Personnel

CREW



2ND LT ALBERT S. SPEAR               P KIA 28 JUL 44 MERSEBURG

2ND LT DEWEY H. NELSON           CP CPT 25 DEC 44 KAISERLAUTERN, MY

2ND LT JOHN P. SPILLANE          NAV KIA 28 JUL 44 MERSEBURG

2ND LT ROBERT WASHINGTON     BOM POW 31 DEC 44 HAMBURG

CPL ARTHUR A. MARSHALL           ROG KIA 28 JUL 44 MERSEBURG

CPL RAYMOND A. PIECZYNSKI       TTE KIA 28 JUL 44 MERSEBURG

CPL REMI G. EBERENZ                 BTG CPT 03 JAN 45 FULDA (WITH Lt Cecil O.Daniels Crew and flew missions with Lt Spurgeon Crew)

CPL ARTHUR V. GENS                  WG KIA 28 JUL 44 MERSEBURG

CPL ROBBIE L. GILL                   WG CPT 24 OCT 44 UNKNOWN

CPL ROBERT D. BASS                   TG KIA 28 JUL 44 MERSEBURG



350TH SQDN.. CREW, AS ABOVE, JOINED THE 100TH ON 17 JUL 1944

 MACR # 8174, Microfiche # 3002  A/C #42-32009



This ship collided with that of Lt W.G. Stansbury over the North Sea.  .



Lt Robert Washington was flying with the Glenn Rojohn crew on 31 Dec 44 (Hamburg) and became a POW. 

On the Rojohn MACR he is listed as the Navigator. Sgt Eberenz finished his tour with the Charlie O. Daniels crew.



S/Sgt Charlie P. Pate was flying Nose Gunner on 28 Jul 44; while 2nd Lt Stanley Diamond was aboard as CP, both were KIA.

Robbie Gill was the sole survivor from the two crews and made the following statement 21 August 1944.



  SUBJECT: Supplement to MACR, A/C #009  by S/Sgt Robbie L. Gill

 

  TO:       Commanding General, 3rd Bombardment Divison.



   1.  The following is a version of what happened to A/C 009 and the crew of Lt. Albert S. Spears who flew the Operational (Stratagic) Mission 28 July 1944.



   2.  At 1231 hours near 5238N and 0157E the formation was flying just above the undercast at 9000 feet. A/C # 009 in which I was flying in the #7 position in the low squadron. It (#009) struck #621 and I was thrown forward in the ship between the ammunition boxes. There was quite a bit of noise and the ship seemed to be thrown around alot. I pulled the door off the tail and bailed out. By the time my chute opened I was below the clouds.  I saw the tail from which I had bailed out spiralling slowly down to the sea. That was all there was left of the ship. Directly below me was a large fire and there were numerous small pieces of aircraft floating in the air. I saw no other chutes before or after landing in the sea. I was picked up by Air-Sea rescue approximately one and one half hours after landing in the water."



From the coordinates, it would seem this midair collision occured abouir 26 miles from Lowestoff. All of the men of this crew except S/Sgt Gill are listed on the WALL OF THE MISSING AT CAMBRIDGE.



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CREW



2ND LT CECIL O. DANIELS                  P CPT 03 JAN 45 FULDA  sn# 0-808196

2ND LT GORDON A. HANSEN            CP CPT 03 JAN 45 FULDA finished with 33 missions

2ND LT JOHN V. LARSON               NAV CPT DATE & MISSION UNKNOWN (LEAD NAV ON LT C. DANIELS PATHFINDER CREW)

2ND LT ROBERT L. STORY             BOM WIA 17 OCT 44  COLOGNE (TAPS 1967)

    CPL HOWARD A. DRALLE            ROG WIA 03 OCT 44 NURNBURG

    SGT SAMUEL M. WOLFE, JR.         TTE WIA 15 OCT 44 COLOGNE (TAPS 1984)

    CPL LESLIE P. MILLS                  BTG CPT 03 JAN 45 FULDA

    CPL JOSEPH W. ADAMS, JR.            WG GND FOR MEDICAL REASONS (CHRONIC AIR SICKNESS)

    CPL WILLIAM KILPATRICK, JR        WG REMOVED TO REDUCE TO 9 MAN CREW AND REASSIGNED TO CREW OF C.K. BAKER, 

                                                                WOUNDEDIN ACTION 30 NOV 44 ON 18TH MISSION.

    CPL JORGEN N. NIELSEN              TG CPT 03 JAN 45 FULDA



350th Sqdn. Crew 28.   Crew, as above joined the 100th on 25 Jul 1944.

Crew flew  "Spirit of Pittwood" #46297

Ground Crew Chief: Sgt John C. Riffle



Lt .Micheljon flew the first 2 missions as CP for crew orientation instead of Lt Gordon Hansen.  



