392nd Bomb Group

Target: Bingen - 25 November 1944 - Mission #203

The marshalling yard was primary target and those at Karlsruhe were assigned as secondary. The Group led the 2nd Bomb Division on this mission with a GH ship. At 0515 and 0630, (18) crews were given briefings and all were dispatched at 0900 hours. Assembly and enroute weather was extremely poor and formation flying was quite difficult. As a result, (3) 392nd planes joined other Groups unable to locate the Group. Lieutenants Holmes, Rose and Clarke flew with the 445th, 458th and 446th Bomb Groups, respectively. Fighter support was rated good and no enemy opposition was encountered. A total of (16) ships released on the primary by GH methods, dropping (208) 500# GF with results not observed due to cloud cover. All ships returned around 1520 hours with (1) suffering battle damage.

CASUALTIES NOT LISTED IN MACR

25 NOVEMBER 1944:

Stauder, James B. (P) HQS Gp Opns KILD

Capt Stauder was originally a pilot in the 578th Squadron. He flew missions from September 1943 until early September 1944. He was then sent on detached duty to the 2nd Air Division's Scouting Force, co-located with the 355th Fighter Group at Steeple Morden in Cambridgeshire.

The article "A Salute to the Scouting Forces" by Robert E. Kuhnert in the Summer 1996 issue of the 2nd Air Division Assn JOURNAL, describes the formation of the Scouting Force.

"Which proved to be of vital importance in aiding bomber forces to complete productive missions with minimum misses or aborts because of weather." By early fall 1944, it was determined that the P-51 would be the appropriate aircraft for the Scouting Force, as "it had sufficient speed and range to immediately precede bombers to target areas and to scout and report enroute and target weather; it looked like a standard fighter airplane (not drawing attention to a special type aircraft); and it was, of course, an "off-the-shelf" P-51 with standard fighter armament."

On 12 August 1944, Lt Col John Brooks was sent to Steeple Morden to build and command the 2nd Air Division Scouting Force. He selected former lead bomber pilots as well as fighter pilots for this new unit. Among the bomber pilots chosen was Capt Stauder.

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MISSING AIR CREW REPORT SECTION

25 November 1944 - TARGET: Bingen
Missing Aircrew Report #10815 Aircraft: P-51D #44-14439

According to information in the MACR, Capt Stauder departed Steeple Morden on Nov. 25, 1944, on an operational mission. His aircraft was last seen at 1500 hours in a dive over the Channel, approximately 6 miles northeast of Lowestoft. The weather at the time was 10/0; i.e., no visibility. 1/Lt John H. Miller, flying Capt Stauder's wing, observed Capt Stauder's aircraft flying upside down in the undercast at approximately 3500 feet. He advised Capt Stauder of this by radio but received no acknowledgement. He also advised him to bail out. Air/Sea Rescue personnel reported seeing an unidentified aircraft crash at approximately the same position and time and immediately dispatched a launch. However, nothing was found.

Capt Stauder is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery. He had been awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters. His home state of record was New Mexico.

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CREW LOADING LIST - MISSION #203

