For the second day running, the Group was assigned a target in the vicinity of Berlin. Again aircrews and aircraft came through the mission virtually unscathed. The 579th was assigned lead with Lt Good as lead Bombardier. Briefing was completed for 26 aircrews between 0330-0430 with 25 taking off around 0745 hours. The mission was PFF-led all the way in due to poor target weather. All 25 aircraft released a total of (300) 500# GP bombs in the target area through a solid undercast with results unobserved. No enemy aircraft were encountered but flak caused damage to 13 ships. No aircraft were lost enroute; however, one was badly damaged as a result of crash landing upon return. No aircrew casualties were suffered.
The badly damaged plane was #42-7624. On 23 April 1944, the Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded to its pilot, 1/Lt James E. Muldoon Jr. for his efforts to get the plane back. The citation says Muldoon was "serving as Pilot of a B-24 aircraft on a mission deep into Germany, 9 March 1944. Before reaching the Division IP, flak damaged two engines on Lieutenant Muldoon's aircraft, forcing him out of formation. Bombs were salvoed immediately, and all excess equipment was jettisoned as the aircraft continued to lose altitude, finally leveling off at 10,000 feet. By superior airmanship, Lieutenant Muldoon reached the enemy coast and was picked up by friendly fighters who accompanied him across the channel and directed him to a nearby field. After descending through a break in the overcast and while preparing to land, Lieutenant Muldoon was notified of an obstruction and danger to workmen on the runway. Prevent from attempting a different approach by the failure of a third engine, Lieutenant Muldoon landed his battered aircraft and manipulated his damaged controls with such skill that the ship was forced off the runway and brought to rest without injury to crew or workmen. The determination, judgment, and skill displayed by Lieutenant Muldoon resulted in the saving of the lives of the crew and the workmen on the airfield and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces. Entered military service from Massachusetts." Signed, John A. Samford, Brigadier General, USA, Chief of Staff.
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9 Mar 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 692 |
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P Clover, D.K. 1st Lt. CP Berger, R.M. 2nd Lt. N McMillan, W.J. 1st Lt. B McDonald, P.R. 2nd Lt. E Losey, J.C. T/Sgt. R Galler, I. S/Sgt. AE Lewis, E.L. Jr. T/Sgt. AR Bell, R.W. S/Sgt. AG Ross, J.M. S/Sgt. G Royal, C.K. S/Sgt. G Choromanski, J.E. S/Sgt |
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9 Mar 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 535 |
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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 Crowley, C.J. S/Sgt. |
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9 Mar 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 651 |
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P Ford, J.H. 1st Lt. CP Bunting, D.W. 2nd Lt. N Duncan, R.H. 2nd Lt. B Thompson, M.A. 2nd Lt. E Lewis, G.F. T/Sgt. R Kramer, A.W. T/Sgt. AE Roberson, L.P. S/Sgt. AR Saucedo, J.A. S/Sgt. AG Overholt, H.R. S/Sgt. G Harvison, W.P. S/Sgt. |
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9 Mar 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 360 |
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P Hebron, W.T. 2nd Lt. CP McGowan, R.L. 2nd Lt. N McDonald, L. 2nd Lt. B Kalionzes, H.A. 1st Lt. E Decker, C.D. T/Sgt. R Martin, E.M. T/Sgt. AE Halsne, M.O. S/Sgt. AR Longchamps, A.L. S/Sgt. AG Youst, K.E. S/Sgt. G DeVoe, C.N. S/Sgt. |
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9 Mar 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 411 |
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CA Barnes, I.J. Capt. P Feran, J.E. 2nd Lt. CP Hayes, F.N. 2nd Lt. N Cummings, F.J. 2nd Lt. B Jackson, G.J. 1st Lt. E Houser, B.M. T/Sgt. R Dmoch, T.S. T/Sgt. AE Wolfer, A.J. S/Sgt. AR Hampton, W.R. S/Sgt. AG Prazak, S.J. S/Sgt. G Boord, W.M. Sgt. Obs. McShane, W.F. 1st Lt. |
