Memoir #2 of Richard N. Roth – 370th BS 44-45
Missions of Richard N. Roth
Below is a transcription of the logbook of Richard N. Roth, Technical Sergeant, Radio Operator and Gunner with the 13th AF, 307th
Bomb Group, 370th Bomb Squad (Heavy).
Tour of Combat Duty Feb 1945 – July 1945. Their base was on the Island of Morotai (Netherlands East Indies). The 307th was known
as the “Long Rangers” for flying long-distance missions. Richard Roth flew 36 missions, most of them in 10-man B-24 “Liberators.”
Their most significant activity, according to Dad, was the invasion of Balikpapan.
This logbook was transcribed by Richard Roth’s daughter, Stacy Roth Niemiec, on January 31, 2009 at the apartment of Richard and
his wife of 56 years, Barbara. During the transcription, Richard was able to clarify any questions about the text to his daughter, as well
as comment on remarks in the log that were meant to be humorous, rather than literal.
[Post script: Richard N. Roth departed on his final flight on the morning of March 19, 2011.]
Editing notes:
Items in curvy brackets indicate editorial comment
Items in square brackets indicate that original text was bracketed.
Lines of text are broken up as they appear in the diary.
Original punctuation is retained. Dashes and underscores represent original dashes and underscore marks in the text.
{Log begins}
Thursday, January 4, 1945 {dates are pre-printed in the journal}
Left Hickam Fld. {Field}{Hawaii}
Arrived John Rogers Fld.
Saturday, January 6, 1945
Left John Rogers Fld.
Hawaii — — C – 46 {indicates that crew flew a C-46}
Arrived Xmas Isle {Christmas Island}
Sunday, January 7, 1945
Left Xmas. {Christmas Island} Arrived Canton {Island}
What a spot. {humorous comment}
Monday, January 8, 1945
Left Canton {Island}
Tuesday, January 9, 1945
Arrived Tarawa
Wednesday, January 10, 1945
Left Tarawa arrived
‘Canal. {Guadalcanal}
Thursday, January 11, 1945
Left ‘Canal _ arrived Nadzab New Guinea {Missions} Monday, February 5, 1945 Mission #1 Target – Wewak New Guinea Time – 5:15 {five hours, fifteen minutes} Distance – 1100 miles Remarks: no fighters or flak Wednesday, February 7, 1945 Left Nadzab arrived Biak {Island} Thursday, February 8, 1945 Left Biak arrived Morotai NEI {Netherlands East Indies} Monday, February 12, 1945 Mission #2 Target – Corregidor P.I. {Philippine Islands} Time – 12:26 {twelve hours, twenty-six minutes} Distance – 2400 mi. {“1800” crossed out…Dad says he had incorrect information when he first wrote the mileage on a few occasions and wrote in the correct distance when informed of it.} Remarks – no flak, 1 fighter Saw Navy pounding shore installations. Manila was really blazing. Tuesday, February 20, 1945 Mission #3 Target – Jessilton A/D {Airdrome} N.W. Borneo Time – 11:15 {eleven hours, fifteen minutes} Distance 2000 mi. {“1600” crossed out} Remarks – no flak or fighters Saturday, February 24, 1945 Mission #4 Target: Mangar, A/D {Airdrome} E. Borneo Time – 10: {ten hours} Distance – 2000 mi. {“1400” crossed out} Remarks – no flak or fighters B-24 exploded on takeoff. Sunday, March 4, 1945 Mission #5 Target – Zettelfield A/D, Airdrome Sang Sang Time – 8:30 {8 hours 30 min.} Distance – 1600 miles. Remarks: Started for Zamboanga, Mindanao. Targ. {target} closed. Had to hit secondary. {secondary target was Zettlefield} Thursday, March 8, 1945 Mission #6 Target – Rogue A/D, Zamboanga, Mindanao, P.I. Time – 7:25 {seven hours, twenty-five minutes} Distance: 1400 mi. Remarks: no flak or fighters Navy began shelling prior to invasion of Island. Tuesday March 13, 1945 Mission #7 Target – Clinan Town, Mindanao, P.I. Time – 4:55 {four hours, fifty-five minutes} Distance – 1000 mi. Remarks – no flak or fighters Saturday, March 17, 1945 Mission #8 Target – Tarakan