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Back row, left to right...
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Haywood Brantley, pilot
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Thomas Magee, co-pilot
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Thomas Kingston, navigator
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Jack Rosey, bombardier
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Raby White, crew chief
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Front row, left to right...
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Clifford Glasgow, right waist gunner
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Clarence Majchrzak, radio operator
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Howard Linn, left waist gunner
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John Williams, tail gunner
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Willard Bristlin, ball turret gunner
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Brantley Crew 905 Summary
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The Brantley Crew was one of the original crews for the 492nd BG that trained in Alamogordo, New Mexico. They transferred in as crew 1667 from the CCTS (Combat Crew Training School) in Biggs, Texas, on 3 Mar 44. They were assigned to the 859th BS and designated as Crew 905.
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Lt Haywood Brantley signed out for a B-24J, 44-40065. They nicknamed their ship SILVER LADY. In April 1944, they flew their assigned aircraft to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. Their ground Crew Chief Sgt Beall flew with them, thus bumping Pvt Glasgow onto the Queen Elizabeth.
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Lt Brantley flew as the aircraft commander for Crew 705 for 2 missions. After their first mission part of the crew had become sick. Therefore, on the second mission three of the men were substituted with men from other crews. None of the substitutes survived.
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On 19 May 44, the German Luftwaffe found the 492nd without their fighter protection as they were approaching their target at Brunswick, Germany. The Brantley Crew was shot down on the enemy's second pass of FW-190s. Their left wing had caught fire. The order was given to bail out but only four men were able to get out before the ship exploded into a fireball. One of the four survivors was killed by ground fire. 7 KIA, 3 POW, MACR 5247.
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The plane crashed near Niederstocken, Germany, about 30 kilometers from Hannover. The six bodies recovered from the wreck were buried at the Niederstocken Cemetery. They would later be joined by Foster, after his body was discovered about 5 kilometers from town.
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After the war, Foster was relocated to the Ardennes American Cemetery, D-11-42. The other six were brought back to the US and buried at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Brantley Crew 905
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Brantley, Haywood E |
2nd Lt |
O-808358 |
KIA, 19 May 44, MACR 5247
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery
Louisville, Kentucky |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
MaGee, Thomas J |
2nd Lt |
O-699349 |
KIA, 19 May 44, MACR 5247
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery
Louisville, Kentucky |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Kingston, Thomas J |
F/O |
T-123980 |
Missed 19 May 44, due to illness
Orphaned, reassignment unknown
Other records show ASN as T-123480 |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Rosey, Jack |
2nd Lt |
O-697761 |
KIA, 19 May 44, MACR 5247
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery
Louisville, Kentucky |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
DeVisser, Henry O |
S/Sgt |
17090207 |
KIA, 19 May 44, MACR 5247
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery
Louisville, Kentucky |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Majchrzak,
Clarence A |
S/Sgt |
32732947 |
Missed 19 May 44, due to illness
Orphaned; reassigned Newman Crew 913
15 Jun; promoted T/Sgt
KIA, 7 Jul 44
Buried at Cambridge, D-14-26 |
R Waist
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Glasgow, Clifford E |
Pvt |
16055770 |
Arrived to the UK via the Queen Elizabeth
Promoted Cpl
Promoted Sgt
POW, 19 May 44, MACR 5247, Stalag Luft IV |
L Waist
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Linn, Howard A |
Sgt |
37661206 |
POW, 19 May 44, MACR 5247, Stalag Luft IV |
Ball Turret
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Bristlin, Willard C |
Sgt |
39304751 |
Missed 19 May 44, due to illness
15 Jun; promoted S/Sgt
18 Jun; reassigned Harris Crew 707
Interned in Sweden, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7076 |
Tail Gunner
MOS 748 |
Williams, John W |
Sgt |
33575289 |
POW, 19 May 44, MACR 5247, Stalag Luft IV |
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Others Who Flew with Brantley Crew 905
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Crew Chief
MOS 750 |
Beall, Robbie W |
S/Sgt |
38096980 |
Flew to England with the crew
15 May; promoted T/Sgt
15 July; promoted M/Sgt |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Zahn, John H |
2nd Lt |
O-703866 |
Borrowed from Wolf Crew 911
KIA, 19 May 44, MACR 5247
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery
Louisville, Kentucky |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Calicchio, Frank A |
S/Sgt |
31294399 |
15 May; promoted T/Sgt
Borrowed from Haar Crew 912
KIA, 19 May 44, MACR 5247
Zachary Taylor National Cemetery
Louisville, Kentucky
Some records spell his name Galicchio |
Ball Turret
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Foster, John F |
Cpl |
20756379 |
Promoted Sgt
Borrowed from Haar Crew 912
KIA, 19 May 44, MACR 5247
Ardennes Cemetery, D-11-42 |
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Brantley Crew 905
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 |
44-40065 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 02 |
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19 May 44 |
44-40065 |
Brunswick, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Lost: 7 KIA, 3 POW, MACR 5247 |
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