Personnel

CREW

 

2nd Lt Marquard J.Anderson      P   CPT     2 OCT 44   KASSEL

2nd Lt Dean E.Salmeier           CP   CPT   15 OCT 44   COLOGNE

2nd Lt Bertram H.Olson Jr     NAV   CPT    9 SEPT 44   DUSSELDORF (FINISHED WITH LT P.G. JONES CREW)

2nd Lt Thomas M.Barrett      BOM   CPT   20 JAN 45    HEILBRONN,  (FINISHED UP WITH D.A. JONES CREW) 

(WIA by flak, came through the nose just after the bomb run.  Sept 8, 1944 Mainz.  In hospital for 2 months and then is assigned to D.A. Jones Crew.)

 S/Sgt Ronald H.Harknett      ROG   CPT   12 SEPT44   MAGDEBURG

 S/Sgt Thomas F,Porch        TTE  CPT     26 NOV 44    HAMM          (FINISHED TOUR WITH H. HEMPY CREW)

   Sgt William F.Nanasy         BTG  CPT     12 SEPT 44   MAGDEBURG

   Sgt Gerald E.Moore          RWG   CPT   17 OCT 44    COLOGNE

   Sgt George F.Murasky       LWG   CPT   12 SEPT 44   MAGDEBURG

   Sgt Tom J.Wich                 TG   CPT    12 SEPT44   MAGDEBURG

 

418th Sqdn. Crew,as above,joined 100th Group 25/5/44.  Crew flew "Heaven Can Wait"

According to a letter of Nov.1983 from Arthur J.Farley of the H.M.Hempy crew, Thomas Porch finished his tour with the Hempy crew.

A letter from Arthur Juhlin of the D.A.Jones crew (7/1/84) states that Thomas Barrett completed his tour with the Jones crew. 

 

Sgt Moore flys 18 missions with this crew then is placed in spare gunners pool after July 24th mission to St Lo to reduce crew to 9 men. 

Lt Olson flew 31 missions total,  28 missions with Lt Anderson Crew and his last 3 missions with the P.G. Jones Crew on Sept 5, 8, 9, 1944.  

Lt Barrett flew 17 missions with Lt Anderson Crew and remaining 13 missions with D.A. Jones Crew.  

Sgt H.R. Schrengest flew 9 missions with this crew as a TOG. (also flew TOG on P.G. Jones and D. McEwen Crews)  

Lt B.F Hufsey from Lt Elmer E.Ferbrache crew flew as Navigator on 21 July 44 mission to Regensburg

Lt J. Borovilos from Lt Paul G.Jones crew flew as Navigator on Sept 3, 8, 12, 1944 

S/Sgt R.W. Pion from Lt Rice Crew flew as LWG on July 11, 12, 19, 20, 1944 

SSgt D.A. Stroble, from spare gunners pool,  flew as RWG on July 12 & 19, 1944 Missions.





MISSIONS WITH LT ANDERSON CREW: (TOTAL OF 23)



Date Crew Nbr Mission Nbr Last Name Initial Rank Position Aircraft Nbr Target

6/2/1944 33 128 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 31404 BOULOGNE

6/5/1944 33 131 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 31404 BOULOGNE(CHG)

6/24/1944 88 -147 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 37517 GRAND COURONNE (SEC T)

7/6/1944 88 154 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 37517 FLEURY/CREPEUIL

7/7/1944 88 155 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 37517 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG

7/8/1944 88 156 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 6092 CLAMECY-JOLGYN

7/11/1944 88 157 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 37517 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)

7/12/1944 88 158 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 37517 MUNICH (IND. AREA)

7/19/1944 88 163 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 37517 SCHWEINFURT & DUREN

7/20/1944 88 164 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 31049 MERSEBURG

7/21/1944 88 165 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 37517 REGENSBURG

7/24/1944 88 166 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 37517 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)

7/25/1944 88 167 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 37517 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)

8/2/1944 88 171 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 37636 TERGNIER/LAFERE

8/4/1944 88 173 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 37636 HAMBURG (OIL)

8/6/1944 88 175 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 37636 BERLIN

8/11/1944 88 178 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 37636 VILLACOUBLAY

8/13/1944 88 179 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 37811 NANTES - GASSICOURT

8/24/1944 88 183 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 37636 RUHLAND (OIL)

8/27/1944 88 186 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 37636 BERLIN (RECALL)

9/3/1944 88 189 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 37636 BREST

