From: Judy Hartman,
redworth@netins.net To: looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2005 6:47 PM
Subject: J. Harlan "Red" Worth
My dad, J.
Harlan "Red" Worth served with the 379th group
and I think it was from June 12 to August 30. We
had pictures, which are now lost, but I do have
his flight jacket. I also have a photo copy of a
list of missions he flew. I would like to find
out what planes he flew in. I seem to remember
one named "Judy" and I think there was another
one. Thanks, Judy Worth Hartman
Judy - Association records
for J. Harlan "Red" Worth
show he flew 33 missions as
Radio
Operator/Engineer/Gunner with
the 525th Squadron from June
8, 1944 to August 30, 1944.
Our records indicate mission
numbers 139, 142, 143, 146,
147, 148, 152, 155, 156, 157,
159, 160, 161, 163, 164, 167,
168, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174,
177, 178, 179, 180, 182, 188,
190, 191, 192, 193 and 196.
Sgt. Worth may have flown
additional missions, but
these are the ones we have in
our records.
Sgt.
Worth flew in a number of
different aircraft, including
42-31592, "Nobody's Baby",
42-97678, "The Birmingham
Jewel" (photo attached),
44-6143, "Miss Behavin",
42-97833, "Silver Dollar",
42-97462, "Julie II",
42-38183, "The Lost Angel",
43-37777, "Four of a Kind",
42-107213, "Rubble Rouser",
42-97302, "Scotch N' Soda",
43-37932, "Spratt-O-Liner",
and 42-97128, "Screwball
Express". Photos of the
aircraft listed that we have
in our files will be sent in
separate e-mail. Crew of "The
Birmingham Jewel" on Mission
142, and what looks like what
could be called Sgt. Worth's
"regular" crew are as
follows:
Hersberger,
Robert A, 1st Lt, Pilot
Beckwith, Bosworth C, 2nd Lt,
Co-Pilot Moreau, Thomas P,
2nd Lt, Nav Isham, Robert
F, 2nd Lt, Bomb Worth, J
Harlan, Sgt, Radio Op
Wilkerson Jr., Allen T, Sgt,
Top Turret O'gurek,
Stanley B, Sgt, Ball Turret
Mcdonald, Dale E, Sgt, Waist
Herrell, George, Sgt, Tail
Sorry, none of the listed
crew is on our current
Association roster. This
response will be posted in
the "Looking 4" section of
our website, in case any
members have any additional
information.
Responding 4 8/12/2005
Kent
Search No. 1279 - Edward W. Springer
From: "Robert A &Traci A Daniels"
<radtad@townisp.com> To:
<looking4@379thbga.org>
Sent: Monday, August 08, 2005 12:00 PM
Subject: Edward W. Springer
Looking for any in
formation on my father-law Mr Edward W.
Springer, he was a pilot in the 525th at
Kimbolton, England. Thank you very much.
Regards
Bob Daniels
Bob - Association records
for Edward W. Springer show
he flew 31 missions as pilot
with the 525th Squadron from
April 19, 1944 to September
10, 1944. Our records
indicate mission numbers 98,
99, 100, 101, 106, 108, 115,
116, 117, 118, 119, 129, 135,
137, 139, 140, 142, 144, 149,
151, 152, 156, 157, 158, 162,
163, 164, 165, 169, 170, and
201. Lt. (later Captain)
Springer may have flown
additional missions, but
these are the ones we have in
our records.
Captain
Springer flew in a number of
different aircraft, and with
a number of different crews,
including missions as Group
and Wing lead ship, however
crew on mission 98 (a/c
42-31228, "London Avenger" -
sorry, no photo available),
and what looks like what
could be called his "regular"
crew are as follows:
Springer, Edward W, 2nd Lt,
Pilot Noziglia, Robert E,
2nd Lt, Co-Pilot Lewis,
Jasper L, 2nd Lt, Nav
Pahlen, Russell H, 2nd Lt,
Bomb Olson, Harold K, Sgt,
Radio Op Roupa, John F,
Sgt, Top Turret Wheeler,
Leonard R, Sgt, Ball Turret
Greene, Thomas F, Sgt, Right
Waist Graves, Chalmas E,
Sgt, Left Waist Apicella,
Raymond J, Sgt, Tail
Jasper Lewis and Thomas
Greene are on our current
Association roster. This
response will be posted in
the "Looking 4" section of
our website, in case any
members have any additional
information.