25 Nov 1944 576th Sqdn.
A/C 650
P Peterson, T.W. 2nd Lt.
CP Rohe, J.M. 2nd Lt.
N Damerst, W.A. 2nd Lt.
B Lawson, R.F. 2nd Lt.
E Bruney, G.L. S/Sgt.
R Green, C.M. T/Sgt.
RW Mitchell, D.F. Sgt.
LW Hankins, T.E. S/Sgt.
BT - -
TG Hoffman, G.A. /Sgt.
PN Sullivan, A.P. 2nd Lt.
25 Nov 1944 576th Sqdn.
A/C 387
P Holliday, B.L. 1st Lt.
CP Daniel, P.U. 1st Lt.
N Judd, G.G. 2nd Lt.
B Wattles, L.O. S/Sgt.
E Benadum, T.E. T/Sgt.
R Rambo, K.B. T/Sgt.
RW Johnson, L.A. S/Sgt.
LW White, P.W. S/Sgt.
BT - -
TG Montgomery, H. S/Sgt.
25 Nov 1944 576th Sqdn.
A/C 489
P Earl, P.R. 2nd Lt.
CP Smiley, W.R. 2nd Lt.
N Perkins, R.W. 2nd Lt.
B Creme, A.R. 2nd Lt.
E Woods, R.E. Sgt.
R Irish, E.W. Sgt.
RW Robinson, L.D. Jr. Sgt.
LW Marchetta, A. Sgt.
BT Steins, D.C. T/Sgt.
TG Schafer, J.G. Sgt.
25 Nov 1944 576th Sqdn.
A/C 299
P Hart, W. 1st Lt.
CP Crawford, D.A. Jr. 1st Lt.
N Berger, G. 1st Lt.
B Griesbaum, L.A. S/Sgt.
E Shields, V.E. T/Sgt.
R Young, W.S. T/Sgt.
RW Stern, J. S/Sgt.
LW Genna, N.J. S/Sgt.
BT - -
TG Clemmer, C.J. S/Sgt.
25 Nov 1944 576th Sqdn.
A/C 991
P Benson, R.J. 1st Lt.
CP Buccigrossi, S.A. 2nd Lt.
N Keane, J.J.F. 2nd Lt.
B Davenport, J.R. 2nd Lt.
E Solberg, F.O. T/Sgt.
R Carlstrand, R.E. T/Sgt.
RW Middleton, W.H. S/Sgt.
LW Radkiewicz, N.I. S/Sgt.
BT Myers, J.P. T/Sgt.
TG Legaard, C. S/Sgt.
25 Nov 1944 577th Sqdn.
A/C 164
P Enyart, D.W. 1st Lt.
CP Froehlich, S.S. 2nd Lt.
N Mertens, J.A. 2nd Lt.
B Snyderman, J. 2nd Lt.
E Aycock, C.E. S/Sgt.
R Gersten, G. S/Sgt.
RW Arneson, J.A. Sgt.
LW Mohan, V.L. Sgt.
BT - -
TG Barlow, S.N. Sgt.
25 Nov 1944 577th Sqdn.
A/C 207
P Scott, D.A. 2nd Lt.
CP Jordan, E.B. 2nd Lt.
N Tucker, R.A. 2nd Lt.
NT Glasscock, J.B. S/Sgt.
E Karas, J. S/Sgt.
R Berger, S. S/Sgt.
RW Hanley, E.H. S/Sgt.
LW Surbaugh, E.R. S/Sgt.
BT - -
TG McKee, S.P. S/Sgt.
25 Nov 1944 577th Sqdn.
A/C 861
P Holmes, H.T. 1st Lt.
CP Barber, J.B. 1st Lt.
N Peterson, H.L. 1st 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 - -
TG Marinelli, N.R. S/Sgt.
NG Tungett, R.G. S/Sgt.
25 Nov 1944 577th Sqdn.
A/C 223 (no mission credit)
P Weaver, L.F. 1st Lt.
CP Hamill, R.E. 1st Lt.
N Brandi, J.G. 2nd Lt.
B Taylor, J.L. 1st Lt.
E Kampfe, R.E. T/Sgt.
R Beckwith, R.B. T/Sgt.
RW Scheide, H.W. S/Sgt.
LW Holland, M.D. S/Sgt.
BT - -
TG Meyer, T.H. S/Sgt.
25 Nov 1944 577th Sqdn.
A/C 961
P Petty, R.A. 1st Lt.
CP Crowe, W.Q. 1st Lt.
