The Arrival and Demise (Part 1)

The "Anoxia Queen" arrived in the United Kingdom in October of 1943 via the Northern Ferry route. It was parked in one of the Eighth Air Force Service Command's UK depots waiting to be called to war.

an·ox·i·a :
Anoxia is a condition characterized by an absence of oxygen supply to an organ or a tissue.

On the 7th of November 1943, "Anoxia Queen" A/c 39819 was one of two replacement B-17G's arriving at Station 153, Framlingham, Suffolk. Aircraft 39819 was assigned to the 390Th bomb group (Heavy) (Square "J"), 568Th bomb squadron (Code BI). The "Anoxia Queen" was given the call letter "F" and her first mission was flown on November 11, 1943.

On Thursday 13th April 1944 the 390th dispatched 40 aircraft to attack the Messerschmitt fighter assembly factory at Augsburg, Germany. The 390th led the Third Division this day and departed the English coast at the Felixstowe just after midday. They arrived in the target area three hours later and 38 of the Framlingham aircraft dropped their bombs (including those aimed by Lt. Wade). A total force of 207 B-17s attacked Augsburg this day.

Lt. Swavel and his crew were flying in 42-39819 which was coded BI-F on the fuselage. At some point during its career the plane had been named "Anoxia Queen". The “Anoxia Queen" flew 35 missions during it’s career. According to some records this B-17 was parked on Hard Stand 24, backing on the Great Glemham Woods ( location of the bomb dump).

The return route from Augsburg took the Group over Belgium. As the 390th approached Brussels, at 1649 hours, #819 was hit by flak. The A/c fell out of formation and was last seen leaving the enemy coast at about 10,000 feet. No chutes had been seen up to this time. Unfortunately nobody witnessed the final moments of the a/c which ended up in the North Sea. The loss of Lt. Swavel's crew is covered by the Missing Aircrew Report No. 3947. The 390th lost 3 aircraft on 13th April 1944, the Third Division lost 18 B-17's and the Eighth AF a total of 38 "heavies" to put some perspective to the day's tragic events.

 I have done alot of research on the nose art of the "Anoxia Queen". I have contacted the research department at the 390Th Bomb Group Museum in Tucson, Arizona, the Parham Airfield Museum in England, and veterans who either flew A/c 239819, or were on base the time the "Anoxia Queen" was stationed there. I have came to the conclusion that the  "Anoxia Queen" had no significant nose art.  I haven't even came across a picture of this aircraft, although I keep on searching.

A German archivist that I have been in contact with, told me that the German heavy AA battery from the 2/252 claimed a B-17 near Ostende at 17.19 hr.  The 2/252 stands for the 2nd battery of the 252nd flak regiment, or flak unit. This unit was a mixed unit. The first (3) batteries were 88mm (6 guns per battery) The 4th and 5th batteries were light flak (20mm). This may have been the battery that hit the "Anoxia Queen", and brought her down. I have a copy of the KU 1527 report from NARA. This blog also covers all of  Sgt. Daniel J. Miller's 13 missions in the later pages.



390Th Bomb Group (H) (Part 3)

The 390th Bomb Group, nicknamed "Wittan's Wallopers" (Colonel Edger M. Wittan  Feb 1943 -  April 1944), consisted of these bomb squadrons: The 568th (Code BI*) Call sign: Cavort, the 569th (Code CC*) Call sign: Boaster, the 570th (Code DI*) Call sign: Anteat and the 571st (Code FC*) Call sign: Longshore. The 390th Bomb Group belonged to the 8th Air Force, 3rd Bombardment Division, 13th Combat Bombardment Wing.  The group was activated on January 26th, 1943 at Geiger Field in Spokane, Washington. The formation didn't begin until late Febuary of 1943. They trained at Geiger Field until the 6th of June, when the group moved to Great Falls AAB in Montana. The aircrafts went overseas on July 4th, 1943, taking the northern ferry route from Iceland to Prestwick, with the first aircraft arriving on July 13th, 1943. The ground unit left Camp Shanks, NY on the 4th of July 1943 and sailed on the USS James Parker on July 17th, 1943 arriving in Liverpool, England on July 27th, 1943. The 390th BG flew 300 missions, with a total of 8,725 sorties. It dropped a total bomb tonnage of 19,059 tons, with a 144 aircraft MIA. The 390th was assigned to the 8th army air force in July of 1943. It's first mission was August 12, 1943 and its last mission on April 20, 1945. There were three other commanders after Col. Wittan. Col. Frederick W. Ott (May 1944 - Sept 1944), Col Joseph A. Moller (Sept 1944 - May 1945), and Col. George Von Arb (May 1945 - Aug 1945).

The Sub Units consisted of the 1143rd Military Police Company, 272nd Medical Dispensary, 30th Station Complement Squadron , 458th Sub Depot , 878th Chemical Company , 1689th Ordnance S&M Company , 1091st Quartermaster Company , 216th Finance Section , 18th Weather Squadron , 563rd Postal Squadron , and the 2034th Fire Fighting Platoon.

Awards; (Distinguished Unit Citations) Regensburg: August 17, 1943 and Schweinfurt: October 14, 1943.

The 390th claim to fame: Highest claims of enemy aircraft destroyed by a bomb group on one mission in October 10, 1943.  One man, Hewitt Dunn, of the 390th BG, was the only man to fly 100 missions.

 If you look on the 390Th Bomb Group patch, like the picture off to the right side of this page, you will see a the (3) B-17's. Under the B-17's is a banner with "Sur Le Nez", which is a French phase and the motto of the 390Th Bombardment Group (H). It means "On the Nose".

