. Allbailouts were successful. The B-17 was on its 97th mission—a record at that time for any303rd BG(H) aircraft. The B-17 crashed at Badingham, U.K.

Mission 233 - 2

WINFIELD L. YARNALL CREW - 360th BS

(crew assigned 360BS: 22 June 1944)

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group A

Travis-Lynch557 - PFF

Whittall Hahn 590 125 - PFF

Lee Brabant 574 484Goering Graham Parker Virag 298 065 483 177 Paullin McConnell 191 200Mayer White 176 945

Mission 233 - 3

BERTRAND HALLUM, JR. CREW - 360th BS

(crew assigned 360BS: 30 June 1944 - photo: 27 July 1944)

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group B

Brown-Caldwell544

Crawford Hallum 739 841

Yarnall Jenkins 629 781Mehlhoff Connelly Lorentz Gould 949 861 076 7206 Baehr 8206 Bennett Michaelis 329 187

Mission 233 - 4

Formation over the channel. B-17G #44-6076 Liberty Run 359BS (BN-Y) in foreground.

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group C

Flesh-Cable281

Caplinger Ackerman 057 885

Bliss Walker 311 537Davis Newton Baltes Underdown 186 238 944 830 Griggs 323 Eisenwinter Dubose 9875 248

Mission 233 - 5

358th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #43-38191 Shasta

P Paullin, James R., 2LtCP Hinton, William B., 2LtNAV Hunt, John W., Jr., 2LtBOM Simons, Robert A., 2LtENG Johnson, James P., S/SgtBT Biestek, Stanley H., SgtRO Thomas, Henry T., S/SgtWG Woodward, Thomas J., SgtTG Butler, Woodley O., Sgt

B-17G #42-97298 The Floose

P Goering, Werner G., 2LtCP Rencher, Jack P., 2LtNAV Markt, Rex H., F/OBOM Sachau, William D., 2LtENG Gustafson, Orall R., SgtBT LaPerch, William J., SgtRO Brodzinski, Chester, SgtWG Houseman, Clarence W., SgtTG Mahan, Welson T., Sgt

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

P McConnell, John, 1LtCP Thomas, Charles E., 2LtNAV Atwood, Thomas M., 2LtBOM Bennett, Robert W., 2LtENG Johnson, Jack M., S/SgtWG Schneider, Lawrence J., SgtRO Rego, Charles J., S/SgtTG Krebs, Henry R., SgtBT Messerich, Jerome P., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-31574 Ole George

P Lee, Gareth G., 1LtCP Bowman, William E., F/ONAV Sweig, Morris, 2LtBOM Carloss, Earl W., 2LtENG Leimgruebler, Victor H., S/SgtWG Olive, Martin, SgtRO Adkinson, James E., S/SgtTG Newman, Gerald D., SgtBT Grundon, Joseph D., Sgt

KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS

CREW POSITIONS

CMP - Command PilotP - PilotCP - Co-PilotNAV - NavigatorANV - Ass't. NavigatorMNV - Mickey NavigatorENG - EngineerBOM - BombardierRO - Radio Operator

TOG - TogglierBT - Ball Turret OperatorTT - Top Turret OperatorTG - Tail GunnerNG - Nose GunnerRG - Radio GunnerWG - Waist GunnerLWG - Left Waist GunnerRWG - Right Waist GunnerGUN - Gunner

VI - Voice InterpreterOBS - ObserverPAS - PassengerPHO - Photographer

RESULTS OF MISSION

KIA - Killed in actionWIA - Wounded in actionMIA - Missing in actionPOW - Prisoner of war

DOW - Died of woundsEVD - Evaded the enemyINT - Interned in neu cntryREP - RepatriatedRES - RescuedESC - EscapedBO - Bailed outDCH - DitchedCR-L - Crashed on landCR-S - Crashed at sea

Mission 233 - 6

358th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #43-38065 Princess Pat 2

