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HISTORICAL RECORD - January 1944




HEADQUARTERS 722ND BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H), AAF

450TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H), AAF

APO 520        US ARMY       6: RBJ/wej

 

10 February 1944

 

SUBJECT: Historical Records.

 

THROUGH: Commanding Officer, 450th Bombardment Group (H), AAF, APO 520, U. S. Army.

TO: Commanding General, Fifteenth Air Force, APO 520, U. S. Army Attention: Historian.

 

            1. Unit history of the 722nd Bombardment Squadron (H), for the period 1 January 1944 to 1 February 1944.

 

                        a. The present designation of the unit is 722nd Bombardment Squadron (H), 450th

Bombardment Group (H).

 

                        b. Changes in organization:

                                    (1)  None.

                                    (2)  None.

                                    (3)  None.

                                    (4)  Second Lieutenant Arnold I. Daniels appointed "Squadron Engineering Officer" vice Second Lieutenant Herman Zoweder, Special Order Number 25, 18 January 1944.

 

                        c. Strength, Commissioned and Enlisted:

 

                                    (1) Month of February 1944

                                                (a) At beginning – 476

                                                (b) Net increase -     0

                                                (c) Net decrease -    1

                                                (d) At end -           475

 

                        d. Station – Airbase, Manduria, Italy.

 

                        e. Movements – None.

 

                        f. Campaigns – None.

 

                        g. Operations:

 

                                    (1) Number of missions – 18. Sorties: 123.

 

                                    (2) Principally attacks on Marshalling Yards and Airdromes in Northern Italy and production targets in Southern German.

 

                                    (3) The missions for the month were short and flak was the main resistance encountered.The most successful mission of the month was carried out on 27 January 1944 against the Istras – LeTube Airdrome in France. There was no fighter opposition but the flak was heavy, intense and very accurate. The target was well covered by bomb hits as was evident in pictures taken. The group received a commendation from Major General Twining for a mission well carried out.

 

                        h. None.

 

                        i. Losses in action – Enlisted Men:

 

                        24 January 1944, Mission: Sofia Vrazhdebra Airdrome, Bulgaria.

                        Missing in Action: Corporal Theodore J. Votoe, 31319429.

 

                        j. Members who have distinguished themselves – None.

 

            2. Enclosed is the War Diary of this unit for the period, 1 January 1944 to 1 February 1944.

 

                        For the COMMANDING OFFICER:

 

                                                                                                                        JULES J. L. HESSEN

                                                                                                                        2d Lt., Air Corps,

                                                                                                                        Squadron Historian.

 

1 Incl: War Diary.



ass=MsoNormal>WAR DIARY

722ND BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H)

 

January 8

 

            On this date the group went on its first mission. The target for the day was the airdrome at Mostar, Yugoslavia. The 722 Squadron did not participate in it, our planes were being readied for missions to come.

 

January 9

 

            On this date the group went on its second mission. Seven aircraft of the 722nd Squadron set out with the group to bomb the factories in the city of Zara, Yugoslavia. Due to the solid overcast over the target area the bombs were salvoed in the Adriatic Sea. There was no flak or enemy aircraft encountered.

 

January 10

 

            This was the third mission for the group – the target being the marshalling yards at Skoplje, Yugoslavia. Colonel Mills led the group while Major Orris led our squadron's nine places. Our planes dropped 18 ½ tons of bombs on the target area. Flak was encountered over Duraggo, Albania on route in and route out, but there was no flak or enemy aircraft at target area. All planes and personnel returned safely to base.

 

January 11

 

            This was a non-operational day for the entire group.

 

January 12

 

            This was a non-operational day for the entire group.

 

January 13

 

            Another group mission was flown on this date with ten of our planes participating. Major Orris led our element to the target Perugia A/D, Italy. Our planes carried a total of 22 ½ tons of demolition bombs. Visibility over the target was very poor due to haze and clouds and bombs did not drop on target. Flak was encountered over Assissi, Foligno and Val Fabbrica, which was accurate, but of moderate intensity. On this mission enemy fighters were encountered. F/O Word's plane was attacked by ME 109's but no damage was done.

 

January 14

 

            Another mission took off on the morning of this date, the target being Mostar A/D, Yugoslavia. Ten planes flown by Major Orris, Lts. Ferry, Retzlaff, Scharf, Caldwell, Vanderkamp, Dawkins, Gillespie, Stripp, King and F/O Word. Retzlaff and Scharf returned early, both ships had trouble with the superchargers.

