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Search No. 1420 - Gordon C Hay

From: Meredith Hay Kelly - JohnMeredithK@aol.com To: Looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 6:39 AM Subject: Round Twip Rabbit To Whom it May concern, My father was with the 8th Air Force stationed in Kimbolten near bedford, England in 1944-45. I am attaching a picture of him. His name is Gordon C. Hay with his plane the "Round Twip Rabbit." He also flew a plane named Thumper. Dad passed away in 1998 but never forgot a mission or a crew member. Dad is in the front row the 1st man on your left, a head taller than the other crew members.His papers said he was originally with the 524th Bombardment Squad and then went to the 708th Squad/ 447th Bomb group. I thought you might like to add his picture to your site. I do know his Commanding officer was Lewis Lyle. He deployed Christmas Eve 1944 and returned home Sept 45. Thank you for your time in this matter. I don't know if any of the Crew is still left but would love to hear from any one that might have known Dad. I was always a Daddies girl, and always will be. He was my Hero! Sincerely, Meredith Hay Kelly Meredith - Association records for Gordon C Hay show he flew 27 missions as co-pilot with the 524th Squadron from February 16 to April 16, 1945. Our records show missions 280, 281, 283, 284, 285, 287, 291, 293, 295, 296, 297, 299, 300, 304, 305, 308, 311, 312, 313, 314, 317, 318, 319, 321, 323, 325, and 326. Flight Officer Hay may have flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in our records. As with most bomber crews, F/O Hay flew his missions in a number of different aircraft, including a/c 43-38466, “Round Twip Wabbit”. We find no record of missions in a/c 43-38272, “The Thumper”, but if you have your father’s records we would be interested to compare with ours to try to account for any discrepancies. In any event, F/O Hay’s “regular” crew was as follows: Martin, Donald R, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot Hay, Gordon C, Flight Officer, Co-Pilot Pfouts, Peter , Flight Officer, Navigator Granet, Gilbert K, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier Lewis, James N, Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner Bensinger, Claire W, Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Drapal, Earl J, Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner Hardesty, Teddy , Sergeant, Waist Gunner Kealer, Melvin C, Sergeant, Tail Gunner Gilbert Granet is on our current membership roster. This response will be posted in the "Looking 4" section of our website, in case any members or readers have any additional information. If you have any other photos from your father’s service, especially airplanes or crew photos where the crew members are identified, we would be grateful for any digital copies. We are trying to fill in any gaps in our records with veteran’s personal photos when possible. Responding 4 12/13/2008 Kent Search No. 1419 - Loren E Perkins From: Dan Perkins - Dpjpdive@aol.com To: Looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 11:58 AM Subject: Loren Edward, (L. E.),"Doc", Perkins Looking to find info on missions flown by my dad in the 379th. I would like to know which missions he flew, I think he said that he flew on 39 missions. He was flight engineer/top turret. I would also like to find out the name of his plane. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Dan Perkins Dan - Association records for Loren E Perkins show he flew 36 missions as engineer/gunner with the 525th Squadron from November 9, 1944 to March 10, 1945. Our records show missions 235, 236, 239, 241, 242, 243, 245, 246, 247, 249, 250, 252, 254, 255, 257, 259, 261, 262, 263, 264, 267, 268, 273, 275, 277, 280, 281, 285, 286, 288, 290, 292, 293, 296, 297, and 298. Sgt Perkins may have flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in our records. As with most bomber crews, Sgt Perkins flew his missions in many different aircraft. A photo of a/c 43-38679, “Miss Liberty”, the aircraft he flew in on his 3rd mission (379th Mission 239 to Gelsenkirchen, Germany) is being sent via separate e-mail. Crew of this airplane for this mission, and what looks to be your Dad’s “regular” crew was as follows: Barton, Fred A, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot Bartsch, Arlo F, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot Campbell, Curtis B, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator Waronker, Jay A, Sergeant, Nose Gunner/Togglier Morris, Arthur E, Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner Perkins, Loren E, Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Vought, Richard S, Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner Wilson, Keith H, Sergeant, Waist Gunner Bommarito, Joseph 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. If you have any photos from your Dad’s service, especially airplanes or crew photos where the crew members are identified, we would be grateful for any digital copies. We are trying to fill in any gaps in our records with veteran’s personal photos when possible. Responding 4 11/24/2008 Kent Search No. 1418 - William B Plough From: Dianna Plough Karnes - dkarnes@verizon.net To: Looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 3:20 PM Subject: Squadron 524 My dad, William B.Plough, serial number 15329374, in Squadron 524, served with the 379th bomb group, Eighth air force, on a B-17 Fortress as an engineer-gunner. He, at one time, was based at Kingborough Air Base in England, and his pilot was a Lt. Stanley Bailey. That's the only name he can remember at this point. Dad is now nearing 92, and I thought it would be really cool if I could find out the names of those in his squadron, and if any were still living. Do you have any idea how I go about doing that. I do have a picture taken at Kingborough Air Base which I will try to attach to this e-mail. It was taken on July 19, 1944. Even if you can point me in the right direction, it would be appreciated so much. Dianna Plough Karnes Dianna - Association records for William B Plough show he flew 35 missions as engineer/gunner with the 524th Squadron from July 29, 1944 to February 1, 1945. Our records show missions 176, 177, 178, 184, 185, 186, 188, 189, 192, 204, 205, 207, 208, 211, 212, 213, 219, 221, 222, 223, 226, 229, 230, 231, 232, 235, 238, 239, 240, 244, 250, 252, 255, 272, and 274. Sgt Plough may have flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in our records. The 379th Bomb Group was based at Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire – close to your dad’s recollection of Kingborough. Based on the photo you provided, which was the fairly typical crew photo taken on arrival at Kimbolton, before the crew’s introduction to combat, his “regular” crew was as follows: Bailey Jr., Stanley L, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot Alpert, Sumner M, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot Butler, Leo H, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator Fenning, William M, Flight Officer, Bombardier Cates, Harold H, Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner Plough, William B, Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Ingram, John E, Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner Coles Jr., William J, Sergeant, Waist Gunner Maniaci, Phillip J, Sergeant, Tail Gunner You will notice that there are 10 men shown in the photo, but only 9 on the crew roster. The B-17 was originally manned by a crew of 10, and most replacement crews arrived at their new base as a group of 10. Just prior to your dad’s crew starting their missions, most crew complements were reduced to 9 by the elimination of one of the two waist gunners. It was felt that a single gunner in the waist could go from left side to right side if necessary, which would reduce crew weight and eliminate the waist gunners from bumping into one another. Unfortunately, while we’re fairly confident in the crew names provided above, we aren’t able to put names to the faces pictured in the photo, or identify the “odd man out” when the crew complement went to 9. If you’re dad is able to put names to faces, we would be grateful for that information. Sorry, none of the names listed above are on our current membership roster. 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 11/14/2008 Kent Search No. 1417 - Bruce Alford

From: Alex Leonard, LEONARAT@mailbox.sc.edu To: Looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 11:56 PM Subject: 1LT Bruce Alford/Stardust Hi, My name is Alex Leonard, I recently learned of the 2008 reunion in Savannah. My grandfather is 1LT Herbert Bruce Alford who served from late 44 to April 21, 1945. I will graduate from the University of South Carolina this December and my granddad will be attending-we had planned on making a trip to the museum in Savannah but we may now come down for the reunion this month as well. Do you have access to the details of Lt. Alford's crew? His aircraft was named"Stardust". The only crew member he has mentioned is "Gizmo" Munson. Prior to assignment with the 379th, Mr. Alford was the MVP of the 1942 Orange Bowl. Following the war, he played football for the New York Yanks (where he met Tom Landry, and they became lifelong friends). He later launched a door manufacturing business, but spent most of his career as a referee in the NFL. He officiated Superbowls 2,7 and 9. Today, he resides in Fort Worth, TX where he still oversees the door company. Any info you have would be great. I hope you can pass my grandfather's information along to anyone who might be interested. Thanks, Alex Leonard Alex - Association records for Bruce Alford show he flew 31 missions as co-pilot and pilot with the 527th Squadron from January 22 to April 19, 1945. Our records show missions 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 278, 280, 282, 283, 284, 290, 291, 292, 294, 296, 297, 298, 299, 303, 304, 305, 308, 313, 314, 317, 319, 324, 325, 326, 327, and 328. Lt. Alford may have flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in our records. Lt Alford flew the majority of his missions on one aircraft – s/n 44-6835, “Stardust”. Using the name “Munson” from his recollection (remember that, like most crews there was a certain amount of personnel rotating in or out, sometimes for any given mission), his “regular” crew was as follows: Royall Jr., John M, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot Alford, Herbert B, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot Munson, James A, Flight Officer, Bombardier Gfrerer, Philip C, Staff Sergeant, Nose Gunner/Togglier Fullmer, Robert D, Staff Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner Pitchford, Robert E, Staff Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Sines, Elmer E, Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner Kazar Jr., Louis , Sergeant, Tail Gunner This personnel changed again when Lt Alford started flying as the command pilot. 