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Search No. 1020 - Paul R. Repas |
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From: Linda Underhill
<WWUnderhil@aol.com>
To:
<looking4@379thbga.org>
Sent: Saturday,
September 29, 2001 9:34 AM
Subject: Missions
records
Dear Sir: I am seeking
information for a family history I am writing
about a relative named Lt. Paul R. Repas who
served with the 379th and was KIA on August 9,
1944. He was a bombardier; his serial number was
0-704234. I believe he flew 7 missions with the
524th squadron. According to a condensed MACR I
obtained from the Mighty Eighth Heritage Museum,
the plane on his last mission was #42-32093. It
crashed at Walheim and some of the crew survived
and are listed as POW. I would like to know
anything I can about that mission, and if you
have mission reports for any of the other
missions he flew on I would be very grateful to
hear about them, too. I am also trying to find
out what happened to the crew who survived the
crash, in hopes of possibly finding one of them.
Is it possible to determine if any of them are
members of the 379th's association? I have their
names from the condensed MACR. Thank you very
much for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Linda
Underhill
Linda,
We show that Lt.
Paul R. Repas, Bombardier,
was in the 379th Bomb Group
and flew 2 missions with the
524th Squadron (7/25/44 and
8/9/44). It is possible that
he could have flown more
missions, but we presently
don't have any records to
reflect additional missions
at this time. It would be
helpful if you had additional
information or dates when Lt
Repas was in the 379th BG.
524th Squadron
Pirmasens, Germany, August 9,
1944 mission # 186 Aircraft
42-32093 "BIG BARN SMELL",
took a direct flack hit on
the nose of the aircraft,
some chutes were reported. (3
KIA 6 POW) The crew and their
positions are as follows:
Jones Willis W. -1st Lt,
P, 0-743027, Lake Wales, FL,
KIA
Dry William P. -2nd
Lt, CP, 0-817180, Lead, SD,
POW
Repas Paul R. -2nd
LT, B, 0-704234, Pittsburgh,
PA, KIA
Black William E.
-T/SGT, RO, 37062315, Mount
Ida, AR, POW
Phillips
John C. -T/SGT, TT, 34099408,
Greenville, SC, POW
McGinnis William R. -S/SGT,
NG, 17069554, Iowa City, IA,
Buried in the Netherlands D
10 18
Brady Alvin W.
-S/SGT, BT, 33558589, Asland,
KY, POW
Parrish Charles
W. -S/SGT, WG, 34802458,
Selma, AL, POW
Schupp
Bernard M. -S/SGT, TG,
33434185, GD, Fryburg, PA,
RTMC
William E.
Black, is shown on the
current 379th Bomb Group
Associations roster. I
enclosed the serial numbers
of the crew members so you
could obtain more information
from personal records stored
in St. Louis Mo. I could not
find any more missions.
Responding4 10/12/01
Mike
Search No. 1018 - Robert M. Kent, JR
From: Mike Kent <mkent334@earthlink.net>
To: <looking4@379thbga.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2001 11:35 AM
Subject: Robert M. Kent Jr.
Gentlemen,
My father, Robert M. Kent Jr., was commissioned
in April,1944, at the age of 24. He was sent to
Kimbolton as a navigator in June, 1944. My mom
says his tour lasted 3 months and 23 days
(therefore, approximately June-September, 1944).
He flew 36 missions. The name of his aircraft
was "Take Me Home". He was wounded by flak on
one mission. He does not remember the Squadron
number. His flight jacket, with the records of
his missions, was stolen before he made it home.
Can you identify his Squadron, shipmates, and
missions? I have a photograph of Dad and his
crewmates. The aircraft is identified with the
number 2847, and has the chin turret of a "-G"
model.
Mike,
Lt. Robert M. Kent Jr. was a Navigator
in the 379th Bomb Group 527th squadron. We show
that Lt. Kent flew 23 missions with the 379th BG
from 09/03/44 to 11/21/44. Lt. Kent's 1st
mission was to Ludwingshafen, Germany on
aircraft 42-97163 " Snow White". He didn't fly
with his regular crew until the second mission.
The following is a list of the crew and their
positions on 09/09/44 to Mannheim, Germany, on
aircraft 42-38058 " The Wish Bone" (526th
aircraft).
It was your fathers second mission and the 379th
Bomb Groups 200th mission.
