Date: Aug 17, 43
Dispatched: 37 Aborts: 5
Mission: Penetration support to 1st TF 180 B-17s Field Order: 38/106
Time Up/Down: 09.23 hrs 11.23 hrs Leader: Major McCollom
Target: Regensburg
Claims Air: 01-00-00 Claims Ground: 00-00-00 Lost/Damaged: 00-00
The Group picked up the bombers and made landfall at Haamstede at 10:05 hrs at 23,000 ft, continuing to climb and levelled off at 26,000 ft. Because of reports of bandits at 30,000 ft, Group climbed to 27,000ft. Twelve Fw190s were seen diving on the bombers but due to their speed the Group was unable to head them off. Group left the bombers 5 miles south-east of Diest. At 10:25 hrs they met about twelve Me109 and made a port turn to attack them. Major McCollom shot down the last Me109G of the formation at 10:28 hrs [you can read his combat report HERE]. The Group left the coast just north of Walcheren Island at 24,000 ft at 10:47 hrs. Group was led by Major McCollom (then of the 56th FG). Major Duncan of Group HQ participated.
350th: Major McCollom took lead flight and Major Rimerman led Squadron. T/U 09:27 hrs. T/D 11:30 hrs. Total flight time 2:03 hrs. The Squadron met bombers at appointed time at Haamstede. Saw 12 to 15 e/a in vicinity of Rotterdam (scattered ME109s). Passes made at bombers from level head on, breaking down and away. Approximately 10 miles east of Diest, Lts Long and Hurst fired on an Me109 and Fw190 respectively but scored no hits. Major McCollom shot down an Me109G at 10.28 hrs to claim the Group’s first confirmed victory.
| Major | Loren | McCollom | (Gp Ldr) |
| 2nd Lt | John | Zolner | |
| 1st Lt | Irvin E. | Venell | |
| 2nd Lt | William J. | Price | |
| Major | Ben | Rimerman | (Sqdn Ldr) |
| 1st Lt | Harold W. | Long | |
| 1st Lt | Robert E. | Fortier | |
| 1st Lt | John L. | Devane | |
| 1st Lt | Dewey E. | Newhart | (Flt Ldr) |
| 2nd Lt | Francis T. | Walsh | |
| 1st Lt | Wilford F. | Hurst | |
| 1st Lt | Melvin P. | Dawson | |
| 1st Lt | John | Sullivan | (Spare) |
351st: Major Christian. T/U 09:25 hrs. T/D 11:17 hrs. Total flight time 1:52 hrs. The Squadron lost the rest of the Group when a sharp orbit was made. The Squadron swept the area of Antwerp, Diest, Schaffern airfield and came out over Walcheren Island. No enemy encountered, though many were reported by the controller.
| Major | Shannon | Christian | (Sqdn Ldr) |
| 2nd Lt | Edgar J. | Albert | |
| 1st Lt | Vernon A. | Leatherman | |
| 1st Lt | George N. | Ahles | |
| Capt | Walter C. | Beckham | (Flt Ldr) |
| 1st Lt | Vic L. | Byers | |
| 1st Lt | Harry F. | Hunter | |
| 2nd Lt | George F. | Perpente | |
| Major | Glenn E. | Duncan | (Flt Ldr) |
| 2nd Lt | Herbert K. | Field | |
| 1st Lt | Frank N. | Emory | |
| 2nd Lt | Francis L. | Edwards | |
352nd: Major Bailey. T/U 09:29 hrs. T/D 11:17 hrs. Total flight time 1:48 hrs. No e/a encountered. Lts Gonnam and Burlingame made early returns.
