COMMENTS & NOTES
MEMO 1:
CREW
1ST LT WILLIAM GRISWOLD SMITH P FEH CREW FLYING AT END OF HOSTILITIES
2ND LT ROBERT W. SMITH, JR CP FEH
2ND LT WILSON P. TURNIPSEED, JR. NAV FEH
2ND LT PAUL A. WILKERSON BOM FEH (became 349th BS Bombardier after 6 missions)
CPL DELOME CUMBAA, JR ROG FEH
CPL STANLEY A. SZALWINSKI, JR TTE FEH TAPS: 19 SEP 1982
CPL ANTHONY R. RUSSO BTG FEH
CPL JOHN J. O'LEARY WG FEH TAPS; 1985
CPL EARL J. BAUGH TG FEH
349TH SQDN.. CREW, AS ABOVE, JOINED THE 100TH ON 14 MAR 1945
MISSION LOG OF THE W. G. SMITH CREW
Mis No# Date Target A/C No#
#290 3/30/45 HAMBURG 43-38602 XR-P “Grumblin Gremlin II”
#291 3/31/45 ZEITZ 44-8334 XR-B
#293 4/4/45 KEIL 43-38602 XR-P….”Grumblin Gremlin II”
#294 4/5/45 NURNBURG 43-38313 XR-S “Lil Butch”
#296 4/7/45 BUCHEN 43-38602 XR-P “Grumblin Gremlin II”
#297 4/8/45 EGER,Czech. 44-8532 XR-G “Kleen Sweep”
#298 4/9/45 MUNICH 44-8532 XR-G “Kleen Sweep”
#299 4/10/45 BURG-BEI-MADGEBURG 44-8532 XR-G “Kleen Sweep”
#300 4/11/45 LANDSHUT 43-38383 LN-F
#305 4/18/45 STRAUBING 43-38865 XR-0 “Goin My Way”
All Dutch Food Drop Missions Some flights to Europe Post-Hostilities
4/19/45 Combat Mission Scrubbed/ 43-38865 XR-O “Goin My Way”
Practice
5/3/45 CHOWHOUND 44-8532 XR-G “Kleen Sweep”
5/5/45 CHOWHOUND(HILVERSUM) 44-8532 XR-G “Kleen Sweep”
5/7/45 CHOWHOUND(SCHIPHOL) 43-38865 XR-O “Goin My Way”
5/19/45 DP Ferry from Germany to Paris 43-39424 EP-B
6/3/45 DP Ferry from Austria to Paris 44-8552 XR-D
6/7/45 Food run to Dutch
6/9/45 357th FG Ferry to Munich
6/10/45 Food run to Dutch
6/12/45 Fighter Ferry to Casablanca 44-8810 XR-L “Target for Tonight”
6/13/45 Returned to Thorpe Abbotts
from Port Lyautey
7/15/45 Ferry to Nice, France………………. 44-8810…XR-L…”Target for Tonight”
My Dad was based at Thorpe Abbotts from 3/14/45 to 12/8/45 – 100th BG (349thSqdn)
Gris Smith’s crew until he left U.K. on Queen Mary to USA on 12/8/45,arriving USA 12/13/45
The misson data is courtesy of Mr J.J. O'Leary, Jr.
