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Ogden Crew 606
Ogden Crew 606 Summary
The Ogden Crew was one of the original crews for the 492nd BG that trained in Alamogordo, New Mexico. This crew was put together during the Alamogordo Shuffle after splitting up some of the new crews and using those men to draw on. We're still trying to put the pieces together. Two members of this crew came from the Seitzinger Crew. See the Training link on the right. The Ogden Crew was assigned to the 856th BS, designated as Crew 606.
1st Lt William Ogden signed out for B-24J 42-110152. Their plane was nicknamed the LADY WILL. In April 1944 they flew their assigned aircraft to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. T/Sgt Reynolds, the ground crew chief, accompanied them, thus bumping Sgt Casaday onto the Queen Elizabeth.
By our count Ogden flew as the aircraft commander for Crew 606 for a total of 6 missions. We know that there were some personnel changes made to their roster as noted below.
Lt Hamilton was given command of his own crew shortly after the Group arrived in North Pickenham. Williams went with him. Hamilton and his new crew began flying missions since the Group's second one on 12 May 44. Baarsch and Napientek were reassigned to replace Hamilton and Williams. Other personnel changes were made, but we are still trying to figure them out with confirmation.
Lt Dichter, the navigator, was KIA while flying with the Hadden Crew 608.
Ogden was promoted to Captain and was transferred to the 44th BG on 3 Jul 44, taking a crew with him. There was another officer, possibly a pilotage navigator, added to the transfer as an extra, but we're having a hard time reading his name.
The Crew had a short service with the 44th, since they were sent there for Pathfinder and Lead Ship training. They were reassigned again to the 389th BG where they stayed until they finished their tour.
More Info
( No photos yet )
Seitzinger CCT 1116
42-110152
LADY WILL
42-110143
LITTLE LULU
Links to missions
flown by the
Ogden Crew 606
are below in their
Mission Record
44th BG
website
Original Roster for
Ogden Crew 606
Position / MOS Name Rank Serial # Notes
Pilot
MOS 1024
Ogden, William E 1st Lt O-665101 Promoted Capt
Transferred to 44th BG, 66th BS on 3 Jul 44
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024
Hamilton, Wilfred L 2nd Lt O-810143 Promoted to pilot Crew 604
Promoted 1st Lt
Completed 30 mission tour
Navigator
MOS 1034
Dichter, Lester 2nd Lt O-699145 Flew with Hadden Crew 608
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7083
Wall of the Missing, Cambridge
Bombardier
MOS 1035
Williams, William A 2nd Lt O-696529 Reassigned to Hamilton Crew 604
See Footnotes
Engineer
MOS 748
Brown, Kenneth P S/Sgt 35601176 Promoted T/Sgt
Transferred 3 Jul 44, to 44th BG
Radio
Operator
MOS 757
Gavitt, Franklin P S/Sgt 31218941 Promoted T/Sgt
Transferred 3 Jul 44, to 44th BG
Gunner
MOS 612
Doepker, Robert E Sgt 19124571 Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 3 Jul 44, to 44th BG
Gunner
MOS 748
Knight, Ralph J S/Sgt 11044178 Reassigned to Bridges Crew 702
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 44th BG, 68th BS
See Footnotes
Gunner
MOS 611
Greenwood, Charles E Sgt 15327058 Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 3 Jul 44, to 44th BG
See Footnotes
Engineer
Top Gunner
MOS 748
Casaday, Alex M Sgt 34703431 Arrived to the UK via the Queen Elizabeth
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 3 Jul 44, to 44th BG
See Footnotes
  Others Who Flew with Ogden Crew 606
Crew Chief
MOS 750
Reynolds, Willie O T/Sgt 14071292 Flew to England with the crew
Promoted M/Sgt
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024
Baarsch, Gerald E 2nd Lt O-702216 From the Gendreizig Crew 613
Transferred 3 Jul 44, to 44th BG
Navigator
MOS 1034
Burns, Norman E 2nd Lt O-703941 From the Val Preda Crew 601
Transferred 3 Jul 44, to 44th BG
Bombardier
MOS 1035
Wallen, Charles L 2nd Lt O-708971 From Leahy Crew R-17
Transferred 3 Jul 44, to 44th BG
Bombardier
MOS 1035
Napientek, Chester F/O T-123001 From Shalvoy Crew 618
Transferred 3 Jul 44, to 44th BG
Gunner
MOS 612
Downes, Robert J
"Bob"
Sgt 12134086 From Shalvoy Crew 618
Assigned to Curtis Crew 610
Assigned to the Ogden Crew 606
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 3 Jul 44, to 44th BG
See Footnotes
Ogden Crew 606
492nd BG Mission Record
856th Bomb Squadron
Crew
Mission
Number
Group
Mission
Number
Group
Mission
Date
Aircraft
Serial
Number
Primary Target Mission Notes
01
 Link to Mission 02 page 02
12 May 44 42-110143 Zeitz, Germany Target: Oil refinery
02
 Link to Mission 09 page 09
25 May 44 42-110143 Belfort, France Target: Marshalling yard
Lead Ship w/Hurley
03
 Link to Mission 13 page 13
30 May 44 42-110143 Rotenburg, Germany Target: Air depot
04
 Link to Mission 17 page 17
06 Jun 44 42-110143 Normandy, France Target: D-Day invasion coast
05
 Link to Mission 27 page 27
14 Jun 44 42-110143 Chateaudun, France Target: Airfield
Lead Ship w/Losee
06
 Link to Mission 35 page 35
20 Jun 44   Fiefs, France Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets)
Lead Ship
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Page last modified Sunday, January 3, 2010.