From: Mike
Stanton, mistan1@sbcglobal.net To:
looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 7:16
AM Subject: Any info?
Hello my name is Mike Stanton.
I got this letter from my friend and he asked if I could find
out any and all info on his granddad. Is there any thing out
there to be had? Thank you so much for you time in
advance. Mike Stanton
My Grandpa Leroy (Robert)
Brill was stationed at Kimbolton England and flew for the
108th Airforce as a member of the 379th. He originally served
as a copilot on Hells Bells or Hells Belle. He can' remember
the exact name but he said that there was a pretty little lady
painted on the nose of the aircraft. Anyway he flew
approximately 12 missions with that crew. On one of the
missions the airplane took some flack and lost an engine. They
made it back and the airplane was repaired, however it crashed
in England during a test flight after the repair.
This
is the funny part. For some reason this plane used more fuel
than all of the other planes. In at least one instance they
had to land at an alternate location to fill up with fuel to
make it back to the base because they were out of fuel. Anyway
after the plane crashed on the test flight they began looking
at it and discovered that the previous flight crew had been
stashing metal plates all over the place for additional armor.
They actually ended up removing 1,200 to 1,300 pounds of extra
steel on the plane. He still thinks that is pretty
funny.
The pilot ended up being promoted and my Grandpa
was promoted to pilot. At this point he wanted to get out as
fast as he could so he asked to go on a rotation that allowed
him to fly up to 3 missions a week. What this meant is that he
didn't necessarily fly with the same crew all of the time. He
filled in wherever needed. Anyway he flew approximately 10
missions in this role. His last mission was Cologne Germany
(late November early December) and he took some flack and by
the time he regained control of the airplane he was around
14,000 feet well below the formation. He said that some
fighter pilots had seen that they were in trouble so they came
down to protect him. A bomber out of formation was easy
pickins.
They found a fairly safe place to put her down
in a field in Belgium. Everyone was alive when they
landed/crashed but the bombardier ended up passing right in
front of all of them. Man I can't even think about how hard
that would be to watch. Anyway there was fighting going on all
around them. So they just hung out in a barn nearby. After a
while a British tank pulled up and seen the plane and then
yelled something along the lines of "Yanks are you okay". They
came out and the rest is history. Oh yeah, unfortunately the
plane he was flying didn't have a name and I believe it was a
B17-F, where as Hells Bells/Belle was a B17-G (a better
plane).
Mike - Association records for Robert
A Brill show he flew 17 missions as co-pilot with the 526th
Squadron from August 11 to October 11, 1944. Records show
Missions 187, 189, 190, 191, 193, 194, 195, 198, 201, 206,
210, 211, 215, 216, 217, 218, and 219. Lt Brill may have flown
additional missions, but these are the ones we have in our
records.
On October 11, 1944, Lt Brill was flying in
aircraft 42-35058, "The Wish Bone". This aircraft was,
presumably, damaged and landed away, likely at an airfield
near Ghent. Crew complement for this mission was as
follows:
Mullen, Robert E, Lieutenant, Pilot Brill,
Robert A, Lieutenant, Co-Pilot Hornbeck, Donald D,
Lieutenant, Navigator Charpier, Eugene H, Sergeant, Nose
Gunner/Togglier, KIA Titus, Ross P, Staff Sergeant, Radio
Operator/Gunner Adams, William J, Tech Sergeant,
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Neitzke, Reno D, Corporal, Ball
Turret Gunner Varsetti, Donald L, Sergeant, Waist
Gunner Stagg, Robert A, Sergeant, Tail Gunner
This
response will be posted in the "Looking 4" section of our
website, in case any members or readers have any additional
information.
Responding 4 11/1/2007 Kent
Search No. 1389 - Morrison
Nolan and Ronald Jacobs
From: Cutting S, s.cutting@rhul.ac.uk To: looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2007 4:34 PM Subject: 379 BG
Dear Sir I am
carrying out academic research of a resistance network
operating in Paris during WW2. Two pilots helped by this
resistance group were Morrison Nolan and Ronald Jacobs, both
of the 379th BG. Their details are below.
