August 25th, 1943
Mission No. 371
Foggia, Italy - A/D
Mission: Strafing of Foggia A/Ds.
Target: Foggia satellities #3, #7, #9, and #10.
Aircraft and Chronology: 68 P-38s plus 7 spares (24 - plus 3 of the 95th, 20 of the 96th, 24 - plus 4 of the 97th) took off at 0630 - 0715. 16 P-38s returned early ( 7 made land fall in Italy, but returned prior to reaching targets) ( pilots get sorties). 59 over targets at 0941. 50 returned at 1310 to 1745, having first refueled at A/Ds in Siciliy. Lt. Barker at Comiso with shot up engine. Lt. Solem at Gerbini #7, Lt. Gray at Catania, and Lt. Strumpell at Gerbini #3.
Assault: From the Assault Point ( Junction of road running NE from Foggia and Candalaano River, lying 15 miles W of Manfredonia, the I.P.), the 96th & 97th Squadrons proceeded on a course of 265 degrees - 275 degrees at an I.A.S. of 300 MPH and at an altitude of 20 - 30 feet, 3 P-38s of the 96th and 1 P-38 of the 97th attacking Foggia #9, the remaining a/c of the 96th & 97th attacking Foggia #7. Three to four flights of the a/c attacking #7, proceed directly from Foggia #7 to Foggia #10, which they attacked. The 95th Fighter Squadron proceeded from Assualt Point on course of 240 degrees - 245 degrees at an I.A.S. of 300 MPH and attacked Foggia #3 from an altitude of 20 - 30 feet. After leaving the targets all flights turned left, the 95th passing to the E & S of Lucera, and the 96th & 97th passing to the N & W of Lucera.
Results of Target Strafing: 21 planes destroyed, 34 damaged. 12 - Ju88s destroyed, 24 damaged. 2 - Me109s destroyed, 4 damaged. 2 - Ju52s destroyed. 2 - Ma202s destroyed, 1 damaged. 2 - Fw190s destroyed, 3 damaged. 1 unidentified s/e a/c destroyed. 2 piessler storch damaged. All destroyed planes were seen to explode or burn. 4 - Ju88s destroyed, 2 damaged. 1 - Ma202 damaged were on #9 satellite. 8- Ju88s destroyed, 22 damaged. 1 - Me109, 1 - Ju52, and 1 - Ma202 destroyed were on #3 satellite. 2 - Fw190s destroyed, 3 damaged. 1 - Ma202 destroyed, 1 - Me109 destroyed and 4 damaged, 1 - Ju52 destroyed, 2 - Fi damaged, and 1 unidentified
s/e/a/c destroyed were on #7.
Strafing: The following pilots damaged or destroyed planes by strafing: H. Butler - 1- FS damaged; Schneider - 1 undentfied s/e a/c destroyed; Stahl - 4- Ju88s destroyed; MacNicol - 1-Fw190 destroyed; R. Williams - 3-Fw190s damaged; Karam - 1-Fw190 destroyed; Kicks - 1-Me109 damaged; McGuffin - 1-Ma202 destroyed; Solem - 1-Ju52 destroyed; Vantrease - 1-Me109 damaged; Mackey - 2-Me109s damaged; Nott - 1-FS damaged; Ellis - 1-Ju88 damaged; Holeman - 1-Ju88 damaged; Tillapaugh - 1-Ma202 damaged; Hodgson - 1-Ma202 destroyed; Muse - 1-Ju88 damaged; Lippert - 1-Ju88 damaged; Austin - 1-Ju88 destroyed; Hoagland - 1-Ju88 damaged; Langdon - 1-Ju88 destroyed & 2 damaged; Rogers - 2-Ju88s damaged; Edmondson - 2 Ju88s destroyed & 3 damaged; Sloko - 9-Ju88s damaged; Dickie - 2-Ju88s destroyed; Winnie - 2-Ju88s damaged; Woodrum - 1-Ju88 destroyed & 1 damaged; Lucini - 1- Ju88 & 1- Me109 & 1-Ju52 destroyed. In addition to aircraft the following strafing occured: McGuffin - flak position silenced on #7 N & W of target; Strozier - freight cars S of Sapri; Anderson - electric locomotive destroyed NE Sapri; Sheppard - RR cars on switches just beyond #7; Pollock and Strumpell - Bridges 5 miles SW target; Pape - 1 locomotive exploded before target; Selle - last car in train just past #7; Farrell - powerline between #3 and Lucera, train and 7 cars and locomotive at Monteguto, RR yards of Monteguto, 4 locomotives with steam escaped from one; Hodgson - 2-SL damaged on #3; Pollock - powerline 3 miles SW Lucera; Dean - 2-ETs SW Lucera, one burned; Stahl - station at Lucera; Austin and Lippet - 4-tank cars on RR at #3; Shoemaker and Congdon - 2 boats off Cap Pallnura; Cooke and Litchfield - truck N of #3; Schneider - building in #7 area; Rodgers - storage tank along RR; Skinner - storage tanks near Lucera; Austin - silenced flak battery in NW #3 and insulatorss of
powerline; Hoagland - gun emplacement SW #3; Langdon - tranformers S Lucera; Gant - 1 large and 1 small gun emplacement NE #3; G.E. Moore - troops on RR track.
