U S Army Air Force/8th Air Force/2nd Air Division/14th Bomb Wing/492nd Bomb Group (Heavy)
 492ndBombGroup.com home
follow the 492nd
on
Leahy Crew R-17 (616)
 Leahy Crew R-17
Back row, left to right...
(unknown assistant crew chief)
Henry Calzer, bombardier
Edward Leahy, pilot
Julian Braun, co-pilot
William Billing, navigator
(no first name) Yukas, crew chief
Front row, left to right...
Walter Jordan, tail gunner
Harry Early, waist gunner
Raymond Flowers, ball turret gunner
Thomas Diggens, waist gunner
Albert Matta, radio operator
Martin Eiloo, engineer
Leahy Crew R-17 Summary
Initially the Leahy Crew was assigned to the 445th BG to serve in Jimmy Stewert's squadron. Shortly after arriving there they were reassigned to the 492nd along with three other replacement crews piloted by Abernethy, Cary and Watson. They couldn't understand why they were transferred until they got to North Pickenham. The Group had just lost 14 crews and planes on 20 Jun 44.
After a short training period, the Leahy Crew was assigned to the 856th to replace the Seitzinger Crew 616.
As a crew, they flew 12 credited missions with the 492nd. Billings, the navigator, flew one with the Munson Crew 814 on 28 Jun 44, a day before his crew would fly their first. This was to break him in. We don't know if anyone else went with another crew.
There is a good chance that the bombardier was taken off the crew when they arrived at North Pickenham. It was the practice to put the bombardiers in a pool to be used when necessary. By this time the lead ships were using a bombardier and a pilotage navigator to zero in on targets while the other crews following would drop on their mark.
On the following day, the Leahy Crew swapped co-pilots with the Mock Crew 804 for the day. Again this was to help break in the new crew by letting someone with experience fly with them. Other than that we don't know if there were any other substitutions made on their missions.
We haven't confirmed where this crew transferred to when the Group was disbanded. Most likely they went to the 44th BG.
More Info
plus another photo
44-40195
BOULDER BUFF
42-50313
WABASH
CANNON BALL
42-95196
42-95215
MOONSHINE
EXPRESS
42-50491
42-95272
PURSUIT OF
HAPPINESS
44-40290
44-40116
TOBASCO KEEDS
42-50518
Links to missions
flown by the
Leahy Crew R-17
are below in their
Mission Record
Original Roster for
Leahy Crew R-17
Position / MOS Name Rank Serial # Notes
Co-PilotPilot
MOS 1024
Leahy, Edward W 1st Lt O-411866  
Co-Pilot
1024
Braun, Julian L
"Buck"
F/O T-62313  
Navigator
MOS 1034
Billing, William R 2nd Lt O-711318  
Bombardier
1035
Wallen, Charles L 2nd Lt O-708971  
Engineer
MOS 748
Eiloo, Martin J S/Sgt 15010704 Promoted T/Sgt
Radio
Operator
MOS 757
Matta, Albert S/Sgt 13041485 Promoted T/Sgt
Gunner
MOS 757
Diggens, Thomas G Sgt 33700125 Promoted S/Sgt
Gunner
MOS 611
Early, Harry N Sgt 33514893 Promoted S/Sgt
Gunner
MOS 611
Flowers, Raymond J
Ray"
Sgt 33514784 Promoted S/Sgt
Gunner
MOS 612
Jordan, Walter
"Red"
Sgt 35701686 Promoted S/Sgt
Leahy Crew R-17
492nd BG Mission Record
856th Bomb Squadron
Crew
Mission
Number
Group
Mission
Number
Group
Mission
Date
Aircraft
Serial
Number
Primary Target Mission Notes
01
 Link to Mission 43 page 43
29 Jun 44 44-40195 Magdeburg, Germany Target: Aircraft Industry
02
 Link to Mission 44 page 44
4 Jul 44 42-50313 Beaumont-le-Roger, France Target: Airfield
03
 Link to Mission 45 page 45
6 Jul 44 42-95196 Kiel, Germany Target: Shipyard
04
 Link to Mission 48 page 48
11 Jul 44 42-95215 Munich, Germany Target: Railroad station
Landed at Woodbridge
05
 Link to Mission 49 page 49
12 Jul 44 42-50491 Munich, Germany Target: Railroad station
06
 Link to Mission 52 page 52
18 Jul 44 42-95272 Troarns, France Target: Tactical
07
 Link to Mission 53 page 53
19 Jul 44 44-40290 Russelheim, Germany Target: Marshalling yard
A/C borrowed from 859th BS
Bombed Koblenz
Abort
 Link to Mission 54 page 54
20 Jul 44 42-95272 Erfurt, Germany Target: Airfield
Aborted, uncredited
08
 Link to Mission 55 page 55
21 Jul 44 42-95272 Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany Target: Aircraft factory
09
 Link to Mission 58 page 58
29 Jul 44 42-95272 Oslebhausen, Germany Target: Oil refinery
10
 Link to Mission 59 page 59
31 Jul 44 42-95272 Ludwigshafen, Germany Target: Chemical plant
11
 Link to Mission 63 page 63
4 Aug 44 44-40116 Villers I'Hopital, France Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets)
12
 Link to Mission 65 page 65
6 Aug 44 42-50518 Hamburg, Germany Target: Oil refinery
492ndBombGroup.com — an Arnett Institute project
Page last modified Tuesday, October 4, 2011.