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Back row, left to right...
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Earl Brothers, pilot
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Lowell Smothers, co-pilot
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William Sikorski, bombardier
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John Kennedy, navigator
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Front row, left to right...
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Paul Prazuch, waist gunner
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William Eastland, engineer
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James Whitcomb, nose gunner
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Melvin Culross, ball turret gunner
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Merle Cornett, tail gunner
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Robert Goldman, radio operator
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Brothers Crew R-23 (920) Summary
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The Brothers Replacement Crew transferred in at the end of June. On 3 Jul 44, after a little in-house training, they were assigned to the 859th BS and were designated as Crew 920.
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By our count they flew 11 missions, including an aborted one. We are checking to see if it was credited, since there are claims that it was. The assumption is that the entire crew flew on each of the missions without substitutions. They transferred intact to the 467th BG on 10 Aug 44.
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The Brothers Crew's co-pilot was named Smothers, but it would be a good fifteen years before the actual Smothers Brothers comedy/singing duo would make these names an oddity. To top things off, they had a John Kennedy flying with them. Interesting.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Brothers Crew R-23 (920)
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Brothers, Earl F |
1st Lt |
O-817623 |
Transferred 10 Aug, to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Smothers, Lowell D |
2nd Lt |
O-744489 |
Promoted to 1st Lt
Transferred 10 Aug, to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Kennedy, John E |
2nd Lt |
O-716464 |
Promoted to 1st Lt
Transferred 10 Aug, to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Sikorski, William J |
2nd Lt |
O-716774 |
Promoted to 1st Lt
Transferred 10 Aug, to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Eastland, William F |
S/Sgt |
34728989 |
Promoted to T/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug, to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Goldman, Robert S |
S/Sgt |
18177924 |
Promoted to T/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug, to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Prazuch, Paul W |
Sgt |
36606808 |
Promoted to S/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug, to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Gunner
MOS 757 |
Culross, Melvin |
Sgt |
35095789 |
Promoted to S/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug, to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Whitcomb, James V |
Sgt |
12198043 |
Promoted to S/Sgt
MOS changed to 612
Transferred 10 Aug, to 467th BG, 788th BS |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Cornett, Merle L |
Sgt |
33532306 |
Promoted to S/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug, to 467th BG, 788th BS |
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Brothers Crew R-23 (920)
492nd BG Mission Record
859th 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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12 Jul 44 |
44-40131 |
Munich, Germany |
Target: Railroad station |
| 02 |
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13 Jul 44 |
42-50279 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Bombed w/458th BG |
| 03 |
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16 Jul 44 |
44-40155 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 04 |
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18 Jul 44 |
44-40155 |
Troarns, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 05 |
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19 Jul 44 |
42-50439 |
Russelheim, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Bombed Koblenz |
| 06 |
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24 Jul 44 |
44-40135 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical
A/C borrowed from 856th BS |
| 07 |
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25 Jul 44 |
44-40120 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 08 |
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29 Jul 44 |
44-40155 |
Oslebhausen, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 09 |
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3 Aug 44 |
44-40155 |
Mery-sur-Oise, France |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 10 |
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4 Aug 44 |
44-40155 |
Kiel, Germany |
Target: Submarine base |
| 11 |
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6 Aug 44 |
42-50279 |
Hamburg, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
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