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LT  Bernard L. FARNUM

UNIT: 418th BOMB Sqdn POSITION: CP 

Newspaper article about Family receiving Air Medal and two OLC for Lt Farnum who was a that time a POW. (Courtesy of Matt Mabe)

SERIAL #: O-482835 STATUS: POW
MACR: 07414 CR: 07414

Comments1: 20 JUL 44 MERSEBURG (FLAK)

COMMENTS & NOTES

MEMO 1:

CREW

1ST LT FRANCIS C. KINCANNON       P POW 20 JUL 44 MERSEBURG
2ND LT BERNARD L. FARNUM       CP POW 20 JUL 44 MERSEBURG
2ND LT LOUIS ABROMOWITZ    NAV EVA 20 JUL 44 MERSEBURG
1ST LT ROBERT E. NANCE        BOM EVA 20 JUL 44 MERSEBURG
S/SGT DANIEL B. DEASON         TTE POW 20 JUL 44 MERSEBURG
SGT OSCAR L. EDGE                 ROG POW 20 JUL 44 MERSEBURG
SGT BERNARD M. TARNECKI        BTG NOC
SGT CHARLES E. GARRETT(E)      WG NOC
SGT THOMAS J. HOAGG             WG CPT    24 JUL 44 ST LO
SGT ROBERT D. CHAVEZ              TG POW 20 JUL 44 MERSEBURG

418TH SQDN.. CREW, AS ABOVE JOINED THE 100TH ON  09 MAR 1944
The Crew flew a/c 42-107011  "SHINING HOUR" starting on March 27, 1944. 

GARRETTE LAST NAME HAS BEEN SPELLED GARETTE (CONTRIALS), GARRETTE (STORY OF THE CENTURY AND JIM BROWNS FILE CARDS) AND GARRETT, (SEE NOTE BELOW)

Partial list of Missions of Lt Kincannon Crew: (all missions in Shining Hour unless otherwise noted…mpf)

1.     16/03/44     AUGSBURG (a/c 42-38175)
2.     18/03/44     LECHFELD/MUNICH  (a/c 42-6087 "ROYAL FLUSH" flak damage to #2 Engine)  
3.     27/03/44     BORDEAUX/MERIGNAC AF
4.     28/03/44     CHATEAUDUN, AF
        31/03/44     LUDWIGSHAVEN  (Recall)
        01/04/44     LUDWIGSHAVEN  (Recall)
5.     08/04/44     QUACKENBRUCK, AF
        09/04/44     KRESZINKE (POSEN) (Recall)
6.     10/04/44     RHEIMS
7.     11/04/44     ROSTOCK
        12/04/44     SCHKEUDITZ (LEIPZIG), AC FACTORY (Lt Col Kidd Command Pilot, Recall)
8.     13/04/44     AUGSBURG (flak damage to #3 engine)
9.     22/04/44     HAMM
10.   24/04/44     FLOTTENANVILLE (NO BALL)

About this time, Lt Kincannon's Crew became a Pathfinder Crew and were assigned a radar equipped Fort supplied by the 95th BG called "BELLE OF BERLIN".  (I also believe the make up of this Crew changed at this point with BTG, and both WG's being taken off the Crew and either assigned to other crews or went into spare gunner pool..MPF)


                                              Pathfinder Aircraft

DATE: 20 July 1944       418th Sqdn.            A/C #42-97564 OE-F (95th BG Pathfinder) "Belle of Berlin"

MISSION: Merseburg,Ger.                             MACR #7414,Micro-fiche #2701


 Major MaGee C.Fuller           Com. P  POW
 Capt Francis C.Kincannon           P       POW
1st Lt Bernard L.Farnum         CP       POW
Capt Robert E.Nance           BOM      EVADEE
1st Lt Louis H.Abromowitz      NAV      EVADEE
Capt Henry C. Griffis           RAD/N     EVADEE (see Hermansen crew/ 350th Sqdn.)
1st Lt George E.Bonitz        NAV      EVADEE
T/Sgt Daniel B.Deason        TTE       POW
T/Sgt Oscar L.Edge            ROG        POW
 S/Sgt Glen E.Snider          RWG       POW
 S/Sgt Daniel M.Cargile        LWG       EVADEE
 S/Sgt Robert D.Chavez        TG        POW

This A/C  was leading the mission in a Pathfinder ship which accounts for the
seven officers aboard. Major Fuller,who had flown overseas as pilot of a 349th
Sqdn. Crew in June 1943, was now C.O. of the 418th.

EYEWITNESS:  "Just as bombs were released A/C #564 received a direct hit by AA fire between #2 engine and fuselage.Shell did not explode but a large hole was torn in the wing and gasoline poured from the tanks. #2 engine feathered and A/C pulled out of formation directing deputy leader to take over. A/C fell behind and was escorted by fighters and it was reported that #564 was heard to tell fighters over radio that it
was all-right." This is all the information that interrogation of 100th "A" Group crews revealed.

From Bottisham (fighter base) to PFF War room to 100th BG the following report was received: "A/C #564 called for fighter support
after it began to lag and contact was made over channel "C" with the fighters which gave it cover. Subsequentlythe PFF had to crash
land near Louvain just east of Brusselsand prearranged plan (over channel "C") as soon as the crew had cleared the A/C the fighter strafed and set fire to the ship. Fighter did not see PFF explode  but stated definitely that it was afire,and that all the crew was safe.'

Subj: 100thBG Feedback Form  
Date: 6/3/2004 8:16:42 AM Pacific Daylight Time 
From: bryans214@peoplepc.com 

 The following form contents were entered on 3rd Jun 4
Date = 3 Jun 4 15:16:28
subject = 100thBG Feedback Form
messages = 1443
CATEGORY = Other
EMAIL = bryans214@peoplepc.com
UNAME = William Bryan
INTEREST = I am the relative of a 100th veteran
FEEDBACK = My uncle (deceased in 1968)was a tail gunner on a 100 bomb group crew...I believe the name of the B-17 was "Shining Hour"...his name was Charles E. Garrett, from Charlottesville, VA...but when I go to your site's 'crew' page and do a search for him or his aircraft, nothing comes up...can you help me here as to why or where? Thanks.

MEMO 2:


			

             
            

         

         
KIA / MIA / EVA / INT INFORMATION: 
  
         

  

    TARGET:
			Merseburg
    DATE: 
			1944-07-20
     
  

  

    AIRCRAFT:
	 "Belle of Berlin" (42-97564) 95th BG Pathfinder
    CAUSE:
			FLAK - Fire
     
  



			


			

            
BURIAL INFORMATION

            

  

    PLOT:
			
    ROW:
			
     
  

  

    GRAVE:
			
    CEMETERY:
			
     
  



			
			
            

			
 
            
           
PHOTOS:

           
                                                                    
Francis C. Kincannon Crew (left to right)
Kneeling: R. Nance, B. Farnum, F. Kincannon, L. Abromowitz
Standing: R. Chavez, O. Edge, G. Snider, D. Deason, C. Garrette, B. Tarnecki
Photo courtesy of Thorpe Abbotts Tower Museum Archives - January, 2006
 L to R: Oscar L. Edge (ROG), Daniel B. Deason (TTE) and Bernard L. Farnum (CP) of the Francis C. Kincannon crew. These three were photographed hiding in a chicken coop after bailing out of their stricken aircraft on the 20 Jul 44 Merseberg mission. All three later became POWs. Kincannon crew information Photo courtesy of Oscar je Rooij 

           
 

       
SERVED IN: 

				
Crew 1
			
	
        
		
        ID:
			1574