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Shannon Crew R-32
 Shannon Crew R-32
Back row, left to right...
Francis R Beasley, nose gunner
Lloyd H Brandenburg Jr, engineer
Jaroslav Corricky, radio operator
Howard W Thompson, ball turret gunner
John L Shields, top turret gunner
Joseph Sorro, tail gunner
Front row, left to right...
Michael T Clark, co-pilot
Clinton A Wiley, bombardier
William Sonner, navigator
Horatio A Shannon, pilot
Shannon Crew R-32 Summary
The Shannon Replacement Crew arrived at North Pickehham in July. After going through some in-house training they were assigned to the 856th BS. We don't know what crew designation was given to them.
They began flying combat missions on 16 Jul 44. By our initial count they got in 7 missions before the Group was disbanded. We don't know who was on each of those missions, nor do we know to where they were transferred.
Our crew roster below was furnished by Francis Beasley, the crew's nose gunner during a telephone interview. If any names are misspelled its our mistake.
The Crew transferred to the 406th Squadron at Cheddington for leaflet droppings. With them they flew 19 leaflet dropping missions flying in a B-24 and 20 more in a B-17.
When we asked him which type of plane Francis liked the best, he replied, "Definitely the B-24." Then we asked him which one his pilots liked. "I never thought to ask them," he said.
More Info
42-50313
WABASH
CANNON BALL
44-40135
DAISY MAE
44-40146
SUGAR-N-SPICE
42-51234
Links to missions
flown by the
Shannon Crew R-32
are below in their
Mission Record
Original Roster for
Shannon Crew R-32
Position / MOS Name Rank Serial # Notes
Pilot
MOS 1024
Shannon, Horatio A 2nd Lt O-696905 Promoted 1st Lt
10 Aug 44, transferred to 406th BS at Cheddington
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024
Clark, Michael T 2nd Lt O-768002 10 Aug 44, transferred to 406th BS at Cheddington
Navigator
MOS 1034
Sonner, William 2nd Lt O-704064 10 Aug 44, transferred to 406th BS at Cheddington
Bombardier
MOS 1035
Wiley, Clinton A 2nd Lt O-762877  
Engineer
MOS 748
Brandenburg, Lloyd H Jr S/Sgt 36459234 Promoted T/Sgt
10 Aug 44, transferred to 406th BS at Cheddington
Radio
Operator
MOS 757
Shields, John L S/Sgt   10 Aug 44, transferred to 406th BS at Cheddington
Gunner
MOS 611
Corricky, Jaroslav S/Sgt 13038486 Promoted T/sgt
10 Aug 44, transferred to 406th BS at Cheddington
Gunner
MOS 612
Thompson, Howard W
"Harry"
Sgt 70573336 10 Aug 44, transferred to 406th BS at Cheddington
Gunner
MOS 611
Beasley, Francis R
"Bud"
Sgt 38468186 10 Aug 44, transferred to 406th BS at Cheddington
Gunner
MOS 611
Sorro, Joseph
"Joe"
Sgt 31350188 10 Aug 44, transferred to 406th BS at Cheddington
Shannon Crew R-32
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 51 page 51
16 Jul 44 42-50313 Saarbrucken, Germany Target: Marshalling yard
02
 Link to Mission 52 page 52
18 Jul 44 44-40135 Troarns, France Target: Tactical
03
 Link to Mission 53 page 53
19 Jul 44 44-40135 Russelheim, Germany Target: Marshalling yard
Bombed Koblenz
04
 Link to Mission 55 page 55
21 Jul 44 44-40135 Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany Target: Aircraft factory
05
 Link to Mission 56 page 56
24 Jul 44 44-40146 St Lo area, France Target: Tactical
Flew w/44th BG
06
 Link to Mission 57 page 57
25 Jul 44 44-40135 St Lo area, France Target: Tactical
07
 Link to Mission 65 page 65
6 Aug 44 42-51234 Hamburg, Germany Target: Oil refinery
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Page last modified Tuesday, May 29, 2012.