9/8/1944 88 191 BARRETT T.M. LT BOM 37636 MAINZ



Lt Barrett goes to on fly missions with D.A. Jones Crew



CREW



2nd Lt Donald A.Jones            P     CT   4/3/45    ULM            sn# 0-764687

2nd Lt Grant A.Fuller             CP     CT   4/3/45    ULM            sn# 0-715178

2nd Lt Arthur H.Juhlin         NAV     CT   4/3/45    ULM            sn# 0-723096

2nd Lt Ralph P.Farrell,Jr.      BOM    SWA 17/10/44 COLGNE      sn# 0-216851

  Cpl Donald Stewart,Jr.       ROG    SWA 17/10/44 COLOGNE    sn# 19129630

  Cpl Alfred F.Marcello          TTE      CT   4/3/45    ULM            sn# 17155233

  Cpl Curtis L.Hooker            BTG     CT    8/3/45   GIESSEN      sn# 38591214

  Cpl Sam L.Foushee             TG      CT    4/3/45    ULM            sn# 14107051

  Cpl Perry G.Kratsas             WG      NC                                  sn# 13187776

  Cpl Patrick J.Gillen,Jr.          WG      CT   31/3/45  BAD BERKA,sn# 32901583 

                                                           OIL STORAGE (100TH "A")  



418th Sqdn. Crew,as above,joined the 100th Group on 18/8/44.



It is probable that Kratsas was removed from the crew to get down to nine men and went to the replacement pool.On the 11th mission,both Farrell & Stewart suffered severe injuries which resulted in their being returned to the U.S. Bruce Grueschow,from the crew of S.J.Dobrogowski,and Thomas M. Barrett,from the crew of M.J.Anderson both served as bombardiers on the crew. Storm C.Rhode also flew about 20 missions with this crew as a Mickey Operator.  A Sgt William P. Hood from the crew of S.J. Dobrogowski was one of two ROG who filled in on this crew. He completed his tour with this crew on March 4, 1945-ULM.  

  

Subj: Re: Missions Flown  

Date: 10/2/2002 5:04:47 PM Pacific Daylight Time 

From: gafuller@webtv.net 

To: MPFaley@aol.com  

 

Mike:

    We had two radio operators who followed Don Stewart.  The first one

although I have a picture of him none of us can remembered his name.

The second one I believe was William P. Hood who came from the

Dobrogowski crew.  He finished his tour when we did at Ulm in Mar. 1945.

Dobrogowski I am sure you know was killed on takeoff for a weather

mission early one morning along with his co-pilot and navigator.  Bruce

Grueschow their bombardier flew several missions with us as lead

bombardier before Tom Barrett came on.

                                                         Grant Fuller



Letter (1/7/84) from Art Juhlin contains much about this crew and says that 

Sam Foushee and Al Marcello "passed away several years ago."



This was a "Lead" crew for much of it' s  tour. The following is extracted from  Arthur Juhlin's diary:



     "17 Oct.1944 Mission #11 Cologne,Germany.  Due to a malfunction of the bomb racks in our ship only 16 of our 10o# bombs were released.This left eighteen 100# and 

two 500# incendiary clusters jammed in the bomb bay. The bambardier and radio operator went back into the bombbay to try and get rid of the mess,but it was a ticklish job as all the bombs were armed.they finally got most of the pins put back in the lOO# and removed them to the radio room,but were unable to get the incendiaries out;so we decided to wait and try to  salvo them upon reaching the channel. We left the formation and circled over the channel while the bombardier,radio operator and tailgunner tried to get the rest of the bombs,which were wedged up against the bomb bay doors away. It was at this time that one of the incendiary fuses went off with a terrible blast. Our bombardier got hit by several fragments and lost his left eye. The radio operator got several fragments in his leg severing an artery and a nerve. The tail gunner was blown back into the radio room and received minor facial injuries. Tne bottom of the ship looked like a sieve and there was one hole big enough for a man to crawl through.It was a miracle that the whole ship wasn't blown to bits. Unsble to open the bomb bay doors which had been sprung by the explosion, and not being able to bail out with the injured men on board,we started for the base with the live bombs swinging in the bomb bay.Our waist gunner then volunteered to go back in the bomb bay and try to wire some of the incinderaries together so they wouldn't be so apt to be jarred loose upon landing. This sure took a lot of guts after what had already happened. As we turned on the approach our pilot remarked that maybe we'd all get a big bang out of the landing,but Iam afraid the humour wasn't appreciated at that time. A safe landing was made and the injured removed to the hospital.



Time of flight was 7 hours. We flew ship #459 and led the high squadron of the lead group."





