S/Sgt
Arthur R. TIRRELL
Assigned to the 100th Bombardment Group
Location:
Unit: 418th Bombardment Squadron
Rank:
Position: Tail Gunner
Additional 100th Service Notes
Status: CPT
Comments: 21 JUN 44 BASDORF
Comments and Notes
Memo 1:
CREW
Capt Frank G. Lauro P CPT 8/4/44 QUACKENBRUCK TAPS: 1978
Lt Emanuel E. "Joe" Greasamar CP CPT 8/4/44 QUACKENBRUCK
Lt Emery Horvath NAV CPT 8/4/44 QUACKENBRUCK
Lt Walter Green B0M CPT 27/4/44 THIONVILLE, LeCULOT
T/Sgt Nelson King ROG RFS 29/11/43 BREMEN (FROSTBITE) (Awarded Silver Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal)
S/Sgt Harry H.Greenfield ROG CPT 8/7/44 CLAMECY-JOLGYN (REPLACED T/SGT KING)
T/Sgt Dewey Thompson TTE CPT 8/4/44 QUACKENBRUCK
S/Sgt Murray Schrier BTG CPT 8/4/44 QUACKENBRUCK
S/Sgt William R.Heathman RWG CPT 8/4/44 QUACKENBRUCK
S/Sgg Gerald A.Will LWG CPT 8/4/44 QUACKENBRUCK
S/Sgt Arthur R.Tirrell TG CPT 21/6//44 BASDORF (FINISHED AS TG WITH CAPT CHUCK HARRIS CREW)
418th Sqdn. The Crew joined the 100th BG in Sept. 1943
The regular radio operator on this crew,Nelson King, suffered severe frostbite which led to amputations. See S.O.C. p.30 &
CONTRAILS p71. Also see SPLASHER SIX (Winter 1978) for obit. Of Frank Lauro.
The crew named their A/C NELSON KING in honor of their Radio operator T/Sgt Nelson King who on 29 Nov 43 removed his gloves while in flight to assist the BTG with an iced up oxygen mask. A few seconds later, King's walk around oxygen bottle froze up and in an effort to save S/Sgt Schrier, his hands were neglected. He lost several tips of several fingers to frostbite.
MISSIONS OF CAPT. FRANK LAURO FROM LT GREASAMAR LETTERS HOME AND S/SGT MURRAY SCHRIER
Date Last Name Initial Rank Position Aircraft Nbr and Name Target
1. 2/10/1943 LAURO F.C. CAPT P 230758 ROSIE'S RIVETERS EMDEN
2. 4/10/1943 LAURO F.C. CAPT P 23393 JUST-A-SNAPPIN HANAU
3. 14/10/1943 LAURO F.C. CAPT P SCHWEINFURT (BLACK THURSDAY)
4. 20/10/1943 LAURO F.C. CAPT P DUREN, RAILWAY & FACTORIES
5. 5/11/1943 LAURO F.C. CAPT P GELSENKIRCHEN
LT GREASAMAR HAD 5 MISSIONS BY NOV 8TH, 1943
6. 13/11/1943 LAURO F.C. CAPT P BREMEN
7. 19/11/1943 LAURO F.C. CAPT P GELSENKIRCHEN
LT GREASAMAR HAD 7 MISSIONS BY NOV 22ND 1943
8. 26/11/1943 LAURO F.C. CAPT P PARIS
9. 29/11/1943 LAURO F.C. CAPT P 231306 NELSON KING BREMEN (T/SGT KING LAST MISSION, FROSTBITE)
10. 30/11/1943 LAURO F.C. CAPT P SOLINGEN, TOWN
11. 13/12/1943 LAURO F.C. CAPT P KIEL
12. 30/12/1943 LAURO F.C. CAPT P LUDWIGSHAVEN
13. 24/1/1944 LAURO F.C. CAPT P FRANKFURT
14. 29/1/1944 LAURO F.C. CAPT P FRANKFURT
15. 3/2/1944 LAURO F.C. CAPT P WILHELMSHAVEN
16. 10/2/1944 LAURO F.C. CAPT P BRUNSWICK
17. 13/2/1944 LAURO F.C. CAPT P LIVOSSART & BOIS REMPRE (NOBALL)
18 28/2/1944 LAURO F.C. CAPT P MARQUENVILLE (NO BALL) TARGET OBSRD
19 29/2/1944 LAURO F.C. CAPT P BRUNSWICK
20. 3/3/1944 LAURO F.C. CAPT P 231306 NELSON KING BERLIN
21. 6/3/1944 LAURO F.C. CAPT P 231306 NELSON KING BERLIN
13/3/1944 LAURO F.C. CAPT P 231504 ROSIE'S RIVETERS II NOBALL (SCRUBBED)
22. 18/3/1944 LAURO F.C. CAPT P 231404 NO NAME MUNICH
23. 19/3/1944 LAURO F.C. CAPT P 231404 NO NAME MARQUIS, MIMMOYEQUES (NO BALL)
24. 22/3/1944 LAURO F.C. CAPT P 231404 NO NAME ORANIENBURG (BERLIN)
25 1/4/1944 LAURO F.C. CAPT P 231404 NO NAME LUDWIGSHAVEN
7/4/1944 LAURO F.C. CAPT P 231404 NO NAME QUACKENBRUCK (SCRB)
26. 8/4/1944 LAURO F.C. CAPT P 231404 NO NAME QUACKENBRUCK
mission list of S/Sgt Murray Schrier BTG
1 Emden Germany
2 Hanau Germany
3 Schwienfurt [Schweinfurt] Germany
4 Durin [Duren] Germany
5 Gelsenkirchen Germany
6 Bremen Germany
7 Gelsenkirchen Germany
8 Paris France
9 Bremen Germany
10 Solingen Germany
11 Kiel Germany
12 Ludwigshaven [Ludwigshafen] Germany
13 Frankfurt Germany
14 Frankfurt Germany
15 Wilhelmshaven Germany
16 Brunswick Germany
17 No Ball France
18 No Ball France
19 Brunswick Germany
20 Berlin Germany
21 Berlin Germany
22 Munich Germany
23 No Ball France
24 Berlin Germany
25 Ludwigshaven [Ludwigshafen] Germany
26 Osnabruck Germany
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T/SGT GREENFIELD MISSIONS AFTER CAPT LAURO CREW FINISHED UP:
Date Last Name Initial Rank Position Aircraft Nbr Target
5/31/1944 GREENFIELD H.H. T/SGT ROG 97673 OSNABRUCK Flew with Lt Stanley Major Crew
6/2/1944 GREENFIELD H.H. T/SGT ROG 30152 BOULOGNE Flew with Lt Stanley Major Crew
7/7/1944 GREENFIELD H.H. T/SGT ROG 37636 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG Flew with Lt Chuck Harris Crew
7/8/1944 GREENFIELD H.H. T/SGT ROG 37636 CLAMECY-JOLGYN Flew with Lt Chuck Harris Crew
S/SGT TIRRELL MISSIONS AFTER CAPT LAURO CREW FINISHED UP: FLEW ALL MISSIONS WITH CAPT. CHARLES "CHUCK"HARRIS CREW
Date Last Name Initial Rank Position Aircraft Nbr Target
3/23/1944 TIRRELL A.R. S/SGT LWG 107011 BRUNSWICK/ WAGGUM
3/28/1944 TIRRELL A.R. S/SGT LWG 107011 CHATEAUDUN/ EVREUX
4/8/1944 TIRRELL A.R. S/SGT TG 31404 QUACKENBRUCK (CAPT LAURO CREW LAST MISSION)
4/24/1944 TIRRELL A.R. S/SGT TG FRIEDRICHSHAFEN,
4/26/1944 TIRRELL A.R. S/SGT TG BRUNSWICK
4/27/1944 TIRRELL A.R. S/SGT TG FLOTTEMANVILLE (1ST MISSION OF THE DAY)
4/27/1944 TIRRELL A.R. S/SGT TG THIONVILLE (2ND MISSION OF THE DAY)
4/29/1944 TIRRELL A.R. S/SGT TG BERLIN
5/1/1944 TIRRELL A.R. S/SGT TG 106986 SAARGUEMINES/WIZERNES
5/8/1944 TIRRELL A.R. S/SGT TG 106986 BERLIN & LAGLACERIE
5/28/1944 TIRRELL A.R. S/SGT TG 106986 MAGDEBURG
6/2/1944 TIRRELL A.R. S/SGT TG 106986 BOULOGNE
6/6/1944 TIRRELL A.R. T/SGT TG 106986 FALAISE/OUISTREHAM
6/7/1944 TIRRELL A.R. T/SGT TG 106986 NANTES (BRIDGES)
6/20/1944 TIRRELL A.R. T/SGT TG 106986 FALLERSLEBEN
6/21/1944 TIRRELL A.R. T/SGT TG 106986 BASDORF
Nelson R. King, 17064928, Technical Sergeant, Army Air Forces, United States Army. For Gallantry in action while serving as Radio Operator and Gunner of a B-17 airplane on a bombing mission over Germany 29 November 1943. While manning his gun, fighting off fierce attacks by enemy planes, Sergeant King noticed that the ball turret gunner had collapsed from lack of oxygen. As soon as there was a lull in the fighting, he rushed to the turret, removed his stricken comrade