Personnel

CREW 

(crew #133)



2ND LT ROBERT L. STEVENSON         P  CPT 9 FEB 45  BOHLEN WEIMAR, ARM WORKS (S.T.)

2ND LT FLOYD E. HENDERSON        CP KIA 31 DEC 44 HAMBURG

2ND LT WILLIAM C. LEFFINGWELL   NAV CPT 28 DEC 44 KOBLENZ,LUXEMBOURG, LUNEBACH

2ND LT STANLEY W. YATES          BOM CPT 7 JAN 45 COLOGNE

T/SGT ALAN B. CRAIG                   ROG CPT 30 DEC 44 KASSEL

T/SGT HENRY G. "HANK" GREEN     TTE CPT 30 DEC 44 KASSEL

S/SGT ISAAC N. HULME                BTG CPT 30 DEC 44 KASSEL

S/SGT` HERMAN G. FRAHS            WG CPT 30 DEC 44 KASSEL

S/SGT EDWARD M. AUGUSTINE      WG CPT 30 DEC 44 KASSEL (moved to TG when Crew reduced to nine men)

S/SGT JOHN B. HUNNICUTT           TG XFR  TRANSFERRED TO B-26's AND KIA. TAPS: 1945



351ST SQDN.. CREW, AS ABOVE, JOINED THE 100TH ON 17 JUL 1944..  

For full history on this crew, look in Airman file for letter from Stanley Yates to Paul West after 1995 Fort Worth reunion…mpf



Letter from Stanley W. Yates to Paul West following the 1995 100th reunion in Fort Worth, TX - dated Oct 22, 1995



Dear Paul;

 ….Some crew history.  Crew was formed in early 1944 at Rapid City, south Dakota and completed B-17 phase training in June of 1944. From Rapid City we picked up a new B-17G in Kearney, Nebraska … departed the States July 4th, 1944 via Gander, Newfoundland and Prestwick, Scotland July 9th, 1944. We joined the 100th Bomb Group July 17th, 1944 and flew our first combat mission July  28th, 1944 to Merseburg, Germany.

 On our 14th mission to Nurnberg, Germany we encountered flak and Stevenson (Robert L. Stevenson – the pilot) was hit in the left thigh. While Stevenson was in the hospital the crew flew with other 1st pilots and on other crews. I am unsure what date or mission Stevenson was returned to flying duty, but I think it was the Nov. 2nd mission to Merseburg.

 The crew flew together the Dec 30th mission to Kassel. All the crew with the exception of Stevenson had 30 or more missions and the crew was disbanded. Stevenson, with 25 missions was assigned a new crew. Henderson (Floyd E. Henderson – the crew’s original co-pilot) was assigned as 1st Pilot of the Carl Hedin crew. (Shot down Dec 31st at Hamburg.) See notes at end from 100th database.

 Leffingwell had finished with the Kassel mission, I had 33 missions and finished with Duke Quin’s crew on Jan. 7th, 1945. The Enlisted me were sent home. Stevenson finished his tour Feb.9th, 1945….



Best Wishes

Stanely (Bill) Yates.





Following crew members located by Stanley W. Yates as of 1995

Crew #133

Robert L. Stevenson  Retired USAF   Taps 1991 0r 1992

Floyd E. Henderson  KIA  Dec. 31st, 1944  Hamburg, Germany

William E. Leffingwell  Remained in Air Force – whereabouts unknown

Stanley W. Yates   Little Rock, Arkansas

Allen B. Graig   Doraville, Georgia Taps 1994

Henry Green   Rt. 2 Box 6, Minatose, Nebraska

Isaac N. Hulme   108 Walnut St., Hendersville, Tennessee  37075

Herman G. Frahs   99 Lewis St., Geneva, New York

Edward M. Augstine  Whereabouts unknown

John B. Hunnicutt  Transferred to B-26’s and KIA



Missions of Stanley W. Yates



N0# DATE TARGET                  A/C BOMB LOAD

1 7-28-44 Merseburg, Ger          Our Gal Sal 12-500# - Oil Refinery

2 8-2-44 LaFere, Fr.                  # 579 6-1000# - Bridges

3 8-4-44 Hamburg, Ger.             Boeing Belle 20-250# GP - Fighter Factory

4 8-8-44 St. Sylvain, Fr.              Boeing Belle 12-500, 2-1000# - Battle Lines