N Page, C.R. 1st Lt.
B Wickett, C.J. 1st Lt.
E McGrew, C.C. T/Sgt.
R Gaertner, R.E. T/Sgt.
RW Dondero, E.G. S/Sgt.
LW Holder, O.E. S/Sgt.
BT - -
TG McCormick, W.L. S/Sgt.
25 Nov 1944 578th Sqdn.
A/C 268
P Kaiser, P.W. 2nd Lt.
CP Casstevens, R.C. 2nd Lt.
N Hoffman, W.A. F/O
B Martin, M. 2nd Lt.
E Krutys, E.V. Sgt.
R Brown, P.E. Sgt.
RW McGregor, W.B. S/Sgt.
LW Larock, J.S. Sgt.
BT - -
TG Wilkerson, L.D. Sgt.
25 Nov 1944 578th Sqdn.
A/C 235
P Bell, W.M. 1st Lt.
CP Pope, C.H. 2nd Lt.
N Cole, R.W. 2nd Lt.
NG Bross, J.H. S/Sgt.
E Morse, J.H. T/Sgt.
R Gordon, C.J. T/Sgt.
RW Case, R.F. S/Sgt.
LW Onstot, P.O. Sgt.
BT Roth, E.A. Sgt.
TG Divers, C.B. S/Sgt.
25 Nov 1944 578th Sqdn.
A/C 313
P Sturm, W.A. 1st Lt.
CP Jurczyn, B.J. 2nd Lt.
N Rawlings, J.L. 2nd Lt.
B Neetz, R.E. F/O
E LaChance, D.E. T/Sgt.
R Brown, J.C. T/Sgt.
RW Lingle, J.A.H. S/Sgt.
LW McCormick, J.E. S/Sgt.
BT - -
TG Huff, R.H. S/Sgt.
RCM George, O. T/Sgt.
25 Nov 1944 578th Sqdn.
A/C 446
P Rose, P.E. 2nd Lt.
CP Pratt, D.M. 2nd Lt.
N Rohde, C.R. 2nd Lt.
B Harnden, R.G. 2nd Lt.
E Scott, W.A. S/Sgt.
R Croy, O.N. S/Sgt.
RW Manelick, N.L. S/Sgt.
LW Davidson, S.A. S/Sgt.
BT Krohn, O.G. S/Sgt.
TG Beane, H.E. S/Sgt.
25 Nov 1944 578th Sqdn.
A/C 838
P Clarke, J.C. 2nd Lt.
CP Mackey, O. 2nd Lt.
N Eaton, C.B. 2nd Lt.
B Lowe, R.C. 2nd Lt.
E Brunett, E.C. S/Sgt.
R Brown, J.T. S/Sgt.
RW Peer, G.R. S/Sgt.
LW Heckman, J.K. S/Sgt.
BT - -
TG Killea, K.B. S/Sgt.
RCM Henry, R.L. T/Sgt.
25 Nov 1944 578th Sqdn.
A/C 495
P Byrne, C.E. 2nd Lt.
CP Schmitt, F.J. 2nd Lt.
N Greene, D.A. 2nd Lt.
B Heilman, R.C. 2nd Lt.
E Bennett, L.F. S/Sgt.
R Trapp, M.W. S/Sgt.
RW Libby, J.E. S/Sgt.
LW Wagner, F.E. S/Sgt.
BT - -
TG Alper, M.A. S/Sgt.
25 Nov 1944 579th Sqdn.
A/C 103 (no mission credit)
CA Hunsaker, B.W. Capt.
P Benson, A.L. 1st Lt.
CP Singer, S. 2nd Lt.
N Reichl, J.G. 2nd Lt.
-- Kopecky, R.H 2nd Lt.
B Guhin, M.E. 2nd Lt.
E Henning, W.C. T/Sgt.
R Wickens, R.S. T/Sgt.
RW Hackney, S.H. S/Sgt.
LW Bowen, W.H. S/Sgt.
BT Chatterton, G.A. S/Sgt.
TG - -
PN Sparks, R.L. 2nd Lt.
25 Nov 1944 579th Sqdn.
A/C 511
P Hofmann, H.W. Capt.
CP Gorton, C.E. 1st Lt.
N Randall, J.A. 1st Lt.
B Serna, M.M. 1st Lt.
E Boney, R.E. T/Sgt.
R McNutt, W.H. T/Sgt.
RW Kamacho, J.A. S/Sgt.
LW Dopson, V.H. S/Sgt.
BT - -
TG Sanders, O.B. S/Sgt.
PN Wise, D.C. 2nd Lt.
Maj. J.A. McGregor was CA on the 44th Bomb Group's GH ship.