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

The following five crews reported for duty and became part of a
special group organized for further training on this base before
being available for duty. They were known as the “Fancher Group”
since they were in training under the direction of Captain
Fancher. Crews: 2/Lt. Cyril J. Braund, Pilot; 2/Lt. John Sykes,
Jr., Copilot; 2/Lt. Kenneth N. Boltz, Navigator; 2/Lt. John
Grubka, Bombardier; S/Sgt. William W. Bridges, Radio Operator;
S/Sgt. Donald J. McBey, Engineer; Sgt. Chester J. Czyz, Gunner;
Sgt. Clifford G. Johnson, Gunner; Sgt. Robert W. Lockard, Gunner;
Pvt. Carl C. McCarrell, Gunner. 2/Lt. Normand N. Burwick, Pilot;
2/Lt. Frank J. Way, Copilot; 2/Lt. Gerald F. Childress,
Navigator; 2/Lt. Benjamin Badman, Jr., Bombardier; S/Sgt. George
R. Beltz, Radio- Operator; S/Sgt. Gerald L. Romero, Engineer;
Sgt. Mabry D. Barker, Gunner; Sgt. Bryce E. Barnes, Gunner; Sgt.
Peter J. Campion, Gunner; Sgt. Melvin A. Gemmell, Gunner. 2/Lt.
Arnold J. O’Toole, Pilot; 2/Lt. Robert E. Gould, Copilot; 2/Lt.
Walter L. Strait, Navigator; 2/Lt. David Bronstein, Bombardier;
S/Sgt. Elroy E. Vetter, Engineer; Sgt. Emile R. Gelinas, Radio-
Operator; Sgt. Robert C. Lee, Gunner; Sgt. Frank T. Pratt, Jr.,
Gunner; Sgt. George N. Sparr, Gunner; Cpl. William T. Stripling,
Gunner. 2/Lt. John C. Pullen, Pilot; 2/Lt. Robert W. Harris,
Copilot; 2/Lt. Armando J. Sinibaldo, Navigator; 2/Lt. Robert R.
Medford, Bombardier; S/Sgt. James R. Kilgallen, Engineer; Sgt.
Manuel P. Nunez, Radio-operator; Sgt. Gene V. Reynolds, Gunner;
Sgt. Joseph Uhrick, Gunner; Cpl. Gordon L. Lenaz, Gunner; Cpl.
John J. Stack; Gunner. 2/Lt. Carl E. Rizer, Pilot; 2/Lt. Edward
J. Stone, Copilot; 2/Lt. Earl R. Krones, Navigator; 2/Lt. Ora W.
Norris, Bombardier; S/Sgt. Robert S. Quilty, Engineer; Sgt. John
F. Harten, Radio Operator; Sgt. Edward L. Mills, Gunner; Sgt.
Walter L. Wade, Gunner; Cpl. Robert S. Newman, Gunner; Cpl. Paul
A. Perkins, Gunner.
D-DAY
6 June 1944: On the 6 , a target on the Cherbourg Peninsula,
th
France, was bombed. This was a tactical operation in cooperation
with the invasion troops. It being “D” Day, a special effort was
made to send up a good formation. Twelve ships from this squadron
took part as follows: #7173, Lt. Kerr and crew; #7176, Lt. Stunf
and crew; #7540, Lt. Pickard and crew; #7304, Lt. Pryor and crew;
#1759, Lt. Helfrich and crew; #7075, Lt. Miller and crew; #7040,
Lt. Maxwell and crew; #1542, Lt. Supchak and crew; and #1909, Lt.
Klinger and crew; #2116, Lt. Bruce and crew; #2490, Lt. Sheriff
and crew; #7956, Lt. Col. Berry, and Lt. Reid, in a lead ship
with the “A” crew. Bombing of the enemy gun emplacements was
unobserved as to the actual results. All ships returned safely to
base, and there were no abortives.