Disposition of some100th Aircraft flown by J.J. O'Leary
#48532 48532 349 XR G Clean Sweep(Kleen Sweep)
11 10 44 AI 23 10 44 AOS 00 00 44 G
20 05 45 482 BG 28 11 45 Kingman, Arizona
Indicates the aircraft built 11/10/44 and entered Air Force inventory 23/10/44
Overseas unknown month and date in 1944 and was a "G" model. She was tranferred to the
482nd Bomb Group 20/05/45 and was returned to the ZI (Kingman, Arizona 28/1145
# 48810 48810 349 XR L Target for Tonight
04/0145 AI 04/unk/45 AOS 00 00 45 "G"
10/10/45 Walnut Ridge, Arkansas
XR_crew@yahoo.comuname = Jack O'Learycomments
= RE: Gris Smith Crew photo on page 13,349th Sqdn page…
I would like to see a bit more DETAILED information regarding this crew photo..So use whatever you feel is useful and have space for....this photo was taken at DREW FIELD,FLORIDA (NOW TAMPA INTERNATIONAL)where the crew was first put together..their individual flying records indicate; assigned from late October,1944 until January 24,1945 to 3rd Air Force,Bomber Command,89th Wing,Group CCTS HB,Squardron T,Flight Secion 1, CREW # 11-47...Flying from Nov 1,1944 until Jan 7,1945...52 landings in 31 days of flying..181.50 TOTAL flying HRS...Usual training pattern of many takeoff and landings first three flights,13(in 5.40 hrs),3,and 6,and then 1 per day average 6.00 hrs per...with 2 flights toward end of cycle at 9.05 hrs and 10.40 hrs each...Flying over Gulf of Mexico which could be tricky when flying over water...crew members used phrase to me "one a day in Tampa Bay"...not sure if this AAF base had any MORE crashe!s than usual at a Training base for aircrews!!! Crew cycled out to Savannah Ga (HUNTER Field,AAF)in late January,1945 then traveled to NYC for their Feb,1945 crossing of the Atlantic,via Queen Elizabeth to Scotland,then to Thorpe Abbotts,arriving March 14,1945;flying four practice flights,3/20,3/25,3/27,3/29 before jumping into the fray on their first combat mission,March 30th,HAMBURG...Interesting from Jan 8th,1945 until March 20th...NO FLYING TIME for the crew after such intense training in the States...Jack O'Leary,son of WG John J.O'Leary on the Gris Smith crew
In a message dated 4/18/2003 8:27:22 AM Pacific Daylight Time, john_oleary07@yahoo.com writes:
Subj:One ship down,two chutes opened many years ago,March 30,1945
Date:4/18/2003 8:27:22 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From:john_oleary07@yahoo.com
To:cumbaade@bellsouth.net, phyllisbaugh8457@aol.com
CC:janr@cei.net, fortress@nortexinfo.net, MPFaley@aol.com
Sent from the Internet
Hi De and Earl
RE: Your first combat mission,March 30th,1945
Where it's Good Friday today and I TRY to keep from
talking much on this solumn of days I decided to do a
little research on your first combat mission to
HAMBURG,March 30,1945
specificly to follow up Gris Smith's mission log with
his,and your (crews) comments on the mission regarding
the accuracy of the comments.."I was flying the run
and therefore couldn't see much,but out of the corner
of my eye,saw the Squardron on our right in a pretty
thick concentration of flak.Further to the right was a
Yellow Tail outfit.The flak around us was thick,but
that Yellow Tail group was really taking a
beating.Right waist gunner (Sgt.John O'Leary,THE waist
Gunner,9 man crew)reported that one ship went down
with two chutes opened."
Well De they were right on with their observations.
After researching the mission for the day,I found
three B-17G's lost on the mission to Hamburg..only
one from a "Yellow Tailed Group...the 486th BG...
The Lt Fredrick Veal crew on their 9th mission...they
arrived at the 486th four days (March 10th)before your
crew did ..
See the 486th BG website for a photo of the crew and a
listing of what happened...
www.486th.org CLICK on 832th Sqdn artwork...select
VEAL...they were flying in the low low Sqdn #5 when
hit by flak..a wing broke off and a/c went into
dive,shortly after the a/c exploded...two crew were
able to get out...Sgt Robert Herman,was the Tail Gunner that got out and
became a POW with Lt. Don Johns,the Nav.
the other seven are buried at the American Cemetery in
Cambridge..(wish I knew this when I visited in
Sept-Oct 2002,would have looked them up and said a
prayer)
The Veal crew were flying RODNEY THE ROCKS #43-38142
MACR 13550 that crashed in Pinneburg,Germany that
day,an a/c transferred from another Sqdn prviously
named LIL BUTCH...the same nickname as one a/c your
crew flew in the 100th BG...
