Sgt
Alfred J. VIGNOLA
Assigned to the 100th Bombardment Group
Location:
Unit: 350th Bombardment Squadron
Rank:
Position: Top Turret Gunner / Engineer
Additional 100th Service Notes
Status: CPT
Comments: 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ?
Comments and Notes
Memo 1:
CREW
Lt Paul L.Spurgeon P CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG
Lt John E. David CP KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST (as pilot of own crew, see below) replaced F/O C.G. Sharemet on Politz mission
Lt John V.Larson NAV CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG (Lead Nav, originally from Lt C. Daniels Crew, see below)
Lt Frederick H.Theesfeld BOM CPT 7 MAR 45 SIEGEN, MY (S.T.) (FLEW 31 MISSIONS)
T/Sgt E.S.Balcseniuk ROG CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ?
T/Sgt Alfred J.Vignola TTE CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ?
S/Sgt W.R. Klein BTG NOC Replaced on crew by Radar Operator in late October 44 when this became a lead crew,
S/Sgt Thomas J.Dressel WG WIA (Wounded 25/8/44 POLITZ & month in hospital)
S/Sgt Robert E.Kauffman TG NOC ( Flew 21 missions on crew of A.D.Elbel, last one on 8/8/44, then in spare gunners pool , see below)
350th Sqdn. Crew appears as above on Roster of 25/8/44 target: (POLITZ) as Crew #29. Thls was probably a "pick up" crew. ( this information is suspect concerning this crew, likely they flew together very little, perhaps only once..jb). Lt Spurgeon had a lead Crew and the actual make up is listed below. It is know that they were leading on Nov 2, 1944 to Merseburg with Col Sammy Barr as Command Pilot.
Other Members who flew on this Crew
Lt R.A Nesline-Nav (replaced Lt Larson on Lt Daniels Crew) Flew as NAV on first mission of Spurgeon Crew 8/8/44
Lt J.D. Goethel-Bom (from Lt David Crew) Flew as BOM on first mission of Spurgeon Crew 8/8/44
Lt Spurgeon took over "JIMB0" A/C 44-8226 LN-B in November 1944 and he selected the name. It was a nickname for his Stateside Wife. Jimbo was painted on the left hand side of the aircraft. On the cowlings of No 3 & 4 engines could be seen the names "Kay" and "Alice" probably put on by the ground crew.
See S.D.C. p.33 & 95 "JIMB0" A/C 44-8226 LN-B This was a Pathfinder aircraft originally assigned to the 95th Bomb Group (13th CBW HQ for Pathfinder Crews and Aircraft in Summer and early fall 1944) in October 1944. The practice during this time was to fly Pathfinder A/C from Horham to the surrounding airdromes to lead the 3rd Air Division Bomb Groups. In late October this practice ceased and Pathfinders were assigned to each Bomb Group and both Crews and planes were maintained at their own bases.
THIS WAS THE MAKE-UP OF LT PAUL SPURGEON'S LEAD CREW.
LT PAUL SPURGEON P CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG
LT C.G. SHAREMET CP CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG
LT JOHN V. LARSON NAV CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ((Lead Nav originally from Lt C. Daniels Crew, see below)
LT FREDERICK H. THEESFELD BOM CPT 7 MAR 45 DATTELN, SIEGEN, MY (S.T.)
T/SGT ALFRED VIGNOLA TTE CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ?
T/SGT E.S. BALCSENIUK ROG CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG ?
S/SGT W.R. KLEIN BTG NOC (replaced by Radar Operator in late October 44 when this became a lead crew)
S/SGT P.J. HAHN WG NOC (orignal LWG on Capt H. Smith Crew, replaced Sgt Dressel after he was wounded on 25/8/1944 Politz)
S/SGT L.S. "Andy" ANDERSON TG CPT 28 Jan 45 DUISBURG (replaced Sgt Kauffman)
Now based on mission completions and photo evidence, Lt Theesfeld came off this crew at some point since he completes two months after the Spurgeon Crew does. Also S/Sgt Dressel returns to the Crew but not sure in what capacity since photo evidence shows both Hahn (who replaced Dressel when he was injured on Aug 25, 1944) and Dressel in Crew photos.