Responding 4 8/9/2005 Kent
Search No. 1278 - Crash of 42-31085 and
42-31189 on July 7, 1944
From: Günter
Hartwich, ghartwich@yahoo.de To:
looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Tuesday, July 26,
2005 1:04 AM Subject: Crash of 42-31085 and
42-31189 on July 7, 1944
Hello, I'm a
german guy who tries to set up a database of
planes that crashed during the air battles on
July 7th, 1944. The 379th Bomb Group lost two
ships: 42-31085, pilot Riedman and 42-31189,
pilot Harrah. Can you tell me: - their
squadron code and a/c letter - the
circumstances of their loss - the crash
location - the fate of the crewmembers. -
possibly a picture from the crews or plane?
Best regards from Germany Günter
Gunter - Association
records for the Reidman and
Harrah crews on the July 7,
1944 mission to the aircraft
factory at Leipzig, and
information on the crews is
as follows (note that "RTB"
indicates that crewmember
Returned to Base):
A/C
42-31085 (524th Squadron Code
WA-D, "Anita Marie") -
believed lost due to flak
Riedman, John E, 1st Lt,
Pilot, POW Smith, Robert
H, 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, KIA
Kelly, Sydney P, 2nd Lt,
Bomb, KIA Sarfaty, David
E, 2nd Lt, Nav, POW
Moreno, Edmund V, TSgt, Radio
Op, RTB Rowe, Albert O,
TSgt, Top Turret, KIA
Krosunger, Peter G, SSgt,
Ball Turret, POW Fields,
Donald E, SSgt, Waist, POW
Pekonen, Ray W, SSgt,Tail,
POW
A/C 42-31189
(525th Squadron Code FR-X,
"Paragon") - hit by flak over
target
Harrah, Robert
M, 1st Lt, Pilot, POW
Giles, Robert E, 2nd Lt,
Co-Pilot, POW Tracy,
Richard M, 2nd Lt, Nav, RTB
Ashbrook, Joseph L, 2nd Lt,
Bomb, POW Alexanian, John,
Sgt, Radio Op, RTB Cimino,
Phillip, TSgt, Top Turret, ,
KIA Mays, Kenneth E, SSgt,
Ball Turret, POW Garofalo,
Frank E, SSgt, Waist, RTB
Campbell, William R, SSgt,
Tail,RTB
John Riedman
is on our current Association
roster. Sorry, we have no
photographs of either of
these aircraft. This response
will be posted in the
"Looking 4" section of our
website, in case any members
have any additional
information.
Responding 4 8/2/2005 Kent
Search No. 1277 - Donald B. Armstrong
|
From: Dave Armstrong,
dba322@woh.rr.com To: looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Friday, July 22, 2005 12:24 PM Subject:
Donald B. Armstrong
My father, David and
I, are trying to find out information related to
the service of Dad's brother, my uncle, killed
on December 22, 1943 in Dangerous Dan. We
understand he was in Squadron 524. Dad has
attempted to get his service records but was
told they were destroyed in a fire at the
records center in the 70's. Could you provide
mission information for Donald?
Sincerely, Dave Armstrong
Dave - Association
records for Donald B. Armstrong show he flew 16
missions as gunner with the 524th Squadron from
May 29, 1943 to September 3, 1943. Our records
indicate mission numbers 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10,
11, 14, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, and 26. Sgt
Armstrong may have flown additional missions,
but these are the ones we have in our records.
