392nd Bomb Group

Diversion Mission - 14 October 1943

According to the 8th Air Force Combat Chronology, 229 of 291 B-17s hit the city hall area and ball bearing plants at Schweinfurt. Only 29 of 60 B-24s were able to form up in poor weather; they abandoned their planned mission and flew a diversion towards Emden, Germany. No mission credit was given to any of the 392nd's ships, including the 14 who completed the mission.

According to a teletype message in the 392nd's mission files at the National Archives:

"The following message from 8th Bomber Command will be read to all crews at briefing on the importance of this target. 'This air operation today is the most important air operation yet conducted in this war. The target must be destroyed. It is of vital importance to the enemy. Your friends and comrades that have been lost and that will be lost today are depending on you. Their sacrifice must not be in vain. Good luck, good shooting, and good bombing. Signed, Anderson' "

CREW LOADING LIST - Diversion Mission

14 Oct 1943 576th Sqdn.
A/C 492 (aborted due to
weather; no mission credit)
P Scarlata, A. 1st Lt.
CP Collins, J.M. 2nd Lt.
N Siggs, P.S. 2nd Lt.
B Feldman, A. 1st Lt.
R Martin, E.M. T/Sgt.
AR Youst, K.E. S/Sgt.
E Peterson, G.H. T/Sgt.
AE Williams, R.F. S/Sgt.
G Longchamps, A.L. S/Sgt.
AG Smith, K. S/Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 576th Sqdn.
A/C 482 (no mission credit)
P Connery, W.R. 2nd Lt.
CP Cooper, R.W. 2nd Lt.
N Porter, C.V. 2nd Lt.
B Breck. J.H. 2nd Lt.
R Shilling, R.E. T/Sgt.
AR Allen, I.M. S/Sgt.
E Helms, C.F. S/Sgt.
AE Heller, L.M. S/Sgt.
G Smith, J.W. S/Sgt.
AG Glende, B.I. S/Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 576th Sqdn.
A/C 524 (no mission credit)
P Barnes, L.J. 1st Lt.
CP Shelton, W.L. 2nd Lt.
N Stankan, P.C. 2nd Lt.
B Jackson, G.J. 2nd Lt.
R Jenkins, W.B. T/Sgt.
AR Malloy, P.D. S/Sgt.
E Lewis, E.L. Jr. S/Sgt.
AE Choromanski, J.E. S/Sgt.
G Crowley, C.J. S/Sgt.
AG Riley, A.J. Jr. S/Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 576th Sqdn.
A/C 511 (no mission credit)
P Ford, J. H. 2nd Lt.
CP Bunting, D.W. 2nd Lt.
N Duncan, R.H. 2nd Lt.
B Machak, J.G. 2nd Lt.
R Kramer, A.W. S/Sgt.
AR Saucedo, J.A. Sgt.
E Lewis, G.F. Sgt.
AE Roberson, L.P. S/Sgt.
G Arnold, L.D. Sgt.
AG Overholt, H.R. Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 576th Sqdn.
A/C 500 (aborted for
mechanical reasons; no
mission credit)
P Roper, J.H. 1st Lt.
CP Kearns, L.L. 2nd Lt.
N Ryan, J.L. Jr. 2nd Lt.
B Westerfield, H.B. Jr. 2nd Lt.
R Veronick, J.J. T/Sgt.
AR Beaulieu, J.F. S/Sgt.
E Nilson, T.N. T/Sgt.
AE Copeland, J.N. S/Sgt.
G Ortiz, J.C. Sgt.
AG Pedersen, F.M. S/Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 576th Sqdn.
A/C 487 (no mission credit)
P Clover, D.K. 2nd Lt.
CP Berger, R.M. 2nd Lt.
N McMillan, W.J. 2nd Lt.
B Henderson, A.D. 2nd Lt.
R Galler, I. T/Sgt.
AR Bell, R.W. S/Sgt.
E Losey, J.C. T/Sgt.
AE Crawford, E.G. Jr. S/Sgt.
G Ross, J.M. S/Sgt.
AG Royal, C.K. Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 576th Sqdn.
