Personnel

CREW:



                  A/C ,#43-37863     MACR #8812,Microfiche #3235



2nd Lt John S.Giles,Jr.              P      POW    11/9/44  RUHLAND  sn# O-753999         

2nd Lt Sterling P.Lambert            CP     CPT     7/8/44 BEAUTOR

2nd Lt Charles E.Gunter,Jr.         NAV     CPT   25/12/44  KAISERLAUTERN  (350th Squadron Navigator) 

2nd Lt Cordy A.Ramer,Jr.            BOM     POW    29/7/44 MERSEBURG (with crew of E.C.Jones) sn# O-545535

 S/Sgt Elzo Bevan                   ROG     POW    11/9/44 RUHLAND

 S/Sgt Andrew G Leuthold            TTE     POW    11/9/44 RUHLAND         

 S/Sgt Norbert O. DePauw            BTG     POW    11/9/44 RUHLAND    

   Sgt Albert S. Pela                WG     POW    11/9/44 RUHLAND

   Sgt Jack E.Conger                 WG     NOC

   Sgt Robert B.Rowley               TG     POW    11/9/44 RUHLAND   



350th Sqdn.  Crew,as above,joined the 100th Group on 7/4/44. See "CONTRAILLS" p.199 for photo

Lt Ramer was in Stalag Luft I along with his old pilot Lt John Giles Jr.    Crew flew in "HARD LUCK" and "FLETCHERS CASTORIA" and "LEADING LADY".  Lt Sterling "Pete" Lambert took over as 1st pilot of Lt Shelly's Crew after June 20, 1944. 



Mission Memories: "On our first or second mission we were attacked by fighter planes with Yellow Spinners.  We found out later that these were the Abbyville Kids.  Missions to BERLIN were the most harrowing. We called it "20 Minutes of Hell".  The flak was so thick it seemed you could walk on it.  Dropping supplies to the French underground were also interesting.  On one trip I was flying with Eden Jones and were were flying wing to John Giles. When Giles dumped his load a parachute opened early and was hung up in the bomb bay.  We thought the plane was going down but the bombardier cut the chute loose and all was well.  July 29, 1944, on Merseburg, my career as a Bombardier ended. I had visions of completing my missions and going home but all that had to wait until the War was over."



Base Memories: "I remember Sterling P. (Pete) Lambert who was a co-pilot on the Giles crew.  Pete was anxious for a crew of his own so he and the crew chief and I would practice take off and landings day after day. We got in plenty of extra flying time.  I very well remember the 3:30AM briefings. I remember the briefing officer when he would pull the curtain to reveal the red ribbon stretched from Thorpe Abbotts to the target.  I don't remember his name but we owe a lot to the soldier who got us out of the sack and to briefings before each mission.  The he got us to the plane for the take off and was there waiting when we landed after the mission.  This guy and his counterparts deserve a lot of credit."

                   Lt Cordy A. Ramer Jr (mpf 2001)

                   

On 11/9/44, RUHLAND MISSION: Lts J.M.Shelly, Kenneth Silver Welty & H.H.Skelton had replaced Lambert, Gunter & Ramer. The three became 

POWs.  On 11/8/44,Jack Conger was flying with the crew of A.D.Elbel



1st Lt John S. Giles, Jr.,       P  SN# O-753999

2nd Lt Harris H. Skelton,       BOM SN# O-664833

1st Lt Charlie E. Gunter, Jr.   NAV SN# O-699160

T Sgt Andrew G. Leuthold        TTE SN# 37240307

S Sgt Jack E. Conger             WG SN# 19151118

S Sgt Robert B. Rowley           TG SN# 31140110

S Sgt Norbert O. Depauw         BTG SN# 37118775

T Sgt Elzo Bevan                ROG SN# 34700509

S Sgt Albert S. Pela             WG SN# 18067003

T/Sgt Floyd O. Douglas          TOG (listed on this Crew on July 2, 1944) sn#32383566



MISSIONS OF Lt Welty: Flew with Lt Pearson Crew, Lt Rosine Crew, Lt J.P. Rogers Crew & Lt Giles Crew 

 

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

5/11/1944 55 115 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 31903 LIEGE 

5/12/1944 55 116 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 30152 BRUX, OIL REFINERY 

5/19/1944 55 118 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 102611 BERLIN 

