Mission 61

HEADQUARTERS 52^ND FIGHTER GROUP

Office of the Group Intelligence Officer

APO 520 US ARMY

D-JDH/ap

7 August 1944

Narrative Mission Report Number 61 for 4 August 1944.

2^nd, 4^th, and 5^th Squadrons participating

MISSION AND TARGET: To provide escort on penetration, over target and on withdrawal for one group of P-38’s of the 82^nd Fighter Group strafing Focsani, Rumania, N and S A/Ds at 1108B hours.
AIRPLANES AND CHRONOLOGY: Forty four P-51s took off from Madna at 0810 B hours. Nine airplanes returned early (seven mechanical, one pilot, and one escort.) Thirty four airplanes were over the target at 3/6,000 feet at 1115/1120 hours. One aircraft is lost and one is missing, believed to be lost. (One having been hit by flak and crashing in Russian occupied territory in the vicinity of 4710N 2930E and one having been hit by e/a last seen streaming glycol in the vicinity of 4550N 2625E.) See paragraph 15 (b) below.

Thirty three aircraft were down at the following times and places:

No. A/C	Sqdn.	Place	Time
2	2^nd	Zilce (4635N 3000E)	1220
8	5^th	Zilce (4635N 3000E)	1220
2	5^th	Wheatfield 30 miles N, of Zilce	1230
5	2^nd	A/D at 4900N 2812E	1315
1	5^th	A/D at 4900N 2812E	1315
2	2^nd	A/D at Botmistiovka (4908N 3138E)	1315
10	4^th	Kresenchung, Russia	1320
3	2nd	A/D at 4847N 2936E	1355

ROUTE: The group assembled over base at 3,000 feet, and set course at 0822B hours. The briefed course was base to Pt. Vieste (4153N 1611E) to Farnical Serat (4524N 2703E) to target at Focsani (4524N 2711E) to Marasesti (4553N 2714E) to Chisinan (4702N 2830E) to Krenenchung (4905N 3325E) to Piryatin, Russia.

The briefed course to rendezvous direct from base to Pt. Vieste was followed. From rendevous the route as briefed was followed to the points at which the 51s left the P-38s.

The P-38’s were left as follows:

Time	Sqdn	No. A/C	Places	Alt.	Reason
1110	4^th	11	Vicinty 4550N 2525E	14,000	Enemy attack and weather thereafter
1050	5^th	4	Ploesti	6,000	Flak and weather
1120	5^th	8	Focsani	6,000	Flak and weather
1130	2^nd	12	10 miles NE Focsani	5,000	Flak and weather

In all cases the P-51s initially became separated from the P-38s because of flak or e/a. After the separation, it was impossible to find the P-38s again because of weather and almost continuous light flak from the target to the Russian lines.

The course after leaving the P-38s was along the briefed route to Chisinan after which point the routes of the several P-51s formations were to the bases indicated in paragraph 2 above. Owing to a 1500 foot ceiling and an almost continuous light flak, the routes from Chisinan were, to put it mildly, not direct.

RENDEZVOUS, FORMATION AND ASSAULTS: Forty three P-51s rendezvoused with the P-38s at the briefed place, Pt. Vieste, a the briefed time, 0835 B hours, at the briefed altitude, 5,000 feet.

The 5^th Squadron led the group with the 2^nd squadron providing low cover, and the 45h Squadron giving high cover. Over the target, the 2^nd and 5^th squadrons flew at 4,000 and 6,000 feet respectively. In general, the squadrons were 3/6,000 feet above the P-38s as far as Ploesti after which they flew about 1,000 feet above them. All squadrons were together until the 4^th was lost in an overcast at 4550N 2525E. The 4^th Squadron was at 14,000 feet when it passed over the target area.

The P-38 formation was tight and therefore satisfactory.

RESULTS OF BOMBING: Nil.
STRAFING: Two a/c were observed burning on one Focsani A/D and three on the other Focsani A/D.
ENEMY AIR RESESTANCE AND ACTIVITY:
1. Enemy airplanes seen which were not encountered: Nil
2. Eleven P-51s of the 4^th Squadron, flying northeast at 8,000 feet, between two layers of clouds, were attacked by 15 E/A from six o’clock, out of the clouds from directly above, at approximately 4550N 2526E. Owing to a small interval of time between the spotting of the E/A and the attack a break was called too late. On this initial attack, Lt. Steward, Yellow, was hit in the glycol and subsequently lost. The E/A split S’d in all directions heading the cloud layers below. Lt. McCampbell followed one ME 109 down and was able to get a long burst from dead astern. The E/A began to stream glycol and black smoke and half rolled into the clouds just above the mountains. Two pilots reported the e/a to be afire.

During the above engagement Lts. Gassman, Bullock, Fitzpatrick and Montgomery followed Me 109s as they attempted to break for the clouds and even scored hits on an ME 109 before they got away in the overcast. The above five pilots each claim one ME 109 damaged.

(2) At 1125 hours when the 2^nd Squadron was at 2,000 feet N. of the target at 4605N 2720E, a long dark green JU 52 with Rumanian markings was sighted at 1,000 feet heading N. One P-51 attacked this a/c from the rear and destroyed it.

c. Ten Me 109’s, five FW 190’s and one JU 52 were encountered.

8. FLAK:

Time	Design	Place	Type	Alt. of Burst
1050	MAH	Appeared to be an almost continuous belt from Campina to Ploesti	Barrage	12,000
1015	IAH	Ploesti	Box Barrage	8 to 18,000
1120	IAH & L	Focsani	Aimed	6,000
1200	IAL	Tighina (4649N 2939E)	Aimed	1,000

Almost continuous light flak was experienced from Focsani to the Russian lines.

9.SIGNIFICANT OBSERVATIONA:

a. Twenty SKP were dispersed near runway at Garacal (4408N 2422E)

hs. Observation made from a distance of three miles, at 10,000 feet.

b. At 1060 hours, the smoke screen at Ploesti had just started to form. Pots were observed all around the city and in the streets of the city.

c. Nil.

10. WEATHER: En route and at B/V: Scattered at 8,000 and at 20,000 feet. Target: Cumulus overcast in layers from 3,000 to 20,000 feet. From target to Russian bases: Overcast at 1500 feet with much rain.

11. AIR SEA RESCUE: Nil.

12. RADIO SECURITY: Satisfactory

13. FRIENDLY AIRPLANES LOST OR IN DIFFICULTY:

Time E/O Place Alt. Heading Observations & Reason Chutes Seen

At 1125 hours two P-38s were observed to land on a field NE of the target. A moment later one of the P-38’s took off again.

14. ENEMY PLANES SEEN DESTROYED BY OTHER GROUPS: See paragraph 6.

15. VICTORIES AND LOSSES:

a. Victories

Destroyed	Probably Destroyed	Damaged
2^nd Squadron Captain Varnell – 1 JU52
4^th Squadron Lt. McCampbell		Lt. Gasssman – 1 ME 109
		Lt. Bullock – 1 ME 109
		Lt. Frye – 1 ME 109
		Lt. Montgomery – 1 ME 109
		Lt. Fitzpatrick – 1 ME 109

b. Losses:

(1) While flying E in the vicinity of 4550N 2525E at 14,000 feet between two layers of clouds about 6,000 feet apart, eleven P-51s were attacked from six o’clock high by ten ME 109s and five FW 190s which dove out of the clouds 2,000 feet above the 51s. Lt. Stewart’s aircraft was hit in this initial attack and immediately it started streaming glycol. Lt. Stewart was told that his a/c had been seriously damaged and that he should bail out. To the suggestion, Lt. Stewart replied that he was allright and said “don’t panic”. He was last seen as he disappeared into a cloud layer below at 8,000 feet at approximately 1115 hours. No parachute was seen and no search was instituted.

(2) Lt. Schumacher’s flight, 5^th Squadron, consisted of three a/c shortly after reaching Dniester River. The flight turned NW after reaching the river. Time down for this flight unknown. The Russians reported that two P-51s landed wheels down in a wheatfield. One P-51 was hit by flak over the German lines, broke into flames and crashed. There was no parachute reported. The plane that crashed is unknown. It is either Lts. Heller, McCarthy or Schumacher. The place of landing or any other details at this time are unknown. The pilot had better be classed as missing until more known.

16. SORTIES: 35.

17. FORMATION LEADER AND FLIGHT LEADERS: Major Fuller, 5^th Squadron, led the group formation.

Sortie Credit:

2^nd Squadron: Captain Schneider, Squadron Leader.

Red	Yellow	Blue	Green
Captain Schneider (F.L.)		Captain Varnell (F.L.)	Captain Botvideen (F.L.)
Lt. Schween		Lt. Borosky	Lt. Zachmann
Captain Ohr		Lt. Dangelmaier	Lt. Toslinson
Lt.Burden		Lt. Cowan	Lt. De Forest

4^th Squadron: Lt. McCampbell, Squadron Leader.

