1 October l944:
Total strength is 158 enlisted men and 44 Officers. Private Hoy1e B Birkhead was admitted to the
40th Station Hospital today.
2 October 1944:
Headquarters announced some promotions of enlisted men today. Sgt Charles H Gorrell was
promoted to Staff Sergeant, Olin D Eberlin and Winn D Currie because Corporals from Private First
Class, and Antonio A Teixeira became a one-striper.
At 0815 Lt Ona W Burns and crew standing by at Borgo, Corsica, received a mission to search
for men in the sea. Fix was given at 43 14’N O5 11'E. Weather was clear but the water was extremely
rough. At 1115 Captain Wallace G Walton, Flight Commander of Flight C, and crew was ordered to the
same fix as given to Lt Burns. Capt Walton's crew flew within ten miles at the given fix when Galley
Sector control ordered the mission abandoned. Captain Walton re1ayed the message to Lt Burns and
both aircraft returned to their respective bases.
3 October 1944:
Lt Lonsdale today traded his gold bar for a silver one of a First Lieutenant.
Announcement of the disbandment of the 6503rd Fighter Control Squadron left this organization without
radio communication. Therefore the Commanding General of the 63rd Fighter Wing gave authority to Lt J
P Hart, our communications officer, to set up ground Radio Communication. Equipment was secured from
the departing unit and the following men were attached to us from the 63rd Fighter wing.
Sgt Robert shepherd,
T 4 Harry Bjarko
T 5 Robert J Backes
T 5 Johnnie H Goodin
Sgt Robert J Hemmes
Cpl Edwin F Nigon
T 5 Andrew W Devera
T 5 Myron W Gualke
T 3 John R Frick
Cpl Joseph A Elliott
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Captain Ruckman, Flight Commander Flight “B”, stationed at Foggia received a call from
"Cardclub" to proceed to Ancona for information regarding a prospective search. Take-off with his crew
was made at 1050 with a low ceiling, rain and a high wind. Upon reaching Ancona, Captain Ruckman
and his crew were called back to, Foggia; landing was made at l405.
4 October 1944:
Lt Cummins returned to Ajaccio after a trip to Pot Lyautey in French Morrocco, checking on the
progress at of a PBY at the Naval Air Station having advance echelon repair work.
Flight B at Foggia received a call from 323 Wing (British) ordering a search. The fix was given at
42 14'N 16 10’E. Captain Wel1s, our Operation Officer, and his crew took off at 1100. A one-man dinghy
was spotted at 1315 at 42 10’N, 16 13'E, but no survivor was spotted. A Warwick and HSL assisted in
the search. Captain Wells, upon sighting the dinghy, requested the HSL to pick up the device.
Lt John Mork took off with his crew at 1415 for a routine patrol, but no unusual events were
reported or sighted.
5 October 1944:
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Sergeant Joseph E Wszolek went to the hospital today.
The 323 Wing (British) ordered a mission which was flown by Lt Mork and his crew. The fix was
given at 45 47'N 15 48'E. At take-off time, 1045, the weather was very bad with a 600 foot ceiling, rain
and turbulent air making the flight extremely hazardous. Arriving at the search area a 35 knot wind
prevailed. Two attempts to search the area given were made but the adverse weather conditions made it
impossible to properly conduct a search. Two Warwicks and a walrus were sent to relieve Lt Mark when
his fuel began to run low. Base landing was made at 1445.
Lt Milburn and crew took off at 1300 hours with a fix at 43 37'N, 15 48'E, the same fix as given to
Lt Mork. It was raining, at take-off, but by climbing up Lt Milburn came out of the overcast at 6500 feet.
Radar was used to a good degree of success and the search area was located easily by radar. The
search area was along the island of Yugoslavian coast. Upon arriving, at that point a search was started
and continued for 20 minutes when enemy shore batteries and anti-aircraft batteries opened up, making a
1ow-f1ying search impossible. Swinging up into the overcast Lt Milburn outmaneuvered the flack and
made it safely back to Foggia Main, landing at 1615.
