 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Back row, left to right...
|
| • |
Edward "Pete" Edwards, bombardier
|
| • |
Oliver Chapman, navigator
|
| • |
Donald "Herk" Taylor, pilot
|
| • |
W E "Ray" Hunt, co-pilot
|
|
|
Front row, left to right...
|
| • |
Wayne Fisher, ball turret gunner
|
| • |
James McCrory, radio operator
|
| • |
Sygmunt "Zeke" Jarosz, engineer
|
| • |
Jake Suddath, tail gunner
|
| • |
John Evans Jr, waist gunner
|
| • |
Edward Samuel, waist gunner
|
|
|
|
Taylor Crew R-04 Summary
|
|
The Taylor Replacement Crew arrived at North Pickenham during mid May. After some in-house training they were assigned to the 858th BS on 25 May 44. They began flying combat on 30th of May. At this time we aren't sure what crew designation they were assigned. Or should we say, which crew they replaced. The Taylor Crew is on record as Crew R-04.
|
|
Records will show the bombardier as being either Murell Hollowpeter or Edward Edwards although it is the same guy. While stationed at North Pickenham, Murell Edward Hollowpeter decided to change his name to Edward Murell Edwards. While growing up he had heard every joke that could possibly be made and was determined not to put his future wife and children through the same. This seemed to be a good time to change it. He did not have it legally changed in court but just did it. His comrades called him Pete and still do.
|
|
Shortly after their D-Day missions, S/Sgt Jake Suddath accidently broke his hand while on the base. Since his injured hand required a lengthy recovery period he was sent back to the US. He was not replaced. From this point on, the Taylor Crew flew as a nine-man crew. To fill the gap, their bombardier, Lt Edwards, manned the nose turret on all missions thus allowing the nose gunner to take another position.
|
|
On 19 Jun 44 the 858th BS was cut from the Group and reassigned to do leaflet dropping operating from Cheddington near London. However, only the staff and ground personnel were needed and the combat crews and planes were reassigned to the other three squadrons in the Group. The Taylor Crew was sent to the 857th. The following day they flew in one of the more costly air battles experienced by the 492nd, in which they lost 14 ships. The Group had to reorganize again. By that same evening the Taylor Crew was reassigned to the 856th.
|
|
By our count, the Taylor Crew flew 24 missions with the Group. At least one of the aborted missions, on 11 Jun 44, wasn't credited until later. After the Crew transferred to the 801st/492nd they flew 8 more plus a half a dozen gas hauling missions. By the war's end, they had flown 32 combat missions.
|
|
The Taylor Crew transferred to the 801st Provisional BG which soon became the new 492nd BG. The 801st/492nd BG, aka the Carpetbaggers, flew covert OSS missions at night. Due to the nature of their missions only eight men were required to make a crew. S/Sgt John Evans drew the short straw and was reassigned to another crew.
|
|
|
|
|
More Info |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Original Roster for
Taylor Crew R-04
|
|
| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Taylor, Donald L |
F/O |
T-186588 |
Transferred 10 Aug, to 801st/492nd BG |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Hunt, Wallace R |
2nd Lt |
O-699585 |
Transferred 10 Aug, to 801st/492nd BG |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Chapman, Oliver W |
2nd Lt |
O-703698 |
Transferred 10 Aug, to 801st/492nd BG |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Hollopeter, Murell E |
2nd Lt |
O-694913 |
aka Edward Murell Edwards
Transferred 10 Aug, to 801st/492nd BG |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Jarosz, Sygmunt B
"Zeke" |
S/Sgt |
36634906 |
Promoted T/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug, to 801st/492nd BG |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
McCrory, James P |
S/Sgt |
38428634 |
Promoted T/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug, to 801st/492nd BG |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Evans, John A Jr |
Sgt |
11105954 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug, to 801st/492nd BG
Reassigned to another crew |
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Fisher, Wayne M |
Sgt |
37035402 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug, to 801st/492nd BG |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Samuel, Edward |
Sgt |
13136136 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug, to 801st/492nd BG |
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Suddath, Jake P |
Sgt |
20407377 |
Promoted S/Sgt
WILOD, after sixth mission
Sent home for recovery |
|
Taylor Crew R-04
492nd BG Mission Record
858th Bomb Squadron
|
|
Crew
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Number |
Group
Mission
Date |
Aircraft
Serial
Number |
Primary Target |
Mission Notes |
| 01 |
|
30 May 44 |
42-95230 |
Rotenburg, Germany |
Target: Air depot |
| 02 |
|
31 May 44 |
42-95230 |
Brussels, Belgium |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 03 |
|
4 Jun 44 |
42-95230 |
Avord, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 04 |
|
6 Jun 44 |
42-95230 |
Normandy, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 05 |
|
6 Jun 44 |
42-95230 |
Vire, France |
Target: D-Day invasion coast |
| 06 |
|
11 Jun 44 |
44-40167 |
La Possonniere, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| Abort |
|
14 Jun 44 |
42-95230 |
Emmerich, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| xx |
|
17 Jun 44 |
44-40125 |
Tours, France |
Target: Airfield
On assembly sheet, not on attack sheet or log, Mock Crew 804 in place w/same a/c |
| 07 |
|
18 Jun 44 |
42-95196 |
Luneburg, Germany |
Target: Airfield
Bombed Wesermunde |
|
Mission Record with the 857th Bomb Squadron
|
| 08 |
|
20 Jun 44 |
42-110091 |
Politz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
|
Mission Record with the 856th Bomb Squadron
|
| 09 |
|
23 Jun 44 |
42-95196 |
St Cyr, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 10 |
|
25 Jun 44 |
42-95177 |
Roye, France |
Target: Peronne Airfield |
| 11 |
|
27 Jun 44 |
42-95230 |
Creil, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 12 |
|
4 Jul 44 |
44-40067 |
Beaumont-le-Roger, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 13 |
|
6 Jul 44 |
42-95230 |
Kiel, Germany |
Target: Shipyard |
| 14 |
|
8 Jul 44 |
42-50456 |
Alost, Belgium |
Target: Railroad bridge
Couldn't drop bombs |
| Abort |
|
11 Jul 44 |
44-40119 |
Munich, Germany |
Target: Railroad station
Aborted, uncredited |
| 15 |
|
12 Jul 44 |
44-40119 |
Munich, Germany |
Target: Railroad station |
| 16 |
|
20 Jul 44 |
42-50770 |
Erfurt, Germany |
Target: Airfield |
| 17 |
|
21 Jul 44 |
42-50770 |
Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany |
Target: Aircraft factory |
| 18 |
|
24 Jul 44 |
42-50770 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 19 |
|
29 Jul 44 |
42-50770 |
Oslebhausen, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 20 |
|
31 Jul 44 |
42-50770 |
Ludwigshafen, Germany |
Target: Chemical plant |
| 21 |
|
1 Aug 44 |
42-50770 |
Anizy, France |
Target: Railroad bridge |
| 22 |
|
3 Aug 44 |
42-50770 |
Mery-sur-Oise, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets)
Damaged by flak |
| 23 |
|
5 Aug 44 |
42-51258 |
Brunswick, Germany |
Target: Aircraft manufacturing |
| 24 |
|
6 Aug 44 |
44-40167 |
Hamburg, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
A/C borrowed from 857th BS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
