|
From: Harold Radiloff;
greatgarlic1@gmail.com
Sent: Tuesday,
November 22, 2011 11:38 AM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: alvin radiloff
a/c 31663G " tagalong" 379th BG
researching whatever info is available for my
brother Al, bombardier and flight officer flying
out of Kimbolten. this includes his crew and
plane. would appreciate any leads to stories,
photo's etc. Al died at the age of 83 in 2005.
would love to share stories with any of his crew
still alive. 1st mission i think was #96
4/13/1944, last mission was#148 6/20/1944 (35th)
understand "tagalong" was shot down on 234th
mission to merseberg.(11/8/1944).
dear kent- your name was
given to me by Becky Watkins
Custer. greatly appreciate
the work you are all doing to
keep this history alive .
best regards hal radiloff
Hal –
Association records for Alvin Radiloff
show he flew 35 missions as co-pilot with the
524th Squadron from April 13 to June 20, 1944.
Our records show missions 96, 97, 98, 99, 100,
101, 105, 106, 108, 111, 112, 115, 116, 119,
120, 123, 124, 127, 128, 129, 130, 132, 134,
135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, 143, 144,
145, 147, and 148. F/O Radiloff may have flown
additional missions, but these are the ones we
show in our records.
F/O Radiloff’s
“regular” crew, likely the one he trained with,
was as follows:
Berwind Jr., John S, 2nd
Lieutenant, Pilot
Berg, Norman W, 2nd
Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Goldsberry, Francis M,
2nd Lieutenant, Navigator
Radiloff, Alvin
(NMI), Flight Officer, Bombardier
Vondrashek,
Willard J, Staff Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Painter, Warren W, Staff Sergeant, Engineer/Top
Turret Gunner
Witaman, Leeman W, Sergeant,
Ball Turret Gunner
Huddleston Jr., Harvey H,
Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner
Kowalewski, Leo
J, Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner
Sheets, Robert
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. A photo of Tagalong (s/n
42-31663) dated 21 June 1944 is being sent by
separate e-mail.
Responding 4 12/4/2011
Kent
Search No. 1529 - Raymond O. Wood Jr.
From: Wood, Dave (CXO); David.Wood@hp.com
Sent: Monday, November 14, 2011 2:06 PM
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: FW: 379th Bomb
Group records search
Hi
My father Raymond Overton Wood Jr was a B-17
pilot and co-pilot for the 379th bomb group out
of Kimbolton. I know of one mission he flew but
my family and I would love to know the other
missions he flew and read the mission reports
for these flights. The plane was called
Swampfire and it flew a record 115 consecutive
missions without an abort – my dad was co-pilot
on its last consecutive successful mission. What
other missions did he fly? The only one I know
of was this one:
Mission Number: 246 for
the 379th flown on 12/2/1944 Aircraft 42-32024
Target City: Oberlahnstein , Germany
Target: Marshalling
Yards
Name Rank Duties
Harold F Francis Tech Sergeant Engineer/Top
Turret Gunner
Albert J
Lowman Staff Sergeant Tail Gunner
Thomas A Pickett 2nd Lieutenant Navigator
William N Scarffe Staff Sergeant Waist Gunner
Bennie Ward Staff Sergeant Ball Turret Gunner
William A Webber 1st Lieutenant Pilot
Raymond O Wood Jr. 2nd Lieutenant Co-Pilot
William V Sweatt Tech Sergeant Nose
Gunner/Togglier
James F
Berkley Tech Sergeant Radio Operator/Gunner
Thanks!
Dave Wood
Dave –
Association records for Raymond O.
Wood Jr. show he flew 34 missions as co-pilot
with the 525th Squadron from October 5, 1944 to
February 19, 1945. Our records show missions
215, 217, 222, 223, 224, 225, 228, 229, 230,
232, 236, 237, 239, 240, 241, 242, 246, 247,
249, 250, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 264, 266,
267, 272, 273, 275, 277, 280, and 281. Lt. Wood
may have flown additional missions, but these
are the ones we show in our records.
Lt.
