Hess Crew – Assigned 754th Squadron – July 29, 1944

2Lt Glenn Hess and crew came to the 754th Bombardment Squadron at the end of July 1944. Their first mission, on August 9th, did not make for an auspicious start. The crew was forced to abort due to engine trouble and crash-landed back at Horsham St. Faith. They only had one other aborted effort, on October 7th, and for the same reason – runaway engines. All but two of the crew’s missions were flown against targets in Germany.

Sgt Thomas L. Santilla had trained with the crew as a gunner in the States. Shortly after their arrival in England he had to be relieved of flying duties due to stomach ulcers. It is believed that he was sent Stateside.

F/O Clayton E. McGran, bombardier, appears to have been removed from the crew at some point, possibly assigned as a lead navigator/bombardier. He is shown next to Spotted Ape, the 458th’s second assembly ship holding a map (see photo below). McGran was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant during the winter of 1944/45, and 1st Lieutenant in March 1945. Group records show that he went on Rest Home leave on March 4, 1945 – about a week after Hess’ final mission.

While not mentioned in the group’s records, Charles Dykstra’s mission log (below) shows that the crew completed their tour around the same time as their pilot.

August 9, 1944 – Mission Abort

DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT
About 0945, 9 August 1944, B 24 H, 42-95163, called in for landing instructions to AAF Station 123 after aborting from an operational mission. No 1 engine was feathered and A/C had salvoed it’s bombs in the North Sea, but was unable to close the bomb-bay doors.

The pilot Lieutenant HESS, was not able to get properly aligned with R/W 23, tried to go around, but he could not gain airspeed. The A/C crash landed in the middle of the airfield. No one was hurt but the A/C was completely destroyed.

RECOMMENDATION: That pilots be carefully briefed that first attempt must be made on all non 4 engine landings.

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Accident Report 45-08-09-536

STATEMENT of Sergeant KENNETH S. SMITH, 36305683, 754th Bombardment Squadron (H), AAF 123, APO 558. Engineer.

On 9 Aug 44 started flight on engine run-up. #1 engine threw a great deal of oil out of breather. Ground crew claimed it was due to plug put in prop dome before prop was unfeathered in ground work. Plane checked out OK for flight though. Took off about 0800. Short time after take-off super-charger on #1 dropped off. I changed transmitter but it’s operation was not good. Supercharger gate went to close back of throttle so as to get use out of engine. A short time later, prop governor on #1 ran away. Controlled it by feather button for a short time, while I checked governor switch and fuse. I then feathered engine #1. We went out over the Channel to drop bombs. Tried the usual ways then dropped the bombs using a screw driver out on bob-bay catwalk. Tried to close bomb-bay doors but was unable to do so after putting into use all methods known.

Came back to field for landing. Lowered wheels down and locked them. The ship seemed on a stalled out attitude. Engine picked up to a high RPM an I could feel the ship settling though we needed some flaps. Sam the Co-pilot put flap handle in down-to-lower position. Never felt ship shudder as usually do when flaps came out. The ship went on settling. I went on settling engine and went to more power, still the tail was down, flying in what seemed a stalled out manner. Started forward from back of flight deck, thinking we were going around the field again. Lt HESS said we were going to hit. Saw the wheels were part way up. Lt WORK cut switches. Right wing went down, we hit and slid.

Signed
KENNETH S. SMITH
Sgt. 36305683

ACCIDENT STATEMENT
I FIRST SPOTTED B-24 5163 “K” APPROACHING THE FIELD FROM THE EAST. THE APPROXIMATE ALTITUDE OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS 200 TO 300 FEET. THE BOMB BAY DOORS OF THE AIRCRAFT WERE OPEN, AND THE TAIL WAS MUSHING DOWN. THE LANDING GEAR WAS IN FULLY LOWERED POSITION. THE AIRCRAFT PASSED RUNWAY IN USE (23), ABOUT 200 YARDS NORTH OF THE APPROACH END, AND BEGAN TO BANK LEFT, AS IF HEADED FOR RUNWAY 17. BEFORE TOUCHING DOWN, THE WHEEL BEGAN TO RETRACT. THE AIRCRAFT CRASH LANDED IN THE VICINITY OF RUNWAY 17.

