Hot!Diary of William Peter Dortch, 351st BG, 508th BS, Polebrook, UK

This may seem an odd question, but I am curious about the keeping of a diary by air crewmembers. Was this activity ever considered illegal or were there specific regulations prohibiting this activity or limiting where these diaries might be kept? e.g. not to be taken on missions to avoid these records from falling into enemy hands?
 
Specifically I have heard that this activity was forbidden in China prior to the withdrawal from these bases in late 1944. Is there any credibility to the prohibition on keeping a diary in that theater?
 
Any help on this subject is welcome.
 
Thanks,
Scott

Hi Scott,
 
My great Uncle -1st LT. Charles L. Gempel, kept one,  They came back to his parents after the war when his personal affects were returned.  NO documents moving via mail were allowed to contain location information for fear that they might fall into enemy hands.  This is why APO/FPO were set up  ---The most I can recall in his letters was somewhere in Great Britain.  He new this before he left so divulging it to family was not really compromising.  I am writing a book based on the 23 or 25 missions I have logs for.  Some of his store can be viewed at one of the following links:
 
http://charlesgempelameri.nhero.blogspot.com  or
http://thoughtsbygempel.wordpress.com.
 
I hope this information helps.  He was pretty diligent in writing down his log after his missions.  I have in these documents the bombing location, the target, the altitude, the time ,the day, the speed, the bomb load and what happened during and after the bombs were released.  He was the co-pilot on the Bentcliff Crew,  SN 44-10523 MACR 10139 and went down with the aircraft-  A B24J with no name and a call sign of BAR T that  flew out of Shipdham Field in Suffolk or Norfolk, Great Britain.

Douglas,
 
Thanks for your reply every piece of the puzzle helps. I’ve heard many stories of WW II diaries being kept and that’s why my question may appear odd.
 
I was told second hand that a CBI veteran had stated that diaries were illegal to have in China. I’ve never heard of a regulation prohibiting them in the past, so I’m trying to confirm this statement from a CBI veteran.
 
Thanks,
Scott

Scott,
Diaries were discouraged in the 8TH Air Corps while stationed in the UK but there was no enforcement of the rule.

I kept a diary of sorts in the 15th AF, in my bomb group, but, I did not take it with me on missions. I filled it out after the mission...and I was the only one of the gunners on my crew that still had a mission diary...the mothers of the other gunners apparently threw away any and all mementoes of the war.
I copied my diary and sent the other gunners a copy...as I was the flight engineer, it was one of my duties to complete the Form 5 for each mission, and, as a result, I knew the fuel load, bomb loac, altitude we achieved, and the total flight time.
 
Jim :-)

Scott,
In our Group, and time, it was common to keep a mission log/diary.  This practice was legally not to be practiced, but everyone did it.  When we returned to the US after our tour, we hid this log so it wouldn't be found when our baggage was examined.
My mission log became the backbone, along with official information from my squadron, for the book "The View From The Bottom Up".  Reading the words as written by the 18/19 years old me help to make the formal records alive as I experienced it to write this book.

Scott, as I was too young to serve in WW II, I cherish these records as a link to my great uncle --who because of fate, I was not able to meet.  My mother made copies for me of the originals and the originals were sent back to my Uncle Charles who was only 6 at the end of the war.  Being that he was named after the first Charles, my dad who was the oldest son gave these records to his brother.  It was their uncle that died on that fateful day in Oct, 1944.

Thanks to all of you gentlemen for your input and insights with regard to your experiences with combat diaries. I also believe these are a critical link to the war experience at the individual level that could be captured in no other way. I for one am happy so many survived even if they had to be smuggled back into the States after the war. As you have all pointed out this practice may have been discouraged, but was seldom enforced as it was such a common practice.
 
On the China side of my question I’m now wondering if the Fourteenth Air Force had a stronger prohibition on this activity, due to the fluid nature of the battle field in China. My thought here being; the rapid ground advance of the Japanese requiring the abandonment of many of our airfields could render these documents subject to capture on the ground.
 
I know for a fact that CBI diaries were kept and in one instance from activity in China. The aforementioned veteran has insinuated that not only were the diaries illegal, but that having them in your possession even now is a form of harboring a crime. I believe this claim to be preposterous, without merit and unenforceable unless the diary police start knocking on the doors of every veteran’s family in the United States.
 
