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Newman Crew 913
 Newman Crew 913
Back row, left to right...
Harry Sturla, navigator
Thomas Sims, co-pilot
Clayton Newman, pilot
Andrew Jackson, bombardier
Front row, left to right...
James Nixon, left waist gunner
Henry Fischer, ball turret gunner
August Schneph, tail gunner
William McLaughlin, radio operator
James Kelly, engineer
Clint Lewis, right waist gunner
Newman Crew 913 Summary
The Newman 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 331st CCTS (Combat Crew Training School) in Casper, Wyoming, on 26 Jan 44. They were assigned to the 859th BS, designated as Crew 913.
2nd Lt Clayton Newman signed out for a B-24J, 44-40131. To our knowledge their ship wasn't given a nickname. In April 1944, they flew their assigned aircraft to North Pickenham, England, via the southern route. One of the Power Turret and Gunsight Mechanics, Pfc Ribella, flew with them, thus bumping Sgt Fischer onto the Queen Elizabeth.
By our count, Lt Newman flew as the aircraft commander for Crew 913 for 17 missions plus 2 aborted ones. The Crew says they flew 15, so we'll look to verify that in our ongoing research. We can't be positive of all of the personnel changes on some of their missions. It's always possible that the bombardier could have missed some pathfinder-led missions.
There were 3 changes in the personnel roster. At some point Lt Sims was promoted to pilot his own crew. Lt Sturla was reassigned to the Smith Crew 906. Sgt Lewis was also reassigned, but we don't know where yet.
Newman and his boys hit the trifecta by flying into the three biggest blood-baths inflicted upon the 492nd. They lucked out on 19 May 44 by surviving the beating over Brunswick. Somehow they cheated death again as the Luftwaffe attempted to save the oil refineries at Politz on 20 Jun 44. But the Crew pushed their luck when they met about 125 German fighters over Bernburg on 7 Jul 44. Their ship exploded into a fireball. Only four men survived by either jumping out or by being blown clear of the plane. 6 KIA, 4 POW, MACR 7237.
The plane crashed about 4 kilometers east of Kroppenstedt and 18 kilometers northeast of Halberstadt, Germany. The bodies were recovered and buried locally. After the war, they were transferred to American cemeteries. Two of the bodies couldn't be identified individually and became a part of a group burial in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St Louis, Missouri.
More Info
4 photos
Newman CCT 119
44-40131
44-40139
42-95220
42-50313
WABASH
CANNON BALL
42-95005
DREAMER
42-95177
BO II
Links to missions
flown by the
Newman Crew 913
are below in their
Mission Record
Original Roster for
Newman Crew 913
Position / MOS Name Rank Serial # Notes
Pilot
MOS 1024
Newman, Clayton J 2nd Lt O-807773 29 May, promoted 1st Lt
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7237
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024
Sims, Thomas J 2nd Lt O-755767 Promoted to pilot new Crew 906
Navigator
MOS 1034
Sturla, Harry L 2nd Lt O-692351 Reassigned to Smith Crew 906
POW, 12 Jul 44, MACR 7563, Stalag Luft I
Bombardier
MOS 1035
Jackson, Andrew G
"Andy"
2nd Lt O-684160 POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7237, Stalag Luft I
Engineer
MOS 748
Kelly, James S S/Sgt 38161816 15 May, promoted T/Sgt
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7237
Buried in the USA
Radio
Operator
MOS 757
McLaughlin, William E S/Sgt 12186503 15 May, promoted T/Sgt
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7237
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
Waist
Gunner
MOS 611
Lewis, Clint W Sgt 38135716 15 May, promoted S/Sgt
Reassigned to Sims Crew 906
Waist
Gunner
MOS 611
Nixon, James R Jr
"Nick"
Sgt 38036651 15 May, promoted S/Sgt
POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7237, Dulag Luft XII
That's not a typo, there were camps called Dulag
Ball Turret
Gunner
MOS 612
Fischer, Henry L Jr
"Harry"
Sgt 33383654 Arrived to the UK via the Queen Elizabeth
15 May, promoted S/Sgt
POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7237
Tail Gunner
MOS 612
Schnepf, August C
"Clifford"
Sgt 32808718 15 May, promoted S/Sgt
POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7237, Stalag Luft IV
  Others Who Flew with Newman Crew 913
Mechanic
MOS 678
Ribella, Ebe Pfc 35061711 Power Turret and Gunsight Mechanic
Flew to England with the crew
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024
Meyer, Henry H 2nd Lt O-702311 From Keeler Crew 918
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7237
Buried in Netherlands, D-12-15
Bombardier
MOS 1035
Stein, Lester 2nd Lt 0547173 From Menweg Crew 908
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7237
Buried in the USA
Radio
Operator
MOS 757
Majchrzak, Clarence A
"Casey"
S/Sgt 32732947 From Brantley Crew 905
15 Jun, promoted T/Sgt
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7237
Buried in Netherlands, D-14-26
Newman Crew 913
492nd BG Mission Record
859th Bomb Squadron
Crew
Mission
Number
Group
Mission
Number
Group
Mission
Date
Aircraft
Serial
Number
Primary Target Mission Notes
01
 Link to Mission 01 page 01
11 May 44 44-40139 Mulhouse, France Target: Marshalling yard
02
 Link to Mission 03 page 03
13 May 44   Tutow, Germany Target: Airfield
03
 Link to Mission 05 page 05
19 May 44 44-40131 Brunswick, Germany Target: Marshalling yard
04
 Link to Mission 07 page 07
23 May 44   Avord, France Target: Airfield
05
 Link to Mission 09 page 09
25 May 44 44-40131 Belfort, France Target: Marshalling yard
06
 Link to Mission 14 page 14
31 May 44 44-40131 Brussels, Belgium Target: Marshalling yard
07
 Link to Mission 15 page 15
2 Jun 44 44-40131 Berck-sur-Mer, France Target: Airfield
08
 Link to Mission 17 page 17
6 Jun 44 44-40131 Normandy, France Target: D-Day invasion coast
09
 Link to Mission 20 page 20
8 Jun 44 44-40131 Angers, France Target: Railroad junction
Bombed with another group
10
 Link to Mission 23 page 23
11 Jun 44 44-40131 La Possonniere, France Target: Marshalling yard
11
 Link to Mission 25 page 25
12 Jun 44 44-40131 Dreux, France Target: Airfield
12
 Link to Mission 29 page 29
17 Jun 44 42-95220 Melun, France Target: Airfield
A/C borrowed from 857th BS
Abort
 Link to Mission 31 page 31
18 Jun 44 44-40131 Luneburg, Germany Target: Airfield
Aborted early, uncredited
13
 Link to Mission 33 page 33
19 Jun 44 44-40131 Courbronne, France Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets)
14
 Link to Mission 34 page 34
20 Jun 44 42-50313 Politz, Germany Target: Oil refinery
A/C borrowed from 857th BS
15
 Link to Mission 39 page 39
23 Jun 44 44-40131 Juvincourt, France Target: Airfield
Abort
 Link to Mission 44 page 44
4 Jul 44 44-40131 Beaumont-le-Roger, France Target: Airfield
Aborted, uncredited
16
 Link to Mission 45 page 45
6 Jul 44 42-95005 Kiel, Germany Target: Shipyard
Formation sheet says 050, log says 005
Our study concluded that 005 is correct
17
 Link to Mission 46 page 46
7 Jul 44 42-95177 Bernburg, Germany Target: Aircraft manufacturing
Lost: 6 KIA, 4 POW, MACR 7237
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Page last modified Thursday, November 29, 2012.