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

did not seem to our gunners, so efficient as they have been in
the past. However, the enemy lost six fighters destroyed, and two
damaged by our gunners. T/Sgt. Joseph T. Depoti, top turret
gunner, and S/Sgt. Walter P. Meader, Jr., ball turret gunner,
both flying in ship #939, each shot down a FW-190. S/Sgt. Robert
C. Kyle, top turret gunner, S/Sgt. Rathel C. Bennett, tail
gunner, and S/Sgt. Fred A. Tabor, waist gunner, flying in ship
#172, each shot down an ME-109 or FW-190.
One FW-190 and one ME-109 were identified as damaged by T/Sgt.
Marvin Powers, Jr., a top turret gunner, and 2/Lt. Roy L. Jones,
bombardier, nose gunner, respectively who were flying in ship
#739. Those individuals, who succeed in taking such a toll of the
enemy, earn the gratitude of all in this command and of all the
people of the United Nations who are allied in this war against
the enemy. For each enemy fighter destroyed, the gunner who does
it is awarded the Air Medal or an Oak Leaf Cluster thereto.
Ships of this squadron taking part in this mission and their
crews were: #774, Captain Thompson and crew; #739, 2/Lt.
Hackleman and crew; #761, 1/Lt. McFarland and crew; #939, 2/Lt.
Maziarz and crew; #172, 2/Lt. Sutherland and crew; #040, 2/Lt.
Gorby and crew; and #372, 1/Lt. Reid and crew. The latter was
shot down by enemy fighters in the vicinity of the target. It is
not known whether or not they are alive and prisoners of war or
still at large somewhere in enemy occupied territory Even if the
ship is severely damaged or destroyed, its personnel can often
don their parachutes and bail out to safety. Here is a complete
list of the crew which is carried as "mission in action": Pilot,
1/Lt. Edwin R. Reid, Co-pilot, 2/Lt. Richard O. Morgan,
Navigator, 2/Lt. John S. Haus, Bombardier, 2/Lt. George Marghita,
Engineer, T/Sgt. Ernest O. Kretchmer, Assistant Engineer, Sgt.
Melvin P. Stoddard, Radio Operator, T/Sgt. Benton E. Lowry, Sr.,
Assistant Radio Operator, S/Sgt. Arnold L. Hovey, Tail Gunner,
S/Sgt. Anthony W. Czarnecki, and Utility Gunner, S/Sgt. John A.
Gustafson, Jr. This was a crew that had anywhere from nine to ten
missions credited to each individual. They had a good record for
combat and as soldiers. Every reason of hope that they are safe
is still held by this squadron. As yet, nothing has been heard of
them.
Ships returning to the base, after this mission, were all
considerably damaged by the enemy. During the following three
days, the ground crews were busy getting them back into
commission again. That was achieved by the 14th thanks to a very
capable engineering staff who spared no pains to do their best
work on ships in need of it. Combat crew engaged in ground school
and training activities.