722ND BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H) AAF
OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING OFFICER
APO 520 US ARMY

14 May 1944

WILLIAM A. MCWHORTER
Major, Air Corps
Commanding

« - Indictes mission credit given to S/Sgt. Kostro

We were 15 minutes from target and had to turn back. We had trouble with two superchargers. Other planes were also unsuccessful due to an undercast and couldn't see the target. It was a 31/2 hour flight for us. The target was Zara, Yugoslavia.

We didn't go on this mission due to a cut tire. The target was Skoplje, Yugoslavia. The mission was successful. There were only a few bursts of flak. No planes were damaged. The target was destroyed.

We were 30 minutes from target and had supercharger trouble again. The target was 60 miles North of Rome, Parguria. It was a pretty good job. They were attacked by FW-190's and ME-109's, but the P-38's took care o fthem.

We had supercharger trouble again and had to turn back. The target was Mostar, Yugoslavia. It was a good job on the target. There were a few fighter attacks. The P-38's took care of them.

We didn't go on this mission. The superchargers were being fixed. The target was Pluto, Italy.

We went on the mission today but had to turn back again on account of supercharger trouble. The target was Ossia, Italy. They didn't get to the target because the P-38 escort didn't meet them. 13 of them went to bomb Zara, Yugoslavia instead. 6 others went on to the first target. They were attacked by 20 FW-190's. Two B-24's were shot down and the rest were shot up pretty back. The other 13 were successful.

We didn't go on this mission. The superchargers were still being fixed. The target was in Italy.

We didn't go on this mission. They fixed the superchargers today. The target was Pisa, Italy.

We made this mission. We bombed an airfield. The target was Perugia, Italy. There was no flak.

We didn't go on this mission. The target was destroyed.

We didn't go on this mission. The target was Pisa, Italy. It was destroyed.

We went on this mission. The target was Arazzo, Italy. The target was destroyed. The raid was part of the invasion.

We didn't go on this mission.

We went on this mission. It was a city in Yugoslavia. We were attacked by ME-109's. The P-38's took care of them, but they got one B-24 and one was shot up a bit.

We didn't go on this mission. The target was in France. One plane was shot down and a few were damaged.

A target in North Italy. No flak.

The target was Siena, Italy. We had to bomb by E.T.A. because of clouds. No flak. One plane couldn't get it's wheels down and locked so the crew bailed out but pilot and co-pilot. They brought the plane in for a crash landing. They got out okay. It was the Big Blow Out 252740. The original crew did not fly it. It was the first plane lost in the squadron. Lt. Maddox's crew.

The target was Udine, North Italy. The airfield was destroyed. There were a few fighters. The P-38's took care of them. There was quite a bit of flak. It was so close that you could smell the burnt powder. One plane was attacked by a ME-109. It got hit by a few 20mm shells. The 723rd said they had 3 planes damaged by flak.

We didn't go on this mission. We had oil pressure trouble. The target was 30 miles from Udine, North Italy. They were attacked by ME-109's. No planes damaged.

Bad weather

The target was Florence, Italy. We didn't bomb it due to bad weather. We got another target.

The target was Toulbon, France. It's a submarine base. Due to bad weather we could not reach it. The mission did count. We got some flak when we passed over Rome, Italy. The place was covered with clouds so we didn't bomb it.

Bad weather

The target was Rome, Italy. No flak.

Bad weather. The target was Regensburgh, Germany.

The target was a city near the beachhead. Bad weather. We flew over the target but could not see it so we didn't bomb. We were shot at with flak. There was a second mission the same day, but it was cancelled.

Bad weather

Bad weather

Bad weather

The target was Verona, Italy. We flew as far as the beachhead and had to turn back because of engine trouble. They did a pretty good job on the target. A few planes were attacked by enemy planes. No damage done. The temperature was 56 below zero.

The target was North Italy. We didn't go because of trouble with our plane. They destroyed the target.

The target was near the beachhead. They did a pretty good job on it. There was plenty of flak. One man was hit in the leg, one plane shot down and a few damaged. It was a 5 hour mission. The target was a few miles south of Rome, Italy.

Bad weather

Bad weather

The target was at the beachhead again. We had to turn back on account of bad weather. Too foggy. 11/2 hour flight.

