603rd Squadron History

August 1944

As follows is a transcript of the monthly report from the 603rd Squadron to the 1st Bombardment Division. Many names are mentioned in the report. You may wish to use your web browser's Find Command to search for a particular individual. If you are unsure about the spelling, try the first few letters.

 

Eighth Air Force
1st Bombardment Division
1st Combat Bombardment Wing (H)
398th Bombardment Group (H)
603rd Bombardment Group (H)

603 Bomb Squadron
History
August 1st to August 31st 1944

______

Eighth Air Force
1st Bombardment Division
398th Bombardment Group (H)

Period Covered from August 1, 1944 to August 31, 1944
Prepared by
David M. Hall, 1st Lt., A.C.

Squadron History
603rd Bombardment Squadron (H)

 

August 1, 1944

Target: Melun-Villaroche, France.

See attached loading list. [Not transcribed at this time.]

August 3, 1944

Target: Saarbrucken, Germany.

See attached loading list. [Not transcribed at this time.]

August 4, 1944

Target: Peenmeunde, Germany.

See attached loading list. [Not transcribed at this time.]

2nd Lt. John S. MacArthur (later promoted to 1st Lt., August 12) and his crew were hit by flak over target area and are reported missing in action.

The members of the crew were:

Name Rank Position Home Address
1 MacArthur, John S. 2nd Lt. Pilot Shepard Avenue, Hamden, Connecticut
2 Boyd, Harvey J. 2nd Lt. Co-Pilot 422 W. Milton Avenue, Lewistown, Illinois
3 Engeman, Ernest F. 2nd Lt. Navigator 2401 Avenue “I”, Fort Madison, Iowa
4 Schultz, Murray J. 2nd Lt. Bombardier 436 Warren Avenue, Brockton, Mass.
5 Feathers, George A. Cpl. Engineer/ Gunner Claysburg, Pennsylvania
6 Edgington, Stephen L. Cpl. Radio Operator/ Gunner 624 Demorest Avenue, Muscatine, Iowa
7 Faurot, Doyt W. T/Sgt. Ball Turret Gunner St. Marys, Ohio

8

 Galetto, Clement (NMI) Sgt. Waist Gunner Alpha, Michigan
9 Bordan, Charles A. Cpl. Tail Gunner 1312 Eastern Avenue, Gallipolis, Ohio
Editor’s Notes
  1. All nine crewmembers were killed in action.

August 5, 1944

Target: Dolleberg, Germany.

See attached loading list. [Not transcribed at this time.]

August 6, 1944

Target: Brandenburg, Germany.

See attached loading list. [Not transcribed at this time.]

Captain Robert L. Hopkins, Flight Commander, let the low group.

August 8, 1944

Target: Bretteville Le Rabet, France.

See attached loading list. [Not transcribed at this time.]

Captain Meyer C. Wagner Jr., Squadron Commanding Officer and Captain Robert L. Hopkins, Flight Commander who led the 398th Group on today’s mission were hit by flak over the target and are now reported missing in action.

The crew lost included the 3rd Squadron Commanding Officer since reaching the European Theater of Operations, the last of the original Flight Commanders and the Squadron Navigator, 1st Lt. Vonn Wernecke.

The members of the crew were:

  Name Rank Position Home Address
1 Hopkins, Robert L. Capt. Pilot Mulberry Grove, Illinois
2 Wagner, Meyer C. Capt. C.A. [603rd Commanding Officer; as C.A. would have sat in the Co-Pilot's seat] Warwick Hotel, Houston, Texas
3 Kushera, Frederick J. Jr. 2nd Lt. Co-Pilot (flew tail gun position) 2022 Dorland Drive, Whittier, California
4 Wernecke, Vonn (NMI) 1st Lt. [Squadron] Navigator 13005 – 8th Avenue N.W., Seattle, Washington
5 Stitz, Thomas J. 2nd Lt. Navigator 114 West High Street, Canal Fulton, Ohio
6 Arnold, Charles (NMI) 2nd Lt. Bombardier Marseilles, Illinois
7 Germiller, William J.  T/Sgt. Engineer/ Top Turret Gunner 23 Hoffman Avenue, Poughkeepsie, New York
8 Gibeau, Raymond G. T/Sgt. Radio Operator   Bellaire, Kansas
9 Hochadel, James F. S/Sgt. Ball Turret Gunner 736 Elm Street, Youngtown, Ohio
10 Werner, John I. S/Sgt. Left Waist Gunner 1780 – 142nd Avenue, San Leandro, California
Editor’s Notes
  1. S/Sgt. James F. Hochadel, Ball Turret Gunner and 2nd Lt. Charles Arnold, Bombardier were killed in action.
  2. The remaining 8 men became Prisoners of War, with two escaping after capture. These were Captain Meyer C. Wagner, Jr. and 1st Lt. Vonnerlin Wernecke.

Captain James G. Davidson, Jr., who has been Squadron Operations Officer for over a month was made Squadron Commanding Officer. The spot for Squadron Navigator is still open.

Technical Sergeant L.D. Mason, engineer gunner on Lt. Engel’s crew at the completion of 27 missions has finished his tour in the European Theater of Operations.

August 9, 1944

Target: Saarbrucken, Germany.

See attached loading list. [Not transcribed at this time.]

Due to bad weather the Group bombed a target of opportunity instead of the primary.

August 10, 1944

1st Lt. Robert W. Kaufman came out on Special Order #20 as a Squadron Flight Commander.

August 11, 1944

Captain Harvery H. Latson, a Squadron Flight Commander led the Low Group to Brest, France.

See attached loading list. [Not transcribed at this time.]

August 12, 1944

Target: Buc, France.

See attached loading list. [Not transcribed at this time.]