7/6/1944 37 154 WELTY K.S. LT BOM 1026575 FLEURY/CREPEUIL 

7/7/1944 38 155 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 97924 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG 

7/8/1944 38 156 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 97924 CLAMECY-JOLGYN 

7/28/1944 31 168 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 6089 MERSEBURG 

8/5/1944 31 174 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 37880 MAGDEBURG 

8/7/1944 31 176 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 37863 BEAUTOR (BRIDGES) 

8/11/1944 31 178 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 37880 VILLACOUBLAY 

8/13/1944 31 179 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 37880 NANTES - GASSICOURT 

8/18/1944 31 182 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 37880 PACY SUR ARMANCON 

8/25/1944 31 184 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 37863 POLITZ (OIL) 

9/9/1944 31 192 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 37863 DUSSELDORF 

9/11/1944 35 194 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 37863 RUHLAND (OIL) 



Missions with Lt Pearson Crew

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

5/11/1944 55 115 ZIGO C.P. S/SGT TG 31903 LIEGE 

5/11/1944 55 115 PEARSON D.S. LT P 31903 LIEGE 

5/11/1944 55 115 LUND W.D. LT CP 31903 LIEGE 

5/11/1944 55 115 SMITH L.N. LT BOM 31903 LIEGE 

5/11/1944 55 115 SANSEVERO N. T/SGT ROG 31903 LIEGE 

5/11/1944 55 115 RENE E.J. T/SGT TTE 31903 LIEGE 

5/11/1944 55 115 MORROW J.S. S/SGT BTG 31903 LIEGE 

5/11/1944 55 115 TRUESDELL B.F. S/SGT RWG 31903 LIEGE 

5/11/1944 55 115 SCRIVERNER H.J. S/SGT LWG 31903 LIEGE 

5/11/1944 55 115 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 31903 LIEGE 



5/12/1944 55 116 LUND W.D. LT CP 30152 BRUX, OIL REFINERY 

5/12/1944 55 116 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 30152 BRUX, OIL REFINERY 

5/12/1944 55 116 SMITH L.N. LT BOM 30152 BRUX, OIL REFINERY 

5/12/1944 55 116 SANSEVERO N. T/SGT ROG 30152 BRUX, OIL REFINERY 

5/12/1944 55 116 RENE E.J. T/SGT TTE 30152 BRUX, OIL REFINERY 

5/12/1944 55 116 MORROW J.S. S/SGT BTG 30152 BRUX, OIL REFINERY 

5/12/1944 55 116 TRUESDELL B.F. S/SGT RWG 30152 BRUX, OIL REFINERY 

5/12/1944 55 116 SCRIVERNER H.J. S/SGT LWG 30152 BRUX, OIL REFINERY 

5/12/1944 55 116 ZIGO C.P. S/SGT TG 30152 BRUX, OIL REFINERY 

5/12/1944 55 116 PEARSON D.S. LT P 30152 BRUX, OIL REFINERY 



5/19/1944 55 118 TRUESDELL B.F. S/SGT RWG 102611 BERLIN 

5/19/1944 55 118 SCRIVERNER H.J. S/SGT LWG 102611 BERLIN 

5/19/1944 55 118 MORROW J.S. S/SGT BTG 102611 BERLIN 

5/19/1944 55 118 RENE E.J. T/SGT TTE 102611 BERLIN 

5/19/1944 55 118 SMITH L.N. LT BOM 102611 BERLIN 

5/19/1944 55 118 PEARSON D.S. LT P 102611 BERLIN 

5/19/1944 55 118 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 102611 BERLIN 

