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Back row, left to right...
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Robert Rockwell, tail gunner
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Ray Bond , nose gunner
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Floyd Downing, engineer
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Harold David, top turret gunner
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Albert Looby, ball turret gunner
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Lester Anderson, radio operator
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Front row, left to right...
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Challenger Witham Jr, bombardier
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Ernest Des Jardins, navigator
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Robert Jacks, co-pilot
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Carl Johnson, pilot
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Photo taken in North Pickenham in June, 1944 |
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Johnson Crew 903 Summary
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The Johnson Crew was one of the original crews for the 492nd BG that trained in Alamogordo, New Mexico. They transferred in as crew 115 from the 331st CCTS (Combat Crew Training School) in Casper, Wyoming, on 26 Jan 44. There were two personnel changes made after arriving to Alamogordo. They were assigned to the 859th BS, designated as Crew 903.
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1st Lt Carl Johnson signed out for a B-24J, 44-40110. The crew named their ship, GEORGETTE. In April 1944 they flew their assigned aircraft to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. Their Squadron Commander, Major Mahoney, flew with them, thus bumping Sgt Landry onto the Queen Elizabeth.
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By our count, Johnson flew as the aircraft commander for Crew 903 for 13 missions. We can't be positive who flew on each of their missions. Since they were a lead crew, it was common to have substitutions or extra passengers on board.
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One crew roster change that did occur was when Lt Jacks was promoted to pilot his own crew, taking over the Keeler Crew 918. Lt Schorr from the Haar Crew 912 came over to replace him.
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Another change in roster was the addition of a pilotage navigator. According to Vance Cridling of the Leister Crew R-36, their bombardier, John Beyer, was reassigned to the Johnson Crew upon their arrival.
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The 492nd had a large number of pilots who were among the best ever produced by America. With that said, it would be difficult to say who the best pilot in the Group was. After the war, Mahoney expressed his personal and professional opinion to say that Johnson was the best.
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When the Group was disbanded the Crew was transferred to the 467th BG, 788th BS. After flying three missions, Capt Johnson was promoted upstairs. The Crew finished their tour under Capt Schulze.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Johnson Crew 903
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Johnson, Carl W |
1st Lt |
O-724769 |
Promoted Capt
10 Aug, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Jacks, Robert H
"Bob" |
1st Lt |
O-376079 |
Promoted to pilot Keeler Crew 918
POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7232, Stalag Luft III |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Des Jardines, Ernest R
"Ernie" |
2nd Lt |
O-688000 |
Promoted 1st Lt
10 Aug, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Whitman, Challenger
"Whit" |
F/O |
T-001722 |
10 Aug, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Downing, Floyd A |
T/Sgt |
19005810 |
10 Aug, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Anderson, Lester E
"Andy" |
S/Sgt |
32554326 |
Promoted T/Sgt
10 Aug, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Ball Turret
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Looby, Albert J
"Al" |
Sgt |
36580770 |
Promoted S/Sgt
10 Aug, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Waist
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Bond, Raymond Jr
Ray" |
Sgt |
19173921 |
Promoted S/Sgt
10 Aug, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Waist
Gunner
MOS 612 |
David, Harold L
"H L" |
Pfc |
35873338 |
Arrived to the UK via the Queen Elizabeth
Promoted Sgt
Promoted S/Sgt
10 Aug, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Tail
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Rockwell, Robert W
"Rocky" |
Sgt |
12130216 |
Promoted S/Sgt
10 Aug, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
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Others Who Flew with Johnson Crew 903
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Staff
Commander
MOS 1024 |
Mahoney, James J |
Lt Col |
O-416320 |
859th Squadron Commander
Flew to England with the crew
Flew missions with crew |
Staff
Officer
MOS 2161 |
Green, Frank R |
1st Lt |
O-659373 |
859th Asst Squadron Operations Officer |
Staff
Officer
MOS 2161 |
Taylor, John J |
Capt |
O-421636 |
859th Squadron Operations Officer |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Schorr, Jerome N
"Jerry" |
2nd Lt |
O-814987 |
Reassigned from Haar Crew 912
10 Aug, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Pilotage
Navigator
MOS 1035 |
Beyer, John |
2nd Lt |
O-762892 |
Obtained from Leister Crew R-36
Promoted 1st Lt
10 Aug, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
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Johnson Crew 903
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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12 May 44 |
44-40120 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Led B Section w/Mahoney |
| 02 |
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27 May 44 |
44-40110 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Led B section |
| 03 |
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31 May 44 |
44-40155 |
Brussels, Belgium |
Target: Marshalling yard
Led B section |
| 04 |
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4 Jun 44 |
44-40110 |
Avord, France |
Target: Airfield
Lead ship w/Mahoney |
| 05 |
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6 Jun 44 |
44-40110 |
Vire, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 06 |
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6 Jun 44 |
44-40110 |
Dreux, France |
Target: Airfield
w/Green |
| 07 |
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14 Jun 44 |
44-40110 |
Emmerich, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Led B Section w/Taylor |
| 08 |
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17 Jun 44 |
44-40110 |
Tours, France |
Target: Airfield
Lead Ship |
| 09 |
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20 Jun 44 |
44-40110 |
Politz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Led C Section w/Taylor |
| 10 |
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22 Jun 44 |
44-40155 |
St Cyr, France |
Target: Airfield
Lead Ship |
| 11 |
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29 Jun 44 |
44-40110 |
Magdeburg, Germany |
Target: Aircraft Industry
Led B Section |
| 12 |
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25 Jul 44 |
42-50611 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical
Lead Ship w/Mahoney |
| 13 |
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1 Aug 44 |
42-50614 |
Anizy, France |
Target: Railroad bridge
Lead Ship w/Mahoney
Damaged by Flak |
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