1ST LT. T.V. HARWOOD WWII, B26 MARAUDER, 323RD BOMBARDMENT GROUP (M), 456TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON, PERSONAL MISSION ARTIFACTS.

1ST LT. T.V. HARWOOD WWII, B26 MARAUDER, 323RD BOMBARDMENT GROUP (M), 456TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON, PERSONAL MISSION ARTIFACTS. On Wednesday,December 5th, 2007 My son James and I came continued our adventure in Arizona by dropping by The Pima Air and Space Museum, 6000 East Valencia Road, Tucson, Arizona 85706. Mr. Andrew Boehly; Marauder Archivist. Mr. Boehly was kind enough to show my son James and I, my fathers' WWII, B26 artifacts. One canvas flight helmet, two pieces of German flak- that was pulled from his B26, one B26 clock form his ship, and three 50 Cal rounds that had been hit by said flak fragments. Furthermore, there was my fathers throat mic. Also, was a fairly large file of my fathers original WWII documents and a training manual. These phtotos are pulled from the video tape I made at this meeting. My father, 1st LT. Theodore V. Harwood, B 26 Pilot, he had mailed these artifacts to the another museum and they had at some point been sent to the Pima archives. Mr. Andrew Boehly; Marauder Archivist, has an MA degree in museum science and undergraduate degree in History and Political science. Mr. Andrew Boehly; Marauder Archivist is very passionate about the artifacts and responsibilities at Pima. He is also sensitive to the feelings of Marauder Men and their relatives and treated my son and I very kindly and my father affects with dignity and respect. “In Pima Air & Space Museum, where history takes flight, is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, and the largest non-government funded aviation museum. You'll see more than 275 aircraft and spacecraft including many of the most historically significant and technically advanced craft ever produced, both from the United States and throughout the world.” I took fairly detailed digital, still photos and video of my dad's artifacts at the Pima Air Museum here in Tuscan, AZ . Andrew Boehly , the B 26 Archivist in Tuscan. Further artifacts were found in my father's personal effects upon his passing and are in my personal collection at this time. Ray Harwood EMAIL: figflint@yahoo.com

ARTIFACT COLLECTION OF RAY HARWOOD OF TV HARWOOD WWII ITEMS HERE IN RAY' CARE, CUSTODY AND CONTROLL:

PHOTO OF SAID ARTIFACTS CURRATED AT PIMA AIR MUSEUM : PHONE (520) 574-0462 Museum in Tucson, Arizona: 6000 E Valencia Rd, Tucson, AZ 85756 The Pima Air & Space Museum, located in Tucson, Arizona, is one of the world's largest non-government funded aerospace museums. The museum features a display of nearly 300 aircraft spread out over 80 acres on a campus occupying 127 acres. It has also been the home to the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame since 1991. (Wikipedia) PHOTO OF SAID ARTIFACTS CURRATED AT PIMA AIR MUSEUM: .....

MARTIN B26 MARAUDERS OF THE 323RD BOMBARDMENT GROUP. 456 BOMB SQUADRON, FLOWN BY 1ST LT. T.V. HARWOOD : By PFC Ray Harwood 1989,

1. 42-43281 WT-D Little Mike USAAF 42-43281 Martin B-26B-40-MA Marauder USAAF serial number S/N: 42-43281 Martin B-26B-40-MA Marauder 1942043281, 42-43281 Martin B-26B-40-MA Marauder Fate: Unit: 323BG456BS Remarks: 323BG456BS White Tails Code:WT-D named: Little Mike, Disposal This plane used Harwood's on Mission numbers: 17, 24

2. 41-31708 WT-B The Gremlin II USAAF 41-31708 Martin B-26B-20-MA Marauder USAAF serial number S/N: 41-31708 Martin B-26B-20-MA Marauder 1941031708, 41-31708 Martin B-26B-20-MA Marauder Fate: Unit: 323BG456BS Remarks: 323BG456BS White Tails Code:WT-B named: The Gremlin II, Disposal: This plane used Harwood's on Mission numbers: 1,3,22,25,38

