Personnel

CREW



 2nd Lt GeorgeH.Lenke,Jr.       P    FEH

    F/0 Stanley E.Wood,Jr.       CP   FEH

 2nd Lt Edwin F.Barber         NAV   FEH

 2nd Lt William R.Cavin         BOM     FEH

    Cpl Thomas P.Dowling      ROG     FEH

    Pvt Curtis L.Horton,Jr.      TTE    FEH

    Sgt Alvin J.Davis              BTG    FEH

    Pvt James H.Gilstrap            WG   FEH

    Cpl Woolsey M.Caye,Jr.         TG   FEH



350th Sqdn. Joined the 100th Group on 14/3/45



Known Missions of Lt Lenke Crew: 

March 31,1945  ZEITZ         LENKE   297  X  Hardstand 28, POOBAH  A-Sqdn.44-6297  LN-X              

April 7th 1945,  BUCHEN      LENKE   505  V  Hardstand 29  POOBAH  C Sqdn 44-6505  LN-V 

April 8th 1945,  EGER,CZ.     LENKE  476  P   Hardstand 31,               D Sqdn 43-38476 LN-P      

April 11th,1945  LANDSHUT  LENKE   991  T  Hardstand 31               C-Sqdn, 42-31001 LN-T  

April 18th,1945  STRAUBING LENKE   512  E  Hardstand 27,               B Sqdn  44-8512  LN-E



Chowhound Missions:



May 4th,1945  LENKE    226  B  Hardstand 30,  A Sqdn  MISSION SCRUBBED

May 5th,1945  LENKE    226  B  Hardstand 30,  A  Sqdn  CHOWHOUND....



44-6297   LN-X  Was called "SPIRIT OF PITTWOOD"  (natural finish)

44-6505   LN-V  Was called "CHIN UP GIRL"  (natural finish) 

43-38476 LN-P  had no name (natural finish)

42-31991 LN-T  named "MISS CHIEF" (OD and Gray paint scheme)

44-8512  LN-E   had no name.  (natural finish)

44-8226  LN-B   named "JIMBO" (natural finish)



CREW



ONE OF THE LAST AIRCRAFT TO LEAVE THORPE ABBOTTS AT THE CLOSE OF HOSTILITIES. DEPARTED 25 SEP 1945



 On the 15th of August 1945, Colonel Jack Wallace, Commanding Officer of the 100th toured the base personally announcing the 100th was scheduled to return to the U.S.A. The last six (6) aircraft to leave with passangers did so under Special Order No #1 dated 25 Sep 1945. Destination was Greinier Field at Manchester, New Hampshire.

 The lead aircraft, B-17G #44-8912 was flown by Major Johnson R. Staples. Aboard were five (5) crew members and five (5) passangers. Those aboard are listed below..



Maj Johnson R. Staples Aircraft Commander 418th Sqdn.. CO  Taps March 1988

Maj J.S. Robinson  Co-pilot   418th Sqdn.  Commander of 24 Dec 44 Bulge Relief.

Capt E.C. King  Navigator  351st Sqdn. Flew periless 24 May 1944 Berlin Mission.

T/Sgt E.W. Miller  Flight Engineer  418th Sqdn Flying at the end of hostilities.

T/Sgt F. Kocher  Radio Operator  418th Sqdn Completed Tour 05 Jan 1945 Frankfurt. 



M/Sgt J. Klingenstein  Passenger  Flight Line Chief

Maj  Horace L. Varian Passenger  Gnd Execitive Officer

Capt William A. Carleton Passenger  Group Engineering Officer

Capt A.J. Tong  Passenger  349th Sqdn. Bombardier

F/O S.E. Wood  Passenger  350th Sqdn. Co-pilot