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Sims Crew 906 Summary
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The Sims Crew was formed at the 492nd. They built a crew around Lt Sims, the co-pilot from the Newman Crew 913. One of the Newman gunners, Sgt Lewis, was reassigned to go with Sims. The rest of the crew came from the Group's replacement pool. These men did not come into the 492nd as a crew but had transferred in from the replacement center at the same time. The Sims Crew was assigned to fill the vacant spot of the lost Smith Crew and was designated as Crew 906.
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No bombardier was assigned to the new crew. This was the new practice of the day. Since bombardiers were left off of some the Pathfinder-led missions, the Group had an extensive supply of orphaned bombardiers. New crews would draw a bombardier from the pool as needed. This practice wasn't confined to the 492nd. Throughout the 8th Air Force bombers were using Toggliers, usually the nose gunner, to release the bombs when signaled from a lead ship. In those days "carpet bombing" was a standard procedure.
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By our count, the Sims Crew flew 7 missons for the 492nd. Other than the bombardier position we are lead to believe that there were no substitutions made on any of the missions and that no one missed one.
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About half of their missions were flown on 44-40131. Replacement crews weren't assigned their own plane. They took what was scheduled for them on a mission-by-mission basis.
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The Sims Crew 906 transferred on 10 Aug 44 to the 467th BG. They were assigned to the 788th BS and designated as Crew 6. We understand that Sims took the Crew on 9 more missions before being replaced by Lt Leister, another former pilot of the 492nd. Leister had recovered from wounds and needed a crew. The Crew finished their tour under him. For more 467th BG history, go to their website.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Sims Crew 906
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Sims, Thomas J |
2nd Lt |
O-755767 |
Obtained from Newman Crew 913
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Lott, Douglas N |
2nd Lt |
O-700363 |
13 July; joined 492nd
Obtained from replacement pool
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Ward, William H |
2nd Lt |
O-708976 |
13 July; joined 492nd
Obtained from replacement pool
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
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No regular Bombardier assigned to this crew |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Varley, Vaughn M |
T/Sgt |
18168796 |
13 July; joined 492nd
Obtained from replacement pool
1 Aug, promoted T/Sgt
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Quentin, Henry B |
T/Sgt |
32515722 |
13 July; joined 492nd
Obtained from replacement pool
1 Aug, promoted T/Sgt
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Gunner
MOS |
Turner, Charles O |
S/Sgt |
34515722 |
13 July; joined 492nd
Obtained from replacement pool
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Gunner
MOS |
Isaacson, Henry H |
Sgt |
12088069 |
13 July; joined 492nd
Obtained from replacement pool
1 Aug, promoted S/Sgt
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Gunner
MOS |
Masterson, Robert D |
S/Sgt |
36441118 |
13 July; joined 492nd
Obtained from replacement pool
1 Aug, promoted S/Sgt
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Lewis, Clint W |
Sgt |
38135716 |
15 May; promoted S/Sgt
Obtained from Newman 913
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
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Sims Crew 906
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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24 Jul 44 |
44-40131 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 02 |
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25 Jul 44 |
44-40131 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 03 |
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1 Aug 44 |
42-95234 |
Anizy, France |
Target: Railroad bridge
Damaged by Flak |
| 04 |
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3 Aug 44 |
44-40131 |
Mery-sur-Oise, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 05 |
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4 Aug 44 |
44-40131 |
Kiel, Germany |
Target: Submarine base |
| 06 |
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5 Aug 44 |
42-51291 |
Brunswick, Germany |
Target: Aircraft manufacturing
A/C borrowed from 856th BS |
| 07 |
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7 Aug 44 |
42-50737 |
Ostend, Belgium |
Target: Oil dump |
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