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

Crews not flying went to ground school and participated in
training activities, but due to the situation pending at the
time, this was on a limited scale. The crews were alerted for
another mission that day, but it did not materialize.
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7 June 1944: On the 7 , an Airfield at Kerlin/Bastard was
partially destroyed by our bombers. Eight of our ships
participated as follows: #7563, Lt. Stunf and crew; #7540, Lt.
Pickard and crew; #7075, Lt. Kerr and crew; #2116, Lt. Helfrich
and crew; #1909, Lt. Klinger and crew; #7173, Lt. Miller and
crew; #7040, Lt. Maxwell and crew; #7340, Lt. Pryor and crew. All
returned safely to base and there were no abortives.
At this particular time, when the invasion of continental Europe
is underway, all personnel are held ready and available for
immediate duty, regardless of the number of missions they have
flown in the past. For this reason, no one is being relieved from
combat duty after completion of thirty missions. Several
individuals have that number to their credit but are still on
duty with the squadron. Their training and combat experience
enable them to be of much value to the service at this time.
8 June 1944: On the 8 , a railroad bridge over the Loire River
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was bombed. Results were considered successful. Nine ships
started on this mission as follows: #2490, Lt. Sheriff and crew;
#7504, Lt. Bruce and crew; #1542, Lt. Supchak and crew; #7304,
Lt. Pryor and crew; #7563, Lt. Stunf and crew; #1909, Lt. Klinger
and crew; #7234, Capt. Ranzoni and crew; #7173, Lt. Miller and
crew; #2116, Lt. Grimmer and crew. All ships returned safely to
base. There were 3 abortives. Ship #7504 aborted – No. 2 engine
was detonating and running rough. This was investigated by the
Squadron Commander who found that the engine showed signed of
detonation above 35” HG. Above 12,000 ft. Also that above 20,000
ft., No 1 engine showed signed of detonation above 37” HG.
However, using low power settings on these engines, he
experienced no trouble getting the aircraft to altitude and
maintaining normal flight. This mission was counted an abortive,
for this ship and the pilot. Ship #7563, aborted. No. 2 engine
started throwing oil in a steady flow through cowl flaps.
Difficulties with oil pressure increased until the pilot was
compelled to return to base. This was engineering abortive. Ship
#2116 aborted. Oxygen filler line on right side of radio
compartment was stuck in the open position. After the ship
landed, inspection showed that the radio compartment line tended
to stick open. This was draining the oxygen from three positions.
It was felt that walk-around bottles should have been sufficient
to complete the trip. This was counted as an abortive.