USAAF WORLD WAR II
Gunner S/Sgt. Thomas R. Abel KIA
Hometown: New York
Squadron: 11th 341st Bomb Group
Service# 12098349
Awards:
Pilot 1st/Lt. Charles N. Buchtel KIA
Target:
Mission Date: 14-Jan-45
Serial Number: #
Aircraft Model B25 Mitchell
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location:
Cause:
Plane crashed and burned 1905 hours, six miles south of L#$%#$@ sea sweep from Suichwan. Although originally reported as MIA, all, except Sgt. Mellon, who was returned to the 95th Station Hospital, APO 627, for medical attention, were later reported as killed.
In January, a new, distinctive organizational insignia was designed and forwarded to higher Headquarters for approval, however, the war was to end before it had official sanctioning.
The Mitchells of the three China-based Squadrons, from December 1944 to March 1945, carried out a successful, aggressive program of 'glip' bombing to deny the Japanese the use of as much of the Indo-China rail network as possible. On 24 operational days during a three month period the Group relentlessly pursued its objective, destroying 21 bridges and damaging 17. 'Glip' bombing raised the efficiency of the Group's bridge busting from 15.5 tons to 7.5 tons per bridge destroyed, an Army Air Forces record! Thus 'glip' bombing proved itself an efficient, economical method of attack where, in the China theatre of limited supply, it meant more sorties against and greater damage to the enemy.
However, the cost to the Group was not light. Men could not charge into withering fire as did the glip bombers and expect to come out unscathed. Priceless lives were lost, men were injured, aircraft were destroyed. Flying in itself in China is dangerous. The terrain is rugged and jagged mountains had to be traversed. While on a mission, weather sometimes "socked in" at the base, and at times targets were attacked under ceilings of less than 2000 feet. Yet a fighting spirit prevailed, despite the ack-ack, the terrain, the weather. The job was a tough one, but was well done.
That the enemy subsequently gave up their land corridor did not astonish the 341st Bomb Group. Some of the sturdy steel and concrete bridges built by French engineers were like Humpty Dumpty, and once they fell, all of Emperor Hirohito's little men couldn't put them back together again. The 341st Bombardment Group received the Distinguished Unit Citation for developing and using the 'glip bombing' technique against enemy bridges in Indochina.
Tactical operations for the Group during the month of January were largely road bridges, railroad rolling stock and supply concentrations with the Eleventh Bomb Squadron's operations from Suichwan being of moderate success. Action against bridges, rolling stock, etc. profitable with extensive damage being done to enemy equipment.
Crew
1st/Lt. Charles N. Buchtel Pilot KIA
1st/L. Clifford Dutton Navigator
Sgt. Glen T. Mellon Radio/Op. WIA/RTD
S/Sgt. Thomas R. Abel Gunner KIA
Sgt. Ervin A. Kohnke Gunner KIA
Sgt. Abel killed January 14th 1945. He is buried Woodlawn National Cemetery Elmira Chemung County New York,
Gunner S/Sgt. Thomas R. Abel KIA
Hometown: New York
Squadron: 11th 341st Bomb Group
Service# 12098349
Awards:
Pilot 1st/Lt. Charles N. Buchtel KIA
Target:
Mission Date: 14-Jan-45
Serial Number: #
Aircraft Model B25 Mitchell
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location:
Cause:
Plane crashed and burned 1905 hours, six miles south of L#$%#$@ sea sweep from Suichwan. Although originally reported as MIA, all, except Sgt. Mellon, who was returned to the 95th Station Hospital, APO 627, for medical attention, were later reported as killed.
In January, a new, distinctive organizational insignia was designed and forwarded to higher Headquarters for approval, however, the war was to end before it had official sanctioning.
