|
From: Dave McMullen;
mcmullen3912@comcast.net
Sent: Friday, June
10, 2011 9:46 PM
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Richard D. McMullen
Would
like to know what you might have on my father
Richard D. McMullen who was a ball turret gunner
on a B-17 with the 379th.
Thanks.
Dave –
Association records for Richard D.
McMullen show he flew 35 missions as ball turret
gunner with the 526th Squadron from September 3,
1944 to January 7, 1945. Our records show
missions 198, 199, 201, 202, 204, 208, 209, 211,
213, 214, 218, 220, 221, 223, 224, 228, 229,
231, 232, 237, 238, 239, 240, 242, 244, 246,
247, 248, 249, 253, 254, 257, 260, 261, and 262.
Sgt. McMullen may have flown additional
missions, but these are the ones we show in our
records. What looks to be his “regular” crew,
likely the one he trained with, was as follows:
May, Charles E, Lieutenant, Pilot
Klemm,
George F, Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Graves Jr., J
W, Lieutenant, Navigator
Hauseman, Dean M,
Lieutenant, Bombardier
O'Dell, George W,
Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Hoover, David
R, Staff Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
McMullen, Richard D, Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret
Gunner
Price, Louis B, Sergeant, Waist Gunner
Solonynka, Martin A, Corporal, Tail Gunner
This response will be posted in the
"Looking4" section of our website, in case any
members or readers have any additional
information. As was typical of 8th Air Force
crews, Sgt. McMullen flew his assigned missions
in a variety of different aircraft. His assigned
aircraft for his 1st combat mission, 379th BG
Mission 198 to the synthetic oil plant at
Ludwigshafen, Germany, was a/c 42-102974,
“Hellcat Agnes”. A photo of that aircraft, with
a different crew, is being sent by separate
e-mail. If you have any photos of Sgt.
McMullen’s crew that you would be willing to
share, we would be very grateful.
Responding 4 6/18/2011
Kent
Search No. 1499 - Royce Taylor
From: Scott Taylor
[mailto:ScottTTaylor@msn.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2011 10:14 AM
To: Looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Royce Taylor 379th 527th
I know my grandfather,
Royce Donald Taylor, was killed 20 December 1943
in aircraft 42-37851 on his third mission. He
was flying with a crew whom he did not know.
They only met during the mission brief in the
morning. The aircraft apparently had no nickname
or nose art.
Do you know a way I can
find the other two aircraft he flew on before
that mission? I was curious about the crew he
flew his first two missions with and if they
were his original crew members. Do you have the
crew list for those missions on those aircraft?
I requested and received the Combat Mission
Report for the 20 Dec 43 mission to Bremen, and
plan on requesting the mission reports from the
other two missions.
Any information would
be great.
Also, could you add
Ralph Mantor (died in 2005), Benjamin Poweske
(died in 1993), and Joseph T. Hennessey (died in
2009) to your TAPS roster? They were the three
men of the ten that survived the shootdown of
43-37851 on 20 December, 1943 and taken
prisoner.
Scott T. Taylor, Major,
USAFR
Scott,
Records show Royce Taylor flew three
missions as bombardier with the 527th Squadron.
I don't see a name for any of these aircraft.
Mission 47 Emden, Germany 12/11/43
aircraft 42-37888
Haston, Robert W, 2nd
Lt, Pilot
Clingman, Foy R, 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot
Sheaffer, Harold N, 2nd Lt, Navigator
Taylor, Royce D, 2nd Lt, Bombardier
Fisher,
Gordon D, Sgt, Radio Operator/Gunner
Rauck,
Kenneth E, Sgt, Top Turret Gunner
Spisak,
Robert (NMI), Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner
Bittenback, James W, Sgt, Right Waist Gunner
Grange, Thomas (NMI), Sgt, Left Waist Gunner
Adrianson, Lester B, Sgt, Tail Gunner
Mission 48 to Bremen, Germany 12/13/43 aircraft
42-39889
Haston, Robert W, 2nd Lt, Pilot
Clingman, Foy R, 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot
Sheaffer, Harold N, 2nd Lt, Navigator
Taylor, Royce D, 2nd Lt, Bombardier
Fisher,
Gordon D, Sgt, Radio Operator/Gunner
Rauck,
Kenneth E, Sgt, Top Turret Gunner
Spisak,
Robert (NMI), Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner
Bittenback, James W, Sgt, Right Waist Gunner
Grange, Thomas (NMI), Sgt, Left Waist Gunner
Adrianson, Lester B, Sgt, Tail Gunner
527th Squadron Bremen, Germany (FW-190
plant) December 20, 1943 mission # 50 aircraft
42-37851 (FO-C). A/C had 1 & 2 engines on fire,
1 chute seen just after bombs away.
