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HEADQUARTERS 722 BOMB SQ (H)
450 BOMB GP (H)
U. S. ARMY APO 520
10 April 1944
SUBJECT: Historical Record.
TO: Commanding General, Fifteenth Air Force, Attention,
Historian (through channels)
1. Unit
history of the 722nd Bombardment Squadron (H) for the period 1 March
1944 to 1 April 1944.
a.
The present designation of the unit is the 722nd Bombardment Squadron (H), 450th
Bombardment Group (H), 47th Bombardment Wing (H).
b.
Changes in Organization.
(1)
None.
(2)
None.
(3)
None.
(4)
None.
c.
Strength, Commissioned and Enlisted
Enlisted
Men Officers
(1)
a. At beginning 369 74
b. Net Increase 16 5
c. Net Decrease - -
d. At End 385 79
d.
Station, Army Air Base, Manduria, Italy
e.
Movements. None.
f.
Campaigns. None.
g.
Operations.
(1)
Number of Missions 9 Sorties
86
(2)
Principal targets that were located in Austria, Bulgaria, Northern Italy,
Southern France with aircraft factories, A/C Bearing Plants, submarine
facilities, airdromes and Marshalling Yards as the objectives.
(3
& 4) An important mission took place on 19 March 1944. The target was the
Steyr Watzergerwerk Ball Bearing Plant, Austria. The formation did not reach
Steyr and dropped their bombs on the secondary target, Graz, Austria. The
results of the bombing was a good concentration of bombs hits on factory
buildings located in the Southwest corner of Graz. There was one large fire
started and all of our aircraft returned safely to base. On the 28 March 1944
that portion of the target, Mestre M/Y, assigned to our group was squarely hit
with a concentration of bombs across the aiming point. A large fire was visible
in the center of the aiming point indicating the destruction of oil and
gasoline cars and the entire area was covered with smoke.
h.
Commanding Officer in import operations. None.
i. Losses
in Action.
Mission,
Toulon submarine Pens, France, 11 March 1944
2nd
Lt Frank A Brusek S/Sgt
Eugene DiGiovanni
2nd
Lt Wm. R. Wright Jr. S/Sgt
John A. Blaszczak
2nd
Lt Strathie, Arthur R S/Sgt
Roy M. Gaertig
2nd
Lt Frederick W. Wheary S/Sgt Thomas F.
Gamble
S/Sgt
James M. Reese T/Sgt
Edward J. Sullivan
Mission,
Rimmini M/Y, Italy, 24 March 1944
Capt
Clay Bullis 2nd
Lt. Joseph D. Anderson
2nd
Lt Wm. J. Schmidt 2nd
Lt. Albert W. Cox
2nd
Lt Joseph F. Tubes 2nd
Lt. John P Dowiak 2d
2nd
Lt Joseph E. McCahill 2nd
Lt. Michael Grofik
S/Sgt
Milton W. Petry T/Sgt
William A Bock
S/Sgt
George H. Ford T/Sgt victor Heinselman
Sgt
Robert T. Greene S/Sgt
Aubrey A. Clark
Sgt
Joseph Proscia S/Sgt
Roy Caudill
Sgt
Camillio J. Nizzard S/Sgt
George B. Sanders
Sgt
John H. Webb S/Sgt
Carl W. Thomas
1st
Lt. James C. Stripp T/Sgt
John A Lockwood
2nd Lt James M. Ryan S/Sgt John J. Visosky
2nd
Lt Richard F. Kava S/Sgt
Theodore H. Erickson
2nd
Lt John W. Taylor Sgt Joseph L Lenoir
S/Sgt
Robert E. Glenn S/Sgt
Alphonse Dominiski
j. Those
who have distinguished themselves. None.
2. Enclosed is the War Diary of this unit for the period 1
March 1944 to 1 April 1944.
For
the Commanding Officer:
JULES
J. L. HESSEN
2nd
Lt., Air Corps
Squadron
Historian
1 Incl – War Diary
722nd War Diary for Month of March 1944
1 March 1944
The first
day of the month was started off without a mission. The weather was threatening
and the runway in bad shape. The Special Service Division has a movie at the
Oria Theatre. "Thank Your Lucky Stars" was the title of the picture and
everyone thanked theirs for having movies.
2 March 1944
The sun was
shining was very bright – but no mission. The new Commanding General of the 47th
Wing, Brigadier General Atkinson, replacing Brigadier General Ridenour, visited
the 450th War Room. The mission for the following day was planned in
there.
3 March 1944
"The target
for today is Viterbo A/D, Italy" said the S-2 briefing officer and the first
mission of the month was on its way. On the take-off, Lt. Isbell and entire
crew were killed due to a crash. Their ship burst into flame immediately after
leaving the ground. As yet the cause of the crash has not been determined.