Although Sgt Armstrong did fly missions in
a/c 42-29891 "Dangerous Dan, on the September 3,
1943 mission to the aircraft component factory
at Romilly, France, Mission 26, he was flying in
a/c 42-3300 (no name). Crew on that airplane was
as follows:
Krafft, Julius W, 2nd Lt,
Pilot, KIA Toft, Norman E, 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot,
POW Jacobs, Ronald W, 2nd Lt, Nav, POW
Peifer, Thomas D, 1st Lt, Bomb, POW Mckeegan,
Hugh (NMI), TSgt, Radio Op, POW Nolan,
Morrison T, SSgt, Top Turret, POW Frydryk,
Frank P, SSgt, Ball Turret, KIA Armstrong,
Donald B, TSgt, Right Waist, KIA Klump,
Delbert W,TSgt, Left Waist, POW Vandegriff,
Robert A, SSgt, Tail, POW
Robert
Vandegriff is on our current Association roster.
This response will be posted in the "Looking 4"
section of our website, in case any members have
any additional information.
Responding 4
7/24/2005 Kent
Search No. 1276 - Ted Hawerlander
From: John
Bicknell, j.bicknell@comcast.net To:
looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Monday, June 27,
2005 3:45 PM Subject: Ted S Hawerlander
Looking for aircraft name, crew list photos
etc for Ted S. Hawerlander, TSgt-Radio operator.
His daughter (my wife) & I just took a ride on
the B-17G Fuddy Duddy and she would like to
learn more. He talked very little about those
days and has been gone many years.
Thanks, John
John - Association records for Ted
Hawerlander show he flew 31 missions as Radio
Operator with the 524th Squadron from April 13,
1944 to June 21, 1944. Our records indicate
mission numbers 96, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 104,
106, 108, 114, 115, 117, 122, 125, 126, 127,
128, 129, 130, 132, 136, 137, 139, 140, 142,
143, 144, 145, 147, 148, and 149. Sgt
Hawerlander may have flown additional missions,
but these are the ones we have in our records.
Sgt Hawerlander's crew on Mission 104, and what
seems to be his "regular" crew, was as follows:
Lavery, Richard J, 2nd Lt, Pilot Spratt,
Warren E, 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot Strate, Harry E,
2nd Lt, Nav Walsh, Robert R, 2nd Lt, Bomb
Hawerlander, Theodore S, SSgt, Radio Op
Millard, Alymer G, SSgt, Top Turret Thompson
Jr., Lester O, Sgt, Ball Turret Kaminski,
Joseph R, Sgt, Right Waist Thorpe, Thomas G,
Sgt, Left Waist Black, George W, Sgt, Tail
Sorry, none of the listed crewmembers are on
our current Association roster.
Responding 4 6/30/2005 Kent
Search No. 1275 - Albert Adakonis
From: Adakonis, Neil:
Neil.Adakonis@ge.com To:
looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Monday, June 20,
2005 12:40 PM Subject: Information regarding
my father
My name is Neil Adakonis and my
father (Albert Adakonis) was in the 379th bomb
group. I'm looking for any information you have
regarding the missions he flew. I did purchase
the anthology, but he is only mentioned briefly
in one picture. Any information you have would
be appreciated. Further, he is now 82 years old,
living in Connecticut, and doing well, but his
memory of the war days is a little hazy. Also, I
do have a picture of him with his initial
training group next to their plane that I could
scan in and email if you're interested.
Neil - Association
records for Albert Adakonis show he flew 10
missions as Gunner and Togglier with the 525th
Squadron from April 22, 1944 to July 17, 1944.
Our records indicate mission numbers 100, 101,
104, 105, 106, 108, 152, 153, 162, and 167.
