31 March 1944

SUBJECT: Historical Records

TO: Commanding General, Fifteenth Air Force, Attention Historian (Through Channels)

1. Unit history of the 720^th Bombardment Squadron (H) for the period 1 February to 29 February 1944.

          A. The present designation of the unit is 720^th Squadron, 450^th Bombardment Group (H) 47^th Wing, 15^th Air Force, United States Army.

          B. Changes in Organization:

                   1). No Change in Designation of Unit.

                   2). No Transfer of Units.

                   3). Captain Gordon T. Colley appointed Squadron Commander per paragraph 4 special orders no 11, HQ 450^th Bomb GP (H), dated 3 February 1944.

                   4). 1^st Lt. Robert W. Edwards appointed S-3 per paragraph 1 Squadron orders No 4, HQ 720^th Bomb SQ (H), dated 27 February 1944.

          C. Strength, Commissioned and Enlisted.

                   1). Month of February 1944

                   A). At Beginning: 465

                   B). Increase            2

                   C). Decrease         25

                   D). At End            442

          D. Manduria, Italy, #25 Army Air Base.

          E. No movement of organization in February.

          F. Campaigns:

                   1). Italian

                   2). Duration: From 2 January 1944, still in progress.

          G. Operations:

                   1). Nine (9) missions flown for seventy-five (75) sorties.

                   2). The 720^th Squadron participated in four missions against marshalling yards in Italy with 500 lb general purpose bombs. One fragmentation mission was flown to Tarquinia, Italy, Airdrome. One mission was attempted against enemy supply stores for troops opposing the Anzio beachhead; this mission, though it drew enemy fire, was unsuccessful due to a solid undercast which prevented bombing. Two missions were flown to the aircraft factories at Regensburg, Germany and one to the aircraft factory at Steyr, Austria.

          3). The important missions of the month were carried out on 22, 23 and 35 February. On the first date, the squadron with nine planes, dropped 108 X  500 general purpose bombs on the Regensburg/Obertraubling Messerschmitt Aircraft Assembly Plant. On 23 February the Squadron with five planes, dropped 60 X 500 general purpose bombs on the Aero-Engine Works at Steyr, Austria. On the 25^th of February eight aircraft of the 720^th dropped 96 X 500 general purpose bombs on the Prufening Messerschmitt 109 plant at Regensburg, Germany. In all, thirty-two (32) officers and enlisted men made all these three important missions. The targets were well covered on these three missions.

          4). On 22 February the Squadron was subjected to attack by enemy single engine aircraft on approaching Regensburg. The attacks were made from high to level, from six to nine o'clock, and were aggressive. Our gunners destroyed two enemy aircraft and probably destroyed three enemy aircraft. All our aircraft retuned to base. The Germans again attacked as we were over the target at Steyr, Austria, on 23 February. The attacks were from high, level, and low from one to eleven o'clock. These single engine fighters attacks were again aggressive and broke down after attacks. Two enemy aircraft were destroyed and four probably destroyed. All our aircraft returned to base. One of our aircraft is presumed to have been lost to heavy, intense, accurate flak over the target at Prufening, Regensburg, Germany. This was on 25 February. The aircraft bombed the target and kept formation but was abandoned over northern Yugoslavia when ten chutes were seen from the plane. Enemy fighters did not engage our Squadron on this mission.  

          H. Lt Colonel Robert W. Gideon, Deputy Group Commander, led the 47^th Wing and our Group on the mission against Prufening/Regensburg Aircraft Factory, on 25 February. First Lieutenant Robert L. Brown and First Lieutenant Rolland R. Carr, Squadron Navigator and Bombardier, respectively, were working with Colonel Gideon in the lead plane.

          I. Losses in Action:

          1). 1^ST Lt John C. Giraudo became mission in action during the raid on Regensburg, Germany, on 25 February. The following list of names are those of his crew who are also missing in action: 1^st Lt Monroe (NMI) Sachs, 2^nd Lt Franklin A. Sherrill, 2^nd Lt Edward J. Pomerville, T/Sgt William C. Brown, S/Sgt Frank (NMI) Gentile, T/Sgt John (NMI) Manak, S/Sgt Edwin F. Grazwa, T/Sgt Charles F. Barr, T/Sgt Russell C Privateer, and PFC James B. Arlington.

          2). 2^nd Lt William B. Cranston also became missing in action during the raid on Regensburg, Germany on 25 February. Following is the list of his crew members who are also missing in action: 2^nd Lt Frank W Molina, 2^nd Lt Joseph J. Craves, 2^nd Lt Arlie L. Brown, S/Sgt Albert L. Thomplon, T/Sgt Hugh A. Neely, S/Sgt Ryan D. Harper, Sgt Arbrey H. Geiger Jr., and S/Sgt Jon J O'Hara.  