3. 41-34967 WT-R Hell's Belle USAAF 41-34967 Martin B-26C-15-MO Marauder USAAF serial number S/N: 41-34967 Martin B-26C-15-MO Marauder 1941034967, 41-34967 Martin B-26C-15-MO Marauder, Fate: Unit: 323BG456BS Remarks: 323BG456BS White Tails Code:WT-R named: Hells Belle, Disposal: This plane used Harwood's on Mission numbers:30,37

4. 42-96212 WT-Q Patty's Pig USAAF serial number S/N: 42-96212 Martin B-26B-55-MA Marauder 1942096212, 42-96212 Martin B-26B-55-MA Marauder Fate: Unit: 323BG456BS Remarks: 323BG456BS White Tails Code:WT-Q named: Pattie's Pie, Disposal: A bomber crew of the 323rd Bomb Group with their B-26 Marauder (WT-Q, serial number 42-96212) nicknamed "Patty's Pig" http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/2125 This plane used Harwood's on Mission numbers: 2,27

5. 41-34033 WT-A Ole 33 & Gal, Dale Rush Death. OLE 33, GAL 41-34033 WT-A http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/20668 ??? This plane used Harwood's on Mission numbers: 5,38

6. 42-107842 WT-W Georgia Miss Date: 1/10/2016 Time: 10:21 AM 1944…At the age of 21, 1st Lt Arthur S Pakula "Packy" piloted a B-26 Marauder in the “White Tailed” 323 Bombardment Group, 456 BS in France. He compiled more than 50 missions and was awarded the Air Medal with nine Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters. Thanks for serving Dad. I am looking for a picture of the plane my dad flew, "Georgia Miss" WT-W #42-107842. Thank you, Jackie Fitzgerald This plane used Harwood's on Mission numbers: 29,36

7. 42-96090 WT-M Buckeye Blitz Wagon USAAF 42-96090 Martin B-26B-55-MA Marauder USAAF serial number S/N: 42-96090 Martin B-26B-55-MA Marauder 1942096090, 42-96090 Martin B-26B-55-MA Marauder Fate: Unit: 323BG456BS Remarks: 323BG456BS White Tails Code:WT-M named: Blitz Wagon, Disposal: This plane used Harwood's on Mission numbers: 19,31,43

8. 41-34969 WT-S Crew 13 Production block number B-26C-15-MO USAAF 41-34969 Martin B-26C-15-MO Marauder USAAF serial number S/N: 41-34969 Martin B-26C-15-MO Marauder 1941034969, 41-34969 Martin B-26C-15-MO Marauder, Fate: Unit: 323BG456BS Remarks: 323BG456BS White Tails Code:WT-S named: Crew 13, Disposal: This plane used Harwood's on Mission numbers: 7,32

9. 41-31861 WT-N Weary Willie,Jr USAAF 41-31861 Martin B-26B-25-MA Marauder USAAF serial number S/N: 41-31861 Martin B-26B-25-MA Marauder 1941031861, 41-31861 Martin B-26B-25-MA Marauder Fate: AAIR Unit: 323BG456BS Remarks: 323BG456BS White Tails Code:WT-N named: Weary Willie Jr. Base: A83 landing accident DAM-CAT:3 crashed near Denain/A-83 France Pilot:Evans, Brainerd R Date: Mar 26, 1945. Disposal: This plane used Harwood's on Mission numbers: 6,8,10,33