Records indicate Sgt Adakonis flew missions 100
through 108 as waist gunner until May 1944, when
crews generally eliminated one of the two waist
gunner positions, in favor of a single crewman
manning both guns. The later missions show him
assigned as Togglier, which replaced the
Bombardier position when bombing on the release
by the lead Bombardier. Sgt Adakonis may have
flown additional missions, but these are the
ones we have in our records. Sgt Adakonis'
"regular" crew, for his early missions, was as
follows:
Shumake, Lytle W, Cpt, Pilot
Smith, George W, 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot Redman,
Ralph J, 2nd Lt, Nav Carrillo, Lionel C, 2nd
Lt, Bomb Hom, Miles, SSgt, Radio Op
Meehan, Thomas C, SSgt, Top Turret Edmondson,
Lyle R, Sgt, Ball Turret Adakonis, Albert E,
Sgt, Right Waist Lairmore, Jack R, Sgt, Left
Waist Lambert, Jack H, Sgt, Tail
Sorry, none of the listed crewmates of your
Dad's are on our current Association roster. If
you can e-mail the picture of your Dad with his
training group, we would certainly like to add
it to Association records.
Responding 4
6/21/2005 Kent
Search No. 1274 - Albert C Johnson
From: Nell
Johnson, mnkj@friendlycity.net To:
looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Monday, June 20,
2005 12:15 PM Subject: Info on Albert C.
Johnson
I would appreciate any
information re my late husband- He was Albert C.
Johnson from Ga. He was in the 379th bomb
group--524th squadon--- a bombardier on a
B17---his plane was shot down in July 1943 and
he was a POW in Germany til liberated in April
or May 1945 @ Stalag Luft 111---in the South
Compound. He never talked about his time in the
service---Would like to know the name of his
plane ----how many missions and he flew, and if
any of his crew remember him. Thanks for any
help. Nell K. Johnson
Nell - We're sorry to hear of your Husband's
passing. We'll add his name to the Association's
Taps Roster.
Association records for
Albert C Johnson show he flew 7 missions as
Bombardier with the 524th Squadron from June 11,
1943 to July 25, 1943. Our records indicate
mission numbers 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 13, and 14. Lt.
Johnson may have flown additional missions, but
these are the ones we have in our records.
Mission 14, on 25 July 1943, was against the
U-boat pens at Hamburg, Germany. Lt. Johnson was
flying in a/c 42-3175, "The HA" (photo
attached), and records indicate this aircraft
was shot down. Crew on this mission was as
follows:
Hildebrandt, Frank A, Lt, Pilot,
POW Rogers, Don N, F/O, Co-Pilot, POW
Baxter, Leonard D, Lt, Nav, POW Johnson,
Albert C, Lt, Bomb, POW Blum, Perry T, SSgt,
Radio Op, POW Luhmann, Bruce B, TSgt, Top
Turret, POW Denezza, Patsy J, SSgt, Ball
Turret, POW Benecewicz, Marion E, SSgt, Right
Waist, POW Bullard, Joe A, TSgt, Left Waist,
POW Vaccaro, Anthony (NMI), Sgt, Tail, POW
Frank Hildebrandt and Pat Denezza are on our
current Association roster.
Responding 4
6/20/2005 Kent
Search No. 1273 - John H Ahern
From: "Dennis
Ahern" <ahern@world.std.com> To:
<looking4@379thbga.org> Sent: Sunday, June
12, 2005 9:14 PM Subject: John Ahern of 379th
I am seeking information of Lt. John
Ahern who piloted his bomber to a crash landing
in the village of Bozeat after ordering his crew
to bail out. I am unable to figure out how to do
a search on your website. Do you know if there
is any information there about this John Ahern?
Dennis J. Ahern
Dennis - Association records for John H Ahern
show he flew 3 missions as Pilot with the 526th
Squadron from December 2, 1944 to December 9,
1944. Our records indicate mission numbers 246,
247, and 248. Lt. Ahern may have flown
additional missions, but these are the ones we
have in our records.
On December 16,
1944, the 379th was to attack rail targets at
Stuttgart, with other groups of the 1st Bomb
Division and groups of the 3rd Bomb Division.
