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Back row, left to right...
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William Surface, engineer
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Melvin Gillette, radio operator
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Adrien Giguere, top turret gunner
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James Thompson, gunner
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Roy Windon, tail gunner
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Robert Moran, armorer, gunner
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Front row, left to right...
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James Kish, bombardier
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Blackwell Dunnam, pilot
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Carl Brasier, co-pilot
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Lewis Blanich, navigator
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Dunnam Crew R-46 (915) Summary
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The Blackwell "Blackie" Dunnam Replacement Crew R-46 formed up in Casper, Wyoming, in April 1944 where they took their Combat Crew Training. As they completed their training in June they were assigned to the 8th Air Force. Prior to leaving Casper, Lt Dunnam signed for a new B-24 to take to England. He decided to name his plane SANS SOUCI.
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The crew made a scheduled stop at Topeka, Kansas, as they proceeded across America to New Hampshire. There, on 1 July 44, they received their sealed orders (enclosed with a flight plan for the Northern Route) to fly to Nutts Corner, Northern Ireland. During this time the crew discussed nose art ideas.
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Upon reaching Nutts Corner, the crew got the bad news that their plane wasn't theirs to keep. Their job was to ferry it over so it could be sent to the replacement depot. From there the crew went by train to Stone, England, and then somewhere up north in Scotland to receive the 8th Air Force's two week Orientation and Combat Training before getting their assignment to the 492nd BG.
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On 25 July 44, the crew arrived at their new base at North Pickenham and was designated as replacement crew number 46. They were pleasantly surprised to see that their flyover plane SANS SOUCI had been assigned to the same group. After a two day orientation class to the 492nd, they were assigned to the 859th BS to fill the vacant spot of the lost Crew 915.
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Since the SANS SOUCI was also assigned to the 859th, the Dunnam Crew felt there was a good chance in getting their plane back. And if they did get it, even if just for a day, they were determined to paint its name on the nose. But they never got the opportunity, as the plane was involved in a mid-air collision with another plane.
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By the Crew's count they got in 2 missions with the 492nd before the Group was disbanded. They thought their first mission to Brunswick was rough (and it really was) as they got their first taste of flak. But the next day on their mission to Hamburg, they flew through some of the thickest flak ever seen during the war by anyone.
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They were transferred to the 467th BG, 788th BS and were redesignated as Crew 15. They found their first three missions there were almost as rough as the earlier two. After the third mission with the 467th, the crew was given some leave time to rest themselves.
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From that point on the crew began having personnel changes due to a variety of reasons. A couple of the men were hospitalized. As the crew became more experienced, Lt Brasier was promoted and given a crew of his own. After completing their fourteenth mission, Dunnam was promoted to Captain and was given Lead Crew duties. He was reassigned to the 791st BS and more personnel changes were made. On 16 Apr 44, Dunnam and some of his orignal crew members still with him completed their tour of 30 missions.
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Aside from flying combat, Blackie Dunnam also flew a number of non-combat missions. He flew several gas hauling missions which delivered fuel to the front lines for Patton's Army. Blackie also took his turn at flying PETE THE POM INSPECTOR, the group's assembly plane. On one such mission, flown on 24 Dec 44 during the Battle of the Bulge, the assembly plane was loaded up with bombs and Blackie flew it to a target in Germany. Assembly planes are old stripped-down B-24s without guns or extra armor. This was the only time an assembly plane was ever used in combat.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Dunnam Crew R-46 (915)
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Dunnam, Blackwell C
"Blackie" |
2nd Lt |
O-701913 |
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 467th BG
Promoted Capt |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Brasier, Carl O |
2nd Lt |
O-768428 |
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 467th BG
Promoted 1st Lt
Promoted to pilot Crew 16
Replaced by Waters |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Blanich, Lewis D |
2nd Lt |
O-722544 |
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 467th BG
Replaced by Schnorr |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Kish, James J |
2nd Lt |
T-001712 |
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 467th BG
Replaced by Van Zytveld |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Surface, William D |
Cpl |
18086982 |
Promoted Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 467th BG
Promoted S/Sgt
Replaced by Brown |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Gillette, Melvin |
Sgt |
11069339 |
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 467th BG
Promoted S/Sgt
Promoted T/Sgt |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Moran, Robert J |
Cpl |
13006886 |
Promoted Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 467th BG
Promoted S/Sgt |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Thompson, James H Jr |
Cpl |
37005100 |
Promoted Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 467th BG
Promoted S/Sgt
Grounded for medical reasons |
Gunner
MOS 748 |
Giguere, Adrien R |
Cpl |
31288564 |
Promoted Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 467th BG
Promoted S/Sgt |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Winden, Roy V |
Cpl |
37578488 |
Promoted Sgt
Transferred 10 Aug 44, to 467th BG
Promoted S/Sgt |
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Others Who Flew with Dunnam Crew R-46 (915)
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Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Waters, Franklin L |
1st Lt |
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Joined crew at the 467th BG
Replaced Brasier |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Van Zytveld, William C |
1st Lt |
O-701509 |
Joined crew at the 467th BG
Replaced Kish |
Navigator
MOS 1035 |
Schnorr, Thomas G |
1st Lt |
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Orphaned from Wesson Crew R-33
Joined crew at the 467th BG
Replaced Blanich |
Engineer
MOS 1035 |
Brown, C E |
T/Sgt |
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Joined crew at the 467th BG
Replaced Surface |
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Dunnam Crew R-46 (915)
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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5 Aug 44 |
44-40068 |
Brunswick, Germany |
Target: Aircraft manufacturing |
| 02 |
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6 Aug 44 |
42-50675 |
Hamburg, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery |
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