T/Sgt. Derald R. Lyman's Diary Radio Operator, 600th Squadron

T/Sgt. Derald R. Lyman's Diary

Radio Operator, 600th Squadron

Introduction

As follows is a transcription of a typed reconstruction of T/Sgt. Derald R. Lyman's and the D.B. Lowe's crew formation, training, flight to Europe and Derald's 32 combat missions. The reconstruction covers the period from Winter 1943 – 5 August 1944. The 32 missions cover the period from 6 May to 5 August 1944.
T/Sgt. Lyman flew as a B-17 Radio Operator with the 398th Bomb Group, 60oth Squadron, Station 131 out of Nuthampstead, England. He was a member of the Donald B. Lowe crew and one of the original 72 crews of the 398th Bomb Group to arrive in the European Theater of Operations and fly combat missions.
In his document, Derald referred his the crew as the Crew of B-17 Flying Fortress The Swoose. Other documents refer to the aircraft flown over to the UK as 42-97298, named Slap Happy Goose. This aircraft was transferred to the 303rd who renamed it the Floose Goose. No 398th aircraft has yet been identified as The Swoose but it may still show up in a photo someday.
Aircraft tail symbol was the “Triangle W”
Geometric shapes and letters were painted on both sides of the vertical tail fin, the top of the right wing and the underside of the left wing on B-17’s, starting in the April, 1944 to identify the various Divisions and Bomb Groups of the 8th Air Force. The Triangle denoted the 1st Division of the 8th Air Force. The “W” was used to identify the 398th Bomb Group.

The Lowe Crew

Pilot – 2nd Lt. Donald B. Lowe, Jr.
Co-Pilot – 2nd Lt. Benjamin H. Moon
Navigator – 2nd Lt. Earl C. Noble
Bombardier – 2nd Lt. Carl G. Berquist
Radio Operator – T/Sgt. Derald R. Lyman
Engineer – T/Sgt. Armand P. Fugge
Tail Gunner – Sgt. Alfred L. Reisser
Waist Gunner – Sgt. Leo R. Cunningham
Waist Gunner – Sgt. W. H. Westall
Ball Turret – Sgt. Aloysius H. Domnissey

Pre-Missions
Winter 1943 – April 25, 1944

Winter 1943 – Ogden, Utah
Crew make up

Editor’s Note: This was likely at Hill Air Force Base.

1943 – Rapid City, South Dakota
Crew training missions
Also, Lincoln, Nebraska

March [April] 13 – 20, 1944 – Grenier Field, New Hampshire
Crew outfitting

Flew overseas to:

March [April] 20, 1944 – Labrador, [Canada]

March [April] 22, 1944 – Iceland

March [April] 24, 1944 – Prestwich, Scotland

March [April] 25, 1944 – England

Editor's Note:

In his typed copy , Derald Lyman indicated he flew overseas at the various dates above in March 1944. It is believed that he accidentally typed March, as the first 398th flights to England began from Rapid City via Lincoln, Nebraska or Grand Island, Nebraska in early April 1944.

Flew 32 missions into France and Germany from [an] airfield near Royston [Nuthampstead], England – Located about 80 miles north of London.

May 6, 1944 – Flew first mission

Editor’s Note: May 6, 1944 was the first combat mission of the 398th Bomb Group in the European Theater of Operations.

Reconstructed Combat Missions

The outline of these 32 missions is from a diary of Derald Lyman and may not be perfectly accurate. When I could do it and thought of it, I would write up notes on the mission the same day or the next day. In some cases, I may not have details exact. Perhaps others of the crew have some details.
(Derald Lyman)

Editor’s Note:

It appears that Derald reconstructed these missions from his diary. Most likely his intention was to share what happened with others in the Lowe crew at the various 398th Reunions with the intent of adding to the reconstruction. Without the original diary it is unclear just how much was from the diary. However, given his statement above it is assumed that most were taken directly from the diary, except where noted.

May 6, 1944 – Sottevast, [France]
[1st Mission]

This must have been a short run into France without incident. I have no notes on it. It may have been a training mission.