I would be most
grateful if you could supply me with any information you or
your members might have on these pilots, or, if indeed they
are still alive some way I could communicate with them.
Plane 42-3300 September 3rd 1944 Squadron 524, Bomb Group 379. B17 Flying
Fortress.
Date:
September 3rd 1944
Mission: Romilly-sur-Seine, France. Target:
German armed forces. This plane was one of 140 8th AF heavy
bombers bound for Romilly-sur-Seine that day and 379 Bomb
group left Kimbolton air base in England.
Crash: 09.55 at
Epinay (Normandy, near Bernay and Rouen).
Specifics: Plane hit
by 'ack-ack' fire that knocked out left, inboard No. 2 engine.
The crew were ordered to evacuate and 7 managed this. Three
failed to get out of the plane before it crashed and were
killed.
S/Sgt.
Morrison T. Nolan (turret gunner) got out of the plane without
injury. (ser. No. 18115971) (Barrack 37B at Stalag 17B). Born
14th August 1916, Galverston, Texas.
2nd Lt. Ronald William Jacobs
(navigator)-survived (Ser. No. 0-683244) went to Stalag 17B.
Born 30 Sept. 1917. Canton, Ohio
I look forward to hearing from you
Professor Simon M.
Cutting School of Biological
Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of
London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX UK
Professor Cutting - Association records
for a/c 42-3300, on the September 3, 1943 mission to the
aircraft components plant at Romilly, France show that this
aircraft was listed as Missing in Action. Crew of this
aircraft for this mission was as follows:
Krafft,
Julius W, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot, KIA Toft, Norman E, 2nd
Lieutenant, Co-Pilot, POW Jacobs, Ronald W, 2nd Lieutenant,
Navigator, POW Peifer, Thomas D, 1st Lieutenant,
Bombardier, POW Mckeegan, Hugh (NMI), Tech Sergeant, Radio
Operator/Gunner, POW Nolan, Morrison T, Staff Sergeant, Top
Turret Gunner, POW Frydryk, Frank P, Staff Sergeant, Ball
Turret Gunner, KIA Armstrong, Donald B, Tech Sergeant,
Right Waist Gunner, KIA Klump, Delbert W, Tech Sergeant,
Left Waist Gunner, POW Vandergriff, Robert A, Staff
Sergeant, Tail Gunner, POW
None of the surviving
members of this crew are on our membership roster, and,
unfortunately, we have no further information. This response
will be posted in the "Looking 4" section of our website, in
case any members or readers have any additional
information.
Responding 4 11/1/2007 Kent
Search No. 1388 - Edward F Connolly
From: "Kathy
Nicholson" <knicholson9@mchsi.com> To:
<looking4@379thbga.org> Sent: Sunday, June 17, 2007
12:10 PM Subject: 379th BGA
Hello, I found this
email address with the help of my grandfather, and he had a
few questions for you. What happened to the aircraft named
"Nasty Tim?" Also curious if you have any information or
photos of the crew? If you have any information, if you could
please send it to: Tom Connolly I would like to thank you
for you're time and hope to hear back soon. Michael
Nicholson
Tom
- Association records for Edward F Connolly show he flew 17
missions as bombardier with the 526th Squadron from June 22 to
September 16, 1943. Our records show missions 5, 6, 9, 10, 11,
13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, and 30. Lt
Connolly may have flown additional missions, but these are the
ones we have in our records.
