Sgt. Claude W. Tracey's Diary

Engineer, 601st Squadron

Introduction:

Sgt. Claude W. Tracey was the Engineer for the Tom E. Marchbanks Jr. 601st B-17 crew. During his time at Nuthampstead, he kept a diary from November 22, 1944 to the 398th's final mission on April 25, 1945. In 2008, his son provided the following transcription of his diary. See links below for a crew photo and associated list of crew.

“MY MISSIONS OVER GERMANY”

By Claude W. Tracey

The first thing I should say I think is the date on which I arrived in England. We got here on the 22nd of November [1944]. The trip was made by boat, the name of the ship is the “Aquatania.” There wasn’t anything of interest on the trip over. We had slum for Thanksgiving Dinner and “K” rations that evening. The morning of the 23rd we got to Stone [England]. We spent four days at Stone, then to Nuthampsted [Nuthamstead] and my present station.

After being her[e] for a few days, we started school and made a few practice flights. My luck was still holding as I had to go on all the practice flights. We went on our first mission before finishing our training on B-17’s. We were B-24 crews before coming to England and we were also the first B-24 crews to come over and then changed to B-17 crews, but I think we are going to do pretty good.

From now on will be listed our raids over Germany and a few other facts of interest.

1. Cologne [Germany]: December 18, 1944.
Bomb load 12-500 lb. G.P.
Alt. 26,500 ft.
Free Air Temp. -45º C.
Total time of flight 6:20 hrs.
Time on oxygen 3:10 hrs.

1b. Coblenz [Koblenz, Germany]: December 24, 1944.
Bomb load 38-100 lb. G.P.
Alt 21,500 ft.
Free Air Temp. - 37º C.
Total time of flight 7:30 hrs.
Time on oxygen 4:25 hrs.

Intense and very accurate flak.
Doran lost the ball turret cover.
I thought for a while that he would fall out and he didn’t have a parachute on.

The bombardier on McGuffey’s crew was killed by flak [probably William J. Scales, Jr. 601st Bombardier, KIA 24 December 1944]. A piece of flak went clear through his head. A piece of flak hit the navigator in the head, but his flak helmet saved him from serious injury. One of the men on McGuffey’s crew said that he thought our tail gunner was killed because the flak around our plane was “thick as hair on a dog’s back.” We only got three holes. Our radio operator [probably Sgt. Frank Williams, Radio] got hit in the neck with a piece of flak but he wasn’t hurt. A towel around his neck saved him from a bad cut.

[Bombed:] “PFF”

2. Coblenz [Koblenz, Germany] December 28, 1944.
Bomb load 6–1000 lb. G.P.
Alt 22,000 ft.
Free Air Temp. -39º C.
Total time of flight 7:40 hrs.
Time on oxygen 2:45 hrs.

I don’t think that we will ever have another target as easy as this one again. It was ten tenths coverage over the target, the flak was almost nil and what there was, was very inaccurate. We had one of the gunnery instructors along as cameraman and we didn’t have a camera along. We flew in one of the oldest planes on the field. It was as cold on the inside of the plane as it was on the outside.

Frank saw two “Forts” near us go down, but I didn’t see them go down. Also today “Honest John” finished up. Lucky devil.

When we went to the Mess Hall after the mission we got terrible chow; fried “spam” and beans. It was about 15 hours between meals. Hope that things improve.

Also Doran’s turret didn’t work. He has flown twice and both times he had trouble with his ball turret.

[Bombed:] Visual.

3. Bingen [Germany]: December 29, 1944.
Bomb load 18-250 lb. G.P.
Alt 22,300 ft.
Free Air Temp. - 35° C.
Total time of flight 7:25 hrs.
Time on oxygen 4:10 hrs.

When we were assembling I saw a “Fort” blow up. The only thing that you could see was a burst of flame then a big cloud of smoke.

The flak was accurate and plentiful as hell. We went over the target once and didn’t drop our bombs when I heard them say we were going to make another run.

When we made a 360º turn Jerry started throwing everything but the kitchen sink. When we were going around the target the second time was when we got hit so many times. We got over 50 holes. The tail had seven holes and the rest was spread over the rest of the plane.

