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Kilpatrick Crew R-06 (813)
 Kilpatrick Crew R-06
Back row, left to right...
Donald Kilpatrick, pilot
Thomas Flaherty, co-pilot
Glen Wrobel, bombardier, waist gunner
Charles Hanline, navigator
Front row, left to right...
Wilbur Idler, engineer
James Coates, radio operator
Herbert Novatny, nose gunner
Kenneth Shinley, waist gunner
Leon Byers, ball turret gunner
Donald Brackins, tail gunner
Kilpatrick Crew R-06 (813) Summary
The Kilpatrick Replacement Crew was assembled at Colorado Springs. From there they proceeded to Westover Field, Massachusetts, for three months of Combat Crew Training. Upon completion they went to Mitchell Field, New York, where they picked up a brand new B-24H, 42-50279, to ferry over to the UK. They named their plane ENVY OF 'EM ALL. We believe that they flew over using the northern route.
Lt Kilpatrick was one of the few replacement pilots that got to keep the same plane that he ferried over. Usually the crews and their flyover ships were sent to different groups. Kilpatrick arrived at North Pickenham with his ship on 27 May 44. After some in-house training they were assigned to the 858th BS, designated to take over the empty spot of the lost Lewis Crew 813.
On 4 Jun 44 the Kilpatrick Crew began flying combat missions. According to our count they completed 8 missions with the 858th Bomb Squadron. On 19 Jun 44 the Group activated their consolidation plan that axed out the 858th BS. The command staff for the 858th was transferred to become the 8th Air Force Composite Command. All of its men and ships were reassigned to the other three squadrons. The Kilpatrick Crew was sent to the 859th to fill the vacant Crew 915 slot.
With the 859th the Kilpatrick Crew flew 7 more missions. Their war career ended on 7 Jul 44 as they participated in one of the 492nd's biggest air battles. After they dropped their bombs they were attacked by an overwhelming force of FW-190s. The initial hit by enemy cannon fire killed Byers and Brackins on the spot. Hanline was wounded in both legs. The ship went out of control, spinning as it fell.
Five men were able to bail out during the horror. As their chutes neared the ground the German soldiers below began firing at them. Lt Kilpatrick was killed before he could touch ground. The other four were captured. Two of them were taken to a POW hospital in Magdeburg. 6 KIA, 4 POW, MACR 7230.
More Info
2 pictures
42-50279
ENVY OF 'EM ALL
44-40163
41-29470
44-40120
THAT'S ALL
BROTHER
44-40156
44-40132
I'LL BE AROUND
Links to missions
flown by the
Kilpatrick Crew R-06
are below in their
Mission Record
Original Roster for
Kilpatrick Crew R-06 (813)
Position / MOS Name Rank Serial # Notes
Pilot
MOS 1024
Kilpatrick, Donald M Jr 1st Lt O-449356 KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7230
Buried in the USA
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024
Flaherty, Thomas L 2nd Lt O-760183 POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7230, Stalag Luft I
Navigator
MOS 1034
Hanline, Charles F 2nd Lt O-707907 POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7230, Stalag Luft III
WIA, recovered in Magdeburg hospital
Bombardier
MOS 1035
Wrobel, Glen R 2nd Lt O-702090 KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7230
Buried in Netherlands, M-22-3
Engineer
MOS 748
Idler, Wilbur C S/Sgt 39272464 Promoted T/Sgt
POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7230
Radio
Operator
MOS 757
Coates, James O S/Sgt 34381779 Promoted T/Sgt
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7230
Buried in Ardennes, B-36-55
Ball Turret
Gunner
MOS 748
Byers, Leon A S/Sgt 18242246 KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7230
Buried in Netherlands, P-22-6
Tail Gunner
MOS 612
Brackins, Donald L Sgt 34706951 Promoted S/Sgt
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7230
Buried in the USA
Name seen as Breckins, see Footnotes
Nose Gunner
MOS 748
Novotny, Herbert M S/Sgt 36584465 KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7230
Buried in Netherlands, P-22-8
Waist
Gunner
MOS 748
Shinley, Kenneth D Sgt 37342039 Promoted S/Sgt
POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7230
WIA, recovered in Magdeburg hospital
Kilpatrick Crew R-06 (813)
492nd BG Mission Record
858th Bomb Squadron
Crew
Mission
Number
Group
Mission
Number
Group
Mission
Date
Aircraft
Serial
Number
Primary Target Mission Notes
01
 Link to Mission 16 page 16
4 Jun 44 42-50279 Avord, France Target: Airfield
02
 Link to Mission 18 page 18
6 Jun 44 44-40163 Caen, France Target: D-Day invasion coast
03
 Link to Mission 20 page 20
8 Jun 44 42-50279 Angers, France Target: Railroad junction
04
 Link to Mission 21 page 21
10 Jun 44 41-29470 Boulogne, France Target: Airfield
05
 Link to Mission 23 page 23
11 Jun 44 42-50279 La Possonniere, France Target: Marshalling yard
06
 Link to Mission 27 page 27
14 Jun 44 42-50279 Chateaudun, France Target: Airfield
07
 Link to Mission 28 page 28
15 Jun 44 42-50279 La Frilliere, France Target: Railroad bridge
Bombed target in Le Mans
08
 Link to Mission 30 page 30
17 Jun 44 42-50279 Tours, France Target: Airfield
859th BS Missions as Crew 915
09
 Link to Mission 36 page 36
21 Jun 44 44-40132 Genshagen, Germany Target: Aircraft engine factory
10
 Link to Mission 39 page 39
23 Jun 44 44-40120 Juvincourt, France Target: Airfield
11
 Link to Mission 40a page 40a
25 Jun 44 42-50279 La Vaupeliere, France Target: Tactical
12
 Link to Mission 41 page 41
27 Jun 44 42-50279 Creil, France Target: Marshalling yard
13
 Link to Mission 42 page 42
28 Jun 44 42-50279 Saarbrucken, Germany Target: Marshalling yard
Damaged by flak
14
 Link to Mission 44 page 44
4 Jul 44 44-40156 Beaumont-le-Roger, 
France
Target: Airfield
15
 Link to Mission 46 page 46
7 Jul 44 44-40132 Bernburg, Germany Target: Aircraft manufacturing
Lost: 6 KIA, 4 POW, MACR 7230
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Page last modified Friday, February 3, 2017.