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 />
31 March 1945: The group’s 325 mission for <strong>the</strong> total ending<br />
March, 1945. The group bombed <strong>the</strong> railway station at Halle and<br />
Aschersleben , Germany . Lead and high squadrons bombed Halle by<br />
PFF methods with unobserved results. The low squadron, while on<br />
<strong>the</strong> bomb run, ran into a collision course with ano<strong>the</strong>r formation;<br />
and was unable to drop <strong>the</strong>ir bombs. 5 A/C made a 360 and bombed<br />
Halle , <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r 7 bombed A M/Y at Aschersleben visually with<br />
good results. Our squadron’s twelve A/C furnished <strong>the</strong> low<br />
squadron as follows: #630, Lt. H<strong>of</strong>fman and crew; #379, Lt.<br />
Martinson and crew; #276, Lt. Thompson and crew; #615, Lt.<br />
th<br />
Sc<strong>of</strong>ield and crew; #618, Lt. Borgstrom and crew; #205 (324 ),<br />
th<br />
Lt. Hunt and crew; #939, Lt. Cochran and crew; #568 (324 ), Lt.<br />
st<br />
Blanchet and crew; #636, Lt. Harvey and crew; #843 (401 ), Lt.<br />
st st<br />
Dean and crew; #217 (401 ), Lt. Smiekel and crew; #504 (401 ),<br />
Lt. Holliday and crew. All returned safely and <strong>the</strong>re were no<br />
aborts.<br />
rd<br />
SUMMING UP MARCH 1945: The 323 <strong>Bomb</strong> Squadron completed 185<br />
sorties for <strong>the</strong> month <strong>of</strong> March, without an abortive.<br />
Ship #909 holds <strong>the</strong> ETO record to date (April 12, 1945) <strong>of</strong> 132<br />
completed missions without an abortive. An article concerning<br />
this ship and its ground crew appeared in a March issue <strong>of</strong><br />
“Yank”, and also <strong>the</strong> “Stars and Stripes”. This article was<br />
submitted by <strong>the</strong> squadron’s executive <strong>of</strong>ficer, Major Edward J.<br />
Butler.<br />
The squadron supplied 6 men in February and 3 men in March for<br />
<strong>the</strong> infantry quota.<br />
Thus ends <strong>the</strong> month <strong>of</strong> March, 1945.<br />
APRIL 1945: Prepared by Capt. Laurence E. Baird & Sgt. Dull<br />
1 – 4 April 1945: There were no operational missions on <strong>the</strong>se<br />
days. Ground school and training activities were carried out by<br />
th<br />
this squadron. On <strong>the</strong> 4 , our squadron took <strong>the</strong>ir turn and were<br />
“stood down” even though <strong>the</strong> group participated in a mission to<br />
Fassberg , Germany .<br />
5 April 1945: A mission to <strong>the</strong> ordnance depot at Grafenwohr ,<br />
Germany with excellent results <strong>of</strong> our group’s bombing on <strong>the</strong><br />
number one target. The squadron participated by sending twelve<br />
aircraft and crews, all <strong>of</strong> which returned safely to base and<br />
without an abortive. The following completed this mission: Major<br />
Taylor and <strong>the</strong> “A” crew in ship #471, flying CBW lead; #379, Lt.<br />
Martinson and crew; #276, Lt. Dean and crew; #630 (Dep. CBW<br />
lead), Lt. Sc<strong>of</strong>ield and crew; #540, Lt. Borgstrom and crew; #636,<br />
Lt. Harvey and crew; #939, Lt. Cochran and crew; #841, Lt.