Hurley Crew 604

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Hurley Crew 604

Back row, left to right...
•	Wallace Hurley, pilot
•	Juan Rodriguez, bombardier
•	Rudie Bartel, navigator
•	M Scott Moorhead, co-pilot

Front row, left to right...
•	David Swank, engineer
•	Robert Mantel, nose gunner
•	Harold McMahon, radio operator
•	Walter White Jr, tail gunner
•	William Riley, waist gunner

Hurley Crew 604 Summary

Captain Hurley was an experienced pilot who flew for a commercial airline before the war. He later became an instructor to train pilots for the RAF. After the US joined the war, he began training US pilots. As the arms build-up was nearing completion, Hurley turned down another promotion within the training sector and put in for combat duty.

The Hurley Crew was formed and trained as Crew 1634 in the 330th CCTS (Combat Crew Training School) at Biggs, Texas. From there they were transferred to the 492nd BG at Alamogordo, New Mexico. They were assigned to the 856th BS, designated as Crew 604.

Crew 604 was assigned B-24J 44-40150. They named their ship RUPTURED DUCK. In April 1944, Captain Hurley flew the RUPTURED DUCK and Crew 604 to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. The aircraft's ground Crew Chief, S/Sgt Henry, flew with them, thus bumping Cpl Cookerow onto the Queen Elizabeth.

Soon after arriving in North Pickenham, Hurley was promoted in responsibilty to serve in the squadron's command staff. But first he would take his crew on one mission with the crew's new pilot, Lt Hamilton, flying along as co-pilot. Their regular co-pilot, Lt Moorehead, sat this mission out.

Hamilton took Crew 604 on 29 more missions to become one of the six crews at North Pickenham to complete a 30 mission tour. Their mission record begins with the first one shown below. The complete mission record is on the Hamilton Crew 604 page.

Capt Hurley put on a few hats while with the 492nd. The pilot became the Squadron's Operation Officer. He served one week as acting commander of the squadron when Major Losee became MIA on 20 June. Major Schnepis was transferred in to assume command. On 8 July, Schnepis was hospitalized and full command was given to Hurley. Two weeks later, Hurley was also hospitalized. He wouldn't return to duty until after the Group had been disbanded.

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