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At approximately 12 minutes before the target was reached, enemy aircraft made sudden attacks on the group of which this aircraft was a member. The entire tail of this aircraft was shot off and plane flipped over out of control. Aircraft going down in vicinity of the I.P.
Mission Number 222 Target: Bohlen, Germany
The 94th “B” Group sent 13 Crews flying low squadron in the 95th “B” Group in the 13th “C” Combat Wing. Take Off: 0711 to 0742 hours. English coast departed at Lowestoft at 0941 hours flying at 17,5000 feet. Landfall on Dutch coast at 52/37N-04/37E at 1028 hours flying at 24,500 feet. The I.P. was reached at 1222 hours. Primary target was bombed at 1230 hours flying at 26,000 feet. The Dutch coast was recrossed at 52/37N-04/37E at 1420 hours flying at 22,000 feet. English coast was recrossed 3 miles north of Lowestoft at 1454 hours flying at 12,000 feet. Base landings completed from 1457 to1527 hours.
At approximately twelve minutes before the I.P. was reached the “B” Group comprised of 13 A/C from the 94thBG and 13 A/C + 1 PFF from the 95th BG were attacked by about 50 to 60 S/E and T/E enemy fighters comprised of FW-190’s and ME-109’s. ME 210’s were also seen in the area. They appeared from the clouds at 5 o’clock and 7 o’clock, high and level positions in waves of 8 to 10, peeling off right and left at approximately 100 yards with some E/A flying under the formation. Eight A/C of the 94th BG were shot down and two were forced to leave the formation, one of which (#380) landed in Belgium. Three A/C of the 95th BG were also shot down and two were forced to leave the formation.

S/Sgt Louis W. Ballin first buried at Temporary American Military Cemetery Ardennes, Belgium Block R, Row 10, Grave 250.