5/19/1944 55 118 LUND W.D. LT CP 102611 BERLIN 

5/19/1944 55 118 SANSEVERO N. T/SGT ROG 102611 BERLIN 

5/19/1944 55 118 ZIGO C.P. S/SGT TG 102611 BERLIN 



Mission with Lt Rosine Crew

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

7/6/1944 37 154 DEAR W.F. T/SGT TTE 1026575 FLEURY/CREPEUIL 

7/6/1944 37 154 COLEMAM C.M. S/SGT TG 1026575 FLEURY/CREPEUIL 

7/6/1944 37 154 PATE C.P. S/SGT LWG 1026575 FLEURY/CREPEUIL 

7/6/1944 37 154 MALLEUX B.G. S/SGT RWG 1026575 FLEURY/CREPEUIL 

7/6/1944 37 154 RODRIGUEZ R.C. S/SGT BTG 1026575 FLEURY/CREPEUIL 

7/6/1944 37 154 HAINES R.V. T/SGT ROG 1026575 FLEURY/CREPEUIL 

7/6/1944 37 154 WELTY K.S. LT BOM 1026575 FLEURY/CREPEUIL 

7/6/1944 37 154 KENNA E.P. LT NAV 1026575 FLEURY/CREPEUIL 

7/6/1944 37 154 ROSINE H. LT P 1026575 FLEURY/CREPEUIL 

7/6/1944 37 154 LENMAN R.P LT CP 1026575 FLEURY/CREPEUIL 



Missions with Lt J.P. Rogers Crew

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

7/7/1944 38 155 KENDALL D.L. T/SGT TTE 97924 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG 

7/7/1944 38 155 FIORE A.R. T/SGT LWG 97924 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG 

7/7/1944 38 155 BROOKS C.W. S/SGT RWG 97924 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG 

7/7/1944 38 155 LONG H.W. T/SGT XCM 97924 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG 

7/7/1944 38 155 GURALSKI T.S. T/SGT ROG 97924 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG 

7/7/1944 38 155 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 97924 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG 

7/7/1944 38 155 LIBERMAN B.C. LT BOM 97924 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG 

7/7/1944 38 155 LAWLER R.B. LT CP 97924 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG 

7/7/1944 38 155 GATELY R.E. S/SGT BTG 97924 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG 

7/7/1944 38 155  ROGERS J.P. LT P 97924 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG



7/8/1944 38 156 LAWLER R.B. LT CP 97924 CLAMECY-JOLGYN 

7/8/1944 38 156 LONG H.W. T/SGT XCM 97924 CLAMECY-JOLGYN 

7/8/1944 38 156 BROOKS C.W. S/SGT RWG 97924 CLAMECY-JOLGYN 

7/8/1944 38 156 FIORE A.R. T/SGT LWG 97924 CLAMECY-JOLGYN 

7/8/1944 38 156 GATELY R.E. S/SGT BTG 97924 CLAMECY-JOLGYN 

7/8/1944 38 156 LIBERMAN B.C. LT BOM 97924 CLAMECY-JOLGYN 

7/8/1944 38 156 ROGERS J.P. LT P 97924 CLAMECY-JOLGYN 

7/8/1944 38 156 GURALSKI T.S. T/SGT ROG 97924 CLAMECY-JOLGYN 

7/8/1944 38 156 KENDALL D.L. T/SGT TTE 97924 CLAMECY-JOLGYN 

7/8/1944 38 156 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 97924 CLAMECY-JOLGYN 



Missions with Lt Giles Crew: 

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

7/28/1944 31 168 GILES J.S. LT P 6089 MERSEBURG 

7/28/1944 31 168 LAMBERT S.P. LT CP 6089 MERSEBURG 

7/28/1944 31 168 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 6089 MERSEBURG 

7/28/1944 31 168 SKELTON H.H. LT BOM 6089 MERSEBURG 

7/28/1944 31 168 BEVAN E. T/SGT ROG 6089 MERSEBURG 

7/28/1944 31 168 LEUTHOLD A.G. T/SGT TTE 6089 MERSEBURG 

7/28/1944 31 168 DEPAUW N.O. S/SGT BTG 6089 MERSEBURG 

7/28/1944 31 168 CONGER J.E. S/SGT LWG 6089 MERSEBURG 

7/28/1944 31 168 ROWLEY R.B. S/SGT TG 6089 MERSEBURG 



8/5/1944 31 174 LEUTHOLD A.G. T/SGT TTE 37880 MAGDEBURG 

8/5/1944 31 174 GILES J.S. LT P 37880 MAGDEBURG 

8/5/1944 31 174 LAMBERT S.P. LT CP 37880 MAGDEBURG 

8/5/1944 31 174 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 37880 MAGDEBURG 

8/5/1944 31 174 BEVAN E. T/SGT ROG 37880 MAGDEBURG 

8/5/1944 31 174 DEPAUW N.O. S/SGT BTG 37880 MAGDEBURG 

8/5/1944 31 174 CONGER J.E. S/SGT LWG 37880 MAGDEBURG 

8/5/1944 31 174 ROWLEY R.B. S/SGT TG 37880 MAGDEBURG 

8/5/1944 31 174 SKELTON H.H. LT BOM 37880 MAGDEBURG 



8/7/1944 31 176 SKELTON H.H. LT BOM 37863 BEAUTOR (BRIDGES) 

