Beveland WWII Bombing Mission August 3, 1944

The briefed primary for this mission was an oil refinery at Lens, France. Briefings were conducted between 1300 and 1400 hours for 34 crews. Briefers advised there was no secondary target but last resort targets included "Any airfield, marshalling yard, railroad or road bridge, enemy column, or convoy on the road, concentration of troops or equipment not adjacent to a build up area and must be positively identified and a visual sighting made." In the event of a crash in enemy territory, "Lie low and hide waiting for our advance rather than attempt crossing lines. When retreating, Germans usually evacuate civilians and even search houses. Evaders must act as civilians in the open or hide very carefully. To be found hiding is dangerous. If you do escape or evade don't say anything to war correspondents or unauthorized personnel."

The first Group aircraft took off at 1619 hours and the last aircraft landed at 2139 hours. Thirteen aircraft did not attack; 2 aborted for mechanical reasons while 11 aborted due to weather but had gone far enough to receive credit for the mission. The primary was obscured by haze and clouds so two squadrons (21 aircraft) elected to bomb a Target of Opportunity - a bridge across the channel waterway six miles southeast of Goes, Holland. These squadrons dropped a total of (264) 500-pound General Purpose bombs squarely on the aiming point with the third squadron not bombing.

No fighters were seen but AA fire caused damage to 20 Liberators and the loss of one aircraft. From the 576th, ship #42-95070 with Lieutenant Holliday's crew was severely damaged by flak (the controls were shot out while circling in the target area for a second run). The ship returned to England but the crew was forced to bail out after directing the plane toward the North Sea; copilot 2/Lt Paul U. Daniel landed in a tree and broke his ankle.

3 Aug 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 031
CA Filkel, O.H. 1st Lt. P Demers, J.R. 1st Lt. CP Sylvester, H. 2nd Lt. N Neisloss, S.L. 2nd Lt. B Judd, G.G. 2nd Lt. B Adamson, J.C. 2nd Lt. E Bell, E.M. T/Sgt. R Galea, J.H.D. T/Sgt. RW - - LW Allen, W.J. S/Sgt. BT Baer, D.J. S/Sgt. TG Arnold, E.L. S/Sgt.
3 Aug 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 070
P Holliday, B.L. 1st Lt. CP Daniel, P.U. 2nd Lt. N McCutcheon, J. 2nd Lt. B Wise, D.C. 2nd Lt. E Jarrett, C.W. T/Sgt. R Rambo, K.B. T/Sgt. RW Johnson, L.A. S/Sgt. LW Wattles, L.O. S/Sgt. BT - - TG Negus, J.V. S/Sgt.
3 Aug 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 299
P Evans, A.W. 2nd Lt. CP Fenton, J.S. 2nd Lt. N Shoenberger, R.W. 2nd Lt. B Conner, J.K. 2nd Lt. E Patterson, R.C. T/Sgt. R Glowienke, G.A. T/Sgt. RW Naber, H.W. S/Sgt. LW Buonocore, F.L. S/Sgt. BT - - TG Powell, L.R. S/Sgt.
3 Aug 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 659
P Benson, A.L. 2nd Lt. CP Singer, S. F/O N Reichl, J.G. 2nd Lt. B Guhin, M.E. 2nd Lt. E Henning, W.C. T/Sgt. R Wickens, R.S. S/Sgt. RW Hackney, S.H. S/Sgt. LW Bowen, W.H. S/Sgt. BT - - TG Chatterton, G.A. S/ Sgt.
3 Aug 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 480
P Larson, R.D. 2nd Lt. CP Hawn, I. F/O N Biles, W.R. 2nd Lt. B Sullivan, P.A. 2nd Lt. E Dearborn, H.W. S/Sgt. R Peterson, J.V. S/Sgt. RW Benadum, T.E. S/Sgt. LW Hetzer, R.L. Sgt. BT - - TG Cuthbert, J.K. Sgt.
3 Aug 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 409
P Smith, K.A. 1st Lt. CP McFarland, J.D. 2nd Lt. N Levin, W. 1st Lt. B Duffy, F.J. 1st Lt. E Glover, B.E. Sgt. R Isebrands, T.E. S/Sgt. RW Woerth, J.B. Sgt. LW Burke, W.N. S/Sgt. BT - - TG Young, R.E. Sgt.
3 Aug 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 222
P Hofmann, H.W. 1st Lt. CP Gorton, C.E. 2nd Lt. N Randall, J.A. 2nd Lt. B Serna, M.M. 2nd Lt. E Boney, R.E. T/Sgt. R McNutt, W.H. Cpl. RW Dopson, V.H. S/Sgt. LW Kamacho, J.A. S/Sgt. BT Sanders, O.B. S/Sgt. TG Goo, R.F. S/Sgt. Korn, R.N. Sgt.
3 Aug 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 097
P Hart, W. 2nd Lt. CP Crawford, D.A. Jr. 2nd Lt. N Berger, G. 2nd Lt. AG Griesbaum, L.A. Sgt. E Shields, V.E. S/Sgt. R Young, W.S. Sgt. RW Stern, J. Sgt. LW Genna, N.J. Cpl. BT - - TG Clemmer, C.J. Cpl.
3 Aug 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 915 (no mission credit)
P Williams, E.L. 2nd Lt. CP Jones, T.A. 2nd Lt. N McFerran, J.B. 2nd Lt. B Daniel, F.E. Sgt. E Shaw, G.B. S/Sgt. R Bell, W.R. S/Sgt. RW Huba, J.D. Sgt. LW Wall, D.L. Sgt. BT - - TG King, W.C. Sgt.

