Personnel

CREW



2ND LT ALBERT M. WILLOUGHBY       P CPT 9 MAR 45 FRANKFURT  sn# O-821131

2ND LT JACK L. MCKINNEY               CP CPT 9 MAR 45 FRANKFURT

2ND LT RALPH A. NITE                  NAV CPT 9 MAR 45 FRANKFURT

2ND LT JAMES R. WOOTEN           BOM CPT 9 MAR 45 FRANKFURT

T/SGT JOSEPH M. VACCARO          TTE CPT 22 FEB 45 WEHINGER, RAIL JUNCTION   (left Crew after 15 missions)

T/SGT ROBERT W. COLEMAN         ROG CPT 9 MAR 45 FRANKFURT

S/SGT EMERY B. HUTCHINGS         BTG CPT  24 MAR 45 VARRELBUSCH, GER.          (with 94th Bomb Group, SEE BELOW)

S/SGT WILLIAM H. SARGENT        RWG CPT 22 FEB 45 WEHINGER, RAIL JUNCTION (left Crew after 15 missions)      TAPS: 22 MAY 1973

S/SGT GLEN E. BARDWELL            LWG CPT 9 MAR 45 FRANKFURT (Taken off crew to reduce to 9 Men but returns to becomes BTG

                                                                                                when Hutchings transfers to 94th BG after 5 Missions)

S/SGT LEONARD F. KERCHER           TG CPT 9 MAR 45 FRANKFURT                                                                      TAPS: 11 MAY 1980



350TH SQDN…CREW JOINED THE 100TH LATE AUGUST OR EARLY SEPTEMBER 1944.  Flew many missions in A/C 338383 RAMBLIN' REBEL



LETTER FROM WILLOUGHBY TO jb DATED  6 MAY 1982 READS AS FOLLOWS;  THIS CREW FLEW IT'S FIRST MISSION WITH THE 100TH ON 26 SEP 1944  (BREMEN, TANK WORKS) AND THE 35TH MISSION ON  9 MAR 45 (FRANKFURT, AC FACTORY). "OF MY ORIGINAL CREW, McKINNEY, NITE, WOOTEN, KERCHER, COLEMAN, & BARDWELL STAYED WITH ME ALL THE WAY. VACCARO, SARGENT AND HUTCHINGS, WHO WAS FLYING A SECOND TOUR, WERE REPLACED AFTER FIFTEEN MISSIONS AND I HAVE LOST TRACK OF THEM AND THEIR REPLACEMENTS.  AFTER THE WAR McKINNEY CAME BACK TO THE NEW YORK YANKEE FARM SYSTEM AND PLAYED PRO BASEBALL FOR SEVERAL YEARS.  HE WAS QUITE A PITCHER AND ROSE TO AAA.  HE NOW LIVES IN ATLANTA, GA. NITE WENT BACK TO WENT BACK TO COLLEGE AND BECAME A BAPTIST MINISTER IN KANSAS CITY.  WOOTEN ALSO WENT BACK TO COLLEGE AND BECAME A TEACHER IN HIS NATIVE KENTUCKY.  KERCHER WAS FARMING IN NEBRASKA LAST I HEARD.  I STAYED IN THE AIRFORCE FLYING B-29S, B-47S AND KC 135S, MOSTLY IN THE STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND AND RETIRED IN 1973 A FULL COLONEL."….COL A.M. WILLOUGHBY



CREW after 15 Missions:



2nd Lt Albert M. Willoughby P

2nd Lt Jack L. McKinney     CP

2nd Lt Ralph A. Nite        NAV

2nd Lt James R. Wooten BOM

T/Sgt   ???????              TTE (Sgt Edward  C. Butchino from Capt Van Stennis/Hard Luck Crew flew a mission or two with this crew) 

T/Sgt Robert Coleman     ROG

S/Sgt Leonard F. Kercher TG 

S/Sgt   ???????              WG 

S/Sgt Glen E. Bardwell    BTG (Rejoins crew to become BTG when Hutchings transferred to 94th BG after 5 missions)





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S/SGT EMERY HUTCHINGS INFO: from Chris Argent flyingfortress297082@yahoo.co.uk