to the radio compartment and placed his own oxygen mask on his face. When the gunner regained consciousness he was hysterical and immediately tore off the oxygen mask and began to hit Sergeant King. Still without a supply of oxygen for himself, Sergeant King tied the mask on his hysterical comrade and held him down until he had become quiet. A short time later the copilot found Sergeant King unconscious from lack of oxygen and his hands badly frost-bitten as he had removed his gloves in order to tie the mask on the ball turret gunner. The gallantry, complete disregard for his own safety and devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant King undoubtedly saved the life of his comrade. His actions on this occasion reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States. Entered Military service from Kansas.
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To whom it may concern,
I would be very interested in obtaining a print of the picture if one is still available. I have a distant cousin….Nelson King for whom the B-17 was named after. I have information on him and the mission he was on that he had his hands frostbite from a mission over Breman Germany. Nelson was a very remarkable person and was in Life magazine of the accourance. I also would be interested in any other information that might be about the squadron TSgt Nelson King was in….Thankyou
Phillip Bigham bigham@gci.net
Hello Michael
Thankyou so much for the information, The issue you can find Nelson in is March 20, 1944….it is a story on frostbite and it features some of Nelson's story and photos of some of his time in the hospital. He spent a total of 22 months in the hospital before he returned home. The little bit of information I have was on their ninth bomb run over Bremen, Germany, the ball turrents mask failed. Nelson got a new one from the pilot but the man was weak from a lack of oxygen, making it impossible for Nelson to get it on him without removing his own mask and gloves. He gave the man his oxygen for the valves on the extra tank were frozen. Without oxygen Nelson became unconscious, his fellow crewmen quickly restored his oxygen supply but it was to late for his hands. At 29,000 feet in thin atmosphere the tiny blood vessels in his fingers contracted, closing off the blood supply and freezing came quickly. On the flight back to England Nelson beat his hands against the walls of the plane to bring feeling back to the numbness. Pieces of icy flesh broke awy from his fingers……Nelson died September 06, 1990…he never married, formed a church and it was found only after his death he gave regularly to Christian colleges and churches, mission, orphanges…He was at home on his pasture checking on his cattle when he got almost a mile when he lunged forward and died from a heart attack.
Thankyou for your information….if you know where I can look for pictures, stories, movies from that time and of the 100th I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks a bunch again!!!!