One of the bombs didn’t go out and we didn’t know it until I started to go toward the tail. As I was walking through the bomb-bay it fell down on the doors. If I ever prayed in my life it was then. But we put it back on the rack and everything was okay.

Today was the first day that we named the bombs. One had “Effies” name on it. All the boys named one of the bombs for his girlfriend. It was Chuck’s girl that didn’t go out.

[Bombed:] Visual.

4. December 20 [30]1944. [The official 398th target for 30 December 1944 day was Bischofsheim, Germany]
Bomb load 16-250 lb. G.P. 2,100 bomb clusters of incendiaries
Bombing alt. 25,600 ft.
Free Air Temp. -37° C.
Total time of flight 10:30 hrs.
Time on oxygen 4:35 hrs.

Well, today is a day that I hope I will never have to live again. I often thought I was frightened but those were nothing to what I went through this day.

Right after take-off we noticed that our navigation instruments were out. But we didn’t want to abort, so we fell in on the tail of another group. You see because our instruments were out we were unable to find our own group. We fell in with the 100th Group and headed for Germany.

It was a fairly easy target and the only flak was over the target. If we had tried to go through the flak I know that we would have been very lucky to get out of Germany. They used barrage flak and I don’t think a fly could have gotten through without getting hit. Frank said it would have been the same as running into a solid wall. The lead navigator led us right around the flak. Skipper [probably 1st Lt. Tom E. Marchbanks Jr., Pilot] said that if the group didn’t go around the flak area we would go around alone.

We came back to the English Coast with the group and then left them and started for home alone. All our navigation instruments out we tried to find our base by luck. We flew all over England and the fog started to get thick as only fog in England can. We were almost out of gas so we started to climb to altitude cause the skipper [probably 1st Lt. Tom E. Marchbanks Jr., Pilot] said we were going to bail out. We got to 5,000 ft. and leveled off to jump. When we were climbing to alt. [altitude] No. 2 engine backfired so we knew we were almost out of gas.

We leveled off to jump. The bible that our navigator [probably F/O Robert C. Galloway, Navigator] carries fell out of his pocket. He bent over to pick it up and just as he leaned over a landing strip right below us lit up. Without a doubt that was the prettiest sight any of us have ever seen in our life. The skipper peeled off and headed in. It was the first time the skipper ever landed a “Fort” at night. I don’t think that he ever made a better landing in his life. We packed our plane and checked our gas and the gauges didn’t even move. We were on the ground again and the happiest bunch of men in the world. We had something to eat in the English “Sgts Mess” and one of our trucks came and took us home.

There is no doubt in my mind that the only reason we got home was because God willed it so. I never had much religion but yesterday changed everything.

The crew isn’t the same as when we came to England. They are much more serious now, but I still think they area the best boys I have ever known. I would not trade anyone of them for any other man in the Army.

That is just how much I think of them.

[Bombed:] “PFF”

5. Kassel [Germany]: January 1, 1945.
Bomb load 10-500 lb. G.P.
Alt 25,300 ft.
Free Air Temp. -39º C.
Total time of flight 8:55 hrs.
Time on oxygen 5:15 hrs.

Today was a good one in some ways and in other ways it was pretty rough. We took off in the dark and it sure was a mess. I saw a big explosion and at the time thought it was one plane, but when we landed I found out that it was two ships colliding in the air. We knew it was a hard target that we were going to and when I saw that explosion I was scared awful.

After we got to Germany and flak started bursting around us the nervousness left me. To start with we were going to one target and after flying over our primary target and not dropping any bombs they said they were going to bomb the secondary target.

We lost a lot of planes today but it wasn’t through enemy action. Some of them went down in the channel, some in Germany and France. We came through with only a few holes in the plane and one engine shot out. It wasn’t the ideal way to spend New Years Day, but I guess it was a good as anyway to spend New Year's Day in England.

From the looks of things I guess we will fly again tomorrow. Also today was the day that Doran got the “Purple Shaft.” [Probably Sgt. Richard A. Doran, Ball Tturret]

[Bombed:] “PFF”

6. Cologne [Germany]: January 3, 1945.
Bomb load 10-500 lb. G.P.
Alt. 26,700 ft.
Free Air Temp. -39º C.
Total time of flight 6:30 hrs.
Time on oxygen: 4:20 hrs.

