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Back row, left to right...
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William Bento, radio operator
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Paul Perry, pilot
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Joseph Kelly, co-pilot
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Lloyd Randolph, navigator
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Gerald Camp, engineer
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Front row, left to right...
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Jack Towner, gunner
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John Durtsche, ball turret gunner |
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Oliver Rauch, bombardier
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Robert Traeger, gunner
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Arel Bye, gunner
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Perry Crew R-21 (710) Summary
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The Perry Crew was formed in the US during the spring of 1944. They trained at Westover Field, Massachusetts. Originally their training schedule was to end on 15 June, but they were rushed to finish up by 13 May 44.
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They picked up a brand new B-24 at Mitchell Field, New York, to ferry over to the ETO. On 22 May they began their trek across the Atlantic via the northern route. They arrived at Nutts Corner, Northern Ireland, on 27 May.
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After going through about three more weeks of combat training in Northern Ireland, the Crew got their orders on 18 June assigning them to the 445th BG. They were to proceed by boat, rail and truck.
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While en route to the 445th BG, their orders were changed, sending them to the 492nd. The 492nd had just suffered a large loss of crews and planes. They needed replacements as soon as possible.
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The Perry Replacement Crew arrived at North Pickenham on 22 June. Two days later they were assigned to the 857th BS and were designated to replace the Stanhope Crew 710 that had transferred out earlier in the month.
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According to Al Blue's records, the Perry Crew flew 13 missions plus two aborted ones. The individual records kept by members of the crew concur. Bob Traeger told us that everyone in the crew flew on all of the missions. He also said that they never carried any extra people on board while at the 492nd, but they did carry with them "Lucky Rabbitt."
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Lucky Rabbitt was a stuffed animal that one of the crewmen had picked up along the way. It became their good luck charm as it flew all 30 missions with the crew. Lucky Rabbitt certainly looks like he flew 30 missions.
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Paul Perry kept a war diary throughout his service. From it we have learned a great deal about him and the crew. We have it presented here, broken into six parts. See the story links at right. There is also an interview with Bob Trager that fills in some of the blanks.
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Perry's diary says that they never once encountered the Luftwaffe, which is fitting since after the deadly 7 July air battle, General Doolittle ordered personal bodyguards to escort the 492nd on every mission.
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When the Group was disbanded, Lt Randolph and Sgt Bento were sent to serve in the Air Transport Command. However, the Perry Crew was reassigned to the 466th BG.
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Soon, the 466th began using the Perry Crew as a lead ship. Perry does mention in his dairy that the 492nd was a better group. As a lead ship, he tried to elevate his squadron's performance level to that of the old 492nd.
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While at the 466th, the crew's new radio operator broke a bone in a bike accident. Sgt Bento was brought back from the Air Transport Command to rejoin his old crew. He flew two more missions with them.
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On 29 Dec 44, the Perry Crew completed their 30 mission tour. However, only seven of the ten men finished together. The other three finished up with other crews.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Perry Crew R-21 (710)
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Perry, Paul W |
2nd Lt |
O-818925 |
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 466th BG |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Kelly, Joseph R |
2nd Lt |
O-822459 |
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 466th BG |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Randolph, Lloyd K |
2nd Lt |
O-708220 |
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to Air Transport Command |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Rauch, Oliver J |
2nd Lt |
O-709969 |
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 466th BG |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Camp, Gerald D |
S/Sgt |
12196747 |
Promoted T/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 466th BG |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Bento, William |
S/Sgt |
11111293 |
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to Air Transport Command |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Towner, Jack F |
Sgt |
37676813 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 466th BG |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Durtsche, John F |
Sgt |
35225627 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 466th BG
Misspelled as Burtsche on some records |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Traeger, Robert L |
Sgt |
37676727 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 466th BG |
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Bye, Arel E |
Sgt |
17143455 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 466th BG |
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Perry Crew R-21 (710)
492nd BG Mission Record
857th 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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4 Jul 44 |
42-51121 |
Beaumont-le-Roger, France |
Target: Airfield |
| 02 |
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6 Jul 44 |
42-95220 |
Kiel, Germany |
Target: Shipyard |
| Abort |
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11 Jul 44 |
44-40072 |
Munich, Germany |
Target: Railroad station
Aborted, uncredited |
| 03 |
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12 Jul 44 |
44-40072 |
Munich, Germany |
Target: Railroad station |
| Abort |
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13 Jul 44 |
44-40072 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Aborted, uncredited |
| 04 |
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16 Jul 44 |
42-95023 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 05 |
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19 Jul 44 |
41-28978 |
Russelheim, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Bombed Koblenz |
| 06 |
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20 Jul 44 |
42-51091 |
Erfurt, Germany |
Target: Airfield |
| 07 |
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29 Jul 44 |
42-51115 |
Oslebhausen, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 08 |
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31 Jul 44 |
44-40140 |
Ludwigshafen, Germany |
Target: Chemical plant |
| 09 |
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1 Aug 44 |
44-40140 |
Anizy, France |
Target: Railroad bridge
Damaged by Flak |
| 10 |
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3 Aug 44 |
44-40158 |
Mery-sur-Oise, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 11 |
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4 Aug 44 |
42-50486 |
Kiel, Germany |
Target: Submarine base
A/C borrowed from 856th BS |
| 12 |
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5 Aug 44 |
44-40173 |
Brunswick, Germany |
Target: Aircraft manufacturing |
| 13 |
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6 Aug 44 |
44-40072 |
Hamburg, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
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