COMMENTS & NOTES
MEMO 1:
CREW
2ND LT JOHN J. RARING P KIA 19 MAY 44 BERLIN (with Crew of Lt Martin Rupert as CP) see note below
2ND LT ? CP
2ND LT ? NAV
2ND LT JAMES J. LUX BOM POW 5 NOV 43 GELSENKIRCHEN (with Lt Flesh and Lt Gossage) see below
T/SGT ? TTE
T/SGT JOHN P."SPARKY" COOPER ROG CPT 17 JUL 44 AUXERRE
S/SGT CHARLES J. HOPKINS BTG NOC (SEE NOTE BELOW)
S/SGT LEON E."AL" MACDONALD RWG EVA 5 NOV 43 GELSENKIRCHEN (with Lt Flesh and Lt Gossage) see below
S/SGT KENNETH HALE LWG POW 27 APRIL 44 THIONVILLE (with Crew of Lt Winans Shaddix)
S/SGT ? TG
349TH Sqdrn, Assigned to Thorpe Abbotts October 1943.
From T/Sgt John P. Cooper (May 6, 2001)
"I arrived at Thorpe Abbotts in September 1943, Rosie arrived with the same group. I flew 5 missions with Lt John Raring, he broke his arm and from then on, I flew with at least six different Pilots. When Cowboy Owen Roane flew his last mission that was suppose to be a "Milk Run", I was his radio operator. The milk run was close to being a catastrophe when a 20MM shell exploded in our gas tank. Finally, around May 1944, I was assigned to a permanent crew and finished flying my last mission with Lt J. Trapnell. On July 17, 1944 on a mission to Auxerre( Not Bremen as John Cooper thought), our plane was severly damaged but we were lucky to reach the English Channel and the Crew bailed out."
349th SQUADRON, 100TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)
Office of the Squadron Commander
11 August 1944
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
This will introduce, and highly commend, Technical Sgt. John P. Cooper, 32431713, who has flown ninteen (19) combat missions
over Germany and German Europe in B-17 aircraft of this Squadron.
Technical Sgt. Cooper, a radio operator, proved himself a brave and cool combat airman under conditions of great peril and stress,
and performed his highly exacting and essential duties excellently at all times. He participated in some very long, dangerous and
difficult missions, escaping death narrowly on several occasions.
Aside from his fine combat record, I regard Technical Sgt Cooper as a young man of high character, good intellect and pleasant personality,
well worthy of trust in any postiion or assignment requiring his specialized technical knowledge and skill.
SAM L. BARR
Major, Air Corps
Commanding 349th Sqdn.
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HEADQUARTERS
100TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)
11 August 1944
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Technical Sgt. John P. Cooper, 32431713, is well known to me personally, and I wish to commend him as a brave and skillful combat
airman who has flown nineteen (19) combat missions over German and German Europe.
As Radio Operator in B-17 aircraft, Technical Sgt Cooper made a fine record for courage, coolness and complete reliability in this very
position. He displayed notable alertness and skill in his duties, being rewarded as on of the best Radio Operators of his unit. His missions included
some of the toughest operations carried out during his tour of duty in the ETO.
I believe Technical Sgt. Cooper to be a man of sound principals, active mind and good hearing and feel his record merits his favorable consideration
for any job or appointment for which his technical training might qualify him.
SUMNER REEDER
Major, Air Corps.
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INCOMPLETE MISSIONS OF S/SGT JOHN P. COOPER (mpf 2002)
DATE TARGET PILOT
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. 16/11/43 RJUKAN LT JOHN RARING
6. 26/11/43 PARIS LT OWEN "COWBOY" ROANE
7. 03/03/44 BERLIN LT C.H. COWAN
8 . 06/03/44 BERLIN LT C.H. COWAN
9. 17/03/44 MUNICH LT J.R. STOUT
10. 18/03/44 MUNICH LT J.R. STOUT
11. 22/03/44 ORANIENBURG LT J.R. STOUT
12. 27/03/44 BORDEAUX LT J.R. STOUT
13. 30/03/44 LUDWIGSHAVEN LT J.R. STOUT (RECALL)
14. 01/04/44 LUDWIGSHAVEN LT J.R. STOUT (RECALL)
15. 09/04/44 KRESZINKE LT C.H. COWAN (RECALL)
16. 10/04/44 RHEIMS LT C.H. COWAN
17. 11/06/44 BERCKsurMER LT J.D. WILLIAMS
18. 14/07/44 MAQUIS DROP LT J. TRAPNELL
19. 17/07/44 AUXERRE LT J. TRAPNELL (ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE, CREW BAILED OUT OVER ENGLAND)
349TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H) ARMY AIR FORCES
Office of the Operations Officer
APO 569
4 August 1944
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
On 17 July 1944 at 0925 hours the following Combat Crew, assigned to this organization, parachuted from an abandoned B-17G somewhere over England. Aircraft was abandoned account of fire.
