this probably belongs here
A window in Time
Found this while I was looking up some info for my mother in law who lost her brother (Joseph G Sorbino, B17 tailgunner 335th U/42-31533) Feb 22, 1944.
A true window in time. Some notations sad some quite humourous.
Its too long to post in one post here so The link for the site is on the bottom if anyone is interested in reading more
Drediock
DIARY OF MEDICAL DETACHMENT STATION #167
FEBRUARY 1944
3 February Briefing was held at 05.00 hrs this morning and the target announced was Wilhelmshafen, Germany. Bombing altitude was 25,000 ft, actually made at 28,500 ft. The increased altitude was due to the heavy condensation trails, which even at increased altitude, impaired visibility markedly and prevented good formation flying. The target area was 10/10th overcast and bombing done by pathfinder. Outside air temperature was 43 degrees and there were five mild cases of frostbite, one placed in sick quarters.
No ships were lost and flak and fighters almost negligible. Thirty three aircraft from this command took part in the raid, Captain Briggs leading the group and reported what he believed to be a German B-17 flying alone over Germany, out of range.
A Medical Board, under Major Ernest Gaillard, Jr. was convened today to determine the mental status of Pvt J. of the 532nd BS. The case history was filed and he was found to be constitutional inadequate. Recommendation was made that he to held accountable for his acts and that he be discharged from the service.
4 February Briefing at 05.15 hrs this frigid morning was take off at 08.45 hrs, with 33 aircraft from this command took off for the target, two areas in the city of Frankfurt, Germany. Bombing was by pathfinder through 10/10th overcast, from 20,000 ft where the outside temperature was 35 degrees.
The briefing route avoided most flak areas but the route taken went over the heart of the Ruhr Valley both going in and coming out. All ships returned to base. There was no enemy fighter opposition and friendly fighters escorted the whole distance, P-47s, P-51s and P-38s were used.
There were no killed or wounded. Lt Kuhl had #3 and #4 engines knocked out by flak over Germany and displayed great courage and tenacity brought the ship home more than three hours after the formation. The landing gear would not come down and a beautiful crash-landing was made. Most of us had given the ship up for lost. Lt Fastrups co-pilot hit the landing gear switch instead of the flap switch and the ship collapsed on runway 28.
The body of 1st Lt Carl O. Baer, was washed ashore at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, last night. When he ditched on 30 January he was in good spirits and wise-cracking on the radio. He will be buried at the U.S. Military Cemetery at Cambridge.
5 February Twenty eight aircraft from this command took off at 07.45 hrs with the target designated as an airfield at St Avord, in France, just west of Bourges. The Air Division was led by Lt Col. Hall. Bombing was at 16,000 ft and hits were right on the nose in excellent visibility, while no flak or fighters were encountered. There were no wounded, no missing in action and no aircraft were damaged. A perfect mission.
The only event of the day was on landing when one ship could not get the ball turret guns out of the down position and had to grind them off on landing. We have had briefings seven out of the last eight mornings and five missions flown. The crews are in good shape.
6 February This command provided 33 aircraft which took off for Nancy, France, the target being an airdrome. The weather was overcast and the ships returned without dropping bombs.
Lt Putek and crew were near the target when there was an explosion near the T.T. which set off flares and a severe blaze ensued. The ship landed at Dunkeswell, a U.S. Navy field, near Taunton, Devon. The ship had many 20m and flak holes, the nose was shot out, the ball turret shot up and partially burned, the cockpit windows shattered and rolled back while the wings and fuselage was riddled with bullets. Three officers bailed our over France and the following were injured and hospitalized at the 67th General Hospital, Taunton.
C/Landed 535th /42-40025
Putek, Henry
2nd Lt
OK
Coffman, Alfred T.
2nd Lt
MIA
Blalock, Conrad M
2nd Lt
MIA
Christiansen, Harvey
2nd Lt
MIA
French, Lifford N
S/Sgt
WIA
OK
Burgasser, Herbert J.
Sgt
WIA
OK
OK
OK
French 2nd degree burns; Burgasser facial wounds through flak.
Major Gaillard and Capt Bland visited the wounded on 8 February.