Phillip Bigham
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Michael:
Jerry (WILL) passed away in January 2000. He loved the 100th dearly and had visions of being the last man standing, but alas that did not come to pass. I will have to see what I can find that he left behind. I know I gave a couple of photo's to the 100th BG Restaurant in Cleveland, along with a picture we had made for Jerry. The picture was of the print "Just a Snappin" and we put a history of the "Nelson King" on it with a list of all the crew at their respective stations. A couple of years before Jerry passed he met with one of his crew and they were interviewed by the local paper. I think they spoke of some of the missions, and perhaps a Berlin raid. I remember his saying that on one mission they were one of only 2 or 3 planes to make it back with the aircraft all shot up and limping badly. I know the only crewman they lost was Nelson King to frostbite; he didn't die though. He spoke of being one of the first, if not the first crew to complete 25 missions. They began their tour in September 1943, and completed their last mission in April 1944. He spoke of Captain Lauro asking the crew to go one more mission and they completed their tour with 26. The "Nelson King" would press on for eleven more missions before being shot down over Berlin in May 1944 with 3 of the crew being KIA. I will gladly see what I can find and send it to you, especially the newspaper article. Also, I was mistaken, he was the left waist gunner.
I was quite suprised when they announced the painting about the Nelson King. I remember thinking how proud Jerry would have been of that painting, and would have gladly signed the prints.
Richard Schuck
rschuck@centurylink.net
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CREW
Lt Charles E.Harris P CPT 5/8/44 MAGDEBURG
Lt Manly W.Hall CP CPT 27/8/44 BERLIN
Lt Lloyd W.Coartney NAV CPT 5/8/44 MAGDEBURG
Lt John E.Dimel,Jr. BOM CPT 5/8/44 MAGDEBURG
T/Sgt Leighton B.Gaard ROG XFR Flew 21 Missions- 4/7/44 then transferred to Air Force communications unit in France)
T/Sgt Norman Howden,Jr TTE CPT 5/8/44 MAGDEBURG
S/Sgt Kenneth L.Nowland BTG XFR Completed 14 missions with this crew.
S/Sgt Joseph H.Blume RWG CPT 5/8/44 MAGDEBURG
WIA 22/3/44 ORANIENBURG/BERLIN (PURPLE HEART)
S/Sgt Peter R.Zyskowski LWG WIA 22/3/44 ORANIENBURG/BERLIN (PURPLE HEART)
WIA 10/4/44 RHEIMS (PURPLE HEART) recovered & then RFS
S/Sgt Joseph L.Oyler TG SWA 10/4/44 RHEIMS (PURPLE HEART ( Returned To USA after recovery)
Crew,as above, joined the 100th in March 1944.First mission on 19/3/44 418th Sqdn.
T/SGT H.H. GREENFIELD TOOK OVER AS ROG AFTER JULY 4, 1944
S/SGT R.L. SCHELLIN TOOK OVER AS BTG ON JUNE 2, 1944
S/SGT W.R.HEATHMAN FLIES AS REPLACEMENT FOR BLUME ON MARCH 23 & 31, 1944
S/SGT JIM MACK (FROM ROSENTHAL CREW) FLIES AS REPLACEMENT FOR BLUME FROM APRIL 1-10, 1944
S/SGT JOHN RYBAK TAKES OVER LWG POSITION ON APRIL 24, 1944
S/SGT ART TIRRELL TAKES OVER AS TG ON APRIL 24, 1944
See C.E.Harris correspondence in 418th file.
FOLLOWING IS MISSION LIST OF HARRIS CREW COMPILIED IN 1991 BY COL HARRIS.
HARRIS CREW
MARCH TO AUGUST 1944
# DATE TARGET COMMENT FLT TIME
1 3/19/44 NOBALL 4:00
2 3/22/44 BERLIN HIT OVER BERLIN, 88 MM
THROUGH WING. ZYSKOWSKI &
BLUME WOUNDED. OXYGEN AND
RADIO OUT. RTN ON DECK. 8:45
3. 3/23/44 BRUNSWICK CENTER OF CITY 7:30
3/31/44 LUDWIGSHAVEN (RECALLED)
4. 4/1/44 RECALL 4:45
5. 4/8/44 QUACKENBRUCK 6:15
4/9/44 POSEN (RECALLED)
6. 4/10/44 RHEIMS, FR. FIGHTERS, ZYSKOWSKI
WOUNDED FOR 2ND TIME.
