Mission No 96

MISSION NO. 96
MERSEBERG, GERMANY

28 JULY, 1944

The synthetic oil section at the I. G. Farbenindustrie Leuna chemical works (Leuna) was producing at 75 percent of capacity in spite of four bombings since 12 May. The 457th composed the 94th B Combat Wing, which was eighth in the Division formation. Major George C. Hozier was Air Commander, with Captain Schuchmann as pilot. Major George A. Beere led the low B box, and Captain J. L. Smith led the high B box.

The flight to the target area was without incident. Clouds hid the ground most of the time, but considerable shipping was observed on the Rhine River.

At the IP a complete undercast existed. Bombing was by PFF through the thick undercast. Considerable antiaircraft fire engaged the aircraft, but only one airplane suffered damage. Bomb results were not observed.

On the return flight a strong tail wind pushed the planes so fast that in an hour and twenty-five minutes they were back a the North Sea. Significant to the day's operation was the appearance of the Me-163 rocket fighters, which were observed by other groups, but none attacked. All 45 7th craft returned safely.
(Compilers

Note: The I. G. Farbenindustrie Leuna Synthetic Oil Refinery was located within the City ofMerseburg and is hereafter referred to as Leuna.

CREW LOADING LIST

July 28th, 1944
Mission No 96 Target: Merseberg, 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 # 785		A/C # 088		A/C # 689		A/C # 131
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg rwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Robert E. Brofft Jesse L. Smith Reynold J. Koehmetcher Robert E. Jackson Irwin Rosen Lyle E. Thrall Abraham H. Feller James B. Toney William L. Black Rex W. Burke Earl S. West	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	George J. Bennett Robert B. Hooper Theodore J. Mellow Jack W. Osecher Paul Holder Paul O'Neal Jasper L. Smith Robert E. Bergeron John R. Graham	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Clarence E. Schuchmann George C. Hozier John W. Tadje John L. Kabelac Theodore C. Hoffman Dino H. Tonelli J. H. Lambert William H. Trusselle R. A. Carlson	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Jack B. Owens Charles E. Berta Armen Topakian Charles S. Gelber Alfred E. Calhoon Chester C. Madsen George T. Gulywasz Hallie L. Bennett Richard M. Bassett

	A/C # 026		A/C # 623		A/C # 694		A/C # 451
p cp n b tt ro bt rwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	William R. Crawford Benjamin Gryncewicz Martin Schwartz Michael E. Baron Roy C. Schild Harold D. Harris Milton C. Tieman Walter K. Marsh Stephen Kokayko	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	William K. Byle Edwin K. Williams Andrew Brown Ralph J. Smithling Vincent W. Krysiak William T. Alford Robert H. Prisk James C. Williams John P. Jordan	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Joseph O. Paschal Edward A. McNeal Vincent L. Vaccaro Sidney W. Brunick Virgil Hill Arthur J. Russell clifford R. Wilson Ernest W. Kerr James H. Neelan	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Dean F. Fisk Walter J. McGregor James F. Barnes John B. Tonkin Don C. Brewer James F. Kirkland Fredrick Wosik Joseph E. Philhower Robert H. Hughes

	A/C # 826		A/C # 638		A/C # 018		A/C # 766
p cp n b tt ro bt rwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Harris S. Mathis William H. Flannery Howard V. Quinn Stewart W. Jakku Rex B. Crawford Nolan V. Claxton Nicholas Pesko Francis F. Friedel Norris H. Walker	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Harry R. Stafford Richard E. Hoelzer Arthur A. Flach Anthony G. Wodek Gabriel D. Ofiesh Virgil D. Naylor Francis M. Craven Virgil R. Hook Walter Osika	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Gordon E. Gallagher Donald W. Johnson Joseph C. Isaacson D. N. Reigle Paul W. Johnson William J. Moore Lester L. Epps Melvin D. Thompson Harold E. Sturman	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Donald E. Zigler Norman S. Brandvold Angelo A. Archiopoli Thomas W. Lyles Edgardo Buletti Ernest C. George Raymond L. Rule Willis L. Storrer Robert S. Theiss

	A/C # 955		A/C # 733		A/C # 923		A/C # 456
p cp n b tt ro bt rwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	James E. Sherrod Gordon C. Esch Rolland L. Boyle James M. Perrin Leo J. Rapp Leo J. Gawroniak Paul O. Connor Joe L. Steele Lyle D. Johnson	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Jonathan M. Herbold George Beere George Anderson David Jones William Brandt Elihue R. Mayo Richard R. Hazelhurst Robert Grimes Johnny Miller William C. Cain	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Edmund G. Coomes Andrew R. Reeves Bernard M. Plaut John A. Dahler Henry M. Githans Charles W. Smith James A. Conklin Harry W. Kroll Walter L. Laddusaw	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Albert L. Sikkenga John B. Folsom Bert Graham Vivian B. McWhorter John G. Mackie William C. Young William B. Stringer John W. Brown James H. Lee