1st Lt. Harold L. Heyneman 0-681539 (Navigator/Bombardier)
2nd Lt. Joseph Trapnell IV 0-818761 (Pilot)
2nd Lt. Melvin L. Kodas 0-503283 (Copilot)
T/Sgt Murry W. Holditch 18178502 (Top Turret Gunner)
T/Sgt. John P. Cooper 32931713 (Radio Operator Gunner)
Sgt Adam C. Stoppel 17088192 (Left Waist Gunner)
S/Sgt. Robert Patrick 14065993 (Right Waist Gunner)
S/Sgt. William A. Geigle 33188079 (Ball Turret Gunner)
S/Sgt. Clare R. Harnden 16084649 (Tail Gunner)
S/Sgt. Byron R. Greene 31289048 (Toggelier)
FRED W. CRAFT JR.
1st Lt.. Air Corps.
Asst Ops Officer.
The aircraft on July 17, 1944 was A/C# 42-102977 was called "TRAPS".
Subj: Re: Crew list July 14, 1944
Date: 5/29/2003 10:37:15 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: Heine48
To: MPFaley
My father was bombardier/navigator qualified (two ratings) When Lt. Fred Robertson the regular navigator was assigned to lead crews my father was assigned on the missions as navigator.
Jim Heyneman
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Time line for T/Sgt John P. "Sparky" Cooper
May 1943 Peyote, Texas-Snake alley and rats
June 1943 Dyersburg
July 1943 Omaha, Nebraska, Pacific bound?
Aug 1943 Gander, New Foundland
Sept 1943 European Theater of Operations (ETO)
Oct 1943 Assigned 100th Bomb Group
Nov 16, 1943 Rjukan, Norway-Heavy Water
Nov 26 1943 Flying with Cowboy, his last mission
July 17, 1944 A fatal mission, we bail out and the story of the lost ambulance
Aug 16, 1944 Moe the Mule (passed away)
Sept 21, 1944 Returned to USA by boat and eating Mutton
Mr. Faley,
I am writing to see if you would be able to tell me how to go about finding out the history of my father during the time he served in WWII. He passed away in September of 2008 and I have been planning to send an article in the magazine to printed in TAPS. I have some official documents and a short article written about him that is kept with a medal that he received but other than that I do not have any solid information and unfortunately, I did not write down things when my father told me about that period in his life. I was hoping that I could get the information sent in time to be in the next issue and I belive that there is a Spring issue coming out that I might still be able to meet the deadline. I had spoken to Jan about this and she was very nice but I didn't ask her at the time about where to obtain more information. Time has passed by and it has been on my mind to get this done but I have not worked on it.
I would appreciate any assistance that you might be able to provide me with.
My father's name was John Pershing Cooper. His Honorable Dicharge Paper says that he served as a technical sergeant in the 1252 nd Army Air Force Base Unit
His Specialty was a Radio OP MECH GUNNER AAF 757. Battles and Campaigns: Air Offensive Europe, Normandy, Northern France.
