Rattlesden January 9 Sunday 
Got up at 8:30 this morning, dressed and got Fred out of bed and managed to get down to the theater on time with him. No ground school today. Everybody except Mac, TWG + Laz went to Protestant church this morning at 9:30, the rest went at 11. Since we've been going on missions there's a lot of fellows going to church, and the greatest percentage are combat crew members too. Cleaned guns and worked on the interphone system of ship most of the afternoon. Played rummy with Fred and MD for an hour after supper. Read a while and hit the hay as soon as the fellows get thro playing blackjack on my bed. B-830 

We are supposed to go on a 2 day pass Tuesday. 

Rattlesden. January 10 Mon. 
I got up this morning at a quarter to seven, dragged Fred out of his sack; got down to the chow hall at seven and to the barber shop at 7:30. The shop didn't open till 8 but we got in at the first of the line. I got my hair cut and went over to briefing at the theater to tell Jarrel where Fred was. It was O.K. by him. We had a class in aircraft rec in the theater at 10 when we were told that we'd fly in the afternoon. We had to put the guns in for the flight. We were up in the air for an hour during which time I was listening to a British radio program which featured songs like "Deep in the Heart of Texas". Pretty good. All of us did a good job cleaning our guns for the mission tomorrow. Dill came in at 9 saying that we'd go on pass tomorrow instead of going on the mission. The whole crew would rather go than let someone else let get all shot up. We'd be willing to forfeit the pass. B 10

Rattlesden January 11 Tuesday 
We got up at 7 o’clock this morning, had roll call in the officers barracks at 8:30. Afterwards all of us went back to the barracks to get ready to go to town. I walked down to operations and got the passes. Crew #5 left at noon by G.I. truck from the mess hall. We didn't have to show our passes. We got to Stowmarket at 1230, caught a train for Ipswich after waiting 15 minutes. It took 20 minutes to go to Ipswich about 17 miles. As soon as we hit town we got beds in A.R.C. got supper there and went to a show. Mac went to a dance instead, getting to bed at 11. The trolleys in this town are as modem as anywhere, good service too. Most of the people seem pretty friendly, contrary to what most of the fellows say. The first impression of the town gives us a good impression of things. Gene + Dill went to London to spend their passes. 

Rattlesden January 12 Wednesday 
At 8 the four of us got up and had breakfast at the A.R.C. Service Club. It wasn't a bad breakfast, stretched sausages, potatoes, bread toast butter and jam. Afterwards we went out and bought souvenirs, pilots caps and squandered money in general. I spent about £10 for a necklace, brooch and purse, but they are all well made, and very pretty. I think I'll send the brooch to Mom, purse to Lois and necklace to Alice. I guess the jewelry is pretty expensive for the Britishers but the Yanks spend their pounds like water. After lunch the four of us started walking to see the town. We went thro a park with a big pond filled with Mallard ducks + geese. Really beautiful. On the grounds was a mansion that was an art gallery and very old domestic furniture dating back to 13th century. We found another museum and went thro it in a half hour when 2 days wouldn't have been enough time. Natural history, zoology and gun collections filled most of it. A show finished up a swell day. B 11 

Rattlesden January 13 Thurs. 
M.D. and I got up at 7, took a shower and shaved, Fred and Mac got up at 8:45. Soon afterward we went to the A.R.C. Service Club to get breakfast. M.D. and I went off shopping while waiting for the two to finish their coffee; stopping at a jewelry store. Met them at the train station, leaving at 1015, getting to Stowmarket at 1045 where we met the rest of the crew, including the officers back from London. After waiting a while we got a ride to the base in the mai1 truck. A class from 330-530. P.W.+ naval ident. Charlie Hams had to ditch on the last mission when Col. Bowman + Jarrel's plane blew up. Harris and crew had a rough time: the ship broke up, sank in 30 sec. but the whole crew got into boats O.K. The R.O. got an S.O.S. off.
15 min. after landing a Hudson circled, 3 hrs later they were picked up by the Limey coast patrol. All of the fellows suffered from exposure and shock. C. Harris says he's going to quit flying. B 10

Rattlesden January 14 Friday 
8:20- Fred and I got to briefing just in time. Capt. Richards is squadron operations officer now, Dalzell + Lagasse assistants. They had a good ground school schedule mapped out for us when they alerted us for a mission. T.W.G. said we could clean guns until briefing at 11 when we gunners went to their ships, as too much information as to target for the day has been leaking out before the planes take off so they told just the officers the target + particulars. The officers got out when everything was ready + told us that we were an extra crew. The formation take off was at 1-2:15, we stood by in the ship until 2:30 then came back + got something to eat. It was a milk run, and for the first time we would have been in our own ship. They got back at 5:30, no flak or fighters. All combat crews are alerted tomorrow for a maximum effort, restricted to barracks. I owe 6 letters + am going to bed instead of writing. Charlie Harris is going to get a 7 day pass for rest. He deserves it. B 9:00 

R, January 15 Sat. 
The C.Q. came in at 3:30 to wake us up for a mission this morning, ate at 3:45, briefing at 4:45. After the gunners briefing I was in with the rest of the R.O.'s getting briefed by Capt. Unitas when he received a call from Berry that the mission had been scrubbed. We got back in bed by 6, slept until 930 when we got up to get paid flight pay, £14-5'6d. We had to go up to briefing room at 11 for a brief lecture by a major of some other sq. An electronic supercharger lecture 2.30-3.30, and poker took up all afternoon and evening. 6 pence loser, about the cheapest entertainment possible around here. It was just a friendly game among the 6 E.M. of the crew. At 7 Lt. Dalze11 came in to get his radio + told us we probably would not go on a mission tomorrow because bad weather was expected. A bit of fog came up very suddenly this morning + hung on till noon. 3 more missions we get the air medal. 2 day pass the 21st. B-10 