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 11/8/2008 Kent Search No. 1416 - Donald H Baumhart From: Cindy Baumhart - doccindy@comcast.net To: Looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 8:12 PM Subject: Donald H. Baumhart I believe my late father Donald H. Baumhart served in the 379th @ Kimbolton in 1945. The name of his plane from the back of his flight jacket is You Never Had It So Good. I would appreciate any info about missions, crew etc. I also have an inflight photo of a B-17 @ 20,00 ft with readable tail sign. I would be happy to send to anyone interested.(N 338028) Cindy - Association records for Donald H Baumhart show he flew 4 missions as gunner/togglier with the 527th Squadron from April 15 to April 25, 1945. Our records show missions 325, 326, 328, and 330. Sgt Baumhart may have flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in our records. Sgt Baumhart flew each of his 4 missions on a different aircraft – not uncommon – but we have no record of an aircraft named “You Never Had It So Good”. This could have been an “unofficial” name created by the crew, or merely a commonly expressed sentiment. Sgt Baumhart’s “regular” crew was as follows: Anderson, Charles T, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot Prough, Robert L, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot Harris, George A, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator Baumhart, Donald H, Sergeant, Nose Gunner/Togglier Crouch, Hubert J, Staff Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner Bruder, Earl H, Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Welch, Robert E, Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner Weeding, Clarence E, 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 9/3/2008 Kent Search No. 1415 - John Franklin Basye From: Leroy Barnhill - pammy284@esagelink.com To: Looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Fri, August 8, 2008 7:00 pm Subject: John Franklin Basye My husband is looking for any information about his uncle that served in the 379th. He was a tailgunner from 43-44 on "9 Yanks and a Rebel." Leroy Association records for John Franklin Basye show he flew 25 missions as gunner with the 526th Squadron from November 26, 1943 to March 18, 1944. Our records show missions 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 50, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 60, 64, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 79, 80, 81, 82, and 83. Sgt Basye may have flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in our records. As you state, Sgt Basye flew what looks like the overwhelming majority of his missions aboard aircraft 42-30720, “Nine Yanks and a Rebel”. He looks to have been a crew substitution on one mission, and his “regular” crew looks to have used a different aircraft for one mission. That “regular” crew was as follows: Hahn, William N, Lieutenant, Pilot Schurink, Wilfred G, Lieutenant, Co-Pilot Davis jr, Charles I, Lieutenant, Navigator Grimm, Robert A, Lieutenant, Bombardier Sanford, Joseph M, Tech Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner Fisher, Sam (NMI), Tech Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner Gifford, Orville R, Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner Major, Lawrence N, Staff Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner Pecht Jr., Charles E, Staff Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner Basye, John F, 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 8/12/2008 Kent Search No. 1414 - William J Loughridge From: Steve Loughridge - stevenlkrdg@yahoo.com To: Looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:21 AM Subject: William J Loughridge To: 379th Bombardment Group I’m interested in finding information on the name of the aircraft and missions flown by my father, William J. Loughridge (ball turret gunner). All members of his crew returned to he U.S. after the war and had many reunions together. Any photos would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Steve Loughridge Steve – Association records for William J Loughridge show he flew 3 missions as gunner with the 527th Squadron from April 16 to April 25, 1945. Our records show missions 326, 328, and 330. Cpl. Loughridge may have flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in our records. Cpl. Loughridge flew 2 of his 3 missions on “named” aircraft, Mission 328 aboard 42-102627, “Queenie”, and Mission 330 aboard 44-6507, “Lucky Patch”. Photos of those 2 aircraft are being sent by separate e-mail. 