Personnel

CREW



Lt George P. Fory                P CPT 17 OCT 44 COLOGNE

Lt Jesse A.Ruffner              CP CPT 17 OCT 44 COLOGNE

Lt Dayton W.Cafferty       NAV NOC 

Lt Lawrence V.Ogletree   BOM CPT 29 DEC 44 FRANKFURT

Sgt James G.Springer       TTE CPT 17 OCT 44 COLOGNE

Sgt George O.Knauff        ROG CPT 17 OCT 44 COLOGNE

Sgt Eugene F.Garzini         BTG CPT 24 FEB 45 BREMEN

Sgt Donald D.Wilcox          WG CPT 17 OCT 44 COLOGNE

Sgt Charles F.Duhig           WG CPT 19 OCT 44 LUDWIGSHAVEN

Sgt Lawrence E.Nunnery    TG CPT 17 OCT 44 COLOGNE



418th Sqdn. this crew, as above, joined the 100th Group on 25 May 44

(The day following the 100th's disastrous 24 May 44 Berlin Mission)

Crew flew a/c "Wittle Wonnie" (Painted on Garzini A-2 jacket)



A letter (S/4/82) from George Fory states, in part,as follows  "When I was

made Lead Pilot, I was given a new Navigator, Bombardier and a Mickey Operator.

Lt. Robert Maby-NAV 

Lt. Ralph Searle-BOM 

Lt. Mike Kretow, Radar/Opp.

Fory had a career in the Air Force and retired in 1963.  He then went into Commercial

flying Sportsmen charters & Canada bush flying.  In 1982 George was

recuperating from Cancer and not in good health.  See also p.84 of SOC.

Ralph Searle also had a Career in the USAF and retired a Lt Colonel. 



In 1993 George Fory attended a Mini Reunion on Plano, Texas and appeared to be in good shape.  Fory led 23 missions during his tour, finishing with the raid on Cologne in Oct 44.  He is perhaps best remembered for his lead on 11 Sept 44 when the 100th sustained the full force of the Luftwaffe, but continued on to the every dangerous oil target of Ruhland, Ger. He is highly respected by those who flew with him as well as all other 100th BG veterans...pw



Missions of Lt George Fory in 1944 (from son Jon Fory 2004…mpf)



June 2, 1944      Boulogne Shore defenses

June 4, 1944      Boulogne Shore defenses

June 5, 1944      Abbeville ailway bridge; and Boulogne, beach

June 6, 1944      D-DAY Ouistreham, beach

June 6, 1944      D-DAY Falaise, town

June 14, 1944    Le Culot Air Field

June 21, 1944    Basdorf (Berlin), Aero engines

July 12, 1944     Munich Industrial area

July 13, 1944     Munich Jet engines

July 21, 1944     Regensburg AC; and Ludwigshafen, town

July 24, 1944     St. Lo Ground support

July 25, 1944     St. Lo Ground support

July 28, 1944     Merseburg  Oil refinery

July 29, 1944     Merseburg Oil refinery; and Hildesheim, town

Aug 26, 1944     Brest Ground defenses

Aug 27, 1944     Hussum  Recall

Aug 30, 1944     Bremen Tank factory

Sep 1, 1944       Mainz Recall

Sep  8, 1944      Mainz Ordnance depot

Sep  9, 1944      Dusseldorf Arms factory; and Riezholz, town

Sep11, 1944      Ruhland Oil refinery * see Crew listing below for this mission

Sep 25, 1944     Ludwigshafen MY

Sep 28, 1944     Merseburg Oil refinery

Sep 30, 1944     Bielefeld Ordnance dump

Oct   3, 1944     Illesheim AF; Ludwigsburg, town; and Nurnburg, tank factory

Oct   5, 1944     Handorf AF (recall)

Oct   6, 1944     Berlin AC components

Oct   7, 1944     Bohlen Oil refinery; and Hamlin, MY

Oct 15, 1944     Cologne MY

Oct 17, 1944     Cologne MY



 *LEAD CREW ON SEPTEMBER 11, 1944 MISSION TO RUHLAND

B-17G 42-97961 PFF 95th Bomb Group, 336th Sq   ET-K

A/C name: None            

100TH BG "A GROUP"  Lead   Lead # 1

Maj. M F Youngs        COMMAND PILOT     350th CO

Lt. G P Fory                PILOT                        418th Lead Pilot

Lt. J A Ruffner            CP/Formation Officer  418th

Lt. R L Maby               NAVIGATOR               418th

T/Sgt. G O Knauff       ROG                           418th

Lt. M J Kretow            MICKEY OPERATOR  418th

S/Sgt. D D Wilcox        WG                             418th

S/Sgt. L E Nunnery      TG/WG                       418th

Lt. C E Gunter             LEAD NAVIGATOR    Lead Nav 350th

Lt.  Ralph R. Searle     BOMARDIER               418th

T/Sgt J. G. Springer     TTE                            418th