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Framlingham - East Suffolk - England - Station 153 (Part 2)

T/Sgt. Charles Webster was a engineer/top turret gunner on the B-17, " Sure Thing ". Charles completed 26 missions and was a part of the 390th BG, 568Th BS. Charles and his crew flew one mission in the "Anoxia Queen" to Brunswick, Germany on January 30, 1944. He had this to say about Framlingham. "The base was spread out and by the time we walked to the mess hall and back three times a day we had taken quite a few steps. The rest of the day some like to read, some just like to walk around the base. Some of us played poker and some played other card games. There was a pub just off the base where we spent a lot of time. We spent a lot of time at the NCO club. We would get a week end off I think about every three or four weeks. A group from Framlingham would take us on tour of some of their towns, castles and churches. It was very interesting."   
- Charles Webster
              
The Air Ministry surveyed the land between Parham and Great Glenham in January of 1942. Requisition papers were served to the landowners in February of 1942. Construction began in May of 1942 with the first load of concrete being laid in June. Before construction could begin, the area had to be cleared of nearly eight miles of hedgerows and 1500 trees. The trees had to be cut down and the stumps blown up. The river Ore supplied a large reservoir that was dug to hold water needed to mix the large amount of concrete needed for the project. The hardcore base was obtained from any source, bricks and rubble from bombed buildings in London , Birmingham and other towns provided a large amount together.  Tons of small pebbles or coarse gravel were bought in from nearby beaches. Trains and lorries ran day and night carrying these elements to the local station, and along what used to be quiet country roads. Once on the base, horse and cart were the major form of transportation.

The airfield was built to a "A" class specification standard operational airfield. This included 3 intersecting runways 60 degrees to each other, all 150 feet wide. 2 of these runways were 4400 feet long with the main runway being 6400 feet long. The perimeter track was 50 feet wide and would circumscribe the entire flying area, being 3.25 miles in length.

The airfield was designed to accommodate 1500 personnel, but eventually held over 3000. The design of buildings such as living quarters, communal sites, recreational, training, storage facilities, as well as basic utilities such as water, sewage, electricity and telephone which became a necessity.

Most of the flying area was completed by November 1942. It was allocated to the US Army Air force and was transferred to the 8th AAF on August 15th 1943. This became the home for the "Anoxia Queen" A/c 42-39819 for all of her 35 missions.

Material Used and Utilities laid
500,000 square yards of concrete, 4,500,000 bricks, 32,0000 square yards of tarmac, 20 miles of drains, 6 miles of water mains, 4 miles of sewer, 10 miles of roads, which were 20 feet wide. Paths and runways totalled in excess of 35 miles, and 10 miles of electrical conduit at a cost of $4,000,000  at the 1943 US rate.

SOURCE: parhamairfieldmuseum.co.uk


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390Th Bomb Group (H) (Part 3)

The 390th Bomb Group, nicknamed "Wittan's Wallopers" (Colonel Edger M. Wittan  Feb 1943 -  April 1944), consisted of these bomb squadrons: The 568th (Code BI*) Call sign: Cavort, the 569th (Code CC*) Call sign: Boaster, the 570th (Code DI*) Call sign: Anteat and the 571st (Code FC*) Call sign: Longshore. The 390th Bomb Group belonged to the 8th Air Force, 3rd Bombardment Division, 13th Combat Bombardment Wing.  The group was activated on January 26th, 1943 at Geiger Field in Spokane, Washington. The formation didn't begin until late Febuary of 1943. They trained at Geiger Field until the 6th of June, when the group moved to Great Falls AAB in Montana. The aircrafts went overseas on July 4th, 1943, taking the northern ferry route from Iceland to Prestwick, with the first aircraft arriving on July 13th, 1943. The ground unit left Camp Shanks, NY on the 4th of July 1943 and sailed on the USS James Parker on July 17th, 1943 arriving in Liverpool, England on July 27th, 1943. The 390th BG flew 300 missions, with a total of 8,725 sorties. It dropped a total bomb tonnage of 19,059 tons, with a 144 aircraft MIA. The 390th was assigned to the 8th army air force in July of 1943. It's first mission was August 12, 1943 and its last mission on April 20, 1945. There were three other commanders after Col. Wittan. Col. Frederick W. Ott (May 1944 - Sept 1944), Col Joseph A. Moller (Sept 1944 - May 1945), and Col. George Von Arb (May 1945 - Aug 1945).

The Sub Units consisted of the 1143rd Military Police Company, 272nd Medical Dispensary, 30th Station Complement Squadron , 458th Sub Depot , 878th Chemical Company , 1689th Ordnance S&M Company , 1091st Quartermaster Company , 216th Finance Section , 18th Weather Squadron , 563rd Postal Squadron , and the 2034th Fire Fighting Platoon.

Awards; (Distinguished Unit Citations) Regensburg: August 17, 1943 and Schweinfurt: October 14, 1943.

The 390th claim to fame: Highest claims of enemy aircraft destroyed by a bomb group on one mission in October 10, 1943.  One man, Hewitt Dunn, of the 390th BG, was the only man to fly 100 missions.

 If you look on the 390Th Bomb Group patch, like the picture off to the right side of this page, you will see a the (3) B-17's. Under the B-17's is a banner with "Sur Le Nez", which is a French phase and the motto of the 390Th Bombardment Group (H). It means "On the Nose".

