06.01.2013 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

ships flew local formation, locally, for three hours each.<br />

th<br />

4 July 1944: On <strong>the</strong> 4 , <strong>the</strong>re was a mission with a railroad<br />

bridge over <strong>the</strong> Loire River as <strong>the</strong> objective. Wea<strong>the</strong>r conditions<br />

were poor for bombing, 10/10 clouds. Ships returned without<br />

dropping <strong>the</strong>ir load. This was considered an abortive sortie. No<br />

ships were lost from <strong>the</strong> number taking part as follows: Ship<br />

#7040, Lt. Peck and crew; #7173, F/O Fore and crew; #1579, Lt.<br />

Helfrich and crew; #7540, Lt. Smith and crew; #7304, Lt. Bruce<br />

and crew; #2490, Lt. Riser and crew.<br />

Crews not flying on this date attended ground school and<br />

participated in training activities.<br />

th<br />

5 July 1944: Wea<strong>the</strong>r conditions continued poor on <strong>the</strong> 5 . No<br />

mission was flown and crews engaged in training activities.<br />

6 July 1944: There was a mission on this date. Squadron ships<br />

flew in <strong>the</strong> lead group and bombed a ”Target <strong>of</strong> Opportunity” near<br />

Aire, France. Results considered unsuccessful. Wea<strong>the</strong>r conditions<br />

continued poor. Ships on this mission were: #7173, Lt. Miller and<br />

crew; #7304, F/O Fore and crew; #7540, Lt. Bruce and crew; #7075,<br />

Lt. Braund and crew; #1909, Lt Dietrich and crew; #7563, Lt.<br />

O’Toole and crew; #7040, Lt. Peck and crew; #7234, Lt. Basinger<br />

and crew; #7504, Lt. Riser and crew; #1579, Lt. Helfrich and<br />

crew.<br />

All returned safely, without loss <strong>of</strong> personnel and <strong>the</strong>re were no<br />

abortives.<br />

th<br />

7 July 1944: On <strong>the</strong> 7 , <strong>the</strong>re was a mission against targets in<br />

Germany, Leipzig and Kollenda. Due to poor visibility, bombing<br />

was not considered successful. There were seven ships from this<br />

squadron listed as follows: #7173, Lt. Peck and crew; #7276, Lt.<br />

Bruce and crew; #7504, Lt. Pullen and crew; #1636, Lt. Lu<strong>the</strong>n and<br />

crew; #7234, Lt. Basinger and crew; #7304, Lt. Burwick and crew;<br />

#7956, Lt. Riser and crew. All returned safely. There were no<br />

abortives.<br />

8 July 1944: On <strong>the</strong> 8 , targets in France were attacked at<br />

th<br />

Crepieul and Etaples. The “A” <strong>Group</strong> bombing Crepieul, did not<br />

drop bombs. Theirs was an abortive sortie. The “B” group<br />

successfully bombed Etaples, a target <strong>of</strong> opportunity. Six ships<br />

from this organization took part as follows: #7304, Lt. Supchak<br />

and crew; #7234, Lt. Burwick and crew; #7276, Lt. Bruce and crew;<br />

#7173, F/O Fore and crew; #2116, Lt. Bascom P. Smith and crew;<br />

and #1579, Lt. O’Toole and crew. There were no abortives. All<br />

returned safely except one ship, #7173; it disappeared. As yet,<br />

it is not known how it became lost, unless it was <strong>the</strong> ship that<br />

was seen to “Blow Up” in mid-air. Some individual members <strong>of</strong>

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!