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Doyle Crew 808
Doyle Crew 808 Summary
The Doyle 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 1137 from the 32nd CCTS (Combat Crew Training School) at Davis-Monthan Air Field in Tucson, Arizona. After arriving to Alamogordo their crew had a couple of personnel changes. They were assigned to the 858th BS, designated as Crew 808.
Lt Robert Doyle signed out for a B-24J, 44-40115. They nicknamed their ship, MILITANT MISTRESS. In April 1944, they flew their assigned aircraft to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. The Squadron Engineering Officer, Lt Ashmead, flew with them, thus bumping Sgt Carter onto the Queen Elizabeth.
By our count, Lt Doyle flew as the aircraft commander for Crew 808 for a total of 25 missions plus 4 aborted ones. We can't be positive of all of the personnel changes on some of their missions. It's always possible that the bombardier could have missed some of the earlier pathfinder missions.
On 19 Jun 44, the 858th was dismantled. Its staff was reassigned to Cheddington as the 8th Composite Command for leaflet droppings. The air crews, ground personnel and planes were reassigned to the other three squadrons. Thus the 492nd became a three squadron group. Each squadron was allowed to have 24 crews instead of the traditional 18 crews. The Doyle Crew was reassigned to the 856th BS. We don't know what their new crew designation number was.
After the Group was disbanded, the Doyle Crew was transferred on 10 Aug 44 to the new reorganized 492nd BG and put back into 858th BS. To avoid confusion, the new group is often referred to as the 801st/492nd or Carpetbaggers.
We don't know where the bombardier, Lt Wikoff went.
More Info
4 photos
Doyle CCT 1137
44-40115
MILITANT MISTRESS
44-40135
DAISY MAE
42-95132
44-40086
LAURA JO
44-40167
SIERRA BLANCA
44-40119
NIGHT KNIGHT
44-40145
42-110148
LUCKY STRIKE
42-51291
OUR JOY
44-40067
BIG FAT MAMA
Links to missions
flown by the
Doyle Crew 808
are below in their
Mission Record
801st/492nd
BG website
Original Roster for
Doyle Crew 808
Position / MOS Name Rank Serial # Notes
Pilot
MOS 1024
Doyle, Robert K 2nd Lt O-795716 Promoted 1st Lt
Transferred to 801st/492nd BG
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024
Lee, Carl E 2nd Lt O-758500 Transferred to 801/492 BG, 859 BS
KIA when shot down w/McLaughlin by friendly AAA on the night of 16/17 Sep 44
Navigator
MOS 1034
Bradbury, George F 2nd Lt O-699118 Promoted 1st Lt
Transferred to 801/492 BG, 859 BS
KIA when shot down w/McLaughlin by friendly AAA on the night of 16/17 Sep 44
Wall of the Missing, Lorraine
Bombardier
MOS 1035
Wikoff, James W 2nd Lt O-695394 Seen name as Winoff
Seen ASN as O-695594
Engineer
MOS 748
McCann, Arthur A S/Sgt 36554291 Promoted T/Sgt
Transferred to 801st/492nd BG
Radio
Operator
MOS 757
Corkey, Thomas A S/Sgt 32517160 Promoted T/Sgt
Transferred to 801st/492nd BG
Gunner
MOS 748
Olmstead, Donald D Sgt 32831047 Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred to 801st/492nd BG
Gunner
MOS 612
Holmes, Leonard J Sgt 36232206 Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred to 801st/492nd BG
Gunner
MOS 748
Burch, Clyde W Sgt 39533922 Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred to 801st/492nd BG
Gunner
MOS 748
Carter, Arnold Sgt 34660801 Arrived to the UK via the Queen Elizabeth
