Mission No 124

MISSION NO. 124
SOEST, GERMANY

19 SEPTEMBER, 1944

Three boxes were dispatched to deal a blow at railway transportation in Soest, vital to the German forces fighting in Holland and the Ruhr. Other Eighth Air Force heavies attacked the marshalling yards at Hamm, as well as targets in the Ruhr Valley.

Comprising the 94th Combat Wing, the Group was first in the Division formation and was led by Col. Luper with Lt. Brackley as pilot. The Group led the Division across the Channel to the Belgian coast. The formation then flew the briefed course across northern Belgium, swinging south of the Cologne flak area and then northeast to the IP.

The lead box turned on the IF on course. For the first five minutes of the run, nothing was visible on the ground. The clouds then opened up momentarily and the bombardier was able to perform a sighting operation on the target. The low box bombed in trail.

The high box did not have proper interval at the IP since the low box was behind schedule. The high box swung wide and to the right. Contrails from the lead box were now making it impossible to see the ground. It then became necessary to move back to the left. When this was done the bombardier was able to see the ground and realized that the formation was on the eastern tip of the lakes, heading to the left of the briefed course. An attempt was made to turn back to the target, but by the time the formation levelled out, it had passed the bomb release line. It then continued on to a target of opportunity. In the meantime, the lead and low box had dropped their bombs from an altitude of 25,000 feet on the primary, although results could not be observed.

Nine aircraft of the high box became separated from the lead box because of dense contrails and generally bad weather. These planes salvoed their bombs on Hamm, Germany. The Wing Leader had deviated to the right of course in order to locate a target of opportunity for the remaining three craft in the high box. These planes dropped bombs on Emmerick on the Rhine River.

Flak encountered over Hamm was described as moderate but accurate. However, all ships returned safely with no battle damage. Due to weather conditions over England, only three aircraft immediately landed at Glatton. Others diverted to various bases.

CREW LOADING LIST

September 19th, 1944
Mission No 124 Target: Soest, Germany

If you desire to see the original scanned loading lists, click on the respective blue squadron header below.
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748th Squadron

749th Squadron

750th Squadron

751th Squadron

	A/C # 638		A/C # 640		A/C # 567		A/C # 425
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg rwg tg	Capt Col Capt Lt Sgt Capt Sgt Sgt Maj Sgt Lt	William L. Brackley James R. Luper Norman a. Krien James H. Kincaid Gabriel D. Ofiesh Henry P. Loades Raymond D. Brodin John W. Kohler Gordon H. Haggard Robert L. Shaff William D. Mock	Lt Maj Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Lt	William D. Hurdis Raymond A. Syptak Fredrick W. Asbell Merton L. Pond George D. Anderson Mark K. Miller Elihue Mayo Daniel W. Richmond Lawrence C. Johnston Elmarer Mittwoch	Lt Maj Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Edmund G. Coomes Jacob M. Dickinson Delmar G. Spatz John W. Tadje John A. Dahler Virgil Hill Charles W. Smith H. W. Kroll Walter L. Laddusaw James A. Conklin	Capt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Donald E. Zigler Robert H. Wood Joseph F. Sydejeo Arthur H. Hoffman Thomas W. Battley Ernest C. Geroge William C. Adams Fredrick J. Moynihan Boyd s. Ballinger Rex R. Monson

	A/C # 955		A/C # 181		A/C # 309		A/C # 441
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg rwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Francisco Gamboa Raymond F. Rossner Norman K. Nail Stewart W. Jakku Thomas C. Elliot Robert B. Black Lyle W. Astry Henry W. Bennett John E. Westhoff	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	William S. Fisher William C. Bonnell, Jr Robert Ekbiom, Jr Rupert L. Phipps David M. Peterson Herman J. Ratica Cecil B. Brantley Buford B. Lawson Stanley P, Gillespie	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Franklin D. Rollins Raymond A. Carlsen Einar L. Nelson John H. Cheatham Leslie R. Peterson Franklin M. Kark Charles B. Pilling Elmer R. Sonday Maurice E. Patterson	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	William A. Dawson Charles E. Robb George P. Korb Frank O. Pappenfuss Gerald E. Cook John M. Roster Paul M. Zalusky C. J. Watson Geroge C. Hardin

	A/C # 662		A/C # 079		A/C # 167		A/C # 456
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg rwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	William H. Crawford Benjamin Gryncewicz Martin Schwartz Michael E. Baron Roy C. Schild Harold D. Harris Walter K. Marsh Stephen Kokayko Milton C. Tieman	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Harry J. Whitman Albert O. Gilbertson, Jr Harold W. Patrick Leonard G. Stoner Joseph P. Melly Howard B. Munger Bernard Sitek William A. Scharnhorst Kenneth E. McGriff	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Montell C. Higgins Edwin S. Jackson John O. McCaughan Harold F. Harstedt Fred E. Lawyer Francis J. Winder Philip G. Porter Bill C. Smigielski R. A. Perry	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Robert C. Cook William M. Stemach George N. Shaffer Samuel J. Lisica Charles A. Linquist Clifford A. Upton Robert K. Keerner Harold W. Pannell Delbert L.l Bellinger

	A/C # 394		A/C # 828		A/C # 694		A/C # 455
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg rwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Edward Schorr George M. Bobletts Donald L. Neff Robert R. Wheeler William J. Dallas William Moore Hubert H. Akins Anthony N. Kovac, Jr William H. Barth, Jr	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	William T. Robertson Clifford Hendrickson Einer L. Mankin Charles W. Craig Louis A. Darle Bernard Stutman Clifford B. Digre Julius Kornblatt John F. Brown	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Norman N. Chapman Raymond K. Mills kenneth N. Johnson Marshall M. Windham Robert T. Brady Joseph T. Schembri James R. Dixon Carl M. Weibel Karl E. Kramer	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Arthur M. Ford Mason H. Cummings William A. Moore Maurice B. Wilks Melvin G. Shields Henry W. Short Harrel D. Sallis Dencil C. Adams Robert C. Templin

