78th Squadron (B-24) - Commanders Office

[wolfmanjack14]

this is Jack Cameron returning after a very long hiatus.  I have a B17G Banshee Terror and a B24J Leprechaun.   When I was a member the COs used tyo send out a a Squadron AAR but i cant find them.  are the Squadron summaries still done and if so where can i see them?  THANKS

[rhreiss]

Jun 3, 2024 12:05:04 GMT -8 wolfmanjack14 said:

this is Jack Cameron returning after a very long hiatus.  I have a B17G Banshee Terror and a B24J Leprechaun.   When I was a member the COs used tyo send out a a Squadron AAR but i cant find them.  are the Squadron summaries still done and if so where can i see them?  THANKS

The squadron AARs are the last few posts for each mission thread. 

[wolfmanjack14]

THANKS!!

[Grondeaux]

Late afternoon, 20 April 1944

Lieutenant Kane to see Major Garfield.

"Sir, I kind of hesitate to bring this up but at the mission debrief, Major Jopp mentioned four DFCs were being handed out for bombing accuracy and specifically mentioned Sorcerer's Apprentice. But when you made the presentations, Lieutenant Johns wasn't included. Am I missing something here. sir? I know we're not the most experienced crew, but he nailed the target, sir. Just like Major Jopp said. Can you check into this, please?

1LT John Kane, First Pilot
B-24J Sorcerer's Apprenice
78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF

[crushedhat]

"A man's accomplishments need to be recognized," Maj Garfield replies. "I will certainly look into it."

[crushedhat]

Maj Garfield salutes Maj Jopp. He then clears his throat, being a bit nervous about pointing out his superior's error. "Sir, it appears that an administrative glitch resulted in LT Jasper Johns of Sorcerer's Apprentice not receiving recognition of his outstanding performance on the recent mission to Rome. LT Johns achieved 78% effects on target, which meets the 75% criteria for award of the DFC. I think this oversight should be remedied at the next briefing." Maj Garfield awaits his CO's decision, and possible wrath.

[caodwolf]

His paperwork at HQ got all fouled up. DFC's that were approved were awarded.



I am sure 2LT Jasper John's   DFC will come through very soon.  

Major R Jopp
CO  78th Flying Boxcars

[rhreiss]

MFR for 
CAPT Paul Garfield
MAJ Rudy Jopp


Sirs,
For your review and submission to 509th Group HQ if you approve

v/r
2LT Ival 'Rick' Goodman

Award Recommendation for
Crew Members Name: George McQuinn
Crew Members Rank: CPT
Mission Number: 28 - Ploesti, Romania - Unirea Spreantza Oil Refinery
Mission Date: 5 May 1944
Award Requested: Silver Star
Award Paragraph: Why should this crewmen receive this award:

While on a mission to Ploesti, Romania on % May 1944 with the 78th Bomb Squadron, 509th (H) Bombardment Group CPT McQuinn’s plane was attacked by multiple enemy fighters that resulted in wounding both CPT McQuinn and the co-pilot, shattering CDT McQuinn’s leg. The attacks also caused a major fuel leak. CPT McQuinn determined there was not enough fuel to reach friendly or neutral territory and decided to try to get as close to friendly territory as possible. When the bomber ran out of fuel CPT McQuinn ordered the crew to bail out. Refusing assistance, he chose to stay with the aircraft to hold it steady at a lower altitude while the rest of the crew bailed out safely. As a result of his sacrifice the rest of the crew landed safely and half of the crew were able to evaded capture link up with partisans and return to US controlled territory. The personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by CPT McQuinn on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 15th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

Rank and Name Requesting this award:
2LT Goodman, Co-Pilot
B-24J Bama Beauty
78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF

[medic1]

Sir, my crew and I have just come in from the States and are eager to get into the fight and do our part.
The crew manifest:

B-24J STRICTLY BUSINESS (B24J-CF-44-422227)