Missions of Lt Spurgeon based on Mission list of S/Sgt Anderson and Opts database mpf 2012:
Date Target # of A/C Call Sign a/cName Pilot Comments
08-Aug-44 St Sylvain 43-38043 LN-T Spurgeon Lt Nesline flew as NAV, Lt Goethel flew as BOM, Anderson-TG
25-Aug-44 Politz 43-38076 LN-S Aces and Eights Spurgeon Lt J.E.David flew as CP, Lt Larson-NAV joins crew
(S/Sgt Dressel WG is wounded, S/Sgt Kauffman is TG)
26-Aug-44 Brest 43-38076 LN-S Aces and Eights Spurgeon (S/Sgt Hahn becomes fill in WG, S/Sgt Kauffman is TG)
01-Sep-44 Mainz (recalled) 43-38076 LN-S Aces and Eights Spurgeon (S/Sgt Anderson returns as permenant TG)
03-Sep-44 Brest 43-38076 LN-S Aces and Eights Spurgeon
05-Sep-44 Stuttgart 43-38076 LN-S Aces and Eights Spurgeon
08-Sep-44 Mainz 43-37863 LN-L Leading Lady Spurgeon (S/Sgt(Kaufman flies as WG on mission)
12-Sep-44 Magdeburg 44-6297 LN-X Spirit of Pittwood Spurgeon
13-Sep-44 Sindelfingen 43-37994 LN-D My Blue Heaven Spurgeon
18-Sep-44 Warsaw 43-38437 LN-S Spurgeon
19-Sep-44 Szolnok (from Russia) 43-38437 LN-S Spurgeon
28-Sep-44 Merseburg 43-38437 LN-S Spurgeon
03-Oct-44 Nurnburg Spurgeon
06-Oct-44 BERLIN Spurgeon
26-Oct-44 Hanover Spurgeon (Believe this is the first mission as a Lead Crew…mpf)
02-Nov-44 Merseburg 44-8226 LN-B Jimbo Spurgeon Col Sammy Barr Command Pilot, leading 100th
05-Nov-44 Ludwigshaven Spurgeon
21-Nov-44 Osnabruck Spurgeon
29-Nov-44 Hamm Spurgeon
12-Dec-44 Darmstadt Spurgeon
25-Dec-44 Kaiserlautern Spurgeon
30-Dec-44 Kassel Spurgeon
02-Jan-45 Bad Kreuznach 44-8226 LN-B Jimbo Spurgeon
03-Jan-45 Fulda Spurgeon
10-Jan-45 Cologne Spurgeon
13-Jan-45 Mainz Spurgeon
21-Jan-45 Mannheim Spurgeon
28-Jan-45 Duisburg Spurgeon
*************************************************************************************************************
LT DAVID NOTES:
CREW
2ND LT JOHN E. DAVID P KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST (flew as CP on Lt Spurgeon Crew on 25/8/44 Politz mission)
2ND LT JOHN W. SIMMONS CP KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST
2ND LT THERON J. STOOKESBERRY NAV KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST
2ND LT EDWARD J. MIKOL BOM RFS (See Goethel record for and amazing saga of
LT JOHN GOETHEL BOM REC 3 SEP 44 BREST bravery & endurance in the North Sea)
S/SGT HENRY J. HENDRICKSON ROG REC
S/SGT FRANK BARILI, JR TTE KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST
SGT CLARENCE E. WOOD BTG POW
SGT FRANK E. YATES WG NOC
SGT WALTER E. POTTER WG KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST
SGT FRANCIS J. WALDSCHMIDT TG KIA 3 SEP 44 BREST
350th Sqdn.. Crew, as above, joined the 100th on 26 May 1944. Apparently Frank Yates was removed when crews were reduced to nine men.
On 3 Sep 44 this crew went down in the North Sea. Lt Mikol, Sgts Yates and Wood were not aboard. Hendrickson was picked up by British sea boat and returned to Thorpe Abbotts. The six men KIA are memorialized on the Wall of the Missing at the Brittany American Cemetary.
