 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Original Roster for
Newman Crew 913
|
|
| Position |
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 |
|
11 May 44 |
44-40139 |
Mulhouse, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 02 |
|
13 May 44 |
|
Tutow, Germany |
Target: Airfield |
| 03 |
|
19 May 44 |
44-40131 |
Brunswick, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 04 |
|
23 May 44 |
|
Avord, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 05 |
|
25 May 44 |
44-40131 |
Belfort, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 06 |
|
31 May 44 |
44-40131 |
Brussels, Belgium |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 07 |
|
2 Jun 44 |
44-40131 |
Berck-sur-Mer, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 08 |
|
6 Jun 44 |
44-40131 |
Normandy, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 09 |
|
8 Jun 44 |
44-40131 |
Angers, France |
Target: Railroad junction
Bombed with another group |
| 10 |
|
11 Jun 44 |
44-40131 |
La Possonniere, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 11 |
|
12 Jun 44 |
44-40131 |
Dreux, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 12 |
|
17 Jun 44 |
42-95220 |
Melun, France |
Target: Airfield
A/C borrowed from 857th BS |
| Abort |
|
18 Jun 44 |
44-40131 |
Luneburg, Germany |
Target: Airfield
Aborted early, uncredited |
| 13 |
|
19 Jun 44 |
44-40131 |
Courbronne, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 14 |
|
20 Jun 44 |
42-50313 |
Politz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
A/C borrowed from 857th BS |
| 15 |
|
23 Jun 44 |
44-40131 |
Juvincourt, France |
Target: Airfield |
| Abort |
|
4 Jul 44 |
44-40131 |
Beaumont-le-Roger, France |
Target: Airfield
Aborted, uncredited |
| 16 |
|
6 Jul 44 |
42-95005 |
Kiel, Germany |
Target: Shipyard
Formation sheet says 050, log says 005
Our study concluded that 005 is correct |
| 17 |
|
7 Jul 44 |
42-95177 |
Bernburg, Germany |
Target: Aircraft manufacturing
Lost: 6 KIA, 4 POW, MACR 7237 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
