(Courtesy of John Darilek’s Web Page)

Below is the log book of my dad, a 'nose gunner' in the B-24 Liberator plane of WW II. He flew on several planes, but the main one was the "Delectable Doris", a Model B24J, SN 42-50551, named after the pilot’s girlfriend. He was in the 8th Air Force with the 389th Bomb Group, 566th squadron stationed at Hethel, England near Norwich.

He has never talked very much about what happened. Dad said he was not supposed to keep any written records of the missions, but he did keep a few notes in a small pocket note book. I'm glad he did.



Back row left to right: R.A. Jackson - Co-pilot, L.L. Eubanks - Bombardier, S. Chiarenza - Navigator, W.C. Graff - Pilot
Front row left to right: A.J. Galgano - Radio Op./Gunner, J.P. Wyatt - Waist Gunner, N.Y. Yarborough - Lower Ball Gunner
V.J. Darilek - Engineer/Nose Gunner J.L. Lewis - Armor/Tail Gunner J.P. Tessier - Engineer/Top Gunner





Back row left to right: J.P.Wyatt - Waist gunner, Lewis Eubanks - Bombardier, A.J.Tessier - Engineer/Top gunner, Bill Graff - Pilot, S.Chiarenza - Navigator, unknow - Co-pilot
Front row left to right: Norman Yarborough - Lower ball gunner, Jim Lewis - Tail gunner, Victor Darilek - Engineer/Nose gunner, A.J.Galgano - Radio Operator

(Ten missions indicated on side of plane, picture taken "somewhere" in England)



Crew #55
Graff, W.C., 2nd Lt. ,0-686463, (Pilot)
Jackson, R.A., 2nd Lt., 0-695746, (Co-pilot)
Eubanks, L.L., 2nd Lt., 0-691881, (Bombardier)
Chiarenza, S., 2nd Lt., 0-698660, (Navigator)
Tessier, A.J.P ,Sgt., 31271576, (Top Gunner & Engineer)
Galgano, A.T., Sgt., 12083090, (Right Side Gunner & Radio Op.)
Darilek, V.J., Sgt., 18178343, (Nose Gunner & Engineer)
Yarborough, N. ,Sgt., 15097528, (Ball Turret Gunner)
Wyatt, J.P., Sgt., 38293276 ,(Waist Gunner)
Lewis, J.L., Sgt., 39855194, (Tail Gunner)

B24-J Little Nell Topeka to W. Palm Beach
Waller, Trinidad 3-7-44
Bellem, Brazil 3-9-44
Fortaleza, Brazil 3-13-44
Dakar, F.W. Africa 3-15-44
Marrakech, F. Morrocco 3-17-44
Vally, Wales 3-20-44
Stone, England 3-22-44
Cookstown, N.I. 3-30-44
Port Partick, Scot. 4-16-44
Norwich, England 4-17-44
60 hrs coming over.

Mission #1

April 28-44
Plane B-24-H, "No Ball" to Pas de Calais, France
Medium flak, some rockets, no planes.
P-47 escort
3-2000 G.P. & 2-1000 G.P.
1800 Gal., 4 Hrs 10 Min.
Hackbarth was pilot
(Note:"No Ball" targets were launch locations of the German Buzz Bombs)

April 29 - 44
Plane B-24-J, "No Ball" to Pas de Calais, France
Abortion - Engine (#3) trouble
8-1000 G.P.
2000 Gal.
3 Hrs 30 Min.
No Mission
Hackbarth was pilot

Mission #2
May 1-44
Plane B24-D, "No Ball" to Syracourt, France
Plenty of flak, Formation below us caught Hell.
P-47 & P-38 support
8-1000 G.P.
2000 Gal.
4 Hrs 10 Min.
Hackbarth was pilot

Mission #3
May 2-44
Plane B-24-H, "No Ball" to Syracourt, France
Medium flak, no planes.
P-47 & P-38 support.
Bombed with G.H. through solid overcast
8-1000 G.P.
2000 Gal.
3 Hrs 35 Min.
Ack-Ack shot hell out of chaff, behind & below us.
Hackbarth was pilot.