SIGNED
SGT JAMES. H GRAHAM
AIRFIELD CONTROLLER

(Photos Michael Dykstra)

2Lt Clayton E. McGran and Spotted Ape

Navigator Clayton McGran after a mission on the assembly ship

T/Sgt Charles Dykstra – Mission Log

Mission 6
9/11/1944 Magdeburg-oil refinery Ship #059-T
We really had a bad time today. # 2 engine hit by flak an hour before time to reach the target. Horgan’s ship was hit here (Colbenz) and bailed out. We kept going with # 2 smoking badly. Reached and bombed the target and then feathered # 2 and came home alone on three engines. Some P-51’s escorted us back to the Dutch coast. Had quite a few holes.

Mission 7
10/5/1944 Paderborn -airfield
Really hit it today. Too easy of a mission. No flak. Bombs didn’t drop.

Mission 8
10/6/1944 Wenzendorf -airfield
My birthday. Went off course before target and shot at before and after coming back to Madgus. Mad because we were off course. Otherwise we wouldn’t of had a big hole thru the right aileron.

Mission 9
10/9/1944 Coblenz-marshaling yards
Inaccurate – meager flak

Mission 10
10/15/1944 Cologne-marshaling yards
Intense, accurate flak. Got a couple of holes in tail section. Flew with Skidmore today. Had flak for a long time after leaving target and still in Germany.

Mission 11
10/17/1944 Cologne-marshaling yards
Funny thing, no flak today in our formation.

Mission 12
10/19/1944 Mainz -marshaling yards
Weather could have been better. Not much flak but it was accurate, McGran stopped a piece with his leg and got a purple heart. Wasn’t hurt badly.

Mission 13
10/26/1944 Minden-Mittleland canal
No flak. Carried 4 one-ton bombs. Don’t like those, too big.

Mission 14
11/4/1944 Mitzberg-oil refinery
Intense-accurate flak. Hole in dome of upper turret with me in it. Scared the wits out of me. Piece of something hit me in the back of the head pretty hard. Scared to feel back there for a while.

Mission 15
11/6/1944 Minden-Mittleland canal
4×2000 again. Flak along the bomb run and another hole in the top turret, smaller this time.

Mission No credit
11/9/1944 Metz-pill boxes
4×2000, bombs dropped early didn’t get credit for mission. Had pictures to prove bombs dropped in Germany, but no soap.

Mission 16
11/16/1944 Eschweiller-ground defenses
Flak light but fairly accurate.

Mission 17
11/30/1944 Harburg-marshaling yards
Meager flak, 48×100 G.P’s and 2×500 incend

Mission 18
12/11/1944 Hanau-marshaling yards
Meager flak , 6×1000

Mission 19
12/12/1944 Hanau-marshaling yards
10×500 G.P’s and 2×500 M17’s. Quite some flak today

Mission 20
12/24/1944 Schonecken
Largest force of 8th Air Force planes to bomb to date. 1884 reached and bombed targets. Light to moderate flak but very accurate. [Writers’ note: During this mission the formation was making a turn and because of a slight miscalculation in speed Dad’s ship was out of position and ended up leading the whole Eighth Air Force for a while. His crew all thought that this was kind of neat.]

Mission 21
12/28/1944 St.Wendel-marshaling yards Ship #108-B “Envy of ’em all [II]”
Entire group returned with bombs as G.H. equipment went out on lead ship. Had 10×500 G.P.’s and 2×250 incend.

Mission 22
12/30/1944 Neuwied-railroad bridge Ship #196-Q “Queenie”
No flak. 6×1000

Mission 23
12/31/1944 Coblenz-railroad bridge Ship #108-B “Envy of ’em all [II]”
Meager but accurate flak before and after leaving target.

Mission 24
1/2/1945 Coblenz-railroad bridge Ship #179-P
Saw 12 bursts of flak which isn’t much but it was pretty accurate. Weather was bad again. Had fog and bad visibility. 3×2000

Mission 25
1/7/1945 Rastatt-marshaling yards Ship #196-Q “Queenie”
Light but accurate flak 6×1000

Mission 26
1/8/1945 Stadkyll-road/communication center Ship #196-Q “Queenie”
Boy, we thought we had it today. The weather wasn’t fit for anything – not even a bird. Actually took off in a blizzard. Willie and Hess both had to fly it on takeoff. It was snowing something furious – plus a terrific crosswind between 35 and 50 MPH. Thought we were going to crackup on takeoff. All the ships made it but only by a miracle of that I’m sure. Even at altitude the visibility was very bad and the ships were all over the sky. We ran low on gas and had to land at a different “limey” base (Manston). It was awfully cold – 57 degrees below centigrade – about 65 degrees below Fahrenheit.