Reichold Walter H, 2nd Lt, P, O-799071, Winsted,
CT, Netherlands B 20 4
Levitan Henry T, 2nd
Lt, CP, O-677536, Steelton, PA, Netherlands B 20
6
Litz Harry T, 2nd Lt, N, O-749441,
Philadelphia, PA, KIA, Philadelphia
Taylor
Royce D, 2nd Lt, B, O-685882, Chicago, IL,
Netherlands D 21 6
Hennessey Joseph T, T/SGT,
RO, 32470051, Oswego, IL, POW Stalag 3 (033)
Colburn Finis W, T/SGT, TT, 38139967,
Logansport, LA, Netherlands L 15 2
Brady
Glenn (NMI), S/SGT, BT, 39835681, Fairview, UT,
Netherlands M 3 6
Mantor Ralph A, S/SGT, RW,
6561665, Napa, CA, POW Stalag 17B (025)
Poweske Benjamin E, SGT, LW, 12044536, Dunkirk,
NY, POW Stalag 3 (033)
Campbell Charles B,
S/SGT, TG, 32427536, Jenkintown, PA, Netherlands
L 15 20
Thank you, we will add these
names to our TAPS section.
Responding4
6/1/2011
Mike
Search No. 1498 – George Sterchak Jr.
From: Charles
Sterchak; koejack42@yahoo.com
Sent:
Thursday, June 09, 2011 11:44 AM
To:
Looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: information
My name is Charles Sterchak. I'm seeking
info on my brother 2nd Lt.George Sterchak Jr.He
was a navigator with the 379th. I believe he was
shot down over Hopston Germany and parachuted
into a POW camp. He and two others survived,Sgt
piper & Sgt Ford. I would appreciate any info
you may have on the survivors. My brother died
on Feb 25th 1952. He was 27 yrs old. Any info on
the missions would be helpful.
Charles –
Association records for George Sterchak Jr. show
he flew 19 missions as navigator with the 527th
Squadron from January 23 to March 24, 1945. Our
records show missions 271, 273, 274, 275, 278,
280, 282, 283, 284, 286, 291, 292, 294, 295,
304, 305, 306, 308, and 309. Lt. Sterchak may
have flown additional missions, but these are
the ones we show in our records. What looks to
be his “regular” crew, likely the one he trained
with, was as follows:
Schwab, Charles A,
2nd Lieutenant, Pilot
Schwetz, Dymetro J, 2nd
Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Sterchak Jr., George ,
2nd Lieutenant, Navigator
Engstrand, Raynold
G, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier
Brahm Jr., Roy
M, Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Berry,
Raymond L, Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Silverman, Jerome S, Sergeant, Ball Turret
Gunner
Ford, James C, Sergeant, Waist Gunner
Herr, Kenneth T, Sergeant, Tail Gunner
On
March 24, 1945, the 379th was assigned the
airdrome at Hopsten, Germany as their target.
The aircraft was hit by flak over the target,
went into a spin, and exploded. Crew for that
mission was as follows:
Schwab, Charles
A, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot, KIA
Martin, Billy
G, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot, KIA
Sterchak
Jr., George , 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator, POW
Ford, James C, Sergeant, Nose Gunner/Togglier,
POW
Brahm Jr., Roy M, Staff Sergeant, Radio
Operator/Gunner, MIA
Berry, Raymond L, Staff
Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner, KIA
Silverman, Jerome S, Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret
Gunner, KIA
Herr, Kenneth T, Sergeant, Tail
Gunner, KIA
Piper, Leroy F, Sergeant, Spot
Jammer, POW
This response will be posted
in the "Looking 4" section of our website, in
case any members or readers have any additional
information. A photo of Lt. Sterchak’s crew is
attached. This photo came to us from a family
member of Sgt Berry, and was taken in November
1944 at Davis-Monthan Field in Tuscon, Arizona.
