 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Back row, left to right...
|
| • |
William Earleywine, pilot
|
| • |
John Steib, co-pilot
|
| • |
Gerald Clinch, navigator
|
| • |
Walter Tomaszak, bombardier
|
| • |
William May, engineer
|
|
|
Front row, left to right...
|
| • |
Joseph Capossela, radio operator
|
| • |
Frederick Miller, nose/waist gunner
|
| • |
Francis Dieck, ball turret gunner
|
| • |
Julius Carter, waist gunner
|
| • |
Elder Williams, tail gunner
|
|
|
|
Earleywine Crew 901 Summary
|
|
The Earleywine Crew began their service with the 492nd when it was still the 12th Anti-Submarine Squadron stationed at Langley Field, Virginia. They left the Group to go through CCTS (Crew Combat Training School) in Tucson and were brought back on 9 Jan 44. They were assigned to the 859th BS, designated as Crew 901.
|
|
Capt William Earleywine signed out for a B-24J, 44-40053. The crew named their ship, SWEAT 'ER GAL. In April 1944, they flew their assigned aircraft to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. Their ground Crew Chief S/Sgt Atkinson flew with them, thus bumping Sgt Miller onto the Queen Elizabeth.
|
|
According to the Crew's count, Earleywine flew as the aircraft commander for Crew 901 for 15 missions. We aren't sure if there were any personnel substitutions on some of their missions. It's always possible that the bombardier could have missed some of the Pathfinder-led missions. Somewhere around the 14th or 15th mission, S/Sgt Capossela permanently switched crews with T/Sgt Cronemeyer from the Prytulak Crew 907.
|
|
On the same day of their last 492nd mission, 17 Jun 44, the Crew was transferred to the 93rd BG to train as a lead ship flying Pathfinder planes. They flew 4 missions with the 93rd before transferring again on 31 July, this time to the 44th BG. They flew their last 11 missions with them, completing their tour on 6 Nov 44.
|
|
The Earleywine Crew 901 was replaced by Bocksberger, replacement crew R-15.
|
|
Jerry Clinch, the navigator, kept a record of the crew's flyig hours on each mission. We felt compelled to include it below. To read it correctly, 8:45 means they flew for 8 hours and 45 minutes.
|
|
|
|
|
More Info |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Original Roster for
Earleywine Crew 901
|
|
| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Earleywine, William W
"Bill" |
Capt |
O-430998 |
17 Jun 44, transferred to 93rd BG |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Steib, John H |
2nd Lt |
O-684075 |
Promoted 1st Lt
17 Jun 44, transferred to 93rd BG |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Clinch, Gerald G
"Jerry" |
2nd Lt |
O-702104 |
Promoted 1st Lt
17 Jun 44, transferred to 93rd BG |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Tomaszak, Walter |
2nd Lt |
O-696280 |
Promoted 1st Lt
17 Jun 44, transferred to 93rd BG |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
May, William E |
S/Sgt |
32543640 |
Promoted T/Sgt
17 Jun 44, transferred to 93rd BG |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Caposella, Joseph T
"Joe" |
S/Sgt |
32453640 |
Promoted T/Sgt
Reassigned to Prytulak Crew 907
Transferred 10 Aug, to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Waist
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Miller, Frederick E
"Fred" |
Sgt |
18165493 |
Arrived to the UK via the Queen Elizabeth
Promoted S/Sgt
17 Jun 44, transferred to 93rd BG |
Waist
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Carter, Julius M |
Sgt |
34624461 |
Promoted S/Sgt
17 Jun 44, transferred to 93rd BG |
Ball Turret
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Dieck, Francis H
"Frank" |
S/Sgt |
32316395 |
17 Jun 44, transferred to 93rd BG |
Tail Gunner
MOS 612 |
Williams, Edler D
"Ed" |
Sgt |
20349440 |
Promoted S/Sgt
17 Jun 44, transferred to 93rd BG |
| |
Others Who Flew with Earleywine Crew 901
|
Crew Chief
MOS 750 |
Atkinson, Robert C |
S/Sgt |
31162354 |
Flew to England with the crew
Promoted T/Sgt
Promoted M/Sgt |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Cronemeyer,
Benjamin B |
T/Sgt |
32726873 |
Switched crews with Capossela
17 Jun 44, transferred to 93rd BG |
|
Earleywine Crew 901
492nd BG Mission Record
859th Bomb Squadron
|
|
Crew
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Date |
Aircraft
Serial
Number |
Primary Target |
Mission Notes |
| 01 |
|
12 May 44 |
44-40053 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery, 8:45 |
| 02 |
|
13 May 44 |
|
Tutow, Germany |
Target: Airfield, 8:30 |
| 03 |
|
23 May 44 |
|
Avord, France |
Target: Airfield, 9:00 |
| 04 |
|
24 May 44 |
44-40053 |
Melun, France |
Target: Airfield, 7:00 |
| 05 |
|
25 May 44 |
44-40053 |
Belfort, France |
Target: Marshalling yard, 8:00 |
| 06 |
|
27 May 44 |
44-40053 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard, 4:00
Aborted, sortie credit |
| 07 |
|
30 May 44 |
44-40131 |
Rotenburg, Germany |
Target: Air depot, 6:30 |
| 08 |
|
4 Jun 44 |
44-40131 |
Avord, France |
Target: Airfield, 8:00 |
| 09 |
|
6 Jun 44 |
42-95005 |
Normandy, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast, 8:30 |
| 10 |
|
8 Jun 44 |
44-40053 |
Angers, France |
Target: Railroad junction, 7:00
Bombed with 392nd BG |
| 11 |
|
10 Jun 44 |
44-40053 |
Orleans/Bricy, France |
Target: Airfield, 7:00 |
| 12 |
|
12 Jun 44 |
44-40053 |
Dreux, France |
Target: Airfield, 6:45 |
| 13 |
|
14 Jun 44 |
44-40053 |
Emmerich, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery, 4:45 |
| 14 |
|
15 Jun 44 |
44-40153 |
La Frilliere, France |
Target: Railroad bridge, 6:30
Bombed target in Le Mans |
| 15 |
|
17 Jun 44 |
42-95023 |
Melun, France |
Target: Airfield, 7:20
A/C borrowed from 857th BS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