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"Anoxia Queen" Crew 01 (Part 4)

Mission: 054 - Sortie 20 / 35

Date: Febuary 4, 1944

Target : Frankfurt, Germany - City Center

Aircraft Serial Number 42-39819 BI - F

Crew 01

Crewman                                                                Role
McAllister, William L                                                  Pilot
Douglas, Harry C                                                      Co-pilot
Lowe, Bruce E                                                          Navigator
Centerwall, William R                                                Bombardier
Gill, Herbert J                                                            Eng./Top Turret Gunner
McFadden, Jerald E                                                  Radio Op./Gunner
Kozemchok, Samuel                                                  Ball Turret Gunner
Hayley, Robert M                                                      Waist Gunner
Nelson, John F                                                          Waist Gunner
Eddy, Ernest P                                                          Tail Gunner

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"Anoxia Queen" Crew 02 (Part 5)

Mission: 065 - Sortie 25 / 35

Date: March 2, 1944

Target: Chartres, France - Airfield - No bombing due to poor visibility

Aircraft Serial Number 42-39819 BI - F

Crew 02

Crewman                                                                Role
Harrison, Jack S                                                       Pilot
Pettinelli, Eugene F                                                 Co-Pilot
Adler, Robert L                                                        Navigator
Guthrie, Victor J                                                       Bombardier
Vance, John B                                                         Eng./Top Turret Gunner
Matthews, William S                                                 Radio Op./Gunner
Chilek, Adolph B                                                      Ball Turret Gunner
Frith, Robert E                                                         Waist Gunner
Pickard, Sherman S                                                 Waist Gunner
Hames, Melvin J                                                       Tail Gunner


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"Anoxia Queen" Crew 07 (Part 6)

Mission: 028 -  Sortie 01 / 35

Date: November 11, 1943

Target: Munster, Germany - City Center

Aircraft Serial Number 42-39819 BI - F

Crew 07

Crewman                                                                Role
Row, Perry V                                                            Pilot
Poythress, Whitney F                                               Co-Pilot
Boettcher, Lester E                                                  Navigator
Fitzsimmons, James P                                              Bombardier
Bennett, Eric E                                                         Eng/Top Turret Gunner
Biehl, Mathias                                                          Radio Op/Gunner
Dix, Arthur H                                                            Ball Turret Gunner
Byrne, Walter C                                                       Waist Gunner
McCormick, Robert J                                                Waist Gunner
Kiss, Louis                                                               Tail Gunner


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"Anoxia Queen" Crew 07

Mission: 076 -  Sortie 32 / 35

Date: March 23, 1944

Target: Brunswick, Germany - City center

Aircraft Serial Number 42-39819 BI - F

Crew 07

Crewman                                                                Role
Strawn, Clarence A                                                  Pilot
Watts, John H                                                         Co- Pilot
Lipchitz, Theodore R                                                Navigator
Bennett. Charles R                                                   Bombardier
Carey, Howard H                                                     Eng/Top Turret Gunner
Marsiglia, Hector J                                                   Radio Op./Gunner
Bohn, Vernon H                                                       Ball Turret Gunner
Catalano, Alexander S                                              Waist Gunner
Wilson, Henry F                                                       Waist Gunner
Smith, Morton                                                          Tail Gunner


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"Anoxia Queen" Crew 08 (Part 7)

Mission: 031 -  Sortie 03 / 35

Date: November 19, 1943

Target: Gelsenkirchen, Germany - City Center

Aircraft Serial Number 42-39819 BI - F

Crew 08

Crewman                                                                Role
Perry, David F                                                         Pilot
Brown, Robert N                                                      Co-Pilot
Holman, Philip D                                                      Navigator
Knight, John E                                                         Bombardier
Carnes, Carl R                                                         Eng/Top Turret Gunner
Reynolds, Millard W                                                 Radio Op./Gunner
Oppelt, Frederick H                                                 Ball Turret Gunner
Mays, William L                                                        Waist Gunner
Purnell, James                                                         Waist Gunner
Fulkerson, Orville O                                                 Tail Gunner


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"Anoxia Queen" Crew 08 (Part 8)

Mission: 044 -  Sortie 12 / 35
             049 -  Sortie 16 / 35
             058 -  Sortie 21 / 21*

Date: January 04, 1944
        January  21, 1944
        Febuary  13, 1944*

Target: Kiel, Germany - Fried-Krupp Germania Werft A.G.
           Heuringhem, France - V.1 weapons contruction site
           Crequy - Ruisseauville, France - NOBALL 82A - V1 *

Aircraft Serial Number 42-39819 BI - F

Crew 08

Crewman                                                                Role
Jenkins, Walter S                                                     Pilot
Hall, Ray R                                                               Co-Pilot
Ruggiero, Frank J                                                    Navigator
Johnson, Stanley A                                                  Bombardier
Horn, Wendell, H                                                      Eng/Top Turret Gunner
Southward, Russell F                                               Radio Op/Gunner
Berke, LeRoy R                                                        Ball Turret Gunner
Henry, William R                                                       Waist Gunner
Rushing, Lynn O                                                      Waist Gunner
Soileau, Murphy                                                       Tail Gunner

*Ray Hall was the Pilot and Richard Mann was the Co-Pilot for Mission 058 / Sortie 21


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"Anoxia Queen" Crew 09 (Part 9)

Mission: 035 -  Sortie 04 / 35
              037 -  Sortie 05 / 35
              038 -  Sortie 06 / 35
              039 -  Sortie 07 / 35
              040 -  Sortie 08 / 35
              041 -  Sortie 09 / 35
              042 -  Sortie 10 / 35
              043 -  Sortie 11 / 35
              045 -  Sortie 13 / 35
              046 -  Sortie 14 / 35 
              047 -  Sortie 15 / 35 (A)
              050 -  Sortie 17 / 35 (B)
              051 -  Sortie 18 / 35 (C)
              061 -  Sortie 22 / 35 (D)
              062 -  Sortie 23 / 35 (E)
              063 -  Sortie 24 / 35 (F)
              067 -  Sortie 26 / 35 (G)
              072 - Sortie  28/ 35  (H)
              073 -  Sortie 29 / 35 ( I )
              074 - Sortie  30 / 35  (J)
              075 - Sortie  31 / 35  (K)
              079 - Sortie  33 / 35  (L)
              083 -  Sortie 34 / 35  (M)
               