What I can say is that on his first tour with the 94th BG he flew with Lt. William S. Winnwshiek with the 333rd BS. They were one of the original crews. When S/Sgt. Hutchings returned for his second tour, he was assigned to the 100th Bomb Group, 350th BS in September 1944 and flew 5 missions with Lt Willoughby Crew (Lt Willoughby states it was 15 missions before the change).   Sgt Hutchings arranged a transfer back  to the 94th BG in October 1944 and flew his final mission on March 24th 1945 to Varrelbusch, Gerlmany.  Hutchings requested and was given permission to fly his last mission with Capt. Winneshiek (who was also flying as second tour) 



  According to the 94th Bomb Group unit history, Hutchings was assigned to the the 100th BG to fly his second tour of duty but wrangled a transfer back to the 94th after only 5 missions.  There he flew as an spare gunner through many more rough missions. His original pilot, Lt Winneshiek had also returned to the 94th BG for a second tour.  Both men had contributed a great deal toward the legends of the 94th Bomb Group. 





S/SGT EMERY HUTCHINGS MISSIONS WITH THE 100TH BOMB GROUP:  (mpf 2000)



1.   26/9/44 Bremen

2.   27/9/44 Mainz

3.   28/9/44 Merseburg

4.   30/9/44 Bielefeld

5.   6/10/44 BERLIN (LAST MISSION FOR S/SGT HUTCHINGS)



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

9/26/1944 37 200 KERCHER L.F. S/SGT TG 38457 BREMEN

9/26/1944 37 200 VACCARO J.M. S/SGT TTE 38457 BREMEN

9/26/1944 37 200 HUTCHINGS E.B. S/SGT BTG 38457 BREMEN

9/26/1944 37 200 WOOTEN J.R. LT BOM 38457 BREMEN

9/26/1944 37 200 NITE R.A. LT NAV 38457 BREMEN

9/26/1944 37 200 TAYLOR T.D. LT CP 38457 BREMEN (from Lt Ebel Crew)

9/26/1944 37 200 WILLBOUGHBY A.M. LT P 38457 BREMEN

9/26/1944 37 200 SARGENT W.H. S/SGT RWG 38457 BREMEN

9/26/1944 37 200 COLEMAN R.W. T/SGT ROG 38457 BREMEN



9/27/1944 37 201 WOOTEN J.R. LT BOM 38457 MAINZ

9/27/1944 37 201 KERCHER L.F. S/SGT TG 38457 MAINZ

9/27/1944 37 201 SARGENT W.H. S/SGT RWG 38457 MAINZ

9/27/1944 37 201 HUTCHINGS E.B. S/SGT BTG 38457 MAINZ

9/27/1944 37 201 COLEMAN R.W. T/SGT ROG 38457 MAINZ

9/27/1944 37 201 NITE R.A. LT NAV 38457 MAINZ

9/27/1944 37 201 TAYLOR T.D. LT CP 38457 MAINZ      (from Lt Elbel Crew)

9/27/1944 37 201 WILLBOUGHBY A.M. LT P 38457 MAINZ

9/27/1944 37 201 VACCARO J.M. S/SGT TTE 38457 MAINZ



9/28/1944 37 202 HUTCHINGS E.B. S/SGT BTG 38457 MERSEBURG

9/28/1944 37 202 MCKINNEY J.L. LT CP 38457 MERSEBURG

9/28/1944 37 202 KERCHER L.F. S/SGT TG 38457 MERSEBURG

9/28/1944 37 202 SARGENT W.H. S/SGT RWG 38457 MERSEBURG

9/28/1944 37 202 VACCARO J.M. S/SGT TTE 38457 MERSEBURG

9/28/1944 37 202 COLEMAN R.W. T/SGT ROG 38457 MERSEBURG

9/28/1944 37 202 NITE R.A. LT NAV 38457 MERSEBURG

9/28/1944 37 202 WILLBOUGHBY A.M. LT P 38457 MERSEBURG

9/28/1944 37 202 WOOTEN J.R. LT BOM 38457 MERSEBURG



9/30/1944 37 203 WILLBOUGHBY A.M. LT P 38457 BIELEFELD

9/30/1944 37 203 MCKINNEY J.L. LT CP 38457 BIELEFELD

9/30/1944 37 203 NITE R.A. LT NAV 38457 BIELEFELD

9/30/1944 37 203 WOOTEN J.R. LT BOM 38457 BIELEFELD

9/30/1944 37 203 COLEMAN R.W. T/SGT ROG 38457 BIELEFELD

9/30/1944 37 203 VACCARO J.M. S/SGT TTE 38457 BIELEFELD

9/30/1944 37 203 HUTCHINGS E.B. S/SGT BTG 38457 BIELEFELD

9/30/1944 37 203 SARGENT W.H. S/SGT RWG 38457 BIELEFELD

9/30/1944 37 203 KERCHER L.F. S/SGT TG 38457 BIELEFELD



Fifth mission would have been Berlin on October 6, 1944



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S/SGT EMERY HUTCHINGS INFO: from Chris Argent flyingfortress297082@yahoo.co.uk