At Thorpe Abbotts, Lt John Larson was selected for lead crew training and replaced on the Daniels crew by F/O Richard A. Nesline who CPT on 3 Jan 1945 with 35 sorties. Promoted to 1st Lt before returning to the ZOI. (zone of the interior)



On the 03 Oct 1944 Nurnburg mission Howard Dralle recieved a piece of flak through his left knee, thought seriouly wounded he applied a tourniquet and kept shooting morphine and performing his duties all the way to the target. When they returned to Thorpe Abbotts it was determined his left leg could not be saved and it was amputated just above the knee. When Colonel Jeffrey brough over his Purple Heart he asked the Colonel if he could use a one-legged Radio Operator. Jeffrey replied, through misty eyes, that the medics would frown on it.  Howard Dralle was replaced by Sgt Robert G. "Dutch" Schultz who flew 17 missions before being assigned to another crew where he finished his tour.

"Dutch Schultz came overseas with the Crew of Lt C.K. Baker



Joseph Adams was removed from crew after one  mission and assigned to 350th operations by Maj. Rosenthal for medical reasons (chronic air sickness-see info below).  He was replaced by S/Sgt Remi G. Eberenz from the A.S. Spear crew.



Sgt Sam Wolfe Jr TTE, hit in ankle 10/15/44 over Cologne on 19th Mission by Flak.  Replacement unknown



Crew received 3 Purple Hearts and was credited with 3 Enemy A/C 1destroyed, 1 probable, 1 damaged (all info provided by Cecil O. Daniels, entered by mpf)



CREW flying at end of tour:



1st Lt Cecil O. Daniels           Pilot

1st Lt Gordon A. Hansen        CP

F/O Richard A. Nesline          Nav

        ?                           Toggleer

Sgt. Robert G."Dutch" Schultz ROG

        ?                               TTE

S/Sgt Leslie P. Mills               BTG

S/Sgt Jorgen N. Nielson        TG

S/Sgt Remi G. Eberenz          WG



  MISSIONS OF LT CECIL DANIELS CREW:



  1.  8/4/44  Hamburg (only mission flown by S/Sgt Joseph Adams.  Grounded due to air sickness)

  2.  8/5/44  Magdeburg (S/Sgt Remi G. Eberenz replaces S/Sgt Adams as Waist Gunner)

  3.  8/6/44  BERLIN

  4.  8/11/44  Paris

  5.  8/13/44  Nantes

  6.  8/14/44  Ludwigshaven

  7.  8/15/44  Venlo

  8.  8/24/44  Ruhland

  9.  9/1/44  Mainz

  10. 9/3/44  Crozon, Breast Penn.

  11. 9/9/44  Dusseldorf

  12. 9/10/44  Nurnburg

  13. 9/25/44  Ludwigshaven

  14. 9/26/44  Bremen

  15. 9/27/44  Mainz

  16. 9/28/44  Mersburg

  17. 10/2/44  Kassel

  18. 10/3/44  Nurnburg (T/Sgt Dralle Hit over Koblenz, Lost Leg. Replaced by Sgt. "Dutch" Schultz

  19. 10/15/44	` Cologne (Sgt Wolfe hit in ankle by flak, put in hospital.  Replaced by unknown TTE)

  20. 10/17/44  Cologne (Lt Story injured, flak in eye, replaced by unknown toggleer)

  21. 10/19/44  Ludwigshaven

  22. 10/22/44  Munster

  23. 10/26/44  Hanover

  24. 11/9/44  Saarbrucken

  25. 11/21/44  Osnabruck

  26. 12/4/44  Friedburg

`  27. 12/11/44  Coblenz

  28. 12/18/44  Mainz

  29. 12/25/44  Kaiserlautern

  30. 12/27/44  Fulda

  31. 12/29/44  Frankfurt

  32. 12/30/44  Kassel

  33. 12/31/44  Hamburg

  34.   1/2/45  Bad Kreuznach

  35.   1/3/45  Fulda



  Flak leave: 10/5/44 to 10/12/44

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Thank you Michael.  I only flew on our first mission on Aug. 4,1944 to Hamburg.  After several pratcice missions was grounded for chronic Air Sickness.  Rosie put me in the 350th operations office as a Clerk Typest. (thank goodness I learned to type in high school) as a Staff Sargent.  That was  my job until the 100th came home in Dec. 1945 on the Queen Mary.  A 5 day trip and I was sick for 6 days from that trip.  Even Daniels couldn't remember who replaced Wolf as Top Turret Engineer and Lt. Story (Bombardier) as Toggler. I did not keep a Diary - sorry.  I might find some photo's.  Where should I mail them?......JOSEPH ADAMS, WG.

 

In a message dated 12/19/2008 3:03:45 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, MPFaley writes:

Hi Joseph,

 I will get this taken care of Sir.  Can I ask you some questions concerning your time in the 100th BG?

 

How many missions did you fly before being taken off flying Status? 

Do you have a list of those missions?

What was the medical reason for being grounded.

At the end of hostilities, Lt Daniels had a new Top Turret Engineer and Toggler, do you know who they were? These are the only two people I cannot pin down on the Crew?

Did you keep any kind of Diary you could share with us?

