Wednesday, March 30, 2005

Sherri's shower


The last Sunday in April at Debbie's, if that suits everyone. Invitations will go out shortly.

Be there or be talked about.

8th mission: Hamburg


Today marked the 96th's final raid against the submarine yards at this famous port. And the group hit it very well. Heligoland flak seriously wounded waist gunner S/S Malcolm Perry on the way to the target. His pilot, Lt Gardner Norcross, returned to England landing at Deopham Green where the wounded gunner was rushed to a hospital. Over the next few days the sergeant's ground crew participated in multiple blood transfusions--but to no avail. He died. There were no other incidents on this raid. -- Snetterton Falcons

Target today was oil storage at Hamburg Germany. Bomb load was forty-two 100 Ib. incendiaries. Bombing altitude was 25,000 ft. and flying time was 7 hours and 30 minutes. Flax was medium. We were intercepted by a Me-262 on bomb run but it didn't fire on anyone. It was flying in the opposite direction at about our altitude and seemed to jump over our formation and kept going. LT Veal's crew (our Buddy Crew) who trained with us at Alexandria and assigned to the832nd. Sqd. At the same time we were hit directly behind No. 4 engine and peeled off and went into a dive before exploding about 5,000 ft below us. We saw no parachutes. We flew aircraft No. 931. -- Lyman R Huffman, Jr, 832 BS, 486th BG

Lt. Bennett (504) 1 ME262 shot down, 1 ME262 damaged in air; Capt. Sargent (504) 1 ME262 shot down; Col. Henry (HQ) 1 ME262 probably shot down; Capt. Rich (505) 1 ME262 damaged in air; Lt. Ananian (505) 1 ME262 damaged in air. Lt. Wager was the 3rd 339th pilot shot down by ME262's... he bailed out, but his parachute failed to open properly. -- 339th FG

Led by Lt Col Hall, 37 aircraft took off this date with the target designated as a sub pen and sub building yards at Bremen. There was a layer of clouds which caused difficulty in assembling. Bombing, from 26,000 ft, was visual with excellent results. Temperature was minus 37 degrees at bombing altitude. Lt Bennett, 535th, lost two engines over the target and fighters were called to escort him out but he is Missing In Action. Several German jets made attacks from below but no damage was reported. Flak was moderate and accurate. And only moderate battle damage was reported, with minor scratches being the only injuries sustained. Several ships returned on two engines and landed successfully. One had elevators and hydraulics shot out and ground looped while traveling quite fast. -- 381st BG

The squadron lost Lt Robert A. Bennett and crew to heavy flak on the bomb run of a 6/10th covered Bremen today. He was last seen lagging after bombs-away, with two engines out, and there was no report by midnight...The formation approached the target down a cloud free "alley", had perfect visibility for the bomb run and did an excellent job, with tight patterns on the Deschimag submarine and shipbuilding yards. There were no enemy aircraft attacking our formation but the boys reported an ME 262, twin-jet fighter, destroyed by Mustangs after attacking a straggler in a group behind ours. Lt Joe D. Newell, Lt Brashear's ball turret gunner, suffered a slight leg wound from flak over the target. He was not hospitalized and is on status for tomorrow... -- 535th BS

Monday, March 28, 2005

7th mission: Hanover


Daddy's second trip to Hanover, which endured a total 88 Allied bombing raids during the war:

A very good strike was made on this tank factory complex. Bombs covered the main factory from 300 yards short to 300 yards over. At least five direct hits were made on the MPI. All planes returned safely. Only two had minor flak damage. -- Snetterton Falcons

We bombed Hanover Germany, which was our secondary target. We flew aircraft No, 931 again today. The mission was 7 hours fifteen minutes long. We dropped twelve 500 lb general-purpose bombs from 25,000 feet. No fighter interception and flak was moderate. -- Lyman R Huffman, Jr, 832 BS, 486th BG

Our next mission in our "new" B-17G, A/C 936, was on March 28, to an aero engine factory at Spandau. The crew chief said he had replaced every part of the prop pitch system and, therefore we should have no problem. Once again, #4 propeller ran away at maximum power used during take off but we had little difficulty lifting the aircraft into the air well prior to the end of the runway. We were fit to be tied. It seemed as if no one cared that we were flying a disaster waiting to happen. We were flying as right wingman to the Squadron lead ship and on the way into the target the group leader got slightly off course and inadvertently flew us over a known flack area. Our squadron was flying high squadron in the group formation and we received accurate and tracking flack as we unnecessarily flew over this known flack area on our way to the target. The squadron leader and the aircraft flying of his right wing received heavy flack damage. Captain Gaines, the squadron leader had two engines shot out while Lt. Smith on his right wing, lost one engine. We were the only plane in the element to receive only light battle damage. This was fortunate as we already had one engine acting up... -- Mike Banta, 91st BG

Saturday, March 26, 2005

Baby's pictures


Been having the darndest time trying to figure out how to get hard-copy pictures made from my digital photos.