Due to extremely poor weather conditions, the
1st Bomb Division abandoned the mission while
still over England. During assembly for this
abandoned mission, a/c 44-8275 crashed in the
village of Bozeat. All crew members successfully
bailed out - pilot John H Ahern was killed in
the crash. Sorry, this is the only information
we have in our records.
Responding 4
6/18/2005 Kent
Search No. 1272 - Harold N
Sheaffer
From: marc marique, digger.mark@scarlet.be
To: looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Monday, June
06, 2005 12:53 AM Subject: HAROLD N SHEAFFER
Hi My name is MARC MARIQUE, I live in
Belgium . Im member of the " 99th Infantry
Division Association, MIA'S Project", search and
discovery of all US soldiers missing ( Whe
discovered 6 MIA in 2001 and 1 in 2003, all
members of the 99th, 3 buried overseas in 2002
at the " Henri-Chapelle Cemetery Belgium", 3 in
2002 in USA ( 1 in " Arlington National Cemetery
" and 1 in January 2005 in USA.
I have a
tag stamped with the name of : HAROLD N SHEAFFER
, asn: 0-739227 2/ Lt ,temporary buried NEUVILLE
H 12 2?. These tag discovered during a build for
a new house in a pasture along the cemetery of "
Ardennes Military Cemetery and Memorial,
Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium "
I have the
book " In the shadow of the forest " including
rosters of 26694 dead american soldiers buried
overseas in Belgium, the Netherlands and
Luxembourg. Information for Sheaffer is : HAROLD
N SHEAFFER, ASN: 0-739227, 2/Lt , buried "
Ardennes Cemetery " grave D-2-7 , member of the
527 BS, 379 BG ( H ), killed 02/22/1944, medals
AM/ 2 olc/ PH. I search information for
mission, crew and number MACR . Thanks, Marc
Marc - Association records for Harold N
Sheaffer show he flew 14 missions as Navigator
with the 527th Squadron from December 11, 1943
to February 22, 1944. Our records indicate
mission numbers 47, 48, 52, 53, 56, 57, 59, 60,
66, 67, 68, 69, 70, and 71. Lt. Sheaffer may
have flown additional missions, but these are
the ones we have in our records.
Mission
71, on 22 February 1944, was against the
aircraft factory at Halberstadt, Germany. Lt.
Sheaffer was flying in a/c 42-29829, "Sons o'
Satan", and records indicate this aircraft was
shot down by enemy fighters. Crew on this
mission was as follows:
Haston, Robert W,
Lt, Pilot, POW Clingman, Foy R, Lt, Co-Pilot,
KIA Sheaffer, Harold N, Lt, Nav, KIA
Burblis, Stanislaw (NMI), SSgt, Bomb, KIA
Fisher, Gordon D, TSgt, Radio Op, RTB Raack,
Kenneth E, TSgt, Top Turret, KIA Spisak,
Robert (NMI), TSgt, Ball Turret, KIA
Gemmecke, Conrad J, SSgt, Right Waist, POW
Nixon, William G, SSgt, Left Waist, POW
Adrianson, Lester B, SSgt, Tail, RTB
Note
"RTB" signifies this crewmember Returned to
Base.
Sorry, none of the surviving
crewmembers are on our current Association
roster. MACR number may be 2870.
Responding 4 6/12/2005 Kent
Search No. 1271 - Lt. Martin A
Kane- 379th Bomb Group/Heavy
From: Nicki Haynes, haynesrrtx@hotmail.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 12:34 PM To:
looking4@379thbga.org Subject: 379th Bomb
Group/Heavy
Dear Sirs,
My name is
Nicki Haynes, my cousin is Martin A. Kane. I am
trying to seek any information possible on
Martin; he died in France 6 weeks before I was
born. Anything you can tell me about Martin
would be wonderful; a picture (because I have
never seen one) would be beyond words.
Below is the information I have:
Martin
A. Kane was born Martin A. Krutsch in Detroit.
After his parents had both passed away he, and
his older sister Barbara, lived with a Mrs.