A/C 527 (no mission credit)
P Lowell, C.L. 2nd Lt.
CP Patterson, J.B. 2nd Lt.
N McShane, W.F. 2nd Lt.
B Amoss, R.T. 2nd Lt.
R Connolly, M.T. S/Sgt.
AR Walters, J.S. S/Sgt.
E Bennett, L.G. S/Sgt.
AE Jackson, B.F. S/Sgt.
G Luciano, R.E. S/Sgt.
AG McNamara, P.E. S/Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 577th Sqdn.
A/C 496 (aborted for
mechanical reasons; no
mission credit)
P Taylor, J.N. 2nd Lt.
CP Stout, R.R. 2nd Lt.
N Pautz, W.J. 2nd Lt.
B Lange, E.M. 2nd Lt.
R Zdanarvich, B.J. T/Sgt.
AR Blaney, M.L. S/Sgt.
E Albee, W.K. T/Sgt.
AE Keller, A.V. S/Sgt.
G Gray, D.W. S/Sgt.
AG Smith, F.W. S/Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 577th Sqdn.
A/C 495 (no mission credit)
CA Gilbert, L.G. Maj.
P Graper, M.H. 1st Lt.
CP - -
N Delach, J.J. 2nd Lt.
N Jones, J.H. 2nd Lt.
B Weiland, H.F. 1st Lt.
R Lorenzen, W.H. T/Sgt.
AR Kolczynski, W.J. S/Sgt.
E McKinley, W.C. T/Sgt.
AE White, F.A. S/Sgt.
G Cordick, D.H. Sgt.
AG Buzick, J.M. S/Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 577th Sqdn.
A/C 493 (no mission credit)
P Bolick, H.P. Jr. 2nd Lt.
CP Smith, H.J. 2nd Lt.
N Maupin, J.C. 2nd Lt.
B Yarbrough, W.L. Jr. 2nd Lt.
R Campbell, G.L. T/Sgt.
AR Klinchok, J.J. S/Sgt.
E Love, W.E. T/Sgt.
AE Krogh, S.A. Sgt.
G Craig, J.D. S/Sgt.
AG Harris, D.W. S/Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 577th Sqdn.
A/C 503 (aborted because
leader turned back; no
mission credit)
P Marfia, F. 1st Lt.
CP Taylor, W.V. Maj.
N Paddock, K.Q. Capt.
B Whittaker, J.B. Capt.
B Rapenport, R. 2nd Lt.
R Brown, K.O. T/Sgt.
AR DeSimone, P.P. S/Sgt.
E Sekavec, R.G. T/Sgt.
AE Emerson, H.B. Jr. S/Sgt.
G Cunningham, W.A. Sgt.
AG Simpson, J.F. S/Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 577th Sqdn.
A/C 546 (no mission credit)
P Layton, S.H. Jr. 1st Lt.
CP Jensen, A.H. 2nd Lt.
N Beatson, R.J. 2nd Lt.
B Feagan, H.C. 2nd Lt.
R Gibbs, R.R. T/Sgt.
AR Daughtry, A.Z. S/Sgt.
E Johnson, J.C. T/Sgt.
AE Gottschalk, G.W. S/Sgt.
G Constabile, F.R. S/Sgt.
AG Boomhower, A. S/Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 577th Sqdn.
A/C 479 (no mission credit)
P Gonseth, F. 1st Lt.
CP Slipp, F.E. 2nd Lt.
N Wyatt, R.L. 2nd Lt.
B Colburn, R.F. 2nd Lt.
R Kirkpatrick, H.L. T/Sgt.
AR Feller, N.L. S/Sgt.
E Jennings, H.C. T/Sgt.
AE Driver, D.M. S/Sgt.
G Fagan, J.E. S/Sgt.
AG Whalen, J.S. S/Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 578th Sqdn.
A/C 483 (aborted due to
weather; no mission credit)
P Fletcher, R.E. 1st Lt.
CP Schoolmaster, C.F. Capt.
N Woody, H.E. 2nd Lt.
B Judd, G.W. 2nd Lt.
R Biska, S.L. Sgt.
AR Mancuso, M.A. S/Sgt.
E Kelly, J.E. T/Sgt.
AE Osborne, J.H. Pvt.
G McNiel, J.M. S/Sgt.
AG Wukotich, M.L. S/Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 578th Sqdn.
A/C 472 (aborted for
mechanical reasons; no
mission credit)
P Lishka, A. 1st Lt.
CP Feld, B.H. 2nd Lt.
N Johnson, D.C. 2nd Lt.
B Brockway, O.E. 2nd Lt.
R Clark, F.C. S/Sgt.
AR Nuzum, M.E. S/Sgt.
E Carlson, C.E. S/Sgt.
AE Halstead, H.C. S/Sgt.
