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Konstand Crew 711 Summary
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2nd Lt Gus Konstand was part of the Col Pierce echelon that stayed with the Group. He was given command of the Welsh crew 1051 that had arrived at Alamogordo from the 32nd CCT in Tucson, Arizona. We don't know where Lt Welsh went. See the Training link to the right. Konstand and his crew was assigned to the 857th BS, designated as Crew 711.
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Lt Konstand signed for a brand new B-24J, 44-40113. Because of his crew number being 7-11 the crew named their ship the GAMBLING LADY. The nose art includes a pair of dice, one showing a 4 and the other a 3. In April of 44, they flew their assigned plane to England via the southern route. Capt Robinson, the Squadron Navigator accompanied them, thus bumping Sgt Davis onto the Queen Elizabeth.
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By our count, the Konstand Crew 711 flew 11 missions with the 492nd. We aren't sure who was on the plane on each of the missions. The bombardier could have missed some of the Pathfinder-led missions.
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Konstand accepted a leadership role. His crew led the Group on a half dozen missions. On others he flew as a deputy lead or as a section leader. His dedication quickly earned him the rank of Capt as well as a Distinguished Flying Cross.
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His DFC was awarded for his actions in the Politz raid on 29 Jun 44. The Group took a serious beating from the Luftwaffe that day. Konstand took over as the lead ship and rallied what was left of the Group. Without his leadership many more ships might have been lost.
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The bombardier, F/O Loflin, earned himself a DFC, too. His was for his actions during a run on Madgeburg on 29 Jun 44. When they dropped their bombs, two of them got hung up in the bomb bay. Loflin took off his parachute and flak jacket and crawled out onto the catwalk. Without oxygen and working in twenty-five below temperature, he removed the detonators. Then he raised and secured the bombs inside so that the doors could be closed. Aside from the medal, he got frostbite as well.
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When the Group disbanded, Crew 711 was transferred to the 44th BG, 68th BS. On 28 Dec 44, the crew's 28th mission, they were shot down over Kaiserlautern, Germany. Capt Konstand and six others were killed while five others survived to become POWs. We have no other details at this time.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Konstand Crew 711
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Konstand, Gus |
2nd Lt |
O-794428 |
Promoted 1st Lt
Promoted Capt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 44th BG, 68th BS
KIA, 28 Dec 44 |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Rowe, Roderick K |
2nd Lt |
O-816368 |
Promoted 1st Lt |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Parker, George J |
2nd Lt |
O-699327 |
Promoted 1st Lt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 44th BG, 68th BS |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Loflin, William E |
F/O |
T-123016 |
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 44th BG, 68th BS |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Fields, Edwin D |
S/Sgt |
33522224 |
Promoted T/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 44th BG, 68th BS |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Lybarger, William B
"Bill" |
S/Sgt |
39556559 |
Promoted T/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 44th BG, 68th BS
POW, 28 Dec 44, Stalag Luft XIII D |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Garrett, Howard N |
Sgt |
18098718 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 44th BG, 68th BS |
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Povich, George |
Sgt |
33675477 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 44th BG, 68th BS |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Stephanovic, Reuben J |
Sgt |
13169810 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 44th BG, 68th BS |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Davis, Addison C |
Sgt |
31312747 |
Arrived to the UK via the Queen Elizabeth
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 44th BG, 68th BS
POW, 28 Dec 44 |
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Others Who Flew with Konstand Crew 711
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Staff
Officer
MOS 1034 |
Robinson, Berl |
Capt |
O-426336 |
857th Squadron Navigator
Flew to England with the crew |
Staff
Officer
MOS 1024 |
Heaton, Donald H |
Maj |
O-023705 |
857th Squadron Commander |
Staff
Officer
MOS 2161 |
Byrne, Austin P |
Capt |
O-025011 |
857th Squadron Operations Officer |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Oliver, George H |
2nd Lt |
O-819153 |
Obtained from Oliver replacement crew
10 Aug; transferred to 44th BG, 68th BS |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Baxter, Robert C |
1st Lt |
O-819153 |
Obtained from Liggett Crew 701
10 Aug; transferred to 44th BG, 68th BS |
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Konstand Crew 711
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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11 May 44 |
44-40071 |
Mulhouse, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 02 |
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13 May 44 |
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Tutow, Germany |
Target: Airfield |
| 03 |
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27 May 44 |
44-40113 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Lead ship w/Heaton |
| 04 |
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31 May 44 |
44-40113 |
Brussels, Belgium |
Target: Marshalling yard
Lead ship w/Byrne |
| 05 |
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6 Jun 44 |
44-40113 |
Normandy, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 06 |
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8 Jun 44 |
44-40113 |
Angers, France |
Target: Railroad junction
Led B section |
| 07 |
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10 Jun 44 |
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Orleans/Bricy, France |
Target: Airfield
Lead Ship |
| 08 |
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20 Jun 44 |
44-40113 |
Politz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Pilot earned DFC |
| 09 |
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23 Jun 44 |
44-40168 |
Juvincourt, France |
Target: Airfield
Lead Ship |
| 10 |
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29 Jun 44 |
44-40113 |
Magdeburg, Germany |
Target: Aircraft Industry
Lead Ship w/Heaton |
| 11 |
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7 Jul 44 |
44-40113 |
Bernburg, Germany |
Target: Aircraft manufacturing
Lead Ship w/Heaton |
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