Wood’s “regular” crew, likely the one he trained
with, was as follows:
Webber, William A,
2nd Lieutenant, Pilot
Wood Jr., Raymond O,
2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Pickett, Thomas A,
2nd Lieutenant, Navigator
Wellman Jr., Felix
D, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier
Berkley, James
F, Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Francis,
Harold F, Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Scarffe, William N, Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner
Brock, Robert L, Sergeant, Waist Gunner
Krozer, Edward P, Sergeant, Tail Gunner
This list compares pretty well with the list you
provided for Mission 246 – but there was some
shifting around of crewmembers, which was
typical as men got sick, or were injured. 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 are not aware of any photo in our possession
of Lt. Wood or his crew. If you have any photos
of Lt. Wood or his crew that you’d be willing to
share for our archives, we would be very
grateful.
Responding 4 11/27/2011
Kent
Search No. 1528 - Jack Clark
From: john clark;
johntclark_pittsburgh@yahoo.com
Sent: Friday,
November 11, 2011 9:46 AM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Jack "Mouse"
Clark 379 Bomb Group - plane Queenie
Hello:
My father is Jack Clark, nickname
"Mouse" from Knoxville, TN and I have a plaque
of his plane "Queenie". Above the plane it says
"S/Sgt. Mouse Clark ETO 1944-45". Below the
plane hangs three bombs that list his 35
missions.
Any information on my dad would
be greatly and deeply appreciated. If you would
like me to post a picture of the plaque please
be so kind to direct me to the correct site.
Thank you,
John Clark
John –
Association
records for Jack S. Clark show he flew 15
missions as gunner with the 526th Squadron from
December 18, 1944 to April 3, 1945. Our records
show missions 250, 252, 255, 256, 257, 259, 260,
261, 263, 264, 265, 267, 270, 273, 274, 275,
277, 278, 280, 286, 288, 290, 292, 295, 297,
302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 313, 314, and
315. Sgt. Clark may have flown additional
missions, but these are the ones we show in our
records.
Sgt. Clark’s “regular” crew,
likely the one he trained with, was as follows:
Zalewski, Boleslaw S, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot
Succop, John C, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Teater, Charles W, Flight Officer, Navigator
Franklin, Wilbur G, Sergeant, Nose
Gunner/Togglier
Halper, Leo R, Corporal,
Radio Operator/Gunner
Roberts, Richard W,
Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
David,
William M, Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner
Care,
William G, Sergeant, Waist Gunner
Clark, Jack
S, 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 a/c
42-102627, “Queenie”, dated 24 July 1944, with
an earlier crew, is being sent separately. If
you have any photos of Sgt Clark or his crew
that you’d be willing to share for our archives,
we would be very grateful.
Responding 4
11/13/2011
Kent
Search No. 1527 - Hugh McKeegan |
From: Kathleen Boyle; kate.boyle@live.ie
Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2011 1:16 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Hugh McKeegan
Hi, I am looking for information and
photographs of Hugh McKeegan, I noticed in one
of your responses, you mention his name in a
list, dated 8/30/2010, in the response you
mentioned he was one of the crew who flew to the
U.K from Kearney, Nebraska on April 1943. My
Mother and I have just recently found out that
Hugh was her first cousin, I have been trying
to make a family tree, and discovered Hugh and
his mum, dad, brothers and sisters, I would
appreciate it very much if you can give me any
information if possible..
Kind regards
Katie Boyle
Ireland
Katie –
Association records for Hugh McKeegan show he
flew 15 missions as radio operator/gunner with
the 524th Squadron from May 29 to September 3,
1943. Our records show missions 1, 2, 4, 5, 6,
7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 17, 21, 23, 24, and 26. Sgt.
McKeegan may have flown additional missions, but
these are the ones we show in our records.
On September 3, 1943, the 379th Bomb Group’s
target was an aircraft components plant at
Romilly, France. Sgt. McKeegan was flying as
part of the crew of a/c 42-3300 which crashed
due to flak damage. Crew was as follows:
Krafft, Julius W, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot, Killed
In Action
Toft, Norman E, 2nd Lieutenant,
Co-Pilot, Prisoner Of War
Jacobs, Ronald W,
2nd Lieutenant, Navigator, Prisoner Of War
Peifer, Thomas D, 1st Lieutenant, Bombardier,
Prisoner Of War
McKeegan, Hugh (NMI), Tech
Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner, Prisoner Of War
Nolan, Morrison T, Staff Sergeant, Top Turret
Gunner, Prisoner Of War
Frydryk, Frank P,
Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner, Killed In
Action
Armstrong, Donald B, Tech Sergeant,
Right Waist Gunner, Killed In Action
Klump,
Delbert W, Tech Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner,
Prisoner Of War
Vandergriff, Robert A, 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 Sgt. McKeegan and most of the crew listed
above will be sent by separate e-mail.
