Mission 361 - 1

Lead element en route to Straubing. B-17G #44-8552 PFF 360BS (PU-X) Deputy Lead

(pilot Capt William E. Jones) and B-17G #44-8912 PFF 359BS (BN-W) (Lead Pilot Major

William C. Heller). At the top is B-17G #42-102544 Sack Time flown by 2Lt Hamm.

303rd BG (H) Combat Mission No. 36116 April 1945

Target: Railroad Bridge at Straubing, GermanyCrews Dispatched: 39

Length of Mission: 8 hours, 41 minutes

Bomb Load: 12 x 500 lb G.P. bombs

Bombing Altitudes: 18,000, 17,500 & 19,000 feet

The 1st AD and 3rd AD B-17s attacked rail and communication targets while the 2ndAD B-24s went after German strongholds in the Bordeaux, France area.

303BG targets were: No. 1 Straubing railroad bridge (visual); No. 2 Platting landingground; No. 3 Ingolstadt marshalling yard (H2X). All targets were in Germany. No groupaircraft returned early.

Thirty-nine dispatched bombers dropped 450 500-lb. G.P. and ten units of VG-3bombs on target No. 1. Bombing was visual and photos indicated a possible hit on thebridge, one near miss and damage to the bridge's southern approach. Overall results werefair. The group following the 303BG(H) definitely hit the bridge. There were no clouds inthe target area.

There was no enemy air or flak opposition. A force of 251 P-51s provided goodsupport. All aircraft returned undamaged with no casualties.

Mission 361 - 2

Photo taken on the April 16, 1945 Mission #361 to Straubing from B-17G #43-39453 (PU-D),

flown by 1 Lt Ja ck D . Bres lin, who flew in th e Le ad F orm ation a t the he ad o f the s eco nd "V ."

In the center is B-17G #44-6516 My Darling, flown by 1Lt Gordon L. Wirth. Behind #44-6516

can be seen the entire 427th Low Squadron, led by 1Lt Donald I. Hewitt in B-17G #44-8869.

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group A

Heller-Vail912 - PFF

Hamm Jones 544 552 - PFF Wall Smith 546 563 Breslin Welshon 453 842 Fowler Maker 517 860 Bentzlin J. Scott 523 672 Wirth McGuffin 516 532

Mission 361 - 3

LEAD TEAM in B-17G #44-8912 (No Name) PFF 359BS (BN-W)

41st CBW-A (360BS) - Pilot Maj W.C. Heller / CoPilot 1Lt R.F. Vail

At the far right of the crew are Major Heller and 1Lt Vail.

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group B

Holmes-Haynes564 - PFF

Call C. Scott 734 883 Stauffer Peterson 609 645 Bashor Towne 256 608 Henning Lowry 351 206 Leister Magee 682 127 Mauger Rich 878 289

Mission 361 - 4

GORDON L. WIRTH CREW - 360th BS

(crew assigned 360BS: 03 Apr 1945 - photo: 21 Apr 1945)

Aircraft Formation at Assembly Point - Group C

Hewitt-McKeon869 - PFF

Kahler Danna 597 885 Thomas Chuba 311 - Spare 977 Damon Flanigan 937 710 Krohn Arcy 621 447 Donalson Lonski 824 534 Breyer Barr 692 287

Mission 361 - 5

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #43-38878 (No Name)

P Mauger, Warren, 2LtCP Burgess, William T., 2LtNAV Steineman, James T., 2LtTOG Davis, Carl J., S/SgtENG Reese, Bobbie B., T/SgtRO Wysocki, John F., T/SgtBT Kelley, Francis H., S/SgtTG Schoonover, Howard D., S/Sgt

B-17G #43-38645 (No Name)

P Peterson, Robert C., 2LtCP Kirkpatrick, Roy A., 2LtNAV Mollman, Charles A., 2LtTOG Wilson, Robert P., SgtENG Reed, Denver E., SgtRO Strigle, Paul C., SgtBT Hunsucker, John E., S/SgtTG Borsody, William L., Sgt