3 Aug 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 223
P Weaver, L.F. 2nd Lt. CP Hamill, R.E. 2nd Lt. N Brandi, J.G. 2nd Lt. B Taylor, J.L. 2nd Lt. E Kampfe, R.E. Sgt. R Beckwith, R.B. Sgt. RW Broffman, K.W. Sgt. LW Holland, M.D. Sgt. BT Williams, C.L. Sgt. TG Meyer, T.H. Sgt.
3 Aug 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 040
P Bay, R.A. 1st Lt. CP Fisher, K.M. 2nd Lt. N Clancy, E.A. 2nd Lt. B Henderson, W.M. 2nd Lt. E Weibusch, W.A. T/Sgt. R Armstrong, G.H. T/Sgt. RW Allen, A.W. S/Sgt. LW DeSalvo, L. S/Sgt. BT Hume, J.B. S/Sgt. TG Duncan, W.R. S/Sgt.
3 Aug 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 012
P Barron, J.N. 2nd Lt. CP Stalsby, S.C. F/O N Attinson, C. 2nd Lt. B Feltman, D.S. 2nd Lt. E Slater, D.L. S/Sgt. R Osborne, R.C. Pvt. RW Salvato, T.W. S/Sgt. LW Garner, H.S. T/Sgt. BT - - TG Demar, S. Sgt.
3 Aug 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 430
P Petty, R.A. 2nd Lt. CP Crowe, W.Q. 2nd Lt. N Page, C.R. 2nd Lt. B Wickett, C.J. 2nd Lt. E McGrew, C.C. T/Sgt. R Gaertner, R.E. S/Sgt. RW Dondero, E.G. Sgt. LW McCormick, W.L. Sgt. BT - - TG Dedmon, S.E. S/Sgt.
3 Aug 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 151
P Anundson, P.F. 1st Lt. CP Hadley, L.R. 2nd Lt. N Fehrenbacher, D.E. 2nd Lt. B Scott, W.J. 2nd Lt. E Cooke, W.B. T/Sgt. R Clendening, R.D. T/Sgt. RW Berry, H.F. S/Sgt. LW Schliesmayer, R.N. S/Sgt. BT Farrar, R.E. S/Sgt. TG Kleber, W.M. S/Sgt. OBS Johnson, O.P. 1st Lt.
3 Aug 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 415
P Holmes, H.T. Jr. F/O CP Barber, J.B. 2nd Lt. N Kaswan, J. 2nd Lt. B Peterson, H.L. 2nd Lt. E Fetsch, J.E. S/Sgt. R O'Laughlin, F.J. S/Sgt. RW Loewy, S.B. Sgt. LW Tungett, R.G. Sgt. BT - - TG Marinelli, N.R. Sgt. Batchelor, L.I. Sgt.
3 Aug 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 096
P Pierson, L.R. 1st Lt. CP Hart, H.E. 2nd Lt. N Schug, E.W. 2nd Lt. B DelSol, E.J. Sgt. E Hartline, J.B. S/Sgt. R Dawson, J.C. S/Sgt. RW Gover, G.W. S/Sgt. LW Cyran, T.J. S/Sgt. BT Vandeventer, L.V. Sgt. TG - -
3 Aug 1944 577th Sqdn. A/C 604
P Solomon, R.H. 2nd Lt. CP Kressig, E.L. 2nd Lt. N Cleverdon, R.N. 2nd Lt. B Mace, J.E. 2nd Lt. E Moeller, H.E. Sgt. R Herzlich, L. Sgt. RW Farquharson, G. Sgt. LW Psyk, E.L. Sgt. BT Capik, J.H. Sgt. TG Valenti, F.J. Sgt.

