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

e rescued in time to prevent their deaths: Lt. Milton L. Pike,
Navigator; 2/Lt. Robert Warren, Bombardier; T/Sgt. Edward C.
White, Engineer; S/Sgt. Lewis C. Alger, Tail Gunner; and S/Sgt.
Darrel Moran Ball Turret Gunner. Air Sea Rescue succeeded in
saving the following men: 2/Lt. Walter M. Pickard, Pilot; 2/Lt.
Smith, Copilot; S/Sgt. Perry E. Wofford, Waist Gunner; T/Sgt.
Edward Crafton, Radio operator/gunner; and S/Sgt. James
Dumouchel, waist gunner.
4 March 1944: March 4, Berlin, Germany was again the target, but
due to unfavorable weather conditions, the bombing was not
considered successful. Seven ships from this squadron
participated - all returned safely. Two of them failed to reach
the target area, one of which did not get far enough into enemy
territory to be allowed credit for a sortie. This was ship #779
(324th ship) flown by 2/Lt. Fourny and crew. Ship #774, Lt.
Register and crew, had to return because of mechanical failure
but had gone quite far into enemy territory and had seen enemy
fighters, so it was considered a sortie. Other ships and their
crews were: #513, 1/Lt. Kuehl And crew; #118, Lt. Wilkinson and
crew; #909, Lt. Gorby and crew; #580, Lt. Hackleman and crew;
#911, Lt. Claude Williams and crew.
5 March 1944: Next day, being Sunday, there was nothing done in
the way of ground school. One local flight of two hours made up
the day's activity. Individuals went to church services, wrote
letters, and visited nearby towns. It is evident that no one
suffers from being bored with a lot of time on his hands that he
knows not how to spend. It is noticed that the mess halls serve
chicken for the noon meal at the Consolidated mess, and, usually
in the evening, at the Combat and Officer's messes. The Reading
Room at the Red Cross Aero Club is fully occupied on Sundays.
There the men have facilities for writing letters and reading
books from the library.
6 March 1944: On the 6th, Berlin, Germany was again the target,
especially Hoppergarten. Seven ships of this squadron took part,
two of which aborted. One ship #761, crash-landed at Steeple
Morten shortly after take-off. All crew members escaped
uninjured, but the ship was so badly damaged that it was
considered a complete loss. As there was 10/10ths cloud cover
over the target, results of the bombing were not observed;
however, photos indicate that the primary target was not hit -
the bombs going in the Hoppergarten area. Two ships were lost and
their crews are being carried as missing in action. Ship #118,
with the following crew members missing: 2/Lt. Benjamin J.
Fourmy, Pilot; 2/Lt. Herbert A. Merkle, Copilot; 2/Lt. James G.
Daragan, Navigator; 2/Lt. Arleigh F. Hale, Bombardier; S/Sgt.