|
From: "Jamie and Gwyn
Ridenhour" <jamieandgwyn@btinet.net>
To:
<looking4@379thbga.org>
Sent: Tuesday,
October 11, 2005 7:27 PM
Subject: Bruce Webb
Dear Sirs,
I'm looking for information on
my grandfather, Bruce Webb. He died when I was
young, and apparently didn't like to talk about
his experiences in the war. For a long time, all
we knew was that he was a tailgunner who was
stationed in England, and that he had won a
Distinguished Flying Cross.
Recently my
brother found grandaddy's flight jacket in some
old effects of my uncle's (who recently passed
away). The jacket has the words "Ragin' Red"
written on the back, and it's through searching
for those words online that I've come to believe
that he was a member of the 525th. That's the
extent of what I know. I never really knew my
grandfather, and would welcome any information
you could provide.
thank you,
Jamieson
Ridenhour
Jamie -
Association
records for Bruce Webb show
he flew 25 missions as gunner
with the 525th Bomb Squadron
from December 16, 1943 to
March 16, 1944. Records
indicate missions number 49,
50, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57,
60, 62, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71,
72, 73, 75, 76, 79, 80, 81,
and 82. Sgt. Webb may have
flown additional missions,
but these are the ones we
have in our records.
From our records, Sgt Webb
flew missions in a number of
aircraft, including a/c
42-30298, Squadron Code FR-M,
"Ragin' Red II" (Missions 60,
63, 64, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71,
7273, 75, 76). Sorry, we have
no photograph of this
aircraft. Crew on "Ragin Red
II" for Mission 60, and what
looks to be Sgt Webb's
regular crew, is as follows:
Watson Jr., Edward R, 2nd
Lt, Pilot
Guinn, Robert K,
2nd Lt, Co-Pilot
Jackson,
Durad Y, 2nd Lt, Nav
Ziobrowski, Anthony J, 2nd
Lt, Bomb
Whittle, Patrick
L, SSgt, Radio Op
Garrett,
Maurice C, SSgt, Top Turret
Webb, Kenneth J, Sgt, Ball
Turret
Webb, Bruce C, Sgt,
Right Waist
Hunter, Earl
D, Sgt, Left Waist
Mcdonough, John E, Sgt, Tail
Edward Watson and Earl D.
Hunter 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 10/20/2005
Kent
Search No. 1289 - Tenny Belle
From: George Painter, gpainter@adelphia.net
To: <looking4@379thbga.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2005
Subject: Looking for
Info on the "Tenny Belle"
I recently visited the
Mighty 8th Museum in Savannah and saw a plaque
dedicated to the crew of “Tenny Belle.” It is
from the 525th Squadron, 379th Bomb Group,
Kimbolton 1943-1944. The following crewmen are
named:
2nd Lt. Earl L. Houston
- P
2nd Lt. Cartter G.
Maule - CP
2nd Lt.
Richard C. Brooke - N
2nd Lt. Eugene F. Hart - B
SSGT Robert M. Lee - TT
SSGT Edward A Babier - RG
SGT Edward J. Ludwig - RW
SGT Joseph J. Columbo - LW
SGT Paul H. Fetterhoff - BT
SGT Robert L. Kelly (POW) - TG
I would like to learn
the origin of the name “Tenny Belle” and what
happened to the crew. Did they survive WW II?
The reason is that I am from the “Tenney” family
line, but some spelled it differently over the
years. Most of the Tenney’s/Tenny’s in the USA
spring from one family line that originated in
Rowley, England in the mid 1600’s when they
migrated to start a new beginning in Rowley,
Mass. It would be wonderful to tie this B-17 and
crew to the Tenny/Tenney family line.
I Thank you for any
info,
George Painter
George,
The crew members of the “Tenny Belle”
listed on this plaque were the original crew and
survived the war. The plane was named after the
pilot’s wife whose nickname was “Tenny”. No
relation to the “Tenney” family line.