Pilot 1st Lt Jimmy Langton
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Zack Hammond
Bombardier 2nd Lt Lance Brodzky
Navigator 2nd Lt Max Telford
Engineer S/Sgt Al Levenberger
Radio Operator S/Sgt Vic Boyko
Ball Gunner Sgt Frank Perez
Waist Gunner Sgt James Gibson
Waist Gunner Sgt Ray Markovski
Tail Gunner Sgt Barney Berlanti

[ChefEd]

11 MAY 1944

Returning from Ploesti, B-24 Next Objective was attacked by a pair of Bf-109s. One 109 was shot down by defensive gunnery, the second was damaged. Despite the damage to the Messerschmidt, the second Bf-109’s pilot fired on, hit, and set afire to engine #4. The engine fire suppression system was knocked out in an earlier engagement this mission. With the aircraft on fire, Lt Alexis Vaillancourt, pilot, ordered the crew to bail out.

Lt Vaillancourt was the last to exit the ship, as it crossed the Yugoslav coast. Lt Vaillancourt survived the bail out landing in the Adriatic. Within a few hours he had been rescued by an RN PT boat. As Lt Vaillancourt was being brought on board the craft was attacked by a German Bf-109, strafing the vessel. The engines were damaged, and the radio knocked out. The boat’s crew drove off the enemy fighter.

The PT Boat drifted a few hours before the crew could bring her into a secluded cove on the Yugoslav coast. Without their radio, the boat’s crew could not signal for help. After two days the engines were repaired enough for the boat to hobble back to safe port in Italy.

After a day of slow headway, the boat made port at Bari. Two days later, after a debrief and medical checks, Lt Vaillancourt was returned to Giulia on 10 MAY.

[ChefEd]

18 MAY 1944

SUBJECT: Debriefs From Repatriated Crew Members Of B-24 ‘Next Objective’, 78th BS, 509th (H) Bomber Group

BRIEF: ‘Next Objective’ crashed near the Yugoslavian coast on 15 APR 1944, with an engine on fire from enemy action, while returning from a bombing mission to Ploesti, Romania.

CREW:
Second Lieutenant Benjamin Galardi, Bombardier
Technical Sergeant Abraham Leeker, Engineer
Technical Sergeant Finnley Griffith, Tail Gunner

DEBRIEF:
PART ONE:

The Group was less than an hour out from the target when rockets were lobbed through the 78th’s squadron box. No damage was taken by ‘Next Objective’. Shortly thereafter three ME-109s attacked from 12, 3 and 9. Ball Gunner T/3 Townsend shot up the 109 coming in from 9, causing the enemy pilot to bail out. Navigator 1Lt Callahan Quinn, manning the nose turret, flamed the 109 attacking from 12 o’clock, which killed its pilot. The last 109, a Romanian, was missed, and missed the ‘Next Objective’.

The Group was making its last major course change for the target when ‘Next Objective’ was attacked, again. The first set of enemy fighters were an FW-190 and another Romanian ME-109. Lt Quinn and T/3 Leeker each hit the 190, causing enough damage for it to miss and leave the scene. T/Sgt Griffith sent the enemy fighter on its way by taking a passing shot, as it dove from 12 to 6. No damage was caused or taken in the exchange.

On the heels of the previous exchange, three FW-190s attacked. The first 190, from 3 high, missed, and was missed. The second FW, attacking from 9 high, took out the aileron controls. When this fighter returned T/Sgt Brendan Burgess, left waist gunner, and T/Sgt Leeker shot up the enemy. Sgt Leeker’s hits were the coup de grace shooting up the enemy’s wing, sending it out of control. No chute was spotted.

Passing the IP an FW-190 and a Romanian ME-109 attacked. Sgt Leeker shot off the FW’s wing, no chute was seen as the plane spiraled to the ground below. The 109 was damaged, but still managed to hit the bomber, but causing no damage to affect performance. As the 109 came around again, Lt Quinn’s fire shattered the enemy’s cockpit, killing the pilot.

