Service in the States October '42

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Service in the States October ’42 - June ‘44
   Scott Field, Ill
   Seymour-Johnson Field,
       N.C.
   Yale University,
       New Haven CT.

Service in the States June ‘44 – December ‘44
   Yuma Army Air Field,
       Yuma, AZ
   Lake Charles Army Air
       Base, LA
   Hunter Field, Savanah,
       GA

ETO Jan '45 - May '45: 320th Bomber Group
   England
   First Tactical
       Air Force
   443rd Bomber
       Squadron
   Air Medal, DUC
   Photographs

ETO May '45 - Home: 397th Bomber Group
   598th Bomber Squadron
   LT David L. Lobeck
   The crash of
       B26G 44-67868
       "Kwitcher Bitchin'"

Family in Service
(Under Construction)
   Curtis Seiley
   Carl Seiley
   Butch Seiley
   John Seiley
   A. M. Seiley
   Mark Seiley

R. E. Seiley at swimming hole, Damparis, France 1945
Dad in France (probably Damparis) 1945

Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Medal, Oak Leaf Cluster on ribbon

England, January 1945
We know that by February 15th 1945 dad is assigned to the 320^th Bombardment Group (BG) in France. What is less clear is where dad was specifically stationed between his arrival overseas on 16 January 1945 and his subsequent assignment to the 320th, probably in early February. It appears that he first went to England, but exactly where he was stationed and with what unit, and the exact date he moved to France from England is unknown.

Curtis Seiley (in France) writes dad on 14 February 1945 addressed to “APO 16837 – FA – 10” and within the letter Curtis tells dad “If you move on this side of the ‘ditch,’ try to give me a hint as to your location and I might find a way to come over and see you.” Since the APO number 0168 seems to be associated with England (not sure what the rest of the number, or the “FA – 10” means), I believe “the ditch” refers to the English channel. In Curtis’ 28 March 1945 letter to dad, addressed to dad with the 320^th BG, 443^rd BS, he notes, “I wrote two letters previously to your address in England…” so dad was in England but we don’t know exactly how long or about his service there.

First Tactical Air Force (First TACAF)
Judging from the 443rd Bomb Squadron war diary, dad likely joins the unit sometime between 5 and 11 February, as during this period the record makes note of several new crews arriving, something that had not happened for some time. The 320^thBG, together with the 17^thBG, was part of the 42^nd Bomber Wing under the First Tactical Air Force (Provisional). First TACAF was formed in October of 1944 to support the ETO Southern Group of Armies under Lt. General Jacob L. Devers. Southern Group included Lt. General Patch’s Seventh Army, supported by First TACAF B-26s including dad’s squadron. The support of Seventh Army by the 320th Marauders was an important relationship in dad’s experiences, which are referenced below. (For a thorough treatment of First TACAF in World War II, I highly recommend Victor C. Tannehill’s “First TACAF: First Tactical Air Force in World War II”, Boomerang Publishers, 1998.)

320th Bombardment Group, 443rd Bombardment Squadron
The 320^th BG consisted of the 441^st, 442^nd, 443^rd, and 444^th Bombardment Squadrons (BS). By late November 1944 the 320^th is stationed at Longvic airfield outside Dijon, and resides there until early April 1945. This is where dad joined the 320^th as a member of the 443^rd BS in February. His first mission appears to have been on 15 February, where the target was the munitions yard at Offenburg. The mission encountered "beaucoup flak" according the the 443rd diary, but was an "excellent mission..." Welcome to combat.

In April 1945 the 320^th moves to Dole/Tavaaux City where they reside until the end of the war. From the documents and photographs in our possession, as well as the excellent information on the 320^th found on the internet, we know dad was with the 320^th at both Dijon and at Dole.

Air Medal & Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC)
As a young kid I recall looking at medals, ribbons, and badges in a box mom had in the closet. I was fascinated by them, but never had a clue what they represented. Now I do.

March 1945 was a banner month for the 320^th and the Seventh Army as they pushed to breach the Siegfried line in pursuit of the Rhine river. It was during this month that dad received his Air Medal citation, and an oak leaf cluster shortly thereafter. The first citation reads as follows:

A similar document describes the mission leading to the Air Medal oak leaf cluster (OLC) not long after:

The 320^th had particularly noteworthy success pounding the Siegfried Line on 15 March 1945. Distinguished Unit Citation emblem. 320th Bomb Group, March 1945 On this day the group bombed pillboxes, trenches, weapon pits, and roads within the Siegfried Line to enable a Seventh Army breakthrough. For this, the 320^th Bombardment Group was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC). The DUC emblem worn by qualified 320^th members is shown at right. For a more detailed account of what was clearly a very effective period for the 320^th, please see 320thbg.org and also Tannehill’s First TACAF, pages 78-85.

The April 5th, 1945 edition of the 42nd Bomb Wing Daily News Summary included an address to the Commanding General of First TAF by Lieut. General Jacob L. Devers, Commander of Sixth Army Group, commending First TAF for the success.

