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Platinsky Crew 816 Summary
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The Platinsky Crew was one of the original crews for the 492nd BG trained in Alamogordo, New Mexico. They transferred in as Crew 105 from the 331st CCTS (Combat Crew Training School) Casper, Wyoming, on 26 Jan 44. They were assigned to the 858th BS, designated as Crew 816.
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Interesting trivia: Saul Platinsky was born in Russia before his parents immigrated to the US.
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1st Lt Saul Platinsky signed out for a B-24J, 44-40159. They nicknamed their ship BATTLING BOOP. In April 1944, they flew their assigned aircraft to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. Their co-pilot, Lt Kennon, and Sgt Cearley went to England on the Queen Elizabeth. The Squadron Assistant Operations Officer, 2nd Lt Rankin, and a radio mechanic, M/Sgt Donnelly, took their places.
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During the trip to England Lt Rankin became ill. By the time they reached Trinidad his temperature was 105 degrees. The crew was stuck there for nine days until another co-pilot was brought in to take them to England. Upon arrival the unknown co-pilot went back to his unit. Lt Rankin recovered and rejoined the Group at a later date.
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By our count Lt Platinsky flew as the aircraft commander for Crew 816 for a total of 21 missions. We can't be positive of all of the personnel changes that may have been made on some of their missions. It's always possible that the bombardier could have missed some of the pathfinder-led missions.
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The Platinsky Crew flew their share of the tough missions. One was the 29 May mission to Politz when their nose was riddled by the machine guns of an enemy fighter thus shattering the plexiglass on the bombardier's window into thousands of flying splinters. In between the window and Lt Billiard was his traveling boots ( taken onboard in case of bailout ) which absorbed most of the glass. His spare boots were completely desinagrated as they saved his life. A bullet went through the electric boots he was wearing but somehow it did not even scratch him. The event was nothing short of a miracle.
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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 dropping. The air crews 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 Platinsky Crew was reassigned to the 856th BS and redesignated as Crew 605.
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The Platinsky Crew had several narrow escapes from the German wrath but on 11 Jul 44, they almost didn't make it at all. On that bombing mission to Munich they caught an excessive amount of flak damage. Making it back to England was virtually impossible. They were, however, able to hang on and take their crippled plane to Switzerland where all ten men were interned. MACR 6935.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Platinsky Crew 816
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Platinsky, Saul |
1st Lt |
O-806331 |
Interned in Switzerland, 11 Jul 44, MACR 6935
Seen name as Platinski |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Kennon, Clifford L |
2nd Lt |
O-755360 |
Arrived to UK via the Queen Elizabeth
Interned in Switzerland, 11 Jul 44, MACR 6935 |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Billiard, Francis E |
2nd Lt |
O-711304 |
Interned in Switzerland, 11 Jul 44, MACR 6935 |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Wiseman, Dorsey E |
2nd Lt |
O-752732 |
Interned in Switzerland, 11 Jul 44, MACR 6935 |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Kelleher, Edwin F |
S/Sgt |
37440912 |
Promoted T/Sgt
Interned in Switzerland, 11 Jul 44, MACR 6935 |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Sirkis, Jonah |
S/Sgt |
11070472 |
Promoted T/Sgt
Interned in Switzerland, 11 Jul 44, MACR 6935 |
Tail Gunner
MOS 748 |
Clark, Edward L |
Sgt |
20422622 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Interned in Switzerland, 11 Jul 44, MACR 6935 |
Ball Turret
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Rekart, Jerome U |
Sgt |
35541033 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Interned in Switzerland, 11 Jul 44, MACR 6935 |
Waist
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Stultz, Glen E |
Sgt |
17060979 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Interned in Switzerland, 11 Jul 44, MACR 6935 |
Waist
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Cearley, Harold W |
Sgt |
19376312 |
Arrived to the UK via the Queen Elizabeth
Promoted S/Sgt
Interned in Switzerland, 11 Jul 44, MACR 6935 |
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Others Who Flew with Platinsky Crew 816
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Co-Pilot
MOS 2161 |
Rankin, John G |
2nd Lt |
O-659758 |
858th Asst Operations Officer
Flew to England with the crew
Promoted 1st Lt
Transferred to 856th as pilot of Crew R-50 |
Radio
Mechanic
MOS 752 |
Donnelly, Harry A |
M/Sgt |
36316726 |
Flew to England with the crew
Transferred to 859th
30 Jul, MOS changed from 752 to 750 |
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Platinsky Crew 816
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 |
44-40159 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 02 |
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13 May 44 |
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Tutow, Germany |
Target: Airfield |
| 03 |
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21 May 44 |
44-40159 |
Siracourt, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 04 |
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24 May 44 |
44-40159 |
Melun, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 05 |
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25 May 44 |
44-40159 |
Belfort, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 06 |
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28 May 44 |
42-95230 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 07 |
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29 May 44 |
42-95132 |
Politz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 08 |
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30 May 44 |
42-51091 |
Rotenburg, Germany |
Target: Air depot |
| 09 |
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4 Jun 44 |
42-51091 |
Avord, France |
Target: Target: Airfield |
| 10 |
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6 Jun 44 |
44-40159 |
Normandy, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 11 |
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11 Jun 44 |
41-29470 |
La Possonniere,
France |
Target: Marshalling yard
Aborted, credit unconfirmed |
| 12 |
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12 Jun 44 |
41-29470 |
Dreux, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 13 |
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14 Jun 44 |
42-95196 |
Chateaudun, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 14 |
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15 Jun 44 |
44-40159 |
La Frilliere, France |
Target: Railroad bridge
Bombed target in Le Mans |
| 15 |
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17 Jun 44 |
44-40142 |
Melun, France |
Target: Airfield
A/C borrowed from 856th BS
Bombed with another group |
| 16 |
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19 Jun 44 |
42-95196 |
Courbronne, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
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Mission Record with the 856th Bomb Squadron as Crew 605
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| 17 |
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25 Jun 44 |
42-95196 |
Roye, France |
Target: Peronne Airfield |
| 18 |
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27 Jun 44 |
42-95196 |
Creil, France |
Target: Marshalling yard
Bombed w/44th BG |
| xx |
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28 Jun 44 |
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Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Scrubbed |
| 19 |
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4 Jul 44 |
42-95196 |
Beaumont-le-Roger,
France |
Target: Airfield
Bombed with the 44th BG |
| 20 |
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8 Jul 44 |
42-95196 |
Alost, Belgium |
Target: Railroad bridge |
| 21 |
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11 Jul 44 |
42-95196 |
Munich, Germany |
Target: Railroad station
Lost: 10 interned in Switzerland,
MACR 6935 |
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