10 February The ships were dispatched and recalled on 9 February, thus command called for a practice mission today.
For the past two weeks the medical department has been having quite a lot of psychiatric activity. There has been a Section VIII Board on Pvt J. 532nd a case of hysterical amnesia; 2nd Lt H. 534th ; and a psychoses of unclassified type in Pvt S. 534th. Several consultations have been held on patients found not to be psychotic.
11 February It was dark when 33 aircraft from this command took off at 07.15 hrs after an 04.15 hrs briefing (the sack is sure hard to leave at 03.30 hrs!). The target was Frankfurt, Germany, the bombing altitude 25,000 ft by pathfinder method through thick 10/10th overcast, in minus 45 degrees centigrade.
The group was led by Col Leber, who also led the Air Division. There were two pathfinder aircraft and the target was hit by visual bombing and the results thought to be good.
MIA 532nd G/42-31099
Laux, Robert V.
2nd Lt
EVD
Harrer, Donald G.
2nd Lt
POW
Wright, Phlemon T.
2nd Lt
EVD
Doyle, Judson F.
2nd Lt
EVD
Holton, John L.
S/Sgt
POW
Helfgott, Abe. A.
Sgt
EVD
Hamilton, Richard C.
Sgt
EVD
Cutino, Rudolph
Sgt
EVD
Glennan, Thomas J.
Sgt
EVD
Barr, Henry R.
Sgt
POW
Three men were wounded in action, as follows:-
S/Sgt Richard G. Morrison, 532nd BTG. 1. Wound, perforating, left ankle, entrance above & posterior to internal mallcolus, exit posterior and proximal to lateral mallcolus, mod. Severe. Caused by 30 cal bullet, high velocity.
1st Lt George A. Hoffman, 535th; received minor abrasions, ½ medial to left nipple.
S/Sgt Charles L. Carter, 534th ETTG, suffered burn, 2nd degree, left heel.
Contrary to expectancy there were only three cases of frostbite, and one was on the cheek of a previously bitten right waist gunner.
The men do not seem unusually tired after this mission and did not run into any strong enemy opposition.
19 February The weather has been stinko for the past eight days and no operational missions have been flown.
On Monday, Feb. 14, a dinner meeting was held for the commanding officers and surgeons in the group and an attempt was made to present the psychiatric problems and their dispositions that confront the Eighth Air Force. All were kind enough to listen attentively but the memory of the hamburgers seems to remain a bit longer than the pearls of wisdom that were given by this poor narrator.
The chief topic of the week among the medical officers has been who was going on pass. I think I will settle the question in the near future and go on pass myself!
We had several accidents during the week. The first, Cpl John Vodden, of the British RASC, suffered a compound fracture of the right tibia and fibula and lacerations about the face, when he continued to travel when his motor cycle had stopped. His commanding officer, Major Lloyd, gave me an Achtung salute as he entered, and yours truly thought he was being addressed by the G.I. Joe of the army until the major identified himself. He turned out to be quite a cocoa guzzler and I believe only pride kept him from polishing off his third cup in as many minutes. Cpl Vodden was sent to the 121st Station Hospital at Braintree.
Later in the afternoon one of our own G.I.s Cpl Irving T. Rossman, of the 533rd BS, was cutting wood and attempted to bisect his foot along with the log. He was given plasma before evacuation on account he was in shock.
To top Captain Blands rather interesting tour of duty, he was called to see two soldiers that a jeep had apparently taken off the base without permission and said jeep had piled into the truck that was returning with the local band. The two injured men were: Pvt Clarence J. Caswell, 534th BS. Diagnosis: 1. Wound. lacerated, cheek and sub orbital region, left, moderate severity and mild, respectively; 2. Wound. Lacerated face, leg, middle third, left, moderate severe.
Sgt Johnny T. Mills, 535th BS. Diagnosis: 1, Abrasions and contusions of forelegs, moderate severe. 2. Sock, post-traumatic.
Poor Captain Bland finally got to bed at 4 am, and with the bed clothes rising and falling about four foot with each respiration gave articulate evidence that said Captain Bland was completely pooped upon retiring. He was able to sit up and take nourishment about noon the following day.
http://www.381st.org/histories/medical_02-1944.html__________________
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