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HEADQUARTERS 722ND BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H), AAF
450TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H), AAF
APO 520 US ARMY 6: RBJ/wej
10 February 1944
SUBJECT: Historical Records.
THROUGH: Commanding Officer, 450th Bombardment Group
(H), AAF, APO 520, U. S. Army.
TO: Commanding General, Fifteenth Air Force, APO 520, U. S.
Army Attention: Historian.
1. Unit
history of the 722nd Bombardment Squadron (H), for the period 1
January 1944 to 1 February 1944.
a.
The present designation of the unit is 722nd Bombardment Squadron (H),
450th
Bombardment Group (H).
b.
Changes in organization:
(1) None.
(2) None.
(3) None.
(4) Second Lieutenant Arnold I. Daniels
appointed "Squadron Engineering Officer" vice Second Lieutenant Herman Zoweder,
Special Order Number 25, 18 January 1944.
c.
Strength, Commissioned and Enlisted:
(1)
Month of February 1944
(a)
At beginning – 476
(b)
Net increase - 0
(c)
Net decrease - 1
(d)
At end - 475
d.
Station – Airbase, Manduria, Italy.
e.
Movements – None.
f.
Campaigns – None.
g.
Operations:
(1)
Number of missions – 18. Sorties: 123.
(2)
Principally attacks on Marshalling Yards and Airdromes in Northern Italy and
production targets in Southern German.
(3)
The missions for the month were short and flak was the main resistance encountered.The
most successful mission of the month was carried out on 27 January 1944 against
the Istras – LeTube Airdrome in France. There was no fighter opposition but the
flak was heavy, intense and very accurate. The target was well covered by bomb
hits as was evident in pictures taken. The group received a commendation from
Major General Twining for a mission well carried out.
h.
None.
i.
Losses in action – Enlisted Men:
24
January 1944, Mission: Sofia Vrazhdebra Airdrome, Bulgaria.
Missing
in Action: Corporal Theodore J. Votoe, 31319429.
j.
Members who have distinguished themselves – None.
2. Enclosed
is the War Diary of this unit for the period, 1 January 1944 to 1 February
1944.
For
the COMMANDING OFFICER:
JULES
J. L. HESSEN
2d
Lt., Air Corps,
Squadron
Historian.
1 Incl: War Diary.
ass=MsoNormal>WAR DIARY
722ND BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H)
January 8
On this
date the group went on its first mission. The target for the day was the
airdrome at Mostar, Yugoslavia. The 722 Squadron did not participate in it, our
planes were being readied for missions to come.
January 9
On this
date the group went on its second mission. Seven aircraft of the 722nd
Squadron set out with the group to bomb the factories in the city of Zara,
Yugoslavia. Due to the solid overcast over the target area the bombs were
salvoed in the Adriatic Sea. There was no flak or enemy aircraft encountered.
January 10
This was
the third mission for the group – the target being the marshalling yards at
Skoplje, Yugoslavia. Colonel Mills led the group while Major Orris led our
squadron's nine places. Our planes dropped 18 ½ tons of bombs on the target
area. Flak was encountered over Duraggo, Albania on route in and route out, but
there was no flak or enemy aircraft at target area. All planes and personnel
returned safely to base.
January 11
This was a
non-operational day for the entire group.
January 12
This was a
non-operational day for the entire group.
January 13
Another
group mission was flown on this date with ten of our planes participating.
Major Orris led our element to the target Perugia A/D, Italy. Our planes
carried a total of 22 ½ tons of demolition bombs. Visibility over the target
was very poor due to haze and clouds and bombs did not drop on target. Flak was
encountered over Assissi, Foligno and Val Fabbrica, which was accurate, but of
moderate intensity. On this mission enemy fighters were encountered. F/O Word's
plane was attacked by ME 109's but no damage was done.
January 14
Another
mission took off on the morning of this date, the target being Mostar A/D,
Yugoslavia. Ten planes flown by Major Orris, Lts. Ferry, Retzlaff, Scharf,
Caldwell, Vanderkamp, Dawkins, Gillespie, Stripp, King and F/O Word. Retzlaff
and Scharf returned early, both ships had trouble with the superchargers.
January 15
This date
another group mission was carried out and the 722nd Squadron
contributed 8 planes. The aircraft were flown by Major Orris, Lts. Ferry,
Brusek, Gillespie, Weathermon, Maddux, Anderson and Dawkins.