Mission #4
May 8-44
Plane B-24-J
Brunswick, Germany !!
200 enemy pursuit planes. Heavy flak
P-47, P51, & P38 out numbered by Jerries.
52-100# incendiaries
2300 Gal.
5 Hrs 50 Min.
Lost twelve B-24,
Yarborough claimed F.W. 190
Graff pilot, first mission.
Pretty cold (35 deg.) below.

Mission #5
May 9-44
Plane B-24-D
Florennes, Belgium.
Meager, but accurate flak.
P-51 Good support.
42-100 G.P.
2300 Gal.
5 Hrs.
First burst of flak hit B24 under us, it aborted, Lost three B-24.

May 10-44
Gutersloh, Germany.
RECALL

May 11-13th
On pass to London
Boy ! What a time !!

May 15 to 18th
Got our own ship now Q+ A good ship.
Closed in waist window, Model H,
Emerson nose, it has no mission.
Been trying for three days to take her out. But been called back each time on bad weather. We are now a student lead crew! Not bad, Big Shots !!

Mission #6
May 19-44
Plane B24-H
Brunswick, Germany again.
Flak was intense, but not accurate over target. Doomer Lake was damned accurate plus a good barrage. Got some holes in bomb bay & both wings.
P-47 & P-38 escort.
52-100 # incendiaries (-30 deg.)
6 Hrs & 39 Mins.
Lost a few ships, but not from out outfit.

Mission #7
May 20-44
Plane B24-H
Rheim, France
Flak was meager and moderate-fairly accurate, was mostly under us.
7-1000 # (-33 deg.)
P47 & P38 escort
6 Hrs 40 Min.
Did a good job on the marshalling yards.
Capt. Johnson as waist gunner.

Mission #8
May 23-44
Plane B24-H
Orleans, France
Flak was meager & inaccurate.
12-500 # G.P.
P47 & P38 support.
9 Hrs 5 Min.
One flak hole in bombay. (-15 deg.)

May 24-44
Practice misssion today.
Just part of the crew has to fly.

Mission #9
May 25-44
Plane B24-H
Troyes, France Bombed 18 miles from Paris, flak very,very accurate.
10-500 # G.P. (-20 deg.)
P38, P51, P47, support
7 Hrs & 20 Min.
Flak shot up our ship pretty bad. Cut our rudder cables - landed without rudders.
Galgano & Chi (Chiarenza) hit by flak, but not hurt.

Mission #10
May 28-44
Plane Q+ B24-H
Merceburg, Germany
Flak was moderate & inaccurate.
44-100# G.P.
P38, P51, P47 escort
7 Hrs & 10 Min.
.....hospital from last mission. No holes today. Spent Sunday afternoon touring Germany !!!

Mission #11
May 29-44
Plane Q+ B24-H
Politz, Germany
Flak moderate & inaccurate barrage fire.
10-500 # G.P. (-19 deg)
P38, P51, P47 escort
8 Hrs
Plenty of enemy fighter planes, 410, 109, & 190. Our escort had a hard day. Right wing man hit & went to Sweden.

Mission #12
June 2-44
Plane B24-H
Bercks-sur-mer, France
No flak, No planes !
4-2000 # (-16 deg)
5 Hrs. & 45 Min.
Hit a battery of coastal artillery.

Mission #13
June 4-44
Plane B24-H
Romorantin, France
Airfield (-11 deg)
12-500# G.P.
6 Hrs & 45 Min.
P51, &P47 escort
Accurate flak at coast. One plane shot up. Did 360 over channel and came in under weather, went back up & down again. Did plenty of sweating, mostly praying. Hard earned 13th.

Mission #14
June 6-44
Plane B24-H
This is it !! The invasion of the COAST !!
52-100 # G.P. (-19 deg)
7 Hrs. P38, & P51
No flak - no fighters. Ours were the first bombs to hit the invasion coast from the heavy bombers, 566 led the invasion ATTACK. Recommended for citation for work on June 4th.

Mission 15
June 7-44
Plane B24-H
Argintan, France
Invasion coast from now on out. (-29 deg.)
12-500 # G.P.
No flak, no fighters, easy mission. (Over The Hump Today)

Mission 16
June 8-44
Plane B24-H
Reyyes, France
6-1000 # G.P., 5 Hrs.
flak, no fighters, (-3 deg)
Landed at a British base for dinner, because of bad weather. Came back to field in afternoon. No brakes, went off runway, no brakes, no damage.