What I can say is that on his first tour with the 94th BG he flew with Lt. William S. Winnwshiek with the 333rd BS. They were one of the original crews. When S/Sgt. Hutchings returned for his second tour, he was assigned to the 100th Bomb Group, 350th BS in September 1944 and flew 5 missions with Lt Willoughby Crew (Lt Willoughby states it was 15 missions before the change).   Sgt Hutchings arranged a transfer back  to the 94th BG in October 1944 and flew his final mission on March 24th 1945 to Varrelbusch, Gerlmany.  Hutchings requested and was given permission to fly his last mission with Capt. Winneshiek (who was also flying as second tour) 



  According to the 94th Bomb Group unit history, Hutchings was assigned to the the 100th BG to fly his second tour of duty but wrangled a transfer back to the 94th after only 5 missions.  There he flew as an spare gunner through many more rough missions. His original pilot, Lt Winneshiek had also returned to the 94th BG for a second tour.  Both men had contributed a great deal toward the legends of the 94th Bomb Group. 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



S/Sgt Emery B. Hutchings was original Cadre of the 94th Bomb Group, stationed at Rougham.  He was in Crew 34, 334th Bomb Squadron,



2nd Lt William S. Winneshiek  Pilot

2nd Lt Fredrick W. Lay          Copilot

2nd Lt William H. Reid Jr.       Bombardier

2nd Lt George Dowling Jr.     Navigator

T/Sgt Richard T. Martin         Top Turret Engineer

S/Sgt Vance W. Van Hooser   Waist Gunner

T/Sgt Lawrence A. Russolino  Radio Operator Gunner

S/Sgt Emery B. Hutchings      Ball Turret Gunner

S/Sgt Earl Smith                   Tail Gunner

S/Sgt James A. May Jr.          Waist Gunner      



Some Missions flown by this Crew with the 94th Bomb Group:   Vance Van Hooser and Emery Hutchings lived to gether in Holdenville, Oklahoma.  They were both Holdenville natives, entered the service together and flew on the same crew.  (You need to find this Family, Vance kept a Diary of all his missions which would also be your uncles list of his first 25 Misisons) 



First Mission: May 15, 1943-Emden, Germany flying in B-17F "Bouncing Bitch II"



May 19, 1943 Flensburg, Germany,-Lost an engine over the target and fell back in the formation.  They suffered 4 nose and 2 tail attacks by fighters during this time and  a flak burst hit the bomb bay.  The Pilot was able to catch up to the 94th formation in a turn thus keeping them from being a straggler and easy pickins for fighters.  



May 29, 1943 Rennes, France. 



June 25, 1943-Bremen:  B-17 developed engine trouble and tail guns would not work  after crossing German border one engine quit and another ran away so it had to be feathered.  The crew headed back to England alone, with only two good engines flying on the deck and the  bombs were jettisoned into the sea.    In June 1943, your chances were slim of making it back to England on two engines and no figher support. Lt Herbert E Hofer, Bombardier, from Lt Kirk Crew filled in as Bombardier on this mission.  Story is on page 49 in Lingering Contraisl of the Big Square A" and there is a Crew Photo at the top of the Page (with Sgt Hutchings).   Emery Hutchings remarked" I remained at my battle station  until I noticed my ball turret splitting the tops of the ocean waves"



July 28, 1943 Oschersleben,Germany



August 17, 1943 Regensburg, Germany: The famous 'Double Strike" Mission.  

"Exerpt from the 94th Bomb Group Unit History "Lingering Contrails of the Big Square A"  page 80-81

Bill Winnesheik's Crew flying B-17F "Double Trouble"  a/c number 42-3082  TS-? . Was hit by flak and twin engine fighters (ME 110's), 20mm shells exploded inside the aircraft, a wing tank (gas) was punctured and the fuel transfer lines were damaged. 'One Crew member said The Good Lord had to be with us".  Another 20 MM hit near the waist gunners window with a hissing sound.  Looking back tracer bullets could be seen arcing from a group in the rear. 



