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Nelson Crew 714 Summary
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After just one mission, Lt Arthur Nelson replaced Capt Grettum as aircraft commander for Crew 714. The command staff needed Capt Grettum's experience up in the office. Nelson had been a pilot before. He had brought his own crew to Alamogordo from the 330th CCT school only to have it dismantled to help build other crews. Nelson himself was demoted to co-pilot and assigned to the G Haag Crew 706. See, Training links.
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Crew 714 already had one mission under their belt and Lt Nelson took them on 25 more, bringing their total to 26. The mission record below begins with the crew's 2nd mission. Their 1st mission is shown on the Grettum Crew 714 page.
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We haven't confirmed if there were any personnel substitutions made on any of the missions or if the bombardier had been left behind on some of the missions led by Pathfinders. But we have confirmed that this crew had the same roster when it was transferred to the 448th BG, on 10 Aug 44, as it did when Nelson took it over.
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Dick Bastien wrote about his experiences throughout his own book about the 492nd entitled, "32 Co-Pilots." His book also includes many first person accounts written by members of the Group as well as others stationed at North Pickenham. Every crew that served the Group is in it. We strongly recommend his book to anyone connected to or interested in the 492nd.
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Their first tough mission was the one to Politz on 29 May 44. It was the second time the 492nd had to do battle with the Luftwaffe, but it was this crew's first. An Me-410 came at them head-on firing his guns and cannon. Bastien recalled seeing the German pilot, his leather helmet, his goggles and everything else as he flew underneath his right wing. "What daring!" he thought. The gunners couldn't return fire without hitting their own planes.
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The Nelson Crew was hit in the right rudder by cannon fire. The tail gunner, Kennedy, was wounded. One engine was lost. They too had to drop out of formation. They linked up with other cripples heading for home. Later a P-38 found them and escorted them back. Kennedy was awarded the Purple Heart.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Nelson Crew 714
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Nelson, Arthur C |
2nd Lt |
O-691054 |
Promoted 1st Lt
10 Aug; transferred to 448th BG, 713 BS |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Bastien, Charles R |
2nd Lt |
O-702218 |
Promoted 1st Lt
10 Aug; transferred to 448th BG, 713 BS |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Woods, Lee J |
2nd Lt |
O-703839 |
Promoted 1st Lt
10 Aug; transferred to 448th BG, 713 BS |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Schultz, Robert G |
2nd Lt |
O-695540 |
Promoted 1st Lt
10 Aug; transferred to 448th BG, 713 BS |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Carter, Robert N |
S/Sgt |
39278692 |
Promoted T/Sgt
10 Aug; transferred to 448th BG, 713 BS |
Radioman
MOS 757 |
Conroy, William J |
S/Sgt |
35585394 |
Promoted T/Sgt
10 Aug; transferred to 448th BG, 713 BS |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Tracey, Robert E |
Sgt |
16152896 |
Promoted S/Sgt
10 Aug; transferred to 448th BG, 713 BS |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Kaiser, Alfred G |
Sgt |
38394572 |
Promoted S/Sgt
10 Aug; transferred to 448th BG, 713 BS |
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Kennedy, Cletus L |
S/Sgt |
16053455 |
WIA, 29 May 44
10 Aug; transferred to 448th BG, 713 BS |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Preston, Donald E |
Sgt |
12174207 |
Promoted S/Sgt
10 Aug; transferred to 448th BG, 713 BS |
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Nelson Crew 714
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 |
| 02 |
|
21 May 44 |
44-40072 |
Siracourt, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 03 |
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24 May 44 |
44-40072 |
Melun, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 04 |
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25 May 44 |
44-40072 |
Belfort, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 05 |
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27 May 44 |
44-40072 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 06 |
|
29 May 44 |
42-95177 |
Politz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| Abort |
|
4 Jun 44 |
44-40072 |
Avord, France |
Target: Airfield
Aborted, uncredited |
| 07 |
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6 Jun 44 |
44-40072 |
Normandy, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 08 |
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8 Jun 44 |
44-40072 |
Angers, France |
Target: Railroad junction |
| 09 |
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10 Jun 44 |
44-40136 |
Boulogne, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 10 |
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12 Jun 44 |
42-95220 |
Dreux, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 11 |
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14 Jun 44 |
44-40072 |
Emmerich, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 12 |
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20 Jun 44 |
44-40072 |
Politz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 13 |
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22 Jun 44 |
44-40131 |
St Cyr, France |
Target: Airfield
A/C borrowed from 859th BS |
| 14 |
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27 Jun 44 |
42-51121 |
Creil, France |
Target: Marshalling yard
Bombed w/44th BG |
| 15 |
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29 Jun 44 |
44-40166 |
Magdeburg, Germany |
Target: Aircraft Industry |
| 16 |
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4 Jul 44 |
44-40140 |
Beaumont-le-Roger, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 17 |
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6 Jul 44 |
42-51091 |
Kiel, Germany |
Target: Shipyard |
| 18 |
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8 Jul 44 |
42-95220 |
Alost, Belgium |
Target: Railroad bridge |
| 19 |
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19 Jul 44 |
44-40071 |
Russelheim, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Bombed Koblenz |
| 20 |
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24 Jul 44 |
44-40072 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 21 |
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25 Jul 44 |
44-40072 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 22 |
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29 Jul 44 |
44-40072 |
Oslebhausen, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 23 |
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1 Aug 44 |
44-40072 |
Anizy, France |
Target: Railroad bridge |
| 24 |
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3 Aug 44 |
44-40072 |
Mery-sur-Oise, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets)
Damaged by flak |
| 25 |
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4 Aug 44 |
42-50611 |
Kiel, Germany |
Target: Submarine base
A/C borrowed from 859th BS |
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