The target
was not bombed due to a complete undercast and all the bombs were fed to the
fish in the Taranto Bay.
The U.S.O.
put on a show in the afternoon and evening at the Oria Theater. The customary
wolfish yells, barks and howls were heard when the GI audience saw the woman
singer clad in here white evening gown. All had a good time or at least had
pleasant dreams.
4 March 1944
The mission
scheduled for today was Breslau, Germany. The crews were starry eyed when they
saw the red string going all the way to Breslau. Colonel Mills led the
formation but he entire group returned to the home base just an hour after
takeoff.
In the
afternoon formation flying was practiced. Group personnel have the appearance
of "old timers" in this overseas game. Some "griping" has been overheard from
the officers counsel…it seems as if they were asked to donate another $5.00 for
their palatial club.
A squadron
of the 451st Group moved in to the base to operate from here due to
the unserviceability of their field.
5 March 1944
Today was a
day spent in leisure. There wasn't any mission. The weather was wet and warm
and the sky completely overcast.
6 March 1944
Briefing
for the bombing of the Lavariano A/D, Italy, took place with full expectation
that it would be called off due to weather conditions. Sure enough a little
while after briefing was completed the mission was cancelled.
7 March 1944
Todays
mission #33 was a failure. The target was the marshalling yard at Certaldo,
Italy. The planes were loaded with 10 X 500 G.P. bombs, Capt. Beth, Lts.
Brusek, Maddus, Caldwell, Word, McLaughlin, Stripp, Bruner, Sharff were the
crews that participated. Most of the bomb hits were observed to have hit
outside of the town with a few hitting in the town. The customary smiling faces
that is so evident after completion of a mission well done was not present today.
8 March 1944
The crews
were briefed to bomb the Arezzo M/Y, Italy. The mission was "scratched" soon
after due to very adverse weather that put the runway in a unserviceable
condition. A full house was present at the movie in Oria to see "Top Man."
9 March 1944
The fact
that the squadron was settled down already is well evident. The Squadron Mess
Hall is nearing completion and the 722nd will be the first Squadron
to have completed their mess hall. It was a very cold day today and combined
with a steady rain.
10 March 1944
Once again
the crews were briefed to bomb Toulon, France, but adverse weather conditions
caused it to be called off. Major Snaith, The Group Operations Officer, held a
lecture on formation flying for the flying officers. A practice mission was
flown during e afternoon. There was an excellent turnout for the movie at
Oria's Theater. The film was entitled "Is Everybody Happy" with Ted Lewis and
his band.
11 March 1944
The combat
crews were briefed at 0615. This was the 34th Group Mission and the
target for today was the submarine repair facilities at Toulon, France. More
than 30 tons of demolition bombs were dropped in the area. The results weren't
too good. Most of the bombs swept through the town. The Squadron's EM Mess Hall
is almost completed and the other squadrons are starting theirs so as not to be
too far behind.
12 March 1944
No mission
today – the "weather man" wasn't in favor. All relaxed and were either to be
found at "home" or at work. Church services were held at 1000 for Protestants
here at the base and at 1100 in Manduria for Catholics. There was a large crowd
at both services.
13 March 1944
Another
mission was scrubbed; this time before the crews were briefed. We were
scheduled to bomb the Gorzia Airdrome in northern Italy. The rainfall has been
very consistent and it is absolutely evident that this is the rainy season. The
runway at the present time is very muddy. "Presently Lily Mars" was shown today
in the theater at Oria.
14 March 1944
The target
for today was going to be Sofia, Bulgaria. There was no briefing because the
mission was called off early this morning. It was raining early this morning,
heavy and consistent, helping to make the runway more muddy. Lt. Chronister,
the Group Photo Intelligence Officer, reviewed previous missions and priority
targets with the officers at a meeting this morning. The Group basketball tam
came back from Foggia. On this date they lost out in the finals but played good
ball and "should have won". During the afternoon it rained. Everything was
quiet due to no mission. Old Sol came out for a few minutes during the
afternoon but only for a few minutes. In the evening a training film was shown
to all navigators in thwart Room.
15 March 1944
Today a
standby was observed but no mission was planned. Runway in very poor condition,
but it appears to be drying up quite rapidly. The sun was out in full strength
this morning but it rained during the afternoon. The movie that was shown today
at Oria was "Princess O'Rourke" starring Olivia DeHaviland and Robert Cummings.
16 March 1944
Mission
scheduled for the Budapest/Tokol Airdrome in Hungary. Before the briefing,
however, it was "scratched" due to the very consistent rains. Colonel Mills,
the Group Commanding Officer, gave a lecture to the pilots and co-pilots in the
S-2 War Room about a new type of formation flying.
There was a choir practice in the Chaplain's office tonight.
This was the first one and the turnout was very good.