Town, E Borneo Time – 9:30 {nine hours, thirty minutes} Distance – 1800 mi. Remarks – no flak no fighters. Navigator got slightly lost. Navigator dropped bombs in sea. Price of fish went up. {a joke} Dropped propaganda leaflets to the fishes also. Thursday, March 22, 1945 Mission #9 Target – Liloan Town, Cebu, P.I. [Primary] {target} Time – 3: {three hours} Distance – 600 mi. Remarks – no flak no fighters. Had to hit “Snafu” target as #3 engine cut out. Beo Town, Tilaud I. _ _ bombs in the drink again. Friday, March 23, 1945 Mission #10 Target – Cebu City, Cebu, P.I. Time – 8:25 {eight hours, twenty-five minutes} Distance – 1600 mi. Remarks – no flak no fighters Well, I’m ¼ done. {comment that he was one fourth of the way through his requisite number of missions, which at the time was 40} Monday, March 26, 1945 Mission #11 Target – Cebu City, Cebu, P.I. Time: 9:15 {nine hours, fifteen minutes} Distance – 1800 mi. Remarks: no flak no fighters Saw invasion of Cebu begin. Man, the Navy can really throw those shells out. Saturday, March 31, 1945 Mission #12 Target – Oelin A/D, S.W. Borneo Time – 13:20 {thirteen hours, twenty minutes} Distance – 2600 mi. Remarks – no flak no fighters. We did expect a couple of Nips that never showed up. Rough!!! We had to sweat out our gas supply. We left target with 800 gallons which isn’t near enough. Landed with 400 gallons_ _ _ You figure
it out.
Saturday, April 7, 1945
Mission #13
Target – Bima A/D, Sumbawa I.
E. of Bali in the
Java Sea
Time – 12:40 {twelve hours, forty minutes}
Distance – 2400 {1850 crossed out} mi.
Remarks – We originally went
after a destroyer. It was
in the harbor under
a cloud. They were firing 23 AA guns plus
the one from the
ship in the harbor. Wow!!
Wednesday, April 11, 1945
Mission #14
Target – Davao City [Outskirts]
Mindinao, P.I.
Time 5:20 {five hours, twenty minutes}
Distance 1000 mi.
Remarks – no flak no fighters
Intelligence received reports from
guerillas that we
killed 250 Japs.
Probably caught
them in the
mess hall. {a joke}
Wednesday, April 18, 1945
Mission #15
Target: Beo Town, Talaud I.
[Secondary]
Time – 6:15 {six hours, fifteen minutes}
Distance – 1200 mi.
Remarks – no flak or fighters
Had to hit secondary
targ. There was
a landing already on Catabato and Navy
told us to lay off.
Monday, April 23, 1945
Mission #16
Target – Sepinggan A/D,
E Borneo [dispersal area]
Time – 10:30 {ten hours, thirty minutes}
Distance 2000 mi.
Remarks – This target is
right next door
to Balikpapan. (The
Ploesti of the East.)
This was really
a tough one. All
the guns from Signal Hill – Balikpapan were parallel to our bomb
run. One ship {US aircraft}
really shot up. We
carried 2000 lbs bombs.
Pass the toilet tissue!
Friday, April 27, 1945
Mission #17
Target – Sadate’ A/D, E. Celebes
Time – 4:15 {four hours, fifteen minutes}
Distance – 800 mi.
Remarks – no flak or fighters
Tuesday, May 1, 1945
Mission #18
Target – none – convoy patrol, Telaud I.
area
Time – 9:40 {nine hours, forty minutes}
Distance – 1700 mi.
Remarks – This convoy was
carrying troops
in support of
Mindinao invasion.
Saturday, May 5, 1945
Mission #19
Target – Shipping in Macassar
Straits. We hit boats
In Macassar harbor.
Time – 11: {11 hours}
Distance – 2200 mi.
Remarks – Had to go into harbor
to get this shipping,
and did they toss up
the A/A. As bad as
Sepinggan. We flew
Accross {sic} the Celebes
And then up the strait.
Wednesday, May 9, 1945
Mission #20
Target – none – convoy
patrol North W.
of Celebes I. {“Talaud” crossed out}
Time – 12:20 {twelve hours, twenty minutes}
Distance 2300 mi.
Remarks – nothing of
Interest, but those
are the good missions.
Saturday, May 12, 1945
Mission #21
Target – Macassar Town, S.W.
Celebes
Time – 9:20 {nine hours, twenty minutes}
Distance – 1800 mi.
