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Back row, left to right...
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Roscoe Harris, Jr, pilot
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Milton Brown, co-pilot
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John Yankovich, navigator
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Herbert Wisner, bombardier
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Front row, left to right...
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Murray Strauss, top turret gunner
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Dallas Thomas, engineer, waist gunner
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Vincent Muscarnera, radio operator
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William Alm, nose gunner
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Allister Boeschenstein, armorer, gunner
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Wilford Bashor, gunner
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R Harris Crew 612 Summary
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The Roscoe Harris Crew was one of the original crews for the 492nd BG that trained in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The Group had two pilots named Harris, Joe and Roscoe. Sometimes the research can get confusing. Joe Harris served with the 857th Squadron. The Roscoe Harris crew transferred in as crew 62 from the 331st CCTS (Combat Crew Training School) in Casper, Wyoming. There were no personnel changes after arriving to Alamogordo. They were assigned to the 856th BS, designated as Crew 612.
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1st Lt Roscoe Harris signed out for a B-24J, 42-110148. According to some accounts, their aircraft was named LUCKY STRIKE. In researching the Group's history, there were three planes in the 492nd referred to as LUCKY STRIKE. At this time we aren't sure if there were three or if some of the stories had confused it. The name LUCKY STRIKE was a very popular nickname during the war as the cigarette company produced a special brand for the military known as Lucky Greens or Victory cigarettes. Instead of the red circle logo, it had a green one. The simple logo provided for quick and easy nose art, requiring little artistic skills.
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In April 1944, they flew their assigned aircraft to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. Their ground crew chief, T/Sgt Quissell, flew with them, thus bumping Sgt Boeschenstein onto the Queen Elizabeth.
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By our count, Lt R Harris flew as the aircraft commander for Crew 611 for a total of 14 missions. According to Vincent Muscarnera's story, they flew 16. We aren't sure if there were any personnel changes on some of their missions.
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On 20 Jun 44, they were attacked by German fighters while still out over the Baltic Sea. During the air battle only 3 men were able to bail out safely. The others were KIA. MACR 7082.
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Vincent Muscarnera, the Crew's radio operator, wrote an article for the HAPPY WARRIOR that recaps his experiences of getting shot down and captured. We reprinted it here, see underneath Stories at right.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
R Harris Crew 612
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Harris, Roscoe E Jr |
1st Lt |
O-747262 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7082
Wall of the Missing, Cambridge, UK |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Brown, Milton E |
2nd Lt |
O-812540 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7082
Wall of the Missing, Cambridge, UK |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Yankovich, John J |
2nd Lt |
O-691849 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7082
Wall of the Missing, Cambridge, UK |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Wisner, Herbert M |
2nd Lt |
O-753090 |
POW, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7082 |
Engineer
Waist Gunner
MOS 748 |
Thomas, Dallas D |
S/Sgt |
17099882 |
Promoted to T/Sgt
POW, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7082, Stalag Luft IV |
Radio Operator
Waist Gunner
MOS 757 |
Muscarnera, Vincent J |
Sgt |
12190903 |
Promoted to S/Sgt
Promoted to T/Sgt
POW, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7082, Stalag Luft IV |
Top Gunner
MOS 612 |
Strauss, Murray D |
Sgt |
12180273 |
Promoted S/Sgt
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7082
Wall of the Missing, Cambridge, UK |
Tail Gunner
MOS 612 |
Bashor, Wilford D |
Sgt |
39276440 |
Promoted S/Sgt
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7082
Wall of the Missing, Cambridge, UK |
Nose Gunner
MOS 748 |
Alm, William K |
Sgt |
35588138 |
Promoted S/Sgt
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7082
Wall of the Missing, Cambridge, UK |
Armorer
Ball Gunner
MOS 612 |
Boeschenstein,
Allister C |
Sgt |
16086523 |
Arrived to the UK via the Queen Elizabeth
Promoted to S/Sgt
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7082
Wall of the Missing, Cambridge, UK |
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Others Who Flew with R Harris Crew 612
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Crew Chief
MOS 750 |
Quissell, Curtis E |
T/Sgt |
37152291 |
Flew to England with the crew |
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R Harris Crew 612
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 |
44-40102 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 02 |
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19 May 44 |
44-40163 |
Brunswick, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 03 |
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23 May 44 |
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Avord, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 04 |
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24 May 44 |
44-40146 |
Melun, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 05 |
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25 May 44 |
44-40143 |
Belfort, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 06 |
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30 May 44 |
42-95160 |
Rotenburg, Germany |
Target: Air depot |
| 07 |
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04 Jun 44 |
42-110148 |
Avord, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 08 |
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06 Jun 44 |
44-40067 |
Normandy, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 09 |
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06 Jun 44 |
44-40067 |
Vire, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 10 |
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08 Jun 44 |
44-40067 |
Angers, France |
Target: Railroad junction |
| 11 |
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10 Jun 44 |
44-40067 |
Boulogne, France |
Target: Airfield
Flew with the 44th BG |
| 12 |
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14 Jun 44 |
44-40227 |
Chateaudun, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 13 |
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18 Jun 44 |
44-40142 |
Luneburg, Germany |
Target: Airfield
Bombed target of opportunity |
| 14 |
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20 Jun 44 |
44-40227 |
Politz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Lost before target: 7 KIA, 3 POW, MACR 7082 |
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