The assigned target was Furth airfield near Nurnburg with the aircraft assembly and repair works as aiming point. General briefing for (24) aircrews was held at 0530 hours. The 577th and 578th were given different aiming points as lead elements with Lt Rapenport and Lt Joachim the lead Bombardiers of their respective squadrons. All aircraft began take-offs at 0900 hours but (2) aircraft were forced to abort with mechanical difficulties and returned early. Though no enemy fighters were encountered, flak was heavy enroute and the Group sustained battle damage to (13) of the (22) airplanes hitting the target. A total of (264) 500# GP bombs were released on target with excellent results recorded. This mission was the last of the Eighth Air Force’s ‘Big Week’ over Germany where the weather had finally broken to permit a great deal of visual bombing between the 20th and 27th. While the 392nd suffered no aircraft losses due to enemy action, the 577th did have one crewmember wounded on 2nd Lieutenant F. F. Anderson’s crew flying aircraft #989 Staff Sergeant E. L. Farren. Because of battle damage, the crews of Lieutenants Rouse and Morefield landed in southern England, low on gas, and Lieutenant Anderson recovered at the 2nd Bomb Division B-24 base of Tibenham.
S/Sgt Herman A. Breithaupt was a waist gunner on the Morefield crew. He wrote in his diary, "We got up early for a mission and after breakfast... we were briefed for the 210 & 410 factory at Furth, Germany. It was to be a very long mission and it was. It was quite cold, 30o below. We hit our target and plastered it all over the map. On our return trip we had quite a little flak but none of it too close. Coming back we were sweating out our gas but we didn't have enough to make our base and landed at an R.A.F. Typhoon drome. The pilot made a very good landing on a grass turf field. There were no prepared runways on the field. We refueled and were ready to take off but they refused to let us clear the field because of icing conditions. We had to be put up for the nite. We had dinner at the sergeants mess and were billeted in a nearby house. During the evening we met some of the flight sergeants. One, an Aussie, was exceptionally nice. We were all flat broke and he treated us to several beers and spent his last 10 bob on it at that. We got along fine. I hope we can meet again some day." The Morefield crew finally took off about 10am on 28 Feb.
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25 Feb 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 598 |
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P Neff, C.L. 1st Lt. CP Simpson, H.L. 2nd Lt. N Smith, C.W. 2nd Lt. B Hadeka, A.A. 2nd Lt. E Benham, C.E. T/Sgt. R Diaz, C.A. T/Sgt. AE Pennington, E.B. S/Sgt. AR Hale, J.L. S/Sgt. AG Walter, C.D. S/Sgt. G Ware, J.W. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 560 |
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P Miller, H.W. 1st Lt. CP Hurd, E.A. Jr. 2nd Lt. N Murray, F.P. 2nd Lt. B Greene, D.R. 2nd Lt. E Megenhardt, J.F. T/Sgt. R Mallamaci, J.T. T/Sgt. AE McCombs, A.D. S/Sgt. AR Lorine, J.R. S/Sgt. AG Wheeler, M. S/Sgt. G Rausch, T.A. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 976 |
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P Rouse, M.S. 1st Lt. CP Mann, J.J. 2nd Lt. N Bicher, R.F. 2nd Lt. B Henderson, A.D. 2nd Lt. E Nilson, T.N. T/Sgt. R Gorman, E.P. T/Sgt. AE Beaulieu, J.F. S/Sgt. AR Walters, J.S. S/Sgt. AG Mezo, C.L. S/Sgt. G Erwin, B. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 989 |
