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R Harris Crew 612
 R Harris Crew 612
Back row, left to right...
Roscoe Harris, Jr, pilot
Milton Brown, co-pilot
John Yankovich, navigator
Herbert Wisner, bombardier
Front row, left to right...
Murray Strauss, top turret gunner
Dallas Thomas, engineer, waist gunner
Vincent Muscarnera, radio operator
William Alm, nose gunner
Allister Boeschenstein, armorer, gunner
Wilford Bashor, gunner
R Harris Crew 612 Summary
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
More Info
R Harris CCT 62
42-110148
LUCKY STRIKE
44-40102
HEAVEN CAN WAIT
44-40163
44-40146
SUGAR-N-SPICE
44-40143
MARY ELLEN
42-95160
44-40067
BIG FAT MAMA
44-40142
SKNAPPY
44-40227
FOUR BEERS DOC
Links to missions
flown by the
R Harris Crew 612
are below in their
Mission Record
Original Roster for
R Harris Crew 612
Position / MOS 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
  Others Who Flew with R Harris Crew 612
Crew Chief
MOS 750
Quissell, Curtis E T/Sgt 37152291 Flew to England with the crew
R Harris Crew 612
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 44-40102 Zeitz, Germany Target: Oil refinery
02
 Link to Mission 05 page 05
19 May 44 44-40163 Brunswick, Germany Target: Marshalling yard
03
 Link to Mission 07 page 07
23 May 44   Avord, France Target: Airfield
04
 Link to Mission 08 page 08
24 May 44 44-40146 Melun, France Target: Airfield
05
 Link to Mission 09 page 09
25 May 44 44-40143 Belfort, France Target: Marshalling yard
06
 Link to Mission 13 page 13
30 May 44 42-95160 Rotenburg, Germany Target: Air depot
07
 Link to Mission 16 page 16
04 Jun 44 42-110148 Avord, France Target: Airfield
08
 Link to Mission 17 page 17
06 Jun 44 44-40067 Normandy, France Target: D-Day invasion coast
09
 Link to Mission 19 page 19
06 Jun 44 44-40067 Vire, France Target: Tactical
10
 Link to Mission 20 page 20
08 Jun 44 44-40067 Angers, France Target: Railroad junction
11
 Link to Mission 21 page 21
10 Jun 44 44-40067 Boulogne, France Target: Airfield
Flew with the 44th BG
12
 Link to Mission 27 page 27
14 Jun 44 44-40227 Chateaudun, France Target: Airfield
13
 Link to Mission 31 page 31
18 Jun 44 44-40142 Luneburg, Germany Target: Airfield
Bombed target of opportunity
14
 Link to Mission 34 page 34
20 Jun 44 44-40227 Politz, Germany Target: Oil refinery
Lost before target: 7 KIA, 3 POW, MACR 7082
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Page last modified Tuesday, October 4, 2011.