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

Six ships from our squadron, piloted by Capt.'s Clancy and Giauque; Lt.'s. Silvernail, Retchin,
Biggs and Stark took part in the mission to Meault, France. Two of our ships were shot down by
enemy fighters over the target. The crews were as follows; Pilot, Lt. Biggs; Copilot, Lt. Hayes,
Nav. Lt. B. Blakeney, Bomb. Lt. Huehn, Eng. T/Sgt. J. J. Williams, W.G. S/Sgt. J. J. Cronk;
Radio Op. T/Sgt. O'Brien, BT, Sgt. Donefrio, T.G. S/Sgt. Valerio, W.G., Sgt. J. Roden, Ship
No. 642 - Pilot Lt. Stark, Copilot Lt. J. T. Evins; Nav. Lt. Syphard; Bomb. Lt. Nichols; Radio
Op., T/Sgt. Mooney; Eng., T/Sgt. Bagwell; Asst. Eng., Sgt. Reynolds; BT, S/Sgt. Arihood; T.G.
Sgt. Brummeland W.G. Sgt. Wirt. Lt. Oakley, along as photographer, was also lost on this ship.
14 May 1943
Five ships from our squadron, piloted by Capt. Dwyer, Capt. Clancy, Capt. Giauque, Lt. Retchin
and Lt. Silvernail took part in the mission on Kiel, Germany. The whole bombing formation was
led by Capt. Dwyer and the bombing by our group was most successful. This mission marked a
new long-range bombing by USAAF, daylight bombers into Germany. Capt. Dwyer and Capt.
Bohlan were on their 25th mission and became the 3rd and 4th in our group to reach this figure.
All our ships returned without any casualties.
15 May 1943
Five ships from our squadron, piloted by Capt. Clancy, Capt. Giauque, Capt. Birdsong, Lt.
Silvernail and Lt. Retchin took part in the mission to Wilhelmshaven, Germany. 10/10 clouds
prevented the ships from reaching the target and the bombs were dropped on Heligoland. All
ships returned safely.
16 May 1943
Lt. Kethley, Lt. Cox, Lt. Sternberg, Lt. Cullen, T/Sgts. Dessault and Bragg, S/Sgts. Danielson,
Stokes, Burks and Bacon were assigned to our squadron for combat duty.
17 May 1943
Four of our ships, piloted by Capt. Clancy, Lt. Silvernail, Lt. Retchin and Capt. Birdsong took
part in the mission to Lorient, France. The weather and bombing were good and all ships returned
safely. Capt. Maas, navigator for Capt. Dwyer, was transferred to 4th Wing.
19 May 1943
Six of our ships, piloted by Capt. Clancy, Capt. Birdsong, Capt. Giauque, Lt. Silvernail, Lt. C.A.
Bennett and Lt. Retchin took part in the mission to Kiel, Germany. Bombing was good as was the
diversionary raid on Flensberg. All ships returned safely.
21 May 1943
Six ships of our squadron, piloted by Capt.'s Clancy, Birdsong and Giauque, Lt.'s. Silvernail,
Retchin and Forsblad went on the mission to Wilhelmshaven. Intense enemy fighter opposition -
150 to 200 - was encountered before reaching the target. Attacks were made on the group leader
‘en masse’ and our ships were badly shot up. Lt Retchin, in ship No. 657 was shot down. In his
crew were Copilot, Lt. Lamberson; Nav., Lt. Floyd; Bomb., Lt. Byrnes; Radio Op., T/Sgt. Musik;
Assist. Radio Op., S/Sgt King; B. T., S/Sgt. Meade; R.W.G., T/Sgt. Kalfsbeck; L.W.G., S/Sgt.