Responding 4 9/11/05
Mike
Mike,
I
thank you for the info. I am
still somewhat confused as to
what happened to the Tenny
Belle. There must have been
two different pilots, but it
is not clear who was the
first pilot. I did some
Google research after I sent
the message to you I found an
accident report on a German
Web site: The “Tenny Belle”
was damaged on a mission to
Sorau, Germany on 11/04/1944
and crashed at Downham
Market, England. The pilot
John E. Daly was killed.
There may have been other
casualties.
The
fate of the “Tenny “Belle” is
not clear to me. There was
one crash on 11/04/1944. This
date is April 4, 1944 as that
is the death of the pilot
John E. Daly in the crash in
England. The date of the 25th
Mission Completion picture is
12/3/44 so I think this may
be Dec. 3, 1944, but I am not
sure. It could mean that it
was taken on March 12, 1944
before the crash. The plaque
at the Mighty 8th Museum has
a different pilot, Earl L.
Houston, so I am not sure of
his actual dates with the
Tenny Belle. The plaque also
has a crewman Robert L. Kelly
listed as a POW, so this only
adds to the confusion! If he
was a POW he would have had
to crash or bail out over
enemy territory! So what do
you think? Perhaps the
“Tenny” wife was the wife of
pilot Earle Houston or was
she the wife of John E.
Daly??
I
greatly appreciate any
further clarification!
Thanks, George
George,
The “Tenny Belle” was named
after Earl Houston’s wife.
The original crew of the
“Tenny Belle” arrived at
Kimbolton in October 1943,
flew their first mission on
November 12, 1943 and all
finished their missions (tour
of duty) except for S/Sgt
Robert Kelly (POW). The first
members of the crew to
complete their missions were
Earl L. Houston, Pilot,
Richard C Brooke, Navigator
and Eugene F. Hart,
Bombardier on March 13, 1944.
The early B-17’s had open
waist positions and at 30,000
feet the temperatures were
sub zero which caused many
crew members to be
hospitalized for frostbite or
illness. While these gunners
were away substitutes flew
missions with the rest of the
crewmembers. Therefore many
crew members did not complete
their tour of duty at the
same time, as was the case
with the “Tenny Belle”. In
other instances crew members
were awaked to find out that
they were filling in with
other crews as was the case
with the Tenny Belle’s tail
gunner S/Sgt Robert L. Kelly
who filled in on Lt. Doris
Beam’s crew on February 8,
1944.
525th Sq. Frankfurt,Germany
(Engine Components) February
8, 1944 Mission # 67 Aircraft
42-29633 (FR-C). This A/C Was
Seen Hit By Enemy Fighters.
It Received A Direct Hit In
The # 2 Engine And The Left
Horizontal Stabilizer Was
Shot Off. It Went Into A Slow
Spiral Hit The Ground And
Exploded. The Attacks Took
Place Just Inside Of The
Enemy Coast, Five Chutes Were
Seen.
Beam
Doris R. - 2nd Lt, P, POW
Ross
Bobb F. - 2nd Lt, CP,
Ardennes
Gallagher Eugene H. - 2nd Lt,
N, POW
Tate
Dean W. - 2nd Lt, B, Evaded
Fotonakes George C. - T/SGT,
RO, POW
Lessig William C. - T/SGT,
TT, Evaded
Bernier John F. - S/SGT, BT,
Evaded
Lissandrello George G. -
S/SGT, RW, POW
Helsel David G. - S/SGT,LW,
Evaded
Kelly Robert L. - S/SGT, TG,
POW
The
rest of the “Tenny Belle”
crew finished their missions
at different times due to the
increased length of a tour of
duty from 25 missions to 30
beginning April 1, 1944. Many
of the crew had their
missions pro-rated to 27or 28
mission as they were flying
prior to the requirement
change in April.
A
new crew flew the “Tenny
Belle” on April 11, 1944 on
their 1st mission to Sorau,
Germany.
525th Sq. Sorau, Germany (
Aircraft Assembly Plant)
April 11, 1944 Mission # 95
Aircraft 42-31083 (FR-A)
"Tenny Belle". A/C Exploded
In Mid-Air Near Downham
Market, England. Lt William
F. Evans Navigator, Had His
Parachute On And Escaped.
