"Preserving the memory of their sacrifices!"
Rites of Passage
( Jul 43 - Dec 43 )
By the end of August the 341st Bomb Group had performed two hundred, sixty-eight bombing missions, dropping two thousand, three hundred, forty-five tons of bombs. A total of sixteen officers and eleven men had been lost along with six aircraft. Confirmed enemy aircraft losses were 8 destroyed in the air, fifteen on the ground with 12 probables.
Aug 31, 1943:
On September 21st, 1943, Col. Torgils G. Wold, CO of 341st, was ordered to Calcutta, India, to take Command of the India Air Task Force. Lt. Col. James A. Philpott assumed Command of the Group.
During September twelve officers and nine enlisted men, all combat crews, were relieved from duty and returned to the Z.I. Still no indication of rotation for ground personnel.
The average number of missions per plane per month is eight or nine. This is affected by cancellations due to weather as well as maintenance. Further, due to distance from the objectives, planes are limited to one bombing mission per day. The average distance flown on missions is approximately 1000 miles.
Due to weather conditions in Burma, alternate targets have frequently been take. Observation of bombing results are difficult due to considerable low clouds. With the end of the monsoon season it is believed more missions per airplane per month will be possible. Also the number of alternate targets bombed will decrease with the beginning of better weather conditions.
For months, tales had drifted back from the end of the longest supply line in the world where the 11th Bomb Squadron was really in the thick of the fighting in China.
Living Conditions, Food & Morale 1943:
During the months the Group was stationed at Kurmitola the living conditions were not very good. Kurmitola is in the middle of Bengal jungles, and the climate left much to be desired. What the monsoon and it eternal rain, the blistering heat, and the sudden plainable cold spells combined with woven bamboo huts and rou### the morale of the Command was not as high as could have desired. However, to the eternal credit of the air and ground crews, mi## men who slogged their way through mud daily; with prickley heat### their bodies, and in sweltering heat; in order to keep their o$$$ tioning.
It was rather hard to get in supplies at Kurmitola, as such the food suffered slightly. Some of the older men there can remember days at the mess hall when the menu consisted of egg plant, be333 beef, tea, and bread for all three meals. However, with the assignment of Sergeant J. J. DiMezza as mess Sergeant, a marked improvement in the mess hall and mess was noticeable. All the men contributed 10 dollars, voluntarily, purchasing trips to Calcutta were made; the mess suddenly blossomed forth with table cloths, real plates and silverware and sit-down style service plus a number of Indian table waiters and a real maitre'd. Then, with the advent of Col. Taber as Commanding Officer, the formation of an enlisted men's Council was announced. The Council was to consist of the senior N.C.O. of each organization, plus one representative to be elected by the enlisted men of the organization. The Council had direct access to the Colonel at any time without going through intermediate steps, and he charged them with the responsibility of placing the complaints or suggestions from the enlisted men of the command before him for action. He announced inauguration of a pass system and began preparations to place the city of Dacca, India in bounds for the Command. Morale hit a new high when word concerning the fo??? (unreadable word) passed around. It was about this time that the Group began "swinging" from the 10th to the 14th Air Force and back again. Oreders were issued assigning us to the 14th in China. Everyone wanted to go to China, due to the unanimous hate of the Indian climate. Offices were packed, advance details were ordered out. One man was later heard to moan, "Christ I pack and give all my underwear and extra clothing to my bearer, and then have to unpack it again."
As of 25 October, 1943, the Group was relieved of assignment to the 10th Air Force and reassigned to the 14th Air Force. The 11th Bm Sq was reassigned to the Group and the 490th was relieved of assignment to the Group and assigned to HQ 10th Air Force.
2 Nov, Col Torgils G. Wold assigned and assumed command of the Group.
23 November, Lt. Col. Morris Taber assigned and assumed command of the Group. He is promoted to full Colonel on 6 December 19443.
26 Nov, Lt. Col Philpott, former Commanding Officer, is transferred to HQ 10th Air Force.
Jul-Aug History quoted; "During the month of July 1943, the first Low-level Altitude Bombing missions were performed by this Group. This type of bombing is of questionable value in this theater at the present time. The exact results have not been determined but two (2) complete airplanes with crews have been lost in low level attacks against the enemy. Few, if any targets within range of medium bombers in Burma are worth this price until beginning the major operation."
