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Back row, left to right...
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(unidentified)
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Charles Albin, navigator
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John Testa, pilot
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(unidentified)
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Thomas Rice, bombardier
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Front row, left to right...
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Gomer Davies, gunner
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Edward Stodghill, radio operator
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(unidentified)
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(unidentified)
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James Gegenheimer, engineer
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(unidentified)
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Testa Crew R-13 Summary
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John Testa had been with the Group from its beginning. He had flown with the 12th Anti-submarine Squadron at Langley, Virginia. He had above average experience and had attended Applied Tactical Training in Orlando, Florida. For reasons not known, Testa did not fly over to England with the Group. He reported to North Pickenham on 5 June and was assigned to the 858th BS. A new crew, R-13, was formed around him.
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The bulk of the new crew came from the Beumeler CCTS Crew 2485 from Hamilton Field in Blythe, California. They sailed to England from Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, designated as Crew FJ-333-CA #18. While going through more training they were given new crew numbers. When they received their orders assigning them to the 492nd, they were Crew G-21 of the 2nd CCRC Group. On the same order, Captain Beumeler was ordered to accompany his crew to North Pickenham, then immediately report for duty at the 2nd Bomb Division Headquarters.
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For a short time at North Pickenham, the Beumeler Crew was referred to as the Wilson Crew, named after the crew's co-pilot. Lt Testa, who had arrived about the same time, was given command the crew, thus becoming Testa Crew R-13. They were assigned to the 858th BS.
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By early June the Group Commanders had learned that their 858th squadron was going to be cut from the Group. Its staff was to be transferred to become the 8th Composite Command for leaflet droppings. Its crews and planes were to be reassigned to the other three squadrons. On 19 June, the Testa Crew was reassigned to the 857th and was designated as Crew 704. On that same day, Testa was promoted to Captain.
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While still going through in-house training, Lt Barrett was reassigned to the Miller Crew 810. It had become a new standard practice with the 492nd to cut bombardiers from the regular crews and use the nose gunner to toggle the bombs when the lead crew would drop their bombs. Lead crews had two bombardiers. One for operating the bombsite and the other, a pilotage navigator, to help guide the plane by visual observations from the nose window. This method proved effective.
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After a few combat missions, the Testa Crew became a lead crew. Two bombardiers were added to their roster, Captain Arms and Lt Rice. Lester Arms had previously served as the Group's Bombardier Officer. By his own request, he was demoted to lead bombardier. Tom Rice was from the Simon Crew R-03. Since they were a regular crew, Rice had been cut from their crew and placed into the bombardier pool. Both Arms and Rice had completed several missions before joining the Testa Crew.
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Capt Testa led his crew on about a dozen missions. We have been able to verify ten of them through the records. Wilson's own account claims eleven, but doesn't include one that we had verified. We are still investigating.
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When the Group was disbanded on 10 August 44, they were transferred as an 11 man crew to the 44th BG, 66th BS. They were still under Col Snavely's command and continued to serve as a lead crew. At some point, Wilson was given a crew of his own. Both the Testa Crew and the Wilson Crew finished their combat tour.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Testa Crew R-13
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Testa, John J |
1st Lt |
O-659413 |
Promoted Capt
Transferred 10 Aug, to 44th BG |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Wilson, Lawrence M |
1st Lt |
O-465496 |
From Beumeler/Wilson Crew
Transferred 10 Aug, to 44th BG |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Albin, Charles H |
2nd Lt |
O-698405 |
From Beumeler/Wilson Crew
Transferred 10 Aug, to 44th BG |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Barrett, Herbert G |
2nd Lt |
O-698510 |
From Beumeler/Wilson Crew
Reassigned to Miller Crew 810
18 Jun 44, interned in Sweden, MACR 6767 |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Gegenheimer, James E |
S/Sgt |
14096114 |
From Beumeler/Wilson Crew
Promoted T/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug, to 44th BG |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Stodghill, Edward T |
S/Sgt |
37417267 |
From Beumeler/Wilson Crew
Promoted T/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug, to 44th BG |
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Schott, Anthony J |
Sgt |
33558992 |
From Beumeler/Wilson Crew
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug, to 44th BG |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Frady, Robert G |
Sgt |
34608949 |
From Beumeler/Wilson Crew
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug, to 44th BG |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Bridge, Raymond E Jr |
Sgt |
32750351 |
From Beumeler/Wilson Crew
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug, to 44th BG |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Davies, Gomer B Jr |
Sgt |
34326950 |
From Beumeler/Wilson Crew
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug, to 44th BG |
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Others Who Flew with Testa Crew R-13
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Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Arms, Lester A
"Gooch" |
Capt |
O-668696 |
Former Group Bombardment Officer
Transferred w/crew to the 44th |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Rice, Thomas F |
2nd Lt |
O-699530 |
Obtained from Simon Crew R-03
Transferred w/crew to 44th BG
Promoted 1st Lt |
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Testa Crew R-13
492nd BG Mission Record
857th 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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21 Jun 44 |
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Genshagen, Germany |
Target: Aircraft facilty |
| 02 |
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22 Jun 44 |
44-40131 |
Crepy, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 03 |
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25 Jun 44 |
44-40166 |
Roye, France |
Target: Peronne Airfield |
| 04 |
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29 Jun 44 |
42-51171 |
Magdeburg, Germany |
Target: Aircraft Industry
Flak intensive |
| 05 |
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4 Jul 44 |
44-40167 |
Beaumont-le-Roger, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 06 |
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6 Jul 44 |
44-40167 |
Kiel, Germany |
Target: Shipyard |
| 07 |
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18 Jul 44 |
44-40173 |
Troarns, France |
Target: Tactical
Lead Crew |
| 08 |
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19 Jul 44 |
44-40167 |
Russelheim, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
A/C number not confirmed
Bombed Koblenz
Lead Crew |
| 09 |
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24 Jul 44 |
44-40113 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical
Led C Section |
| Abort |
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25 Jul 44 |
44-40113 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical
Lead Crew
Aborted |
| 10 |
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31 Jul 44 |
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Ludwigshafen, Germay |
Target: Chemical Plant
Lead Crew
Aborted |
| 11 |
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1 Aug 44 |
44-40167 |
Anizy, France |
Target: Railroad bridge
Led C Section |
| 12 |
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4 Aug 44 |
44-40113 |
Kiel, Germany |
Target: Submarine base
Led B Section w/Pittman |
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