Enemy Aerial Activity: Two Ju52s, apparently preparing to land, were observed at 0940 hours proceedingin a N NE direction from the area of Foggia #9, at an altitude of 500 feet. Two Me109s and an Fw190 fired, while out of range, upon flight of P-38s, shortly beyond target. The P-38s turned in on the e/a, but the latter did not press the attack. Two Ma202s attacked from the rear and sides, the rear flight of the 95th Fighter Squadron 5-8 miles SW Foggia #3, damaged one P-38 ( Lt. Hodgson), and probably destroyed 1-3 P-38s of the flight. Three Ju52s observed on return route proceeding S on W coast of Italy at approximately 800 feet. One T.E. bomber observed on return route, circling Pt. Licoea at 500 feet.
Flak: At #7 slight heavy at field at 5000 feet - slight light increasing to moderate mostly trailing. Gun positions 2 miles SW #7 at Mattodelupo-slight to moderate tardy light flak- 6 burst heavy #3. 5 bursts 25 miles S #3 at 8 a.m. Sossio. Machine guns east side #3. Also small arms and rocks, small arms from #7 and #10. Small arms and black late bursts at 1000 feet from #9. Slight light accurate from destroyers in Manfredonia. Slight in accurate heavy from a harbor Manfredonia. Returning 15 bursts from Valley N Palomonte. Machine gun and small arms from boats off Palininuro.
Enemy Naval Shipping Activity: Two small D/Rs, one which appeared to be loaded with personnel, one E/Y and one medium M/V oberved in Gulf of Manfredonia at 0935 hours. One a/l and barge observed at 1010 hours S of Lisona Pt. proceeding towards shore.
Enemy Ground Activity: At 0945, 2 trains 2 miles SW #3 going toward Lucera. 4 tank cars and several good cars on siding at #3. RR cars N Sapri. Electrified engine N Sapri. Locomotive and train going N of #9, 150-180 goods cars, 4 locomotives at yards at Monteguto. Locomotives and cars NW Monteguto, not moving. 10 M/T going on highway N Prala H Mare. 2 large canvas trucks burning N. #9. 15-20 M/T convoy going SW on road to Potanzo at 1000. 2 M/Y W Lucera. Small troop concentrated 12 miles N #7. 2 M/T going R of Lucera. 2 M/T N of Lucera.
Enemy A/D and A/C on Ground: Following E/A observed on targets: #3 30-40 Ju88s , 1-Ju52, 1-Me109. #9 12 unidentified E/A. #7 7-S/E, #10 a few unidentified A/C.
Route: From Oran to Zembra (rendezvous); thence to Salina; thence to Prairamare; thence to Lalfetta; thence to Manfredonia (I.P.); thence to targets; thence left turn to ??? a 190 course; thence to Coriso; thence to base.
Weather: ? enroute and over target. Haze right at Martredonia.
Radio: Reception okay. Transmitter on.
Enemy Losses: None.
Out Losses: 2nd Lt. Paul Paskiowcz, 0-740539, Detroit, Mi.; 2nd Lt. Eugene F. Phillips 0-732350, Plymouth, Oh.; 2nd Lt. James R. Rudy, 0-733991, Harbor Creek, Pa.; 2nd Lt Warren L. Singer, 0-740575, Oak Park, Il.
Assessment and Damage to our Planes: A: seriously damaged, 1-Repairable/1-non-repairable. Slightly damaged - 1.