The Mitchells of the three China-based Squadrons, from December 1944 to March 1945, carried out a successful, aggressive program of 'glip' bombing to deny the Japanese the use of as much of the Indo-China rail network as possible. On 24 operational days during a three month period the Group relentlessly pursued its objective, destroying 21 bridges and damaging 17. 'Glip' bombing raised the efficiency of the Group's bridge busting from 15.5 tons to 7.5 tons per bridge destroyed, an Army Air Forces record! Thus 'glip' bombing proved itself an efficient, economical method of attack where, in the China theatre of limited supply, it meant more sorties against and greater damage to the enemy.
However, the cost to the Group was not light. Men could not charge into withering fire as did the glip bombers and expect to come out unscathed. Priceless lives were lost, men were injured, aircraft were destroyed. Flying in itself in China is dangerous. The terrain is rugged and jagged mountains had to be traversed. While on a mission, weather sometimes "socked in" at the base, and at times targets were attacked under ceilings of less than 2000 feet. Yet a fighting spirit prevailed, despite the ack-ack, the terrain, the weather. The job was a tough one, but was well done.
That the enemy subsequently gave up their land corridor did not astonish the 341st Bomb Group. Some of the sturdy steel and concrete bridges built by French engineers were like Humpty Dumpty, and once they fell, all of Emperor Hirohito's little men couldn't put them back together again. The 341st Bombardment Group received the Distinguished Unit Citation for developing and using the 'glip bombing' technique against enemy bridges in Indochina.
Tactical operations for the Group during the month of January were largely road bridges, railroad rolling stock and supply concentrations with the Eleventh Bomb Squadron's operations from Suichwan being of moderate success. Action against bridges, rolling stock, etc. profitable with extensive damage being done to enemy equipment.
Crew
1st/Lt. Charles N. Buchtel Pilot KIA
1st/L. Clifford Dutton Navigator
Sgt. Glen T. Mellon Radio/Op. WIA/RTD
S/Sgt. Thomas R. Abel Gunner KIA
Sgt. Ervin A. Kohnke Gunner KIA
Sgt. Abel killed January 14th 1945. He is buried Woodlawn National Cemetery Elmira Chemung County New York,
USAAF WORLD WAR II
Gunner S/Sgt. Thomas R. Abel KIA
Hometown: New York
Squadron: 11th 341st Bomb Group
Service# 12098349
Awards:
Pilot 1st/Lt. Charles N. Buchtel KIA
Target:
Mission Date: 14-Jan-45
Serial Number: #
Aircraft Model B25 Mitchell
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location:
Cause:
Plane crashed and burned 1905 hours, six miles south of L#$%#$@ sea sweep from Suichwan. Although originally reported as MIA, all, except Sgt. Mellon, who was returned to the 95th Station Hospital, APO 627, for medical attention, were later reported as killed.
In January, a new, distinctive organizational insignia was designed and forwarded to higher Headquarters for approval, however, the war was to end before it had official sanctioning.
The Mitchells of the three China-based Squadrons, from December 1944 to March 1945, carried out a successful, aggressive program of 'glip' bombing to deny the Japanese the use of as much of the Indo-China rail network as possible. On 24 operational days during a three month period the Group relentlessly pursued its objective, destroying 21 bridges and damaging 17. 'Glip' bombing raised the efficiency of the Group's bridge busting from 15.5 tons to 7.5 tons per bridge destroyed, an Army Air Forces record! Thus 'glip' bombing proved itself an efficient, economical method of attack where, in the China theatre of limited supply, it meant more sorties against and greater damage to the enemy.
However, the cost to the Group was not light. Men could not charge into withering fire as did the glip bombers and expect to come out unscathed. Priceless lives were lost, men were injured, aircraft were destroyed. Flying in itself in China is dangerous. The terrain is rugged and jagged mountains had to be traversed. While on a mission, weather sometimes "socked in" at the base, and at times targets were attacked under ceilings of less than 2000 feet. Yet a fighting spirit prevailed, despite the ack-ack, the terrain, the weather. The job was a tough one, but was well done.