Daly
John E Jr. -2nd Lt, P,
Cambridge
Koerber Robert W. - 2nd Lt,
CP, Cambridge
Evans William F. -2nd Lt, N,
WIA - Returned
Christensen Carl B. -S/SGT,
NG, KIA
Young Omer L. -T/SGT, RO,
KIA, TT, KIA
Tuber Harvey W. -S/SGT, BT,
KIA
MacCallum John -S/SGT, RW,
Cambridge
Hearne Frank J. Jr. -S/SGT,
LW, KIA
Polizzo Howard J. -S/SGT, TG,
KIA
Lt.
William F. Evans was KIA on
the following mission:
527th Sq. Coulanges Sur
Yonne, France ( Bridge) June
25, 1944 Mission # 154
Aircraft 42-97890. "Lil
Satan". (524th Aircraft
Returned).
Becker Karl -1st Lt, P,
Returned
Rawls Patrick D. -2nd Lt, CP,
Returned
Evans Robert W. (525th) -2nd
Lt, N, KIA
Maatta Arthur M. -2nd Lt, B,
Cambridge
Andrews Alexander -Major,
OBS, Returned
Smith Robert A. -T/SGT, RO,
Returned
Brittain George M. -T/SGT,
TT, Returned
Lalorde James A. -S/SGT, BT,
Returned
Phillips Francis J. -S/SGT,
WG, Returned
Simoncini Joseph (NMI)
-S/SGT, TG, POW
Responding 4 9/12/05
Mike
Search No. 1288 - Howard Francis
From: K L Posey
<fleneer@lycos.com>
To:
<looking4@379thbga.org>
Sent: 9/7/2005
Subject: Howard Francis
I was looking for
aircraft and crew information for B-17s Howard
Francis 526BS piloted during the 43 - 44
timeframe.
Thanks a lot for you help,
Ken
Posey
Ken -
Association records
for Howard Francis show he
flew 21 missions as pilot
with the 526th Bomb Squadron
from November 16, 1943 to
March 23, 1944. Records
indicate missions number 42,
43, 45, 47, 51, 52, 53, 56,
59, 62, 64, 65, 66, 75, 78,
79, 80, 83, 85, 86, and 87.
Lt. Francis may have flown
additional missions, but
these are the ones we have in
our records.
Lt.
Francis flew in a number of
different aircraft, including
a/c 42-29963, "Judy" (Mission
42), a/c 42-39782, "Pistol
Packin' Mama" (Missions 43,
47, 51, 52, 53, 56, 59, 62,
64, 65, 66), a/c 42-39828,
"Penny Ante" (Mission 45),
a/c 42-31927 (Mission 75, 78,
79), a/c 42-37791 (Mission
80), a/c 42-30237, "Stump
Jumper" (Mission 83, photo
will be sent in separate
e-mail), a/c 42-38057, "Flak
Rabbit" (Mission 85, 86, 87).
Crew in a/c 42-39782, "Pistol
Packin' Mama", on Mission 47
to Emden, Germany, and what
looks like Lt. Francis'
"regular" crew was as
follows:
Francis,
Howard G, Lt, Pilot
Brown,
Robert F, Lt, Co-Pilot
Myers, Herbert T, Lt, Nav
Wiseman, Charles O, Lt, Bomb
Martin Jr., Joe (NMI), TSgt,
Radio Op
Murray, Arthur J,
TSgt, Top Turret
Davis,
Ernest L, SSgt, Ball Turret
House, Eugene W, SSgt, Right
Waist
Walter, Leonard E,
SSgt, Left Waist
Anderson,
James E, SSgt, Tail
Robert Brown 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 9/8/2005
Kent
Search No. 1287 - 379th Loss on January
11, 1944
|
|
From: Günter
Hartwich, ghartwich@yahoo.de
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Wednesday, August
31, 2005 12:53 AM
Subject: 379th loss on
1/11/44
Hello,
Looking for any
information about B-17, # 42-37768, 526th Sq,
MACR : 1943, lost 1/11/1944. Can you help me and
tell me:
- the pilots name
- the ship's
squadron code and a/c letter ( and ship's name )
if it's possible:
- 379th mission number
-
the circumstances of the loss
- the crash
location
- the crewmembers and fate
- a
picture from the crew or plane?