Some info. I am not familiar as to exactly what it means:
Inactive ERC from 18 AUG 42 to 31 AUG 42
25 DAYS LOST UNDER AW 107
ASR SCORE 2 SEP 45
Are you able to tell me nay more about this?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely,
Maureen A. Cooper
m_cooper_1@hotmail.com
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S/SGT HOPKINS MISSIONS AFTER LT RARING CREW IS BROKEN UP: FLEW WITH THE CREWS OF: CAPT MARK V. WILSON, LT M.A. EHORN,
Date Crew Nbr Mission Nbr Last Name Initial Rank Position Aircraft Nbr Target
3/6/1944 04 124 HOPKINS C J S/SGT BTG 31534 BERLIN
3/7/1944 04 125 HOPKINS C J S/SGT BTG 31534 WERL (SCRUBBED)
3/8/1944 04 126 HOPKINS C J S/SGT BTG 710 BERLIN / ERKNER PLANT
3/13/1944 04 128 HOPKINS C J S/SGT BTG 31534 NOBALL/ 11 (SCRUBBED)
3/15/1944 04 129 HOPKINS C J S/SGT BTG 31534 BRUNSWICK
3/19/1944 04 133 HOPKINS C.J. S/SGT BTG 710 MARQUIS, MIMMOYEQUES
3/22/1944 04 134 HOPKINS C.J. S/SGT BTG 127 ORANIENBURG (BERLIN)
3/27/1944 04 139 HOPKINS C J S/SGT BTG 987 LUDWIGSHAFEN /RECALLED
4/1/1944 04 140 HOPKINS C J S/SGT BTG 987 LUDWIGSHAFEN
4/7/1944 04 141 HOPKINS C J S/SGT BTG 987 QUACKENBRUCK (SCRB)
4/8/1944 04 142 HOPKINS C J S/SGT BTG 987 QUACKENBRUCK
4/9/1944 04 143 HOPKINS C J S/SGT BTG 987 KRZESINKI (POSEN)
4/10/1944 04 144 HOPKINS C J S/SGT BTG 987 RHEIMS/ CHAMPAGNE
5/9/1944 01 114 HOPKINS C.J. S/SGT BTG 31936 LAON/COUVRON; ANTHIES
5/23/1944 01 120 HOPKINS C.J. S/SGT BTG 31986 TROYES
5/27/1944 01 123 HOPKINS C.J. S/SGT BTG 31986 STRASBOURG
6/6/1944 01 -132 HOPKINS C.J. S/SGT BTG 31986 FALAISE/OUISTREHAM
6/26/1944 01 149 HOPKINS C.J. S/SGT BTG 31986 DROHOBYCZ-RUSSIAN SHUTTLE
7/3/1944 83 151 HOPKINS C.J. S/SGT BTG 97154 ARAD (RUMANIA)-RUSSIAN SHUTTLE
7/5/1944 HOPKINS C.J. S/SGT BTG BEZIERS (FRANCE) RUSSIAN SHUTTLE
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S/SGT KENNETH V.HALE MISSIONS AFTER LEAVING LT RARING CREW. FLEW ALL MISSIONS BELOW WITH LTWINANS SHADDIX CREW
Date Crew Nbr Mission Nbr Last Name Initial Rank Position Aircraft Nbr Target
3/17/1944 02 131 HALE K.V. S/SGT LWG 31249 MUNICH
3/18/1944 02 132 HALE K.V. S/SGT LWG 31534 MUNCIH
3/19/1944 02 133 HALE K.V. S/SGT LWG 31534 MARQUIS, MIMMOYEQUES
3/22/1944 02 134 HALE K.V. S/SGT LWG 31534 ORANIENBURG (BERLIN)
3/23/1944 02 135 HALE K.V. S/SGT LWG 88 BRUNSWICK/ WAGGUM
3/26/1944 02 136 HALE K.V. S/SGT LWG 56 SCHKEUDITZ/JU-88 PLANT
3/27/1944 02 137 HALE K.V. S/SGT LWG 31534 BORDEAUX/ MERIGNAC
4/7/1944 02 141 HALE K.V. S/SGT LWG 68 QUACKENBRUCK (SCRB)
4/8/1944 02 142 HALE K.V. S/SGT LWG 86 QUACKENBRUCK
4/9/1944 02 143 HALE K.V. S/SGT LWG 31534 KRZESINKI (POSEN)
4/10/1944 02 144 HALE K.V. S/SGT LWG 86 RHEIMS/ CHAMPAGNE
4/11/1944 02 145 HALE K.V. S/SGT LWG 31534 POSEN / ROSTOCK T.O.