P Graham, Edward, Jr., 2LtCP Lay, William P., 2LtNAV Lasker, Robert M., 2LtBOM Bohannon, Jackson R., 2LtENG Miller, Ray A., SgtWG Hasper, Donald T., SgtRO Kane, Fred E., SgtTG Gillespie, Henry F., SgtBT Kedzierski, Edward P., Sgt

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

P Whittall, Ernest A., 2LtCP Grisham, Rufus W., Jr., 2LtNAV Hartel, Gale E., 2LtBOM Celich, Nicholas J., 2LtENG Scheuermann, Edwin P., S/SgtBT Loessin, Gerhard W., Jr., SgtRO Post, Harry R., SgtWG Buie, Ben M., SgtTG Willis, Arnold, Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

B-17G #43-38176 Bouncing Betty II

P Mayer, Walter J., 2LtCP Gradle, Raymond B., 2LtNAV Poehlman, Robert L., 2LtBOM Rogers, Oron J., 2LtENG Hicks, Douglas E., S/SgtWG Withers, Frederick J., SgtRO Jennings, Archie R., T/SgtBT Vanderhoff, Grant W., SgtTG Gendron, Ernest J., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-102945 Sweet Pea

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

B-17G #42-97557 - PFF

CMP Travis, Robert F., BGenP Lynch, Robert J., CaptNAV Steely, Hobart H., CaptNAV Hunt, Jackson H., 2LtNAV Garrett, Robert M., 2LtBOM Wilson, Claud, 1LtENG Haskell, Whitney, T/SgtWG Munn, Charles F., S/SgtRO Balzano, Christopher, T/SgtTG Douglass, Earl B., 2Lt

Mission 233 - 7

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-31177 Lonesome Polecat

P Virag, Andy R., 2LtCP Beck, Edward R., 2LtNAV Harrison, Hertzel, 2LtBOM Hanley, Bernard A., 2LtENG Jeter, James E., Jr., S/SgtRO Vrabel, Cyril A., S/SgtBT Gurka, Stanley, Jr., SgtTG Bowman, John H., SgtWG Schlottmann, Jerome D., T/Sgt

B-17G #44-6076 Liberty Run

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

B-17G #42-102484 Heller's Angel

P Brabant, Patrick H., 1LtCP Judy, Ira J., 2LtNAV Heatherly, Phillip P., 1LtBOM Cooney, Thomas E., 2LtENG Hodge, Dana A., T/SgtRO Cohen, Seymour T., SgtBT Marquez, Robert P., S/SgtTG Millek, John P., S/SgtWG Valentine, Robert J., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-107206 Old Black Magic

P Gould, Graham C., 1LtCP Lasker, Yale, 2LtNAV Leigh, Thomas W., Jr., 2LtTOG Reynolds, Ralph J., 2LtENG Mogck, Leonard, T/SgtRO Anderson, Augustus C., S/SgtBT Thompson, Val E., S/SgtTG Gloria, Tony N., SgtWG Bandy, Peter C., Sgt

B-17G #42-31483 Bonnie B

P Parker, John W., 2LtCP Bergeron, Arthur A., 2LtNAV Wodinsky, Abraham, 2LtTOG Arendt, John L., S/SgtENG Davis, Eugene B., T/SgtRO Carman, Nolan, W., SgtBT Stephan, Kenneth R., S/SgtTG Turkington, Calvin G., S/SgtWG Nichols, Dalbee, S/Sgt

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

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

Mission 233 - 8

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #42-31830 Marie

P Underdown, Sidney L., 2LtCP Knolle, William C., 2LtNAV Kenny, John P., 2LtBOM Tyree, Joseph C., 2LtENG Kuwik, John J., S/SgtRO Posada, Frank G., S/SgtBT Guptill, Walter R., SgtTG Stevens, Richard G., SgtWG Botton, Pius L., Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

B-17G #42-97781 The '8' Ball MK III

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

B-17G #43-37537 Queen of Hearts

P Walker, Lewis M., 1LtCP Doyle, Joseph J., 2LtNAV Donovan, James R., 2LtBOM Beers, Donald, 2LtENG Sublett, James W., S/SgtRO Lunday, Albert J., S/SgtBT Hundley, Walter L., SgtTG Reckert, Arthur C., SgtWG Mathis, Henry C., Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

