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HEADQUARTERS 722 BOMB SQ (H)
450 BOMB GP (H)
U. S. ARMY APO 520
March 10, 1944
SUBJECT: Historical Records.
TO: Commanding General, Fifteenth Air Force, Attention,
Historian (through channels)
1. Unit
history of the 722nd Bomb Squadron (H) for the period 1 February
1944 to 1 March 1944
a. The present designation of the
unit is 722nd Bomb Squadron (H), 450th Bomb Group (H).
b. Changes in organization.
(1) None.
(2) None.
(3) None.
(4) None.
c. Strength, Commissioned and
Enlisted.
(1) Month of February
(a)
At beginning – 475
(b)
Net Increase - -
(c)
Net decrease - 35
(d)
At end - 443
d. Station – A/B Manduria, Italy
e. Movements – None
f. Campaigns – None
g. Operations
(1) Number of Missions – 10; Sorties
– 118
(2) Principally attacks on M/Y and
A/D in Northern Italy, target at Anzio Beachhead, and fighter production
targets in Southern German.
(3) & (4) The "Big Three" in
missions for the month of February were carried out on the latter part of
February. On the 25 February 1944, we were part of a Wing formation of five (5)
heavy bombardment groups. The target for the day was the Prufening
Messerschmitt Aircraft Assembly Plant at Regensburg, Germany. This was a target
of high priority and of prime importance. Its destruction mollified a large
percentage of enemy single engine fighter production. By reconnaissance
photographs it was proved that the target was completely destroyed. Two of our
crews were missing, Lt Gillespie's crew and Lt Retzlaff. The only report that
the returning aircraft could give concerning these planes was that they fell
out of the formation. The numerous fighters and flak installations were keeping
them to busy. On 23 February 1944, the target was the important Aero Engine
Works at Steyr, Austria. Approximately fifty (50) fighters attacked the
formation between the IP and the target and our Squadron came through it all
without a loss. The target was hit but the results were not considered too
successful. On 22 February 1944, the target was the Obertraubling Aircraft
Factory, Regensburg, Germany. In spite of fighter interception and hindrance of
cloud cover the group placed fairly good hits on the target. F/O Vanderkamp's
crew were missing in action from this mission.
h. On 22 February, Major Orris,
Commanding Officer of the Squadron was leader of the Second Attack Unit of the
Group, the target was the Obertraubling Aircraft Factory, Regensburg, Germany.
In spite of fighter interception and hindrance of cloud cover his unit placed
fairly good hits on the target.
i. Losses in Action – Officers and
Men.
22 February 1944 Mission:
Regensburg, Germany.
Missing in Action:
F/O Vanderkamp, Walter P. S/Sgt
Berardi, Vito A
2nd Lt Kraus, Philip S/Sgt Wood, Adam E
2nd Lt Coyle, Charles S/Sgt Springer, Louis D
2nd Lt Prohm, William J
III S/Sgt Shatzer, George
S/Sgt Musich, August L S/Sgt Drury, Paul R.
25 February 1944 Mission
Regensburg, Germany
Missing in Action:
2nd Lt Gillespie, Bernard
J T/Sgt Martin, David J Jr
F/O Rzatkowski, Francis S Sgt Klinshaw, Benedict L
2nd Lt Retzlaff, Willie R S/Sgt Champagne, Alcide J
2nd Lt Parrish, William A S/Sgt Brazzle, William
2nd Lt Cooke, Harold L S/Sgt Grad, George G
2nd Lt Ryezek, John J S/Sgt Vance, Arthur R
2nd Lt Nisobinki, Edward
J S/Sgt Kemp, Fred B
2nd Lt McClure J C S/Sgt Booth, William J
S/Sgt McClallan, Lucius W Sgt Flora, Raymond W
S/Sgt Wilch, Herbert N S/Sgt Greinert, Hugo L
j. Members who have distinguished
themselves.
Award of the Purple Heart:
Andrew A. Anzo, S/Sgt
Wounds – 14 February 1944, Mission
to Verona M/Y
Hermann, Edward F S/Sgt
Wounds – 14 February 1944, Mission
to Verona M/Y
Jack M Perkins, T/Sgt
Wounds – 14 February 1944, Mission
to Verona M/Y
Walter S Johnson, S/Sgt
Wounds – 29 February 1944, Mission
to Steyr, Austria
Melvin C Hellen
Wounds – 29 February 1944, Mission
to Steyr, Austria
Award of Distinguished Flying Cross
William Brazzle, S/Sgt
Joseph T Atterberry, S/Sgt
Harold J Saperstein, S/Sgt
Charles R White, S/Sgt
David J Martin, S/Sgt
Woodrow W Tatman, S/Sgt
Anthony J Vola, S/Sgt
Morris Spector, T/Sgt
Lucius W Spector, T/Sgt
Charles P Lehman, 1st Lt
The above named men were awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in
aerial flight on the 25 February 1944 on a raid on the Prufening Messerschmitt
Aircraft Assembly Plant Regensburg, Germany.
2. Enclosed
is the War Diary of this unit for the period 1 February 1944 to 1 March 1944.
For the Commanding Officer:
JULES J L HESSEN
2nd Lt, Air Coprs
Squadron Historian
1 Incl – War Diary
WAR DIARY
722ND Bomb Sq (H)
10 March 1944
The first
two days of the month of February there was very little activity. The weather
was wet and it was hard to believe that we were in "Sunny Italy".
