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

was accomplished this month a year ago, one can realize that the
squadron has been growing all the time into a more efficient
organization regardless of the losses suffered during the past
year. Replacement crews have proven themselves in combat,
thereby, indication that our training program has functioned
efficiently. One hundred and twenty (120) recommendations were
submitted giving the Air Medal or Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air
Medal to men of this squadron who earned them in combat. Out of
the eight missions completed, only one ship, #372 and its crew,
is listed as missing in action. Frequent liberty runs to nearby
towns, the Red Cross activities, Church Services, movies and
parties and have helped greatly to maintain and build moral in
the squadron. (The next sentence was illegible)
It is remarkable how few man-hours were lost as a result of
sickness.
1 Feb. 1944: On February 1, 1944, combat crews were briefed and
made ready for a mission against Frankfurt, Germany, but for the
second time in so many days, it was "scrubbed" and there was
nothing left to do about it except forget about it until the next
time and go to ground school. Practically all training devices
were in operation all day. There was one local flight, a two-ship
formation, for a period of two hours.
2 Feb. 1944: Next day, there was no operational mission
scheduled. Six ships did formation flying at low altitude for
five hours. This was done in the forenoon. That afternoon, five
ships were in the air for four and one half hours. This type of
flying is what all crews like doing. To put on a good show in
practice gives all personnel confidence and makes them feel as if
they can do the job well in actual combat. The best feature of
such activity is that with experienced leaders to check them, the
pilots and navigators, especially, can discover their weak points
and get them corrected. Ten men made use of the skeet range. Six
officers had link trainer, and classes were held in radio,
gunnery and navigation. Ground school attendance has improved
considerably during the past month.
3 Feb. 1944: On February 3, nine of our crews were briefed and
took part in a mission against Wilhelmshaven, Germany, where
large submarine and shipping facilities are located. Two ships
aborted, that is, they failed to go over the target. One due to
mechanical difficulty and the other, being late in taking off,
was unable to catch the formation. Ships and crews which went
over the target and dropped their bombs were: ship #730, Capt.
Dalton and crew; ship #580, Lt. Gorby and crew; ship #746, Lt.
Kolts and crew; ship #839, Lt. Register and crew; ship #761, Lt.
Pickard and crew; ship #774, Lt. Harding and crew; and ship #172,