Today was an exceptionally good day. In fact it was the shortest flight we have made over enemy territory since we have been flying over here.

Again today we hit the secondary target but it didn’t make much difference as our targets were only four minutes apart. The flak was fairly heavy but was very inaccurate. Today was the only flight to date that we came home without any holes.

Also today made us eligible for the Air Medal. Well, I guess that about covers today. Sure hope we have more like it.

[Bombed:] “PFF”

7. Kall [Germany]: January 5, 1945.
Bomb load 12-500 lb. G.P.
Alt. 25,400.
Free Air Temp. - 49°C.
Total time of flight 7:00 hrs.
Time on oxygen 4:25 hrs.

Another easy raid over Germany. We hit the primary target and we were glad for the secondary target had much more flak. There was only one burst of flak over the target and naturally we had to get a hole.

We flew in the same plane that Frank got hit in. We used another Co-Pilot again as ours has sinus trouble, but the Co-Pilot we had is one of the best formation fliers I have ever flown with.

[Bombed:] “PFF”

8. Coblenz: [Koblenz, Germany] January 8, 1945.
Bomb load 10-500 lb. G.P. 2-250 lb. incendiary clusters.
Alt.28,300 ft
Free Air Temp. -52ºC.
Total time of flight 7:45 hrs.
Time on oxygen 6:15 hrs.

Today was another raid that could have been easy; as far as enemy action went it was easy. No flak to speak of and what there was very inaccurate.

But today was the hardest raid we have had on the crew. Both our pilot and Co-Pilot were sick and they gave us another pilot and we used the Co-Pilot we used once before. The pilot we had, had never made a raid over Germany before. He was as grouchy as a bear with a sore ass. He only had 23:00 hrs. pilot time on a “Fort” and he was telling the Co-Pilot how to fly and he has 34 raids over enemy territory to his credit. If there would have been some way to turn off his oxygen I would have done it. I was hoping he would get hit in the head with a piece of flak as big as a mess cup.

We never did get with our own group so we hooked onto another one. Even now we don’t know where we bombed. We got home okay.

All the boys on the crew say that they won’t fly with that pilot again and that includes me too.

We also took off with less gas today than we ever did before. We had 500 gals. less fuel. When we landed we only had 40 gals. of gas left, also today was the highest we bombed from which was 28,300 ft.

[Bombed:] “PFF”

9. Ostheim: January 10, 1945.
Bomb load 38-100 lb. G.P.
Free Air Temp. -52°C.
Total time of flight 8:30 hrs.
Alt. 28,300 ft.
Time on oxygen 7:00 hrs.

A pretty easy raid. Our target was an air field across the Rhine River from Cologne, Germany. The target was visual and I sat in the door to the bomb-bay and watched the bombs hit the target. Every bomb of our group hit inside of the target area.

Our Co-Pilot was Lt. Cooper and he finished his missions with us and he sure was a swell fellow.

We only got two flak holes, one in the wing and one in the nose. The one in the nose threw Plexiglas on Beaty [F/O Albert C. Beatty, Bombardier] and cut Galloway’s [F/O Robert C. Galloway, Navigator] hand. We also had a passenger with us. Lots of ships were lost.

[Bombed:] Visual.

10. Germasheim [Germersheim]: January 13, 1945.
Bomb load 6-100 lb. G.P.
Free Air Temp. -47ºC.
Total time of flight 8:15 hrs.
Alt.25,000 ft.
Time on oxygen 4:25 hrs.

A pretty easy raid for us but for some of the other groups it was pretty rough. I noticed off to our right some of the heaviest flak we have witnessed, but another group had that target so we didn’t worry about that flak area.

When we returned to England most of the fields were closed in. Our field was closed in and we had a hard time trying to find our field. In the end we had to land at another field.

There was a freak accident had by one of the aircraft in our group. The tail of one of the planes was broken off on the top of a hill and the tail gunner was in it. The only hurts he got was a broken arm and some cuts and bruises. Damn lucky I think.

[Bombed:] Visual.

11. Aschaffenburg [Germany]: January 21, 1945.
Bomb load 6-500 lb. incendiary, 6-500 lb. G.P.
Free Air Temp. -55°C
Total time of flight 9:00 hrs.
Time on oxygen 5:45 hrs.