That the enemy subsequently gave up their land corridor did not astonish the 341st Bomb Group. Some of the sturdy steel and concrete bridges built by French engineers were like Humpty Dumpty, and once they fell, all of Emperor Hirohito's little men couldn't put them back together again. The 341st Bombardment Group received the Distinguished Unit Citation for developing and using the 'glip bombing' technique against enemy bridges in Indochina.
Tactical operations for the Group during the month of January were largely road bridges, railroad rolling stock and supply concentrations with the Eleventh Bomb Squadron's operations from Suichwan being of moderate success. Action against bridges, rolling stock, etc. profitable with extensive damage being done to enemy equipment.
Crew
1st/Lt. Charles N. Buchtel Pilot KIA
1st/L. Clifford Dutton Navigator
Sgt. Glen T. Mellon Radio/Op. WIA/RTD
S/Sgt. Thomas R. Abel Gunner KIA
Sgt. Ervin A. Kohnke Gunner KIA
Sgt. Abel killed January 14th 1945. He is buried Woodlawn National Cemetery Elmira Chemung County New York,
Gunner S/Sgt. Thomas R. Abel KIA
Hometown: New York
Squadron: 11th 341st Bomb Group
Service# 12098349
Awards:
Pilot 1st/Lt. Charles N. Buchtel KIA
Target:
Mission Date: 14-Jan-45
Serial Number: #
Aircraft Model B25 Mitchell
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location:
Cause:
Plane crashed and burned 1905 hours, six miles south of L#$%#$@ sea sweep from Suichwan. Although originally reported as MIA, all, except Sgt. Mellon, who was returned to the 95th Station Hospital, APO 627, for medical attention, were later reported as killed.
In January, a new, distinctive organizational insignia was designed and forwarded to higher Headquarters for approval, however, the war was to end before it had official sanctioning.
The Mitchells of the three China-based Squadrons, from December 1944 to March 1945, carried out a successful, aggressive program of 'glip' bombing to deny the Japanese the use of as much of the Indo-China rail network as possible. On 24 operational days during a three month period the Group relentlessly pursued its objective, destroying 21 bridges and damaging 17. 'Glip' bombing raised the efficiency of the Group's bridge busting from 15.5 tons to 7.5 tons per bridge destroyed, an Army Air Forces record! Thus 'glip' bombing proved itself an efficient, economical method of attack where, in the China theatre of limited supply, it meant more sorties against and greater damage to the enemy.
However, the cost to the Group was not light. Men could not charge into withering fire as did the glip bombers and expect to come out unscathed. Priceless lives were lost, men were injured, aircraft were destroyed. Flying in itself in China is dangerous. The terrain is rugged and jagged mountains had to be traversed. While on a mission, weather sometimes "socked in" at the base, and at times targets were attacked under ceilings of less than 2000 feet. Yet a fighting spirit prevailed, despite the ack-ack, the terrain, the weather. The job was a tough one, but was well done.
That the enemy subsequently gave up their land corridor did not astonish the 341st Bomb Group. Some of the sturdy steel and concrete bridges built by French engineers were like Humpty Dumpty, and once they fell, all of Emperor Hirohito's little men couldn't put them back together again. The 341st Bombardment Group received the Distinguished Unit Citation for developing and using the 'glip bombing' technique against enemy bridges in Indochina.
Tactical operations for the Group during the month of January were largely road bridges, railroad rolling stock and supply concentrations with the Eleventh Bomb Squadron's operations from Suichwan being of moderate success. Action against bridges, rolling stock, etc. profitable with extensive damage being done to enemy equipment.
Crew
1st/Lt. Charles N. Buchtel Pilot KIA
1st/L. Clifford Dutton Navigator
Sgt. Glen T. Mellon Radio/Op. WIA/RTD
S/Sgt. Thomas R. Abel Gunner KIA
Sgt. Ervin A. Kohnke Gunner KIA
Sgt. Abel killed January 14th 1945. He is buried Woodlawn National Cemetery Elmira Chemung County New York,
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