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"Our Esteemed Pilot - Can't be Beat"
"Aw Nuts" - our home in the ETO
*Dean H Johnson
Source: Tom Johnson (son of Dean H Johnson) -
Photo taken in Arpil '45. Posing in front of 42-50949.
Standing L-R:
Dean H Johnson - Navigator
Frank S Watson - Pilot
Ernest G Sorrentino - Navigator
Kenneth M Rabin - Bombardier
* Not pictured Co Pilot Gustavius A Bentley
Kneeling L-R:
Carl J Dottore - Gunner
Hugh J Donlon - Engineer
Leonard H W Maharrey - Gunner
Gordon A Wagoner - Gunner
Gerald A Sadano - Radio Operator
Source: Frank Watson - Vet -
"Our Happy Home" in the background.
L-R:
James "Jim" W Holt
Ernest "Ernie" G Sorrentino
Kenneth "Kenny" M Rabin
Frank S Watson
Dean H Johnson
Source: Tom Johnson (son of Dean H Johnson) -
"5 miles over the heart of Germany"
Source: Tom Johnson (son of Dean H Johnson) -
The date was 23 Mar 45 and this was mission #202 (AAF #201) for the Group. The target was the marshaling yards at Osnabruck, Ger. The mission results were excellent although the flak was “intense”. No ships were lost, however, the Navigator (Carl Robert Gloskey) on David O Catching’s crew was seriously wounded. This was his first mission and, although he did recover from his wounds, did not fly another combat mission with the Group. He did RZI with the Group at the end of the war.
The photo was taken from 44-49591 which was the Lead plane in the Lead Flight of the Lead Squadron (1-1-1).
Command Pilot - Albert Louis Wallace
Pilot - Earl Sonnenborg Jensen
Navigator - Robert Eugene Hicks
Pilotage Navigator - Joseph Paul Pepino
Bombardier - Joseph Aloisius Hodge
Mickey Operator - Leslie William Malone
Engineer - Leonard Remetta
Radio Operator - Jerry Fredrick Johnson
Right Waist Gunner - Joseph Henry Long
Left Waist Gunner - Emil Walker Hampa
Tail Turret Gunner - James William Stergis
The plane in the center of the photo is 44-48852. She was flying is the Deputy Lead position of the 1st Flight of the 1st Squadron (2-1-1)
Pilot - Frank Sullivan Watson
Co Pilot - Gustavus Andrews Bentley
Navigator - Dean Howell Johnson
Pilotage Navigator - Ernest Gaetano Sorrentino
Bombardier - Kenneth Melvin Rabin
Mickey Operator - Gerald A Sodano
Right Waist Gunner - Gordon Allen Wagoner
Left Waist Gunner - Carl Joseph Dottore
Tail Turret Gunner - Leonard Halbert Maharrey
The plane just visible above ‘852’ is (as previously mentioned ) most likely 42-95234 ‘Everythin’s Jake’. She was flying tin the #3 position of the 2nd Flight of the Lead Squadron (3-2-1)
Pilot - Paul Albert Deblois
Co Pilot - Frederick Joseph McCarty
Navigator - Donald Edward Bedard
Toggler - Chester B Baber
RCM Operator - Stanley R Moskowitz
Engineer - Ernest Richard Reid
Radio Operator - Robert C Gerlack
Right Waist Gunner - Harmon Scott Parker
Left Waist Gunner - Ray C Anderson
Tail Turret Gunner - Frank Christian Launer
Many thanks to Brandon for providing this (and many other) wonderful photo.
Source: Brandon Hicks - Grandson of Robert Eugene Hicks