Another easy one. The flak was almost nil but that is the way we like them. Today is the second time since we have been here that we came home without a hole. Also today we flew our second deputy lead. We used another navigator and bombardier today also.

[Bombed:] “GH”

12. Norlahnstein: January (2)9, 1945 [Probably Niederlahnstein, Germany, January 29, 1945.

[Editor’s Note. There is no official target for the 398th for either January 2 or January 9, 1945, the dates as seen on the hand written diary by his son Ron Tracey. Because of the entry placement in the diary and a list of 398th missions between January 21, 1945 and February 15, 1945, it is felt that this is probably an entry for January 29, 1945. The 398th Mission that for January 29, 1945 was to Marshalling Yards, Niederlahnstein, Germany. Niederlahnstein is located in Kolenz, Germany. “Neider” translate to “Low”, “Nor” to North. It is possible there was a Norlahnstein then, but it is not listed now, only Niederlahnstein]

Bomb load 10-500 lb. G.P.
Free Air Temp. -52ºC.
Total time of flight 7:20 hrs.
Alt. 27,000 ft.
Time on oxygen 4:30 hrs.

Fairly easy, but as the old saying goes – anyone you come back from can be classified easy.

[Bombed:] “GH ”

14. Dresden [Germany]: February 6 [15], 1945. [The 398th mission to Dresden was 15 February 1945]
Bomb load 10-500 G.P.
Free Air Temp. -47°C.
Total time of flight 9:30 hrs.
Alt. 27,600 ft.
Time on oxygen 6:30 hrs.

This was our longest flight over enemy territory. When we left we all were wondering if we were going to be lucky enough to get home.

At briefing we were told that we would meet heavy fighter opposition and lots of flak, but again we were lucky and only got moderate flak and no fighters. We got most of the flak over the Zuider Zee in Holland.

We weren’t able to get back to our base as we were about out of gas and our field was locked in. When we made our first let down we had to go through 6000 ft. of clouds and couldn’t see a damn thing. Just as we made our break through we passed right through a seven plane formation of “Forts.” You should have seen them scatter.

We landed at a field in the Third Division and what a meal we had – Swiss steak and all that goes with it. We stayed there that night and came back to our base the next day.

[Bombed:] “PFF”

15. Nurenburg [Germany]: Feb. 20, 1945
Bomb load 6 – 500 GP’s. 4 – 500 Incendiary.
Free Air Temp. -35ºC.
Total time of flight 9:05 hrs.
Alt. 27,800.
Time on oxygen 6:00 hrs.

Today we made our best raid to date. I don’t mean it was an easy one—what I mean is that we hit the target better than ever before. When we got to the target it was visual. I watched our bombs drop all the way to the ground and it sure was a pretty sight. The group in front of us had ten tenths and the group behind us had the same. We were the only ones that had it visual.

The Colonel [probably Lt. Colonel Ensign] flew with us and we had a Major as Bombardier. You could see incendiary bombs burst all over the city. It just looked like a town at night with thousands of lights burning.

Right after we left the target I could see 8 Jet German fighters, but they didn’t bother us. They were the fastest things I have ever seen. On the way home I saw the Alps and how beautiful they were. Maybe one of these days I’ll be able to go there. That was about the only thing of interest on the whole mission.

[Bombed:] (visual)

16. Munich Germany]: Feb 25, 1945
Bomb load 5 -500 GPs 6-0500 Incendiary.
Free Air Temp. -37°C.
Total time of flight 10:25 hrs.
Alt. 27,500.
Time on oxygen 3 ½ hrs.

Our longest mission to date. Today we flew right beside the Alps Mts. for about 3 hours. Today was another day that we hit the target right on the button. I sat in the bomb bay and watched the bombs all the way to the ground. When we went to drop our bombs, three of them hung up, but the Bombardier hit the switch again and away they went.

The flak was very heavy but inaccurate. We only got about ten holes. The flak was put up in a barrage and the sky was almost black.

I saw a plane from another group blow up over the target and one of ours had to land in Switzerland. The Flight Surgeon flew with us and said he was going to take some pictures of the flak. He got so frightened when we got flak that he forgot all about the camera. And so ends another raid over Germany.

