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Back row, left to right...
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Pat Presti, gunner
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William Hildunen, gunner
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(unidentified)
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(unidentified)
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Fabian Campion, engineer
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Front row, left to right...
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(unidentified)
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Marion Gard, navigator
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Gerald Mann, co-pilot
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Ralond Steneman, pilot
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Steneman Crew 809 Summary
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The Steneman Crew was one of the original crews for the 492nd BG that trained in Alamogordo, New Mexico. They transferred in as crew 1669 from the CCT (Combat Crew Training School) in Biggs, Texas, on 3 Mar 44. They were assigned to the 858th BS, designated as Crew 809.
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Lt Ralond Steneman signed out for a B-24J, 44-40103. They gave it the nickname SAY WHEN. During April 1944, they flew their assigned aircraft to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. Lt John Lyons, the 858th Squadron Bombardier, flew with them, thus bumping Cpl Pleasant onto the Queen Elizabeth.
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By our count, Lt Steneman flew as the aircraft commander for Crew 805 for a total of 18 missions plus a couple of 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 the pathfinder mission.
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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 Steneman Crew 809 was reassigned to the 859th BS and redesignated as Crew 909.
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The crew's final mission was on 7 Jul 44 which targeted a German aircraft manufacturing plant in Bernburg. They were shot down during the fierce air battle over the target. Three of the crewmen were killed in action while the rest were able to bail out to become POWs. MACR 7233.
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The plane crashed near Egeln and Ohrsleben, Germany. The bodies were recovered and buried locally. After the war, they were taken to an American cemetery.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Steneman Crew 809
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Steneman, Ralond E |
2nd Lt |
O-688992 |
Promoted 1st Lt
POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7233, Stalag Luft III |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Mann, Gerald E |
2nd Lt |
O-699350 |
POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7233, Stalag Luft III
Seen name as Lann |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Gard, Marion A |
2nd Lt |
O-703231 |
POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7233, Stalag Luft VIIA |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Barnhill, Eugene F |
F/O |
T-123091 |
POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7233, Stalag Luft III |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Campion, Fabian M |
S/Sgt |
37547179 |
Promoted T/Sgt
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7233
Buried in Netherlands, P-17-11 |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Wing, John G |
S/Sgt |
35325157 |
Promoted T/Sgt
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7233
Buried in Ardennes, A-42-23 |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Hildunen, William R |
Sgt |
16160085 |
Promoted S/Sgt
POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7233, Stalag Luft IV |
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Presti, Patrick C |
Sgt |
39414357 |
Promoted S/Sgt
POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7233, Stalag Luft IV |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Dwyer, John F |
Sgt |
16115227 |
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Tail Gunner
MOS 611 |
Pleasant, Douglas N |
Cpl |
17072038 |
Arrived to the UK via the Queen Elizabeth
Promoted S/Sgt
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7233
Buried in the USA |
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Others Who Flew with Steneman Crew 809
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Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Lyons, John |
2nd Lt |
O-663714 |
858th Squadron Bombardier
Flew to England with the crew
Promoted 1st Lt
Reassigned to Orthman 806 |
Gunner
MOS |
Upton, Rodney |
S/Sgt |
16116314 |
Obtainment unknown
POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7233 |
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Steneman Crew 809
492nd BG Mission Record
859th 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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13 May 44 |
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Tutow, Germany |
Target: Airfield |
| 02 |
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15 May 44 |
44-40103 |
Siracourt, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 03 |
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21 May 44 |
44-40103 |
Siracourt, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 04 |
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24 May 44 |
44-40103 |
Melun, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 05 |
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25 May 44 |
44-40103 |
Belfort, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 06 |
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28 May 44 |
44-40103 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Dispatched, but don't know if aborted or failed to bombed |
| 07 |
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28 May 44 |
44-40103 |
Politz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 08 |
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30 May 44 |
42-95196 |
Rotenburg, Germany |
Target: Air depot |
| 09 |
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6 Jun 44 |
42-50391 |
Normandy, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| Abort |
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14 Jun 44 |
42-50391 |
Chateaudun, France |
Target: Airfield
Aborted, uncredited |
| 10 |
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19 Jun 44 |
44-40103 |
Courbronne, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
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859th Bomb Squadron Missions as Crew 909
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| 11 |
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20 Jun 44 |
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Fiefs, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 12 |
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23 Jun 44 |
44-40156 |
Juvincourt, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 13 |
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25 Jun 44 |
44-40156 |
La Vaupeliere, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 14 |
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27 Jun 44 |
44-40153 |
Creil, France |
Target: Marshalling yard
Bombed w/44th BG |
| Abort |
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28 Jun 44 |
44-40131 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Aborted, uncredited |
| 15 |
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29 Jun 44 |
44-40156 |
Magdeburg, Germany |
Target: Aircraft Industry |
| 16 |
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4 Jul 44 |
44-40168 |
Beaumont-le-Roger,
France |
Target: Airfield
A/C borrowed from 857th BS
Bombed with the 44th BG |
| 17 |
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6 Jul 44 |
44-40156 |
Kiel, Germany |
Target: Shipyard |
| 18 |
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7 Jul 44 |
44-40156 |
Bernburg, Germany |
Target: Aircraft manufacturing
Lost: 3 KIA, 7 POW, MACR 7233 |
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