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Back row, left to right...
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Richard Wesson, bombardier
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Armando Velarde, pilot
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Harold Powers, co-pilot
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Carl Taylor, navigator
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Front row, left to right...
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Armond Berg, gunner
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Arnold Malaske, engineer
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Lewis Williams, gunner
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Virgil Shoger, radio operator
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Wesley Sarles, gunner
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Norman Daniel, gunner
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Velarde Crew 615 Summary
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The Velarde Crew was one of the original crews for the 492nd BG that trained in Alamogordo, New Mexico. They transferred to the 492nd on 26 Jan 44 as crew 63 from the 331st CCTS (Combat Crew Training School) in Casper, Wyoming. No personnel changes were made to the crew. They were assigned to the 856th BS, designated as Crew 615.
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Flight Officer Armando Velarde signed out for a B-24J, 44-40116. The ship was given the nickname, "TOBASCO KEEDS." In April 1944, they flew their assigned aircraft to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. One of the staff clerks, M/Sgt Harmon flew with them, thus bumping Sgt Sarles onto the Queen Elizabeth.
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By our count F/O Velarde flew as the aircraft commander for Crew 615 for a total of 27 missions, plus an aborted one. We can't be positive what personnel changes may have been made on some of their missions. We do know that their co-pilot was promoted and given his own crew (Powers Crew 614). It's always possible that the bombardier could have missed some of the pathfinder-led missions.
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Velarde was the only original pilot in the Group that wasn't a commissioned officer. But the fortunes of war put him on the fast track for promotions. By July he was already serving as a lead ship for the Group. During the three months at North Pickenham he advanced from Flight Officer to Captain.
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The Velarde Crew was transferred to the 801st/492nd BG in August when the Group was disbanded.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Velarde Crew 615
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Velarde, Armando C |
F/O |
T-185424
O-550855 |
Promoted 2nd Lt
Promoted 1st Lt
Promoted Capt
Acting Assistant Operations Officer
Transferred to the 801st/492nd BG |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Powers, Harold F |
1st Lt |
O-692815 |
Promoted to pilot Crew 614
Transferred to 801st/492nd, 857th BS |
Navigator
MOS 1035 |
Taylor, Carl G |
2nd Lt |
O-692352 |
Promoted 1st Lt
Transferred to 801st/492nd BG |
Bombardier
MOS 1034 |
Wesson, Richard S |
2nd Lt |
O-752728 |
Promoted 1st Lt
Transferred to 801st/492nd BG |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Malaske, Arnold V |
S/Sgt |
37322214 |
Promoted T/Sgt
Transferred to 801st/492nd BG |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Shoger, Virgil R |
S/Sgt |
36635272 |
Promoted T/Sgt
Transferred to 801st/492nd BG
Have seen name as Saccer |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Daniel, Norman C |
Sgt |
35684921 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred to 801st/492nd BG |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Berg, Armond |
Sgt |
19148307 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred to 801st/492nd BG |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Williams, Lewis D |
Sgt |
38274553 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred to 801st/492nd BG
Seen name as Louis |
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Sarles, Wesley B |
Sgt |
33447299 |
Arrived to the UK via the Queen Elizabeth
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred to 801st/492nd BG |
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Others Who Flew with Velarde Crew 615
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Staff Clerk
MOS 405 |
Harmon, Horace |
M/Sgt |
7002333 |
Flew to England with the crew |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Bowland, Orrin T |
1st Lt |
O-809915 |
From Bowland Crew R-11, replaced Powers
Transferred to 801st/492nd BG |
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Velarde Crew 615
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 |
44-40116 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 02 |
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15 May 44 |
44-40116 |
Siracourt, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 03 |
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21 May 44 |
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Siracourt, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 04 |
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23 May 44 |
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Avord, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 05 |
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25 May 44 |
42-110152 |
Belfort, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 06 |
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27 May 44 |
44-40116 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 07 |
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29 May 44 |
42-95272 |
Politz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 08 |
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30 May 44 |
44-40067 |
Rotenburg, Germany |
Target: Air depot |
| 09 |
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31 May 44 |
44-40116 |
Brussels, Belgium |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 10 |
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4 Jun 44 |
44-40116 |
Avord, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 11 |
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6 Jun 44 |
44-40116 |
Normandy, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 12 |
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6 Jun 44 |
44-40227 |
Vire, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 13 |
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8 Jun 44 |
44-40116 |
Angers, France |
Target: Railroad junction |
| 14 |
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11 Jun 44 |
44-40116 |
La Possonniere, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 15 |
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17 Jun 44 |
44-40150 |
Melun, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 16 |
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18 Jun 44 |
44-40116 |
Luneburg, Germany |
Target: Airfield
Bombed target of opportunity |
| 17 |
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20 Jun 44 |
44-40116 |
Politz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Aborted over the Baltic Sea, credited |
| 18 |
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21 Jun 44 |
44-40067 |
Genshagen, Germany |
Target: Aircraft engine factory |
| 19 |
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22 Jun 44 |
44-40067 |
St Cyr, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 20 |
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8 Jul 44 |
44-40116 |
Alost, Belgium |
Target: Railroad bridge
Lead Ship |
| 21 |
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13 Jul 44 |
44-40116 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Lead Ship w/Green |
| Abort |
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16 Jul 44 |
44-40116 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Led B Section w/Graham
Aborted, uncredited |
| 22 |
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18 Jul 44 |
42-50456 |
Troarns, France |
Target: Tactical
Led C Section |
| 23 |
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24 Jul 44 |
44-40116 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical
Lead Ship w/Turnbull |
| 24 |
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25 Jul 44 |
44-40116 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 25 |
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3 Aug 44 |
44-40116 |
Mery-sur-Oise, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 26 |
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5 Aug 44 |
44-40116 |
Brunswick, Germany |
Target: Aircraft manufacturing |
| 27 |
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7 Aug 44 |
44-40116 |
Ostend, Belgium |
Target: Oil dump
Lead Ship w/Adams |
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