When Storm C.Rhode came to the 100th as a "Mickey" operator in Sept.1944 and flew about 20 missions with the D.A.Jones crew then some with the DePlanque crew.



List of Missions for Cpl Donald Stewart Jr & Lt. Ralph Farrell Jr. (mpf)



1.   9/9/44 Dusseldorf-Munitions plant  A/C 238175

2. 10/9/44 Nurnburg-Tank factory   A/C 238175

3. 11/9/44 Ruhland-Synthetic Oil Factory  A/C 2102649-Lady Geraldine

4. 12/9/44 Magdeburg-Synthetic Oil Factory A/C 2102649-Lady Geraldine

5. 18/9/44 Warsaw-Supply Drop Arms  A/C 297071-Andy's Dandy's

6. 19/9/44 Szolnok, Hungary-MY   A/C 297071-Andy's Dandy's

7 3/10/44 Nurnburg-Tank Factory  A/C 337636

8. 5/10/44 Munster (Recall)   A/C 337636

9. 7/10/44 Bohlen-Synthetic Oil   A/C 337636

10. 15/10/44 Cologne-MY    A/C 338459-Cargo for Margo

11. 17/10/44 Cologne-MY    A/C 338459 -Cargo for Margo  SWA





GRANT FULER IS THE LONG TIME 100TH ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN



Following is a 1994 Press Release. It is presented as written without editing or spelling corrections..pw



From Tas 18/1736A  Oct 44

To: Mahor E.J. Huber. Pro, 3rd Bomb Div., Public Relations



Confidential 100BG  O-343-D



An Eighth Air Force Bomber Station, England--- The B-17 flying Fortress "Cargo for Margo", a hole gouged through it by an incendiary bomb fuse which exploded inside and with fire bombs tangled like jackstraws on the doors of the  jammed-shut Bombay, settled down gingerly at it's base after a dangerous flight from Cologne during which the crew were in deadly peril from the incendiaries.  The fuse which exploded wounded three of the crew.

 Nervy action by the crew in tying fast most of the loose incendiaries jumbled together, after detonation of the fuse when the Bombay release mechanism failed to function properly, with 100 pound high explosive, but at the time not dangerous bombs saved the fortress and crew as well.

 Crediting his crew with outstanding courage, Second Lieutenant Donald A. Jones, 22 years old, of Goose Creek, Texas, piloted :Cargo for Margo" safely to it's 100th Bombardment Group runway.

 Almost instinctively, over Cologne, the crew knew something was foul in the Bombay.  The fortress did not suddenly lurch up as it should in losing bomb weight. Dropped clear were 14 bombs--but 20 other H.E. bombs and two large clusters of incendiaries fell in a snarled heap.

 While still over German held territory, the Bombardier and Radio Operator, respectively Second Lieutenant Ralph P. Harrell, 19, of Gastonia, N.C. and Sergeant Donald Stewart, Jr. of 4447 Marillja Avenue, Van Nuys, Calif., attempted to dislodge the tangled bombs but failed.

 "Close the Bays," ordered Lt Jones a few minutes later. "We're proably over our own territory and we can't take a chance on dropping these babies on our own boys."

 The Navigator, Second Lieutenant Arthur H. Julin, of 7641 South Hermitage, Chicago, Ill., notified the pilot that  Nazi fighters were in the vicinity "so we can't try any circus stunts in getting rid of the bombs."

 Although the slightest motion might have detonated the fuse on the cluster of incendiaries---500 pounds of them dropped loose from their moorings and jammed into the bottom of the Bombaythe fortress reached the channel and Lt. Farrell and Sgt Stewart decide to work them loose by opening the Bombay doors once again.

 Standing on the catwalk, Sgt Stewart carried six 100 pound  bombs back into the radio room after the Bombardier placed the safety-pins back in the fuses. Then the Bombardier tried to replace a safety wire into the fuse of the 500 pound incendiary cluster which was jammed against the side of the Bombay's curving door.

 The fuse on the cluster exploded. Fragments of the fuse splattered throughout the Bombay and slivers struck the bombardier in the face, causing a severe wound, and struck the radio operator in the legs and body. Detonation of the fuse on the cluster released all the individual bombs within the cluster.

 The tail gunner, Sergeant Sam L. Foushee, 24, of Lillington, N.C., had just come up from his gun position and suffered a slight facial wound.

 The Bombay doors had warped from the explosion and the cylindrical shaped incendiaries were protruding through the cracks and became more a menace than ever. Although suffering painfully, both the bombardier and the radio operator struggled back, seeing the danger, to try to prevent the rest of the incendiaries from dooming the bomber. 