The next round of fighters was a trio of FW-190s. On the first pass Sgt Leeker shot off another fighter’s wing, with no chute spotted. On this pass, the last 190 knocked out the fire suppression system. This 190 came around again from 10:30 low. Lt Quinn and T/3 Townsend combined to shoot down the fighter. Once again, no chute was observed.

The fighters cleared the skies as the Group passed through the flak belt. Flak was observed to be heavy, but not particularly effective. ‘Next Objective’ took no damage.

2Lt Galardi was able to drop about 60% on target.

Flak was again heavy, but it seemed with less ardor, on egress from the target.

Passing the flak belt, a single FW-190 attacked. Lt Quinn and Sgt Leeker left him with a smoking engine.

Following the Focke-Wulf, three ME-110s attacked, from 12, 6 and below. All three were shot down. Lt Quinn and Sgt Leeker, once again, combined to shoot down another enemy fighter, this time by destroying wing control surfaces and shattering the cockpit, killing the crew. The remaining two 110s were shot down by T/3 in the tail, and T/3 Townsend in the ball. Both crews were seen bailing out.

The enemy was not done with ‘Next Objective’. Three more FW190s attacked. Two were damaged, the third escaped unharmed. The second FW peppered the nose of the bomber, lightly wounding Lts Quinn and Galardi. As this fighter came around for another attack from 1:30 low, defensive fire shredded its right wing and set its fuel tank on fire. The pilot was seen bailing out. During this exchange the nose guns jammed. Lt Quinn was able to clear the jams in short order.

The skies were clear the next hour or so, During the flight over Yugoslavia both the nose and ball turrets lost power. The crew were able to restore power to both immediately.

With the Adriatic in sight a pair of ME-109s attacked. Sgt Griffith shot up the nose of the 109 at 6, sending it into a steep dive to the ground, with no chute observed. The remaining 109 hit #4 engine, setting it on fire. With the fire suppression system out, Lt Vaillancourt ordered the crew to abandon the bomber.

All ten crew were observed to safely bail out of the bomber, with Lt Vaillancourt believed to exit last, as that was his intention.

PART TWO:

Upon Lt Vaillancourt telling the crew to bail out, and the alarm being set off, Lt Quinn and I opened the nose gear escape hatch and bailed out. We were immediately scattered. Once my chute was deployed, I scanned around looking to see how many chutes I could see. I counted at least eight chutes, including my own, but wasn’t totally sure.

Once on the ground, I hid my chute and went into hiding. From my vantage point I scanned as far around as I could to see if any of the crew or the enemy were in the area. Nothing.

Once the sun set, I headed west, as best as I could, keeping to tree lines and depressions. With the last quarter of the moon visible, there was enough light to find my way, but still dark enough, I had hoped, to remain unseen. As dawn approached, I sought a suitable place to bed down for the long day ahead. I found a small copse of trees, with dense underbrush. A crawled in and tried to make myself as inconspicuous as possible.

I found myself being prodded awake by a farmer. Apparently, my small stand of trees was actually a tangle of grape vines, part of a vineyard. Given a thorough once over, the farmer directed me toward a cluster of buildings a few hundred yards away. He placed me in a root cellar, where I found Sergeants Griffith and Leeker.

Between us three, we accounted for all ten crew bailing out. We could not account for the whereabouts of the other seven crew members.

How long we were in the cellar, we do not know. Food and water were brought at irregular intervals. One day the farmer brought in another man, who questioned us in broken English. After a brief interrogation they left. We waited what seemed like several more days when the two men returned. The second man indicated we were to follow him. Outside of the cellar it was dark. In the darkness of the waning moon, we saw at least two other men. There may have been more, but we weren’t sure. We spent the next three or so weeks travelling by night from place to place. We were eventually handed off to several RN sailors and an officer, in some secluded cove. We travelled by patrol boat through the night, until we reached Bari. After several days of medical exams and interrogations, we were sent back to the 509th for final disposition.

