War-Diary;

Tuesday, 26 October 1943

_**USAAF Chronology: MTO (12th AF):   **_ _**                 In Greece, B-25's and P-38's of the XII Bomber Command attack the airfields of Salonika/Sedhes and Megalo Mikra. **_ _** **_ _**                              In Italy, XII Air Support Command and RAF DAF fighters and fighter-bombers attack gun emplacements and road junctions in the battle area along the E coast and in the center of Italy, **_ _**also destroying many vehicles and parked aircraft in the Ancona area, where railroad facilities are also hit; a schooner at Porto Civitanova is left smoking; medium bombers of the NATBF bomb Terracina and an ammunition dump.**_

HQ 321st BG War Diary: Today our planes again bombed Salonika/Megalo Mikra and Salonika/Sedes Airdromes. A very good bomb pattern was laid across the field and dispersal areas of Megalo/Mikra. Hits were seen on the runway and a building in the south dispersal area. Strings of bombs hit among parked aircraft there of which three received direct hits. One large fire was observed as the formation left the target. Salonika/Sedes was well hit, direct hits being made on four aircraft near the hangars and among other dispersed aircraft. Three fires were observed and the dispersal area between the two airdromes was well hit.

The crew of one plane from the 447th Squadron were reported as missing in action after this mission. The plane was last seen on the deck with one propeller feathered, the engine having been hit by flak. The following were the crew of this aircraft.

Pilot- Lt. Baxter, Co-pilot – Lt. Jordan, Bombardier – Lt. Muirhead, Radio – Sgt. Newhouse, Engineer – S/Sgt. Gregory, Gunner – Sgt. Wagner, Photographer – Cpl. Leon.

Baxter, William T., 2Lt, pilot, 447th BS

Gregory, Ralph J. H., S/Sgt, engineer-gunner, 447th BS

Jordan, Theodore G., 2Lt, pilot, 447th BS

Leon, Robert D., Cpl, photographer, 447th BS

Muirhead, Graham K., 2Lt, bombardier, 447th BS

Newhouse, Ralph W., Sgt, radio-gunner, 447th BS

Wagner, Harvey H., Sgt, Gunner, 447th BS

26 Oct.1943; ALLEY CAT II; #42-53487

Alley Cat II - 9 Oct 43, 26 Oct 43 - (ref McDuff 13 Jul 43 - John Burns ship)(lost due to flak damage 26 Oct 43, pilot 2Lt William T Baxter)# 42-53487

Gregory; Ralph J H 34280252; Gregory, Ralph J. H., S/Sgt, radio-gunner, photographer (ASV) (34280252)(1211 Stratford Ave, Nashville TN)(NARA - 34280252 GREGORY#RALPH#J#H# TN DAVIDSON FT OGLETHORPE GA 42)(no NARA POW)

Ralph J H Gregory