Any additional thoughts on owning this supposed “contraband material?” some six decades after the fact would be helpful.
 
Thanks,
Scott           

Hi Scott,  Any information I have i will share because I believe in the pay it forward systems and I was given these through the "Share" program as well ---  The value of them is this.  Not so much what they contain but that they were actually penned by my ancestor.  He speaks of ordinance and flak and all the kinds of items you would expect a log file to contain.  In one document, he describes having to get out of the "plane"  "DAMN Quick" because it was full of machine gun holes and leaking fuel as they landed.  I regretfully do not have a complete record because they were not able to return from the 25th mission.   They went down near Hamburg, Germany in route back to the base.

Hi PA Dutchman,
 
I think we can all understand the reasoning for this and in addition My great uncle 1st  Lt Charles L. Gempel-- (44--10523-MIA/KIA -MACR 10139) had a camera and those were supposed to be against policy.  What is even worse about this is he lost it somewhere between the States and Shipdham Field where he eventually flew out of.  His wife gave it to him as a going away present.  He had it stowed in his baggage.  To this day I wonder if inspectors confiscated it and kept the "ball" rolling rather than make an incident about it.  He and therefore we did not have many photos of his crew after that point.  However, a survivor of his crew(Lester Griffin) had a son-Clifford Griffin and his son gave us a crew photo which is on my blog site. http://thoughtsbygempel.wordpress.com    (Admins of this site can capture it from there if they want a copy or let me know if this is not possible and I can upload one. )  I have many items that had to be searched for in order to gain the knowledge that I have.  One thing is for certain, companies now are selling these artifacts and it makes me sick that some are profiting from the histories of "the greatest generation".  It is one thing to sell information for charity and its another thing entirely to make a buck off of someone's misery and sacrifice.    The profiteering for personal or corporate gain should be against the law.   Thanks to all VETS PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE! for my Freedoms and Liberties .... you have sacrificed so others can live .... Thank you thank you thank you!

 
My brother kept a diary. After he was KIA, his wife had his personal effects. His diary was in a trunk that went through a flood and was partially damaged, but not to the extent that it couldn't be read. We used it in preparing his tribute page. This is a treasured memento for our family, along with all the letters he sent home and his personal mission logs.
 
Vic Walzel
 

25Kingman49
-- <snipped> --
I was told second hand that a CBI veteran had stated that diaries were illegal to have in China. I’ve never heard of a regulation prohibiting them in the past, so I’m trying to confirm this statement from a CBI veteran.

 
Scott,
 
I think previous posts have established that diaries were definitely discouraged, if not prohibited, in all/most theaters, most of the time.  I remember Dad saying the words of discouragement began during his crew training at Greenville, SC (April 44).
 
From experiences with 341st Bm Gp veterans, many of which served while assigned to 10th and then 14th Air Force, I don't believe 14th AF had more or less emphasis on banning diaries, certainly not more so than 10th AF.  However, during many conversations with at annual conventions, very few admitted to keeping a diary.  Among the 400+ 341st Bomb Group veterans I have communicated with only eight had kept logs of their missions, and three others had actual diaries.  Eight others, pilots, had copies of the forms which logged their flying time and had annotated the mission next to the time.

I was led to believe that the dairy was forbidden in all the Armed Forces in WWII. I know it was in the Navy.

Tony,
Regarding the eight pilots having forms showing flight times (mission or local), these forms were part of their personal files which they carried from station to station and were given to them on separation. I have my files reflecting the same information. These files were maintained by squadron personnel at their base of operation.

No diaries was the policy. The same policy covered personal cameras. I guess I was young and serious enough to up-hold these policies during the war.

Thanks again gentlemen for your continued enlightenment on the subject of combat diaries in all theaters.
 
Thanks Tony for your thoughts, I was hoping that you might find this thread as I am aware of your vast knowledge of CBI and China in general. I believe I now have a clearer picture of why combat diaries were perhaps more strongly discouraged in this theater over others. It would appear that the training indoctrination for aircrews destined for this theater had a lasting impact on self censorship for these warriors. The few that were kept and survived make them very special and rare documents from this theater of war.
 