Date: December  05, 1943
         December  13, 1943
         December  16, 1943
         December  20, 1943
         December  22, 1943
         December  24, 1943
         December  30, 1943
         December  31, 1943
         January      05, 1944
         January      07, 1944
         January      11, 1944 (A)
         January      24, 1944 (B)
         January      29, 1944 (C)
         February    24, 1944 (D)
         February    25, 1944 (E)
         February    28, 1944 (F)
         March        04, 1944 (G)
         March        16, 1944 (H)
         March        18, 1944 ( I ) 
         March        19, 1944  (J)
         March        22, 1944  (K)
         March        28, 1944  (L)
         April          10,  1944 (M)

              
Target: Bordeaux, France - Merignac Airfield (No attack - weather)
           Kiel, Germany     - City Center
           Bremen, Germany
           Bremen, Germany - City Center (PFF)
           Munster / Osnabruck, Germany - City Center (PFF)
           Quoeux, France - Crossbow No. 80 / Crossbow No. 19-28
           Ludwigshafen, Germany - IG Farben Chemical works
           Paris - CAM, France - Ball bearing plant
           Elberfeld, Germany - Ball bearing plant
           Ludwigshafen, Germany - I.G.Farben Power station
           Brunswick, Germany - A/c Factory (390A)Build-up area 390 Comp (A)
           Frankfurt, Germany - A/c plant machine shop (B)
           Frankfurt, Germany - Marshalling yard (C)
           Rostock, Germany - Secondary target  (D)
           Regensburg, Germany - Me 109 Aircraft plant (E)
           Grand Parc, France - V1 Target not bombed due to poor visibility (F)
           Berlin, Germany - Abandoned and bombs returned (G)
           Ulm & Augsburg, Germany - Town center (PFF) (H)
           Augsburg, Germany - Lechfeld airfield / factory SW side ( I )
           Marquise - Mimoyecques, France - Construction site for V1 weapons (J)
           Berlin, Germany - Friedrichstrasse Bahnhof  (K)
           Chateaudun, France  - Airfield hangers  (L)
           Maldegem, Belgium - Airfield                (M)
  

Aircraft Serial Number 42-39819 BI - F

Crew 09

Crewman                                                                Role
Whitehead, Ralph H                                                 Pilot
Gerhardt, Scott                                                        Co-Pilot
Allebach, Kenneth                                                    Navigator
Lufkin, Charles H                                                      Bombardier
Sharpe, Cecil E                                                        Eng/Top Turret Gunner
Quigley, Edward J                                                    Radio Op/ Gunner
Fisher, Clarence H                                                    Ball Turret Gunner
Carlson, Robert T                                                     Waist Gunner (WIA Jan 7, 1944)
Mallos, James P                                                      Waist Gunner (KIA  Jan 7, 1944)
Wright, William C                                                     Tail Gunner

(A) Carl Christian replaced Robert Carlson and James C. Higginbotham replaced James Mallos as the Waist Gunners starting with mission 047 / Sortie 15.
(B) Harry J. Jay was the Ball Turret Gunner, William H. Glass was the Waist Gunner and John H. Alvey was the Navigator for Mission 050 / Sortie 17
(C) Jesse V. Best was the Ball Turret Gunner and Charles J Marshall as the Navigator  for Mission 051 / Sortie 18
(D) Floyd F. Daugherty was the Ball Turret Gunner and  Marvin C. Johns was the Navigator for Mission 061 / Sortie 22
(E) Stephen J. Heck was the Ball Turret Gunner and Marvin C. Johns was the Navigator for Mission 062 / Sortie 23
(F) George W. Agiasottelis was the Ball Turret Gunner for Mission 063 / Sortie 24
(G) Harvey J. Prater was the Ball Turret Gunner for Mission 067 / Sortie 26
(H) Philip W. Wade was the Bombardier and Jesse L. Graham was the Ball Turret Gunner for Mission 072 / Sortie 28. Edward J. Quigley was WIA.  
( I ) Philip W. Wade was the Bombardier and Robert H. Clarke was the Ball Turret Gunner for Mission 073 / Sortie 29
(J) Warren H. Hawes was the Pilot, Philip W. Wade was the Bombardier and Carl Christian was the Ball Turret Gunner for Mission 074 / Sortie 30.
(K) Robert W. Sabel was the Pilot, Melvin M. Robinson was the Bombardier and William G. Blough was the Ball Turret Gunner for Mission 031 / Sortie 075.
(L) Richard L. Mann was the Co-Pilot and Edward M. Ireland was the Bombardier for Mission 079 / Sortie 33.
(M) Calvin Worthington was the Pilot, Edward R. Minerley was the Bombardier, William R. Geschwender was the Eng. / Top Turret Gunner, George E. Konyha was the Radio Op. / Gunner, Stanley L. Motyka was the Ball Turret Gunner and Floyd F. Daugherty was the Tail Gunner for Mission 086 / Sortie 34 / 35.


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"Anoxia Queen" Crew 10 (Part 10)

Mission: 052 -  Sortie 19 / 35

Date: January 30, 1944

Target: Brunswick, Germany - Aircraft plant (PFF)

Aircraft Serial Number 42-39819 BI - F

Crew 10

Crewman                                                                Role
Bright, Jack T                                                           Pilot
Catto, William A                                                        Co-Pilot
Heiser, Robert A                                                       Navigator
Cummings, Harold M                                                 Bombardier
Webster, Charles M                                                  Eng/Top Turret Gunner
Harris, George T                                                       Radio Op./Gunner
Carter, Lawrence E                                                   Ball Turret Gunner
Hawks, Floris W                                                        Waist Gunner
Zakrewski, Benjamin A                                              Waist Gunner
Zucco, Raymond                                                       Tail Gunner


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"Anoxia Queen" Crew 17 (Part 11)

