Note: In the interest of readability, some grammar and spelling have been corrected.

June 11	1. Today was quite an eventful day. Got us out at 12:30 am after about 1/2 hr sleep and a stomach full of mind, our first mission. Our target was Rouen, France. Too much overcast & didn't get our bombs out. Made 5 runs. The formation broke up & we got lost over around Wales. Dropped our bombs in the channel, found a P. T. boat & got our direction to London. Spit came out & helped us to a paratroop field. Saw no flak. Not sure about fighter.
June 12	2. Another mission this morning. Got us out at 1:30 am. We bombed airdrome at Lille France. Went over Brussels and really got our share of flak. I was scared but not too bad. It's no fun with that stuff flying around. Lost one ship. Seemed to blow up. Wrote letter to my Honey. Didn't get a chance last couple of days.
June 13	Didn't do much today. Woke us up this morning at 12:30 for mission, but when we got to mess hall it was called off. We are assigned to a new ship; really is a dream. Played fan-tan with Worth & Beardsley.
June 14	3. Woke us up at 12:00 am again and we bombed about 18 miles southwest of Paris, an airdrome. The sky was full of planes, flak was thick as the devil, saw oil or munitions dump go up. What an explosion. Also saw 1st rockets. Much bigger, worse than flak but inaccurate. 5 ships went in sub-depot with flak holes. Lost 15 ships today.
June 15	Got to sleep in this morning. Didn't have a ship, I guess. Everybody got shot up pretty bad. Ed's boys really got it, had to put two new wings & stab. [stabilizer] on. Went to the show tonight & saw "Rationing." Had lots of good laughs. Wrote my Honey again tonight.
June 16	Didn't fly again today. Too many ships shot up yesterday, I guess. Just finished shortening my trousers & pressed them. Good job even though I do say so myself.
June 17	4. Pulled another one today. Got us up at 12:30 am & was ready to leave & they scrubbed up so came back to bed. Got us up at 8 am & went to France. Made two runs. Made IPO and came back and hit our target. Had flak but not too bad. That makes 4 missions, raised it to 35 missions. Got 4 letters from my Honey today & pictures of Mickey. Sure is a real boy. Awful tired so guess that's it.
June 18	Had a nice sleep today. Washed clothes & took a sun bath & nice shower. Bought myself a bi_ today . Only paid £4 for it. He wanted £5-- but only gave him £4. We are alerted to fly. Probably get up early.
June 19	Got us up at 3:30 this am and took off at 6:40. Flew 071 and it really is a beautiful ship. The ground is really on the ball. Went to Calais to bomb this robot plane business, but couldn't see to bomb. Never drop them in France unless you can see what you can hit. Came back and almost went again.
June 20	6. Today we really got it. Woke us up at 12:15 am and we were off to Hamburg with 12-500 pounders. Took off at 4:40 am and got back at about 12:30. Flak was thick enough to taxi on. We got about 7 holes in the ship. One about foot longer & 1 thick in the tail. One under Kuchar in the nose. The target area was really a mess. Oil explosions & black smoke to about 15,000 to 20,000 ft. & still exploding when we were 50 miles away. Seem [sic] like all I think of up there is Marg. & Mickey & God. He's just got to help me through.
June 21	7. Today was another big day & big target "Berlin" was really a long hall [sic], approx. 10 hrs. in the air. Flew all the way up the North Sea then in near Hamburg & Kiel. They put up flak but we went around it. Had 47's, 51's & 38's escorting. Did a swell job. Had contrails, which always makes it bad. Had lots of flak, but not bad hits. Lots of the boys were straggling. I heard 16 ships went to Sweden. Saw two ships collide & fall apart. I won't forget that soon. Luke saw 5 chutes. Hope there was more, but afraid not. That makes 7 missions.
June 22	8. Fell asleep and didn't even wake up to shave. Woke us up at 4:30 am & went to St. Omer, France. Would have been a nice mission but the lead bomb. messed up, made 4 runs on the target right through the flak and they really got accurate. Got two large holes near tail wheel. Felt it through the whole ship. Wrote my Honey tonight.
June 23	Was glad they didn't wake us this morning & managed to straighten my front wheel after Kuchar & Beardsley banged it up. Took it easy all day.
June 24	9. Woke us up at 5am & we took off at 8:30 am for "Bremen" with 18-250's. Was hot spot, but we were the 4th ship over off the whole 8th Air Force. Flak was mostly behind us. That makes 10 [sic] missions. Got two letters from my Honey. Painted my bike. Looks a lot better. Andy hasn't got any missions in. He has been on guard duty.
