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Faucher Crew R-12 Summary
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The Faucher Replacement Crew R-12 arrived at North Pickenham during the month of May. On 5 Jun 44, after going through the Group's in-house training they were assigned to the 856th BS. We don't know which of the missing crews they replaced.
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2nd Lt Faucher began taking his crew on combat missions on 12 Jun 44. By our count, they flew 3 missions and an aborted one. One could suspect that they were originally flying for the 859th, since the planes they used were. But according to the Special Orders issued by the 492nd, they were in the 856th, flying in borrowed aircraft.
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On 20 Jun 44, the Faucher Crew flew their third and final mission. This time they were flying an 856th plane. The objective was to attack the heavily defended oil refineries at Politz. While approaching target from the Baltic Sea, the 492nd was without figher protection and were blind-sided by the Luftwaffe. They were hit and the ship was on fire. Two men were killed on board. The rest were able to bail out before the plane exploded.
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The plane crashed in right in the center Stralsund, Germany, with its full payload of bombs. Moore, one of the crewmen that bailed, landed in the sea and drowned. His body was recovered. Patterson's body was also found and buried locally. His body was returned to the US after the war. Reyes' body was never found.
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The rest of the crew was captured near Dreschvitz, which is about 18 kilometers northest of Stralsund. The Faucher Crew was one of the 14 ships lost by the Group on that day. 3 KIA, 7 POW, MACR 7084.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Faucher Crew R-12
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Faucher, George B |
2nd Lt |
O-550649 |
POW, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7084, Stalag Luft III |
Co-Pilot
MOS |
Diggs, Terry M |
2nd Lt |
O-817401 |
POW, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7084, Stalag Luft VIIA |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
McSpiritt, John J |
2nd Lt |
O-704035 |
POW, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7084, Stalag Luft III
Some records spell McSpirit, others McSpiritt |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Shue, Mervin V |
2nd Lt |
O-696522 |
Transferred, 10 Aug to 44th BG, 66th BS
Some records spell Sheu |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Decker, Donald W |
S/Sgt |
37657524 |
POW, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7084, Stalag Luft IV
Some records spell Becker |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Tabb, Edgar M |
S/Sgt |
36441799 |
POW, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7084, Stalag Luft IV |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Moore, William A |
Sgt |
16116739 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7084
Buried at Ardennes, D-13-8 |
Tail Gunner
MOS 611 |
Patterson, Roy E |
Sgt |
38369850 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7084
Buried in the USA |
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Reyes, Miguel A |
Sgt |
39857267 |
KIA, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7084
Wall of the Missing, Netherlands |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Stichweh, Orville E |
Sgt |
37468467 |
POW, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7084 |
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Others Who Flew with Faucher Crew R-12
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Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Puckett, Oscar C |
2nd Lt |
O-694944 |
Borrowed from Bowland Crew R-11
POW, 20 Jun 44, MACR 7084, Stalag VIIA |
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Faucher Crew R-12
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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12 Jun 44 |
44-40153 |
Dreux, France |
Target: Airfield
A/C borrowed from 859th BS |
| 02 |
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15 Jun 44 |
44-40290 |
La Frilliere, France |
Target: Railroad bridge
A/C borrowed from 859th BS |
| Abort |
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17 Jun 44 |
44-40053 |
Tours, France |
Target: Airfield
A/C borrowed from 859th BS
On assembly sheet, not on attack sheet or log, uncredited |
| 03 |
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20 Jun 44 |
42-110152 |
Politz, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Lost before target
3 KIA, 7 POW, MACR 7084 |
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