Mission: 068 -  Sortie 27 / 35

Date: March 06, 1944
Target: Berlin, Germany - Target of opportunity on NW side of city
Aircraft Serial Number 42-39819 BI - F

Crew 17

Crewman                                                                Role
Quillin, Paul J                                                           Pilot
Jordan, Harmon G                                                     Co-Pilot
Simonitsch, Jake M                                                  Navigator
Jabara, Raymond M                                                  Bombardier
LeBaron, Louis                                                         Eng/Top Turret Gunner
Volk, Lawrence J                                                      Radio Op./Gunner
Best, Jesse V                                                          Ball Turret Gunner
Matyuck, William F                                                  Waist Gunner
Schmidt, William P                                                   Waist Gunner
Clausen, Myrle E                                                      Tail Gunner


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"Anoxia Queen" Crew 06 (Part 12)

Mission: 086 -  Sortie 35 / 35

Date: April 13, 1944

Target: Augsburg, Germany - Airfield bulidings on East side

Aircraft Serial Number 42-39819 BI - F

Crew 06

Crewman                                                                Role
Swavel, Morris F                                                       Pilot
Goldinger, Wilmer R                                                  Co-Pilot
Lipchitz, Theodore R                                                 Navigator
Wade, Philip W                                                        Bombardier
Gwazdosky, Alec                                                     Eng./Top turret Gunner
Bobrowicz, Frank C                                                  Radio Op./Gunner
Miller, Daniel J                                                         Ball Turret Gunner
Gibbs, Robert J                                                       Waist Gunner
Walker, William L                                                    Waist Gunner
O'Brien, James T                                                     Tail Gunner

* Hit by flak outside Ostende, Belgium, the "Anoxia Queen" went down into the North Sea / English Channel.  All killed in action.

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Sgt. Daniel J. Miller of Buffalo, New York (Part 13)

    One long winter's day here in Wisconsin, I decided to take on a new hobby. I went to the official MIA/KIA website and looked under World War 2. Now I always look for people who had the same last name as I do, just for coincidental sake. Well I found a man who's name was hauntingly the same as mine. Sgt Daniel J. Miller. Now Daniel is NO relation to me what so ever, but his name had me intrigued. Daniel just so happened to be the ball turret gunner on a B-17. So now, I had my name to research and I followed Daniel's life from finish to start. I started from his death on April 13, 1944 and followed it to his birth. This has been one heck of a great adventure. I have done a lot of research and met a lot of new friends all over this world, that I still stay in contact with. So here is alittle about Daniel's life, followed by the 13 missions he flew.

      Daniel Joseph Miller was born on January 3, 1923 in Buffalo, New York  to the parents of Henry Miller and Ruth Nagle (maiden) name. He graduated high school, and took one year of machine shop school. He enlisted into the war on January 25th, 1943 from Buffalo, New York. He flew 13 missions before he was killed on April 13, 1944 at the age of 21. Here is a list of his 13 missions and the air crafts he flew in. He was awarded the air medal and a purple heart.


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Sgt. Daniel J. Miller's 1st Mission

To the right of this page is a map with the 13 missions Dan flew. The numbers correspond with the missions Dan flew starting with his first mission. In his first mission, he was in Crew #6 and flew in A/C 42-31717 "Hells Bells"

Mission 1- Group Mission 65  Chartres, France March 2nd, 1944. The General Narrative was that the 390th Group formation, which flew low in the 13th Wing, took off at 1425-1439 hours and assembled over the field at 2000 feet. It started it's climb to assembly altitude and joined the 100th Bomb Group, which was leading the 13th Wing.
             The wing leader was about 4 minutes early at the first control point and was also early at all the other control points, up to and including Beachy Head. Beachy Head was reached eight minutes early and the Wing leader made a 360 degree turn. Arrive at the enemy coast two minutes late rest of course into target essentially as briefed. Peeled off at I.P. as ordered and made run into target. Bombs did not release and a second run was made. Bombs still did not go away due to mechanical failure of the bomb system. The high squadron leader assumed the Group lead and proceeded to the secondary target. However the secondary target was obscured by clouds. On route back from target, attempted to locate a target of opportunity, but the one that was found was not picked up soon enough to make a run.  Group returned to base, and the aircrafts had landed by 1928 hours.
             Twenty -three A/C including two spares left the field in formation. The spares A/C #925 and #041 were not needed and returned to base All twenty-one were dispatched, credited with sorties and did not bomb.  A/C 932 was hit by flak about 1755 hours near Abbeville in the tail assembly. A/C 932 fell out of formation and went down into the clouds. Two chutes were observed.

*Note: The General Narrative is taken directly from the Mission Report as it is worded.


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Sgt. Daniel J.Miller's 2nd Mission

Group Mission 70 - Berlin, Germany - March 9th, 1944. Daniel was in Crew #6, and flew in A/C 42-37890 "Rovin Ramona 2" / "Big Friend".
           The General Narrative was the 390th Group formation, which was the low Group in the 13th Combat Wing, took off at 0751-0837 hours. Assembly was at 12,000 feet over Buncher #11, as there was a overcast. Climbed to Wing assembly altitude, arriving at Colchester early. 95th Group, which was the lead group, was not easy to identify as their formation was scattered and a few flares were fired. Assembly of the formation was completed by the time Buncher #9 was reached and in circling, the 95th Group's  last time, arriving at Lowestoft seven minutes late, and was at the target fifty minutes late. The course was essentially as briefed and bombs were dropped on PFF (Path Finding) flares in the lead Group. The target was overcast and a secondary target was bombed, The route back from the target was flown as briefed with miner deviations to avoid flak. A few enemy aircrafts were seen and intense flak at target. All aircrafts returned to base by 1642 hours. Twenty -three A/C including two spares, left the base in formation, A/C 42-31114, 42-31466, 42-38130, and 42-30715 returned to before reaching the English coast and were not dispatched, A/C 42-30325 was hit by flak and returned alone. The remaining eighteen A/C went over target, seventeen bombing and one A/C dropping early. No aircrafts were lost.