B-17G #43-39127 (No Name)

P Magee, Jack R., 1LtCP Briody, Lawrence J., 2LtNAV Chennault, Paul E., Jr., 2LtTOG Flandermeyer, Omer J., SgtENG Dow, Jacob E., SgtRO Dittmar, John F., S/SgtBT Bauer, Herbert, CplTG Meyer, Wilbur H., Jr., Cpl

B-17G #44-8256 Yankee Girl

P Bashor, Oliver L., 2LtCP Baker, Ira B., 2LtNAV Johnson, Herbert G., 2LtTOG Hansen, Robert S., SgtENG Reed, Paul E., S/SgtRO Grden, Matthew W., S/SgtBT Greene, Norman S., S/SgtTG Theisen, Robert J., Sgt

B-17G #44-8734 Hell's Cargo

P Call, Fred E., 1LtCP Wilson, Carl V., 2LtNAV Udy, Donald M., F/OTOG Boucher, Henry C., S/SgtENG Moser, Lawrence B., SgtRO Sussman, Martin, S/SgtTG Tanner, Henry C., S/SgtBT Hager, Mark I., Sgt

B-17G #43-38682 (No name)

P Leister, Francis E., 2LtCP Timmons, James A., 2LtNAV Maso, Salvatore J., F/OTOG Roberts, James P., S/SgtENG Smith, Philman C., SgtRO Shaunnessy, William I., SgtBT Crum, Roy E., CplTG Stevens, Wilfred O., Sgt

KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS

CREW POSITIONS

CMP - Command PilotP - PilotCP - Co-PilotNAV - NavigatorANV - Ass't. NavigatorMNV - Mickey NavigatorENG - EngineerBOM - BombardierRO - Radio Operator

TOG - TogglierBT - Ball Turret OperatorTT - Top Turret OperatorTG - Tail GunnerWG - Waist GunnerLWG - Left Waist GunnerRWG - Right Waist GunnerGUN - GunnerVI - Voice InterpreterOBS - Observer

PAS - PassengerPHO - PhotographerY - Y-Operators (YRO,YO)RCM - Radio Cntr MeasuresSJ - Spot Jammer

RESULTS OF MISSION

KIA - Killed in actionWIA - Wounded in actionMIA - Missing in action

POW - Prisoner of warDOW - Died of woundsEVD - Evaded the enemyREP - RepatriatedRES - RescuedESC - EscapedBO - Bailed outDCH - DitchedCR-L - Crashed on landCR-S - Crashed at sea

Mission 361 - 6

359th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #43-38608 Lucille

P Towne, Harvey E., 2LtCP Ligaard, Warren K., 2LtNAV West, Alonzo, III. 2LtTOG Taylor, Wallace K., S/SgtENG Myers, Ernest L., S/SgtRO Fiore, Thomas, S/SgtBT Syler, Allen B., SgtTG McGurdy, Lewis M., SgtRCM Madey, Herbert P., Sgt

B-17G #44-8564 (No Name) - PFF

P Holmes, Alfred M., 1LtCP Haynes, Eugene, 1LtNAV Moon, Richard Y., 1LtMN Weil, Frank P., 1LtBOM Mitchell, Robert C., 1LtENG Vowels, Donovan E., T/SgtRO Shook, Victor N., S/SgtTG Klym, Michael, T/SgtBT Meichtry, Leo R., S/Sgt

B-17G #43-38883 Lady Beth

P Scott, Charles F., F/OCP Volz, Raymond J., F/ONAV Blackwell, Samuel D., F/OTOG Madden, Joseph R., Sgt ENG Gale, James C., Jr., SgtRO Gilmer, Billie G., PvtBT Fanguy, Floyd J., CplTG Hills, Raymond E., Sgt