October 4, 1943 Hanau, Emery Hutchings falls off back of truck on way to aircraft and skinned his hands badly and had to be replaced on this mission.  Their aircraft "Double Trouble" would crash land on the English coast.  Great detaile account on page 98 of "Lingering Contrails of the Big Square A" along with another Crew photo and shots of the crash landed plane.  





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Michael,

 

Here it goes, strap your self in and please forgive me as I'am transcribing from not only from audio but 40 + years of time!

 

Question #1: Why did you do/volunteer for a 2nd tour? His answer's will be in quotes with other unknown people(s) noted as such.

 

First off he said that he was in Miami Beach between tours, put up in a nice hotel for 2 weeks "drinking beer by night and deep sea fishing during the day."

 

--"I didn't like the way they was doing us G.I.'s"

   "Well some of them, me, I was being left alone except one time and I says can't, won't do it and he didn't ask me to do anything else."(not quite sure what this was in reference to although he talks about some "details" later)

    "But they tried to put me out on some darn details, but, there were some other guys sitting around on their butts, I say if they can sit around on their butts I can too!"

     "Did some refresher training identifying planes and working tow targets. Some guys sat every day of the darn thing out!"

     "I got to where I said send me back overseas"

Unknown person- "you sure that's what you want?"

     "Yep"

Unknown- "you might go down to the South Pacific"

     "I said I don't care. Well I was talking to some officers like I'am talking to you"

Unknown- Are you sure you want to go on a 2nd tour? "I said yeah"

Officers- "Why?"

      "Well somebody's gotta do it and I'd rather go over there than south pacific"

Officers- "well if your set on it?"

      " 10 more days then the orders came through on the Russian Red Star. I think That Russian Red Star was the turning point."

---This was when he got orders to the ETO instead.

 

Question #2--Transfer out of the 100th:

    "Told the crew, I says, I won't be here very long boys."

Unknown- "Oh yes you will",,"I says ok"

    " Asked for a pass one day and they asked what I wanted it for", "I wanna go back down to my old BG"

Unknown-"Oh?"

    "I says yes sir down to the 94th"

Unknown-"and what you gonna go down there for?"

    "I says wanna see if I can get back on there"

Unknown-"Oh you Can't your assigned to us and you can just stay with us"

    "I said ok. Went down ther and it just so happened ole Winnesheik, he was in the 333rd, boss over 333rd operations. I said I was wanting back I told him."

Winnesheik-"I tell you what it might take a little while, but, go on back hang tight, don’t' get in any trouble and he says,"We'll be seeing you here just very few days."

     "I did and he did" and "when I'm on a mission that day like I told Bill(thinking William Sargent here) I said I got a phone call and I was going to be going back to my old BG tomorrow."

     "When I got off the plane this command car waitin for me. I said see you boys"

       Then told to get all your gear your going back to your old BG.

When I asked him if he knew which mission it was he said, "I don't"

Well it was right after you got off the plane huh?, he says, "I told ya I was going to be getting back on my BG."

Unknown- "wa wa wa well how'd you do that?"

      "well I just Know a few people"

I asked was it Winnesheik's doing?

      "well Winnesheik did it, he just went ahead and called up Betty's Uncle"(I think but not certain that her uncle is General Spaatz, He mentioned him before).

Winnesheik-"Now I was lucky enough to get you back in the 333rd but you'll be flying fill in"

       "I said that's fine. I'am back in my old stomping grounds."

Winnesheik then says, "but I tell you what, when it comes to your last mission" he says, "I'm flying ya". 

And so it ended there unless I'am mistaken.

 

Silver Star:  Was from a newspaper clipping saying the incedent took place May 15th, 1943. Quoating from the article--

 

"A dispatch from an 8th AF bomber station told how a 21 year old gunner, for half an hour fought off attacking enemy planes while hanging by his safety belt in his shattered ball turret….several miles over Germany"

 

"It was bitterly cold over Germany the day the Sgt.'s bomber ( they called it the Bouncing Baby Four, Not sure why other than Bouncing Bitch isn't very pleasing at this period) took off with a flight of planes for Emden. Close to that important target, while battling enemy fighters, the door of Hutchings ball turret blew open, jamming and silencing his guns. Then he remembered only one thing, his business was to fire those guns. Crawling from his turret into the fuselage, he got a hatchet and knocked the door off it's hinges. Then climbed back into the turret and hanging suspended only by his safety belt in a temperature of 35 degrees below zero, he manned those guns. And for 35 minutes, fought off the attacking Nazi planes."

