S/Sgt. Chilton H. Jorgenson's Diary

398th Bomb Group
Memorial
Association

S/Sgt. Chilton H. Jorgenson's Diary
Ball Turret Gunner 601st Squadron

**8 July 1944**
**Non Mission Day**
July 8, 1944 No mission for my crew but a bad day for our squadron, lost 4 ships and almost all 3 crews. Capt. Peterson, our Squadron C.O. and Capt Lamb made it back to the English coast on one engine and made a belly landing. Radio operator had slight wounds on the arm. Capt. Berry, one of our old Dyersberg gang, flying ship # 096. Someone we made our first mission with couldn’t make it back. They had to bail out over the channel. They found Capt. Berry and the tail gunner Manuel Ray alive and also the bodies of Ralph Hess and the radio operator Galliota. Hess died of exposure but poor Galliota was badly wounded when he bailed out and never opened his chute. They will be buried at the Army Cemetery at Cambridge. No news of the other five.

Notes:

S/Sgt. Chilton H. Jorgenson's was the Ball Turret Gunner for the Selmar Gustaves, Merwin L. Genung, and John J. Falkenback 601st Squadron crews.
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 [ ].

The above diary entry has been placed on the 398th Bomb Group Memorial Association web site to share our history with a wider audience. You may view, download, print, copy and link to our content as you wish as long as the uses are personal or educational. 398th Bomb Group Memorial Association web page content cannot be used for commercial purposes nor placed on other web sites whether commercial, personal or educational, unless authorized in writing by the 398th Bomb Group Memorial Association Official Board and/or the author.