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Doyle Crew 808 Summary
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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We don't know where the bombardier, Lt Wikoff went.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Doyle Crew 808
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| Position |
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 |
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Others Who Flew with Doyle Crew 808
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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 |
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Doyle Crew 808
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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11 May 44 |
44-40135 |
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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19 May 44 |
44-40115 |
Brunswick, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 04 |
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23 May 44 |
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Avord, France |
Target: Airfield |
| Abort |
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25 May 44 |
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Belfort, France |
Target: Marshalling yard
Aborted, uncredited |
| 05 |
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31 May 44 |
42-95132 |
Brussels, Belgium |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 06 |
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2 Jun 44 |
44-40086 |
Berck-sur-Mer, France |
Target: Airfield |
| Abort |
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4 Jun 44 |
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Avord, France |
Target: Airfield
Aborted, uncredited |
| 07 |
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6 Jun 44 |
44-40167 |
Normandy, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 08 |
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8 Jun 44 |
44-40119 |
Angers, France |
Target: Railroad junction
Aborted, initially uncredited, got credit later |
| 09 |
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10 Jun 44 |
44-40119 |
Orleans/Bricy, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 10 |
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12 Jun 44 |
44-40119 |
Dreux, France |
Target: Airfield |
| Abort |
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14 Jun 44 |
44-40119 |
Emmerich, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Aborted, uncredited |
| 11 |
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18 Jun 44 |
44-40119 |
Luneburg, Germany |
Target: Airfield
Bombed Wesermunde |
| 12 |
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19 Jun 44 |
44-40119 |
Courbronne, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
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Mission Record with the 856th Bomb Squadron
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| 13 |
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23 Jun 44 |
44-40086 |
Juvincourt, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 14 |
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25 Jun 44 |
44-40145 |
La Vaupeliere, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 15 |
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28 Jun 44 |
44-40119 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Damaged by flak |
| 16 |
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29 Jun 44 |
44-40119 |
Magdeburg, Germany |
Target: Aircraft Industry |
| 17 |
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6 Jul 44 |
44-40119 |
Kiel, Germany |
Target: Shipyard |
| 18 |
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7 Jul 44 |
42-110148 |
Bernburg, Germany |
Target: Aircraft manufacturing |
| 19 |
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24 Jul 44 |
44-40119 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 20 |
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25 Jul 44 |
44-40119 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 21 |
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29 Jul 44 |
44-40119 |
Oslebhausen, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 22 |
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31 Jul 44 |
44-40119 |
Ludwigshafen, Germany |
Target: Chemical plant |
| 23 |
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1 Aug 44 |
44-40119 |
Anizy, France |
Target: Railroad bridge |
| Abort |
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3 Aug 44 |
44-40119 |
Mery-sur-Oise, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets)
Aborted, uncredited |
| 24 |
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4 Aug 44 |
42-51291 |
Kiel, Germany |
Target: Submarine base |
| 25 |
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5 Aug 44 |
44-40067 |
Brunswick, Germany |
Target: Aircraft manufacturing |
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