10. 41-31787 WT-K City of Sherman USAAF 41-31787 Martin B-26B-25-MA Marauder USAAF serial number S/N: 41-31787 Martin B-26B-25-MA Marauder 1941031787, 41-31787 Martin B-26B-25-MA Marauder Fate: Unit: 323BG456BS Remarks: 323BG456BS White Tails Code:WT-K named: City of Sherman, Disposal: Photo: Flak bursts amidst these three B-26 Marauders of the 9th Air force as they make their bomb run on ground installations at Dieppe, France. The heaviest flak bursts were around the plane at left in which the bombardier was killed and a gunner seriously injured by the blasts. Despite being hit the Bombardier released his bombs and the plane returned to base. Pictures were made by T/Sgt Fay N Steele of Sommerville, TN a combat cameraman who was flying beside the formation in another plane. Steele is attached to the 4th Combat Camera Unit Army Air Forces. L-R: 41-35033 "Ole 33", 41-34976 "Bonnie Lee", 41-31787 "City of Sherman" This plane used Harwood's on Mission numbers: 4,9,11,41,42

11 41-35022 YU-V 455th.BS airplane USAAF 41-35022 Martin B-26C-20-MO Marauder USAAF serial number S/N: 41-35022 Martin B-26C-20-MO Marauder 1941035022, 41-35022 Martin B-26C-20-MO Marauder,Fate: Unit: 323BG455BS Remarks: 323BG455BS White Tails Code:YU-V, Disposal: This plane used Harwood's on Mission numbers: 12

12. 41-31964 WT-L Hade’s Lady USAAF 41-31964 Martin B-26B-30-MA Marauder USAAF 41-31964 Martin B-26B-30-MA Marauder USAAF serial number S/N: 41-31964 Martin B-26B-30-MA Marauder 1941031964, 41-31964 Martin B-26B-30-MA Marauder Fate: Unit: 323BG456BS Remarks: 323BG456BS White Tails Code:WT-L named: Hades' Lady, Disposal: This plane used Harwood's on Mission numbers: 13, 14, 15, 16, 18,21, 39

13. 41-35040 WT-F Buzzin Hussy USAAF 41-35040 Martin B-26C-20-MO Marauder USAAF serial number S/N: 41-35040 Martin B-26C-20-MO Marauder 1941035040, 41-35040 Martin B-26C-20-MO Marauder, Fate: Unit: 323BG456BS Remarks: 323BG456BS White Tails Code:WT-F named: Buzzin Huzzy, Disposal: This plane used Harwood's on Mission numbers: 33,45

14. 42-107538 WT-T USAAF 41-35022 Martin B-26C-20-MO Marauder USAAF serial number S/N: 41-35022 Martin B-26C-20-MO Marauder 1941035022, 41-35022 Martin B-26C-20-MO Marauder,Fate: Unit: 323BG455BS Remarks: 323BG455BS White Tails Code:YU-V, Disposal: This plane used Harwood's on Mission numbers: 40

This plane used Harwood's on Mission numbers: 44 15 44-68181 WT-R USAAF 44-68181 Martin B-26G-25-MA Marauder USAAF serial number S/N: 44-68181 Martin B-26G-25-MA Marauder 1944068181, 44-68181 Martin B-26G-25-MA Marauder Fate: Unit: 323BG456BS Remarks: 323BG456BS White Tails Code:WT-R, Disposal:

1. 42-43281 WT-D Little Mike 2. 41-31708 WT-B The Gremlin II 3. 41-34967 WT-R Hell's Belle 4. 42-96212 WT-Q Patty's Pig 5.. 41-34033 WT-A Ole 33 & Gal, Dale Rush Death. 6. 42-107842 WT-W Georgia Miss 7. 42-96090 WT-M Blitz Wagon 8. 41-34969 WT-S Crew 13 9. 41-31861 WT-N Weary Willie,Jr 10. 41-31787 WT-K City of Sherman 11. 41-35022 YU-V 455th.BS airplane 12. 41-31964 WT-L Hade’s Lady 13. 41-35040 WT-F Buzzin Hussy (Bussin Huzzy) 14. 42-107538 WT-T 15 44-68181 WT-R

MISSIONS:

Mission 23, official 323rd Bomb Group, 456th Bomb Squad combat mission/ target number #283, was flown on the morning of 01-05-45 and lasted 3:30 hours. 33 Martin B26 Marauders of the 323rd Bombardment Group, 456th Bomb Squadron + 3 window aircraft and one pathfinder, went up at 14,100feet. Group leader; Moench & Kohnert. Harwood's plane, Martin B26 Marauder, 41-31708 WT-B (The Gremlin II), dropped 2 2,000lbs bombs on the railroad bridge at Ahrweiter, Germany. Crew: Theodore V. Harwood (CP) 2nd/1st Lt John W. Kuczwara (Nav) 2nd/1ST LtWilliam B. Gerrant Jr. (P) 2nd LV1st Lt Jack A. Reynolds (TG) Cpl./S/Sgt John H. Knight ( E ) Cpl/Sgt Velton J. O'Neal Jr. ( RG ) Sgt T/Sgt Base of Operations Laon / Athies, France. Two huge blizzards pelted the group leaving massive now drifts against the canvas Quonset huts and bitter cold inside.

Mission 24, official 323rd Bomb Group, 456th Bomb Squad combat mission/ target number #303, was flown on the morning of Valentine's day, 02-14-45, and lasted 3:00 hours. 36 Martin B26 Marauders of the 323rd Bombardment Group, 456th Bomb Squadron, + 3 window aircraft, went up at 10,300 feet. Group leader Rehr & McGowan. Lt Col. Rehr recalls, the window aircraft on this mission were Marauders, called flak suppressors, they used 100 pound bombs to drive the flak gunners into their shelters, still flak bursts surrounded the formation" Rehr's plane was hit but he limped back to base, his nose gunner was among the wounded. Harwood's plane, Martin B26 Marauder, 42-43281 WT-D (Little Mike), dropped 16 250lbs bombs on the road junction in Xanten, Germany. Crew: Theodore V. Harwood (P) 2nd/1st Lt Thomas 0. Harves (CP) 2nd/1st LtDuran (John or Manual J ?), Alan Hammel (Aaron) S/Sgt Richard P. Bailey (?) T/Sgt John H Stewart (TG) Sgt Base of operations; (A-83) Denain/Prouvy, France. According to a post war account by Lt Colonel Ross E. Harian (February, 1990): "On this mission 25 ships had flak category "A" flak damage and three men were wounded." According to Meonch on the 14th the aircrews took a beating. Leading two boxes of 18 aircraft each, Maj. Rehr was preceded by the pathfinders but flak suppression tactics did not work-or there were just too many guns firing. Officially, 18 aircraft on this mission were severely damaged and two failed to return." Due to clouds 3 to 4 passes over the target made this a duck shoot for the 88s below. 2-16-45 France

Mission 25, official 323rd Bomb Group, 456th Bomb Squad combat mission/ target number # 306 - "Operation Clarion", was flown on the afternoon of 02-21-45 and lasted 2:50 hours. 41 Martin B26 Marauders of the 323rd Bombardment Group, 456th Bomb Squadron, and 3 window aircraft, went up at 11,500 feet. . Group leader Kohnery, Thayer & Van Ausdale. Harwood's plane, Martin B26 Marauder, 41-31708 WT-B (The Gremlin II), dropped 4 1,000lbs bombs on the road junction in Xanten, Germany. Crew; Theodore V. Harwood (P) 2nd/1st. Lt. Thomas 0. Harves (CP) 2nd/1st Lt. Duran (John or Manual J ?), Alan Hammel (Aaron) S/Sgt Richard P. Bailey ( ) T/Sgt John H Stewart (TG) Sgt Base of operations; Denain/Prouvy, France According to Meonch, on the 21st a break in the weather arrived and three boxes of Marauders were launched against troop concentrations at Xanten. Flak was heavy, twenty of the 44 aircraft in the formation were damaged and two air crewmen were wounded by Plexiglas fragments (plexiflak). The bombing was classified as excellent No fighter escort on this mission.

