Journal of S/Sgt. Francis E. Smith 35691577
Combat Missions
Sorties Target
Missions
- Nice France 1
- Marseilles,
France 1
- Weines Neustead,
Austria 2
- Ploesti, Rumania 2
- Castle Maggorie,
Italy 1
- Ploesti, Rumania 2
- Munich, Germany 2
- Munich, Germany 2
- Osijeck,
Yugoslovia 1
- Tulon, France 1
- Veianna, Austria 2
- Brod, Yugoslovia 1
- Labreb,
Yugoslovia 1
- Giurgiu, Rumania 2
- Tulon, France 1
- Zagerb,
Yugoslovia 1
- Ploesti, Rumania 2
- Budapest,
Hungary 1
- Ploesti, Rumania 2
- Ploesti, Rumania 2
- Vieanna, Austria
St. Polten (nearby area) 2
- Brenner Pass,
Itlay 1
- Tulon, France 1
- Southern France.
(Tulon area) 1
- Beachhead
Southern France 1
- Vieanna, Austria 2
- Vinkovie,
Yugoslovia 1
- Miskolc, Hungary 1
- Kralijevo,
Yugoslovia 1
- Kralijevo,
Yugoslovia 1
- Trento, Itlay 1
- Munich, Germany 2
- Greece 1
- Budapest,
Hungary 1
- Budapest,
Hungary 1
- Novi sad,
Yugoslovia 1
- Ora, Itlay
(Brenner Pass) 1
- Vienna, Austria
(turned back) 1
Mission #1 May 26, 1944 7½
hrs
Pilot: Lt.
Stebbing
Target:
Marshalling yds, Nice, France
Position: tail
turret
Remarks: Was very
good mission
Has P-38 escorte.
Some flak way
out on our right
but didn't come
near us.
Mission #2 May 27, 1944 8½
hrs
Pilot: Lt.
Augistinburg
Target: Freight
yds, Marseilles, France
Position: Nose
turret
Remarks: Had P-51
escorte, probably
75 in number.
Quite a bit of
accurate flak. One
piece came
through dome of
upper turret &
dented gunners helmet.
Mission 3 &
4 May 30, 1944 7
hrs 45 min
Pilot: Lt.
Stebbins
Target: Aircraft
parts factory
Weiner Neustead, Austria
Position: Tail
turret
Remarks: This was
a very rough mission.
Got my first shot
at enemy
fighters. Six ME
109's attacked
us from the tail,
but fire from
tail guns and
waist gun drove them
off. About 10
fighters were on us
for almost one
half hour. flak
was very heavy.
Saw two B-24's
go down, one in
flames. This was
a double mission.
Mission #5 &
6 May 31, 1944 7
hrs.
Pilot: Lt. Olney
Target: Oil
refinery, Ploesti, Rumania
Position: Tail
turret
Remarks: Another
rough mission
had P-38 escorte:
flak was very
heavy. Fighters
attacked us as
we left the
target, but didn't hit
our element. Saw
two B-24's go
down: also one ME
109. Saw several
men bail out.
This was a double.
Mission #7 June 5, 1944 5½
hrs.
Pilot: Lt. Booth
Target:
Marshalling yds: Castle Maggorie, Italy
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: flak was
very accurate. We
got four holes in
our ship. Ship out
on our right had
about five feet
shot off of wing
tip, but returned
O.K. Saw three
enemy fighters, but
they didn't attack
us.
Mission #8 &
9 June 6, 1944 6
hr. 45 m.
Pilot: Lt. Booth
Target: Oil
refinery, Ploesti, Rumania
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: flak was
very heavy, but
not too accurate.
had P-38 & P-51
escorte. Target
was covered with
smoke screen.
Used path finder
bombing. On the
way back we
got news on the
radio that the invasion
had started in
France
Mission # 10
& 11 June
9, 1944 8 hrs.
Pilot: Lt. Booth
Target: Munich,
Germany
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: Had very
good escorte of
P-51's &
P-38's. Had some flak. got
about four small
holes in our plane
This was the
mission that Lloyd &
his crew went down
on. I saw
their ship drop
out of formation
at about 9:50
A.M., just fifteen
minutes before we
reached the
target: ship was
still under
control and looked
O.K. saw two
men bail out, then
the plane
flew into some
high clouds out of
sight.
Mission #12
& 13 June
13, 1944 8 hrs.
Pilot: Lt. Booth
Target: Aircraft
works, Munich, Germany
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: had good
escorte. saw
some enemy
fighters, but they
didn't attack us.
The flak was
the heaviest I've
ever seen. 390
big A.A. guns. We
got two large
holes and several
smaller ones
This was a double
mission
Mission # 14 June 14, 1944 5½
hrs.
Pilot: Capt.
Robinson & C.P. Lt. Booth
Target: Oil
refinery, Osejick, Yugoslovia
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: This
mission was a milk
run no fighters,
no flak, no target left.
