At the 344~ Bomb Group ju~ ou~ide Pointoi~e, 20 miles from Paria. Today waa my f~rst mi~ion. We bombed cro~roads at 8tadt Mechinheim. We had eight f~ve t~undred pound bomba. We took off and I stayed in front of ~e B. Bay lItl we were safely in ~e air. I pulled ~e pins in ~e bombs and went to ~e [ail. We were ~en at ~e bomb line. I took my gunnery position in the [ail and charged my guns. I looked around and heard ~e call to don flak sui~. I knew we were near the target and started ~rowing out window. I t~ad never seen flak before but I saw it just ~en. Big Black Puffs. The f~r~t burst of four shots. Then at ~ree o'clock I saw eigl~t more sho~. I heard the call bomb doors open. I anxiously waited ~e ned call of Bomb~ Away. Flak wa~ att about us. It was tigt~t flak and accurate, but I was so scarred. Bomba Away and bomb doors cloaca came over. I watched ~e train of bombs go down and then we turned off target Flak stopped now and no ships were lo~L We headed l~ome. I transferred gas on the return trip and Jim took over my gun po~ition. We landed safely and l~ad interrogation. I ~en went to the [ent and ate a large chicken dinner.

#2
Friday 9 March 1945 Alt 12,500
At {l~e base.
Today I made my second mission. It was really tough. We all took off and assembled above ~e clouds. We l~eaded for the [arget I stayed in the front and pulled the pins. I then started ~ transfer about minutes from ~e bomb line. We hit the bomb line and I started for ~e tail. I aaw Jim putting on l~is flak suit We had orders while I was on my way back. We were to bomb from 12,500 feet and it was hard brea~ing. We hit our I.P. and I was gethog set up. I donned my chute again and then my flak suit We had a camera today and I was to take pictures. We turned on our bomb run and hit heavy and very accurate flak. They sl~ot down one plane on ~e f~rst bur~ I was taking pictures of flak and the bomb doors opened. We saw the plane go aflame and burst into three pteces.

W33-35 P.35

The mission ot March 9, 1945 was either to bomb the marahalling yard at Biebrich or the defended towns ot Lich, Schwalbach, Eppenrod, Anspach, or Lippstadt I used a chest type parachute. It fully attached, it was bulky and cumbersome so I stowed it next to my right leg on the floor so l could grab it in a hurry. The flak was heavy and accurate. I was looking at the flight below us and to the left When I looked back at the flight below us and to my right nothing was left ot one ot the planes except the tumbling tail section and the sections ot the wings out past the engines (continued to the top ot page 36)