This crew apparently trained in B-24s, and, like
several other replacement crews arriving in
England at this time, converted to B-17s
following that assignment. Lt. Sterchak is
identified as back row, 4th from left. We would
appreciate confirmation of that identification.
If you have any other photos of Lt. Sterchak or
his crew, we would very much appreciate any
copies you’re willing to share.
Responding 4 6/14/2011
Kent
Search No. 1497 – Joe Ritchey |
From: Billie Herman; billiejherman@gmail.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2011 8:33 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Staff Sgt Joe
R Ritchey
Staff Sgt. Joe Ritchey was my
uncle. In researching my family history I found
a newspaper article that states he was killed
trying to extinguish a fire on a bomber and was
awarded the Soldiers' Medal. In my search I
found your orgnaization and noted your reference
to:
"527th Sq. Neuss, Germany
(Marshalling Yards) January 23, 1945 Mission #
271 Aircraft 42-31592 "Nobody's Baby" (525 FR-R
). Crashed into Site# 2 (525th) on take off.
(Non Operational)" and state that Staff Sft Joe
R Ritchey was killed on the ground.
Can
you please provide me with any information you
have on my uncle Staff Sgt Joe Ritchey? It would
be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Billie
Jo Herman (Joe's namesake)
Billie Jo –
I
regret to say that the Association does not
possess detailed records for S/Sgt Joe Ritchey,
or any of the ground personnel assigned to
Kimbolton. Without exhaustive research in
available military archives, it’s impossible to
know the functional organization Sgt Ritchey was
assigned to, or his duties at the Station.
Information that is available is that a/c
42-31592, “Nobody’s Baby”, assigned to the 527th
Squadron, took off enroute to the marshalling
yards at Neuss, Germany. Takeoffs that morning
were in cold and icy conditions. At a point
about 25 feet in the air, the aircraft tilted
towards the left, and crashed into the orderly
room in the 525th Squadron site. The airplane’s
gas tanks, full for the intended mission, burst
and exploded on impact, followed by the bombs
and ammunition on board. Every building in the
525th area was either destroyed or damaged, and
9 men were killed. Casualties were as follows:
Watson, Harold W, 1st Lieutenant, Pilot,
Wounded
Reopelle, Delton C, Flight Officer,
Co-Pilot, Wounded
Zellers, Jr., Donald W,
Staff Sergeant, Navigator, KIA
Vogel, Rudi W,
Flight Officer, Bombardier, Wounded
Costello,
John J, Corporal, Radio Operator/Gunner, KIA
Genoa, Nicholas , Staff Sergeant, Engineer/Top
Turret Gunner, KIA
Spicer, John H, Sergeant,
Ball Turret Gunner
Roberts Jr., Carl ,
Corporal, Waist Gunner
Savoca, John S,
Sergeant, Tail Gunner, KIA
Scarborough,
Robert J., 2nd Lieutenant
Leeds, Leonard D.,
2nd Lieutenant
Ritchey, Joe R., S/Sgt.
Perskin, David F., Sgt.
Mellen, Frank J.,
Cpl.
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 6/14/2011
Kent
Search No. 1496 – Joseph K.
LaFontaine
From: Joe LaFontaine;
jlafontaine@bcbsal.org
Sent: Tuesday, May 31,
2011 1:55 PM
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Joseph Kenneth LaFontaine - Navigator
on a B-17
Hi!
I’m Joseph Kenneth
LaFontaine’s son. I too am looking for any
information regarding the fellow flyers or
anything else associated with my Father’s
service in Europe.
Hopefully you may have
found out other things!
Thank you!!!
Joe LaFontaine
Joe –
Association records for Joseph K.