Editor’s Note:

Keith Anderson, Pilot, 600th Squadron. gave the following description of the mission: Description of 6 May 1944 Mission to Sottevast

May 7, 1944 – Berlin, [Germany]
[2nd Mission]
8th American raid on Berlin
5 – 1,000 lb. bombs

When they took the cover off the largest map at briefing – and I found out it was “Berlin”, I felt a chill go over me. I said prayers and I don’t mean maybe – because I didn’t know if I would get there and back. I was a bundle of nerves the whole trip as I stood watch at my radio and 50 caliber machine gun. The flak suit was heavy. I tossed out chaff over the target area. The flak was one solid wall. I sweat!! My knees were weak! I was completed exhausted when we returned to home base. We had 6 holes in the aircraft.

That shot of booze helped.

Editor’s Note:

It was customary for crews to receive a “shot of alcohol” after returning from a difficult mission and prior to debriefing.

May 9, 1944 – St. Dizier, [France]
[3rd Mission]
Short run – Airfield in S.W. France - little flak
38 – 100 lb. incendiaries

As I looked down through the bomb bay doors I could plainly see the target just as it was given in briefing. We really plastered it. I was less afraid on this mission because of the experience gained on raid #2. Hot Chocolate and Cookies awaited us at the briefing room. The boys really shoot the breeze at debriefing.

My radio work consisted only of monitoring since I was not a lead operator.

Glad to see the ground!

May 20, 1944 – Villa Cowblay [Villacoublay], [France]
[4th Mission]
An airfield near Paris

It [the target] was an assembly line plant for F.W. 109 aircraft.

Heavy flak, but we got through O.K.

I rested until we got to the channel [the English Channel] reserving my strength for the hazardous part of the mission. It was a “Milk Run” – so the boys put it.

The things that go on in a man’s mind when he knows death may be near are something everyone should experience! It makes you want to live better than you ever tried before.

May 24, 1944 – Berlin, [Germany]
[5th Mission]
The eleventh American raid on Berlin
100 lb.'ers.

This was the roughest yet – Fighters hit us right after we passed our target which was the financial district, center of Berlin. We hit every Mark of it and left lots of loose change.

The fighters came in head on. ME 109 and F.W. 190. Major Gray’s ship exploded along with others. We were in a lucky spot. I was so busy throwing chaff I didn’t see much of the action.

Heavy flak!!

I prayed for courage to die if this was it.

Editor’s Notes:

Major Judson F. Gray was the 603 Squadron Commander on this mission.
Early in the war the B17 was vulnerable to “head on” fighter attacks. This resulted in the well known phrase, “bandits at twelve o’clock.” The addition of two fifty caliber machine guns in the nose certainly helped with this initial weakness and improved the overall effectiveness of the B17. An excellent history of the development and modifications of the B17 can be found at B-17 Flying Fortress - History and Specs of Boeing's WW2 Bomber.

May 27, 1944 – Ludwigshaven, [Germany]
[6th Mission]

Into Germany again.
There wasn’t much flak but we were sweating it out.

May 30, 1944 – Dessau, [Germany]
[7th Missions]
This raid was the worst yet because it was our 1st real heavy attack by fighters.

We were flying high group – ME 109’s came in head on several at a time. Earl [2nd Lt. Earl C. Noble] got in some shooting. Lt. Thompson’s ship was hit between the upper turret and cockpit. They fell back and it was the last we saw of them. One 17 was straggling – two 109’s kept attacking it. I saw one 109 go straight to the ground. We had 6 flak holes.

It sure is sad to see the empty bunks of your pals!

Editor’s Note: “Lt. Thompson” refers to Lt. Thomas L. Thompson, Pilot, 600th Sqd. Lt. Thomas L. Thompson and two of his crew: Ernst L. Pennell, Jr., Tail Gunner and Frisbie Victor, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner, were killed on this mission.

May 31, 1944 – Southwest France [Mulhouse]
[8th Mission]

Last night Clem and I went to Barkway and had a few ales. We didn’t think I would fly. Cooper [T/Sgt. Herbert G. Cooper], had the runs so I was awaken at 5 A.M. to sub for him. We took off for the target – Mulhouse. The weather was bad so we had to try for the target as [of] last resort. We flew in circles all over Hell. Finally after three runs over the target, we returned home. I was tired. All were disgusted that we didn’t drop our bombs.

Editor’s Notes:

It is unknown who Clem was. Probably he was from another 600th crew.
It appears Cooper was T/Sgt. Herbert G. Cooper, Radio Operator / Gunner on the Rohrer Crew. He was shot down on June 21, 1944 over Berlin and captured by the Germans.

June 2, 1944 – Boulogne, [France]
[9th Mission]

This was actually our first “Milk Run.” We bombed through overcast without [a] Pathfinder plane leading. We saw no flak and no fighters.

