 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Many of the Flanagan Crew 705 while they were the Frantz Crew 803 in training in the USA. |
|
Left to right...
|
| • |
Willis Van Fossen, gunner
|
| • |
Albert Miesse, ball turret gunner
|
| • |
Francis Quigley, radio operator
|
| • |
Ray Shelton, engineer
|
| • |
Alfred Falconi, gunner
|
|
|
Continuing left to right...
|
| • |
Lionel Lowery, co-pilot
|
| • |
Howard Anderson, navigator
|
| • |
Stanley Zaritsky, bombardier
|
| • |
Ralph Frantz, pilot
|
|
Not in the photo...
|
| • |
Edward Hogan, gunner
|
|
|
|
Flanagan Crew 705 Summary
|
|
After Lt Frantz was injured by flak, his co-pilot, Lt Flanagan, took over the helm as pilot. It was a temporary assignment until Frantz recovered. That's one of the things that co-pilots were called upon to do.
|
|
By this time the 858th BS had been cut from the Group. The squadron's staff went to the 8th Composite Command for leaflet dropping operations while the rest of the men and planes were reassigned to one of the other three squadrons. The Frantz Crew 803 went to the 857th and was redesignated as Crew 705.
|
|
According to our count, Flanagan led this Crew on 5 more missions plus an aborted one. The mission record below continues from where Frantz left off. We don't know if there were any personnel substitutions on any of the missions. We do know that the whole crew was together, including Frantz as pilot, when they were transferred to the 389th BG on 10 Aug 44.
|
|
On their last mission with the Group, they had a good scare. They substained heavy flak damage over the target area which ended up costing them two engines and almost a third one. Their hydraulics were shot as well as their tail skid and one tire.
|
|
Somehow they were able to reach England where they were directed to make an emergency landing at Metfield, home of the 491st BG. Lt Flanagan was able to make a controlled crashlanding and everyone walked away. The only man in need of medical treatment was Lt Zaritsky, who was wounded from pieces of plexiglass broken by flak.
|
|
The Group's final report wrote the aircraft off as being totaled. Of course, the Group itself was disbanded a few days later. What they didn't know was that the plane was repaired and put back into service. Other records show it flew with the 446th BG and was returned to the US during the following year.
|
|
For the earlier history of the Flanagan Crew, see the Frantz Crew 803 link. To continue researching the Crew's history, try the 389th Bomb Group website.
|
|
|
|
|
More Info |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Original Roster for
Flanagan Crew 705
|
|
| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Flanagan, Jack O |
2nd Lt |
O-811058 |
Promoted 1st Lt
10 Aug; transferred as co-pilot w/Frantz Crew 705 to 389th BG
ASN seen as O-811053 |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Graven, Thomas |
1st Lt |
O-702268 |
From G Haag Crew 706
Filled in while Frantz was recovering
Transferred to 44th w/Crew 706
Seen name as Gaven |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Anderson, Howard F |
1st Lt |
O-795274 |
10 Aug; transferred to 389th BG |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Zaritsky, Stanley A |
2nd Lt |
O-755143 |
Promoted 1st Lt
10 Aug; transferred to 389th BG |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Shelton, Ray T |
S/Sgt |
38426796 |
Promoted T/Sgt
10 Aug; transferred to 389th BG |
Radioman
MOS 757 |
Quigley, Francis D |
S/Sgt |
32314073 |
Promoted T/Sgt
10 Aug; transferred to 389th BG |
Gunner
MOS 612 |
O'Brian, James J |
Sgt |
32208913 |
Promoted S/Sgt
10 Aug; transferred to 389th BG |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Van Fossen, Willis J |
Sgt |
39460534 |
Promoted S/Sgt
10 Aug; transferred to 389th BG |
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Miesse, Albert |
Sgt |
35627067 |
Promoted S/Sgt
10 Aug; transferred to 389th BG |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Hogan, Edward B |
Sgt |
39004708 |
Promoted S/Sgt
10 Aug; transferred to 389th BG |
|
Flanagan Crew 705
492nd BG Mission Record
857th Bomb Squadron
|
|
Crew
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Date |
Aircraft
Serial
Number |
Primary Target |
Mission Notes |
| 19 |
|
11 Jul 44 |
42-51091 |
Munich, Germany |
Target: Railroad station |
| 20 |
|
13 Jul 44 |
44-40071 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Bombed w/44th BG |
| 21 |
|
16 Jul 44 |
42-51091 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 22 |
|
24 Jul 44 |
42-51091 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical |
| Abort |
|
25 Jul 44 |
42-51091 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical
Aborted, uncredited |
| 23 |
|
6 Aug 44 |
42-51091 |
Hamburg, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Crashlanded at Metfield, 1 WIA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
