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

28 - 29 Feb.1944: The remaining two days, there was no
operational mission. There were four practice flights, and two
ships did practice bombing, dropping ten bombs each. The usual
ground school program was carried out.
On the mission of the 22nd, S/Sgt. Robert W. Heller, Tail Gunner
on ship #939, shot down one ME-110. It will be noted that S/Sgt.
Heller was a member of Lt. Maziarz's crew which was compelled to
ditch their ship in the north sea and were later picked up by Air
Sea Rescue. At least one enemy fighter was shot down to
compensate for the loss of ship #939.
On the mission of the 21st, T/Sgt. Glenn L. Jensen, Top Turret
Gunner on ship #815, shot down one FW-190. S/Sgt. Walter W.
Reich, Tail Gunner on ship #759, damaged one FW-190.
The individual gunners who succeed in shooting down the enemy
ships are awarded the Air Medal, or a cluster to same if they
already have earned the Air Medal before.
During the month, ten missions were participated in by this
squadron. That is considered a good number for a winter month.
One reason which made this possible was that the weather was the
best for flying that it had been for a period of several years
before. Another, of course, is that an aerial offensive was
conducted against the Germans with the aim of so crippling her
Air Forces and production facilities that the war would be
brought to an end much sooner. This month certainly has marked a
good beginning of the realization of that aim.
Ground school was well attended. Records show even better
attendance than that of the previous month. More practice flying
and air training was carried out, especially camera and practice
bombing. The physical training program was better organized and
is functioning well.
On the 20th, ship #630, "The Careful Virgin" completed its 50th
mission. It is the only ship of this squadron that has completed
so many missions. Eight individual members of combat crews
completed their tours of operational missions this month.
Five ships were lost during the month. Four complete combat crews
are listed as "missing in action". Two officers were killed in
action. One officer and two enlisted men were wounded.
One hundred twenty-three (123) recommendations were submitted,
giving the Air Medal, Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal or DFC to
individuals who earned them in combat.