*************************************************************************************************************
LT J.V. LARSON NOTES:
CREW
2ND LT CECIL O. DANIELS P CPT 03 JAN 45 FULDA sn# 0-808196
2ND LT GORDON A. HANSEN CP CPT 03 JAN 45 FULDA finished with 33 missions
2ND LT JOHN V. LARSON NAV CPT 28 JAN 45 DUISBURG(BECAME LEAD NAV ON LT SPURGEON PATHFINDER CREW)
2ND LT ROBERT L. STORY BOM WIA 17 OCT 44 COLOGNE (TAPS 1967)
CPL HOWARD A. DRALLE ROG WIA 03 OCT 44 NURNBURG
SGT SAMUEL M. WOLFE, JR. TTE WIA 15 OCT 44 COLOGNE (TAPS 1984)
CPL LESLIE P. MILLS BTG CPT 03 JAN 45 FULDA
CPL JOSEPH W. ADAMS, JR. WG GND FOR MEDICAL REASONS (CHRONIC AIR SICKNESS)
CPL WILLIAM KILPATRICK, JR WG REMOVED TO REDUCE TO 9 MAN CREW AND REASSIGNED TO CREW OF C.K. BAKER,
WOUNDED IN ACTION 30 NOV 44 ON 18TH MISSION.
CPL JORGEN N. NIELSEN TG CPT 03 JAN 45 FULDA
350th Sqdn. Crew 28. Crew, as above joined the 100th on 25 Jul 1944.
Crew flew "Spirit of Pittwood" #46297
Ground Crew Chief: Sgt John C. Riffle
Lt .Micheljon flew the first 2 missions as CP for crew orientation instead of Lt Gordon Hansen.
At Thorpe Abbotts, Lt John Larson was selected for lead crew training and replaced on the Daniels crew by F/O Richard A. Nesline who CPT on 3 Jan 1945 with 35 sorties. Promoted to 1st Lt before returning to the ZOI. (zone of the interior)
Missions of Lt John V. Larson with Lt Daniels Crew
8-Aug-44 Hamburg 42-97924 LN-H Party Toni Daniels
5-Aug-44 Magdeburg 43-37882 LN-W Happy-Go Daniels
6-Aug-44 Berlin 43-38043 LN-T Daniels
11-Aug-44 Villacoublay 42-102958 LN-Z Daniels
13-Aug-44 Nantes 42-102958 LN-Z Daniels
14-Aug-44 Ludwigshaven 43-37882 LN-W Happy-Go-Lucky Daniels
15-Aug-44 Venlo 42-31220 LN-P Fletcastoria II Daniels
24-Aug-44 Ruhland 44-6297 LN-X Spiriwo Daniels
*************************************************************************************************************
S/SGT KAUFFMAN NOTES:
CREW
F/O ARLON D. ELBEL P CPT 25 SEP 44 LUDWIGSHAVEN
F/0 THOMAS D. TAYLOR CP CPT 26 SEP 44 BREMEN (FILL IN CP WITH LT WILLOUGHBY CREW))
2ND LT JOSEPH M. GLADDEN NAV CPT 25 SEP 44 LUDWIGSHAVEN
2ND LT ROBERT D. FISHER BOM CPT 26 SEP 44 BREMEN
T/SGT E.T. GEHRMAN TTE CPT 25 SEP 44 LUDWIGSHAVEN
SGT FRANCIS J. TRUSCOTT ROG CPT 25 SEP 44 LUDWIGSHAVEN
SGT ARTHUR F. WHITTEN BTG CPT 25 SEP 44 LUDWIGSHAVEN
SGT ROBERT E. KAUFFMAN RWG NOC FLEW 21 MISSIONS WITH THIS CREW, THEN SENT TO SPARE GUNNERS POOL
SGT DANIEL E. WALTON TG NOC FLEW 32 MISSIONS WITH THIS CREW LAST RECORDED MISSION WITH CREW
350TH SQDN.. CREW, AS ABOVE, JOINED THE 100TH ON 29 MAY 44.