4/12/1944 02 146 HALE K.V. S/SGT LWG 723 SCHEUDITZ (RECALL)
DATE: 27 April 1944 349th Sqdn. A/C #42-3534
TARGET: Thionville AF,France MACR #4268
(Micro-fiche #1517)
1st Lt Winans C.Shaddix P EVADEE
2nd Lt George T.Sullivan CP POW
T/Sgt Raymond C.Lestico NG POW
2nd Lt Cole M Dailey BOM POW
T/Sgt Frederick H.Erb ROG POW
T/Sgt James H.Lee TTE POW
S/Sgt John B.Cortelletty BTG POW
S/Sgt William F.Cornelius RWG POW
S/Sgt Kenneth V.Hale LWG POW
S/Sgt Hugh Hamilton TG POW
This crew,except for Lestico,Cortelletty & Hale,had joined the 100th Group on 9/3/44-
EYEWITNESS REPORT: "A/C #534 was hit by flak as it left the target area at 1939 hours. No.3 engine began to smoke and the A/C began to lag. It remained with the formation however,until 2010 hours when 10 chutes were seen to come out,and the A/C descended in slow spirals,apparently under AFCE control.'
WITNESSES: Capt.Van Steenis,Lt.McGuire,Lt.Harris
In a statement by Lt.Shaddix dated 7 (Dec.?) 1944 he says that the A/C crashed near Ardoye,Belgium and exploded upon impact. It was on fire in air. He and Erb slightly injured. Seven men reported to have been captured by Germans and one man evading. Believed the evadee to be Lt.Sullivan.(Shaddix did not know Sullivan had been captured at a later time..pw)
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LT JOHN J. RARING AFTER BROKEN ARM HEALS,
CREW
2ND LT WILLIAM H. THOMAS P CPT 29 MAY 44 LEIPZIG, AC REPAIR DEPOT
2ND LT J. J. RARING CP KIA 19 MAY 44 BERLIN, CITY (WITH THE M.D. RUPERT CREW)
2ND LT HERBERT J. BRICE NAV CPT 13 APR 44 AUGSBURG
2ND LT LOUIS BROWNSTEIN BOM CPT 25 MAY 44 BRUSSELS, MY TAPS: 11 AUG 1971
S/SGT CHARLES A. LEAVITT ROG CPT 24 MAY 44 BERLIN (WITH LT EVANS CREW)
T/SGT CLIFFORD E. AKIN TTE CPT 20 APR 44 MARQUENVILLE & FLOTTEMANVILLE-HAGUE
S/SGT WILLARD W. MOORE BTG CPT 28 APR 44 SOTTEVAST (NOBALL) TAPS: 19 JUN 1988
S/SGT DANIEL S. McGILL RWG CPT 27 APR 44 FLOTTENANVILLE (NOBALL)
S/SGT JOHN D. SMOOT LWG CPT 27 APR 44 FLOTTENANVILLE (NOBALL)
S/SGT EDWARD A. VOLLMER TG CPT 27 APR 44 FLOTTENANVILLE (NOBALL)
418TH SQDN.. CREW, AS ABOVE, JOINED THE 100TH ON 26 FEB 1944. THE CP (Lt John J. Raring) HAD TRANSFERRED FROM THE 349TH TO THE 418TH ON 26 FEB 1944.
ACCORDING TO THE DAUGHTER OF S/SGT DANIEL MCGILL, THIS CREW WAS TRANSFERRED FROM NORTH AFRICA TO ENGLAND AND WERE ASSIGNED TO 100TH BG. INFO SKETCHY ON THIS BUT WOULD ACCOUNT FOR THIS CREW COMPLETING THEIR TOUR OF DUTY OF 30 MISSIONS BY THE END OF APRIL. SINCE SOME OF THE CREW WERE ONLY IN THE GROUP UNTIL APRIL 44, THEY COULD NOT HAVE COMPLETED 30 MISSIONS IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME UNLESS THEY HAD FLOWN OTHER MISSIONS IN THE 12AF OR 15TH AF.
