T/Sgt. Oliver W. Bradford's Diary

Engineer, 603rd Squadron

Introduction

As follows is T/Sgt. Oliver W. Bradford's Mission Diary. The diary covers the period from May 24, 1944 – March 2, 1945. T/Sgt. Bradford flew as a B-17 Engineer with the 398th Bomb Group, 603rd Squadron, Station 131 out of Nuthampstead, England.
T/Sgt. Oliver W. Bradford flew with three crews. These were:
1. The Kenneth S. Hastings' Crew until Ken Hastings was KIA on 21 November 1944.
2. The Donald J. DeCleene Crew until Donald DeCleene was lost at Macclesfield, England while transferring a B-17 from Liverpool to Nuthampstead.
3. The Harold F. Spangler's Crew beginning in January 1945.
Some entries below include sections set out in italics. These sections appear to have been added to the diary at some later date and may have been a few days after the subject event or possibly even after discussions at 398th Reunions many years later.
The initials P.F.F. (also PFF) are used from time to time. P.F.F. is explained by Marvin Laufer, 603rd Squadron Navigator with the following definition, “The British scientists developed the initial use of radio detection and ranging (RADAR) for airborne use. American scientists added their skill and knowledge to further improve the bombing techniques and help attain a reasonable degree of accuracy. The end result of the combined effort of the scientists was initially known as BTO (Bombing Through the Overcast) and eventually referred to under the code name Mickey (PFF - Pathfinder Force).
Several “targets” are listed as “Marshalling Yards.” “Marshalling Yards” were areas where train cars and supplies were brought together and prepared for transportation.

T/Sgt. Oliver W. Bradford's Mission Diary
May 24, 1944 – March 2, 1945

May 24, 1944 - Lincoln, Nebr.
Sent to Lincoln, Nebr. for crew assignment.

July 7, 1944 - Poyte, Texas
R.T.U. Flying Training at Poyte, Texas – “Rattlesnake A.F.B.”

July 20, 1944 - Kearney, Nebraska
Kearney, Nebraska our Bombardier sent to Longley Field, VA. for Anti-Submarine Patrol. Learned we would not be flying to England.

July 24, 1944 - Camp Kilmer
Disembarked from Camp Kilmer, N.J. to Port of N.Y. for England.

Sailed on “H.M.S. Highland Brigade” - Troop Ship.

August 8, 1944 - Liverpool, England
Arrived at Liverpool, England aboard the H.M.S Highland Brigade. 1330 hrs.

Very dense fog. Lost all our baggage! Stolen!!

August 9, 1944 - Stone, England
Disembarked for Stone, England.

Waited approx. 5 days for next assignment.

August 14, 1944 - Wash, England
Arrived at gunnery school on the “Wash.” AM 0639

Advanced ground to air gunnery firing .50 cal. guns at sleeve targets towed by aircraft.

August 21, 1944 - Kings Lynn
Colbert and I bought 1937 Velocette and 1935 Panther motorcycles for 20L ($80.00) in Kings Lynn.

August 28, 1944 - Nuthampstead, England
Arrived 398th Bomb Group at Nuthampstead.

603rd Bmb. Sqdn. Sta. 131

August 29, 1944 - Nuthampstead, England
Our crew assigned to 603rd Bomb Sqdn.
Turned in at Base hospital with blood poisoning in hand.

August 30, 1944 - Nuthampstead, England
Crew flew first practice mission today.

(Without me.)

August 31, 1944 - Nuthampstead, England
Released from hospital today. – Hand O.K.

September 1, 1944 Nuthampstead, England
Homer's Birthday.
Flew 1st practice mission with crew today. Time 3 ½ hrs.

I will fly as engineer and Colbert as Asst. Engineer. One crew member will “stand down” each day as we fly only one waist gunner now.

September 2, 1944 - Nuthampstead, England
Crew became operational. Flew 2nd practice “hop.”

September 3, 1944 - Ludwigshafen, Germany
First mission to Ludwigshafen, Germany – Target I.G. Farben Chemical Works – PFF – Flak light.
8 hrs. Oxygen 5 ½ hrs.