We gave Bridgie a digital camera and photo printer for Christmas last year, but she says the paper and ink for it are so expensive that it's cheaper to use the machines at Walgreen's. Well, I tried that, and it turns out that the good machine only takes memory cards--my camera uses standard diskettes. There was another machine that took diskettes, but it only printed on 8x10 paper so I printed (and paid $8 for) a sheet of 3x5s and a sheet of wallets before fleeing in frustration.

Saw a Wal-Mart commercial the other day that said I can upload digital photos online and go pick up my finished prints at the store for less than twenty cents each. So, I'm trying that. Spent the past two days uploading 59 images off a dozen different diskettes, and now I'm waiting to see how they turn out.





Sixth mission: Plauen


Daddy's longest mission, at 9 hours 10 minutes. His pilot's name was Brandt, and they were members of the 338th Bomb Squadron, so I think his plane had to land in France on this trip. Probably ran out of gas, or could be battle damage. Smitty would know, but I'm too embarrassed to call him again after I bawled and squawled through our last conversation.

For the second time this month the group visited Plauen. But the bombing was just as badly executed as it had been on the first visit. Bombs fell far short of the tank factory. As the group reformed for the return to Snetterton, it was engulfed by rapidly deteriorating weather. While approaching Amiens, France, the squadrons were scattered by torrential rain, hail and dense cloud. C Squadron took the worst of it. Five A/C ran short of fuel and had to land in France. From the 339th, Lts Charles McGehees, Billy Lynch and Bill Schram landed at Amiens and Poix in France and at St Trond in Belgium. From the 338th, Lts Brandt and Greer made it to Merville, France. The others landed safely at Snetterton. -- Snetterton Falcons

38 planes dispatched. 37 planes dropped 107.5 on the primary target and 1 plane failed to bomb. 38 Credit Sorties. During assembly a 34BG plane collided with a 452BG plane, both crashing killing both crews. B-17G 43-38402 L/P Mid-air collision with a 452BG B-17 during assembly. Planes crashed at Framsden and Crettingham, UK. With 391BS. Pilot: unknown. No Missing Air Crew Report. All Killed. Plane salvaged 26-3-45. -- 34th BG

Leading 37 aircraft from this command was Major Sandman, the formation taking off at 09.00 hrs under very poor conditions before assembling over France. The primary target was Zeitz, Germany. On the bomb run the high and lead squadrons were unable to pick up the target and did no drop their bombs, while the low squadron bombed with poor results. Another run was made on the target but due to cloud coverage it was again obscured, after which, the secondary target, Plauen, was hit. Considerable accurate flak was encountered throughout the target area and battle damage to aircraft was extensive. Several aircraft landed in France due to a shortage of gas and battle damage. Lt Hawley landed at B-50, and his plane burned immediately after landing with two crew members slightly injured. Lt Smith, of Baden’s crew, received a perforating flak wound in the right hand. Several aircraft landed in southern England, short of gas and battle damage. All other crews are accounted for except Lt Price, who left the formation over France. -- 381st BG

Thursday, March 24, 2005

Sherri's wedding


She's started her own blog to keep us updated on all the details.

Still have to shop for my dress. Also have to put together a bridal shower pretty quick--sometime in April is all I know.

Just heard about Lesley's husband being so sick--sure hope he pulls through all right. We'll be praying for them.

Fifth mission: Plantlunne


Daddy's third mission in three days. I 'magine he was mentally and physically wiped out after this one, but was given only one day off before Mission No. 6.

Operation Varsity, the airborne support for the 9th US and 2th British Armies' crossing of the Rhein. On the morning of 24 March 1945, an enormous air armada crossed the River Rhein near Wesel in Western Germany. The column, two-and-a-half hours long, consisted of more than 1,500 IX Troop Carrier Command airplanes and gliders. To their left were about 1,200 RAF airplanes and gliders, the entire was supported by 880 US and RAF fighters. Operations of XVIII US Corps (Airborne) in support of the crossing of the River Rhine, 24 and 25 March 1945; On the 24th March 1945, in perfect weather, nearly 4000 aircraft from the 6th Airborne Division and the 17th US Airborne Division deposited fighting men behind enemy lines, East of the River Rhine. Their mission was to capture key points and so assist the advance of the ground troops. Having learned the lessons from the Arnhem battle, the gliders and paratroops landed close to their targets and achieved total success. -- The World at War: History of WWII 1939-1945