On 3
February, the first operational mission of the month was flown. The planes of
our Squadron that participated were flown by Lts Anderson, Caldwell, Nolte,
McLaughlin, Ferry, Sharff and Flight Officers Weathermon and Word. Our Squadron
Commander, Major Orris led our formation. A total of 27 tons of Demolition
bombs were dropped by this Squadron. A solid undercast prevented bombing the
primary target and all planes bombed Stimigliano M/Y. No accurate observations
as to hits were made and no photos were available. Flak was heavy, of slight
intensity and inaccurate. There were no enemy aircraft encountered and the
mission was flown without a fighter escort. All planes and crews returned to
the base safely.
Due to the
wet weather and the consequent unserviceable condition of the runway no
missions were flown on the 4, 5, 6 and 7 February. In the afternoon of Sunday 6
February, the Squadron and the remainder of the Group personnel drilled in the
rain for 45 minutes. This drilling for Officers and Em was prompted by the
apparent lack of military courtesy and customs of the service. It is needless
to mention that a decided improvement was forthcoming.
On the 8
February, fragmentation loads, 20 clusters of 6 frags, were carried to an enemy
airdrome at Tarquinia, Italy. Undercast skies caused difficulty for observation
and bombing.
A stage
show was held in Oria for the Group personnel on 9 February, the third stage
show since our arrival to this area. It was a show featuring Italian talent.
The singing and dancing girls were especially well received.
A mission
was planned to attempt to support the ground troops on the Anzio Beachhead on
10 February. The objective was to destroy enemy supply stores at Valmontone,
Italy. Due to a solid undercast bombing was prevented and bombs were returned
to the base.
The 11, 12
and 13 February found the weather wet and cold and consequently no missions
were run. On the 14 February we returned to Verona M/Y Italy. The planes of our
Squadron were flown by Lts Caldwell, Brunner, Sharff, Gillespie, and Anderson
and F/O Word. Major Orris, our Squadron Commander, led the formation. Six
planes dropped approximately 30 tons of demolition bombs and one plane returned
early. All of our aircraft returned safely to the base but a number of men
suffered from frostbite. All members suffered from the cold that was recorded
as being 60% below zero, fahrenheit.
The
officers were subjected to a very welcome changed on this date. The squadron
officers started to mess with the Squadron. They found the food better prepared
by the squadron cooks then it had been in the Group Mess.
The weather
was again wet and cold on the 15 February and there was no squadron activity.
The Target attacked on 16 February was the Marshalling Yards at Pontasieve,
Italy. Our planes were flown by Lts Dawkins, Anderson, Nolte, Maddus,
McLaughlin, Ferry, King, Stripp, Retzlaff and F/O Weathermon. Our Squadron led
the group with Colonel Mills in the lead ship. 120 X 500 GPS were dropped on
the target and one plane jettisoned 12 in the sea.
For the 17
February the mission was directed against the Marshalling Yards at Marino,
Italy. The bomb load was 12 X 500 General Purpose Bombs. Ten planes dropped
bombs on the target area and one plane returned early.
For the 18,
19, 20 and 21 February, the weather continued to be bad with a low overcast and
missions were not flown. Classes were held in the S-2 "War Room" on Armament
and Ordnance on the 19 February. These classes were for the combat personnel
and were conducted by officers of the Fifteenth Air Force. The EAME Theatre
ribbons were issued on 20 February to the Squadron personnel. On the 21
February the first group of combat men went to rest camps at the Isle of Capri
and San Cesario.
On the 22
February the group made its first raid into Germany. The planes of our Squadron
participating were flown by Lts Stripp, Retzlaff, Nolte, Gillespie, Maddus, and
Flight Officers Weathermon and Vanderkamp and were led by Major Orris. The
target was the Messerschmitt Assembly Plant located at the Airdrome near
Regensburg Obertraubling, Germany. This Squadron dropped 21 tons of General
Purpose Bombs. Broken undercast made observation difficult but photo
reconnaissance showed good coverage on the target. Sgts Melvin Hellem and
Walter Johnston were hospitalized due to flak. F/O Vanderkamp's plane was
missing in action. This was a very important mission and was also the longest
mission the Group had flown. There was no fighter escort on the trip up and
enemy fighters were encountered in the target area.
The second
in the "Big Three" of February came on 23 February. The target being the Aero
Engine Works at Steyr, Austria. The planes of our Squadron were flown by Lts
Nolte, Maddux, Caldwell, King, McLaughlin, Sharff, and F/O Word and Weathermon.
The eight planes dropped over 90 X 500 GP's on the target. Enemy fighters
jumped the formation about 15 minutes after target time, but all of our planes
returned safely to the base.
After
relaxing on 24 February, the last raid of February was an excellent one. Lt Col
Gideon, Deputy Group Commander led the Wing and Group on this mission to
Prufening Aircraft Factory at Regensburg, Germany. Col Gideon received the
"Silver Star" for his gallantry and leadership in action on this very
successful raid.
The planes
of our Squadron were flown by Lts Maddux, King, Brusek, Caldwell, Stripp,
McLaughlin, Gillespie, Retzlaff and F/O Word. The bomb load was 12 X 500 GP's
for this ME 109 Plant. Nine planes of ours were over the target. Lts Gillespie
and Retzlaff planes went down over Yugoslavia. More than 40 tons of bombs were
dropped on target and observations as well as photographs showed excellent
results.
There
weren't any missions on 26 and 27 February. The weather was very wet causing
the runway to be in an unserviceable condition, On the 27 February we became
known as the "white tailed boys" in a German propaganda broadcast. Thus the
White Tailed Liberators became our trademark on this date.
On the 28
February a Group formation was held and the entire personnel was assembled for
an address by Colonel Johns S. Mills. Col Mills first read some notes of
commendation received from General Eakers, Spaatz and Atkins. The Colonel said
we would put more white on the tails to make the Hun squeal louder.
The 29
February proved to be nothing but an extra day due to adverse weather.
JULES
J L HESSEN
2nd
Lt, Air Corps
Squadron
Historian
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