Mission 26, official 323rd Bomb Group, 456th Bomb Squad combat mission/ target number #314, was flown on the morning of 02-24-45 and lasted 2:35 hours. 31 Martin B26 Marauders of the 323rd Bombardment Group, 456th Bomb Squadron, 3 window aircrafts & 1 pathfinder, went up at 12,500 feet. Group leader Kohnert & Nichols. Harwood's Marauder, 41-34967 WT-R (Hell's Belle), dropped 2 2,000lbsbombs on the road junction in Rheindahten, Germany. Crew: Theodore V. Harwood (P) 2nd/1st Lt. Thomas 0. Harves (CP) 2nd/1st Lt. Duran (John or Manual J ?), Howard D. Shelton (R) Sgt, Richard P. Bailey ( ) T/Sgt John H Stewart (TG) Sgt Base of operations; Denain/Prouvy, France. According to Meonch '' on mission #314 14 aircraft received battle damage. The rudder of one Marauder was completely burned off. Observed bombing results were good."

Mission 27, Mission 27, official 323rd Bomb Group, 456th Bomb Squad combat mission/ forget number #316 was flown on the afternoon of 02-25-45 and lasted 2:40 hours. 33 Martin B26 Marauders of the 323rd Bombardment Group, 456th Bomb Squadron, 3 window aircraft and one pathfinder, went up at 14,500 feet. Group leader Meonch & McGowen. Harwood's plane, Martin B26 Marauder, 42-96212 WT-Q (Patty's Pig or Patty’s Pie?) dropped 8 500lbs bombs on the road junction in Horren, Germany. Crew: Theodore V. Harwood (P) 2nd/1st LtThomas 0. Harves (CP) 2nd/1st Lt Manual Duran S/Sgt, Howard D. Shelton (R) Sgt Richard P. Bailey ( ) T/Sgt John H Stewart (TG ) Sgt Base of operations; Denain/Prouvy, France. According toMeonch" on mission #316, Casualties were added to the group on Sunday the 25th in an attack on Horren Road Junction. 1st Lt Holmes was flying one of the window aircraft, was shot down by the guns at Cologne.1st Lt Brown received a direct hit in his left engine and his aircraft was seen to spin into the ground. No parachutes were seen to emerge from either aircraft Two other were wounded.

Mission 28 Mission 28 official 323rd Bomb Group, 456th Bomb Squad combat mission/ target number #317, was flown on the afternoon of 02-28-45 and lasted 2:55 hours. 32 Martin B26 Marauders of the 323rd Bombardment Group, 456th Bomb Squadron, 3 window aircrafts and 1 pathfinder, went up at 12,300 feet . Group leader: Rehr & Pulver. Harwood's plane, Martin B26 Marauder, 41-34033 WT-A (Ole 33, Gal, ( Improper name: Dale Rush Death, Dale Rush was Killed in this plane), dropped 2 2,000lbs bombs on the Uluyn junction, the secondary target, in Rheinburg,Germany. Crew: Theodore V. Harwood (P) 2nd/1st Lt. Thomas 0. Harves (CP) 2nd/1st Lt, Manual Duran S/Sgt, Anthony B. Caezza (R) S/ Sgt, Richard P. Bailey ( ) T/Sgt, John H Stewart (TG) Sgt Base ofoperations; Denain/Prouvy, France. According to Meonch , Maj. Rehr and 1st Lt Pulver led an attck on Uluyn Road Junction. Because of extremely bad weather, none of the aircraft succeeded in bombing the primary forget although 13 aircraft did drop bombs on the secondary. Lt Col. Rehr recalls how this Martin B26 Marauder, 41-34033 WT-A (Ole 33, Gal, Dale Rush Death), flew its’ last mission with a pilot named Searies. "Flak blew off the nose of this plane, but he managed to fly the crippled bomber another 100 miles west of Koblenz before exhausting all of the fuel in his main tank and auxiliary tanks. Every one in his crew bailed out safely" The Marauder lost was one of Rehr's favorites, Ole 33 Gal, "She was one of the older, faster models, the ones manufactured before the made changes to the wing to shorten take off and landing runs. We'd flown a lot of missions together, even had a picture of my crew taken with her. Ole 33 was the Marauder Dale Rush was killed in. (Recent letter on this topic): Date: 11/4/2002 Time: 8:03:37 PM (B.26.Com) I am trying to verify some information that was passed to me from my Uncle (deceased). His name is Arthur E. Briggs and was a navigator on B-26's. In recent e-mails with Ted and Ray Harwood, they seem to confirm that Art is indeed the 'navigator' as seen in the 'the crew' pictures and the 'bombardier?' as seen in 'the people 'pictures of your web sight. Do you confirm this too? Also, my uncle gave my dad a picture of 3 b-26's with flak all around them and he told my dad that he was the navigator on the flight and a friend died on that mission. Also, he gave my dad a picture through a bombsight of the port of Dieppe. The flight of 3 B-26's picture is also found on the b26 tail gunner web site, page 3, 9th picture down. The Harwoods told me that it is a 456th plane the "Ole 33" (Is this the whole name, I’ve seen reference to 'Ole 33 and Gal'?), the mission date was June 20, 1944, the mission was over Dieppe, the bombardier was Dale Rush and he died and the tail gunner named S/Sgt Johnnie McClelland also died. DO you have record of the navigator on board the lead plane in the picture? Or who the pilot may be? I have other questions, but am hopeful to hear from you soon on these. Thank you Jeff Briggs Jeff, The records for both missions on June 20 1944 are missing so I cannot confirm the full crew make up of 1.Lt Paul E Warf's (pilot) B26. I can confirm that the bombardier Lt Rush was killed and that S/Sgt Johnnie V. McClelland died later of his wounds. The name of the B26 was "Ole 33" and "Gal”. Trevor Allen Historian www.B26.com