Rattlesden January 16 Sun. 
7: 15, Briefing at 8:30 in the theater. This was over at 8:45, Gene Dill, M.D. + I went to combat library until 925 when we went to church. At 10:30 after church I went up to take code in room 13, but the code instructor was skipping out. I shot the bull with a limey flight lieutenant and Al until noontime. After chow there was a short lecture at 1:30-200 by S-2, then 1 went + took code for an hour and passed 20 W.P.M. again, the first time being at Scott field last May. Some fellows flying B-26's land here from a mission 2 days ago + have been fogged in ever since. Those boys say that the grub is a hundred times better here than at their base. They don't mind their staying here at all. After chow M.D., Fred + I went to the show "Wake Island," played 2 cribbage games + hit the hay. The fellows are galloping the dominoes against the floor. B 10 

Rattlesden January 17 Monday 
7:00 I got up good and early this morning. Some reason, Fred got up too! It was nice to sit in the mess hall for 45 minutes. Went to radio school most of the morning, code + a lecture, plus bull sessions. There was another class on zone sighting the 1st thing in the afternoon. The rest of the afternoon we read in the library + read in the barracks. Didn't do anything except read after supper. Today was another day of fog. The weather hasn't been very cold but pretty damp. No mail has come in for 4 days. We are getting pretty impatient because of the lack of mail. The B-26 boys have to go thro 50 missions, but 25 in B-17s are a lot harder. The 26's can make 2 missions a day, while one every other day is the most we can make except in emergencies. They have had anti-personnel bombs on the base for a month. Sort of expect the invasion to break loose in two months. B-10 

Rattlesden January 18 Tuesday 
7: 15 Got up in time to eat, make some cocoa + heat it on a stove + take all the time in the world to drink it. Roll call at 8:30, no ground school during the morning, a class 1 :30 to 2:30, I took blinker then for an hour and went back to the barracks until chow time. At 5:30 in the officers mess Col. Harris presented the D.F.C.s and Purple Hearts earned in the past raids. The D.F.C.s were presented to fellows that have finished thier25 missions were of another group. Most of the Purple Hearts were earned in the Kiel raid by frostbite. The 26's + their crew are still here. Lt. Dalzell came in a while ago, telling us that we’re on alert, we'll probably fly the purple heart-earner tomorrow with Lt. Bye, Dalzell’s copilot. He says we might not have briefing very early but I'm going to bed early anyway. B-9:30 

Rattlesden January 19 Wednesday 
The C.Q. came in waking us up at 6:30 for a mission. All of crew 5 except Fred went to chow at 6:45 and stayed at the mess hall until 8 when all but me went to the main briefing room. I went back to the barracks to get a scarf + to wake Fred up. He was dressing as I came in; got to breakfast at 8:35 + sat around till 9 briefing time. We were to bomb rocket installations on the coast of France. When we got out to the ship + got the guns in T.W.G. came out + told us the mission was scratched. We went to the barracks until 2 when we had to take the ship out + dump the bombs in the North Sea. We had delayed action bombs that can't b defused without going off, so we dumped them, the six regular bombs went off + made beautiful geysers. Then T.W.G. took us down on the deck, 30 ft + test fired the guns, 300r. per gun. Came back, ate, cleaned the guns, got thro at 830, came back to the barracks + went to bed. 9:00

Rattlesden January 20 Thursday 
The C.Q. came in at 6:30 to tell us we were going on a mission. We slept until 7:30 when he came in again to get us up. Chow at 745, nothing to do until 9 when the gunners were briefed. Same lecture and target as yesterday. Same as yesterday we got the guns and made everything ready and mission was scrubbed. After chow all the E.M.'s went out to the ship, got it cleaned up, loaded a lot of ammo; T.W.G. turned us in as present at the afternoon classes in ground school. After dinner I went to the show alone, came back; went to the latrine and shaved + got cleaned up in general in cold water. I felt pretty good AFTERWARDS. This scrubbing of missions is getting tiresome for us, ground crew + everybody. But, most of the time we get our chocolate bar and gum every time to soothe us. So far none of the fellows I've noticed haven't been bothered by combat as they've seen so far. Got a "V" mail letter today from Mom mailed the 9th of Jan. So far they've received none of my letters. B- l030 

Rattlesden January 21 Friday 
We got up at 7:30, briefing at 9, when they told us we were going on a mission at noon. After the usual preparations we made a Noball raid, bombing the rocket installations on the coast of France. T.O. at 12, landing at 4: 15. No flak, no fighters, we missed the target by 500 ft, hit a railroad instead, bombing at 12,000 ft. The Jerries were shooting up some sort of rockets at us; they got up to our altitude + exploded, off to one side about a mile. We saw about six of them, none coming close at all + we are not sure what they are. After landing we got away from the ship in 15 min. the record, just about, got thro undressing, packing interrogation by 5:30, ate chow, went to the barracks to get mail. Mom and Alice seem not to have got any mail from me yet, the address is still APO 9006, Tad has it tho. Tonight the Jerries are keeping the searchlights busy, we can see light from exploding bombs in distant towns but cannot hear it. The Jerries must be mad. B- l0:30 

Rattlesden January 22 Sat. 
We got up at 8, had breakfast and went to briefing at 9. The rest of our baggage came this morning. After roll call T.W.G. and the rest of the crew with Sgt. Honeycutt the supply sgt. opened the big box with our stuff. I was glad to get the protective clothing, shoes, brand new pair from Kearney, and my new field jacket. Last night a lot of Ju 88's bombed London for the first time in a long while. 8 out of 30 were shot down. This afternoon we had a lecture on the British rescue boat. It is hooked on the belly of a Lockheed Hudson or some other plane + is dropped by parachute to a dinghy with a ditched crew. It has outboard motors, sail, warm clothing, emergency radio, rockets and food. It is 24 ft long, is self righting mahogany boat with CO2 filled bags at each end. A complete unit complete with instructions, gasoline and good wishes. 
B-11 No briefing tomorrow morning.

Rattlesden January 23 Sun.
I got out of bed at 10:30 this morning, read until 11, got cleaned up and went to chow. Just after noon we were ordered to go to briefing room as soon as possible for a mission. It turned out to be a practice mission, we didn't have to go because Lt. Mamlock was still D.N.I.F. No classes during the afternoon; spent the time in the Red Cross Rec drinking tea and eating sandwiches; sewing 8th Air Corps patches on my clothes. They had chicken for supper tonight; a swell meal. Crew 7 got back from London today; they say most of those Piccadilly Commandoes are thicker than flies + are pretty eager to earn money. They had a swell time tho. We get our passes in four days, M.D., Fred + I plan to go Ipswich. We are not supposed to fly a mission tomorrow except as individual replacements. Briefing at 9. B-10:15

Rattlesden January 24 Mon.