B-17G #44-8351 (No Name)

P Henning, Clyde H., 2LtCP Bauer, Donald R., F/ONAV Mabary, George D.L., 2LtTOG Jones, John V., SgtENG Grant, Gilbert D., SgtRO Ferche, Joseph P., SgtBT Harper, Richard F., SgtTG Barnett, Raymond L., Sgt

B-17G #43-38609 (No Name)

P Stauffer, Robert N., 2LtCP Bowman, George B., 2LtNAV Williams, Tom E., 2LtTOG Sherwin, Claude W., Jr., SgtENG Walling, Glenn R., S/SgtRO Kirsling, Frederick P., SgtBT Jamieson, Richard W., SgtTG Hawkinson, Arthur H., Sgt

B-17G #42-107206 Old Black Magic

P Lowry, William J., 2LtCP Bennett, Ralph S., F/ONAV Wood, Stuart K., 2LtTOG Nichols, Audly D., SgtENG Manina, Joseph J., SgtRO Thomas, William B., SgtBT Warcholak, Emanual, SgtTG Moots, Merritt L., SgtRCM Carl, Lewis E., S/Sgt

B-17G #43-38289 Sweet LaRhonda

P Rich, Richard H., 2LtCP Ketner, Wilbert L., 2LtNAV Knox, George E., 1LtTOG Geary, Joseph P., SgtENG Sears, Glenn W., SgtRO Riehl, William, Sgt (358th)BT Cutter, Harrison F., CplTG Drennan, Thomas A., Sgt

Mission 361 - 7

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists

B-17G #42-97860 (No Name)

P Maker, Eugene L., 2LtCP Kaltenbacher, Robert F., 2LtNAV Strassburger, Harvey D., F/OBOM Galardi, John F., 2LtENG Smith, Paul R., SgtRO Wisniewski, Andrew J., SgtBT Mattucks, Robert E., SgtTG Martis, Joseph A., Sgt

B-17G #43-38532 (No Name)

P McGuffin, Jack, Jr., 2LtCP Van Beek, James C., 2LtNAV Cochran, Gomer W., F/OTOG Edgar, Thomas O., SgtENG Martens, Raymond J., SgtRO Mahan, Bernard M., SgtBT Lee, Oscie O., Jr., SgtTG Sutton, Floyd H., Sgt

B-17G #43-38563 Jackie

P Smith, Samuel W., 1LtCP Shanafelt, Arthur S.C., 2LtNAV Knudsen, Russell A., F/OTOG Geyer, Walter A., S/SgtENG Zenick, Thomas E., SgtRO Bridgman, Robert A., S/SgtBT Kucab, Michael J., SgtTG Jensen, Jens C., Sgt

B-17G #44-6523 (No Name)

P Bentzlin, Bertil V., 2LtCP Briley, Dewey E., 2LtNAV Andrzejczyk, Walter A., F/OTOG Friery, James R., SgtENG Rodgers, Walter D., SgtRO Sole, John A., SgtBT Henderson, Clarence J., SgtTG Joneson, Leonard B., Sgt

B-17G #42-102544 Sack Time

P Hamm, Burwell J., 2LtCP Van Geyten, John J., F/ONAV Brauchle, John G., F/OBOM Pherson, Wilbert C., Jr., F/OENG Fischer, Herman W., SgtRO Arnold, Warren E., SgtBT Nicklas, Henry P., CplTG Clem, Billy J., Cpl

B-17G #43-38672 (No Name)

P Scott, John, 1LtCP Weinandt, Bernard M., 2LtNAV Bergvall, Otis A., 2LtBOM Grezzo, Anthony D., 2LtENG Hart, Leroy M., SgtRO Gentry, John M., SgtBT Meincke, Donald, SgtTG Woolpert, John C., Sgt

B-17G #43-38842 (No Name)