On September 16, 1943, the
379th was dispatched to the ball bearing plant at Nantes,
France. Lt Connolly was flying on aircraft 42-29901 which was
listed as Missing in Action. This aircraft was apparently hit
by an aerial bomb released from a fighter aircraft - no other
details are available. Crew for that mission, and their
disposition, was as follows:
Euwer, Walter C,
Lieutenant, Pilot, KIA Brown, Leonard M, Lieutenant,
Co-Pilot, KIA Evans, Sten A, Lieutenant, Navigator, KIA
Connelly, Edward F, Lieutenant, Bombardier, KIA
Blatchford, Samuel N, Tech Sergeant, Radio
Operator/Gunner, POW Hamilton, Louis A, Tech Sergeant, Top
Turret Gunner, KIA Schroeder, Elmer W, Staff Sergeant,
Ball Turret Gunner, POW Koval, Cyril G, Staff Sergeant,
Right Waist Gunner, POW Held, Alfred D, Staff Sergeant,
Left Waist Gunner, POW Hart, Clifford M, Staff Sergeant,
Tail Gunner, KIA
This response will be posted in the
"Looking 4" section of our website, in case any members or
readers have any additional information. Sorry, we have no
photographs of this crew or aircraft. We also have no record
of an aircraft named "Nasty Tim" or "Nasty Ten" - this may
have been an "unofficial" name given to a specific airplane by
the crew.
Responding 4 7/23/2007 Kent
Search No.
1387 - James R Locke |
From: Emory
Watts, ewatts@eastex.net To: looking4@379thbga.org Sent:
Saturday, July 07, 2007 7:55 AM Subject: military data on
james r locke
I am trying to locate the military
service records for James Robert Locke, he was with the 379th
Bombardment, 527th Bomb sq, s/n 38203158. He flew in Sept.
1943 on missions #27,30,31 in Oct. #35,36, and was shot down
on Oct14,1943 on raid to Schweinfurt, Germany. I would like as
much info that you can supply me with, like who was on the
plane, who survived, name of airplane, names of people living
& addresses if any ect, thks Emory Watts
brother-in-law to mr Locke
Emory - Association records for James R
Locke show he flew 6 missions as gunner with the 527th
Squadron from September 6 to October 14, 1943. Our records
show missions 27, 31, 35, 36, 37, and 38. Sgt Locke may have
flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in
our records.
On October 14, 1943, the Eighth Air Force
dispatched 320 heavy bombers, including 17 from the 379th BG,
against the ball bearing works at Schweinfurt, Germany. This
mission came to be known as Black Thursday, due to the
appalling losses suffered by the Eighth. In all, 60 heavy
bombers, including 6 from the 379th, failed to return. Sgt
Locke flew this mission in a/c 42-3176, "Lady Astrid", photo
will be sent via separate e-mail. Crew for that mission, and
their disposition, was as follows:
Johnson, Alden C,
1st Lieutenant, Pilot, KIA Holtsberg, Warren E, 2nd
Lieutenant, Co-Pilot, POW Tapping, Vincent E, 2nd
Lieutenant, Navigator, POW Dubois, Louis E, 2nd
Lieutenant, Bombardier, POW Velasquez, Antonio A, Staff
Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner, KIA Brittain, Benjamin B,
Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner, POW Rousseau, Raoul A, Staff
Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner, KIA Scripter, Ralph K, Staff
Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner, KIA Locke, James R, Staff
Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner, KIA Johnson, Eugene T, Staff
Sergeant, Tail Gunner, KIA
This response will be posted
in the "Looking 4" section of our website, in case any members
or readers have any additional information. The crew in the
photo is unknown, however, given the number of mission symbols
showing there is a possibility that this may be the Alden
Johnson crew listed above, including Sgt Locke. We would be
grateful if you would advise if you recognize him in the
photo.
Responding 4 7/16/2007 Kent
Search No. 1386 - Charles V
Blondell
From: "Edward
Blondell" <blondell2710@hotmail.com> To:
<looking4@379thbga.org> Sent: Wednesday, June 27,
2007 1:43 PM Subject: SGT Charles V Blondell
Hi, My
name is Edward Blondell, I'was looking information about SGT
Charles V Blondell,serial number 16049064,he died on 5-Jan-44,
he was a relative of my grandfather and I'm interested to know
more about him, it will be great if you can get some photo, I'
was looking everywhere without success until I found this
great page, you are doing great because we can't forget those
people who fought and died for us fighting against the evil,we
must remember and honor our heroes.