          J. Awards:

          1). S/Sgt Arlie L. Griffin, S/Sgt James E. Strickland, Sgt Ralph Heyman, and Sgt Joseph A. Mandanyohl were awarded the order of the Purple Heart for wounds received during the mission to Verona, Marshalling Yards, Italy, on 14 February 1944.

          2). T/Sgt Vernon L. Johnson, T/Sgt Dominique Juneau, S/Sgt Julio Castro, S/Sgt Thomas W. Netherton and S/Sgt Harold J. Violett were awarded the order of the Purple Heart for wounds received during the mission to Regensburg Obertrubling Aircraft Factory on 22 February 1944.

          Enclosed is the War Diary of the Unit from the period 1 February to 29 February 1944.

Walter T. Malcolm

1^st Lt, Air Corps

Asst Squadron S-2

720^TH WAR DIARY FOR FEBRUARY, 1944

          Our Group Commander, Col. John S. Mills., and his staff and approximately sixty-five (65) officers and enlisted men of the squadron attended the funeral of Capt. Cark J. Wicks. Our former Commander was buried at Bari, Italy, in the afternoon of 1 February. Chaplain Paul M. Stevens conducted the service held at the grave. No mission was flown on this date.

          There was no mission on 2 February. The best thing which happened this day was the removal of the squadron kitchen from a tent into a former Italian kitchen. Food started a gradual improvement from this date.

          The first operational mission of the month was conducted on 3 February. A 12 X 500 general purpose load was taken to the ,marshalling yards at Pontassieve, Italy. Three (3) squadron planes unloaded on the town, four (4) hit the target, and one (1) dropped on a target of opportunity. Capt. Gordon T. Colley assumed duties as Squadron Commander relieving 2^nd Lt. Ernest F. John, who had been acting Squadron Commander for Capt. Wicks. Our new Squadron Commander had a separate meeting with staff officers and enlisted men to discuss future policy. Capt. Colley expressed satisfaction with the functioning of the various sections and asked that they carry on as they had performed for Capt. Wicks.

          No missions were run on 4, 5, 6 and 7 February due to wet weather and the consequent unserviceable condition of the runway. On 4 February the squadron was pad for the month of January. In the afternoon of Sunday, 6 February, squadron and group personnel drilled in the rain and mud for forty-five minutes. This "exercise period", for officers and enlisted men, l was occasioned by a very apparent lack of military courtesy and customs of the service. This "reminder" brought about a decided improvement. 

          A fragmentation load, 20 clusters of 6 frags, were carried to an enemy airdrome at Tarquinia, Italy on 8 February. Three planes hit the primary target, three hit an alternate target, and three jettisoned. One of the latter was an early return. Undercast skies caused difficulties for observation and bombing. 

          The third stage show for group personnel was held in the Oria theater on 9 February. The "S.R.O. Sign" was out for this show featuring Italian talent. Especially well-received were the singing and dancing girls. Regardless of the opinions of some persons, acclaim of the audiences indicates that dancing and singing girls are the best entertainment for the greater number.

          A mission was attempted in support of the troops on the Anzio Beachhead on 10 February. The objective was to destroy enemy supply stores at Valmontone, Italy. Eleven planes brought back their 12 X 500 G.P. bomb loads, one in an early return. A solidly undercast sky prevented bombing coupled with the fact that friendly troops were close by the target.

          The weather waw wet and cold on 11, 12 and 13 February and no missions were run. We retuned to marshalling yards on 14 February. The 12 X 500 G.P. bomb load was taken that day to Verona, Italy.
Six planes dropped twenty-two (22) bombs on the primary target, one dropped eight (8) on the target and jettisoned four (4), one plane brought back twelve (12), and one plane jettisoned twelve (12) in an early return caused by malfunction in #3 engine. Crews complained on this raid because there was no apparent reason for staying at altitude for such a long period. The severe sub-zero temperatures at altitude hospitalized seven enlisted crewmen upon the return form this missions. On this date a very welcome change was mad in squadron officers messing facilities. Our officers started to mess with the squadron in a mess hall adjoining the kitchen. The officers found the food much better prepared by squadron cooks than it had been in the group officers' mess.

          The weather was wet and cold on 15 February and there was no squadron activity. The target attacked, on 16 February, was the yards at Pontassieve, Italy. Nine planes dropped 108 X 500 G.P.'s on the target and one plane dropped 12 X 500 on an alternate target. Two enlisted crewmen were hospitalized for frostbite after this raid.

          The mission for 17 February was directed against marshalling yards at Marino, Italy. The bomb load was 12 X 500 general purpose bombs. Seven planes dropped bombs on the target area, one dropped ten and later jettisoned two, and two brought back bombs in early returns.

