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Back row, left to right...
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John L Moore, bombardier
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Gilbert Woods, navigator
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Floyd Mock, pilot
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Frank Durham, co-pilot
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Front row, left to right...
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Raymond Josephson, gunner
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Fredrick J Schmitz, gunner
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Raymond Hughes, gunner
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James Carter, engineer, gunner
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Manuel Martinez, radio operator
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Raby M White, crew chief
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Mock Crew 804 Summary
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The Mock Crew was one of the original crews for the 492nd BG that trained in Alamogordo, New Mexico. They transferred in as crew 1642 from the CCTS (Combat Crew Training School) in Biggs, Texas, on 3 Mar 44. They were assigned to the 858th BS, designated as Crew 804.
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1st Lt Floyd Mock signed out for a B-24J, 44-40064. To our knowledge they didn't nickname their plane. In April 1944, they flew their assigned aircraft to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. Their ground crew chief, M/Sgt White, flew with them, thus bumping Sgt Fritson onto the Queen Elizabeth.
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Capt Mock flew as the aircraft commander for Crew 817 for a complete tour of 30 missions. According to John Moore, the crew's bombardier, he was the only one who missed any of the missions. He had missed four of them due to his ear was blown out on an earlier one. Moore also said that no one else ever flew along with the crew.
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On 19 Jun 44, the 858th squadron was dismantled. Its staff was transferred to Cheddington to become the 8th Composite Command for leaflet droppings. Its crews and planes were reassigned to the other three squadrons. The 492nd had been reorganized into a three squadron group. Each squadron was to have 24 crews instead of the traditional standard of 18. The Mock Crew 804 was sent to the 859th. We don't know what crew designation they were given.
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The following day spelled disaster for the Group as 14 planes and crews were lost. The 856th took the larger beating. The 492nd had to reorganize again. The Mock Crew, who had just flown one mission for the 859th, was quickly reassigned to the 856th. We don't know who they replaced or what crew designation they were given.
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The Mock Crew was one of the few crews to serve in three squadrons at North Pickenham. And they were one of six crews to finish their tour before the disbandment in August. They certainly had a rare experience.
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Since John Moore only flew 26 of the missions, he was transferred to the new 492nd built around the old 801st Provisional Bomb Squadron. With them he flew 9 more missions. Seven of them were Carpetbagger jobs while the other two were night bombing raids.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Mock Crew 804
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Mock, Floyd D |
1st Lt |
O-724462 |
Promoted Capt
Completed 30 mission tour with the 492nd |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Dunnam, Frank O |
2nd Lt |
O-702254 |
Promoted 1st Lt
Completed 30 mission tour with the 492nd |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Woods, Gilbert W |
2nd Lt |
O-703675 |
Completed 30 mission tour with the 492nd |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Moore, John L |
2nd Lt |
O-694423 |
Promoted 1st Lt
10 Aug 44, Transferred to 801st/492nd BG |
Engineer
Top Gunner
MOS 748 |
Carter, James A |
S/Sgt |
34689048 |
Promoted T/Sgt
Completed 30 mission tour with the 492nd |
Radioman
MOS 757 |
Martinez, Manuel V |
S/Sgt |
39273949 |
Promoted T/Sgt
Completed 30 mission tour with the 492nd |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Schmitz, Frederick J |
Sgt |
38425749 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Completed 30 mission tour with the 492nd |
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Josephson, Raymond E |
Sgt |
33596317 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Completed 30 mission tour with the 492nd |
Nose Gunner
MOS 611 |
Hughes, Raymond E |
Sgt |
32804581 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Completed 30 mission tour with the 492nd |
Tail Gunner
MOS 611 |
Fritsch, Dale |
Cpl |
36705172 |
Arrived to the UK via the Queen Elizabeth
Promoted Sgt
Completed 30 mission tour with the 492nd |
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Others Who Flew with Mock Crew 804
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Crew Chief
MOS 750 |
White, Raby M |
M/Sgt |
6271543 |
Flew to England with the crew |
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Mock Crew 804
492nd BG Mission Record
858th 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 |
44-40064 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 02 |
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13 May 44 |
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Tutow, Germany |
Target: Airfield
w/Gietz, Group Chaplain |
| 03 |
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23 May 44 |
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Avord, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 04 |
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24 May 44 |
44-40064 |
Melun, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 05 |
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27 May 44 |
44-40064 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 06 |
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30 May 44 |
44-40064 |
Rotenburg, Germany |
Target: Air depot |
| 07 |
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31 May 44 |
42-110091 |
Brussels, Belgium |
Target: Marshalling yard
A/C borrowed from 859th BS |
| 08 |
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4 Jun 44 |
44-40064 |
Avord, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 09 |
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6 Jun 44 |
44-40064 |
Normandy, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 10 |
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6 Jun 44 |
44-40064 |
Vire, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 11 |
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10 Jun 44 |
44-40064 |
Boulogne, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 12 |
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12 Jun 44 |
42-95230 |
Dreux, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 13 |
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17 Jun 44 |
44-40125 |
Tours, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 14 |
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19 Jun 44 |
44-40064 |
Courbronne, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
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Mission Record with the 859th Bomb Squadron
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| 15 |
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20 Jun 44 |
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Fiefs, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
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Mission Record with the 856th Bomb Squadron
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| 16 |
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22 Jun 44 |
44-40064 |
Crepy, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 17 |
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23 Jun 44 |
44-40064 |
Juvincourt, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 18 |
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25 Jun 44 |
44-40064 |
La Vaupeliere, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 19 |
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29 Jun 44 |
44-40116 |
Magdeburg, Germany |
Target: Aircraft Industry |
| 20 |
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4 Jul 44 |
44-40064 |
Beaumont-le-Roger, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 21 |
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11 Jul 44 |
42-50456 |
Munich, Germany |
Target: Railroad station
Led B Section w/Grettum |
| 22 |
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13 Jul 44 |
42-51234 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 23 |
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18 Jul 44 |
42-51234 |
Troarns, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 24 |
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19 Jul 44 |
42-51234 |
Russelheim, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Lead Ship w/Byrne
Bombed Koblenz |
| 25 |
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21 Jul 44 |
42-51234 |
Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany |
Target: Aircraft factory |
| 26 |
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24 Jul 44 |
42-51234 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 27 |
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25 Jul 44 |
42-51234 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 28 |
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31 Jul 44 |
44-40146 |
Ludwigshafen, Germany |
Target: Chemical plant |
| 29 |
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1 Aug 44 |
42-51198 |
Anizy, France |
Target: Railroad bridge |
| 30 |
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3 Aug 44 |
42-51291 |
Mery-sur-Oise, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
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