Mission # 15 June 15, 1944 8
hrs.
Pilot: Lt. Booth
Target: Submarine
works, Tulon, France
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: Went all
the way over the
target but it was
overcast so we
returned with our
bombs. Some
flak, no
fighters. P-51 escorte.
Mission # 16
& 17 June
26, 1944 7½ hrs.
Pilot: Lt. Radue
Target: Hinkle
A.C. plant. Veianna, Austria
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: Heavy
flak. Had P-51 & P-38
escorte. Made
perfect hit on target
saw fighters dog
fighting but wasn't
attacked. This
was a double
mission.
Mission #18 June 27,
1944 5½ hrs.
Pilot: Lt. Booth
Target: Aircraft
plant, Brod, Yugoslovia
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: Had good
escorte. Flak was
pretty accurate,
but we didn't get
any hits.
Mission #19 June 30, 1944 5½
hrs.
Pilot: Lt. Booth
Target: Airdrome,
Lagreb, Yugoslovia
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: Carried
frag bombs. Was
easy mission. Had
bad weather
over target.
Returned with bombs.
flak was light, no
fighters.
Mission #20
& 21 July
3, 1944 7 hrs.
Pilot: Lt. Booth
Target: Oil
storage, Giurgiu, Romania
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: Very
accurate flak. We
received several hits. Saw three
B-24's go down. One exploded. Most
of men bailed out. This was a double
(July
4th started to Rumania, but
made
an early return)
Mission 22 July
5, 1944 8 hrs.
Target: Submarine
pens, Tulon, France
Pilot: Lt. Booth
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: Had good
escorte. Flak was
very accurate over
target. We received
several small
hits.
Mission 23 July
8, 1944 6 hrs.
Pilot: Lt. Booth
Target:
Marshalling yds, Lagreb, Yugl
Pilot: Lt. Booth
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: Had no
escorte. Was a
diversionary
raid. Quite a bit of
flak. One piece
knocked out co-pilots
windshield,
scratching his face.
I picked up a
piece of flak inside
of plane that came
in near waist
gunners feet.
Mission #24
& 25 July
9, 1944 7 hrs.
Pilot: Lt. Booth
Target: Oil
refinery, Ploesti, Rumania
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: On take
off one engine
went haywire so we
landed, got
another ship and
completed mission.
flak was intense
and very accurate. We
lost no ships, but
some were
shot up pretty
bad. Saw some
enemy fighters,
but P-38's took
care of them.
Mission #26 July 14, 1944 7
hrs.
Pilot: Capt. Booth
Target:
Marshalling yds, Budapest, Hungary
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: Had good
fighter escorte.
flak was very
intense & accurate.
We received about
25 holes in
our ship, but none
serious.
Mission #27 July 15, 1944 7
hrs.
Pilot: Lt. Booth
Target: Oil
refinery, Ploesti, Rumania
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: Usual
heavy flak. lead
ship got a direct
hit & exploded.
Saw some enemy
fighters, but
wasn't attacked.
Mission #28 July 22, 1944 7
hrs.
Pilot: Capt. Booth
Target: Oil
refinery, Ploesti, Rumania
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: Same old
story. Heavy
flak, scared stiff
& missed target.
Mission #29
& 30 July
26, 1944 7 ½ hrs.
Pilot: Capt. Booth
Target: Aircraft
works, St. Poltem, Austria (Vieanna area)
Position: Waist
Remarks: Target
was overcast so we
bombed alternate
target.
Not much flak.
Saw some P-51's
& ME 109's
dogfighting. Saw three
planes go down.
lots of vapor
trails.
Mission #31 August 3, 1944 7 hrs.
Pilot: Capt. Booth
Target: Railroad
bridge, Brenner Pass, Itlay
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: Was
pretty easy mission
Saw a lot of flak
but it didn't
come near us. Had
P-38 escorte,
didn't see any
enemy fighters.
Mission #32 August 6, 1944 8 hrs.
Pilot: Capt. Booth
Target: Submarine
pens, Tulon, France
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: This was
a really rough
mission. Flak was
very accurate.
We got 160
207 flak holes in our plane.
Right waist gunner
was wounded
in back by flak,
not too serious.
Co-Pilots
rudder controls were
shot out, A-5 and
trim tabs were
also out. Had to
land at
Corsica on the way
home. Stayed
there one day to
get ship
repaired.
Returned home next
evening.
*
Mission #33 August 13, 1944 7
½ hrs.
Pilot: Capt. Booth
Target: Costal gun
emplacements on
Small island
just off the coast of France
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: Was very
easy mission
No fighters, no flak. good hits on
target
Mission #34 August 15, 1944 8
hrs.
Pilot: Capt. Booth
Target: Costal
defenses; Southern France
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: This was
D day for
the invasion of
southern France.