Edward - Association records for
Charles V Blondell show he flew 3 missions as gunner with the
525th Squadron from August 15, 1943 to January 5, 1944. Our
records show missions 19, 44, and 56. Sgt Blondell may have
flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in
our records.
On January 5, 1944, the 379th was
dispatched to hit the port facilities at Kiel, Germany. Sgt
Blondell was flying as tail gunner on a/c 42-31093, "Deacon's
Sinners" which, according to the information we have, was
rammed by an Me-109 after the bomb run, and the airplane blew
up and disintegrated. No other details are available. Crew for
that mission, and their disposition, was as
follows:
Eaton, Thomas E, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot, KIA
Hainline, Henry L, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot, KIA Doty,
Robert S, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator, KIA Wright, Clifford
W, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier, KIA Clark, Arnold G, Staff
Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner, KIA Matheny, Ray T, Tech
Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner, POW Ferrell, Ray , Sergeant,
Ball Turret Gunner, KIA Nevells, Arnold E, Sergeant, Right
Waist Gunner, POW Ceglarek, Boleslaw B, Sergeant, Left
Waist Gunner, KIA Blondell, Charles V, Sergeant, Tail
Gunner, KIA
Ray Matheny is on our current Association
roster. This response will be posted in the "Looking 4"
section of our website, in case any members or readers have
any additional information. This response will be posted in
the "Looking 4" section of our website, in case any members or
readers have any additional information. Sorry, we have no
photographs of "Deacon's Sinners", however, the aircraft our
records show for Sgt Blondell's 1st combat mission was
42-29891, "Dangerous Dan". A photo of that aircraft is
attached.
Responding 4 7/16/2007 Kent
Search No. 1385 - Edwin C
Sprouse
From:
"Betsy Scobie" <kamp634@gmail.com> To:
<Looking4@379thbga.org> Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007
11:11 AM Subject: Judy 11
I'm looking for Edmund
Sprouse, Radio Operator/ Gunner on the Judy 11 for tours
between January 30, 1944 to April 24,
1944. Sincerely, Edward H. "Mick" Scobie
Mick
- Association records for Edwin C Sprouse show he flew 32
missions as radio operator/gunner with the 527th Squadron from
February 4 to April 24, 1944. Our records show missions
64, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74, 75, 78, 79, 80, 82, 83,
84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99,
100, and 101. Sgt Sprouse may have flown additional missions,
but these are the ones we have in our records.
Association records show you and Sgt Sprouse flying a
number of missions in a/c 42-97462, "Judy II". What looks to
be Sgt Sprouse's "regular" crew, as flown on mission 91 (flown
in Judy II, according to our records) was as
follows:
Stefanski, Edward L, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot
Kendall, Don V, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot Schaeffer,
James R, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator Brasch, Robert L, 2nd
Lieutenant, Bombardier Sprouse, Edwin C, Tech Sergeant,
Radio Operator/Gunner Mariotti, Daniel E, Tech Sergeant,
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Scobie, Edward H, Staff
Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner Dye, Earl V, Staff Sergeant,
Right Waist Gunner Benjamin, Franklin H, Staff Sergeant,
Left Waist Gunner Hansen, Warren E, Staff Sergeant, Tail
Gunner
This response will be posted in the "Looking 4"
section of our website, in case any members or readers have
any additional information. We would be grateful for copies of
any photos, particularly Judy II that you mention - we have no
known photo of that aircraft. Photos from veterans and their
families are always welcome and helpful in responding to
future inquiries.
Previously scanned photos are best,
but any hard copies of personal photos will be copied and
returned on request.
Responding 4
7/16/2007 Kent
Search No. 1384 - John J.