P Welshon, Frank E., 2LtCP Sumpter, James A., 2LtNAV Correale, Fortunato G., F/O (358th)BOM Inman, James O., 2LtENG Jackson, James L., SgtRO Selberg, Maurice K., SgtBT Paris, Russell C., SgtTG Mangum, Henry L., Jr., Sgt

B-17G #44-8552 (No Name) - PFF

P Jones, William E., CaptCP Lucien, Ralph A., 2LtNAV Dwyer, Marion J., 2LtMN Fleming, David D., 2LtBOM Puryear, James L., 1LtENG Carter, James O., SgtRO Lillis, Joseph D., PfcTG Patterson, Charles A., S/Sgt

Mission 361 - 8

360th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #43-39453 (No Name)

P Breslin, Jack D., 1LtCP Bischofs, Hans, 2LtNAV Morgan, Clinton J., 2LtTOG Perry, Gordon W., S/SgtENG Moore, Harley E., SgtRO Daugherty, John S., Jr., SgtBT Beckman, Charles W., S/SgtTG Barlow, Grover C., SgtRCM Thomas, Jack M., Sgt

B-17G #44-6517 Old Cock

P Fowler, Robert R., 1LtCP Boyles, Kenneth L., 2LtNAV Sarkis, George A., F/OTOG Bice, Lowell E., S/SgtENG Bryson, Emil M., T/SgtRO Ahland, Walter F., T/SgtBT Henager, Rudolph M., S/SgtTG Yepes, William J., S/SgtRCM Elliott, Richard D., S/Sgt

B-17G #44-6516 My Darling

P Wirth, Gordon L., 1LtCP Frook, Stanley F., 2LtNAV Winfield, Robert P., 2LtBOM Vinovich, Ralph, 1LtENG Beck, Cyrus C., SgtRO Kalina, Marvin W., SgtBT Nassau, Norman, SgtTG Cuckler, Harvey G., Sgt

B-17G #44-8912 (No Name) - PFF

P Heller, William C., MajCP Vail, Robert F., 2LtNAV Young, Charles C., Jr., 1LtNAV Illgen, Frederick J., Maj (41st W.)MN Charlton, Rufus S., 1LtBOM McCormick, James E., Maj (303rd)ENG Larson, Arnoldl B., T/SgtRO Snell, John K., T/SgtTG Judd, Dudley F., 2Lt

B-17G #42-97546 Idaliza

P Wall, James A., F/OCP King, Roy L., F/ONAV Hamilton, James E., F/OBOM Olinger, Charles F., F/OENG Cochran, Frank H., SgtRO Pratt, William A., SgtBT Booe, Billy L., SgtTG Shipp, B.J., SgtVI Elkin, Samuel, S/Sgt (427th)

Mission 361 - 9

427th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #44-8824 (No Name)

P Donalson, David S., 2LtCP Pittard, Thomas W., Jr., 2LtNAV Cahill, William F., 2LtTOG Lenhard, Robert H., SgtTT Knight, Ernest E., SgtBT Brehl, Ralph C., Jr., CplRO Kaliel, Wilfred L., SgtTG Parr, Robert E., Cpl

B-17G #44-8692 Little Tillie

P Breyer, Frederick L., 2LtCP Schwartz, Melvin, 2LtNAV Baldwin, Jack C., 2LtTOG Knauer, Seymour B., SgtTT Holt, Lester C., SgtBT Bohac, John V., CplRO Jarmolinski, William J., SgtTG Harris, Glenn E., Cpl

B-17G #44-83447 (No Name)

P Arcy, Mitchell T., 2LtCP Shaafsma, Peter, 2LtNAV Wyatt, William A., 2LtTOG Detlefsen, Emil E., SgtTT Berzanski, Edward G., CplBT Swires, Harvey K., CplRO Knutson, Theodore E., CplTG Alasky, Robert H., T/Sgt

