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

Lt. Kolts. Lt.'s Ward and Kolts, later left Major Bishop to put
on the show alone on ship #639 "Careful Virgin". He came so low
the first time that the men on the ground thought of falling for
cover. Next time, they started for cover, and the third time they
fled, supposedly praying as they went. That ship came so low that
a man standing up would have fallen flat, either for his own
safety or for fright. Photographers were on hand taking pictures
of the "buzz job" and afterwards they showed just what a job it
was. They say that Captain Gladstone, himself, was getting
scared, but Major Bishop just kept getting lower and lower.
Finally, he came in and landed. Col. Putnam brought him up to the
water wagon and the ducking was definitely begun. M/Sgt.
Leathers, a Crew Chief, seemed to have been ducked himself,
having been caught by a hose that was also in very much use.
For two men to be so handled upon completion of a tour of twentyfive
missions, to be manhandled and ducked into a tub of water
and otherwise tossed about might seem to the more "Pius" person,
a cruel way of doing things that is, of expression of our good
feeling toward them. Well, that is how it was done. For them, it
was not all bad. The individual, with something under his coat,
promptly came forward and handed them a long quart bottle of
spirits to revive them. After that, it was all over. Both
officers and enlisted men felt proud of them and relieved of
their having completed their tour so successfully. Wherever they
go, afterward, the good wishes of this squadron go with them.
22 Jan. 1944: Upon Major Bishop being relieved as Squadron
Commander, Major James F. Berry assumed command on January 22,
1944. With his background of training and experience, he is
eminently well qualified for the position, and the squadron feels
lucky in having him as its leader. 1/Lt. Albert R. Koehl had been
serving as assistant operations officer for several months. So he
carried on as Operations Officer in lieu of Captain Gladstone,
being relieved. It is the policy to relieve flying officers from
duty with their organization upon their completion of twenty-five
operational missions; so Major Bishop and Captain Gladstone were replaced.
23 - 24 Jan. 1944: From the twenty-second to the twenty-fourth of
January, ground school and other training activities were engaged
in. On the 24th there was a practice mission. It was made up of
six of the least experienced crews. They were briefed and handled
just as if going on a real mission. It was at high altitude. Each
crewmember was at his assigned position and instructed to do his
work just the same as on the real thing. Such missions are of
especial value to the pilots, co-pilots, bombardiers and
navigators. With experiences leaders to check them on their weak
points, they learn to do well in practice what is so necessary to