The target was Regensburgh, Germany. There was too much flak. Fighters came in as we dropped our bombs. It was a 45 minute fight. They got three ships, not in our squadron. On this mission I froze my hands and face. 8hr. flight.

I didn't fly because I was in the hospital. The target was Steyr, Austria. They lost 8 planes on this raid. One in our squadron. They got the target. Conner and Balazic got a ME-110 a piece.

The target was Regensburgh, Germany. They got the target. The fighters and flak got 5 more planes. Three in our squadron. Gellespies crew, Retzlaff's crew and Vandercamp's crew.

Got out of the hospital today.

The target was at the Anzio beachhead. Due to an overcast they could not see the target. They dropped their frags in the water and came back.

Due to bad weather up ahead they had to turn back. The target was 50 miles south of Berlin. There was a practice mission instead.

The target was a railroad yard above Florence, Italy. It was destroyed. I didn't go because I was grounded.

I'm ready to fly again.

The target was Toulon, France. It was a submarine base. We did a lot of damage. There was plenty of flak and fighter attacks. Our squadron got 4 of them. 8 hour flight.

One crew from each squadron got sent to England by A.T.C. Lt. Ferry's crew got sent from our squadron. Bishop was just put on the crew as nose gunner so they sent him too. Rodman, Smitty, Mick, Bishop, Walters. Four crews came from England to replace them.

The target was near Vienna, Austria. But in Austria we couldn't find the target on account of an overcast so we bombed another target thru the overcast. We could barely see it. A few puffs of flak and no fighters. It was 40 below zero today. I froze my chin and cheeks a little. I wasn't grounded. We flew in Hungary, Yugoslavia, Germany and Austria looking for an opening.

We bombed a target in North Italy. Pretty accurate flak, but no fighters. It was an airfield. The name was Lavriano.

The target was Graz, Austria. The original one was Steyr, Austria. There was plenty of flak. We were attacked by 6 enemy planes. ME-109's and FW-190's. We shot three of them down. Warren got a FW-190. The flak got one bomber from another group. The secondary target was destroyed.

The target was Steyr, Austria. Due to bad weather they couldn't see the target. We didn't fly today because it was our day off. On their way back they bombed a target in North Italy. The 722nd squadron broke up with the rest of the formation to do this. They were attacked by Goerings ME-109's red and yellow nose planes. They shot down Lt. Anderson's crew, Heinselmen, Bock, Sanders, Thomas, Clarke. Lt. Stripps crew, Ike Erickson, Viscosky, Lenoir, Glenn and a new crew, a replacement was also shot down. When they were first forming the formation two planes crashed into each other.

The target was 6 miles from Venice, Italy, marshalling yards. It was destroyed. Little flak and no fighter opposition. One plane turned back just before the target and was attacked by 6 fighters. It didn't return. We didn't fly because of low batteries. They changed them but it was too late to catch the formation.

The target was Bolzano, Italy. It was destroyed. Two ME-109's attacked about 50 P-38's. One hit a P-38 and it went down on fire, but he managed to put it oout. Then two P-38's took after them. 4 more came out of a mist, looked around, I gave them a burst, it didn't bother them though. They saw a 24 drop out of formation, they disappeared, I guess they went after it. There was plenty of flak, close, and they put a few holes in some ships.

The target was Sofia,Bulgaria. 3 wings flew over it and dropped bombs. It was destroyed. Marshalling yards and the city were bombed. We had about 50-P-38's and P-47's for escort. No fighters attacked us. There was plenty of flak. 5 hour mission

The target was Steyr, Austria. We bomb a ballbearing work, ME-109 engine plant and a fuselage plant. We were attacked by ME-109's for 2 hours. They got a few planes. I shot at one plane. I could see tracers hitting him, but it didn't hurt him. He flew away. The flak was plentiful and accurate. We got hit in the tail and fuselage. It made a foot hole.

The target was Budapest, Hungary. They got the target. There was plenty of flak and some fighters, JU-88's and ME-109's. We didn't go because of some damage on our plane.

We didn't go on this mission on account of an engine change. The target was Bucharest, Rumania. Plenty of flak and some fighters.

The target was Ploesti, Rumania. We didn't go on account of low oil pressure on 3 and 4 engines. We flew for a hour and a half.

