Personnel

CREW



2nd Lt Carl G. Gustafson,Jr.             P         KIA    29/7/44 Merseburg (Killed by Civilians, see story below)

 F/O Michael J. Nemerowski,Jr.        CP        KIA    29/7/44 Merseburg (Killed by Civilians, see story below)

2nd Lt Evin L. Perdue                 NAV       CPT    10/1/45 Cologne    (with Lt Ed Talmage Crew)

 F/O Victor I. Kinkade             BOM/NAV    KIA     29/7/44 Merseburg (Killed by Civilians, see story below)

 S/Sgt Anthony G. Trebnik          ROG       KIA      29/7/44 Merseburg (Killed by Civilians, see story below)

 S/Sgt Robert E. Fife                  TTE       POW    29/7/44 Merseburg  (LWA by flak) 8/6/44 Tours, France

Sgt Jack C. Kromer                     BTG       KIA       29/7/44 Merseburg (Killed by Civilians, see story below)                                    

Sgt Frank A. Caldwell                 RWG       KIA      29/7/44  Merseburg  (Killed by Civilians, see story below)                                    

Sgt Sigmund A.Kazmierski           LWG       CPT     (TG with Lt G.S. Allen when Lt Gustafson Crew redueced to Nine men)

Sgt William R. Ewing                    TG       KIA       29/7/44 Merseburg  (Killed by Civilians, see story below)



MACR#78l6   Micro fiche#2863                A/C#42 107211 XR-N "The Liberty Belle"



349th Sqd.  Crew,as above,joined the 100th Group on 25/5/44.

Crew on 22nd Misslon. On 29/7/44, F/O Kinkade was flying as Navigator and S/Sgt Marccena F. Dottoviano listed as bombardier/togg and was a KIA. He was not a regular crew member. Records indicate S/Sgt Dottoviano was an original ground crew member having gone overseas with the Original 100th group. Sgt Kazmierski was taken off the crew after July 17th to reduce to 9 men.  He was assigned to the Crew of Lt G. S. Allen as Tail Gunner.  He also flew as RWG on misson with Lt Trapnel & Capt Gosrski on 27 Sept 44 to Mainz.



2nd Lt Perdue flew his last mission as Navigator with Lt Gustafson Crew on June 8, 1944 mission to Tours.  Although I can find no record yet, my feeling is that Lt Perdue was injured on 8 Jun 44 mission.  Records indicate he returned to combat duty on 24 Aug 44 mission to Ruhland with Lt Frazier's Crew as a fill in Navigator.  A Lt King filled in for two missions as Navigator on Gustafson Crew  before Lt Victor Kinkade transitioned from Bombardier to Navigator on the Gustafson Crew.  



June 8, 1944



Tours France.  Never got to target.  We tried to form in Southern England, and boxed our way over the English Channel.  When the mission was aborted, we came down to get out of the fog and caught flak from the Germans at Calia.  We limped in to the 390th BQ, and I went to the hospital with flak in my leg.  Perdue was NOT on this mission to the best of my knowledge…...Robert Fife



The Carl C.Gustafson  crew's aircraft was named the "Liberty Belle" with b.g.cannon as the crew chief the nose art was the liberty belle with a shapely blond standing by it .  In reply to your question, yes this was the aircraft that went down.  My flight records show we flew 2 missions on D-Day.  I was hit by flak on 6/8/44 and did not rejoin the crew until July 17th.  I do not have any crew pictures.  My POW experience is well documented on the web site www.stalagluft4.org.….T/Sgt Robert Fife   hypopa23@kitusa.com  2/1/2006





Exerpts From "The News-Star, Sunday May 27, 2001 on Lt Carl Gustafson Jr. 

      From research by Nita Nell Watson, cousin of Lt Gustafson)

                      by Nancy Bergeron



"Gustafson would get his military wings and be commissioned as a B-17 "Flying Fortress"

bomber pilot with the 349th BS, 100th Bomb Group.  On May 23, 1944, he shipped overseas.

Seven days later, he and fellow B-17 pilot Charles Harding would fly their first mission over 

Germany.  He was terrific, a real leader, said Harding.  "He was a typical good old 

Louisiana boy".