Dad’s scrapbook includes what appear to be newspaper clippings (in English) that reference various Seventh Army advances and “First TAF” missions. No dates or newspaper names are visible, although I would have to guess circa March 1945. I have some research to do there.

ME262 over Germany, 1945 The scrapbook also has a picture of what I believe is an ME-262, although it does not appear to be a photograph, but perhaps a photocopy. 320^th missions did encounter these jet aircraft during the Dijon & Dole periods as I understand it. Perhaps this indicates dad had seen them?

The 320th Bomb Group mission report dated April 15, 1945 refers to dad for the first time as Sergeant. He flies that mission (Jaffe Defence Area, France) with Lake Charles buddies Lobeck (Pilot), Klodzinski (Bomber F/O), Ewers (Engineer), and Perkinson (Gunner) on battle no. 63 Tiger Lady. Dad flew at least 6 missions on this ship.

Photographs
The following photographs are part of my father’s scrap book that he titled “R. E. Seiley, AAF France 1945.” Many of the photographs below, I believe, were taken in and around Damparis, France, which is where the 443^rd BS was billeted during the 320^th’s time at Dole/Tavaux. Please contact me with any questions, corrections, or other information on these photographs and the people in them !

443rd Bomb Squadron Operations at school at Damparis, 1945

ß “Squadron Operations.”
The 443^rd BS was located in a school at Damparis while the 320^th was at Dole. A photo I scanned from the original 443rd War Diary for April 1945 at AFHRA confirms this is the same building (see below).

443rd Bomb Squadron, swimming hole at Damparis, France, 1945

“Swimming hole at Damparis, France.” à
Judging from dad’s scrapbook, this quarry
swimming hole was popular, at least
with his buddies.

ß“Ewers, Mercer.”
This is Vernon E. Ewers (Engineer-gunner, Illinois) from dad’s Lake Charles Unit on the left, and Jack Mercer, who appears several times in dad’s photos, on the right. See Mercer photo in front of Marauder below also. I've now made contact with Jack, who remembers dad well. I look forward to meeting him in person at the 2004 320th Bomb Group Reunion in Baltimore!!

T.G. (Tommy) Row

“T.G. Row” both photos to the right. à
Wings appear to be “Aircrew” or possibly “Navigator”?

Vernon Ewers, R.E. Seiley, Burt Johnson, William Perkinson, Lafrennie

Burt Johnson, 443rd Bomb Squadron

(Above) “Burt Johnson”

ß (Back row) “Ewers (Vernon), R.E. (dad), Johnson (Burt), (front row) Perkinson, Lafrennie.” I believe that Perkinson is W. L. Perkinson (Armorer-gunner, Tennessee) from dad’s Lake Charles Unit.

The following photographs include aircraft of the 320th BG. All are 443rd BS Marauders.

B.J. Ward in front of battle number 57 GOTTA MATCH. 41-31575

B.J. Ward, aerial gunner, 443rd Bomb Squadron, France, 1945

“B.J.” or “B.J. Ward” elsewhere in the scrap book. His wings are “Aerial Gunner” à

“Ward” or B.J. Ward. à
The B-26 is 41-31575
“Gotta Match”,
443^rd BS, Battle No. 57.

Jack Mercer in front of B-26, France, 1945

ß “Mercer” or Jack Mercer in front of tail guns of unidentified Marauder (does not appear to be #57)

(Below) "Mercer." Jack Mercer in front of
Jack Mercer in front of battle number 57 GOTTA MATCH #57 Gotta Match

Ground crew in front of battle number 55 PENNSYLVANIA SPECIAL. 42-95769

“Ground Crew”à
Unidentified men in front of 42-95769 “Pennsylvania Special”,
B-26B-45-MA, 443^rd BS, Battle No. 55. This picture appears in "Boomerang!" page 240. Dad must have got a copy from one of the photographers?

Battle number 55 PENNSYLVANIA SPECIAL

ß Another shot of "Pennsylvania Special."
Dad flew at least one mission on no. 55.

320th Bomb Group B-26 known as FLYING FINN

“Flying Finn” à
I have yet to learn anything
about this aircraft.
Unfortunately, the photo is obscured
by double exposure effect.
A photograph of the nose art
is in "Boomerang!" page 241.

320th Bomb Group mission over Germany 1945

"Mission" Shot out the window

Riebe at Damparis swimming hole, France, 1945

(Above) "Riebe"

(Center Right) "Vance"à

(Far Right) "R. Graham"à
I met Bob Graham at the 2003
320th Bomb Group Reunion in
San Jose, CA.

Enlisted men "Tent Life", Damparis, 1945 Jack Mercer in front of his tent

(Above Left) "Ye Olde Tent" (Above Right) "J. Mercer"
Tent Life: The "EM" or Enlisted Men lived in tents, unlike the officers

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Service in ETO: January 1945 - May 1945