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Watson Crew R-19 (617)
Watson Crew R-19 (617) Summary
The Watson Replacement Crew arrived at North Pickenham during the month of June. Their transfer order was short a navigator. Perhaps he had been pulled for other duty. On 24 Jun 44, they were assigned to fill the vacant spot of Crew 617 in the 856th BS.
After five short days of in-house training they began flying combat missions. By our count the Watson Crew flew 3 missions plus an aborted one. Aside from not knowing who their navigator was, there was one personnel change on the Crew's roster.
The final mission for the Watson Crew was on 7 Jul 44. The Group's objective was an aircraft manufacturing facility in Bernburg. The Luftwaffe attacked the 492nd from their behind where they didn't have any fighter protection. The air battle turned into a blood-bath as casualties ran high on both sides. The Watson Crew was knocked out of the action along with nine other ships from the 492nd. 8 KIA, 1 POW, MACR 7236.
Only two of the dead could be identified for burial. After the war, one of them was reburied in the Netherlands while the other was returned to the US. The rest of the crew was buried as a group. Today that group is buried together at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St Louis, Missouri.
More Info
4 photos
42-110148
LUCKY STRIKE
42-95215
MOONSHINE
EXPRESS
44-40086
LAURA JO
42-95005
DREAMER
Links to missions
flown by the
Watson Crew R-19
are below in their
Mission Record
Original Roster for
Watson Crew R-19 (617)
Position / MOS Name Rank Serial # Notes
Pilot
MOS 1024
Watson, Ernest L 2nd Lt O-817307 KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7236
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024
Shepherd, Richard P 2nd Lt O-823720 KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7236
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
Navigator
MOS 1034
       
Bombardier
MOS 1035
Grill, Mark R 2nd Lt O-708877 KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7236
Buried in Netherlands, N-16-13
Engineer
MOS 748
McPhillips, Herbert J S/Sgt 31262090 KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7236
Buried in the USA
Radio
Operator
MOS 757
Cataldo, George S S/Sgt 11115158 POW, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7236, Stalag Luft IV
Gunner
MOS 611
Chocklett, Eugene R Sgt 33656133  
Gunner
MOS
Dailey, Bernard W Cpl 33702816 Promoted Sgt
MACR 7236
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
Gunner
MOS
Eason, William W Sgt 34767010 KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7236
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
Gunner
MOS
Bowen, Leslie K Cpl 33702585 Promoted Sgt
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7236
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
  Others Who Flew with Watson Crew R-19 (617)
Gunner
MOS 748
Wells, Grant L S/Sgt 39832925 From the Bowland Crew R-11
KIA, 7 Jul 44, MACR 7236
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
Watson Crew R-19 (617)
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 42-110148 Magdeburg, Germany Target: Aircraft Industry
02
 Link to Mission 44 page 44
4 Jul 44 42-95215 Beaumont-le-Roger, France Target: Airfield
Abort
 Link to Mission 45 page 45
6 Jul 44 44-40086 Kiel, Germany Target: Shipyard
Aborted, uncredited
03
 Link to Mission 46 page 46
7 Jul 44 42-95005 Bernburg, Germany Target: Aircraft manufacturing
A/C borrowed from 859th BS
Lost: 8 KIA, 1 POW, MACR 7236
492ndBombGroup.com — an Arnett Institute project
Page last modified Friday, January 22, 2010.