Crew History

Crew members then were Leet, Ryan, Rickenbach, Parker, Reimer, and Deck.

November 14, 1943 we added Madigan, Stai, and Spoon.

November 16, 1943 Spoon made his only flight with the crew.

November 20, 1943 Spoon went on furlough and overstayed, listed A.W.O.L. and to our knowledge, never caught.

November 26, 1943 we added Hollmann to our crew

December 4, 1943 we left Mtn. Home for Pocatello for 2nd Phase.

December 15, 1943 we added Waldrop

January 5, 1944 we dropped Ryan

January 8, 1944 we added Vaughan

At Pocatello the crew got no "Fly-away" airplane. We were sent to the 778th Squadron and back to the 777th on January 15, 1944 only three days later. On January 28, 1944 the crew with the exception of the navigator left Pocatello Idaho for Topeka, Kansas AAB Staging Area on a Troop train. Navigator was ordered to stay behind to fly overseas with another crew. Lt. Parrish's crew was selected. Remainder to go by boat.

Lt. Parrish then received orders to proceed to Topeka for Staging and pick up his "Fly-away" there. The navigator was to go as secondary navigator. Left Pocatello on February 4, 1944. Crew reported to Topeka on January 30, 1944 and navigator on February 6, 1944.

After navigator arrived the crew along with several others had to fly several "must" phasing missions. One was a cross-country navigational mission, the first and only navigation mission the crew flew on this side of the water. The last of these missions was a gunnery mission to Pierre, South Dakota. Crew R.O.N.'d in Pierre. Lt. White and crew also along. Next night crew R.O.N.'d in Lincoln, Nebraska. Arrived Topeka on the following day.

Crew then assigned permanent plane to go overseas with. No 42-78088 a B-24G. Lt. Parrish not assigned a ship so the navigator tried unsuccessfully to have his orders changed so that he could go with the crew. Final Processing was taken by the crew at Lincoln, Nebraska and left there on February 21, 1944. The crew's itinerary for the trip is as follows. Left Lincoln February 21, 1944 arrived Morrison Field Florida February 21. Left Morrison Field February 24, 1944. Wheels left ground of last U.S. continental possession at 02:13:29.

Arrived Walar Field Trinidad February 24, 1944.

Left Walar Field February 25, 1944.

Left Belem Field February 26, 1944. Arrived Fortaleza Field Brazil February 26, 1944

Left Fortazela Field after two day rest in preparation for Atlantic "hop", on February 28, 1944.

Arrived Dakar, French West Africa February 29, 1944. Trip took 11 hours over water.

Complete form 1 time for trip was 12 hours 15 minutes. Navigator for trip was Lt. "Tex" Hinson. Swell navigation on whole trip.

Left Dakar March 3, 1944. Layover due to weather.

Arrived Marrakesh, French Morocco March 3, 1944.

Left Marakesh March 6, 1944. Layover due to weather.

Arrived Oudini Tunisia March 6, 1944.

Total Form q time from Lincoln, Nebraska to Oudinia Tunisia was 56 hours.

Crew was the third plane to arrive at Oudnia. First two were from the 778th Squadron. Lt. White arrived the same day the crew did.

Navigator meanwhile left Topeka by TWA to New York to the A.P.O.E. stayed there until February 28, 1944. Lived at home. Left A.P.O.E. (Laguardia Field) on February 28, 1944 on an A.T>C. C54. Wheels left ground at 14:06:13. Arrived at Newfoundland Canada that night. A 40 minute stop there for breakfast and on to Casablanca, French Morocco February 29, 1944. Left Casablanca by C-47 the next morning and arrived in Algiers that afternoon. Only a ten minute stop. Arrived at El Alounia at 16:30. Trip made to Tunisia in 48 hours. Stayed at the E. Alounia A.T.C. base until March 9, 1944 and then to oudinia to join the group.

Group flew practice missions at Oudnia. On April 12, 1944, Lt. White and crew, with the exception of the Bombardier, Radio operator, and gunner went down in the Mediterranean Sea. Left Oudina by plane for Italy on April 20, 1944. Arrived at Gioia, Italy on April 20, 1944. Stationed there as a temporary station before going on to our permanent station at Pantanella Italy.

What follows are our missions in combat as a crew in the 464 B.G. 15th AAF Italy.

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