398th Bomb Group
Memorial
Association


T/Sgt. Armand Fugge's Diary
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner 600th Squadron

Fugge Mission No. 7

30 May 1944
Target: Aircraft Plant, Dessau, Germany

May 30, 1944
Dear Diary, today I’m the most heartbroken man here. We briefed for a mission to an aircraft factory at Dessau, Germany. Take off was at 0700, ceiling zero. The target area was thick with flak and fighters.

Thompson got out of formation and got shot to pieces on the Jerries first pass. Boy they came through from the nose like lightning in waves of 12 or more. Namey was flying top turret and before they started to lose altitude, I saw half his turret blown away. As they dropped behind about six fighters raked them over and they went down.

The 51’s finally arrived and we got some protection. We lost Frisbie, Namey, Gagne, Hartwell and Pennell. They shared our hut and it seems empty now. They’re gone but I sure hope ther’re safe.

Gosh, each mission frightens me more and I really doubt if I’ve got guts or luck enough to finish the rest. God, will this war ever end? The Air Medal is ours now but what good is it?

MISSION # 7 COMPLETED.

Editor's Note: The B-17 shot down was flown by Thomas L. Thompson of the 600th. He and tailgunner Ernest L. Pennel, Jr. were killed, but 6 others made it and became POWs.

Notes:
  • T/Sgt. Armand Fugge was the Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on Donald Lowe's 600th Squadron crew.
  • The above transcription was provided by Raymond Borys.
  • 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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