6 October 1944:
Captain Walton and Lt Edward W Bleier of C Flight had a routine patrol with their crews off Cape
Rosso, Corsica. No unusual sightings or distress signals were noted.
7 October 1944:
Captain Wells, Operations Officer, returned to Headquarters at Ajaccio from an extended stay at
B Flight in Foggia. Colonel Pardue and Lt Walter W Searfoss, the Adjutant, left on a business trip to Hq
12th Air Force in Florence.
Lt Mork pulled the first mission today taking off with his crew at 1315. The fix given by 323 Wing
(British), was north of Vis off the Yugoslavian coast. Five men were sighted “bailing out”. Upon arriving in
the search area, five men in parachutes were sighted. The men had a difficult time getting out of their
harnesses' and the wind kept carrying them across the surface of the water. Lt Mork and his crew kept
them under observation and asked for a surface craft to effect the rescue, as the swells were ten feet high
and a 25 knot wind was blowing. All five survivors were picked up and the PBY landed at Foggia Main at
1745.
Lt Walker and his "A" Flight crew, now on temporary duty with “B” flight, f1ew a routine patrol with
no events. Take-off a1330 and setting the "Duck” down again at 1755.
8 October 1944:
One mission today--one of the varied types given this organization. Lt Milburn was ordered
airborne at 0900 and take-off was affected at 0905. The mission was a patrol and the area assigned was
the Messina strait between Italy and Sicily. Three planes carrying “very, very important” personages in a
C-87 and two Yorkshires, going to Carlo. As usual, speculation ran high among the crew of the PBY as to
whom these personages might be.
9 October l944:
Congratulations flowing all around the Headquarters Flight today. Captain Robert W Wells
became our third Field Grade officer as he received his gold leaves. Lieutenants Jack D. Ogle and Walter
W Searfoss also received a promotion as they donned their “railroad tracks”. In the operational flights,
the following officers gold bars turned to silver: “A” Flight with Lieutenants Melvin and Lyle, “B” Flight with
Lieutenants Colnon and Witt, and “C” Flight had Lieutenant Nonnenmacher.
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Lt Lyle, Navigator in “A” Flight, walked his transfer papers through Headquarters 12th Air Force.
His transfer was approved and he departed today for the 57th Bomb wing--a medium bombardment wing
of B-25’s.
10 October l944:
Lt Walker and crew pulled the dull routine patrol. Take-off at 1030 and landing at 1540 for a total
of 5 hours and ten minutes patro1, during which time nothing unusual occurred.
11 October 1944:
Pfc Mancel F Diercks, one of our drivers, went into quarters today with an infected hand.
Lieutenant Mork, on patrol, answered S.O.S. with a fix given at Southwest of Vis. After searching
an hour and a half with no sighting, the crew returned to the original patrol.
GO 190 Hq 12 AF published today the announcement of the award of the distinguished Flying
Cross to Lt Leonard M Bilsland, 0739710, at “A” Flight. The award was for his proficiency and courageous
devotion to duty. The decoration was made for his rescue made under enemy fire off the coast of Toulon
on 18 Aug 1944.
On GO l91, Hq 12 AF, seventy-eight (78) Air Medals and clusters were awarded to members of
this organization. Practically all the flying personnel at the unit are now holders of one decoration or
another.
12 October 1944:
Flight A received orders today to operate in France. The site chosen was a French naval air
station located just in the middle between Toulon and Cannes, in from the coast. The ground echelon of A
Flight still in Grottaglie, Italy, started their packing for the trek from there to France. Captain Merrick A
Gray, Flight Commander, led the flight crews and planes on the air movement, departing at 0900 hours
from Ajaccio, Corsica, where they had been on temporary duty during the past days.
