Lester L. Rowekamp, diary
OVERSEAS TOUR OF DUTY S/SGT. LES ROWEKAMP WORLD WAR II
CREW
|
Pilot
Co-Pilot Navigator Bombardier Fit. Engineer |
Lt. V. Steele
Lt. J. Bigos Lt. R. Jackson Lt. V. Sorenson S/Sgt. R. Frost |
Radio Operator
Top Turret Nose Turret Ball
Turret Tail Turret |
S/Sgt. F. Lozito
S/Sgt. L. Rowekamp S/Sgt. R. Mayer S/Sgt. J. R. Morgart S/Sgt. R. Dixon |
Click on the date to read about a specific mission.
Mar. 24, 1944 We left Westover Field, Springfield, Ma. in morning by rail. Arrived in the afternoon at Mitchel Field, Long Island, N. Y., which was the staging area, where we were assigned a plane (Consolidated B-24 Liberator) to take overseas.
Mar. 31,1944 We left Mitchel Field at 0815 hrs. aboard plane, headed on southern route. Arrived at Morrison Field, W. Palm Beach, Fla. at 1615 Hrs.
April 2, 1944 We left Morrison Field at 0500 hrs., bound for Waller Field, Trinidad, South America. Arrived at Waller Field at 1700 hrs. Very hot and humid.
April 3, 1944 We left Waller Field, Trinidad at 0600 hrs. Crossed the equator and Amazon River. Arrived at Belem, Brazil at 1300 hrs.
April 4, 1944 We left Belem, Brazil at 0635 hrs. Arrived at Natal, Brazil at 1215 hrs. Navigator became ill with virus for two days and the weather at Dakar, Africa was closed in for another two days. Did some swimming at the ocean beach near the field.
April 9, 1944 We left Natal, Brazil at 0530 hrs. Arrived at Elnes Field, Dakar, Senegal, Africa at 1715 hrs. Twelve hr. flight across Atlantic Ocean.
April 10, 1944 We left Dakar at 0730 hrs. Arrived at Marrakech, Algeria at 1415 hrs.
April 11, 1944 Pulling 50 hr. inspection on plane.
April 12, 1944 We left Marrakech at 0830 hrs. Arrived at Tunisia at 1230 hrs
April 13, 1944 We left Tunisia at 0900 Hrs. Arrived at San Pancrazio, Italy at 1400 hrs. This was our final destination. The 512th. Bomb Squadron, 376th Bomb Group, Fifteenth Air Force. Total flying time for trip, approximately 60 plus hours.
April 23, 1944 The pilot and navigator went on their first mission to Schwechat, Austria.
April 25, 1944 Morgart went on mission as fill in to Varese, Italy, but was incomplete because of bad weather over target. Was attacked by 7 enemy fighters. Everyone O.K.
April 26, 1944 Was supposed to go on a mission to Weiner Neustadt, Austria, but was canceled because of bad weather over target.
April 28, 1944 Morgart went on mission as fill in to San Stefano, Italy.
May 1, 1944 Supposed to go on mission to Graz, Austria, but was canceled because of bad weather. We went on practice gunnery mission instead. App. 5 hrs.
May 5, 1944 We went on midnight requisition detail to obtain telephone poles for roof beams for new mess hall.
May 8, 1944 Was supposed to go on mission but was canceled because of bad weather.
May 9, 1944 (Ed - think this was on 10th)
May 17, 1944 Was supposed to go on mission to Porto San Stefano, Italy, but got to the beginning of runway and developed gas leak. Didn't take off.
May 20, 1944 Went to escape lecture. Received a quart of whiskey from the Army.
May 24, 1944 Sorenson went on mission to Weiner Neustadt, Austria as a substitute bombardier. Engineer on that Yugoslavian crew was killed by flak.
May 29, 1944 Jerry went over at 10:15 P.M.
May 30, 1944 If not flying the next day, the crews had to stand guard on planes at night because of enemy parachute scare. Jerry went over again at 10:15
June 1, 1944 Jerry went over again at 11 :30 P.M.
June 4, 1944 Went on sick call with G.I.'s and was grounded.
June 5, 1944 Still grounded. Crew went on mission to Castel, Maggiore, Italy. Target completely destroyed.
June 6, 1944 Still grounded. Crew went on mission to Ploesti, Rumania. Target obscured by smoke screen. One B-24 destroyed.
June 17, 1944 Briefed for mission but it was canceled.
June 18, 1944 Briefed for mission but it was canceled.
June 19, 1944 Briefed for mission but it was canceled.
June 20, 1944 Briefed for mission but it was canceled.
June 21, 1944 Briefed for mission but it was canceled.
The website 376bg.org is NOT our site nor is it our endowment fund.
At the 2017 reunion, the board approved the donation of our archives to the Briscoe Center for American History, located on the University of Texas - Austin campus.
Also, the board approved a $5,000 donation to add to Ed Clendenin's $20,000 donation in the memory of his father. Together, these funds begin an endowment for the preservation of the 376 archives.
Donate directly to the 376 Endowment
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Reunion
NOTE change in month !!!
DATES: Sep 18-21, 2025
CITY:Rapid City, SD
HOTEL:
Click here to read about the reunion details.