The target was near Venice, Italy. They got the target. A new crew flew our plane on their first mission. Some fellows said they saw it leave the formation and saw some fighters in the distance. The "Termite Chaser" didn't come back.

The target was Wiener Neustadt, Austria. Due to bad weather we turned back. We flew for two hours. Today we got a new plane. It was the crews that went down in ours. The name is "Madam Shoo Shoo" But will be called the "Termite Chaser II" from now on.

The target was Wiener Neustadt, Austria. They did a good job. I flew the waist position, tail and last, the nose. I froze my neck and cheek in the nose turret. One door and two windows were off it. There was plenty of flak, but no fighters. We had about two hundred plane escort. We lost a new crew today. Lt. Sabastian's Crew.

I didn't fly today. The target was near Budapest. An airfield. It was a good job. They destroyed a lot of planes on the ground. There was plenty of flak. A few fighters but the 38's and 47's took care of them. My crew had their electrical system go out on them. They made it back alright.

The target was near Bucharest, Rumania. We didn't go on this mission because we had supercharger trouble. They had to bomb the target with the radar ship. No flak, a few fighters. The P-38's took care of them. We were escorted back by one P-38. His wing was about 25 feet from my waist window. There were 5 enemy planes following us, but they didn't come near us. 3hr flight.

Tonight while the ground crew was loading bombs, a fire started in one of the ships 720^th. It blew up. I went out there and saw parts of bodies scattered all over. A medic pick up a fellow whole leg and wrap it up. I also saw burnt up bodies.

The target was Braslov, Rumania. Near Ploesti. They got the target. There was plenty of flak. We turned back because of supercharger trouble.

The target was Sofia, Bulgaria. The target was the city. There was plenty of flak. We had a P-51 and P-47 escort. One fighter attacked our squadron firing 20mm. It didn't do no damage. The left waist gunner fired at it, it got away. 51/2 hr. flight.

No Mission April 18, 1944

The target was in North Italy. Due to an overcast we didn't bomb the target. We got flak in two places. We came back with the bombs. We had an escort of P-38's and P-51's. 61/2 hr. mission.

The target was Ploesti Marshalling Yards. We all turned back on account of bad weather. 2 hr flight.

The target was near Vienna, Austria. We were one hours flight from the target and had to turn back. Plane trouble. They got the target. There was plenty of flak, no fighters. 4hr flt.

The target was marshalling yards in Ploesti, Rumania. We got the target. There was plenty of flak. Some got so close to us that it sounded like canon fire when it busted. We flew through it for eleven minutes. One plane got hit with flak and caught on fire. The crew bailed out. We came in with a feathered engine.

The target was in North Italy. Our group was the only ones up there. Before we got to the target we were attacked 35 ME 109's and FW-190's. There was a few JU-88's throwing some 20mm's at us. The ME's were having a good time buzzing around us. They wouldn't come in too close to our formation. Then the P-38's came from no where. As soon as they came in they blew up a ME-109. They got a few more after that. They got rid of the fighters for us. We couldn't bomb the original target due to an overcast. We went to the secondary and got it. They sent up flak. The first shot got us in the bomb bay and broke a gas connection and knocked out 2 booster pumps. There was a hole 2 foot from me in the waist. Quite a few holes in the left wing. A hole near the bomb sight which got the bombardier in the nose. Not serious. The nose gunner, Balazic, got frozen on the left cheek and the whole back of his neck. We had to land at Foggia, Italy and get our gas connection fixed and we sent Baldy and Lt. Glavin to the hospital. Then we came home. Lt. Shayne pilot.

The target was near the beachhead. There was plenty of flak, no fighters. We lost "Pistol Packin Mama" from another squadron. We didn't fly.

The target was Toulon, France. We didn't fly on account of an oil leak. The fellows got the target. There was plenty of flak. It was very accurate. The flak got Maj. Orris. He had Lt. McLaughlin's Crew. Kosak, Rout, Feure and others.

Lt. G. Smith's crew, pretty new men and Lt. Maddox's crew. They were attacked by fighters but the P-38's took care of them. We were to fly number four position if we did.

The target was near North Italy. No flak, no fighters. Gravy run. We got the target.

The target was Ploesti, Rumania. We didn't go on account of bad weather. We flew for 3hrs.