With all that was going on around them,Gris and Dad
were right on the money in their observations.Just
like they were trained to be by the USAAF..
Best as ever,
Have a good EASTER!
Jack
Subj: USAAF Numerical MOS listings
Date: 4/15/2003 11:10:44 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: john_oleary07@yahoo.com
To: MPFaley@aol.com
CC: cumbaade@bellsouth.net, phyllisbaugh8457@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)
Hi Mike
RE: USAAF Numerical MOS listings from 380th BG King of
Heavies website
I recently uncovered some additional USAAF WWII
records of my dad that my mom had...
Sgt. John O'Leary,349th Sqdn
One of them was his Separation Qualification Record
from 1945 ...
As I've mentioned to you before,my dad was in the
USAAF from Dec 8th,1941 enlistment..Jan 8,1942 Date of
entry to active service,until Dec 19th,1945
During that period,he was all over the southwestern
USA at different Army Air Fields for varied training
for several years ..before going overseas with the
100th BG
i.e. some of his MOS training codes and listings
521 Basic Airman
747 Airplane and Engine Mechanic
686 Airplane Instrument Mechanic
612 Airplane Armorer-Gunner 17 1/2 months
Lowry Field,Colo Airplane Armament 7weeks Studied bomb
loading .50 cal. machine guns,20 mm cannon,electrical
system in bomb bay.
Flexible Gunnery School,Kingman AZ. Flexible Gunnery 6
weeks ,studied mal
functions,assembling,loading,firing,sighting of .50
caliber machine guns.
he has others listed that I don't see posted on the
380th site.
629 for one ???
I see a 628 which is a Senior Technical Instructor
Any idea what a 629 is ???
I know a 509 is an enlisted bombardier
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Jack O'Leary
Jan and Mike...I had one more piece of info on the
W.Griswold SMITH crew...changes in crew assignment
positions,etc...
Where Paul Wilkinson the original BOMB on the
W.G.Smith became the 349th Sqdn Bombardier after 6 or
7 missions...I'm STILL not sure exactly when my dad
was changed to permanent TOG,(though Gris Smith did
tell me he flew "some missions" as Toggilier)... I do
know he was riding in the nose as TOG on some of the
CHOWHOUND food drops in May,1945..Not sure HOW the
bombbay release worked,since plywood was put in over
the bomb bay area,with some type of hinges...if
release was in bomb bay....
Jack o'leary
RE: 349th Sqdn Airmen
2nd Lt. William Groover CP 349th Sqdn FEH
S/Sgt. Russell O. Beyne WG 349th Sqdn FEH
Sgt Henry (NMI) Leffew WG (spare) grounded FEH
A couple of things on these airmen;
I did a search on the 100th BG database
website...Nothing on LEFFEW,had no position for
BEYNE..