2ND LT JAS M. HENRY, BOM CPT 29 JAN 45 KASSEL (FROM LT SAMUEL BARRICK CREW) FILLED IN AS A BOM ON THIS CREW
INCOMPLETE LIST OF MISSIONS FOR THIS CREW:
03/03/44 BERLIN
04/03/44 BERLIN
06/03/44 BERLIN
09/03/44 ORANIENBURG, NEAR BERLIN (LAST LISTING FOR LT BROWNSTIEN ON CREW)
15/03/44 BRUNSWICK (LT JAS M. HENRY BECOMES BOMBARDIER FOR CREW)
16/03/44 AUGSBURG
22/03/44 ORANIENBURG
23/03/44 BRUNSWICK
27/03/44 BORDEAUX
10/04/44 RHEIMS
12/04/44 SCHEUDITZ, RECALL
13/04/44 AUGSBURG
CREW
2nd Lt Martin D.Rupert P KIA 19/5/44 BERLIN (On WALLof THE MISSING)
F/O Bertram D.Lobdell CP CPT 25/9/44 LUDWIGSHAFEN, MY
2nd Lt Greek R.James,Jr. NAV KIA 19/5/44 BERLIN (On WALL OF THE MISSING)
2nd Lt Lynn H.Barbour BOM POW 19/5/44 BERLIN
S/Sgt Ralph G.Hawk ROG KIA 19/5/44 BERLIN (On WALL OF THE MISSING)
S/Sgt Herbert H.Cole TTE KIA 19/5/44 BERLIN (On WALL OF THE MISSING)
S/Sgt Cecil J.McNeer BTG KIA 19/5/44 BERLIN (On WALL OF THE MISSING)
Sgt Charles L.Haswell LWG KIA 19/5/44 BERLIN
Sgt Thomas E.Hick RWG KIA 19/5/44 BERLIN
Sgt William P.Hohman TG KIA 19/5/44 BERLIN(On WALL OF THE MISSING)
350th Sqdn. Crew as above, joined the 100th Group on 12/4/44. MACR #4947, Micro fiche #4947 A/C B 17G 42 38191.
On 19/5/44, a 1st Lt John J.Raring was flying as CP and was KIA (He is on WALL OF THE MISSING)
A/C #191 was shot down by E/A on their first pass through the formation at 1518 hours. It went down under control circling to the right. Six
chutes came out as a/c went down. When last seen all props were turning and there was no smoke coming from the a/c. The crash was seen by some fishermen from Rodbyhavn,and they went to the crash point and picked up Lt.Barbour, but despite intense search in the area no other
survivors llere found. Body of S/Sgt Hick was found at sea near Vejlo Island in Nakskov Fjord on 24/7/44 and he was buried at Sandby
Cemetary. Body of Haswell & Hicks was found at sea 12 km W of Rodbyhavn on 22/7/44 They were buried in Rodby Cemetary. In 1948 S/Sgt Hick's remains were exhumed and returned to U.S.A. S/Sgt Haswell is still resting in the Rodby Cemetary.
Statement by Lynn Barbour "At the time of the first attack fire was started by enemy action, near the forward escape hatch. I immediately tried
to extinguish it. In moving from my position; in the nose of the ship to the location of the fire, my inter phone & oxygen system were
disconnected, therefore I was not in communication with the other members of the crew from the time the attack started until I bailed out. As we were immediately put out of action, and the plane was out of control, there was no time to re-establish inter-phone communications. Not certain whether the crew had been notified to abandon ship, I shouted at the navigator to ascertain that fact and he did so. The plane being out of control and pilotless we had no choice but to bail out.
In your investigation as to the fate of my crew members, I suggest you contact Mr. James MacDougall, Nakskov Hospital, Nakskov, Denmark. He did, and should still be able to contact fishermen who rescued me from the Baltic Sea. I believe I was docked by these fishermen at a small town named Rodby, which is a small fishing village, believed to be East of the town of Nakskov on the Island of Lloland. I am not certain this is the correct name of the village, but this could be definitely ascertained from Mr. MacDougall, mentioned above.
Mr. MacDougall could also put you in touch with a Doctor from this village who attended me at the dock. When rescued from the sea I was unable to make the fishermen understand that there were other crew in the area, due to my own mental and physical incapacity from injuries and exposure and also due to the language difficulties. None of the fishermen could speak or understand English. Upon reaching land, I was able to contact a person who spoke English. When the situation was described to him he promised to send the boats to conduct a search for the other crew members. I personally believe this was not done and also further believe that if such a search had been conducted other members of the crew would definitely have been found alive or their bodies would have been found floating with the support of their Mae West life vests.
I was a patient at Nakskov Hospital for a period of three months, and during this time, upon repeated inquiries, I never received definite confirmation other boats were sent out. All inquires were instituted through Mr, MacDongall, who is the son of Dr. MacDongall, Head of the Nakskov Hospital, Nakskov City, Island of Lloland, Denmark."