September 8, 1944 - Ludwigshafen, Germany
Second mission to Ludwigshafen, Ger. – Colbert killed – 9 wing tanks hit – Flying Purple heart “corner” – Chem. Wks. – Flak intense.

Time: 9 ½ Hrs. Oxygen 5 Hrs.
Also lost #2 engine and ½ power on #3.
Colbert, Asst. Engineer flew Tail instead of Briody who “stood down” today.

Editor’s Notes:

The tail gunner T/Sgt. Oliver Bradford refers to was Donald B. Colbert of the 603rd SQ. He was killed instantly by a piece of flak.
Flak is an acronym from a long German word describing a cannon shooting at fliers - Flugabwehrkanone.
"Purple Heart Corner” is the last plane in the flight formation flying at the lowest right hand corner of the formation. This was the most vulnerable position and earned the name, “Purple Heart Corner.” There may be some nomenclature issues here as on this missions, Hastings was in the Low Squadron but in the High Element #2 position. And the Magnan element in the Low Low Element which was lower and further behind.

September 9, 1944 - Flak Leave
Crew drew 3 day “flak leave” to London.
To recuperate from 2nd mission.

September 12, 1944 - Cambridge, England
Went to [Donald B.] Colbert’s funeral at Cambridge, England.

We observed approx. 75 airmen being buried.

September 17, 1944 - Eindhoven, Holland
Flew third mission Eindhoven, Holland – (gun emplacements) – Our bombs failed to release – had to land with‘em. Saw C-47’s towing gliders across channel on our return for Airborne invasion.

Time: 6 ½ Hrs. “Operation Market Garden.”

September 19, 1944 - Nuthampstead, England
Practice hop – 4 ½ hrs.

September 19, 1944 - Hamm, Germany
Forth mission to Hamm, Ger. P.F.F. – Target – Marshalling Yards – Flak light – encountered sever “front.”

Time: 6 ½ Hrs.

September 23, 1944 - Nuthampstead, England
Practice hop – 4 hrs.

September 25, 1944 - Frankfurt, Germany
Fifth mission to Frankfurt, Ger. – Flak heavy – Target marshalling yards.
Time: 7 ½ Hrs.

September 26, 1944 - Osnabruck, Germany
Sixth mission
Target – Steel Works
Time: 6 ½ Hrs.

September 27, 1944 - Cologne, Germany
Seventh Mission
Target – Marshalling Yards P.F.F.
Time 6 Hrs. 45 Min.

October 3, 1944 - Nurnberg, Germany (Squadron Lead)
Eighth Mission
Target: Tank Factory P.F.F.
Time: 8 ½ Hrs.
Flew Sqdn. Lead

October 6, 1944 - Neubrandenburg, Germany (Squadron Lead)
Ninth Mission
Target: Aircraft Factory and Field
Good Results – Smoke rose to 20,000’.
Visual Bombing
Time: 10 Hrs. 45 Min. Oxy. 8 Hrs.
Flew Sqdn. Lead

October 15, 1944 - Nuthampstead, England
Lt. [William C.] Meyran’s crew with lead pilot, [Charles L.] Khourie killed on takeoff.

Crashed near Anstey Village Church.

Editor’s Notes:

Charles L. Khourie was command pilot that day with 603rd SQ pilot William C. Meyran. Their B-17 crashed into the Anstey Church moat.
A … “stained glass window at Anstey Church in memory of the 398th men who lost their lives in combat. The conception and completion of this extraordinary endeavor was undertaken by the UK Friends of the 398th and financed through contributions from England and America. The names of all men who lost their lives in combat while serving with the 398th Bomb Group stationed at Nuthampstead (8th AF Station 131) are etched in the center panel around their individual Squadron insignia.” See 398th Window at Anstey Church for a photo of the window, the church and the list of names included.

October 17, 1944 - Cologne, Germany (Group Lead)
Tenth Mission
Flew First Group Lead

October 21, 1944 - Nuthampstead, England
Lt. [Vince] Moore crashed while landing.

Lt. [Phil] Brusso from L.B. died two weeks later from burns received. Engineer Dick Mills. Oxygen fire under top turret caused fire.