June 25	Slept till eleven this morning and really felt good for a change. Didn't get much done as we had to fly spare & didn't get back till 8pm The boys got back at about 10pm. One shot up pretty bad.
June 26 & 27	Two days of rest. Kinda rainy. Painted some fenders. Washed clothes. Also got the radio fixed. We bought it for £8. Good buy. Really is good company.
June 28	Had another day of rest. This is too much. Trimmed my bike in white. Got a new crew in today. Seem like a nice bunch of fellows. Lost Joe & Knox. They went back to the states. Lucky fellows, but they earned it. Had 30 in. Bought Joe's iron. Paid £1.
June 29	10. Got us up at 1:30 am & made our longest hop yet. "Leipzig," Germany; over 1200 miles round trip. On oxygen over 6 hours. Sure makes your face sore. Ate choc. bar just before landing & made me sick. Gosh, but I was tired. Moderate flak. Had 500 pounders. Me 109s gave us a little trouble.
June 30	Had a day of rest today. Usually go up and clean our guns every day. Have two meetings a day, one at 8:15 & one at 1:15.
July 1	The weather has been bad over the continent so no flying. Made us move out of our nice little hut into a larger barracks & it isn't half as nice as we had it before. But we got one corner anyway. Received two letters from my Honey. Will answer tomorrow. Sure will be glad to get that good candy.
July 3-4	Went to London on 48 hr pass & really did cut loose. We bought some scotch. Had to pay £4 a qt but it was good scotch. Took a look at Picadilly Circus & saw the sights. Stayed at Strand Palace. Very nice & reasonable. The Dootle [sic] bugs would really get me in time. They have an eerie sound along with the sirens. Couple of them shook the hotel & you could hear them going right over the roof. As we were leaving one went over the train station and we watched it till it hit. Terrible explosions. We went by where it hit & really makes a mess. It's got the people jintery [sic] also.
July 5	Came back today. These trains really move & don't waiste [sic] time in the stations. Had to check on the turret again & shot some skeet.
July 6	We were scratched today and as usual it was a short hall [sic]. Seems like we always draw the long ones. Last 4 have been deep in Germany. Washed clothes.
July 7	11. Had another one to "Liepzig" [sic] again today and it really was rough. Andy 1st mission. Really broke in good. Flak was terrific. Couple burst [sic] really tossed us around. Had about 5 holes in the ship, & to top it off we didn't get our bombs out and had to make a 360° right in flak & came over it again. I could see the guns firing at us. Never knew I could pray so much. He is always close up there. I thank God for the pilot we have. He is really our boy. Really made a mess of the area.
July 8	12. Had another one today. Got us up a little after one and took off at 4am for Pas-de-Calais. They screwed up again & circled around in the flak. We lost one ship on the way in. It blew up. Then one from 326th got direct burst in the nose. They went down & only saw one chute. They blew when they hit. It was their 33rd. Finally dropped 2-2000 lbs. on an airfield. Really a messed up affair.
July 9	Didn't fly today. Was going to church but woke up late. Wrote my Honey and went to a show. Saw "Forever & a Day." Very good.
July 10	No flying again today. Went to meetings & that's about all. Gong to write my Honey now.
July 11	Were scrubbed from "Munich" raid today & we were very happy about it cause that's a rough one. Sweat the other boys out. Otherwise didn't do anything.
July 12-13	Had another pass to London & didn't do much of anything. The 1st night went to show & saw "Up in Arms." Very good. Also ran into Carruthers for a few minutes. Went to a dance at "Covent Gardens" [sic]. Used to be "Royal Opera House."
July 14 & 15	Had to get up early this morning & catch the train back to Wellingborough. Have done much else than clean my guns & write my Honey a letter. Washed shorts & cleaned some OD's in gas. Alerted for tomorrow.
July 16	13 Had about our longest run today. We went to "Munich." On oxygen over 7 hrs. Ran thru quite a bit of flak over the target. We had contrails that had to go up to 31,5000 ft. Everything was a mess. Ships were everyplace. Almost had couple collisions. Dropped bombs any place. Fighter attack our sqdn. but got on one straggler. Shot him up pretty bad, but he made it back O.K. We just about ran out of gas so had to land on base near coast & gas up. Quite a few crews ditched. We lost two ships from our Sqdn. Both fairly new crews. We have been fortunate up till now. He must be helping us along.