[Bombed:] (Visual)

17. Heilbronn [Germany] March 1, 1945 [The official 398th target for the day was Neckarsulm, Germany]
Bomb load 6 – 500 lb GPs. 4 – 500 lb Incendiary.
Free Air Temp. -23ºC.
Total time of flight 9:40 Hrs.
Alt. 21,000 Ft.
Time on Oxy. 4:45 Hrs.

Hit a marshaling yard today. We had a pretty hard time hitting our target today. We tried to hit a tank factory but every time something went wrong. The group in front of us hit it and did a damn good job.

We went to the secondary target. We bombed visual and did a fair job. I saw some of our bombs hit a bridge and it looked as if a big hand just raised it up into the air. It went up into the air in one piece and when it landed it just made a cloud of dust.

Today we went around the target three times and they were shooting at us all the time, but we got home safe and that’s what counts.

[Bombed:] (½ ≠ ½ vis.)

18. Chemnitz [Germany]: March 5, 1945
Bomb load 18- 250 GPs.
Free Air Temp.-44ºC
Total time of flight 9:10 Hrs.
Time on oxygen 6:20 Hrs.

Our target today was some of Hitler’s oil refineries. When they said what our target was, we sure felt low cause there is always plenty of flak at oil targets, but it turned out to be a pretty good raid anyhow. When we got to the target it was ten-tenths and that made it pretty good. There was some flak, but it didn’t get near us. We bombed “PFF”, so I don’t know how the hits were.

[Bombed:] “PFF”

19. Siegen [Germany]: March 7, 1945
Bomb load 12 -500 Lb GPs.
Free Air Temp. -37°C.
Total time of flight 8:55 Hrs.
Time on oxy. 6:25 Hrs.

Well, today was the first time that I have ever made a raid without my crew being along. The night before the raid, I noticed after I came from town that I was going to fly the next day on another crew. They got me up this morning at 02:15 and so started the day. I went to briefing then out to my plane. I met the men I was to fly with for the first time then. I don’t mind saying I was a bit leery of them for they had made only 3 raids. Just before take off “Skipper” [probably 1st Lt. Tom E. Marchbanks Jr., Pilot] came out to see me off. The first thing he wanted to know was if I were mad at him. He should have known I wasn’t, but I would have much sooner flown with him. Just before take-off, he said “Good luck, get home soon and come to opp’ns [Operations] and see me so that I will know you got home O.K.” He is surely a good guy, what this world needs is lots more like him.

And now for the raid.

At briefing, they said it would be a short one, but as always it turned out to be a fairly long one. We bombed “PFF” so I couldn’t see the bombs hit. We went around the target seven times and was my nerves on end! But we got there and back and that’s what counts.

[Bombed:] “PFF”

20. Dortmund [Germany] March 10, 1945 [The official 398th target for the day was Sinsen, Germany]
Bomb load 32 – 100 lb GPs. 2 – 500 lb Incendiary.
Free Air Temp. -28ºC.
Total time of flight 7:15 Hrs.
Time on Oxy. 4:35 Hrs.

Well, today I flew with my crew again. Today is “Chuck’s” birthday [probably Sgt. Charles Swjantek, Waist Gunner] and for a birthday present we made a raid and a “Dose” turned up. In fact today was a pain in the ---. Col. Ensign flew as “CA” and he gave us a hard time during the whole raid. Over the target there was plenty of flak. We only got a few holes, but some of the boys got hit pretty hard. There was also some of [the] hit, but we got home O.K.

[Bombed:] “PFF”

21. Oranienberg [Germany]: March 15, 1945
Bomb load 5 – 500 lb GPs. 5 – 500 Incendiary.
Free Air Temp. -30°C.
Total time of flight 8:25 Hrs.
Time on Oxy. 6:30 Hrs.

Have just returned from meeting the foe for the 21st time.

Today was one flight that I think I will remember for as long as I live. The flak wasn’t very heavy, but it was accurate. They didn’t waste any shots today. When they fired a round, something happened. We lost three of our planes. I saw a plane explode in the group in front of us. There was two boys went down today that I knew and they also trained in the States with me and came to England with us.