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 7/27/2008 Kent Search No. 1413 - Robert Kritzer From: Maurice Azain II-gberet@pa.metrocast.net To: Looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 4:23 PM Subject: Robert Kritzer 42-97520 Dear Sir, My uncle, Robert Kritzer was the only survivor of 42-97520. He was shot down on /22/1944. He lost a leg and was a POW exchange. He is doing fine today. Could you tell me what the nose art was on the aircraft? Regards, Maurice Joseph Azain II, MPA. Major, Green Berets, Retired Maurice – Association records for Robert Kritzer indicate he was flying in a/c 42-97520, “Peg-O-My-Heart”, on the 2/22/44 mission to Halberstadt, Germany. Sorry, we have no photograph of this aircraft, and no information on its nose art. 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 5/28/2008 Kent Search No. 1412 - Thomas C Wickham From: Nelia Wickham, wickham@nelianet.com To: Looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2008 3:20 PM Subject: Thomas C Wickham I'm looking for information on my father, Lt. Thomas C. Wickham, who was downed over Germany on Aug. 12, 1943, while serving in the 524th Squadron. And perhaps info on other survivors on that flight. Anything you can provide would be really appreciated. Nelia Wickham Nelia - Association records for Thomas C Wickham show he flew 7 missions as bombardier with the 524th Squadron from July 14 to August 12, 1943. Our records show missions 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, and 18. Lt Wickham may have flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in our records. On August 12, 1943, the 379th was dispatched against the synthetic oil plant at Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Crew for that mission, and their disposition, was as follows: Osborne, Ralph H, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot, KIA Jones, Leslie E, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot, POW Hand, William D, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator, POW Wickham, Thomas C, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier, POW Fambrough, Mildred O, Tech Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner, KIA Keenan, Patrick J, Tech Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner, KIA Truman, Lawrence E, Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner, KIA Irwin, Charles B, Staff Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner, KIA Dayton, Warren T, Staff Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner, KIA Scruggs, Howard R, 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 navigator, William Hand, is on our current Association roster. Also, 2 of Lt Wickham's missions were flown on aircraft 42-3176, "Lady Astrid" - a photo is being sent via separate message, if you recognize your father in that photo, we would be grateful for an identification. Note that this may be a different crew completely, but since he did crew on that aircraft, an identification would be valuable for our records. Responding 4 5/27/2008 Kent Search No.  1411 - Robert F Thimmig From: bumpsetspike@wi.rr.com To: Looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 4:16 PM Subject: World War II Veteran Info Hi! I am looking for any information on my grandfather. His name is Robert F. Thimmig. I know that he was in the 8th Air Force, 379th Bomb Group, 524th Bomb Squadron in England during WWII. I believe he was a navigator. Can you give me any more information on him. I would like to share this information with my class which is studying WWII. Thank you! And thank you to all those who served and serve today in the US Military! Sir – Association records for Robert F Thimmig show he flew 23 missions as navigator with the 524th Squadron from November 10, 1944 to April 25th, 1945. Our records show missions 236, 238, 239, 240, 241, 278, 279, 283, 285, 291, 293, 297, 299, 303, 306, 313, 316, 317, 321, 323, 326, 328, and 330. Lt Thimmig may have flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in our records. Lt Thimmig flew his 1st combat mission as a Flight Officer, promoted later to Lieutenant. The break in missions, between 241 and 278, looks like it was a training break, because our records show that following that break he was the operator for the new PFF Navigation, which allowed Navigation and Bombing by Radar. Also following this break, as was the norm for PFF equipped aircraft, Lt Thimmig flew only on Lead or Deputy Lead ships, and not usually with the same crew. His “regular” crew, for his early missions, as as follows: Hecker, Arnold J, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot Marshall, Clarence J, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot Thimmig, Robert F, Flight Officer, Navigator Wenger, Herbert R, Sergeant, Nose Gunner/Togglier Leto, Philip J, Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner Redden, Percy D, Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Zaken, Charles L, Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner Belt, Boaz E, Sergeant, Waist Gunner Thornburg, Roland H, 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 5/27/2008 Kent Next >> See Looking4 Index