Thank you
and best regards from Germany
Günter
Gunter -
Association records for a/c 42-37768, Squadron
code LF-J (Mission 58, January 11, 1944 to
Oschersleben), indicate the following:
Crew bailed out over the Weser River, 5
parachutes seen. Crew was as follows:
Waggoner Jr., P A, 2nd Lt, Pilot, POW
Emerson, Burt R, 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, POW
Young,
Herbert W, 2nd Lt, Nav, POW
Desmond, Arthur
H, 2nd Lt, Bomb, POW
Nadel, Murray, TSgt,
Radio Op, POW
Cowan, William F, SSgt, Top
Turret, POW
Adkins, Brady (NMI), SSgt, Ball
Turret, POW
Taylor, Kenneth F, SSgt, Right
Waist, RTB
Hillyard, Noel D, SSgt, Left
Waist, MIA
Sutton, Robert J, SSgt, Tail, KIA
Arthur Desmond and Herbert Young are on our
current Association roster. Sorry, we have no
picture of this airplane, and have no
information on crash location. This response
will be posted in the "Looking 4" section of our
website, in case any members have any additional
information.
Responding 4 9/1/2005
Kent
Search No. 1286 - Patrick L.
Whittle
From: MHandford,
a.freezer@blueyonder.co.uk
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Sunday, August
28, 2005 12:46 AM
Subject: Patrick L Whittle
Hi,
I am seeking information about Tech
Sgt Patrick L Whittle (39679788). I understand
he was a Radio Operator with the 525th BS and
flew the majority of his 25 missions with Edward
R Watson's crew. I am particularly interested in
finding a photo of him and his crew but any
information would be gratefully recieved.
Many thanks,
Sincerely,
Mike Handford.
Mike -
Association records for Patrick L.
Whittle show he flew 21 missions as Radio
Operator/Gunner with the 525th Squadron from
December 16, 1943 to March 13, 1944. Our records
indicate mission numbers 49, 50, 52, 53, 56, 57,
60, 62, 63, 64, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 75,
76, 79, and 80. Sgt. Whittle may have flown
additional missions, but these are the ones we
have in our records.
On Mission 49 to
Bremen, Germany, Sgt. Whittle was a crewmember
on a/c 42-31189, "The Paragon". Crew on this
mission, and what looks like Sgt. Whittle's
"regular" crew, was as follows:
Watson
Jr., Edward R, 2nd Lt, Pilot
Guinn, Robert K,
2nd Lt, Co-Pilot
Jackson, Durad Y, 2nd Lt,
Nav
Ziobrowski, Anthony J, 2nd Lt, Bomb
Whittle, Patrick L, SSgt, Radio Op
Garrett,
Maurice C, SSgt, Top Turret
Webb, Kenneth J,
Sgt, Ball Turret
Webb, Bruce C, Sgt, Right
Waist
Hunter, Earl D, Sgt, Left Waist
Mcdonough, John E, Sgt, Tail
Edward
Watson and Earl Hunter are on our current
Association roster. Sorry, we have no picture of
Sgt. Whittle or his crew. This response will be
posted in the "Looking 4" section of our
website, in case any members have any additional
information.
Responding 4 9/1/2005
Kent
Search No. 1285 - Robert R. Medean
From: Michael
Medean <mdm411@earthlink.net>
To:
<looking4@379thbga.org>
Sent: Saturday,
August 27, 2005 5:19 AM
Subject: Photo of
42-97370 "The Hellion"
Hello,
My
name is Michael Medean. My father, Robert R.