"Seven weeks after flying a successful D-Day Mission, Gustafson and his 8 man crew took enemy fire

over the oil refinery town of MERSEBURG, it was July 29, 1944.  The squadron was broken up by flak, Watson said

recounting what Gustafsons parents never knew.  The formation fell apart and the bombers were stragglers (fighters 

came in and finished off the whole low squadron).  The Crew bailed out."



"As the plane was coming in there was a woman who was shot in the village and the mayor thought somebody

from the plane shot her" Watson said.  "They treated Carl Jr and the crew unmercifully".  Two of the captured 

flyers were shot in the head trying to escape, one survived and was taken prisoner (S/Sgt Robert Fife) elsewhere.

Another apparently died as well.  The remaining five, including Gustafson, were tortured, then shot.  The Mayor 

himself evidently killed Gustafson, the only officer among the Americans."



"Partial transcripts from the mayors (called a district leader) subsequent war crimes trial indicates Lt Gustafson

was probably clubbed in the head before being shot with a pistol.  The bodies were buried only to be exhumed

and cremated three days later on the Mayor's orders." (Trying to hide his crimes mpf-2001)



MISSION LIST OF LT GUSTAFSON (missing 1 mission)



 Date      Aircraft Nbr Target                           Notes

5/30/1944 107211 TROYES

5/31/1944 107211 OSNABRUCK

6/2/1944   107211 BOULOGNE

6/4/1944   107211 BOULOGNE

6/5/1944   107211 BOULOGNE

6/6/1944   107211 OUISTREHAM                       D-Day

6/6/1944   107211 FALAISE                              D-Day

6/8/1944   31347   TOURS (BRIDGES)                TTE Sgt Robert Fife LWA by Flak

6/12/1944 107211 ROSIERES & DUNKIRK            TTE-T/Sgt M.W. Holditch/T/Sgt Dottoviano becomes Togg on Crew

6/15/1944 107211 MITBURG & WILSTER             TTE-T/Sgt M.W. Holditch

6/19/1944 107211 CORME ECLUSE, AF                T/Sgt L.M. Pratt takes over as TTE until July 17, 1944, Lt Kinkade becomes Nav. 

6/20/1944 107211 FALLERSLEBEN

6/21/1944 107211 RUHLAND                             1st Russian Shuttle Mission      

6/26/1944 107211 DROHOBYCZ, Poland              1st Russian Shuttle Mission      

7/3/1944   107211 ARAD (RUMANIA)                  1st Russian Shuttle Mission      

7/5/1944   107211 BEZIER (FROM ITALY)            1st Russian Shuttle Mission      

7/11/1944 107211 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)

7/12/1944 107211 MUNICH (INDUSTRIAL AREA)

7/17/1944 107211 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY   T/Sgt Robert Fife returns as TTE

7/28/1944 107211 MERSEBURG                          S/Sgt Kazmierski taken off Crew to reduced to 9 men

7/29/1944 107211 MERSEBURG                          Shot Down



Crew on 29 JUL 44 MERSEBURG MISSION:   MACR#78l6~Micro fiche#2863       A/C#42 107211 XR-N "The Liberty Belle"



 GUSTAFSON C.C. LT         P      7/29/1944 MERSEBURG 107211  KIA  BY CIVILIANS 

 NEMEROWSKI N.J. F/O      CP    7/29/1944 MERSEBURG 107211  KIA  BY CIVILIANS

 KINKADE V.I. LT               NAV 7/29/1944 MERSEBURG 107211  KIA  BY CIVILIANS

 DOTTOVIANO M.F. T/SGT TOG 7/29/1944 MERSEBURG 107211  KIA  BY CIVILIANS

 TREBNIK A.C. T/SGT         ROG 7/29/1944 MERSEBURG 107211  KIA  BY CIVILIANS

 FIFE R.E. T/SGT               TTE  7/29/1944 MERSEBURG 107211  POW

 KROMER J.C. T/SGT          BTG  7/29/1944 MERSEBURG 107211  KIA  BY CIVILIANS

 CALDWELL F.A. S/SGT      RWG 7/29/1944 MERSEBURG 107211  KIA  BY CIVILIANS

 EWING W.R. S/SGT          TG    7/29/1944 MERSEBURG 107211  KIA  BY CIVILIANS





S/Sgt Dottoviano  also flew some missions with Lt McKeague Crew at TG and Waist Gunner. He was original ground cadre of the 100th BG and became a gunner/tog



