Personnel

CREW



1ST LT FRANCIS C. KINCANNON    P POW 20 JUL 44 MERSEBURG

2ND LT BERNARD L. FARNUM       CP POW 20 JUL 44 MERSEBURG

2ND LT LOUIS ABROMOWITZ    NAV EVA 20 JUL 44 MERSEBURG

1ST LT ROBERT E. NANCE        BOM EVA 20 JUL 44 MERSEBURG

S/SGT DANIEL B. DEASON         TTE POW 20 JUL 44 MERSEBURG

SGT OSCAR L. EDGE                 ROG POW 20 JUL 44 MERSEBURG

SGT BERNARD M. TARNECKI      BTG NOC

SGT CHARLES E. GARRETTE       WG NOC

SGT THOMAS J. HOAGG             WG CPT    24 JUL 44 ST LO

SGT ROBERT D. CHAVEZ              TG POW 20 JUL 44 MERSEBURG



418TH SQDN.. CREW, AS ABOVE JOINED THE 100TH ON  09 MAR 1944

The Crew flew a/c 42-107011  "SHINING HOUR" starting on March 27, 1944. 



MAY HAVE USED THIS DURING THE WAR BUT I FEEL CHANGED NAME FROM ABROMOWITZ TO ABBOTT AFTER THE WAR…..mpf 2006



Partial list of Missions of Lt Kincannon Crew: (all missions in Shining Hour unless otherwise noted…mpf)



1.     16/03/44     AUGSBURG (a/c 42-38175)

2.     18/03/44     LECHFELD/MUNICH  (a/c 42-6087 "ROYAL FLUSH" flak damage to #2 Engine)  

3.     27/03/44     BORDEAUX/MERIGNAC AF

4.     28/03/44     CHATEAUDUN, AF

        31/03/44     LUDWIGSHAVEN  (Recall)

        01/04/44     LUDWIGSHAVEN  (Recall)

5.     08/04/44     QUACKENBRUCK, AF

        09/04/44     KRESZINKE (POSEN) (Recall)

6.     10/04/44     RHEIMS

7.     11/04/44     ROSTOCK

        12/04/44     SCHKEUDITZ (LEIPZIG), AC FACTORY (Lt Col Kidd Command Pilot, Recall)

8.     13/04/44     AUGSBURG (flak damage to #3 engine)

9.     22/04/44     HAMM

10.   24/04/44     FLOTTENANVILLE (NO BALL)



About this time, Lt Kincannon's Crew became a Pathfinder Crew and were assigned a radar equipped Fort supplied by the 95th BG called "BELLE OF BERLIN".  (I also believe the make up of this Crew changed at this point with BTG, and both WG's being taken off the Crew and either assigned to other crews or went into spare gunner pool..MPF)





                                              Pathfinder Aircraft



DATE: 20 July 1944       418th Sqdn.            A/C #42-97564 OE-F (95th BG Pathfinder) "Belle of Berlin"



MISSION: Merseburg,Ger.                             MACR #7414,Micro-fiche #2701





 Major MaGee C.Fuller           Com. P  POW

 Capt Francis C.Kincannon           P       POW

1st Lt Bernard L.Farnum         CP       POW

Capt Robert E.Nance           BOM      EVADEE

1st Lt Louis H.Abromowitz      NAV      EVADEE

Capt Henry C. Griffis           RAD/N     EVADEE (see Hermansen crew/ 350th Sqdn.)

1st Lt George E.Bonitz        NAV      EVADEE

T/Sgt Daniel B.Deason        TTE       POW

T/Sgt Oscar L.Edge            ROG        POW

 S/Sgt Glen E.Snider          RWG       POW

 S/Sgt Daniel M.Cargile        LWG       EVADEE

 S/Sgt Robert D.Chavez        TG        POW



This A/C  was leading the mission in a Pathfinder ship which accounts for the

seven officers aboard. Major Fuller,who had flown overseas as pilot of a 349th

Sqdn. Crew in June 1943, was now C.O. of the 418th.



EYEWITNESS:  "Just as bombs were released A/C #564 received a direct hit by AA fire between #2 engine and fuselage.Shell did not explode but a large hole was torn in the wing and gasoline poured from the tanks. #2 engine feathered and A/C pulled out of formation directing deputy leader to take over. A/C fell behind and was escorted by fighters and it was reported that #564 was heard to tell fighters over radio that it

was all-right." This is all the information that interrogation of 100th "A" Group crews revealed.



From Bottisham (fighter base) to PFF War room to 100th BG the following report was received: "A/C #564 called for fighter support

after it began to lag and contact was made over channel "C" with the fighters which gave it cover. Subsequentlythe PFF had to crash

land near Louvain just east of Brusselsand prearranged plan (over channel "C") as soon as the crew had cleared the A/C the fighter strafed and set fire to the ship. Fighter did not see PFF explode  but stated definitely that it was afire,and that all the crew was safe.'





Subj: 100thBG Feedback Form  

Date: 6/3/2004 8:16:42 AM Pacific Daylight Time 

From: bryans214@peoplepc.com 



 The following form contents were entered on 3rd Jun 4

Date = 3 Jun 4 15:16:28

subject = 100thBG Feedback Form

messages = 1443

CATEGORY = Other

EMAIL = bryans214@peoplepc.com

UNAME = William Bryan

INTEREST = I am the relative of a 100th veteran

FEEDBACK = My uncle (deceased in 1968)was a tail gunner on a 100 bomb group crew...I believe the name of the B-17 was "Shining Hour"...his name was Charles E. Garrett, from Charlottesville, VA...but when I go to your site's 'crew' page and do a search for him or his aircraft, nothing comes up...can you help me here as to why or where? Thanks.





Purpose: Request information

Email: victor.schutters@skynet.be

Name: victor schutters

Interest: Other

Comments: Dear Madam, dear Sir,

I am writting you from Belgium.

My grandfather,Victor Schutters, was a member of the belgian underground.On 1st August 1944, he picked up three airmen of the 100th BG in Westmalle and brought them to a safe house in Brussels.Those airmen are: Capt Robert E.Nance, 1st Lt George E.Bonitz and 1st Lt Louis H.Abramowitz. 

I should want to know how they were helped after the crash. I wonder if they are still alive and if they remember their trip with my grandfather. 

Yours sincerely, Victor Schutters.

 (last name changed to Abbott after war)