Mission 27
1/10/1945 Schonecken-highway bridge Ship #196-Q “Queenie”
Terrible weather again- 56 below centigrade and persistent contrails. Our bombs didn’t drop but we managed to toggle one out. It was snowing at our base and we landed at another base. Got some gas, had the bombs taken off and went home in the dark. [Writers’ note: Dad was telling us about process they used to remove the bombs. They put a wooden palate under the bomb bay and toggle them out. After the first bomb was removed this way he decided that it was a good time to get a cup of coffee and left the area until they were done.]

Mission 28
1/29/1945 Munster-marshaling yards Ship #196-Q “Queenie”
Bombed secondary target, primary was a viaduct at Bielefeld by visual means. Had 10/10 clouds at primary. Suppose to be heavy flak but “Ludwig” didn’t get his rations so we didn’t get any flak.

Mission 29
2/9/1945 Magdeburg -marshaling yards Ship #120-M Mike [Hookem Cow]
Primary was Magdeburg oil refinery, bombed secondary with 10×500 G.P.’s. Had 2700 gals topped off and it was a long haul. Had 120-M Mike and it really took off like a scared rabbit. Robby didn’t have to push it over the pub today.

Mission 30
2/15/1945 Magdeburg – oil refinery Ship #196-Q “Queenie”
2500 gals of gas and 12×500 G.P.’s. Little old Q-Queenie again its our ship now permanently. I saw just 1 flak burst but Robbie said there was quite a lot. I didn’t look to hard for it.

Mission 31
2/19/1945 Meschade-jet propulsion unit plant Ship #108-B “Envy of ’em all [II]”
2700 gals of gas, 4×500 demolition and 5xM17. No flak at target but crossing the battle line on the way out we got shot at for a few minutes. #3 engine hit but just damaged an oil line, didn’t know about it til we landed.

Mission 32
2/21/1945 Nurenburg-marshaling yards Ship #018-J “Old Doc’s Yacht”
10×500. Flew with Canady today, he finished his tour. Had flak crossing the battle line – also a few bursts at the target. The whole 8th air force went there today, I guess they really got a bang out of us today.

Mission 33
2/22/1945 Peine-marshaling yards Ship #108-B “Envy of ’em all [II]”
Our roughest mission. Bombed from 10,000 ft. and really hit the target but the flak was terrible. Went slight off course and really got pasted. Ship behind us got a direct hit and went down. Another ship went off by itself and hasn’t come back. Our hydraulics and interphone in waist and tail turret hydraulics were shot out. Landed at emergency field with a left flat tire. Had “Envy of them all” today and the old gal won’t fly for quite a time. Had well over 50 large holes. Robby caught a nick in his leg. Stone finished his tour.

Mission 34
2/27/1945 Halle-marshaling yards Ship #196-Q “Queenie”
Had 18×250 G.P.’s and 2M17s. A long trip 2700 gals -topped. Johns finished today. Flak was pretty rough again but they were to late to shoot at our formation.

Mission 35
2/28/1945 Bielefeld-viaduct Ship #196-Q “Queenie”
This was the day, our last combat mission. What a long time to get to the target!! Had 6×1000 and 2500 gals of gas. Old Q-Queenie took us back okay. What a reception committee we had waiting for us! All the guys liked Lt. Hess and boy they were all there congratulate him on his return. I’m glad it is all over with. Wish all the boys could get thru as we did. The guys down stairs have our ship now. They’ll treat her okay cause they’re well on their way to being thru.

B-24H-30-DT 42-51196 J3 Q  The Gypsy Queen

Hess and crew flew this aircraft on 14 of their 35 missions
(Photo: Kenneth Hosker)

February 28, 1945 – 35th Mission

Standing: Kenneth Smith, Max Stone, William Work, Glenn Hess, Carl Kwiatkowski
Kneeling: Francis Johns, Unknown, Robert Robinson, Charles Dykstra
(Photo: Michael Dykstra)