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred to 801st/492nd BG
Seen ASN as 34669791
  Others Who Flew with Doyle Crew 808
Staff
Officer
MOS 4823
Ashmead, Albert S 2nd Lt O-864277 858th Squadron Aircraft Engineering Officer
Flew to England with the crew
transferred to 859th BS
Doyle Crew 808
492nd BG Mission Record
858th Bomb Squadron
Crew
Mission
Number
Group
Mission
Number
Group
Mission
Date
Aircraft
Serial
Number
Primary Target Mission Notes
01
 Link to Mission 01 page 01
11 May 44 44-40135 Mulhouse, France Target: Marshalling yard
02
 Link to Mission 03 page 03
13 May 44   Tutow, Germany Target: Airfield
03
 Link to Mission 05 page 05
19 May 44 44-40115 Brunswick, Germany Target: Marshalling yard
04
 Link to Mission 07 page 07
23 May 44   Avord, France Target: Airfield
Abort
 Link to Mission 09 page 09
25 May 44   Belfort, France Target: Marshalling yard
Aborted, uncredited
05
 Link to Mission 14 page 14
31 May 44 42-95132 Brussels, Belgium Target: Marshalling yard
06
 Link to Mission 15 page 15
2 Jun 44 44-40086 Berck-sur-Mer, France Target: Airfield
Abort
 Link to Mission 16 page 16
4 Jun 44   Avord, France Target: Airfield
Aborted, uncredited
07
 Link to Mission 17 page 17
6 Jun 44 44-40167 Normandy, France Target: D-Day invasion coast
08
 Link to Mission 20 page 20
8 Jun 44 44-40119 Angers, France Target: Railroad junction
Aborted, initially uncredited, got credit later
09
 Link to Mission 22 page 22
10 Jun 44 44-40119 Orleans/Bricy, France Target: Airfield
10
 Link to Mission 25 page 25
12 Jun 44 44-40119 Dreux, France Target: Airfield
Abort
 Link to Mission 26 page 26
14 Jun 44 44-40119 Emmerich, Germany Target: Oil refinery
Aborted, uncredited
11
 Link to Mission 31 page 31
18 Jun 44 44-40119 Luneburg, Germany Target: Airfield
Bombed Wesermunde
12
 Link to Mission 32 page 32
19 Jun 44 44-40119 Courbronne, France Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets)
Mission Record with the 856th Bomb Squadron
13
 Link to Mission 39 page 39
23 Jun 44 44-40086 Juvincourt, France Target: Airfield
14
 Link to Mission 40a page 40a
25 Jun 44 44-40145 La Vaupeliere, France Target: Tactical
15
 Link to Mission 42 page 42
28 Jun 44 44-40119 Saarbrucken, Germany Target: Marshalling yard
Damaged by flak
16
 Link to Mission 43 page 43
29 Jun 44 44-40119 Magdeburg, Germany Target: Aircraft Industry
17
 Link to Mission 45 page 45
6 Jul 44 44-40119 Kiel, Germany Target: Shipyard
18
 Link to Mission 46 page 46
7 Jul 44 42-110148 Bernburg, Germany Target: Aircraft manufacturing
19
 Link to Mission 56 page 56
24 Jul 44 44-40119 St Lo area, France Target: Tactical
20
 Link to Mission 57 page 57
25 Jul 44 44-40119 St Lo area, France Target: Tactical
21
 Link to Mission 58 page 58
29 Jul 44 44-40119 Oslebhausen, Germany Target: Oil refinery
22
 Link to Mission 59 page 59
31 Jul 44 44-40119 Ludwigshafen, Germany Target: Chemical plant
23
 Link to Mission 60 page 60
1 Aug 44 44-40119 Anizy, France Target: Railroad bridge
Abort
 Link to Mission 61 page 61
3 Aug 44 44-40119 Mery-sur-Oise, France Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets)
Aborted, uncredited
24
 Link to Mission 62 page 62
4 Aug 44 42-51291 Kiel, Germany Target: Submarine base
25
 Link to Mission 64 page 64
5 Aug 44 44-40067 Brunswick, Germany Target: Aircraft manufacturing
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Page last modified Friday, January 22, 2010.