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Back row, left to right...
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Joseph Alves, radio operator
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Odis Waggoner, engineer
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Richard Catt , nose gunner
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Sydney Brandt, waist gunner
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Norvell Way, tail gunner
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Irwin Kirschner, ball turret gunner |
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Front row, left to right...
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Paul K. Marshall, bombardier
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Frank Blechinger, navigator
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Merlin Vowinkel, pilot
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Robert Nonemaker, co-pilot
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Vowinkel Crew R-35 Summary
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The Vowinkel Replacement Crew arrived at Noth Pickenham in July. After some in-house training they were assigned to the 856th BS. We don't know which crew they replaced, nor their crew designation. Their transfer order is very hard to read. Hopefully someday someone will come forward with their whole story.
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By our initial count the Crew flew 7 missions for the 492nd. We don't know who flew on each of those missions.
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Vowinkel's first mission on 18 Jul 44 was perhaps his toughest. Their assignment was to provide tactical support for the ground troops near Troarns, France. They lost two engines to flak. They had to land or crash. They chose to land at an Allied controlled airstrip in France. He flew through the barrage balloons and landed with a blown tire, a fire under his flight deck and ten 100lbs bombs hung up inside his bomb bay. The Crew walked away.
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Two days later they were back flying missions. Vowinkel's feat was not forgotten as he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
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They got beat up by flak on their last mission with the Group on 5 Aug 44. They did manage to get back. The only casualty was Sgt Kirschner, the ball turret gunner, who was wounded by flak. He later rejoined his crew as soon he was released from the hospital on 13 Sep 44.
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The Vowinkel Crew transferred to the 36th BS RCM (Radar Counter Measures) on 10 Aug 44.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Vowinkel Crew R-35
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Vowinkel, Merlin J |
2nd Lt |
O-696615 |
Promoted 1st Lt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 36th BS |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Nonemaker,Robert L |
2nd Lt |
O-322734 |
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 36th BS
Seen middle initial B |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Blechinger, Frank X |
2nd Lt |
O-717374 |
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 36th BS |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Marshall, Paul K |
2nd Lt |
O-706478 |
Reassigned
Seen name as John |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Waggoner, Odis F |
S/Sgt |
35728021 |
Promoted T/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 36th BS |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Alves, Joseph F |
S/Sgt |
11081694 |
Promoted T/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 36th BS |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Brandt, Sydney J |
Sgt |
35819179 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 36th BS
Incorrect ASN |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Catt, Richard J |
Sgt |
35613173 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 36th BS |
Gunner
MOS 757 |
Kirschner, Irwin |
Sgt |
32815681 |
WIA, 5 Aug 44
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred (from hospital) 13 Sep 44, to 36th BS |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Way, Norvill O |
Sgt |
36570982 |
Promoted S/Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 36th BS
Seen name as Norvel |
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Vowinkel Crew R-35
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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18 Jul 44 |
42-50313 |
Troarns, France |
Target: Tactical
Landed in France, all RTD |
| 02 |
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20 Jul 44 |
44-40135 |
Erfurt, Germany |
Target: Airfield |
| 03 |
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24 Jul 44 |
42-95272 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 04 |
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25 Jul 44 |
42-50770 |
St Lo area, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 05 |
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29 Jul 44 |
42-50518 |
Oslebhausen, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 06 |
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31 Jul 44 |
42-51198 |
Ludwigshafen, Germany |
Target: Chemical plant |
| 07 |
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1 Aug 44 |
42-50518 |
Anizy, France |
Target: Railroad bridge |
| 08 |
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5 Aug 44 |
42-50486 |
Brunswick, Germany |
Target: Aircraft manufacturing
1 WIA |
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