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Back row, left to right...
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Ernie Haar, pilot
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George Warner, co-pilot
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Gordon Houser, navigator
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Albert Weidman, bombardier
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Front row, left to right...
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Floyd Kingsley, engineer
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Lawrence Gerlinski, top turret gunner
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Ralph Alexander, ball turret gunner
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John Finneran, tail gunner
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Ellis Ross, waist gunner
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Carl Brown, radio operator
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Haar Crew 912 Summary
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The Haar Crew was one of the original crews for the 492nd BG that trained in Alamogordo, New Mexico. They transferred in as crew 1106 from the 32nd CCTS (Crew Combat Training School) in Tucson, Arizona, on 5 Jan 44. They were assigned to the 859th BS, designated as Crew 912.
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Soon after arriving to Alamogordo, two of the crewmen requested to be reassigned to ground duty. They were replaced Ross and Gerlinski. This crew remained intact until after flying a couple of combat missions out of North Pickenham.
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Lt Ernest Haar signed out for a B-24J, 44-40068. The ship was given the nickname UMBRIAGO after a popular song of the day by Jimmy Durante. In April 1944, they flew their assigned aircraft to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. Their ground Crew Chief T/Sgt Scarlott flew with them, thus bumping Pfc Ross onto the Queen Elizabeth.
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By our count, Haar flew as the aircraft commander for Crew 912 for 24 missions plus an aborted one. We can't be positive of all of the personnel changes on some of their missions. There were changes made within the crew.
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After two missions were under their belt, two of the NCOs, Calicchio and Foster, were lent out to Brantley Crew 905 to fill in for some sick crewmen that were grounded. The Brantley plane didn't return. Their spots were filled by Brown and Alexander from the dismantled Jaques Crew 909. Captain Jaques had been promoted to serve in the 858th BS staff.
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About the same time, Lt Schorr was reassigned to serve as a mission observer. His new function was to witness and record the efficiency of bombing strikes. Later on, Schorr was reassigned to the Beatty Crew R-42 as their co-pilot. Lt Schorr was replaced by Lt Warner from the 856th BS.
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The photo above was taken, 10 July 44, after the three personnel changes were made to the crew. This was the crew that flew most of the missions together.
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The Crew transferred to the 467th BG during August when the 492nd was disbanded. There they were assigned to the 788th BS and were redesignated as Crew 12. They finished their tour with them.
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Most of the men were sent home after finishing their tour. Some of the officers were reassigned to serve as instructors.
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Ernie Haar went to the 61st Troop Carrier Group to teach C-47 pilots to fly C-109s, which are B-24s converted into cargo planes. As a passenger, he was almost killed when another plane collided into the one he was on. His story, along with crash photos, can be found on his bio page.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Haar Crew 912
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Haar, Ernest J
"Ernie" |
2nd Lt |
O-811070 |
29 May, promoted 1st Lt
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS
Completed combat tour
Assigned to 61st Troop Carrier Group
C-109 Pilot Instructor
18 Dec, injured in mid-air collision |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Schorr, Jerome N
"Jerry" |
2nd Lt |
O-814987 |
Reassigned to squadron staff
Reassigned to Beatty Crew R-42
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Houser, Gordon W |
2nd Lt |
O-699932 |
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Weidman, Albert B |
2nd Lt |
O-695569 |
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Kingsley, Floyd R |
S/Sgt |
16000141 |
15 May, promoted T/Sgt
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS
Seen name as Kingley |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Calicchio, Frank A |
S/Sgt |
31294399 |
15 May, promoted T/Sgt
Lent to Brantley Crew 905 for a day
KIA, 19 May 44, MACR 5247
Seen name as Galicchio |
Waist
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Ross, Ellis W |
Pfc |
37538223 |
Arrived to the UK via the Queen Elizabeth
Promoted Sgt
1 Jun, promoted S/Sgt
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Top turret
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Gerlinski, Lawrence |
Pvt |
36291993 |
Obtained from Robert Murray CCTS 1662