Kane. Martin took the name Kane.
Martin
enlisted in the United States Army on May 18,
1943 in Detroit, with service number 16112612,
he remained an enlisted personnel until June 26,
1944. On June 27, 1944 Martin became an officer,
with service number 0781590. Martin was a flyer
(2nd Lieutenant) in World War II, dying in
action on April 5, 1945. After war had been
declared he and his buddy were flying on a
routine flight; while flying low their plane was
shot down. Prior to the flight on which Martin
was killed, he was on another plane which he was
to have left on, he did not, but rather let
another Lieutenant leave because he was married.
When Martin jumped from the plane his shoot did
not open. Martin was killed instantly and is
buried in France. The other Lieutenant, his
buddy, went into a tree and lost both legs. For
many years after the war was over Martin's buddy
continued to visit the family.
At the
time of Martin's death in France, during World
War II he served with the 527th Bomb Squadron,
379th Bomb Group, Heavy. Interment is at
Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France,
Plot C, Row 8, Grave 31. Decorations and awards
Martin received were an Air Medal with 2 oak
leaf clusters, World War II Victory Medal and a
Lapel Button.
Also, I would love to know
that the family story of his death and that of
his buddy's landing in a tree and family visits
after the war is true. Would it be possible to
tell me if Martin obtained schooling in order to
receive his commission officer status or if he
received a field commission becoming an officer
because he knew how to fly. I do not know what
his position was on the flight crew either.
Any help in obtaining further knowledge
would sincerely be appreciated. Thank you,
Nicki Haynes
Nicki, I recently was going through my inbox
when I noticed your email. I apologize for not
answering your inquiry sooner. Lt Martin A Kane,
Co-pilot, was in the 379th Bombardment Group and
flew missions with the 527th Bomb Squadron from
2/24/05 to 4/04/45. Association records for Lt
Kane shows he flew the following 19
missions:286, 287, 288, 290, 291, 293, 294, 296,
297, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 313, 314, 315, 316
& 317. It is possible that Lt. Kane may have
flown additional missions, but these are the
ones we have in our records.
The
following is the crew and their positions on
their last mission to Ingolstadt, Germany
4/05/45
527th Sq. Ingolstadt, Germany
April 5, 1945 mission # 317 aircraft 42-97128
(525 FR-R) (526 LF-M ) "Screwball Express". A/C
took a direct hit by flak on # 3 engine. A/C
severely damaged by flak and out of control.
Pilot gave the order to bail out.
Hourtal
Joseph G. -2nd Lt, P, WIA-RTMC Kane Martin A.
-2nd Lt, CP, Lorraine C 8 31 Roberson Edwards
P. -2nd Lt, N, RTMC Whitehead Carlos A.
-S/SGT, NG, RTMC Roberts John D. -S/SGT, RO,
RTMC Rowan Richard D. -T/SGT, TT, RTMC
Reaves Sam N. Jr. -S/SGT, BT, RTMC Millar
Donald S. -SGT, TG, RTMC
Returned to
Military control ( RTMC), Wounded in Action
(WIA), Lorraine is an American Cemetery in
Europe.
Donald S Millar, John D. Roberts,
Sam N Reaves Jr. and Catherine Hourtal (widow)
are on the current 379th BG Association roster.
Our records do not indicate any other
crewmembers on the current Association
membership roster.
Ken Cassens,
bombardier, was on the first crew to fly on the
Screwball Express when it arrived at Kimbolton
England on March 23,1944, and is the author of
the book "Screwball Express". It is a meaningful
tribute to the 8th Air Force, the 379th Bomb
Group and the crews that flew the Screwball
Express. In Kens book there is a detailed
account of the last mission of the Screwball
Express on April 05, 1945. I have not found a
crew picture, however there are five members of
Lt Kane's crew pictured by the wreckage of the
Screwball Express taken April 6,1945. (Screwball
Express can be ordered through the PX; see PX
tab on the Home page index.)
Responding4
6/12/2005 Mike
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