Editor’s Note:

Boulogne was the 1st 398th mission on 2 June 1944. This is the one the D.B. Lowe crew was on. The 2nd that day was to was to Palaiseau, France.

June 3, 1944 – Boulogne, [France]
[10th Mission]

Coastal area of France. It was gun positions. Strategic bombing is out and tactical bombing of these areas is in progress. We bomb[ed] through an overcast. Very light flak encountered by us but one group ran into heavy stuff.

Just another short hop appreciated by all crew members.

Editor’s Notes:

The official 398th target for the 1st 398th mission on June 3, 1944 was to Manihen, France, which was very close to Boulogne. Perhaps T./Sgt. Lyman just used the name of this nearby larger city for his diary.
Strategic bombing is used to define missions wherein the target is or could be considered the brick and mortar used to support a war effort, such as, plants, refineries, ship yards, etc. Tactical bombing is used to defined missions wherein the target is a direct military target such as, troops or even supplies trains and where the resulting loss has an immediate impact.

June 6, 1944 – LeHarve, [France] – “D” Day
[11th Mission]

At last the day has come! We didn’t know for sure but suspected so. We attacked the landing area in France in groups of 6 planes carrying 30 – 100 lb. incendiaries. It was heavy overcast but [the] P.F.F. crew guided us in. There were 11,000 planes in the air at once. Landing craft hit the beaches 17 minutes after our bombing. I never saw so many B17’s and B24’s in my life. We had to eat with one hour sleep. We were so happy we weren’t tired. It gave us a new spirit to go on to our next mission.

Editor’s Notes:

The official 398th target for the 1st 398th mission on June 6, 1944 was Courseulles, France. Perhaps T./Sgt. Lyman just used the name of the larger city for his diary.
The 398th created 7 Groups of 6 aircraft each. D.B. Lowe was in Group 1 with Douglas as Lead.

June 7, 1944 – Lorient, [Kerlin-Bastard, France]
[12th Mission] A big airfield.

We sure hit this baby! We carried 12 – 500 lb. bombs. The group ahead had 100 lb. bombs. We hit the dispersal area around the field. At 21,000 ft. - the flak was accurate. Some ships in the ocean fired at us. On the way back one plane had to ditch in the channel. This raid was a beauty. We started huge fires at the target. On the way back we saw large convoys of Allied ship heading for France.

Editor’s Note:

The official 398th target for this mission on June 7, 1944 was Kerlin-Bastard, France. Perhaps T./Sgt. Lyman just used the name of the larger city for his diary.

June 10, 1944 – Le Touguet, [France]
[13th Mission]
2 – 1,000 lb. [bombs]
“Milk Run.”

June 12, 1944 – Lille-Nord, [France]
[14th Mission]
228 – 20 lb. frags – also in wings 250 lb. delayed action.
Bombed airfield – light flak

June 13, 1944 – [Beauvais, France]
[15th Mission]
54 planes from our field – overcast P.F.F. – This was afternoon flight – morning mission scrubbed.

Some flak over Rouen.

June 18, 1944 – Hamburg, [Germany]
[16th Mission]

Glad to be here! and lucky to. This was a bad one. A full wing over North Sea. Crossed Denmark and along coast to Hamburg.

Terrific, accurate flak.

Major Wyble [Weible] blew up and Hodges [Hadjes] of 601st went down. We got big hole in the tail section. Flak just missed Fugge [T/Sgt. Armand P. Fugge - Engineer] and cut hydraulic system and one in gas tank – also in nose section. No brakes til’ we fixed it. Chutes ready at windows, rudder cable cut. Whew!! We made it!!!!

Editor’s Notes:

Major John G. Weible as Acting Command Pilot was flying 398th Lead Group, Squadron Leader in aircraft # 7626-Q P.F.F. Three members of the crew were captured by the Germans. These include; 2nd Lt. Robert Bunning, Navigator; 2nd Lt. Arthur S. Harris, Bombardier; and 2nd Lt. Richard S. Sherman, Co-Pilot.
Lt. Willard Hadjes was flying as a Lead Crew, directly behind Major Weible in aircraft # 2391-B. He and the following crew members were taken prisoner by the Germans; T/Sgt. Joseph Ferraiuolo, Radio Operator / Gunner; S/Sgt. Robert B. Gibb, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner; 2nd Lt. John A. Hiller, Jr., Bombardier; 2nd Lt. Richard E. Howell, Navigator; S/Sgt. Floyd Jones, Jr., Right Waist Gunner; 2nd Lt. Homer R. Kuck, Co-Pilot; S/Sgt. John B. Lindsay, Ball Turret Gunner; and Cpl. Frank K. Pescia, Tail Gunner.