Much to Crew #5's surprise, the C.Q. came in at 3:30 waking us up for a mission. Briefing at 4:15 when they told us we were going to Frankfort to bomb chemical works and railway yards and explosive factories. We took off at 6:25 to fly high echelon for the 94th group. At takeoff we had trouble with interphone; used emergency interphone on the command modulating unit for an hour then switched back to interphone. Mac's interphone jack box was shorted out. Our composite group reached the rendezvous at 10 over the Channel; the 94's formation was very poor. The trip was cancelled as we were 40 miles in France. On the way back out ran thro some accurate flak, 2 small holes in ship. Got back to base at 12:30, after interrogation + putting up equipment went back to bed at 2 P.M. sleeping until 6 when Fred + I went to A.R.C. to get tea + sandwiches, went to clean our guns and came back to go to bed at 10:30
Rattlesden January 25 Tues.
Got up at 7:30, ate chow and went to role call at 9 when we were told the P. C.P N. + R.O. of Crew #5 were to take a ferrying trip to Honnington at 10:30. We took ship 146, took off at 1050, me in the tail. It was a great thrill during the take off back there. We landed at Honnington 10 minutes later on the prefabricated steel runway. After checking in Leavitt + I went to chow, a poor one at that and got back to operations at 12:45; Stenvig + T.W.G. + officers showed up at 1. We took of in 095 15 minutes after Stenvig got off. On the way back I rode in the nose. After landing spent some time in the barracks, Mac, Fred + I had tea in the A.R.C. until 5:30, then I went to the show. Afterwards back at the barracks they say there is an all-out alert for tomorrow. Maybe we'll go even tho we made the last mission. B-10:30

Rattlesden January 26 Wednesday
Again, much to our disgust, the C.Q. came in at 2:30, pulling us out of bed for a mission. Briefing at 3:45 where we're told our target was Frankfurt again, with a Noball target as a secondary mission. Takeoff time was to be 7:50, start engines at 7:25. At this time they told us both missions were scrubbed, due to 7/10's cloud over the Continent. There was another briefing at 9, so we had another breakfast + went back. Practice mission, skeleton crews + we got hooked. Flew from 10 till 2, me riding all over the ship. Came down, ate a late lunch, and finished reading a book by supper time. Dashed off a letter instead of going to chow, and am going to bed early. Lt. Mamlock says the 447th 
has the best bombing record of all time here in England for Yanks, 708 being high squadron. If we have good record for the next two raids we'll be in for a presidential citation. -B 8:00

Rattlesden January 27 Thursday
We got up at 7, and when the rest of the crew went to breakfast I went over to the washroom to shave + wash up. At 12:10 we got in a truck + headed for Stowmarket, getting there at 1. Just for a change we took a bus to Ipswich at 1:30, getting there in an hour. It was one of these tall double-decker buses, we rode in the top, getting a good look of the countryside as we passed thru the two towns on the way to Ipswich. During the afternoon we walked around town got a room at the A.R.C. dormitory. Harris + I went to a show, the rest except Kealer went to a bar to get some drinks. Kealer stayed on the base in hope of getting a mission during our two day pass to catch up with us. The five of us hit the hay at 11, in clean sheets. It sure felt good.

Ipswich January 28 Friday
Got up at 7 this morning. Harris + I took a shower before going out. By the time we were ready, the rest were ready too. After looking around a bit we went into a radio shop and asked if they had a radio. The owner swore up + down he didn't have any, then casually mentioned he'd sell us one for £20. We bought it before he could talk much. That would be £3-1/3 for each man of our crew. After buying it we took it up to the A.R.C. dormitory to have them keep it for us. For the rest of the morning we went thro the museum on High street that we just skipped thro on our last past. Fred + I went out to a golf course to spend the rest of the afternoon while the rest shopped. I had a swell time walking around and maybe learned a little about golf. In the evening the five of us went to a show. B-12:45 at the A.R.C.

Ipswich-Rattlesden January 29
Harris + I got up at 7:45, went down to the middle town to do a bit of final shopping: buying some wine, a pillow. We got to talking to a civilian who said the Forts had been going up all morning from 630. We got the radio and got down to the station at 9:15. Mac + the rest showed up at 10, the train left at 10:15 with us standing up. The officers of the crew were on the same train. After a 15 minute run we got to Stowmarket, went to our tea room + had tea + cakes. This time it was on Mamlock. We got rides out to camp at different times. I came out with H.E.M. + McGurer. The radio works very well. Jimmy Boyd went on the raid + says it was to Frankfurt, a milk run, some flak good fighter protection. Bombed thro clouds at 24 thous. saw smoke come thro clouds that were at 10,000. B-9. No alert as yet.

Bombed the city at 24000 thro clouds, with incendiaries. Returned at 430

Rattlesden January 30 Sunday
We were a disgusted bunch of guys at 2:30 when they woke us up for a mission. T.O. was 820, headed for Brunswick Germany. Chemical, gas, and airplane city. We flew over at 24,000 ft, sometimes as high as 27,000. Looking back I could see group after group, wing after wing behind us in waves above the clouds, P-38's zigzagging back + forth above us. Those 38's looked pretty, so pretty in fact a few FW 190's came above the clouds, saw them and changed their minds and headed home. We always had at least 30 P38's in sight, a few P47's. It wasn't cold, I didn't turn heat on until after we left the target + went up to 27,000. Throwing chaff out kept me pretty busy. Quite a bit of flak, 2 holes in our ship, Putnam turned back at the I.P.; on the way back we were the lead ship for the group as Dalzell dropped behind to no. 6 position with a feathered no. 2 engine. Got back at 4. Went to bed at 7:30 dead tired.

