RESTRICTED

444TH BOMB GROUP (H) HISTORICAL DATA

June 1944

 

  The Twelfth Photo Lab worked overtime getting its cameras in shape and printing charts and photos for the first bombing mission. Three K-18's and four K-17's were installed with K-20's provided for most of the planes. Lt. Boyko flew with Col. Thornhill. The photographic results were very discouraging, however, due to low lying clouds, but the few pictures of the target which did come out were the only ones gotten in the entire wing. On June 8, Cpls. Hansen and Cobrey went to Karagaphur to learn about the installation of K-19 cameras. Four camera technicians were sent over the 'hump' for camera installation along with Cpls. Hansen and Cobrey, who were to fly on the Yawata raid. Bob Cobrey was killed in the plane which crashed on take off. The last part of the month was spent in moving to the new base at Dudkhundi, a huge job.

The crews which the 676th BS lists for the Bangkok raid are those of Majors Hansen and Vannoy, and Capts. Miller, Wilson, and Buenting, while Capts. Root and Van Wingerden, and Major Hansen participated in the Yawata raid. On the latter, Capt. Root's plane, #293, made an emergency landing at Neising, China and was destroyed by a total of 17 Jap fighters and bombers. This is the first plane lost by this squadron. The 'hump' cargo missions totaled 15 for the month. Captain Obenour arrived from the states, bringing the total of planes to nine and the personnel to 81 officers and 100 enlisted men.

Planes piloted by Col. Kinney, Majors Dyer, Steineman, Lassiter, Smith, and Wilson made the Bangkok raid, staging from Chakulia and most planes making the trip singly but flying in element over the target. The Yawata raid included planes piloted by Col. Kinney, Captains Sisson, Reid, Welsh, 1st Lt.'s Krupinski and Hutchinson. Captain Reid was held at Kharagupur with engine trouble, while #220 taking off at 2300 as photo-reconnaisance plane crashed killing all the crew except Sgt. Halzbaur who was seriously injured. Twelve "Hump" trips were flown, several good parties held, and enlisted men purchased dishes for the mess hall. Packing for the trip to Dudkhundi took up the last few days of the month.

The 678th reports the loss of Captain James Schleicher, 1st Lt. Robert O'Shea, 2nd Lt. John Cummings, 2nd Lt. Walter Miklosh, M/SGT Warren E. Theiman, Sgt. Ralph H. Groff, Sgt. O.F. Chesebro, Sgt. Chester A. Jennings, F/O C.L. Rinke, T/Sgt. J.M. Larkins, and Sgt. D.C. Aiken when their tanker crashed and burned 30 miles from Chabua. On the Bangkok raid, Lt. Col. Close, Majors Cloyd, Weldon, Blackwell, and Malone and Captain Knott participated Major Cloyd returning early and Major Malone bailing out south of Kunming, one man, S/Sgt. Oren being killed.The pilots on the Yawata raid were Lt. Col. Close, Major Weldon, Major Blackwell, and Captain Knott, all four returning safely.

The 679th Bomb Sq. had a very busy month making numerous 'Hump' missions and participating in two raids. Lt. Col. Moore carried Col. Harvey on the first raid with Col. Brett riding with Major DeLacey, and Major Taylor, Captains Mann, Overton, Wood and Wyatt participating. Capt. Mann, ship# 277, had a failure of the fuel transfer system, so after two engines , #3 and #4, had been feathered and the bomb bay tanks salvoed, a crash landing was made at Karagpur, no one beig hurt, but washing out the nose wheel. The Squadron S-2 was on Captain Mann's ship. On the Yawata raid, Captain Hensiger and Major Byars had engine trouble and landed at Chabua. major Taylor, Lt. Col. Moore, Captain Curtis, and Captain Wyatt bombed the target. Captain Williams and crew arrived from the states in plane #452.