Signed: Lynn H. Barbour
1st Lt. A.C. O-761287
Items found on the body of Sgt Hick, which washed ashore on 24 Jul 1944 :
1 Plain finger ring
1 Bracelet with plate engrave (Thomas E. Hicks and Caroline V. Barth)
1 Chain with I.D. tag
8 Photos
1 Box of pills
1 Rubber bag
1 Dictionary in cellophane.
Barbour goes on to relate he was rescued from the sea by Danish fisherman and taken to the small town of Rodby, just east of Nakskow,
Denmark on the island of Lioland. He attempted unsuccessfully to get the point across that others of his crew must be in the sea and a search
should be conducted. Barbour says he was a patient at Nakskov hospital for three months.
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2ND LT JAMES J. LUX and S/Sgt LEON E. "AL" MACDONALD
CREW
Mission: Gelsenkirchen
Date: 5 Nov 1943 349th Sqdn..
Squawkin Hawk
William R. Flesh P CPT
John G.Gossage CP POW Mar 3, 44 Berlin
Omar Gonzales NAV POW
James J. Lux BOM POW
Conner D. Brewster ROG KIA (From S. Reeder crew)
Harold L. Pope TTE EVADEE (From S. Reeder crew)
Francis G. Dolsen BTG POW (From S. Reeder crew)
George P. Gineikis WG EVADEE (From G. Van Noy crew)
Leon E. MacDonald WG EVADEE
James Marasco TG POW (From S. Reeder crew)
Operations Report says: "Plane was hit in #! Engine after bombs away. All crew members except Pilot and Co-pilot bailed out, on orders, over the target area."Flesh and Gossage managed to fly the ship back to England.
NOVEMBER 1943. MISSION GILSENKIRCHEN."SQUAWKIN HAWK" PILOTED BY WILLIAM FLESH AND CO-PILOTED BY JOHN GOSSAGE, LOST IT'S CREW, INCLUDING OMAR GONZALES, 'ONCE GROUP NAVIGATOR' WHEN AFTER SUSTAINING HEAVY BATTLE DAMAGE, THEY WERE ORDERED TI BAIL OUT AND EVERYBODY EXCEPT THE PILOTS JUMPED. ON RECOVERING CONTROL, LIEUTENATN FLESH AND GOSSAGE BROUGHT THE SHATTERED PLANE BACK, TO LAND AT TANGMERE IN KENT.UNFORTUNATELY, THE RADIO OPERATOR, CONNOR BRESTER WAS KILLED WHEN HIS PARACHUTE FAILED TO OPEN. THE ENGINEER HAROLD POPE AVOIDED CAPTURE AND AIDED BY THE UNDERGROUND MANAGED TO GET BACK TO ENGLAND. WAIST GUNNER GEORGE GINEIKIS, ALSO BECAME AN EVADEE. THE REST WERE TAKEN PRISONER OF WAR.THIS FORTRESS WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO COMBAT STATUS.
THE BADLY DAMAGED "SQUAWKIN HAWK" WAS REPAIRED AND RESTORED TO OPERATIONS. SHE BECAME THE FIRST 100TH AIRCRAFT TO COMPLETE 50 MISSIONS. WITH HER SKIN AUTOGRAPHED BY THE MEN OF THE 100TH, SHE WAS FLOWN BACK TO THE STATES FOR A WAR BOND TOUR.
---> SUBMITTER INFORMATION
SUBMITTER: Michael Moores LeBlanc
EMAIL: mmleblanc@sympatico.ca
PURPOSE: Submit general feedback
INTEREST: I am researching WW2 history
MESSAGE
Message: I was checking details about the Wm R. Flesh crew 349 BS, FTR 5 Nov '43 and note an error in your information.
S/Sgt Leon E. 'Al' McDonald(MacDonald?), 32287971 was not a Pow. He is listed as E&E 256 and was the 208th evader helped by the famous Comete line, crossing into Spain on 27 Nov 43, together with fellow crew man George Gineikis.
Regards,
Michael Moores LeBlanc
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CREW
(mpf) Lt William Flesh took over the crew of Capt. Sumner Reeder after Reeder and his officers were injured on Sept 6, 1943 mission to Stuttgart . The makeup of Lt Flesh Crew after Sept 6, 1943 contained the following members. CP, Bom and Nav were all taken from spare pools to fill in.