RTN ALONE. 6:00
7. 4/24/44 FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GREAT VIEW OF ALPS 9:30
8. 4/26/44 BRUNSWICK 7:45
9. 4/27/44 FRANCE 5:00
10. 4/27/44 NO-BALL BIRTHDAY PRESENT TWO MISSIONS 6:30
11. 4/29/44 BERLIN 9:00
12. 5/1/44 LEAD CLASSIFIED MAJOR FULLER (1ST LEAD) 6:30
13. 5/8/44 LEAD LA GLACERIE, FR. COM PILOT UNK 4:50
14. 5/28/44 LEAD MADGEBURG MAJOR FULLER.. DIMEL (BTG)
SHOT DOWN TWO FIGHTERS.. 8:15
15. 6/2/44 LEAD FR. NO-BALL COM PILOT UNK 5:15
16. 6/6/44 LEAD D_DAY NORMANDIE CAPT GORSKI 7:30
17. 6/7/44 LEAD NANTES COM PILOT UNK 7:15
18. 6/18/44 LEAD BRUNSBUTTELKOOG CAPT GORSKI 7:30
19. 6/20/44 LEAD FALLERSLEBEN COM PILOT UNK 7:15
20. 6/21/44 LEAD BERLIN (BASDORF) COM PILOT GORSKI;
MAIN GROUP TO RUSSIA;
OUR GROUP A DIVERSION, CAPT GORSKI,
COMMAND PILOT WOUNDED
BY FLAK. COURTNEY & DIMEL EARN DFC. 9:45
21. 7/4/44 GIEN, FRANCE 6:15
22. 7/7/44 GOTTLINGEN, GER 7:14
23. 7/8/44 LEAD Le LENTE, FR. CAPT HOWARD 4:15
24. 7/14/44 PPF SOUTH FRANCE FIRST PATHFINDER MISSION,
MAQUIS SUPPLY DROP. 8:00
25. 7/19/44 PPF SCHWEINFURT LT COL BENNETT 7:00
26. 7/20/44 PFF MERSEBURG LT COL ROSENTHAL 8:45
27. 7/29/44 PFF MERSEBURG MAJOR ZELLER 8:00
28. 7/31/44 PFF MUNCIH LT COL KIDD 8:30
29. 8/5/44 PFF MAGDEBURG LT COL ROSENTHAL 7:30
THE END !!!!!!!
NOTE: CAPT KRETOW WAS THE RADAR OPERATOR ON ALL PATHFINDER MISSIONS
LLOYD W. COARTNEY, 90
BORN 20 AUG 1919
DIED 21 JAN 2010
NAV,418thBS,
2nd lt. Charles E Harris crew
CPT 8/5/44 MADGEBURG
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Letter to Paul West
12105 Amhassador Drive
#533
Colorado Springs, CO 80921-3642
November 18, 1993
Dear Paul:
Was good seeing you again in Little Rock. But you were so busy that we really didn't have a chance to chat. Next time! I'm sure you know, though, how much we appreciate your interest and what you're doing for the hundredth.
Our crew is trying to "resurrect" the Bastille Day (July 14) parachute mission to the Marquis. It was our first Pathfinder mission with Mike Crete. My Navigator, Lloyd Coartney (who was with us in Little Rock) said that "Big Pete" Peterson flew with us that day as the second navigator; that the PFF went o~ the blink shortly after take-off, and that he and Pete dead reckoned the mission nearly the entire way due to weather. As we descended thru the overcast they had it figured that there should be a lake to our right. There was! We then headed for the open field where the Marquis were waiting This was just west of the Alps. We made a dry run on the field to make sure we were right, then a 360 and dropped on the next approach. We're sure that we were the first ones in as there were no signs of prior chutes. I do remember glancing down and seeing all those brave guys down there. As I remember, we dropped from about 600 feet.
What none of us can remember is who was our Command Pilot. Having the PFF, (and "Big Pete"Peterson), we think it must have been a
13th Wing lead. Which brings up, was John Bennett with us? remember very well that he was with us on the July 19 mission to Schweinfurt, but p. 130-131 of "Century Bombers" tells that the Frenchman- Lt Jean Vallion-- flew with Bennett on the 14th. I'm sure we'd remember him if he'd been with us. So, if we weren't with Bennett, why did we have PFF and a second Navigator?? Just possibly you have the answer.
