[Homer_J_Simpson]

Today Homer’s uncle and the rest of the Billy Chason crew fly their first combat mission with the 533rd Bombardment Squadron, 381st Bombardment Group, 8th Air Force. Here is the entry from the squadron’s war diary :

“Huge formations of American "heavies" flew 1090 miles today to smash Ludwigshafen, led by the group commanding officer, Lt Col Joseph J. Nazarro.

"The 30 ships which made up the 381st contingent encountered little opposition, but reports indicate that the formation behind were not so fortunate. The lead groups experienced no fighter attacks on the way in although they saw a large number of dog fights taking place in the distance.

"Nine ships from this squadron were part of the formation, the pilots participating were: Lts Gleichauf, Butler, Chason, Crozier, Parsons, Nason, Fridgen, Klein and Stewart Hanson. One of our men, radio operator S/Sgt Curtis E. Hickman died of anoxia on the return trip. His body was taken to the 121st Station Hospital at Braintree, a few miles away.”

The man who died from anoxia was part of the Chason crew. I wonder what happened.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

City Burning Again (Middleton) – 2
War News Summarized – 2
Rail Hub Retaken (Lawrence) – 3-4
Czechoslovak Fighters Receive Awards from Soviet (photo) – 4
Allies Sink Three Destroyers and Reich Blockade Runner (Anderson) – 5-6
Survivor Depicts Scharnhorst’s End – 6
Doenitz in Disfavor over Scharnhorst – 6
Britons to Direct Joint Sea, Air Arms – 7
Names to Invasion Command (photos) – 7
Huge Invasion Supplies Needed to Step Up War Production in ’44 – 7
Canadians Seize Ortona and Go On (Bracker) – 8-9
Pacific Meeting that Preceded Our Present Drive (photo) – 9
Marines Toss Fire at Gloucester Foe – 10
Nazis Say British Raided Sark Isle – 10
Signal Corps Stations Beat the Borealis and Help Speed Plane Traffic Overseas – 11
Latest War Casualties – 14
The Text of the Day’s Communiques on Fighting in Various War Zones – 15-16