398th Bomb Group
Memorial
Association


S/Sgt. Kenneth A. Green's Diary
Gunner, 603rd Squadron

Green Mission No. 21

3 February 1945
Target Berlin, Germany

February 3, 1945
Mission: Berlin, Germany

We bombed at 27,000 feet the districts and marshalling yards to keep the German soldiers from moving to the Russian front. Flak was heavy, but inaccurate. We were airborne 9-1/2 hours, and on oxygen for 6 hours. Enemy fighters were reported in the area, but we did not see any. Our plane was hit in the fuel tanks in our wings. Then our hydraulic system was out, and we had to land in Belgium on the way back. We didn’t know for sure as to whether we were on our side, or the enemy’s side. Our navigator got excited and lost our position. Schofield, our radio operator made contact with a fighter base, and we landed there. We were grounded while our plane was being repaired and refueled. Then the weather held us in, and we kept going into Brussels, and up to the front lines while waiting for clearance. We picked up many souvenirs from Aachen, Germany and other parts. I had a birthday on the 10th of February while there and didn’t even realize it.

Notes:
  • For the first part of his tour S/Sgt. Kenneth A. Green was a Gunner on Kenneth S. Hastings' 603rd Squadron crew.
  • The above transcription was provided by Joe K. Mansell.
  • 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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