[ChefEd]

Date: 22 MAY 1944

RE: Squadron Lead and Tail Assignments

From: Capt Alexis Vaillancourt, XO

Pending any circumstances that may alter these assignments, these aircrews are assigned Lead or Tail for the following missions:

Mission	Position	Aircraft	Commander	Owner
35	Lead	Dump Truck	1Lt Joseph Cascarella	rhreiss
35	TEC	Hot Potato	2Lt Donald Peck	Keltos
36	Lead	Gravel Gertie	Capt Alexis Vaillancourt	ChefEd
36	TEC	Oblivion Express	1Lt Ira Gleason	Grondeaux

v/r

[medic1]

Sir, new plane and crew reporting for duty. We're ready to join the fight and will fly the next mission.

B-24J VALIANT LADY (B24J-CF-41-29408)
Pilot 1st Lt Troy Walsh
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Paul Macari
Bombardier 2nd Lt Dave Garrido
Navigator 2nd Lt Harley Skott
Engineer S/Sgt Cody Moskowitz
R/O S/Sgt Ben McConnell
Ball Gunner Sgt Richard Jarsky
PWG Sgt Wapasha Stands Alone
SWG Sgt Ed Sewell
TG Sgt Jeff Larimer

Pilot 1st Lt Troy Walsh, Pilot Commanding

[ChefEd]

Adding a new bomber for use in game narrative. Expect to fly all missions.

Naughty Nanette
B-24J-15-CF-42-64366

Pilot 1Lt Thiago Maurin
Co-Pilot, 2Lt Emmanuel McGowen
Navigator, 2Lt Solomon Villanueva
Bombardier, 2Lt Cayson Cain
Engineer/TT, T/Sgt Robert Bryan
Radio Op, Sgt Hector Rojas
Right Waist, T/3 Trenton Yates
Ball Turret, S/Sgt Rohan Copeland
Left Waist, T/4 Griffin Shields
Tail Gunner, T/4 Azrael McMillan

Crew Chief, S/Sgt Nigel Heuston

[medic1]

And another bomber and crew to add to the meat grinder:

B-24J HOWLING BANSHEE (B24J-CF-44-50702)
Pilot 1st Lt Tom Clayton
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Nate Arazello
Bombardier 2nd Lt Dave Scovill
Navigator 2nd Lt Hank Markland
Engineer S/Sgt Cory Lysiak
R/O S/Sgt Ben McConnell
Ball Gunner Sgt Rick Masaro
PWG Sgt Harry Gardner
SWG Sgt Ed Southern
TG Sgt Jeff Larrabee

[ChefEd]

DATE: 24 MAY 1944

TO: First Lieutenant Joseph Cascarella, Pilot Commanding, B-24J Dump Truck, 78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF ( rhreiss )

FROM: Captain Alexis Vaillancourt, Executive Officer, 78th BS, 509th BG (H), 15th AF ( ChefEd )

RE: Group Mission 35, Ebreichsdorf, Germany

Lieutenant Cascarella,

In response to your After Action Report regarding Group Mission 35 to Ebreichsdorf, Germany, a few comments.
1) The C.O. does not assign Squadron Lead and Tail, the X.O. does.
2) Assignments are based upon availability, rotation, performance, and capability.
3) Dump Truck was chosen as Squadron Lead for Mission 35 based upon the crew’s previous performance. Your aircraft has a bombing average over 40%. Enough qualification to lead the squadron.
4) Your crew’s performance on yesterday’s mission, 50% on target and 4 confirmed kills, confirmed my judgement that you and your crew could lead the way.
5) A bottle of bourbon and several cases of beer are being directed your way, to share with your crew.

v/r
Capt A. Vaillancourt, X.O.