	A/C # 118		A/C # 079		A/C # 765		A/C # 086
p cp n b tt ro bt lwg rwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Haven R. Burningham Lorentz C. Hanson George A. Voris Frank J. Bernd Karl H. Mannisto Robert J. Engle Albert D. Paulson Arthur E. Baker John W. Utter Nicola Toscano	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Max D. Peterson Richard G. Palmer Myron L. Kruse Champe V. Dobler Martin Muehsam Joseph J. Darden William M. Fuqua James G. Lisy Mack W. Fuqua	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Norman W. Breit Franklin J. Marra Con F. Poynor William H. Sokolowski Melvin R. Smalley Peter G. Stern William F. Radford John A. Roe Ruben L. Hernandez	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Jack D. Marks Kenneth E. Yap Harold L. Kaplan Richard K. Newman Junior P. Schaner George T. Stefani Roy L. Walker Fredrick B. Weyand Jessie D. Dunn

	A/C #		A/C # 828		A/C # 606		A/C # 998
p cp n b tt ro bt rwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt		Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Dale J. Jeffers Allen d. Sheakley Leo B. Bunker Marshall H. Hoyt Edward l. Nolan Murrell N. Tobian Antonio Papaianni Richard L. Gibbs Allen A. Sharpe	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Winfred L. Pugh Arthur H. Richards Julius H. Drummond Clifford M. Page Edward M. Szumierz James E. Woodgate John T. Poshefko Howard W. Martin Joseph R. Wheatley	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Morris W. Wasserman Hays Bricka George C. Lawlis Oreste Procopio Asa R. McClure Jean R. LeShufy William L. Kennedy Cycril C. Hegrele Edwin J. Auffurth

	A/C #		A/C # 161		A/C # 551		A/C # 587
p cp n b tt ro bt rwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt		Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Douglas L. Deal Lentz M. Lackey Roy I. Vaughn John M. Traylor Paul E. Miller Raymond Conway Edward F. Morgan George W. Emerson Donald D. Brunsvold	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Scott L. Williams Phil B. Adrean Delos E. Bown Glenn M. Rogers Joseph DeLuccia Anthony Collura Kenneth L. Gordier Marshall E. Young Paul H. Biesswanger	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Hercules Phyllides Rex R. Monson Elman A. Salo James S. Warn William C. Adams James J. Walton Lester T. Weaver Frank N. Smith Michael S. Rubacha

	A/C #		A/C # 060		A/C # 164		A/C # 021
p cp n b tt ro bt rwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt		Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Harry J. Whitman Bernard J. Yavorosky Harold W. Patrick Leonard G. Stoner Joseph P. Melly Howard B. Munger Bernard F. Sitek Charles Fosson Kenneth E. McGriff	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Robert L. Kaufman Robert C. Burkholder D. J. Letizia M. J. Smuynski Sanford J. Cadwell Edwin M. Sinclair Rudolph J. Buczak Warren G. Antoine Lauren C. Keene	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Ernest T. Salzer Richard E. Long Kenneth Post William A. Steffen Raymond A. Adams Vincent A. Toth Elbert C. Conger Benjamin W. Hamrick Mathew J. Przybysz

	A/C #		A/C # 948		A/C # 098		A/C # 532
p cp n b tt ro bt rwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt		Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	William D. Hurdis Elmer Mittwoch Merton L. Pond Mark K. Miller William L. Finley Daniel W. Richmond Howard Kirshman Lawrence C. Johnston Robert S. McEwan	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Edward R. Stevens William H. Hammersley Fred W. Roberts Charles O. Webber Joseph W. LaBonte Stewart C. Moody Kenneth E. Davidson Crad W. McCollum James C. Baum	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Benjamin J. Deloach Gerald W. Esser Frederick J. Stokinger Emil F. Gallesich James E. Doerr Harry B. Bartholomew Raymond C. Batliner Luster B. Mills James C. Parrish

	A/C #		A/C # 574		A/C # 796		A/C # 630
p cp n b tt ro bt rwg tg	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt		Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Joe D. Coleman Edward F. Salman William G. Watts James V. Duffy Francis E. Snow Robert L. Harrison George Martin, Jr George B. Crockett Robert G. Smith	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	William Clarkson Harold F. Bacon Victor E. Dombrowski John J. Walicki Neal Spencer Albert A. Spierling Edmond L. Niec Cleon R. Roy Roman N. Becker	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt	Robert J. Shaffer Robert C. Cook Harry H. Whitaker Carl A. Robbie Richard H. Cochrane Joseph L. Mast Noma R. Norman Wayne A. Taylor William L. Egri

	A/C #		A/C #		A/C # unknown		A/C #
p cp n b tt ro bt 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	Clayton E. Bejot Augustus J. Harris Andrew V. Solari Fernando P. Biancalana Paul G. Parker Norman A. Depelteau Oliver F. Orris Vinell L. Bush Albert M. Grisa	Lt Lt Lt Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt

	A/C #		A/C #		A/C # 923		A/C #
p cp n b tt ro bt lrwg 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	Scott B. Ormsby Ralph I. evans Theodore R. Bortel Roy E. Gleason Jay L. Saulsburry Joseph M. Sofranko Karl E. Kramer Ray F. Jones Maurice E. Patterson	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 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