Harold Kiena served as Radio Operator with the Hoffman crew in the 710th Squadron between September and December 1944.
Harold’s graduating Radio School class in March 1943, and Yuma Army Airfield patch
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Members of the Hoffman crew
| Beverly C. (Dutch) Hoffman | Pilot |
| William E. (Bill) North | Co-Pilot |
| John D. (Jack) Wells | Navigator |
| Herbert E. (Herbie) Mcnabb | Bombardier |
| Robert F. (Bob) Longwitz | Engineer |
| Harold O. (Hal) Kiena | Radio Operator |
| Francis P. (Abe) Lynam | Ball Turret |
| Earlie R. (Pop) Presson | Waist Gunner |
| Melvin L. (Rags) Ragsdale | Tail Gunner |
| Standing, L-R: | |
| Cpl W H Harris | (Mechanic). |
| Sgt. Paul Lynam | Ball Turret Gunner |
| Lt. Herbert McNabb | Bombardier |
| Lt. Beverly Hoffman | Pilot |
| Lt. John D. Wells | Navigator |
| Sgt, Melvin Ragsdale | Tail Gunner |
| Kneeling, L-R: | |
| Cpl J W Miller | (Mechanic) |
| Sgt. Robert Longwitz | Engineer |
| Sgt. Harold 0. Kiena | Radio Operator |
| Sgt. Earlie Presson | Waist Gunner |
| M/Sgt Henry M Mikulski | (Crew Chief) |
Plaque honoring the Hoffman crew at the AAF Museum in Savannah, Georgia.
Crew of “Little Herbie” 43-38450
Standing, L-R: Lt. Herbert McNabb, B Lt. Beverly Hoffman, P Lt. John D. Wells, N Sgt, Melvin Ragsdale, TG Front, L-R: Sgt. Earlie Presson, WG Sgt. Harold O. Kiena, ROG, Sgt. Robert Longwitz, ENG Sgt. Paul Lynam, BTG Not pictured: Lt. William North, CP
Pilot “Dutch” Hoffman and Mac at Rattlesden
Home away from home
Diary of combat missions Sgt. Harold O. Kiena
Mission #1 |
|
| Date: | August 24, 1944 |
| Target: | Brux – Synthetic Oil Plant |
| Aircraft: | “Cock of the Sky” 42-102668 |
| Time: | 8 1/2 Hours |
| Bombs: | 10 500 Pound Demolition |
| Note: | Flew With Lt. Purdy Crew |
Mission #2 |
|
| Date: | August 26, 1944 |
| Target: | Brest, France – Coastal Gun Positions |
| Aircraft: | “Little Chum” 42-107025 |
| Time: | 7 Hours |
| Bombs: | 38 100 Pound Demolition |
| Note: | Made three runs on target, did not drop bombs First mission for complete Hoffman crew |
Mission #3 |
|
| Date: | August 30, 1944 |
| Target: | Bremen – Foche-Wolf Aircraft Factory |
| Aircraft: | “Tail Wind” 42-107029 |
| Time: | 6 1/2 Hours |
| Bombs: | 40 100 Pound Incendiaries |
| Note: | Earned Commendation |
Mission #4 |
|
| Date: | September 1, 1944 |
| Target: | Hofheim – Tank Factory |
| Aircraft: | “Big Shorty” 42-97826 |
| Time: | 7 Hours |
| Bombs: | 4 1000 Pound Demolition / 4 500 Pound Incendiaries |
| Note: | Mission recalled one hour short of target |
Mission #5 |
|
| Date: | September 3, 1944 |
| Target: | Brest – Barracks Buildings |
| Aircraft: | “Little Chum” 42-107025 |
| Time: | 6 3/4 Hours |
| Bombs: | 38 100 Pound General Purpose |
| Note: | Dropped on third run from 8,800 feet |
Mission #6 |
|
| Date: | September 5, 1944 |
| Target: | Brest – Troop Concentrations |
| Aircraft: | “Mah Ideel” 43-37541 A/K/A “Down And Go” |
| Time: | 6 1/2 Hours |
| Bombs: | 30 250 Pound Fragmentation |
| Note: | Earned Air Medal |
Mission #7 |
|
| Date: | September 8, 1944 |
| Target: | Mainz – Arms Factory |
| Aircraft: | “Cock Of The Sky” 42-102668 |
| Time: | 7 Hours |
| Bombs: | 10 500 Pound Demolition |
| Note: | Encountered British Flak on return |
Mission #8 |
|
| Date: | September 12, 1944 |
| Target: | Rotha – Synthetic Oil Factory |