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9 Mar 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 976 |
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P Filkel, O.H. 2nd Lt. CP Hurd, J.S. 2nd Lt. N Tyson, E.E. 2nd Lt. B Tudor, J.R. 2nd Lt. E Blevins, R.E. S/Sgt. R Smith, R.C. S/Sgt. AE Jarrett, C.W. Sgt. AR Hoover, A.L. Sgt. AG Kirkpatrick, H.K. S/Sgt. G Farnwalt, W.H. Sgt. |
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9 Mar 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 432 |
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P Scheltens, G.A. 2nd Lt. CP Vaughan, H.C. 2nd Lt. N Coward, D.M. 2nd Lt. NG Warren, J.D. S/Sgt. E Sackeli, A. S/Sgt. R Borden, K.L. S/Sgt. AE Mandelkow, E. S/Sgt. AR Crotty, W.L. Sgt. AG Thompson, I.F. S/Sgt. G Lindsay, E.L. Sgt. |
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9 Mar 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 826 |
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P Haffermehl, G.T. 2nd Lt. CP MacMullen, D.H. 2nd Lt. N Parks, K.C. 2nd Lt. B Poppel, S.B. 1st Lt. E Parker, E.S. T/Sgt. R Beausoleil, L.J. T/Sgt. AE Keck, R.W. Jr.. S/Sgt. AR Wagner, F.J. S/Sgt. AG Harwick, M. S/Sgt. G Landry, L. Sgt. |
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9 Mar 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 824 |
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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 Hanson, F.B. Sgt. AG Hardic, A.M. Sgt. G Bixby, G.C. Sgt. |
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9 Mar 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 497 |
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P Peterson, L.G. 1st Lt. CP Lidgard, W.V. 1st Lt. N Long, A.L. 1st Lt. B Gray, W.L. 2nd Lt. E Lawrence, H.F. T/Sgt. R Bellerive, R.O. T/Sgt. AE Opsahl, R.C. Sgt. AR Smith, A.C. S/Sgt. AG Apgar, D.R. S/Sgt. G Stevens, R.K. S/Sgt. |
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9 Mar 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 546 |
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P Ambrose, D.N. 1st 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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9 Mar 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 505 |
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P Tiefenthal, D.E. 1st Lt. CP Clifford, R.R. 2nd Lt. N Chichetto, A.F. 2nd Lt. NG Fain, J.M. 2nd Lt. E Wright, A. T/Sgt. R DiCroce, J.A. T/Sgt. AE Hull, W.W. S/Sgt. AR Sopchak, J. S/Sgt. AG Schulz, W.G. S/Sgt. G Elston, R.C. Sgt. |
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9 Mar 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 624 |
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P Muldoon, J.E. 2nd Lt. CP Otis, J.J. 2nd Lt. N Walsh, F.T. 2nd Lt. B Savage, C.C. 2nd Lt. E Byrd, J.M. S/Sgt. R Dehoff, L.V. S/Sgt. AE Carpenter, J.A. S/Sgt. AR Bluejacket, J.W. S/Sgt. AG Bednarcik, S.A. Sgt. G Svoboda, J.J. S/Sgt. |
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9 Mar 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 187 |
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P Young, M.N. 1st Lt. CP Goodwin, J.J. 2nd Lt. N Dunphy, R.J. 1st Lt. B Cunningham, R.B. 2nd Lt. E Triplett, W.F. T/Sgt. R Garcia, P.J. T/Sgt. AE Teater, R.S. S/Sgt. AR Porter, C.C. S/Sgt. AG Rickey, J.J. S/Sgt. G Ross, J.D. S/Sgt. |
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9 Mar 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 981 |
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P Cohen, S. 1st Lt. CP Shoenhair, R.D. 2nd Lt. N Mardirosian, A. 2nd Lt. B Ward, M.E. 2nd Lt. E Hayes, F.W. T/Sgt. R Buckley, G.J. S/Sgt. AE Carr, H.L. Sgt. AR Dellinger, T.C. Sgt. AG Thrower, W.E. Sgt. G McGee, R.C. Sgt. |
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9 Mar 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 100 |
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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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9 Mar 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 465 |