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Sgt. Daniel J.Miller's 3rd Mission

Group Mission 73 - Augsburg-Lechfeld, Germany - March 18th, 1944. Daniel was in Crew #5 "B" Group, and flew in A/C 42-31744 "Little Butch 2"
The 390Th "A" Group formation which was high Group in the 13TH Wing took off at 0925 hours - 0954 hours and assembled at 12,000 feet over the field. Climbed to assembly altitude as briefed. Group joined the 95TH "A" & "B" Groups ahead of scheduled time and as a result, no difficulty was encountered at that point. However on route to target, lead Group flew so close to high overcast, we were forces to fly level with them, rather than in normal Wing formation. Coarse into target was essentially as briefed, but clouds obscured the target area and a target assigned to the First Division was attacked. Bombs were dropped at 1413 hours and planes returned to base by 1834 hours.Aircraft Not Attacking: 21 A/C left the base in formation. A/C 906,040,325,332,041, and 715 returned before reaching the English Coast. Thus 15 A/C were dispatched. Of the , A/C 819 returned after reaching enemy coast and is credited with a sortie, The remaining 14 A/C went on and attacked the target. One A/C, # 925 was shot down after leaving the target area. Aircraft lost: A/C 925 observed at 1520 hours, near 48 degrees 18'N- o8 degrees' 00'E, to leave formation after being attacked by enemy aircraft. Peeled off to left and went down in slow spiral with #1 and #2 engines on fire, A/C either explode of fell apart. One to two chutes reported.

The General Narrative reads. The 390th composite Squadron, which  flew as the high squadron with the 95th Group, and took off at 0910-0916 hours. Assembly was made at Norham with the 95th Group without difficulty. The narrative reads that the "B" Group made the run into target and back. All planes landed at 1830 hours. The time of the attack on target was 1412 hours at a altitude of 20,000 feet. Bombs dropped were 30x1000lbs GP. GP stands for, general-purpose bomb and is an air- dropped bomb intended as a compromise between blast damage, penetration, and fragmentation in explosive effect. No aircrafts were lost out of this group.


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Sgt. Daniel J. Miller's 4th Mission

Group Mission 74 - Minoyecques, France - March 19th, 1944. Daniel was in Crew #6 "A" Group, and flew in A/C 42-37890 "Rovin Ramona II/ Big Friend"

23 Aircrafts were dispatched to Minoyecques, France on March 19, 1944 with  21 A/C attacking. The bomb run was made visually and take off was between 1600 and 1615 hours. The time of the attack came between 1810 and 1812 hours. The attitude in which the attack was made was 20,000 to 20,500 feet. All aircrafts returned at 1931 hours with 5 aircraft receiving minor damage. Fighter escort was "good" ACP was Lt. Jeffrey, Group Lead pilot was Capt. Richter. High squardron leader was 1/Lt Settles and the low squadron leader was Capt. Everly. The lead navigator was 2/Lt J.J Hickey. Out of the 8th airforce aircrafts participating, 193 were dispatched with 172 attacking and 1 A/C missing. Bombs dropped were 251 x 500lbs general purpose. The target was a V- weapons factory.

The General Narrative reads as follows.
The 390TH Group formation took off at 1600-1615 hours. Assembly was over the field at 2000 feet. There was to be no Wing or Division assembly. Climbed on course to 1st control point at a altitude of 20,000 feet from that point to target. Reached Splasher 8 a few minutes early and S-ed to lost time, Squadron peeled off in 30 second intervals and proceeded to Dungeness. Course flown by all squadrons was essentially the same. Each squadron made one run on the target dropping on the first run. Return to base made by squadron individually. All planes had landed by 1913 hours.



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Sgt. Daniel J. Miller's 5th Mission

Group Mission 76 - Brunswick, Germany - March 23rd, 1944. Daniel was in Crew #6, and flew in A/C 42-32026 "Tis a Mystery".

18 B-17's from the "A" Group and 12 B-17's from the "B" group of the 390Th  participated in the mission to Brunswick on March 23rd 1944. The Bomb run was made with path finders. The "A" group dropped 180 x 500lbs GP bombs and the "B" group dropped 432 x 100 lbs frag bombs. The 8TH airforce dispatched 768 A/C, in which 707 attacked and 28 went missing. Casualties were 1, with 16 wounded and 288 crewmen missing. The target that day was a aircraft factory, with Munster being a secondary target.

The General Narrative for the "A" Group is as follows.
The 390Th "A" Group formation which was the lead Group of the 13TH  "B"Combat Wing took off at 0620 hours- 0636 hours and assembled over the field at 9000 feet. Assembly was completed as scheduled and proceeded to climb to Wing assembly altitiude. Arriving at Colchester 3.5 minutes late and did not locate the low group at that point. Swung around toward Buncher 9, arriving there about one minute early, Contacted the low Group leader on VHF and gave him out heading and altitude, also fired flares at his request. However low Group did not locate out formation. As this left us on individual Group we followed closely behind the 13TH "A" Wing for the remainder of the flight. Primary target was covered and the secondary was bombed on PFF. Bombs were away at 1037 hours. Route back was as briefed and all planes had landed by 1255 hours.

Aircraft Not Attacking: (21) A/C including (2) PFF left the base in formation. A/C 114 crash landed at Horham and was not dispatched Thus (18) A/C not including the PFF were dispatched. All (18) are credited with sorties. All (18) attacked the target. Aircraft lost, none.