| Aircraft: | “Tail Wind” 42-107029 |
| Time: | 7 1/4 Hours |
| Bombs: | 10 500 Pound General Purpose |
Mission #9 |
|
| Date: | September 13, 1944 |
| Target: | Stuttgart – Aircraft Engine Factory |
| Aircraft: | 43-38450 New – No Name Yet |
| Time: | 6 1/2 Hours |
| Bombs: | 12 500 Pound Incendiaries |
| Note: | Smoke screen prevented drop |
Mission #10 |
|
| Date: | Sepetmber 17, 1944 |
| Target: | Arnhem – Anti Aircraft Installations |
| Aircraft: | 43-38450 |
| Time: | 5 Hours |
| Bombs: | 30 250 Pound Fragmentation |
Mission #11 |
|
| Date: | September 19, 1944 |
| Target: | Weisbaden – Railroad Marshalling Yards |
| Aircraft: | 43-38450 |
| Time: | 6 3/4 Hours |
| Bombs: | 6 1000 Pound General Purpose |
| Note: | Heavy Flack, many holes in plane |
Mission #12 |
|
| Date: | September 25, 1944 |
| Target: | Ludwigshafen – Chemical Plant |
| Aircraft: | 43-38450 |
| Time: | 6 Hours |
| Bombs: | 6 1000 Pound General Purpose |
| Note: | Heavy Flack, Mcnabb hit, lost #2 engine |
Mission #13 |
|
| Date: | Sepetmber 26, 1944 |
| Target: | Bremen – Foch-Wolf Aircraft Factory |
| Aircraft: | 43-38450 |
| Time: | 6 3/4 Hours |
| Bombs: | 5 1000 Pound General Purpose |
| Note: | Moderate Flack, Not Hit |
Mission #14 |
|
| Date: | September 27, 1944 |
| Target: | Ludwigshafen – Chemical Plant |
| Aircraft: | 43-38450 |
| Time: | 6 Hours |
| Bombs: | 12 500 Pound General Purpose |
| Note: | Heavy flack, nose shattered, McNabb almost lost left eye. (note, it was probably after this mission that plane was named “Little Herbie” for McNabb) |
Mission #15 |
|
| Date: | September 28, 1944 |
| Target: | Merseburg/Leipzig |
| Aircraft: | “Little Herbie” 43-38450 |
| Time: | 7 1/4 Hours |
| Bombs: | Leaflets |
| Note: | Rough mission, many holes in plane. |
Mission #16 |
|
| Date: | October 3, 1944 |
| Target: | Egiebelstadt – Me-262 Jet Plane Airfield |
| Aircraft: | “Mac’s High Hats” 42-102604 |
| Time: | 7 3/4 Hours |
| Bombs: | 10 500 Pound Incendiaries |
| Note: | Jet Aircraft Factory and Airfield |
Mission #17 |
|
| Date: | October 5, 1944 |
| Target: | Munster – Airfield Hangars |
| Aircraft: | “Mac’s High Hats” 42-102604 |
| Time: | 5 1/4 Hours |
| Bombs: | 6 500 Pound General Purpose / 6 500 Pound Incendiaries |
Mission #18 |
|
| Date: | October 6, 1944 |
| Target: | Berlin – Tank Factory |
| Aircraft: | “Big Shorty” 42-97826 |
| Time: | 7 Hours |
| Bombs: | 5 1000 Pound General Purpose |
| Note: | Rough Mission. Fighters took out 19 out of 36 bombers in the group behind us in one pass. |
Mission #19 |
|
| Date: | October 7, 1944 |
| Target: | Bielefeld – R.R. Yards – Target of Opportunity |
| Aircraft: | “Little Herbie” 43-38450 |
| Time: | 7 Hours |
| Bombs: | 10 500 Pound General Purpose |
| Note: | Moderate Flack, No Problems |
Mission #20 |
|
| Date: | October 9, 1944 |
| Target: | Mainz – Tank Factory |
| Aircraft: | “Little Herbie” 43-38450 |
| Time: | 6 1/2 Hours |
| Bombs: | 5 1000 Pound General Purpose |
Mission #21 |
|
| Date: | October 12, 1944 |
| Target: | Bremen – Tank And Truck Factory |
| Aircraft: | “Little Herbie” 43-38450 |
| Time: | 7 Hours |
| Bombs: | 12 500 Pound Incendiaries |
Mission #22 |
|
| Date: | October 14, 1944 |
| Target: | Cologne – Railroad Marshalling Yards |
| Aircraft: | “Little Herbie” 43-38450 |
| Time: | 6 1/2 Hours |
| Bombs: | 6 500 Pound General Purpose /6 500 Pound Incendiaries |