Remarks – Those Nips were really
sharp with that flak.
We were holed, besides
three others in our squadron of 6. Felt
just like a “clay pigeon.”
Carried “napalm” fire
bombs.
Wednesday, May 16, 1945
Mission #22
Target: Mangar A/D, Borneo
[tertiary] {target}
Time – 11: {11 hours}
Distance – 2200 mi.
Remarks – After making a
few starting runs on
Balikpapan in Sepinggan we finally
hit Mangar. Two
ships {aircraft of the 370th Bomb Squad} went into
the harbor at 11,000
and really got
shot up. 35 heavy
guns at Balik. {Balikpapan} and
about half that
many at Sep. {Sepinggan}
Sunday, May 20, 1945
Mission #23
Target – Shipping in Balikpapan harbor.
Time – 11:15 {eleven hours, fifteen minutes}
Distance – 2200 mi.
Remarks – Didn’t get as much A/A
as expected. Although
we did get holed.
Sunk Fox Tare Able {Japanese Ship}.
Friday, May 25, 1945
Mission #24
Target – Jap installations
and troops on Tarakan I. Borneo
Time – 10:15 {ten hours, fifteen minutes}
Distance – 2000 mi.
Remarks – this mission was
in support of
Aussies who had
Japs surrounded.
Aussies tossed smoke
bombs into Jap
area to guide our
bombs.
Monday, May 28, 1945
Mission #25
Target – Balikpapan Harbor
Time – 10:45 {ten hours, forty-five minutes}
Distance – 2100 mi.
Remarks: We really had
a big show today. We went
after A/A positions
coord. with B-25’s
and P-38’s. Oil
dumps and warehouses blowing
up all over the
place. When we
left, smoke
was rising to
10,000 ft.
Saturday, June 2, 1945
Mission #26
Target – Shipping search
So. Celebes, Makassar {sic} Str. {Strait}
Time – 14:45 {fourteen hours, forty-five minutes}
Distance – 2800 mi.
Remarks – We had quite a
bit of fun. strafing schooners. {sic} We left 3 Sugar Dogs
burning. Had a running
gun battle with a Jap
gunboat. They had too
many guns for us to go
down on the deck after.
We got hit with some
flak in the left
wing. A nice sized hole.
Wednesday June 6, 1945
Mission #27
Target – Labuan Brunei Bay,
N.W. Borneo
Distance – 2300 mi.
Time – 11:45 {eleven hours, forty-five minutes}
Remarks – no flak or fighters
Dropped bombs on
Jap supply area.
Sunday, June 10, 1945
Mission #28
Target – Labuan, Brunei, Borneo
Distance – 2400 mi.
Time – 12:45 {twelve hours, forty-five minutes}
Remarks – Witnessed the invasion of Borneo
in our first bomb
run. Two of our {continues on next page}
frag bombs hit and
exploded beneath the
ship and holed two ships
behind us. On the second
run two clusters of bombs
hung in the bomb bay — —
armed — — All they had to
do was hit something,
and that would be all brother.
Thursday, June 14, 1945
Mission #29
Target – none
Distance – 2000 mi.
Time – 10:30 {ten hours, thirty minutes}
Remarks – Started for
Balikpapan also Sepinggan and Sidate’ all
socked in. Salvoed
bombs in the water.
Tuesday, June 19, 1945
Mission #30
Target – Balikpapan
AA positions
Distance – 2000 mi.
Time – 10:40 {ten hours, forty minutes}
Remarks – What was once
a feared and tough
target, has been
put under control.
The Navy has a
few cruisers and
destroyers laying
right off Balik. {Balikpapan} just
waiting for the Japs
to open up so they
(Navy) can plot their
positions and
knock them out.
Saturday, June 23, 1945
Mission # 31
Target Balikpapan
AA positions
Distance – 2000 mi.
Time – 10:30 {ten hours, thirty minutes}
Remarks – Well, “the Pan”
as the above was
affectionately known,
is now a milk
run.
Wednesday, June 27, 1945
Mission #32
Target – Balikpapan shore
defenses
Distance – 2300 mi.
Time – 12:30 {twelve hours, thirty minutes}
Remarks – Balik. {Balikpapan} is really
softened for the
imminent invasion,
which is supposed
to come off the 1st
of July.
Did a little strafing
of two masted {two-masted}
schooners in the
Gulf of Tominy.