Editor’s Note:

See Vince Moore's Crash of 42-102570 at Nuthampstead - 21 October 1944 for hotos and a description of the event.

October 22, 1944 - Brunswick, Germany (Squadron Lead)
Eleventh Mission
Flew Sqdn. Lead

October 28, 1944 - Nuthampstead, England
Lt. [Roy] Sheely’s crew, Lt. [George] Potter and Capt. [Talma A.] Scott down in Germany.

Lt. Potter was “Mickey” Radar Operator.

Editor’s Notes:

Captain Talma A. Scott, Jr. was the High Squadron CA in lead aircraft 8199-R with Lt. Roy Sheely as pilot. 2nd Lt. George Potter, Jr. was the Visual Navigator. It was reported Captain Scott was heard over the radio telling his crew to bail out.
“Mickey” was a slang name given to the H2X radar unit designed by M.I.T. and was the most accurate air to ground system in the world. Select individuals were trained to use “Mickey” which allowed for accurate bombing through clouds and overcast skies.

October 30, 1944 - Hamm, Germany (Group Lead)
Twelfth Mission
Target: RR Marshalling Yards P.F.F.
Flew Group Lead

November 2, 1944 - Nuthampstead, England
398th went to Merseburg / Leven – Synthetic Oil targets today. We lost 40 planes (8th AF).

Luftwaffe put up 400 fighters and lost 107 to our fighters.

Ed Briskie flew this “big one” and he was absolutely stunned by the effects of the battle. For an 18 yr. old gunner he looked 40!

603rd was stood down –
Thank God!

Editor’s Note:

Ed Briskie was the ball turret gunner on the V.A. Hansard crew. On November 25th after a bombing mission to Merseburg, Germany, Briskie and other crew members were forced to bail at a very low altitude when Hansard could not locate a landing field due to heavy fog.

November 21, 1944 - Nuthampstead, England
Group hit by e/a over Merseburg, Ger. Lost our pilot, navigator, and bombardier. Hastings, Birch, Wilbur. – Lehner's crews also lost over Germany. Our hut is empty tonight – a deep loss to all of us.

Oral Burch was taken P.O.W.

Enlisted men of crew all stood down.

Hastings not supposed to fly – called at last minute too late for breakfast.

Editor’s Notes:

E/A and e/a are abbreviations for enemy aircraft.
Kenneth S. Hastings, the High Squadron CA on the 21 November 1944 398th Mission to Merseburg was KIA.
1st Lt. Charles R. Wilbur, Bombardier and 1st Lt. Oral B. Birch, Navigator became a POWs.
Original Diary spelled Birch as Burch but was corrected above.
Robert W. Lehner's crew went down 21 November 1944. Robert Lehner was KIA.
The Kenneth S. Hastings' Crew was T/Sgt. Oliver W. Bradford's initial crew.

November 22, 1944 - Nuthampstead, England
Lt. DeCleene now our pilot
Lt. Stravinski Co-pilot
Lt. Manos Navigator

Editor’s Note:

Lt. Donald J. DeCleene died January 2, 1945. He is buried at the Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England, Plot C Row 4 Grave 28. He was awarded the Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters.

November 25, 1944 - Nuthampstead, England
Lt. Hansard’s bailed out near base at tree top level. Lt’s. Hansard, Davis, Baker killed.

Ed Briskie on this crew. (He was O.K.)

Crashed near Barkway. I was at Royston Train Station enroute London when I heard them circling overhead.

Editor’s Notes:

Bail out caused by extreme fog.
Lt. V.A. Hansard, Jr. - pilot, Lt. Robert L. David - co-pilot, and Lt. William H. Baker - navigator perished.
See the Lt. William H. Baker, Navigator, 600th Diary.

November 29, 1944 - Misburg, Germany (Squadron Lead)
Thirteenth Mission
Target – Synthetic Oil Refinery
Flew Sqdn. Lead

DeCleen now pilot

November 30, 1944 - Merseburg, Germany (Dep. Group Lead)
Fourteenth Mission
Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Refinery
Flak – Intense – 50 Bombers lost
Time 7 Hrs. 45 Min.
Flew Deputy Group Lead

Editor’s Note:

Based upon various mission diaries Merseburg was the most heavily defended targets the 398th bombed. The Leuna Synthetic Oil Refinery was the largest in the world. It provided oil for the German war machine. In efforts to protect this most valuable target, the Germans completely encircled Merseburg with up to 1,200 anti-aircraft “flak” guns, and squadrons of Luftwaffe Messerschmitt, Focke-Wulf, and jet fighters. In an effort to further protect this target, the Germans build a wood replica of the facility south of the actual location in an effort to deceive bombardiers.