DeRosa, Ralph
E, 2nd Lt, Pilot
Hagen, Robert G, 2nd Lt,
Co-Pilot
Kent Jr., Robert M, 2nd Lt,
Navigator
Epstein, Irwin J, 2nd Lt,
Bombardier
Hite, Kenneth W, T/Sgt, Radio
Operator/Gunner
McCarty, Ivon E, T/Sgt,
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Roman, Stanley F,
S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner
Bizon, John A,
S/Sgt, Waist Gunner
O'Dell, John R, S/Sgt,
Tail Gunner
When new crews arrived at
their bases in England they usually went through
additional training prior to flying their first
mission. A tour of duty depended on the number
of missions they were required to fly (25, 28,
30, 35 etc.) and were based on the time-frame
they were in combat (43, 44 or 45). The length
of time to complete ones missions also depended
on scheduling and the weather. Crew pictures
were often taken often in front of aircraft
other than their own. We could not find number
2847 in the 379th BG aircraft inventory. "Take
Me Home" is aircraft number 43-38275 and was
flown by this crew on 10 missions. We show your
father flew 23 missions with the 379th as
follows:
198 September 3, 1944 Ludwigshaven
Germany
200 September 9, 1944 Mannheim
Germany
201 September 10, 1944 Sindelfingen
Germany
203 September 12, 1944 Brux
Czechoslovakia
205 September 17, 1944
Eindhoven Netherlands
206 September 19, 1944
Hamm Germany
209 September 26, 1944 Osnabruck
Germany
211 September 28, 1944 Magdeburg
Germany
214 October 3, 1944 Cologne Germany
217 October 7, 1944 Zwickau Germany
218
October 9, 1944 Schweinfurt Germany
221
October 15, 1944 Cologne Germany
224 October
19, 1944 Mannheim Germany
225 October 22,
1944 Brunswick Germany
226 October 25, 1944
Gelsenkirchen Germany
230 November 2, 1944
Sterkrade Germany
233 November 6, 1944
Bottrop Germany
234 November 8, 1944
Merseburg Germany
235 November 9, 1944 Metz
Area France
237 November 11, 1944
Gelsenkirchen Germany
238 November 16, 1944
Eschweiler Germany
239 November 20, 1944
Gelsenkirchen Germany
240 November 21, 1944
Merseburg Germany
It is possible that
your father flew more missions than we presently
have records for at this time.
Responding4 9/26/01
Mike
Search No. 1017 - Vonnie Gal
From: christopher martyr
[mailto:ratty@cmartyr.freeserve.co.uk]
Sent: Saturday, September 22,
2001 3:09 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: vonnie gal in
switzerland
hello sir,
i'm researching into the 116
B-17s and B-24 that went to
switzerland during 1943 to
1945 and from the 379th bg
one A/C landed there on the
20th july 1944 i was
wondering if you could help
me with my research as i have
very little on vonnie gal and
her crew and any info or
photo's, i have a photo which
chris chandler sent to me
about 3 years ago and it's
the only one i have of the
A/C but i have none of the
WILLIAM F. MOORE crew i would
also like to try and contact
any of the crew, if still
alive , so i could ask some
question about their stay
while in switzerland, i'm
more than willing to pay for
any info and photo's sent to
me. i'm a corresponding
member of the swiss internees
assoc, my number is C-21. i
would be grateful to you for
any help you can provide. i
hope to hear from you until
then have a nice day.
yours sincerely
robert
martyr
ps this is my
dads e-mail address but he
lets me, robert martyr , use
it for my research. rob
Robert,
The only B-17 from
the 379th Bomb Group to be
interned in Switzerland was
"Vonnie Gal" aircraft number
42-3524. The August 1995
issue of the Contrails has a
picture and an article about
"The Story of Vonnie Gal" by
Joseph E. D'Angelo page 11
and 12. The plane was
returned and flown back to
Burtonwood, England on
September 25, 1945. The
following is a list of the
crew and their positions on
July 20, 1944, the 379th Bomb
Groups 170 mission to
Leipzig, Germany.
Moore, William F, Lt, Pilot
Carpentier, Rex H, Lt,
Co-Pilot
Barbar, Jerry V,
Lt, Navigator
MacIntyre,
Donald K, Lt, Bombardier
Fowlkes, Richard D, S/Sgt,
Radio Operator/Gunner
Fairclough, Edward S, S/Sgt,
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Zupan, Don J, Sgt, Ball
Turret Gunner
Stewart,
Seth R, Sgt, Waist Gunner
Kibler, Jack W, Sgt, Tail
Gunner
Don Zupan and
Jack Kibler are on the
current membership roster of
the 379th Bomb Group
Association.