Responding 4 11/13/2011
Search No. 1526 - Foy R. Clingman
From: Elva Erny;
elvafrompa@aol.com
Sent: Monday, November
07, 2011 12:25 PM
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Looking for Information on a
possible crew member.
I recently found
some photos of my mother's half-brother. She
used to tell me stories of how he was killed in
flight over Amsterdam. On the one photo, the
name Lt. Foy R Clingman, Air Force Pilot, is
written on it. She said that he was 21 when he
enlisted or was killed. When I googled his name
to see what it might show, your website was
listed, and his name is listed. I'm not sure how
to go about finding out any information about
him. Is there anything you can do to help me.
Mom passed away 2 1/2 years ago, and I would
really like to learn all I can about Foy. Any
information you can help me with would be
greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Elva Erny.
Elva –
Association records for Foy R.
Clingman show he flew 12 missions as co-pilot
with the 527th Squadron from December 11, 1943
to February 22, 1944. Our records show missions
47, 48, 52, 53, 56, 57, 59, 60, 66, 67, 68, and
71. Lt. Clingman may have flown additional
missions, but these are the ones we show in our
records.
On February 22, 1944, the 379th
Bomb Group was dispatched to bomb an aircraft
factory at Halberstadt, Germany. Lt. Clingman
was flying as part of the crew of a/c 42-29829,
“Sons O’ Satan”, which was shot down by fighters
after leaving the target. Crew was as follows:
Haston, Robert W, Lieutenant, Pilot,
Prisoner Of War
Clingman, Foy R, Lieutenant,
Co-Pilot, Killed In Action
Sheaffer, Harold
N, Lieutenant, Navigator, Killed In Action
Burblis, Stanislaw (NMI), Staff Sergeant,
Bombardier, Killed In Action
Fisher, Gordon
D, Tech Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner,
Prisoner Of War
Raack, Kenneth E, Tech
Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner, Killed In
Action
Spisak, Robert (NMI), Tech Sergeant,
Ball Turret Gunner, Killed In Action
Gemmecke, Conrad J, Staff Sergeant, Right Waist
Gunner, Prisoner Of War
Nixon, William G,
Staff Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner, Prisoner Of
War
Adrianson, Lester B, 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 Sons O’
Satan, dated 20 July 1943, with an earlier crew,
is being sent separately. If you have any photos
of Lt. Clingman or his crew that you’d be
willing to share for our archives, we would be
grateful for that information. Also, please see
Looking4 request number 1183 (available through
the website) for an earlier request on
information regarding Lt. Clingman.
Responding 4 11/13/2011
Kent
Search No. 1525 - James M. Blain
From: Gary Cooper;
ka5txc@sbcglobal.net
Sent: Tuesday, October
25, 2011 8:46 PM
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: 1st Lt. James M. Blain
My
wife is looking for information about her father
1st Lt. James M. Blain of Texas. He was a B-17
pilot flying out of England and bombing Germany.
His plane was shot down by anti-aircraft fire or
damaged in a collision with another aircraft.
The crew bailed out and evaded capture with the
help of a French farmer. We would appreciate any
information you could provide, especially the
name of his squadron, aircraft name, and members
of his crew.
Thank You,
Gary and
Bonnie Cooper
Gary –
Association
records for James M. Blain show he flew 26
missions as pilot with the 525th Squadron from
February 16 to April 25, 1945. Our records show
missions 281, 282, 284, 290, 292, 294, 295, 297,
299, 301, 302, 305, 306, 308, 309, 312, 314,
316, 317, 319, 320, 324, 325, 326, 328, and 330.
Lt. Blain may have flown additional missions,
but these are the ones we show in our records.
