Tuesday
On November 7, Wayne flew on a two-plane shipping sweep on B-25J #029 piloted by 1st Lt. Kenneth E. Miller. Other crewmembers were 2nd Lt. H. W. Mahnke, 2nd Lt. N. R. Darling, and Wayne’s two friends, S/Sgt. Louis R. Miller and S/Sgt. Stanley L. Seehorn. The second aircraft participating in this shipping sweep mission was B-25J #105 piloted by 1st Lt. O. G. Emery. In addition to Lt. Emery, the second aircraft’s crew included 1st Lt. H. B. Shields, 2nd Lt. W. E. Stewart, T/Sgt. M. R. Bryant, S/Sgt. D. D. Lake, and S/Sgt. M. C. Lockwood.1
The two B-25Js departed Mar Air Field at 0600 and proceeded directly west to the assigned area, “Able” 1, 2 & 3, in the Halmahera Sea. Each aircraft carried four 500 lb. general-purpose bombs and a full load of ammunition.
The search formation was a two-plane element flying at 100’ and 500’. The search started at 0°40’N, 129°E, went to 1°N, 127°15’E to 1°25’N, circled around Sahoe, made five strafing runs and returned to base by direct route. The assigned area was covered 100%. One hulk was sited and observed to be about 70’ long laying in Maba Bay, 0°42’N, 128°15’E.
Lieut. Miller made four passes across Sahoe Village expending 1,200 rounds of ammunition with unobserved results. Runs were made between 0830 and 0900 from 100 feet and lower. On one run at 0837, Lt. Shields expended 50 rounds of ammunition during a low altitude run from 75’. No results were noticed. No bombs were dropped. Approximately 80 photographs were taken of Sahoe.
The two aircraft recovered at Marr airfield at 1120.2
Notes & Commentary
1 Operations Order No. 92, 7 November 1944, 100th Bombardment Squadron (M). Office of the Operations Officer, 7 November 1944, microfilm A0576, Maxwell AFB, AL: Air Force Historical Research Agency, 1972, frames 1575-1576.
2 Final Mission Report, Mission No. 145, 7 November 1944, 100th Bombardment Squadron (M). Office of the Intelligence Officer, 7 November 1944, microfilm A0576, Maxwell AFB, AL: Air Force Historical Research Agency, 1972, frames 1579-1580.
Wayne's Journal 
Just a quick query re Ranks.
In Aust Army a S/Sgt was a staff sergeant and usually worked in the office as an administrator. I wondered if in the USAF this rank was a Senior Sergeant ?
LikeLike
Among USAAF aircrew, a S/Sgt., i.e., Staff Sergeant was typically gunner, radio operator, engineer. World War II air force rank comparisons are provided for the RAF, Luftwaffe, USAAF and the Italian Regia Aeronautica at http://ww2db.com/other.php?other_id=22. I think you will find the rank comparisons of interest.
LikeLike
Thanks. The US Army Air Force Ranks equate very closely to Australian Army from Second Lieutenant up.
LikeLike