PA.Dutchman; Thanks for your vivid examples of why this practice was discouraged in the war with the Japanese.    
 
Again, many thanks to all,
 
Scott   

My uncle's IDPF contains letters exchanged between my grandfather and the Department of the Army concerning the final disposition of my uncle's remains.  In one passage, my grandfather states that Uncle Kenneth kept a diary during his trip to China, and he would send "coded" messages to his wife written on postcards or the backs of photographs.  He asked that the diary be located and returned to him.
 
The response from the Adjutant General's office states:
 
"There is no information of record concerning the disposition made of his diary.  Very few diaries were located as many were destroyed during the war by military censors for security reasons, and many were discarded overseas and not included among the personal effects shipped to the (Army Effects) Bureau."
 
 

Hi Scott,
 
My Father, William P. Dortch, also kept one.  He was a tailgunner on a B-17 stationed in Polebrook, England.  He entered information for each mission he was on.  He included the name of the city for the bomb run, crew members, date, ship, time they took off and landed, altitude, bomb load and the temperature.  He also wrote a description of the bomb run.  His first entry was November 3, 1943, Wilhelmshaven.  He writes "Our target was the North Sea Naval base of Wilhelmshaven.  We had heard rumors that the german battleships "Tirpitz", and "Admiral Scheer" were docked there, but we never saw them.  Today was the record breaker for forts, there being about 850 attacking the target.  P38's were being used as escorts for the first time in this theatre.  We also had Thunderbolts with us."  He goes on to write quite a bit more but I won't take up your time with the details here.  If you'd like to hear more please ask.  I'm so very glad that he did keep the diary because now his grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be able to live the experience through his words.  Sorry I veered off from your question, but if they were illegal, I'm glad he was a rebel and wrote everything down anyway!
 
Wendy Dortch Williams
Daughter of William P. Dortch
Tailgunner, 351st Bomb Group
Polebrook, England
11/3/43 to 5/27/44

Please, tell us more!
Could you, would you post the complete diary?

Wendy,
 
I believe my initial quarry in this thread has been captured. If this thread is to continue it will be through compelling stories like yours and you father’s that kept a diary of their time and service to our country. Every serviceman during WW II had a story to tell, regardless of branch of service, but few shared these experiences with family or friends.
 
You have a unique document “your father’s diary” in your possession, not only for your family, but from a USAAF history standpoint. I’m a soft sell when it comes to records and details like your father’s diary. Please, by all means share whatever detail you would like about your father’s diary as it sounds to me to be very complete and detailed regarding mission histories that I’m positive other forum members, particularly the veterans would love to hear.
 
I offer this thread to you and any other veterans or family members that wish to share USAAF diary content with the members of this forum. I would consider it a great privilege to learn more about your father’s experiences in the 351st Bomb Group.
 
Respectfully,
Scott       

Gregg,
 
I tremendously appreciate your father’s service in the early days of the war and beyond. I respectfully decline your offer of a copy of the taped interview with your father as it falls outside the scope of the written diary format of this thread.
 
Respectfully,
Scott    

Thank you for your kind words Scott.  I'd be pleased to share the information in my father's diary with the members here.  I do apologize for hijacking your thread though!  My dad was just 20 years old in 1943 and was from the Bronx, New York.  His diary contains 29 bomb runs,  so I'll post them one at a time.  Please feel free to share them with friends and family, but please ask for permission before reproducing any of the information.  I'll begin again with the first bomb run - Wilhelmshaven on November 3, 1943.
 
The crew members were:
Daniel McCafferty, 2nd LT., Pilot
Edwin Olson, 2nd LT, Co-P
George Mills, 2nd LT, B
William Badger, 2nd LT, N
Douglas Ryerson, Sgt., TT
Donald Johnson, S/Sgt., R
Henry Luck, Sgt., BT
Donald Hottensen, Sgt., LW
Raymond McCoy, Sgt., RW
William Peter Dortch, Sgt., TG
 
Ship 654 Dottie J
Take Off 9:52 am
Landed 3:35 pm
Altitude 23,000'
Bomb Load - Ten 500's - 14 Incendiaries
Temperature -27 degrees
 
Our target was the North Sea Naval base of Wilhelmshaven.  We had heard rumors that the German battleships "Tirpitz" and "Admiral Scheer" were docked there, but we never saw them.
 