July 17	14 Had another one today. 1st nice raid in the last seven. Bombed a bridge at Laon, France. Did a beautiful job. Had 6-1000 pounders. Had some flak but no hits. The raid was a well lead [sic]. Came back, showered & took a nap. Went over & signed payroll. Came back & wrote my Honey & saw pictures of my son. Sure would like to see him. With God's help I will.
July 18	Didn't fly today. Washed pr. of fatigues pants I found. Really are swell for wearing around the barracks.
July 19	15. Had another long hall [sic] today & really had a rough time. We bombed Me outfitting plant at Augsburg, Germany. Had both flak & fighters. Our escort shot down about 4-190s right out of the sky. One of our boys blew up & went down in flames. Direct burst. Didn't see any chutes. We got 4 holes. Had a fire in the nose & really did smoke. Thought we were going to have to bail out. Oil regulator in no 3 went out. Lost lots of oil. That makes 16 [sic] missions. Bomb load 24-100 IB's. On oxygen 6 hrs. The system was haywire.
July 20	16. Today we just about had it. Thought we would be PW.'s now but the old boy must have been with us 'cause "Short Straw" & Worth brought us home. We bombed Junkers Engine plant at Kothen, German (near "Liepzig" [sic]). Flak was terrific. We got two engines hit. Had to feather no -4. No. 3 was running rough so we threw out everything in case no -3 went out. I salvoed the ball. Really was a job. Chuck passed out twice from lack of oxygen. We made it O.K. Have flown 4 out of last 5 days. On oxygen about 7 hours. 10-500 pounders.
July 21	17 Had another long hall [sic] today. Bombed "Ebelsbach" about 20 miles from Schweinfurt. Went through some flak but none at target. Was hard to believe. Was a ball bearing plant. Everything went good. Frankfort got up terrific barrage. Elev. on ball went haywire. Had to take the thing off & fix it while we were forming (Mickey's Birthday Today).
July 22 & 23	Didn't fly today. Not much news. No letters. Can't figure it out.
July 24	18 Got us up at 1:30 am this morning & fooled around & didn't get off till after ten. Had 38-100 pounders. Bombed troops on Cherbourge [sic]. Most of the grps had to come back without dropping their bombs, but it cleared & we dropped ours. Could see the artillery fire on the ground. Hope it helped soften them up. Not much flak.
July 25	Had another one this morning. Took off at 8:00 am 38-100 pounders for Cherbourge [sic]. Another nice one. Darned if we didn't have trouble with no -4 & had to feather it. Were we mad. Had to go over North Sea & drop our bombs. Only landed about 10 min before the formation & didn't get credit for a mission. Wrote my Honey & am going to hit the hay. Flying sure wears a fellow out.
July 26	Was ready to go [on] a mission today, but the weather must have been bad cause we didn't fly so went up & cleaned guns & turret & helped the boys put a few connections on the new no -4. Won't fly it for a few days. They are going to pull & 300 hr. Am reading "Without Armour" by James Hilton. Really is good. (My Birthday.)
July 27	No flying today. Reading my book. Got 5 letters from my Honey. Also a tin of candy & some film. Wrote my Honey. Fly tomorrow.
July 28	19 Another long hall [sic] today. Took 10-500 pounders to Merseburg, Germany. Bombed a synthetic oil plant P.F.F. Had lots of flak, but not very accurate. Had fighter after bombs away. Didn't have any trouble for a change. On oxygen 6 hr. Bombed from 25,000. About 9 hr. hall [sic]. Got 7 letters today. Just heard we are stand down tomorrow.
July 29 & 30 & 31 & 1st	Had another pass so Moose, Rudy & I went to London. Most of the boys stayed on the base. Went to the dance both nights & went on a tour with a cabby. Saw all the sights. The wax museum was very good. West Minister [sic] Abbey was also nice. Something all the tombs with Royalty & all. That makes you feel awful small. God back O.K. Was rather crowded, but not bad. Suppose we will fly tomorrow.
Aug 2	Thought we would fly today but guess the weather was bad. We were alerted for a mission, but the whole things was scrubbed. Had about 3 hrs on ditching. Very good practice. Suppose we will fly tomorrow.
