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

10 July 1943
Six of our ships piloted by Lt.'s Lethers, Bennett, Kethley, Miles and Smith took part on a mission
to bomb plane repair shops at Vill Couglay. Poor visibility prevented bombing either target or the
hangars on Drome at Caen. Lt. Forsblad's ship did not return. Observations were made of his ship
leaving formation apparently with four engines going OK, inside the French coast going out. An
unidentified plane with two chutes out was seen later land in the sea one-half mile off the French
coast at St. Aubin. This was the first operational mission for the whole crews of Lt.'s Miles and
Smith. Enemy fighter attacks were heavy and were directed principally against "B" flight, which
was our squadron. Members of the missing crew were: Pilot - Lt. L. E. Forsblad, CP -Lt. J. J.
Bennett, N - Lt. R. W. Gill, B - Lt. J. W. Cheshire, R - Sgt. B. W. Zimmerman, TT T/Sgt. H. W.
Balzer, BT - S/Sgt. J. W. Stephenson, R.W.G - Sgt. J. L. Filder, L.W.G -
S/Sgt. J. D'Ovidio, TG - S/Sgt. H. K. Olsen.
16 July 1943
Ship #734, "Red Balloon" was assigned to our squadron.
17 July 1943
Three ships of our squadron: Pilots Lt.'s Miles, Bennett & Lethers completed sorties on a
mission to Hanover, Germany. Weather was 10/10 over target and bombing was out of the
question. Many planes aborted before reaching enemy coast due to poor visibility for rendezvous.
Lt. Arcaro's crew reported to
this squadron for combat.
17 July 1943 - Following is a list of our latest combat crew reporting.
1/Lt. Arcaro, A. G. (P)
2/Lt. Niemczyk, R. (CP)
2/Lt. Warner, H. K. (N)
2/Lt. Glover, W. F. (B)
S/S. Braun, H. R. (R)
S/S. Lawless, C. P. (AR)
S/S. Scheible, W. R. (E)
S/S. Lindholm, E. F. (AE)
S/S. Sparks, H. R. (TG)
S/S. Kamrh, C. E. (UG)
24 July 1943
Three ships of our squadron: Pilots - Lt.'s Silvernail, Miles, Von der Heyde, completed mission to
Hersva, Norway, carrying out very effective bombing on a new aluminum plant. No E/F
opposition was encountered.
25 July 1943
Six ships flying flight "B" - Pilots Lt.'s Kethley, Silvernail, Bennett, Smith, Von der Heyde, Miles
took part in a mission to Hamburg and returned without casualties. Bombing was good, light E/F
opposition but unusually intense Flak around Hamburg. Other attacks were delivered on Kiel and