8/7/1944 31 176 GUNTER C.E. LT NAV 37863 BEAUTOR (BRIDGES) 

8/7/1944 31 176 BEVAN E. T/SGT ROG 37863 BEAUTOR (BRIDGES) 

8/7/1944 31 176 LEUTHOLD A.G. T/SGT TTE 37863 BEAUTOR (BRIDGES) 

8/7/1944 31 176 DEPAUW N.O. S/SGT BTG 37863 BEAUTOR (BRIDGES) 

8/7/1944 31 176 PELA A.S. S/SGT LWG 37863 BEAUTOR (BRIDGES) 

8/7/1944 31 176 LAMBERT S.P. LT TG 37863 BEAUTOR (BRIDGES) 

8/7/1944 31 176 KIDD J.B. LT COL COM 37863 BEAUTOR (BRIDGES) 

8/7/1944 31 176 GILES J.S. LT P 37863 BEAUTOR (BRIDGES) 



8/11/1944 31 178 DEPAUW N.O. S/SGT BTG 37880 VILLACOUBLAY 

8/11/1944 31 178 PELA A.S. S/SGT LWG 37880 VILLACOUBLAY 

8/11/1944 31 178 LEUTHOLD A.G. T/SGT TTE 37880 VILLACOUBLAY 

8/11/1944 31 178 SKELTON H.H. LT BOM 37880 VILLACOUBLAY 

8/11/1944 31 178 GILES J.S. LT P 37880 VILLACOUBLAY 

8/11/1944 31 178 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 37880 VILLACOUBLAY 

8/11/1944 31 178 EMBERSON C.B. MAJOR COM 37880 VILLACOUBLAY 

8/11/1944 31 178 BEVAN E. T/SGT ROG 37880 VILLACOUBLAY 

8/11/1944 31 178 ROWLEY R.B. S/SGT TG 37880 VILLACOUBLAY 



8/13/1944 31 179 SKELTON H.H. LT BOM 37880 NANTES - GASSICOURT 

8/13/1944 31 179 ROWLEY R.B. S/SGT TG 37880 NANTES - GASSICOURT 

8/13/1944 31 179 PELA A.S. S/SGT LWG 37880 NANTES - GASSICOURT 

8/13/1944 31 179 DEPAUW N.O. S/SGT BTG 37880 NANTES - GASSICOURT 

8/13/1944 31 179 BEVAN E. T/SGT ROG 37880 NANTES - GASSICOURT 

8/13/1944 31 179 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 37880 NANTES - GASSICOURT 

8/13/1944 31 179 YOUNGS M.F. CAPT COM 37880 NANTES - GASSICOURT 

8/13/1944 31 179 GILES J.S. LT P 37863 NANTES - GASSICOURT 

8/13/1944 31 179 LEUTHOLD A.G. T/SGT TTE 37880 NANTES - GASSICOURT 



8/18/1944 31 182 ROWLEY R.B. S/SGT TG 37880 PACY SUR ARMANCON 

8/18/1944 31 182 LEUTHOLD A.G. T/SGT TTE 37880 PACY SUR ARMANCON 

8/18/1944 31 182 DEPAUW N.O. S/SGT BTG 37880 PACY SUR ARMANCON 

8/18/1944 31 182 SKELTON H.H. LT BOM 37880 PACY SUR ARMANCON 

8/18/1944 31 182 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 37880 PACY SUR ARMANCON 

8/18/1944 31 182 THOMPSON W.H. CAPT COM 37880 PACY SUR ARMANCON 

8/18/1944 31 182 GILES J.S. LT P 37880 PACY SUR ARMANCON 

8/18/1944 31 182 PELA A.S. S/SGT LWG 37880 PACY SUR ARMANCON 

8/18/1944 31 182 BEVAN E. T/SGT ROG 37880 PACY SUR ARMANCON 

8/18/1944 31 182 GILES J.S. LT P   37880 PACY SUR ARMANCON



8/25/1944 31 184 SKELTON H.H. LT BOM 37863 POLITZ (OIL) 

8/25/1944 31 184 ROWLEY R.B. S/SGT TG 37863 POLITZ (OIL) 

8/25/1944 31 184 PELA A.S. S/SGT LWG 37863 POLITZ (OIL) 

