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Back row, left to right...
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Richard Cutworth, co-pilot
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Robert Hebert, bombardier
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Joe Skorupan, pilot
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R D Thompson, radio operator
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Jack Stover, gunner
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Bill Stevens, engineer
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Front row, left to right...
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Ralph Thomas, gunner
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William Perry, gunner
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John Shope, gunner
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Skorupan Crew 703 Summary
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The Skorupan Crew was one of the original crews for the 492nd BG, that trained in Alamogordo, New Mexico. They had transferred in on 5 Jan 44 as crew 1130 from the 32nd CCTS (Combat Crew Training School) in Tucson, Arizona. There was one possible personnel change but we haven't confirmed it. They were assigned to the 857th BS, designated as Crew 703.
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2nd Lt Joe Slorupan signed out for a B-24J, 44-40118. In April 1944, they flew their assigned aircraft to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. Their ground crew chief S/Sgt Goolsby flew with them, thus bumping Sgt Ralph Thomas onto what we suspect was the Queen Elizabeth.
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Lt Skorupan flew as the aircraft commander for Crew 703 for a completed tour of 30 missions. Their final mission flown was also the Group's. We can't be positive of all of the personnel changes on some of their missions. At some point the co-pilot was transferred to another crew. It's always possible that the bombardier could have missed some of the earlier pathfinder missions.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Skorupan Crew 703
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Skorupan, Joe |
2nd Lt |
O-810952 |
Promoted 1st Lt
Completed 30 missions with the 492nd |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Cudworth, Richard W |
2nd Lt |
O-815848 |
Reassigned to Cravens Crew R-24 (720)
Promoted 1st Lt
10 Aug 44; transferred to 44th BG |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Riddell, Leslie D |
2nd Lt |
O-699245 |
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Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Hebert, Robert S |
2nd Lt |
O-511786 |
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Engineer
MOS 748 |
Stevens, William C |
S/Sgt |
34687936 |
Promoted T/Sgt |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Thompson, William E |
S/Sgt |
17175611 |
Promoted T/Sgt |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Stover, Jack O |
Sgt |
18184348 |
19 May 44, credited shooting down 1 Me-109
Promoted S/Sgt |
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Shope, John H |
Sgt |
33503143 |
Promoted S/Sgt |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Perry, William J |
Sgt |
32211859 |
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Gunner
MOS |
Thomas, Ralph D |
Sgt |
33463233 |
Promoted S/Sgt |
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Others Who Flew with Skorupan Crew 703
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Crew Chief
MOS 750 |
Goolsby, Joseph B |
S/Sgt |
34268013 |
Flew to England with the crew
Promoted T/Sgt
Promoted M/Sgt |
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Skorupan Crew 703
492nd BG Mission Record
857th 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 |
44-40118 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 02 |
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15 May 44 |
44-40118 |
Siracourt, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 03 |
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19 May 44 |
44-40118 |
Brunswick, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Crew credited with 1 enemy kill |
| 04 |
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23 May 44 |
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Avord, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 05 |
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24 May 44 |
42-95023 |
Melun, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 06 |
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31 May 44 |
44-40150 |
Brussels, Belgium |
Target: Marshalling yard
A/C borrowed from 856th BS |
| 07 |
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2 Jun 44 |
42-51118 |
Berck-sur-Mer, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 08 |
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6 Jun 44 |
42-95220 |
Normandy, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 09 |
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6 Jun 44 |
42-51118 |
Vire, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast
Failed to bomb target |
| 10 |
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8 Jun 44 |
42-95220 |
Angers, France |
Target: Railroad junction |
| 11 |
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11 Jun 44 |
44-40136 |
La Possonniere, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 12 |
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15 Jun 44 |
42-95196 |
La Frilliere, France |
Target: Railroad bridge
A/C borrowed from 858th BS |
| 13 |
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18 Jun 44 |
42-95220 |
Luneburg, Germany |
Target: Airfield
Bombed Wesermunde |
| 14 |
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19 Jun 44 |
42-95220 |
Courbronne, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 15 |
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21 Jun 44 |
41-29470 |
Genshagen, Germany |
Target: Aircraft engine factory |
| 16 |
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22 Jun 44 |
42-51091 |
St Cyr, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 17 |
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27 Jun 44 |
42-95220 |
Creil, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 18 |
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28 Jun 44 |
42-95220 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 19 |
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4 Jul 44 |
42-95220 |
Beaumont-le-Roger, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 20 |
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11 Jul 44 |
42-95220 |
Munich, Germany |
Target: Railroad station |
| 21 |
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13 Jul 44 |
42-95220 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 22 |
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16 Jul 44 |
42-95220 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 23 |
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18 Jul 44 |
42-95220 |
Troarns, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 24 |
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19 Jul 44 |
42-95220 |
Russelheim, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Bombed Koblenz |
| 25 |
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20 Jul 44 |
42-95220 |
Erfurt, Germany |
Target: Airfield |
| 26 |
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24 Jul 44 |
42-95220 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 27 |
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25 Jul 44 |
42-95220 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical |
| Abort |
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29 Jul 44 |
42-95220 |
Oslebhausen, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Aborted, uncredited |
| 28 |
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31 Jul 44 |
42-51091 |
Ludwigshafen, Germany |
Target: Chemical plant |
| 29 |
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4 Aug 44 |
42-51091 |
Kiel, Germany |
Target: Submarine base |
| 30 |
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5 Aug 44 |
42-51091 |
Brunswick, Germany |
Target: Aircraft manufacturing |
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