Comments: Ma202s attacked from rear and side. Some A/C on ground camouflaged under nets. One looked like hay stack. Fields difficult to distinguish. No revetments seen. Few buildings on or near A/Ds. Northern fields no. 7, 9, 10 had few A/C compared to No. 3 where most planes were destroyed. Only 4 P-38s over No. 10. Group leader considers flight best low level formation he ever saw. The flying of all A/C on Deck, 100 feet or less above water and land from Salina to target contributed greatly to the surprise of the attack evidenced by lack of aerial opposition. Numbers of civilians waved to pilots as they went over. Lt. Hodgson last saw his flight of
Paskiewicz, Phillips, and Rudy over target. Lt. Singer turned back to be with Lt. Hendrix at coast, when Hendrix dropped behind because of inability to release belly tanks. This was the last seen of Singer. Hendrix after releasing tanks joined 14th Group in strafing mission, but he saw and strafed nothing. One P-38 believed to have been seen to crash in target area. Lt. Dolan landed out of gas on beach at Stefano and returned at dark. Lt. Visscher hit by flak at Lauria enroute in to target.
Air/Sea Rescue: None.
Sorties: 66 (sixty-six); Capt. Smith, Lt. Visscher, Lt. Collins, F/O Carpenter, Lt. Lewis, and F/O Shannon get sorties having turned back after being over Italy.
Flight Leaders: Lt. Col. MacNicol, leader of coordinated mission of 82nd, 1st, and 14th Fighter Groups; Capt. Strozier, Lt. Solem, Lt. D.W. Johnson, Lt. Pape, and Lt. Tillapaugh of the 96th; Capt. Muse, Lt. Murphy, Lt. Langdon, Lt. Moore, Lt. Hodgson of the 95th; Capt. Smith, Lt. Barker, Lt. Shoemaker, Lt. Visscher, and Lt. Litchfield of the 97th.
Note: Lt. Gen. Spaatz, Maj. Gen. Doolittle, and Air Marshall Tedder were on the field at the time of the return of the mission. After presenting the DFC to several pilots who had been previously recommended for such, Lt. Gen. Spaatz turned to Lt. Col. MacNicol and spontaneously presented him with the DFC for his outstanding leadership on this mission. Lt. Solem returned at 1030 hours, 25 August 1943, having landed at Paligonia, Sicily. He reported strafing of miller grain elevator by Lt. VanTrease and strafing of train N of
target by himself. High power line was just W of No. 7. Highway bridges and RR bridges appeared to be well camouflaged.
Signed: J. A. Roth, Major, Air Corps, Intelligence Officer
Foggia, Italy - A/D
Mission: Strafing of Foggia A/Ds.
Target: Foggia satellities #3, #7, #9, and #10.
Aircraft and Chronology: 68 P-38s plus 7 spares (24 - plus 3 of the 95th, 20 of the 96th, 24 - plus 4 of the 97th) took off at 0630 - 0715. 16 P-38s returned early ( 7 made land fall in Italy, but returned prior to reaching targets) ( pilots get sorties). 59 over targets at 0941. 50 returned at 1310 to 1745, having first refueled at A/Ds in Siciliy. Lt. Barker at Comiso with shot up engine. Lt. Solem at Gerbini #7, Lt. Gray at Catania, and Lt. Strumpell at Gerbini #3.
Assault: From the Assault Point ( Junction of road running NE from Foggia and Candalaano River, lying 15 miles W of Manfredonia, the I.P.), the 96th & 97th Squadrons proceeded on a course of 265 degrees - 275 degrees at an I.A.S. of 300 MPH and at an altitude of 20 - 30 feet, 3 P-38s of the 96th and 1 P-38 of the 97th attacking Foggia #9, the remaining a/c of the 96th & 97th attacking Foggia #7. Three to four flights of the a/c attacking #7, proceed directly from Foggia #7 to Foggia #10, which they attacked. The 95th Fighter Squadron proceeded from Assualt Point on course of 240 degrees - 245 degrees at an I.A.S. of 300 MPH and attacked Foggia #3 from an altitude of 20 - 30 feet. After leaving the targets all flights turned left, the 95th passing to the E & S of Lucera, and the 96th & 97th passing to the N & W of Lucera.
Results of Target Strafing: 21 planes destroyed, 34 damaged. 12 - Ju88s destroyed, 24 damaged. 2 - Me109s destroyed, 4 damaged. 2 - Ju52s destroyed. 2 - Ma202s destroyed, 1 damaged. 2 - Fw190s destroyed, 3 damaged. 1 unidentified s/e a/c destroyed. 2 piessler storch damaged. All destroyed planes were seen to explode or burn. 4 - Ju88s destroyed, 2 damaged. 1 - Ma202 damaged were on #9 satellite. 8- Ju88s destroyed, 22 damaged. 1 - Me109, 1 - Ju52, and 1 - Ma202 destroyed were on #3 satellite. 2 - Fw190s destroyed, 3 damaged. 1 - Ma202 destroyed, 1 - Me109 destroyed and 4 damaged, 1 - Ju52 destroyed, 2 - Fi damaged, and 1 unidentified
s/e/a/c destroyed were on #7.
