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Back row, left to right...
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William Walker, pilot
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Robert Clark, co-pilot
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Leonard Savitski, navigator
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Edward Triglia, bombardier
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James Gilligan, engineer
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Front row, left to right...
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Robert Saroney, waist gunner
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Edward Halliburton, radio operator
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Charles Petrie, ball turret, waist gunner
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William Hancock, waist gunner
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Ralph Williams, tail gunner
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Walker Crew R-41 (901) Summary
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The Walker Replacement Crew R-41 arrived at North Pickenham in July. They came as a nine-man crew, as their bombardier had been cut from their roster. Perhaps he was put into the Bombardier Pool. After a little in-house training they were assigned to the 859th BS, designated as Crew 901.
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The records concur with the crew's count that they flew 3 missions. We have read a short summary on this crew which states that two of the crewmen were replaced. We have them identified below as the two PFCs listed under "Others Who Flew..." Perhaps these men were original members of this crew when they came to England. But the official transfer order assigning this crew to the 859th is what we used to make their roster, as shown below.
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On their third mission, 21 Jul 44, they flew as a nine-man crew. It was a bombing raid on an Me-410 assembly plant near Oberpffaffenhofen, Germany. As the Crew was approaching the target they began experiencing problems with two of their engines. Then the tail gunner's turret suddenly quit working. They realized that the extra strain on the two good engines was burning up too much fuel. They knew that they wouldn't have enough fuel to return to England from such a long mission so they opted for Switzerland. After crossing the Alps the Swiss Air Force found them and escorted them to Dubendorf for internment. MACR 7260.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Walker Crew R-41 (901)
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Walker, William M |
2nd Lt |
O-696825 |
Interned in Switzerland, 21 Jul 44
MACR 7260 |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Clark, Robert L III |
2nd Lt |
O-820956 |
Interned in Switzerland, 21 Jul 44
MACR 7260 |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Savitski, Leonard S |
F/O |
T-124457 |
Interned in Switzerland, 21 Jul 44
MACR 7260 |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
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No bombardier came in with this crew |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Gilligan, James F |
S/Sgt |
12121525 |
Interned in Switzerland, 21 Jul 44
MACR 7260 |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Halliburton, Edward W |
S/Sgt |
14201740 |
Interned in Switzerland, 21 Jul 44
MACR 7260 |
Waist
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Hancock, William M Jr |
Sgt |
14134376 |
Interned in Switzerland, 21 Jul 44
MACR 7260 |
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Petrie, Charles R |
Sgt |
35626571 |
Interned in Switzerland, 21 Jul 44
MACR 7260 |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Saroney, Robert S |
Sgt |
32936925 |
Interned in Switzerland, 21 Jul 44
MACR 7260 |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Williams, Ralph O |
Sgt |
14116575 |
Interned in Switzerland, 21 Jul 44
MACR 7260 |
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Others Who Flew with Walker Crew R-41 (901)
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Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Triglia, Edward L |
2nd Lt |
O-706306 |
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Gunner
MOS |
Daniels, Edward E |
Pfc |
07005676 |
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Gunner
MOS |
Clayman, Harry L |
Pfc |
13062945 |
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Walker Crew R-41 (901)
492nd BG Mission Record
859th 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 |
44-40290 |
Troarns, France |
Target: Tactical |
| 02 |
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20 Jul 44 |
44-40290 |
Erfurt, Germany |
Target: Airfield |
| 05 |
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21 Jul 44 |
44-40290 |
Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany |
Target: Aircraft factory
Lost: 9 interned in Switzerland, MACR 7260 |
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