Sunday, July 1, 1945
Mission #33
Target – Balikpapan shore
defenses.
Distance – 2400 mi.
Time – 12:50 {twelve hours, fifty minutes}
Remarks – Well, today was DDay on Balik. {Balikpapan} so
far I’ve been {continues next page}
on every invasion
from Corregidor to
“Pan” with the
exception of Tarakan.
Friday, July 6, 1945
Mission #34
Target – Balikpapan
ground support
Distance – 2000 mi.
Time – 10:40 {ten hours, forty minutes}
Remarks – Blew up ammo
dump.
Thursday, July 12, 1945
Mission #35
Target – Donggala, N.W.
Celebes
Distance – 2000 mi.
Time – 11:20 {11 hours 20 min.}
Remarks – Started for Balikpapan but it
was socked in {with cloud cover}.
Hit secondary — — what was left of
it. {Secondary target was probably Donggala}
July 14, 1945
Mission #36
Target – Limboeang A/D.
S.W. Celebes.
Time – 11:30 {eleven hours, thirty minutes}
Distance – 2000 mi.
Remarks – none
{A typical number of planes in a formation was 6}
{Below is a four-page diary – included in his log book – of all comings and goings of Dad from the time he was inducted until he was
discharged.}
INDUCTED – APR 17, 1943
REPORTED FOR DUTY – APR. 24, 1943
FT. DIX, N.J. TENT 220
ARRIVED AT ATLANTIC CITY, NJ —
HOTEL DENNIS…ROOMS
288, 201A, 273
ARRIVED AT NORTHFIELD, VT – JULY 14,
1943
NORWICH U.
JACKMAN HALL…RM. 15
ARRIVED AT NASHVILLE, TENN. OCT. 10, ‘43
SQD. I-1 BAR {BARRACKS} 1307
N.A.A.C.
ARRIVED AT SCOTT FIELD, ILL. NOV. 10 “43
BAR 1331 4TH AREA 11TH T.S.S.
370TH T.S.S. 3RD AREA
BAR 121, 124
BAR 1386 4TH AREA
LEFT JUNE 6, “44
ARRIVED YUMA, ARIZ. JUNE 9, 1944
TENT H-12 SQ. 4
BAR 7 SQ.4
TENT E-8 SQ.4
LEFT AUG. 2, 1944
ARRIVED 34 LESLIE ST. NEWARK, NJ {home}
AUG. 6, 1944
ARRIVED WESTOVER FIELD, MASS.
AUG. 17, 1944
SEC. H BAR 296
SEC. E BAR T-20
CREW 412
LEFT NOV. 5, 1944
ARRIVED AT 34 LESLIE ST. NEWARK {home}
NOV. 5, 1944
{NEW PAGE}
ARRIVED MITCHELL FIELD, L.I., N.Y.
NOV. 23, 1944
BAR. T-64 SEC. U
LEFT MITCHEL {SIC} DEC. 6, 1944
ARRIVED HAMILTON FIELD, CAL.
DEC. 9, 1944
BAR 710…A.T.C.
LEFT HAMILTON DEC. 14
ARRIVED AT HICKAM FIELD, HAWAII
[C-54 A.T.C.] DEC. 15, 1944
BAR. 21
LEFT HICKAM JAN. 4, 1945
MOVED OVER TO JOHN ROGERS FLD.,
HONOLULU, HAWAII
BAR 23-1 {or I?}
LEFT ROGERS JAN. 6, 1945
ARRIVED CASADY FIELD, XMAS ISLE.
JAN 6, 1945 [C – 46]
HUT #1
LEFT XMAS JAN. 7
- CONT. –
{continues on new page}
ARRIVED CANTON I. JAN. 7
LEFT CANTON JAN 8
ARRIVED AT HAWKINS FIELD, TARAWA
TENT #2…JAN 9, ‘45
LEFT JAN. 10, [C-46]
ARRIVED AT CARNEY FIELD, GUADALCANAL [C-46] JAN 10,
HUT #4
LEFT ‘CANAL JAN 11.
ARRIVED AT NADZAB, NEW GUINEA
JAN. 11, 1945 [C-46]
TENT 40…F.E.A.F. {Far East Air Force} C.R.T.C.