On April 25, 1945, the 379th Bomb Group was
dispatched to bomb the armament works at Pilsen,
Czechoslovakia, in what was the Group’s last
combat mission. Lt. Blain was flying a/c
43-38178, “Seattle Sue”, which was involved in a
mid-air collision with a/c 42-38272. The
collision cut the tail off of the aircraft,
resulting in the death of the tail gunner. The
rest of the crew was able to bail out
successfully over friendly territory. Crew was
as follows:
Blain, James M, 1st
Lieutenant, Pilot
White, Grant , 2nd
Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Messeri, Sidney , 2nd
Lieutenant, Navigator
Brooks Jr., John C, 2nd
Lieutenant, Bombardier
Hornbeck Jr., Duffy C,
Staff Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Lager,
Clifford S, Tech Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret
Gunner
Piva, Robert V, Staff Sergeant, Ball
Turret Gunner
Meikle, William W, 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. A photo of Seattle Sue,
dated 17 September 1944, with an earlier crew,
is being sent separately. If you have any photos
of Lt. Blain or his crew that you’d be willing
to share for our archives, we would be grateful
for that information.
Responding 4
11/13/2011
Kent
Search No. 1524 - Peter M. Beloberk
From:
clint beloberk; budomunkey@yahoo.com
Sent:
Thursday, October 20, 2011 8:05 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Peter
Beloberk
Hello. My great uncle is Peter
Beloberk and flew in the B-17G Ol Gappy as
bombarbier during WWII. He passed away last year
and I am in possession some of his wartime
paperwork from Kimbolton. I am researching his
history for the family and would appreciate any
information you may have, including any photos.
Thank you in advance for any assistance you
are able to provide,
Clint Beloberk
Clint –
Association records for Peter M. Beloberk show
he flew 35 missions as bombardier with the 524th
Squadron from March 8 to June 20, 1944. Our
records show missions 79, 82, 83, 84, 86, 87,
88, 90, 92, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 101, 102, 104,
108, 111, 115, 117, 119, 124, 127, 129, 130,
136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, and 148.
Lt. Beloberk may have flown additional missions,
but these are the ones we show in our records.
Lt. Beloberk’s “regular” crew, possibly the
one he trained with, was as follows:
Hennrich, Stephen L, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot
Morris, Gordon (NMI), 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Zieman, Harold H, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator
Beloberk, Peter M, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier
Schnare, Robert L, Staff Sergeant, Radio
Operator/Gunner
LaSalle, Anthony P, Sergeant,
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Carville, Lloyd A,
Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner
Houck, Donald L,
Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner
Dewire, Kenneth
E, Staff Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner
Parker,
Earl K, 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 you
indicate, Lt. Beloberk flew most of his missions
(29 of 35) in a/c 42-40003, “Ol’ Gappy/Topper”.
That aircraft ended up as the Champ of the ETO,
with 157 missions to her credit. A photo of most
of the members of this crew, and the airplane,
dated 12 June 1944, is attached. Crew members
pictured, that have previously been identified,
are as follows:
Front Row, L to R: J. F.
Lingmain (Armorer); Thomas Holysz (mechanic);
W.J. Wolcott (Crew Chief); F.J. Thoman (Asst
Crew Chief); William McCord (Asst armorer);
Walter Lafling (Mechanic); James E. Worsham
(Mechanic)
Back Row, L to R: Stephen L.
Hennrich; Anthony P. LaSalle; Robert L. Schnare;
Earl K. Parker; Kenneth E. Dewire; Donald L.
Houck; Lloyd A. Carville; Peter M. Beloberk
If you have any photos or documents you’d be
willing to share for our archives, we would be
grateful for that information.
Responding
4 10/21/2011
Kent
Search No.
1523 - Jarvis D. Williams
From: Ryczek,
Thomas A. (UMKC-Student); tarqmb@mail.umkc.edu
Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2011 12:04 AM
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Jarvis D.
Williams
Hello,
My name is Tom
Ryczek. I am the grandson of Jarvis D. Williams.
