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

operational missions were flown because of unfavorable weather
and for strategic reasons. On the 12th and 19th, practice
missions were flown and considerable practice bombing was done.
As all crews were available for it, ground school was well
attended. On the 16th, there was a squadron formation for combat
men for the purpose of presenting the medal awards to both
officers and enlisted men concerned. Presentation was made by the
squadron commander, Major James F. Berry.
At this time of month, it is not known how many enemy fighters
have been destroyed or damaged by our gunners. Claims have to be
checked and verified by higher headquarters. To accurately
determine when an enemy fighter has been destroyed and to credit
the individual gunner for same, requires a lot of work and time.
Usually by the eighth of the succeeding month, a report is sent
to this squadron showing the names of gunners who are given
credit for shooting down the enemy planes.
20 Feb. 1944: Targets in Germany were again attacked on the 20th.
Leipzig and to Oschersleben. Fourteen ships of this squadron took
off. One, ship #985, aborted due to mechanical difficulty. Enemy
opposition was stronger than it had been for the past three
weeks. Two members of crew on ship #739 were wounded; S/Sgt.
Samuel Orazie suffered slight wounds in one arm and one leg and
S/Sgt. Calvin E. Camp, enlisted bombardier, quite seriously
wounded in his hand, losing one finger.
Ships taking part from this squadron were: Ship #504, Lt.
McFarland and Lt. Kuehl and crew; ship #739, Lt. W. E. Reid and
crew; ship #761, Lt. Wood and crew; ship #746, Lt. Kolts and
crew; ship #965, Lt. Hackleman and crew (aborted), ship #939, Lt.
Maziarz and crew; ship #774, Capt. Thompson (91st BG) and Lt.
Stringer and crew; ship #639, Lt. Osterburg and crew; ship #585,
Lt. Bradford and crew; ship #580, Lt. Mack and crew; ship #759,
Lt. Register and crew; ship #172, Lt. Wilkinson and crew; ship
#815, Capt. Dalton and crew; ship #712, Lt. Pickard and crew.
Thirteen ships, a record number for the squadron went over the
target and dropped their bombs.
Capt. Karl W. Thompson completed twenty-five missions on this
date. So did Lt. Drayton W. Stringer, pilot and S/Sgt. James S.
Hachey. Capt. Thompson was recently transferred from the squadron
and assigned to duty as assistant group operations officer, but
he elected to do his twenty-fifth mission with his original crew.
As their ship approached the landing field, they gave it a "real
buzz" coming close to the ground and putting on a good show. It
was fully as sensational as that of Major Bishop in the "Careful
Virgin" on the 21st of January, although the "ducking" ceremony
was not carried out by the ground crew. Lt. Stringer and S/Sgt.