Personnel

CREW



2nd Lt Gordon A.Parsons        P  NOC   Severe sinus problem & grounded during tour) 

2nd Lt George W.McLeod  CP   FEH  

2nd Lt Wayne H.Lamb      NAV    FEH 

2nd Lt William A.Cook          BOM    FEH 

Cpl Francis J.Corcoran     ROG    FEH

 S/Sgt Charles E.Bodenheimer   TTE    KIA   28/12/44 KOBLENZ,LUXEMBOURG, LUNEBACH 

   Cpl Owen B.Gaisford     BTG   FEH

   Cpl Jack C.Combs            TG   SWA

   Cpl Elmer L.Erickson       WG   FEH

   Cpl Oliver D.Lee   WG  NOC



349th Sqdn.  Crew,as above,joined the 100th Group on 5/10/44, Oliver Lee removed from crew when 

reduced from 10 to 9 men.  Phone conversation with Elmer Erickson 9/11/83 informed me that 

Parsons developed severe sinus in latter part of tour and McLeod took over Pilot duties. 

Also,that Combs was wounded in leg.



See.91 of CONTRAILS for Bodenheimer story.  "Attempted to help pilot & co pilot with flak 

suits. On climbing out of the turret he caught glove on switch causing turret to turn. this 

pinned Bododeimer between turret and oxygen bottles crushing him. Attempts to revive him with 

artificial respiration and oxygen were futile. A/C dropped to lower altitude and attempted 

landing at emergency field but field was closed. Bodenheimer dead by then."



Reply from Combs 19/9/90. Says he was not a POW  was wounded on a mission but crew came back to 

base. he was sent back to hospital in USA. Story Of The Century mistakenly lists him as a 

POW...jb



MISSIONS OF GEORGE W. McLEOD  FLOWN AS CO-PILOT PRIOR TO ASSUMING COMMAND 



 10 NOV 44 WIESBADEN  7:30 HRS, 26000 FT

 20 NOV 44 RECALL

 21 NOV 44 OSNABRKUCK 6:35 HRS, -47 DEGREES

 26 NOV 44 HAMM

 29 NOV 44 HAMM

 30 NOV 44 MERSEBURG  8 HRS, 30,000 FT

 02 DEC 44 RECALL (KOBLENZ)

 12 DEC 44 DARMSTADT

 13 DEC 44 RECALL

 24 DEC 44 BIBLIS 7:30HRS, 26,000 FT

 25 DEC 44 KAISERLAUTERN, 6:45 HRS, 24,000 FT

 28 DEC 44 KOBLENZ

 DEC 30 44 KASSEL, 7:30HRS, 25,000 FT



MISSION OF GEORGE W. McLEOD FLOWN AS 1ST PILOT OF THE SAME CREW:



 23 FEB 45 TRENCHTLINGEN

 24 FEB 45 BREMEN, 7 HRS, 25,000 FT

 02 MAR 45 DRESDEN

 03 MAR 45 BRUNSWICK, 7 HRS, 25,000 FT

 09 MAR 45 FRANKFURT, 7 HRS, 24,000 FT

 10 MAR 45 DORTMUND

 18 MAR 45 BERLIN, 7:30HRS, 26,000 FT

 19 MAR 45 FULDA/JENA, 8:15 HRS, 26,000 FT

 21 MAR 45 PLAUEN, 7:30 HRS, 26,000 FT

 23 MAR 45 UNNA, 6:30 HRS, 23,000 FT

 24 MAR 45 STEENWIJK, 5 HRS, 14,000 FT

 24 MAR 45 ZIEGNHAIN (note double mission on 24 Mar 45)

 14 APR 45 ROYAN, 7:30 HRS, 14,000 FT

 15 APR 45 ROYAN, 7:30 HRS, 14,000 FT

 16 APR 45 ROYAN, 7:10 HRS, 12,000 FT

 17 APR 45 AUSSIG, 8:40 HRS, 22,000 FT

 20 APR 45 ORANIENBURG (Last combat mission flown by the 100th in WWII)



FOLLOWING ARE "CHOW HOUND" MISSIONS

 01 MAY 45 AMSTERDAM, 3:03 HRS, 400 FT

 02 MAY 45 ALKMAAR, HOLLAND, 3:45 HRS, 400 FT

 03 MAY 45 AMSTERDAM

Owen Barnett Gaisford

1925 ~ 2014

Salt Lake City, Utah-"Bud"

Our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend Owen Barnett Gaisford passed away on Dec. 14, 2014. Owen was born Dec. 8, 1925 in Mammoth, Utah to George Matthew Gaisford & Mary Emily Barnett.

He was a graduate of South High and was proud to be an Eagle Scout. He was also rewarded the Silver Beaver.

He honorably served as a ball turret gunner on a B-17 in World War II. He loved sharing his memories from the war with everyone.

After returning from the war, he met and married "his queen", Dolores Elaine Fellows on March 20, 1947. After 64 years of marriage, she died on May 7, 2011. Now they are happily re-united for eternity.

He was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served missions with his wife, to Johannesburg, South Africa and to Columbus, Ohio. He willingly served in any position he was called to, but especially loved scouting and Missionary Work. He was a Cub Scout leader at the time of his death.

His career of 36 years was with Mountain Bell where he started as a Lineman and retired as an Engineer.

His family was the light of his life. He is the Father of 4 children, Barbara Wright, Sharon Baker (Linn), Craig (Janeen), and Jeffrey (Parker). The Grandfather of Chad Wright (Mandy), Trudy Postma (Mike), Sharayne Packham (Craig), Bryce Wright (Kathleen), Haylie Jones, Nichole Swink (Phil), Allison Steinman (Sean), and Loni. Dedicated great-grandfather of 16. He is an uncle to many special nieces and nephews and friend to all.

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, and all of his brothers and sisters. 

He is survived by all of his children, grandchildren , and great-grandchildren. 

We will miss your infectious smile, positive attitude, example and love. We love you forever!

We will never forget Gaisford 1:1: "If you run, you don't have to work so far." - 





Owen “Bud” Gaisford  349th Squadron  Dec 14, 2014Bud was Ball Turret Gunner on the Gordon Parsons crew, arriving at the 100thBG in Oct 1945.  He went on to fly with George McLeod’s crew, including Chowhound missions to Holland.