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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th<br />
30 June 1944: There was no mission scheduled for <strong>the</strong> 30 . Ground<br />
school and training activities were carried out. Also, it was pay<br />
day for both <strong>of</strong>ficers and enlisted men.<br />
June 25, 1944: Three crews reported for a tour <strong>of</strong> operational<br />
duty, namely: Pilot, 2/Lt. Arvin O. Basnight; Copilot, 2/Lt.<br />
William T. Smith; Navigator, 2/Lt. Nelson J. Fineman; Sgt.<br />
Charles W. Collins, Engineer, Sgt. Robert N. Truax, Radio<br />
Operator; Gunners – Sgt. Bruno Preteroti, Sgt. Odell A. Davis,<br />
Sgt. Henry H. Ray, and PFC Jean P. Gendron.<br />
Pilot, 2/Lt. Rexford T. Boggs; Copilot, 2/Lt. Edward W.<br />
Splawinski; Navigator, 2/Lt. Frank S. Quincy; Engineer, S/Sgt.<br />
William H. Olsen; Radio Operator, George C. Dacey; Gunners; Sgt.<br />
Bernard F. Scharf; Sgt. Clemith B. Lamen; and Sgt. Clifford C.<br />
White.<br />
Pilot, F/O, Donald F. Bridwell; Copilot, 2/Lt. Forrest B. Drewry;<br />
Navigator, 2/Lt. Robert W. Ward; Engineer, S/Sgt. Robert L.<br />
Phelps; <strong>Bomb</strong>ardier, 2/Lt. Milton Bastwirth; Radio Operator, Sgt.<br />
Shasten L. Bowen; Gunners - S/Sgt. Clarence A. Gluck; Sgt.<br />
Raymond W. Paul, Sgt. James F. Zeiser, Sgt. George Sherman.<br />
Due to a record number <strong>of</strong> missions flown during <strong>the</strong> month, many<br />
individuals completed <strong>the</strong>ir tours <strong>of</strong> duty. They are still on <strong>the</strong><br />
field, awaiting assignment to duty elsewhere. With replacement<br />
crews coming in all <strong>the</strong> time and none being transferred out,<br />
<strong>the</strong>re has been a difficult housing problem for solution. It has<br />
not caused a hardship on anyone except <strong>the</strong> inconvenience <strong>of</strong><br />
reshuffling personnel from one place to ano<strong>the</strong>r in attempts to<br />
make more room for incoming personnel.<br />
Two hundred fourteen sorties were flown during <strong>the</strong> month without<br />
loss <strong>of</strong> ships or any casualties except that <strong>of</strong> S/Sgt. Parisy on<br />
th <strong>the</strong> 20 . The record <strong>of</strong> abortives was remarkably low for <strong>the</strong><br />
number <strong>of</strong> sorties flown. There were only six for <strong>the</strong> entire<br />
month. In regard to battle damage to <strong>the</strong> ships, #7625 was so<br />
th<br />
severely damaged on <strong>the</strong> mission <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 19 that it was taken <strong>of</strong>f<br />
ops.<br />
The squadron participated in twenty-three operational missions<br />
th<br />
during <strong>the</strong> period <strong>of</strong> June 2 to 28 , inclusive although, <strong>the</strong><br />
majority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m were tactical targets and considered easy in<br />
comparison to harder ones at Schweinfurt, Berlin, Bremen and<br />
o<strong>the</strong>rs, it is still true that a record amount <strong>of</strong> work was done by<br />
<strong>the</strong> squadron. The devoted and persistent effort <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ground<br />
crews <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ships and that <strong>of</strong> all ground personnel made it<br />
possible for our combat men to stay in <strong>the</strong> air and achieve a<br />
record <strong>of</strong> which any organization may well be proud.