360th Bomb Squadron narrative.

On this mission, the 303rd BG flew as the "A" group in the 41st CBW, and was lead by Lt Col Snyder.  The 41st CBW followed the 1st, 40th and 94th combat wings on this mission.

On this mission, Captain Jones flew "Sparky", AC# 44-8125, with the following crew:

P       Jones, William E  Capt
CP    Hardy, James ?  F/o
N      Papp, Melvin E 1lt
B      Puryear, James L  1lt
GH   Friedlander, Henry  2lt
MN  Wilson, Joseph R  F/O
R      Schieferstein, Ernst G  T/sgt
R      Groth, Gerald J T/sgt
TG    Johnson, Ralph L  2lt  (Injured on this mission)
G      Wotanis, Leo F Sgt
 

The Operations Briefing formation sheet for this mission:

The Pilot of aircraft map for this mission:

This mission to Gladbeck, in the Ruhr valley, although one of the shorter missions, was one of the more difficult for Capt Jones.
A home town newspaper article I have indicated that on this mission, his plane sustained over 90 hits from flak, was leaking fuel, lost one engine, and barely made it back to base on 3 engines. It also mentions that the officer tailgunner (who later flew as co-pilot with Capt Jones in non-combat missions) of the crew was injured.  The squadron narrative mentions that 8 ships were damaged.  The above mission map, has the following comment: "Tail Gunner injured by flak just before bombs away. Both wings with holes."  The map had several more routine notes, such as "13 ships in formation, left 2 min late" shortly after takeoff, and "cut short starting climb stayed OK" at the first turn/climb following assembly, and "expecting turn to right, turned left instead" at the second turn after assembly, which suggests that the group formation may have skipped the 2nd turn point.  There is also a comment about a bomb bay door problem while crossing the channel.  There is also a note on the map about making dogleg turns while crossing the channel.  The group narrative mentioned the group having to make 6 doglegs in order "to stay in proper division formation behind Woodcraft", because Woodcraft, which was the 94th CBW, was 10 minutes late.
 

The aircraft loading document for this mission, from the 360thBS microfilm records is shown below: