Lt. Robert J. Beckley's Diary - 13 September 1944

398th Bomb Group
Memorial
Association

**Lt. Robert J. Beckley's Diary**
Navigator, 600th/601st Squadron

Beckley's Mission No. 15

**13 September 1944**
**Target:** **Oil Plant, Lutzkendorf, Germany**
No. 15. Merseberg, September 13, 1944: [Editor's Note: The Official 398th Mission this day was to Lutzkendorf, Germany. Merseberg was nearby location.] 8 hours flying time. Bomb load 10, five-hundred pound GP bombs. We hit at another oil plant in Germany. We would call it a milk run compared to the last few. At interrogation we were told the purpose of incessant bombings of German oil refineries. Our previous attacks have done such damaging effects that production had been decreased to less than half of that before our attacks. The German Air Force was closely conserving the oil that they had, sending the Luftwaffe up only to protect vital targets.

Notes:

Lt. Robert J. Beckley was the Navigator for the Linn R. Rogers crew.
The above transcription was provided by Ann Collins, daughter of Phillip Collins, Ball Turret Gunner on the 601st Saul Marias Crew.
This transcription is a reproduction of the original. Spelling and punctuation changes have been made to improve readability. In some circumstances, material may not have been transcribed or was rewritten.
Clarification of acronyms or special words or guesses of certain words are shown in brackets [ ].

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