Date: Nov 26, 43
Dispatched: 49 Aborts: 6 Mission: Support 2nd TF (120 B-17’s & 120 B-24’s)
Field Order: 191 Time Up/Down: 10:39 hrs 13:42 hrs
Leader: Major Duncan Target: Bremen
Claims Air: 00-00-00 Claims Ground: 00-00-00 Lost/Damaged: 00-00
Group made landfall at Den Helder at 11:31 hrs, 27,000ft. At 11:50 hrs when Group over Emden, bombers were seen over sea to the north. No bombers at planned R/V point. Group flew on course to coverage with bombers coming from the North. Over Wilhelmshaven flak and contrails seen target area, believed to be first TF on way out. Actual R/V made with first box of bombers at point believed to be Gluckstadt at 12:07 hrs, 29,000ft. Rest of bombers considerably strung out making adequate escort difficult. Flew course with the bombers until 12:14 hrs leaving them just prior to target. On way out Group overtook first TF near Wolvega. P-47 escort plentiful. Left enemy coast at Ijmuiden 12:52 hrs, 22,000ft. Effective smoke screen over Emden. Meagre flak Leeuwarden, Emden, Ijmuiden. One B-17 seen heading northwest vicinity Wesermunde. One B-17 seen under formation heading west vicinity of Heerenveen. One B-17 seen on fire vicinity Assin. Radio whine intense. A 5 or 6 ship convoy seen heading south between Borkum Island and Roodeschool. Capt. Rose and Lt. Thistlethwaite of Group HQ participated in the mission.
350th: Capt Pidduck. T/U 10:40 hrs. T/D 13:40 hrs. Total flight time 3:00 hrs. Entered enemy coast 15 miles north of Egmond at 27,000ft. Proceeded over Emden at 12:05. R/V with bombers over Emden. Swept around right of bombers and came right out, due to gas [Shortage]. Flak seen over Emden; poor height. Came out over enemy coast north of Den Helder. No e/a seen. Weather: Middle cloud 3/10 over target. Horizontal visibility good. Vertical fair. Contrails at 32,000ft.
Major | Ben | Rimerman | (Sqdn Ldr aborts) |
1st Lt | Joseph F. | Furness | |
1st Lt | Wayne K. | Blickenstaff | |
1st Lt | Tom | Lorance | |
Capt | Wilford F. | Hurst | (Flt Ldr) |
2nd Lt | William F. | Tanner | |
1st Lt | Melvin P. | Dawson | |
2nd Lt | Richard A. | Stearns | |
Capt | Stanley R. | Pidduck | (Flt Ldr and then Sqdn Ldr) |
2nd Lt | Walter L. | Angelo | |
1st Lt | John L. | Devane | |
1st Lt | John | Zolner | |
1st Lt | John | Sullivan | (Flt Ldr) |
1st Lt | Roland N. | McKean | |
1st Lt | Robert N. | Ireland | |
2nd Lt | Chauncey | Rowan | |
Capt | Dewey E. | Newhart | |
1st Lt | Francis T. | Walsh |
351st: Capt Beckham. T/U 10:30 hrs. T/D 13:35 hrs. Total flight time 3:05 hrs. Route: In at Den Helder – to Emden – R/V W of Wesermunde – out at Texel Island.
Capt | Walter C. | Beckham | (Sqdn Ldr) |
2nd Lt | Irving | Toppel | |
Capt | Frederick H. | Lefebre | |
1st Lt | Frank N. | Emory | |
Major | Shannon | Christian* | |
1st Lt | William J. | Maguire | |
1st Lt | George N. | Ahles | |
2nd Lt | John G. | Treitz | |
2nd Lt | Frank J. | Mincik | |
2nd Lt | George F. | Perpente | |
F/O | Cletus | Peterson | |
2nd Lt | Francis L. | Edwards | |
2nd Lt | Richard D. | Stanley | |
1st Lt | Francis N. | King | |
2nd Lt | Hassell D. | Stump | |
2nd Lt | Don M. | Hurlburt |
*Interesting that Major Christian flew the mission as he had left the Squadron to go to Wing HQ November 10, 1943.
352nd: Unknown. T/U T/D Total flight time
[**NB the flight plan and mission roster are missing from Squadron records. If anyone has details please get in touch]
Lts. Streit and Jordan landed at Framlingham and stayed overnight.
Group Aborts/Early Returns
42-8664 | ABT oil leak | ? |
42-7904 | ABT engine cut out | SX-F |
42-8376 | ABT oil leak | SX-Q |
42-8001 | ABT gas line broke | LH-V |
42-8393 | ABT prop out | LH-Q |
42-8478 | ABT belly tank wouldn’t release | YJ-Y |