| Note: | Picked up a few flack holes |
Mission #23 |
|
| Date: | October 18, 1944 |
| Target: | Kassel – Railroad Yards |
| Aircraft: | “Little Herbie” 43-38450 |
| Time: | 8 Hours |
| Bombs: | 6 500 Pound Demolition / 6 500 Pound Incendiaries |
Mission #24 |
|
| Date: | October 19, 1944 |
| Target: | Mannheim – Tank Factory |
| Aircraft: | “Little Herbie” 43-38450 |
| Time: | 6 Hours |
| Bombs: | 6 500 Pound Demolition / 6 500 Pound Incendiaries |
Mission #25 |
|
| Date: | October 22, 1944 |
| Target: | Munster – Airfield |
| Aircraft: | “Little Herbie” 43-38450 |
| Time: | 5 3/4 Hours |
| Bombs: | 6 500 Pound General Purpose / 6 500 Pound Incendiaries |
Mission #26 |
|
| Date: | November 4, 1944 |
| Target: | Hamburg – Oil Storage Tanks |
| Aircraft: | “Fuddy Duddy” 42-97400 |
| Time: | 7 1/2 Hours |
| Bombs: | Leaflets |
| Note: | Regular crew not scheduled today. Flew with F/O Myers crew |
Mission #27 |
|
| Date: | November 5, 1944 |
| Target: | Ludwigshafen – I. G. Farben Chemical Plant |
| Aircraft: | “Little Herbie” 43-38450 |
| Time: | 7 1/4 Hours |
| Bombs: | 6 1000 Pound General Purpose |
| Note: | Heavy Flack, few holes. |
Mission #28 |
|
| Date: | November 6, 1944 |
| Target: | Neumunster – Railroad Yards |
| Aircraft: | 44-6595 ? |
| Time: | 7 Hours |
| Bombs: | 20 250 Pound General Purpose |
Mission #29 |
|
| Date: | November 9, 1944 |
| Target: | Saarbrucken – Railroad Yards |
| Aircraft: | “Little Herbie” 43-38450 |
| Time: | 7 1/2 Hours |
| Bombs: | 6 1000 Pound General Purpose |
Mission #30 |
|
| Date: | November 16, 1944 |
| Target: | Langerwehe – Troop Support |
| Aircraft: | “Little Herbie” 43-38450 |
| Time: | 7 Hours |
| Bombs: | 30 260 Pound Fragmentation |
| Note: | Start Of “Big Push”. Landed at Welford Park. Returned to Rattlesden on the 18th. |
Mission #31 |
|
| Date: | November 21, 1944 |
| Target: | Merseburg – Railroad Marshalling Yards |
| Aircraft: | “Little Herbie” 43-38450 |
| Time: | 7 1/4 Hours |
| Bombs: | 12 500 Pound General Purpose |
| Note: | Lost 40 bombers today |
Mission #32 |
|
| Date: | November 26, 1944 |
| Target: | Hamm – Railroad Yards |
| Aircraft: | “Little Herbie” 43-38450 |
| Time: | 5 1/2 Hours |
| Bombs: | 12 500 Pound General Purpose |
Mission #33 |
|
| Date: | November 27, 1944 |
| Target: | Bingen – Railroad Marshalling Yards |
| Aircraft: | “Little Herbie” 43-38450 |
| Time: | 5 1/4 Hours |
| Bombs: | 2 500 Pound Incendiaries / 34 100 Pound General Purpose |
| Note: | Last Mission |
| Note:
The name “Little Herbie” was never put on the plane. A later, unknown, crew named this plane “Lucky Partners” which was painted on the plane. Plane survived the war, flew back to the US in 1945 and was scrapped at Kingman Arizona. |
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| Missions Scrubbed: | |
| Berlin | September 6th |
| Berlin | September 14th |
| Arnhem | September 16th |
| Kassel | September 20th |
| Hamburg | October 10th |
| Cologne | October 13th |
| Osnabruck | November 14th |
| Mission Recalled, No Credit: | |
| Merseburg | November 8th – 43-38450 “Little Herbie” |
Harold Kiena’s Air Medal and Wings (below)
Son Hal and Jane visiting Rattlesden airfield in October 2000.
Jane and Ernest Osborne during the 2000 visit.
50 years later… Ball Turret gunner Francis Lynam at the controls during a flight aboard the EAA’s B-17 Aluminum Overcast in 1994.