The target was Ploesti, Rumania. We got the target. There was plenty of flak and fighters. I saw one plane blow up in mid air. 5 fellows bailed out of one. The navigator saw 7 bail out of another. 61/2 hrs. We got hit near No. 4 engine and a rip in one bomb bay door with flak.

The target was Brazov, Rumania. We got the target. There was plenty of flak and a few fighters.

We flew for 4 hours and had to turn back on account of weather.

We got up at 4:00am and took off at 5:00am. The target was Porto S. Stafano, an island off of Italy. We made our bomb run then flak knocked the tail off "Marty The Rubble Maker". The plane went out of control. 9 chutes came out. One man that we think didn't come out was Whitley because flak burst too near him. Lt. Word flew the ship. We lost Spector, Beattle, Boaz, Hatfield, Shirley. Then Lt. Smith's crew got rammed by another ship. He was cut in half. No one got out. He was flying alongside of us. The other plane turned over on his back, but pulled out of it. We landed at 11:00 am. 6:00 flight. Then we were ready for another mission in the afternoon. We flew for one hour but had to turn back on account of weather. We flew for 1 hour.

The target was in North Italy near Genova. No flak, no fighters. Gravy run. 8hr flight.

The target was North of Venice, Italy. There was no flak or fighters.

The target was in North Italy.

The target was Ploesti Rumania. They turned back on account of bad weather, but got credit for one mission.

The target was in North Italy. On the way back, Lt. Shain, our pilot flying with a new crew, crash landed his plane. He got killed, the navigator and two enlisted men. He crashed 50 yards from shore near Naples. Two engines cut out on him. He was flying "Madam Shoo Shoo" "Termite Chaser II"

The target was North of Rome, Italy. Some flak, no fighters. We didn't go on this one.

The target was South of Rome a little North of the beachhead. We went over the target once and didn't see the target. We went around again and a few ships dropped their bombs. One B24 came up under us and almost hit us. Capt. Dawkins pulled it up in time. I had my chute on ready to bail out. Some flak, no fighters. Three planes cracked up on landing. They all had flat tires.

The target was Weiner Nuestadt, Austria. We didn't fly on this mission. They did a pretty good job. There was plenty of flak and fighters. We lost one crew. Most of the ships were riddled with 20mm's.

The target was in North Italy. Little flak, no fighters. We had to turn back with a feathered engine.

The target was Nice, France. No fighters and some flak. We did a good job.

The target was Marseille, France. We did another good job. Plenty of flak, no fighters. We almost had another ship side swipe us again today. We had to dive the plane to get away.

The target was Weiner Nuestadt, Austria. There was plenty of flak. It got our hydraulic system, put a lot of holes in the waist, shot the top turret dome off. The bombardier, Lt. Seigle got scratched on the hand. The co-pilot Lt. Howe got scratched in the shoulder. There were plenty of fighters. They got a few bombers. None from our group. I shot down a ME-109. It burst into flames and blew up. Lt. Weathermon finished up today.

The target was Weiner Nuestadt, Austria. We didn't fly today. There was plenty of flak and fighters. We lost Lt. Btuner's crew in Yugoslavia.

The target was Ploesti, Rumania. There was plenty of flak. We had a window shot out in the nose. We were attacked by 25 fighters. We lost Lt. Barret's crew. He was pretty new. I saw one plane go down and one chute came out. There was another with only one chute. One with nine chutes. Altogether I saw 3 planes hit the ground and explode. All B-24's.

The target was Genova, Italy. The target was destroyed. There was quite a bit of flak, not so accurate though. No fighters. 8hr flight. All bombers came back.

The target was Balogna, Italy. There was a little flak over the target but when we started to cross some mountains that's when it came. Flak came thick and heavy. Our ball gunner, Warren, got hit below the left eye. We got hit in the tail, stabilizer, horizontal wing, flaps and holes in the waist and a few in the nose. One fighter attacked a formation and left. One plane had it's wing tip shot off but came back. Warren, Conner finished up today.

The target was Ploesti, Rumania. They had the target smoked in, but we got it. We got hit in the left horizontal stabilizer, a hole besides the left waist, holes in the left wing tip and hit in 2 and 3 engines. I finished up today. Balizic got 49, Platt got 48, Geiser got 49.

There are two missions listed for 43 and 70. This is the way it appeared in the original diary.