June 21, 1944 – Berlin, [Germany]
[17th Mission]

Terror Raid Reprisal for V Bomb raids on London. We lost Captain Killen and Lt. Roher’s crews. Cooper was radio operator. We had a fighter attack before we got there. I saw one 17 go down – the rest of the crew saw two or more. I noticed two parachutes open. 43 bombers lost. 21 enemy planes shot down. The rest did okay. Berlin was really smoking when we left. Newspapers say this was the most devastating raid given Berlin by day.

Editor’s Note:

Lt. Roher and his entire crew were captured by the Germans. They include; T/Sgt. Douglass A. Chisnell, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner; T/Sgt. Herbert G. Cooper, Radio Operator / Gunner; 2 Lt. Clarence J. Franks, Jr., Bombardier; S/Sgt. Richard G. Greene, Right Waist Gunner; S/Sgt. Frank K. Henning, Left Waist Gunner; S/Sgt. Philip H. Jones, Tail Gunner; Maj. Leo W. Killen, Squadron Commander; 2 Lt. Harvey B. Kramer, Navigator; Lt. Richard L. Roher, Pilot; and Lt. Arthur E. Waaramaa, Navigator.

June 23, 1944 – Feifs, [France]
[18th Mission]
Milk run – French Coast.

June 24, 1944 – Belloy-sur-Somme, [France]
[19th Mission]

Bombed French Coast – Buzz bomb and V bomb emplacements.

Editor’s Note:

“Buss bomb” was a name given to the German Vergeltungswaffe which meant "vengeance weapon." This was a 25 ft. long, winged flying bomb which was powered in flight by a ram jet engine. The popping sound of the ram jet engine announced the arrival of these flying bombs as they flew over England. It was also referred to as the “V1” and the “doodlebug” bomb.

June 25, 1944 – Toulouse – South France
[20th Mission]

Long ride to target – passe[d] over “Caen.” The anti-aircraft fire was terrific and we were only 18,000 ft. Thick flak over Toulouse. We lost one aircraft 602nd Sqd. No fighters encountered. We returned over long water route. J.D. Lowe came in on [the] deck – had to salvo lower ball and all guns – Tail Gunner hit in arm, several holes in [the] plane. Lucky no one killed!

Editor’s Notes:

J.D. Lowe was the pilot of aircraft # 2390-X, flying on the right wing of Osteen, High Group Squadron Leader.
602nd Godwin in A/C 2463-Z was lost.

June 27, 1944 – Beinnais, [France]
[21st Mission]
Near Rouen, France

This was a snafu [situation normal, all fouled up] raid. Lead plane got all mixed up. We toured most of France. Bombed through clouds using “G” box. Don’t think we hit a thing. Supposed to smash Buzz Bomb area.

July 12, 1944 – Munich, [Germany]
[22nd Mission]
Big raid – P.F.F.

We flew #3 lead – lots of flak
We made it with no losses – 6 ½ hours on oxygen

July 13, 1944 – Munich, [Germany]
[23rd Mission]
Long haul. P.F.F. – one ship blew up behind us.

Heavy flak – but we were off to side.
On the way home, fighters hit the wings ahead and behind us.

Editor's Note:

Possibly the Thomas K. Foster ship 42-97348 R was the ship he referred to that blew up.

July 16, 1944 – Munich, [Germany]
24th Mission

Rough! Lost another crew – “Loveless.” We had to bomb P.F.F. Contrails were thick. We were as high as 29,400 ft. We got lost and thought we were sunk. We caught Triangle H and it was okay. Eight men bailed out of a plane in front of us. Then it went into a dive – both wings came off.