3 Aug 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 466
P Maris, J.R. 1st Lt. CP Holmes, F. Jr. 2nd Lt. N Silverman, H.I. 2nd Lt. B Taylor, J.W. 2nd Lt. E Fitzgerald, M.B. T/Sgt. R Trinkle, C.E. T/Sgt. RW Legendre, V.J. S/Sgt. LW Young, H.M. S/Sgt. BT - - TG Miller, M. S/Sgt.
3 Aug 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 293
P Hamblen, C.W. 1st Lt. CP McCarter, H.L. 1st Lt. N Hurst, F.B. Jr. 1st Lt. B Joyce, G.P. 1st Lt. E Ellingson, H.E. S/Sgt. R Sweeney, L.F. T/Sgt. RW Haukom, C.B. S/Sgt. LW Vickery, P.C. S/Sgt. NT Wells, M.C. 2nd Lt. TG McLain, B.G. Pvt.
3 Aug 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 896
P Henderson, P.B. 1st Lt. CP Stull, R.B. 2nd Lt. N Allen, H.W. 1st Lt. B Williamson, R.D. 2nd Lt. E Thompson, A.W. S/Sgt. R Burns, P.J. T/Sgt. RW Smith, G.R. S/Sgt. LW Vantine, J.E. S/Sgt. NT Oppenheim, A.M. 2nd Lt. TG Howell, J.L. S/Sgt.
3 Aug 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 295
P Twining, E.S. Jr. 2nd Lt. CP Duff, A.L. 2nd Lt. N Bertoli, L.J. Jr. 2nd Lt. B Clark, H.J. 2nd Lt. E Hostetter, F.E. S/Sgt. R Hinckley, B.J. S/Sgt. RW Gusciora, B.S. Sgt. LW Maguire, F.H. Sgt. BT Largen, J.E. Sgt. TG - -
3 Aug 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 446
P Shelley, J.H. 2nd Lt. CP Scarpino, P. 2nd Lt. N Maroun, N.P. 2nd Lt. B Chinchilla, F.P. 2nd Lt. E Kane, F.M. S/Sgt. R Smith, P.E. Pvt. RW Hollenbeck, C.E. S/Sgt. LW Stewart, S.R. S/Sgt. BT - - TG Childers, J.E. Pvt.
3 Aug 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 250
P Miller, D.E. 2nd Lt. CP Heller, P. 2nd Lt. N Moos, J.C. 2nd Lt. B Inamorato, J.T. 2nd Lt. E Myers, L.P. S/Sgt. R Luczak, H.J. S/Sgt. RW Agoglia, E.J. Sgt. LW Faulstich, A.F. Sgt. BT - - TG Shea, H.A. Sgt.
3 Aug 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 764
P Barton, P.F. 2nd Lt. CP Riddleberger, W.I. III 2nd Lt. N Wimer, F.P. 2nd Lt. B Smith, C.E. F/O E Soda, M.J. S/Sgt. R Wright, G. S/Sgt. RW Johnson, P.D. Sgt. LW Serrette, R.L. Sgt. BT - - TG Boyce, E.L. Sgt.
3 Aug 1944 578th Sqdn. A/C 478 (no mission credit)
P Rudd, C.R. 2nd Lt. CP Benson, R.J. 2nd Lt. N Dawson, J.B. 2nd Lt. B Spencer, W.A. 2nd Lt. E Maynard, C.R. S/Sgt. R Clapp, R.E.E. Jr. S/Sgt. RW Dobson, O.F. Sgt. LW Modlin, R.E. Sgt. BT - - TG Place, R.K. Sgt.