Putnam's crew is gone. He must have bailed out over Germany. Probably P.W. + OK

Rattlesden January 31 Mon
M.D. + I got up at 2:15 to go on a mission I was to go as RO for Donahue. At briefing at 4:15 we found that we were headed for Frankfurt, Ger. a pathfinder mission. I was to fly in a late B-17 G with all the radio equipment in the r. room, radio gun mounted on the hatch, waist guns mounted so that the waist guns + r. gun could be fired without opening any windows. It would have been nice + warm. After pulling the props thru the mission was scrubbed because the weather was too bad. Came back to barracks + stayed in bed from 8 till lunch time, got my rations and slept from 2-5. If we had of taken off we would have been loaded. 2700 gals, Tokyo's clear full, + 10x500 demo's; the ships would have been 200 lbs under maximum gross weight allowable for takeoff: 63000 lbs. A B-17 G can't get off the ground with more than 65000. The 63000 didn't count extra flying equip. we took along. Cleaned guns after chow. Alert for tomorrow. B-8:30

Rattlesden February 1 Tues.
Crew #5 got up at 4, had chow and got to briefing at 5:10. A mission to Frankfurt Ger. We got the guns in but hesitated before changing clothes as the weather was pretty bad. The control tower shot red rockets to tell us the mission was scrubbed. After getting our equipment ready we headed back to briefing room leaving guns in ship. We managed to get back to bed by 8:30. I slept until 12 when I got up for chow. Went out to the ship, took the guns out + read for the rest of the afternoon. Went to combat library for 2 hours after supper. We are getting tired of all these false starts, the ground crews tireder as they have to load + unload bombs. Early this morning when loading guns in the dark I ran into the tail assembly, the tail hit me across the eyebrows. Tonite it's still sore + swollen. There's always a first time. The ship’s radio mech let me drive an English Ford. 85 HP, a lot of soup + a lot of fun. B-10

Rattlesden February 2 Wednesday
We got up at 7:30 ate breakfast and briefing at 9 when T.W.G. was told P, CP, N + RO were to go on a practice mission at 10:30. There was pretty close to 42 ships in the formation, we took off at 11:15, didn't land until 3:30. During this time I rode in the tail, nose, and behind the cockpit. I worked for a while on radio just to get some practice. From fairly good sources we learn that Noball raids are to be counted as 1/2 missions from now on if we go on any more. Ship 145 is in almost perfect condition, Rudy doesn't put her on initial because the camera doors were removed. She is about the best ship on the field. There are quite a few metal patches on the ship's skin, it looks kind of funny. Had supper at 4, went to show at 6. B-10:30

Made Tech Sarge 
6th Mission today 
Rattlesden February 3 Thurs.
Crew #5 got up this morning at 2:30 for a mission. Briefing at 3:50, T.O. at 750. We took off third, flying no 3 in the lead squadron, earring 10x500's and full Tokyo's. Left England at 10:20 headed for Wilhelmshaven, a seaport + sub base. Bombs away at 11:30 at 25000 bombing thro an overcast. We had P47's + 38's as escorts all the way. One ship in this squadron aborted + was attacked by 10 FW190's but got home OK on 2 engines. After dropping bombs we climbed up to 32,000 ft for some reason. At this altitude bends bothered me a little in the knees + elbows. This is the highest most of us had been. No ships were lost today, we got back at 3 o’clock. Cleaned guns + bed. Alert for tomorrow. B 8:10

7th T.O. 840 L 1520 
Mission 6 hrs on oxygen 
Rattlesden Friday February 4
Climbed out of bed at 2:30 for a mission. T.O. at 815, left England 10:20 at 23,000 ft, flying low sq. low group. The 447th put 2 groups of ships, 42 in all, into the air, a mighty share of its job. We were carrying 625 a new B-17 G with closed waist + radio guns. It's nice + warm. Lt. Lazarus + I were flying with Lt. Donahue + his crew. We bombed Frankfurt, + did a good job too. We had 10/10 cloud until our target + about 7/10's there. From the target the group headed home + got too far north getting into Ruhr valley flak area. We were hit in main + tokyo's on right wing; hydraulic system was gone too. The bombardier was injured in the leg. One engine quit so we had to come home alone. Over the Ruhr we lost a couple B-17's, as there were upwards of 2000 guns shooting at us. Upon getting back to the base Laz + I were met by T.W.G., + Mac + Dill. F.T. Hawley, Harris, Gene flew with all different crews as did Lt McGurer who got a compound fracture of a leg by flak: he is over in main hospital now. Going to visit him soon. B-8:30

R-Ipswich February 5 Sat.
Got up at 8, after cleaning up the barracks for inspection, shaving and cleaning up for a trip to town. Harris + I left at 12:30 on a Quartermaster truck to Stowmarket. Taking a train to Ipswich at 2:30, we got there to do a little shopping, get something to eat at Fustman's, met the rest of the crew except Gene. We went to a show and went to bed in the A.R.C. dormitory. I hope there is some mail waiting for me at the base when I get back as there hasn't been much lately. Harris + I plan to go to Norwich + see what the town is like. All the names of the towns ending in "wich" were founded by the Romans during their time of conquest. B 12

Ipswich February 6 Sunday
Hi Jinx went down today with Reed's Crew 
Harris + I got up at 8, fooled around all morning with Fred Dill + Mac. Caught the 12:15 train for Norwich, Dill riding as far as Stowmarket with Harris + I. Fred + Mac stayed to go to church, then go back to the base. Harris + I didn't get into Norwich until 3:30, we took a look around town, it didn't impress us. The A.R.C. wouldn't give us beds as we were too far from base. We headed back for Stowmarket darned soon. Got in S. at 7:30, couldn't get a taxi so we got something to eat in the Canteen + started walking: Harris in cowboy boots + me in new G.I. shoes. We - mostly me - got us on the wrong road, hiked to Rattlesden asking for directions, twice, asked at a pub after getting some lemonade + got in at 1130 covering 7 1/2 miles. Hi Jinx is gone with Reed's crew, by flak. She was a good ship. B 1200

