Folks, this web site is a treasure:
http://www.398th.org/Missions/Missions_Listing.htmlThank you, Stoney, for posting this URL.
Here is a sample of what you can find...
Lt. William H. Baker's Diary
Navigator, 600th Squadron
Mission #18 Merseburg, Ger. – November 2, 1944
Synthetic Oil Refineries - P.F.F. [path finder force]
Breakfast 0520
Briefing 0620
Time 7:30
Carried 18 – 250 lb G.P’s
Alt. 25,000’
If I live to be a thousand I will never forget today, but wish I could. Merseburg, Ger., 12 miles W. of Leipzig. I could never stand another like today – I believe it would be a physical impossibility. Flak, very, very heavy and very, very accurate for 25 minutes at target - a horrible sight – solid wall. Sky was black as night – Sun couldn’t shine through. 22 Flak holes in our ship; one under pilot’s cockpit exploding oxygen bottle – 6 in nose – one in Plexiglas nose and out over Hesterly’s head – one in side and out between us – two in my window – one in #1 engine – one in left wing – three in right wing – 2 in bomb bay doors and out radio room roof – one in ball turret – one in tail behind Fowler – 2 in stabilizer – couple more small ones.
Both times when glass in nose was hit I knew we were going to get it. Saw two very close in front of nose and thought sure number 3 or number 4 would be direct hit. Turned my back and pulled my Flak suit up around me – then we got a hummer in the nose. Saw 2 very close out right window, expected 3 or 4 to be direct hits. 2 Pieces in my window – couldn’t take evasive action to miss Flak – it was everywhere.
Flak 3 more times on return – two very near misses picking up a couple of holes. And the fighters – we had 51’s, 47’s and 38’s as they were expecting very heavy fighter opposition. We got it –
ME-109’s and a few jet propelled jobs, they hit our Group today for the first time, the High Squadron - got Capt. Scoffield leading High. While hitting us were also hitting Group ahead and behind us – lasted about half hour. Dog fights all over sky. At any moment could see at least one ship going down – terrific battle – saw two hit a B17 straggler, 17 exploded. Two more Jerries hit another straggler, Fort got both and they exploded.
In Group ahead saw 3 Forts explode within 30 seconds – at same instant saw 4 fighters explode. I saw myself, 7 Forts explode, 12 fighters explode, 5 Forts burning, 6 Forts spinning in, and numerous fighters spinning in. Saw only 5 chutes all together – wouldn’t have had a chance today in a chute though, between Flak and fighters – most horrible thing I have ever experienced. Afraid we’ll have to go back though as we didn’t get it [the target] today I don’t believe - we were 17th Group over target – if it’s like today would sooner shoot myself than go back.
From now on I’m flying because I have to, not because I want to. They told us we’d have 150 fighters from Leipzig and 300 from Berlin. We lost 7 ships out of 36 from our field – that’s 19% loss. Of remaining 29, 16 had major Flak damage. 12 had wounded aboard. Bassingbourne lost 13 ships out of their 36. Lost 41 bombers, 28 fighters. German Air Force lost 208 fighters, 450 enemy fighters encountered.