December 4, 1944 - Kassel [Soest], Germany
Spitzer’s crew Marshalling Yds. Forced landed at Leuven, Belgium. Returned to England 3 days later to be listed as MIA!
- Fifteenth mission -

Editor’s Note:

E.W. Spitzer flew aircraft 2469-Q (B-3)
The 398th Mission on December 4, 1944 was to Soest, Germany, about 40 miles west of Kassel.

December 9, 1944 - Stuttgart, Germany (Squadron Lead)
Sixteenth Mission
Target – Marshalling Yard’s
Time: 9 Hrs.
Flew Sqdn. Lead

December 11, 1944 - Frankfurt, Germany (Group Lead)
Seventeenth Mission
Target – Marshalling Yards
Time: 8 ½ Hrs.
Flew Group Lead

December 16, 1944 - Nuthampstead, England
Ardennes Offensive started. Later called “Battle of the Bulge.” (By Churchill)
Weather: Terrible

All non-combatants were being requested to go to Belgium as infantry men.

December 25, 1944 - Nuthampstead, England
Christmas Day – 17º F. [minus 17 degrees]

December 28, 1944 - Coblenz [Koblenz], Germany
Seventeenth Mission
Target: Marshalling Yards

December 30, 1944 - Bischofsheim, Germany
Eighteenth Mission
Target: Marshalling Yards P.F.F.
Time: 6 ½ Hrs.

December 31, 1944 - Blumenthal, Germany
Nineteenth Mission
Target – Marshalling Yards P.F.F.
Time: 5 ½ Hrs.

January 1, 1945 - Kassel, Germany
Flew 20th mission today to Kassel, Germany. Lt. [Howard] Pinner’s crew went down in North Sea. Losses deeply felt – hut #13 is empty. “Rough mission.” Got a hole in turret by flak. Co-pilots seat hit and also R. wingtip. Crew happy to feel “terra firma.”

Target Marshalling yards. Visual. 9 hours 30 minutes. We forced landed near Leuven, Belgium and on an emergency air strip. Stayed in Belgium 3 days before we returned to England. We were listed as M.I.A.

Editor’s Note:

From the diary of S/Sgt. Kenneth A. Green's, “Pinner who was flying off our left wing had his #1 engine explode, and caught on fire. I was watching from our left waist window. Pinner put the plane in a dive, trying to extinguish the fire on the wing. He was at 5,000 feet, and could not extinguish the fire at that low altitude. He ditched the plane in the North Sea about 200 miles from the English coast, and the plane split in half when it hit the water. Cline, the tail gunner and Ferrow [S/Sgt. John E. Furrow, Jr.], the waist gunner both drowned. Schofield, Huey, and Ike came back to the barracks, being rescued by Air Sea Rescue boats. Lt. King, the navigator, bailed out at 3,000 feet, and has never been heard of since. He is reported as “Killed In Action”, probably drowned in the sea within 30 minutes in those icy waters. Pinner and Tebbs, the pilot and co-pilot were each awarded the DFC.”
Full S/Sgt. Kenneth A. Green's diary entry for his Mission 17: January 1, 1945 - Kassel, Germany.

January 2, 1945 - Nuthampstead, England
Group stood down today. Rumors say 6 of Pinner’s crew saved. Suspense grips us all now.

Lt. DeCleene killed tonight near Liverpool, England. Lt. Stravinski and Lt. Manos, copilot and navigator also. Garry and Ayers who flew in place of Johnnie and I are also gone. We are very bereaved over it all. They’ll all be greatly missed. They apparently crashed into a mountain side shortly after take-off. Guess it just wasn’t our times.

Hue, Schofield, and Isaacson returned tonight!!!