Strafing: The following pilots damaged or destroyed planes by strafing: H. Butler - 1- FS damaged; Schneider - 1 undentfied s/e a/c destroyed; Stahl - 4- Ju88s destroyed; MacNicol - 1-Fw190 destroyed; R. Williams - 3-Fw190s damaged; Karam - 1-Fw190 destroyed; Kicks - 1-Me109 damaged; McGuffin - 1-Ma202 destroyed; Solem - 1-Ju52 destroyed; Vantrease - 1-Me109 damaged; Mackey - 2-Me109s damaged; Nott - 1-FS damaged; Ellis - 1-Ju88 damaged; Holeman - 1-Ju88 damaged; Tillapaugh - 1-Ma202 damaged; Hodgson - 1-Ma202 destroyed; Muse - 1-Ju88 damaged; Lippert - 1-Ju88 damaged; Austin - 1-Ju88 destroyed; Hoagland - 1-Ju88 damaged; Langdon - 1-Ju88 destroyed & 2 damaged; Rogers - 2-Ju88s damaged; Edmondson - 2 Ju88s destroyed & 3 damaged; Sloko - 9-Ju88s damaged; Dickie - 2-Ju88s destroyed; Winnie - 2-Ju88s damaged; Woodrum - 1-Ju88 destroyed & 1 damaged; Lucini - 1- Ju88 & 1- Me109 & 1-Ju52 destroyed. In addition to aircraft the following strafing occured: McGuffin - flak position silenced on #7 N & W of target; Strozier - freight cars S of Sapri; Anderson - electric locomotive destroyed NE Sapri; Sheppard - RR cars on switches just beyond #7; Pollock and Strumpell - Bridges 5 miles SW target; Pape - 1 locomotive exploded before target; Selle - last car in train just past #7; Farrell - powerline between #3 and Lucera, train and 7 cars and locomotive at Monteguto, RR yards of Monteguto, 4 locomotives with steam escaped from one; Hodgson - 2-SL damaged on #3; Pollock - powerline 3 miles SW Lucera; Dean - 2-ETs SW Lucera, one burned; Stahl - station at Lucera; Austin and Lippet - 4-tank cars on RR at #3; Shoemaker and Congdon - 2 boats off Cap Pallnura; Cooke and Litchfield - truck N of #3; Schneider - building in #7 area; Rodgers - storage tank along RR; Skinner - storage tanks near Lucera; Austin - silenced flak battery in NW #3 and insulatorss of
powerline; Hoagland - gun emplacement SW #3; Langdon - tranformers S Lucera; Gant - 1 large and 1 small gun emplacement NE #3; G.E. Moore - troops on RR track.
Enemy Aerial Activity: Two Ju52s, apparently preparing to land, were observed at 0940 hours proceedingin a N NE direction from the area of Foggia #9, at an altitude of 500 feet. Two Me109s and an Fw190 fired, while out of range, upon flight of P-38s, shortly beyond target. The P-38s turned in on the e/a, but the latter did not press the attack. Two Ma202s attacked from the rear and sides, the rear flight of the 95th Fighter Squadron 5-8 miles SW Foggia #3, damaged one P-38 ( Lt. Hodgson), and probably destroyed 1-3 P-38s of the flight. Three Ju52s observed on return route proceeding S on W coast of Italy at approximately 800 feet. One T.E. bomber observed on return route, circling Pt. Licoea at 500 feet.
Flak: At #7 slight heavy at field at 5000 feet - slight light increasing to moderate mostly trailing. Gun positions 2 miles SW #7 at Mattodelupo-slight to moderate tardy light flak- 6 burst heavy #3. 5 bursts 25 miles S #3 at 8 a.m. Sossio. Machine guns east side #3. Also small arms and rocks, small arms from #7 and #10. Small arms and black late bursts at 1000 feet from #9. Slight light accurate from destroyers in Manfredonia. Slight in accurate heavy from a harbor Manfredonia. Returning 15 bursts from Valley N Palomonte. Machine gun and small arms from boats off Palininuro.