General Narrative for the "B" Group is as follows.
The 390TH "B" Group Composite formation which flew high group on the 13TH "A" combat Wing took off at 0605 hours - 0625 hours and assembled above the overcast at 12,000 feet over the field. 9 A/C from the 95TH Group formed the high squadron. Proceeded to Wing assembly altitude arriving at Manningtree on time. Assembly with lead and low groups accomplished without difficulty. Except for a change in the wind that all times to be early, no difficulties were encountered on course into target. Primary was overcast and bombs were dropped on secondary at 1038 hours. Route back was flown as briefed. All planes had landed by 1304 hours.

Aircraft Not Attacking: (13) A/C including one spare left the field in formation shown in diagram. Spare A/C 971 was not needed and returned to base. (12) A/C were dispatched, are credited with sorties and attached the target. Aircraft lost: none.




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Sgt. Daniel J.Miller's 6th Mission

Group Mission 77 - La Glaciere, France - March 26th, 1944. Daniel was in Crew #6, and flew in A/C 42-32026 "Tis a Mystery". The target were military installations on the Cherbourg peninsula.  21 aircrafts were dispatched, with 14 A/C attacking.  Bombing was done visually. Take off was at 1221 - 1234 hours.The alititude of the attack was between 20,000 feet and 21,000 feet. 140 x 500 lbs general purpose bombs were dropped. All planes returned by 1641 hours. The fighter escort was "good". The position of the Wing was low. No A/C were lost and there were no casualties. 10 A/C received minor damage. The 8TH Airforce dispatched 573 planes, 560 A/C attacked and 5 A/C went missing. 4 crewmen were killed, 27 more wounded and 50 missing from that day.

The General Narrative reads as follows.
The 390TH Group formation took off at 1221 hours - 1234 hours and assembled over the field at 5000 feet. The Group was assembled by 1300 hours and continued to climb on course. There were no Wing formation scheduled.Control points were made on time. At I. P. squadrons peeled off and approached target individually. The lead squadron did not pick target up soon enough to make the run on it, and bombs were not dropped. The high and low squadron did drop. Returned to base was made without difficulty. All planes had landed by 1641 hours. Aircraft not attacking: 21 A/C left base in formation. All 21 were dispatched and are credited with sorties. 7 A/C in lead squadron failed to bomb. 14 A/C attacked. Aircraft lost: none. Moderate to fairly accurate continuous pointed flak was encountered at the target. No enemy aircraft attacked the group.



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Sgt. Daniel J.Miller's 7th Mission

Group Mission 78 - Cazoux, France - March 27th, 1944. Daniel was in Crew #6, and flew in A/C 42-32026 "Tis a Mystery". 
The enemy airdrome at Cazoux, France was bombed visually with great effectiveness by the 390TH Bomb Group (H) on March 27, 1944. First phase photo interpretation show a concentration of high explosive bombs on the MPI, dropped by the group. Incendiary bombs dropped by the group hit accurately in the smoke of the MPI.Bombs were dropped by squadrons. No enemy aircraft were seen. Meagre flak from boats in the bay and land installations was encountered. All of our aircrafts returned and there were no personnel casualities. 200 x 500lbs general purpose bombs and 588 x 100 P-47 incendiary bombs were dropped. The fighter escort was "good"
General Narrative reads as follows.
The 390TH "A" group formation, which was low group in the 13TH Combat Wing, took off at 0951 hours - 1008 hours. Group assembly was on top of overcast at 9000 feet over the field. There was no difficulty in Group assembly. At 1116 hours, lead Group was picked up and Wing assembly accomplished. Division assembly was as planned. Route flown to the target was as briefed, Bombing was visual with bombs away at 1438 hours.Return to base flown as briefed. Aircraft Not Attacking: 21 A/C left the base in formation shown. A/C 819 left formation before reaching the English Coast and was not dispatched. The remaining 20 A/C were dispatched and credited with sorties and attacked. Aircraft lost: None.

General Narrative for "B" Group as follows.
The 390TH "B" Group Composite Group which flew high group in the 13TH Wing took off at 0931 hours - 0944 hours. Six A/C from the 95TH Group formed the low squadron. Group assembly was on top of the overcast at 12,000 feet over the field. No difficulties were met in Group assembly. The lead group for the Wing was located ahead of time and Wing assembly was completed without trouble. Course to target corresponds to that if the 390TH "A" Group. Bombs were away visually at 1440 hours. Return to base flown as briefed. Aircraft Not Attacking: 15 A/C left base in formation. A/C 338 returned before reaching the English Coast and was not dispatched. The remaining 14 A/C were dispatched, are credited with sorties, and attacked the target. Aircraft lost: None.

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Sgt. Daniel J.Miller's 8th Mission

Group Mission 80 - Ludwigshafen, Germany- April 1st, 1944. Daniel was in Crew #6, and flew in A/C 42-32026 "Tis a Mystery".
The group was credited with a sortie when low cirrus clouds encountered at the French coast prevented it from continuing to bomb the primary target at Ludwigshafen or to bomb a target of opportunity. Accurate, meagre to moderate flak was encountered from the Ostend airdrome, from the shoreline three miles southwest of Ostend and from northeast of Astounded by the 390TH Group. The five aircraft flying with the 95TH group did not encounter any flak. All our aircraft returned safely, without any personnel casualties. There was no battle damage sustained by the aircraft.

Accurate, meagre to moderate, continuous following flak was encountered from the Ostend airport, and from the shoreline three miles southwest of Ostend. Also, accurate meagre, continuous pointed flak from the northeast of Ostend. 390Th Group flying low squadron of the 95TH "A" Group did not encounter any flak.

