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Back row, left to right...
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Francis R Beasley, nose gunner
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Lloyd H Brandenburg Jr, engineer
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Jaroslav Corricky, radio operator
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Howard W Thompson, ball turret gunner
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John L Shields, top turret gunner
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Joseph Sorro, tail gunner
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Front row, left to right...
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Michael T Clark, co-pilot
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Clinton A Wiley, bombardier
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William Sonner, navigator
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Horatio A Shannon, pilot
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Shannon Crew R-32 Summary
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Shannon Crew R-32
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| Position |
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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Shannon Crew R-32
492nd BG Mission Record
856th 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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16 Jul 44 |
42-50313 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 02 |
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18 Jul 44 |
44-40135 |
Troarns, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 03 |
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19 Jul 44 |
44-40135 |
Russelheim, Germany |
Target: Marshalling yard
Bombed Koblenz |
| 04 |
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21 Jul 44 |
44-40135 |
Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany |
Target: Aircraft factory |
| 05 |
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24 Jul 44 |
44-40146 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical
Flew w/44th BG |
| 06 |
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25 Jul 44 |
44-40135 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 07 |
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6 Aug 44 |
42-51234 |
Hamburg, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
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