Editor’s Notes:

“Loveless” refers to Curtis D. (Dane) Lovelace, Pilot. His left wing was set on fire by a burst of flak and the plane crashed near Achenkirk, Austria. Gerard C. (Jerry) Antaillia, Ball Turret Gunner on the Loveless crew died with Loveless. The following members of this crew were captured by the Germans; 2nd Lt. Alton R. Andrews, Bombardier; 2nd Lt. Robert Tan Hart, Co-Pilot; S/Sgt. Donald L. Land, Right Waist Gunner; S/Sgt. Samuel B. Miller, Tail Gunner; T/Sgt. Robert E. Rees, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner; 2nd Lt. Robert G. Uri, Navigator; and T/Sgt. Clifford D. Weatherwax, Radio Operator / Gunner.
The 398th was had the Triangle W on its tail while the 91st had the Triangle H. The 91st, the 381st, and 398th were in the 1st Combat Wing of the 1st Bombardment Group of the 8th Air Force. 1st Combat Wing generally flew together taking turns as Lead, High and Low Group on different days.

July 18, 1944 – Peenemunde, [Germany]
[25th Mission]

A hydrogen peroxide plant on the Baltic Sea coast. We flew most of the way at low altitude off the shore line of Denmark.

10 – 500 pounders – clear over target. Saw bombs explode right on the nose. Blew it sky high.

21 German planes on the ground - none came up to meet us. Had to fix intercom so bombardier could hear. When we came in for landing Leo [Sgt. Leo R. Cunningham] was asleep as usual and hadn’t stowed the ball. We were on final approach. Moon [Lt. Benjamin H. Moon - Co-Pilot ] got excited – we had to go around again.

July 19, 1944 – Lechfeld, [Germany]
[26th Mission] Airfield near Munich

Carried 24 – 100 pounder incendiaries. A Nazi plane went up in flames. Two 17’s in group behind us collided – dog fights all around us. We saw B24’s hit Stutgart – blew it to hell.

We burned our objective to a crisp. I don’t see how Germany can stand much more air attack.

July 24, 1944 – St. Lo., [France]
[27th Mission]
Milk run – 16,000 ft.

July 25, 1944 – North East St. Lo., [France]
[28th Mission]
13,000 ft.

Bombed German lines in support of Allied Troops.

38 – 100 lb. “general purpose” – little flak. Guess the Germans were too scared.

I wrote a nasty note to Hitler. I had excreted in the chaff box. The note was put in the box also and dropped overboard. The note read, “Dear Hitler – Since you gave the world so much shit – here is a little for you.”

July 29, 1944 – Merseburg, [Germany]
[29th Mission]
5 ½ hrs. on oxygen.

Synthetic oil plant. Same target had been hit day before blind. As we approached target, could see black smoke billowing up in huge clouds 10,000 ft. high.

Before target time we saw chutes out of planes ahead. Fighters reported all around us but saw none. Near Liepzig – other crew members saw two B17’s go down.

July 31, 1944 – Munich, [Germany]
[30th Mission]
Take off time – 9:00 A.M.

Primary target – Jet propulsion aircraft factory. Secondary target – Marshalling yards.

10 – 500 lb. bombs with 2,780 gals. gas.

I had to monitor (7 MT) continuously. Flak thick. On the way back, we crossed a small German community. They tracked us and shot at us. Earl [2nd Lt. Earl C. Noble - Navigator] was barely missed. Leo [ Sgt. Leo R. Cunningham] was tail gunner – missed death by inches. Fighters present but we were lucky. Holes in our wing – landed at 4:30 P.M. Some dumb tail gunner almost shot Fugge [T/Sgt. Armand P. Fugge - Engineer] this morning.

August 3, 1944 – Saarbucken, Germany
[31st Mission]

Blasted rail yards at bottleneck – to hold up supplies to France and Normandy fronts. Lots of flak but we were fortunate to be where it wasn’t. We had good fighter support. We have been leading elements lately. Navigator in one plane got [his] hand shot off. Moon [2nd Lt. Benjamin H. Moon - Co-Pilot] saw one B17 explode like a firecracker. Hit our target good.

August 5, 1944 – Dollebergen [Doliberg], Germany
[32nd Mission]
Oil refinery.

It was a clear day. We hit right on target. Big flames and column of smoke came up. Several other targets were smoking. It was a beautiful raid. A nice one to finish up on.

We flew most of the way at 10,000 ft. across the North Sea without oxygen. I was rather tense because this was the last mission. We had beautiful fighter support.

I am glad to finish my tour a whole man and alive. This has truly been the greatest experience in all my life.

God and the Bible helped me.

Notes

T/Sgt. Derald R. Lyman was the Radio Operator for D.B. Lowe's 600th Crew.
The above diary transcription was provided by Eddie Ebert.
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 [ ].