Personnel

CREW



Capt. Richard A. Carey-350th Bomb Squadron Operations Officer



1st Lt William D. Desanders        P    COMPLETED TOUR 13 FEB 1944 

2nd Lt William J. Styles            CP    POW 25 July 1943  Warnemunde Keil

2nd Lt Calvin H. Defevre        NAV    KIA   25 July 1943  Warnemunde Keil

2nd Lt William E. Griffith        BOM   KIA   25 July 1943  Warnemunde Keil

T/Sgt Lester I. Berg              TTE   KIA   25 July 1943  Warnemunde Keil

S/Sgt   Charles J. Mayville     WG    KIA   25 July 1943   Warnemunde Keil

T/Sgt   George L. Rudden     ROG    COMPLETED TOUR   (With Crew #10)

S/Sgt   Norman C. Eddy        BTG    KIA    25 July 1943   Warnemunde Keil

S/Sgt   Maynard T. Parsons    WG    POW   25 July 1943   Warnemunde Keil

Pvt     Robert D. Lepper          TG    POW  25 July 1943   Warnemunde Keil



Crew #17 Aircraft #42-5862 (Duration + 6 ), NOT  M.A.C.R. #117

On July 25, 1943, Bill Desanders was either ill or on leave and Captain Richard Carey, Operations Officer of the 350th, flew in his stead and became a POW.  Another replacement on the crew this day was T/Sgt. Steven S. Kopczewski, the regular radio operator on Crew #11.  He was killed in action.



Unable to bomb Warnemunde, the primary target, the Group flew to Keil where intense flak was met.  Plane was so damaged by flak that Captain Carey decided to ditch in the sea.  All the crew except for pilot and copilot were in radio room when ship hit the water

Apparently, Parsons and Lepper, both of whom were wounded, got out ofthe overhead hatch but the others in the radio room were trapped and went down with the ship which rapidly sank.  A subsequent report by William Styles said that, "Griffith was struggling to get out of hatch as the plane was sinking, that is the last I saw of him."



During a search for survivors, Danish fishermen found the body of Sgt. Kopczewski but, after making certain of death, left it in the water.



Carey, Styles, Lepper and Parsons were picked up by a Danish fishing boat and the latter two were taken to a hospital in Schleswig



It was mission #8 for this crew who were flying in "Duration + 6" and not their regular plane, "Alice From Dallas".



Mission list for Captian Richard Carey:



June 26, 1943, LeMans, 23279 "Badger Beauty"

June 28, 1943, St Nazaire, 23233 "Our Baby"

July 4, 1943, LaPallice, 23233 "Our Baby"

July 14, 1943, LeBourget/Paris 25862 "Duration + 6" 

July 24, 1943, Trondheim, 230047 "Sweater Girl"

July 25, 1943, Kiel, 25862 "Duration + 6"



"On July 25, 1943, Lt William Desanders was either ill or on leave and Captain Richard Carey, Operations Officer of the 350th replaced him and became a POW. The Aircraft "Duration + 6" was so damaged by flak that Capt Carey decided to ditch in the North Sea. 6 were KIA and 4 POW." "Capt. Carey, Lt Styles (CP), Sgt Robert Lepper (WG) and S/Sgt Maynard Parsons (TG) were picked up by a Danish fishing boat and the latter two were taken to a hospital in Schleswig." 





Subj: Re: Capt. Dick Carey 

Date: 10/10/2001 5:22:48 PM Pacific Daylight Time 

From: irene@backroads.net (irene penman)To: MPFaley@aol.com  



Dear Mike.. 

I am thrilled to tell you anything I can about Dick. My favorite subject..even over grandchildren. 

I saw your photo on the reunion pictures. I wish I had gone. But had house guests coming. They just are not too happy if you leave when they arrive. Silly souls.. 

Dick was quite interesting. He was the youngest licensed pilot in California. He took lessons by washing airplanes. You could do it then.He took his father and uncle and a friend of theirs on a fishing trip, I believe,in March 1939 by plane into the mountains of California. When they flew back it was foggy and they got over the ocean and ran out of gas. They went into the ocean and after two to three hours his father and uncle both drowned. Dick said he dove under the water to end things and when he came up a boat was there and rescued he and the friend of his dad's. He had to go home and tell his mother. Not easy for a young man. He went into the RCAF shortly after that. I will get you the exact dates. He did training up in Canada and became as Flight Lt. in the RCAF. He never went to England. Just stayed in Canada. When Pearl Harbor happened he transfered to the Army Air Force. We have many papers etc. which I will go through for you. I will send you anything about him I can that would be of interest. 

