WAR DIARY
1ST EMERGENCY RESCUE SQUADRON
APO 650 U. S. ARMY
1 – 31 AUGUST 1944
1 August 1944:
Captain Craig, Flight Surgeon, Flight “B” was flown by Captain Ruckman from the General Hospital in Bari to Foggia Main, at 1030 this morning.
Lieutenant Walker and crew from Grottaglie were on a search mission today over the Adriatic Sea but no sightings were made.
No other patrols, missions or rescues.
Strength of the 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron as of this date is 45 Officers and 156 enlisted men.
Promotions for enlisted men which become effective this date are listed on the following page.
2 August 1944:
Three PBY’s (OA-10) were airborne from Ajaccio, two on a patrol and one on a search for a French Spitfire Pilot, but nothing was located.
Lieutenant Mork and crew of Flight “B” were on search over the Adriatic for two hours.
3 August 1944:
Lieutenant Eisman and crew completed another rescue, adding ten more survivors to the squadrons mounting total which is now 97
Take-off of B-17 No 403, a veteran of forty five consecutive missions, was at 0645 from Lattice Towers, near Lucera, Italy. It, in company with two hundred sister ”Fortress” healed for the target of the day, that of the Ober Raderbach Chemical Plant at Frederichaven, Germany which is vitally concerned in the manufacturer of chemicals for jet propulsion rockets. No cumulus clouds of flak, as had been experienced on previous raids, were encountered, however it was 403’s misfortune to be hit twice in vulnerable spots. No 4 engine began leaking oil and a hole appeared in the wing tank of No 2. The engineer immediately began the oft repeated but still nerve-racking process of transferring fuel; for then only can a comprehensive knowledge of the real extent of the damage to be ascertained. To his consternation the electric system also failed necessitating that engines No 2 and 4 be feathered. Forced to drop out of formation they endeavored to establish radio contact with the other bombers, but could not--the radio was “dead". In frantic haste the pi1ot “pushed” the already over taxed functioning engine and commenced the trans-Adriatic hop to the Italian mainland. Presently No 3 engine, coughing from gas privation, had to be feathered. Vainly flying on one engine the mighty “Fort” fast began to lose altitude. “Ditching” positions were ordered and the pilot with 300 flaps set the Bomber in a glide and hit the waters surface at 110 miles per hour. The plane intact for the ball turret which had crushed upward into the fuselage injuring several of the crew, remained afloat for about five minutes. In that brief interim there was a voltaic scramble, generated by fear, to free themselves from the death trap. The dinghy from the starboard storage, on release, sprang out inflated but that on the port side had to be manually hauled from its receptacle. The port side waist gunner who had sustained a leg injury reached the safety of a dinghy despite the fact that his life-jacket had stubbornly refused to inflate. That of the navigator also proved a boomerang in its uselessness. Finally all ten men, five in each raft, were tossing and pitching on the restless sea. Hours passed four long hours, during which period, assailed by doubts and with stomachs turning like gyroscopes, the survivors prayed and waited for help to come. At last two “spitfires” were sighted, shortly followed by a solitary P-38, then “Who Cares”, Catalina No 959 piloted by a Lieutenant Eisman, appeared. He and his crew landed under fire from enemy shore batteries and rescued the men who were overjoyed at the sight of the “flying boat”. The location of the raft was 44002’N-12046’E. Landing at Foggia Main was made at 1950. The B-17 crew, attached to the 83rd Bomb Group, 816 Bomb Squadron, left the States from Renier Field Manchester, New Hampshire, on July 9 1944 and began operations in Italy 21 July 1944. Although overseas only a fortnight they already have flown twelve missions.
SURVIVORS
Pilot 2nd Lt Mullins, George R. 0-764397
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Bradshaw, Justin 0-764193
Navigator 2nd Lt Nacko, John 0-723125
Bombardier 2nd Lt Gaffney, Richard J. 0-773331
Engineer Sgt Griffin, Kenneth E. 38428962
Radio Oper Sgt Danielson, Robert L. 37558618
Waist Gunner Cpl Ross, James R. 39573621
Ball Gunner Cpl Hosmer, Wi11iam E. 32940788
Waist Gunner Cpl Mitchley, Jack S. 39920995
Tail Gunner Cpl Foster, James 14108361
It was quite a busy day with two planes out from Ajaccio, Corsica, over the Mediterranean, and two planes of Flight “B” out over the Adriatic, but, although all on searches, no other rescue were made.
4 August 1944:
Corporal Schneider, 16037661, who has been overseas a considerable length of time, having been with the first "Free Lance" Catalina rescue crews finally received his long awaited orders to return to the United States.
Two planes were on searches from Ajaccio for a total of nine hours flying but only driftwood was sighted.
No missions, patrols or rescues for Flights “A” & “B”.
5 August 1944:
No rescues, missions or patrols. Southern France is being hit regularly by the heavy Bombers.
6 August 1944:
The enlisted men and Officers of Flight “B” in order to escape the August heat and sand storms, are frequenting the beaches at Manfredonia, Italy. There is nothing quite as refreshing as a “dip” in the cool salt water of the Adriatic.
No operational activity in Flights “A” & “B”. Flight “C” at Ajaccio had three planes out. One of these flown by Lieutenant Murray and crew completed a successful mission.
Taking off at 072O hours, they arrived at the search area at 0810. Shortly after arriving at the search area an oil slick and two dinghy's were sighted at 42008’N-07049’E. The was choppy with heavy swells but as position was a considerable distance from shore and no High Speed Launch was available, it was decided to attempt the rescue. Smoke flares were dropped and a successful open-sea landing was accomplished. The Catalina was taxied up to the dinghy and a life line was tossed from the blister. The three German, survivors of a JU-88 ditching, were taken aboard, stripped of clothing and administered medical treatment. The survivors were in good physical condition except for a few minor abrasions. At 0837 a successful open-sea take-off was accomplished and the Catalina returned to base landing at 0910, one hour and fifty minutes, after original take-off.
7 August 1944:
No activity in Flight “C” at Ajaccio, Corsica. Lieutenant Mork and Lieutenant Eisman and their respective crews were on patrol but received no calls.
A "beer bust” was held at Ajaccio for the enlisted men, with plenty of free beer.
Pvt Daugherty, 17159578 was admitted to the 40th Station Hospital.
All three airplanes and flying personnel, including several maintenance mechanics, consisting of 30 Officers and enlisted men of Flight "A" stationed at Grottaglie, Italy, were transferred to Ajaccio, Corsica per authority of telegram from XII Fighter Command (MF ACTA-79). It is expected or assumed that something big is going to happen in Southern France, in view of this change in station and recent heavy bombardment by B-17’s and B-24’s in that area.
8 August 1944:
Lieutenant Milburn and Mork with their respective crews of F1ight “B” were out on patrols, the average duration of which was three and one half hours.
This after noon Lieutenant Eisman and crew rescued Lieutenant Arnold K. Walker, 115919, “Hurricane Rocket Pilot”, in the second time in three weeks. The RAF Officer bailed out over the Adriatic at 4,500 feet, about twenty miles southwest of Galiola Island, on the night of August 3rd. He and another “Hurricane" pilot had been straffing a German schooner when the oil tank of his fighter was hit by flak thrown up by deck guns. It took him twelve hours to navigate the distance of twenty five miles, in his dinghy, to the edge of the beachless island, on which he was marooned for five and one half days.
Lieutenant Eisman and crew flying in Catalina 959, landed for instructions, at Falcanara Field, ten miles northwest of the of the recently taken port of Ancona. Here he was given the bearings and under fighter cover of twelve P-38’s preceded in company with three British Officers, riding as passengers to the island located in the Bay of Quarnaro—“Nazi Lion’s Mouth” – eighty five miles to the north and east of Ancona. The sea was smooth. Water landing and take-off consumed less than eight minutes. The great full Englishman in his one-man dinghy rowed out to the PBY as fast as he could manipulate the short hand-paddles. He was tired, hungry and thirsty but unhurt. His “pint” of Lager Ale, presented to him by a buddy was drunk with gusto. The rescue plane took-off from Foggia Main at 1415, landed at sea 1705, and returned with the survivor to the base at 2000.
Today was a “red letter” day with Flight “C” adding six more survivors to make the total for the Squadron 104.
Lieutenant Murray and crew took-off from Ajaccio at 1125 and proceeded to the assigned area between coordinates 42046’N-07005”E and 42035’N-07020E. At 1227 a dinghy was sighted at 42038’N-0712’E. A landing was accomplished but upon closer investigation the dinghy was found to be empty. This dinghy was German and it was apparent that it had been in the water a long time. As it was too bulky to take aboard the Catalina, it was destroyed.
The aircraft was again airborne. After a short search a smoke flare was sighted and flying closer sea marker and two dinghies containing six men were sighted at 42048’N-06058’E. Smoke flares were dropped and another open-sea landing was made. The aircraft was taxied along side the dinghies and the six survivors of a B-25 No 8N-522 were taken aboard. They were members of the 488 Bomb Squadron 340th Bomb Group and not injured. They had been adrift in the dinghies two and one-half hours before being rescued by the Catalina. The rescue plane was returned to base at 1455.
SURVIVORS
Pilot lst Lt B. A. Steed 0-816173
Co-Pilot F/O E. J. Ritter T-61555
Bombardier 2nd Lt H. A. Moody 0-765513
Engineer Sgt A. E. Hosin 11114344
Radio Oper T/Sgt R. J. Martin 11034166
Top Gunner Sgt K. E. Bartell 161l8007
9 August 1944:
It was a busy day at Ajaccio with five aircraft participating in various activities consisting of patrols and searches. The total flying time for these five planes was 28:20 hours
Lieutenant Milburn and crew flew to Vis to await a call.
Lieutenant Eisman and crew patrolled the Adriatic Sea in the vicinity of Pelagrosa Island.
10 August 1944:
Lieutenant Eisman and crew coming in from a four hour patrol were already in the traffic pattern on Foggia Main when they were called to a fix in the Adriatic. They returned five hours later, empty-handed, tired and disgruntled, with less than fifty gallons of fuel in the wing tanks. The B-24 which was reported to have “ditched” had it was learned, crash landed on Italian soil.
Captain Gray, Lieutenant Burns and a skeleton crew flew in from Ajaccio in the B-25 (Kentucky Derby). Several of the boys of Flight “B” flew with them, first to Grottaglie and thence to Rome, on a three day pass.
No Missions, patrols or rescues at Ajaccio.
Four other Catalina’s were on searches over the Mediterranean but no survivors were located.
13 August 1944:
Lieutenant Eisman and crew were called on a mission from Foggia Main, Italy at 1230 but the Fighter pilot who was reported to have ditched mad a crash-landing on a beach near Termoli.
Five planes were airborne from Ajaccio on various searches. Lieutenant Bilsland and crew sighted an enemy High Speed Launch and were fired upon when searching a fix at 43017’N-05000’E.
Sergeant Raymond Fry 39270638 was admitted to the 40th Station Hospital.
14 August 1944:
Lieutenant Pierce, the Adjutant and censor for Flight “A” and Corporal Bols returned from a rest leave at Capri. Because of a gas leak the “Brown Derby” (PBY 022) has been grounded and is being overhauled at Galera Field, Italy fourteen miles Southeast of Rome.
Private Texiera from Flight “A” has been transferred to Headquarters XII Air Force per paragraph 5, Special Order 199, dated 6 August 1944, Hqs XII AF.
In accordance with Squadron Order No. 86, paragraph 3, dated 13 August 1944, Hqs 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron the following named enlisted men were placed on OS, 22nd Replacement Battalion, Bari Italy pending orders for reassignment.
FLIGHT “A”
M Sgt McCullough, Harry A 6656389
S Sgt Reifert, Kenneth A. 36276867
Sgt Cloud, Robert F. 14181863
Sgt Suckrow, Frederick J. 32298187
Sgt Sorenson, Carl E. 32425345
Flight “B”
S Sgt Kozielski, Ladislaus J 12005541
S Sgt Claxton, Wesley 38116782
Sgt Elliott, Robert W. 19179257
Cpl Bicknell, N. A. 38281666
Flight “C”
S Sgt English, Daniel K. 32364476
FLIGHT “C”
Sgt William, Olan E. 18110304
Sgt Neas, Roy E. 37377036
Sgt Nebden, Carl J. 13025722
HQS FLIGHT
T Sgt Learch, Edwin M. 6593636
Lieutenant Milburn and crew from Fogia Main were on patro1 for three hours but received no calls.
Lieutenant Bleier and crew from Flight at Ajaccio were on a search at 42020’N-08058’E. While searching three miles southwest of Genoa shore batteries opened fire and bracketed the Catalina, but made no hits.
Lieutenant Co1onel Pardue, our Commanding Officer, and a crew from Flight “C” aided another German survivor, the pilot of a ditched ME 410. Taking-off at 0830 they proceeded to fix area at 43050’N-09040’E. Upon arriving at fix area sea marker was sighted. Circling down through clouds over the sea marker a man was sighted in a Mae West amid numerous mines. An open-sea landing was accomplished and Frederick Richard Hesse, the pilot of a German ME 410 was rescued and taken prisoner. A dinghy sighted prior to landing was picked up y HSL # 137, was a British pilot in the immediate vicinity. The Catalina returned to base at 1105 adding another survivor to the Squadrons growing total now 111 and a “POW” to the Allied fast growing total.