Today was the record breaker for forts, there being about 850 attacking the target.  P-38's were being used as escorts for the first time in this theatre.  We also had Thunderbolts with us.
 
As we bombed the target the sky was covered with low clouds and our results were impossible to see.  The Germans sent up ME 109's and FW 190's to intercept us.  I saw the Lightning's knock down two 109's.  One Messerschmitt attacked the tail of our plane and I got in some good shots.  At the same time a 38 got on his tail, and he exploded and caught on fire.  The flak was mild through-out the trip.
 
I saw three forts go down.  Upon landing we examined the plane and found the pilot's window cracked.  The plexiglass nose had a big hole caused by flak.  The armor plating stopped it before it go to Meatball.  (I think this is what he called George Mills).  Number three propeller was dented while the vertical stabilizer had a hole through it.
 
(edited to add my name!)
Wendy Dortch Williams
 

Wendy,
 
Thanks for sharing more details on this first mission including the crew and aircraft. I thought I’d add a little detail about the 351^ST Bombardment Group (Heavy), US 8th Air Force, based at Polebrook, USAAF Station 110. Attached  GEarth map is showing the location of Polebrook in the UK and Wilhelmshaven in Germany; 365 straight flight miles in distance, also an aerial view of Wilhelmshaven from 23,815 ft the approximate bombing altitude and an aerial photo of Polebrook taken in August 1948.
 
Video: 351^st BG (H) prepares for a mission http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2f8x6_wwii-color-movie-351st-bomb-group-b_shortfilms
 
Link to video below for text access below video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LUkfkWM-Ro
 
Best regards,
Scott

 

Wendy,
 
You are perhaps already familiar with this site: http://www.351st.org/ken.harbour/ which gives some great details on the Group.
 
Through Joe Baugher: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_1.html the full aircraft designator for your Father's aircraft on that mission was: B-17F-65-BO-42-29654, fate: (351st BG) returned to USA Jul 3, 1944
 
I have not been able to find a photo of this aircraft, but attached is the Groups insignia that you might want to use for your AAF forum avatar which I have reduced to 14.8k and 204 x 300 pixels, for more avatar details see this forum help link:  http://forum.armyairforces.com/File-Types-and-Sizes-for-Posts-Gallery-Avatar-m157458.aspx
 
The 351^ST BG (H) had four Squadrons attached: 508th (YB-), 509th (RQ-), 510th (TU-) and 511th (DS-). This site will lead you to the individual Squadron patches: http://www.kratzmc.com/351st-bomb-group-an-introduction/ , if you know which Squadron your Father flew with, one of these may be a more appropriate avatar. Beyond that all aircraft in the 351^ST BG (H) sported a black delta “Triangle” with a white “J” on the vertical stabilizer “Tail”.
 
I would love to learn more about your Father’s missions through the record of his diary. I have one concern as you included one caveat: “please ask for permission before reproducing any of the information”. The problem here is that once you post this material as with anything else posted to the internet, you may well lose control of this material. I strongly urge you to consider this before posting more. There is an unknown value to your Father’s diary and you may well have enough material to submit an article to Air Power History magazine: http://www.afhistoricalfoundation.org/publications/Air_Power_History.asp or other publisher to capture some copyright protection. I may receive some audience boos for this thought, but this is something to consider before continuing with posts from your Father’s diary.
 
Best regards,
Scott
 
   

My Grandfather kept a diary - "Flying for Victory" - while in the CBI. Most of the entries are brief, just notes that give a sense of the excitement, fear and accomplishment that he felt while in combat. His entries can be viewed at http://dainthecbi.com/DiaryEntries.html.
 
by the looks of the diary, it looks like it may have been something that was issued to him at some point while he was in the Service.
 
This little booklet is priceless to me.

Michael,
 
Outstanding website tribute to your Grandfather, thanks for sharing. The link provided there: http://asisbiz.com/Il2/USAAF-History-WWII-1944.html is also a very useful research tool.
 
