Letters from the Summer, 2003 Issue

Hi Andy,

Got a rather long story for you about that Mar. 8 mission to Berlin.

We arrived at the 390th shortly after the Royal Flush crew finished up and inherited their plane . We of course started out in coffin corner and
finally ended up in #3 spot in the lower Squadron of our Group. Soon #1 and #2 dropped out of the formation due to battle damage, so we took over the lead .

I always enjoyed formation flying and found the tighter you flew, the easier it was to stay in very close formation. When that mission was over Col. Wittan said "Nice Job of formation flying!"  Do you like that position? Of course I said "Oh yes!"  He then said ok it's your spot!! When I told my crew, one of our guys said, "Wow, now we are Sitting Pretty!!"  That is where  we  got the name of our plane!!

As you know things were pretty rough in that period and the poor 100th really had a lot of rough missions . When the Berlin mission of March, 8th was scheduled they could not put up a full Group.  Then Col. Wittan announced that fact and said Osadnick and his crew will fill in and make up their low Squadron!!  Everyone in the room gave us a sorry look which seemed to say, " So Long Jer !!"

Well they certainly did not surprise me, life expectancy in the 390th was bad enough at the time, but in the 100th .....forget about going home!

I've been trying to recall all of the details about the entire Wing set up and where we the 390th fit in and then  where  my element fit in with the 100th.

I know we flew as their lower element. They were all over the sky and I could not get into the proper position, I finally broke radio silence a few times and raised cain with them for flying such loose gang of planes. Someone called from the 390th low squadron and said: "If you  can't get them to fly right, come down here with us!".

I  finally made up my mind that  if they did not tighten up their bunch a few of them would feel our props and snuggled in. After the mission was over  I heard that their lead pilot had only 3 mission under his belt!!

One great thing that happened was my ball turret operator, Don Oviatt, got two confirmed kills of FW-190's. Really a remarkable story,  I believe he was an MP at the base,  but wanted to fly in combat  so they gave him some  gunnery practice and then assigned him to my crew, because my original ball turret operator suffered frozen toes when  his heated boots went out.

Jerry Osadnick

Editor’s Note:
The 8 March 1944 mission to Berlin was chosen to be displayed in our Diorama because it not only was an important early mission to Berlin but permitted a display of the total 13th Combat Wing with the 390th in the center, led by the 100th Group and the 95th Group trailing the 390th. This permitted a display with the 390th highlighted but yet displaying the Wing.

The 100th and 95th Bomb Groups are depicted as paintings and the 390th Bomb Group as suspended identifiable models. The 390th Bomb Group was led by Commander Joseph Dolan.

Jerry’s six aircraft assigned to the 100th Group all returned safely. The 390th Group lost three bombers before reaching the bomb run depicted, crews: Quillin, Branum and Quakenbush in “Hells Bells”, “Heavenly Body” and “Phyllis Marie” respectively.

The target, the Erkner VKF Ball Bearing plant was severely damaged. It had been furnishing about 50% of the ball bearings at the time, according to the mission report. The primary target was attacked by 320 B-17s and 150 B-24s. 37 bombers were lost.

From Our British Friends
390th Control Tower Museum

The following letter excerpt was received by Dorothy Moller from Peter and Kath Kindred:

"I would be grateful if you have a chance to talk to our 390th colleagues in the US to tell them that the museum here at Parham is in good hands.  Kath and I and the next generation I'm sure will do all that we can to make sure that the old tower remains as a memorial to so many Americans who gave their lives and that the artifacts inside will be shown to the public for many years to come.  They do have a very good band of volunteers that man the Roster Duty Shifts every Sunday and Wednesday during the summer season.

Our new chairman is Mick Tipple and volunteers are reorganizing themselves.  Old members are returning and new members are joining - unfinished projects now have a good chance of being completed and with proper business plan in force to raise funds from grant giving bodies, made easier by official "Registration" with the Museum and Galleries Commission obtained this year.  This also means that we have policies in force for the preservation and conservation of artifacts with humidity and temperature controls being installed in the tower."

Editor’s Note:
Peter Kindred is Percy Kindred’s nephew. The Veterans all knew Percy as the farmer who was plowing his fields alongside the runway as the 390th bombers were taking off and landing and also as a most gracious host on any of our post war visits to Parham.

We are most appreciative for the effort of the Kindreds and their associates for refurbishing and maintaining our old 390th control tower into a 390th Museum in our memory.