Rattlesden February 7 Mon.
I got up at 10. Read until noon when the officers came in. All of us feel pretty rotten about losing that crew in "Hi Jinx". She was one of the best ships on the line, nothing wrong. The fellows that saw her go down say she peeled out of formation with a cockpit afire, one chute was seen. Just above the clouds the ship was leveled out, the fire out, and all fellows alive could have gotten out. Losing the ship is hard to take, but the real thing should be + is the loss of a crew. I knew the R.O. + the rest of the crew well. Lt. McGurer won't fly again as that piece of flak got him in the knee. Dr. Bartos won't let us see him until Wed. This afternoon I took code for an hour, and read in the combat library till 4. Lights went out at 6:30 + don't want to come on; writing this by flashlight. The ground crew of 145 worked terribly long hours to keep her going + would have got a decoration for the ship has never had any trouble to cause an abortion. B- 70

Rattlesden February 8
Up at 2:30 this morning for a mission. Breakfast at 3, briefing at 3:50. We enlisted men were briefed by light from flashlights + an improvised arc light. We flew #497 a 711 ship. Dill didn't go as his nose was causing him a lot of trouble, he was replaced by a pretty nice fellow from 709. T.O. at 8:20 with full Tokyo's, 10x500 demo bombs, six with a six hour delay. I don't know why they use delayed action bombs, all they are big booby traps. We left England at 10:15, over the target Frankfurt at 11:45, making one run on target. Bombing from 25000. Flak was seen + heard at the coast going in and at the target. Heavy flak, from 108mm but inaccurate. We got 2 or 3 holes. Got back at 1500, had to wait for 1/2 hr for transportation. After interrogation we went + cleaned guns, had chow, a meeting in the orderly room on most everything. B 8:30

Rattlesden February 9 1944 Wednesday
The C.Q. came in at 310 waking us up for a mission. Chow at 3:30, briefing at 4. Headed for Brunswick. We were flying 167, Reed's old ship, not a bad one tho. T.O. 7:30, we had flown for an hour and the mission was cancelled because of weather, we found out later because by 1400 it was raining + wouldn't have let ships in. Got back to the barracks at 10, slept for an hour until T.W.G. came in to tell us we could visit Lt. McGurer in the afternoon. We left the base in a truck provided by Capt. Bartos, sq. surgeon. We were with him almost an hour when the nurse chased us away. He has cast from ankle to-waist, will be in it for 5 months. He was looking pretty bad, the prospect of being in bed for six mo. then limping for life isn't pleasant. All of us felt sorry for him but tried to cheer him up by telling jokes. Got back to base at 4:30, wrote a letter after chow + hit the hay so we're alerted, even tho the weather is bad outside. B 8

On the way in today Jerries attacked the escort + made them drop their belly tanks so they couldn't escort us as far as planned. A new trick! 

Rattlesden February 10 Thursday
Got up at 7:30, ate chow, role call at 9, a class from 10- 11, + one from 1:30-2:30. Read most of the afternoon. Went to a show with Fred + M.D. Yesterday #167, Reed's ship, was officially given to us. Today some other crew of another squadron took her up + they went down. So far we've had two ships, and both have gone down with some other crew in them. At 8:30, Lt. Mamlock came over to tell us something while we out swiping coke. As soon as we got back H. Morris came over + told us he wanted to see us. Fred, M.D. + I went over and found out ship 724 is now ours, a brand new ship. We take her up + give her a test tomorrow, altitude + test fire guns. They are moving Lt. McGurer to another hospital tomorrow. The fellows raided Brunswick today + somehow missed their fighter support. B 11:00

Rattlesden February 11 Friday
Jumped from bed at 6:30, had chow, and got to the briefing room with McHugh in time for briefing at 7:50, T.O. at 9:45 on a practice mission, flying no. 4 in lead sq. I didn't do much besides getting a couple QTF's and listening to music Laz had on the R. compass. On the raid yesterday the Jerries were using JU 87's and almost every kind of ship imaginable. One fort pulled out of formation when he was hit, made 2 slow rolls, a 4000 ft dive and got home, at least to a base in England. A '24 would fall apart if it did a stunt like that. In the afternoon Mac, Laz, T.W.G., Mamlock + I took our new ship up to altitude. She's a [tried twice to spell 'damned', crossed both out] good ship, not a thing wrong with her. I can tune the liaison xmitter up on 213kc on fixed wire + burn all the insulation off the wires. Enclosed waist windows, extra oxygen outlets in radio room + nose + cockpit, heated suit outlets that are extra. We got down about 4:30, cleaned a gun + went to chow. Read for a while and hit the hay. B 9:00

Rattlesden February 12 Sat.
Got at 7:45, ate chow and got to theater for roll call at 9. Practice mission at 9.30. We were flying skeleton crews, Laz, T.W.G., Mamlock + I got down there to find out that we were to fly in some other ship than ours as the ground crew were changing a carburetor on #1 engine. We didn't get away from the briefing room until 10:20, sat in the ship waiting for orders to takeoff or to come back until 11 when we caught trucks + came back. At 1:15 all combat crews met in the theater to be awarded Air Medals. All of the crew except Mamlock + I got them, some mistake somewhere. We'll find out. I was scheduled for radio school but went to there instead. We didn't do much today, no alert for tomorrow as yet. A practice mission scheduled for tomorrow. B 9.45

9th Mission February 13 1944 Sun.

Got up at 8:15 this morning, just in time to get to mess hall to eat. Read around the barracks until 9:30 when Lt. Dalzell said we were on alert for a mission. Went up to P.X. + got the rations, fooled around barracks until 10:30. Reported directly to ships, I had no briefing T.W.G. got my flimsy. T.O. 12:30 in 868, called "Due Back". We were carrying 12x500 demo's, six delayed action. Our bombing altitude was 12,800 bombing some target on the coast of France. The "A" group, the one we were in, didn't see any flak or fighters, "B" group ran into a lot of flak and some fighters 127 + 104 came back like sieves. We lost 2 ships, one hit by flak + went down in flames, one ditched. Somebody sent SOS's for them + we saw the launch going out on the way in. After chow cleaned guns. B 10.