5 8-11-44 Villacoublay, Fr            The Latest Rumor 38-100# GP’s - Airdrome

6 8-14-44 Ludwigshaven, Ger      The Latest Rumor 25-500# GP - Chemical Plant

7 8-15-44 Venlo, Holland            Boeing Belle 38-100# GP’s - Airdrome

8 8-25-44 Politz, Ger.                 Boeing Belle 10-500# GP’s - Oil Refinery

9 8-27-44 Berlin, Ger.                 # 521 10-500# GP’s - City

10 8-30-44 Bremen, Ger.            All American Girl 6-1000# GP’s - Tank Works

11 9-3-44 Brest, Fr. (Crozon)       Fever Beaver 12-500# GP’s - Harbor

12 9-5-44 Stuttgart, Ger.           Boeing Belle 10-500# INC - Tank Works

13 9-9-44 Dusseldorf, Ger           # 808 10-500# GP’s - Industrial Plant

14 9-10-44 Nurnburg, Ger.         Boeing Belle Stevenson hit by flak - Tank Works

15 9-12-44 Magdeburg, Ger.       Quittin Time 10-500# GP’s - Oil Refinery

16 9-13-44 Sindelfingen, Ger.      The Latest Rumor Daimler-Benz Plant

17 9-18-44 Warsaw. Pol.             UKN (Aborted over Baltic - Lost #3 Engine)  Lt Warren McCoy is pilot 

18 10-15-44   Cologne, Ger          Fools Rush In 16-250# INC - Industrial Plant

19 10-17-44   Cologne, Ger.         Fools Rush In 34-100# GP & 2-500# INC

20 10-19-44   Ludwigshaven        Skyway Chariot 14-350# GP & 2-500# INC

21 10-23-44   Munster, Ger.         Fools Rush In 14-250# GP & 3-500# INC

22 10-30-44   Heligoland , Ger      UKN Rail Yards

23 11-2-44    Merseburg, Ger.       Skyway Chariot 20-500# GP’s - Oil Refinery

24 11-5-44    Ludwigshaven         Fools Rush In 6-1000# GP’s - Oil Refinery

25 11-6-44    Neumunster, Ger     Fools Rush In 20-250# GP’s - Rail Yards

26 11-29-44   Hamm, Ger.           Humpty Dumpty  10-500# GP’s & 2-M-17

27 12-4-44     Friedburg, Ger       Fools Rush In 20-250# GP’s - Rail Yards

28 12-5-44     Berlin, Ger.           Fools Rush In 20-250# GP’s - City

29 12-24-44   Kaiserlautern, Ger. UKN Rail Yards

30 12-25-44   Kaiserlautern, Ger. UKN Rail Yards

31 12-27-44   Fulda, Ger.            Fools Rush In 25-250# GP’s - Rail Yards

32 12-28-44   Koblenz, Ger,        #938/ 418th A/C 25-250# GP’s - Rail Yards

33 12-30-44   Kassel, Ger.          #459/ 418th A/C 12-500# GP’s - Rail Yards  (Last mission with crew – Enlisted members of crew sent home)

34 1-3-45      Fulda, Ger            Quittin Time Rail Yards

35 1-7-45      Cologne, Ger.       Skyway Chariot 6-1000# GP’s - Bridges



          

ON THE 31 DEC 44 ( HAMBURG) MISSION FLOYD E. HENDERSON WAS THE FIRST PILOT OF A CREW THAT APPEARS TO BE MAINLY THAT OF CARL J. HEDIN…jb



From Jan 3. 1945 until Feb 9, 1945, Lt  Daniel Shaffer was Navigator on this crew