My information is incomplete but I have some info for
you.. When my dad was moved to permanent TOGGLIER
position,from WG sometime after hostilities ...Beyne
replaced my dad in that position...right up until the
end of flying in October 1945...Russell also bunked
with the Gris Smith NCO's crew in Hut #33...Henry
Leffew was a SPARE gunner...in the summer and up to
the end of 1945 the flying CREW assignments were 10
men...9 actually flying,with a 10th person as a
spare,sub.etc...All I know about Henry Leffew was he
was grounded,don't know if he actually flew anytime
with the SMITH crew...Finally William T. Groover was
the CP that replaced Robert Smith Jr. on the SMITH
crew in early June and stayed on the crew up to the
end of flying in Oct. 1945…Jac O'Leary
Hi Mike: Just an FYI Editor's Note to make clear what my father meant by "we lost" our Bombardier and Navigator during our combat mission.....Paul Wilkerson,Gris SMITH crew Bombardier became 349th Bomb Squadron Bombardier after 6 combat missions and he took Wilson Turnipseed SMITH crew Navigator with him to train as a Lead Crew,SMITH crew received two replacements from another crew which included Nav. John Accinelli.......:Best Regards, Jack -30-
MEMO 2:
PHOTOS:
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John J. O'Leary and Earl J. Baugh of the William Griswold Smith crew. Photo taken at Brighton Beach on leave in July 1945. Detailed Information Courtesy of Jack O'Leary |
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John J. O'Leary at Jefferson Barracks, MO. He enlisted if the AAF 8 December 1941, reported to Camp Devens, MA on 8 January 1942 to start service and was at Jefferson Barracks only days later. Detailed Information Photo courtesy of Jack O'Leary |
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John J. O'Leary on right at the 980th Two Engine Fighter Training Squadron, Williams Field, Chandler, Arizona, June 1943. Detailed Information Photo courtesy of Jack O'Leary |
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John J. O'Leary "at ease" with the 537th Bombardier Training Squadron at Williams Field, Chandler, Arizona September, 1942. Detailed Information Photo courtesy of Jack O'Leary |
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Front of Christmas card from C. O. Col. Bernard A. Bridget to all personnel at Williams Field, Chandler, Arizona, December 1942. Detailed Information Photo courtesy of Jack O'Leary |
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Inside of Christmas card noted above. Detailed Information Photo courtesy of Jack O'Leary |
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John J. O'Leary with parachute at Williams Field, 8 June 1942. Detailed Information Photo courtesy of Jack O'Leary |
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John J. O'Leary with B-3 jacket in front of fuel trucks, Williams Field, 1943 Detailed Information Photo courtesy of Jack O'Leary |
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John J. O'Leary with B-3 jacket in Barracks area, Williams Field, 1943. Detailed Information Photo courtesy of Jack O'Leary |
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Sgt John J.O'Leary Short Snorter (Photo Courtesy of Jack O'Leary) |
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Sgt John J. O'Leary Short Snorter (Photo Courtesy of Jack O'Leary) |
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Sgt John O'Leary at his Station. (Photo Courtesy of Jack O'Leary) |
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John J. O'Leary at Jefferson Barracks(Photo Courtesy of Jack O'Leary) |
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A photo from my dads STATESIDE Williams Field,Chandler Arizona Album. My great aunts (the CARROLL'S Marion's sisters) compiled the Album for him with captions,photos supplied,etc,etc My Grand Parents Bill & Marion O'Leary in the back yard,Malden,MA in front of Bill's pigeon coop. He raced them,was Big in the 40's and early 50's. Service trimmed photo was circa 1943 at Williams Field, CORP John J. O'Leary P-38 Lightning Instrument Panel Specialist at that point in time. |
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A photo from my dads STATESIDE Williams Field,Chandler Arizona Album. My great aunts (the CARROLL'S Marion's sisters) compiled the Album for him with captions,photos supplied,etc,etc Service trimmed photo was circa 1943 at Williams Field, CORP John J. O'Leary P-38 Lightning Instrument Panel Specialist at that point in time. |
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A page from John O'Leary's WWII scrapbook. Photo courtesy of Jack O'Leary |
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The Griswold Smith Crew (Left to Right)
Standing: DeLome Cumbaa, John J. O'Leary, Earl J. Baugh, Stanley A. Szalwinski, Anthony R. Russo
Kneeling: Gris Smith, Robert Smith, Wilson P Turnipseed, Paul A. Wilkerson |
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Postcard from Kingman AAF written by John O'Leary on July 24, 1944. (Jack O'Leary) |
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Postcard from Fort Devens, MA Recruit Reception Center written by John O'Leary on January 10, 1942.