G Milliken, E.W. S/Sgt.
AG Nixon, A.D. Cpl.
14 Oct 1943 578th Sqdn.
A/C 478 (no mission credit)
P Reade, J.J. 1st Lt.
CP Smith, R.L. 2nd Lt.
N Planche, M.M. 1st Lt.
B Ziccarelli, J.A. 2nd Lt.
R Schwabel, C.A. T/Sgt.
AR Bauer, W.E. S/Sgt.
E Edwards, C.E. T/Sgt.
AE Sikoff, H. Sgt.
G Turner, L.F. S/Sgt.
AG Wagner, D.R. S/Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 578th Sqdn.
A/C 466 (no mission credit)
P Stauder, J.B. 1st Lt.
CP Harris, J.H. 1st Lt.
N Dinsmore, R.S. 2nd Lt.
B Ward, M.E. 2nd Lt.
R Whitmore, B. Jr. T/Sgt.
AR Rider, F.D. S/Sgt.
E Kottke, A.H. T/Sgt.
AE White, T. S/Sgt.
G Schmidt, J.H. S/Sgt.
AG Harrod, C. Jr. S/Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 578th Sqdn.
A/C 490 (no mission credit)
P Steinmetz, D.R. 1st Lt.
CP Sporrey, R.F. 2nd Lt.
N Magee, W.H. 2nd Lt.
B Simons, L. 2nd Lt.
R Jeans, R.C. T/Sgt.
AR MacKenzie, W.B. Pvt.
E Elliot, M.L. T/Sgt.
AE Perry, E.L. S/Sgt.
G Spalding, R.E. S/Sgt.
AG Mislinski, G.J. S/Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 578th Sqdn.
A/C 556 (aborted as could
not find formation; no
mission credit)
P Dudziak, T. 2nd Lt.
CP Miller, J.A. Jr. 2nd Lt.
N Berlin, W. 2nd Lt.
B Cattano, J.V. 2nd Lt.
R Watson, H.Q. T/Sgt.
AR Mehtala, A. S/Sgt.
E Bauer, H.P. T/Sgt.
AE Patterson, E.A. Jr. S/Sgt.
G Naters, E.R. S/Sgt.
AG Bartholomew, D. S/Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 579th Sqdn.
A/C 469 (aborted due to
weather; no mission credit)
P Kubale, E.W. F/O.
CP Lamma, R.E. 1st Lt.
N McDade, J.J. 2nd Lt.
B White, E.J. 2nd Lt.
R Jeroloman, H.A. T/Sgt.
AR Zimpelman, J.G. S/Sgt.
E Kjelshus, E.H. S/Sgt.
AE York, R.M. S/Sgt.
G Reilly, B. S/Sgt.
AG O'Neill, F.L. S/Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 579th Sqdn.
A/C 484 (aborted due to
weather; no mission credit)
P Cassell, H.S. 1st Lt.
CP Colvin, J.A. F/O.
N Bevan, K.S. 2nd Lt.
B Cetin, W.F. 2nd Lt.
R Tribbett, L.L. S/Sgt.
AR Geary, N.W. S/Sgt.
E Heuser, W.M. S/Sgt.
AE Dobrowolski, C.J. S/Sgt.
G Yarbrough, W.L. S/Sgt.
AG Rothrock, C.T. S/Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 579th Sqdn.
A/C 543 (no mission credit)
P Nicholson, W.P. 2nd Lt.
CP Culbertson, L.D. 2nd Lt.
N Kary, W.W. 2nd Lt.
B Hammond, J.W. 2nd Lt.
R Chamblin, J.N. T/Sgt.
AR Hoffman, R.H. S/Sgt.
E Olson, E.A. T/Sgt.
AE Perry, R.A. S/Sgt.
G Bosworth, B.L. S/Sgt.
AG Martin, C.D. S/Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 579th Sqdn.
A/C 626 (aborted due to
weather; no mission credit)
P Rogillio, D.S. Jr. 2nd Lt.
CP Worker, L.R. 2nd Lt.
N Kelly, W.E. 2nd Lt.
B Hughes, R.J. 2nd Lt.
R Malak, A.J. T/Sgt.
AR Yorra, M.S. S/Sgt.
E Mazzei, A.P. T/Sgt.
AE Bryan, W.F. S/Sgt.
G Reljac, J.G. S/Sgt.
AG Takacs, A. S/Sgt.
14 Oct 1943 579th Sqdn.
A/C 510 (aborted due to
bombardier's illness; no
mission credit)
P Baumgart, V.A. 2nd Lt.
CP Cordes, W.C. 2nd Lt.
N Crouch, M.C. 2nd Lt.
B Stupski, S.J. 2nd Lt.
R Kiss, J. S/Sgt.
AR Yost, J.W. S/Sgt.
E Myers, H.C. S/Sgt.
AE Smith, D.L. S/Sgt.
G Fons, J.P. S/Sgt.
AG Money, J.A. S/Sgt.