February 14
8:00 The C.Q. came in at 2:30 to wake up Jimmy Boyd for a raid. He was the only one of the barracks to get up. We had been napping all night thinking we would have to go too. After 2:30 we slept like logs. Got down to theater for roll call at 9, went over to combat library until 10 when Fred + I went to the gym to get some exercise. We played basketball and used most of their equipment. Really nice. After noon there was a lecture 1:30-2:30. Came back to the barracks to play poker until suppertime. Wrote letters until 9 when I went down to the shower room to get cleaned up, getting back at 10. Last night a lot of Jerries were over Ipswich and London. We could see and hear the barrage of A.A. fire put up. From this distance it looked like red lights going on + off. We could here the planes and saw 2 go down in flames, almost like a skyrocket going down instead of up. Almost everybody was out watching. 
B- 10:30
Rattlesden February 15 1944Tues.
8:10 Ate breakfast + got to briefing at the theater at 9. We had two classes during the morning, a lecture on tactics 10- 11, a test on aircraft rec 11-12. I had radio classes in the afternoon: an hour and a half in the trainers using 200kc on the liaison set and working in a net. After supper cleaned my gun and helped check the rest. Had tea + cakes in A.R.C. at 7:45-815. There is a red alert on tonight. So far have seen no flak, just searchlights. T.W.G. + Laz went up to the section hospital with Doc Bartos this afternoon to visit McGurer. They say he is feeling a lot better now, joking + all. They, the doctors, used $6000 worth of penicillin getting the two, McGurer + the navigator in shape. We probably go on a mission tomorrow. B-9

Rattlesden February 16 
Gas mask day.
8:00 No important classes except a medical lecture 11-12 which lasted a half hour. It started to rain in early morning and has continued all day. Some rumors on impending movement to someplace are flying around, but there's nothing to them I hope. Wrote letters and did some sewing most of the afternoon. After supper M.D., Fred + I went over to the A.R.C. and had cakes, tea, and sandwiches. Came back to barracks at 8:30. The waist gunners are going to get cameras to take pictures of anything interesting on the next raids. The civilian workers on this base are for the most in the land army, they get regular army wages, get furloughs regularly + almost are soldiers in civilian clothes, going wherever work has to be done. Lt. Mamlock is in the hospital with a cold again. We are supposed to be alerted for a raid tomorrow, but I don't know, the weather is lovely outside, a lot of rain coming down. B 9:30

Rattlesden February 17 Thurs.
Snowed all day but melted as fast as-it came down. 
The C.Q. came around at 4:30, waking us up for a mission. It was snowing as we went to the mess hall to get our fried fresh eggs. As we sat down to eat Van Langen came in + told us the mission was scrubbed. Went back to bed until ten to 9 when we went down to the theater for roll call. A movie on combat showing pursuit ships, P47's shooting down enemy planes. 11-12 we had a lecture by a British Naval officer on the German Navy and naval recognition. He was really good. He said their are: one battleship, Tirpitz in a fjord in Norway being repaired, 2 pocket battleships in Baltic sea, about 10000 tons, one aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin, 4 heavy cruisers 4 light cruisers, 20 destroyers + subs. There is a serious shortage of trained naval men keeping some of these ships out of commission. This officer was a very good speaker. Went to show after chow, went to A.R.C., came back to barracks at 8:30, read until 1045. No alert
B-1115.

February 18 Fri.
Slept until 745, got up, had breakfast, roll call at 9 in the theater, as usual. It started to snow at 8 this morning + has snowed all day, stopped at 6 PM. We received instructions to take all diaries over to S-2 section to be kept in a safe because of the confidential + secret information in them might be lost if they are stolen from barracks by civilians. I had an hours work in the Horwell trainer 900-10. Maj. Newman gave us a lecture on discipline 10-12, no classes in afternoon. Hess made some fudge. It didn't harden so he stuck it outside for 5 hrs. We are now eating the stuff on toast. It is snowing again. No alert on, probably because of the bad weather. Wrote letters all afternoon. All resistance has ended in Solomon Is. I'm getting tired of sitting around doing nothing. A few missions wouldn't be bad if not too many in a row. The ship 124 is named Dear M.O.M. for Marion O. McGurer. B 10:15 A stand down tonight.

Rattlesden February 19 1944 Sat.

7-45, Breakfast, roll call as usual. Went down to equipment room, put my name on the roll sheet, went to photo shop + had my picture taken again. The old shots weren't big enough. Jack Fleming also took a picture of Mac, Fred, M.D. + I. He is going to give us a copy. A talk by a pilot of a pursuit, P-51 at 2 was good. He said he was diving after a FW 190 at 550 mph, which tried to roll away. The tail broke off. Some Jerries think the ME 109 is faster than the P51. He says he just gets on his tail + waits until he is close enough to open up. Once he got a long burst at one of two ME 110 rocket ships stacked one over the other by about 200 ft. He set a rocket on one wing of the lower ship on fire which blew up the wing gas tank. The blast tossed him up in line with the other ME 110, all he had to do was to pull the triggers. It's been snowing all day; on alert for tomorrow, we've been sitting around long enough. From now we'll be dropping 2000 lb bombs. This barracks are a bunch of coal hoarders. We've got 3 barracks bags of coal under our bed for future week. B- 9:00

Sun.
The C.Q. woke us up 145, chow at 230, briefing at 3:40. T.O. at 7:35, headed for a place 70 miles N.W. of Berlin. No fighter escort. We had full gas tanks, Tokyo's + mains. Carried 42 incendiaries. A ex tail gunner flew with us as togglier and nose turret gunner. Seemed to be a nice guy. The course took us straight across the North Sea to Denmark, across Denmark to the Baltic Sea to the target, inland about 100 miles. We ran thro very little flak. The group ahead of us + behind us were attacked by pursuits, but they didn't touch us. Bombing altitude was 12000 ft. We bombed by pathfinder method, and after passing over target there were clouds of smoke coming up thru the clouds at 7500 ft. The mission was awfully long, 10 hrs of flying at 12000 ft with no oxygen. It is hard on a guy. Landed at 5:20, ate sandwiches, had a chicken supper, went back to clean guns. Went to bed dead tired. B- 9:45

