Mission No 228

MISSION NO. 228
ORANIENBURG, GERMANY

10 APRIL, 1945

An Ordinance Depot at Oranienburg, near Berlin, was the primary target. The Group comprised the 94th A Combat Wing with Lt. Col. Francis as Air Commander, and Captain Melvin Fox as pilot. Capt. Monroe J. Hotaling, the Group Gunnery Officer, was flying with Col. Francis. Course over England was flown approximately as briefed. The Group joined Division formation without incident and flew the assembly line in trail of the Division column.

Course to the IP was flown approximately as briefed. Slight deviations to the left and right of course were necessary in order to remain in the Division bomber stream. As the Group neared the IP, a visual bomb mn was planned.

The Group swung about five miles north of the briefed IP in order to permit squadrons to get interval for the visual run. Bombing was done by squadrons in trail on the target. Cloud coverage at the target was nil. Bombs were dropped from 25,000 feet. Bombing results were observed to be generally good for all squadrons.

Just after bombs away and the turn off the target, three or four Me-262s attacked the Group from the tail. No flak had been encountered. The lead ship piloted by Captain Fox was hit between No. 1 and No. 2 engines. A glowing fire was visible through a four or five foot slit in the wing. The aircraft left the formation and remained under control for several miles flying in an eastward direction. It began to circle to the left, back towards the formation and had completed about a half circle when it went into a spin and exploded.

For the second time, Col. Francis and Captain Hotaling went down as a result of enemy action. Both survived. Only the radio operator, Sgt. Lloyd J. Blood, failed to survive.

The craft piloted by Lt. Thomas P. Thompson was flying the No. 2 position in the high box. Lt. Thompson was flying as pilot for a crew whose regular pilot was not available to fly that day. When Lt. Thompson's plane was hit, it immediately nosed over and plunged straight down. After it had fallen some distance, it burst into flames, one wing came off and the remainder of the ship exploded at 15,000 feet. Four of the crewmen did not survive the crash.

The craft piloted by Lt. Norman L. Stevens, flying deputy lead, was hit in the No. 3 engine by a Me-262 just after bombs away. There was a severe explosion. The craft dropped out of formation, but managed to stay within range of the bomber stream all the way to the Channel, and made an emergency landing at Woodbridge.

The Eighth Air Force received a message from the British Chiefs of Staff, expressing appreciation for the outstanding achievements against German oil targets during the past ten months General James H. Doolittle ordered the message conveyed to all concerned. General Howard M. Turner of the 1St Air Division noted that outstanding efforts over such along Period were receiving just recognition

CREW LOADING LIST

April 10th, 1945
Mission No 228 Target: Oranienburg, Germany

If you desire to see the original scanned loading lists, click on the respective blue squadron header below.
(If a very small image appears, click on the small image to enlarge.)

748th Squadron

749th Squadron

750th Squadron

751th Squadron

	A/C # 885		A/C # 368		A/C # 211		A/C # 587
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	John C. Lindholm George K. Parker Albert D. Barr Ted D Panneatos Abraham Choc Daniel Friedman George Rucker Baron E. Miller Edwin Levine	Capt Col Lt Lt Lt Capt Sgt Sgt Sgt Capt	Melvin M. Fox Rod L. Francis Beverly C. Robertson Paul L. Hertenstein Gerald Zelikofsky Charles E. Musgrove Adrian A. Belanger Lloyd J. Blood Alvin Prukop Monroe J. Hotaling	Lt F/O Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	James L. Hall Robert L. Fortner Gordon W. Dykes Edward F. Ambrose John R.l Middlebrooks Alan Morton Anthony Colin Harry A. Sempf Robert L. Fischer	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Fred M. Rohrig Charles B. Whiddon Gene B. Brown John Lalicos Oral I. Conyers Herman J. Gabryel Loring Lynes John F. Fox Walter L. Reddy, Jr