          The weather continued bad with low overcast and missions were not run on 18, 19, 20 and 21 February. On the 19^th classes were held in S-2 on armament and ordnance. These classes were for combat personnel and were conducted by officers from the 15^th Air Force. EAME Theater ribbons were issued on 20
February to squadron personnel. It was being rumored about that bronze stars would be authorized for the Italian Campaign, to wear on these ribbons. On 22
February the first group of combat men went to rest camp at the Isle of Capri, and San Cesario.

          The first raid into Germany was made on 22 February. Nine planes dropped bombs on the Regensburg Obertraubling aircraft factory in Germany. The bomb load was 12 X 500 G.P. bombs. Broken undercast made observation difficult but photo reconnaissance showed good coverage on the target. Lt. Reaford McCraw brought his plane back badly shot up and three of his crew were hospitalized. Two of his enlisted crew were wounded when enemy aircraft attacked the plane. One enlisted, member of the crew was hospitalized by frostbite. Lt. Dalton Smith and his crew were forced by gas shortage, to abandon their plane near Viesta, Italy. Lt. Smith was hospitalized when he baled out from 400' after his crew had left the plane. The aircraft was demolished and Lt. Smith took up with "Banana Boat III". The crew were all safe.

          The second in this "big three of February" came on 23 February. The target this day was the Aero-Engine Works at Steyr, Austria. Eight of our planes were scheduled to participate in this successful raid with 12 X 500 G.P.'s. 2^nd Lt. William Cranston could not get off because of a gas leak. Sixc planes dropped bombs on the target, one brought bombs back when they could not be released over the targt, and one jettisoned in an early return. Fighter opposition was aggressive but our planes all came back.

          After a days respite on 24 February, the last raid of February was a fine one. On 25 Februray Alt. Col. Gideon, Deputy Group Cammander, led the wing and group on this mission to Prufening aircraft factory at Regensburg,. Ger,amy. Col. Gideon received the "Silver Star" for his gallantry and leadership on this very successful raid. 1^st Lt. Robert Brown and 1^st Lt. Rolland R. Carr, squadron navigator and bombardier, respectively, were riding with Col. Gideon in the lead plane. The bob load was 12 X 500 G.P.'s for this ME 109 plant. Six planes were over and hit the target, two jettisoned in early returns, and one plane did not reach the target and is missing. This latter plane was piloted by 2^nd Lt. William R. Cranston and turned back near Munich with one engine feathered. There was some observation that the aircraft took up a heading for Switzerland. The plane appeared in good condition and no enemy fighters were in the vicinity. The aircraft piloted by 2^nd Lt. Donald Bechtel had one engine shot out by flak and did not reach the target. He turned back near Munich and landed at San Severo, Italy. All the crew were safe. 1^st Lt. John C. Giraudo took his plane over the target and kept formation until over Partisan occupied Yugoslavia. At that time, then parachutes were seen from his aircraft. Eleven men had been on this plane; one being a group photographer.  

          There were no missions on 26 and 27 February. The weather was very wet and the runway in unserviceable condition as a consequence. On the latter date we became the "white-tailed boys" in a German propaganda broadcast. The white tail became our trademark on this date. 1^st Lt. Robert W. Edwards was appointed Operations Officer to succeed 1^st Lt. Monroe Sachs, missing in action; and 2^nd Lt. Dalton V. Smith became Flight Commander in the stead of 1^st Lt. John C. Giraudo, missing in action.

          A group formation n 28 February was addressed by our Group Commander, Col. John S. Mills. Col. Mills first read notes of commendation received form Generals Eaker, Spaatz and Atkinson. Col. Mills then addressed the entire group in a congratulatory message. The Colonel said we would put on white on the tails to,make the Hun squeal louder. He expressed alarm at the increase of venereal disease and asked that personnel keep free for, infection in their duty as soldiers.

          The "extra day" of the month was just that; no mission was run on 29 February because of adverse weather.

          Missing in action for February are: 1^st Lt. John C. Giraudo, flight commander; 1^st Lt. Monroe Sachs, squadron operations officer; 2^nd Lt. Franklin Sherrill, navigator; 2^nd Lt. Edward J. Pomerville, bombardier; T/Sgt William C. Brown, T/Sgt John Manak, T/Sgt Russell Privateer, T/Sgt Charles F. Barr, S/Sgt Edwin F. Gryzwa, and S/Sgt Frank Gentile: 2^nd Lt. William, R. Cranston, pilot: 2^nd Lt. Frank W. Molina, co-pilot; 2^nd Lt. Joseph J. Oravec, navigator; 2^nd Lt. Arlie L. Brown, bombardier; S/Sgt Albert L. Thompson, S/Sgt Hugh A. Neely, Sgt. Aubrey H. Geiger, S/Sgt John J. O'Hara., and S/Sgt Ryan D. Harper. Wounded in action were Sgts. Domonic Juneau and Dominic Violett.

Walter T. Malcolm

1^st Lt, Air Corps

Asst. S-2