Medean, was a pilot with the 526th squadron. He
flew missions from August 30, 1944 to January 6,
1945. I believe he flew 35 missions in 14
different B-17's. The names of some of these
aircraft were, "Everybody's Baby", "Patches",
"Carol Dawn", "Mary Jo", "Screwball Express",
"Lady Luck", "Miss Lace", "Lucky Patch", "Scotch
and Soda", and "The Hellion".
I am
looking for photographs of the nose art for
these planes. Especially for "The Hellion",
since he flew the majority of his missions in
this B-17. Also, I am looking for a print of
"Kimbolton Memory" by artist Keith Hill. My
father passed away in October 2000, and I am
looking to find as much information as I can on
the 379th. I have the 379th Anthology, Shades of
Kimbolton, and The Screwball Express books.
Unfortunatley, I am unable to attend the reunion
this year.
Any photographs or information
that you could provide would be greatly
appreciated.
Thank you,
Michael Medean
Michael -
We're
sorry to hear of your Father's passing. We'll
add his name to our Taps roster.
Association records for Robert R. Medean show he
flew 32 missions as Pilot with the 526th
Squadron from August 30, 1944 to January 6,
1945. Our records indicate mission numbers 196,
198, 201, 202, 204, 206, 209, 210, 211, 213,
214, 216, 220, 221, 223, 224, 228, 229, 231,
232, 234, 239, 240, 247, 248, 249, 253, 254,
256, 258, 260, and 261. Lt. Medean may have
flown additional missions, but these are the
ones we have in our records.
On Mission
202 to Eisenach, Germany, Lt. Medean was flying
a/c 42-37805, "Carol Dawn" (photo will be sent
in separate e-mail). Crew on this mission, and
what looks like your Father's "regular" crew,
was as follows:
Medean, Robert R, Lt,
Pilot
Lehman, Ruel F, Lt, Co-Pilot
Greenfield, Joseph C, Lt, Nav
Heiderich,
William R, Lt, Bomb
Perry, Walter B, Sgt,
Radio Op
Larsen, Robert A, Sgt, Top Turret
Brunner, Donald L, Sgt, Ball Turret
Feldstein, Ira (NMI), Cpl, Waist
Germano,
John J, Sgt, Tail
Robert Larsen 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. Sorry, we have no photograph of
"The Hellion", however photos of a/c 42-97127,
"Screwball Express" (Missions 206, 211) and
44-6507, "Lucky Patch" (Missions 213, 214, 223)
will be sent in separate e-mail.
Responding 4 9/1/2005
Kent
Search No. 1284 - Phillip William
Speasmaker
From: Darrin
Mason, dmason29@yahoo.com
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Friday, August
19, 2005 4:58 PM
Subject: Philip William
Speasmaker
i have been researching the
men and women who served in WW2 from my home
county (Madison County, Ohio) and I have one
that I know of that served in the 379th. Its
Philip William Speasmaker who was born 8/20/23
in London, ohio. He died 11/25/03 in texas. He
had been living in Waco.
He enlisted in the
AAF in October 1942 and spent basic at Jefferson
Barracks and then was sent to Lowry Field in
Denver at a turrett school and then was sent
to a Army school in Detroit where he studied
power turrets. He went overseas in May 1943 and
after 14 months of ground work as a turret and
gunsight specialist. He then volunteered for
combat and was accepted in 379th as a Ball
Turret Gunner. In a letter he wrote home dated
Febuary 18, 1945 he says his plane crashed in
Belgium on a return trip from Germany and says
he will be back in England soon.
He married
Marion Buxton of London, England in 1945.
Returned to the USA April 1945. Discharged
October 20, 1945 and 2 days later reenlisted. He
served in Korea and finally retired from the Air
Force in 1969 as a Major in the Reserves.
Any
info on his missions, crew, bombers etc... would
be greatly appreciated.
Darrin Mason
Darrin -
Association records for Phillip
William Speasmaker show he flew 30 missions as
Gunner with the 526th Squadron from August 8,
1944 to March 10, 1945. Our records indicate
mission numbers 185, 193, 198, 201, 206, 208,
209, 210, 211, 216, 227, 229, 234, 236, 240,
243, 246, 248, 251, 254, 257, 260, 261, 262,
265, 268, 272, 276, 278, and 298. Sgt.