MISSIONS OF LT SHAFFER WITH LT ROBERT STEVENSON AS PILOT



14. 03/01/45 FULDA

15. 05/01/45 FRANKFURT

16. 10/01/45 COLOGNE

17. 14/01/45 DERBEN

18. 17/01/45 HAMBURG

19. 20/01/44 HEILBRONN

20. 28/01/45 DUISBURG

21. 29/01/45 KASSEL

22. 06/02/45 CHEMNITZ

23. 09/02/44 WEIMAR



From 1st Lt Daniel Shaffer 0-765734, 351st Navigator, 100th Bomb Group: Joined 100th BG September 1944



"I got seperated from my origianal crew when we flew over from Langley VA.  As a result, I had no 

premanent crew and flew my 35 missions with 5 different Crews.  Pilots Kramp, Hughes, Stevenson, Knowles

Bazin.  Although I came to the 100th as a Bombardier, I was pressed into service as a navigator and did my 35

as such.  I did Hamburg 12/31/44 as a substitute for Tom Hughes Navigator.  We lost 12 our of 36.  It was my 13th

mission and the date of my Wife's birthday.  I finished my tour on April 6, 1945 to Leipzig.  Four days later-4-10-45

the Bazin Crew were blown out of the sky by a ME262.

 Thanks to Irv Waterbury, I also played in the Century Bombers Orchestra (sax).  Irv and Clara became very 

good friends after the war.  Harry Crosby was my Squadron Navigatory, Harry Cruver was 351st CO."………..(mpf 2001)

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CREW

2nd Lt Paul B. Batterman                  P   FEH   (CP on Capt. Hutchinson Lead Crew) 

F/0 Raymond Stiller                        CP   FEH

2nd Lt Norman "The Kid" Graham   NAV  FEH   (NAV on Capt Hutchinson Lead Crew) SEE BELOW

2nd Lt Arthur R. Zemske               BOM  CPT  6 APR 45 LEIPZIG (BOM on Capt. Hutchinson Lead Crew) 

Cpl Thomas H. Fagan                    ROG  FEH  (ROG on Capt. Hutchinson Lead Crew) SEE BELOW

Cpl Robert B. May                         TTE  FEH   (went to Lt Garrison Crew in April 45) SEE BELOW

Cpl Reid G. Jensen                       RWG  FEH

Cpl Leon E. Hebert,Jr.                  LWG  FEH   (moved to BTG, OLC for Air Medal for EAC destroyed)

Cpl Elmer F .Hooper                      TG   FEH   Flew 27 Missions (went to Lt Garrison Crew in March 45) SEE BELOW

Cpl Robert C. Mackey                   BTG   NOC  



351st Sqdn. Crew,as above,joined 100th Group on 5/10/44.

No memory of Robert.Mackey after reaching England. He probably was removed to reduce crew to nine men. 



From a letter from Norm Graham, Navigator on the P.B. Batterman Crew, dated 24/3/83 we learn: 

"Lt Batterman broke his arm riding a bicycle after joining the 100th on 5/10/44 and Jim Knowles was assigned as pilot of the Batterman crew.  Zemske & Graham then placed on the crew of Dave Hutchinson. Later, Batterman joined the Hutchinson crew as CP and Tom Fagan as ROG. Finished tour.  Ray Stiller, Bob May, Reid Jensen, Leon Hebert and Elmer Hooper stayed with Knowles crew.”



James W.Knowles was the original CP on crew of Jack L.Gay. Lt Knowles first mission with the Batterman crew was 26 Nov 44 to Hamm.   Lt. Knowles was replaced as first pilot on the Batterman crew by Lt Stevenson (see Sgt Hooper diary) starting on 20 Jan 45.  1st Lt Daniel Shaffer 0-765734 was the Navigator.  Lt Stevenson completed his missions on 9 Feb 45, mission to Weimar. After this point S/Sgt Hooper and T/Sgt May go to spare gunners pool.  Hopper flies missions with Lt Garrison and Knowles in Feb/Mar 45 before being assigned to Garrison’s Crew permanently on 28/3/45 mission to Hanover.  T/Sgt May is assigned to the Garrison Crew after April 8, 1945. S/Sgt Hooper would finish with Lt Garrison's Crew.   