Mission #17
June 11-44
Plane B24-J
Cormeilles, France
52-100 # G.P.
4 Hrs & 45 Min. (-20deg.)
Hit an airfield, good job. Flak was meager and inaccurate, no fighters. P-47 escort

Mission #18
June 12-44
Plane -O B24-J
Monfort, France
4-2000 # G.P. (-23deg.)
6 Hrs. & 30 Min.
Moderate, but accurate flak over target. No planes. P-38, escort. One B24 went down all got out. Another ditched, sank in 15 seconds.

Mission #19
14-44
Plane C+ B24-J
Chatenu-Dun, France
52-100 # G.P. 6 Hrs & 35 Min. (-19 deg.)
Air field, inaccurate flak. No planes. Good bombing. Bombs hit planes on runway. Hit ammo dump.

Mission #20
June 19-44
Plane B24-J, "No Ball", near Amiens, France
40-100 # G.P.
4 Hrs. (-19 deg.)
Light, inaccurate flak. No planes. Got up at 4:00 AM & never took off until 3:30 PM. Hit area where those pilotless planes are sent from.

Mission #21
June 21-44
Plane B24-H, "No Ball", just south of Dieppe.
12-500 # G.P.
4 Hrs. (-19 deg.)
Just a milk run, flew afternoon mission, morning mission was to Berlin (?). Lost several old crews last two days. Flak was pretty close, no fighters.

Mission #22
June 28-44
Plane B24-J
Saarbrucken, Germany
20-300 # (-29 deg.)
Intense, accurate flak and enemy fighters
12:15 reveille, P38 & P51 took care of ME-109 & F.W. 190, I saw Holland, Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg all in one day. Lead high, high right. Almost froze.

July 8-1944
Plane M+ B-24 H
St. Quentin, France
Recall

Mission #23
July 12 1944
Plane B24-J
Munich, Germany
5-500 # & 4-500 # incendiaries (-26 deg.)
9 Hrs. 35 Min.
Flak was heavy and fairly accurate. One long mission.

Mission #24
July 16-1944
Plane B24-J
Saarbrucken, Germany
8-500 # (-20 deg.)
7 Hrs. No fighters, flak meager & inaccurate. Accurate flak at Brussells, got a large hole in wing and one in nose wheel. We led second section.

Mission #25
July 24-44
Plane B24-J
St. Lo, France
52-100 # G.P. (-5 deg.)
5 Hrs. 35 Min.
Very light inaccurate flak, no enemy planes. Hit Hun (?) troops, to help infantry, never dropped bombs. Target not visible. Led group.

Mission #26
July 25-44
Plane B24-J
St. Lo, France
52-100 # G.P. (-5 deg)
12,500 ft. 5 Hrs. 35 Min.
Intense & very accurate flak, no enemy planes, one rough mission, got hell shot out of us. Lost two planes. We helped infantry plenty. Got three holes in our ship.

Mission #27
July 29, 1944
Plane B24-J
Bremen, Germany
24-250 # G.P. (-24 deg.)
Intense & accurate flak. No enemy planes.
6 Hrs 30 Min.
Good mission plenty of flak. No holes. Led high right section. Last group into target.

Mission #28
August 5th - 44
Plane B24-J
Brunswick, Germany
5-100 # incendiaries (-22 deg.)
6 Hrs. 10 Min.
Plenty of accurate flak & fighters. Led low left section. Got a few holes in plane. Feathered #1 engine. Lost a few ship(s). Plenty of sweating getting nervous.

Mission #29
August -13 1944
Plane B-24J
St. Malo, France
4-2000 # pounders (-3 deg.)
5 Hrs 35 Min.
No flak, no fighters. Helped the infantry again. Hit a small island loaded with 88 M.M. guns. Led low left. Fair bombing - did plenty of sweating. One more for D. F. C.

Mission #30
Aug. 25 - 1944
Plane B-24J
Wismar, Germany
10-500 # (-17 deg.)
7 Hrs. 50 Min.
No fighters, plenty of flak. Easy raid, no flak over target. Led the wing. "I've had it".


Return To Previous Page