Scott

Thank you for visiting, Scott. I already had that site linked at the top of the diary listings. I found it very useful indeed.
 
I hope you will check back now and again. Please sign the guestbook to let me know you've stopped by. 
 

Scott,
 
Thank you for posting all of the links and information.  Some of the websites I was familiar with, but others I had not seen before.  Very interesting reading!  As far as posting more of the diary pages, I'm not too worried about it.  I think it's more important to share the information with other members.  That and the fact that written material is basically copyrighted for 70 years after the owners death is good enough for me.  I just would ask that if anyone publishes or uses information from the diary that they give credit to him.
 
I do have a picture of the Dottie J with the crew in front of it, but haven't been able to find it on my computer files yet.  Once I do, I will post it here if you would like to see it.
 
That being said, onto Bomb Run #2 
 
"Gelsenkirchen - November 5, 1943"
 
All crew members were the same with the exception of the Ball Turret - this time it was Frank Mayarka S/Sgt., replacing Sgt. Henry Luck.
 
Ship - 654 - Dottie J
Take off  - 10:22 am
Landed - 3:45 pm
Altitude - 27,000'
Temperature -  -45 degrees
Bomb load - Forty-Two incendiaries
 
"Gelsenkirchen is located in Germany's industrial center, the Ruhr Valley."  
 
"The Flak was terrific and we were under constant fire for forty-five minutes.  It was the worst anti-aircraft barrage ever encounted by American bombers.  As we came near the Dutch coast, both Frank Mayarka and myself saw approxomatly one hundred boats.  We were unable to recognize the type due to our altitude."
 
"The Thunderbolts again escorted us and were very effective in driving off the 190's and 109's which the Luftwaffe sent up.  As we were leaving the target I could see many fires starting up."
 
"Again when we landed there were quite a few holes in the plane."
 
William Peter Dortch
 
Respectfully submitted,
Wendy Dortch Williams
Daughter of William Peter Dortch
Tailgunner B-17 - 351st Bomb Group
Polebrook, England
 
 
 

Wendy,
 
I am pleased with your decision to continue to post missions from your Father’s diary, we can only hope if reproduced a reference and credit to the service of Sgt. William Peter Dortch, tail gunner would be included. I would love to see a photo of “Dottie J” if you are able to find it, as she is not pictured on http://www.351st.org/ken.harbour/ , but they do indicate her call sign as YB-B which indicates your Father’s B-17F was assigned to the 508^th Squadron, 351^st Bomb Group “Squadron patch attached”. The above site shows the “Dottie J” with 16 missions, as you Father’s diary contains 29 missions, I’ll read ahead that there is an aircraft change in the future.
 
Attached: Overview map and Gelsenkirchen at 27,000 ft.
 
I am not sure you want me to add these mission maps or if you have already plotted these targets of your Father’s missions. If you would prefer I did not, I will cease and desist; but if you would like we will cover the map with the 29 missions in your father’s diary. It should be considered that these are contemporary maps and the view from altitude over the target by your Father was most probably very different.
 
Best regards,
Scott    
 



 

Scott,
 
Please continue the posts with the maps of each mission.  I really enjoy reading them and think it would be very educational to see where they flew to.  I did get verification that he was in the 508th from my Mother earlier today.  I do remember that he had the patch with the eagle on it stored with his other WWII belongings.
 
You are correct in stating that there would be an aircraft change, in fact there were 15 of them.  He flew in the Dottie J a total of six times.  The serial number he has for it is 42-29654 and he lists it as ZOI.  I think you already provided the serial number in a previous post.  He lists all of the aircraft he flew in, along with their serial numbers in his diary also.  Some of them had names, most did not.  He also lists the status of each aircraft.  
 
Aircraft with serial #'s 42-37731, 42-39849, 42-29948, Jennie, 42-3517 Happy Warrior, 42-97157, 42-97066, 42-31757, 42-31702 and 42-102470 he listed as MIA
 
Serial # 42-29654 Dottie J, #42-31879, The Shark and #42-97349 Silver Dollar he listed as ZOI
 
Serial # 43-37780 he shows crashed at Polebrook; #42-107005 Lucille Ball II burned at Polebrook, and #42-38023 crashed at Framlingham.
 