The target
for this mission was the M/Y at Prato, Italy, but the target was not located
and 15 tons of bombs from our planes were dropped on town destroying some
military installations.
P-38's of
the 82nd Fighter Group provided the escort. There was no flak or
enemy aircraft encountered and there were no early returns.
January 16
The 722nd
Squadron again took part in a group mission over enemy territory. On this day
being represented by nine planes flown by Retzlaff, Dawkins, Anderson,
Caldwell, Maddux, Sharff. The target for the day was Ossopo A/D, Italy but our
planes bombed the alternate target of Zara, Yugoslavia with excellent results.
Direct hits were scored on harbor installations, 1 ship and 1 building. 16 tons
of bombs were dropped.
Light flak
encountered modest to slight intensity. Group was attacked by 35/40 FW 190's
but none of our A/C were damaged by flak or enemy A/C. There was no fighter
escort on this mission and 3 of our planes returned early.
All were in
fine spirit when they landed. This mission was a real success with plenty of
photos as proof.
January 17
On this
date the M/Y at Arrezo, Italy was the target. Our formation was led by Colonel
Mils with the other planes of our squadron flown by Word, Maddux, Retzlaff,
Dawkins, Ferry, King, Nolte. There was one early return and the remaining ships
jettisoned their bombs in the Adriatic due to a complete undercast at target
area. No flak or enemy fighters were encountered. The group was not given
credit for this mission.
January 18
The target
for today was the M/Y at Pisa, Italy. Major Gideon led our formation consisting
of nine planes flown by Lts. Nolte, Rzatkowski, Retzlaff, King, Word, Ferry,
Anderson, and Maddux. Twenty tons of bombs were dropped by our squadron on the
target with excellent results. The group was escorted by P-38's from the 82nd
Fighter Group. Some flak was encountered near the target but no damage was done
and no enemy aircraft were encountered.
January 19
On this
date seven men from the Squadron were put on detached service to act as
Military Police in the nearby towns. Our squadron contributed nine planes for
the group's tenth mission. The planes were flown by Caldwell, King, Stripp,
Vanderkamp, Brusek, Sharff, Weathermon, Retzlaff and Major Orris, who led the
formation.
The target
was the Perugia A/D but due to the 449th Group, that was leading on
this mission, not turning inland on course threw the 450th off
course, and the 450th bombed the alternate target of Iesi A/D, Italy
instead.
Flak was
seen coming from the A/D at Iesi, Italy. It was a heavy type, moderate and
inaccurate. The 82nd Fighter Group provided the P-38 escort. There were no
encounters with enemy aircraft. The 722nd Squadron dropped 22 ½ tons
of demolition bombs with fair results.
January 20
The
eleventh mission of the group was carried out on this date and the target for
this mission was the A/D at Guidonia, Italy. Colonel Mills led the group and
our planes were flown by Lts. Ferry, Maddus, Retzlaff, Stripp, King, Rzatkowski
and F/O Word. 720 fragmentation bombs were dropped on the target. The target
was covered with snow, but hits were scored on runways and dispersal area. The
heaviest flak ever encountered heretofore was met over the target probably
being 105MM. P-38's form the 82nd Fighter Group provided the escort.
There were no encounters.
January 21
The 722nd
again took to the air to participate with the Group on its tenth mission. The
target was the M/Y at Prato, Italy. The planes from this Squadron were flown by
Lts. Caldwell, Dawkins, King, Word, Nolte and Major Orris. Caldwell's plane
returned early and the remaining planes dropped 15 tons of bombs but the
results could not be observed. The 82nd Fighter Group furnished P-38
escort. No flak or enemy aircraft were encountered on this mission. All
aircraft and personnel returned safely back to the base.
January 22
On this day
the 722nd Squadron participated in the 12th mission of
the group. The Arezzo M/Y afforded the target for the day's mission. The planes
were flown by Lts. Vanderkamp, Maddux, Nolte, Caldwell, Dawkins, Sharff, King
and Rzatkowski. 20 tons of bombs were dropped on the target. A heavy
concentration of hits were claimed but observation was limited because of
clouds. This mission was in support of ground forces who were establishing a
beachhead at Anzio, Italy.