Responding4
9/23/01
Mike
Search No. 1016 - John Cascone
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From: John Cascone;
jcarmjohn@aol.com
Sent: September 16, 2001
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Subject:
Dear Sir:
I was a crew member of the 379thbg,
526th. I arrived at Kimbolton August 1st, 1944
and finished my 30 missions near March of 1945.
I have need of the mission sites. I flew with
different crews, and latter part of my tour I
flew on lead crew, as engineer top turret
gunner. Is it possible to find my missions
flown. I would appreicate your help.
Sincerely.
John Cascone, (37523435)
John,
Our records show only
21 missions of your 30 missions from 9/8/44 to
1/28/45. The following are a list of dates and
locations:
09/08/44- #199
Ludwigshafen, Germany
10/05/44- # 215
Dortmund, Germany
10/06/44- #216
Stralsund, Germany
10/09/44- #218
Schweinfurt, Germany
10/11/44- #219
Wesseling, Germany
10/14/44- #220
Saarbrucken, Germany
10/15/44- #221
Cologne, Germany
10/26/44- #227
Munster, Germany
10/30/44- #228
Merseburg/Hamm, Germany
11/04/44- #231
Bottrop, Germany
11/05/44- #232
Frankfurt, Germany
11/08/44- #234
Merseburg, Germany Low Squadron Lead Crew
11/11/44- #237
Gelsenkirchen, Germany High Squadron Lead Crew
11/16/44- #238
Eschweiler Area, Germany, Low Squadron Lead Crew
(Aircraft landed away bombed with the 381st Bomb
Group.)
12/09/44- #248
Stuttgart, Germany, Lead Squadron Lead Crew
12/19/44- #251
Hillesheim, Germany, Low Squadron Lead Crew
12/31/44- #257 Neuss,
Germany, Low Squadron Lead Crew
01/03/45- #260 St.
Vith, Belguim, Low Squadron Lead Crew
01/13/45- #265
Mannheim, Germany, High Squadron Lead Crew
01/20/45- #268
Mannheim / Stuttgart, Germany, Low Squadron Lead
Crew
01/28/45- #272
Cologne, Germany, Low Squadron Lead Crew
We are in the process
of obtaining some additional records that may
reflect the additional missions in which you
flew. Any additional information that you might
have would be helpful in identifying the rest of
your missions.
Responding4 9/17/01
Mike
Search No. 1015 - Bill Kari
From: Kari, Wm. Doug
<DKARI@Orrick.com>
To:
<looking4@379thbga.org>
Subject: William J.
Kari
My late father Bill Kari was a
bombardier in the Eighth Air Force. I believe
that he may have served with the 379th, late in
the war. Although he did not like to talk about
the war, he told us that he was stationed at
Kimbolton. His separation papers indicate that
he arrived in England in March 1945. His monthly
flight records show that he flew several combat
missions in April 1945. He returned to the U.S.
in July 1945. I recall he once told me that his
plane was called the "Virtuous Virgin." Can you
help me find any information? In particular, I
would like to see if any of the men with whom my
father served can be located.
Also,
before Bill went overseas, he was in a plane --
I believe a B-17 -- that crashed during
training. He told us that two men died in the
crash. I have his handwritten bombardier's log
for the date of the crash. It was October 11,
1944 at about 12:30 p.m. They were returning to
the AAF base in Sioux City, Iowa, where they had
departed approximately 5 hours before. Can you
help me find any information about this
incident?
Doug Kari
Doug,
Lt. William J. Kari, Bombardier, flew
with the 379th Bomb Group 527th Squadron from
04/06/45 to 04/10/45. Our records show Lt. Kari
flying only two missions with the 379th BG. It
is possible that he could have flown more
missions. If you have a list of his missions it
would be helpful in finding out additional
information about his crew members and missions.
We could not find the aircraft named "Virtuous
Virgin " in the 379th Bomb Group inventory. If
you have the number of the aircraft that would
certainly help. We have no records that would
indicate accidents of flying personnel prior to
their arrival in the European Theater of
Operation (ETO).