Allied forces were rushing across the Rhine every day and this mission was designed by he 8th to help our land forces in two ways. The first way, which was the dropping of supplies from low altitude, was assigned to some 200 bombers from the 2AD. Some of these B-24s were lost to small arms fire because they flew so low! But for the rest of the 8th it was German airfields. Keep the Luftwaffe grounded while the Allies crossed the river. The patterns of the 96th bombing completely covered this Luftwaffe airfield. But today's tragedy struck early as the group was departing England. Passing over Great Yarmouth at 0700 hours, Lt Ron Birch, 413th, suddenly requested permission to jettison his bombs. Obviously there was trouble aboard his 43-37645, for at 0720 Birch called out again to report that he had an engine on fire and was preparing to ditch. A B-17 from the 1AD relayed Birch's situation to Air-Sea Rescue with the proper coordinates. The search was unsuccessful. And lost with the rest of the crew was this history's latest diarist, Lt Glen Wallace, who had been flying as Lt Birch's ball turret gunner. Less than two weeks ago, Sgt Wallace had turned 20. The rest of the mission was a milk run. -- Snetterton Falcons

Throughout the day-in support of Operation VARSITY, the Anglo-American airborne assault across the Rhine River-1st Air Division B-17s mount 706 effective bombing sorties and 3d Air Division B-17s mount 625 effective bombing sorties against numerous GAF airfields and bases throughout northern and northwestern Germany. Also, VIII Fighter Command fighters mount 1,297 effective sorties throughout the day. Five B-17s and nine fighters are lost. Beginning at 1000 hours-following intensive clearing attacks by USAAF fighters, including attacks on flak concentrations and airfields-paratroopers and gliderborne forces of the British 6th and U.S. l7th Airborne divisions taking part in Operation VARSITY are dropped into landing zones around Wesel by 2,029 IX Troop Carrier Command C-47s and gliders and 839 RAF aircraft and gliders. The landings are supported by low-level supply drops conducted by 240 2d Air Division B-24s and by an attack on nearby Nordhom Airdrome by 58 466th Heavy Bombardment Group B-24s. Fourteen B-24s are lost, mostly to small arms fire, while dropping supplies. Thirty-nine C-47s are downed by flak, one C-47 is lost in an accident, and six C-47s are lost to unknown causes. 9th Air Division bombers mount 688 effective sorties against flak concentrations, rail bridges, communications centers, and many tactical targets in and around the Operation VARSITY battle area. Throughout the day, Ninth Air Force fighters and fighter-bombers mount 2,039 effective sorties in direct support Allied ground forces and mount attacks to block access to the battle area by German reinforcements. Eighth, Ninth, and First Tactical air force fighter pilots down a Ju-87 and 64 GAF fighters over Germany between 0244 and 1855 hours. Maj. Robert A. Elder, the commanding officer of the 354th Fighter Group's 353rd Fighter Squadron, in P-51s, becomes an "ace in a day" when he downs four FW-190s and a Bf-109 near Kassel between 1530 and 1600 hours. Two hundred seventy-one Fifteenth Air Force B-24s destroy whatever remains of the Neuberg jet-aircraft factory as well as an estimated 20 jet aircraft parked on the adjacent airdrome. More than 150 Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack the Daimler-Benz tank-engine factory in Berlin. This is the Fifteenth's first mission to the German capital, a round trip exceeding 1,500 miles. On this mission, four B-17s are downed by flak near Brux, Czechoslovakia; a fifth is downed during the approach to the target when the bomber formation is attacked by 15 Me-262s; and a sixth is downed over the target by flak. -- 354th FG

This was a "Big Day" in which this group flew two missions in support of Allied troops making their drive across the Rhine. At 06.20 hrs Capt Tyson led 37 ships took off with their target designated as an airfield at Vechtal, Germany. The target was bombed with excellent results. The waist gunner on Lt Bennett’s crew, S/Sgt Robert B. Bolin, was killed by a penetrating wound of the abdomen, caused by flak, while the navigator and bombardier of Lt Brashear’s crew were slightly injured by fragments of plexi-glass. Lt Jankoviak’s aircraft was hit at the target and blew up and crashed, with no chutes seen to open. No enemy fighters were encountered. -- 381st BG Medical Detachment

General briefings for all (26) crews were held at 0600 hours after lead crews had been given thorough pre-briefs on the afternoon and evening prior. At 0930 hours, all bombers began take-offs on a mission which called for release altitudes of 300-400 feet absolute over the drop zones. All drops were made precisely on target but the bombers going in to drop on the British DZ received considerable small arms fire and aircraft damage. In all, (2) bombers were lost and one crew listed as MIA for several days. This crew in ship # 709 from the 576th, Lieutenant Hummell’s, had an interesting and harrowing story to relate about their crash landing in enemy lines on this mission. Lieutenants Frazier and Procter, also of the 576th, were to land their badly damaged bombers on the Continent after the drop. The account of Lieutenant Hummel’s crew experiences were as follows: The bomber took 20MM and 37MM hits in # 2 and # 3 engine about three miles past the drop zone over enemy troops. As # 3 engine caught fire, the pilot gave the abandon ship order at about 500 foot altitude. However, only (2) crew members jumped, Lieutenant Knudsen the Navigator and Sergeant Morse, the Nose Gunner. The remaining members apparently did not hear the bailout signal. The pilots proceeded to successfully crash land the crippled bomber about two miles east of the DZ in the midst of German troops. Enemy riflemen opened fire immediately, killing the right Waist Gunner. The Radio Operator was killed prior as he was last seen to fall out of the bomb bay just after the supply bundles were released. He was not wearing a parachute and his body was not found during subsequent search of the crashed bomber. The survivors of the crash landing were taken prisoners by the Wehrmacht troops and taken to a nearby chateau, searched and interrogated by a German Corporal who spoke fluent English. The wounded were then treated for their injuries and kept under guard for approximately (4) hours. At this time, U.S. ground forces of the 513th Paratroop Division surrounded the chateau, forcing the German surrender and also release of the crew. It was learned that the Navigator had landed safely from bailout but was taken prisoner. The other member bailing out, Sergeant Morse, evaded capture by crawling through a wooded area in the direction of Allied lines where he saw U.S. gliders in an open field. He soon was picked up by American troops and later rejoined his crew back at Wendling. -- 392nd BG

