TARGET: MARSHALLING YARDS
STRASBOURG, FRANCE
3 AUGUST, 1944

Strategically, Strasbourg was the most important traffic funnel between Aachen and the Swiss border. Even though they had been the target of other attacks, the marshalling yards had been rebuilt, and now required another attack.

The team of Major Smith and Captain Clarence E. Schuchmann was chosen to lead the Group’s thirty-six aircraft on this historic mission. The Group served as the 94th A Combat Wing, flying third in the Division formation. The wing assembled over the Glatton Buncher. The English Coast was crossed above a heavy undercast, which cleared only after the formation was over Germany en route to the target. Near the IP the 94th B Wing cut off the A Wing, which caused a great amount of confusion. In spite of the confusion and a ground haze, the Group picked up the IP, ran an excellent bomb run and had good bombing results. The route home was flown without incident and all craft returned safely, to relish the achievement of flying 100 missions in 165 days.

General J. K. Lacey from Wing was on hand for the return. Later, commendations were received from General James H. Doolittle, General Robert B. Williams and General Lacey. Two parties were held in celebration of the event, one by the enlisted personnel on 11 August and by the officers on 12 August. The Station Band, “The Fireballs”, played for both engagements. Free beer was served at the Aero Club for the enlisted men. (Presumably the officers paid for theirs.) The Officers’ Club featured appropriate decorations in the form of hanging pennants marked “100”, and a colorfully decorated bar. The dining hall was lit by candle light, which added romantically to the glow incurred already by a good supply of beverages.

A demonstration of a variety of German weapons and a display of German uniforms of all branches of service were presented on 12 August in the main briefing room. The highlight of the demonstrations was the manual of arms conducted by a German speaking sergeant of the mobile unit.

The G. I. Show, “Petticoats”, was shown on 14 August at the Aero Club. It was a musical variety-comedy in conjunction with Eighth Air Force “Victory Squadron” War Bond Drive.