8/25/1944 31 184 DEPAUW N.O. S/SGT BTG 37863 POLITZ (OIL) 

8/25/1944 31 184 BEVAN E. T/SGT ROG 37863 POLITZ (OIL) 

8/25/1944 31 184 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 37863 POLITZ (OIL) 

8/25/1944 31 184 COPE M. CAPT COM 37863 POLITZ (OIL) 

8/25/1944 31 184 GILES J.S. LT P 37863 POLITZ (OIL) 

8/25/1944 31 184 LEUTHOLD A.G. T/SGT TTE 37863 POLITZ (OIL) 



9/9/1944 31 192 DEPAUW N.O. S/SGT BTG 37863 DUSSELDORF 

9/9/1944 31 192 GOODMAN J.A. MAJOR COM 37863 DUSSELDORF 

9/9/1944 31 192 ROWLEY R.B. S/SGT TG 37863 DUSSELDORF 

9/9/1944 31 192 PELA A.S. S/SGT LWG 37863 DUSSELDORF 

9/9/1944 31 192 LEUTHOLD A.G. T/SGT TTE 37863 DUSSELDORF 

9/9/1944 31 192 BEVAN E. T/SGT ROG 37863 DUSSELDORF 

9/9/1944 31 192 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 37863 DUSSELDORF 

9/9/1944 31 192 GILES J.S. LT P 37863 DUSSELDORF 

9/9/1944 31 192 SKELTON H.H. LT BOM 37863 DUSSELDORF 



SHOT DOWN:



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

9/11/1944 35 194 WELTY K.S. LT NAV 37863 RUHLAND (OIL) 

9/11/1944 35 194 GILES J.S. CAPT COM 37863 RUHLAND (OIL) 

9/11/1944 35 194 SMITH C.J. S/SGT TG 37863 RUHLAND (OIL) 

9/11/1944 35 194 CHASE F.R. S/SGT RWG 37863 RUHLAND (OIL) 

9/11/1944 35 194 PAULO A.C. S/SGT BTG 37863 RUHLAND (OIL) 

9/11/1944 35 194 EDWARDS L.J. T/SGT TTE 37863 RUHLAND (OIL) 

9/11/1944 35 194 SKELTON H.H LT NAV 37863 RUHLAND (OIL) 

9/11/1944 35 194 SHELLY J.M. LT CP 37863 RUHLAND (OIL) 

9/11/1944 35 194 GILES J.S. CAPT P 37863 RUHLAND (OIL) 

9/11/1944 35 194 MUGRIDGE J.R. T/SGT ROG 37863 RUHLAND (OIL) 



Ended up in Stalag Luft I in Barth, Germany



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

Missions of Lt Cordy A. Ramer, Jr with the Giles Crew…mpf



1 19/4/44 LIPPSTADT

2. 20/4/44 MARQUENVILLE

3. 22/4/44 HAMM

4. 25/4/44 DIJON

5. 26/4/44 BRUNSWICK

6.   1/5/44 SAARGUEMINES

7.   7/5/44 BERLIN

8.   8/5/44 BERLIN

9.   9/5/44 LAON

10. 10/5/44 FALLERSLEBEN-RECALL



Gordy A. Ramer, Jr. flew 10 missions with the above crew before moving to the E.C. Jones crew where flew 19 additional missions.



1st  Lt  Eden C. Jones             P    KIA  29 Jul 44 Merseburg  

2nd Lt Robert E.Ries               CP  KIA   29 Jul 44 Merseburg

2nd Lt Albert B.Fincher,Jr.      NAV   POW  29 Jul 44 Merseburg  

1st Lt Cordy A.Ramer,Jr.         BOM  POW  29 Jul 44 Merseburg

T/Sgt Leo J.Griffin                ROG  KIA    29 Jul 44 Merseburg

T/Sgt James Eadie                TTE  KIA     29 Jul 44 Merseburg

S/Sgt Harold J.Prince             BTG  KIA     29 Jul 44 Merseburg

S/Sgt Frank J. Moran,Jr.           WG   POW/WIA  29 Jul 44 Merseburg 

S/Sgt Jerry R.Cassell                  TG   POW  29 Jul 44 Merseburg 



350th Sqdn   .Above crew as it appears on MACR#7811.  Cordy Ramer was on the crew of J.S.Giles when it joined the 100th BG on 7/4/44. On 8/7/44  Sgts Fugene Wells & Richard D.Hawkins were on this crew as gunners. Wells CPT on 12/12/44 & Hawkins KIA on 28/7/44 with crew of W..G. Stansbury    Moran says crew arrived at Thorpe Abbotts 15 May 1944 as above. Letter from Cassell 19/11/90 says Moran was TTE not WG. Cassell letter of 21/6/91 says Cordy Ramer replaced the original BOM,Ferrell O.Mason. Also that Eugene R.Wells was on crew when it came to the 100th but removed to reduce crew to nine men. Wells appears on the Kassebaum crew as a WG.