3 Aug 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 608
P McGregor, J.A. Capt. CP Holloman, C.C. Capt. N Swangren, R. Capt. B Good, R.E. Capt. E Padden, T.F. S/Sgt. R West, G.E. T/Sgt. RW Long, B. S/Sgt. LW Hair, J.H. S/Sgt. NT Scheltens, O.W. 1st Lt. TG Housteau, J.M. Sgt.
3 Aug 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 448
P Niederriter, R.A. 1st Lt. CP Spencer, F.R. 2nd Lt. N Richert, G.W. F/O B McMahon, C.D. 1st Lt. E Maertens, H.J. T/Sgt. R Underwood, J.W. T/Sgt. RW Greenwood, I.G. S/Sgt. BT Flowers, W.C. S/Sgt. PN Correnty, R.D. 2nd Lt. TG Spurgeon, E.F. S/Sgt. Asseln, E.O. Sgt.
3 Aug 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 623
P Dawson, H.B. 2nd Lt. CP Fastabend, J.B. F/O N Cummings, F.L. 2nd Lt. B Paul, R.M. 2nd Lt. E Carter, W.R. S/Sgt. R Wilkinson, E.J. S/Sgt. RW Lee, S.A. Sgt. LW Hanson, T.R. Sgt. BT - - TG Ross, R.D. Sgt.
3 Aug 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 647
P White, E.J. F/O CP Whalen, J.M. F/O N Long, W.S. 2nd Lt. B Alexander, R.W. 2nd Lt. E Hayden, R. S/Sgt. R McAllaster, R.W. S/Sgt. RW Sabolish, G. Sgt. LW Egler, M.G. Sgt. BT - - TG Ziehm, R.W. Sgt.
3 Aug 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 308
P Gerow, J.A. 2nd Lt. CP Vallarelli, F.J. 2nd Lt. N Grandon, D.P. 2nd Lt. B Sulkowski, J.T. 2nd Lt. E Kieras, E.J. Sgt. R Baker, M. S/Sgt. RW Brink, B.E. S/Sgt. LW Ely, L.E. S/Sgt. BT - - TG Hebert, N.B. Cpl.
3 Aug 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 758
P Neundorf, C.A. 2nd Lt. CP Washington, E.K. 2nd Lt. N Abrams, E.J. 2nd Lt. B Pipitone, S.R. F/O E Moore, P.L. S/Sgt. R Ostrove, H. Sgt. RW Blalock, E.L. Sgt. LW Sullivan, J.K. Sgt. BT - - TG Xander, C.H. Sgt.
3 Aug 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 697
P Clark, D.L. 2nd Lt. CP Jones, G.B. 2nd Lt. N Munter, L.M. F/O B McGarry, T.J. 2nd Lt. E Keba, J. S/Sgt. R Howeth, G.W. Sgt. RW Kopperud, C.M. Sgt. LW Faust, K.E. Sgt. BT - - TG Tharp, R.N. Cpl.
3 Aug 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 789
P Leser, H.J. 1st Lt. CP Smoley, E.J. 2nd Lt. N Sellers, F.R. 2nd Lt. B Fleck, E.R. 2nd Lt. E Rodgers, B.A. T/Sgt. R Licht, J. T/Sgt. RW Weckel, W.R. S/Sgt. LW Fowler, D.E. S/Sgt. BT Damiano, A. S/Sgt. TG - -
3 Aug 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 195
P Benson, R.J. 2nd Lt. CP Buccigrossi, S.A. 2nd Lt. N Keane, J.J.F. 2nd Lt. B Davenport, J.R. 2nd Lt. E Solberg, F.O. S/Sgt. R Davey, J.F. Sgt. RW Middleton, W.H. Cpl. LW Radkiewicz, N.I. Cpl. BT- - TG Legaard, C. Sgt.

Target: Beveland - 3 August 1944 - Mission #143

The mission map shown at the briefing.

Photos very similar to the middle photos were printed on the front page of Target Victory ("published by 2d Bombardment Division FOR COMBAT FLYING PERSONNEL") for the week ending August 5, 1944.

The caption said, "392nd DOES STRIKING BRIDGEWORK. Now you see it, now you don't. Zuid-Beveland Bridge, only a target of opportunity, but 392nd refused to miss."

This strike photo shows results after the 579th Sqdn released its bombs. The circles indicate 500, 1000, and 2000 feet from the Mean Point of Impact (the target).

CREW LOADING LIST - MISSION #143