2 Jan. Stood down today when asked to report to Operations to go to No. England to pick up a new plane. Was “under the weather” and told Sgt. to get someone to replace me, but would go if no one available. All crew killed on return trip into mountain side.

Editor’s Note:

Lt. Donald J. DeCleene - pilot, Lt. Maynard Stravinski - Co-Pilot, and Lt. Thomas Manos - Navigator, Howard F. Ayers - Radio Operator, Frank E. Garry, Jr. - Engineer were killed while transferring a new B-17 from Liverpool to base crashed. Aircraft number 43-38944 A.
"Johnnie" was T/Sgt. John S. Bourquin.

January 3, 1945 - Nuthampstead, England
We learned full details of Pinner’s crews’ accident today. Johnnie Furrow and Glenn Cline didn’t return. They spent 10 hours in North Sea 150 miles off coast of England before being rescued. The boys are quite upset over the ordeal.

January 4, 1945 - Nuthampstead, England
Went to 9:30 meeting this A.M. and flew 2 hour practice bombing mission with Lt. Spangler. Johnnie and I are to be assigned to his crew to finish our tour. Weather decidedly colder today and it’s snowing tonight.

We were notified today our flak leave starts tomorrow, are we ever happy. Lt. Pinner’s crew left on their flak leave this A.M.

Editor's Note:

Lt. Spangler is Lt. Harold F. Spangler
See also the Lt. Robert E. Weidig, Co-Pilot, 603rd Diary who was also on Harold Spangler's crew with T/Sgt. Oliver W. Bradford.

January 5, 1945 - Flak Leave
We left on flak leave today for Southport, England. Arrived at Southport tonight and saw Pinner’s crew – A good time by all is anticipated.

January 6, 1954 - Flak Leave
Played football today in “civvies” – first time in over two years. Having a wonderful time.

January 7, 1954 - Flak Leave
Went for a bike ride today – what fun.
Southport, England

January 12, 1954 - Flak Leave
Dad’s birthday.

Flak leave ended today, came as far as London and stayed over night at A.R.C. – Really need a rest after that 7 days!

Editor's Note:

A.R.C. is thought to be American Red Cross.

January 13, 1945 - Nuthampstead, England
A V-2 hit the track near “Kings’ Cross Station” so we had to leave from Liverpool station for Cambridge. Arrived in camp this P.M.

Editor’s Notes:

The V-2 rocket (German: Vergeltungswaffe 2) was, according to head of Nazi rocket program Walter Dornberger, the world's first ballistic missile and first human artifact to achieve sub-orbital spaceflight, the progenitor of all modern rockets. Over 3,000 V-2s were launched as military rockets by the German Wehrmacht against Allied targets in World War II, resulting in the death of an estimated 7,250 military personnel and civilians.
An estimated 20,000 inmates at Mittelbau-Dora died constructing V-2s. Of these, 9,000 died from exhaustion and collapse, 350 were hanged (including 200 executed for acts of sabotage) and the remainder were either shot or died from disease or starvation.
Source: Wikipedia, cites omitted. Wikipedia sometimes changes the location of information. If so, the above links may not work. If so, just go to Wikipedia and type in the search term.

January 15, 1945 - Neuberg, Germany
Mission to Neuberg, Germany was scrubbed today due to weather.

January 16, 1945 - Berlin, Germany
Mission to Berlin, Germany or Leipzig area was scrubbed (my) today! We live another day.

January 17, 1945 - Paderborn, Germany
I flew 22nd mission today to Paderborn, Germany. No flak, no fighters! Saw my first V-2 launched over Holland today.

Target: Locomotive wk’s. P.F.F. Time: 7 hours 10 minutes. Flew Spangler’s crew; Johnnie and I.

January 18, 1945 - Cologne, Germany (Cross Corner)
Twenty third mission. Flew through weather front entire mission – Climbed to 30,000’ and still visibility zero. Had to return to base may not get credit for mission.
Time: 7 Hrs. (Target: Hohenzollern R.R. Bridge)

January 28, 1945 - Cologne, Germany
Flew 23rd mission to Cologne, Germany. Flak accurate, moderate, not many holes.

