12th Air Force, 57th Bombardment Wing

321st Bombardment Group

History: July 1943

The following is a compilation of the 321st Bomb Group’s individual Squadron War
Diaries. They have been transcribed word for word, from the Squadron Histories
provided by the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA), Maxwell Air Force
Base Alabama. At the end of each Squadron’s daily entry, the individuals cited in the
entry are identified by full name, rank and duty, in alphabetical order. The day’s entry
begins with the Tactical Operations Statement, from the United States Army Air Forces
(USAAF) Chronology, for the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO). Available
mission reports, personal mission logs and diaries have also been included.

A/C: Aircraft

NATOUSA: North Atlantic Theater of
Operations USA

A/D: Aerodrome

NC: Nurse Corps.

A/F: Air Field

NCO: Non-Commissioned Officer

AA or AAA: Anti-Aircraft (Artillery)

OD: Officer of the day/Olive Drab

abs: absent

OLC: Oak Leaf Cluster

ALO: Allied Liaison Officer

OTU: 447th 27 Oct 43?

Assg: Assigned

PAX: Passengers

Azon: Azimuth only (guided bomb)

PBS: 447th 2 June 44?

B.R.L.: Ballistic Research Laboratory

PDI: Pilot Direction Indicator

BC: Bomber Command

POE: Point of Embarkation

BSM: 448th 8-15 Sep 44?

PX: Post Exchange

CA: Heavy Cruiser

QM: Quarter Master

CAVU: Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited

R/B: Road Bridge

CO: Commanding Officer

RC: 448th 10 Sep 43?

CP: Command Post

R/J: Road Junction

CQ: Charge of Quarters

R/Y: Railroad Yards

CWS: Chemical Warfare Service

Repl: Replacement

D/H: Direct Hit

RON: Remain OverNight

Demo: Demolition

RR/B: Railroad Bridge

DS: Detached Service

RR/J: Railroad Junction

E/A: Enemy Aircraft

RR: Railroad

E/F: Enemy Fighter

S/E: Single Engine (plane)

E/M: Enlisted Men

SAP: Semi-Armor Piercing

EFM: 447th 16 Sep 44?

SD: Special Duty

F/L: Formation Leader - Flight Leader

sk: sick

FO or F/O: Flying Officer

SO: Special Order

Frag: Fragmentation

SOI: Standard Operating Instructions?

GLO: Ground Liaison Officer (UK)

Sq: Squadron

GO: General Order

Sqdn: Squadron

GP: General Purpose/Gun Position

SWA: Seriously Wounded in Action

I & E: Information & Education

T/C: Troop Concentration

IP: Initial Point

T/E: Twin Engine (plane)

L/G: Landing Ground

TAC: Theater Allied Command

Lox: Liquid Oxygen

TBF: Tactical Bomber Force

L/S: Landing Strip

TD: Temporary Duty

L/V: Large Vehicle

TLC: 447th 5 Oct 43?

LOT: 447th 2 May 44?

TO: Technical Order

LST: Landing Ship Tank

TOT: Time Over Target/Time On Target

Ltr: Letter

Trfd: Transferred

LWA: Lightly Wounded in Action

u/i: 448th 26 Sep 44?

MATS: Military Air Transport Service

VOCO: Verbal Order of the Commanding
Officer

M/T: Motor Transport (Truck)

WT Station: 445th 20 Jul 43?

M/V: Military Vessel

XC: Cross Country

M/Y: Marshalling Yards

MC: Maintenance Crew

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For my dad,

Colonel John Fitzgerald, USA (retired)

“Lil Butch”

John T. Fitzgerald, SMSgt, USAF (retired)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, 1 July 1943

USAAF Chronology: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO):

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): P-40's, along with
Twelfth Air Force fighters, fly armored reconnaissance of S Sicily and convoy patrol in
the Cap Bon, Tunisia area and off Kebili, Tunisia. Royal Air Force (RAF) Halifaxes hit
Catania, Sicily railway yards.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force): During
the night of 30 Jun/l Jul, Wellingtons bomb barracks and railway station at Cagliari,
Sicily. Northwest African Coastal Air Force (NACAF) flies patrol, reconnaissance, and
convoy protection. The 8th Troop Carrier Squadron, 62nd Troop Carrier Group transfer
with C-47’s from Matemore, Algeria to El Djem, Tunisia. The 18th Troop Carrier
Squadron, 64th Troop Carrier Group transfer with C-47’s from Blida, Algeria to
Kairouan, Tunisia. The 28th Troop Carrier Squadron, 60th Troop Carrier Group transfers
with C-47's from Thiersville, Algeria to El Djem, Tunisia. The 312th Bombardment
Squadron (Dive), 86th Bombardment Group (Dive) transfers with A-36's from Tafaraoui,
Algeria to Korba, Tunisia. During the month of July: HQ 52nd Troop Carrier Wing
transfers from Oujda, French Morocco to Kairouan, Tunisia, and HQ 62nd Troop Carrier
Group transfers from Matemore, Algeria to Goubrine, Tunisia, and The 1st and 2nd
Antisubmarine Squadrons (Heavy), 480th Antisubmarine Group (Heavy), AAF
Antisubmarine Command, based at Port Lyautey, French Morocco operate from Agadir,
French Morocco with B-24s.

445th BS War Diary: No mission today. The weather remains very hot and sultry. We
have been having trouble keeping the Arabs out of our dispersal area. This morning we
rounded up ten of them and held them out in front of the operations building in the hot
sun under the watchful eye of an armed guard. The guard was more or less just to let
them know that we meant business. After about four hours of sitting in the sun we took
their names and pictures and told them to get off the field and stay off. T/Sgts Finn and
Gallaher when the jeep they were driving turned over as they were returning from Ain
Draham this morning were injured. Sgt. Finn got out with a broken nose and minor cuts
on his face while Gallaher received injuries to his chest and stomach. They are in the
base hospital. The first squadron league softball game was won this evening by our
enlisted men over the 909th Air base squadron by a score of 9 to 7.

Finn, Jessie N., T/Sgt, duty soldier Gallaher, T/Sgt, duty soldier

446th BS War Diary: Regular combat zone activities.

447th BS War Diary: The Articles of War were read to the enlisted men today.

448th BS War Diary: No Entry

Friday, 2 July 1943

USAAF Chronology: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO):

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): B-24's bomb airfields at
Lecce, Grottaglie and San Pancrazio Salentino, Italy. In Sicily, B-25's hit the airfield and
surrounding area at Sciacca; P-40's, escorting bombers to Sciacca, shoot down a fighter
and damage 1. 2 P-40's are lost.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force): In Sicily,
Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) Wellingtons hit Palermo and Cagliari
during the night of 1/2 Jul; and Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) B-25's
hit Castelvetrano during the day. Northwest African Coastal Air Force (NACAF) aircraft
attack 2 vessels off the W coast of Italy and fly patrols, reconnaissance, and convoy
protection. The air echelon of the 111th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), 68th
Reconnaissance Group transfers with P-51's from Bou Ficha, Tunisia to Korba, Tunisia.

445th BS War Diary: No mission today. A few local training flights were flown. It was
terribly hot and windy and lasted until late this evening. Ice cold beer was served at
chow this evening which was welcomed by all after a hot day.

446th BS War Diary: Regular combat zone activities.

447th BS War Diary: Late this morning the squadron was notified to be on the alert for a
bombing raid. It later developed that there were some bombers in the area but they were
American planes doing practice bombing. A false alarm.

448th BS War Diary: No Entry

Saturday, 3 July 1943

USAAF Chronology: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO):

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): B-25's hit airfield at
Comiso, Sicily. P-40's fly escort over Sicily and over Pantelleria Island in the
Mediterranean, claiming destruction of 1 fighter. The 564th, 565th, 566th and 567th
Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 389th Bombardment Group (Heavy) based at Hethel,
England begin operating with B-24's from Bengasi, Libya.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force): During
the night of 2/3 Jul, Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) Wellingtons attack
Olbia, Sardinia and Trapani, Sicily. The following day, B-17's and B-25's hit Chilivani,
Italy, and the airfields at Monserrato and Alghero, Sardinia. In Sardinia, fighters hit radar
stations at Pula and Alghero, while B-26's bomb the airfields at Milis and Capoterra. In
Sicily, Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) A-20's hit the area around
Marsala and airfields at Sciaccay and Trapani. The ground echelon of the 111th
Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), 68th Reconnaissance Group transfers from Nouvion,
Algeria to Tunis, Tunisia. The air echelon is at Korba, Tunisia. The 309th Fighter
Squadron, 31st Fighter Group transfers with Spitfires transfers from Korba, Tunisia to
Gozo Island, Malta.

445th BS War Diary: Thirty six B-25’s (12 of the 445th) took off to bomb the airdrome
at Alghero. 87 x 300 lb. demo. Bombs were dropped by the 445th from 9,000 ft. Four
large buildings on the west and east perimeter were hit. One fire north of the landing
ground and one large fire and column of black smoke were seen at the southeast corner of
the field. Two twin engine aircraft in front of the hangar were destroyed by direct hits.
Forty two P-38’s from the 82nd fighter group were our escorts. The flak was heavy, slight
and inaccurate. The formation was attacked by 10 to 12 enemy fighters after leaving the
target. Three ME-109’s and one RE-2001 was shot down by the bombers. Coffee and
doughnuts were served by the Red Cross girls this evening at evening chow. It is
undecided whether the coffee and doughnuts or the girls received the most attention. The
water problem was solved today when a 2,000 gallon Italian water truck was brought
down from Medjez El Bab by two of our ground officers. They are making plans for a
shower in the squadron area. This evening the enlisted men chalked up a victory by a
score of 9 to 7 over the 1145th quartermaster outfit.

446th BS War Diary: Regular combat zone activities. Group mission 66, Sqdn 57
composed of 7 planes led by Lt. Schmidt to the Alghero L/G, Sardinia. 300 and 500 lb
bombs were dropped and the target was well covered. 5 a/c were destroyed and 2
damaged on the ground. Direct hits were scored on buildings, dumps, and hangars. The
82nd Fighter Group reported that this was the best bombing they had ever seen.

Schmidt, Frederick C., 2Lt, pilot

Saturday, 3 July 1943 (continued)

447th BS War Diary: Eleven of our planes participated in a raid on Alghero airdrome in
Sicily. Bombing results good. All our planes returned safely.

448th BS War Diary: Mission 48 (79): At 10:25 36 planes off to bomb Alghero.
Dropped 29 x 300 and 108 x 500 bombs at 12:30 and returned at 14:25. 4 large buildings
hit on West and East perimeter, 1 fire North of L/G and large fire and column of black
smoke SE of L/G, two 3 E planes and 3 ME-109’s, 1 RE-2001 destroyed. H0-12 E/A
attacked after leaving target. 3 M/V seen heading N at 12:30 at 40° 33’ N and 8° 15’ E,
flak, slight heavy inaccurate. S/Sgt. Roy A. Morris destroyed 1 ME-109, S/Sgt. George
B. Alley destroyed 1 ME-109 and S/Sgt. John P. Silva destroyed 1 RE-2001. Weather:
6/10th covered, hazy.

Alley, George B., S/Sgt, gunner Morris, Raymond A., Sgt, engineer-gunner

Silva, John P., S/Sgt, gunner

Sunday, 4 July 1943

USAAF Chronology: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO):

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): Royal Air Force (RAF)
Halifax aircraft bomb the Catania, Sicily. Railroad yards during the night of 3/4 Jul. B-
25's hit the airfield at Comiso, Sicily. P-40's escort bombers and convoy and fly sea-
search for a missing pilot. Fighters claim 3 Bf 109's shot down. 4 P-40's are lost. The
86th and 87th Fighter Squadrons, 79th Fighter Group transfer with P-40's from Tunisia to
Malta.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force): During
the night of 3/4 Jul, Wellingtons hit Trapani, Sicily and Lido di Roma, Italy. Leaflets are
dropped in the Rome, Italy area. In Sicily, B-17's and B-26's hit the airfields at Catania
and Gerbini; B-25's bomb 2 satellite airfields near Gerbini; and Northwest African
Tactical Air Force (NATAF) A-20 and medium bombers hit airfields at Comiso, Trapani,
Sciacca, and Castelvetrano. The 37th Fighter Squadron, 14th Fighter Group transfers with
P-38's from Telergma, Algeria to El Bathan, Tunisia.

445th BS War Diary: Thirty six B-25’s (11 of the 445) bombed Gerbini satellite #1. 60
x 500 lb. demo. Bombs were dropped by the 445th from 9,500 ft. The formation was led
by Major Cook. The visibility was very poor and the formation was unable to locate the
target on the first run. On the second run the target was found and some hits were made.
Ten enemy fighters attacked the formation as they left the target. The flak was very
heavy, intense and accurate. Fourteen ships out of the formation were hit, one pilot and
one co-pilot was wounded by flak. One pilot was injured when an enemy fighter attacked
from above and ahead. It is believed that Lt. Gunter was the pilot who was injured by the
fighter as his ship did not return and is probably at Malta. The terrific heat continues.
The temperature today was recorded by the English in Souk El Arba as being 140 in the
sun and 115 degrees in the shade. The wind was like that of a breeze blowing out of a
blast furnace.

Cook, Bailey C., Maj, pilot, Commander Gunter, Macon A., Jr., 2Lt, pilot

446th BS War Diary: Group mission 67, Sqdn 58 composed of 12 planes led by Lt.
Garmon to Gerbini, Sicily. 300 and 500 lb bombs were dropped with only fair results.
The formation had difficulty in finding the target because of haze. Heavy and accurate
flak was encountered and enemy aircraft attacked the formation. 2 of them were
destroyed and several probably destroyed. The plane piloted by Lt. Axson, Lt. Coffey,
and T/Sgt. Shields were hit by flak, but not seriously injured.

Garmon, James M., 1Lt, pilot

A/C No. unknown

Axson, Ralph L., Jr., 2Lt

Coffey, Noel F., 2Lt

None

Meehan, James M., 1Lt

Ludwig, Michael E., S/Sgt

Shields, James A., T/Sgt

Mitchell, Edgar V., S/Sgt or Lance M.

Benson, Henry E., S/Sgt

Sunday, 4 July 1943 (continued)

447th BS War Diary: One of our planes participated in a raid on Gerbini satellite #1.
The ship flown by Lt. Fabling was attacked from the front by fighters and slightly
damaged. Bombing results poor. Lt. Fabling returned safely.