LEFT NADZAB, FEB. 7, 1945
ARRIVED AT BIAK FEB. 7, 1945
TENT E-10 [C-46]
LEFT BIAK FEB. 8 [C-47]
ARRIVED AT PITOE AIRSTRIP,
MOROTAI, N.E.I. TENT 17, 27.
FEB. 8, 1945…
307TH BOMB GRP.
370TH BOMB SQD. [H]
LEFT PITOE ARRIVED IN
MEROUKE, N.G. – REFUEL
TOOK OFF, ARRIVED
ROCKHAMPTON, AUS.
JULY 25—SCARRIF
HOTEL – RM. 23
SWAN HOTEL RM6
LEFT ROCKY {Rockhampton} JULY 30
ARRIVED PITOE
{New Page}
LEFT MOROTAI AUG. 3 ARRIVED
MANILA AUG. 3 22ND
REPL. BN. TENT A-9
LEFT MANILA AUG. 9 GOT ON
SHIP CAPE DOUGLAS – THE BRIG –
HOLD 2 ARRIVED FRISCO AUG. 31
{Note – Dad said that he and a buddy picked the brig to sleep in because it was cool, i.e. pleasant, for sleeping…they weren’t thrown
in the brig}
WENT TO CAMP STONEMAN
LEFT SEPT. 1 – BY BUS
TO MCLELLAN FLD, SACRAMENTO
TOOK OFF ON C-47 STOPPED
AT TUCSON, DALLAS, NASHVILLE
AND NEWARK – TO FT. DIX
BY TRAIN. – ARRIVED SEPT 2
LEFT SEPT 4 – 34 LESIE {sic, 34 Leslie St., Newark (home)}
LEFT NEWARK OCT. 20 ARRIVED
GREENSBORO, N.C. – AAF SEPARATION
CENTER – BARRACKS 746 – REC’D
DISCHARGE – LEFT G’BORO OCT. 29.
ARRIVED NWK OCT. 30 1945
THE END
{a summary of flight hours}
HRS. PLACE
FLYING TIME
PIPER CUB 10 C.T.D. {College Training Detachment}
B-17 26 Y.A.A.F. {Gunnery school?}
B-24 134 WESTOVER {in MA, where crew did training}
C-54 13
C-46 22
C-47 5
FEB 45 B-24 39 MOROTAI
MAR 45 65
APR 45 49
MAY 45 85 ½
JUNE 45 83
JULY 45 45
{Below are the other crew members as listed in Dad’s log book. Obviously, he did not list himself, Richard N. Roth – Radio Operator
and Gunner – Tech Sgt., 34 Leslie St., Newark, NJ}
Garald F. Kling {That is the spelling} – Engineer
Voorheesville, New York
Robert D. Larkin – Tailgunner
Hillsboro, Ohio
Robert L. Miller
405 Griswold St.
Peoria, Ill.
Robert E. McCarthy – Bombadier
16 Lambert St.
Medford, Mass
(went to Seton Hall)
Richard L. Luker
506 West Ave.
Blakely Island
Mobile, Alabama
Dean P. Humphrey
Deep River, Iowa
Sinclair Weeks Jr. – Navigator
282 Beacon St.
Boston, Mass
Amos J. DeRouen Jr. {“Frenchie”} – Co-Pilot
PO Box 290
Lake Charles, Louisiana
{He was the only crew member who did not survive the war…he died under mysterious circumstances on the base after the 35th
mission. DeRouen did not fly on the 35th mission. Another co-pilot took his place. When the crew returned from the mission, they
were informed that DeRouen was dead. Dad suspects that DeRouen either committed suicide, or that something more sinister occurred
that was covered up. Dad mentioned that none of the crew had much confidence in their co-pilot, and always hoped that the pilot
would survive each mission because they were afraid that the co-pilot could not successfully handle the aircraft. Dad also commented
that the co-pilot had some “odd” (to him) habits such as shaving all of his body hair, and he thought that the co-pilot might have been
a homosexual. By the time the crew was informed of his death, his burial was in progress. The death of the co-pilot may have
something to do with the early discharge of the rest of the crew, four missions short of the requisite 40. The remaining nine crew
members were sent to Australia for R&R, and when they returned, they were informed they would be sent home for discharge.}
Glenn Donaldson – Pilot
Texas
{In crew photo, the guys are lined up thus:
Standing, l to r: Luker / Miller / Humphreys / Roth / Kling / Larkin
Kneeling, l to r: DeRouen / McCarthy / Weeks / Donaldson}