B-17G #43-37597 Earthquake McGoon

P Kahler, Thomas F., 2LtCP Cotton, Lewis, 2LtNAV Bowler, Richard, SgtBOM Fogarty, Richard T., S/SgtTT Lowery, Lloyd, S/SgtRO Latz, Leslie L., S/SgtBT Broughton, William A., S/SgtTG Rogers, Herbert B., Sgt

B-17G #44-6937 El Sereano

P Damon, Malcolm F., 2LtCP Whitford, Milton G., 2LtNAV Burr, Howard G., 2LtTOG Leenstra, John M., SgtTT Kaseric, John, SgtBT Braun, Donald K., PfcRO Jordan, Daniel J., SgtTG Mikkelson, Delbert M., Pfc

B-17G #44-85534 (No Name)

P Lonski, Charles J., 1LtCP Halonen, Eugene L., 2LtNAV Szymanski, Milton J., 2LtTOG Campen, Donald O., Jr., SgtTT Adams, Dearl E., SgtBT Czarny, Alex G., SgtRO Newby, Sidney W., SgtTG Bourget, Joseph B., Sgt

B-17G #44-8710 Idle Wheel

P Flanigan, Lloyd J., 2LtCP Kipfer, James F., 2LtNAV Heaney, Edward J., F/OTOG McDonald, Francis E., SgtTT Gilkes, Beresford B., SgtBT Safley, Delbert A., SgtRO Gourly, Charles B., SgtTG Neiswender, John J., Sgt

B-17G #44-6977 Better Do’er

P Chuba, Francis B., 2LtCP Rogers, Ennis L., 2LtNAV Wolf, Robert J., 2LtTOG Malmo, Robert C., SgtTT Ayers, Francis H., SgtRO Harkey, Charles I., S/SgtTG Huckabay, Harvey H., Sgt BT Paananen, Uhlo J., Sgt

Mission 361 - 10

427th Bombardment Squadron Crew Lists - Cont'd.

B-17G #42-97311 Shoo Shoo Baby

P Thomas, Blaine E., 2LtCP Bartholomew, Max R., 2LtNAV Bonanno, Joseph, F/OTOG Eschinger, Edward G., SgtTT Haynes, Harry W., Jr., SgtBT Contreras, Luis L., SgtRO Smith, Walter E., SgtTG Carlson, Melvin C., SgtVI Brody, John J., Sgt

B-17G #44-83287 (No Name)

P Barr, Thomas J., 2LtCP Pauling, Verlin C., 2LtNAV Walker, Raymon G., 2LtTOG Allen, Herrold H., SgtTT Daspit, Thomas M., SgtBT Laza, Benney F., SgtRO Zierk, George W., SgtTG Smith, Theodore R., SgtSJ Buonpano, Vincent, Sgt

B-17G #42-39885 Sweet Rose O'Grady

P Danna, Joseph, 2LtCP Von Aesch, Edward J., F/ONAV Lieberman, Leon, F/OBOM Osmundson, Arthur E., 2LtTT Kenney, William C., CplBT Batts, Bert, PfcRO Anderson, Martin L., CplTG Caputo, Harrison D., Sgt

B-17G #44-8869 (No Name) - PFF

P Hewitt, Donald I., 1LtCP McKeon, Preston W., 1LtNAV Wolansky, John, 2LtMN Grondin, Nicholas A., 1LtBOM Keese, Thomas R., 1Lt TT Sabo, Stephen R., SgtRO Schmidt, Elmer J., T/SgtWG Mussi, James L., S/SgtTG Agrifoglio, Benjamin, S/Sgt

B-17G #43-38621 50 Ragged

P Krohn, Robert W., 2Lt CP Kindig, Paul B., 2Lt NAV Christen, Louis M., 2Lt TOG O'Sullivan, Henry T., Sgt TT Peterson, Herman O., SgtBT Minoff, John, Sgt RO McKenzie, Malcolm L., Sgt TG Marozas, Arthur A., SgtSJ Ladd, John, Sgt