Mission 29:

Mission 30

Mission 31

Mission 32 Mission 32 This plane used Harwood's on Mission numbers: 868 ??

Mission 33 Mission 33

Mission 34

Missions 35

Mission 36

Mission 37 HARWOOD'S Mission 37, official 323rd Bomb Group, 456th Bomb Squad combat mission/ target number # 364, 364 was flown on the afternoon of 4-08-45 and lasted 3:45 hours. 52 ships went up at 11,300 feet. Harwood's plane, Martin B26 Marauder; 41-34967 WT-R ( Hell's Belle), dropped 8 500l b. bombs on the Nienhagen Oil Refinery at Hanover, Germany. official 323rd Bomb Group, 456th Bomb Squad target name Nienhagen Oil Refinery. Visual attack. Mission leaders: Helper, Van Ausdale & Snap. According to post war accounts by Major General John O. Moench, because of recent heavy losses the attack on the Nienhagen Oil Refinery at Hanover, Germany was made in concert with the 387th, 394th and 397th Bomb Groups and was classified as highly successful: one large storage tank was destroyed, eight buildings destroyed, three smaller storage tanks left burning and severe damage to three other buildings. Smoke at the target was so dense that several formations had to make repeated bomb runs to achieve the desired results. On this date two aircraft were lost and 44 sustained damage, 6 air crewmen were lost from the 323rd and four men were wounded. According to Moench, the names of the MIA and WIA have not been located in the historical record but according to post war accounts Harwood and his crew were on the MIA list until recovered, and the official log of this mission may be in error. Crew: Theodore V. Harwood (P) 2nd/1st Lt., Eugene T. Muszynski (CP) 2nd/1st Lt., Anthony B. Caezza (NB) S/SGT., James N. Night (?) T/Sgt., George W. Boyd (RG) S/Sgt., Raymond Deboer (TG) S/Sgt. Base of operations; Denain/Prouvy, France. The following is a detailed post war account by 1st. LT. Theodore V. Harwood: It was our 37th mission, April 8th, 1945, in the afternoon. Fifty two B-26 marauders of the 232rd Bomb Group, 456 Bomb Squad, took off toward our target in Hanover, Germany where we were to drop our bomb load on the Niemhagen oil refinery. We were still under evasive flight Pattering just about to the "I.P." when our tail gunner, Anthony B. Caezza S/SGT., called "Flak at six o'clock". Just then, the thunderous roar of flak, like a hail storm on a tin roof and the sound of tearing metal. The engineer came up. He was covered with hydraulic fluid. The flak had severed the hydraulic height pressure main hose. Flak also penetrated the ammo on the package gun in the bombardier's compartment where the ammo storage was. The radio man came up. His chest mount parachutes had been shredded by Flak (pilots had back mount parachutes). The main fuel cell on the left inner wing was punctured, spewing fuel all over the exterior panels of the plane and into the sky. I broke out of formation and turned back toward base. We thought about bailingout but with one parachute short, we all decided to go down with the ship. At that point, the flight engineer cranked open the bomb bay doors by hand. We had no hydraulic power at all. We manually jettisoned the bombs and flew on. We came in sight of a secondary field and went in for a landing. With no hydraulic pressure the main gear would not lock down. We came into the landing strip, touched down, and violently skidded to a stop. The crew got out so fast that I didn't even know they had 'exited the craft and they exited right over my body! When I realized I was alone, I quickly got out. That night we spent sleeping on the ground beneath the wing of the disabled B-26 that had brought us safely to earth. The crew camped under the protective wing of Hell's Belle until they were rescued by ground troops.

