hoffman Crew

Photos and details courtesy of Mr. Hal Kiena

4/44 - 6/44  RTU, Drew Field, FL
6/44  Transit Station, Hunter Field, GA 
7/44  In Transit 
7/28/44 710th Squadron, Rattlesden, UK
Missions flown: 33
Assigned Aircraft: 43-38450 Little Herbie

 

Standing, L-R: Lt. Herbert McNabb, B Lt. Beverly Hoffman, P Lt. John D. Wells, N Sgt, Melvin Ragsdale, TG Front, L-R: Sgt. Earlie Presson, WG Sgt. Harold O. Kiena, ROG 
Sgt. Robert Longwitz, ENG Sgt. Paul Lynam, BTG 
Not pictured: Lt. William North, CP

Kiena photo, also appears in Pictorial History (C40-2)

 

  No. Date Target Aircraft Comments
* from Harold Kiena's diary
1 131 08/24/44 BRUX 668  "COCK OF THE SKY" Combat Orientation. Pilot: Purdy 
2 133 08/26/44 BREST (π) 42-107025  "LITTLE CHUM" *MADE THREE RUNS ON TARGET, DID NOT DROP BOMBS
3 134 08/30/44 BERLIN 42-107029  "TAIL WIND" *EARNED COMMENDATION
4 136 09/01/44 MAINZ 42-97826  "BIG SHORTY" *MISSION RECALLED ONE HOUR SHORT OF TARGET
5 137 09/03/44 BREST (π) 42-107025  "LITTLE CHUM" *DROPPED ON THIRD RUN FROM 8,800 FEET
6 138 09/05/44 BREST (π) 43-37541  "MAH IDEEL" *EARNED AIR MEDAL
7 139 09/08/44 MAINZ 668  "COCK OF THE SKY" *ENCOUNTERED BRITISH FLACK ON RETURN
8 143 09/12/44 BOHLEN 42-107029  "TAIL WIND"  
9 144 09/13/44 STUTTGART 43-38450 *SMOKE SCREEN PREVENTED DROP
10 145 09/17/44 ARNHEIM 43-38450  
11 146 09/19/44 KOBLENZ 43-38450 *HEAVY FLACK, MANY HOLES IN PLANE
12 148 09/25/44 LUDWIGSHAFEN  43-38450 *HEAVY FLACK, MCNABB HIT, LOST NUMBER 2 ENGINE
13 149 09/26/44 BREMEN 43-38450 *MODERATE FLACK, NOT HIT
14 150 09/27/44 LUDWIGSHAFEN 43-38450 *HEAVY FLACK, NOSE SHATTERED, MCNABB ALMOST 
LOST LEFT EYE.
  NOTE: It was probably after this mission that 43-38450 was named "Little Herbie" for McNabb
15 151 09/28/44 MERSEBURG 43-38450 "LITTLE HERBIE" *ROUGH MISSION, MANY HOLES IN PLANE.
16 153 10/03/44 GILBERSTADT 42-102604  "MAC'S HIGH HATS" *JET AIRCRAFT FACTORY AND AIRFIELD
17 154 10/05/44 MUNSTER A/F 42-102604  "MAC'S HIGH HATS"  
18 155 10/06/44 BERLIN 42-97826 "BIG SHORTY" *ROUGH MISSION. FIGHTERS TOOK OUT 19 OUT OF 36 
BOMBERS IN THE GROUP BEHIND US IN ONE PASS.
19 156 10/07/44 MERSEBERG 43-38450*   *MODERATE FLACK, NO PROBLEMS
20 157 10/09/44 GUSTAVSBURG 43-38450*  
21 158 10/12/44 BREMEN 43-38450*  
22 159 10/14/44 COLOGNE 43-38450* *PICKED UP A FEW FLACK HOLES
23 162 10/18/44 KASSELL 43-38450*  
24 163 10/19/44 MANNHEIM 43-38450*  
25 164 10/22/44 MUNSTER 43-38450*  
  170 11/04/44 HAMBURG 42-97400  "FUDDY DUDDY" *REGULAR CREW NOT SCHEDULED TODAY.
KIENA FLEW WITH F/O MYERS (708th BS)
26 171 11/05/44 LUDWIGSHAFEN 43-38450* *HEAVY FLACK, FEW HOLES.
27 172 11/06/44 NEUMUNSTER

44-6595

  
28 173 11/09/44 SAARBRUCKEN 43-38450*  
29 175 11/16/44 DUREN AREA  43-38450*  *START OF "BIG PUSH".LANDED AT WELFORD PARK, 
RETURNED TO RATTLESDEN ON THE 18TH.
30 176 11/21/44 KOBLENZ 43-38450* *LOST 40 BOMBERS TODAY
31 178 11/26/44 HAMM 43-38450*  
32 179 11/27/44 BINGEN 43-38450* *LAST MISSION [FOR KIENA]
33 180 11/30/44 LUTZKENDORF 43-38450*