At 0840 Lt Therel Jarman flew his C flight crew on a mission fixed at 42 42’N 09 36’E; at 1015,
“Brickpath" called the search off with no evidence of any ditching having been sighted.
At B Flight, Lt Milburn flew the patrol with his crew for three hours and fifteen minutes with no
unusual events to report.
13 October 1944:
Lt Walker and crew took off at 0700 on an early morning patrol. No sightings were made, so back
to Foggia at 1015. At l230 Lt Walker took off again and at a fix given him by 323 Wing (British) sighted
wreckage, and dinghy although no survivors were sighted. Continuing the search, one survivor was
spotted and gave information that several more were in the vicinity. Taxing around an area of seven
miles, six more men were rescued. After getting the men aboard, a take-off was made and the search
continued from the air when the rest of the ditched crew could not be located from surface search. No
more survivors were spotted and Lt Walker returned to Foggia Main. The men rescued, all from the 718th
Bomb Squadron, 449th Bomber Group, were:
1st Lt Robert L Gettens
1st Lt Milford C Corbin
T Sgt James Latta
S Sgt Carroll Smith
S Sgt Wi1liam B Morlan
S Sgt Brien R LaCourse
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Sgt Arford B Garcia
14 October 1944:
Pfc Diercks is back on duty today with his hand much improved.
More promotions today, with the squadron “Shavetai1s” sharing al1 the glory. "A" Flight men
included Lts Busby and Millard, “B” Flight with Lts Burns and Lasher, and “C” F1ight with Lts Barkman
and Murray. At the same time our lone Flight officer received his commission as a Second Lieutenant-F/O Joseph D. Murphy. Lt Murphy is very much concerned over his 20 per cent overseas pay as a Flight
Officer and the 10 per cent increase the commission officers receive.
“B” Flight came through with another rescue. Captain Buckman Flight Commander, took off with
his crew at 1240. Upon reaching the fix one man was sighted and a landing made. After the survivor was
picked up and the PBY was airborne, a second man was seen and the "Sea Gull" which was on the way
to assist was requested to pick him up as it was getting dark and the fuel was low in the Catalina. Captain
Ruckman returned to base at 1940 with T Sgt Me1vin Merman of the 724th Bomber Squadron, 451 Bomb
Group, as his survivor.
15 October 1944:
Lt Milburn off at 0624 on a parallel search. After almost five hours no sightings were made and
the aircraft returned to Foggia with the crew.
In Flight’s territory Lt Murray and his crew flew a search on the west coast of Corsica and
Sardinia with no unusual sightings.
16 October l944:
Early Morning take-off at 0700. Lt Walker and his crew had the flight to a fix given as 44 l7'N l4
48’E. Upon arriving there and landing in the harbor of an island, contact was made with a British
underground Captain who informed the pilot the men who were ditched had been moved to another
island. Take off from the harbor was effected immediately and the PBY, proceeded to the designated
spot. Circling the village indicated, Lt Walker shot flares but receiving no reply decided to circle the, entire
island. After doing this, they returned to the village and received a rep1y to his signal. Landing in the
harbor, the flight surgeon, Capt. Jack T Haskins, went a shore and dressed the wounds of three of the
men who had ditched. After taking care of these wounded men all the downed crew members were taken
aboard the PBY. These eight survivors were from the 414 Bomb Squadron, 97th Bomb Group, and
included:
1st Lt Jack DeHaas
2nd Lt Robert E Parker
T Sgt Foster B Powell
T Sgt Paul J Frierech
T Sgt Samuel Schinasi
S Sgt William C. Hamilton
Sgt Eugene A Albo
Sgt William Straton
Lt Mork off on a “hot mission” at 1320 and flew to a fix given him at take off and survivor located
immediately. Pilot taken aboard proved to be a British captain from 244 Squadron,283 Wing, R.T.
Whittingham.
An hour after Lt Mork’s take off, Lt Busby and his crew was airborne toward the islands off
Yugoslavia. After searching all around the islands and covering them with no sightings made, the Catalina
returned to base at Foggia.