At the enemy coast, encountered low cirrus clouds from 14,000 feet to 20,000 feet compelling the 390TH Group to get down to low to fly over enemy territory , and the 95TH "A" Composite Group to climb over the overcast to 26,000 feet. Fighter escort was good.                                                




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Sgt. Daniel J.Miller's 9th Mission

Group Mission 81 - Quackenbruck, Germany- April 8TH, 1944. Daniel was in Crew #6, and flew in A/C 42-32026 "Tis a Mystery".

After a week of bad weather, following the sorties of April 1st, the 390TH Bomb Group successfully attacked the airdrome at Quackenbruck on April 8th 1944. The phase photo interpretation showed a pattern of high explosive bombs with bursts spreading along a line from the south runway to the MPI and covering the MPI, for the "A" Composite Group. A concentration of high explosive bombs about 400 yards north of the MPI in the workshops and store area was indicated for the "B" Group. No enemy aircraft were observed. No bombers were lost, no personnel injured.

8th AAF Report as follows:
"Very good results" stated the Eighth AAF Narrative of Operations."Hits are seen on hangars, in the barracks area and also on work shops and store buildings in the central part of the built up area. The barracks area was well hit. Ten and possibly eleven twin engine enemy aircraft were seen on the field. Eight of these were damaged or destroyed, and black smoke coming from one of the aircraft shelters indicated that an unseen aircraft may possibly have been hit."

Combat Crew Comments:

Lt. Guthrie: "A cluster of red roofed barracks went up in a cloud of smoke and dust as the bombs started hitting."

Lt. Martin: "When we seen them, we hit them! Today the target was clearly visible and our bombs smacked directly into the center of it. We left it in smoking ruin".

S/Sgt. Murphy: "The flak was intense in spots and the going rough for a while, but our bombs hit and destroyed the airdrome barracks which were our target."



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Sgt. Daniel J.Miller's 10th Mission

Group Mission 83 - Maldegem, Belgium- April 10TH, 1944. Daniel was in Crew #6, and flew in A/C 42-32026 "Tis a Mystery".

The 390TH "A" Group dispatched 21 aircraft and the 390TH "B" Group dispatched 15 aircraft on April 10th, 1944, when the enemy airdrone at Maldegen was sucessfully bombed. 35 of our bombers attacked the airdrome, a target of opportunity. Overcast prevented bombing the primary or secondary. Bombing was visual.

First phase photo interpretation shows the "A" Groups incendiaries bursting on the south dispersal area among hangers and workshops. The "B" Group IB's bursts were concentrated in the north dispersal area, with some hits on hangers and workshops. No fighters were seen.

Some flak was encountered, but there was no battle damage received, All our aircraft returned safetly, There were no personnel casualities.

Combat Crew Comments: When interviewed in the briefing room on their return, combat crew members stated the following.

Capt. Richter: "We snaked throught the flak fields of France without picking up any concentrated bursts, The nagvigation was topped off as our bombs hit the center of the airdrome, Workshops and hangers went flying in every direction."

Sgt.  T. H. Lewis: " Our bombs scored bulls-eye strike on the airdrome hanger. The target was quickly covered with fire and smoke, towering several thousand feet."



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Sgt. Daniel J.Miller's 11th Mission

Group Mission 84 - Rostock, Germany- April 11TH, 1944. Daniel was in Crew #6, and flew in A/C 42-32026 "Tis a Mystery".

The 40 aircraft of the 390TH "A" and "B" Groups attacked Rostock on the 11th of April, 1944. First phase photo interpretation stated that, for the "A" Group, the high explosive pattern was not distinguisable in the smoke and clouds. For the "B" Group, it stated that apparently the bombs fell into the existing smoke pattern at the lower end of the bay and built up area.

Clouds and contails prevented the Wing attacking the primary or the second target. Rostock, the last resort target, was bombed visually.

Although many enemy fighter attacks were seen, the hostile aircrafts did not attempt to engage the B-17's of the 390th which were flying a tight defensive formation.

Flak caused 21 of our aircraft to receive battle damage and 4 major battle damage. All of our aircraft returned safetly and there were no personnel casualities.

Eye Witness Accounts.
The following statements were made by combat crew members when interviewed in the briefing room on their return.

Lt Strawn: "Flak knocked out our oxygen system, hydraulic system and one engine, but you should have seen the way we left that target ...... a flaming hell."

Lt. Lipschitz: " I had a ringside seat when a bunch of JU 88's and ME 110's ganged up on the tail of a wing on our right. They swooped in three abreast, firing rockets and 20 mm. It was a terrific attack, but they knocked only one Fort out of formation."

Lt. Fitterman: "15 ME 210's roared out of the clouds over the Baltic, and broke up to attack the bombers in another wing in a group of five. The attacks were hard pressed."

Lt. Pease: "The formation set a beautiful pattern across the target. It was already flaming and smoking violently as our bombs went down concentrated in the smoke and fire."

Sgt. Kaufman: "A great red blaze stood out from the target area as our formation moved up for it's turn."

At 1140 hours at 5445N-1415E, 21 JU 88's were observed flying level and in the opposite direction to the wing ahead in line astern formation attacking with 20mm cannons from broadside level. Enemy aircrafts then circled to the right coming in from 9 o'clock level on the wing formation to the rear. The attacks on this wing were rockets attacks made singly. The enemy aircrafts went out to 1500 yards launching the rockets, then peeling to the left diving under. At 1325 hours near Warnemunde, 12 FW 190's were observed attacking the wing ahead from 11 o'clock to 2 o'clock level. Single attacks were made from line astern formation. Attacks lasted about 5 minutes. meagre to moderate continuous pointed fire was observed on the out lying cities around Rostock.

A Convoy, including 3 large ships, at 5434N - 1100E, headed 200 degrees true course. One crew reported vessels which looked like a pocket battleship in Mecklenburg bay at 1321 hours,escorted by 2 destroyers. 7 or 8 heavy bombers and at least 12 twin engine fighters observed on the ground at Tutow Airfield.



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