Fabling, Charles R., 1Lt, pilot

A/C No. unknown (spare)

Fabling, Charles R., 1Lt

Shapiro, Leonard L. “Shap”, 1Lt

A/C No. unknown “Ruff Stuff” (spare)

A/C No. unknown (spare)

McDuff, Daniel R., 1Lt

Lungren, Charles D., 1Lt

A/C No. unknown (spare)

Bugbee, James M., 1Lt

Cohagen, McKinley B., 1Lt

448th BS War Diary: Mission 49 (80): At 10:35 36 planes off to bomb Gerbini #1,
dropped 136 x 300 and 108 x 500 bombs at 13:05 from 9500 feet. 34 planes returned at
15:00, 1 landed at Corba and 1 at Malta. Poor visibility at target and passed it going E
and on return run some hits made and 2 fires seen on E/A, hits observed on revetments on
N side of A/D. 10 E/A attacked after leaving target. Intense, heavy, accurate flak, 14
planes hit over target, 2 pilots and 1 co-pilot wounded. Weather: 5/10th Alto cumulus at
15,000 feet. F/L: Stultz, Culp.

Culp, Merle H., Capt, pilot Stultz, Raymond B., Capt, pilot

447th BS: War Diary of: McDuff, Daniel R., 1Lt, pilot

“The day most everyone seems to have expected an invasion—I flew spare for a 36 –ship
raid on one of the Gerbini airfields over on the eastern part of Sicily. As it was, thought,
I was just a spare. I flew along with them for about 20 minutes after they left the coast,
but no one fell out where I would fit, so I came home.”

“We had a time that day. I was leading the six spare ships—all from our
squadron. My formation was made up of Lungren on my element with Fabling on his left
and Shapiro on his right. Just after we left the coast, one ship out of the lead flight of the
main formation fell out, and Bugbee, who couldn’t quite tell which formation it was that
had the hole in it, hopped over to fill. He came right back and I managed to get his
signal that they wanted 500 lb. bombs instead of the 300 lb. jobs we of the first element
were carrying. It was up to Shapiro, then, to take the spot, but he didn’t see it, and after
waiting a few minutes, Fabling pulled out and took it. Then Shapiro woke up and went
trailing off after him, trying, I suppose, to beat him to it.

Lungren had been signaling for some time that he wanted to turn back---his radio
was out apparently. I told him (by signals) to hang around a moment and we would go
back together, but after a while he came up, gave a landing signal, and figuring
something else had gone wrong, I signaled O.K. and he left. Bugbee had gone off to what
he thought was our second element to signal for someone with 500 lb. bombs to take the
vacancy---and when he came back he saw Lungren leaving and latched onto him by
mistake. Visibility was very poor, and when Fabling and Shapiro took off together, I
figured I had hung around long enough, so I turned around and Cohagen and I came
back together. We had a lot of explaining to do when we got back for not coming in
together, but it was just one of those things brought on by a series of events and poor
visibility.”

Bugbee, James M., 1Lt, pilot Cohagen, McKinley B., 1Lt, pilot

Fabling, Charles R., 1Lt, pilot Lungren, Charles D., 1Lt, pilot

Shapiro, Leonard L., 2Lt, pilot

446th BS Special Account: On July 4, 1943 the Squadron furnished 12 planes for a
mission to the Gerbini A/D in Sicily. Some difficulty was experienced in finding the
target due to haze and heavy accurate flak was encountered. Enemy fighters attacked the
formation and two of them were destroyed. The plane piloted by Lt. Axson was badly
shot up and was forced to make an emergency landing at Cape Bon. Lt. Axson, pilot, and
Lt. Coffey, co-pilot, and T/Sgt. Shields were hit by flak, but not too seriously injured.
The remainder of Lt. Axson’s crew included: Lt. Meehan, bombardier; S/Sgt. Ludwig,
engineer; S/Sgt. Mitchell, turret gunner; and S/Sgt. Benson, photographer.

Axson, Ralph L., Jr., 2Lt, pilot Benson, Henry E., S/Sgt, gunner, photographer

Coffey, Noel F., 2Lt, pilot Ludwig, Michael E., S/Sgt, gunner

Meehan, James M., 1Lt, bombardier Shields, James A., T/Sgt, gunner

Mitchell, Edgar V., S/Sgt, gunner or Mitchell, Lance M., S/Sgt, gunner

The following is an eye witness account of the mission by one of the crew
members: For our Fourth of July celebration we were assigned to bomb the Gerbini A/D
in Sicily. We had some trouble finding the target and the Germans and Italians sent up
plenty of flak. We dropped our bombs and started away from the target, lagging because

Sunday, 4 July 1943 (continued)

our plane had been shot up. 10-12 enemy fighters came in to finish us off, but instead of
our being finished we got two of them. A 20 mm shell exploded in the pilot’s
compartment and injured Lt. Axson, our pilot, who fell forward putting the plane into a
steep dive. Everybody and everything that wasn’t tied down fell in a heap on the floor.
The co-pilot, Lt. Coffey, straightened the plane out and brought it to an emergency field
on Cape Bon. When we got there we had practically no gas left and we then found out
that Lt. Coffey had also been hit and injured, but he had said nothing about it. All in all it
was an exciting Fourth. James A. Shields, T/Sgt.

Coffey, Noel F., 2Lt, pilot Shields, James A., T/Sgt, gunner

446th BS Special Account: On July 4, 1943 a mission was sent to Gerbini, Sicily where
heavy flak was encountered. Although the results of the mission were highly successful
ship number 41-13200 was hit several times and its pilot Lt. Ralph Axson and the co-
pilot Lt. Noel Coffey were both injured when a 20 MM cannon shell burst in the cockpit.
The following is the story of the trip related by the pilot:

Axson, Ralph L., Jr., 2Lt, pilot Coffey, Noel F., 2Lt, pilot

On this day it was our squadron’s time to supply the last flight of the bomber
formation, and our ship was placed in the trailing position known as the “tail-end
Charlie”.

Our trip out was uneventful until we reached the target area, where we ran into an
extremely dense barrage of anti-aircraft fire. After our bombs had bee dropped and we
were leaving the area of ack-ack we began to breathe easier, although we were slightly
trailing the formation and had the controls against the firewall for we were confident that
our escort would keep away the enemy fighters. While still deep in the enemy territory
enemy planes were spotted off to our left and headed for our formation. The interphone
crackled with voices as the crew prepared to beat off the attack. The enemy fighters kept
coming in even after two of their number were shot down in flames. One ME-109 came
in for a head on attack and received a hot reception. Tracers and exploding shell were
flying thick and fast, when all of a sudden the side of the cockpit seemed to be crushed in
on top of me. I was temporarily blinded and stunned from the shock of the explosion;
also there were many sharp fiery pains in my face, arm and leg.

When the explosion occurred the nose of the ship was forced down at a very steep
angle and it seemed we would surely crash into the country-side, but the co-pilot, Lt.
Noel F. Coffey, was already on the controls and leveled off the plane in the direction of
our home base. The gunners having been bounced around returned to their posts and
continued to ward off the attacking enemy fighters until our own escorting fighters came
to our rescue and drove away the remaining 109’s. A sum total of twenty enemy fighters
attacked our ship that day, losing two of their number but failing to down the stout-
hearted B-25 Mitchell.

Feeling very tired and weak I was content to recline and let the bombardier
administer sulfanilamide for my wounds while Lt. Coffey kept the ship level and on a
homeward course under very adverse condition, both elevators haven been partially shot
away so that the trim tabs were of no use and the left wing flap completely shot off,

Sunday, 4 July 1943 (continued)

besides the fact that the left engine was losing power and heating up due to loss of mush
oil and the right engine was backfiring.

As we preceded toward land the fuel gauges dropped until they indicated zero,
after which we flew mostly on prayers. The sight of land brightened everyone’s spirits,
and we headed for the nearest landing field, a fighter field at Corba on the Cape Bon
Peninsula. Knowing that we would not have time to fly around very long, Lt. Coffey
called for wheels down and started in to land. On the approach leg when Lt. Coffey
called for flaps I then informed him that half of them were gone and it would be
impossible to use them. At this he laughed and said, “I always did want to land this thing
without flaps” and continued toward the small landing strip.

The approach that day was at cruising speed, all that we could get, one hundred
and sixty-five miles per hour. When we were over the end of the runway and almost on
the ground the left prop ran away up to about 3000 R.P.M. where upon Lt. Coffey cut all
power and set our weary ship lightly upon the hard landing strip. Taxing over and cutting
the engines Lt. Coffey jumped from the plane and asked why the ambulance wasn’t
waiting, for our red light had been on while landing.

Not until we were on the ground did Lt. Coffey let it be known that pieces of
shrapnel had entered his left arm and foot.

As I recall that day I can only think of a job well done under extreme
circumstance. RALPH L. AXSON, Jr.,
Coffey, Noel F., 2Lt, pilot 1st Lt., Air Corps,
Pilot

Monday, 5 July 1943

USAAF Chronology: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO):

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): In Sicily, B-24's attack
the harbor, harbor installations, railway yards, and oil storage at Messina while B-25's hit
the airfields at Sciacca and Biscari. P-40's fly uneventful sea patrol. Royal Air Force

(RAF) heavy bombers strike railroad yards at Catania, Sicily.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force): North-
west African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) Wellingtons bomb the airfields at Villacidro,
Sardinia and Catania, Sicily during the night of 4/5 Jul. In Sicily, NASAF fighters,
medium and heavy bombers hit main and satellite airfields at Gerbini and radar stations at
Marsala and Licata; Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) light and medium
bombers hit Sciacca and airfields at Trapani, Comiso and Biscari. Northwest African
Coastal Air Force (NACAF) airplanes maintain sea patrol, reconnaissance, and convoy
escort.

445th BS War Diary: Thirty six B-25’s took off to bomb Gerbini satellite #1. Six of our
ships were spares, five of which filled in. 40 x 300 lb. demo. Bombs were dropped by the
445th. Although we didn’t lose any ships, the group lost two. One landed at Sicily and
burst into flames and the other made a crash landing in the Mediterranean just off the
Sicilian coast. All the crew members escaped. Due to poor visibility and haze, the
formation passed over their target before it was sighted so the main airdrome at Gerbini
was bombed. Hits were made on the runway, revetments, taxi strip and hangar. Four
fires were seen. The flak was heavy, intense and accurate. It was confirmed today that
Lt. Gunter and crew were at Malta. Lt Gunter was injured but no one seems to know how
bad off he really is. In spite of mosquito nets and Atebrin a few cases of malaria have
been found in the squadron. We haven’t figured out yet which is worse, malaria or the
Atebrin.

Gunter, Macon A., Jr., 2Lt, pilot

446th BS War Diary: Group mission 68, Sqdn 59 composed of 10 planes led by Capt.
Griffith. The target was the Gerbini L/G #6, Sicily. 300 lb bombs were carried but only
one corner of the field was hit. Flak was heavy and accurate, but there were no fighters.
Lt. Bradley’s plane was hit by flak and he was forced to land it in the sea. S/Sgt. Sheldon
received a broken leg and S/Sgt. Lovell received cuts on his face. The crew was picked
up by a British ASR launch and taken to Malta. Capt. Griffith’s plane was also badly hit
by flak and S/Sgt. Billy Dykes was injured by it.

A/C No. 42-32432

A/C No. unknown

Bradley, James L., 1Lt

Griffith, Frank J., Capt

Wright, Theodore O., 2Lt

Davis, Sterling, 1Lt

Anzalone, Benjamin W., 1Lt

Rockafellow, Alfred A., S/Sgt

Sheldon, Victor W., T/Sgt

Lovell, Curtis L., S/Sgt

Dykes, Billy, S/Sgt

None

Monday, 5 July 1943 (continued)

447th BS War Diary: Eleven of our planes participated in a raid on Gerbini satellite #1.
The wrong satellite was bombed with fair results. The flak was very intense. Lt.
Shapiro’s ship received a direct hit and went down in flames. The whole crew was lost.
With him were Lt. Greenwood and S/Sgts. Schulze, Waldrip, Rider and Lt. Shapiro’s
little dog “Scrappy”. This was the first complete crew to be lost by the squadron. Capt.
Seel’s plane was hit in several places. The upper turret canopy was smashed by
fragments of a shell and the gunner, S/Sgt. A. Jensen injured. His face was cut pretty
seriously but he stuck with his guns. One fragment cut the oil line in Capt. Seel’s right
engine and he had some difficulty with it. Lt. Cohagen’s ship was also hit in several
places. Fragments coming in through the bombardier’s compartment injured the
bombardier, Lt. Hartis and observer, Capt. Manly. Lt. Hartis’ injuries weren’t serious but
Capt. Manly had one finger pretty badly mutilated. Lt. Cohagen landed at Tunis where
Capt. Manly was left for hospital care. All planes except that of Lt. Shapiro’s returned
safely.

A/C No. unknown

Shapiro, Leonard L., 2Lt

Seel, Peter B., Jr., Capt

Greenwood, Nathan A., 2Lt

None

Schulze, George F., S/Sgt

Waldrip, Robert L., S/Sgt

Rider, Lawrence E., S/Sgt

Jensen, Aage E., S/Sgt

“Scrappy” (Lt Shapiro’s “little dog”)

A/C No. unknown

A/C No. 925 “Huckelberry Duck”

Cohagen, McKinley B., 1Lt

Grantham, Charles H., 1Lt

Stephenson, Henry W. "Steve", 2Lt

None

Hartis, John G., 2Lt

McCone, Walter G. 2Lt

Kramer, Gilbert W., S/Sgt

Anderson, Andrew F., T/Sgt or Chester E

Draper, Ralph M., S/Sgt

Manly, Robert W., Capt, intel (observer)

None

448th BS War Diary: Mission 50 (81): At 15:15 36 planes off to bomb Gerbini #1,
dropped 265 x 300 bombs from 8500 at 12:50. 33 returned at 14:10. 1 landed at Tunis
and 1 in Sicily in flames, 1 in the sea 13 miles off Bronia, all crew seen in life raft. Due
to haze and poor visibility target not seen until late and main A/D at Gerbini bombed
instead, hits seen on runways, revetments, taxi strips and hangars. 4 fires seen and white
smoke over field. Intense, heavy, accurate flak over field. 4 boats in harbor at Licata and
Garoquato. 11 planes hit by flak. Weather: Scattered cloud, target very hazy. F/L:
Issacson, Veum.

Issacson, Clayton M., Capt, pilot Veum, Ole E., Capt, pilot

Monday, 5 July 1943 (continued)

447th BS: War Diary of: McDuff, Daniel R., 1Lt, pilot

“July 5th was my day off and I recon I’m kind of glad it was. The boys had a very tough
mission, raiding the Gerbini Airfields. Some big shot somewhere had his head up and
locked and “ordered” that they follow the course he prescribed. It was a honey. They
were to approach the target area from the south, going west of it so that, when they got
well north of it, a turn to the right would bring them southwest to the target. They were
to make a 270° turn to the left after dropping their bombs, fly west a way, then go back
off the island to the south the same way they had come in. And it was a long way from
the target to the coast! It would be just begging for trouble.

