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Back row, left to right...
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Riley Furniss, engineer
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Daniel Schmaltz, radio operator
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Charles Lupton, ball turret gunner
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Theodore Kuhlmeier, left waist gunner
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Craig Mathers, tail gunner
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Loren Burns, right waist gunner
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Front row, left to right...
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Richard Fleming, pilot
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Hiram Roe, co-pilot
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Brenard Jacobs, navigator
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George Stallings, bombardier
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Fleming Crew R-47 (901) Summary
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The Fleming Replacement Crew arrived during the later part of July. After a brief orientation they were assigned to the 859th BS, designated as Crew 901.
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By our count the Fleming Crew flew 2 missions. We believe that the entire crew was on both of the missions.
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Their second mission turned fatal. Their ship was battle-damaged, yet able to return to England. Apparently Fleming's only thought was landing as soon as he reached base. The Pitsenbarger Crew was already cleared and coming in for an emergency landing when Fleming came in right on top of them. The two aircraft clipped wings on the runway and crashed. Nine of the Fleming Crew and one of Pitsenbarger's men were immediately killed in what became the worst crash in North Pickenham's history.
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Perhaps the best account of what happened can be found in an article written by Russell Ives published in the HAPPY WARRIOR. His piece entitled "A Replacement Crew" is an overall story about the Pitsenbarger Crew R-26. Ives' research is well done as it supplies many details. We have the story reprinted on this website. See its link under Stories at right.
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The crew was buried at the American Cemetery at Cambridge. After the war most of the bodies were brought back to the US by their families.
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Schmaltz, the crew's sole survivor or the crash, did not recover from his wounds. He died eleven days later.
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More Info |
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Original Roster for
Fleming Crew R-47 (901)
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| Position |
Name |
Rank |
Serial # |
Notes |
Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Fleming, Richard W |
2nd Lt |
O-819782 |
KILOD, 6 Aug 44
Buried in the USA |
Co-Pilot
MOS 1024 |
Roe, Hiram A |
2nd Lt |
O-683539 |
KIA, 6 Aug 44
Buried in the USA |
Navigator
MOS 1034 |
Jacobs, Bernard P |
2nd Lt |
O-718323 |
KIA, 6 Aug 44
Buried in the USA |
Bombardier
MOS 1035 |
Stallings, George D |
2nd Lt |
O-706907 |
KIA, 6 Aug 44
Buried at Cambridge, E-1-35 |
Engineer
MOS 748 |
Furniss, Riley J |
S/Sgt |
14134425 |
KIA, 6 Aug 44
Buried in the USA |
Radio
Operator
MOS 757 |
Schmaltz, Daniel W |
S/Sgt |
16080530 |
WIA, 6 Aug 44
Died, 17 Aug 44
Buried in the USA |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Burns, Loren R |
Sgt |
36595146 |
KIA, 6 Aug 44
Buried in the USA |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Kuhlmeier, Theodore F |
Sgt |
37678262 |
KIA, 6 Aug 44
Buried in the USA |
Gunner
MOS 611 |
Lupton, Charlie R Jr |
Sgt |
34674793 |
KIA, 6 Aug 44
Buried in the USA |
Gunner
MOS 612 |
Mathers, Creagh B Jr |
Sgt |
14182562 |
KIA, 6 Aug 44
Buried in the USA |
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Fleming Crew R-47 (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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5 Aug 44 |
44-40166 |
Brunswick, Germany |
Target: Aircraft manufacturing
A/C borrowed from 857th BS |
| 02 |
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6 Aug 44 |
42-50719 |
Hamburg, Germany |
Target: Oil refinery
Lost in landing accident
9 KIA, 1 WIA |
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