MISSIONS OF T/SGT DOTTOVIANO



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

3/23/1944 07 135 DOTTOVIANO M.F. S/SGT TG 37783 BRUNSWICK/ WAGGUM          W/ LT J.C. MOORE CREW

3/31/1944 07 139 DOTTOVIANO M.F. S/SGT TG 83 LUDWIGSHAFEN /RECALLED         W/LT J.C. MOORE CREW

5/12/1944 05 116 DOTTOVIANO M.E. S/SGT TG 107230 BRUX, OIL REFINERY            W/LT L. TOWNSEND CREW

5/25/1944 38 122 DOTTOVIANO M.F. S/SGT LWG 31347 BRUSSELS                          W/LT MCKEAGUE CREW

5/28/1944 38 124 DOTTOVIANO M.F. S/SGT LWG 31347 MAGDEBURG                       W/LT MCKEAGUE CREW

5/29/1944 38 125 DOTTOVIANO M.F. S/SGT LWG 31347 LEIPZIG                              W/LT MCKEAGUE CREW

5/30/1944 38 126 DOTTOVIANO M.F. S/SGT LWG 102977 TROYES                           W/LT MCKEAGUE CREW

6/2/1944 38 128 DOTTOVIANO M.F. S/SGT LWG 103937 BOULOGNE                         W/LT MCKEAGUE CREW

6/5/1944 38 131 DOTTOVIANO M.F. S/SGT LWG 102621 BOULOGNE(CHG)                W/LT MCKEAGUE CREW

6/6/1944 38 -132 DOTTOVIANO M.F. S/SGT TG 31347 FALAISE/OUISTREHAM            W/LT MCKEAGUE CREW

6/7/1944 38 -135 DOTTOVIANO M.F. S/SGT TG 107211 NANTES (BRIDGES)               W/LT MCKEAGUE CREW

6/12/1944 07 -138 DOTTOVIANO M.F. T/SGT TOG 107211 ROSIERES & DUNKIRK        W/LT GUSTAFSON CREW

6/15/1944 07 -140 DOTTOVIANO M.F. T/SGT TOG 107211 MITBURG & WILSTER        W/LT GUSTAFSON CREW

6/19/1944 07 -142 DOTTOVIANO M.F. T/SGT TOG 107211 CORME ECLUSE, AF           W/LT GUSTAFSON CREW

6/20/1944 07 -143 DOTTOVIANO M.F. T/SGT TOG 107211 FALLERSLEBEN                  W/LT GUSTAFSON CREW

6/21/1944 07       DOTTOVIANO M.F. T/SGT TOG 107211 RUHLAND (RUSSIAN SHUTTLE)   W/LT GUSTAFSON CREW  

6/26/1944 07 149 DOTTOVIANO M.F. T/SGT TOG 107211 DROHOBYCZ                      W/LT GUSTAFSON CREW

7/3/1944 07 151 DOTTOVIANO M.F. T/SGT TOG 107211 ARAD (RUMANIA)                 W/LT GUSTAFSON CREW

7/5/1944 07 153 DOTTOVIANO M.F. T/SGT TOG 107211 BEZIER (FROM ITALY)           W/LT GUSTAFSON CREW

7/11/1944 07 157 DOTTOVIANO M.F. T/SGT TOG 107211 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)     W/LT GUSTAFSON CREW

7/12/1944 07 158 DOTTOVIANO M.F. T/SGT TOG 107211 MUNICH (IND. AREA)            W/LT GUSTAFSON CREW

7/17/1944 07 161 DOTTOVIANO M.F. T/SGT TOG 107211 AUXERRE & MONTGOURNOY  W/LT GUSTAFSON CREW

7/28/1944 07 168 DOTTOVIANO M.F. T/SGT TOG 107211 MERSEBURG                         W/LT GUSTAFSON CREW

7/29/1944 07 169 DOTTOVIANO M.F. T/SGT TOG 107211 MERSEBURG                         W/LT GUSTAFSON CREW

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

MISSIONS OF LT PERDUE WITH  LT GUSTAFSON CREW:



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

5/30/1944 07 126 GUSTAFSON C.G. LT P 107211 TROYES

5/30/1944 07 126 NEMEROWSKI N.J. F/O CP 107211 TROYES

5/30/1944 07 126 KINKADE V.I. F/O BOM 107211 TROYES

5/30/1944 07 126 PERDUE E.L. LT NAV 107211 TROYES

5/30/1944 07 126 TREBNIK A.C. T/SGT ROG 107211 TROYES

5/30/1944 07 126 FIFE R.E. T/SGT TTE 107211 TROYES

5/30/1944 07 126 EWING W.R. S/SGT TG 107211 TROYES

5/30/1944 07 126 KROMER J.C. T/SGT BTG 107211 TROYES

5/30/1944 07 126 CALDWELL F.A. S/SGT RWG 107211 TROYES



5/31/1944 07 127 KROMER J.C. T/SGT BTG 107211 OSNABRUCK

5/31/1944 07 127 FIFE R.E. T/SGT TTE 107211 OSNABRUCK

5/31/1944 07 127 CALDWELL F.A. S/SGT RWG 107211 OSNABRUCK

5/31/1944 07 127 PERDUE E.L. LT NAV 107211 OSNABRUCK

5/31/1944 07 127 KINKADE V.I. F/O BOM 107211 OSNABRUCK

5/31/1944 07 127 NEMEROWSKI N.J. F/O CP 107211 OSNABRUCK

5/31/1944 07 127 GUSTAFSON C.G. LT P 107211 OSNABRUCK

5/31/1944 07 127 EWING W.R. S/SGT TG 107211 OSNABRUCK

5/31/1944 07 127 TREBNIK A.C. T/SGT ROG 107211 OSNABRUCK



6/2/1944 07 128 TREBNIK A.C. T/SGT ROG 107211 BOULOGNE

6/2/1944 07 128 KAZMIERSKI S.A. S/SGT LWG 107211 BOULOGNE

6/2/1944 07 128 CALDWELL F.A. S/SGT RWG 107211 BOULOGNE

6/2/1944 07 128 FIFE R.E. T/SGT TTE 107211 BOULOGNE

6/2/1944 07 128 EWING W.R. S/SGT TG 107211 BOULOGNE

6/2/1944 07 128 KINKADE V.I. F/O BOM 107211 BOULOGNE

6/2/1944 07 128 PERDUE E.L. LT NAV 107211 BOULOGNE

6/2/1944 07 128 NEMEROWSKI M.J. LT CP 107211 BOULOGNE

6/2/1944 07 128 GUSTAFSON C.G. LT P 107211 BOULOGNE

6/2/1944 07 128 KROMER J.C. S/SGT BTG 107211 BOULOGNE



6/4/1944 07 130 KROMER J.C. S/SGT BTG 107211 BOULOGNE

6/4/1944 07 130 EWING W.R. S/SGT TG 107211 BOULOGNE

6/4/1944 07 130 KAZMIERSKI S.A. S/SGT LWG 107211 BOULOGNE

6/4/1944 07 130 CALDWELL F.A. S/SGT RWG 107211 BOULOGNE

6/4/1944 07 130 FIFE R.E. T/SGT TTE 107211 BOULOGNE

6/4/1944 07 130 TREBNIK A.C. T/SGT ROG 107211 BOULOGNE

6/4/1944 07 130 KINKADE V.I. F/O BOM 107211 BOULOGNE

6/4/1944 07 130 PERDUE E.L. LT NAV 107211 BOULOGNE

6/4/1944 07 130 GUSTAFSON C.G. LT P 107211 BOULOGNE

6/4/1944 07 130 NEMEROWSKI M.J. LT CP 107211 BOULOGNE



6/5/1944 07 131 KROMER J.C. T/SGT BTG 107211 BOULOGNE(CHG)

6/5/1944 07 131 PERDUE E.L. LT NAV 107211 BOULOGNE(CHG)

6/5/1944 07 131 TREBNIK A.C. T/SGT ROG 107211 BOULOGNE(CHG)