February 21 Mon.
Got up at 1030 after a good nights rest. I haven't done a thing all day, except go out and sweat in our ship; a 711 crew was flying her. They yelled like heck because the bolt studs wouldn't fit in the guns. When they got in everything was OK but half of the bombs wouldn't release, after they closed the doors 10 x 100 lb demo's dropped down on the bomb bay doors. The doors didn't break open as they should have. When they landed 10 hundred pound demo bombs were stacked in the radio room. They bombed an airfield in Germany. Yesterday we flew 1450 miles in 10 hours or less. In an hour more we could have landed in Newfoundland if we had have pulled a "Wrong way Corrigan stunt." A few ships were banged up today. Our ship had another hole put in her today by flak. Went to show after chow. There's an alert on tonight. Expect to go on a mission tomorrow. B- 1000

Rattlesden February 22 1944 Tues.
We got up at 3:30 AM for a mission. Briefing at 0500, takeoff 0806. We didn't get out of briefing until 545, and had a time meeting the schedule. We were heading for Schweinfurt Germany. Bombing altitude was going to be 24000, 10 x 500's. We fooled around over England until 10:45, when we climbed to 24000 ft. The planes up there had formed thousands of vapor trails; we couldn't see more than 100 yds, + couldn't form groups + wings. The group leader couldn't find the rest of the 3rd _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ from the coast, the rendezvous, by themselves as we lost each other going thru all the cloud banks + vapor trails on the way back home. We were glad to come back, tho, the weather has been rotten the rest of the day. Slept from 2-5, ate chow, cleaned my gun, came back to the barracks read mail + hit the hay. We're on alert tonight, as usual. Hope we get a sortie in tomorrow. B 9:45.

February 23 Wed.
We climbed out of bed at 0300 again. Briefing was at 04, supposedly but we didn't make it in time because breakfast wasn't ready in time. T.O. was scheduled for 0730, but they put it off an hour because of thick ground fog. We sat around in the tent with Rudisill + his crew shooting the bull for an hour, then they cancelled our mission altogether. We were supposed to have gone to Schweinfurt Germany to bomb the ball bearing works. From now on if a ship is disabled deep in Germany or up around Kiel we are supposed to head for Sweden or Switzerland + land instead of parachuting down + trying to hike our way home as it has been done. We would have to destroy all confidential information IFF + all radio equipment possible before landing. Landing in a neutral country, previous to now we would be interned for the duration, but now the Swiss + Swedes are sending us home to fight some more. It's just a recent agreement. Made a foot locker, showered, B- 845. Alert tomorrow. I hope we go, I'm tired of dressing for nothing.

February 24 Thurs
C.Q. came around at 2. Briefing at 3:15. We took of in our ship headed for Tutow, with Rostock as the secondary. After getting the group together we got the wing together as we left the English Coast headed NE across the North Sea. About 20 minutes out there was a short in the inverter circuit. When T.W.G. turned one off the other caught fire; so he had to leave them turned off, making the electronic superchargers, engine instruments and radio compass inoperative. We had to drop out and head for home. I called in to M.P./D.P. to identify myself and tell them we were coming back. Got to the base ok at 12:30. After lunch Fred + I did some chasing around doing some stuff we'd been putting off, got back to the barracks at 2:30 to find we had to go on a practice flight test hopping 868. We went up to 20000 ft, flew around a while, most of the time listening to the liaison receiver. Fooled around in ball turret for a while. Came back + went to bed at 8. We're on alert as usual.

Rattlesden 11th Mission. Regensburg February 25 1944 Friday
Up at 3, briefing 4, T.O. 8:10. Left English Coast at 10:50 at 13000 ft. headed for Regensburg Germany. Ran into flak going over coast of France at target and on the way home. The leader of our group was hit by flak over Germany, 10 chutes opened then the ship blew up. A ship went down at the target + one on the way home; both shot down by fighters. The flak was very heavy at the target. When it hit the ship it sounded like gravel on a tin roof We were attacked by 2 ME 109's, 4 FW 190's + a ME 110. The 110 shot rockets and 20 mm, the rest just 20 mm. When the rockets burst about 50 yds behind the ship they looked like flak bursts. Dill, Gene + Schneider (ball turret in Harris's plane, got in a few shots, 200 apiece. Dill damaged one. Came back at 15000 ft. We had fighter protection most of the way in, none on the way out until the French Coast. Got back at 1820, bad overcast + low ceiling. Cleaned guns, skipped supper + hit the hay at 10:00

Rattlesden February 26 Sat.
Slept until 11:15 when I got up for lunch. Went out to the ship afterward. Harris gave me some togglier instruction to satisfy my curiosity. All of the crew except Lt. Gilleran + Kealer were put on D.N.I.F. last night to get some rest. Most of us put ourselves on D.N.I.F. Harris + I got back to the barracks at 3, at 330 Lt. Fisher came in + told crew 5 we would go on pass at 5. It was a heck of a rush, but Fred + I got ready on time headed for Newcastle Staffordshire. Got to Ipswich at 6, London at 9 + Crewe at 6 AM, Stoke on Trent at 7. It took us 3 hrs to find the Lower Lodge May Place The Brompton's, Newcastle Staffordshire. Didn't sleep at all during the night so am pretty sleepy. Odds + ends: Lt. Fout's crew the first crew to ditch went down today. While on a 7 day rest from ditching the RO, N, E were injured + LW killed in a train wreck. They went on a mission today and flak got them. Some parachutes were seen.

Newcastle Staffordshire February 27 Sun.
Fred and I walked into his cousin's house at 9. The cousin's name is Francis, whose husband is Eric. Eric has a munitions job + can't get released to join up, he wants to pretty bad. We got there in time eat breakfast with them. We tried to keep them from it but they got some eggs + ham for us. I told them they shouldn't give us their weeks ration of ham + eggs but they wouldn't listen to us. It was snowing all day. We sat around talking until noon when Fred's uncle Tom took us to Cousin Molly's house. One of Molly's friends + niece, a girl 19 yrs old was introduced. Good looking, shy, and nice. Almost another heartthrob. Wait + see. Stayed for 2+ half an hour, went back to Francis's house + took a two hour nap. At 6pm the whole crowd came over + had tea. Alma was very quiet + didn't say much. When we walked back to Molly's she talked a lot more. We had tea + cakes + sandwiches before going to bed at 2AM in the softest bed I've ever been on.

