Personnel

CREW



DATE: 18 March 1944  350th Sqdn.       A/C#42-39830

MISSION: Augsburg/Munich                  MACR#3234,Micro-flche#1105



  "BERLIN PLAYBOY"



2nd Lt Paul A.Martin             P   KIA

1st Lt Thomas Cryan            CP  KIA

2nd Lt Albert F.Racz         BOM   KIA

2nd Lt Tom F.Hughes       NAV   KIA

T/Sgt Russell E.Longdon   ROG   KIA

T/Sgt Levi O.Tonn           TTE   KIA

S/Sgt Richard J.Faulkner    BTG  EVA  

S/Sgt Veryl A.Lund          RWG  KIA

S/Sgt Lonnie J.Albin         LWG  KIA

S/Sgt John E.Howley          TG  KIA



The crew joined the 100th on March 10,1944. The crew flew 5 training missions and its exact composition is as above except the origina CP was 2nd Lt Paul Mitchell. It is known that Thomas Cryan was From the crew of Mark Cope. This was the crews first misson.  (mpf nov 2000)



Summary of Eyewitness reports:  "A/C #830 and A/C #913 (Flown by D.J.Stuke) collided over France at 1210 hour near (?) . #830 broke up while #913 pulled away,badly damaged but apparently under control. One chute was seen to come from #830. The ship going down under control had two port engines torn out,and only #4 was operating. The nose of this A/C also was sheared off. The collision resulted when the Group leader aborted and the formation scattered and reformed."



Witnesses: Capt.Lauro,Lt.Gummersall,Lt.Malooly.



  July 1945,Sgt.Faulkner,then at 3718 AAF Base,Denver,Colo.,was interrogated as to the death of Lt.Cryan. He gave the following  information

;

1.Over the coast of France,Lt.Cryan's bomber(Lt. Paul A. Martin/ Pilot) encountered heavy flak.Formation was broken with lead ship falling out.A new formation was formed with Lt.Cryan's ship as wing man.



2.There was a sudden explosion near Lt.Cryan's A/C.Sgt.Faulkner ,ball turret operator,upon bailing out noticed the ship broken in two sections.Sgt. Faulkner having been in the rear section,and Lt.Cryan's station was in the front section as co-pilot.



3.Sgt.Faulkner became unconscious upon the opening of his chute and did not regain consciousness until after landing when he noticed the front section of the A/C crashed in the woods,surrounded by German soldiers.



4.Sgt.Faulkner was rescued by the French patriots.Having an understanding of the French language,Sgt Faulkner was informed by the French patriots that all remaining crew members were killed in the crash of the A/C.Description by the French patriots of one of the bodies found in the front section of the A/C fitted that of Lt.Cryan."



German records in MACR state that "bodies were thrown from plane . . .badly mutilated . . . identified by I.D. tags." Burial took Place in the French cemetary in Poix de la Somme

Unfortunately I must report the recent passing on Aug. 29th 2014 of Richard J. Faulkner. Richard was a Ball Turret Gunner on the crew of  "Berlin Playboy" of the 350th Sq.  He was also listed in your Evade & Escape section.  Richard was my next door neighbor for 15 years and without exaggeration was one of the best men and human beings I've ever known. I will also post his passing to your taps form, but please check to confirm that I've done this properly.  Thank You       Michael Worden