I think that I sent you some mission sheets last year, but I have no record, so am enclosing copies of the few I have.
Have ramble on enough. Dare say you get many requests like this, but you asked for it!!!
If you ever get out this way, be sure and let me know. We're living in a beautiful retirement center (Liberty Heights), We have guest apts. here which we'd be glad to reserve for you. As I write I'm looking out on the AF Academy. We're on the east side of the Valley; the Academy is on the west side- about a 15 minute ride for us, as we can cut straight across. There's a lot to see and do here. Lt Gen. "But" Clark, a prior Supt. of the Academy, is here with us. He was the Senior Officer in Stalag 3; was shot down in '42 while flying a Spitfire with the RAF.
All the best,
Chuck Harris
Orders deploying Harris crew to ETO dated 10 Feb 1944..
SECRET
GRENIER FIELD
MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
STA. 16, NAW, ATC
(OPERATIONS ORDERS )
NO.........................................14
10 February 1944
EXTRACT
1. The following named crew WP by air in the aircraft as indicated below at the proper time from Grenier Field, 'Manchester, New Hampshire, via North Atlantic Route to the European Theater of Operations, London, England, reporting upon arrival to the Commander, 8th Air Force Service Command, Air Transport Command Terminals of Arrival British Isles, for further assignment and duty with the 8th Air ~orce.
X PROVISIONAL BOMB GROUP
Shipment No. FX_ BJ
Project No. 92419-R
APO No. 12760-RJ-55
B_l7G - Crcw #55 #42-31895
Pilot 2nd .Lt. Charles E.,Harris 0-749162
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt.Manly W. Hall, Jr. 0-755578
Navigator 2nd Lt. Lloyd W. Coartney 0-698264
Bombardier 2nd Lt. John E. Dimell, Jr. - 0-685073
Engineer Sgt..Norman (NMI) Howden, Jr. 11114810
Radio Operator. Cpl. Leighton B. Gaard 19203172
Arm. Gunner Sgt. Joscph H. Blume, Jr. . 3Z767743
Career Gunner Sgt. Joscph L. Oyler 15354702
Career Gunner Sgt. Pctcr R, Zyskowski 32741614
Career Gunner Sgt. Kenncth L. Nowland 12169351
This is- a Permanent change of station.
ln lieu of subsistence a flat per diem of seven dollars ($7.00) is Authorized for travel and for periods of temporary duty enroute to final destination when, necessary for officers and flight officers, in accordance with existing law end regulations. Payment of mileage is not authorized. Such times as the individual is billeted and subsisted, as outlined in WD Memorandum K- 35-2-42, September 30, 1942, his per diem will be suspended.
A flat per diem of seven dollars ($7.00) is authorized for enlisted men for travel and for periods of temporary duty enroute to final destination in accordance with existing law and regulations, if travel is performed by air. For travel by rail and for periods of delay enroute to final destination, monetary allowance, in lieu of rations and quarters is prescribed in accordance with AR 35-4520.
SECRET
Crew List
1st Crew List
Use your thumb to scroll through the results box below.
| Rank | Name | Pos | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capt | LAURO, Francis G. | P | CPT |
| Lt | GREASAMAR, Emanuel E. | CP | CPT |
| Lt | HORVATH, Emery | NAV | CPT |
| Lt | GREEN, Walter | BOM | CPT |
| T/SGT | THOMPSON, Dewey | TTE | CPT |
| T/SGT | GREENFIELD, Harry H. | ROG | CPT |
| T/Sgt | KING, Nelson R. | ROG | RFS |
| S/Sgt | SCHRIER, Murray | BTG | CPT |
| S/Sgt | HEATHMAN, William R. | WG | CPT |
| S/Sgt | WILL, Gerald A. | WG | CPT |
| S/SGT | TIRRELL, Arthur R. | TG | CPT |