Speasmaker may have flown additional missions,
but these are the ones we have in our records.
Sgt. Speasmaker does not appear to have had
a "regular" crew. His records indicate he most
often flew as a crew member on the Lead
aircraft, thus flying with a number of different
flight crew personnel. On February 14, 1945,
flying Mission 278 to Dresden, Germany in a/c
44-8469 (Squadron Code LF-J), Sgt. Speasmaker
and crew crash landed outside Liege, Belgium.
Crew on this airplane was as follows:
Brown, James H, Lt, Pilot, KIA
Payleitner,
John F, Lt, Co-Pilot, KIA
Hornbeck, Donald D,
Lt, Nav, Returned
Romeka, William S, F/O,
Nav-PFF, Returned
Smith, Joseph D, Lt, Bomb,
KIA
Batchelder, Reginald C, TSgt, Radio Op,
Returned
Adams, William J, TSgt, Top Turret,
KIA
Speasmaker, Phillip W, SSgt, Waist,
Returned
Handy, George W, SSgt, Tail,
Returned
Donald Hornbeck and George Handy
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. Sorry, we have no
photograph of this aircraft, however attached is
a photo of a/c 44-8469. Sgt. Speasmaker was a
crewmember on this a/c on Mission 261, again
flying as part of the Lead crew, in this case
with the 379th Commanding Officer, Colonel Lewis
Lyle, flying as the aircraft's pilot.
Responding 4 8/21/2005
Kent
Search No. 1283 - Donald L. Parker
From: Donald
Matheson, drmpiper@yahoo.com
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Thursday, August
18, 2005 7:37 AM
Subject: D.L. Parker
Hello,
My name is Donald Matheson and I
am looking for information about my step-father
T/Sgt Donald Louise Parker, who served with the
379th bomb group, 526th bomb squadron, at
Kimbolton for five months and four days. he
served as an Air Crew member, gunner. he was
awarded the Distnguished Flting Cross on 27 July
44, but he never told me why, if fact it was
difficult to talk to hime about his service
overseas.
He pasted away in march of this
year and I now have aquired his wartime
belongings. He flew on a B-17 named "Rodja
Dojjer", and according to his A-2 jacket flew 33
missions. One of the missions "Coulanges" has a
"13" before it? Any information that you can
provide would be helpful. As a side note you
have a very good website with alot of
information and I will be ordering the 379th
"Anthology"
Thank you,
Donald Matheson
Donald -
We're sorry to hear of your Father's
passing. We'll add his name to our Taps roster.
Association records for Donald L. Parker
show he flew 32 missions as Radio
Operator/Gunner with the 526th Squadron from
June 6, 1944 to August 16, 1944. Our records
indicate mission numbers 136, 137, 138, 139,
140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 148, 152,
154, 155, 156, 158, 162, 164, 167, 170, 171,
172, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 179, 180, 182,
187, 189, and 190. Sgt. Parker may have flown
additional missions, but these are the ones we
have in our records.
We have no record of
the aircraft name you provided flying with the
379th. Sgt. Parker flew on a number of different
aircraft, including a/c 42-102974, "Hellcat
Agnes" (photograph will be sent in separate
e-mail). Crew of that aircraft on Mission 142,
and what looks like his "regular" crew was as
follows:
French, Roderick T, Lt, Pilot
Leyland, James W, Lt, Co-Pilot
Stephens, Joel
L, Lt, Nav
Hill, James O, Lt, Bomb
Parker,
Donald L, TSgt, Radio Op
Erickson, Clinton C,
TSgt, Top Turret
Mccullom, Robert G, SSgt,
Ball Turret
Marc, Francis T, SSgt, Waist
Peterson, Robert D, SSgt, Tail
Roderick
French 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. We're not sure of
the significance of the "13" for Mission 154 to
Coulanges, however Missions 136 and 137 were
both flown on June 6, 1944, and Sgt. Parker may
have considered them as a single mission at the
time. Also, our records may be in error.