Believe this crew came overseas with only one waist gunner. A SGT E.E. DEVERE, a spare gunner filled in at LWG for the first 4 missions this crew flew. The LWG position would continue to be filled by spare gunners. When crews were reduced to nine men in late July 1944, Sgt Kauffman and a Sgt Stommes traded off flying missions with the crew as waist gunners. Kauffman was later taken off the crew after 8 Aug 44 mission and put in Spare gunners Pool. Records show that he flew 4 missions as a TG with Lt Spurgeon Crew in Aug/Sept. 1944. Sgt W. Stommes (Stemmes/Stommos) filled in on 14 missions as a left waist gunner. Starting on August 15th, Sgt Bracco flew as WG on this crews final 9 missions
CREW ROSTER OF 19 SEP 44 HAS WALTON, KAUFFMAN, & GEHRMAN REPLACED BY JACK BOURNE & SALVATORE J. BRACCO, FROM THE AUSTIN DUNLAP CREW, AND ROBBIE L. GILL FROM THE A.S. SPEAR CREW. ON 11 AUG 44 KAUFFMAN WAS REPLACED BY T/SGT GEHRMAN.
On 11/8/44,Jack Conger (from Lt Giles Crew) was flying with the crew of Lt. A.D.Elbel as WG, replaceing Sgt. Kauffman. Lt Taylor completed his last two msisons as a fill in CP with Lt Willoughby Crew.
Date Aircraft Nbr Target
6/2/1944 102958 BOULOGNE
6/4/1944 102958 BOULOGNE
6/5/1944 102958 BOULOGNE(CHG)
6/6/1944 102958 FALAISE/OUISTREHAM
6/7/1944 102958 NANTES (BRIDGES)
6/8/1944 32009 TOURS (BRIDGES)
6/12/1944 102958 ROSIERES & DUNKIRK
6/15/1944 102958 MITBURG & WILSTER
6/19/1944 37686 CORME ECLUSE, AF
6/20/1944 37621 FALLERSLEBEN
6/21/1944 102958 RUHLAND
6/26/1944 102958 DROHOBYCZ
7/3/1944 102958 ARAD (RUMANIA)
7/5/1944 102958 BEZIER (FROM ITLAY)
7/11/1944 102958 MUNICH (AERO ENGINES)
7/21/1944 102958 REGENSBURG
7/24/1944 102958 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/25/1944 102958 ST LO (GND SUPPORT)
7/28/1944 102958 MERSEBURG
7/29/1944 102958 MERSEBURG
8/2/1944 102657 TERGNIER/LAFERE
8/3/1944 37882 TROYES (RAIL YARD)
8/5/1944 37994 MAGDEBURG
8/7/1944 102598 BEAUTOR (BRIDGES)
8/8/1944 102598 ST. SYLVIAN Last mission S/Sgt Kauffman flies with Elbel Crew, sent to spare gunners pool
****************************************************************************************************************
S/SGT P.J. HAHN NOTES:
CREW
CAPT. HENRY F. SMITH P CPT DATE & MISSION UNK
1ST LT WESLEY R. CARLTON CP KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
2ND LT MARK M. HERTZ NAV/BOM POW 28 JUL 44 MERSEBURG SN# 0-700104 (see note below)
T/SGT MILTON S. EDELSTEIN ROG KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
T/SGT HIKE H. BAGDASIAN TTE KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
SGT GARNET E. SYMINGTON BTG CPT 26 AUG 44 BREST (FLEW 18 MISSIONS WITH THIS CREW, ORIGINAL CREW LT BETHEA)
S/SGT PAUL J. HAHN LWG NOC (FLEW 12 MISSIONS CAPT SMITH CREW, THEN TO SPARE GUNNERS POOL)
S/SGT WILLIAM U. SCHAEFER RWG KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
S/SGT GEORGE E. WATROUS TG KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
350th Sqdn. Crew as of June 1944. Crew flew 14 mission in A/C 42-31991 MISS-CHIEF .
