My Father's WWII Journals: #4 and Final

This journal is most interesting, and least interesting, because Dad never tells about the air battle itself. He describes the situation going into the battle, and data account of the mission says it was a "Hit," but his narrative ends with his feeling (and, he suggests, the feelings of the other men) about being assigned to bomb Hamburg. Nothing about the seven and a half hours in the air. I learned on the 100 Bomb Group Foundation website that the December mission over Hamburg was horrendous. I wrote to Dad's friend, Joe Urice, another tailgunner in the 100th (whose birthday is the same day as Dad's), and he replied: "I was also on that Jan 1945 Hamburg mission and it was nothing comparable to the losses of the Dec 31 mission.  Flak but no fighters. "

Dad, Joe Urice, & Will Kreamer
at a 100 BG  reunion

So maybe this mission was anticlimactic. Hard to imagine with flak that was not only heavy, but as Dad notes, "accurate." Or maybe they didn't do so hot, even though they hit their target. Dad being Dad, and a Kendig, he still took time to appreciate the good breakfast they had beforehand. He remained mindful of what was good about some Air Corps life: a bed and meals. 

The Ellis Crew

Another good thing was his crew, which remained friends for life. Bob Ellis and Dad were in each other's weddings, and Bob, whether living in San Juan, Cartagena, or Abu Dhabi, usually stayed at our house on his trips back to the States, as he did for Mom and Dad's 50th anniversary. I remember Randleman and his family coming one summer, and Dad and Mom visiting Will Kreamer, who lived in Minnesota, near my sister, Daun. I heard stories about Gibberson and Moriarty. Mom and Dad went to many 100 BG reunions. Mom once said she didn't believe half of Dad's stories until the crew got together, and they all told the exact same story. Mom loved all these guys, including many other 100th BG guys she met for decades of reunions, like Joe Urice and his family. I am still friends with Bob's son, Drake, who lives in Youngstown. The friendships continue. 

1-17-45
No. 14

Target – Hamburg  – Oil Refinery

Visibility – visual            Results – Hit

Flak – Heavy and Very Accurate

Takeoff – 0837               Land 1538

Bombs Away -1157                  Altitude 25000´

Temp. - 36°                    Load – 12 -500 lb.  G.P.'s

Oxygen – 3 ½ hrs.                     Mission – 7 ½ hrs.

Position High Element Lead

This morning, we were awakened at 0400 for chow and briefing. One consolation about these missions is that we always get fresh eggs and oranges. When we found out that the target was to be Hamburg, there were a lot of oohs because any time y ou go to Hamburg you know that a bad time is due you.