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Foster Crew R-20 (719)
 Foster Crew R-20
Back row, left to right...
Kenneth S Pederson, engineer, tail gunner
John E Drilling, bombardier
Francis J Goldcamp, co-pilot
William (Bill) T Foster, pilot
Hardwin (Harvey) T Nagler, navigator
Calvin L Gilbert, radio operator
Front row, left to right...
Raymond E Lindquist, tail gunner
Eugene T Mitchell, nose gunner
Kenneth A Loder, waist gunner
Leonard Linder, waist gunner
Foster Crew R-20 (719) Summary
The Foster Replacement Crew transferred to North Pickenham during the month of June. Shortly after their arrival they were assigned to the 857th BS. The Group had just consolidated its four squadrons into three, eliminating the 858th and reassigning its men and ships to the others. The sizes of the remaining squadrons were made larger from hosting 18 crews to 22. the Foster Crew was designated as Crew 719.
By our count, the Foster Crew flew 11 credited missions plus an aborted one. We aren't aware of any personnel substitutions made on any of the flights.
We haven't confirmed where this crew transferred to when the Group was disbanded in August. We have found bits and pieces that suggest they went to the 44th BG where they were split up. Lt Drilling, however, went to the 446th BG where he was shot down and taken prisoner.
In a short letter to the HAPPY WARRIOR, Frank Goldcamp indicated that this crew went their separate ways when the Group was disbanded. He went to the Leuchars Airfield in Scotland to fly OSS operations in the Scandinavian area. There he flew with Col Brent Balchen. He didn't say what they did, but it's likely he was invloved in Operation Sonnie, a secret project that smuggled the internees in Sweden back to England.
Goldcamp said his time with the OSS was short. He was transferred back to flying bombing missions with the 389th BG. He finished his tour with them.
More Info
Simon Crew R-03
Kuecker Crew R-07
44-40118
WE'LL GET BY
44-40071
SWEAT BOX
42-51121
NIAGARA
SPECIAL
42-94986
PREGNANT ANGEL
44-40072
B.T.O.
Links to missions
flown by the
Foster Crew R-20
are below in their
Mission Record
44th BG
website
Original Roster for
Foster Crew R-20 (719)
Position / MOS Name Rank Serial # Notes
Pilot
MOS 1024
Foster, William T 1st Lt O-696759  
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024
Goldcamp, Francis J
"Frank"
2nd Lt O-818701 Transferred to 801st/492nd BG
Transferred to 389th BG
Navigator
MOS 1034
Nagler, Hardwin F F/O T-125222 Said to had transferred to the 44th BG
Bombardier
MOS 1035
Drilling, John E 2nd Lt O-706820 Reassigned to Simon R-03
Transferred to the 446th BG
POW, 25 Aug 44, MACR 8473
Engineer
MOS 748
Pedersen, Kenneth S S/Sgt 16101182 Promoted T/Sgt
Radio
Operator
MOS 757
Gilbert, Calvin L S/Sgt 14134915 Promoted T/Sgt
Gunner
MOS 611
Lindner, Leonard Sgt 32876992 Promoted S/Sgt
MOS changed to 748
reassigned to Kuecker R-07
Transferred to 44th BG
Gunner
MOS 612
Loder, Kenneth A Sgt 12220082 Promoted S/Sgt
Said to had transferred to the 44th BG.
Gunner
MOS 612
Mitchell, Eugene T Sgt 36424364 Promoted S/Sgt
Gunner
MOS 748
Lindquist, Raymond E Sgt 36719103 Promoted S/Sgt
Foster Crew R-20 (719)
492nd BG Mission Record
857th Bomb Squadron
Crew
Mission
Number
Group
Mission
Number
Group
Mission
Date
Aircraft
Serial
Number
Primary Target Mission Notes
Abort
 Link to Mission 44 page 44
4 Jul 44 44-40118 Beaumont-le-Roger, France Target: Airfield
Aborted, uncredited
01
 Link to Mission 45 page 45
6 Jul 44 44-40071 Kiel, Germany Target: Shipyard
02
 Link to Mission 46 page 46
7 Jul 44 42-51121 Bernburg, Germany Target: Aircraft manufacturing
03
 Link to Mission 48 page 48
11 Jul 44 42-94986 Munich, Germany Target: Railroad station
04
 Link to Mission 49 page 49
12 Jul 44 42-94986 Munich, Germany Target: Railroad station
05
 Link to Mission 52 page 52
18 Jul 44 42-94986 Troarns, France Target: Tactical
06
 Link to Mission 53 page 53
19 Jul 44 42-94986 Russelheim, Germany Target: Marshalling yard
Bombed Koblenz
07
 Link to Mission 54 page 54
20 Jul 44 44-40072 Erfurt, Germany Target: Airfield
08
 Link to Mission 58 page 58
29 Jul 44 42-94986 Oslebhausen, Germany Target: Oil refinery
09
 Link to Mission 60 page 60
1 Aug 44 42-94986 Anizy, France Target: Railroad bridge
10
 Link to Mission 61 page 61
3 Aug 44 42-94986 Mery-sur-Oise, France Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets)
Damaged by flak
11
 Link to Mission 64 page 64
5 Aug 44 42-94986 Brunswick, Germany Target: Aircraft manufacturing
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Page last modified Thursday, February 1, 2024.