| Major | William B. | Bailey | (Sqdn Ldr) |
| 2nd Lt | Lester L. | Dansky | |
| 1st Lt | Clinton H. | Sperry | |
| 2nd Lt | Clifford F. | Armstrong | |
| 1st Lt | Wilbert H. | Juntilla | (Flt Ldr) |
| 1st Lt | Robert P. | Geurtz | |
| 1st Lt | Robert A. | Newman | |
| F/O | Glenn C. | Callans | |
| Capt | Raynor E. | Robertson | (Flt Ldr) |
| 2nd Lt | Robert T. | Murden | |
| 1st Lt | Jesse W. | Gonnam | |
| 1st Lt | Gordon S. | Burlingame | |
Date: Aug 17, 43
Dispatched: 42 Aborts: 2
Mission: Withdrawal support for 2nd & 3rd TF 240 B-17s Field Order: 38/106
Time Up/Down: 15.55 hrs 17.33 hrs Leader: Major McCollom
Target: Schweinfurt
Claims Air: 00-00-00 Claims Ground: 00-00-00 Lost/Damaged: 00-00
The Group made landfall over Noorderhoofd. At 26, 000 ft made port turn and escorted bombers out at Nieue Souis at 27,000 ft. The Group then made a search of friendly coast between Lowestoft and Aldeburgh. The Group was led by Major McCollom (then of the 56th Fighter Group). Major Duncan and Lt Thistlethwaite of Group HQ participated.
350th: Major Rimerman. T/U 16:00 hrs. T/D 17:31 hrs. Total flight time 1:31 hrs. Major Rimerman reported heavy flak troubling bombers a few miles south of Antwerp. No e/a encountered.
| Major | Ben | Rimerman | (Sqdn Ldr) |
| 2nd Lt | Robert N. | Ireland | |
| 1st Lt | Harold W. | Long | |
| 2nd Lt | William F. | Tanner | |
| 1st Lt | Irvin E. | Venell | (Flt Ldr) |
| 2nd Lt | William J. | Price | |
| 1st Lt | John L. | Devane | |
| 2nd Lt | John | Zolner | |
| 1st Lt | Dewey E. | Newhart | (Flt Ldr) |
| 1st Lt | John | Sullivan | |
| 1st Lt | Wilford F. | Hurst | |
| 1st Lt | Melvin P. | Dawson | |
| 1st Lt | Robert L. | Newman | (Spare) |
| 2nd Lt | Joseph F. | Furness | (Spare) |
351st: Major McCollom. T/U 15:54 hrs. T/D 17:34 hrs. Total flight time 1:40 hrs.
| Major | Loren G. | McCollom | (Gp & Sqdn Ldr) |
| 2nd Lt | William T. | Thistlethwaite | |
| 1st Lt | Vic L. | Byers | |
| 2nd Lt | Benedict E | Kraft | |
| Major | Shannon | Christian | (Flt Ldr) |
| 1st Lt | William J. | Maguire | |
| 1st Lt | Frederick H. | Lefebre | |
| 2nd Lt | John G. | Treitz | |
| Capt | Walter C. | Beckham | (Flt Ldr) |
| 1st Lt | Gordon B. | Compton | |
| 1st Lt | David C. | Kenney | |
| 2nd Lt | Harold J. | Morris | |
| 1st Lt | Vernon A. | Leatherman | (Flt Ldr) |
| 2nd Lt | Richard D. | Stanley | |
| 1st Lt | Harry F. | Hunter | |
| 2nd Lt | George F. | Perpente | |
352nd: Major Duncan. T/U 15:58 hrs. T/D 17:34 hrs. Total flight time 1:36 hrs. Withdrawal support to Malings and St Nicholas. Lt. Vogel made an early return.
| Major | Glenn E. | Duncan | (Sqdn Ldr) |
| 2nd Lt | Leroy W. | Ista | |
| 1st Lt | Jesse W. | Gonnam | |
| 1st Lt | William F. | Streit | |
| 1st Lt | Wilbert H. | Juntilla | (Flt Ldr) |
| 1st Lt | Charles W. | Kipfer | |
| 1st Lt | Edward M. | Fogarty | |
| 1st Lt | Gordon S. | Burlingame | |
| Capt | Raynor E. | Robertson | (Flt Ldr) |
| 2nd Lt | William J. | Jordan | |
| 1st Lt | Robert P. | Geurtz | |
| 2nd Lt | Victor L. | Vogel | |