Francis
From: STEVE AND
NANCY COOK, terralsco@msn.com To:
looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2007 7:55
AM Subject: INfo on John J. Francis
Hello, I am
looking for any info regarding John J. Francis Bombardier in
the 379th bomb group on behalf of my son in law, Ben Francis.
Any info would be appreciated, I.e. name of plane he served
on, crew members etc. Thank you so much and God Bless our WWII
veterans. Sincerely, Steve Cook
Steve
- Association records for John J. Francis show he flew 4
missions as bombardier with the 524th Squadron from May 29 to
June 25, 1943. Our records show missions 1, 2, 4, and 5. Lt
Francis may have flown additional missions, but these are the
ones we have in our records.
On June 25, 1943, the
379th was dispatched to the U-boat pens at Hamburg, Germany.
Lt Francis was flying on aircraft 42-30165 which was listed as
Missing in Action. No other details are available. Crew for
that mission, and their disposition, was as
follows:
Hartman, Paul W, Lieutenant, Pilot,
POW Howe, Charles M, Lieutenant, Co-Pilot, POW Gore,
James A, Lieutenant, Navigator, POW Francis, John J,
Lieutenant, Bombardier, POW Blick, James E, Staff
Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner, KIA Gullace, Anthony J,
Private, Top Turret Gunner, POW Slagowski, Clyde L, Staff
Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner, POW Schrader, Harold L,
Staff Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner, KIA Greeley, Robert E,
Private, Left Waist Gunner, POW Fannin, Bryant W, Staff
Sergeant, Tail Gunner, POW
This response will be posted
in the "Looking 4" section of our website, in case any members
or readers have any additional information. Sorry, we have no
photographs of this crew or aircraft.
Responding 4
7/5/2007 Kent
Search No. 1383 -
42-38192, Hutchins Crew
From: "Felix
Kahlert" <felix.Kahlert@gmx.de> To:
<looking4@379thbga.org> Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2007
7:59 PM Subject: Information of 42-38192, 524th BS
"Hutchins Crew"
Ladies and Gentlemen,
first of
them, sorry for my bad english. My name is Felix Kahlert from
Todtnauberg/Germany, which is located in the Black Forest
close to the swiss border. Todtnauberg is where, on July 12th
1944, The B-24, 42-38192 (Pilot Bruce A. Hutchins),524th
squadron, crashed into our domestic mountain "Stübenwasen" (8
KIA, 1 POW). I am a member of the local homeland history club,
whose purpose is - among others - to clear up this airplaine
crash. This incident is of historic interest for us. Maybe you
are able to help me and answer some questions that we get on
clearing up the story: How are the Names of the other Crew
members ? Is there any report (MACR)? I am trying to locate a
photo of this crew and of the plane for our local museum.
Where could I ask probably for them? I really hope that you
can give us some help in this case. Thank you in advance
for your efforts Sincerely yours Felix Kahlert
Felix - Association records for a/c
42-38192, "Coral Princess", show this 524th Squadron aircraft
dispatched on 12 July 1944 against the marshalling yards in
Munich, Germany. This aircraft was believed to be hit by flak
over the target, causing the loss of at least 2 engines. It
was last seen going down under control. This aircraft was
listed as Missing in Action. Crew was as
follows:
Hutchins, Bruce A, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot, KIA
Webber, Robert H, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot, KIA Haile,
James R, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier, KIA Bowen, Grover J,
Sergeant, Nose Gunner/Togglier, KIA Shaffer, Robert L,
Staff Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner, KIA White, George
N, Staff Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner, KIA Stutts,
James L, Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner, POW Degenheart,
Harry I, Sergeant, Waist Gunner, KIA Collins, Walter E,
Sergeant, Tail Gunner, KIA
This response will be posted
in the "Looking 4" section of our website, in case any members
or readers have any additional information. The MACR for this
loss is #7506 (sorry, we do not have a copy of this report) -
a photo of the aircraft is attached, but it is not known
whether the crew pictured is the crew listed
above.
