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

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13 June 1944: On the 13 , an airfield at Beaumont-Sur-Oise,
France, was bombed. Due to poor visibility and weather
conditions, prevailing results could not be observed. This was a
tactical operation in order to assist invasion troops. Even the
weather was bad. The mission was carried out. A year ago the
ships would have been grounded from flying in such weather, but
the target was a vital one and whatever could be done to cripple
the enemy at this time was necessary. All our ships returned
safely to base without battle damage or injury to any member of
the crews. Nineteen ships, a record number for the squadron on
any one mission, participated as follows: A#7540, Lt. Smith and
crew; #7504, Lt. Ransberger and crew; #2490, Lt. Sheriff and
crew; #7563, Lt. Stunf and crew; #1909, Lt. Klinger and crew;
#7956, Lt. Kerr and crew; #1542, Lt. Basinger and crew; #7173,
Lt. Miller and crew; #7276, Lt. Riser and crew; #1579, Lt.
Helfrich and crew; #7040, Lt. Maxwell and crew; #7234, Capt.
Ranzoni and crew; #7304, Lt. Pryor and crew; #2116, Lt. Supchak
and crew; #7625, Lt. Maziarz and crew; #7594, Lt. Sprinkle and
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crew; #7075, Lt. Rider and crew; #1515 (401 ) Lt. Grimmer and
crew (new), #1678, Lt. Mosley and crew.
It is the practice that when a new crew completes its ground
training and is ready for an operational mission, an experienced
pilot is sent with it on the first mission; rather than for inexperienced
personnel to be alone.. One experienced member of the
crew in a key position proves of immense value on the ship. This
way it doesn’t take long for new men to get on to flying combat
and to take their place in the formation as trained and
experienced men. This was the case with the crew of ship #1515 on
today’s mission.
Lt. Riser and crew with the exception of the Ball Turret Gunner
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were recently transferred back from the 324 Squadron. Less than
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a month ago, they were transferred to the 324 as a pathfinder
crew, but were brought back when it was found they could be
released from that squadron.
As all available combat crewmembers have been used for
operational missions during the past several days, there has been
but little done in the way of attendance at ground school. It
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seems to have been on continuous “alert” since the 6 of June,
“D” Day and every man, both from the air and the ground echelons,
have had the one purpose in mind; to give all possible air
support to the invasion troops. How well they have succeeded in
this, only time and history will tell.
14 June 1944: On the 14 , there was no operational mission
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scheduled. Three ships flew a practice-bombing mission and