 

January 15

 

            This date another group mission was carried out and the 722nd Squadron contributed 8 planes. The aircraft were flown by Major Orris, Lts. Ferry, Brusek, Gillespie, Weathermon, Maddux, Anderson and Dawkins.

            The target for this mission was the M/Y at Prato, Italy, but the target was not located and 15 tons of bombs from our planes were dropped on town destroying some military installations.

            P-38's of the 82nd Fighter Group provided the escort. There was no flak or enemy aircraft encountered and there were no early returns.

 

January 16

            The 722nd Squadron again took part in a group mission over enemy territory. On this day being represented by nine planes flown by Retzlaff, Dawkins, Anderson, Caldwell, Maddux, Sharff. The target for the day was Ossopo A/D, Italy but our planes bombed the alternate target of Zara, Yugoslavia with excellent results. Direct hits were scored on harbor installations, 1 ship and 1 building. 16 tons of bombs were dropped.

            Light flak encountered modest to slight intensity. Group was attacked by 35/40 FW 190's but none of our A/C were damaged by flak or enemy A/C. There was no fighter escort on this mission and 3 of our planes returned early.

            All were in fine spirit when they landed. This mission was a real success with plenty of photos as proof.

 

January 17

 

            On this date the M/Y at Arrezo, Italy was the target. Our formation was led by Colonel Mils with the other planes of our squadron flown by Word, Maddux, Retzlaff, Dawkins, Ferry, King, Nolte. There was one early return and the remaining ships jettisoned their bombs in the Adriatic due to a complete undercast at target area. No flak or enemy fighters were encountered. The group was not given credit for this mission.

 

January 18

 

            The target for today was the M/Y at Pisa, Italy. Major Gideon led our formation consisting of nine planes flown by Lts. Nolte, Rzatkowski, Retzlaff, King, Word, Ferry, Anderson, and Maddux. Twenty tons of bombs were dropped by our squadron on the target with excellent results. The group was escorted by P-38's from the 82nd Fighter Group. Some flak was encountered near the target but no damage was done and no enemy aircraft were encountered.

 

January 19

 

            On this date seven men from the Squadron were put on detached service to act as Military Police in the nearby towns. Our squadron contributed nine planes for the group's tenth mission. The planes were flown by Caldwell, King, Stripp, Vanderkamp, Brusek, Sharff, Weathermon, Retzlaff and Major Orris, who led the formation.

            The target was the Perugia A/D but due to the 449th Group, that was leading on this mission, not turning inland on course threw the 450th off course, and the 450th bombed the alternate target of Iesi A/D, Italy instead.

            Flak was seen coming from the A/D at Iesi, Italy. It was a heavy type, moderate and inaccurate. The 82nd Fighter Group provided the P-38 escort. There were no encounters with enemy aircraft. The 722nd Squadron dropped 22 ½ tons of demolition bombs with fair results.

 

January 20

 

            The eleventh mission of the group was carried out on this date and the target for this mission was the A/D at Guidonia, Italy. Colonel Mills led the group and our planes were flown by Lts. Ferry, Maddus, Retzlaff, Stripp, King, Rzatkowski and F/O Word. 720 fragmentation bombs were dropped on the target. The target was covered with snow, but hits were scored on runways and dispersal area. The heaviest flak ever encountered heretofore was met over the target probably being 105MM. P-38's form the 82nd Fighter Group provided the escort. There were no encounters.

 

January 21

 

            The 722nd again took to the air to participate with the Group on its tenth mission. The target was the M/Y at Prato, Italy. The planes from this Squadron were flown by Lts. Caldwell, Dawkins, King, Word, Nolte and Major Orris. Caldwell's plane returned early and the remaining planes dropped 15 tons of bombs but the results could not be observed. The 82nd Fighter Group furnished P-38 escort. No flak or enemy aircraft were encountered on this mission. All aircraft and personnel returned safely back to the base.

 

January 22

 

            On this day the 722nd Squadron participated in the 12th mission of the group. The Arezzo M/Y afforded the target for the day's mission. The planes were flown by Lts. Vanderkamp, Maddux, Nolte, Caldwell, Dawkins, Sharff, King and Rzatkowski. 20 tons of bombs were dropped on the target. A heavy concentration of hits were claimed but observation was limited because of clouds. This mission was in support of ground forces who were establishing a beachhead at Anzio, Italy.