And they got it. Shapiro was shot down and crashed on the island---DeMoss, who
followed him down to give him what protection he could, said Shap crashed and
burned—not a chance to live through it. Bradley, of the 446th, was shot down abut 8 or
10 miles off the coast of Sicily, and several others were shot up pretty bad. Cohagen and
his crew took a beating---as did his passenger, Capt. R.W. Manly, who got various and
sundry pieces of flak here and there and nearly had the top of one of his fingers torn off.
Cohagen landed at Tunis and left him in the hospital there. He is not back yet, but should
be in a few days. Apparently there was nothing really serious.”

Bradley, James L., Jr., 1Lt, pilot, 446th BS Cohagen, McKinley B., 1Lt, pilot

DeMoss, Jack M., 1Lt, pilot Manly, Robert W., Capt, intelligence

Shapiro, Leonard L. "Shap", 2Lt, pilot

447th BS: War Diary of: Stephenson, Henry W. "Steve", 2Lt, pilot (mission 1)

TARGET: Gerbini Satellite 3:55 300 lbs

Plane 925: Lt. Grantham, Lt. Stephenson, Lt. McCone, S/Sgt Kramer, T/Sgt, Anderson,
S/Sgt Draper

“One A/C landed at Tunis. One landed in Sicily and broke into flame. One A/C landed
3 miles off Biano H. and crew seen in dinghy. Hits seen on runway taxi strips & hangars.
Flak heavy accurate. Lt. Shapiro and crew forced down over target. Capt. Manly an
observer was hospitalized.”

Manly, Robert W., Capt, intelligence Shapiro, Leonard L., 2Lt, pilot

446th BS Special Account: On the 5th of July, 1943 a mission was sent to Gerbini
Satellite number 1. The results were very good but intense flak was encountered causing
our ship to crash land at sea. The following narrative was written by the navigator of the
ship. The pilot was Lt. James Bradley and the ship was 42-32432. The crew was Lt.
T.O. Wright, Co-pilot, Lt. Benjamin W. Anzalone, Bombardier, S/Sgt Rockafellow, Eng.
Gunner, S/Sgt. Lovell, C.L., Turret Gunner, and T/Sgt. V.W. Sheldon, Radio Gunner.

Anzalone, Benjamin W., 1Lt, bombardier Bradley, James L., Jr., Capt, pilot

Lovell, Curtis L., S/Sgt, turret gunner Rockafellow, Alfred A., S/Sgt, engineer-gunner

Sheldon, Victor W., T/Sgt, radio-gunner Wright, Theodore O., 1Lt, pilot

Our target was Gerbini, Sicily and we knew it was going to be rough from results
of the day before. Everything went fairly well until we were about to start on our bomb
run. We could see quite a bit of accurate flak at the flight ahead of us and one of the first

Monday, 5 July 1943 (continued)

bursts at our formation hit us in the left engine and it felt like the plane was going to be
turned over. We were in flak several minutes; never the less Lt. Bradley thought it wise
to get all he could out of the engine to get out of the flak as soon as possible. This was a
wise move because we were hit at least twice more and had we been going slower we
likely would have been hit again and that might possibly have stopped us before we could
reach water.

After we had nearly reached the end of the flak I felt a strong pull on the left
engine and the prop was running away. Lt. Bradley attempted to feather it, but was
unsuccessful, so we cut the manifold pressure and the R.P.M. all the back and we and we
cut off the fuel to that engine. It was o.k. for awhile, wind milling at about 800 R.P.M.
and we were of the impression that we would make it.

We were losing altitude and going down toward the deck at about 190-195 and
just about the time we were going to level off to start our journey back across the water
the left prop ran away again. Lt. Bradley gave the right motor abut all it could take and
we were losing altitude and air speed quite rapidly. I heard Lt. Bradley call over
interphone that we were going to “ditch” and shortly thereafter we hit the water. Lt.
Bradley brought the ship in for a very nice water landing without full control for I could
see part of the right aileron was gone and a number of holes completely through the left
wing and nacelle. The ship was very hard to handle and from the tie the prop ran away
until we hit the water Lt. Bradley had to use all his strength to hold the ship from flipping
over.

After the plane stopped on the water Lt. Bradley took charge of getting the life
raft inflated and the things for the raft. He made sure his entire crew was safe, even
though one man had a broken leg. The P-38’s circled us for about 30 minutes and went
to Malta and brought back a rescue launch with a Spitfire cover. We were all picked up
after 3 hours and 50 minutes afloat in the raft.

Bradley, James L., Jr., Capt, pilot STERLING DAVIS

1st lt., Air Corps,

Navigator.

Tuesday, 6 July 1943

USAAF Chronology: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO):

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): In Sicily, B-24's strike
satellite airfields at Gerbini; B-25's hit the airfields at Biscari and Gerbini while P-4O's
escort bombers, patrol, and carry out dive-bombing operations. The 85th Fighter
Squadron, 79th Fighter Group transfers with P-40's from Tunisia to Malta.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force): In Sicily,
Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) Wellingtons hit Gerbini Airfield and 2
satellites during the night of 5/6 Jul; during predawn hours and throughout the day, light
and medium bombers of Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) bomb airfields
at Biscari, Sciacca, Trapani, and Comiso; NASAF B-17's again hit Gerbini Airfield and 3
satellite fields; B-25's bomb Biscari Airfield. Northwest African Coastal

Air Force (NACAF) maintains sea patrol and convoy protection.

445th BS War Diary: Thirty six B-25’s (12 of the 445th) took off to bomb Biscari,
Sicily. 80 x 300 lb. demo. Bombs. Were dropped by the 445th from 8,500 ft. The
majority of the bombs dropped on the field with excellent results. One JU 52 was hit
while trying to take off. The escort was 24 P-38’s and spitfires from Malta furnished a
high cover. No more word from Lt. Gunter and his crew. Sgt. Finn and Gallaher are out
of the hospital now and will be back to normal condition shortly. The hot winds were
present throughout the day and the temperature remained at 114 degrees. Steak was
served at chow this evening which was quite a jump from the two standard meats, Vienna
sausage or Vienna sausage.

Finn, Jessie N., T/Sgt, duty soldier Gallaher, T/Sgt, duty soldier

Gunter, Macon A., Jr., 2Lt, pilot

446th BS War Diary: Group mission 81, Sqdn 60 composed of 10 planes. Lt. Bailey
led the Group to Biscari, Sicily with Col. Knapp as co-pilot. 300 lb bombs were dropped
and the target was very well covered. It is believed that the field was rendered
unserviceable. This was one of the most concentrated bombing attacks in which this
Squadron participated.

Bailey, Merle H., 2Lt, pilot Knapp, Robert D., Col, 321st BG Commander

447th BS War Diary: Twelve of our planes participated in a raid on the Biscari San
Pietro airdrome in Sicily. Bombing results good. All our planes returned safely.

A/C No. 925 “Huckelberry Duck”

A/C No. 371

Grantham, Charles H., 1Lt

Spikes, Robert F., 1Lt

Stephenson, Henry W. "Steve", 2Lt

None

McCone, Walter G. 2Lt

Kramer, Gilbert W., S/Sgt

Anderson, Andrew F., T/Sgt or Chester E

Draper, Ralph M., S/Sgt

Leon, Robert D., Cpl

Tuesday, 6 July 1943 (continued)

A/C No. unknown “Ruff Stuff”

A/C No. unknown

McDuff, Daniel R., 1Lt

DeMoss, Jack M., 1Lt

A/C No. unknown

Lungren, Charles D., 1Lt

Richardson, Robert W., 1Lt (F/L)

448th BS War Diary: Mission 51 (82): At 08:35 36 planes off to bomb Biscari San
Pietro airdrome, Sicily, dropped 268 x 300 bombs from 9000 feet. 35 returned at 12:05.
Almost all bombs fell directly on field excellent results. Weather: Hazy, visibility 9
miles.

447th BS: War Diary of: McDuff, Daniel R., 1Lt, pilot (mission 24)

“On the 6th I went on my 24th mission. It was a lilly (Dilly?)! Our target was an airfield
just inland from the southern coast of Sicily, and each of the 36 ships carried a load of
three-hundred-pounders. It seems that the idea is to neutralize the fields themselves
rather than just to destroy the aircraft on the ground. In this particular case, we mauled
the hell out of it.

In keeping with its performance of late, I had a little trouble with Ruff Stuff. For
some unknown reason the darn thing is slow---disconcertingly slow. I flew on DeMoss’
right wing and stayed with him fairly well on the climb and going over the target, but
when they checked out getting off the target, DeMoss flew most of the way by himself.
Lungren was on his left wing and he, too, had trouble keeping up. He lagged about as
far behind as I did, and we looked like a two ship element trailing a one ship element.
But such tactics are dangerous only when there are fighters around. On this run we saw
none. And the odd part about it was that we went over the particular field that was our
target and right near to two others and no one saw even one burst of flak! For a
supposedly well defended island, they did surprisingly little shooting. Something seems
fishy to me…”

DeMoss, Jack M., 1Lt, pilot Lungren, Charles D., 1Lt, pilot

Tuesday, 6 July 1943 (continued)

447th BS: War Diary of: Spikes, Robert F., 1Lt, pilot (mission 27)

TARGET: Biscari San Pietro A/D 3:30 Plane 371

“Results excellent. All bombs dropped in target area. Flight leader Lt. Richardson. No
E/A.

Richardson, Robert W., 1Lt, pilot

447th BS: War Diary of: Stephenson, Henry W. "Steve", 2Lt, pilot (mission 2)

TARGET: Biscari/San Pietro A/D 3:30 300 lbs

Plane 925: Lt. Grantham, Lt. Stephenson, Lt. McCone, S/Sgt Kramer, T/Sgt, Anderson,
S/Sgt Draper, Cpl. Leon

“Almost all bombs dropped on field. Results excellent. One JU 52 taking off field
believed hit. Five T/E on SW corner of field near revetment. Two T/E on E side. No
flak.”

Wednesday, 7 July 1943

USAAF Chronology: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO):

ANTISUBMARINE WARFARE (AAF Antisubmarine Command): The
German sub, U-95l, is sunk in E Atlantic, 37-40N 15-30W, by a B-24 of the 1st
Antisubmarine Squadron (Heavy).

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): In Sicily, B-24's hit
airfields at Gerbini and the rail line N of Brucoli; and B-25's bomb the airfield and
surrounding areas at Biscari and Comiso. P-40's bomb and strafe Lucca Airfield, Italy.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force): North-
west African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) Wellingtons bomb Palermo, Sicily and
airfields at Villacidro, Milis, and Pabillonis, Sardinia during the night of 6/7 Jul. In Sicily
during the day, B-17's, B-25's, and B-26's bomb Gerbini satellite fields and Bo Rizzo
Airfield, as P-40's fly a diversionary sweep over the W part of Sicily; Northwest African
Tactical Air Force (NATAF) A-20's hit Sciacca during the night of 6/7 Jul, and the
following day bomb airfields at Trapani, Biscari, Comiso, Bo Rizzo, and Mazara del
Vallo, and hit Sciacca, and Marsala radar stations, Caltanissetta and Porto Empedocle.

445th BS War Diary: Thirty six B-25’s (11 of the 445th) took off to bomb Gerbini
Satellite. 88 x 300 demo. Bombs were dropped by the 445th from 9,000 ft. A good
portion of the bombs were believed to have fallen in the target area. The weather was
very hazy and the visibility was limited to about 4 miles making observation of results
very difficult. Two Seibel ferries and escort vessels were strafed about a mile off the
coast. Four enemy fighters with black spinners were seen but only attacked us. The flak
was heavy, moderate to intense usually ahead and to the left of the formation. Twenty
four P-38’s acted as escorts while spitfires from Malta furnished the high cover over the
target. It was learned today from Mrs. Johnson, mother of Lt. Johnson, who went down
with Lt. Adcock’s crew at El Djem on April 4th, that Lt’s. Johnson and Hill, Sgt’s.
Lippincott, Boyd and Campbell were all safe but prisoners of war in the hands of the
Germans. She said that Sgt. Lippincott received slight injuries in the landing. Our
enlisted men were defeated in a softball game with the 62nd base hospital—the final score
being 9 to 6.

Adcock, Roy D., 2Lt, pilot

Boyd, Ewell V., Sgt, gunner or Boyd, Hugh A., Sgt, gunner

Campbell, Theodore W., Sgt, gunner Hill, Raymond D., 2Lt, bombardier

Johnson, Richard S., 2Lt, pilot Lippincott, Spencer H., Sgt, gunner

446th BS War Diary: Group mission 82, Sqdn 61 composed of 12 planes led by Lt.
Garmon. The Target was the Gerbini A/D #7, Sicily. 300 lb bombs were dropped but the
results were only fair because the target was difficult to fine. Two Siebel Ferries and an
Escort vessel were strafed off the coast of Sicily.

Garmon, James M., 1Lt, pilot

Wednesday, 7 July 1943 (continued)

447th BS War Diary: Twelve of our planes participated in a raid on Gerbini satellite #7.
Because of poor visibility the bombs were dropped on #3 & 4 with fair results. All our
planes returned safely.

A/C No. 925 “Huckelberry Duck”

A/C No. 371

Grantham, Charles H., 1Lt

Spikes, Robert F., 1Lt

Stephenson, Henry W. "Steve", 2Lt

None

McCone, Walter G. 2Lt

Kramer, Gilbert W., S/Sgt

Anderson, Andrew F., T/Sgt or Chester E

Draper, Ralph M., S/Sgt

Leon, Robert D., Cpl

Pinger, Robert F., Maj, surgeon
(observer)

A/C No. unknown

A/C No. unknown “Ruff Stuff”

Williams, William T., 2Lt

McDuff, Daniel R., 1Lt

A/C No. unknown

Richardson, Robert W., Capt

Daume, Oscar R., 1Lt

448th BS War Diary: Mission 52 (83): At 08:50 36 planes off to bomb Gerbini #7,
dropped 270 x 300 bombs at 10:50 from 8500 feet. Haze and smoke prevented
observation of results. All planes returned at 13:20. Moderate inaccurate flak. Weather:
6/10th overcast, haze.

447th BS: War Diary of: McDuff, Daniel R., 1Lt, pilot (mission 25)

“On the 7th I got my 25th mission. Thirty-six ships loaded with 300’s again went after one
of the Gerbini satellite fields again. It was on this run that the boys had so much trouble
the day Shapiro was shot down. However, his loss got Col, Knapp on the ball and from
now on we plot our own courses to and from the targets. Our course for this raid was
considerably different: instead of making around trip of our route, as on the previous

Wednesday, 7 July 1943 (continued)

raid, we were to hit the target from the southwest, bomb and turn off to the southeast,
taking the shortest route to the coast which was about ten miles.

Richardson was leading the entire formation and did a darn good job. Oscar
Daume, his navigator, turned in a faultless piece of work. Visibility was rotten—about 4
to 5 miles over the target at most. But we came into the target just where we intended to
and left it just as we had hoped—all blown to hell! We got a little flak, but nothing like
the stuff they ran into on the previous raid. It was scattered and more or less inaccurate.