Responding 4 8/18/2005
Kent
Search No. 1282 - Adolph N.
Brocato
From: james brocato,
duckhunterj2003@yahoo.com
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Tuesday, August
16, 2005 7:27 AM
Subject: my great uncles
plane numbers
i am building a model of a
b-17 my uncle flew he was shot down on the may
11 1944 i cant find out what sq. he flew with
this info would really help me build the right
thank you for yalls help
James -
Association records for Adolph N.
Brocato show he flew 21 missions as Co-Pilot
with the 525th Squadron from March 6, 1944 to
May 11, 1944. Our records indicate mission
numbers 78, 79, 80, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 90, 91,
94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 104, 106, 108, 112, and
115. Lt. Brocato may have flown additional
missions, but these are the ones we have in our
records.
Lt. Brocato was flying in a/c
42-107051, Squadron Code FR-A, on the May 11,
1944 mission to the marshalling yards at Ehrang,
Germany. Association records indicate the
aircraft was hit by fighters in the target area,
and went down out of control, with two chutes
observed. Crew of the aircraft was as follows:
Romberger, Asa A, 1st Lt, Pilot, KIA
Brocato, Adolph N, 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, POW
Loflin, Harry C, 1st Lt, Nav, KIA
Boyer,
George (NMI), 2nd Lt, Bomb, KIA
Lamb, Carl G,
TSgt, Radio Op, KIA
Renda, Sam L, SSgt, Top
Turret, KIA
Folk, Thomas E, SSgt, Ball
Turret, KIA
Schauss, Harold L, Sgt, Waist,
KIA
Sullivan, Myles O, SSgt, Tail, POW
Sorry, we have no photograph of this
aircraft. This response will be posted in the
"Looking 4" section of our website, in case any
members have any additional information.
Responding 4 8/18/2005
Kent
Search No. 1281 - R.J. Sherman
From: PAUL SHEARSMITH,
paulshearsmith@btinternet.com
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Saturday, August
13, 2005 2:37 PM
Subject: R.J. Sherman
Request
I am looking to contact or seek
information on Lt. R.J. Sherman, who was a pilot
at Kimbolton. Lt Sherman flew his missions from
13th April 1944 to 18th June 1944. Lt. Sherman
and crew are shown in the 379th unit history, '
Shades of Kimbolton '. They stand in front of
the B-17 ' STAR-DUST '. Lt Sherman is in front
row, middle, and is wearing his A-2 jacket with
mission bombs painted on.
If anyone out
there knows or knew Lt Sherman then I would love
to hear from them.
Thank you.
Paul -
Association records for Richard J.
Sherman show he flew 35 missions as Co-Pilot
with the 524th Squadron from April 13, 1944 to
June 18, 1944. Our records indicate mission
numbers 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104,
106, 111, 112, 114, 119, 120, 124, 125, 126,
127, 128, 129, 130, 132, 134, 135, 136, 137,
138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, and 145. Lt.
Sherman may have flown additional missions, but
these are the ones we have in our records.
Lt. Sherman flew in a number of different
aircraft, including 42-40003, "Ol'
Gappy/Topper", which was credited with 154
missions, a record for the Eighth Air Force.
Crew of "Ol' Gappy/Topper" (photo will be sent
in separate e-mail) on Mission 125, and what
looks like what could be called Lt. Sherman's
"regular" crew are as follows:
Karney,
Chester M, 1st Lt, Pilot
Sherman, Richard J,
2nd Lt, Co-Pilot
Anstine, Charles R, 2nd Lt,
Bomb
Mednick, Raymond W, SSgt, Togglier
Lento, Serafino J, TSgt, Radio Op
Marks,
Louis A, SSgt, Top Turret
Garnand, Vay R,
SSgt, Ball Turret
Baran, Charles A, SSgt,
Waist
Maher, Joseph V, SSgt, Tail
Richard Sherman, Chester Karney, and Joseph
Maher 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
8/18/2005
Kent
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