(Jack O'Leary) |
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Fort Devens post card back |
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Back of Kingman AAF postcard. |
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Postcard entitled, "Leaving Kingman Via Santa Fe" written by John O'Leary on July 30, 1944. (Jack O'Leary) |
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Back of "Leaving Kingman" postcard. |
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Lowry Field, Colorado postcard written by John O'Leary on 8 Apr 44. (Jack O'Leary) |
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Williams Field yearbook page. Note 349th Squadron Waist Gunner John J. O'Leary on top row, second from right. Courtesy Jack O'Leary |
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Letter home from John J. O'Leary from the Deming section to his Aunt Margaret. Fanny Farmer chocolates and stamps from home were a BIG HIT at the barracks. Letter sent exactly 3 years before son Jack was born. One of the few letters he saved from his time at Deming. In that letter he also mentions having to INSPECT the planes the next morning. Probably a pre flight check on the ships before they took off. Courtesy of Jack O'Leary |
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Back page of letter from John J. O'Leary. Courtesy of Jack O'Leary |
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Photo of "TARGET FOR TONIGHT" noseart taken 56 years to the day after Jack O'Leary's father, John J. O'Leary, of the William Griswold Smith crew flew the aircraft on a training flight on 7 October 1945 for 4 hours and 45 minutes. It is also Jack's birthday. Display is located in the American Airpower Museum at Midland, Texas. Photo courtesy of the American Airpower Museum, Director Tami O'Bannion |
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Goin' My Way, plane used by Gris Smith Crew. Drawn by Kenn Berry and courtesy of Jack O'Leary |
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Lt William G. "Gris" Smith Crew getting Air Medal on 11 April, 1945
Courtesy of Jack O'Leary |
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William G. (Gris) Smith Crew. in front of TARGET FOR TONIGHT, left to right: SMITH, GROOVER, ACCINELLI, SZALWINSKI, CUMBAA, O'LEARY, BEYNE, BAUGH, RUSSO
(Photo Courtesy of Jack O'Leary) |
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Left to right: Earl J. Baugh, Anthony R. Russo, John J. O'Leary, DeLome Cumbaa, Jr. All on the William Griswold (Gris) Smith crew. Photo taken at Thorpe Abbotts in 1945. Detailed Information Courtesy of Jack O'Leary. |
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The William Griswold (Gris) Smith Crew, Standing L. to R. Stanley A. Szalwinski, Jr., DeLome Cumbaa, Jr., John J. O'Leary, Anthony R. Russo, Earl J. Baugh, Kneeling, William Griswold Smith, Robert W. Smith, Jr., Wilson P. Turnipseed, Jr., Paul Wilkerson Detailed Information (100th Photo Archives) |
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Sgt John O'Leary and S/Sgt DeLome Cumbaa of Gris Smith Crew (Photo Courtesy of Jack O'Leary) |
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Workplace Newspaper prints John J. "Sonny"O'Leary crew photo (Photo Courtesy of Jack O'Leary) |
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Workplace newspaper with John J."Sonny" O'Leary thank you to everyone for sending him gifts. |
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Crew List for September 1st, 1945. William G. Smith Crew is #8. Note changes in crew members and positions vs During the War. |
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Mission Formation Sheet for April 4, 1945 Mission to KIEL, from Jack O'Leary. |
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Lt William G. (Gris) Smith Mission Diary entry of April 10, 1945 mission to BURG-bei-MAGDEBURG, AF. (photo courtesy of Jack O'Leary) |
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Lt William G. (Gris) Smith Mission Diary entry of April 10, 1945 mission to BURG-bei-MAGDEBURG, AF. (photo courtesy of Jack O'Leary) |
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Grumblin Gremlin II in March 1945 |
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Jack O'Leary A-2 Tribute Jacket to his Father. |
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Front of Jack O'Leary's tribute A-2 to his Father John O'Leary. |
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CAF Nose art panel of Target for Tonight with Jack O’Leary. His Father John O’Leary flew missions on this plane. Photo courtesy of Jack O’Leary |
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CAF Nose art panel of Target for Tonight with Jack O’Leary. His Father John O’Leary flew missions on this plane. Photo courtesy of Jack O’Leary |
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