Mike, I am just so thrilled, amazed and delighted with the Web Site and everything to do with the 100th Bomb Group. You all have done amazing things and I am reading everything on every page. Also every book I can find that covers the group or prison camp. Dick was very quiet about anything that happened both in England and in prison camp. He told only funny things. Nothing about the scary stuff, like flak and guns and bombs.. So I am really learning this all for the first time. We were engaged when he went overseas having met on a blind date as I told you earlier. But I guess even though not a blond by hair color was a bit ditsy when it came to what was real during the war. I am in tears at times and so proud at others as I read about the things all these men did and how they had the courage to fly those missions time and time again. I have not read Frank Murphy's book and am eager to do so.( Frank said it will arrive tomorrow) But have purchased Century Bombers and also an Arthur Durand book Stalag Luft 3. Again I find so much that amazes me that they endured the cold, hunger and bugs and unknown outcome of each day plus that horrible March. As you said they are the "Greatest Generation". We owe them all the praise and glory and applause we can give them. 

I would happily call you if I can answer any questions more thorougly. I am loving this as it is bringing things about Dick we did not know and that is precious to us all. His children love him so much and lost him when they were so young. So memories are like gold. And for that we thank all of you who have provided us with this information though books, the web site and your own kindness in writing to us. We are so grateful.. 

By the way, you do a great job answering all those questions as I check them out daily. 

Thank you... thank you... 

Irene carey Penman



The following form contents were entered on 23rd Nov 1

Date = 23 Nov 1 19:18:37

subject = 100thBG Question Submission

messages = 286

email = wpf13@hotmail.com

uname = Wally P. Fydenchuk

comments =  I'm researching U.S. citizens who enlisted in the RCAF prior to Pearl Harbor.

As your website lists, Lt Charlie Wilson, Lt Robert Pearson and Capt. Richard Carey, were ex RCAF Americans. Capt. Mark Carnell was another ex RCAF member.  His RCAF service number was C 6873. He was a staff pilot at #4 Wireless School. He transferred to the USAAF May 1942. Two others also served/trained with RCAF  MAGEE CHARLES FULLER, SERVICE NUMBER;  R66199 Enlisted Niagara Falls 8-9-40 and  Michael Garemko completed EFTS training  (basic flight training) before transferring to the US Forces.  Found another Lt Reginald Smith He graduated from No. 5 Service Flying Training School Brantford, Ontario.



Richard Anthony Carey

RCAF Service Number: C2948

Staff pilot   No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School Fingal, Ontario

transferred 20/5/42 to USAAF

retired  29/5/42





conversation with Capt Frank Murphy, Nav on Cruikshank crew and roommate of Capt Dick Carey  1/19/05

 MPFaley [12:36 PM]:  Frank did you know a Lt Styles at Stalag Luft 3 

 MPFaley [12:36 PM]:  he was on Dick Careys plane when it went down 

 FrDMurphy [12:36 PM]:  Mike,  no, what compound was he in? 

 MPFaley [12:37 PM]:  not sure Frank, but Styles wife is trying to get all this info on POW and people who knew her husband for a project her Granddaughter is doing 

 MPFaley [12:38 PM]:  we told her to get your book  

 FrDMurphy [12:39 PM]:  Good.  I have considerable info on the South Compound where Dick and I were interned and will see what I can find out, if anything about Styles. 

 FrDMurphy [12:39 PM]:  If she will give me her contact address and/or e-mail I will try to help. 

 MPFaley [12:41 PM]:  will do, hold on 

 MPFaley [12:42 PM]:  he was Dicks copilot on the mission 

 MPFaley [12:43 PM]:  Jcstyles16@aol.com Her name is Jane.  

 FrDMurphy [12:45 PM]:  Okay, Fine.  Have noted it on  my writing pad. I wonder if he was in our compound as I believe I would have known about him if he was.  Dick had a couple of guys who regularly came over and chatted and played cribbage with him 

 FrDMurphy [12:51 PM]:  I will look into it, Mike 

 MPFaley [12:51 PM]:  Thanks Frank, I am sure the family would appreciate it.  

