My father flew two missions as a bombardier with the Cottontails in a B-24, before switching to a B-17 group.
Here are the relevant logbook entries:
722nd Sq. 450th GP.
APO – 520
April 4 - **
Bucharest Marshalling Yards, Rumania
B-24-H 367
Pilot – Lt. McGlaghlin
12 – 500 LB.G.P. bombs
Saw 1 fighter shot down. 1- 24 ditched in Adriatic Sea on way back Very little flak. Target well hit
722nd SQ. 450th GP.
APO – 520
April 5 - **
Ploesti oil fields, Rumania
B-24H 085
Pilot – Lt. King
12 – 500 LB. G.P. Bombs
Attacked by 30 ME 109’s Four out of seven ships in lead shot down – ours one of three left Returned with 2 slugs in no. 2 & 1 in no. 1 Several large flak holes in rear fuselage. Flak was intense Ship on right wing had vertical stabilizer damaged considerably Target well hit by our group
The second mission was obviously pretty badly shot by the enemy. I believe the command reconsidered the use of B-24s for this sort of work after that. In any case, the next mission is on April 16th, and it with the 32nd SQ. 301st Group in B-17s. I believe from what he told me that the Cottontails may have been broken up after the April 5th raid.
Snappy salute to the memory of your father’s bravery and dedication.
He was top turret gunner. He kept a diary of his missions. He was in the fifth B-24 over Normandy on D-Day. He was on Capt Kent's crew for the entire tour. The entire crew survived the war.