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17 October 1944:
More decorations today. Thirteen Air Metals and Clusters for sustained operations in this theatre
were awarded officers and enlisted men of the squadron. Lt Busby dispatched an a 'hot' mission with his
crew at 1155 hours and proceeded to a fix 14 miles northwest of the island of Via. Upon reaching the fix a
body was sighted in the water and three empty chutes were sighted. The large swells prevented the
Catalina from landing, but there vas no life visible in the area.
At 1520 Lt Milburn and his crew climbed into the air to pick up the survivors of a B-24. Arriving at
the fix the downed crew was picked up by a fishing boat, were upon Lt. Milburn contacted an flat which
took the rescued fliers back to the mainland.
18 October 1944:
We are fast becoming the most decorated squadron in the theatre. Today 12 AF awarded 15
more Air Medals to flying members of the organization. Operationally it has been a very dull day.
19 October 1944:
No missions, rescues or patrols. Extremely dull.
20 October 1944:
Lt Millard and his crew while on patrol today received a fix. Proceeding to the designated area a
hundred-square-mile search was performed. Nothing was sighted and the Catalina returned to base at
Foggia Main, at 1635.
Lt Mork with Lt Colonel Pardue as co-pilot ran into a rather unusua1 mission with their crew
today. Receiving a fix the craft was flown to the designated area where, upon the second leg of the
search, two P-51's and a walrus were spotted circling in the distance. Upon arriving at this spot, nothing
but debris could be seen. While hunting for the survivors of this ditching, a call came through from a B-17
that the pilot had just given orders to prepare for ditching but could not give his position. Leaving the
debris of the first wreck, Lt Mork started back to the Italian Main Land. While in route “Highfield” received,
the B-17’s position and the PBY proceeded to the fix. The life raft's and the 17 were spotted. The full
crew was rescued and the stricken aircraft remained afloat for 55 minutes. The rescued crew were from
the, 49 Bomb Squadron of the 2nd Bomb Group.
They were:
1st Lt Eric Halz
2nd Lt W. R. Myers
F/O D. W. Powell
T Sgt R. M. Shadrowe
T Sgt G. Weamer
T Sgt C M Collins
S Sgt Z A Mackoal
S Sgt T E Clapper
S Sgt W J Wilts
S Sgt A Pobmymka
21 October 1944: t
Lt Mork off on a pre-breakfast mission today with his crew ended up over a Walrus taxing on the
water with plenty of Ack-Ack fire to make things interesting. Lt Mork overtook the Walrus and, took two
men aboard the PBY--these two being survivors the Walrus had picked up. The crew of the Walrus
would not leave their craft but taxied to shore. After the Catalina took on the two survivors a call was
5
received that another flyer was down. Lt Mork to the fixed area and picked up one more man; an
uneventful take-off and the flight landed at Falconara. The three survivors were disembarked to a waiting
ambulance. These men were:
Sgt Paul E Espep 459th Bomb Gp, 758 Bomb Sq
Sgt Arthur W Jones 112 Sq, RAF
Capt Arthur W Mickle 7th Sq, SAAF
Colonel Pardue and his crew, flying a routine patrol, spotted a disabled German E Boat, deserted.
A British LCH was directed to investigate. Return to Foggia Main at 1355.
In Corsica Lt Murray and his crew hopped a mission at 42 30’N 09 45”E. The weather was poor
and the ceiling was low; after an hour and twenty minutes the search was abandoned by “Brickfield”.
And still they come--more decorations. Lt Milburn and Lt Melvin received orders awarding them
the Distinguished Flying Cross for outstanding proficiency. Thirty-tour more Air Medals and clusters were
included for other members of the unit.
Sgt's Trinca and Holzer flew to Port Lyantey to check on Sgt Trinca's plane having some advance
echelon work done on it at the Naval Air Station.
22 October 1944:
A flight on patrol today. Lt Lasher and crew patrolled off the coast of Southern France for four
hours.
B Flight: Col Pardue flew with his crew on a search for a Walrus missing from the air-sea rescue
mission of yesterday. The Walrus was not located, but a German E Boat flying a white flag was spotted.
A gun boat was called and the Jerries were taken prisoner.
23 October 1944:
Lt Busby flew routine patrol with his crew today; the weather was bad with plenty of thunder
showers.
24 October l944:
Lt Barkman, of Flight, received his orders for rotation to the States today. Packed all his
belongings in a Musette bag—“I’m traveling light” was his reply to the jibes of fellow officers. Lt Milburn
and S Sgt Giza received their orders for a thirty day detached service tour in the States. They are to
return to the unit in about three months.
Major Regnier left headquarters for B Flight for a short business trip.
Operationally, B flight again scooped honors today. Capt Ruckman, flight Commander of that
flight, was given a fix at 42 43’N 15 02'E. Upon reaching the fix with his crew, a survivor, Lt John W
Wallace, 97 Fighter Group, was spotted in a dinghy. A fighter pilot had bailed out of a P-38. A quick
water landing was made and in ten minutes the Catalina was on the way back home.
25 October 1944:
Just a routine day.
26 October 1944:
Still all quiet in the air-sea rescue business.
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27 October 1944:
The first action in three days. Lt Murray at C Flight flew a mission with his crew for the spotting of
a B-25 that ditched between Rome and Corsica. Lt Murray spotted the crew in two dinghies and although
the ocean swells were extremely large a successful landing was made. The downed crew was picked up
and attempted take-off tailed with the result that an HSL towed the Catalina back to Bantia, Corsica. The
rescued men were:
1st Lt E. A. Fontain
1st Lt F. I. Peterson
1st Lt G. N. Gibbons
1st Lt S. E. Wozniak
M Sgt Rhodes
S Sgt W B Summer
Sgt J E Dudley
Cpl S L Huntoon
Cp1 V I Adams
All the survivor were from the 446th Bomb Squadron of the 321st Bomb Group.
GO 12 AF reveal five more Air Medals were awarded today to various members of this
organization.
28 October 1944:
Two more men to Port Lyantey to fix up our 'Tough-Luck' plane. Sgts Schoenberger and Raiford,
on DS there, returned.
One call today. Captain Ruckman, B Flight, flew a mission with his crew with a fix 40 '561N 18
07'E. An oil slick was found but no rescue was made.
29 October l944:
12th AF Emergency Rescue Boat Crew, consisting of S Sgt Avlos, Private First Class Lambert,
and Private Smith, were assigned to our organization for operations. Only one thing wrong--the crew lost
their boat some time ago in Naples Harbor and to date haven't been able to replace it.
Col Pardue, while on patrol today, working out of Foggia with his crew, received a call to proceed
up to a spot near Rimini. The survivor was found and the PBY was within fifty feat of him when the
Jerries shore batteries opened up on the Catalina. This made it necessary for the Colonel to take off
immediately. Sgt Louis Hendrix who was on the wing of the PBY preparatory to throwing a line to the
survivor, didn't have time to get into the plane. Consequently he flew twenty minutes hanging on the
engine vents, atop wings. Finally, the plane sat down on the water and Sgt Hendrix was able to get into
the plane. This undoubtedly has been the most unusual experience in the squadron to date.
30 October 1944:
Lt William F Rogers, a former B-24 pilot of the 456 Bomb Group, joined the organization today. Lt
Rogers has had quite a few missions in heavy bombers. On his last mission he was forced down over
Yugoslavia and walked, for 40 days before partisans were able to get him back to Italy.
31 October 1944:
While on routine patrol today, Lt Walker and crew was ordered on a search at a fix given as 41
30'N 17 30'E. He spotted several smoke floats, but nothing developed.
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