	A/C # 834		A/C # 706		A/C # 098		A/C # 442
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg rwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Robert I. Ellsworth John V. VanIngen Thomas O. Metcalfe Thomas O. Metcalfe James D. Kreighbaum James A. Mellin Maynard E. Judson Edwin C. VanTine Joseph J. Smolinski	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Keylon W. Clarke Robert N. Howland Walter Sundling Robert P. Smith Alvert Griffith William C. Dethloff David R. Dooley Nubar A. Astor Rochard H. Anderson	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Oscar R. Kempf James C. Evans Robert C. Spaight John J. Kearney William E. Flicky John W. Ward Jeff W. Chastain Robert E. Smolik Alfred G. Wolff	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Calvin L. Williams Frank S. Foster Jack Gassman Max Anderson Ralph W. Bibby John E. Prendergast Jessie T. Gill David W. Fleming Richard J. Cambria

	A/C # 101		A/C # 633		A/C # 075		A/C # 455
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg rwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Lauren M. Spleth John F. Welch Theodore M. Braffman Robert L. Haynes Edward J. Grybos Norman T. Ozenberger John Byknish John J. Briol Harry J. Cornell	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Arnet L. Furr Sterling H. Book, Jr Joseph W. Andrews, Jr Leon W. Plagianos Alfredo J. Raimo Edward Rambler Alexander McDermott Leroy E. Wetzel Glenn M. Wisdom	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Clayton E. Bejot Augustus J. Harris Andrew V. Solari Fernando P. Biancalana Paul G. Parker Norman A. Depelteau Oliver F. Orris Vinell L. Bush Lauren C.Keene	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	John A. Fox Herbert A. Rochlitz Jack R. Muth Richar R. Hinman Alfred J. Rubineo Calvin Campbell Richard J. Imhoff Wilfred Finke Dorsia C. Stutler

	A/C # 064		A/C # 164		A/C # 782		A/C # 459
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg rwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Jewell W. Lowry Edgar H. Humble Richard J. Rementeria Fabio F. Sulpizzi Edward J. McGurren Jack J. Ham Louis B. Reinhart Junior D. Brooks Gilvert J. Fleming	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	William G. Hitchin Robert C. Reid James J. Klein Louis F. Brickman Harley J. Ellsworth Hilary A. Turley William G. Craig Ronald A. Weber Norman J. Thorman	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	James F. Lapaze Audrey B. Whitten Robert S.Todd Charles H. Rogers Fred F. Castle Lloyd L. Fortna Delbert A. Brookhart John J. Derling	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	John W. White Hilary C. Smalling Jacob Landsman Leon J. Zimmerman Thomas W. Davis Gerald E. Whitman Joseph M. Geller Richard E Seely Albert C. Williams

	A/C # 026		A/C # 088		A/C # 796		A/C # 456
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg rwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Irwin G. Forry Harmon E. Robertson John C. Muir John J. Purvis James D. Toal Francis D. Crawford Robert J. Engle Virgil W. Sterner Winfield J. Scott	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Melvin M. Fox Robert E. Southern Beverly C. Robertson Horace W. Whipple Adrian A. Belanger Lloyd J. Blood Ronland Vevier Alvin Prueop Harold A. Arndt	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	John S. Wallace Herbert A. Lawyer Olin G. Wellborn William T. Wilborn Jerome Grossman Peter Credidio William R. Biggie Edwin B. Hartley Grant A. Hanson	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Jack D. Marks Kenneth E. Yap Harold L. Kaplan Richard K. Newman Junior Schaner George T. Stefani Roy L. Walker William H. Shaffer Jesse D. Dunn

	A/C # 591		A/C # 034		A/C # 551		A/C # 426
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg rwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Charles J. Schultz Alford P. Wilson Alfred A. Houghton George E. MacDermott Richard L. Dickinson John R. Palladina Charles A. Wilt C. J. Peppers Calvin M. Carter	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	William R. McCall, Jr Thomas L. Gregory Arthur M. Livingstone Marshall Hoyt George W. Perry Robert J. Hayes Linville Wills George Cooke Larido A. Battisti Walter S. Slate	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Arnold G. Brunner William M. Bell Ralph W. Eichenberger Joseph E. Elbers Charles D. Zhe Ralph Compton S. Marklin John B. Pawloski Hubert H. Duckett	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Dean F. Fisk Walter J. McGregor James F. Barnes Edward R Sage Milo G. Hastings Don C. Brewer Fredrick Wosik Leo A. Steele Robert H. Hughes Don C. Brewer

	A/C # 954		A/C #		A/C # 535		A/C # 454
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg rwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Sanford Fonnesbeck Kenneth E. Rohde Paul Moll Robert L. Scott Charles L. Wingfield George M. Kuykendall Edwin A. Reynolds John L. Morton Phillip F. Amann	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt		Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Carl P. Sundbaum Galileo F. Bossio Theodore F. Scanlon Warren W. Nixon John V. Brennan Julian S. Smith Edward U. Zeitz Brooks H. Estes Donald R. Peacock	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Harold D. Gay Earl M. Johnson Walter H. Sale Favian F. Nordan Arthur G. Beck Donald Anderson Arthur B. Rounseville Harry A. Thortsen Fred H. Cogswell

	A/C #		A/C #		A/C #		A/C #
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg rwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt		Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt		Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt		Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt