392nd Bomb Group

Target: Tours Air Field - 5 February 1944 - Mission #32

After being recalled on two missions earlier on the 2nd to Emden and 3rd to Frankfurt which got as far as the Dutch Coast with no mission credit being awarded, the Group crews were briefed for an airfield near Tours at 0330 and 0400 hours. At 0800 hours, (14) aircraft took off with the 577th assigned lead and Captain Weiland flying as lead Bombardier. Target weather was clear for once and (156) 500# GP bombs were released with generally good results. Though some weapons were dropped just short of the Mean Point of Impact (MPI) briefed, a total of (78) percent were dropped within 2000 ft. of the aiming point. The group encountered (10) enemy fighters and some flak but no losses or casualties were incurred. Two aircraft returned with flak damage, and all recovered safely around 1630 hours.

The day after this mission, Gen Leon Johnson, commander of the 14th Combat Wing, forwarded a teletype to the 392nd BG along with his own note that "It is a pleasure to forward a teletype of this nature."

The teletype from Gen James P. Hodges, commander of the 2nd Bombardment Division, said, "Strike photographs of [the mission of 5 Feb 1944] shows that the pattern of the 392nd Group covered the aiming point, notwithstanding the fact that the target area was badly obscured by clouds. The skill of the lead pilot-bombardier team is worthy of the highest commendation and justifies the care and effort put forth by Rendle and his Group bombardier on his leader crews. Please extend my congratulations and appreciation to Captain Graper and Captain Weiland for the splendid job they did."