It appears this crew used a toggelier for many missions until July 18, 1944 when Lt Eppendorf became the permanent bombardier. CAPT SMITH WAS A GROUP COMMAND PILOT FROM JUNE 1944 UNTIL COMPLETION OF TOUR. He left the Crew after the June 25th Maquis Supply drop and the crew flew three missions with Lt G.W. Clark (original CP with Lt Tiahrt Crew) as pilot before Lt Wesley Carlton took over the Crew. 2nd Lt Hertz shows up in records as flying as the Navigator on this Crew but left the crew after the July 8, 1944 Clamecy-Joigny mission to become a Pathfinder Bombardier (Lead Crew) with the 100th Bomb Group and the 95th Bomb Group. Capt. Smith became 350th Bomb Squadron Operations Officer in Sept. 1944.
CREW make up from 30 AUG 44 to 11 SEPT 44
MACR #8817, Micro-fiche #3237 A/C #42-97154 Our Baby Hutchie
1ST LT WESLEY R. CARLTON P KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
2ND LT EDWARD F. NEU CP POW 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND (Pilot of own crew)
1ST LT HUGH R. DAVIDSON NAV POW 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND (from Lt Neu Crew)
1ST LT JACK L. EPPENDORF BOM KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND (from LT ROBERT A. WEGRZYNEK CREW)
T/SGT MILTON S. EDELSTEIN ROG KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
T/SGT HIKE H. BAGDASIAN TTE KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
S/SGT RALPH E. JACOBSON BTG KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
S/SGT WILLIAM U. SCHAEFER WG KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
S/SGT GEORGE E. WATROUS TG KIA 11 SEP 44 RUHLAND
350th Sqdn. Crew as of 30 Aug 44, Jack Eppendorf was orginally on the crew of R.A.Wegrzynek and Ralph Jacobson was on the original crew of L.W. Riegel, Lt Davidson from Lt Neu Crew.
MISSION LIST OF CAPT. HENRY SMITH AND LT. WESLEY CARLTON
# DATE TARGET PILOT/COPILOT A/C NUMBER A/C NAME
1. 18/6/44 MITBURG LT. SMITH 2102695 NO NAME
LT. W. CARLTON-CP
2. 19/6/44 CORME ECLUSE LT. SMITH 232009 BLACK CAT 13
LT. W. CARLTON-CP
3. 20/6/44 FALLERSLEBEN LT. SMITH 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. W. CARLTON-CP
4. 24/6/44 GRAND COURONNE LT. SMITH 231049 SUPERSTITIOUS ALOYSIOUS
LT. W. CARLTON-CP
5. 25/6/44 MAQUIS SUPPLY DROP LT SMITH 231074 CAHEPIT
LT W. CARLTON-CP
6. 6/7/44 FLEURY LT. G.W. CLARK 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. W. CARLTON-CP
7. 8/7/44 CLAMECY-JOIGNY LT. G.W. CLARK 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. W. CARLTON-CP
LT HERTZ LEAVES CREW TO BECOME RADAR/NAVIGATOR
8. 11/7/44 MUNICH LT. G.W. CLARK 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. W. CARLTON-CP
9. 18/7/44 KIEL LT. W. CARLTON 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. G.C. MALCOM-CP
10. 20/7/44 MERSEBURG LT. W. CARLTON 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. R. DYKEMAN-CP
11. 21/7/44 REGENSBURG LT. W. CARLTON 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. R. DYKEMAN-CP
12. 24/7/44 ST LO LT. W. CARLTON 231991 MISS-CHIEF
LT. R. DYKEMAN-CP
CREW REDUCED TO 9 MEN, S/SGT P.J. HAHN IS TAKEN OFF THE CREW AND SENT TO SPARE GUNNERS POOL
*****************************************************************************************************************
Crew List
1st Crew List
Use your thumb to scroll through the results box below.
| Rank | Name | Pos | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lt | SPURGEON, Paul L. | P | CPT |
| LT | SHAREMET, C.G. | CP | NOC |
| Lt | THEESFELD, Frederick H. | BOM | CPT |
| SGT | VIGNOLA, Alfred J. | TTE | CPT |
| T/Sgt | BALCZENIUK, Edward | ROG | CPT |
| S/Sgt | ANDERSON, Louis | BTG | CPT |
| S/SGT | KLEIN, William R. | BTG | NOC |
| S/Sgt | DRESSEL, Thomas J. | WG | WIA |
