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Back row, left to right...
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(unknown assistant crew chief)
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Henry Calzer, bombardier
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Edward Leahy, pilot
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Julian Braun, co-pilot
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William Billing, navigator
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(no first name) Yukas, crew chief
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Front row, left to right...
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Walter Jordan, tail gunner
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Harry Early, waist gunner
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Raymond Flowers, ball turret gunner
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Thomas Diggens, waist gunner
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Albert Matta, radio operator
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Martin Eiloo, engineer
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Leahy Crew R-17 Summary
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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.
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After a short training period, the Leahy Crew was assigned to the 856th to replace the Seitzinger Crew 616.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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We haven't confirmed where this crew transferred to when the Group was disbanded. Most likely they went to the 44th BG.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Leahy Crew R-17
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Co-PilotPilot
MOS 1024 |
Leahy, Edward W |
1st Lt |
O-411866 |
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Co-Pilot
1024 |
Braun, Julian L
"Buck" |
F/O |
T-62313 |
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Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Billing, William R |
2nd Lt |
O-711318 |
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Bombardier
1035 |
Wallen, Charles L |
2nd Lt |
O-708971 |
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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 |
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Leahy Crew R-17
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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29 Jun 44 |
44-40195 |
Magdeburg, Germany |
Target: Aircraft Industry |
| 02 |
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4 Jul 44 |
42-50313 |
Beaumont-le-Roger, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 03 |
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6 Jul 44 |
42-95196 |
Kiel, Germany |
Target: Shipyard |
| 04 |
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11 Jul 44 |
42-95215 |
Munich, Germany |
Target: Railroad station
Landed at Woodbridge |
| 05 |
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12 Jul 44 |
42-50491 |
Munich, Germany |
Target: Railroad station |
| 06 |
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18 Jul 44 |
42-95272 |
Troarns, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 07 |
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19 Jul 44 |
44-40290 |
Russelheim, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
A/C borrowed from 859th BS
Bombed Koblenz |
| Abort |
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20 Jul 44 |
42-95272 |
Erfurt, Germany |
Target: Airfield
Aborted, uncredited |
| 08 |
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21 Jul 44 |
42-95272 |
Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany |
Target: Aircraft factory |
| 09 |
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29 Jul 44 |
42-95272 |
Oslebhausen, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 10 |
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31 Jul 44 |
42-95272 |
Ludwigshafen, Germany |
Target: Chemical plant |
| 11 |
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4 Aug 44 |
44-40116 |
Villers I'Hopital, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 12 |
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6 Aug 44 |
42-50518 |
Hamburg, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
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