The following is a list
of the crew and their positions on aircraft
43-39076 to Lepzig, Germany 04/06/45:
McCartney, Daniel J, 2nd Lt, Pilot
Saunders,
Joe W, 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot
Horn, John A, 2nd Lt,
Navigator
Kari, William J, 2nd Lt, Bombardier
Phillips, Edward R, Pvt, Radio Operator/Gunner
Thorne, Kenneth R, Pvt, Engineer/Top Turret
Gunner
Shearin, Willard E, S/Sgt, Ball Turret
Gunner
Lanoy, Leon, S/Sgt, Tail Gunner
Washkevich Jr., Fred, Sgt, Spot Jammer
The following is a list of the crew and their
positions on aircraft 43-39076 to Oranienburg,
Germany 04/10/45:
Brix, Reuben, 2nd Lt, Pilot
Crtalic, William, 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot
Gatewood,
Charles F, 2nd Lt, Navigator
Kari, William J,
2nd Lt, Bombardier
Crouch, Hubert J, S/Sgt,
Radio Operator/Gunner
Henderson, Ernest L,
T/Sgt, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Brown,
William C, S/Sgt, Waist Gunner
Collins Jr.,
George, Sgt, Tail Gunner
Charles F.
Gatewood, Ernest L. Henderson and Willard E.
Shearin are currently shown as members of the
379th Bomb Group Association.
Responding4
9/14/01
Mike
Search No. 1012 - William Joseph Sibo
From: James Arata; Aratajg@aol.com
To:
<looking4@379thbga.org>
Subject: William
Joseph Sibo
Dear Sirs: I am looking for
any information about William Joseph Sibo, id
36580505 T43-44 A. All I have is that he was a
top gunner/engineer in the 379th group H. I am a
friend of the family and any information would
be greatly appreciated. I have been told that he
flew 22 missions in 44 and 45 and was shot down
twice. Thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely, James Arata.. Aratajg@aol.com
James,
Sgt.
William J. Sibo Engineer/Top Turret Gunner, was
in the 379th Bomb Group 526th Squadron and flew
missions with the group from 3/2/45 to 4/17/45.
His 1st mission was to bomb the Rail yards at
Chemnitz, Germany on 3/2/45. The following is a
list of the crew and their positions on aircraft
43-38178 "Seattle Sue":
Martin, Donald R,
2nd Lt, Pilot
Carver, Clarence E, 2nd Lt,
Co-Pilot
Dell, Melvin M, 2nd Lt, Navigator
Pomeroy, Robert F, Sgt, Nose Gunner/Togglier
Poovey, James H, Sgt, Radio Operator/Gunner
Sibo, William J, Sgt, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Fellows, William A, Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner
Umphrey, Orval L, Sgt, Waist Gunner
Monella,
Samuel H, Sgt, Tail Gunner
We show
William J Sibo's last mission was on 4/17/45 to
Dresden, Germany on aircraft 43-38679 "Miss
Liberty". This was the 379th Bomb Groups 327
mission. The following is a list of the crew and
their positions:
Martin Jr., James J, 2nd
Lt, Pilot
Braly, James, 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot
Dell, Melvin M, 2nd Lt, Navigator
Pomeroy,
Robert F, S/Sgt, Nose Gunner/Togglier
Poovey,
James H, S/Sgt, Radio Operator/Gunner
Sibo,
William J, S/Sgt, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Fellows, William A, Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner
Monella, Samuel H, S/Sgt, Tail Gunner
Dandrea, Henry T, Sgt, Spot Jammer
We
show that Sgt. William J. Sibo flew 19 missions
with the 379th Bomb Group, but he could have
flown more. We don't show him being shot down or
crash landed on any of our records.
Responding4 9/3/01
Mike
Thank you for your help, but isn't it odd that
the crew was the same for both planes except for
the pilot and copilot. Is it possible that the
first plane was lost and the crew, minus the
pilot and copilot were assigned to another plane
or is it possible that the pilot and copilot had
enough missions to retire and the rest of the
crew transferred to another plane. Just curious.