He died before I was born, but I learned about
his involvement in World War II from my
grandmother. He flew on a B-17 called the "Lucy"
in the 379th. I have seen his crew listed on
your website. I have also seen his name listed
on websited pertaining to POWs imprisoned at
Stalag 1. I have a booklet that he kept that
described the bomb-load and target of each of
his crew's missions. I know that they took heavy
fire on their last mission and the whole crew
bailed. Luckily, each member of the crew made it
out of the war alive. The pilot of the "Lucy,"
Lt. Puckett, wrote a letter describing his
experience on the day of the last mission which
I have found on another website. All of the
members of the crew were picked up by the
Germans fairly quickly after they bailed from
their plane. My grandfather, however, lived in
the woods for 3 days before finally deciding to
turn himself in. At some point during the 3
days, he walked into a small German town nearby
and walked around. Nobody paid him any
attention. After the 3rd day, my grandfather
turned himself in to Germans in this small town.
I studied in Heidelberg, Germany in the Spring
of 2007. I was able to visit many of the towns
which his crew had bombed. I really wanted to
visit that small town that he had walked into,
but had no way of knowing what town that might
be. My grandmother believes it was near
Frankfurt. He was taken to Cologne after
capture, before eventually being taken to Stalag
1. Lt. Puckett says that he himself ended up in
Altenkirchen, which lies between Frankfurt and
Cologne, near Bonn. So it makes some sense that
my grandfather would have ended up somewhere in
that area. I was wondering if you might have an
idea of how I might figure out what town it was
that he walked into. I know that the Germans
took meticulous records, and other people in his
crew may have an idea, but I don't even know
where to begin to look. Thank you very much for
your time.
Tom Ryczek
Tom –
Association records for Jarvis D.
Williams show he flew 26 missions as gunner with
the 527th Squadron from August 16 to November
30, 1944. Our records show missions 190, 192,
196, 197, 198, 200, 208, 211, 213, 216, 217,
220, 221, 222, 224, 225, 226, 230, 231, 233,
234, 235, 237, 238, 239, and 245. Sgt. Williams
may have flown additional missions, but these
are the ones we show in our records.
On
November 30, 1944, the 379th attacked the
synthetic oil plant at Zeitz, Germany. Sgt
Williams was part of the crew flying a/c
42-107014, “Lucy”, which was believed to be lost
due to anti-aircraft fire. Crew was as follows:
Puckett, Robert D, 1st Lieutenant, Pilot,
Prisoner Of War
Childes, Donald M, 2nd
Lieutenant, Co-Pilot, Prisoner Of War
Ingraham Jr., Charles J, 2nd Lieutenant,
Navigator, Prisoner Of War
Reedy, George E,
Flight Officer, Bombardier, Prisoner Of War
Yriarte, Roman , Tech Sergeant, Radio
Operator/Gunner, Prisoner Of War
Salley,
Robert L, Tech Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret
Gunner, Prisoner Of War
Hirschi, Alvin L,
Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner, Prisoner Of
War
Williams, Jarvis D, Staff Sergeant, Waist
Gunner, Prisoner of War
Tirapelli, Attilio S,
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.
Sorry, we have no information that would help
identify the town that he walked into. Copies
from the Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) will be
sent by separate e-mail. The MACRs sometimes
include German records – unfortunately they are
not present in this one. A photo that has been
identified as the Lt. Puckett crew, dated 17
April 1944, is attached. If you can identify Sgt
Williams in this photo, or have any photos
you’re willing to share with us, we would be
grateful for that information.
Responding
4 10/21/2011
Kent
Search No. 1522 - Sidney S. Slater
From: Penny Listman; <copper_6@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, October 16, 2011 9:42 pm
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Sidney S.
Slater; 379th BG
Hello,
I have found
several pictures and articles pertaining to my
father: Sidney S. Slater when he was with the
379th BG on your site. My family knows very
little about his time in WWII and he didn't
speak of his time in the war.
It is
important that I preserve as much about my
father as possible for his grandchildren. These
men were true heros of their time and deserve an
honored place in history.
I would
appreciate any help you might be able to give me
in my quest.
Thank You in advance,
Very
Respectfully,
Penny (Slater) Listman
USN,
Retired
Penny,
Association records for Sgt Sidney S.
Slater show he flew 35 missions as radio
operator/gunner with the 525th Squadron from
July 12, 1944 to October 19, 1945. Our records
show missions 164, 165, 167, 168, 169, 172,
173,174, 175, 176, 177, 179, 181, 188, 190, 191,
195, 196, 198, 199, 202, 203, 206, 208, 210,
212, 214, 218, 220, 223 and 204. T/Sgt Slater
may have flown additional missions, but these
are the ones we show in our records.