CREW LOADING LIST - MISSION #32

5 Feb 1944 576th Sqdn.
A/C 129
P Hestad, E.A. 2nd Lt.
CP Madden, T.E. F/O
N Henderson, D.J. 2nd Lt.
B Henderson, A.D. 2nd Lt.
E Finley, G.E. S/Sgt.
R Folda, G. T/Sgt.
AE Slagle, C.I. S/Sgt.
AR Twitchell, F.O. S/Sgt.
AG Troup, D.L. S/Sgt.
G Wilson, L. S/Sgt.
5 Feb 1944 576th Sqdn.
A/C 511
P Johns, M.T. 1st Lt.
CP Henderson, M.A. 2nd Lt.
N Silvasy, F.A. 2nd Lt.
B Sriver, E.R. 2nd Lt.
E Indahl, J.M. T/Sgt.
R Gressler, E.J. T/Sgt.
AE Przeniczny, W. S/Sgt.
AR Kenyon, C.L. S/Sgt.
AG Zerangue, F.A. S/Sgt.
G Sanchez, I.V. S/Sgt.
5 Feb 1944 576th Sqdn.
A/C 988
P Ellison, B.M. 2nd Lt.
CP Jewett, G.A. 2nd Lt.
N Bassett, E.F. 2nd Lt.
B Hurdle, Q.C. 2nd Lt.
E Samples, H.F. T/Sgt.
R Connolly, M.T. T/Sgt.
AE Tupper, J.A. S/Sgt.
AR Patenaude, E.J. S/Sgt.
AG Picking, H.E. S/Sgt.
G Anderson, C.S. S/Sgt.
Obs. Bennett, L.G. T/Sgt.
5 Feb 1944 576th Sqdn.
A/C 598
P Jones, G.E. 2nd Lt.
CP Mann, J.J. 2nd Lt.
N Morris, J.C. 2nd Lt.
B Thomas, H.E. 2nd Lt.
E Bodoh, A.E. S/Sgt.
R McAdams, R.E. S/Sgt.
AE Lane, T. S/Sgt.
AR Rossi, V.H. S/Sgt.
AG Surber, W.C. S/Sgt.
G Marvin, H.E. S/Sgt.
5 Feb 1944 577th Sqdn.
A/C 496
CA McFadden, J.N. Capt.
P Copp, R.D. 1st Lt.
CP Meyers, J.W. 1st Lt.
N Gries, R.F. 1st Lt.
B Rapenport, R. 1st Lt.
B Cihon, J.B. 2nd Lt.
E Hodge, G.L. T/Sgt.
R Bisnett, B.R. T/Sgt.
AE Dinda, B.F. S/Sgt.
AR Nowicki, M.M. S/Sgt.
AG Hohman, H. S/Sgt.
G Noone, T.E. Jr. S/Sgt.
5 Feb 1944 577th Sqdn.
A/C 658 (no sortie credit)
P Brauer, G.M. 1st Lt.
CP Clifford, J.F. 2nd Lt.
N McGough, J.G. 2nd Lt.
B Ranta, E.J. 2nd Lt.
E LaRue, E.W. T/Sgt.
R Abraham, H.F. T/Sgt.
AE Branciforte, N. S/Sgt.
AR Whited, J.A. S/Sgt.
AG Keller, L.D. S/Sgt.
G Rachell, W.W. S/Sgt.
5 Feb 1944 577th Sqdn.
A/C 495
CA Schoolmaster, C.F. Maj.
P Graper, M.H. Capt.
CP Jensen, A.H. 1st Lt.
N Jones, J.H. Capt.
N Beatson, R.J. 1st Lt.
B Weiland, H.F. Capt.
E McKinley, W.C. T/Sgt.
R Lorenzen, W.H. T/Sgt.
AE White, F.A. S/Sgt.
AR Kolczynski, W.J. S/Sgt.
AG Cordick, D.H. Sgt.
G Buzick, J.M. S/Sgt.
5 Feb 1944 578th Sqdn.
A/C 945
P Sooy, B.L. 2nd Lt.
CP Mardis, K.A. 2nd Lt.
N Jones, O.R. 2nd Lt.
B Schwartz, E.S. 2nd Lt.
E Serafine, J.M. S/Sgt.
R Terrell, P.J. S/Sgt.
AE Jones, N.J. Jr. S/Sgt.
AR McBrayer, H.G. Jr. Sgt.
AG Dorgan, W.J. Sgt.
G McArn, H.W. Sgt.
5 Feb 1944 578th Sqdn.
A/C 480
P Smith, R.E. 1st Lt.
CP Schilling, J.E. 2nd Lt.
N Metz, L. 2nd Lt.
B Hopple, H.G. 2nd Lt.
E Wooton, W.J. Sgt.
R Sokol, A.R. Sgt.
AE Godfrey, L.S. Sgt.
AR Heaslet, W.W. Sgt.
AG Bertsch, P.J. Sgt.
G Norton, W.J. Sgt.
5 Feb 1944 578th Sqdn.
A/C 100
P Schildknecht, H.E. 1st Lt.
CP Long, J.D. Jr. 2nd Lt.
N Hersh, A. 2nd Lt.
B Wasowicz, M.V. 2nd Lt.
E Sadler, R.S. T/Sgt.
R Begley, J.F. T/Sgt.
AE Reid, H.A. S/Sgt.
AR Reade, G.J. S/Sgt.
AG Gegere, G.P. Sgt.
G Nixon, A.D. S/Sgt.
5 Feb 1944 579th Sqdn.
A/C 990
P Spartage, G. 1st Lt.
CP Kern, R.B. 2nd Lt.
N Tauskey, W.A. 2nd Lt.
B Campbell, R.A. 2nd Lt.
E Burns, R.N. T/Sgt.
R Worthington, P.A. T/Sgt.
AE Warren, O.J. S/Sgt.
AR Helmke, E.F. S/Sgt.
AG Ridgeway, J.W. S/Sgt.
G Riedlinger, A.J. S/Sgt.
5 Feb 1944 579th Sqdn.
A/C 472
P Nugent, W.A. 2nd Lt.
CP Burciaga, L.R. 2nd Lt.
N Davis, W.X. 2nd Lt.
B Krause, W.N. 2nd Lt.
E O'Brien, J.J. T/Sgt.
R Demming, F.H. T/Sgt.
AE McGahey, G.L. S/Sgt.
AR Lander, W. S/Sgt.
AG Pawlyshyn, M.J. S/Sgt.
G Sowers, D.R. S/Sgt.
Obs. Holloman, C.C. Capt.
5 Feb 1944 579th Sqdn.
A/C 469
P Lotterhos, R.H. Jr. 2nd Lt.
CP Zolomy, E.M. 2nd Lt.
N Healing, K.A. 2nd Lt.
B Sands, J.E. 2nd Lt.
E Thompson, R.L. T/Sgt.
R Garay, M.W. T/Sgt.
AE Rebiejo, F. S/Sgt.
AR Bunyea, E.W. S/Sgt.
AG Ward, W.D. S/Sgt.
G Moody, C.B. S/Sgt.
5 Feb 1944 579th Sqdn.
A/C 117
P Sharpe, W.G. 2nd Lt.
CP Bandura, N.A. 2nd Lt.
N McGuire, W.C. 2nd Lt.
B Richardson, F.E. 2nd Lt.
E Huffman, R.R. T/Sgt.
R Wallace, F.C. T/Sgt.
AE Hixon, R.D. T/Sgt.
AR Cugini, M.W. S/Sgt.
AG McGowan, W.J. S/Sgt.
G Maylander, N. S/Sgt