	A/C # 072		A/C # 904		A/C # 694		A/C # 518
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt F/O Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Benny J. Bigley Thomas E. Brines Rudolph G. Warner III Cleotis N. Helm James W. Ford Delbert S. Schwab Floyd N. Henderson Jr. Charles A. Sneer George W. Jackson	F/O Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	William G. Litocot Edwarrd M. Monesterio Thomas R. Reed Aleck A. Capsalis Martin Norsic, Jr Joseph J. Firast Kenneth J. Kuehler Joseph P. Brock John F. McGillian	Lt F/O Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Ralph W. Coons Kenneth Blakebrough Jennings B. Beran Stephen Cokoroginis George F. Peschen Joseph D. Crescio Conrad E. Craig Robert D. Whiteaker Woodrow W. Tatman	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Noel K. Robinson William C. Girard William A. Moore Girvin Peck Preston C. Grimm James Q. Woodard Bernard P. Wrobleski Warren D. Rodgers Warren S. Swain

	A/C # 897		A/C # 904		A/C # 551		A/C # 698
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Harley C. Waldrick John H. Ridson Jr. George R. Nichols Lafeyette J. Sharp Melvin P. Rich Billy O. Smith Frank R. Kirchner Godfrey C. E:dgerton Bernard W. Kleen	F/O Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Charles Scarpaci Francis J. Patry Paul R. Kelly Johnnie Sarter, Jr Everett R. Watson Alrfed R. Jones. Floyd R. Lashmit Francis X. Demarzio Jerome Shapiro	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	James H. Latimer Jack O. McMillen Swen A. Christensen Norman Roe Lewis J. Crain Harold B. Anthony Boris W. Petcoff Harry R. Roeder Ramsey E. Hale	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Calvin K. Schneller Steadman S. Stahl Francis E. Hronek Ray G. Wilcox John P. Austin William S. Garrett Willard R. Hedge Alexander W. Bennett Donald R. Lallky

	A/C # 394		A/C # 534		A/C # 528		A/C # 240
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt F/O Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Lester G. Radcliff Nathaniel J. Beam William D. Hogsett Lawrence M. Charlesworth Peter P. Kopas William F. Rykert Werner L. Bernau Theodore R. Rose Donald F. Boyd	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	David L. Omelich Edwin I. Persons Donald D. Beck Orin C. Cerergren John M. Tabak Robert M. Foster Robert L. Foley Carl F. Hanneken Benjamin F. Ivey	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Robert H. Hey William S. Owens Orion C. Brower Edward A. Bruder Robert T. Payne George C. Gately Robert W. Packingham Andrew V. Clark Edward A. Smith Robert P. Kimmel	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Vernon L. Terrill Joseph M. Bergeson Anthony D. Paruta Edward J. Celani Charles L. Rockwell Frank Alderete III John W. Pick, Jr Charles R. Ward Raymond J. Helble

	A/C # 844		A/C # 832		A/C # 863		A/C # 603
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt F/O Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Gordon P. Robertson Hillard W. Gantner Donald E. McCleod Jr. Agustus L. Moore Curtis H. White Robert T. Harrison Bernard R. Mack Thomas W. McDonald Jr. Earl R. Bolier	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Thomas J. Heter Dale E. Harrison Arthur K. Fitch, Jr William Cooney Bill Copley Robert K. Butler Donald M. Satra Henry R. Koziol Joseph Carroll Nubar A. Astor	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	James R. Holden Vaden S. Pitts Frederick T. Schuller Leo J. Kleinpeter Leo I. McCombs Paul A. Esvanko Lila B. Bradley Bertram G. Johnson Jackson R. Campbell	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Robert Cantarella Lawrence L. Jackson Morton H. Saul Lawrnece B. Coryell George B. Lane Charles J. Kunigus John a Cantrell Richard K. Tobin Harold G. Young

