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Back row, left to right...
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(unidentified)
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(unidentified)
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(unidentified)
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(unidentified)
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(unidentified)
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(unidentified)
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Front row, left to right...
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Albert Ward Holmes, navigator
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(unidentified)
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(unidentified)
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(unidentified)
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Cary Crew R-16 Summary
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The Cary Replacement Crew arrived during Jun of '44. After they had gone through their in-house training they were assigned to the 856th to take over the empty spot of Crew 618.
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So far our record search show that the Crew flew 2 missions and an aborted one. We haven't confirmed who was on each of those flights.
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Their short career came to an end on 7 Jul 44, during one of the hardest battles fought by the 492nd. As the Group was approaching their target they got caught without fighter protection by a numerically superior force of enemy fighters. To make matters worse, at the same time they found themselves mixed up in a crossing pattern with the 453rd BG who were returning from their objective.
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The other group's lead ship (a Pathfinder supplied by the 389th BG) for the 453rd was hit by flak. Out of control that ship began to fly aimlessly across the path of the 492nd. O'Sullivan put his craft into a deep dive to avoid being ran into. Just after the near-miss with O'Sullivan it collided with Cary's ship. Cary's wing was sheared off. The plane stayed level for a moment, then suddenly broke into many pieces which went flying off in many directions at once. The only survivor from Cary's plane was the bombardier. The two planes crashed near Grossorner, a town about 35 kilometers west-northwest of Halle. 9 KIA, 1 POW, MACR 7239.
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Initially, only five of the men were found with the wreckage and buried in a local cemetery. The other four weren't discovered until later, exactly three months to the date. Their remains were found in a cornfield outside of Grossorner. They were buried with the rest of the crew.
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After the war, the bodies were reburied in the Ardennes Cemetery. Since then, five of them have been brought back to the US.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Cary Crew R-16
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Cary, John I |
2nd Lt |
O-697099 |
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7239
Ardennes Cemetery, plot A-34-4 |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Swisher, Chester M |
2nd Lt |
O-857221 |
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7239
Ardennes Cemetery, plot A-42-2 |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Holmes, Albert W |
2nd Lt |
O-717139 |
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7239
Body returned to US |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Byrd, James W Jr |
F/O |
T-124032 |
POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7239 |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Paulson, Richard M |
S/Sgt |
36455782 |
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7239
Body returned to US |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Boling, Charles R |
S/Sgt |
18034362 |
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7239
Body returned to US
Seen name spelled Bolling |
Gunner
MOS |
Davis, Charles F |
Sgt |
36480169 |
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7239
Body returned to US
Seen name spelled Bevis |
Gunner
MOS |
Biggins, John A |
Sgt |
35168253 |
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7239
Ardennes Cemetery, plot A-30-21 |
Gunner
MOS |
Hudiburg, Dale B |
Sgt |
39133839 |
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7239
Ardennes Cemetery, plot B-20-16 |
Gunner
MOS |
Redinger, Ruben |
Sgt |
36455599 |
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7239
Body returned to US |
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Cary Crew R-16
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 |
| Abort |
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29 Jun 44 |
44-40145 |
Magdeburg, Germany |
Target: Aircraft Industry
Aborted, uncredited |
| 01 |
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6 Jul 44 |
42-50313 |
Kiel, Germany |
Target: Shipyard |
| 02 |
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7 Jul 44 |
42-110091 |
42-110091 |
Target: Aircraft manufacturing
A/C borrowed from 859th BS
Lost: 9 KIA, 1 POW, MACR 7239 |
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