The field order information was very slow coming in for a strike against a tactical railroad target — a bridge behind the Anes. At 0600, (29) aircrews were finally given briefings, and at 0800 hours all began take-offs. A total of (27) bombers dropped on the primary with excellent results, while (2) others released on Stadthull — all releases being by GH methods. The Group dropped (186) 1000# weapons on the target areas. Fighter support was rated superior to good and no fighters were encountered. Flak, however, took a grim toll, causing damage to (11) bombers and the loss of (2) others. From the 577th, (2) bombers were severely hit, but fortunately most of their crew members were saved. In ship #875, Lieutenant Shaw’s crew was hit near the IP but managed to release their bombs. The bomber then turned from the formation with smoke coming from the bomb bay area. No chutes were seen, but on the next day good news was received that the aircrew had landed safely on the continent. In bomber #861, Lieutenant Walker’s crew suffered flak damage near St. Vith, position 5016N-0607E and after bomb away at 1330 hours, the ship pulled out to the right of the formation under control. Nothing further was heard until a teletype was received the next day that the crew had landed safely on the continent with (4) casualties, (2) of the aircrew having been killed. The remaining ships returned safely around 1430 hours.
29 DECEMBER 1944:
2/LT Bedore, Cletus P. (N) 577th KIA
S/S Bradford, Thomas M. (RW) 577th KIA
These members were flying on Pilot l/Lt. D.L. Walker’s crew on the mission to Neuweld this date. Their plane was B-24J Model #42-50861, Call Letter "S+" no nickname. This ship was on its 16th combat mission when it was hit by flak near St.Vith above the Ardennes, where the Battle of the Bulge was taking place. Pilot 1/Lt Walker ordered the crew to bail out. Navigator Bedore was killed when his chute failed to open; he died in the neighborhood of the St. Leonardus chapel at Tollembeek, where his body was laid-in-state. S/Sgt Bradford's chute also failed to open; he died in Vollezele near the farm "Ten Berg." 2nd Lt Faust was hospitalized due to pulled tendons and 2/Lt Nunziato was hospitalized at the 108th British Geneal Hospital due to his injuries. The crew was later returned to Wendling. 2/Lt Bedore is buried in Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona and S/Sgt Bradford in Unity Cemetery, Fort Mill, South Carolina.
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29 Dec 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 299 |
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P Caruso, J.A. 1st Lt. CP Carey, H.V. 2nd Lt. N Freeman, G.L. 1st Lt. B Flesey, R.J. Sgt. E Sevier, R.M. Pvt. R Slechta, M.T. T/Sgt. RW Scott, R.J. S/Sgt. LW Mackie, R.A. Sgt. BT - - TG Jackson, H.B. S/Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 489 |
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P Kilmer, W.A. 1st Lt. CP McConnell, C.W.W. 1st Lt. N Isakson, E.J. 1st Lt. B Sexton, W.C. 1st Lt. E Cappello, E.J. T/Sgt. R Chambers, R.L. T/Sgt. RW Spears, D.D. S/Sgt. LW McAtee, J.R. S/Sgt. BT Watson, C.B. T/Sgt. TG Turner, E.C. S/Sgt. Krohn, O.G. S/Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 357 |
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P Bell, J.W. 1st Lt. CP Guegold, R.L. 2nd Lt. N Forbes, D.R. 2nd Lt. B Wilson, H.W. 1st Lt. E Radzikowski, L.S. T/Sgt. R Cheshire, W.T. T/Sgt. RW Noltkamper, A.A. T/Sgt. LW Zwolinski, V.W. S/Sgt. BT Henry, R.L. T/Sgt. TG Geron, H.E. S/Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 540 |
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P Harcus, R.W. 2nd Lt. CP Thompson, J.R. 2nd Lt. N Adler, M.N. 2nd Lt. B Knutson, E.G. 1st Lt. E Thomas, E. Sgt. R Shanley, J.V. Sgt. RW Brennan, R.W. Sgt. LW Marshall, L.C. Sgt. BT - - TG Rosenberg, J.E. Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 272 |
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P Blakeley, W.G. 2nd Lt. CP Schoelerman, H.A. 2nd Lt. N Walker, C.S. 2nd Lt. B - - E Hoffmeyer, J.A. S/Sgt. R Spades, R.J. Sgt. RW Amodeo, F.A. Sgt. LW Fugarazzo, E.J. Sgt. BT Talley, E.R. Sgt. TG Law J.L. Sgt. RCM Appel, N.S. S/Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 194 |
