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

428, 739, 712, 070, 939, 172, and 746 flew over the target and
dropped their bombs. Capt. Thompson, 2/Lt. Pickard, 2/Lt.
Maziarz, Capt. Dalton, Lt. Sutherland and 2/Lt. Harding, 1/Lt.
Samuelson and 2/Lt. Kolts and their crews flew their ships in the
order indicated above. The fighter escort was again on the job
and prevented the enemy fighters from coming within close range
of our guns. Damage by enemy anti-aircraft guns was slight.
Some of our gunners witnessed or experienced the effects of flak
hitting their ships. It is not a pleasant sound, but so long as
the flak fails to strike the men, it is not taken very seriously.
These eight ships returned safely. Bombs were dropped in the
target area so the mission was considered as "completed" and each
man added one more to hit total toward the one they all look
forward to - twenty-five. The men on the ground, not flying, had
physical training and attended a class in Aircraft Recognition.
6 Jan. 1944: On the sixth day of the New Year, two ships made a
local cross-country flight of about three hours duration. Flights
of this nature are beneficial to both the pilot and navigator. In
this country, navigation is a very important factor in flying. It
is very easy for a ship to become lost without getting very far
away from its home base. Looking downward from above, the
countryside looks pretty much the same, so if the pilot is aiming
to land at a specific point, he must have the services of a
navigator who knows his job. Thirty man-hours were spent in
studying aircraft recognition. Tests are given the men from time
to time in order to ascertain their ability to recognize all
types of aircraft both friendly and enemy. Instructors try, by
using various devices such as flashing pictures on the screen,
and posting the various models of aircraft in a room to help
gunners to quickly recognize all types. Also, there was a
critique lecture given by Capt. Fisher, Group Gunnery Officer, to
all gunners. Their training is of the utmost importance in the
type of warfare which this squadron is engaged in.
The mission of the fifth was the ONE HUNDREDTH for this group.
There was one scheduled for the sixth but it was "scrubbed" which
means that everything was made ready for the takeoff but for
reasons known to higher headquarters, plans were cancelled. Such
occurrences are quite frequent. Crews were called up from their
beds early in the morning, rushed to the combat mess halls for
breakfast, and then attended the briefing, drew their flying
clothes and equipment and went to their planes, only to be
advised later on that they were not going out on a mission after
all. Whether they are glad or not, is open to question.
It depends on the individual. The general opinion is, however,
that once they have gone to so much trouble making ready for the