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Back row, left to right...
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John J Page, navigator
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Richard C Kaufman, pilot
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Arnold R Kasper, co-pilot
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Robert N Zipfel, bombardier
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Front row, left to right...
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Joseph A Manfredi, engineer
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Peter B Raymond, gunner
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Anthony Jr Tuzzolino, gunner
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Jack S Gillet, gunner
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John A Martino, radio operator
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Lee Royal, gunner
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Kaufman Crew R-05 Summary
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The Kaufman Replacement Crew transferred into the 492nd on 27 May 44. After they completed their in-house training they were assigned to the 856th BS on 4 Jun. At this time we don't know which crew they replaced.
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On 4 Jun 44, they began flying combats missions. By our initial count they flew 9 missions plus an aborted one. We haven't confirmed if there were any personnel substitutions made on any of their missions.
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Lt Kaufman and his crew fell victim to the Luftwaffe durng the massive air battle engaged on 20 Jun 44. That mission was designed to bomb the heavily defended oil refineries at Politz. While the Group was still over the Baltic Sea near Rugen Island, the formation made a right hand turn to head them towards land. Since the low left section (squadron) was on the outside of the wheel turn, they had to fly faster then those in the inside. They couldn't keep up with the sharp turn. They ended up drifting off to the left and back.
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The low left section became separated from the Group, without fighter protection and the defensive fire power of the Group's formation. The Luftwaffe, who had been shadowing the Group from a distance, seized the moment. The German fighters swept in from 8 o'clock. After their first pass, they spun around and returned for a second pass.
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The would-be massacre turned into a toe-to-toe slug-fest. During this air battle the 492nd lost 9 planes while destroying 6 of the German fighters.
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Kaufman's plane, along with that of the Harris Crew 612, were seen going down in flames by the Seitzinger Crew 616.
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Reportedly, the Kaufman Crew was flying as a 9-man crew. We don't know why one of the gunners wasn't on board. However, flying short-handed wasn't uncommon. The casualty figures for this crew is 9 KIA, MACR 7079.
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Only Lt Zipfel's body was found and recovered for burial. The rest of the crew was never seen again.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Kaufman Crew R-05
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Kaufman, Richard C |
2nd Lt |
O-693788 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7079
Commemorated, Wall of Missing, Cambridge |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Kasper, Arnold R |
2nd Lt |
O-760327 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7079
Commemorated, Wall of Missing, Netherlands |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Page, John J |
2nd Lt |
O-707799 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7079
Commemorated, Wall of Missing, Cambridge |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Zipfel, Robert N |
2nd Lt |
O-702999 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7079
Buried at Sassnitz/Rugen cementary
Reinterned in Ardennes, Plot Q-12-291
See Footnotes |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Manfredi, Joseph A |
S/Sgt |
17070859 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7079
Commemorated, Wall of Missing, Cambridge |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Martino, John A |
S/Sgt |
15017680 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7079
Commemorated, Wall of Missing, Cambridge |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Gillet, Jack S |
Sgt |
39272172 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7079
Commemorated, Wall of Missing, Cambridge |
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Raymond, Peter B |
Sgt |
32349111 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7079
Commemorated, Wall of Missing, Cambridge |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Royal, Lee |
Sgt |
38365574 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7079
Commemorated, Wall of Missing, Cambridge |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Tuzzolino, Anthony Jr |
Sgt |
34546954 |
Reassigned to McLaughlin 811
Promoted S/Sgt |
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Kaufman Crew R-05
492nd BG Mission Record
856th 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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4 Jun 44 |
42-110152 |
Avord, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 02 |
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8 Jun 44 |
42-110152 |
Angers, France |
Target: Railroad junction
Aborted, initially uncredited
credited later |
| 03 |
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10 Jun 44 |
42-110152 |
Boulogne, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 04 |
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11 Jun 44 |
42-110152 |
La Possonniere, France |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 05 |
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12 Jun 44 |
42-50370 |
Dreux, France |
Target: Airfield
A/C borrowed from 859th BS |
| Abort |
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14 Jun 44 |
44-40116 |
Emmerich, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Aborted, uncredited |
| 06 |
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15 Jun 44 |
44-40128 |
La Frilliere, France |
Target: Railroad bridge |
| 07 |
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17 Jun 44 |
44-40146 |
Melun, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 08 |
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18 Jun 44 |
44-40067 |
Luneburg, Germany |
Target: Airfield
Bombed target of opportunity |
| 09 |
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20 Jun 44 |
44-40161 |
Politz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Lost before target
9 KIA, MACR 7079 |
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