William R. Flesh P CPT XFR to 482nd Bomb Group at Alconbury
Conner D. Brewster ROG KIA (From S. Reeder crew)
Harold L. Pope TTE EVADEE (From S. Reeder crew)
Francis G. Dolsen BTG POW (From S. Reeder crew)
George P. Gineikis WG EVADEE (From G. Van Noy crew)
Leon E. MacDonald WG EVADEE
James Marasco TG POW (From S. Reeder crew)
MISSION LIST OF LT FLESH CONTINUED:
SEPT. 23, 1943 VANNES a/c 230799 BIGASSBIRD II
SEPT. 26, 1943 PARIS a/c 230799 BIGASSBIRD II
OCT. 4, 1943 HANAU a/c 25861 LADEN MAIDEN
NOV. 5, 1943 GELSENKIRCHEN (info below) a/c 230088 SQUAWKIN HAWK
Mission: Gelsenkirchen
Date: 5 Nov 1943 349th Sqdn..
CREW:
William R. Flesh P CPT
John G.Gossage CP POW Mar 3,1944 Berlin
Omar Gonzales NAV POW (Group Navigator)
James J. Lux BOM POW
Conner D. Brewster ROG KIA (From S. Reeder crew)
Harold L. Pope TTE EVADEE (From S. Reeder crew)
Francis G. Dolsen BTG POW (From S. Reeder crew)
George P. Gineikis WG EVADEE (From G. Van Noy crew)
Leon E. MacDonald WG EVADEE
James Marasco TG POW (From S. Reeder crew)
Operations Report says: "Plane was hit in #! Engine after bombs away. All crew members
except Pilot and Co-pilot bailed out, on orders, over the target area."
Flesh and Gossage managed to fly the ship back to England.
NOVEMBER 1943. MISSION GILSENKIRCHEN."SQUAWKIN HAWK" PILOTED BY WILLIAM FLESH AND CO-PILOTED BY JOHN GOSSAGE, LOST IT'S CREW, INCLUDING OMAR GONZALES, 'ONCE GROUP NAVIGATOR' WHEN AFTER SUSTAINING HEAVY BATTLE DAMAGE, THEY WERE ORDERED TI BAIL OUT AND EVERYBODY EXCEPT THE PILOTS JUMPED. ON RECOVERING CONTROL, LIEUTENATN FLESH AND GOSSAGE BROUGHT THE SHATTERED PLANE BACK, TO LAND AT TANGMERE IN KENT.UNFORTUNATELY, THE RADIO OPERATOR, CONNOR BRESTER WAS KILLED WHEN HIS PARACHUTE FAILED TO OPEN. THE ENGINEER HAROLD POPE AVOIDED CAPTURE AND AIDED BY THE UNDERGROUND MANAGED TO GET BACK TO ENGLAND. WAIST GUNNER GEORGE GINEIKIS, ALSO BECAME AN EVADEE. THE REST WERE TAKEN PRISONER OF WAR.THIS FORTRESS WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO COMBAT STATUS. THE BADLY DAMAGED "SQUAWKIN HAWK" WAS REPAIRED AND RESTORED TO OPERATIONS. SHE BECAME THE FIRST 100TH AIRCRAFT TO COMPLETE 50 MISSIONS. WITH HER SKIN AUTOGRAPHED BY THE MEN OF THE 100TH, SHE WAS FLOWN BACK TO THE STATES FOR A WAR BOND TOUR.
---> SUBMITTER INFORMATION
SUBMITTER: Michael Moores LeBlanc
EMAIL: mmleblanc@sympatico.ca
PURPOSE: Submit general feedback
INTEREST: I am researching WW2 history
MESSAGE
Message: I was checking details about the Wm R. Flesh crew 349 BS, FTR 5 Nov '43 and note an error in your information.
S/Sgt Leon E. 'Al' MacDonald, 32287971 was not a Pow. He is listed as E&E 256 and was the 208th evader helped by the famous Comete line, crossing into Spain on 27 Nov 43, together with fellow crew man George Gineikis.
Regards,
Michael Moores LeBlanc
MEMO 2:
- No MACR.