After the 31 Dec 44 mission to Hamburg, Lt Batterman and Sgt Fagan go to Lt Hutchinson's Lead Crew to replace the Co-pilot and ROG who were KIA and SWA respectively.   Lt Batterman would fly as Formation Officer/Tail Gunner on the Hutchinson Crew. Lt Batterman flew as a fill in Co-Pilot with Lt Rosenbaum/Lt Kodas Crew on 17 Jan 45 Hamburg mission. Batterman also flew some missions as co-pilot on Lt Streich Crew…(from Leon Schwartz-Streich Crew)   



Lt Graham joins Lt Hutchinson Lead Crew as Navigator after Dec 12, 1944 Mission to Darmstadt and Lt Zemske joins Hutchinson Crew in Late Feb 45 when Lt Paterno joins Jesse Wofford’s Lead Crew. 



We have only two records of Lt Knowles flying as 1st pilot after Dec 31, 1944, one on March 17, 1945 to Plauen flying  42-31530 “QUITTIN' TIME” and another the following day March 18, 1945 flying  44-8503      "BABY BUNTY" LN-A, an a/c from the 350th BS to Berlin. According to S/Sgt Hooper diary, 3-17-45, Plauen, Ger . Knowles was pilot, Lt Brown, a new pilot, flew as co-pilot. Lt. Linn – Bombardier – Levine was waist gunner, Hooper as TG.  My best guess for this big lapse of time for Knowles not flying a mission after Dec 31, 1944 is that he may have gone to 351st Sqdn operations…mpf 2006)





Missions of Lt James W. Knowles/Lt Stevenson with Lt Batterman Crew

DATE:       TARGET                        A/C #, CODE, NAME              PILOT/NAV.



26/11/44     HAMM                                                                  Pilot-Lt Knowles

02/12/44     KOBLENZ                   42-31708  EP-R SKIPPER II      Pilot-Lt Knowles

05/12/44     BERLIN                     42-31708   EP-R SKIPPER II      Pilot-Lt Knowles

30/12/44     KASSEL                     42-31767  EP-G OUR GAL SAL  Pilot-Lt Knowles

31/12/44     HAMBURG                 42-31530  EP-X QUITTIN' TIME Pilot- Lt Knowles 

20/01/44     HEILBRONN                44-8632   EP-H                      Pilot-Lt Stevenson/ Nav- Lt Daniel Shaffer 0-765734

28/01/45      DUISBURG                 44-8632   EP-H                      Pilot-Lt Stevenson/ Nav-Lt Daniel Shaffer 0-765734

29/01/45     KASSEL                      44-8632   EP-H                      Pilot-Lt Stevenson/ Nav- Lt Daniel Shaffer 0-765734

06/02/45     CHEMNITZ/ZWICKAU    44-8632  EP-H                      Pilot-Lt Stevenson/ Nav-Lt Daniel Shaffer 0-765734

09/02/45     WEIMAR**                  44-8632  EP-H                      Pilot-Lt Stevenson/ Nav-Lt Daniel Shaffer 0-765734

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The Passing of the Guard



In the month of May, 2006, Henry G. “Hank” Green of Minatare, Nebraska, passed away peacefully who had a distinguished hitch with the “Mighty” Eighth Air Force during World War II.  Henry was with the 351st flying out of Abbot Field in England where he was the top turret gunner of the B-17G Flying Fortress named the “Fools Rush In”.  There Henry flew thirty successful missions with the “Bloody” 100th bomb group over Germany and France to do his best for our freedom and our country.  For his efforts, Henry was awarded five distinguished service metals and commendations.  After the war, Henry returned to what he loved to do and became quite successful in farming and the cattle business.  Henry, at the age of 84, was laid to rest at Scottsbluff Cemetery in Scottsbluff, Nebraska with full military honors and an Air Force fly by.



Henry was survived by his wife Sheila, sons Mike and Jeff Green, daughter Gretchen Lotspeich, sons Greg, Jeff , and Stephen Soule, daughter-in-law Sharry Soule, seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and Greta their beloved dog.  Henry was well loved and admired by family and friends and will be missed.



Michael J. Green

June 2006