From the diary of William P. Dortch, tail gunner B-17, Polebrook, England
 
Respectfully submitted,
Wendy Dortch Williams
 
 

My dad kept a diary of his missions while in England.  Along with his navigation logs of each mission, it is my most valued possession of his that I have.  He wrote the entries after each mission that was flown.  Towards the end of his combat tour, the entries became very cryptic, and during the few days before the Invasion, his diary comes to a halt.  My guess is that he was too busy/exhausted after these missions to write things down.
 
It can be viewed here: http://www.458bg.com/anavigatorsdiary.htm

Darin,
 
Thanks for sharing this compelling narrative of your Father’s 30 missions from a navigators point of view. As I read through the entries I could almost feel the fatigue of battle and in many instances the effects of sleep deprivation. Your Father’s diary brings to life all the effects of the USAAF air war over Europe, from mission successes to mission failures as a result of bad weather or other factors. This day to day record also highlights the trials and tribulations that all aircrews faced mission after mission. Although perhaps obvious to others, this record for me magnifies why there was a set limit to the required number of missions, before rotation home. Thanks for providing your Father’s history through his own words on the web to enlighten all of our critical past during WW II.     
 
Best regards,
Scott

From the diary of William Peter Dortch, Tailgunner, B-17, Polebrook England:
 
Bomb run #3 - Duren (Wesel) - November 7, 1943
 
Daniel McCafferty, 2nd Lt., Pilot
Edwin Olson, 2nd Lt., Co-P
George Mills, 2nd Lt., B
William Badger, 2nd Lt., N
Douglas Ryerson, Sgt., TT
Donald Johnson, S/Sgt., R
Dyke Nadeau, S/Sgt., BT
Donald Hottenson, Sgt., LW
Raymond McCoy, Sgt., RW
William Peter Dortch, Sgt., TG
 
Ship - 731
Take off - 8:32 am
Landed - 2:40 pm
Altitude - 27,600'
Temperature - -46 degrees
Bomb load - Forty-two incendiaries
 
"We were briefed to bomb Wesel but because of heavy clouds were forced to hit Duren which is south of the Ruhr Valley, not far from Belgium. "
 
"This was a dream raid in which there were no fighters and little flak.  Thunderbolts escorted us in and out of the target."
 
Respectfully submitted,
Wendy Dortch Williams
Daughter of William P. Dortch

[1] Polebrook US Army Airfield memorial England

This monument is located at the end of the main runway that was used by the 351st Bomb Group during WWII.
The inscription reads:
IN MEMORY OF THE 351ST BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) EIGHTH UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCE.  311 GROUP COMBAT BOMBING MISSIONS WERE FLOWN FROM THIS AIRFIELD OVER OCCUPIED EUROPE BETWEEN 1943 - 1945.  175 B-17 FLYING FORTRESSES AND THEIR CREWS WERE LOST.  303 ENEMY AIRCRAFT WERE DESTROYED IN AERIAL COMBAT
[2] Overview map targets 1 thru 3

[3] Wesel Germany at 27069 ft

From the diary of William Peter Dortch, Tailgunner, B-17, Polebrook England: 
  
Bomb run #4 - Bremen - November 26, 1943 
  
Daniel McCafferty, 2nd Lt., Pilot 
Edwin Olson, 2nd Lt., Co-P 
George Mills, 2nd Lt., B 
William Badger, 2nd Lt., N 
Douglas Ryerson, Sgt., TT 
Donald Johnson, S/Sgt., R 
Frank Mayarka, S/Sgt., BT 
Donald Hottenson, Sgt., LW 
Raymond McCoy, Sgt., RW 
William Peter Dortch, Sgt., TG 
 
Ship - 849
Take off - 8:15
Landed - 3:30
Altitude - 24,000
Temperature - -44 degrees
Bomb Load - Eight 500's - Twenty incend's.
 
Bremen is one of Germany's most important cities and ports.  It is located in the north central part of Germany.
 
They laid down a very effective smoke screen and it was impossible to see our results.  We were lucky for not many fighters attacked our group.  The jerries knocked down 20 or more Forts that went over the target.  The Flak gunners were accurate and gave our plane quite a few holes.
 