	A/C # 596		A/C # 733		A/C # 649		A/C # 047
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	William A. Barrett Robert A. Bloomer Robert D. Mueller Wallace A. Proux Walter W. Hunt Joseph P. Reidy Ray M. Bechtel Sam E. Dike Ralph D. Ice	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Robert E. Gemmill John C. Moore Merton D. Pittman Berton Rosenberg Bernard V. Ruxzko Harry Miller Walter R. Sprankle Charles G. McCaaffery Eldon L. Sutherland	Lt F/O Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Edward R. Skyrms Clarence E. Leath Robert D. Beltz Bernard Weiss Daniel A. Doherty Raymond C. Blackson Henry Schmidt, Jr Simon C. Wareck Alfred Hansen	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Frank P. Hill James D. Blackmore Lawrence W. Brennan Francis J. Conlon Bernard E. Lengerich, Jr Donald R. Thunberg William H. Hurst Hervert V. Frazier Robert E. Hoekstra

	A/C # 961		A/C # 161		A/C # 195		A/C # 301
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt F/O Sgt Sg Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Alvin A. Kollaja Gordon K. Beard John D. Alexander Herbert L. Thiede Charles H. Norton Max L. Rice Robert Orlanski Marvin Overfelt James J. Pedine	Lt F/O Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Joseph J. Neff William F. Hubbard Cecil Loen Robert S. McEwan William J. Gassen Joseph F. Carney George H. Coughlin Virgil Ekstrand Fred C. Cope	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	John P. Starnes Jacob Kosman Philip A. Dupont Robert F. Altmaier Victor C. Johanson Edward A. Bleck Louis A. Qualls Robert F. Seastrand Leo Rendina James P. Day	Lt Lt F/O Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Ejner N. Gunderson August F. Spies John F. Owin Walter A. Divan Lenoir A. Greer Ruben L. Larson Albert L. Mikels Theodroe C. Yates Vincent J. Fallon

	A/C # 902		A/C # 828		A/C # 855		A/C # 154
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Thomas P. Thompson Max F. Felder Charles P.l Keith Thomas R. Smith Alfred F. Waichunes Keith R. Shinault William A. Peltome Walter J. Basera John W. Lewis	Lt Lt Lt F/O Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Bruce D. Harrington Edwin K. Kempkey, Jr Eldon R. Marsh Robert L. Ball Donald A. Priestley Edward C. Heinemenn Robert S. Cook Neal G. Jacobi Richard C. Clack	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Richard S. Sopocy William J. McManus Elmo J. Mitchell Melvin Miller Floyd T. Hennebry Francis J. Staff wayne G. Dobson James R. Blakeley Dale W. Reynolds	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	John P. Spore Donn W. Leedham Ralph L. Bell Albert H. Knox Martin Glover Maurice L. D'Argostino Elmer E. Campbell Warren D. Rodgers Alten? O. Conerly

	A/C # 509		A/C # 080		A/C # 535		A/C # 219
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Ernest H. Huffington ...........P. McGuire Anthony A. O'Brien Mike P. Lopez Wright K. Evatt Ernest F. Petrilli Emile G. Buyak Francis E. McKee John R. Murphy	Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Orviole L. Smiley Delbert D. Swartz Thomas L. McGovern Jr. Homer D. Reich Edgar L. Seal William M. Whigham Robert J. Townley John K. Bryan Harold A. Arndt	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Harlen J. Van Dielen Leon D. Wymann Harold H. Sanger Arthur B. Washenski Richard J. Smith Raymond H. Kramer Walter S. Coburn Joseph M. Bommersbach Lemar W. Stevenson	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Lt Sgt	William T. Thistle Joseph Taylor Craig K. Winters Roy R. Truba John T. Miller Louis E. Domato Harvey G. Henkel Harry C. Thortsen Hobart Merritt

	A/C #		A/C #		A/C # 479		A/C # 028
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt		Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt		Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Hugh E. Arnold Pierre P. Arpin Hubert M. Ange Freeman C. Clouse John W. Anderson Robert C. Rustin L. A. Badger Andy Kuzemchak Joseph W. Brooks	Lt Maj Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt F/o Sgt	Robert W. Gronberg Robert D. Shaw Herman D. Welmer Robert M. McMakin Albert K. Richards Martin O. Olson Ashmun J. Ripley James L. McGill William W. McIntosh

	A/C #		A/C #		A/C #		A/C #
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg 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

	A/C #		A/C #		A/C #		A/C #
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg 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

	A/C #		A/C #		A/C #		A/C #
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg 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