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Fourth mission: Hengstey


Sixty years ago today, Daddy made his fourth trip to Germany:

Although this mission was a milestone (#300) in the chronicles of the 96th, it passed as a run-of-the-mill mission. It destroyed supply centers and marshalling yards near Hagen. And it was a fine effort when one realizes that excessive prop-wash caused many problems for the lead bombardier of the C Squadron. The excessive prop-wash interfered with his synchronization of the bombsight as his gyros were constantly fluctuating. The death of another bombardier marred this otherwise successful strike. S/Sgt Leonard Clements was killed when flak destroyed the nose of Lt McCoy's 338th 43-39017. McCoy maintained control and emergency-landed at newly-liberated Woensdrecht. And Capt Wynn, 338th, who was leading the Group in A Squadron, also received flak damage and landed at St Trond. Lt Hal Sullivan's last two bombs hung up on him. But eventually he got them, unshackled and dropped them--two 500-pound M17s--on Betzdorf. -- Snetterton Falcons

Briefing today was nothing out of the ordinary, but it now appears that the top brass is concentrating on railroad marshalling yards. Our fighter protection was perfectly coordinated, we often hear of these skirmishes with enemy fighters but few are in evidence these days. With the aid of field glasses, I had a front row seat in watching two fighters shooting up a train. The train was racing madly for a tunnel with bullet flashes all over the engine, and the 51's were making continual passes. The train made it into the tunnel, then the fighters made low approaches along the tracks and let their wing tanks go directly into the tunnel. With this there was fire and smoke at each end of the tunnel. With no opposition at the target, a successful run was made, and it will be many days before they can move a hand car through the Coesfeld marshalling yards. -- Charles Hudson, 91st BG

After the bomb run on March 23, 1945, Ol' Scrapiron dropped from the 4th Bomb Wing formation and joined the 34th Bomb Group formation returning to England from its mission to Geisecke. Near Koblenz, one of the 34th aircraft (43-38971) was struck by flak, losing its wing. The damaged aircraft first rolled into a plane from the 487th, which remained flying, before colliding with Ol' Scrapiron. The plane from the 447th with the Bruckman crew onboard was broken apart at the waist. Tailgunner Byron Schlag was the only member of the crew able to bail out, after riding the tail section down to 8,000 feet -- at times losing consciousness from lack of oxygen. Amazingly, Ed Shibble survived the fall (though sustaining serious injuries), trapped in the ball turret until it broke free of the aircraft as it crashed through some trees. The two gunners were captured. The rest of the crew perished along with the entire crew from the 34th. -- 447 BG

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Third mission: Frankfurt


(I'm not putting the daily summaries from the USAAF chronology on these posts. Only put it on the first one to give you an idea of what Daddy was in the midst of. If you want to read them, go here and scroll down to find the date you want.)

Today Sgt Glen Wallace tried out for the base softball team. According to the current issue of WAR WEARY, "Softball coach Lt John J Wojewodski is ready to build up a team of champs from the boys showing up for daily practice." And the base newspaper reported that T/Sgt Dave Colgan, who had been trying for home leave for a long time, was pleasantly surprised. He was going to the States for sure. His appointment to West Point came through. But for the flyboys it was Frankfurt's military establishments and airfields rather than its marshalling yards which constituted today's target. Bombardiers did well. Peder Larsen considered the raid well-planned as evidenced by orders to make a sharp turn to the right after "bombs away." As far as Lt Larsen was concerned, that pre-planned turn to the right thwarted every flak battery in the target area. -- Snetterton Falcons

Hut installations at Feldhausen made up our target on March 22 for the Group's 275th mission. Our 37 aircraft, under command of Capt. Gotthardt, found good weather to the target, but ground haze and smoke screen and the smoke of previous bombings made the objective difficult to pick up. There was moderate and accurate flak defending the place. The formation made a Gee-H approach and shifted to a visual run when the target came in sight. Results were reported as excellent. We lost the lead ship which was hit immediately after bombs away and started going down in flames. Neighboring aircraft reported there was a hole right through the cockpit. Two to three 'chutes were observed clearing the ship. Capt. Gotthardt, who had only recently been promoted (last Sunday) was highly regarded in the Group, as were other members of the crew. Capt. Ackerman took over the lead for the return to base. -- 381st BG Medical Detachment

