On September 12, 1944, during the 351st Bomb Group's 204th Mission, and my father's 15th, "the briefed primary target was Rhuland, but clouds in this area prevented bombing. The lead and low boxes bombed an unidentified target near Rhuland, and the high box the outskirts of the city of Plauen. Flak was light and inaccurate. The Luftwaffe came up in force northeast of Berlin. About 35 to 50 fighters were seen, mostly Me 109s and FW 190s, and a few rocket firing Do 217s. They attacked in pairs or small groups from the tail. A few also dropped aerial bombs, without noticeable results." 1



"Six planes were shot down in the target area. They were: Lt. [Charles C.] Schoenian in 43-37986, Lt. [Edward J.] Hennegan in 43-38123, Lt. [Claude T.] Adams in 43-38089, Lt. [James R.] Brown in 43-37850, Lt. [Robert C.] Lopert in 42-97318, and Lt. [William F.] Schmollinger in 44-8100. Lt. [Donald E.] Hadley in 44-6139 managed to make it back as far as Belgium where he crash landed. The Group was led by Major [Paul L.] Fishburne [of the 511th], Captain [Eli S.] Fowler [of the 509th], Captain [Carleton] Cleveland [of the 509th], and Lt. [John W.] Heck [of the 509th]." 1



In the Loss Listing section of "A Chronicle of the 351st Bomb Group (H), 1942-1945" is the following mention of my father's crew: "510th [Bomb Squadron], 1st Lt. Edward J. Hennegan (POW), 2nd Lt. George H. Avaritt (POW), 2nd Lt. Walter M. Culbert (POW), 2nd Lt. Eugene C. Saur (POW), Sgt. Karl W. Buschenfeldt (died of wounds in POW camp), S/Sgt. James C. Waters (POW), S/Sgt. John H. Strick (POW), Sgt. Emmett F. Bennett (POW), and S/Sgt. Clair I. Carl (KIA)." 2