Enemy Naval Shipping Activity: Two small D/Rs, one which appeared to be loaded with personnel, one E/Y and one medium M/V oberved in Gulf of Manfredonia at 0935 hours. One a/l and barge observed at 1010 hours S of Lisona Pt. proceeding towards shore.
Enemy Ground Activity: At 0945, 2 trains 2 miles SW #3 going toward Lucera. 4 tank cars and several good cars on siding at #3. RR cars N Sapri. Electrified engine N Sapri. Locomotive and train going N of #9, 150-180 goods cars, 4 locomotives at yards at Monteguto. Locomotives and cars NW Monteguto, not moving. 10 M/T going on highway N Prala H Mare. 2 large canvas trucks burning N. #9. 15-20 M/T convoy going SW on road to Potanzo at 1000. 2 M/Y W Lucera. Small troop concentrated 12 miles N #7. 2 M/T going R of Lucera. 2 M/T N of Lucera.
Enemy A/D and A/C on Ground: Following E/A observed on targets: #3 30-40 Ju88s , 1-Ju52, 1-Me109. #9 12 unidentified E/A. #7 7-S/E, #10 a few unidentified A/C.
Route: From Oran to Zembra (rendezvous); thence to Salina; thence to Prairamare; thence to Lalfetta; thence to Manfredonia (I.P.); thence to targets; thence left turn to ??? a 190 course; thence to Coriso; thence to base.
Weather: ? enroute and over target. Haze right at Martredonia.
Radio: Reception okay. Transmitter on.
Enemy Losses: None.
Out Losses: 2nd Lt. Paul Paskiowcz, 0-740539, Detroit, Mi.; 2nd Lt. Eugene F. Phillips 0-732350, Plymouth, Oh.; 2nd Lt. James R. Rudy, 0-733991, Harbor Creek, Pa.; 2nd Lt Warren L. Singer, 0-740575, Oak Park, Il.
Assessment and Damage to our Planes: A: seriously damaged, 1-Repairable/1-non-repairable. Slightly damaged - 1.
Comments: Ma202s attacked from rear and side. Some A/C on ground camouflaged under nets. One looked like hay stack. Fields difficult to distinguish. No revetments seen. Few buildings on or near A/Ds. Northern fields no. 7, 9, 10 had few A/C compared to No. 3 where most planes were destroyed. Only 4 P-38s over No. 10. Group leader considers flight best low level formation he ever saw. The flying of all A/C on Deck, 100 feet or less above water and land from Salina to target contributed greatly to the surprise of the attack evidenced by lack of aerial opposition. Numbers of civilians waved to pilots as they went over. Lt. Hodgson last saw his flight of
Paskiewicz, Phillips, and Rudy over target. Lt. Singer turned back to be with Lt. Hendrix at coast, when Hendrix dropped behind because of inability to release belly tanks. This was the last seen of Singer. Hendrix after releasing tanks joined 14th Group in strafing mission, but he saw and strafed nothing. One P-38 believed to have been seen to crash in target area. Lt. Dolan landed out of gas on beach at Stefano and returned at dark. Lt. Visscher hit by flak at Lauria enroute in to target.
Air/Sea Rescue: None.
Sorties: 66 (sixty-six); Capt. Smith, Lt. Visscher, Lt. Collins, F/O Carpenter, Lt. Lewis, and F/O Shannon get sorties having turned back after being over Italy.
Flight Leaders: Lt. Col. MacNicol, leader of coordinated mission of 82nd, 1st, and 14th Fighter Groups; Capt. Strozier, Lt. Solem, Lt. D.W. Johnson, Lt. Pape, and Lt. Tillapaugh of the 96th; Capt. Muse, Lt. Murphy, Lt. Langdon, Lt. Moore, Lt. Hodgson of the 95th; Capt. Smith, Lt. Barker, Lt. Shoemaker, Lt. Visscher, and Lt. Litchfield of the 97th.
Note: Lt. Gen. Spaatz, Maj. Gen. Doolittle, and Air Marshall Tedder were on the field at the time of the return of the mission. After presenting the DFC to several pilots who had been previously recommended for such, Lt. Gen. Spaatz turned to Lt. Col. MacNicol and spontaneously presented him with the DFC for his outstanding leadership on this mission. Lt. Solem returned at 1030 hours, 25 August 1943, having landed at Paligonia, Sicily. He reported strafing of miller grain elevator by Lt. VanTrease and strafing of train N of
target by himself. High power line was just W of No. 7. Highway bridges and RR bridges appeared to be well camouflaged.
Signed: J. A. Roth, Major, Air Corps, Intelligence Officer