Aug 3	20 Today we just about had it. I didn't think I would see this place tonight. We bombed oil dumps & really hit it but it cost us plenty. We lost 5 ships from this field. Fighters hit us & really ripped us apart. Knocked two ships which were flying right near our wings. 20 mm were bursting right between our wings. The ship off our left wing got hit in the wing & it started peeling off. The went down. We knew them all. Somebody said 6 chutes came out. I hope so. They had 34 missions. Dirty shame, but the Jerry paid. Our Sqdn. knocked down 3 190's. Guess they had enough. We really poured the lead their way. One's wing came right off. Worth really wrapped the ship around. It get out of the 20 mm though the wings were coming off. Things stuck right to the ceiling, including Andy. A chute got wrapped around the ball. Chuck cut his head & knocked himself out. Just before we landed one ship caught fire. 4 chutes came out from only about 1000 feet. They pushed one kid out with a 20 mm in his back. He broke one of his legs. The others all had sprained ankles. It burned completely to nothing just off the runway. Pilot brought it in & then ran. Also ship from Thurily [sic-- Thurleigh] crashed just off our field. Nobody got out. Really was a bad day. Those 190s are really rugged. [Merkwiller is written sideways to the left of the entry for 3 August.] Merkwiller Crackup (Click to enlarge) Neil L. Curtiss a/c
Aug 4-5	Haven't done much the last couple of days. Just taking it easy. Carruthers came over & we really had a nice chat. He has 20 missions in. I am one ahead of him. Somebody stole £20 & the whole barracks is restricted, just like a little kid.
Aug 6	21. Pulled another one today. Went to the Berlin area to bomb Airdrome & plant at Brandenberg, Germany. Flak was everywhere, but we didn't get much. Only one X-hole. Felt like we got a big hit, but guess not. The whole area was a mess. Hamburg was really a mess. Black smoke almost clear to the sea. Don't see how that can keep taking it. Was an awful long hall [sic]. About 10 hr. Had 10-500 pounders, wrote my Honey a letter. That's about it.
Aug 7	Didn't fly today. The boys went way in France. No flak or anything but quite a long hall [sic]. Beautiful day. Have been trying to get some sun, but the boys drive you crazy. Been working on my diary all day. Really a lot of writing. We are alerted for tomorrow.
Aug. 8	Didn't fly again today & as usual they had a short hall [sic]. Seems like we have been drawing the long ones. They went to Caen area & helped the British. I.P. was on the coast. They got some flak. Washed clothes and went to the show & saw "City without Men." Not bad.
Aug 9	22. Drew another long one today. Were briefed for Munich again. The lead ship had to abort so we had to take over. Cloud covered up to about 26,000 ft. & what a mess. We couldn't even see our wingman sometimes. No P.F.F. ship either. Finally went to last resort target, which was marshalling yards at "Karlsruhe" and really ran into accurate flak. Got about seven nice holes. Two large ones in the wing. One piece came up about 2 ft. from the ball. Never saw such accurate stuff. Kook was lead bomb & really hit it on the button & it was full of freight cars. Really a nice job. Ship off our left wing got it today. New crew, too. Our prays [sic] must be helping. Had 10-500 pounders. Two ship in the sqdn. in flying condition.
Aug. 10	It's almost 11 oclock [sic] now and it is such a beautiful night. I hate to go to sleep. Just came in from outside watching it get dark. That old pipe really tastes good. Sure have been thinking about home tonight. Gosh but I miss my Honey. I just get an empty feeling in my stomach. I don't think i could love anybody any more than I love her. She's really what keeps me going. Made a wish on the first star. Sure do hope it comes true. That's all for tonight. Stand down tomorrow.
Aug 11	No mission again today. The weather or the ships got shot up too bad the other day. It was a beautiful day. Would love to go swimming someplace. The evening is lovely. Really got eager. Sewed some nicer strips [sic] on my blouse. Also on a shirt. Did lots of sewing & pressing. Sure glad we have an iron. We aren't scheduled for tomorrow's mission. Can't figure it out. Have flown 3 times in about 2 weeks.
Aug 12 & 13	Haven't been flying the last couple of days. Haven't been doing much of anything. The boys went to France today. The 327th lost a ship and Lt. Crosby as bombardier. It really hit us hard. He was such a swell guy. Their left wing was blown off. Only two chutes came out. He probably didn't make it. That ship was flying deputy lead, where we were supposed to be flying only we were scratched. Sure makes a fellow think. I'm really sweating them out now, even before the mission. Went to the show tonight & saw "Christmas Holiday" with Dianna Dorbin [sic]. Sure does make me lonesome for my Honey. We are alerted for tomorrow.
Aug 14	24 Finally flew another one yesterday. They woke us up at 12:30 am & we took off at about 8:00 am for "Stuttgart," Germany with 10-500 pounders. We expected everything, flak & fighters. Had 51's as escorts. The weather was swell & when we got near the target, the lead ship's A.F.C.E. went out so we had to take over. "Stuttgart" and the whole area was under cloud coverage. We made a run & couldn't bomb. Rudy was lead Nav. and really took us around the flak. We made about 2-360° turns and really fooled around. finally dropped them near our last resort target. We missed most of the flak, but kinda nerve racking [sic]. Got back about 3:30 pm. [Kaiserslautern is written sideways to the left of the entry for 14 August.]
Aug 15	Didn't fly today. Had a nice day of rest. Did some washing and wrote my Honey a letter and went to the show and saw "Canterville Ghost." Really was good. We are alerted for tomorrow.
Aug 16	25 Had a pretty rough time. Our target was a synthetic oil plant at "Liepzig" [sic] our 3rd time there. Everything went swell till the bomb run and the flak was terribly thick and really accurate. It bounced us around. We got no less than 30 holes in the ship, and 10 holes in the waist itself. Don't know how Andy didn't get hit. None of the waist holes were much less than two inches in diameter. Big chunk missed my head about foot & half. Every engine was hit except no. 3. We had to feather no. 4. It was throwing lots of oil & caught fire over England. Was all ready to bail out but she went out. Two control cables were cut right in half. We flew lead ship and right when Kook said bombs away, which we all wait for, well we had a rack malfunction and so nobody dropped theirs. Were we mad. Almost made another run but decided to hit the secondary. Every ship in the field is shot up. No ships to fly tomorrow. Sure was scared today. Seems to get worse. They said at interrogation that we are getting "flaky" so we are going to a rest home when the other crew gets back. Awful tired now. 38-100 pounders.
Aug. 17 & 18	Haven't flown the last couple of days. Have had it pretty nice. None of the ships are in flying condition. We are scheduled for tomorrow. Hope it's a good one for a change. Really think we have earned one. We have another thing to contend with now & that is jet propelled fighters. They have been hitting some of the boys & really are rough. They do better than 600 mph & mount 2-30 mm & 4-20 mm cannons. Saw one over Liepzig [sic] & talk about speed. Have been holding my breath. They haven't hit us yet. Heard tonight we might have to go to flak home Monday. Sure hope so. That's it for now.
Aug 19 & 20	Have had it very easy the last couple days. Guess the weather has been holding up things & tonight it doesn't look much better. Wing is really blowing. We are scheduled for tomorrow, but I doubt if we will fly, but one never knows. We heard today that Lt. Wynn & his crew went down over "Bremmen" [sic] & also that Lt. Nibliks crew also went down. Hope the boys got out O.K. Went to church again this morning. Haven't missed church for 3 weeks. Wrote my Honey yesterday & Pete today. Have really caught up on my sewing & pressing the last couple of days. That's it.
Aug 21 22 & 23	These last three days the weather has closed us in. The wind has been howling & raining. Haven't done much of anything. Washed clothes & did everything I could. Been going to the shows in the evenings. Nothing else to do. Glenn Miller was here yesterday. Was darn good music. We are scheduled for tomorrow's mission.
Aug 24	26 Had another mission today and was plenty rough. There just aren't any France raids any more. We bombed Synthetic Oil (Chemical Plant) at Merseburg near Liepzig [sic] "Germany" and as usually the flak was terrific & accurate as the devil. They must have a new mechanism cause flak is much more effective than it used to be and on top of that we had Me 109's & the new jet propelled rocket ships & they are like something out of Buck Rogers funnys. They look like a bat and go so fast you can hardly see them. They really have a bad time, got two of our ships so far. A 20 mm exploded in the waist. Knocked out our left side oxygen. Splattered all over the waist and went out the side. Left a gaping hole. Had a hole in the tail about 2 ft long and couple inches wide and holes all over the wings & a gaping hole in the elevator. Probable have to put a new one on. The toll of 17's was quite a bit today. The group up ahead gone one jet propelled. Kook really hit the target, about the only group to do it. He did a beautiful job. Had a smoke screen and was awfully hard to see. Hanover & Magnaburg [sic] was hit also and oil smoke for 30 miles. Today makes 26 missions. 9 more to go. That's nine too many. Had 10-500 pounders. Some of the boys went to Czey. Andy really is getting jittery. I don't blame him. Had a close one today. A tail gunner was killed from the 326th & also a ball turret man.
Aug 25	Didn't fly today, but most of the other boys did & we lost our buddy crew we palled around with; all of them & they bunked right next to us.. Kinda hit us hard, but there is a good chance they made it to Sweden. We are all praying that they did. Things are really getting rough. More heavy & accurate flak. It's a lot rougher than when we first started. We lost 4 ships today & two yesterday & lots of the boys were shot up. We are going to the flak home tomorrow. Hope it will be a nice deal.
Aug 26	Left this morning for the Rest Home and after traveling over half of England we got there & it is a lovely old estate and mansion near Worcester. We can shoot skeet, horse back [sic] riding, swimming, boating, archery & everything else you can think of. We wear sport clothes while we are here & sleep between clean white sheets. The estate is enormous and you can do anything you want. The house is enormous and is covered with large oil paintings of lords & such dating back to 1500. Also a suit of armour [sic] over 400 years old and naturally a library with books dating back the same. Value estimated at 24,000 £100,000. It's really terrific. It has 20,000 acres of ground and lots of deer. Even had a picture show downstairs tonight & after that hot. choc. & sandwiches. Tired now. So good-night.
Aug 26 to 3	The last few days have really been heaven. Nothing to do but enjoy ourselves & I haven't set still an hr since I got here. We have been horse back [sic] riding, swimming & playing softball. Just about everything. We eat like kings and sure do hate to see it all end. Had a party & dance Tuesday night & really had a nice time. Having a lawn party tomorrow. He have to leave either tomorrow or Sunday. Hope it is Sunday. Yes, it was Sunday. Got stranded in a small station and had devil of a time getting back.
Sept 5	Went on our 27th today and it was terrible. Lots of boys were shot up and about 4 fellows were killed. We lost Dames. His ball turret was blown completely off and him with it. Hit us awful hard. He was such a swell fellow. Their ship was short [sic] all to pieces. Wonder they ever got it back. We got about 7 holes, less holes than the last five missions. Flak was intense. I'm getting to where I don't know what to do. I've nervous and scared. God has been helping us, I know. I don't know whether I will make 8 more or not. Worth is a command pilot now and we are flying with anybody which I don't like. Things just don't seem to click like they should. Maybe everything will work out. O.K., got a package yesterday and mail. My Honey sent me a swell bracelet. Just what I needed. Our target was chemical plant at Ludwigshafen. 6x1000 lb. Have been finding out a few things about this mission. It seems the P.F.F. opr. was hit and we missed our target about five miles. We got most of the flak from Mannhiem [sic]. Debolt the kid that went to the flak home with us was hit in the leg and his nav. got a piece thro the cheek. All in all it was a hell of a mess. Returning from Ludwigshafen (Click to enlarge)
Sept. 6 - 7	Haven't flown the last two days. Yesterday we were all ready to go and they scrubbed it. Glad we didn't go cause it was a rough one. I don't care if I ever fly again. I'm getting jittery as the devil. 35 is just too darn many. We aren't alerted for tomorrow, which doesn't make me a bit mad.
Sept 8	Didn't fly today. Managed to wash a few clothes & that's about all. The boys went back to Ludwigshafen. They said it wasn't a bad mission.
Sept 9	Another one today. That makes 28 missions. Wish I could quit right now. Went to Mannhiem [sic] and bombed the industrial district with 12-500 lb. incendiary clusters. We turned off most of the flak and what we had was about all bursting about 1500 ft. below. Was the best mission we have had in a long time. We picked up flat at Saabrocken [sic] & Louxenbourg [sic]. Thought they were in our hands but must have been some of the grounds. We are up for tomorrow. Just as soon not fly.
Sept 10	Didn't fly again today but the boys went to an airfield near Stuttgart and it turned out to be a fairly nice mission. Wrote the folks.
Sept 11	Flew again today and as usual it was really a rough one. We bombed oil plant at Merseburg with 10-500 pounders. We had flak all the way both in and out and lots of fighters. Chuck was wounded. A piece of flak hit him in the side. He's in the hospital now. The ship flying next to us got a direct burst in the bomb bays. Blew a hole in the side big enough to walk thru. Their nav. was also hit. My guns froze up and I really was in a spot. Saw lots of ships really shot up. One ship's whole elevator was shot off. Saw one go down in big ball of flame. Nobody got out. The pilot we have been flying with finished up. Sure wish I were thru. Saw about 100 fighters (enemy) in formation (the Luftwaffe is dead, my eye). We lost 13 planes from this group out of 35 planes. Can't figure out this flak. It sure is accurate. Big bursts right under us. Could feel the concussion of the explosions along with the hits. God must be hearing our prays [sic]. We are alerted to fly again tomorrow. Hit in the bomb bay (Click to enlarge)
Sept. 11 12 [sic]	Didn't fly today. Guess they figured we needed a rest. Found out a few more details about yesterday's mission. Col. Bruso [sic-- Brousseau] gave us gunners a talk. Yesterday was the biggest lost [sic] this group has ever had. We lost 12 ships out of 35 and that's not good. The 8th Air Force lost 77 bombers. We are going on pass.
Sept. 13 & 14	Went to London on pass and it was so darn crowded we had a heck of a time finding a place to stay. Went to couple of shows and to the dance last night. I'm not going again. It's too crowded. Found out that the boys went back to Merseburg again and lost 5 more ships & 8 more landed in France and others [sic] fields all shot up and most all from flak. The flak is really terrible. I think about it and get nervous.
Sept. 15 & 16	Haven't done much but wash up all my stuff, air my bedding and put my nice clean sheet on. Washed a pair of trousers in soap and water and they really came out clean. Received some more pictures and had some swell ones. Worth has the negatives and is going to make some prints. We are assigned to another pilot now. His name is Potter and everybody says he is a good pilot. He has 17 missions. The boys had a short one today for a change and naturally we weren't on it. They will wait for another Liepzig [sic] one for us. I think.they went to help out the boys in Holland on 2200 gas load.
Sept 17 & 18	Haven't flown the last couple of days. Nobody flew yesterday. Just been loafing around. They are getting chicken around here now. Inspections and all. Guess they forgot this was combat. About all these ground officers got to do but it makes it kinda rough on us guys.
Sept. 19 to 23	Haven't flown since Merseburg. Have just been laying around taking it easy. Went over to Dittington Hosp. yesterday and saw Chuck. He is walking around now & seems to be getting along O.K. He was about a 6" or 7" scar on his back. Probably won't be out for another 3 or 4 weeks. The air corp [sic] is well represented over there. This flak has really been getting the boys and it sure makes a mess out of some of them. Anybody that says the air corp [sic] has it easy should be slapped. Think we will fly tomorrow. Would like to help those para-troupers [sic] in Holland. They are having a rough time. A new order came out a couple of days which made it only 30 missions for lead crews if they lead the group 7 missions. Naturally we got gyped again cause when we lost Worth we only had 4 lead missions. Otherwise I would only have two missions to go. When we lost Worth we just split all up, us enlisted men our [sic] together & now Bearsleys is with us. The weather is getting colder now. Sure would hate to spend the winter here.
Sept. 24	Didn't fly again today. It was terribly windy & rainy so spent the day just taking it easy. We are alerted for tomorrow. Wrote my Honey and went to the show "Ladies in Washington" and I thought it was very good.
Sept. 25	Well flew no. 30 today and it really has tired me out. I'm so darned tired going right to bed as soon as I finish this. We bombed Frankfurt with 12x500 pounders at 27,000 ft and it was a good mission for a change. Lots of flak, but it was not accurate. Had to make two runs, which didn't help the nerves any. We bombed P.F.F. and boy was it cold. 46 below and both my fingers and toes froze. When they thawed out I thought I would pass out from the pain. One of the boys in the barracks got a pretty bad case of frost bite. His fingers are still in bad shape. Not only do you sweat out the flak but onoxia [sic--anoxia] & frost bite. Didn't get any flak in or on the way out and the escort was lovely. Had a few "black widows" today. We had to change ships at the last minute and just made it. Five more to go and that's five too many. We are alerted for tomorrow.