Heavy flak, slight and inaccurate were encountered over the target. No enemy fighters were encountered.

 

January 23

 

            The 14th mission of the group was two landing strips 10 miles east of Rome and the secondary target the A/D at Rieti, Italy. Our planes were flown by Lts. Gillespie, Ferry, Brusek, Vanderkamp, Anderson, Stripp, Weathermon, Ward, Retzlaff, and Major Orris. This squadron dropped 30 tons of bombs on the secondary target due to the fact that the primary target was completely overcast. There was no fighter escort on this mission. Heavy flak, moderate and accurate was encountered. No enemy fighters were met up with.

 

January 24

 

            Early on the morning of this date nine planes of our Squadron took off to participate with the Group on another mission. The planes on this mission were flown by King, Gillespie, Caldwell, Anderson, Weathermon, Ferry, Word, Nolte and Major Orris. Finding the primary target, Sofia Vrazhdebra A/D, Bulgaria covered by clouds the Group went on to bomb the secondary target, M/Y at Skoplje, Yugoslavia. The target was well covered by hits which included the town area, M/Y and the A/D. Fighters from the 82nd Fighter Group provided the P-38 escort. Heavy flak, moderate and accurate was encountered.

 

January 25

 

            There was no mission on this date and the planes were being processed for future missions.

 

January 26

 

            Life was just about the same in the Squadron on this date. There was no mission scheduled. This was the day the first outdoor movie was held for the entire group.

 

January 27

 

            Another Group mission took off on the morning of this date and the target for this mission was the A/D of Istres/LeTube in France. The planes of this Squadron were flown by Lts. Rzatkowski, Retzlaff, Dawkins, Stripp, Word, Nolte, King, and Major Orris. Two planes returned early and the rest dropped 18 tons of bombs on the target.

            The bombers were escorted by P-38's of the 82nd Fighter Group the Group received a commendation from Major General Twining for the success of this mission. Heavy flak, intense and accurate was encountered over the target. No enemy planes were encountered and all of our planes returned safely.

 

January 28

                       

            The seventeenth Group mission took off on the morning of this date. The target for today was the Marshalling Yards at Ferrara, Italy. The planes on this mission of our Squadron were flown by Anderson, Vanderkamp, Maddux, Sharff, Ferry, Gillespie and Major Orris. This Squadron dropped a total of 21 tons of bombs on the target. Not all the bombs hit in the M/Y as a few were in the town area. There was no fighter escort on this date. All planes and personnel returned safely from this mission. There were no encounters with enemy planes.

 

January 29

 

            On the morning of this date the planes of the 722nd Squadron went on the Groups 18th mission. Our planes were flown by Lts. Maddux, King, Shain, Sharff, Weathermon, Caldwell, Vanderkamp, Word and Bruner. The target was the M/Y at Siena, Italy and this Squadron dropped 21 tons on ETA through a solid undercast. Results could not be ascertained because of the clouds. There was not fighter escort on this mission. No flak or enemy aircraft were encountered and all crews and planes returned safely to base.

 

January 30

 

            On this date the 19th Group mission took off loaded with fragmentation bombs for the Udine A/D in Italy. The planes of our Squadron were flown by Major Orris, Stripp, Anderson, Brusek, Bruner, Dawkins, Word, Nolte. This Squadron dropped 18.4 tons of bombs on target. Hits were observed on administration bldg, barracks, hangars, and runway.

 

January 31

 

            The 722nd took to the air again on the group's 20th mission the planes of our Squadron were flown by Lts. Vanderkamp, Sharff, Weathermon, Ferry, Brusek, Dawkins, Caldwell, and Maddux but Vanderkamp and Sharff returned early.

            A total of 18 tons of bombs were dropped on the target by our Squadron., The target was the Aviano A/D, Italy. Bomb photos showed that the area was well-covered with hits on the administration bldg, north hangar and the SW part of the landing ground.

            Some flak was encountered it was heavy, medium to intense, and accurate. All A/C returned safely but with some flak holes. There was no fighter escort on this mission and five to Six enemy fighters made four attacks on the group formation.

            The Squadron turned out practically in full on this date to be present at the theatre in Oria, where Joe E Brown, the screen and stage comedian was entertaining.

                                                                                                                        JULES J. L. HESSEN

                                                                                                                        2nd Lt. Air Corps

                                                                                                                        Squadron Historian



 




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