Our return trip was a long one. As we left the target, we went over the eastern
coast of the island until it was almost out of sight, then we turned and flew south for a
while. The coast of Sicily faded out entirely when we made that turn and after a few
minutes, Daume had us going almost straight west, and we held that course for about an
hour and ten minutes. I was beginning to think that Oscar had missed Tunisia entirely,
and I fully expected to fly up on Gibraltar at any minute. But in due course we hit the
coast exactly where we had left it about three hours before. We hadn’t seen a thing since
leaving the coast of Sicily and to come out exactly where we intended was a masterpiece
of navigation. Just to show you how accurate it was, we flew fight over the big middle of
the 340th field at Hergla on the way out, and coming back our course took us right over
the middle of the same field!

Since I had to use so much power in old Ruff Stuff to keep up with the formation,
Major Sampson got a little worried just before take off and came around to talk to me
about it. I told him that I though it would make it O.K. and, although he gave me my
choice, I decided to try it. If I ran short on fuel on the way home, I could land at Hergla
which was about 35 minutes from our base. As it turned out, I had about an hour of fuel
in my tanks when we landed here. I started to land at Hergla anyhow—and go
swimming…”

Daume, Oscar R., 1Lt, navigator Knapp, Robert D., Col, pilot, 321st BG Commander

Richardson, Robert W., Capt, pilot Sampson, Raymond D., Maj, pilot, Commander

Shapiro, Leonard L. "Shap", 2Lt, pilot

447th BS: War Diary of: Spikes, Robert F., 1Lt, pilot (mission 28)

TARGET: Gerbini – Satellite # 6 4:40 Plane 371

“Coverage of field good. Flak position silenced by strafing. 371 led our squadron.
Major Pinger with 371.”

Pinger, Robert R., Maj, Surgeon, HQ 321st BG

447th BS: War Diary of: Stephenson, Henry W. "Steve", 2Lt, pilot (mission 3)

TARGET: Gerbini A/D 4:30 300 lbs

Plane 925: Lt. Grantham, Lt. Stephenson, Lt. McCone, S/Sgt Kramer, T/Sgt, Anderson,
S/Sgt Draper, Cpl. Leon

“Strafed two Siebel ferries and escorts vessels, one mile north E of Pero. One E/A
ME109 with silver spinners attacked over target. Flak moderate, heavy, intense.”

Wednesday, 7 July 1943 (continued)

447th BS: War Diary of: Williams, William T., 2Lt, pilot (mission 3)

“Missed four straight missions while our ship was being modified. Finally got my foot in
it again today though. Target – Gerbini Satellite Airfield #6 in E. Sicily. B-25s and 32
P-38s for cover. Flak was heavy but we breezed through it. Saw a convoy of about 100
ships on the way back from the target. Beautiful sight. (Shapiro was shot down over
here Monday). Went to Trans Atlantique last night for supper.”

Shapiro, Leonard L., 2Lt, pilot

Thursday, 8 July 1943

USAAF Chronology: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO):

ANTISUBMARINE (AAF Antisubmarine Command): German sub, U-232,
is sunk off Portugal, 40-37N 13-4lW, by a B-24 of the 2d Antisubmarine Squadron
(Heavy).

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): In Sicily, B-24's attack
the Catania railway station, telegraph and telephone buildings, and industrial area; B-25's
hit the airfields at Biscari and Comiso and nearby areas; and P-40's attack Biscari
Airfield, escort bombers over Sicily, and carry out sea patrol.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force): In Sicily,
Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) Wellingtons bomb airfields at Comiso
and Catania during the night of 7/8 Jul. During the day, B-17's, B-25's, and B-26's make
several strikes against Gerbini and its satellite fields; P-38's strafe radar installations in
the E part of Sicily; Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) light bombers hit
Sciacca Airfield while medium bombers hit airfields at Biscari and Comiso; A-36's attack
trucks, a train, railroads, highways, a sulfur plant, and a marshalling yard at several points
in Sicily.

445th BS War Diary: Forty eight B-25’s (12 of the 445th) took off to bomb Gerbini
Satellite #6. 85 x 300 lb. demo. were dropped by the 445th from 9,000 ft. The formation
was led by Major Cook, with Captain Tipton leading one of the flights. 48 P-38’s of the
82nd fighter group were escort. Coverage of the field was good with especially a good
concentration of hits at the eastern end. Flak positions on the field were strafed. Two
Siebel ferries were strafed just off the coast. Enemy fighters appeared above the
formation but did not attack. Several boats were seen in Augusta Harbor on the way out
from the target. The flak was heavy and inaccurate varying from moderate at the leading
flight to intense at the rear flight. Major Cook received wounds about the eye which
resulted from flak which hit the pilot’s window. Sgt. Eagan was slightly wounded on the
head when a piece of flak went through his steel helmet. Word was received today that
Lt. Gunter was dead and had been buried last Sunday. This sad news came as quite a
shock since we had received word a few days ago that all the crew was saved. The loss
of Lt. Gunter was a great loss to the squadron and as he was a very good pilot and a fine
man, well liked by all his fellow officers and looked up to by the enlisted men for the real
man he was. Lt. Gunter had been with us since the squadron was activated back in the
states.

Gunter, Macon A., Jr., 2Lt, pilot

A/C No. unknown

Cook, Bailey C., Maj

Tipton, William L. “Tip”, Capt

Eagan, T/Sgt

Thursday, 8 July 1943 (continued)

446th BS War Diary: Group mission 83, Sqdn 62 composed of 11 planes led by Lt.
Garmon. The target was Gerbini L/G #6, Sicily where 300 lb bombs were dropped. The
field was well covered with a heavy concentration of bombs on the eastern edge. Three
enemy aircraft were encountered but they didn’t attack.

Garmon, James M., 1Lt, pilot

447th BS War Diary: Twelve of our planes participated in a raid on Gerbini satellite #6.
Bombing results good. All our planes returned safely.

A/C No. 925 “Huckelberry Duck”

A/C No. unknown “Ruff Stuff”

Grantham, Charles H., 1Lt

McDuff, Daniel R., 1Lt

Stephenson, Henry W. "Steve", 2Lt

None

McCone, Walter G. 2Lt

Kramer, Gilbert W., S/Sgt

Anderson, Andrew F., T/Sgt or Chester E

Draper, Ralph M., S/Sgt

None

A/C No. unknown

Fineman, Ernest, 1Lt

Knapp, Robert D., Col, 321st BG C.O.

448th BS War Diary: Mission 53 (84): At 11:10 48 planes off to bomb Gerbini #6,
dropped 361 x 300 bombs at 13:30 from 9599 feet and returned 15:50. Coverage of field
excellent, concentrations on Ea end and flak positions silenced by strafing. 2 fields
strafed E of Corridor do Pero. 3 E/A seen above but did not attack. Intense, heavy
inaccurate flak. Weather: Hazy. F/L: Stultz.

Stultz, Raymond B., Capt, pilot

447th BS: War Diary of: McDuff, Daniel R., 1Lt, pilot (mission 26)

“Yesterday, July 8th, I got my 26th. And this time the 321st really went out in strength!
Forty-eight ships (of which our squadron furnished 15) went back to the Gerbini fields
with 300 lb. demolition bombs again. And again I flew lead ship for an element---behind
Fineman who led the fourth flight of 12 ships and who, incidentally, carried the great
Col. Knapp.

Visibility at take off was terrible again and our joining up procedure was ragged,
but it just so happened that I got my element off soon enough behind Fineman that I
could see him all the way and so had no trouble finding my spot. After a couple of

Thursday, 8 July 1943 (continued)

circles and S turns we got under way. And this time our course was a little different.
Instead of going straight east from Enfidaville as previously, we turned about northeast
over the coast and flew straight out from Cape Bon. Then, after a little while, turned east
until we could see the coast of Sicily on our left. Ruff Stuff had no trouble keeping up,
and for the first time in quite a while, we made a mission without going into high blower.

Flak was a little bit more eager this time, although none came within worrying
distance of our flight. Major Cook got a little in his cockpit and suffered a few scratches
on his face but so far as I have been able to learn, nothing serious. Various other
members of his crew were hit too, but only minor injuries resulted.

Visibility over the target was much better, and I got my first look at Mt. Etna---
which is quite some hill.

Our course was practically identical to that the day before in so far as leaving the
target was concerned. The navigation, however, was not nearly so good. We went too
far on our southerly leg and almost over ran Malta. And so I got my first look at Malta.
I is a long island or group of islands that seem to rise out of the sea to a rocky height of
about 200 or so feet. We saw it from a distance and it looked blue and cool, but we knew
it could get awfully hot if we came too close. The boys on Malta have developed some
mighty itchy trigger fingers and are reported to shoot at anything that flies over---even
gulls!

But we turned short of it a little ways and came on west to home. On the way---
and just shortly after we left Malta---we could see the largest collection of boats of all
sizes I have ever imagined! It’s size is almost unbelievable…Boats lined up and scattered
around for as far as the eye could see. A lot of power, there, and I have a feeling
someone is going to get a taste of that power somewhere and soon!

Just before we got to the Tunisian coast we passed right between two more
convoys---big ones---in fact I don’t think I’ve every seen a herd of cows with as many
cows in it as that convoy had boats!

I look for the invasion sometime between the 10th and 12th of July. We shall see!”

Cook, Bailey C., Col, pilot, Commander, 445th BS Fineman, Ernest, 1Lt, pilot

Knapp, Robert D., Col, pilot, 321st BG Commander

447th BS: War Diary of: Stephenson, Henry W. "Steve", 2Lt, pilot (mission 4)

TARGET: Gerbini Satellite No 6 4:40 300 lbs

Plane 925: Lt. Grantham, Lt. Stephenson, Lt. McCone, S/Sgt Kramer, T/Sgt, Anderson,
S/Sgt Draper

“Coverage of field very good. A few bombs over. Flak positions silenced by strafing.
15 planes on E end of field. 15 on Ponte Olive. 12 to 15 boats in Licata H. Flak heavy,
inaccurate.”

Friday, 9 July 1943

USAAF Chronology: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO):

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): B-24's bomb airfields at
Maleme, Crete, and Comiso and Taormina, Sicily. In Sicily, B-25's hit Sciacca landing
ground and Biscari Airfield and dispersal areas while P-40's escort bombers over
Castelvetrano, and Milo Airfields. This pre-invasion air bombardment of Sicily provides
air superiority over the enemy. British and US airborne contingents are dropped on the
island during the night of 9/10 Jul to help facilitate the amphibious assault of seaborne
troops which are to land tomorrow morning. This is the first major airborne operation to
be undertaken by the Allies in World War II, and subsequently becomes the subject of
intensive study.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force): In Sicily,
during the night of 8/9 Jul, Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) Wellingtons
bomb the airfields at Catania, Gerbini, and Comiso, and throughout the following day B-
17's, B-25's, B-26's, and fighters attack other targets, including Sciacca and Biscari
Airfields, Gerbini satellite field, and Cape Passero Island radar stations; and Northwest
African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) planes hit Sciacca and Milo Airfield during the
night of 8/9 Jul, and on 9 Jul hit Milo and Biscari Airfields, Sciacca, Porto Empedocle,
HQ at Taormina, a junction NE of Gela, the Canicatti area, and targets of opportunity.

445th BS War Diary: 42 B-25’s (6 of the 445th) took off to bomb the town of
Caltanissetta. 36 x 500 lb demolition bombs were dropped by the 445th from 10,500 ft.
The escort was 36 P-38’s of the 14th Fighter Group. The town was thoroughly covered
including hits on railroad yards, tracks and barracks in the northeast section of the town.
A large explosion was seen. No enemy fighters were seen and the few bursts of flak that
were seen came from along the coast. It was learned today that Lt. Shaw and Lt. McLeod
were slightly wounded during the raid of July 4th as the result of the flak. This evening, a
number of B-25 G’s landed at the field and most of the men went down to the tower
where they were parked to look them over. The crews on the “G’s” called them the
“Flying Caissons”. We called them the “Flying Coffins”, knowing the type of work they
would have to do.

McLeod, Jack P., 2Lt, bombardier Shaw, William H., 1Lt, pilot

446th BS War Diary: Group mission 84, Sqdn 63 composed of 12 planes led by Lt.
Chappell. 300 lb bombs were dropped on Caltanissetta, Sicily. The results were only fair
as the depots and barracks were missed, however the Squadron’s target which was the
RR yards and junction was well covered.

Chappell, Howard L., 1Lt, pilot

447th BS War Diary: Twelve of our planes participated in a raid on barracks at
Caltanissetta, Sicily. Bombing results excellent. All our planes returned safely.

Friday, 9 July 1943 (continued)

A/C No. 600 “Lady Luck”

A/C No. 371

Grantham, Charles H., 1Lt

Spikes, Robert F., 1Lt

Stephenson, Henry W. "Steve", 2Lt

None

McCone, Walter G. 2Lt

Kramer, Gilbert W., S/Sgt

Anderson, Andrew F., T/Sgt or Chester E

Draper, Ralph M., S/Sgt

None

A/C No. unknown

Williams, William T., 2Lt

448th BS War Diary: Mission 54 (85): At 1545 42 planes off to bomb Caltanissetta and
dropped 245 x 500 and 8 x 300 bombs from 10,000 feet at 17:30 and returned at 19:00.
Town thoroughly covered, hits on RR tracks, yards and barracks to NE. Explosions seen
and clouds of pink smoke after first started in city. No flak or enemy action. Weather:
4/10th cover at 6000 visibility unlimited. F/L: Stultz, Issacson.

Issacson, Clayton M., Capt, pilot Stultz, Raymond B., Capt, pilot

447th BS: War Diary of: Spikes, Robert F., 1Lt, pilot (mission 29)

TARGET: Caltanissetta 3:15 Plane 371

“Town RR yards and tracks well hit. Few bursts of flak from AA as we crossed Cape
Beanee. First mission our squadron bombed troops.”

447th BS: War Diary of: Stephenson, Henry W. "Steve", 2Lt, pilot (mission 5)

TARGET: Caltanissetta Sicily 3:15 300 lbs

Plane 600: Lt. Grantham, Lt. Stephenson, Lt. McCone, S/Sgt Kramer, T/Sgt, Anderson,
S/Sgt Draper

“The town was thoroughly covered including hits on railroad yards, tracks and
barracks. This mission was first mission in which our squadron bombed troops. In the
city, two divisions believed camped.”

447th BS: War Diary of: Williams, William T., 2Lt, pilot (mission 4)

“Target today Caltanissetta in Sicily – town, railroad yards, barracks, military depot –
no flak – no fighters – P-38s covered.”