This was another long haul down into southern Germany. We led the 3rd squadron again today. Our bombing was not very good. We saw Lake Constance, Switzerland- also Zurich and the Alps. It was really beautiful country down there. The best thing is the mission was flak free but we did see several ME 262s in the distance. P51s chased them though. On the way home we saw large smoke screens above Coblenz laid down by our armies. Heavy bombers of the 8th Air Force and the RAF again lent their crushing weight to the great tactical blitz on Nazi military and communications zones in the Ruhr. More than 1,300 Fortresses and Liberators of the 8th, with a cover of some 700 Mustangs, lashed out in excellent weather at nine Wehrmacht administration and supply centers ringing Essen in the Ruhr and continued to blast enemy airfields, striking four more near Frankfurt-on-Main and Stuttgart and one at Ahlhorn, near Bremen, which had been pummeled in Wednesday’s big blow. The specific targets for 8th heavies around Essen were at Bottrop, Gladbeck, Barminghotten, Dorsten, Westerhold, Mulheim, Hinsbeck, Hattingen and Geresheim. Ack-ack over these objectives was particularly heavy but over the four airfields in the Frankfurt and Stuttgart areas- Kitzengen, Giebelstadt, Rhein-Main and Schwabisch-Hall - there was only light opposition. -- Bombardier John Shirk, 467th BG

This mission would see one of the most regrettable and tragic mishaps which occurred in the closing days of the Group’s combat operations. A Squadron Commander and a Lead crew would be lost as the bombers returned to base, both of whom had long experience in the 392nd. The strike for this day was the jet airfield located on the high plateau just east of the city. At 0530 hours, (30) crews were briefed and all began launch at 0800 hours on schedule. Enroute and target weather were excellent making visual bombing successful. Of the (1366) 100 # bombs impacted in the target, (93) percent hit within 2000 feet of the MPI. There were no enemy fighters confronting the formation and flak was negligible. However, as the bombers coasted in and were letting down toward Wendling, an unfortunate accident occurred in the lead ship from the 579th. Captain Grettum’s crew flying lead with Major Barnes, Commander of the 576th, acting as Command Pilot and on his 44th mission of a second tour, had their ship set afire by flares which exploded on the flight deck of the bomber. About (12) miles east of base, a loaded flare gun jostled loose from the ceiling mounting, discharged, and apparently set off a box of pyrotechnic flares located just behind the pilot’s seat. Smoke and fire erupted immediately blinding the pilots and causing the bomber to go into a steep dive from about 2000 foot altitude. Four crewmembers managed to bail out safely, one of whom was Captain Good, the veteran bombardier of the famous Gotha raid. His old crew Navigator from that mission, Captain Swangren, was killed in the crash. Lieutenants Beder and Peters also managed to escape as well as Sergeant Munder. Captain Grettum’s body was found in the crash along with that of Major Barnes. It was believed that Captain Grettum had managed to egress out the side pilot’s window, but was struck by the bomber’s props. On this tragic note, the remaining force landed at base around 1600 hours. -- 392nd BG

Monday, March 21, 2005

"Grammasandie, don't you drink coffee?"


(Kayla calls me Grammasandie--all one word, just like that--to distinguish me from her other grandma.)

No, sweetie, I don't.

But you're OLD! Old people drink coffee!

Thanks, sweetie. Thanks a lot.

Sunday, March 20, 2005

Love this time of year


Something new happening in my garden every day. If I sit still long enough, I can actually see things growing.

Watched my first iris blossom slowly unfurl yesterday. Well, okay, I didn't sit there and stare at it all day but, since we can't smoke in the house anymore, I had plenty of opportunities to check its progress.

Other stuff fixin' to bloom here: redbud, azalea, bridal wreath, clematis, tulips and pinks. Expecting quite a show from the irises--they're loaded. Wish I had more colors, though. Mine are all purple.

Saturday, March 19, 2005

Alone at last


Oh, mercy, it's been a long week. Finally got some time to myself, and I plan to thoroughly enjoy it. Ain't no tellin' when it'll happen again.

Need to take a shower and do chores, but mostly I plan to catch up on some reading. And if anyone dares to disturb me over the next few hours, I will probably come unglued.

Thursday, March 17, 2005

Mourning Kitty




Thanks for the kind words, y'all. Here's how it happened:

I was putting away laundry in the linen closet when I heard Kitty in our room -- but he sounded odd. So I peeked around the corner and saw him on the floor at the foot of the bed. And I knew instantly that this was it -- my Kitty was dying.