The target was visual and was located 3000 yards from a Prison Camp where some of our men are being held. We bombed munitions depots and we did a good job. So ends another raid on Germany.

22. Dorsten [Germany]: March 22, 1945
Bomb load 32 – 100 lb GPs. 2 – 500 lb Incendiary.
Free Air Temp. -32ºC.
Total time of flight 6:25 Hrs.
Time on oxygen 0400.

Our target today was a Jerry Hq. and Troop Concentration. 5 minutes after we left the target I got to thinking, how many Jerries did we kill? If anything, the flak is getting more accurate, but less intense.

23. Bremen [Germany]: March 30, 1945
Bomb load 12 – 500 lb RDX’s.
Free Air Temp. -37°C.
Total time of flight 7:20 Hrs.
Time on Oxygen 4:30 Hrs.

Well, today we hit a target all of us have been afraid of. I don’t think we stopped shaking from the time we left briefing until we got home again. All along we knew that one of these days we would have to bomb it. Bremen is considered the flak basket of the world. They started shooting at us long before the target and kept it up long after we had dropped our bombs. We got 281 holes and we also got a direct hit from an 88 in our right wing. No. 3 engine was also shot out.

Our target was the Sub Pens. It was so clear you could see the waves in the Pen Canals, but again “God” was with us and brought us home safe.

24. Kohlenbissen [Germany]: April 7, 1945
Bomb load 38 – 150 lb GPs
Free Air Temp. -21°C.
Total time of flight 8:30 Hrs.
Time on oxygen 4:00.

Our target was a Jerry Jet Base. I will never know why we weren’t attacked by them, but I’m sure glad they didn’t come up.

Our target was visual and you could see what seemed to [be] hundreds of them. When our bombs hit, you could see the planes explode and burn like tinder. I think we did the best bombing today that we have ever done. Things are looking better cause there wasn’t one burst of flak.

25. Numunster [Neumunster, Germany] April 13, 1945
Free Air Temp. -21ºC.
Bomb load 12 – 500 lb RDX’s
Time on Oxygen 2:00
Total time of flight.

This is the first time I haven’t written up my raid on the same day as I flew it. We had just dropped our bombs when we got it. Just before we got hit I was watching one of our ships go down in flames. I said a prayer for them, that was the only thing I could do for the poor devils.

As I was watching them go down we got “it.” I think it was the most horrifying sound I have ever heard. For some reason I wasn’t frightened and I knew then and there we were on our way down. Again “God” came and helped us. We didn’t catch on fire. “He” is the one that took care of that. I looked out the window and could see holes from "18” to 2’ all over our wings and gas was pouring out of our shot up fuel tanks. It isn’t any use for me to write more about this raid for I know I will always remember it.

I didn’t know until I got back to my base 7 days later, that my ball turret gunner was in the plane I was watching go down in flames, just before we got hit. If we only hadn’t been flying a “Mickey” ship, he would still be alive.

[Editor's Note:
A Francis J. Gardipee, Ball Turret gunner went down that day with the 601st Martinek crew. Francis J. Gardipee and most of the crew became POWs. Two however, were killed in action, Floyd Aaron, Engineer and Theodore Kline, co-pilot. Thus it is believed the colleague Claude Tracey referred to survived.]

On this raid we lost 6 planes, but I won’t write about that either. That don’t belong on paper – only on my mind. When I think back, I don’t see how we ever got down alive, and I still know too[;] It was “God’s” will.

26. Munich [Germany]: April 21, 1945
Bomb load 18 – 250 GPs.
Free Air Temp.-42°C.
Total time of flight 10:35
Time on oxygen 5:00

Have only been home over night but I have gone to war again. I think I was more frightened at the flak today than I have ever been. I think it is the reaction from that last raid.

We hit the target “PFF” and the flak was very inaccurate, but I must say I sure was scared, but I’ll finish this tour or die in trying. “Skipper finished today.”

27. Pilsen[Czechoslovakia]: April 25, 1945
Bomb load 18 – 250 GPs
Free Air Temp. -27ºC.
Total time of flight 11:25 Hrs.
Time on oxygen 2:24 Hrs.

We had our longest raid today. The flak was intense and accurate. Today was another I won’t write about, but it will live in my memory.