 FrDMurphy [12:52 PM]:  Hang on a second, Mike.  I think I have something. 

 FrDMurphy [12:56 PM]:  Okay, Mike.  Lt. W.J. Styles was in the South Compound.  He got out of the airplane and drifted 15 minutes in his Mae West before being picked up by a Danish fishing boat and was taken by the Germans when they returned to port.  He was from Troy, NY. Okay. 

 MPFaley [12:56 PM]:  so he was in your compound 

 MPFaley [12:58 PM]:  is the book Stalag Luft III any good for them as research? 

 FrDMurphy [1:00 PM]:  Yes, although I did not remember him specifically.  There is no book that will give them any info that I dod not have. Styles was with Dick. They were actually not shot down.  Engine failures caused them to drop out of formation and become stragglers.  The airplane mushed out and went into the drink.  He injured his back in the ditching but recovered. 

 MPFaley [1:01 PM]:  You ARE the person they need to talk too 

 FrDMurphy [1:02 PM]:  A friendly bomber circled Styles but they were about 150 miles from England with no chance of air/sea rescue.  That's about all I have. 

FrDMurphy [1:06 PM]:  My info is that Styles was born on August 24, 1920 and was a Roman Catholic.  Will they verify that?

FrDMurphy [1:14 PM]:  I remember Dick well because we were roommates.  Lt. Styles lived in a barracks two rows over from us.  If I can help it would be my pleasure.  Give Jane my e-mail address.

350th Operations Officer



 B 17F 42-5862 - The North Sea                                                               



  On 25 July 1943 at 5pm B17 42-5862 ditched in the North Sea near the cutter E 475 "Bertha" about 75 miles south west of Esbjerg. (Source: FOD A1393) AOD has details. This is one of the stories about airmen Rescued by fishermen in the North Sea. From the book A. Hjorth Rasmussen: Det er nødvendigt at sejle Fiskeri- og Søfartsmuseet. Saltvandsakvariet, Esbjerg, 1980 

     (Sailing is necessary) Fisheries and Maritime Museum. Saltwater Aquarium, Esbjerg, 1980



E 475 »Bertha« rescued 4 American airmen, but had to go to Esbjerg with them. Two 4-engined planes passed above the cutter, one of them gliding towards the water with engine trouble. It ditched some hundred metres from the »Bertha«. The cutter sailed to their rescue, and the 4 airmen who drifted around in their life jackets were picked out of the water. An immediate search for the 6 other airmen of the crew was unsuccessful. 2 of the airmen were uninjured, 2 severely injured. One of them had broken his arms and his legs, and the fishermen had to dress his wounds with splints from a wooden fish crate. The illegal magazine the “Vestjyden” tells about the arrival at Esbjerg, “When the ship came to the quay the Danish ambulance had arrived already. Work started immediately, but when the severely injured man was being put on a stretcher the Germans turned up and forbade moving him. That was the limit for the spectators, and there were strong protests over an order that brutal. Now the Germans went totally berserk. A blow in a whistle and more Germans immediately turned up and rushed at the Danes. One was hit with a butt on his shoulder and several people were kicked and beaten. One man had a revolver pressed against his stomach. Now the spectators drew a little back awaiting further events. After about 2-two hours of waiting a German ambulance arrived and took the severely injured airman who was lying on some duvets on the deck of the cutter.



The injured airman had been on his way to the harbour for 14 hours and he had to wait another 2 hours. While the poor man was lying there racked with pain a German officer strutted about smiling cynically every time the injured airman moaned with pain.



The brutality shown here by the Germans to a severely injured and helpless adversary once more stresses their cowardice and sadistic leanings. It is a comfort that the day of reckoning will soon be here, and then the German beasts will have the bill presented with interest and compound interest. We are in complete agreement on that."



This B-17 was from 350 BS, 100 BG, 13 Wing, 3 BD, 8 AF of the USAAF. See also the 100th Bomb Group (Heavy) with Photo of the pilot and operational details. It took off from RAF Thorpe Abbott - USAAF Station 139. See also 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum. 10 airmen.