 While two gunners, Sgt Foushee and Sergeant Curtis L. Hooker, 19, of Copan, Okl., ball turret gunner, administered first aid to the three wounded, a third gunner--Sergeant Patrick J. Gillen, Jr. of 538 Union Avenue, New York city, left his waist gun position and began the dangerous job of securing the loosened incendiaries.  He soon was joined by Sgt Foushee.

 "They tackled the job in spite of the fact that just a minute before the bombardier had been badly hurt trying to do the same thing." Declared the pilot. "We all held our breath while Gillen and Foushee edged down through the maze of bombs and tied them fast with an arming wire--which minimized the danger and possibly saved the bomber and us, too. I knew I had to bring the plane down, because of the wounded men, and when I asked if anyone wanted to bale out, there wasn't a single reply on the inter phone." 

 The fortress had fallen behind its formation by now. "When we get over England, the air will get rough and you'll have to take it easy." said the bombardier. "You might not know what a hot potato you have here, but I do."

 While Lt Jones went back to inspect the damage, the Co-pilot, 21 year old Second Lieutenant Grant A. Fuller, of 601 East Fourth Street, Hereford, Texas, handled the controls, and the engineer, Staff Sergeant Alfred F. Marcello, 22, of 1248 Fremont Avenue, St. Paul, reported that trying to land with the individual incendiaries would proably bring disastrous results, each individual incendiary has a fuse which detonated on impact.

 Lt Jones eased "Cargo for Margo" down for a smooth landing, and the midics were on hand to give attention to the three wounded fliers. Ground crew men later safely removed the incendiaries103 of them-- from the plane.

**************************************************************************************************************



by Matt Mabe



Mike --

 

Just wanted to let you know that I talked with Tom Barrett today.  (I had met him a few weeks ago when he came up to DC with the Michigan chapter of Honor Flight).  He called me when I was at the grocery store, so I bolted out to my car to get a pen and paper. He is going to send me a short write up that he did, as well as a "group photo" of the Marq Anderson crew. Apparently there was never a crew photo taken during the war, but several of them got together a few years after the war for a reunion and they have a photo from that.  He is going to send me a copy of it.  - Matt

 

He did share with me the story of how he was wounded, which is below:

 

09/08/1944 Mission to Mainz; The Anderson crew was flying lead that day, on "Heaven Can Wait".  During the mission, they leveled out and tried to get a level read on the bomb sight.  Upon opening the bomb bay doors, the radio operator yelled out "fire in the bomb bay".  The Top Turrett Gunner/Engineer ran back to check out the situation, and reported that the bomb bay door motor had burned out, which created the brief fire.  Therefore, they had to crank the bomb bay doors open by hand.  After finally getting the doors cranked open, the Navigator reported that they had passed their target.  As they flew over a nearby enemy airfield, the sky erupted with flak coming from the heavily defended air field.  The plan got shot up pretty bad, and they determined that they were going to head back without dropping their bombs.  During all of that, the plane took a pretty bad hit to the nose section, and Barrett was hit by a flak burst.  He saw two big holes in the flak vest he was wearing and thought he had survived the hit okay.  He was in such a state of shock that a few seconds later he realized that his right knee was throbbing with pain.  Part of the shrapnel had hit him in the knee and it was bleeding out pretty bad.  

 

The Command Pilot came up to the front of the plane to inspect Barrett's injury.  He put sulfa powder on the wound and bandaged it up as best he could.  He also gave him a shot of morphine for the pain.  The crew made it back safely to Thorpe Abbotts, and Barrett was sent to the base hospital.  Barrett had to stay in the hospital for several days recovering.  A few days later, Marq Anderson and their Co-Pilot came to visit him in the hospital.  Anderson told Barrett that his injury inadvertently saved their lives. Since Barrett was in the hospital, they had no Bombardier, and another crew had to take their place on the 09/11/1944 mission to Ruhland.  The crew that flew in their place that day didn't make it back. After Barrett recovered from his injuries, he went on to fly 13 missions with the Donald A. Jones crew.  His last mission was on 01/20/1945.  He stayed on with the 100th BG for several months as the Group Bombardier for the 418th Sq.  Interestingly enough, Barrett told me that he was one of the officers who briefed the other officers in the 418th prior to the 03/02/1945 mission to Berlin.  He remembers seeing Rosie in that briefing and talking to him shortly before he left.  He felt so bad after Rosie didn't make it back that day, but was ecstatic to see Rosie when he returned.  

 

(Barrett received the Purple Heart, Air Medal(s), and the Distinguished Flying Cross. )