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

S/Sgt. Walter P. Meader, Jr. Ball Turret Operator; S/Sgt. Robert
W. Heller, Tail Gunner; S/Sgt. Anthony J. Barbotti, Waist Gunner.
The courage and skill displayed by all these men reflects the
highest of credit to themselves and to their organization.
1/Lt. Wilbur W. Nicoll completed his twenty-fifth mission on this
date. He did his tour with courage and efficiency and has one
enemy fighter to his credit, having shot down one FW-190 on the
Brunswick raid, January 30, 1944. He was relieved from combat
duty and transferred to a new assignment.
On the 20th, 1/Lt. Kenneth C. Homuth, Navigator, completed his
twenty-fifth mission. He was a navigation officer of this
squadron. He was relieved from combat duty and transferred to a
new assignment.
23 Feb. 1944: On the 23rd, as there was no mission, ground school
and training activities were carried out on a limited scale. This
was due to the hard work of the past several days. However, two
local flights were made. Link trainer was in operation, and a
class in radio was held.
24 Feb. 1944: Next day, the 24th, the enemy's ball bearing works
at Schweinfurt, Germany, was bombed with excellent results. This
is the third occasion that the squadron has participated in a
mission against this place. The first one being on August 17,
1943. Crews briefed for this target expect to find the going
"rough" which it was in the past. This time, it did not seem so.
All our ships returned safely, but only two of them dropped their
bombs over the target. This squadron's abortion rate on this
mission was unusually high. Six ships and crews took off: #761 ,
Lt. Wood and crew; #736, Lt. Wilkinson and crew; #759, Lt.
Pickard and crew; #359, Lt. Williams and crew; #006 (324th ship),
Lt. Bradford and crew. The first two completed the mission,
dropping their bombs with good results; the latter four aborted,
turning back for various reasons without getting to the target or
dropping their bombs. It seemed that the main reasons were
malfunction of the oxygen systems and engine trouble. Immediate
steps were taken by the Squadron Commander to ascertain these
reasons and to take corrective action so as to avoid future
occurrences of this nature.
Ground school was well attended by crews not flying: link
trainer, bomb trainer, shadowgraph, radio class and aircraft
recognition.
25 Feb. 1944: Augsburg Germany was bombed on the 25th with
devastating effect. Eight ships of this organization took part