February 1, 1945 - Mannheim, Germany
Flew 24th mission to Ludwigshaven, Germany today. Flak light. Really sweated this on out! It was here we received our first real baptism of “fire.”

Marshalling Yards. Very good results.

Editor's Notes:

The 398th Target on 1 February 1945 was Mannheim which is just across the river from Ludwigshaven. Different Squadrons may have targeted different parts of the area.

February 6, 1945 - Flak Leave
Spangler’s crew left on flak leave today. Johnnie and I will have time on our hands but we know where to spend it.

February 15, 1945 - Nuthampstead, England
All the “gang” went to Dresden, Germany today. None returned due to fuel shortage; France and Belgium where they refueled.

February 16, 1945 - Munster, Germany
Flew “25th” raid to Munster, Germany today. Flak very light, inaccurate. Landing very difficult, weather “socked in.”

Several near collisions while trying to find our base in the fog.

February 18, 1945 - Practice
Flew 5 hour practice mission today. Weather beautiful and warm at 11:00!

Came down to learn I was on orders to go to London to do a broadcast, relating combat experiences. Reported to Col. Ben Lyons to do broadcast. Gave brief account of Munster “run” – recorded on record for transcription in Europe.

Editor's Notes:

It would be interesting to find this Col. Ben Lyons recording for our 398th Timeless Voices. Contact our 398th Group Historian if you have information.
Scott Welty provided the following research about Lt. Col. Ben Lyon in an October 14, 2009 e-mail:

Ben Lyon (1901-1979) born in Atlanta, Georgia, was a movie actor whose career reached back into the silent era. Due to his excellent speaking and singing voice he successfully made the transition into the age of the talkies.

Lyon’s was trained as a pilot during World War I, a skill put to good use when he starred in Howard Hughes’ war aviation film Hell’s Angels. Lyon did many of his own flying sequences for the movie.

In 1930 he met his wife Bebe Daniels and occasionally acted with her in movies and radio. This includes the BBC radio shows Hi Gang and then Life With The Lyons (also starring their son Richard and daughter Barbara. The later radio morphed into a BBC and then independent television show in 1954 and ran until 1960.

Attribution and credit for the above paragraphs come from a lot of internet sources. A lot of websites even have the same wording. But for the most part you can find this information on Wikipedia, IMDB.com, and simply Googling the name Ben Lyon.

That said, Ben Lyon the movie actor does not necessarily make Lt. Col. Ben Lyon. For that part of the story I next Googled “Lt. Col. Ben Lyon.” (Periods in rank abbreviations are important) To my amazement the name brought up this link to a newspaper: The Evening Independent - Google News Archive Search.

Hopefully the link will take you to page 4 of The Evening Independent, a newspaper out of St. Petersburg, Florida. On this page is an item about “Lt. Col. Ben Lyon Will Head Talent Office In London.” This American Lt. Colonel had lived mostly in England for the previous eight years, is married to actress Bebe Daniels, and his children’s names are Richard and Barbara. (The New York Times carried this item too.) The article also states he was commissioned with the U.S. Army as a major in 1942 and served with the air forces in Europe.

So the man who interviewed T/Sgt Oliver W. Bradford is one and the same.

All this is interesting as a historical footnote but it does something more: it opens up an educated guess as to where recordings of the Bradford interview might be.

1) Since he was an American with the air services, a record might be with the Army or the Army Air Corp. I would hope the Air Corp would have kept some sound recordings.
2) Since he lived and worked as an actor in England prior to the war, perhaps the interview was part of his radio show. That means BBC radio might have a copy of the interview. If this is the case it might still exist. I hear the BBC keeps excellent records. English friends of the 398th might have better access to BBC archives.
3) Either way it might be possible to find Lt. Col. Ben Lyon’s war records with the army somewhere and they might detail his actions including interviews on any given day.
4) Since he was an actor of some note he might have donated his files and records to the archives of some university library.