The following officers were promoted from Second Lieutenant to First Lieutenant:

  1. Edward C. Jordan
  2. J.J. Lee
  3. W.L. Meyran
  4. L.M. Sundheim
  5. E.W. Klatte
  6. R.W. Lehner, and
  7. M.W. Magnan

Two other men, who previously have been reported missing in action also made First Lieutenant:

  1. John S. MacArthur, and
  2. Thomas J. Stitz

2nd Lt. Linder Tanksley, bombardier on 1st Lt. Dean L. Foster’s crew became the first member of the Squadron to actually complete the required number of combat missions. He flew a total 32 missions.

August 13, 1944

Captain Harvey H. Latson flew with Colonel Frank P. Hunter, Jr., in the lead ship to Le Manoir, France.

Captain James G. Davidson, Jr., Squadron Commanding Officer flew with 1st Lt. W.J. Durtschi in the group deputy lead position.

See attached loading list. [Not transcribed at this time.]

2nd Lt. J.W. Beck, navigator, completed his tour of duty in the E.T.O. with 31 missions, as did Technical Sergeant L.G. Nance, Jr., radio operator gunner, with 29 missions.

August 15, 1944

Target: Ostheim, Germany.

See attached loading list. (not transcribed).

2nd Lt. John F. Naoiti, Navigator, was promoted to First Lieutenant.

2nd Lt. Arthur Silverman, Co-Pilot, finished his tour with 33 missions; as did 1st Lt. J. Gurney, Bombardier, with 30 missions.

August 16, 1944

Target: Delitzsch, Germany.

See attached loading list. [Not transcribed at this time.]

The following officers were promoted from Second Lieutenant to First Lieutenant:

  1. J.W. Beck
  2. H.W. Dalton
  3. E.D. Jones
  4. C. King

The following men completed their tour of duty:

  1. 1st Lt. Anthony J. Jellen, navigator – 33 missions
  2. 1st Lt. Dean L. Foster, pilot – 32 missions
  3. Technical Sergeant J.C. Bird, engineer gunner – 30 missions
  4. Technical Sergeant W. Hineman, Jr., radio operator gunner – 32 missions
  5. Staff Sergeant F. P. Devaney, ball turret gunner – 32 missions
  6. Staff Sergeant Dwight Hinkle, tail gunner – 25 missions
  7. Staff Sergeant Arthur Wilkinson, waist gunner – 29 missions

August 18, 1944

The following officers were promoted from Second Lieutenant to First Lieutenant:

  1. Carlotho Turner
  2. Robert E. Ullom
  3. Arthur Silverman
  4. Roy W. Wilkins
  5. Raymond A. Winkler
  6. William A. Wright, Jr.

August 19, 1944

The Squadron enlisted men were given a party in the combat mess hall.

Second Lieutenant John O. Hobbs was promoted to 1st Lieutenant.

August 21, 1944

Under Special Order #22 Captain Harvey H. Latson became Squadron Operations Officer and 1st Lt. L.W. Sundheim became Squadron Navigator.

The following officers were promoted from Second Lieutenant to First Lieutenant:

  1. Stephen R. Quinn
  2. Linder Tanksley
  3. Warren H. Wright
  4. J.P. Baker

August 24, 1944

After seven consequitive “stand-downs” mostly due to bad weather the Group finally flew a mission to Kolleda, Germany.

See attached loading list. [Not transcribed at this time.]

1st Lt. Charles E. Khourie and crew flew 1st combat combat mission.

The other members of the crew who reported to the Squadron August 6 are:

  1. 2nd Lt. John J. Leyden, Jr.
  2. 2nd Lt. Frederico Gonzalez
  3. 2nd Lt. Jack E. Kutchback
  4. Sergeant Robert C. Mayfield
  5. Sergeant William A. Schumate
  6. Sergeant Howard E. Rogers
  7. Corporal Joseph J. Kelly, Jr.
  8. Corporal John L. Crecelius, and
  9. Corporal Paul E. Russell

August 25, 1944

Target: Neu Brandenberg, Germany.

See attached loading list. [Not transcribed at this time.]

August 26, 1944

Target: Gelsenkirchen.

See attached loading list. [Not transcribed at this time.]

The following  officers completed their combat tours:

  1. 1st Lt. Henry Timbrook, Jr., navigator – 33 missions
  2. 1st Lt. John F. Naioti, navigator –32 missions
  3. 1st Lt. P.F. Heitman, navigator – 33 missions

August 27, 1944

The group was recalled due to weather just a short distance from the target Schonefeld, Germany. The 603rd Squadron was stood down. However, Squadron ships were used on the mission.

1st Lt. J.P. Baker, navigator, flew in a PFF ship with the 601st Squadron.

August 28, 1944

The following new men entered the Squadron as replacement:

  1. 2nd Lt. Kenneth S. Hastings
  2. 2nd Lt. Donald J. Decleene
  3. 2nd Lt. Oral B. Birch
  4. Corporal John S. Bourquin
  5. Corporal James J. Briody
  6. Corporal Wilbur F. Lucas
  7. Corporal Donald B. Colbert
  8. Corporal Oliver W. Bradford
  9. Corporal Kenneth A. Green

August 29, 1944

2nd Lt. George Potter enters the Squadron as a Mickey Navigator.

August 30, 1944

Target: Kiel, Germany.

See attached loading list. [Not transcribed at this time.]

Captain Jack C. Novak, who recently was promoted from First Lieutenant, completed his tour of duty with 32 missions.

Others who finished today were:

  1. 1st Lt. Clarence King, co-pilot – 33 missions
  2. T/Sgt. H.C. Fowler, engineer gunner – 32 missions, and
  3. S/Sgt. W.A. Farrell, ball turret gunner – 33 missions