Rosie put you in 350th Operations, what was your Job there?

Do you have any Crew photos taken with you on the crew or with others you could share with us?

 

Thanks Joseph and sorry to hear about the loss of your Pilot.  

 

Michael Faley

100th Bomb Group Historian 

100th Bomb Group Photo Archives





In a message dated 12/19/2008 11:49:28 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, JAdams5075@aol.com  writes:

I am trying to report the death of a Pilot of the 350th Sqdn. 2nd. Lt. Cecil O. Daniels age 86.  He was the Pilot of "Spirit of Pittwood" from July 44 - Jan 45.  Died on July 14, 2008 Watseka, Ill.

 

I was a former member of his crew.  Joseph W. Adams





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NOTE:



CREW



Lt Paul L.Spurgeon                 P   CPT   28 JAN 45 DUISBURG

Lt John E. David                   CP   KIA     3 SEP 44 BREST (as pilot of own crew, see below) replaced F/O C.G. Sharemet on Politz mission 

Lt John V.Larson                NAV   CPT   28 JAN 45 DUISBURG (Lead Nav, originally from Lt C. Daniels Crew, see below)  

Lt Frederick H.Theesfeld     BOM   CPT   7 MAR 45 SIEGEN, MY (S.T.) (FLEW 31 MISSIONS)

 T/Sgt E.S.Balcseniuk         ROG   CPT   28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ?

 T/Sgt Alfred J.Vignola        TTE   CPT  28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ?  

 S/Sgt W.R. Klein               BTG   NOC  Replaced on crew by Radar Operator in late October 44 when this became a lead crew,  

 S/Sgt Thomas J.Dressel      WG   WIA (Wounded 25/8/44 POLITZ & month in hospital)

 S/Sgt Robert E.Kauffman    TG   NOC ( Flew 21 missions on crew of A.D.Elbel, last one on 8/8/44,  then in spare gunners pool , see below)



350th Sqdn. Crew appears as above on Roster of 25/8/44 target: (POLITZ) as Crew #29. Thls was probably a "pick up" crew. ( this information is suspect concerning this crew, likely they flew together very little, perhaps only once..jb).  Lt Spurgeon had a lead Crew and the actual make up is listed below. It is know that they were leading on Nov 2, 1944 to Merseburg with Col Sammy Barr as Command Pilot.  



Other Members who flew on this Crew

Lt R.A Nesline-Nav (replaced Lt Larson on Lt Daniels Crew) Flew as NAV on  first mission of Spurgeon Crew 8/8/44

Lt J.D. Goethel-Bom (from Lt David Crew)                        Flew as BOM on first mission of Spurgeon Crew 8/8/44 

S/Sgt Remi Ebernez-WG -(from Lt Spear and Lt Cecil O. Daniels Crews) 



Lt Spurgeon took over "JIMB0" A/C 44-8226 LN-B in November 1944 and he selected the name. It was a nickname for his Stateside Wife.  Jimbo was painted on the left hand side of the aircraft.  On the cowlings of No 3 & 4 engines could be seen the names "Kay" and "Alice" probably put on by the ground crew.    



See S.D.C. p.33 & 95 "JIMB0" A/C 44-8226 LN-B  This was a Pathfinder aircraft originally assigned to the 95th Bomb Group (13th CBW HQ for Pathfinder Crews and Aircraft in Summer and early fall 1944) in October 1944. The practice during this time was to fly Pathfinder A/C from Horham to the surrounding airdromes to lead the 3rd Air Division Bomb Groups.   In late October this practice ceased and Pathfinders were assigned to each Bomb Group and both Crews and planes were maintained at their own bases.



THIS WAS THE MAKE-UP OF  LT PAUL SPURGEON'S LEAD CREW.



LT PAUL SPURGEON               P       CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG

LT C.G. SHAREMET                CP     CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ?

LT JOHN V. LARSON              NAV   CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ((Lead Nav originally from Lt C. Daniels Crew, see below)

LT FREDERICK H. THEESFELD  BOM   CPT  7 MAR 45 DATTELN, SIEGEN, MY (S.T.) 

T/SGT ALFRED VIGNOLA        TTE    CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ?

T/SGT E.S. BALCSENIUK         ROG   CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ?

S/SGT W.R. KLEIN                 BTG   NOC (replaced by Radar Operator in late October 44 when this became a lead crew) 

S/SGT P.J. HAHN                   WG   NOC (orignal LWG on Capt H. Smith Crew, replaced Sgt Dressel after he was wounded on 25/8/1944 Politz)

S/SGT L.S. "Andy" ANDERSON  TG   CPT 28 Jan 45 DUISBURG  (replaced Sgt Kauffman)



Now based on mission completions and photo evidence, Lt Theesfeld came off this crew at some point since he completes two months after the Spurgeon Crew does.  Also  S/Sgt Dressel returns to the Crew but not sure in what capacity since photo evidence shows both Hahn (who replaced Dressel when he was injured on Aug 25, 1944) and Dressel in Crew photos.