 

Mike, not sure here but I may have messed up and here's why, I'm typing from this chicken scratch of mine for this Silver Star part  thinking Emden is  the mission then right below it I see Regensburg…just in case it is late for me I'll go through it tommorrow and get back to you hope this was interesting and helpful..if not help me to please understand why? And any questions or suggestions always welcomed!!

 

Regards,

Clint  clint.mackinnon@sbcglobal.net

Missions with 94th Bomb Group;



Hutchings, Emery B. Sgt. 19087841 (612) William S. Winneshiek Crew 

	12/14/42 Assigned to the 333rd Bomb Squadron.

	05/14/43 WG 42-29629 WW A Kiel, Germany.

	05/15/43 G 42-29997 Emden, Germany.

	05/17/43 BT 42-29997 Lorient, France.

	05/19/43 Flensburg, Germany.

	00/00/00 Change in rank - S/Sgt.

	05/29/43 WG 42-29708 TS G Rennes, France.

	06/13/43 BT 42-29713 TS J Kiel, Germany. Did not take-off.

	06/25/43 BT 42-29970 TS C Bremen, Germany.

	06/26/43 BT 42-30145 TS G Le Mans, France.

	06/28/43 BT 42-3185 TS L Saint-Nazaire, France.

	06/29/43 BT 42-29713 TS J Le Mans, France.

	07/04/43 BT 42-3280 TS M La Rochelle, France.

	07/14/43 BT 42-30303 TS M2 Le Bourget, France.

	07/24/43 BT 42-3082 TS E Bergen, Norway.

	07/25/43 BT 42-30376 TS F Kiel, Germany.

	07/26/43 BT 42-30454 TS B Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

	07/28/43 BT 42-30376 TS F Oschersleben, Germany.

	08/12/43 BT 42-30376 TS F Bonn, Germany. Abort - mechanical. No sortie.

	08/15/43 BT 42-30425 TS J Vitry-en-Artois, France.

	08/17/43 BT 42-30376 TS F Regensburg, Germany.

	08/27/43 BT 42-3319 TS L2 Airborne spare.

	08/31/43 BT 42-30376 TS F Brussels, Belgium.

	09/03/43 BT 42-30376 TS F Le Bois-Robert, France.

	09/06/43 BT 42-30376 TS F Stuttgart, Germany.

	09/23/43 BT 42-30376 TS F Ploemeur, France.

	10/09/43 BT 42-5950 GL P Marienburg, Germany.

	10/10/43 BT 42-30453 TS K Munster, Germany.

	10/14/43 BT 42-30376 TS F Airborne spare.

	10/18/43 BT 42-30612 TS D Duren, Germany.

	10/22/43 Transferred to the 3rd Air Division Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron.

	10/10/44 Assigned to the 410th Bomb Squadron.

	10/13/44 Placed on flying status.

	10/25/44 BT 43-38727 GL N Hamburg, Germany.

	12/11/44 BT 44-6526 GL S Giessen, Germany.

	12/15/44 BT 42-97378 GL P Hanover, Germany.

	01/05/45 BT 42-97082 GL H Pronsfeld, Germany.

	01/28/45 BT 44-8509 GL L Hohenbudberg, Germany. Did not take-off.

	02/03/45 BT 44-8509 GL L Berlin, Germany.

	02/09/45 BT 43-38590 GL G Weimar, Germany.

	02/17/45 BT 43-38204 GL Y Giessen, Germany.

	02/21/45 Awarded an Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal.

	02/21/45 Awarded an Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal.

	02/23/45 BT 43-38204 GL Y Schwabisch-Hall, Germany.

	02/26/45 BT 44-6890 GL M Berlin, Germany.

	02/27/45 BT 43-38204 GL Y Leipzig, Germany (No MACR) RTD.

	03/01/45 BT 43-38204 GL Y Ulm, Germany.

	03/04/45 BT 43-38204 GL Y Ingolstadt, Germany.

	03/24/45 Varrelbusch, Germany.