Friday, 9 July 1943 (continued)

447th BS: War Diary of: McDuff, Daniel R., 1Lt, pilot

“We are being unusually busy these days, and it is a little difficult to find the time to keep
my log up with my missions. I intended to write a lot more about the raid on which
Shapiro was shot down, but the lights went out and I had to quit, and I have just not had
the time since.

Doc Manly came back this morning. He had bandages on his right forearm and
the fingers of his right hand. The bones of one finger were pretty well crushed, and his
arm was perforated here and there, but he says his wounds don’t hurt him much and time
will heal everything except his feelings. He is a little unhappy about the situation
because at briefing before the mission he had classified the flak as “scattered and
inaccurate”. But after he got hit, he changed his ideas and called it “accurate”.
Furthermore, he said he saw the darn thing coming and just couldn’t do anything about
it. The cramped quarters of the bombardier’s compartment don’t afford much room for
evasive action.

I didn’t mention that the boy who rode up front on Cohagen’s ship as his
bombardier had a close one when Doc Manly was hit. It seems that a large and
industrious chunk of flak came in the side and undoubtedly would have killed him if it
hadn’t run into his .45 automatic which he had in his shoulder holster. The slug hit his
pistol with such force that it bent the side action and completely ruined his gun. That was
Hartis—the very short little guy who, with his ‘wife’ I invited to ride home with you one
night down at Eglin.

Bradley, the boy who hit the water off the coast of Sicily on the same raid, is now
back here. It seems that a couple of P-38 boys stayed with him, circling over him until
help came from Malta. Its boys who do things like that who, I believe, deserve the D.F.C.
There were seven aboard Bradley’s ship when it went down---and only six clambered out
to get on the raft. For a second or two they didn’t realize that one was mission---and
when they did, one of the boys dived down and pulled the delinquent to the surface by his
hair. The boy was pretty well beat up—having suffered a broken leg and so was unable
to swim. The entire crew is O.K. and the few ho were injured are well on their way back
to action.

All that took place on July 5th, which, as I mentioned, was my day off. For some
reason I wasn’t scheduled for the mission today, but I’m not complaining. I was tired
anyway.”

Bradley, James L., Jr., 1Lt, pilot, 446th BS Cohagen, McKinley B., 1Lt, pilot

Hartis, John G., 2Lt, bombardier Manly, Robert W., Capt, intelligence

Saturday, 10 July 1943

USAAF Chronology: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO):

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): In Sicily, B-24's attack
the marshalling yard at Catania and airfield at Vibo Valentia; and B-25's hit Palazzolo,
Sciacca, Catania, Agrigento, Floridia, Giarratana, Biscari, Syracuse, and Piazza Armerina
while fighters cover the assault beach areas.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force): In Sicily,
during the night of 9/10 Jul, Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF)
Wellingtons bomb Catania, Syracuse, the Syracuse Isthmus seaplane base and the
railroad station at Syracuse, and Caltagirone; Northwest African Air Force Troop Carrier
Command flies airborne operations to drop British and US paratroops; the US Seventh
and British Eighth Armies make amphibious landings on the S and SE coast of Sicily.
Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) A-36's hit railroads, road junctions,
trains, and vehicles while P-40's fly cover for amphibious landings. NATAF light and
medium bombers hit airfields at Sciacca, Canicatti, Ponte Olivo, and Trapani, and towns
and surrounding areas of Caltagirone and Palazzolo. Throughout the day NASAF B-17's
and B-25's bomb Milo and Sciacca Airfields, Gerbini satellite fields, and towns of
Palazzolo and Caltanissetta, Sicily. P-38's on sweep strafe radar installation. HQ 3rd Air
Defense Wing transfers from Tunisia to Licata, Sicily.

445th BS War Diary: 36 B-25’s (12 from the 445th) took off to bomb the town of
Palazzolo in Sicily. The escort was 24 P-38’s and Spitfires. 96 x 300 lb bombs were
dropped by the 445th from 10,500 ft. which covered the town very well. Very few
bombs fell over or short of the target. No flak was encountered. While flying to the
target, hundreds of Allied boats including battleships, destroyers, barges and other types
of boats could be seen along the southeast tip of Sicily.

The 2nd mission was 36 B-35’s (12 from the 445th) to bomb Trapani Milo
airdrome in northwest Sicily. 54 x 500 lb. bombs and 24 x 250 lb. bombs were dropped
by the 445th from 9,500 ft. The field was well covered including numerous hits on the
runway, one hangar blowing up and 1 direct hit on a transport. Five or six ME 109’s
were seen dog fighting with the escort. One ME 109 attacked the formation over the
target. The flak was heavy, very intense and very accurate. The flak started bursting on
the same level as the formation and finally picked the formation up from behind.
Nineteen planes were hit by flak, two of which made controlled landings in the
Mediterranean west of Sicily. Lt. Rudolph and his crew are down in the Mediterranean
somewhere as the result of being hit severely by the flak. Sgt. Morse, bombardier on Lt.
Kayser’s crew, was hit with flak while he was on his sight during the bomb run. But in
spite of his injuries he finished the bomb run and released his bombs, then manned the
nose gun. Even though he was severely wounded by flak which entered his buttocks and
on up through his pelvis. He continued to man his gun in defense of his ship against
fighters. This was a truly heroic act, one which really required “intestinal fortitude”.
Three turret domes were blown off three of our ships and Sgt. Mickey Pierce was
knocked out of his turret when his dome was blown off. Lt. Armstrong’s tent in the area

Saturday, 10 July 1943 (continued)

caught on fire this afternoon but no one was able to get near to tent to put the flames out
because of the great display of pyrotechnics caused by ammunition, flares, land mines,
hand grenades, and assorted German ammunition. (Lt. Armstrong DID have quite a
collection of German) souvenir and ammunition but not any more).

Armstrong, Stanley K., 2Lt, pilot Kayser, Robert B., Jr., 1Lt, pilot

Morse, Arthur E., Sgt, gunner, bombardier Pierce, Mickey, Sgt, turret gunner

A/C No. unknown

Rudolph, Raymond L., 2Lt

Kailer, William F., 2Lt

None

Klunk, Edward F., S/Sgt

Krause, Gerald C., Sgt

Fehr, Robert A., Sgt

Quintin, Stanley J., Sgt

Cox, Bernard L., Sgt

446th BS War Diary: Group mission 85, Sqdn 64 composed of 12 planes. Major
Schwane led the Group with Col. Knapp as co-pilot. 500 lb bombs were dropped on
Palazzolo, Sicily and town was well covered.

Group mission 86, Sqdn 65 composed of 1 plane flown by Lt. Schmidt. The
target was Trapani/Milo A/D, Sicily. The field was very well covered by 500 lb bombs.
Two planes in the Group were lost with one crew missing. Our plane returned safely.

Knapp, Robert D., Col, pilot, 321st BG Commander Schmidt, Frederick C., 2Lt, pilot

Schwane, Henry H., Lt Maj, pilot, Commander

447th BS War Diary: Our squadron participated in two missions today. The first was a
raid on barracks at Palazzolo, Sicily. Bombing results excellent. Crews reported seeing
large convoys near the coast of Sicily and landing barges unloading invasion troops. This
was the day of the invasion of Sicily. All our planes retuned safely from this first
mission.

A/C No. 925 “Huckelberry Duck”

A/C No. 371

Grantham, Charles H., 1Lt

Spikes, Robert F., 1Lt

Stephenson, Henry W. "Steve", 2Lt

None

McCone, Walter G. 2Lt

Kramer, Gilbert W., S/Sgt

Anderson, Andrew F., T/Sgt or Chester E

Draper, Ralph M., S/Sgt

Pemberton, Francis R., Maj,
intelligence, HQ 321st BG (observer)

Saturday, 10 July 1943 (continued)

447th BS: War Diary of: Spikes, Robert F., 1Lt, pilot (mission 30)

TARGET: Town of Palazzolo Milo A/D 3:05 Plane 371

“Field well covered. Hangar seen to blow up. Lt. Jung’s plane hit by flak landing in
water W of Sicily. Escort engaged ME 109’s in dog fight.”

447th BS: War Diary of: Stephenson, Henry W. "Steve", 2Lt, pilot (mission 6)

TARGET: Town of Palazzolo, Sicily 3:50 250 lbs

Plane 925: Lt. Grantham, Lt. Stephenson, Lt. McCone, Major Pemberton, S/Sgt Kramer,
T/Sgt, Anderson, S/Sgt Draper

“Town well covered. Barracks on east and west completely covered. Spitfires not seen
at Rendezvous point.”

The second mission was a raid on the airdrome at Trapani Milo. Bombing results
excellent. The flak on the second mission was very intense. Lt. Jung’s plane received a
direct hit and lost altitude rapidly. One of the engines was on fire. He was seen to make
a controlled landing in the sea. With him were Lt. Roessler, Lt. Hartis, S/Sgts. Million,
R. Nelson, and Sgt. Wanner. The hydraulic system in Lt. Ashley’s ship was damaged by
flak and he experienced some difficulty getting his wheels down when he got home. All
planes except that of Lt. Jung’s returned safely from the second mission. We had twelve
planes in the first mission and twelve planes in the second. No news of Lt. Jung’s crew
tonight.

Ashley, Wilson S., 2Lt, pilot

A/C No. 430 “Miss Virginity”

A/C No. 925 “Huckelberry Duck”

Jung, Rowland W., 2Lt

Grantham, Charles H., 1Lt

Roessler, Gustav T., 2Lt

Stephenson, Henry W. "Steve”, 2Lt

None

Bodine, Arnold F. “Benny the Bum”, 2Lt

Hartis, John G., 2Lt

McCone, Walter G. 2Lt

Million, Fred B., S/Sgt

Kramer, Gilbert W., S/Sgt

Nelson, Ralph V., S/Sgt

Anderson, Andrew F., T/Sgt or Chester E

Wanner, Harry, Sgt

Draper, Ralph M., S/Sgt

None

A/C No. unknown

Williams, William T., 2Lt

Saturday, 10 July 1943 (continued)

448th BS War Diary: Mission 55 (86): At 16:40 36 planes off to bomb Milo A/D, 35
dropped 42 x 500, 48 x 300 and 162 x 250 bombs from 9000 feet at 18:05. 34 planes
returned at 19:25. Field well covered and hits on runway, direct hit on transport, 1 ME-
109 damaged. 2 of our planes hit by flak and made controlled landing in water off Sicily.
5 or 6 ME-109’s tangled with escort. Intense heavy, accurate flak, 19 planes hit.
Weather: CAVU. F/L: Culp, Veum.

Veum, Ole E., Capt, pilot

447th BS: War Diary of: Stephenson, Henry W. "Steve", 2Lt, pilot (mission 7)

TARGET: Milo A/D 3:05 250 lbs

Plane 925: Lt. Grantham, Lt. Stephenson, Lt. McCone, Lt. Bodine, S/Sgt Kramer, T/Sgt,
Anderson, S/Sgt Draper

“Field well covered, including runway. Hangars seen to blow up. Direct hit on one
transport. One E/A ME-109 with yellow nose damaged. Two planes hit by flak made
controlled landing in water W of Sicily. One of these planes, #430 (Miss Virginity) -
never forced down - Piloted by Lt. Jung. Lt. Jung, Lt. Roessler, Lt. Hartis and Sgt.
Wanner taken prisoners but Lt. Hartis and Sgt. Wanner were later recaptured. S/Sgt.
Nelson and S/Sgt. Million were killed.”

447th BS: War Diary of: Williams, William T., 2Lt, pilot (mission 5)

“INVASION OF SICILY – Target – Milo Airdrome at Trapani, Sicily – P-40s for cover
(44) – flak was very accurate and very intense, two ships lost. Our ship had four flak
holes in it – no enemy fighters.”

Sunday, 11 July 1943

USAAF Chronology: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO):

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): B-24's hit airfields at
Vibo Valentia, Sicily and Reggio di Calabria, Italy. In Sicily, B-25's hit airfields at
Trapani, Milo and Bo Rizzo, and areas between Sciacca and Enna. P-40's escort bombers
and provide beach cover as invasion forces push inland in Sicily. On the ground in Sicily,
the US Seventh Army's II Corps is hit by a counterattack, mainly in the Gela region. The
attack is repelled, but an airdrop of a contingent of 82nd Airborne Division troops results
in heavy casualties.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force): In Sicily,
Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) planes hit Milo and Sciacca Airfields
during the night of 10/11 Jul and numerous tactical targets during the day, including town
areas, vehicle convoys, bridges, trains and roads; NASAF B-17's bomb the Catania
marshalling yard while B-26's hit Milo Airfield and Gerbini satellite airfields; and B-25's
and P-38's hit Sciacca Airfield and the town of Caltanissetta. Throughout the day NASAF
fighters attack truck convoys on Sicilian highways, and hit gun positions and targets of
opportunity.

445th BS War Diary: 39 B-25’s (12 of the 445th) took off to bomb the town of
Caltanissetta in Sicily. 72 x 500 lb. demolition bombs were dropped by the 445th from
10,000 ft. Captain Tipton led the formation. 24 P-38’s of the 82nd Fighter Group were
our escort. Strings of bombs started at the railroad station on the west side and fell
through the town very well. No flak and no fighters. As the formation came back across
the coast they saw the Navy shelling the shore. According to plan, today the kitchen
burned down. We hope the Vienna sausage and the powdered eggs went with it. It was
quite a surprise this afternoon when Lts. Rudolph and Kailer, Sgts. Klunk, Fehr, and
Quintin walked in to the Operations building. They were last reported to be down in the
Mediterranean somewhere west of Sicily. Lt. Rudolph set the ship down about a mile off
Cape Bon with the landing gear down and the bomb bay doors open because flak
knocked out the hydraulic system. In addition to this, the landing was made on one
engine. The ship stayed afloat for about 5 minutes which gave the crew adequate time to
get out of the ship and help Sgt. Krause who was badly wounded in the leg by flak out of
the tail via the side window. The crew was afloat in the raft for about 40 minutes before
being picked up by a tank landing craft which was returning from Sicily. Sgt. Krause
was left behind in the hospital at Bizerte. The other crew members were only slightly
wounded. Sgt. Cox the photographer was last seen getting off the boat at Bizerte and
hasn’t been seen since.

Cox, Bernard L., Sgt, photographer Fehr, Robert A., Sgt, gunner

Kailer, William F., 2Lt, pilot Klunk, Edward F., S/Sgt, bombardier

Krause, Gerald C., Sgt, engineering Quintin, Stanley J., Sgt, gunner

Rudolph, Raymond L., 2Lt, pilot Tipton, William L. "Tip", Capt, pilot

Sunday, 11 July 1943 (continued)

446th BS War Diary: Group mission 87, Sqdn 66 composed of 12 planes led by Lt.
Bailey. 500 lb bombs were dropped on Caltanissetta, Sicily. Bombs hit the RR center
and covered the town.