Newcastle-Ipswich
Rattlesden February 28 Mon.
Molly called up at 7AM. I got up went down + got cleaned up. We had breakfast at 710, Molly walked down to the bus stop, about 1 mi, got on a bus + took us to the R.R. station to see us off. From Newcastle we went to Stafford, got on a different train + the only other stop was Rugby. It was a fast train. We arrived in London 1330, a train for Ipswich at 1440 so we went to the Liverpool Station by subway, went up to the street level to a cafe + got lunch, even tho Molly had packed us a lunch. We went to a few shops, buying nothing. Left on time, got to Ipswich at 545 where we met T.W.G. Laz + Mamlock. We came to Stowmarket with them, caught Liberty run truck going back to the base. Even tho 4 hrs late had no trouble. The group went on a Noball raid + lost two ships by flak; on was Lt. Fouts with Charlie Harris, T.Q. He's probably a PW now. If I go back to Fred's uncle's place it'll be to get to see Alma again. She thinks she'll be going into Nurse Corps soon. B- 245

Rattlesden 12th mission February 29 Tuesday.
T.O. at 715. Leaving English Coast at 10:15, I.P. at 11:33, bombing Brunswick by Pathfinder method. We bombed throu 10/10 clouds at 23000 ft. It was cold outside, about -35 C, but with the closed radio hatch and waist windows it was very warm in the ship. For most of the missions in the past there were supposed to be RAF flown P-51's protecting our withdrawal. We always called them the ghost ships, they were never there. Today they were for the first time right in there. Besides them we saw P38's, US P-51's, P47's. Best fighter protection we've ever had. We ran thru some flak, but it was inaccurate. Returned at 1350, got back to barracks at 1500, slept from 1700- 2000 + read for a while. We once thought we'd have to abort as the left oxy system had a leak + got down to 50 lbs pressure. Standown tomorrow. B- 11

Rattlesden March 1 Wednesday
Got up at 9 this morning when the C.Q. came around and told us of a practice mission briefing at 10:30. We went there, Col Harris gave us a lecture on the length of our operational tour, which might be lengthened. At any rate 25 mission men will be kept here in U.K. for a few months longer than 90 days, as has been the custom. I don't mind being stuck over here for the duration if I don't have to go more than 25 missions. Each time we go over we are taking a big chance. The least number of chances the better. We left + came back at 12:30 after chow. A skeleton crew P, CP, N, RO, we got off at 2, came down at 4:30. All the time Lt. Laz + I were listening to music. Ate supper, read for a while, then went over to Red Cross until 8:15. Gene + Mac had to go down and clean all the guns from 5-7:30, unknown reason. We are on the alert for tomorrow. Hitting hay instead of writing a letter to folks + Alma as I should.

March 2 Thursday
Got up at 8, as it snowed during the night canceling the alert. Ate chow + went to roll call in the theater. T.W.G. + his skeleton crew, me included, were to fly in a practice mission in the morning. We had briefing at 10 in main briefing room; I went out to the ship soon afterward. Al Minor + Fred T. Hawley went up with us for the ride. All but the pilot + copilot listened to music all the time while up. We landed at 2:30, ate a late lunch and fooled around doing chores until 5, when I came back to the barracks and read and wrote letters until 8:30, skipping supper. B- 900

Odds + ends:

Our target today was to have been Berlin. We're on alert again. The English are using a 12000 lb bomb in some of their raids. T.W.G. is now 1st Lt. T.W.G.! And no cigars? 

#724
March 3 Friday
Climbed out of bed at 245 for a mission Ate chow and briefing at 4 A.M. After the usual briefing, got out to the ship at 445, did the usual work and took off for Berlin at 7:10 as scheduled. Flew around England until 10:15 when we headed but over the North Sea. An hour and a half out we were at 27000 ft trying to go over some bad weather ahead + we had to put on flak suits. Fred was our bombardier, Henry McCowan was L.W. Fred told us to put on flak suits, all OK'd; five minutes later we started checking in Dill didn't answer Gene went back to check him + found him unconscious, checking his oxygen + couldn't get him to. I went back + gave him artificial respiration for 1/2 hour, Fred came back to relieve me. I went up + got 2 fixes to get home on as we had 2 engines gone from mechanical failure. At 27000 ft. Later they brought Dill to the waist + gave him art. resp. until we landed at a base near Norwich. The doc took him to the hosp, T.W.G. went with him + it was too late. Went to A.R.C. had tea and went to bed at 8:30

March 4 Sat.
Didn't sleep so well. We saw two B-17's collide yesterday, it just made a big black geyser, a terrible sight. Got up at 7 for breakfast. Met T. W. G. + officers at the A. R. C. We went out to the ship, got all our gear, took the guns out, dropped all the stuff off at the Flying Control and cleaned guns at one of the arm. shops. Got thro at 1 when we ate + slept until 4. A plane was supposed to come from Rattlesden to take us back, but it snowed 2 inches during the night + the field was closed so a truck came up with our ground crew with it. All, Rudy, Whitey, + Don Lav. It was good to see them. We loaded up and left by 5:35, got to the base at 7:05. All the fellows helped unload the stuff. All of us ate in the combat mess + went to barracks, tired. T.W.G. took Dill's death harder than the rest of us, altho we felt awful bad. The supply had already got his stuff. Were going to try to get it + send it home for him. B- 10

March 5 Sun.
Got up at 9:45 this morning. Read until noon, Harris went over to get our rations. Instead of the usual candy bars he brought a pound box of Whitman's Chocolate back. They sure are good. At 2 PM, the whole crew went over to the officers barracks to tell Doc Bartos exactly what happened when on that last mission when Dill died. Doc is a personal friend to almost everybody in the squadron, he sure hated to hear that Dill was gone. I was awarded the Air Medal this afternoon. About time. Read most of the rest of the afternoon. Everybody has to get up in the morning. B- 10: