392nd Bomb Group

Target: Karlsruhe - 5 September 1944 - Mission #162

Bad weather forced a stand down of the Eighth Air Force’s heavies during the first week of the month. This time was used for aircrew training, particularly in the 2nd Bomb Division which had ordered the limited night operations training for (4) 392nd aircrews. In other activities around Wendling, this time was also used to repair runways and perimeter taxiways. On the night of the 4th, the Group was alerted for a mission against the marshalling yards at Karisruhe despite poor weather forecasts for targets in Germany. At 0330-0500 on the 5th, (24) crews were briefed with the 579th and Lieutenant Connery given lead tasks. At 0700 hours, the aircraft began take-offs and as expected, the Group was forced to make a weather front penetration once over the Continent. The 392nd successfully passed through the weather and reformed most of the Group intact. A force of (16) ships bombed in formation with good results being accomplished. Four aircraft bombed with other units: (1) with a B-17 unit; (1) with the 389th; and (1) each with the 44th and 458th Bomb Groups. All totaled, the Group aircraft released (224) 500# GPs. No fighters were engaged, but flak over target was moderate and accurate causing serious damage to (7) B-24s and later (9) Pratt-Whitney engine changes. On the mission, it was thought that a 576th crew in ship #169 flown by Lieutenant Whitteaker had been lost but later it was learned the crew had landed at Le Bourget airfield outside Paris. The crew returned to Wendling the next day. An officer Bombardier from Lieutenant R. D. Johnson’s crew in #194 was wounded in the hand. At 1600 hours, ships began landing at base, many damaged but safely returned.

CREW LOADING LIST - MISSION #162

5 Sep 1944 576th Sqdn.
A/C 194
P Johnson, R.D. 2nd Lt.
CP Ellis, J.F. 2nd Lt.
N Hildebrand, L.C. 2nd Lt.
B Mountain, J.G. 2nd Lt. (injured)
E Stolins, E.A. S/Sgt.
R Holmes, E.L. S/Sgt.
RW Daniels, J. Sgt.
LW Gordon, G.P. S/Sgt.
BT - -
TG Strate, P.C. Sgt.
5 Sep 1944 576th Sqdn.
A/C 639
P Evans, A.W. 1st Lt.
CP Fenton, J.S. 1st Lt.
N Levin, W. 1st Lt.
B - -
E Patterson, R.C. T/Sgt.
R Glowienke, G.A. T/Sgt.
RW Buonocore, F.L. S/Sgt.
LW Naber, H.W. S/Sgt.
BT Powell, L.R. S/Sgt.
TG Altschaft, W.L. S/Sgt.
5 Sep 1944 576th Sqdn.
A/C 476 (no mission credit)
P Dugger, F.R. 2nd Lt.
CP Henrickson, J.L. 2nd Lt.
N Edmond, R.E. 2nd Lt.
B McInvale, A.L. Sgt.
E Jones, J.R. T/Sgt.
R Chenail, G.E. S/Sgt.
RW Blackham, W.R. S/Sgt.
LW DeKeyser, H.A. S/Sgt.
BT - -
TG Schumaker, D. S/Sgt.
5 Sep 1944 576th Sqdn.
A/C 650
P Scharf, C.D. 2nd Lt.
CP Call, F.B. 2nd Lt.
N Garland, S.M. 2nd Lt.
B Thomas, J.B. 2nd Lt.
E Michalski, R. T/Sgt.
R Bonanno, J.C. T/Sgt.
RW Rigas, C. S/Sgt.
LW Lienemann, W.C. S/Sgt.
BT - -
TG Oatman, H.W. Sgt.
5 Sep 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. T/Sgt.
R Peterson, J.V. T/Sgt.
RW Benadum, T.E. S/Sgt.
LW Martin, P.R. S/Sgt.
BT - -
TG Cuthbert, J.K. S/Sgt.
5 Sep 1944 576th Sqdn. A/C 991
P Peifer, K.W. 1st Lt.
CP Nielsen, P.H. 1st Lt.
N Ott, C.A. 1st Lt.
B - -
E Thornborrow, R.R. T/Sgt.
R Fitzmorris, T.L. T/Sgt.
RW Nichols, L.E. S/Sgt.
LW Parrish, J.I. S/Sgt.
BT Sherman, I.G. S/Sgt.
TG Calvitt, J.L. S/Sgt.
5 Sep 1944 576th Sqdn.
A/C 432
P Martin, R.C. Jr. 1st Lt.
CP Hilbert, H.S. 2nd Lt.
N Freeman, G.L. 2nd Lt.
B Wear, H.E. 1st Lt.
E Blees, K.H. T/Sgt.
R Thiel, J.G. T/Sgt.
RW Cannon, M.H. S/Sgt.
LW Minton, D.C. S/Sgt.
BT - -
TG Roberts, M.E. Cpl.
Radar Bartnowski, M.A. S/Sgt.
5 Sep 1944 576th Sqdn.
A/C 659 (no mission credit)
P Holliday, B.L. 1st Lt.
CP McFarland, J.D. 2nd Lt.
N Serna, M.M. 2nd Lt.
B - -
E Sevier, R.M. T/Sgt.
R Rambo, K.B. T/Sgt.
RW Johnson, L.A. S/Sgt.
LW Wattles, L.O. S/Sgt.
BT White, P.W. S/Sgt.
TG Negus, J.V. S/Sgt.
5 Sep 1944 577th Sqdn.
A/C 012
P Woods, D.P. 2nd Lt.
CP Newell, R.V. 2nd Lt.
N Batko, E.L. 2nd Lt.
B Jordan, V.A. F/O
E Palumbo, A.P. Pvt.
R Yeates, C.K. S/Sgt.
RW Schmidt, A.N. Sgt.
LW Bowyer, D.O. Sgt.
BT - -
TG Krugh, G.L. Sgt.
Radar Bleickhardt, F.G. Sgt.
5 Sep 1944 577th Sqdn.
A/C 758
P Comeau, E.L. 2nd Lt.
CP Davis, W.R. 2nd Lt.
N Kaswan, J. 2nd Lt.
B Neuman, W.E. 2nd Lt.
E Scalet, J. T/Sgt.
R Haney, P.W. S/Sgt.
RW Jasinski, R. Sgt.
LW Pendergraft, J.C. Sgt.
BT - -
TG Krause, H.L. Sgt.
5 Sep 1944 577th Sqdn.
A/C 169
(made emergency
landing at Le Bourget Air Field
near Paris; crew returned to
Wendling on 6 Sept.)
P Whitteaker, W.E. 1st Lt.
CP Cook, L.B. 1st Lt.
N Allegretti, E.E. 2nd Lt.
B - -
E Holmes, G.T. T/Sgt.
R McGivney, P.J. T/Sgt.
RW Rinderer, R. T/Sgt.
LW Fantin, P.F. T/Sgt.
BT - -
TG Emery, R.G. S/Sgt.
NG Surbaugh, E.R. S/Sgt.
5 Sep 1944 577th Sqdn.
A/C 164
P Popek, E. 2nd Lt.
CP Henry, H.E. 2nd Lt.
N Frederickson, L.T. 2nd Lt.
B - -
E Bombardier, W.J. Sgt.
R Yuhas, G. Sgt.
RW Thompson, J.R. S/Sgt.
LW Trofnoff, F. Sgt.
BT Irvine, Z.C. Sgt.
TG Swee, F.A. Sgt.
5 Sep 1944 577th Sqdn.
A/C 040
P Brizendine, T.O. 2nd Lt.
CP Lach, R.F. 2nd Lt.
N Roy, D.G. 1st Lt.
B Gump, J.A. 2nd Lt.
E Bodkins, F.C. T/Sgt.
R Rue, A.W. T/Sgt.
RW Ligon, A.C. S/Sgt.
LW Friedel, C.F. S/Sgt.
BT Steins, D.C. S/Sgt.
TG Leech, R.M. S/Sgt.
5 Sep 1944 577th Sqdn.
A/C 323
P Propper, H.M. 2nd Lt.
CP Brier, A.L. 2nd Lt.
N Barber, A.G. 2nd Lt.
B Garrett, H.L. 2nd Lt.
E McPherson, C.C. S/Sgt.
R Dodd, W.C. S/Sgt.
RW Musante, A.B. Jr. Sgt.
LW Chapman, C.M. Sgt.
BT - -
TG Wickham, R.H. Sgt.
5 Sep 1944 577th Sqdn.
A/C 415
P Holmes, H.T. F/O
CP Barber, J.B. 2nd Lt.
N Peterson, H.L. 2nd Lt.
B - -
E Fetsch, J.E. T/Sgt.
R O'Laughlin, F.J. T/Sgt.
RW Loewy, S.B. S/Sgt.
LW Batchelor, L.I. S/Sgt.
BT Tungett, R.G. Sgt.
TG Semple, R.W. Sgt.
5 Sep 1944 577th Sqdn.
A/C 079
P Bay, R.A. 1st Lt.
CP Fisher, K.M. 2nd Lt.
N Clancy, E.A. 1st Lt.
B Henderson, W.M. 1st Lt.
E Weibusch, W.A. T/Sgt.
R Armstrong, G.H. T/Sgt.
RW Allen, A.W. S/Sgt.
LW Hume, J.B. S/Sgt.
BT Duncan, W.R. S/Sgt.
TG - -
5 Sep 1944 578th Sqdn.
Did not fly this mission.
5 Sep 1944 579th Sqdn.
A/C 647
P Koza, F. 2nd 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 Kirol, J. S/Sgt.
BT - -
TG Dunn, T.C. S/Sgt.
5 Sep 1944 579th Sqdn.
A/C 670
P Dawson, H.B. 2nd Lt.
CP Fastabend, J.B. F/O
PN-N Kennedy, J.L. 1st Lt.
PN Niman, H. 2nd Lt.
N Cummings, F.L. 2nd Lt.
B Paul, R.M. 2nd Lt.
E Carter, W.R. T/Sgt.
R Wilkinson, E.J. S/Sgt.
RW Lee, S.A. S/Sgt.
LW Hanson, T.R. S/Sgt.
BT - -
TG Ross, R.D. Sgt.
5 Sep 1944 579th Sqdn.
A/C 448
P McMillan, H.L. 1st Lt.
CP Guckert, D.J. 1st Lt.
N Jennings, C.H. 1st Lt.
B Sullivan, F.J. 1st Lt.
E Hill, T.H. T/Sgt.
R Lindberg, W.G. T/Sgt.
RW Dodge, F.V. S/Sgt.
LW Hardy, R.W. S/Sgt.
BT - -
TG Wiersma, S.A. S/Sgt.
NG Gallagher, J.R. 1st Lt.
5 Sep 1944 579th Sqdn.
A/C 615
P Leser, H.J. 1st Lt.
CP Smoley, E.J. 1st Lt.
N Sellers, F.R. 1st Lt.
B Fleck, E.R. 1st Lt.
E Rodgers, B.A. S/Sgt.
R Licht, J. T/Sgt.
RW Weckel, W.R. S/Sgt.
LW Fowler, D.E. S/Sgt.
BT - -
TG Damiano, A. S/Sgt.
PN Shelton, O.W. 1st Lt.
5 Sep 1944 579th Sqdn. A/C 150
Stauder, J.B. Capt.
P Gonseth, F. Capt.
CP Bate, H.C. 2nd Lt.
N Jones, J.H. Capt.
B Connery, M.J. 1st Lt.
E Jennings, H.C. T/Sgt.
R Kirkpatrick, H.L. T/Sgt.
RW Driver, D.M. S/Sgt.
LW Whalen, J.S. S/Sgt.
BT Feller, N.L. S/Sgt.
TG Conrad, J.B. 2nd Lt.
-- Waldo, L.C. 2nd Lt.
5 Sep 1944 579th Sqdn.
A/C 495
P Bell, J.W. 2nd Lt.
CP Guegold, R.L. 2nd Lt.
N Forbes, D.R. 2nd Lt.
B Wilson, H.W. 2nd 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 Korn, R.N. T/Sgt.
TG Geron, H.E. Sgt.
5 Sep 1944 579th Sqdn.
A/C 272 (no mission credit)
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. S/Sgt.
R Baker, M. T/Sgt.
RW Brink, B.E. S/Sgt.
LW Ely, L.E. S/Sgt.
BT Myers, J.P. S/Sgt.
TG Hebert, N.B. Sgt.
5 Sep 1944 579th Sqdn.
A/C 697 (no mission credit)
P Tuchel, R.H. 2nd Lt.
CP Hay, G.R. 2nd Lt.
N Smith, F.D. 2nd Lt.
B O'Rourke, R.L. S/Sgt.
E Tvergyak, P.A. T/Sgt.
R Johnson, H.K. S/Sgt.
RW Warrick, H.E. S/Sgt.
LW - -
BT Vincent, J.W. S/Sgt.
TG Carter, D.J. S/Sgt.