Bailey, Merle H., 2Lt, pilot

447th BS War Diary: Four of our planes participated in a raid on the railroad station at
Caltanissetta, Sicily. Bombing results excellent. All planes returned safely. In the
evening abut 2230 a plane flew over and dropped three bombs. One landed to the west of
our field, another to the south west and the other to the south. It developed later that the
plane was an Allied one and that the bombs dropped were photoflash bombs. They were
designed to go off in the air to provide light for photography but instead exploded when
they hit the ground. Fortunately no damage was caused by the bombs.

448th BS War Diary: Mission 56 (87): (mission numbers, but No Report)

447th BS: War Diary of: Spikes, Robert F., 1Ltt, pilot (mission 31)

TARGET: Town of Caltanissetta 3:25 Plane 371

“Target well covered. Warships were shelling shore constantly.”

447th BS: War Diary of: Williams, William T., 2Lt, pilot (mission 6)

“Caltanissetta again today, no flak – no fighters – saw invasion fleet – Battleship
shelling Sicily – Spitfires for cover.”

447th BS: War Diary of: McDuff, Daniel R., 1Lt, pilot (mission 27)

“We have seen! But it was on the 10th. But I’ll have to confess that that wasn’t exactly
my own guess. Hasty has a friend in a fighter group who came over for a visit a few days
ago and he said that according to all indications they had had, he figured that the
invasion would be on the 10th. It seems that they were being moved on the 9th so as to be
ready to provide top cover for an invasion fleet on the 10th.

Yesterday will probably go down in history books as a very large day. It will go
down in my book, too, as a large one!

We got out early—at 4:30 a.m.—had breakfast, got briefed, and were on our way
by 7:10. We flew (36 airplanes with 250 and 300 pound bombs) east to the coast at the
foot of Cape Bon where we turned and flew northeast along the cape and a little past it.
Then we turned almost east and went to a point just off the southern most tip of Sicily.
We flew all the way at about 6,000 ft over an overcast of about 3/10 coverage---the first
time I had been over an overcast in ages! It was beautiful!

Shortly before we started our climb to our bombing altitude, we hit the edge of the
overcast and found the sky bright blue and clear. Far to our right we could see Malta
looking almost like an immense floating barge. To our left was a more unusual sight.
Boats! Boats, boats, and more boats! Big boats, little boats, and medium sized boats!

Just to the left of the point was a bunch of them, strung out and still with smaller
craft all around them and running to and from the beach. Naval vessels skirted the group
of large transports and kept moving around and around. You could tell they were busy

Sunday, 11 July 1943 (continued)

and up to no good---no good for Musso, that is. My radio man said he lost count when
he got to 53 boats in that one bunch. Just around the point to the east and north of us
was another and larger group. It stretched as far as we could see, and although it was
slightly hazy looking into the sun, we could see pretty far.

By this time we were turned and on course for our target, which was a little town
high on a cliff and supposed to be hiding an armored force. Our bombardiers could see
it as we crossed the coast line, so all they had to do was wait---and watch the invasion.
We were at altitude and flew steadily on toward the town. No flak came up to worry us,
so we just sat there and flew. It was a lovely run! And when the time came our
bombardiers were on the ball. They said, and our gunners said, and the pictures proved
that we blew the hell out of that town! Of the 288 bombs dropped, only one string of 8
missed falling inn the town.

Hasty, Curtis B., 1Lt, pilot

Monday, 12 July 1943

USAAF Chronology: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO):

ANTISUBMARINE WARFARE (AAF Antisubmarine Command): A B-
24 of the 1st Antisubmarine Squadron (Heavy) sinks U-506 near Portugal at 42-30N 16-
30W.

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): In Italy, B-24's attack
the harbor, ferry slip, and marshalling yard at Reggio di Calabria, and the ferry slip and
railroad yards at Villa San Giovanni. In Sicily, B-25's hit Bo Rizzo Airfield while P-40's
patrol over the Licata area. On the ground in Sicily, with bridgeheads firmly established
by the end of day, British and US troops make contact at Ragusa. Royal Air Force (RAF)
heavy bombers bomb Reggio di Calabria Airfield, Italy.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force): In Sicily,
during the night of 11/12 Jul, Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF)
Wellingtons pound Trapani, Marsala, Mazara del Vallo, and Montecorvino-Rovello
Airfield and Northwest African Air Force Troop Carrier Command drops paratroops in
front of the forward lines in the battle area; more than 20 C-47's fail to return from
mission; during the following day, B-17's hit Messina railroad bridges, medium and light
bombers hit Gerbini satellite field, Agrigento, Canicatti, and Milo Airfield. Fighters hit
trucks, trains, troops, tanks, and other targets of opportunity during sweeps over Sicily.
Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) fighters and light bombers hit Milo
Airfield, Sicilian beaches, Termini harbor and town, Ninfa rail junction, several trains,
numerous vehicles, and communications targets throughout Sicily. Northwest African
Coastal Air Force (NACAF) aircraft fly convoy escort and carry out shipping strikes in
Tyrrhenian Sea and W of Corsica and Sardinia. HQ XII Air Support Command transfers
from Tunisia to Sicily.

445th BS War Diary: 36 B-25’s (6 spares from the 445th, 3 of which filled in) took off to
bomb Gerbini Satellite No. 11. 18 x 500 lb demolition bombs were dropped by the 445th
from 8000 ft. The escort was Malta based Spitfires; Hits were made on the landing strip.
Explosions were seen among the planes in the dispersal south of the runway. Bursts were
also seen north and east of the landing strip. One enemy aircraft was seen on his final
approach to the landing strip as the formation started their bombing run. The flak was
heavy, moderate and inaccurate from the target. The flak received by the formation from
the English Navy was heavy, slight and inaccurate. Damn the limeys!!! One plane was
hit. This evening, just after dark, some of the men identified a ship overhead by the
sound of the engines as being a JU 88. Five minutes later several flare-bombs were
dropped and everyone headed for the nearest foxhole. It is believed that the aircraft was
over the area for photo-reconnaissance.

446th BS War Diary: Group mission 88, Sqdn 67 composed of 11 planes led by Lt.
Chappell to Gerbini #11, Sicily. 500 lb bombs were dropped and the target was well
covered. The runway was hit and several e/a were damaged.

Chappell, Howard L., 1Lt, pilot

Monday, 12 July 1943 (continued)

447th BS War Diary: Ten of our planes participated in a raid on Gerbini satellite #11.
Bombing results good. All our planes returned safely.

A/C No. 925 “Huckelberry Duck”

A/C No. 371

Grantham, Charles H., 1Lt

Spikes, Robert F., 1Lt

Stephenson, Henry W. "Steve”, 2Lt

Bodine, Arnold F. “Benny the Bum”, 2Lt

McCone, Walter G. 2Lt

Kramer, Gilbert W., S/Sgt

Anderson, Andrew F., T/Sgt or Chester E

Draper, Ralph M., S/Sgt

None

A/C No. unknown

A/C No. unknown “Ruff Stuff”

McDuff, Daniel R., 1Lt

Williams, William T., 2Lt

A/C No. unknown

Richardson, Robert W., “Rich”, Capt

Fineman, Ernest, 1Lt

A/C No. unknown

Hasty, Curtis B., 1Lt

448th BS War Diary: Mission 37 (89): At 09:30 36 planes off to bomb Gerbini #11 and
dropped 203 x 500 bombs from 8000 feet at 11.50, all returned at 13:30. Bombs pattern
covered target area, hits on landing strip and explosions seen among planes in dispersal

Monday, 12 July 1943 (continued)

area, bursts also N and E of landing strip, 25 E/A on dispersal area, 8-10 E/A on NW
corner of field and 5 transports on landing strip. Medium sized convoy 2 miles N of
Tiazo Armenia. Moderate, heavy, inaccurate flak, from Allied ships at Gela. Weather:
CAVU: F/L: Bates, Veum.

Veum, Ole E., Capt, pilot

447th BS: War Diary of: Spikes, Robert F., 1Lt, pilot (mission 32)

TARGET: Gerbini – Satellite # 11 4:00 Plane 371

“Flak heavy inaccurate. Bomb pattern covered target area. Explosions seen among
planes on dispersal area. Hits made on landing strip.”

447th BS: War Diary of: Stephenson, Henry W. "Steve", 2Lt, pilot (mission 8)

TARGET: Gerbini Satellite #11 4:00 500 lbs

Plane 925: Lt. Grantham, Lt. Stephenson, Lt. McCone, Lt. Bodine, S/Sgt Kramer, T/Sgt,
Anderson, S/Sgt Draper

“Hits made on landing strip. Explosives seen among planes on dispersal area S of
runway. Flak heavy, moderate, inaccurate.”

447th BS: War Diary of: Williams, William T., 2Lt, pilot (mission 7)

“Gerbini Satellite #11 moderate heavy flak – no fighters as we crossed the coast of Sicily
we were fired on by our own ships and shore positions – P-38s for escort.”

447th BS: War Diary of: McDuff, Daniel R., 1Lt, pilot (mission 29 - actually 28?)

“I got my 29th mission today on a raid on another of the Gerbini air fields in Sicily. We
carried 500 lb. demolition bombs again, which indicated that we were out to damage the
field itself and not necessarily any airplanes that might be on the ground.

We sent up 12 of the 36 ships on the raid and were to constitute the third flight of
12---or what we called the “Tail End Charlies.” My position was lead ship of the second
element of three, but that was changed when several of the boys had to turn back.
Richardson led the second flight of six ships in our 12 and Fineman led the first. Right
after we took off however, Fineman had to go back to the field, leaving two ships in the
first element. A spare with a Norden sight soon took over and we flew that way for a
while, but it wasn’t long until the replacement started trailing smoke from his right
engine and had to leave. There were no more spares with Nordens and I had one and
Rich had one, so Rich pulled up and took over the lead while a regular spare took over
the second six--- and I enjoyed it! It was my first experience at leading a block of six, but
I think I did pretty well. (Me talking!) Hasty was on my right wing and I told him before
we left that I was going to give him a good workout---and I fairly well did!

We had no trouble on the way out and in the climb, but as we started over the
coast of Sicily (over our own territory) we were fired on by our own ships who had not
recognized us. They were pretty good shots, too, putting several holes in a couple of
ships. But, although they didn’t fire but a couple of times, I saw only two burst of flak.
That, however, was enough for me. I took my flight of six all over the sky---evasive

Monday, 12 July 1943 (continued)

action! No one in his right mind could have effectively fired or even aimed an anti-
aircraft gun at my flight with any chance of success.

We flew way to the northwest of our target, going almost to the northern coast.
(We could see the sea beyond it.) Mt. Etna was clear above the smoke layer, with a long
stringer of white smoke rising from the crater. A low layer of hazy smoke hung over the
entire island, but it wasn’t thick enough to obscure the target, and our turn into the
southeast put us right on course over it.

The wires under the top edge of the instrument panel made flying by the PDI a
little unhandy, but I managed to give at least a reasonable facsimile of a run and our
crew in the back room said our bombs fell on the target. So no one had any complaint.

Richardson’s bombardier, however, missed the target and flew too far over it. He
dropped his bombs he knows not where! As son as they were away, Rich made a long
diving turn to the right toward the rest of the formation. There was, apparently, no flak
were he was, but he was far ahead of me and my flight. To get with him I would have to
cut to the right and sort of cut him off. But there was a little flak to our right and I
thought twice before I headed in to it. It was sort of scattered and didn’t look too vicious,
so I heeled it over in a steep bank to the right and went tearing off through it 90 to
nothing! I caught Rich right quick that way and so considerably increased our chances
against any fighters that might appear. None did, however, and we came on home
unmolested. Even our ships didn’t shoot at us on the way---they had figured out who we
are.

From the target to the coast I did quite a bit of evasive action---a little too violent,
I know, but I was bent on giving Hasty his work out. His only complaint, however, was
my decision to fly through that flak. He didn’t like the idea---but since I got him through
it without his getting hit, he had no legitimate kick.

We could see no ground activity from our altitude, but there were still a lot of
boats off the southern coast of the island. They were pretty busy, too, apparently, and
very much on the alert since they shot at us. They probably have been having a good
reason to stay alert because I could see several large oil slicks on the water, and I

understand they underwent an attack by dive bombers who were apparently at least
partially successful. I can’t blame them for shooting---even at us!”

Fineman, Ernest, 1Lt, pilot Hasty, Curtis B., 1Lt, pilot

Richardson, Robert W. "Rich", Capt, pilot

Tuesday, 13 July 1943

USAAF Chronology: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO):

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): B-24's strike airfields at
Crotone, Italy and Vibo Valentia, Sicily. In Sicily, B-25's attack the Leon forte road and
harbor at Termini; and P-40's patrol the Licata area.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force): In Sicily,
during the night of 12/13 Jul, Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF)
Wellingtons hit Caltanissetta, Gerbini Airfield, and Enna. During the day, B-17's, B-25's,
B-26's, and fighters attack Enna, Milo Airfield, Carcitella landing ground, Randazzo, and
targets of opportunity. Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) aircraft hit truck
convoys, trains, railway stations, troops, and numerous targets of opportunity over wide
areas in Sicily. Northwest African Coastal Air Force (NACAF) continues sea patrols,
reconnaissance, and convoy protection and attack ship convoy NE of Palermo, Sicily. On
the ground in Sicily, the British effort to break out onto Catania Plain by establishing
bridgehead over Simeto River near Lentini is firmly opposed. HQ 31st Fighter Group and
it's 309th Fighter Squadron transfer with Spitfires from Gozo Island, Malta to Ponte
Olivo, Sicily. The air echelon of the 23rd Photographic Squadron (Light), 5th
Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group arrives at La Marsa, Tunisia from the
US with F-5's. The ground echelon is still at Colorado Springs, Colorado and will not
leave the US until 8 Aug; they will arrive at La Marsa on 8 Sep.

445th BS War Diary: 36 B-25’s (12 of the 445th) took off to bomb the town of Enna in
Sicily. 72 x 500 lb. demolition bombs were dropped by the 445th from 10,500 ft. 24 P-
38’s of the 82 Fighter Group were our escort. The town was well covered with bursts and
especially good coverage on the east side. Railroad crossings on the northeast and the
fort on the east side were hit. Some of the bombs fell short and to the south, Fires and
large explosions were seen. The smoke was visible for 50 miles. One single-engine
aircraft was seen near the target but did not attack the formation. The flak was heavy,
slight and inaccurate. This evening we enjoyed the ever-popular meat spam. For
popularity with the boys, spam ranks second only to Chelsea cigarettes.

446th BS War Diary: Group mission 89, Sqdn 68 composed of 11 planes. Lt. Bailey
led the Group with Col. Knapp as co-pilot. 500 lb bombs were dropped on Enna, Sicily.
The target was very well covered.

Bailey, Merle H., 2Lt, pilot Knapp, Robert D., Col, pilot, 321st BG Commander

447th BS War Diary: Ten of our planes participated in a raid on Enna, Sicily. Bombing
results excellent. All our planes returned safely.

