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Thompson Crew R-40
Thompson Crew R-40
Back row, left to right...
• Garrett Parnell, gunner
• Johnnie Page, gunner
• Walter Rohde, gunner
• Robert Osborne, gunner
• Harold Parvi, engineer
• Louis Meyer, radio operator
Front row, left to right...
• David Croft, bombardier
• Donald St Martin, co-pilot
• Abe Thompson, pilot
• William Clark, navigator
Thompson Crew R-40 Summary
The Thompson Replacement Crew arrived at North Pickenham during July. After a little in-house training they were assigned to the 856th BS. We don't know which crew they replaced or what crew designation was given to them.
By our initial count the Crew flew 8 missions plus an aborted one.
When the group was disbanded on 10 August 1944, the Thompson Crew transferred to the 801st Provisional Bomb Group (aka Carpetbaggers) and assigned to the 36th BS. They reported to their new base on 16 August 44. At about the same time, the 801st was redesignated as the 492nd BG (second organization) and the 36th BS became the new 856th BS. So the Thompson Crew found themselves in a different group with different duties but with the same unit designations as before. For more information, go to the Carpetbagger's website where they are listed under the 36th/856th BS.
According to the Capetbagger website, upon arrival Sgts Rohde and Page were cut from the crew and reassigned elsewhere. Thompson did complete a 30 mission tour, but how many missions the others in the crew flew (and with who) is yet to be compiled. Sgt Parnell was killed on 18 November 1944 flying with the Lemke Crew, which had been lent out to the 406th BS at Ceddington.
We did see a nose art photo of an unidentified man standing next to aircraft 42-50555, BABY SHOES and noticed the name "Tubby" Thompson painted on it. We don't think it was referring to Abe Thompson because our records don't show him ever flying it. It's a mystery we would like solved.
More Info
42-51091
BANGIN' LULU
44-40119
NIGHT KNIGHT
42-51198
44-40135
DAISY MAE
42-51291
OUR JOY
Links to missions
flown by the
Thompson Crew R-40
are below in their
Mission Record
801st/492nd
BG website
Original Roster for
Thompson Crew R-40
Position / MOS Name Rank Serial # Notes
Pilot
MOS 1024		 Thompson, Abe M F/O T-61426 Transferred to the 801st/492nd, 856th BS.
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024		 St Martin, Donald A F/O T-124148 Transferred to the 801st/492nd, 856th BS.
Navigator
MOS 1034		 Clarke, William K 2nd Lt O-713125 Transferred to the 801st/492nd, 856th BS.
Bombardier
MOS 1035		 Croft, David C 2nd Lt O-703485 Transferred to the 801st/492nd, 856th BS.
Have seen name as Groft.
Engineer
MOS 748		 Parvi, Harold E S/Sgt 39200896 Transferred to the 801st/492nd, 856th BS.
Radio
Operator
MOS 757		 Meyer, Louis W S/Sgt 32834449 Transferred to the 801st/492nd, 856th BS.
Gunner
MOS 748		 Osborne, Robert J Sgt 12062003 Transferred to the 801st/492nd, 856th BS.
Gunner
MOS 748		 Page, Johnnie L Sgt 34624298 Transferred to the 801st/492nd, 856th BS.
Transferred upon arrival, unit unknown.
Gunner
MOS 748		 Parnell, Garrett C Jr Sgt 38341096 Transferred to the 801st/492nd, 856th BS.
KIA, 18 Nov 44 w/Lemke Crew.
Gunner
MOS 612		 Rohde, Walter N Jr Sgt 39124073 Transferred to the 801st/492nd, 856th BS.
Transferred upon arrival, unit unknown.
Thompson Crew R-40
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 52 page 52
18 Jul 44 42-51091 Troarns Target: tactical
plane borrowed from 857th BS
Abort
Link to Mission 53 page 53
19 Jul 44 44-40140 Koblenz, Germany Target: marshalling yards, aborted
plane borrowed from 857th BS
02
Link to Mission 54 page 54
20 Jul 44 44-40119 Erfurt, Germany Target: airfield
03
Link to Mission 56 page 56
24 Jul 44 42-51198 St Lo area Target: tactical
04
Link to Mission 57 page 57
25 Jul 44 42-51198 St Lo area Target: tactical
05
Link to Mission 58 page 58
29 Jul 44 42-51198 Bremen, Germany Target: oil refinery
06
Link to Mission 61 page 61
03 Aug 44 44-40135 Mery-sur-Oise, France Target: crossbow (V-1 rockets)
07
Link to Mission 62 page 62
04 Aug 44 42-51198 Kiel Target: ordnance plant
08
Link to Mission 65 page 65
06 Aug 44 42-51291 Hamburg Target: oil refinery
Mission Record with the 801st/492nd BG
09 x 31 Aug 44 42-50682 France OPS: Wrestler 7
10 x 01 Sep 44 42-50682 France OPS: Bob 255
Landed at Oulton on return
11 x 04 Sep 44 42-50682 France OPS: Bob 335
12 x 05 Sep 44 42-50682 France OPS: Licensee 5A
13 x 07 Sep 44 42-50682 France OPS: Marc 19
14 x 08 Sep 44 42-50682 France OPS: Messenger 37B
x x 10 Sep 44 42-52711 unknown OPS: unknown
Scrubbed
15 x 11 Sep 44 42-40506 France OPS: Bob 285
16 x 12 Sep 44 42-50682 France OPS: Bob 276
17 x 12 Sep 44 42-50682 France OPS: Bob 277
- x 21 Sep 44 42-50682 France Job: hauling gas to Patton
- x 27 Sep 44 42-94763 France Job: hauling gas to Patton
- x 28 Sep 44 42-50682 France Job: hauling gas to Patton
- x 29 Sep 44 42-50682 France Job: hauling gas to Patton
- x 30 Sep 44 42-50682 France Job: hauling gas to Patton
18 x 10 Nov 44 42-63775 Holland OPS: Bob ??
19 x 05 Dec 44 42-63775 unknown OPS: unknown
20 x 31 Dec 44 42-63775 Norway OPS: unknown
- x 01 Jan 45 0142-40768 France Job: set up advanced base at Lyon
21 x 14 Jan 45 42-63775 unknown OPS: unknown
- x 19 Jan 45 42-63775 France Job: assigned to Lyon
22 x 21 Jan 45 42-63775 Germany OPS: unknown
23 x 02 Feb 45 41-23674 unknown OPS: unknown
24 x 08 Feb 45 42-63775 unknown OPS: unknown
25 x 20 Feb 45 42-72871 unknown OPS: unknown
26 x 21 Feb 45 42-72871 unknown OPS: unknown
- x 14 Mar 45 43-47981 unknown Job: Returned to UK via Brussels
27 x 03 Apr 45 43-22513 unknown OPS: unknown
28 x 03 Apr 45 43-22513 unknown OPS: unknown
29 x 09 Apr 45 43-22626 unknown OPS: unknown
30 x 10 Apr 45 43-22626 unknown OPS: unknown
- x 09 May 45 43-22626 unknown OPS: unknown
- x 09 Jul 45 42-63980 USA Job: ferry the plane back home!
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Page last modified Tuesday, October 4, 2011.