LaFontaine show he flew 29 missions as navigator
with the 527th Squadron from October 5, 1944 to
February 21, 1945. Our records show missions
234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 243, 244,
247, 248, 249, 254, 256, 259, 260, 261, 273,
282, 288, 294, 301, 303, 305, 309, 313, 315,
317, and 325. Lt. LaFontaine may have flown
additional missions, but these are the ones we
show in our records. What looks to be his
“regular” crew, likely the one he trained with,
was as follows:
Meyer, Henry N, Flight
Officer, Pilot
Greenberg, William , Flight
Officer, Co-Pilot
Lafontaine Jr., Joseph K,
Flight Officer, Navigator
Lanners, John J,
Corporal, Nose Gunner/Togglier
Litwak, Kalman
, Staff Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Waters, John F, Corporal, Engineer/Top Turret
Gunner
Patching, Thomas A, Corporal, Ball
Turret Gunner
Motsek, Michael , Corporal,
Waist Gunner
Paul, Sidney , Corporal, Tail
Gunner
The photo you provide, dated
3/15/45, and labeled as “Lead Crew”, likely
refers to Mission 301, on 3/14/45, to bomb a
bridge at Minden, Germany. Crew for that
mission, and likely the crewmen pictured, was as
follows:
White Jr., William A, 1st
Lieutenant, Pilot
Grimwood, David C, 1st
Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
LaFontaine Jr., Joseph
K, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator
Warman, Seymour
, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator-GEE
Thompson,
Wayne B, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator-PFF
Schroth, William J, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier
Weisend, Lawrence J, Tech Sergeant, Radio
Operator/Gunner
Joseph, Joe A, Tech Sergeant,
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Roberts, Thomas M,
Staff Sergeant, Waist Gunner
Ivanoff, William
R, 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. If you
can provide any identifications of the men in
the photo, particularly Lt. LaFontaine, we would
be grateful for that information.
Responding 4 6/11/2011
Kent
Search No. 1495 – Donald C. Denney
From: David Denney;
daviddenney@ddphotos.net
Sent: Sunday, May
29, 2011 6:59 PM
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Re: service info for Donald Cecil
Denney, T/Sgt, flight engineer, 524th Bomb
squadron, 379th Bomb group
Hi,
I am
looking for any information you might have about
my father's service in the 524th bomb squadron,
379th bomb group. I believe dad was at Kimbolton
Aug or Sept 1944 thru March 1945.
Thank
you very much.
Regards,
David Denney
David –
Association records for Donald C. Denney show he
flew 34 missions as engineer/gunner with the
524th Squadron from October 5, 1944 to February
21, 1945. Our records show missions 215, 216,
217, 219, 221, 222, 223, 226, 229, 230, 231,
232, 236, 239, 240, 241, 242, 246, 248, 249,
250, 252, 255, 258, 262, 263, 265, 266, 268,
269, 274, 278, 281, and 283. Sgt. Denney may
have flown additional missions, but these are
the ones we show in our records.
What
looks to be his “regular” crew, likely the one
he trained with, was as follows:
Kimberlin, John I, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot
Mondientz, Howard H, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Stanfield, Louis P, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator
Montgomery, Gordon C, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier
Dickhoff, Rudolph J, Tech Sergeant, Radio
Operator/Gunner
Denney, Donald C, Sergeant,
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Slawinski, Gerard
W, Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner
Kling Jr.,
Gunard F, Sergeant, Waist Gunner
Ledgerwood,
Frederick G, 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. As was
typical of 8th Air Force crews, Sgt. Denney flew
his assigned missions in a variety of different
aircraft, most for only 1 or 2 missions each.
However, 8 of the 34 missions listed were flown
aboard a/c 43-37570, “Miss Liberty”. A photo of
that aircraft, with a later crew, is being sent
by separate e-mail.
Responding 4 6/2/2011
Kent
Search No. 1494 - Charles J. Greenough
From:
David Greenough; davidg@warrenhvac.com
Sent:
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 12:48 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Charles
Greenough
Kent,
Find attached Charles
Greenough’s Mission Log. I am looking for
information on my dad’s missions, in particular
the one where he landed on one wheel and walked
away without injury.