6/5/1944 07 131 NEMEROWSKI M.J. LT CP 107211 BOULOGNE(CHG)

6/5/1944 07 131 GUSTAFSON C.G. LT P 107211 BOULOGNE(CHG)

6/5/1944 07 131 FIFE R.E. T/SGT TTE 107211 BOULOGNE(CHG)

6/5/1944 07 131 KAZMIERSKI S.A. S/SGT LWG 107211 BOULOGNE(CHG)

6/5/1944 07 131 EWING W.R. S/SGT TG 107211 BOULOGNE(CHG)

6/5/1944 07 131 CRAVEN J.L T/SGT TOG 107211 BOULOGNE(CHG)

6/5/1944 07 131 CALDWELL F.A. S/SGT RWG 107211 BOULOGNE(CHG)



6/6/1944 07 -132 NEMEROWSKI M.J. LT CP 107211 OUISTREHAM

6/6/1944 07 -132 PERDUE E.L. LT NAV 107211 OUISTREHAM

6/6/1944 07 -132 KROMER J.C. T/SGT BTG 107211 OUISTREHAM

6/6/1944 07 -132 KAZMIERSKI S.A. S/SGT LWG 107211 OUISTREHAM

6/6/1944 07 -132 GUSTAFSON C.G. LT P 107211 OUISTREHAM

6/6/1944 07 -132 FIFE R.E. T/SGT TTE 107211 OUISTREHAM

6/6/1944 07 -132 EWING W.R. S/SGT TG 107211 OUISTREHAM

6/6/1944 07 -132 CRAVEN J.L T/SGT TOG 107211 OUISTREHAM

6/6/1944 07 -132 CALDWELL F.A. S/SGT RWG 107211 OUISTREHAM

6/6/1944 07 -132 TREBNIK A.C. T/SGT ROG 107211 OUISTREHAM



6/6/1944 07 -132 NEMEROWSKI M.J. LT CP 107211 FALAISE

6/6/1944 07 -132 PERDUE E.L. LT NAV 107211 FALAISE

6/6/1944 07 -132 KROMER J.C. T/SGT BTG 107211 FALAISE

6/6/1944 07 -132 KAZMIERSKI S.A. S/SGT LWG 107211 FALAISE

6/6/1944 07 -132 GUSTAFSON C.G. LT P 107211 FALAISE

6/6/1944 07 -132 FIFE R.E. T/SGT TTE 107211 FALAISE

6/6/1944 07 -132 EWING W.R. S/SGT TG 107211 FALAISE

6/6/1944 07 -132 CRAVEN J.L T/SGT TOG 107211 FALAISE

6/6/1944 07 -132 CALDWELL F.A. S/SGT RWG 107211 FALAISE

6/6/1944 07 -132 TREBNIK A.C. T/SGT ROG 107211 FALAISE



6/8/1944 07 -136 FIFE R.E. T/SGT TTE 31347 TOURS (BRIDGES)

6/8/1944 07 -136 TREBNIK A.C. T/SGT ROG 31347 TOURS (BRIDGES)

6/8/1944 07 -136 PERDUE E.L. LT NAV 31347 TOURS (BRIDGES)

6/8/1944 07 -136 NEMEROWSKI M.J. LT CP 31347 TOURS (BRIDGES)

6/8/1944 07 -136 KROMER J.C. T/SGT BTG 31347 TOURS (BRIDGES)

6/8/1944 07 -136 GUSTAFSON C.G. LT P 31347 TOURS (BRIDGES)

6/8/1944 07 -136 EWING W.R. S/SGT TG 31347 TOURS (BRIDGES)

6/8/1944 07 -136 CRAVEN J.L T/SGT TOG 31347 TOURS (BRIDGES)

6/8/1944 07 -136 CALDWELL F.A. S/SGT RWG 31347 TOURS (BRIDGES)

6/8/1944 07 -136 KAZMIERSKI S.A. S/SGT LWG 31347 TOURS (BRIDGES)





CREW



2ND LT EDWARD O.TALMAGE Jr.                       P CPT 24 FEB 45 BREMEN

2ND LT WALTER E. KARUTZ                        CP CPT 24 FEB 45 BREMEN

2ND LT MORRIS KATZ                              NAV NOC LEFT CREW AFTER 3 MISSONS

2ND LT EVIN L. PERDUE                             NAV CPT 10 JAN 45 COLONGE (FROM THE CREW OF 2nd Lt Carl G.Gustafson,Jr.)