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P Anderson, E.F. 2nd Lt. CP Maben,J.F. 2nd Lt. N Cashen,E.J. 2nd Lt. B Linzey,J.D. 2nd Lt. E Farren,E.L. S/Sgt. R Masteka,G.F. S/Sgt. AE Cagle,W.C. S/Sgt. AR Barber, D.O. Sgt. AG Mills, E.J. Sgt. G Bixby,G.C. Sgt. G Nelson, V.A. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 505 |
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P Egan, R.L. 1st Lt. CP Basham, F.G. 1st Lt. N Harris, W.B. 1st Lt. G Moore, J.R. S/Sgt. E Hurley, W.F. T/Sgt. R Pope, F.B. T/Sgt. AE Crotty, W.L. Pfc. AR Stogner, O.T. S/Sgt. AG Salisbury, J.F. S/Sgt. G Kennedy, B.S. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 546 |
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P Ambrose, D.N. 2nd Lt. CP Dorrell, W. 2nd Lt. N Lindberg, V.A. 2nd Lt. B Tierney, J.F. 2nd Lt. E Cummings, D.L. T/Sgt. R Sawyer, G.H. S/Sgt. AE Davis, J.A. S/Sgt. AR Hall, E.A. S/Sgt. AG Oasheim, G.W. S/Sgt. G Dunham, H.D. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 497 |
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P Peterson, L.G. 1st Lt. CP Lidgard, W.V. 2nd Lt. N Long, A.L. 2nd Lt. B Fain J.M. 2nd Lt. E Lawrence, H.F. T/Sgt. R Bellerive, R.O. T/Sgt. AE Opsahl, R.C. S/Sgt. AR Smith, A.C. S/Sgt. AG Apgar, D.R. S/Sgt. G Stevens, R.K. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 495 |
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P Copp, R.D. 1st Lt. CP Meyers, J.W. 1st Lt. N Gries, R.F. 1st Lt. N Beatson, R.J. 1st Lt. B Rapenport, R. 1st Lt. E Hodge, G.L. T/Sgt. R Bisnett, B.R. T/Sgt. AE Dinda, B.F. S/Sgt. AR Nowicki, M.M. T/Sgt. AG Hohman, H. S/Sgt. G Noone, T.E. Jr. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 489 |
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P Gonseth, F. Jr. Capt. CP Slipp, F.E. 1st Lt. N Delach, J.J. 1st Lt. B Gray, W.L. 2nd Lt. E Jennings, H.C. T/Sgt. R Kirkpatrick, H.L. T/Sgt. AE Driver, D.M. S/Sgt. AR Feller, N.L. S/Sgt. AG Whalen, J.S. S/Sgt. G Warren, J.D. S/Sgt. -- Mandelkow, E. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 466 |
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P Edwards, C.E. Capt. CP Polking, W.A. Maj. N Untiedt, L.F. Capt. B Joachim, W.F. 1st Lt. E Mellow, N.J. T/Sgt. R Braddock, W.A. T/Sgt. AE Jones, N.J. S/Sgt. AR Hill, R.E. S/Sgt. AG Medel, M.N. Sgt. G Phelps, G.A. S/Sgt. Ward, M.E. 1st Lt. |
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25 Feb 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 100 |
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P Goodwin, R.K. 2nd Lt. CP McGee, R.E. 2nd Lt. N Wettig, C.O. 2nd Lt. B Gerrish, R.J. 2nd Lt. E Chacon, M.J. S/Sgt. R Roberts, E.M. S/Sgt. AE Maxwell, R.J. Sgt. AR Krueger, R.C. Sgt. AG Parsley, H.D. Sgt. G Harris, J.N. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 478 |
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P Lishka, A. Jr. 1st Lt. CP Feld, B.H. 1st Lt. N Haenzi, W.R. 1st Lt. B Westbrook, J.W. 1st Lt. E Carlson, C.E. T/Sgt. R Clark, F.C. T/Sgt. AE Halstead, H.C. S/Sgt. AR Dohm, H.E. S/Sgt. AG Drylie, J. S/Sgt. G Dedmon, S.E. S/Sgt. Brockway, O.E. 2nd Lt. |
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25 Feb 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 624 |
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P George, F.A. 1st Lt. CP Stephens, L.M. 2nd Lt. N Sweeney, P.J. 2nd Lt. B Kelly, F.B. 2nd Lt. E Parker, J.D. T/Sgt. R Sweeney, L.F. T/Sgt. AE Ellingson, H.E. S/Sgt. AR Sheppard, W.B. S/Sgt. AG Goodall, W.J. S/Sgt. G Theodore, R.N. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 945 |
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P Sooy, B.L. 1st Lt. CP Mardis, K.A. 2nd Lt. N Jones, O.R. 2nd Lt. B Schwartz, E.S. 2nd Lt. E Tibi, C.F. S/Sgt. R Terrell, P.J. S/Sgt. AE Serafine, J.M. S/Sgt. AR McBrayer, H.G. S/Sgt. AG McArn, H.W. Sgt. G Dorgan, W.J. Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 981 |