Also I also need
information on his 34th mission where he was
shot down in Caen, France. He says he flew a
plane called “Suffrin”, but I cannot find it
listed.
We just celebrated his 90th
birthday last april and made baseball hats with”
8th Air Force 379th BG, 526 Squadron, 1ST Lt.
Charles Greenough - Pilot B-17 “Suffrin”
Best Regards,
David Greenough
David –
Association records for Charles J. Greenough
show he flew 34 missions as pilot with the 526th
Squadron from June 4 to August 8, 1944. Our
records show missions 134, 137, 138, 139, 140,
141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 150, 152, 154,
155, 156, 157, 158, 161, 162, 163, 165, 169,
171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179,
181, and 185. Lt. Greenough may have flown
additional missions, but these are the ones we
show in our records.
Regarding your
specific reference to the mission of 8 August
1944, the 379th’s target was tactical
installations and troop support around Caen,
France. The aircraft (42-102690) was observed to
be hit by flak. Following a successful bailout,
the entire crew evaded capture. Crew was as
follows:
Greenough, Charles J, 1st
Lieutenant, Pilot
Richards, Wallace A, 2nd
Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Stephens, Joel L, 2nd
Lieutenant, Navigator
Johnson, Robert W, 2nd
Lieutenant, Bombardier
Dempsay, Howard L,
Tech Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Reed,
Roy G, Tech Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Rixon, Joe H, Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner
Danforth, Charles W, Staff Sergeant, Waist
Gunner
Peterson, Herbert 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. In regards to your 2nd reference,
to an airplane named “Suffrin”, the 526th Bomb
Squadron had an aircraft (42-29905) named
“Sufferin Sal”, however, our records do not show
any missions flown by Lt. Greenough in this
airplane, and that airplane returning to the US
in May 1944.
Detailed information such as
the mission that concluded with a landing on one
wheel is not typically available in what records
we have. That kind of detail may, or may not, be
captured in the mission reports that are
available; see the Mission Reports tab on the
website. A photo of a/c 42-102689, “Lady Luck”
is being sent by separate e-mail. This was Lt.
Greenough’s airplane on the 29 June 1944 mission
to Leipzig. This may, or may not, be the
incident he recalls. If it is, we would be
grateful for that information.
Responding
4 6/2/2011
Kent
Search No. 1493 - Robert F. Haughy
From: don
mccombs; donmccombs@sbcglobal.net
Sent:
Monday, May 23, 2011 6:08 AM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: info request
Dear Sir,
I am trying to find any
information on Robert Francis Haughy who flew as
a pilot with the 379th Bomb Group on the
Schweinfurt raid. Any info would be greatly
appreciated such as missions flown, aircraft
name, and time of service.
Thank you.
Don
McCombs
Don –
Association records for Robert F.
Haughy show he flew 24 missions as co-pilot and
pilot with the 526th Squadron from June 11 to
November 5, 1943. Our records show missions 2,
3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19,
20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 31, 37, 38, 39, 40, and
41. Lt. Haughy may have flown additional
missions, but these are the ones we show in our
records. As with most 8th Air Force crewmen, Lt.
Haughy flew his missions in a number of
different aircraft. Many of those missions were
flown in a/c 42-29890, “Stupefier”. His
“regular” crew was as follows:
Hooper,
Martin L, Lieutenant, Pilot
Haughy, Robert F,
Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Condon, William F,
Lieutenant, Navigator
Bolling, James A,
Lieutenant, Bombardier
Colborn Jr., Harry R,
Tech Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Hoge,
Everett J, Tech Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner
Furness, Warren E, Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret
Gunner
Richmond, Harold A, Staff Sergeant,
Right Waist Gunner
Hall, Eugene G, Staff
Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner
Sedivy Jr., John
H, 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. A photo
of “Stupefier”, dated 3 August 1943, is
attached, and it is likely that the crew
pictured is that of Lt. Haughy. If you can
identify him in this photo, or any other
crewmembers pictured, we would be grateful for
that information.
Responding 4 6/2/2011
Kent
Search No. 1492 – Gene R. Hecht
From: Dan Warner; thewarners@seanet.com
Sent:
Tuesday, May 17, 2011 3:28 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Gene R. Hecht
I am looking for any information concerning
the following individual.