Heavy flak, slight and inaccurate were encountered over the
target. No enemy fighters were encountered.
January 23
The 14th
mission of the group was two landing strips 10 miles east of Rome and the
secondary target the A/D at Rieti, Italy. Our planes were flown by Lts. Gillespie,
Ferry, Brusek, Vanderkamp, Anderson, Stripp, Weathermon, Ward, Retzlaff, and
Major Orris. This squadron dropped 30 tons of bombs on the secondary target due
to the fact that the primary target was completely overcast. There was no
fighter escort on this mission. Heavy flak, moderate and accurate was
encountered. No enemy fighters were met up with.
January 24
Early on
the morning of this date nine planes of our Squadron took off to participate
with the Group on another mission. The planes on this mission were flown by
King, Gillespie, Caldwell, Anderson, Weathermon, Ferry, Word, Nolte and Major
Orris. Finding the primary target, Sofia Vrazhdebra A/D, Bulgaria covered by clouds
the Group went on to bomb the secondary target, M/Y at Skoplje, Yugoslavia. The
target was well covered by hits which included the town area, M/Y and the A/D.
Fighters from the 82nd Fighter Group provided the P-38 escort. Heavy
flak, moderate and accurate was encountered.
January 25
There was
no mission on this date and the planes were being processed for future
missions.
January 26
Life was
just about the same in the Squadron on this date. There was no mission
scheduled. This was the day the first outdoor movie was held for the entire
group.
January 27
Another
Group mission took off on the morning of this date and the target for this
mission was the A/D of Istres/LeTube in France. The planes of this Squadron
were flown by Lts. Rzatkowski, Retzlaff, Dawkins, Stripp, Word, Nolte, King,
and Major Orris. Two planes returned early and the rest dropped 18 tons of
bombs on the target.
The bombers
were escorted by P-38's of the 82nd Fighter Group the Group received
a commendation from Major General Twining for the success of this mission.
Heavy flak, intense and accurate was encountered over the target. No enemy
planes were encountered and all of our planes returned safely.
January 28
The
seventeenth Group mission took off on the morning of this date. The target for
today was the Marshalling Yards at Ferrara, Italy. The planes on this mission
of our Squadron were flown by Anderson, Vanderkamp, Maddux, Sharff, Ferry,
Gillespie and Major Orris. This Squadron dropped a total of 21 tons of bombs on
the target. Not all the bombs hit in the M/Y as a few were in the town area.
There was no fighter escort on this date. All planes and personnel returned
safely from this mission. There were no encounters with enemy planes.
January 29
On the
morning of this date the planes of the 722nd Squadron went on the
Groups 18th mission. Our planes were flown by Lts. Maddux, King,
Shain, Sharff, Weathermon, Caldwell, Vanderkamp, Word and Bruner. The target
was the M/Y at Siena, Italy and this Squadron dropped 21 tons on ETA through a
solid undercast. Results could not be ascertained because of the clouds. There
was not fighter escort on this mission. No flak or enemy aircraft were
encountered and all crews and planes returned safely to base.
January 30
On this
date the 19th Group mission took off loaded with fragmentation bombs
for the Udine A/D in Italy. The planes of our Squadron were flown by Major
Orris, Stripp, Anderson, Brusek, Bruner, Dawkins, Word, Nolte. This Squadron
dropped 18.4 tons of bombs on target. Hits were observed on administration
bldg, barracks, hangars, and runway.
January 31
The 722nd
took to the air again on the group's 20th mission the planes of our
Squadron were flown by Lts. Vanderkamp, Sharff, Weathermon, Ferry, Brusek,
Dawkins, Caldwell, and Maddux but Vanderkamp and Sharff returned early.
A total of
18 tons of bombs were dropped on the target by our Squadron., The target was
the Aviano A/D, Italy. Bomb photos showed that the area was well-covered with
hits on the administration bldg, north hangar and the SW part of the landing
ground.
Some flak
was encountered it was heavy, medium to intense, and accurate. All A/C returned
safely but with some flak holes. There was no fighter escort on this mission
and five to Six enemy fighters made four attacks on the group formation.
The
Squadron turned out practically in full on this date to be present at the
theatre in Oria, where Joe E Brown, the screen and stage comedian was
entertaining.
JULES
J. L. HESSEN
2nd
Lt. Air Corps
Squadron
Historian
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