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

targets of attack, both in Germany. This was the third mission in
so many days against the Germans in their own country. Seven of
our ships took part as follows: Ship #746, Lt. Kolts and crew,
ship #965 Lt. Harding and crew; ship #761, Lt. Wood and crew;
ship #815, Lt. Sutherland and crew; ship #585, Lt. Bradford and
crew; ship #774, Lt. W. E. Reid and crew; and ship #939,Lt.
Maziarz and crew. Ship #761, Lt. Wood, Pilot, aborted and
returned to base after getting far into enemy territory. Three
ships completed the mission and returned to base. One was
compelled to ditch in the North Sea, fifty-five miles from the
coast of Holland and two were shot down by enemy fighters.
Ship #815 was last seen going down near Gutersloh, Germany. It
had been badly damaged by fighters. Crews who returned reported
that numerous fighters were seen in that area attacking their
formation, and especially striking our ships that were already in
trouble. The following crew is carried missing in action. 1/Lt.
Kenneth Sutherland, Pilot; 2/Lt. Stanley L. Jordan, Co-pilot;
2/Lt. Frederick H. McBride, Navigator; 2/Lt. Leslie A. Price,
Bombardier; T/Sgt. Robert O. Kyle, Engineer; S/Sgt. Andrew E.
Tarabuk, Waist Gunner; T/Sgt. Malcolm M. McCurry, Radio Operator;
S/Sgt. Rathel C. Bennett, Tail Gunner; S/Sgt. Raymond Butler,
Ball Turret Operator; S/Sgt. Fred A. Tabor, Waist Gunner. Each
individual of this crew had at least eight combat missions to his
credit. They had done excellent work in training operations and
in combat. Ship #746 was last seen going down near Gutersloh,
Germany, Also. Apparently it had been badly damaged. The
following crew is carried as missing in action: 1/Lt. Frank R.
Kolts, Pilot; 2/Lt. Ehud Merkel, Co-pilot; 1/Lt. Charles R.
Alexander, Navigator; 2/Lt. Harold H. White, Bombardier; T/Sgt.
Matthew S. Kryjak, Engineer; S/Sgt. Abraham S. Homar, Waist
Gunner; T/Sgt. John P. Guros, Radio Operator; S/Sgt. Omer E.
Sharpe, Ball Turret Operator; S/Sgt. John V. Hill, Tail Gunner;
S/Sgt. Roy F. Grandquist, Waist Gunner. This was an excellent
crew. Records show that each individual had at least fourteen
combat missions to his credit.
Ship #965 was furiously attacked by enemy fighters coming toward
it from all angles, but the ones coming head-on gave our ships
the most trouble. Lt. Henry L. Bogucki, Bombardier, was fatally
wounded by a shot fired from one of the attacking planes.
Ship #774 was also subjected to the same type of attack. 2/Lt.
John L. Smith was fatally wounded and died within a short time
afterward. 1/Lt. Thomas J. Gannon, Bombardier, was slightly
wounded. Funeral services were held for the above-named officers
at Cambridge. A delegation of officers and enlisted men from this
squadron attended.