Thanks again. James Arata
James,
Further investigation revealed that
this crew did in fact crash land upon returning
in aircraft 44-6614, 3/17/45 on the 379 Bomb
Groups 303 mission to Bohlem, Germany. The
following is the crew and their positions:
Martin Jr, James J, 2nd Lt, Pilot
Carver,
Clarence E, 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot
Dell, Melvin M,
2nd Lt, Navigator
Pomeroy, Robert F, Sgt,
Nose Gunner/Togglier
Poovey, James H, Sgt,
Radio Operator/Gunner
Sibo, William J, Sgt,
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Fellows, William
A, Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner
Monella, Samuel
H, Sgt, Tail Gunner
Martin, James A, S/Sgt,
Spot Jammer
The 379th Bomb Group flew a
total of 330 missions in the European Theater of
Operation (ETO). Lt. Martin Jr., James J.,
Pilot, flew missions prior to flying with this
crew and flew several missions after the crash
landing. Also Lt. Carver, Clarence E., Co-Pilot
did not fly with this crew on several missions
that Sgt. William Sibo flew. Lt. Carver went on
to fly additional missions including the last
mission the 379th Bomb Group flew.
There
were several reasons why crews seldom finished
their tour of duty together. Often times
substitutes were made due to illness, frost bite
or other life threatening injuries. The B-17 F
and earlier G models had open waist gunner
positions, which caused gunners to be exposed to
extremely windy sub zero conditions causing
frost bite. Some members of the crews were
reassigned as Lead Crews. Replacement crews that
arrived at Kimbolton were trained prior to going
on their first mission on formations, bombing
and land marks for their air field location etc.
(Kimbolton Castle). Also typically new pilots
had a checkout ride in the co-pilots position on
their first mission, while a seasoned pilot
showed them the ropes.
Responding4 9/7/01
Mike
Search No. 1011 - William Keenan
From:
Wesley E. Wells; alakala@aol.com
Sent: Sun,
02 Sep 2001
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: William Keenan
William Keenan
was an enlisted man. He was a gunner in, I
believe, the 526th. I understand that he was KIA
in a crash landing after being diverted to
Brussels. I went through the Anthology and
didn't find him mentioned. I know he was there
in Nov 44 until after we went down in Germany
Feb 9, 1945 and it should be sometime after
that. I just remember him visiting one of our
crew members in our barracks. The reason that I
am doing this search is for one of our crew
member who was a close friend of Keenan but is
not in good shape and not able to do the search
himself.
Would appreciate any help that
might be given.
Wesley E. Wells
Wes,
Sgt. William
J. Keenan Nose Gunner/Togglier completed 22
missions with the 379th Bomb Group 526th
Squadron from 12/9/44 to 4/16/45. I show that
Sgt. Keenan's 2nd mission 12/24/44, was to
Merzhausen/Kirchgons, Germany, on aircraft
44-6507 " Lucky Patch". At the target #1 engine
was feathered on the bomb run and the aircraft
left formation. Their aircraft was diverted to
another B-17 base and landed safely in England.
The crew left their aircraft and returned to
base X-mas day via trucks. We believe that
Willis H.Barney is a 379th member and flew the
above mission with Keenan, however we think it
was Willis's last mission. The following is the
crew and their positions:
Marineau,
Thomas F, Lt, Pilot
Klemm, Thomas R, Lt,
Co-Pilot
Hodgkiss, Bernard V, Lt, Navigator
Keenan, William J, Sgt, Nose Gunner/Togglier
Barney Jr., Willis H, T/Sgt, Radio
Operator/Gunner
Holliday, Ray G, T/Sgt,
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Ramirez, Andres F,
S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner
Mancuso, John J,
S/Sgt, Waist Gunner
Stinchcomb, Don J, S/Sgt,
Tail Gunner
We show William J. Keenan's
last mission on 4/16/45 to Regensburg on
aircraft 44-8589 "Pretty Olga"; the 379th Bomb
Groups 326th mission. The following is the crew
and their positions:
Crosby Jr., James E,
Major, Pilot
Pearl, Marvin, 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot
Tsouris, Chris S, 2nd Lt, Navigator
Butler,
Clyde W, 2nd Lt, Navigator-GEE
Sauer, Harold,
1st Lt, Navigator-PFF
Brellenthin, Arthur E,
1st Lt, Bombardier
Vroman, Samuel P, T/Sgt,
Radio Operator/Gunner
Doyle, William A,
S/Sgt, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Keenan,
William J, Cpl, Waist Gunner
Cole, Robert L,
2nd Lt, Tail Gunner-Formation Control
We
could not find any record of Sgt. William J.
Keenan being KIA or killed in a non combat
related accident. we presently don't have all
the mission reports to confirm any other
missions or crash landings.
Responding4
9/2/01
Mike
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