MACR #7811,Microfiche #2858      A/C #42-31903



From MACR: "No definite information concerning the loss of this A/C is available. The leader of the squadron was forced to jettison his bombs short of the target because of flak damage. The formation broke up and all the aircraft except the leader were lost to E/A." 



German reports indicate this A/C was shot down at 1055 hours near Wuelfingerode and both Ries and Prince were interred in Graves #. 1 & #2. It contunues that two (2) unknown dead were buried in graves #3 & #4.  These presumably were, Leo J. Griffin and James Eadie.  Evidently Lt Jones died sometime later from his wounds..



Lt. Gunter Note: from Harry Crosby in 1993

Charlie Gunter came to the 100th on the John S. Giles crew. When he left the crew to become Squadron Navigator, they went down of the bad Ruhland mission. (11 Sep 1944) For all these years, he was out of touch-- and looking for us. It was only when he heard about my book through a University of Texas publication that he wrote me, learned of our Association, and heard for the first time that Giles, and their gunner, Albert Pela had become POW's. Now Charlie is back in touch and, and you will meet him in Little Rock.

 When Charlie left the 100th after his tour, for a year he was an instructor and the Base Intelligence Officer at Selman Navigation School. He then went to the Philippines and Japan for a year, serving with G-1 Far East Headquarters. Deciding not to remain in the Air Force, he returned to Washington, D.C., and graduated from Benjamin Franklin University in 1950 with an accounting degree.

 He became a Special Agent for the FBI. He served in Baltimore, Little Rock, Denver, and Springfield, Illinois. For the last 25 years with the FBI he was the Senior Resident Agent in Casper, Wyoming. Retired for 20 years, he enjoys what he calls "F & E" living, (Free and Easy). For the last five years he has been living in Flagstaff, Arizona, "in good health for a man 75 years old."  Taken from Splasher Six --  fall 1993.



Combat sorties of Lt. Charlie Gunter, Jr.  0-699160 for the year 1944



1. Leipzig    Apr 12

2. Augsburg   Apr 13

3. Berlin    Apr 18

4. Lippstadt   Apr 19

5. Sarreguemines   May 1

6. Berlin    May 7

7. Berlin    May 8 

8. Ahies/Laon   May 9 

9. Osnabruck   May 13

10. Troyes    May 23

11. Osnabruck   May 31

12. Coast of France  Jun 6

13. Nantes    Jun 7

14. Le Culot   Jun 14

15. Wilster    Jun 15

16. Ecluse    Jun 19

17. Fallersleben   Jun 20

18. Munich    Jul 12

19. South of France  Jul 14

20. Auxerre   Jul 17

21. Le Fere   Aug 2

22. Northern France  Aug 7

23. Politz    Aug 29

24. Mainz    Sep 1

25. Ruhland   Sep 11

26. Ludwigshaven   Sep 25

27. Kassel    Oct 2

28. Berlin    Oct 6

29. Ludwigshaven   Nov 5

30 Kaiserlautern   Dec 25. 

   -30-





Aug. 8, 1994



I am enclosing for you the following documents 

which reveal the sum of my 4½ years of military service.



1. Honorable discharge as enlisted man, AUS, to 

accept commission as 2nd Lt. AUS, SN 13070347,as enlisted 

man, 0-6991602 as officer, Navigator. Note was at this time 

was rated aerial gunner with wings received at Tyndall 

Field, Fla.



2. Record of combat sorties for year 1944 during which 

time I served with the 100th Bomb GP, 350 Squadron, 8th AF. 30 

missions completed and returned to U. S.



3. Letter of recommendation from Harry H. Crosby, Group 

Navigator, furnished to me at time of departure from ETO. Our 

base was Thorpe Abbots. Paragraphs 1, 2, & 3 set forth details of 

my duties during this period.



