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Back row, left to right...
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Arthur Hostettler, bombardier
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Eugene Hadden, pilot
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Leonard Telfer, co-pilot
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Robert Jackson, navigator
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Front row, left to right...
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Richard Anderson, engineer
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Julian Dukes, radio operator
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Iren Pearce, tail gunner
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Maurice Chartier, nose gunner
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Frederick Albers, gunner
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Hadden Crew 608 Summary
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The Hadden Crew was one of the original crews for the 492nd BG trained in Alamogordo, New Mexico. They transferred in as crew 87 on 26 Jan 44 from the 331st CCTS (Combat Crew Training School) in Casper, Wyoming. No personnel changes were made with this crew. They were assigned to the 856th BS as Crew 608.
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Lt Eugene Hadden signed out for a B-24, but its serial number was omitted from the flyover roster, so we can't be sure which ship he signed for. There's a strong possiblity that it was 44-40134. In April 1944, they flew their assigned aircraft to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. Major John Losee, the 856th Squadron Commander flew with them, thus bumping Sgt Augustine onto the Queen Elizabeth.
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By our count, Lt Hadden flew as the aircraft commander for crew 608 for a total of 16 missions. We aren't sure of who was on each mission or of all the personnel changes. We don't know why but neither Jackson, Hostettler or Albers were on the plane when the crew was killed. In their places were Dichter, Rybarczyk, and Mitchell respectively. Although Dichter was trained as a bombardier he flew this mission as navigator.
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On 20 Jun 44, they were sent to bomb the oil refinery at Politz. They were blown out of the sky over the Baltic by rocket firing Me-410s and JU-88s. There were no survivors of the 10-man crew. MACR 7083.
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The next day, Lt Jackson became the new 856th Squadron Navigator. Lt Hostettler was transferred later to the 306th BG. He was KIA later on 11 Sept 44, flying a mission with them. At this time we do not know where Sgt Albers went.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Hadden Crew 608
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Hadden, Eugene H |
2nd Lt |
O-808538 |
29 May 44, promoted 1st Lt
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7083
Cambridge, Wall of the Missing |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Telfer, Leonard F |
2nd Lt |
O-810071 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7083
Cambridge, Wall of the Missing |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Jackson, Robert E |
2nd Lt |
O-685626 |
21 Jun 44, promoted Squadron Navigator
18 Jul 44, promoted 1st Lt |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Hostettler, Arthur S |
1st Lt |
O-668712 |
18 Jul 44, promoted Capt
Transferred to the 306th BG
KIA, 11 Sep 44 |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Anderson, Richard B |
S/Sgt |
12017424 |
1 Jun 44, promoted T/Sgt
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7083
Buried at Ardennes, D-12-20 |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Dukes, Julian E |
S/Sgt |
14140516 |
1 Jun 44, promoted T/Sgt
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7083
Cambridge, Wall of the Missing |
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Albers, Frederick R |
Sgt |
33561814 |
fate unknown
not on plane when lost |
Nose Gunner
MOS 748 |
Chartier, Maurice C |
Sgt |
11044366 |
1 Jun 44, promoted S/Sgt
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7083
Cambridge, Wall of the Missing |
Tail Gunner
MOS 748 |
Pearce, Iren R |
Sgt |
34474369 |
1 Jun 44, promoted S/Sgt
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7083
Cambridge, Wall of the Missing |
Ball Gunner
MOS 612 |
Augustine, Lynn P |
Sgt |
33425807 |
Arrived to the UK via the Queen Elizabeth
1 Jun 44, promoted S/Sgt
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7083
Cambridge, Wall of the Missing |
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Others Who Flew with Hadden Crew 608
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Squadron
Commander
MOS 1024 |
Losee, John |
Maj |
O-386510 |
Flew to England with the crew |
Navigator
MOS 1035 |
Dichter, Lester |
2nd Lt |
O-699145 |
From Ogden Crew 606
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7083
Cambridge, Wall of the Missing |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Rybarczyk, Luke S |
2nd Lt |
O-668786 |
From Val Preda Crew 601
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7083
Cambridge, Wall of the Missing |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Mitchell, Joe D |
Sgt |
37651857 |
not sure where he came from
1 Jun 44, promoted S/Sgt
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7083
Cambridge, Wall of the Missing |
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Hadden Crew 608
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 |
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Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 02 |
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15 May 44 |
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Siracourt, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets)
Aborted, credit unconfirmed |
| 03 |
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21 May 44 |
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Siracourt, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets)
Aborted, credit unconfirmed |
| 04 |
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27 May 44 |
42-95272 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 05 |
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28 May 44 |
42-95272 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Bombed Saalfeld |
| 06 |
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30 May 44 |
42-95272 |
Rotenburg, Germany |
Target: Air depot |
| 07 |
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31 May 44 |
42-95272 |
Brussels, Belgium |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 08 |
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04 Jun 44 |
42-95272 |
Avord, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 09 |
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06 Jun 44 |
42-95272 |
Normandy, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 10 |
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06 Jun 44 |
42-95272 |
Vire, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 11 |
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08 Jun 44 |
42-95272 |
Angers, France |
Target: Railroad junction |
| 12 |
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10 Jun 44 |
42-95272 |
Orleans/Bricy, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 13 |
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12 Jun 44 |
42-95272 |
Dreux, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 14 |
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14 Jun 44 |
42-95272 |
Chateaudun, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 15 |
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18 Jun 44 |
44-40227 |
Luneburg, Germany |
Target: Airfield
Bombed target of opportunity |
| 16 |
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20 Jun 44 |
42-110143 |
Politz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Lost before target
10 KIA, MACR 7083 |
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