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P Johnson, R.D. 1st Lt. CP Ellis, J.F. 1st Lt. N Hildebrand, L.C. 1st Lt. B Mountain, J.G. 1st Lt. E Stolins, E.A. T/Sgt. R Holmes, E.L. T/Sgt. RW Daniels, J. S/Sgt. LW Gordon, G.P. S/Sgt. BT - - TG Cochran, G.D. S/Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 650 |
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P Markuson, C.O. 2nd Lt. CP Hutchcroft, H.W. 2nd Lt. N Gallagher, W.W. 2nd Lt. B Miller, S. 1st Lt. E Cain, P.L. S/Sgt. R Burke, J.E. S/Sgt. RW Monaghan, T.D. S/Sgt. LW Howard, J.B. S/Sgt. BT - - TG Horn, J.E. S/Sgt. PN Sullivan, P.A. 2nd Lt. |
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29 Dec 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 916 (no mission credit) |
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P Yasi, R.L. 2nd Lt. CP Blanton, G.L. 2nd Lt. N Hamilton, P.L. 2nd Lt. B Johnson, F. 2nd Lt. E Taylor, B.D. T/Sgt. R Nalette, T.A. Sgt. RW Pasco, W.J. Sgt. LW Hensler, L.P. Sgt. BT - - TG Tingle, J.B. Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 409 |
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P Wolak, S. 2nd Lt. CP Willett, C.E. 2nd Lt. N Longenecker, J.R. 2nd Lt. B Kutner, J.M. 2nd Lt. E Bobish, A. S/Sgt. R Murphy, R.C. Sgt. RW Czop, J.A. Sgt. LW Ruigh, R.E. Sgt. BT - - TG Schick, F.W. Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 375 |
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P Shaw, B.R. 2nd Lt. CP Bachman, L.W. 2nd Lt. N Anstey, M.P. F/O B - - E Kedenburg, J.H. Sgt. R Sturm, W.A. Sgt. RW Perlingiero, C.P. Sgt. LW Rice, W.W. Sgt. BT Hoover, R.C. Sgt. TG Schunke, C.W. Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 861 |
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P Walker, D.L. 1st Lt. CP Nunziato, D.J. 2nd Lt. (wounded ) N Bedore, C.P. 2nd Lt. (KIA) B Faust, L.E. 2nd Lt. (wounded) E Gusciora, A.A. S/Sgt. R Lane, A.E. T/Sgt. RW Bradford, T.M. S/Sgt. (KIA) LW Postema, R.H. S/Sgt. BT - - TG Ballas, P.T. S/Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 898 |
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P Myers, C.E. 2nd Lt. CP Anderson, K.W. 2nd Lt. N - - B Zgurich, E.E. 2nd Lt. E Payton, J.B. Sgt. R Jaklinski, B. Sgt. RW Thornton, A.H. Sgt. LW Surbaugh, E.R. S/Sgt. BT Gillette, R.E. Sgt. TG Kirk, G.A. Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 647 |
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P Koza, F. 1st Lt. CP Wilcoxson, R.H. 2nd Lt. N Stillwagon, V.H. 2nd Lt. B Solomon, A.A. 2nd Lt. E Roberts, M.J. T/Sgt. R Rubin, G. T/Sgt. RW Johnson, J.T. S/Sgt. LW Purcell, L.J. S/Sgt. BT - - TG Dunn, T.C. S/Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 079 |
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P Jackson, C.J. 1st Lt. CP Parrish, C.E. 2nd Lt. N Pillsbury, A.A. 2nd Lt. B Wolfe, P.G. Sgt. E Jenkins, J.H. S/Sgt. R Paren, J.H. S/Sgt. RW Korb, L.J. Sgt. LW Sterns, V.C. Sgt. BT - - TG Roe, W.L. Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 813 |
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P Teipel, H.N. 2nd Lt. CP Karas, M. 2nd Lt. N Polansky, M.L. 2nd Lt. B Flory, D.L. 2nd Lt. B Moss, J.R. 2nd Lt. E Rabine, V.A. T/Sgt. R Goodson, E. T/Sgt. RW Hodoian, J.C. S/Sgt. LW Conrad, D.E. S/Sgt. BT - - TG McConnell, H.M. S/Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 164 |
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P Grabarkiewicz, L. F/O CP Phillips, C.E. 2nd Lt. N Hickson, D. Jr. 2nd Lt. B - - E Duggan, J.J. S/Sgt. R Quagliano, F.A. S/Sgt. RW Cooper, J.T. Pvt. LW Baker, E.R. Sgt. BT Axvig, W.E. Sgt. TG Moskowicz, S. Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 906 |
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P Majesky, A.E. 2nd Lt. CP Wanner, G.L. 2nd Lt. N Vought, E.I. F/O B Zuckert, J.S. 2nd Lt. E Patton, F.M. Sgt. R Ivey, M.A. Sgt. RW Esenwein, E.R. Sgt. LW Adelman, S. Sgt. BT - - TG Martin, J.F. Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 495 |
