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Dailies of the 323rd - the 91st Bomb Group!

Dailies of the 323rd - the 91st Bomb Group!

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The individual gunners who succeed in shooting down <strong>the</strong> enemy<br />

ships are awarded <strong>the</strong> Air Medal, or a cluster to same if <strong>the</strong>y<br />

already have earned <strong>the</strong> Air Medal before.<br />

During <strong>the</strong> month, ten missions were participated in by this<br />

squadron. That is considered a good number for a winter month.<br />

One reason which made this possible was that <strong>the</strong> wea<strong>the</strong>r was <strong>the</strong><br />

best for flying that it had been for a period <strong>of</strong> several years<br />

before. Ano<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>of</strong> course, is that an aerial <strong>of</strong>fensive was<br />

conducted against <strong>the</strong> Germans with <strong>the</strong> aim <strong>of</strong> so crippling her<br />

Air Forces and production facilities that <strong>the</strong> war would be<br />

brought to an end much sooner. This month certainly has marked a<br />

good beginning <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> realization <strong>of</strong> that aim.<br />

Ground school was well attended. Records show even better<br />

attendance than that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> previous month. More practice flying<br />

and air training was carried out, especially camera and practice<br />

bombing. The physical training program was better organized and<br />

is functioning well.<br />

On <strong>the</strong> 20th, ship #630, "The Careful Virgin" completed its 50th<br />

mission. It is <strong>the</strong> only ship <strong>of</strong> this squadron that has completed<br />

so many missions. Eight individual members <strong>of</strong> combat crews<br />

completed <strong>the</strong>ir tours <strong>of</strong> operational missions this month.<br />

Five ships were lost during <strong>the</strong> month. Four complete combat crews<br />

are listed as "missing in action". Two <strong>of</strong>ficers were killed in<br />

action. One <strong>of</strong>ficer and two enlisted men were wounded.<br />

One hundred twenty-three (123) recommendations were submitted,<br />

giving <strong>the</strong> Air Medal, Oak Leaf Cluster to <strong>the</strong> Air Medal or DFC to<br />

individuals who earned <strong>the</strong>m in combat.<br />

During <strong>the</strong> month, quite frequent air raid warnings were heard,<br />

but <strong>the</strong> field was not subjected to enemy attack. These warnings<br />

and alerts did not cause any interruption <strong>of</strong> schedules that were<br />

planned.<br />

Frequent liberty runs to nearby towns, <strong>the</strong> Red Cross and Church<br />

army activities, movies and dances helped greatly to maintain and<br />

build morale in <strong>the</strong> squadron, but <strong>the</strong> biggest single factor is<br />

<strong>the</strong> satisfaction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> men in hitting <strong>the</strong> enemy hard and so<br />

hastening his downfall. The number <strong>of</strong> man hours lost on account<br />

<strong>of</strong> sickness is remarkably small.<br />

1 March 1944: There being no operational mission scheduled, all<br />

combat members engaged in ground school activities. Sixty-one man<br />

hours <strong>of</strong> class instruction was given. Two ships flew practice<br />

formation flights <strong>of</strong> six hours duration. So <strong>the</strong> first day <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>

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