TSgt Gene
(Cobby) R. Heght 19005193
525 Bomb Sq. 379th
Bomb Gp. (H)
He was a top turret gunner
and on his 3rd plane. He was killed on his 19th
raid over Regensburg Germany on 17 August 1943.
There were 57 17s shot down that day. They were
slated to procede on to North Africa. The plane
name was Bolevick or possibly l.
Thanks
for any info you can provide.
Dan Warner
Dan –
Association records for Gene R. Hecht
show he flew 20 missions as gunner with the
525th Squadron from May 29 to August 17, 1943.
Our records show missions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
and 21. Sgt. Hecht may have flown additional
missions, but these are the ones we show in our
records.
On August 17, 1943, the 379th
was dispatched to attack the ball bearing plants
at Schweinfurt, Germany, in the raid that came
to be known as “1st Schweinfurt”. Sgt Hecht was
part of a crew flying a/c 42-30191, “The
Bolevich”, which was listed as Missing in
Action. Crew was as follows:
Merchant,
Donald W, Lieutenant, Pilot, Prisoner Of War
Sullivan, James E, Lieutenant, Co-Pilot,
Prisoner Of War
Keith, Ernest K, Lieutenant,
Navigator, Prisoner Of War
Roman, Leonard J,
Lieutenant, Bombardier, Prisoner Of War
Hecht, Gene R, Tech Sergeant, Radio
Operator/Gunner, Killed In Action
Johnson,
Johannes H, Tech Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner,
Prisoner Of War
Tonge, Robert T, Staff
Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner, Prisoner Of War
Ridgley, Harold B, Tech Sergeant, Right Waist
Gunner, Prisoner Of War
Van Valkenburg, Edgar
, Staff Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner, Prisoner Of
War
Wierzbanowski, John L, Staff Sergeant,
Tail Gunner, Prisoner Of War
This
response will be posted in the "Looking 4"
section of our website, in case any members or
readers have any additional information. A photo
of “The Bolevich”, dated 12 July 1943, is
attached, and it is likely that the crew
pictured is, at least in part, the crew on-board
for the Schweinfurt mission – the pilot, Donald
Merchant, has previously been identified, back
row, far left. If you can identify Sgt. Hecht in
this photo, or any other crewmembers pictured,
we would be grateful for that information.
Responding 4 5/22/2011
Kent
Search No. 1491 - James E. Slick
From: Mike McDonald; mmcdonald42@comcast.net
Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 6:57 AM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: The Old Fox
Hello,
My grand father, James E Slick,
served on the Old Fox as a tail gunner before
its loss in May of 1944. My son his great grand
son is looking to do a presentation on the B-17
and is looking for any photos of The Old Fox or
any crew photo. Unfortunately after his passing
in 2009 photos of him during that period of time
have disappeared.
Thanks,
Mike
McDonald
Mike –
Association records for James E. Slick
show he flew 25 missions as tail gunner with the
525th Squadron from November 16, 1943 to March
13, 1944. Our records show missions 42, 43, 44,
48, 49, 51, 52, 55, 56, 57, 59, 60, 64, 66, 67,
68, 69, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, and 81. Sgt.
Slick may have flown additional missions, but
these are the ones we show in our records.
Unlike most Eighth Air Force crew, Sgt.
Slick flew almost exclusively (except for 3
missions) in one aircraft, a/c 42-37784, “The
Old Fox”. His “regular” crew was as follows:
Martin, John R, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot
Halfen, Charles N, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Carden, Carl D, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator
Tate, Dean W, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier
McCaffrey, Thomas P, Sergeant, Radio
Operator/Gunner
Bishop, George G, Staff
Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner
Taylor, Robert L,
Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner
Johnson, John H,
Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner
Kelly, Walter R,
Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner
Slick, James 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. A photo of “The Old
Fox”, dated 13 March 1944 (the date of Sgt.
Slick’s last mission), is attached. If you can
identify Sgt. Slick in this photo, or any other
crewmembers pictured, we would be grateful for
that information.
Responding 4 5/21/2011
Kent |