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P Johnson, R.L. 1st Lt. CP Buchanan, R.P. 2nd Lt. N Johnson, D.C. 1st Lt. B Hunter, R.M. 1st Lt. E Stancik, M. T/Sgt. R Wohlstrom, T.C. T/Sgt. AE Reynolds, H.D. S/Sgt. AR Milliken, E.W. S/Sgt. AG Edwards, C.E. T/Sgt. G Nixon, A.D. S/Sgt. |
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9 Mar 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 478 |
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P Goodwin, R.K. 2nd Lt. CP McGee, R.E. 2nd Lt. N Haenzi, W.R. 1st Lt. NG Rider, F.D. S/Sgt. 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 Reid, H.A. Sgt. |
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9 Mar 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 261 |
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P Nugent, W.A. 1st Lt. CP Burciaga, L.R. 2nd Lt. N Kornman, H.C. 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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9 Mar 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 814 |
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P Hammond, G.L. 1st Lt. CP Schumacher, R.L. 2nd Lt. N Sullivan, J.J. 2nd Lt. Porter, C.T. S/Sgt. E Jones, D.C. Sgt. R Sullivan, W. Jr. T/Sgt. AE Hargrave, R.O. S/Sgt. AR -- AG Gaudreau, H.P. S/Sgt. G Goldberg, M.R. S/Sgt. |
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9 Mar 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 308 |
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P Lotterhos, R.H. Jr. 1st 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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9 Mar 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 117 |
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P Sharpe, W.G. 1st Lt. CP Bandura, N.A. 2nd Lt. N McGuire, W.C. Jr. 2nd Lt. B Richardson, F.E. 2nd Lt. E Huffman, R.R. T/Sgt. R Wallace, F.C. S/Sgt. AE Anderson, C.A. S/Sgt. AR Cugini, M.W. S/Sgt. AG McGowan, W.J. S/Sgt. G Maylander, N. S/Sgt. |
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9 Mar 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 469 (no mission credit) |
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P Kubale, E.W. 1st Lt. CP Dickson, J.W. 1st Lt. N McDade, J.J. 1st Lt. B O'Neill, F.L. S/Sgt. E York, R.M. T/Sgt. R Zimpelman, J.G. T/Sgt. AE Draper, J.W. S/Sgt. AR -- AG Reilly, B.A. S/Sgt. G Durant, W. T/Sgt. |
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9 Mar 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 510 |
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P Baumgart, V.A. 1st Lt. CP Cordes, W.C. 1st Lt. N Slowik, J.E. Capt. B Stupski, S.J. 1st Lt. E Davis, H. T/Sgt. R Kiss, J. T/Sgt. AE Owen, E.D. T/Sgt. AR Yost, J.W. S/Sgt. AG Money, J.A. S/Sgt. G Fons, J.P. S/Sgt. |
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9 Mar 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 160 |
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P McGregor, J.A. Capt. CP Rendle, I.A. Col. N Swangren, R. 1st Lt. B Good, R.E. 1st Lt. B Kennedy, T. 1st Lt. E Galloway, W.E. T/Sgt. R West, G.E. T/Sgt. AE Padden, T.F. S/Sgt. AR Long, B. S/Sgt. AG Putnam, N.I. S/Sgt. G Housteau, J.M. S/Sgt. |
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9 Mar 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 127 (aborted no mission credit) |
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P Detrick, J.W. 1st 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, M. Sgt. AR Grybos, T.J. Sgt. AG Phillips, E.L. Sgt. G Carroll, J.B. Sgt. |
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9 Mar 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 599 |
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CA Keilman, M.H. Maj. CA Everhart, W.C. Capt. CP Sassaman, F.J. 2nd Lt. N Connolly, J.D. 1st Lt. B Chatten, J.F. 1st Lt. B White, E.I. 1st Lt. E Rinke, A.P. S/Sgt. R Beard, J.W. S/Sgt. AE Dill, W.F. S/Sgt. AR Beseda, J.F. S/Sgt. AG Fowler, R.G. S/Sgt. G Veit, F.L. S/Sgt. |