He was all twisted -- hind legs were pointing one way and the rest of him turned toward the door -- and he looked so scared. I picked him up and put him on the bed, and realized that his back legs were paralyzed. I pretty much lost it at that point.

I was alone with the girls and there wasn't much I could do, so I put in a call to Mikey and sat with my Kitty, petting him and talking to him while he labored for air. Scratched all his favorite places. Petted his poor little legs that were never going to run and jump again. Held his paw and listened to some of the most piteous cries I've ever heard.

Then Mikey came home and rushed in with the kitty carrier.

Oh, honey, you're not gonna need that.

He said that's when he knew how bad it was. So he bundled Kitty up in his arms and rushed off to the vet. Came back with Kitty wrapped up in his little kitty coffin. I'm not sure what-all happened in between -- you'll have to ask him.

Kitty's little heart seized up, the doctor said, and threw off clots that blocked the arteries to his legs. He would've been 11 years old at the end of this month.

We buried him last night, under a nice grove of trees on Grandma Sarah's back lot. Would've done it this weekend in the daylight but, with the weather getting warmer, we just weren't sure we could wait that long.

The funeral went like this: Mikey loaded the car while I waited in the house, then he came and got me and we climbed in the car and he started it up. Then he turned it off.

Oh, no.

What is it?

I put everything in the other car.

Oh, for Pete's sake...

Got out, got in the other car. He started it up. Then he turned it off.

Forgot to grab Kitty's dishes.

They're in the dishwasher.

I'll be right back.

I was glad he thought about the dishes. I'd tried to think of something special to bury with Kitty, but his favorite toys were Mikey and me.

Sat and waited long enough to wonder what Mikey was doing, then heard him coming out the door. Then I heard a crash.

Oh, my God.

What happened?

I dropped the dishes.

Both of them?

Shattered. Both of them.

Ah, well. Gathered the pieces up in a plastic bag, along with a square piece of cardboard that he'd cut from Kitty's most recent scratching post -- a box of merchandise that's been sitting in the dining room for months. I suspect Mikey wrote something on the piece he cut out, but he's taking Kitty's death pretty hard too so I didn't pry.

Got to Grandma's and dug the hole -- in the dark, since we didn't have the presence of mind to round up a flashlight beforehand. Only had headlights shining across the field to see by.

Mikey asked if I wanted to see Kitty one last time.

No! I can't!

I peeked, and he looks real normal. Like he's just curled up asleep.

Then he put Kitty's little coffin next to the hole. And opened it.

Aaaack!!! What are you doing?

So I saw Kitty one more time. He did look normal. Peaceful. And that was a relief, because the last time I saw him -- he wasn't.

Tucked Kitty into his grave (along with his dish fragments) and said a prayer, thanking God for the coolest kitty He ever made. Mikey shoveled the dirt back in, replaced the sod he'd carefully cut away, and then paced off the distance to the nearest tree. I'd noticed some branches blooming overhead, so I walked over to get a closer look. Then we met back at the grave, or tried to. Couldn't find it in the dark.

Felt a lot better on the drive home, due to the closure thing, I guess. Felt better today than I did yesterday. I'm just really sad because I miss him so much. He was my little buddy for such a long time.


Tuesday, March 15, 2005

My Kitty's gone


He died this afternoon. He went hard. It was awful.

I can't talk about it right now.

Second mission: Berlin


Daddy's second mission was to the capital city of Berlin, a heavily-defended target that gave bomber crews the shudders. Berlin finally fell a month later, following a year of steady Allied bombardment.

Although it had flown 10 missions in the past 14 days, the 96th set out on this long haul to these marshalling yards near Berlin. And although it was a visual attack, the fact that they dropped delayed-action bombs prevented the crew from witnessing the effects of their success down below. The Group dropped 402 DAs which certainly gave German bomb disposal units a frightful workout. Today the 96th was but one unit represented in the 467 plane armada launched by the Third Division. Oranienburg received almost 1327 tons of bombs. More V-2 rockets were witnessed launching from Zwolle by returning crews. One of the 96th attacking A/C received major damage; another received minor. There were no casualties, although bad weather made landing very dangerous for the returnees. -- Snetterton Falcons

We bombed Oranienburg, Germany (just outside of Berlin) we carried two 2000 pounders and two 1000 pound bombs. All of us had a very close call. Mottola, our lower ball gunner was slightly wounded in the arm but his turret had several holes in it and a piece of flak tore through his flying boot just missing his ankle. The optic head on the upper turret gun sight was torn completely off just inches from my face. I don't know how I escaped injury unless the flak came through just as I was thrown to the floor of my turret as the plane lurched upward as a result of a direct hit in our left wing by an 88 mil, shell. We were on the bomb run and were hit just after we dropped our bombs. The bomb bay doors hadn't had time to close and were frozen open. Flak struck where Pike stood but didn't penetrate the flak curtain he was standing on. We had over 400 holes in the airplane. Flak hit window in front of Willems penetrating it and passing about two inches from Robbie and missed me by about a foot. We had a huge hole in our left wing where the supercharger had been. The shell hit just behind No. 2 engine. The supercharger was hanging by the exhaust connection. Flak had penetrated the gasoline tanks on both sides of the supercharger location. Robbie went back and used the lower turret to check the damage. We were still flying and he couldn't see just how bad we were damaged. We had lost power in the No. 2 engine, because of losing the supercharger but we regained power when we reached lower altitude so the decision was to fly home. When we landed we had no brakes but we also had a Bat tire that helped slow us and Robbie was able to ground loop the plane. Except for Mottola no one was injured and we brought our plane home. They told us later that we had the record of bringing back the most shot up plane that had ever been brought back. They also told us that we should have hailed out and let the plane crash. It was truly a miracle that we made it back. The plane, No. 998 was put in the scrap yard for parts that might be used. It would never fly again. Our flying time was 6 hours and 50 minutes. The regular crew had named this plane "Miss Irish." Following our fourth mission we received a 48-hour pass and most everyone is taking the time to rest. Believe me, we are tired. -- Lyman R Huffman, Jr, 832 BS, 486th BG

Thirty seven aircraft led by Capt Carpenter took off at 10.00 hrs and bombed marshalling yards at Oranienburg, Germany. These yards handle all traffic from the port of Stettin and were a high priority target. Bombing was done visually from 23,500 ft and photos showed excellent results. Flak over the target was meager and inaccurate. However, upon withdrawal, near Wittenburg, Germany, considerable flak was encountered. Lt Carpenter’s ship received a direct hit in the waist and considerable damage to the ship. Following this he was unable to keep up with the formation and fell back. He was able to land at an RAF Emergency Landing Ground, at Woodbridge, Suffolk. On landing the gear collapsed causing unrepairable damage to the aircraft. The waist gunner, S/Sgt Walter J. Ahl was killed over the target with severe flak wound in the chest, and two others were wounded. Lt Muffley, bombardier on Price’s crew, received a severe flak wound involving nose, left eye and hard palate, a large piece of flak embedded in the pharynx. All other ships returned to base but several had battle damage... -- 381st BG Medical Detachment

Daddy's third mission was one week later, on March 22.

Monday, March 14, 2005

First mission: Hanover


Sixty years ago today, Daddy flew off on his first bombing raid. I can only imagine what he thought about on his way to the target, and on his way back, but it must have been quite an experience for an 18-year-old farm boy.

This first part is from the official US Army Air Force Chronology, describing all the activities of the Eighth Air Force for the day. The scale of these operations--in terms of manpower, machinery and money--really boggles me:

STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 3 missions are flown.
Mission 886: 1,262 bombers and 804 fighters are dispatched to hit oil, rail and industrial targets in Germany; they claim 17-0-1 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air; 3 B-17s and 2 fighters are lost:
1. 526 B-17s are sent to hit oil refineries at Nienhagen (58) and Misburg (56), the Gebruder munitions plant (75) and Maschnbau (61) and Eisenwerke (74) factories at HANNOVER and the Seelze marshalling yard (80); secondary targets hit are Osnabruck (29) and the marshalling yard at Hannover; attacks were made visually and with H2X radar; 2 B-17s are lost, 1 damaged beyond repair and 188 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA, 6 WIA and 19 MIA. 192 of 204 P-51s escort; 2 are damaged.
2. 449 B-17s are dispatched to hit the bridges at Vlotho (72) and Bad Ostenhausen (114), the marshalling yard and road junction at Lohne (144) and industrial plants at Hildesheim (60); 39 hit Osnabruck, a secondary target; targets of opportunity are the marshalling yards at Hameln (12) and Wetzlar (1) and Diemonde (1); all but one target is bombed visually; 1 B-17 is lost and 56 damaged; 1 airman is WIA and 9 MIA. Escorting are 182 of 194 P-51s; they claim 1-0-1 aircraft.
3. 272 B-24s are sent to hit the marshalling yards at Holzwickede (31) and Gutersloh (126); 110 others hit the secondary target, the marshalling yard at Giessen; attacks are made visually and with H2X radar; 4 B-24s are damaged; 1 airman is KIA and 5 WIA. The escort is 185 P-47s and P-51s; they claim 3-0-0 aircraft; 1 P-47 is lost (pilot MIA).
4. 6 B-17s fly a screening mission without loss.
5. 29 of 33 P-41s escort Ninth AF bombers.
6. 50 P-51s fly a sweep of the Stein-Huder-Kassel area claiming 11-0-0 aircraft without loss.
7. 82 P-51s fly a sweep over the Remagen bridgehead; 1 P-51 is lost (pilot MIA) and 1 damaged beyond repair.
8. 20 P-51s escort 33 F-5s and 3 Spitfires on photo reconnaissance missions over Germany and Czechoslovakia.
9. 26 of 27 P-51s fly a scouting mission claiming 1-0-0 aircraft.
Mission 887: 9 B-17s use DISNEY rockets weapons on the Ijmuiden submarine pens without loss.
Mission 888: 7 B-24s bomb the marshalling yard at Wiesbaden by PFF during the night without loss.

TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Ninth Air Force): In Germany, 350+ A-20s, A-26s and B-26s hit 3 airfields, 4 rail bridges, a junction, 5 towns, and 3 targets of opportunity as the interdiction operations continue; fighters escort the bombers, attack railroads and other special targets, fly patrols, sweeps, and armed reconnaissance, cover the Remagen area, and support the US XII Corps as it begins a drive from the Mosel River to the Rhine River, and the XX Corps operations W of Trier and Saarburg. HQ 367th Fighter Group moves from St Dizier to Conflans, France. The 410th Fighter Squadron, 373d Fighter Group, moves from Le Culot, Belgium to Venlo, the Netherlands with P-47s.

And Daddy was somewhere in the middle of all that. Found a few memories recorded by others who flew that day:

We had a Group stand down on Monday and Tuesday but on Wednesday, March 14, 1945 we flew our third mission. Our primary target was an oil refinery at Mienhagen, Germany. Our secondary was a railway junction at Hannover. No. one engine went out near the primary. We couldn't keep up with the formation and couldn't drop our bombs. Losing altitude we went over the target alone and turned for home. Two P-51 fighters, one on each wing escorted us to England. We had to drop our bombs in the channel. We were carrying fourteen 500-pound bombs. We had a lot of flak today but no fighter interception. Good weather little friends, God, a good pilot, a good navigator and teamwork brought us home. We flew ship No. 820 and our flying time was 7 hours and 10 minutes. -- Lyman R Huffman, Jr, 832 BS, 486th BG

Target: marshalling yards. Intense flak. Two men (waist gunner and tail gunner) were killed in squadron. A number were wounded. Lost one plane from group and one crash-landed in Belgium. Bombing was visual. -- Harvey K Wingard, 350th BS, 100th BG

His whole back side was shot off - his flesh was hanging on the control cables in the fuselage where I worked. Del Siadek and myself had attempted to give Kuzma morphine, but the little syrettes we had were just frozen hard. And I can picture this today - - the two of us with these syrettes in our mouth, where we thawed out the morphine, injected poor Kuzma, and helped to save his life. -- Maynard Stewart, 95th BG

This last bit is from a book Mom loaned me about the history of the Snetterton Falcons. Snetterton Heath was where Daddy was based. It's in Norfolk, England, very near Little Walsingham, where his Grandpa Alfred was born in 1848. How circular is that?

Take-off was even later today at 1030 for the Hannomag tank factory. H2X was used but the bombing was only fair. Many new crews were flying with the 96th now. Peder Larsen's diary hints at the frustrations of the more seasoned fliers: "Had new boys on each wing and they tried to fly too darn close. Don't know how Brandt missed me once when he overshot." No casualties, no damage.

Brandt was the pilot of Daddy's crew. If he hadn't missed that day, none of us would be here.

Sunday, March 13, 2005

Monday, March 07, 2005

The problem with having a blog


that my family knows about is that there's so much I really can't say.

Starting to think maybe I need a separate blog that they don't know about.

Got my girls back


They were home sick last week, but both are fine now. Their mom's back on the job hunt so we're back to the regular routine.

Sure was happy to see 'em today. The baby's sitting up now--not for more than a few minutes at a time, but she's getting there. It was nice out so we went to the park and had fun on the swings--haven't done that in ages. Need to find a different park, though--there's no merry-go-round.

Overall, it was a pretty good day.

Friday, March 04, 2005

Sweet little baby girl







The image quality is crappy, but my old digital camera never has taken really good pictures. Mikey says our new video camera is also a digital camera--guess I'd better get the instructions out again because I didn't notice that part.

Intro to Daddy's B-17 tour


Like I said earlier, the 60th anniversary of Daddy's missions is coming up, beginning March 14, and I'll be posting lots of interesting stuff about them. He never talked about any of it, but others did and some even wrote it all down and put it online for me to find.

Like Marshall Stelzriede, a B-17 navigator who was stationed at Snetterton Heath, the same place as Daddy but about 18 months earlier. His website gave me the best overall picture of it might have been like--I printed out a big chunk of the journal for Mom a couple of years ago, so you might have seen that part already. But the site is very thorough and detailed, with lots of pictures, which should give you some idea of what our dad went through.

Until I started studying on this, I had absolutely no idea what he did over there. Now I do, and I'm pretty impressed.

Oh Kitty My Kitty


Our little buddy was diagnosed in January with restrictive cardiomyopathy. Don't know how much longer he'll be with us, but we faithfully dose him twice a day with heart medicine and Lasix and keep him loved up as much as we can. He seems to be doing all right--mostly. Has to go to the vet every two weeks to have fluid drained off his lungs, or else he'll suffocate.