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Young Crew R-27
Young Crew R-27
Back row, left to right...
• Larry Carroll, bombardier
• Wayne Bailey, navigator
• Bert Young, pilot
• Robert "Bud" Thomas, co-pilot
Front row, left to right...
• Earl Morgan, engineer
• Carey Ballard, top turret gunner
• Douglas McComb, nose gunner
• Donald Shore, tail gunner
• Henry Parke, radio operator
• Robert Adams, waist gunner
Young Crew R-27 Summary
The Young Crew had come from the 29th CCT school in Boise, Idaho to the 492nd as replacement crew number 27. See "Young CCT Crew" link on the right. They arrived at North Pickenham on 1 Jul 44. They were assigned to the 856th BS. We're not sure which crew they were assigned to replace.
After flying 5 training missions with the Group they flew their first combat mission on 11 Jul 44. By our count F/O Young took this crew on 10 missions plus an aborted one. We have included the training missions on the Crew's mission record below.
They couldn't had picked a better time to join the 492nd as the Group's blood-bath days were over. But the dangers were just as real as the Group was still losing a plane now and then.
When the Group was disbanded in the following month the Young Crew was transferred to the 36th BS RCM (Radar Counter Measures).
The 36th (aka the "Gremlins") was one of the Allies' secret squadrons used in the war. Their bomb bays weren't loaded with bombs, but with radar and radio jamming equipment. No one can estimate how many lives this squadron saved, but everyone agrees that they were numerous. The Gremlin equipment was used in many ways: They jammed...
  • German early warning detection radar,
  • radar used by anti-aircraft batteries for determining altitudes,
  • enemy aircraft radio communication,
  • radio controlled V-2 rockets, and
  • German tank-to-tank communications during the Battle of the Bulge.
    For more information visit the 36th BS RCM website.
    • More Info
    5 pictures
    Training Details
    44-40146
    SUGAR-N-SPICE
    Links to missions
    flown by the
    Young Crew R-27
    are below in their
    Mission Record
    36th BS site
    Original Roster for
    Young Crew R-27
    Position / MOS Name Rank Serial # Notes
    Pilot
    MOS 1024    		 Young, Bert E F/O T-061192 Transferred to the 36th BS
    Co-Pilot
    MOS 1024    		 Thomas, Robert
    "Bud"    		 2nd Lt O-765352 Transferred to the 36th BS
    Navigator
    MOS 1034    		 Bailey, Wayne D 2nd Lt O-717370 Transferred to the 36th BS
    Bombardier
    MOS 1035    		 Carrol, Lawrence E
    "Larry"    		 2nd Lt O-716713 Transferred w/another crew
    Some records spell name as Carroll
    Engineer
    MOS 748    		 Morgan, Earl C S/Sgt 34800218 Promoted T/Sgt
    Transferred to the 36th BS
    Radio
    Operator
    MOS 757    		 Parke, Henry W
    "Hank"    		 S/Sgt 12074787 Promoted T/Sgt
    Transferred to the 36th BS
    Nose
    Gunner
    MOS 612    		 McComb, Douglas G Sgt 36416935 MOS changed to 748
    Promoted S/Sgt
    Transferred to the 36th BS
    Tail
    Gunner
    MOS 611    		 Shore, Donald S Sgt 17079871 MOS changed to 757
    Promoted S/Sgt
    Transferred to the 36th BS
    Waist
    Gunner
    MOS 612    		 Adams, Robert B Sgt 39207625 Promoted S/Sgt
    Transferred to the 36th BS
    Top Turret
    Gunner
    MOS 611    		 Ballard, Carey P Sgt 35766957 Promoted S/Sgt
    Transferred to the 36th BS
    Some records show name as Bellard
    Young Crew R-27
    492nd BG Mission Record
    859th Bomb Squadron
    Crew
    Mission
    Number    		 Group
    Mission
    Number    		 Group
    Mission
    Date    		 Aircraft
    Serial
    Number    		 Primary Target Mission Notes
    xx xx 05 Jul 44   Training Mission  
    xx xx 06 Jul 44   Training Mission  
    xx xx 07 Jul 44   Training Mission  
    xx xx 08 Jul 44   Training Mission  
    xx xx 10 Jul 44   Training Mission  
    01
    Link to Mission 48 page 48
    		11 Jul 44   Munich, Germany Target: transportation industry
    02
    Link to Mission 49 page 49
    		12 Jul 44   Munich, Germany Target: transportation industry
    03
    Link to Mission 50 page 50
    		13 Jul 44   Saarbrucken, Germany Target: marshalling yard
    Abort
    Link to Mission 51 page 51
    		16 Jul 44   Saarbrucken, Germany Target: transportation industry
    Aborted
    04
    Link to Mission 53 page 53
    		19 Jul 44   Koblenz, Germany Target: marshalling yard
    05
    Link to Mission 54 page 54
    		20 Jul 44 44-40146 Erfurt, Germany Target: airfield
    06
    Link to Mission 55 page 55
    		21 Jul 44   Oberpffaffenhofen, Germany Target: aircraft plant
    07
    Link to Mission 58 page 58
    		29 Jul 44   Bremen, Germany Target: oil refinery
    08
    Link to Mission 59 page 59
    		31 Jul 44   Ludwigshafen, Germany Target: chemical plant
    09
    Link to Mission 60 page 60
    		01 Aug 44   Anizy, France Target: railroad bridge
    10
    Link to Mission 61 page 61
    		03 Aug 44   Mery-sur-Oise, France Target: crossbow (V-1 rockets)
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    Page last modified Tuesday, October 4, 2011.