15 May, promoted Cpl
1 Jun, promoted Sgt
15 Jun, promoted S/Sgt
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS
Seen name as Gerlinsky |
Ball Turret
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Foster, John F |
Cpl |
20756379 |
Promoted Sgt
Lent to Brantley Crew 905
KIA, 19 May 44, MACR 5247 |
Tail Gunner
MOS 611 |
Finneran, John V |
Sgt |
31271630 |
15 May, promoted S/Sgt
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS
Seen name as Finnerman |
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Others Who Flew with Haar Crew 912
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Crew Chief
MOS 750 |
Scarlett, William A |
T/Sgt |
15070962 |
Flew to England with the crew
15 May, promoted M/Sgt
Seen name as Scarlott |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Brown, Carl L |
T/Sgt |
33408872 |
Replaced Calicchio
Obtained from Jaques Crew 909
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Ball Turret
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Alexander, Ralph W |
S/Sgt |
06247961 |
Replaced Foster
Obtained from Jaques Crew 909
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Warner, George A |
2nd Lt |
O-813083 |
Replaced Schorr
Don't know where he came from
10 Aug 44, transferred to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Staff
MOS 1024 |
Mahoney, James J |
Lt Col |
O-416320 |
859th Squadron Commander |
Staff
MOS 2161 |
Green, Frank R |
1st Lt |
O-6959373 |
859th BS Assistant Operations Officer |
Staff
MOS 2161 |
Alexander,
Edwin J Jr |
Capt |
O-6686692 |
859th BS Bombardier Officer |
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Haar Crew 912
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 |
44-40068 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Bombed bridge in Frankfort |
| 02 |
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13 May 44 |
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Tutow, Germany |
Target: Airfield |
| 03 |
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21 May 44 |
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Siracourt, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 04 |
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23 May 44 |
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Avord, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 05 |
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24 May 44 |
44-40068 |
Melun, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 06 |
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28 May 44 |
44-40068 |
Zeitz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 07 |
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30 May 44 |
44-40068 |
Rotenburg, Germany |
Target: Air depot |
| 08 |
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2 Jun 44 |
44-40068 |
Berck-sur-Mer, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 09 |
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6 Jun 44 |
42-51115 |
Caen, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 10 |
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8 Jun 44 |
44-40068 |
Angers, France |
Target: Railroad junction |
| 11 |
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10 Jun 44 |
44-40068 |
Orleans/Bricy, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 12 |
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12 Jun 44 |
44-40068 |
Dreux, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 13 |
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14 Jun 44 |
44-40131 |
Emmerich, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 14 |
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18 Jun 44 |
44-40068 |
Luneburg, Germany |
Target: Airfield
Bombed Nordenham |
| 15 |
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19 Jun 44 |
44-40068 |
Courbronne, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 16 |
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20 Jun 44 |
44-40068 |
Politz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 17 |
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23 Jun 44 |
44-40132 |
Juvincourt, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 18 |
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25 Jun 44 |
44-40068 |
La Vaupeliere, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 19 |
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27 Jun 44 |
44-40068 |
Creil, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 20 |
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12 Jul 44 |
44-40290 |
Munich, Germany |
Target: Railroad station
Deputy Lead B Section, took over when Smith was lost |
| 21 |
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13 Jul 44 |
44-40290 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Bombed w/458th BG |
| Abort |
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21 Jul 44 |
42-50719 |
Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany |
Target: Aircraft factory
Led B Section
Aborted, uncredited |
| 22 |
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29 Jul 44 |
42-50719 |
Oslebhausen, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Led B Section w/Taylor |
| 23 |
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31 Jul 44 |
42-50719 |
Ludwigshafen, Germany |
Target: Chemical plant |
| 24 |
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3 Aug 44 |
42-50719 |
Mery-sur-Oise, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets)
Damaged by flak |
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