Red	Yellow	Blue
Lt. McCampbell (F.L.)	Lt. Bullock (F.L.)	Major Wiley (F.L.)
Lt. Fitzpatrick	Lt. Stewart	Lt. Frye
Lt. Montgomery	Lt. Larson	Lt. Parent
Lt. Gassman	Lt. Beckman

5^th Squadron: Major Fuller, Squadron Leader

Red	Yellow	Blue
Maj. Fuller (F.L.)	Lt. Zelinski (F.L.)	Lt. Schumacher (F.L.)
Lt. Bruder	Lt. Anderson	Lt. Keller
Lt. D.M. Franklin	Lt. Kmpey	Lt. Ney
Lt. Gardner	Lt. I.P. Franklin	Lt. McCarthy

Early Returns by Squadrons:

Pilot	Sqdn	Place left formation	Time	Reason
Lt. Weyandt	5^th	4210N 1725E	0850	Sick
Lt. Watkins	5^th	4220N 1820E	0900	Excessive gas consumption
Lt. Hoffman	2^nd	4155N 1550E	0830	Radio
Lt. Clarke	2^nd	4300N 1823E	0910	Radio
Lt. Grey	2^nd	4325N 1940E	1000	Radio
Lt. Davis	2^nd	4325N 1940E	1000	Escort
Lt. Bofinger	4^th	4220N 1718E	0845	E/% out.
Lt. Henee	4^th	4300N 2120E	1015	Engine Trouble.
Lt. Gallahan	4^th	4300N 2120E	1015	Escort

Early Returns Sortie Credit

Sqdn	No. Off.		Cat A M - P		Cat B E - S			Over Target		Down Base		Lost		Mag.		F.F.	Sortie		No Sortie
2^nd		16		3 – 0		1 – 0	12		12		0		0		0			12		4
4^th		14		3 - 0		0 -0	10		10		1		0		0			10		3
5^th		14		1 – 1		0 -0	12		5		1		2		4			12		2
52^nd		44		7 – 1		1 – 0	34		27		2		2		4			34		9

18. COMMENTS: None.

19. CORRECTIONS TO TELEPHONE MISSION REPORT: None.

J. D. MORGAN,

Captain, Air Corps. Group S-2

HEADQUARTERS 52^ND FIGHTER GROUP

Office of the Group Intelligence Officer

APO 520 US ARMY

D-JDM/ap

First Supplement to Narrative Mission Report

No. 61 for 4 August 1944.

The coordinate at which the 11 P-51s of the 4^th Squadron encountered e/a, left the bombers, and lost Lt. Stewart should read 4550N 2625E. The engagement with the e/a took place at approximately 1115 hours.

J. D. MORGAN,

Captain, Air Corps,

Group S-2

________________________________

HEADQUARTERS 52^ND FIGHTER GROUP

Office of the Group Intelligence Officer

APO 520 US ARMY

D-JDM/kfg

9 August 1944

Second Supplement to Narrative Mission Report

No. 61 for 4 August 1944

Lts. Schumacher, Keller and McCarthy are all reported missing. The previous report on these three pilots stemmed from an unconfirmed Russian report. Later evidence indicated that this original report was nothing more than a rumor.
About 1220B hours in the vicinity of Chisinan, Rumania, at 4703N-2830E, one of these three pilots was overheard to report that he was hit and he suggested “let’s put down here”.

J.D. MORGAN,

Captain, Air Corps,

Group S-2

HEADQUARTERS 52^ND FIGHTER GROUP

Office of the Group Intelligence Officer

APO 520 US ARMY

JDM/kfg

17 August 1944

Third Supplement to Narrative Mission Report

Number 61 for 4 August 1944.

Four P-51s of the 5^th Squadron became separated from the group formation in the vicinity of Focsani A/D at 1120 hours because of intense accurate heavy and light flak. A low ceiling and bad weather prevented their relocating the group formation. At 1150 hours they crossed the Dneister River which was mistaken for the Dneypr River. At 1200 hours one p-51, piloted by Lt. Key, became separated due to weather from the rest of the four ship flight in the vicinity of 4648N-2939E.

At 1220 hours in the vicinity of 4700N-2932E while flying at 2,000 feet, the tail assembly of one P-51, piloted by Lt. McCarthy came off. The aircraft went into a spin, and exploded as it hit the ground. At no point during the mission did Lt. McCarthy mention having been hit by flak, and there was no flak in the immediate vicinity in which Lt. McCarthy’s aircraft crashed.

At 1320 hours, after having searched the vicinity for the airdrome at which they were briefed to land and because they were low on gas, the two P-51s piloted by Lt. Schumacher and Heller landed at Nalivaite A/D, District of Odessa, (4650N-2020E). They remained here for seven days before permission was granted to leave. While here, Lt. Schumacher and Heller were assured that the American authorities at Piryatin had been informed as to their whereabouts and knew they were safe.

Lts. Schumacher, Heller and McCarthy were formerly reported missing.

J.D. MORGAN,

Captain, Air Corps,

Group S-2

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