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P Morefield, H.F. 1st Lt. CP Grisell, R. 2nd Lt. N Kaufman, K.S. 2nd Lt. B Kuttner, F.F. 2nd Lt. E Betterley, E.C. S/Sgt. R Gerrard, R.W. T/Sgt. AE Breithaupt, H.A. Sgt. AR Coday, D.S. Sgt. AG Adago, D.R. Sgt. G Blekkenk, J.H. Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 465 |
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P Fletcher, R.E. 1st Lt. CP Graham, J.E. Jr. 2nd Lt. N Keck, R.W. 2nd Lt. B Judd, G.W. 2nd Lt. E Kelly, J.E. T/Sgt. R Biska, S.L. Pvt. AE Osborne, J.H. Pvt. AR Mancuso, M.A. S/Sgt. AE Milliken, E.W. S/Sgt. AG Wukotich, M.L. S/Sgt. G McNiel, J.M. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 599 |
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P Books, D.O. 1st Lt. CP Gray, H.E. 2nd Lt. N Kornman, H.C. 2nd Lt. B Thomas, J.S. 2nd Lt. E Womer, W.S. S/Sgt. R Slack, G.E. S/Sgt. AE Morris, E.N. Sgt. AR Porter, C.T. Sgt. AG Strickler, C.C. Sgt. G Hampton, R.G. Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 160 (aborted no mission credit) |
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P Darnell, J.F. Jr. 1st Lt. CP Slagle, E.E. 2nd Lt. N Stasney, A.J. 2nd Lt. B Lory, R.C. 2nd Lt. E Whitaker, J.W. S/Sgt. R Mandel, R.F. T/Sgt. AE Sundo, J.R. S/Sgt. AR Ward, L.E. Sgt. AG Rego, M.A. S/Sgt. G Courtney, E.J. Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 117 |
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P Sherwood, W.B. 2nd Lt. CP Anderson, J.B. 2nd Lt. N Sheridan, J.J. 2nd Lt. B Bowen, H.A. 2nd Lt. E Todd, R.E. S/Sgt. R Mohr, D.C. S/Sgt. AE Coveney, C.M. Sgt. AR Grybos, T.J. S/Sgt. AG Phillips, E.L. Sgt. G Carroll, J.B. Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 473 |
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P Shea, P.F. 2nd Lt. CP Hay, S.N. 2nd Lt. N Lowder, L.L. 2nd Lt. B Heilman, J.A. 2nd Lt. E Darling, L. T/Sgt. R Mahoney, J.E. T/Sgt. AE Hixon, R.D. T/Sgt. AR Dudley, W.R. S/Sgt. AG Luchak, A. S/Sgt. G Adams, B. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 261 |
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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. |
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25 Feb 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 990 |
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P Spartage, G. 1st Lt. CP Kern, R.B. 2nd Lt. N Tauskey, W.A. 2nd Lt. B Campbell, R.A. 2nd Lt. E Erickson, C.W. S/Sgt. R Worthington, P.A. T/Sgt. AE Warren, O.J. S/Sgt. AR Helmke, E.F. S/Sgt. AG Ridgeway, J.W. Jr. Sgt. G Riedlinger, A.J. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 510 |
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P Hammond, G.L. 1st Lt. CP Hatter, W.H. 2nd Lt. N Sullivan, J.J. 2nd Lt. B Rodriguez, J.B. 2nd Lt. E Pearson, W.M. T/Sgt. R Sullivan, W. Jr. T/Sgt. AE Hargrave, R.O. S/Sgt. AR White, C.B. S/Sgt. AG Goldberg, M.R. S/Sgt. G Gaudreau, H.P. S/Sgt. |
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25 Feb 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 127 |
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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. |
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25 Feb 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 469 |
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P Dickson, J.W. 1st Lt. CP Colvin, J.A. Jr. 2nd Lt. N McDade, J.J. Jr. 1st Lt. B Kennedy, T. 1st Lt. E York, R.M. T/Sgt. R Zimpelman, J.G. S/Sgt. AE York, D.L. S/Sgt. AR Draper, J.W. S/Sgt. AG Reilly, B.A. S/Sgt. G O'Neill, F.L. S/Sgt. |