MEAONCH RECORDING OF HARWOOD the only other thing I say that may be of interest on my 37th mission to Hanover, Germany, we were bombing a fuel dump and I was in ship 967, this was on April 8th, 45, we has eight 500 pound bombs and ah going into the initial point to the bomb release point I was hit with flak on my main fuel cell left between the Nacelle and the pilots compartment -we got a big rupture in the main fuel cell and the ah hydraulic system out, our electrical system was out and the ah engineer went and automatically cranked open the bomb doors triggered out the ah bombs -cranked the bomb bay doors shut -started transferring fuel from the outer wings to the inner tank and we kept the engines running and Called to Johnny Kuzwara who was the flight leading bombardier/ navigator on that mission and he gave me a heading to the alternate field which was a Spit-Fire base just behind the bomb line and ah- we proceed there - crash landed. The wheels went down but they wouldn't lock cause there was no hydraulic pressure, but our crew managed to get down and we lost no one -had no injuries on that flight, they picked us up the next day in a B26 and went back to our base and they ah- loaded me on another mission on April 10th so they didn't give me time to think about it, but that was our only other real thrill as far as ah close calls. Mission 38, official 323rd Bomb Group, 456th Bomb Squad combat mission/ target number #367 was flown on the afternoon of 4-10-45 and lasted 4:40 hours. 40 ships went up at 11,300 feet. Harwood's plane, Martin B26 Marauder; 41-31708 (The Gremblin II), dropped 4 1000lbs bombs on the railroad yard ( Triptis Marshalling yards) at Triptis, Germany. Damage to the latter included 35 wagons, rail tracks cut, factorys damaged severely, goods depot destroyed as well as the engine shed and train station. Gen. Moench states that due to heavy smoke at Triptis a second target at Posnech (communications center) was also hit by the 323rd Marauders. Crew: Theodore V. Harwood (P) 2nd/1st Lt., Eugene T. Muszynski (CP) 2nd/1st Lt., Anthony B. Caezza (NB) S/SGT., James N. Night (?) T/Sgt., George W. Boyd (RG) S/Sgt., Raymond Deboer (TG) S/Sgt. Base of operations; Denain/Prouvy, France

1ST CREW: Harwood (CP) 2nd/1st Lt.John W. Kuczwara (Nav) 2nd/1ST Lt.William B. Gerrant Jr. (P) 2nd Lt/1st Lt.Jack A. Reynolds (TG) Cpl./S/Sgt.John H. Knight ( E ) Cpl/SgtVelton J. O’Neal Jr. ( RG ) Sgt T/Sgt.. div class="separator" style="clear: both;">