Mission 233 - 9

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-31739 Pugnacious Peter

P Crawford, William C., 1LtCP Kidd, Warren D., 2LtNAV Orenstein, Harold A., 2LtBOM Woodbury, Benton R., 2LtENG LeRoux, Lyle W., T/SgtRO Miller, William L., T/SgtBT Whitney, Daniel F., S/SgtTG Barder, Emmett R., S/SgtWG Patton, Nelson R., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-37841 Banshee CR-L

P Hallum, Bertrand, Jr., 2Lt BOCP Romstad, Alfred M., 2Lt BONAV Olson, Charles F., 2Lt BOBOM Fetzko, John, Jr., 2Lt BOENG Young, Horace B., S/Sgt BORO Botkin, Jack S., S/Sgt BOBT Ax, Heinz R., Sgt BOTG Ross, Milt I., Sgt KIAWG Stroud, George E., Jr., Sgt BO

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

P Mehlhoff, Arthur R., 2LtCP Nelson, Edgar H., 2LtNAV Williams, Gaylon C., 2LtBOM Newcomb, Harry F., Jr., F/OENG Wagner, Donald L., S/SgtRO Thye, Norman W., S/SgtBT Keeran, Elwood R., SgtTG Quackenbush, Benjamin V., SgtWG Harms, Vernon H., Sgt

B-17G #44-8125 Sparky - PFF

P Hahn, James T., 1LtCP Fulks, James O., 2LtNAV Edwards, Frank A., 1LtBOM Charlton, Rufus S., 2LtENG Sudderth, Ralph M., 1LtRO Conkling, John R., S/SgtBT Darbowski, Andrew, SgtTG Howald, Hans, S/SgtWG Lusk, Robert F., S/Sgt

B-17G #42-97187 Miss Umbriago

P Michaelis, Arthur D., 2LtCP Johnson, Danny D., 2LtNAV Lillig, Thomas J., 2LtBOM Schobert, William A., Jr., 2LtENG Jones, Donald E., S/SgtRO Jensen, Dale E., S/SgtBT Barth, Harry W., SgtTG Healy, Edward P., SgtWG Hlavac, George A., Sgt

B-17G #43-38206 Silver Fox

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

Mission 233 - 10

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #42-102544 Sack Time

P Brown, Leonard M., 1LtCP Caldwell, Frederick J., 1LtNAV Hardwick, Jack C., 2LtBOM Blythe, Robert W., Jr., 1LtENG Jamison, Charles A., T/SgtRO Libert, Irving, T/SgtBT LaFranchi, Albert S., S/SgtTG Johnson, Francis D., S/SgtWG Enget, Obert L., S/Sgt

B-17G #43-37629 (No Name) CR-L

P Yarnall, Winfield L., 1Lt KIACP Bertich, Louis A., 2Lt KIANAV Sanford, Isaac N., 2Lt KIABOM Britter, Harry B., 2Lt KIAENG Fidares, Anthony, S/Sgt KIARO Baker, Albert W., S/Sgt KIABT Taxon, Rubin, Sgt KIATG Birenbach, Melvin, Sgt KIAWG Di Salvo, Dominick, Sgt POW

B-17G #42-97861 Iza Vailable III

P Connelly, Ben L., 2LtCP Kuykendall, Roger L., 1LtNAV Levin, Albert, 2LtBOM Shelley, David R., 2LtENG Coyne, John A., S/SgtRO Schneider, Dale E., S/SgtBT Evans, Ralph V., SgtTG Bur, Robert D., SgtWG Koppes, Carl A., Sgt

B-17G #42-97329 Flak Hack

P Bennett, Paul K., 2LtCP Goff, Lloyd E., 2LtNAV Lane, Elwin A., F/OBOM Singular, William H., 2LtENG Gonshor, Edmund A., S/SgtRO Shulan, Gerald M., S/SgtBT Jones, Charles E., SgtTG Essig, Charles G., SgtWG Marucco, Leroy N., Sgt