Tuesday, 13 July 1943 (continued)

A/C No. 000

A/C No.

Grantham, Charles H., 1Lt

Stephenson, Henry W. "Steve”, 2Lt

Williams, William T., 2Lt

Blake, Thomas L., Maj, HQ 321st BG

McCone, Walter G. 2Lt

Kramer, Gilbert W., S/Sgt

Anderson, Andrew F., T/Sgt or Chester E

Draper, Ralph M., S/Sgt

None

A/C No. unknown “Alley Cat II”

McDuff, Daniel R., 1Lt

Bodine, Arnold F. “Benny the Bum”, 2Lt

Osowiecki, Hendrick, S/Sgt, gunner

Green, Paul, Correspondent for Stars &
Stripes

448th BS War Diary: Mission 58 (90): At 12:43 36 planes off to bomb Enna, dropped
216 x 500 bombs at 9000 feet at 1650, all planes returned at 18:00. Target well covered
especially RR and road crossing. Weather: CAVU.

447th BS: War Diary of: Stephenson, Henry W. "Steve", 2Lt, pilot (mission 9)

TARGET: Town of Enna Sicily 3:30 500 lbs

Plane 000: Lt. Grantham, Lt. Stephenson, Lt. McCone, Major Blake, S/Sgt Kramer,
T/Sgt, Anderson, S/Sgt Draper

“Town was well hit especially on E side. Railroad crossing on NE and fort on E side hit.
Train between Caltanissetta and target possibly on fire. Mission very successful.”

447th BS: War Diary of: Williams, William T., 2Lt, pilot (mission 8)

“Enna, Sicily – Railroad junctions, tunnels, military depots and barracks. Very light
heavy flak – no fighters – P-38s for escort.”

447th BS: War Diary of: McDuff, Daniel R., 1Lt, pilot (mission 29)

“On July 13th, 36 ships of the 321st B.G. dumped 500 lb. demolition bombs on and
around the Sicilian town of Enna, located just a few miles north of the battle line. Lines
of communication, the town itself, and military barracks were the specific targets for
each of the three flights of 12 ships. The 12 sent up by the 447th had the town as their
target. I led the second element of three.

The mission was routine, and, except for the fact that I had a “Stars and Stripes”
field correspondent with me, there is little to write about the raid. At briefing Major
Pemberton brought Paul Green around and introduced us, asking if I had room in my

Tuesday, 13 July 1943 (continued)

ship for him. Lt. Bodine was scheduled to fly with me, making a total of six, and for some
unspecified reason, we don’t like to carry any more if we can help it…so I told the Major
I would be unable to take him. He said that it was O.K. and that he would get Lt. Kent
(the boy who sang the night of McGee’s party in Macon) and see if Green could ride with
him.

During the short time before the briefing started I could see the Major running his
short legs around through the crowd looking for Kent. Apparently he was having no
success and so I called him over and told him that I would take the passenger as I
remembered that Burns’ ship had an extra parachute---which took care of the only
tangible objection. For the benefit of the record, I was flying Johnny’s ship, “Alley Cat
II” and secretly hoping I’d get it shot up at least a little bit to make up for the big hole he
got in mine on a raid over Cagliari.

During briefing Green sat over to one side, listened intently, and made a few
notes, and after briefing he came over and went out with Bodine and me. As soon as we
got to the ship he started asking questions: name and home addresses of all the crew
members and things of interest in their combat careers. The only thing of interest that I
knew about that bunch was that Osowiecki had turned down his chance to go to rest
camp. That, I thought, was unusual to a marked degree. He made a note of it and went
on. The other two members of my crew (enlisted) were substitutes for my regular men
who were on rest camp leave, and so I did not know much about them. The other
commissioned members of the crew were replacements and practically brand new with
little or no combat careers to speak of.

Time was a little short and we had to hustle. On the way over, at the target, and
coming back Green had little to say. He did a lot of looking and talked to Bodine quite a
bit when Bodine wasn’t busy in the nose. I looked back at him once in a while and he
merely smiled and gave me the O.K. sign. We seemed to be enjoying it all.

When we got down he asked a few more questions and I told him about the ship
we had flown in. I told him that it was named “Alley Cat II” after the original “Alley
Cat” that had been shot up over the Mediterranean. He didn’t recall the story that the
“Stars and Stripes” had carried about the original and it’s crew. But said he would look
it up. He seemed interested in what part of California Burns was from. Why, I don’t
know.

After interrogation I shook hands with him and told him goodbye and he told me
to look him up in Algiers if I ever came around, and he asked if there was something he
could do for me. I told him I would like one of his pictures of the invasion of Sicily. He
very nicely obliged---and I certainly was glad to get it. I was on the raid from which the
picture was taken, and it shows the boats very plainly.

After supper that night, who should came wandering around to my tent but Green!
He had some more questions and seemed bent on getting the answers. I gave them to
him. Then he up and asked the $64 question:-“Did the fact that it was made on the
thirteenth make this raid mean anything special to me?” I told him that 13 months before
the day of this raid, I had been married—on the 13th!

He asked if I were superstitious and seemed disappointed when I told him I was
not. But I told him I quite often wore my dog tags on raids, but that was more of a

Tuesday, 13 July 1943 (continued)

regulation than a superstition. I do feel, however, that when I don’t carry them there is
absolutely no chance that I will be shot down as they would have no way to identify the
body!

A lot of boys began to wander in and joined the session. Green had a lot of
explaining to do concerning the failure of the Stars and Stripes to mention anything but
B-17s in raids over Pantelleria. We had a lot of kicking to do where publicity for the B-
25s and mediums in general was concerned. He said he thought things would be better
in the future for us and the work we do.

In his search for information I turned him loose on this stuff and he read through
some of the later raids and made a lot of notes. But I doubt that he will ever make much
use of it. He did express surprise that I would take the time to write all this.

I just wonder what kind, if any, write-up we will get. Probably just a mention as
they always get more information than they can ever use.”

Bodine, Arnold F. "Benny the Bum", 2Lt, navigator

Burns, John P., Capt, pilot Kent, William S., 2Lt, pilot, 445th BS

McGee, William N., 2Lt, pilot, 445th BS Pemberton, Francis R., Maj, intelligence

Green, Paul, Correspondent for Stars & Stripes

Wednesday, 14 July 1943

USAAF Chronology: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO):

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): In Sicily, B-24's and
Royal Air Force (RAF) heavy bombers hit railroad, marshalling yard, harbor, and oil
storage facilities at Messina; B-25's hit the Enna and Palermo areas; and P-40's patrol
Licata and attack the Lentini area.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force): In Sicily,
during the night of 13/14 Jul, Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF)
Wellingtons bomb Palermo and Messina, and C-47's drop paratroops in advance of Allied
troops to secure a bridge at Primosole. Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF)
aircraft hit ammo dumps, trains, rail junctions, bridges, vehicle convoys, and other targets
of opportunity in the Sicilian countryside, and bomb several town areas including Enna
and Palermo during several raids throughout the night of 13/14 Jul and the following day.
During the day, B-17's, B-26's, B-25's, and fighters hit Naples, Italy and Messina, Enna,
Marsala, and Randazzo, and numerous targets of opportunity in Sicily. Northwest African
Coastal Air Force (NACAF) continues sea patrols, reconnaissance, and convoy
protection. On the ground in Sicily, British forces attempting to establish a bridgehead
at the Primosole bridge on the Simeto River near Lentini continue to face strong
opposition. The detachment of the 15th Photographic Squadron (Heavy), 3rd
Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group, operating from Le Kroub, Algeria
with B-17's and F-5's returns to it's base at La Marsa, Tunisia. The air echelon of the
111th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), 68th Reconnaissance Group, transfers from
Korba, Tunisia to Ponte Olivo, Sicily with P-51's. The ground echelon will remain at
Tunis, Tunisia until Friday. The 307th and 308th Fighter Squadrons, 31st Fighter Group,
transfer with Spitfires from Gozo Island, Malta to Ponte Olivo, Sicily.

445th BS War Diary: 36 B-25’s (12 of the 445th) took off to bomb Messina. 67 x 500
lb. demolition bombs were dropped by the 445th from 10,000 ft. 36 P-38’s of the 82nd
Fighter Group were our escort. Strings of bombs fell across buildings in the target area.
There was a heavy concentration of hits in the southern part of the area. Hits were seen
among the barracks and on the railroad. Three strings fell over the area and into the
water. A large fire and much smoke were seen in the center of town. Again the Allied
fleet threw flak up at us. The fleet don’t seem particular who they shoot their flak at.
Brigadier General Partridge and Col. Walsh flew with the formation as observers. The
mess hall has been reconstructed. This evening our enlisted men beat the enlisted men of
the 331st Signal Corps in a softball game, 25 to 12.

446th BS War Diary: Group mission 90, Sqdn 69 composed of 1 plane flown by Lt.
Taylor to Messina, Sicily where 500 lb bombs were dropped with very good results.

Taylor, Jason G., 1Lt, pilot or Taylor, Peter D., 1Lt, pilot

or Taylor, Richard E., 1Lt, pilot

Wednesday, 14 July 1943 (continued)

447th BS War Diary: Eleven of our planes participated in a raid on Messina, Sicily.
Bombing results good. Capt. Burns’ ship developed engine trouble and he made a one-
engine landing at Malta. Lt. Cohagen and Lt. Andrews landed with him. All other planes
returned safely. The three ships at Malta returned later in the afternoon.

A/C No. 450

A/C No. unknown

McDuff, Daniel R., 1Lt

Burns, John P., Capt

Osowiecki, Hendrick, S/Sgt, gunner

A/C No. unknown

Andrews, Austin D., 2Lt

Cohagen, McKinley B., 1Lt

448th BS War Diary: Mission 59 (91): At 09:20 36 planes off to bomb Messina and
dropped 211 x 500 bombs from 8000 feet at 11:40, 33 planes returned at 13:45 3 landed
at Malta. Strings across buildings in target area, barracks on W and RR on E also hit. 30
E/A seen at Reggio and 10 seaplanes at Diverto. Moderate heavy, accurate flak Weather:
CAVU

447th BS: War Diary of: Spikes, Robert F., 1Lt, pilot (mission 33)

TARGET: Messina 4:25 Plane 210

“B-17’s over target 45 seconds before us which enabled us to approach target without
too much flak. Capt. Burns sing engine landing at Malta.”

447th BS: War Diary of: Williams, William T., 2Lt, pilot (mission 9)

“Today’s target was Messina, the most important city in Sicily. It is the closest point on
the Island to Italy. As we approached the target on our bombing run, I could see clouds
of smoke rising with a big fire blazing in the middle of it all. This was at the north-east
corner of the city, just out of the harbor. The flak started coming up even before we
reached the target. We broke away in a diving turn to the right, cork screwing down at
about 300 MPH. Going through the straights we were fired at from both sides, Italy on
the left, Sicily on the right. A big ship lay in the harbor on our left and it too blasted

Wednesday, 14 July 1943 (continued)

away at us. We continued on down till we were behind our own lines and then we turned
in across Sicily toward Africa. Once again we were fired on by our own (or British)
ships, as we passed over them. Soon after this, Capt. Burns’ left engine went out. We
slowed down to keep with him till he got to Malta then we came on back. We couldn’t
contact the P-38s for some cover. Messina was hit by B-24s, B-17s, two groups of B-25s,
and later by B-26s. All in one morning.”

447th BS: War Diary of: McDuff, Daniel R., 1Lt, pilot (mission 30)

“The next morning I was scheduled to go on the raid over Messina, Sicily. That town is
the most important town in all the island of Sicily since it is a ferry terminus between the
island and the mainland, and so is more heavily defended by anti-aircraft than any place
since Tunis and Bizerte. Green wanted to go, but was scheduled to leave for some other
field. However, before briefing I took him out to my ship, the ever-struggling Ruff Stuff
and he took a few pictures of me—in the cockpit, under the engine, and under the
window. He got Drwila, of my ground crew, to take a shot of himself and me.

I couldn’t tarry long and so took him back up to Group. Before he left, though, he
got me to tell him all I remembered about the raid on which we came stumbling back
alone over Bizerte, or my first raid. Then I had to hustle back to the tent area to get my
stuff, and come back over for briefing.

As it turned out, I didn’t get to go on the mission. And, frankly, I wasn’t a bit
sorry. I just could not work up any enthusiasm for going over all that flak. I was to lead
the last element in our flight of 12 in Cohagen’s ship, No. 450. Everything worked O.K.
until we checked our guns. It is a new ship and has not been modified with tail and waist
gun installations—so all it had in the way of armament was a bottom turret, top turret,
and the two nose guns. Our radio men haven’t had any practice with the bottom turret---
and so they were practically useless---bottom turrets were practically useless even in the
hands of an expert. The front guns worked O.K., but the top turret guns wouldn’t put out.

Osowiecki was my gunner, and when he can’t make them fire, they just aren’t
firing. I asked him if he could fix it. He said he thought he might be able to but he had to
make an adjustment on the solenoids that required tools that he didn’t have. That was no
target to go over without guns, so I turned back while the spares were still with us and
could fill in for me.

The raid turned out to be easier than expected It was originally intended to be a
coordinated job. B-17s were to go over just 10 minutes ahead of us and 10 later B-26s
were to hit it. Our men were one minute late and the B-17s were 8 minutes late---they
were over the target and most of the A/A was trained on them when the B-25s come over
the hill. By the time they got set to shoot at them, The B-25s had dropped their bombs
and were well on their way home! It is purely luck that they weren’t shot up. The B-26s
that followed lost three ships and had 17 of them damaged. B-24s hit the place too,
about an hour later, but as far as we know, suffered no losses.

Burns had a little more hard luck. A chunk of flak cut an oil line in one of his
engines and he had to feather it. He landed at Malta, had lunch while they fixed it, and
then came on home the same afternoon.

Wednesday, 14 July 1943 (continued)

So now I have a round 30 missions. Y can bet your bottom dollar that I’m a-
hoping that none of the remaining 20 are or look as tough as that one over Messina. I
hope that the one over Trapani Milo Airfield is my last hard one. (It won’t be, though!)

Cohagen, McKinley B., 1Lt, pilot Drwila, Edward J., Sgt, engineering

Osowiecki, Hendrick, S/Sgt, gunner

Thursday, 15 July 1943

USAAF Chronology: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO):

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): B-24's strike main
airfield and 2 satellite fields at Foggia, Italy. In Sicily, B-25's bomb Palermo, Cape Gallo,
Salina Island, and Cape Zifferano; and P-40's patrol over the Licata area.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force): During
the night of 14/16 Jul, Wellingtons of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force
(NASAF) hit airfields and docks at Naples, Italy while Northwest African Tactical Air
Force (NATAF) light and medium bombers bomb Palermo, Sicily and fly armored
reconnaissance, attacking roads and convoys, over extensive areas of Sicily. During the
day, NASAF medium bombers bomb Vibo Valentia, Sicily, while heavy bombers hit
Villa San Giovanni, Italy. NASAF fighters fly numerous strafing and bombing missions
against trains, road junctions, radar installations, truck convoys, railway stations, and
targets of opportunity throughout Sicily. Northwest African Coastal Air Force (NACAF)
airplanes fly sea patrols, reconnaissance, convoy escort, and hit shipping off the W coast
of Corsica and E coast of Sardinia.