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P Hoover, J.A. 2nd Lt. CP Douglass, G.E. 2nd Lt. N Fetter, G.R. 2nd Lt. B - - E Marlowe, J.D. S/Sgt. R Affinito, L.J. Sgt. RW Janak, E.G. Sgt. LW Gayda, F.M. Sgt. BT Fitzgerald, T.R. Sgt. TG Jones, L.A. Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 446 |
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P Joyce, J.F. F/O CP Bowman, J.A. 2nd Lt. N McQuade, R.N. 2nd Lt. B - - E Albino, A. S/Sgt. R Brown, J.F. T/Sgt. RW Gorham, R.L. S/Sgt. LW Kurkomelis, G.C. S/Sgt. BT Andrews, Q.Q. S/Sgt. TG Richter, R.H. S/Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 337 |
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P Kaiser, P.W. 2nd Lt. CP Casstevens, R.C. 2nd Lt. N Hoffman, W.A. F/O B Martin, M. 2nd Lt. E Krutys, E.V. S/Sgt. R Brown, P.E. S/Sgt. RW McGregor, W.B. S/Sgt. LW Kilroy, B.R. Sgt. BT - - TG Wilkerson, L.D. Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 477 |
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P Fox, J.E. 2nd Lt. CP Sampley, T.A. 2nd Lt. N Johnson, M.S. 2nd Lt. B Robinson, D.T. 2nd Lt. E Smith, B.F. T/Sgt. R Tameling, H. T/Sgt. RW Seever, B.H. S/Sgt. LW Bunting, J. S/Sgt. BT Ivey, E.H. Jr. S/Sgt. TG Davis, C.L. S/Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 268 |
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P Downs, H.E. 2nd Lt. CP Bickham, T.E. 2nd Lt. N McKay, R.P. 2nd Lt. B - - E Lim, D.P. Sgt. R Spicketts, J.G. Sgt. RW Crane, T.P. Sgt. LW Cinquina, E.A. Sgt. BT Weatherman, H.W. Sgt. TG Szerdi, A.W. Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 249 |
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P Bell, W.M. 1st Lt. CP Pope, C.H. 1st Lt. N Cole, R.W. 1st Lt. NG Bross, J.H. S/Sgt. E Morse, J.H. T/Sgt. R Clough, R.W. T/Sgt. RW Case, R.F. S/Sgt. LW Onstot, P.O. S/Sgt. BT - - TG Divers, C.B. S/Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 240 |
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P Wood, D.R. 2nd Lt. CP McCormick, J.J. 2nd Lt. N Satterthwait, D.R. F/O B Segraves, W.D. 2nd Lt. E Morgan, K.W. S/Sgt. R Fleischmann, R.F. S/Sgt. RW McCormick, F.L.J. S/Sgt. LW Steurer, G.R. S/Sgt. BT - - TG Wright, A.P. S/Sgt. NG Stuck, W.F. S/Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 838 |
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P Clarke, J.C. 2nd Lt. CP Mackey, O. 2nd Lt. N Eaton, C.B. 2nd Lt. B Lowe, R.C. 2nd Lt. E Brunett, E.C. T/Sgt. R Brown, J.T. T/Sgt. RW Peer, G.R. S/Sgt. LW Heckman, J.K. S/Sgt. BT Steins, D.C. T/Sgt. TG Killea, K.B. S/Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 241 |
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P Walker, J.R. 2nd Lt. CP Ellis, A. 2nd Lt. N Donohue, J.J. 2nd Lt. B Pataki, S.M. S/Sgt. E Thomas, C.B. T/Sgt. R Jewell, R.B. T/Sgt. RW Faucette, E.W. T/Sgt. LW Collins, S.J. Sgt. BT Pyle, J.E. Sgt. TG Borchers, E.J. S/Sgt. |
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29 Dec 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 145 |
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P Solomon, R.H. 1st Lt. CP Kressig, E.L. 1st Lt. N Gridley, C.V. Jr. 1st Lt. B Mace, J.E. 1st Lt. E Moeller, H.E. T/Sgt. R Herzlich, L. S/Sgt. RW Farquharson, G. S/Sgt. LW Psyk, E.L. S/Sgt. BT Capik, J.H. S/Sgt. TG Cleverdon, R.N. 2nd Lt. Milrod, M. 1st Lt. |
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29 Dec 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 103 |
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P Scharf, C.D. 1st Lt. CP Call, F.B. 1st Lt. N McFerran, J.B. 1st Lt. B Sparks, R.L. 1st Lt. E Michalski, R. T/Sgt. R Bonanno, J.C. T/Sgt. RW Rigas, C. S/Sgt. LW Oakes, E.L. S/Sgt. BT Thomas, J.B. 1st Lt. TG Oatman, H.W. S/Sgt. Morris, J.E. 1st Lt. |
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29 Dec 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 801 (no mission credit) |
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P Twining, E.S. 1st Lt. CP Perry, R. Jr. 1st Lt. N Bertoli, L.J. 1st Lt. B Clark, H.J. 1st Lt. E Hostetter, F.E. T/Sgt. R Hinckley, B.J. T/Sgt. RW Grimm, R.H. S/Sgt. LW Maguire, F.H. S/Sgt. BT Largen, J.E. Jr. S/Sgt. TG Lips, T.J. 2nd Lt. NV Bader, C.H. 2nd Lt. |
