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Ogden Crew 606 Summary
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Lt Dichter, the navigator, was KIA while flying with the Hadden Crew 608.
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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.
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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.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Ogden Crew 606
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| Position |
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 |
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Others Who Flew with Ogden Crew 606
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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 |
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Ogden Crew 606
492nd BG Mission Record
856th Bomb Squadron
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Crew
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Date |
Aircraft
Serial
Number |
Primary Target |
Mission Notes |
| 01 |
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12 May 44 |
42-110143 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 02 |
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25 May 44 |
42-110143 |
Belfort, France |
Target: Marshalling yard
Lead Ship w/Hurley |
| 03 |
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30 May 44 |
42-110143 |
Rotenburg, Germany |
Target: Air depot |
| 04 |
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06 Jun 44 |
42-110143 |
Normandy, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 05 |
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14 Jun 44 |
42-110143 |
Chateaudun, France |
Target: Airfield
Lead Ship w/Losee |
| 06 |
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20 Jun 44 |
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Fiefs, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets)
Lead Ship |
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