When we landed we learned that George Bond had gone down with Lt. Cassal's crew.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Wendy Dortch Williams
Daughter of William P. Dortch

[1] polebrook J type hanger

[2] Overview map missions 1 thru 4

[3] Target 4 Bremen 24067 ft

Scott,
 
Here is another entry from the diary.  Something that I hadn't noticed before I started typing the information into this forum was how the crew members were promoted between bomb runs.  On this entry Daniel McCafferty is now a 1st Lt., and a couple of the enlisted men were promoted to staff sergeants.  Was this a common practice during the war?  Along that same note, any feedback regarding the diary entries is welcome!  I hope everyone is enjoying them.
 
From the diary of William Peter Dortch, Tailgunner, B-17, Polebrook England:  
   
Bomb run #5 - Soligen - December 1, 1943  
   
Daniel McCafferty, 1st Lt., Pilot  
Edwin Olson, 2nd Lt., Co-P  
George Mills, 2nd Lt., B  
William Badger, 2nd Lt., N  
Douglas Ryerson, Sgt., TT  
Donald Johnson, S/Sgt., R  
Frank Mayarka, S/Sgt., BT  
Donald Hottenson, S/Sgt., LW  
Raymond McCoy, S/Sgt., RW  
William Peter Dortch, Sgt., TG  
 
Ship - 654 Dottie J
Takeoff - 8:10am
Landed - 2:30pm
Altitude - 27,000'
Temperature - -45 degrees
Bomb load - Eight 500's - Twenty inc'd's.
 
Soligen is located east of Cologne and is one of Germany's chief metal producing centers.  It also has a population of 150,000 people.
This was a rough raid in many ways.  The flak was pretty heavy and the whole damn Luftwaffe was in the sky.  They threw up twin engined fighters which included their new ME 410's.
I sat back and watched the show as both my tailguns were frozen.  On account of this Mac snuggled us into a nice spot.  Thunderbolts and Spitfires escorted us.  The 47's got quite a few jerries.
I saw two Forts go down.  
We landed right near the coast on account of running out of gas.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Wendy Dortch Williams
 
 

Wendy,
 
Your father’s diary entries are of great interest to me, not only as they give his personal thoughts of each mission, but also represent at least his whole Squadrons efforts of “The Target for Today” scenario. In addition, whenever I learn something new it is rewarding to me, case in point the Messerschmitt Me 410 was a new Nazi aircraft to me. The following is a description of this aircraft, with a video below:
 
The Messerschmitt Me 410 Hornisse ("Hornet") was a German heavy fighter and Schnellbomber used by Luftwaffe during World War II. Though essentially a straightforward modification of the Me 210, an improvement”?” over the original fighter variant Messerschmitt Bf 110,   it was designated the Me 410 to avoid association with its notoriously flawed predecessor. It’s not clear to me how effective this aircraft was in its role of heavy fighter/light bomber compared to the USAAF’s Lockheed P-38 Lightning or Northrop P-61 Black Widow, twin engine fighter/bombers. It would appear the Me 410 never fully improved on the design deficiencies of its predecessor the Me 210 which struggled with poor flight characteristics since its inception and first flight in 1939, having said that the Me 410 was armed as follows and would not be a pleasant sight in the sky for USAAF bomber crews:
Armament
Guns:
2 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 17 machine guns with 1,000 rpg, firing forward
2 × 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons with 350 rpg, firing forward
2 × 13 mm (.51 in) MG 131 machine guns with 500 rpg, each firing rearward from FDSL 131/1B remote-operated turret, one per side
Bombs: up to 1,000 kg (2,204 lb)       
 
In answer to your question about promotions; yes, combat promotions were quite common as the aircrews and airmen gained combat experience.
 
Scott  
 
Target (5) Solingen Germany 01 Dec 1943 at 27,049 ft
 
Overview map as of 01 Dec 1943

Messerschmitt Me 410A1 
 
 

 

Wendy I am attemting to post an answer.
 
Jim

Thanks Scott for all of the information.  Here is the picture of the DottieJ I was finally able to find.  My father is standing in the back row, fourth from the left.