Sgt
Slater's regular crew was as follow:
Spratt, James A, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot
Abernathy, Andrew J, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Reger, Marquis B, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator
Billings, Richard L, Staff Sergeant, Nose
Gunner/Togglier
Slater, Sidney S, Staff
Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Serotta,
Harry L, Staff Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret
Gunner
Stewart, James C, Sergeant, Ball
Turret Gunner
Minter, Charles O, Sergeant,
Waist Gunner
Sacco, George P, Sergeant, Tail
Gunner
Attached is a photo taken in July,
1944 showing the crew and their positions on
aircraft 43-37932-H "Spratt-O-Liner".
Back row left to right:
Charles Minter, Waist
Gunner; Sidney Slater, Radio Operator/Gunner;
Harry Serotta, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner; James
Stewart, Ball Turret Gunner; George Sacco, Tail
Gunner.
Front row left to right:
Marquis Reger, Navigator; James Spratt, Pilot;
Andrew Abernathy Co-Pilot.
The son of
James Spratt is a member of the Association.
This response will be posted in the "Looking 4"
section of our website, in case any members or
readers have any additional information.
Responding4 10/19/11
Mike
From: Penny
Listman; <copper_6@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed,
October 19, 2011 4:56 pm
Subject: Re: 1522 -
Sidney S. Slater
Mike,
Thank you so
much for the quick response. The attached
picture will make a great addition to the
historical album I'm creating for my father. I
will definitely check out the membership details
of the 379th Bomb Group Association. Having
mission reports would be great.
Thanks again
for your help!
Penny (Slater) Listman
USN,
Retired
Search No. 1521 - Donald S. Sherman
From: Brengman, Erik J. HM3;
Erik.Brengman@med.navy.mil
Sent: Friday,
September 23, 2011 1:37 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
To whom it may
concern:
My name is Erik Brengman. I am
trying to find information on my Great Uncle
Donald S. Sherman. With the limited resources
available I've tracked him to your website
unfortunately that's all I know. I'm trying to
gather information on my family to keep for
future generations. I would greatly appreciate
any information you could provide.
v/r
HM3(FMF) Brengman, Erik J.
USN
Erik –
Association records for Donald S.
Sherman show he flew 18 missions as ball turret
gunner with the 527th Squadron from May 29 to
October 14, 1943. Our records show missions 1,
2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26,
28, 29, 31, and 38. Sgt. Sherman may have flown
additional missions, but these are the ones we
show in our records.
On October 14, 1943,
the 379th attacked the ball bearing works at
Schweinfurt, Germany, in the raid that came to
be known as Black Thursday. The 8th Air Force
lost 60 bombers on that day, including 6 from
the 379th.
Sgt Sherman was flying in the
ball turret of a/c 42-3269, “Picadilly Willy”,
which crashed 10 miles west of Schweinfurt. Crew
was as follows:
Carnal, Walter F,
Captain, Pilot, Prisoner Of War
Davidson,
William S, 1st Lieutenant, Co-Pilot, Prisoner Of
War
Chudoba, Albert J, 2nd Lieutenant,
Navigator, Prisoner Of War
Gross, Leslie M,
1st Lieutenant, Bombardier, Killed In Action
Cruzan, Leonard F, Tech Sergeant, Radio
Operator/Gunner, Prisoner Of War
Wyland,
Dean L, Tech Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner,
Prisoner Of War
Sherman, Donald S, Staff
Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner, Prisoner Of War
Rukavina, Nick G, Staff Sergeant, Right
Waist Gunner, Killed In Action
Rodriquez,
Monico R, Staff Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner,
Prisoner Of War
Fisher, Milton M, 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.
Information from other sources indicate that
Sgt. Sherman became a POW, but was shot while
attempting to escape during a march from one POW
camp to another sometime in 1945. A photo that
was previously identified as the Walter Carnal
crew, dated 12 July 1943, is attached. Sgt.
Sherman has been identified as front row, fourth
from left. If you can confirm that
identification, we would be grateful for that
information.
Responding 4 10/10/2011
Kent |