Finally, the 1945 newspaper article states that he was giving up acting to become head 20th Century Fox’ talent office in London. Well, he kept acting but he did seem to also become a talent scout at this point too. It turns out after the Howard Hughes movie and his radio/TV show with his wife, Lyon’s third claim to fame is meeting a young actress in 1946 named Norma Jean Dougherty. After the meeting he stated she was “Jean Harlow all over again.” He organized her first color screen test, signed her to her first studio contract, and changed her name to Marilyn Monroe.
Later Scott Welty wrote: I did more internet search in regards to BBC recordings and Ben Lyon. I found this chat thread on The Aviation Forum. The chatters are mostly talking about where to find BBC recordings and their availability. One entry discusses a color film without sound of Ben Lyon interviewing the Memphis Belle crew.
Russ Abbey also wrote in an October 15, 2009 e-mail: I recently found a recording of a CBS London Radio interview with one of my 55 Fighter Group guys, Col. Jack S. Jenkins. It was recorded in CBS London's studios. Perhaps the search ought to include other radio shows as well as the BBC.

February 19, 1945 - Special Assignment
Reported to Lt. Col. Ben Lyon in London and did short broadcast to the continent. Needless to say, I wasn’t impressed with this fatuous “ground pounder.”

February 20, 1945 - Special Assignment
Spent today in London on “D.S.”

Editor's Note:

Detached Service: off on an errand, or simply reporting for duty at another unit/location (thanks to Russ Abbey). Perhaps this was part of the trip to London before going back to Nuthampstead.

February 21, 1945 - Nuremburg [Nurnberg], Germany
Flew 26th raid to Nuremburg today. “Average” – Bombed P.F.F. as usual. Flak light on target. Got several holes over Frankfurt going in. Time 9 hrs.

Editor's Note:

The 398th Mission for 21 February 1945 was to Nurnberg.

February 22, 1945 - Stendal, Germany
Flew 27th mission to Stendal, Germany today. “Suicide mission” – bombed at 10,000’! Saw Beatty shot down out of the high squadron by an ME-262 (jet job) Saw five chutes before ship exploded. – Bombing visual with excellent results. No Flak!! Time 8 hrs.

Editor's Note:

Beatty is Hubert F. Beatty, 600th pilot

February 23, 1945 -Eger, Czech
Flew 28th mission to Eger, Czech today. Another one of these experimental low altitude raids. Bombed visual and really hit the target. Saw plenty of flak, all aimed at other groups though.

We hit marshalling yards in small town near Schweinefurt. Our racks delayed and we hit farmhouse on outskirts of town. (Lichtentels, Germany)

Editor's Note:

Eger, Czech was the 398th Target for 23 February 1945. And Lichtentels, Germany was where the Spangler Crew with Oliver Bradford hit due to malfunction.

February 28, 1945 - Schwerte, Germany
Flew twenty-ninth mission.

March 1, 1945 - Neckarslum, Germany
Thirtieth Mission Target – Lt. tank factory.

March 2, 1945 - Bohlen, Germany
Bohlen, Czechoslovakia
Top turret hit by flak E/A.
Carried pamphlet in Russian in case of capture.

Finished!

Editor's Note:

T/Sgt. Oliver Bradford originally listed Brux, Czechoslovakia in his diary. Then crossed out Brux and entered Bohlen, which then read as Bohlen, Czechoslovakia. The 398th target that day was Bohlen, Germany.

March 9, 1945 - Bamber Bridge, England
Shipped out today. Arrived at Bamber Bridge, Eng. this evening.

March 25, 1945 - Southampton, England
Disembarked from Southampton, Eng. aboard Gen. Buckley, Navy Transport for U.S.

April 1, 1945 - New York
Arrived in New York this A.M. "Old Girl" was truly wonderful sight. Went by train to Camp Kilmer, N.J. Made long distance call home tonight.

April 2, 1945
Boarded train today for Camp Beale, Marysville, Calif.

April 6, 1945 - Camp Beale
Arrived in Camp Beale tonight, raining typical Calif. welcome. Saw first German P.O.W.'s serving food in Mess Hall.

April 7, 1945
Left for home on 20 day leave today but got as far as Oakland.

Notes

T/Sgt. Oliver W. Bradford was the Engineer at various times for three 603rd Squadron crews. These were Hastings' Crew, DeCleene's Crew, and the Spangler's Crew.
The above diary transcription was provided by Eddie Ebert.
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 [ ].