17 March 1944
The target
for today was the airdrome at Schwechat, Vienna. The Germans assemble the 219's
here and possible HE 280 jet propelled aircraft. The alternate target was the
industrial sector of Vienna. Due to the weather being very poor, the bombs were
not dropped on the briefed target. Some of the men dropped on coordinates while
others picked out targets of opportunity along the way. This mission as a whole
was unsuccessful. Today was St. Patrick's Day but all the color and gaiety was
lacking. Major General Twining and his staff visited the War Room this afternoon.
18 March 1944
Today was
the first beautiful morning we have had for a long time. The target for today
was the Lavariano landing strip near Venice in Northern Italy. The crews were
up bright and early for briefing. The hips carried a load of fragmentation
bombs. The mission was a success. Most of the planes dropped their bombs
directly on the target area but some fell on the edge of the target. At 1325
the planes returned and the crew members hurried to get on the line for doughnuts
and coffee, served by the American Red Cross.
19 March 1944
The mission
scheduled for today was the aircraft factory at Steyr, Austria. The primary
target was not hit due to heavy undercast and there is a question as to whether
Graz or Klagenfurt was hit.
20 March 1944
Todays
briefing was to no avail! Briefing took place at 0630 and the mission was
cancelled at 0710 hours. There was a Group practice formation flight this
morning. The boys landed, ate lunch, and were soon off again on another
practice mission.
21 March 1944
Another day
without a mission due to inclement weather. Later in the day the weather
cleared up and a practice mission was flown. The 62nd Service Group
presented a strictly GI show at the Oria theatre entitled the "Stage Door
Latrine". It was enjoyed by all, "Gloria from Oria" became the new character of
the area.
22 March 1944
No mission
today again due to very cloudy and stormy looking weather. A lecture was given
to the new crews by the Intelligence Section this morning. "The Song of
Bernadette" was shown at the movie today and the attendance as usual, was
excellent.
23 March 1944
An
important early briefing was held this morning. The target was to be Steyr,
Austria. The planes took off but returned early due to very bad weather. A constant
steady rain poured all afternoon and the old Italian mud is coming back. New
crews were given their indoctrination course today by S-2 and S-3.
24 March 1944
The target
for today was the ball bearing works at Steyr, Austria. The weather in this
vicinity was very poor and all believed that the mission would be called off.
However the planes did take off. The second attack element turned back after
passing Monopolie and the first attack element went on to bomb the alternate target.
There was a U.S.O. show (stage) and movie today at Oria. The squadron was well
represented and it was enjoyed by all.
25 March 1944
Briefing
took place this morning but the mission was called off. It began to rain early
in the morning and there was intermittent showers throughout the day.
26 March 1944
The mission
planned for today was Steyr, Aurstria but it was cancelled due to bad weather.
It seems as if the sun shined as often as it rained this could be called
"Sunny" Italy.
27 March 1944
No mission
was scheduled for today. The bombardiers were lectured to by Capt. Kaecker and
Lt. Chronister on the primary targets listed for the XV Air Force. There was a
movie today in Oria. "Madame Curie" starring Greer Garson was shown.
28 March 1944
The 39th
Group mission took place today. The target was the marshalling yards at Mestre,
Italy. With the weather perfect for bombing the boys really hit the target with
excellent results. Train cars, tank cars and a chemical plant were shattered
with bombs. All were quite jovial after the landing over the triumph.
29 March 1944
The target
for today was the Bolzano marshalling yards in northeastern Italy. Once again
the results were excellent with the target being well covered with bomb bursts.
There was a movie at the theatre in Oria. The movie today was a "A Guy Named
Joe" starring Spencer Tracy.
30 March 1944
Todays
mission was briefed to bomb the railroad yards at Sofia, Bulgaria. Our planes
dropped more than 30 tons of demolition bombs on the target. Bomb strike photos
showed strings of bombs across the chokepoint at the end of the marshalling
yards, south and southeast part of the city, and also hits on installations in
the city. All in all the mission was a success and another feather was put in
the 450th bonnet. Colonel Mills presented the Air Medals to those
officers and men who had flown 5 or more missions.
31 March 1944
The last
day of the moth went by without a mission. Old Sol hid behind a wall of clouds
and let the rains caused some more mud. The Group was entertained by a
"topnotch" stage show, John Garfield, Eddie Foy and 3 other screen starlets put
on a show at the theater in Oria. The crowd was terrific and everyone enjoyed
the show. After the stage show John Garfield returned to the balcony to see the
movie that he was starred in "The Fallen Sparrow". Everyone is looking forward
to some more excellent shows like this one. And so ended another months
operations of the 722nd Bombardment Squadron in this theater.
Another month ended and another month nearer peace.
JULES
J. L. HESSEN,
2nd
Lt., Air Corps,
Squadron
Historian.
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