20TH.FG MISSION NUMBER 312

1608 heavy bombers attacked targets in southwestern Germany and western Czechosslovakia today in a combined show in which 336 RAF Lancasters bombed armament stores at Berchtesgaden (Herr Hitler's hideout), and 684 B-17s of the 15th. Air Force attacked targets in the Linz area at the same time as the 8th. Air Force heavies hit their targets. 288 Forts of the 1st. Division struck at the vital Skoda armament factory at Pilzen and 300 Libs of the 2nd. Division bombed three rail centers and an aircraft factory in the Salzburg area. The weather was good, the bombing was visual and the contribution to the advancing armies should be considerable.     The 20th. Group led by Major Gilbertson ("A" Group) and Major Yarbrough ("B" Group) took off at 0725 to escort the first two groups of the 1st. Division to Pilzen. Our bombers were met at 0945 near Coburg. When they arrived at the targetat 1024, they broke up into squadrons for visual bombing and made as many as four runs over the target (in spite of intense flak) to make certain that the targets would be well hit. Our boys were in the target area covering these bombers from 1024 to 1055. Escort was continued as far as Frankfurt where the group withdrew at 1138.     All of our pilots returned safely except Lt. Robert H. King (77th.) and Lt. Lynn P. Bishop (79th.). Lt. King landed safely at a base in Belgium after lsoing most of his coolant. Lt. Bishop also lost his coolant and bailed out over Dusseldorf. His chute opened and he was last seen on the ground with friendly forces waving that he was O.K. The boys watched him go down in his chute ansd said he just missed going down a chimney in the Ruhr.     Lts. Collins and Deardorf of the 55th. joined the gang today by completing their first missions. Good luck fellows!!!!     Captain Fruechtenicht (pronounced as spelled) of the 55th. finished his first extension today but likes ou companionship and is taking another extension.     Today's mission to Pilzen was unique in that for the first time the target was disclosed before it was bombed. All morning the U.S. radio stations on the continent broadcast a message to Czech workers that the Skolda palnt was going to be bombed and warning them to stay out of the factory in the morning. In spite of the advance notice the Luftwaffe failed to put in an appearance. Maybe it was because Lt. Harold H.A. (Tasse) Gjolme (of the 77th) was flying his first mission on his second tour. (Glad you are back with us, Tass!)     Major Gilbertson (77th) completed his 100th mision today. 55th - White- Fruechtenicht, Collins, Prow, Williams; Yellow- Seifert, Cree, Fuller, Cox; Red- Cosgriff, Deardorf, Doody, Ferriola; Blue- Brown, Conyer, Meinzen*, McConnell; Relays- Millan, McAvoy. 77th.- White- Gilbertson, Rege, Piatkiewicz, Gjolme; Yellow- Stark, Cunliffe, Simanonok, Pierce; Red -Kerns*, Douthitt, North, Derrenbacker; Blue- Hall, Phillips, King, Richter. 79th. - White- Yarbrough, Anderson, Shelton, Bishop; Yellow- Rudnick, Berkshire, Gardner, Degenhardt; Red- Jones, Beiter, Smith, Hennesey; Blue- Sass, Dailey, Taylor, Jurgens. *= early returns RETURN TO MISSIONS PAGE RETURN TO THE 20TH.FG