Sept. 26	Pulled another one today and it was not as nice as yesterday. We bombed marshalling yards in center of Osnabruck, Germany from 28,000 ft. with 5x100 lb. and they really messed around. We first made a 360° outside the target to get the "wing" together. Then we went right to the "flak" area, turned off and made another 360° then made a complete run over the city right through the flak and didn't get the bombs out so had to make another 360° and make another run and finally got them out. It was 41° below again today and my heated suit rheostat was haywire and my toes froze up again so had to get out of the turret and ride in a waist and a hunk of flak hit the armour plating I was hiding behind. Really gave me a jolt. Only got about 3 holes in the waist and a few others all around the ship and it was 155 mm stuff. It was really clear. Could see the city just as plain as day. Bombs hit right in the center. One of our planes cracked up on take off [sic], caught fire and one of the 1000 pounders blew up ; blew the plane into bits and an awful big hole in the ground. Lucky everybody got out O.K. 4 more to go. Luke only has 3 to go. Sure wish it were over.
Sept. 27	We were scratched today from the mission and the boys went to Cologne & got shot up pretty bad and some of the boys were hurt, they said. The flak wasn't so heavy, but accurate. We spent the morning picking up what was left of the plane that blew up yesterday and that thing was in a million pieces. Wrote my Honey & Uncle Asa a letter tonight. Alerted for tomorrow.
Sept. 28	Pulled another one today and it was really a long hall [sic]. Had 2780 gas load and bombed "Madgeburg" [sic], Germany. We bombed a marshalling yard P.F.F. and flew the devil out of the part of the town from 25,600 ft. We were expecting strong fighter opposition cause they hit the boys awfully hard yesterday. Our escort was P-51's & P-38's and really a beautiful job. We had a strong "flak" over the target, but were spared holes today. Only got one for a change. One 17 most have got a direct burst cause he flew up and all there was was a big puff of smoke. I watched for chutes but didn't see any. I sure was stiff. Rode the ball from the coast in till back to the coast again and never did get out once to stretch. My teeth were really floating. "wow!" Had 10x500 pounders. Went very near "Aachen" where all the fighting is going on and over "Liegfried" Line but we were too high to see much. Today makes 32 missions. Hope our good fortune holds out for 3 more. 9 hrs. long.
Sept. 29-30	Haven't flown the last couple of days and got all my clothes all washed and ironed last night. Weather is a little nicer today. The boys went to Belgium I think. Luftwaffe has really been showing itself lately. Must be their last stand.
Oct. 1-2 & 3	Haven't flown the last few days. Been just loafing around. I'm really in no hurry cause we taken right off flying pay and hate to have that done. I got 18 £ [sic] this pay and now have 35 £ in the orderly room. I am supposed to be on pass now, but Andy & I took the tandem over to see Cary and darned if he didn't leave for home yesterday. But saw some of the other boys anyway. In road 35 miles and my rear end is really sore. Had some awfully bad news when we came and that was Rudy went down. Sure knocked the wind out of our sails. He was in a two plane collision and might have had a chance to get out. Hope the Lord was looking after and helped him out. It was his 33rd mission. It just won't seem right not having him coming in and saying "Whitey! What you got to eat." Sure is hard to take. Chuck came back and now he is going to the "flak home" again. Looks like we will never get a crew picture taken.
Oct. 4 to 7	Haven't flown the last few days but broke my wrist day before yesterday and at a heck of a time with only 3 missions to go. Didn't know it was broke till it started paining so darn bad. Don't know what they plan to do with me yet. Hope they give me a break and let me go home with the boys. They went to "Stettin" yesterday. Sure hated to see them go without me and really sweat them out. Luke only has one to go and Ray has 2 to go.
Nov 4	After talking to a lot of brass I got back on flying status & today we went to Hamburg and i was really nervous after not flying for so long and on top of that we flew with H.P. & almost went in a spin with 6,000 lb. of bombs & full gas load. Pinned me right to floor. Thought the wings were coming off. Lots of flak but wasn't very accurate. Ripped a large hole in the tail. We bombed synthetic oil plant with 12x500 lb. Luftwaffe didn't come up today. 2 to go.
Nov. 5	Flew again today and went to Frankfort & bombed marshalling yards with 6x1000 lb. We had to make two runs thru the edge of the flak but they weren't very good shots. Wasn't bad run. Only one more. Hope it is a good. Sure will be glad to be thru.
Nov. 6	Today was the day I thought would never come, but now I'm through and have the most wonderful feeling all over, to know that you will see all the things you love & dreamed of so much. We had a nice one to finish up on. We have our choice and I passed up to rough. We helped the boys and knocked out some pillboxes 9 ft thick with 8 1000 lb. armour [sic] piercing. 4 ton bomb load. Thought we would never get in the air. Chuck and I finished together. Andy has 3 to go.

Last updated 3-10-05 2010 est (2310 z)