445th BS War Diary: No mission scheduled for today. Many of the men enjoyed a day
at the beach at Tabarka.

446th BS War Diary: Regular combat zone activities.

447th BS War Diary: Usual garrison duties.

448th BS War Diary: Mission 60 (92): At 08:15 36 planes off to bomb Vivo Valentia
A/D. 24 dropped 144 x 500 bombs from 9500 feet at 10:58. 19 returned at 15:30 and 16
at 17:40. 1 plane remained at Malta. All bombs of two flights in target area, barracks,
hangars and Administration buildings hit, bombs across field and SW dispersal area.
Engine of leader of last flight went out and entire flight did not follow other flight.
Bombed target of opportunity, twin and single open RR bridge 5 miles S of Soverato. 50
or 60 E/A on field. No flak. Weather: CAVU. F/L: Issacson, Stultz.

Issacson, Clayton M., Capt, pilot Stultz, Raymond B., Capt, pilot

Friday, 16 July 1943

USAAF Chronology: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO):

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): B-24's attack Bari
Airfield, Italy; enemy fighters attack persistently and 3 B-24's are shot down; they claim
11 fighters destroyed in combat. B-25's bomb Randazzo and Valguarnera, Sicily. Royal
Air Force (RAF) heavy bombers hit Reggio di Calabria Airfield, Italy. HQ 79th Fighter
Group transfers from Tunisia to Sicily.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force): During
the night of 15/16 Jul, Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) Wellingtons
bomb the dock, marshalling yards, and airfields at Vibo Valentia, Sicily and Crotone,
Reggio di Calabria, and Villa San Giovanni, Italy, while Northwest African Tactical Air
Force (NATAF) light and medium bombers carry out numerous missions against
Randazzo, Sicily and roads in Sicily. During the day NATAF fighters, light and medium
bombers bomb Valguarnera, Sicily and targets of opportunity in north central Sicily. On
the ground in Sicily, British troops establish a bridgehead across the Simeto River. The
ground echelon of the 111th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), 68th Reconnaissance
Group, transfers from Tunis, Tunisia to Ponte Olivo, Sicily joining the air echelon which
arrived on Tuesday. The air echelon of the 414th Night Fighter Squadron, 2nd Air Defense

Wing, which has been training in England with Beaufighters, joins the ground echelon at
Rerhaia, Algeria. The squadron will enter combat on 24 Jul.

445th BS War Diary: 36 B-25’s (12 of the 445th) took off to bomb Vibo Valentia
airdrome in the toe of Italy. The formation was led by Lt. Bonus. 24 P-38’s of the 82nd
were the escort. 72 x 500 lb. bombs were dropped by the 445th from 9,500 ft. 19 ships
returned at 13:30. 16 had to stop for fuel and returned at 17:40. One remained at Malta.
The airdrome was bombed with very good results by two of our flights. The barracks,
hangars and administration buildings were hit and strings of bombs fell across the field
and through the southwest dispersal area. At least two enemy aircraft exploded on the
field. The only flak that was encountered came from a vessel east of Catania which was
believed to be friendly. Also an Allied destroyer fired several bursts. Lately our ships
have encountered more Allied flak than that from the enemy. Our enlisted men beat the
909th Air Base Battalion in a softball game on their diamond, 16-6. Sgt. Cox who has
been missing since he got off the boat at Bizerte was reported to be in the hospital at
Bizerte.

446th BS War Diary: Group mission 91, Sqdn 70 composed of 11 planes led by Lt.
Chappell. 500 lb bombs were dropped on Vibo Valentia, Italy. Target was covered well,
2 enemy aircraft were destroyed, barracks, hangars, and administrative buildings were
hit. A string of bombs fell on a target of opportunity blowing up a twin-span and a single
span bridge five miles South of Soverato. Lt. Chappel’s plane blew an exhaust stack and
he had to feather his prop and he turned away from the primary target. The rest of his
flight followed and came on this target of opportunity.

Chappell, Howard L., 1Lt, pilot

Friday, 16 July 1943 (continued)

447th BS War Diary: Three of our planes participated in a raid on Vibo Valentia
airdrome in Italy. Bombing results good. On the way home Lt. Morganti landed at Malta
with a plane of another squadron which was flying on one engine. Lt. Morganti returned
to the base later in the day.

A/C No. unknown

Morganti, Clyde J., 1Lt

Williams, William T., 2Lt

448th BS War Diary: No Entry

447th BS: War Diary of: Williams, William T., 2Lt, pilot (mission 10)

“The airport at Vibo Valentia was today’s target. We went as spares and joined before
the rendezvous with the P-38s. We went all the way out on the deck and climbed to
10,000 feet just before we reached the coast of Italy. Just as we reached 10,000 feet. The
leader of our flight lost his left engine so he salvoed his bombs on a railroad bridge. The
rest of our flight bombed a town just a few miles inland. The other two flights hit the
airport just one minute after the 310th hit it. Once again we limped into Malta at 145
MPH. This time we landed and had dinner there. Then on back to our base.”

Saturday, 17 July 1943

USAAF Chronology: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO):

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): About 80 B-24's bomb
the Naples, Italy marshalling yard in face of fierce fighter opposition; 1 B-24 is shot
down and several are damaged; they claim 23 fighters destroyed in combat. In Sicily, B-
25's hit Catania and the rail yards and roads at Paterno; and P-40's fly escort to Gela and
Comiso. Royal Air Force (RAF) heavy bombers hit Reggio di Calabria, Italy. The 87th
Fighter Squadron, 79th Fighter Group, transfers with P-40's from Malta to Sicily.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force): In Sicily,
during the night of 16/17 Jul and the following day Northwest African Tactical Air Force
(NATAF) fighters, light and medium bombers, hit Catania, Paterno, the Riposto railroad
station, and targets of opportunity (vehicles, tanks, trains, guns). During the day, 200+ B-
25's, B-26's, and B-17's bomb Naples, Italy, concentrating on the marshalling yard. On
the ground in Sicily, the US 45th and 1st Infantry Divisions cross the Salso River S and E
of Caltanissetta. The British 30 Corps expands the Simeto River bridgehead and drives
toward Catania in the coastal sector while 51 Division crosses the Simeto River and
reaches to within 10 miles (16 km) of Paterno. HQ 350th Fighter Group and it's 345th
Fighter Squadron transfer with P-39's from Maison Blance, Algeria to Rerhaia, Algeria.

445th BS War Diary: 36 B-25’s (445th furnished 6 spares, 3 of which filled in) took off
to bomb the marshalling yards at Naples. The escort was 36 P-38’s of the 82nd Fighter
Group. 12 x 500 lb. demolition bombs were dropped by the 445th from 9500 ft. There
was good coverage on the target causing fires all through the marshalling yards area.
Explosions were seen south and east of the yards sending columns of smoke 400 ft. high.
The roundhouse was hit. Hits were made on the arsenal which exploded in a sheet off
flame. Oil tanks were hit and set afire. Seven to eight enemy aircraft with yellow bands
around their noses were seen around the area. Several passes were made at the
formation. An engine was shot out of one of the ME 110’s. Flak was heavy, moderate to
intense, and fairly accurate from the area of the city. Some of it was of the barrage type.
Flak was encountered all the way back to the coast. Our enlisted men defeated the 331st
Signal Corps in a softball game on our diamond this evening by a score of 25-12. A
couple more cases of malaria have shown up in the Squadron.

446th BS War Diary: Group mission 92, Sqdn 71 composed of 10 planes led by Lt.
Bradley. 500 lb bombs were dropped on the Naples, Italy RR yards. The results were
very good, fires being started throughout the area. There were hits on the roundhouse,
arsenal, oil tanks, waiting station, and a torpedo factory was partially hit. A shell factory
and an aircraft motor factory were both hit.

Bradley, James L., Jr., 1Lt, pilot

447th BS War Diary: Twelve of our planes participated in a raid on the railroad yards at
Naples, Italy. Bombing results excellent. Several enemy fighters attacked the formation
but didn’t do any damage. All our planes returned safely. Our first enlisted man over 38

Saturday, 17 July 1943 (continued)

was transferred out of the squadron today. He will return to the states to be mustered out
of the army. The man—Pvt. Harry Deremer. Lt. M. Holloway and Lt. J. Allison left for
Algiers today. Arrangements will be completed there by Lt. Holloway for Lt. Allison’s
appearance on the CBS radio program July 18.

Allison, John M., 1Lt, bombardier Deremer, Harry, Pvt, transportation

Holloway, McGlon T., 2Lt, intelligence

448th BS War Diary: Mission 61 (93): At 14:00 36 planes off to bomb RR yards at
Naples. 216 x 500 bombs dropped at 16:45 from 9000 feet, target well covered. Intense,
heavy barrage type flak. 2 ME-109’s sighted did not attack. 11 of the 12 ships of 448 hit
by flak. No casualties. Weather: CAVU.

447th BS: War Diary of: Williams, William T., 2Lt, pilot:

“Naples but I didn’t go – big raid too!!”

Sunday, 18 July 1943

USAAF Chronology: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO):

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): B-25's bomb Randazzo
and Catania, Sicily. The 85th and 86th Fighter Squadrons, 79th Fighter Group, transfer
with P-40's from Malta to Sicily.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force): During
the night of 17/18 Jul, Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) Wellingtons
bomb airfields at Montecorvino, Sicily and Pomigliano, Italy, while Northwest African
Tactical Air Force (NATAF) light bombers bomb Catania, Sicily and carry out
reconnaissance of extensive areas of Sicily. During the day, NATAF A-36's hit Santa
Caterina, Adrano, Lercara, and Termini Imerese, Sicily. On the ground in Sicily, the US
Seventh Army makes rapid progress against light opposition. The British Eighth Army
continues their advance, but 13 Corps continues to meet strong resistance near Catania.
HQ 27th Bombardment Group (Light) and it's 16th, 17th and 91st Bombardment Squadrons
(Light) transfer with A-36's from Korba, Tunisia to Sicily. The 27th will be redesignated
the 27th Fighter-Bomber Group on 23 Aug 43; the 16th, 17th and 91st will be redesignated
the 522nd, 523rd and 524th Fighter-Bomber Squadrons respectively. HQ 33rd Fighter
Group transfers from Pantelleria Island in the Mediterranean to Licata, Sicily.

445th BS War Diary: No mission today. Two ships went to Algiers to pick up the crews
returning from the rest camp at Ain Taya. Lt. Hartmeister took Major Cook to the rest
camp at Fez. He will stay there till his eye heals. The new mess hall for the enlisted
men and Officers was completed today.

Cook, Bailey C., Maj, pilot, Commander Hartmeister, Joel T., 2Lt, pilot

446th BS War Diary: Regular combat zone activities.

447th BS War Diary: Lt. Allison went on the air at 2030. He was interviewed by John
Daly, CBS war correspondent. Lt. Allison told how the invasion of Sicily backed from
the air. His folks in Brevard, N.C. were notified by the Columbia Broadcasting Co. That
he would be on the air so they would be sure to hear him.

Allison, John M., 1Lt, bombardier

448th BS War Diary: No Entry

Monday, 19 July 1943

USAAF Chronology: MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTO):

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force): 100+ B-24's attack the
Littoria, Italy marshalling yards and nearby airfield. On the return flight railroads at
Orlando, Sicily and Anzio, Italy are bombed. B-25's hit Catania and Randazzo, Sicily. P-
40's escort C-47's. The 64th, 65th and 66th Fighter Squadrons, 57th Fighter Group, transfer
with P-40's from Malta to Sicily.

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Northwest African Air Force): During
the night of 18/19 Jul, Wellingtons drop over 800,000 leaflets on Rome, Italy. Northwest
African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) light bombers attack Catania, Sicily. During the
following day, about 150 Northwest African Strategic Air Force (NASAF) B-17's bomb
the Rome, Italy railroad yards; B-25's and B-26's hit nearby Ciampino Airfield, Italy; P-
40's bomb rail facilities in the Alcamo, Sicily area; and NATAF A-36's attack trains and
motor transport in W Sicily. On the ground in Sicily, the US Seventh Army continues to
push N and NW while the British Eighth Army's 13 Corps still faces firm resistance near
Catania. The 111th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter), 68th Reconnaissance Group,
transfers with P-51's from Ponte Olivo, Sicily to Gela, Sicily. The 308th Fighter
Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, transfers with Spitfires from Ponte Olivo, Sicily to
Agrigento, Sicily.

445th BS War Diary: 2 B-25’s (18 of the 445th) took off to bomb Ciampino Airdrome
near Rome. This is the largest formation ever sent out by the Group to date. 108 x 500
lb. demolitions were dropped by the 445th from 9000 ft. Bursts began at the railroad
tracks on the southwest side and continued across buildings and both fields. Hits were
made on the hangars, revetments and among parked airplanes. Numerous fires were
observed on the field and in the housing area. The target coverage was excellent. Ten to
twelve anti-aircraft made head-on and tail attacks as the formation left the target. One
enemy aircraft was destroyed by the escort, two enemy aircraft collided. A huge fire was
seen on the east side of Rome. The flames reached a height of 500 ft. The flak at the
target was moderate, intense and accurate. That received from Practica di Mare was
intense, heavy, tracking and very accurate. Lt. McLaughlin and his crew were seen to go
down about 5 miles southwest of the target as a result of a direct flak hit. Eye-witness
accounts state that the right engine exploded. The ship stopped momentarily, rolled over
and spun in. It crashed into a ravine. It was then seen to explode. From all accounts, no
one bailed out. The crew consisted of Lt. McLaughlin, pilot; Lt. Neck, co-pilot; S/Sgt.
Springer, bombardier; S/Sgt. Conners, engineer; S/Sgt. Binkowski, turret gunner; T/Sgt.
Gregory, radio-gunner. Sgt. Smith claimed an MA 202 when five of them attacked his
ship in formation from 3 o’clock.

Smith, Francis L., S/Sgt, radio-gunner

Monday, 19 July 1943 (continued)

A/C No. unknown

McLaughlin, Elwood F., Jr., 1Lt

Neck, John S., 2Lt

None

Springer, Richard L., S/Sgt

Conners, Frederick P., S/Sgt

Gregory, John N., T/Sgt

Binkowski, Stephen K., S/Sgt

None

446th BS War Diary: Group mission 93, Sqdn 72 composed of 18 planes. Major
Schwane led the Group with Col. Knapp as co-pil