Mission 233 - 11

427th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #43-38248 Jigger Rooche II

P Dubose, Carl L., Jr., 1LtCP Droll, Louis P., 2LtNAV Laverty, Leo E., 2LtT Muzyka, Myron M., S/SgtTT Bourlier, Donald W., S/SgtBT Kidd, Robert E., SgtRO Kollmar, Donald L., S/SgtTG Watson, Byron W., SgtWG Balint, Daniel, Jr., Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

B-17G #43-38238 (No Name)

P Newton, John A., 2LtCP Mowatt, Frank G., 2LtNAV Lange, George L., 2LtBOM Miller, Charles F., 2LtTT Turner, Leonard A., S/SgtBT Bricker, Albert W., S/SgtRO Islava, Joseph O., S/SgtTG Hobgood, John F., S/SgtWG Reeves, James E., S/Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

B-17G #42-97311 Shoo Shoo Baby

P Bliss, Robert P., 1LtCP Morrow, John E., 2LtNAV Sumbur, Simon, 1LtBOM Smoleroff, Theodore L., 2LtTT Shumar, Carl K., SgtBT Eakins, Charles A, Jr., SgtRO Herman, Benjamin, SgtTG Plesinger, Michael J., SgtWG Curry, Richard L., Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

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

P Davis, Robert W., 2LtCP Sayre, Dorwin D., 2LtNAV Martin, Walter E., F/OBOM Bryan, Fred W., F/OTT Hiibner, Okey L., SgtBT Johnson, Charles H., SgtRO Pope, Lester L., SgtTG Ruhge, Wayne L., S/SgtWG Smirnes, E. "Nick", Jr., Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

B-17G #43-38057 (No Name)

P Caplinger, Auston O., 2LtCP Spruner, Donald L., 2LtNAV Katz, Edwin Harold, 2Lt BOM Bober, Stanley, 2LtTT Toth, Ernest, SgtBT Jacobs, Carroll W., Jr., SgtRO Mittell, Philip P., SgtTG Delcher, Merlin S., SgtWG Olds, Andrew R., Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

B-17G #42-39875 Buzz Blonde

P Eisenwinter, Philip D., 2LtCP Waggoner, Richard C., 2LtNAV Norman, Frederick J., 2LtBOM Campbell, Robert C., 2LtTT Noah, Norbert O., S/SgtBT Veljkov, Paul, SgtRO Murphy, William A., S/SgtTG Ross, Edward E., SgtWG Henry, Donivan D., Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

Mission 233 - 12

427th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #43-38323 (No Name)

P Griggs, John C., 2LtCP Dumont, Merrill J., 2LtNAV Malone, William A., 2LtBOM Rohner, William L., 2LtTT Monnig, Alvin R., Jr., S/SgtBT Duffel, Robert L., SgtRO Benning, Joseph F., Jr., S/SgtTG Means, Henry H., Jr., SgtWG Bruce, Miles R., Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

B-17G #42-97281 Queenie

P Flesh, William R., 1LtCP Cable, Richard E., 2LtNAV Tollack, Howard V., 1LtBOM Spooner, Ramon L., 2LtBOM Webster, Charles M., 1LtTT Garrett, Joe W., T/SgtBT Tambe, Angelo J., T/SgtRO O'Leary, James A., T/SgtTG Gude, Richard C., S/SgtWG Price, John B., S/Sgt(Abortive Sortie)

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

P Ackerman, Stewart S., Jr., 2LtCP Lawrenson, George C., 2LtNAV DuBois, Benjamin F., 2LtBOM Oswald, Alois G., Jr., 2LtTT Creaghan, Robert E., Sgt BT Highfill, Thomas W., SgtRO Ribesky, John V., Jr., SgtTG Wiencek, Edward J., Sgt WG Proper, George M., Sgt(Abortive Sortie)