We took off at
2:30 A.M. and
arrived over the
target at dawn
We dropped our
bombs on the
beaches at 7:20
a.m. to clear the
way for the
invasion troops which
were to land at
7:30 AM. It
was really a sight
to see the
battleships
shelling the shore
and the landing
craft moving
in. Planes of
every description
were over the
area. We met
no opposition
whatsoever.
Mission #35
& 36 August
22, 1944 7 ½ hrs.
Pilot: Capt. Booth
Target:
Underground oil storage
plants near
Vieanna Austria
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: Rough
mission saw 1 B-24 Blow up
Flak was very
heavy, intense
& accurate.
Saw some dogfights, but met
no fighter
opposition. Had good escorte
Mission #37 August 24,
1944
Pilot: Capt. Booth
Target:
Marshalling yds., Vinkovic, Yugo.
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: This was
a divisonary
raid to draw
fighters so other
groups could hit
important
target farther
up. We had
no escorte, but
saw no fighters
& no flak over
target. Saw a little
flak on the way
back.
Mission #38 August 24,
1944
Pilot: Capt. Booth
Target:
Marshalling yds., Miskole, Hungary
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: Was very
easy mission.
Saw some flak over
target, but
made sharp bank to
right & missed
most of it. Had
P-38 escorte. saw
no fighters. This
was 50th for
Our engineer
finished today.
Mission #39 September 1, 1944 4
hrs.
Pilot: Capt. Booth
Target: Railroad
bridge, Kralijevo, Yugo.
Position: Waist
Remarks: Was very
easy mission
no fighters, no
flak. Made two
runs on target.
Our engineer finished 50 today.
Mission #40 September 2, 1944 4
½ hrs.
Pilot: Capt. Booth
Position: Tail
turret
Target:
Marshalling yds, Kralijevo, Yugo.
Remarks: Was
another easy
mission. Made
three runs on
the target. No
fighters, no flak.
Navigator finished
50 today.
Mission #41 September 4, 1944 6
hrs.
Pilot: Capt. Booth
Position: Tail
turret
Target: Trento,
Italy, Marshalling yds.
Remarks: I really
sweat this one
out. Flak was
very heavy and accurate
ship on our right
got a direct hit
in the bombays. I
saw two men
bail out ship went
down in flames
We had one engine
shot out.
Mission #42
& 43 September
12, 1944 7 ½ hrs.
Pilot: Lt. Martus
Target: AC engine
plant, Munich, Germany
Position: Tail
turret
Remarks: Saw a lot
of flak but, it
wasn't too
accurate. Got a few holes.
saw a dogfight on
the way to target
one fighter went
down.
We ran out of Gas
and landed
on an emergency
strip near
Ancona Itlay on
the way home.
had to stay all
night & returned
the next day.
Mission #44 September 15, 1944 5
hrs.
Pilot: Lt. Cope
Target:
Marshalling yds. in Greece
Position: Tail
turret
Remarks: flew over
target, but
was clouded over
so we returned
with our bombs.
Saw few bursts of flak
but no fighters.
Mission #45 September
17, 1944 6 hrs. 45 min.
Pilot: Lt. Cope
Target:
Marshalling yds. Budapest, Hungary
Position: Tail
turret
Remarks: Saw a lot
of flak
but it was very
inaccurate
had good escorte
of P-38's
Mission #46 September
18, 1944 6 hrs. 45 min.
Pilot: Lt. Cope
Target: R.R.
Bridge, Budapest
Position: Tail
turret
Remarks: Saw lots
of flak. Was
more accurate than
day before
but lost no
ships. Had P-51 escorte
Mission #47 September
21, 1944 5 hrs.
Pilot: Lt. Selleck
Target: R.R.
Bridge, Novistad, Yugoslavia
Waist gun
Remarks: Saw quite
a bit of
flak, but no
hits. had P-51
escorte. Was
pretty easy mission.
Mission #48 September
23, 1944 6 hrs. 45 m
Pilot: Lt. Lewis
Target: Ora R.R.
Bridge, Ora, Itlay (Brenner Pass)
Position: Waist
gun
Remarks: Went over
target, but
it was overcast so
we returned
with our bombs.
No flak, no fighters
but saw some flak
on way
back from target.
Mission #49 October
4, 1944 7 ¼ hr
Pilot: Lt. Cope
Target: R.R.
Bridge, Brenner Pass, Itlay
Position: Tail
turret
Remarks: Saw a lot
of flak, some
of it was pretty
close. Some
ships got several
hits. One man
in our squadron
was wounded.
Mission #50 October
11, 1944 6 hrs
Pilot: Lt. Cope
Target: Vieanna,
Austria
Position: Tail
turret
Remarks: Run into
bad weather
and had to return:
flew at
25000 ft. It was
35 degrees below zero
got single
credit. saw no flak
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