 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Back row, left to right...
|
| • |
Henry G Gendreizig, pilot
|
| • |
Gerald E Baarsch, co-pilot
|
| • |
Monroe J Behrens, navigator
|
| • |
Armond L Hankin, bombardier
|
| • |
Lanta W Redmond Jr, armorer, gunner
|
|
|
Front row, left to right...
|
| • |
William J Seufert, radio operator
|
| • |
Charles W Allen, engineer
|
| • |
Elbert E Ester, gunner
|
| • |
Herman E Beasley, gunner
|
| • |
Elbert E Ester, gunner
|
| • |
George S Cavanaugh, gunner
|
|
|
|
Gendreizig Crew 613 Summary
|
|
The Gendreizig Crew transferred to the 492nd in Alamogordo, New Mexico as Crew 1632 from the 330th CCTS (Combat Crew Training School) in Biggs, Texas. According to the transfer orders, they arrived without a navigator. 2nd Lt Behrens was assigned to the crew to fill the missing spot. Also Sgt Stevens was sent over to the 858th BS and was replaced by Sgt Redmond. The Gendreizig Crew was assigned to the 856th BS, designated as Crew 613.
|
|
The crew was assigned B-24J, 44-40112 and gave it the name, FLAK HAPPY. Capt Gendreizig flew his crew to the UK via the southern route. The ground Crew Chief S/Sgt Cota also flew over with the crew by bumping S/Sgt Redmond onto the Queen Elizabeth.
|
|
Gendreizig did not take this crew on any missions. Upon arriving to England, he was promoted to work with Capt Hurley, as the 856th Squadron Assistant Operations Officer. When the squadron's Commanding Officer, Major Losee, became MIA on the 20 June mission, Hurley took acting command of the squadron while Gendreizig took his place. A week later Major Schepis, assumed command of the squadron, thus everyone returning to their old positions. Three weeks later, Schepis went into the hospital. So once again Hurley and Gendreizig moved up. A week later Hurley was also hospitalized. Gendreizig took over the squadron until Major Turner could be brought in. When the 492nd was disbanded, Gendreizig was the Squadron's Operation Officer.
|
|
This crew was taken over 2nd Lt Nicholas Kehoe, who had been the Squadron's Assistant Operations Officer. He and Gendreizig had switched places. Kehoe was an experienced pilot who had been with the Group since the days of Col Pierce's command.
|
|
The rest of the Crew's history is on the Kehoe Crew 613 page.
|
|
|
|
|
More Info |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Original Roster for
Gendreizig Crew 613
|
|
| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Gendreizig, Henry G
"Hank" |
Capt |
O-437395 |
Reassigned to Staff
Assistant Operations Officer
Operations Officer
Acting Squadron Commander |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Baarsch, Gerald E |
2nd Lt |
O-702216 |
Reassigned to Ogden Crew 606
3 Jul 44; transferred to 44th BG, 66th BS |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Behrens, Monroe J |
2nd Lt |
O-704555 |
28 May; sent to 482nd BG for 30 day training
No record of his return |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Hankin, Armond L |
2nd Lt |
O-695814 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7074
Buried in Ardennes, D-13-15 |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Allen, Charles W |
S/Sgt |
39555395 |
Promoted T/Sgt
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7074
Buried in Ardennes, B-36-45 |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Seufert, William J |
S/Sgt |
35789596 |
Promoted T/Sgt
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7074
Wall of the Missing, Cambridge |
Ball Gunner
MOS 748 |
Beasley, Herman E |
Sgt |
14151017 |
Promoted S/Sgt
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7074
Wall of the Missing, Netherlands |
Tail Gunner
MOS 748 |
Ester, Elbert E |
S/Sgt |
39553701 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7074
Buried in Ardennes, B-37-22 |
RW Gunner
MOS 748 |
Cavanaugh, George S |
Sgt |
15394280 |
Promoted S/Sgt
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7074
Buried in the USA |
Armorer
LW Gunner
MOS 612 |
Redmond, Lanta W Jr |
Sgt |
34802235 |
Arrived to the UK via the Queen Elizabeth
Promoted S/Sgt
POW, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7074, Stalag Luft IV |
| |
Others Who Flew with Gendreizig Crew 613
|
Crew Chief
MOS 750 |
Cota, Andrew C |
S/Sgt |
38413328 |
Flew to England with the crew
Promoted T/Sgt |
|
Gendreizig Crew 613
492nd BG Mission Record
856th Bomb Squadron
|
|
Crew
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Date |
Aircraft
Serial
Number |
Primary Target |
Mission Notes |
| - |
- |
- |
- |
- |
No missions flown |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