2ND LT GEORGE PEEK                               BOM NOC LEFT CREW AFTER 3 MISSIONS

2ND LT RALPH SMITH                              BOM NOC  (FROM  2ND LT WILFORD B. MURRAY'S CREW  (BECAME GROUP BOMBARDIER)

T/SGT NORMAND G. NADEAU                   ROG CPT 24 FEB 45 BREMEN

T/SGT EUGENE J. BRADY                         TTE CPT 24 FEB 45 BREMEN

S/SGT LOUIS KEREKES                             WG CPT DATE & MISSION UNK

S/SGT CONSTANTINE M. MACIOLEK             WG CPT 24 FEB 45  BREMEN

S/SGT CYRUS J. "CASSIE" CACIOPPO             BTG CPT 14 MAR 45 SEELZE & HANOVER

T/SGT LOUIS ZUPAN                               TG CPT 10 JAN 45 COLOGNE  TAPS: 13 AUG 1990



349TH SQDN.. CREW JOINED THE 100TH ON 15 SEP 1944. 

THIS CREW WAS ORIGINALY ASSIGNED TO THE 95TH BG BUT THE DAY AFTER THEY GOT TO HORHAM, THEY WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE 100TH BG BECAUSE OF THE LOSSES ON SEPTEMBER 11, 1944 RUHLAND MISSION.   



LT E.L. PERDUE JOINED THE ABOVE CREW AS A NAVIGATOR APPROX SEPT 1944; FLEW ABOUT TWENTY MISSIONS WITH THE TALMAGE CREW...

LT RALPH SMITH JOINED THE CREW WHEN THEY BECAME A DEPUTY LEAD . AFTER WE COMPLETED OUR TOUR, LT SMITH WENT ON TO BECOME GROUP BOMBARDIER.    BOTH PERDUE AND SMITH HAD BEEN INJURED AND WERE TOO FAR BEHIND IN MISSIONS TO CATCH UP TO THEIR ORIGINAL CREWS.



PLANES FLOWN:

 A/C 43-38215 XR-P "GRUMBLIN GREMLIN"  NAMED BY CREW (WENT DOWN WITH LT BILLY BLACKMAN CREW ON DEC 31, 1944)

 A/C 43-38602 XR-P "GRUMBLIN GREMLIN II"   (RUNAWAY PROP, LANDED IN FRANCE JAN 8, 45)

 A/C 43-38681 XR-V "GRUMBLIN GREMLIN III"  (ASSIGNED CREW ON JAN 10, 45 AND COMPLETED TOUR IN IT)



"THE WORST MISSION WAS JAN 28, 1945 TO DUISBURG.  WE TOOK OFF IN A SNOWSTORM BUT DID MANAGE TO ASSEMBLE ON TOP.  THE FLAK WAS HEAVY AND ACCURATE OVER THE TARGET AND WE RECEIVED HEAVY BATTLE DAMAGE.  WE FEATHERED #3 OVER THE TARGET AND #2 WAS ONLY ABLE TO PUT OUT PARTIAL POWER FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLIGHT.  THEN WE HAD TO DEAL WITH THE SNOWSTORM WHICH WAS STILL THERE BUT WE WERE ABLE TO SNEAK INT THORPE ABBOTTS"   

     LT WALTER KARUTZ



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

TAPS

Evin L. Perdue, 80

Born 6 October,1923

Died 14 January,2004 in Memphis,TN



Mr. Perdue arrived at Thorpe Abbotts on 25 July,1944,349thBS,NAV with the 2nd Lt. Gustafson crew. Was transferred to the 2nd Lt. Edward O. Talmadge crew and completed his combat tour on 10 January,1945 COLOGNE. Mr. Perdue flew approx 20 missions with the crew. His original crew (Gustafson) was shot down on the 29 July,1944 MERSEBURG mission and 8 KIA,1POW,FIFE.