4. Order, Far East AF Headquarters, Tokyo, Japan noting 

award of an aFmy Commendation Ribbon for service with G-2, 

Far East Headquarters, 1946- 1947.



5. Certificate of Service, AUS, Dec. 1943 to March 

1947. Record of service on reverse.



6. Honorable Discharge as Major, USAFR, 26 9ept. 

1956.



This is a complete record of my military service, en 

capsule.



For personal information, the crew of John S.JILES, Jr. was 

formed at Ardmore Air Force Base, Ardmore, Okla. You have the narnes of all 

the crew in your other record.



We flew to Grand Island, Nebraska where we picked up a 

new B-17G bomber. After calibrating the instruments and checking 

all equipment, we flew to Prestwick, Scotland via New Hampshire, 

Goose Bay, Labrador, Meeks Field, Iceland, to Prestwick, Scotland.



In England we spent two weeks at Bovingdon AFB, in southern England for

in theater training, including for me, training in the use of the GEE

navigational system.



We were then assigned to the 100th BG at Thorpe  Abbotts.



When we arrived there, due to a shortage of 

Navigators, I was assigned to the crew of Delbert E. Pearson, Pilot 

for four missions (Leipzig, Augsburg, Berlin, and Lippstadt. We 

flew it an old B-17F, No. 413, named Hard Luck.



Later, with Giles crew, we were assigned a B-17G, 

which the crew named LEADING LADY.



As you can see by Harry Crosby's letter, we became a lead 

crew, and I was promoted to Squadron Navigator, later Command 

Navigator.



After I returned to the States, I was assigned to 

Monroe, La. Navigation Training School until the war was over.



I was then assigned to G-2, Far East Headquarters, 

serving in the Phillippines for two months, and then the rest of my 

service in Tokyo. Japan.



For comedy, I was called REVEREND by my crew, and 

this was painted on the front of my  leather flightjacket.



I think all of this information is tne gist of my 

recall, and should complete your records for the most part.



If you need anything else, let me know and I'll see 

what I can do.



Charlie E. Gunter, Jr. 



EMAIL = KaWest@centurytel.net

UNAME = Ken Westerman

DIED = Charles E Gunter, Jr

DEATH_DATE = 14 June 2002

UNIT = 350th

COMMENTS = Charles E Gunter, Jr. Retired Major and Navigator, 8th Air Force Abbott. With the 100th BG. 350th Bomb Sqd. Age 84. Under the crew of John S. Giles, Jr. Charlie was a great admirer of both Harry Crosby and Rosie Rosenthal. Charlie, retired with the US FBI about 8 years ago. His still had his A2 jacket and all the book and information regarding the 100th BG Place of interment, Mt Home, AR, His pet aircraft were, "Hard Luck" - Fletchers Castoria and Leading Lady."Thank you. KenW



CREW



2nd Lt John M.Shelly               P       POW   11/9/44    RUHLAND        (WITH J. GILES CREW)

 2nd Lt Albert Skaar              CP        CPT    25/7/44    ST LO, GROUND SUPPORT

2nd Lt Michael W Spiller       NAV      CPT    25/7/44    ST LO, GROUND SUPPORT

2nd Lt Edward A.Fayette     BOM      SWA    17/7/44   AUXERRE

S/Sgt Edward D.Lowther      TTE      POW   29/7/44   MERSEBURG     (Wlth crew of G.H.Steussy)         TAPS: 1982

S/Sgt Gilbert R.Trunkett       ROG      CPT    24/7/44   ST LO, GROUND SUPPORT                                TAPS: 1 FEB 1955

 Sgt Victor H.Harikian            BTG      CPT    25/7/44   ST LO, GROUND SUPPORT

Sgt Joseph P.O'Donnell         WG      POW   29/7/44   MERSEBURG      (With crew of W.T.Fitzroy) see memo below

 Sgt Ralph H.Bates                TG      CPT     17/7/44   AUXERRE

 Sgt Gordon Winkler             WG      CPT      24/7/44    ST LO, GROUND SUPPORT



350th Sqdn. Crew,as above,joined the 100th Group on 9/3/44   Shelly flying as CP for J.S.Giles,Jr. on 11/9/44.  Lt Sterling "Pete" Lambert (from Lt Giles Crew) took over as 1st pilot on this Crew after June 20, 1944.

POW/KIA notes: Replaced Charles E. Gunter on this mission.