Dailies of the 323rd - the 91st Bomb Group!
Dailies of the 323rd - the 91st Bomb Group!
Dailies of the 323rd - the 91st Bomb Group!
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22 June 1943<br />
Six ships <strong>of</strong> our squadron piloted by Capt. Clancy, Capt. Birdsong, Lt. Silvernail, Lt. Kethley and<br />
Lt. Bennett completed a mission to Germany on a syn<strong>the</strong>tic rubber plane at Huls near <strong>the</strong> Ruhr.<br />
Lt. Forsblad took <strong>of</strong>f but was abortive. Heavy fighter opposition was encountered with 5 ships<br />
lost by our group, 3 from <strong>the</strong> low "B" flight. <strong>Bomb</strong>ing was fair. Lt. Hoehn, <strong>the</strong> first member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>91st</strong> group who happens to be a member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>323rd</strong> squadron combat crews to go down over<br />
enemy territory and successfully escape and return to England, visited us for <strong>the</strong> first time since<br />
his escape.<br />
25 June 1943<br />
Five planes Capt. Birdsong, Capt. Clancy, Lt. Bennett, Lt. Silvernail, and Lt. Kethley completed<br />
sorties on a mission, which because <strong>of</strong> 10/10 wea<strong>the</strong>r failed to bomb <strong>the</strong> primary target at<br />
Hamburg. <strong>Bomb</strong>s were released blindly over Germany. All <strong>of</strong> our ships returned although o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
groups suffered losses <strong>of</strong> 16 ships. Capt. Clancy, Lt. Miller and Lt. Ott completed <strong>the</strong>ir 25<br />
operations.<br />
26 June 1943<br />
Four ships <strong>of</strong> this squadron - Pilots Lt. Smith, Capt. Birdsong, Lt. Kethley, and Forsblad<br />
completed sorties on a mission planned on Villacoublay, but which could not attack any target<br />
because <strong>of</strong> poor visibility. Light enemy<br />
opposition encountered.<br />
29 June 1943<br />
Five ships <strong>of</strong> this squadron piloted by Capt. Birdsong, Lt. Forsblad, Lt. Bennett, Lt. Kethley, and<br />
Lt. Silvernail took part in and completed a mission to bomb <strong>the</strong> airdrome at Tricqueville, France.<br />
Although <strong>the</strong>re was 10/10-cloud cover over <strong>the</strong> target and <strong>the</strong> ships returned without dropping<br />
bombs in as much as this effort was planned as a diversion feint to aid ano<strong>the</strong>r effort, it had<br />
certain value. Spitfire support was splendid and no enemy opposition was encountered. Capt.<br />
Birdsong and Capt. Ackerman completed <strong>the</strong>ir 25 operations and as predicted gave everyone on<br />
<strong>the</strong> field and <strong>the</strong> crew <strong>the</strong> greatest scare <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir 25 operations when <strong>the</strong>y zoomed hangar B from<br />
grass level -- missing by inches.<br />
29 June 1943<br />
Our C.O., Capt. Bishop became "Major Bishop."<br />
The dates not mentioned above for <strong>the</strong> month <strong>of</strong> June, are accounted for in <strong>the</strong> fact that our<br />
combat crews have had daily schedules in all <strong>the</strong> required subjects pertaining to <strong>the</strong>ir combat<br />
training, to include every day not engaged in missions.<br />
The following is a list <strong>of</strong> new Combat Crews assigned to this squadron as <strong>of</strong> June 29, 1943:<br />
Miles, R. M. (P) Smith, E. J.<br />
(P)<br />
Von der Heyde, Donald S. (P)
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