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Back row, left to right...
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Ernest Pelkey, pilot
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Charles Miskevics, navigator
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Henry Colyer, bombardier
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Irving Gleason, co-pilot
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Not in the photo...
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Fred Stevens, gunner
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Front row, left to right...
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Robert Giacometti, radio operator
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Robert McElyea, engineer
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Thomas Minihan, waist gunner
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Eugene Reeves, tail gunner
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John Brzozowski, ball turret gunner
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Pelkey Crew 815 Summary
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The Pelkey Crew was one of the original crews for the 492nd BG that trained in Alamogordo, New Mexico. They transferred in as crew 1656 from the CCTS (Combat Crew Training School) in Biggs, Texas, on 3 Mar 44. They were assigned to the 858th BS, designated as Crew 815.
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Capt Ernest Pelkey signed out for a B-24J, 44-40135. They nicknamed their ship, DAISY MAE. In April 1944, they flew their assigned aircraft to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. Their ground Crew Chief S/Sgt Stanley flew with them, thus bumping Sgt Stevens onto the Queen Elizabeth.
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By our count Capt Pelkey flew as the aircraft commander for Crew 815 for a total of 21 missions plus two 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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OOn 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 Pelkey Crew was reassigned to the 859th BS.
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They flew just one mission for the 859th. On that mission, 20 Jun 44, the Group suffered heavy casualties. The 492nd had to quickly reorganize itself again. The Pelkey Crew was reassigned to the 856th and redesignated as Crew 609. They were one of the few crews that actually served in three squadrons while at North Pickenham.
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On 7 Jul 44, the 492nd participated in a bombing run on a German aircraft manufacturing plant in Bernburg. Pelkey's nine-man ship was the first to be hit by the defending Luftwaffe. His ship spun and then suddenly exploded killing everyone inside. 9 KIA, MACR 7831.
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The pieces of the plane were scattered over a large area. Only the tail section was found somewhat intact. All of the bodies were recovered but three of them couldn't be individually identified. They were given a group burial at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Pelkey Crew 815
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Pelkey, Ernest E |
Capt |
O-341359 |
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7831
Buried at Ardennes, B-41-49 |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Gleason, Irving G |
2nd Lt |
O-702265 |
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7831
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Miskevics, Charles J |
2nd Lt |
O-704037 |
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7831
Buried in the USA |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Colyer, Henry D |
1st Lt |
O-066920 |
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Engineer
MOS 748 |
McElyea, Robert H |
Sgt |
33479192 |
Promoted T/Sgt
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7831
Buried in the USA
We've seen his name spelled McElyed |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Giacometti, Robert A |
S/Sgt |
35595639 |
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Tail Gunner
MOS 748 |
Reeves, Eugene A |
S/Sgt |
18200715 |
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7831
Buried at Ardennes, D-39-19 |
Waist
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Minihan, Thomas J |
Sgt |
20301527 |
Promoted S/Sgt
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7831
Buried at Ardennes, C-12-10 |
Ball Turret
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Brzozowski, John S |
Sgt |
32789437 |
Promoted S/Sgt
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7831
Buried at Ardennes, A-26-9 |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Stevens, Fred J |
Sgt |
14176419 |
Arrived to the UK via the Queen Elizabeth
Promoted S/Sgt
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7831
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery |
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Others Who Flew with Pelkey Crew 815
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Crew Chief
MOS 750 |
Stanley, Robert D Jr |
S/Sgt |
16041859 |
Flew to England with the crew
Promoted T/Sgt
Promoted M/Sgt |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Tilton, Charles A |
T/Sgt |
32619543 |
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7831
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery |
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Pelkey Crew 815
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 |
44-40135 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 02 |
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15 May 44 |
44-40135 |
Siracourt, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 03 |
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21 May 44 |
44-40135 |
Siracourt, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 04 |
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24 May 44 |
44-40115 |
Melun, 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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28 May 44 |
44-40135 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 06 |
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2 Jun 44 |
44-40135 |
Berck-sur-Mer, France |
Target: Airfield |
| Abort |
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4 Jun 44 |
44-40135 |
Avord, France |
Target: Airfield
Aborted, uncredited |
| 07 |
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6 Jun 44 |
44-40135 |
Normandy, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 08 |
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6 Jun 44 |
44-40135 |
Vire, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 09 |
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8 Jun 44 |
42-95230 |
Angers, France |
Target: Railroad junction |
| 10 |
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10 Jun 44 |
44-40135 |
Orleans/Bricy, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 11 |
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11 Jun 44 |
44-40119 |
Monfort, France |
Target: Bridge
Aborted, credited |
| 12 |
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14 Jun 44 |
44-40135 |
Chateaudun, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 13 |
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15 Jun 44 |
44-40135 |
La Frilliere, France |
Target: Railroad bridge
Bombed target in Le Mans |
| 14 |
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18 Jun 44 |
44-40064 |
Luneburg, Germany |
Target: Airfield
Bombed target of opportunity |
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Mission Record with the 859th Bomb Squadron
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| 15 |
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20 Jun 44 |
44-40064 |
Politz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
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Mission Record with the 856th Bomb Squadron as Crew 609
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| 16 |
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23 Jun 44 |
42-95230 |
Juvincourt, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 17 |
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28 Jun 44 |
42-95230 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Damaged by flak |
| 18 |
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29 Jun 44 |
42-95196 |
Magdeburg, Germany |
Target: Aircraft Industry |
| 19 |
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4 Jul 44 |
42-50555 |
Beaumont-le-Roger, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 20 |
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6 Jul 44 |
44-40116 |
Kiel, Germany |
Target: Shipyard |
| 21 |
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7 Jul 44 |
44-40086 |
Bernburg, Germany |
Target: Aircraft manufacturing
Lost: 9 KIA, MACR 7831 |
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