Responding 4 7/5/2007 Kent
Search No. 1382 - Hector De
Vargas
From: joe k., joe35@dslextreme.com To:
looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 4:55
PM Subject: Hector De Vargas
Do you have any info on
Hector De Vargas who was in the 524 bomber squadron, 379
bomber group, his plane was shot down on a raid to sweinfurt
and he is buried in the American cemetery at Lorraine
France.Any more info you might have would be appreciated.
Thank you. Joe K.
Joe - Association records for Hector
De Vargas show he flew 15 missions as bombardier with the
524th Squadron from August 17 to October 14, 1943. Our records
show missions 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35,
36, 37, and 38. Lt De Vargas may have flown additional
missions, but these are the ones we have in our
records.
On October 14, 1943, the Eighth Air Force
dispatched 320 heavy bombers (including 17 from the 379th Bomb
Group) to strike the ball bearing works at Schweinfurt,
Germany. Of that total, 60 airplanes (including 6 from the
379th) were listed as MIA due to enemy action, including the
379th's a/c 42-29776. This aircraft was reported to have
collided head-on with an Me-109. Crew for that mission, and
their disposition, was as follows:
Gaffield Jr., Samuel
P, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot, KIA Carlson, Thoralf Deg, 2nd
Lieutenant, Co-Pilot, KIA Namjestnik, Steve J, 2nd
Lieutenant, Navigator, KIA Devargas, Hector R, 2nd
Lieutenant, Bombardier, KIA Ehrenzeller, John M, Tech
Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner, KIA Grossman, Edwin G,
Tech Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner, KIA Landis, Frederick G,
Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner, KIA Gray, Ramey G,
Staff Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner, POW Skelton, Arthur T,
Staff Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner, KIA Forsythe Jr.,
William (NMI), Staff Sergeant, Tail Gunner, KIA
This
response will be posted in the "Looking 4" section of our
website, in case any members or readers have any additional
information.
Responding 4 7/2/2007 Kent
Search No. 1381 – Lady
Godiva and crew picture
From: Loic, Lemarchandloic@aol.com To:
looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 7:16
AM Subject: Looking for Lady Godiva and crew
picture
Hello all, I'm looking for picture about this
crew and their a/c "Lady Godiva". A/c was hit by flak and
crashed in Britany. Two men managed to evade capture and were
lodged by Lefevre's family in Juvisy near Paris from 8 to 12
July 1943.
B-17F #42-29878 “Lady Godiva” LF-G 379th BG,
526th BS 1st Lt Theodore M. Peterson (P) EVD 2nd Lt Jack
W. Bourn (CP) POW 2nd Lt Woodrow P. Moore (N) POW 2nd Lt
Warren J. Rosacker (B) POW T/Sgt Maynard M. Spencer (TTG)
POW T/Sgt John M. Scott (RO) EVD S/Sgt William E.
Blubaugh (BTG) POW S/Sgt Paul R. Cribelar (LWG)
POW S/Sgt William T. Ayres (RWG) POW S/Sgt Gideon A.
Brown (TG) POW
MACR #1293 : Taked off Kimbolton,
assigned target the U/Y at St Nazaire. All crew bale out on
the return flight due to severe flak damage. Crashed in
Channel one mile off the shore at Saint-Quay-Portrieux, 10
miles north of Saint-Brieuc, France. 8 POW, 2 EVD Any more
info or doc will be much appreciated. E&E report
too. Thanks in advance Regards Loic
Loic – Association records for a/c
42-29878, “Lady Godiva” confirm the information you provided.
Unfortunately we have no details on the circumstances that led
to this airplane being listed officially as Missing in Action.
Your crew list is what we have in our records also – the only
other information available is that we show that this was this
crew’s, and the 379th Bomb Group’s, first combat
mission.
This response will be posted in the "Looking
4" section of our website, in case any members or readers have
any additional information. Sorry, we have no photo of this
aircraft or crew.
Responding 4
6/15/2007 Kent
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