364

23 May 1944
Nine men in Air Force uniform posed in front of a Air Force bomber plane.  Five men standing in rear and four men seated in front UPL 65484 UPL 65484 Gaulke Crew 602, 856th BS, 492nd BG
Back row, left to right: Andrew Fry, engineer; Francis Baker, top turret gunner; Vernie Honberger, radio operator; Leon Sawyer, tail gunner; George Worthington, left waist gunner. Front row, left to right; John Murdock, bombardier; Frederick Gaulke, pilot; Charles Easton, co-pilot; Robert Keehn, navigator. Not pictured: Warren Branch, right waist gunner
492nd Bomb Group 856th Bomb Squadron 350 355 358 364 367 370 373 376 379 44-40134 44-40227 44-40146 42-95011 North Pickenham Frederick D Gaulke Charles R Easton Robert I Keehn John G Murdock Vernie O Honberger Leon J Sawyer Warren G Branch Andrew J Fry Francis X Baker On

Object Number - UPL 65484 - Gaulke Crew 602, 856th BS, 492nd BG Back row, left to right: Andrew Fry, engineer; Francis Baker, top turret gunner; Vernie Honberger, radio...

Mission Details

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 26 T HE

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 3 T HE

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 295 T HE

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 31 T HE

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 195 T HE

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 54 T HE

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 49 T HE

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 160 T HE

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Notes: 457th BG - MISSION NO. 49 - EPINAL-BLAINVILLE, FRANCE 23 MAY, 1944 French airfields and marshaling yards were the targets for the day with the Eighth Air Force supplying 1045 heavy bombers and 1185 escorting fighters. The 457th supplied two twelve-aircraft boxes, to make up the 94th A and B Combat Wings. Major Fred A. Spencer served as Air Commander with Captain Jerry Godfrey as pilot of the A Wing and Major William F. Smith was Air Commander of the B Wing, with Captain Clarence E. Schuchmann as pilot. The target for the A Wing was the marshaling yards at Blainville, located eleven miles southeast of Nancy on the main rail line from Strasbourg to Paris. The B Wing's target was the marshaling yards at Epinal, located forty miles south of Nancy on a connecting link between two double track lines out of Paris. The A box dropped bombs on a target of opportunity. Results were unobserved due to the cloud cover. The B box dropped on the primary target at Epinal with good results. The mission was marred shortly after its assembly by a B-24 group cutting through the lead box of the B Wing. This scattered the Wing's pattern, and resulted in a collision between aB-17 Lt. Amenco Procopia aborted the mission because of mechanical trouble. Additionally, the left landing gear was locked in the down position and the right landing gear in the up position. The crew was unable to correct either manually. Bombs were dropped in the Channel and the plane began circling the field to Use up fuel. After the other planes returning from the mission had landed Lt. Procopia made a smooth landing on the Left gear and tail wheel When the right wing dropped and hit the runway the plane veered and went off the runway. No one was injured.  

Brigadier-General Frank Alton Armstrong Jr. during a visit to the 305th Bomb Group Official caption on image: "(GPR-83-9305) (18-6-43) (Brig. Gen. Armstrong..."
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem of the 457th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 97 T HE

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 290 T HE

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Notes: The 34th Bomb Group flies its first mission. 1st Bomb Division was made up of 91st Bomb Group, 92nd Bomb Group, 303rd Bomb Group 305th Bomb Group, 306th Bomb Group, 351st Bomb Group, 379th Bomb Group, 381st Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group, 398th Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group, 457th Bomb Group. 3rd Bomb Division was made up of 94th Bomb Group, 95th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group, 100th Bomb Group, 385th Bomb Group, 388th Bomb Group, 390th Bomb Group, 447th Bomb Group, 452nd Bomb Group.

Brigadier-General Frank Alton Armstrong Jr. during a visit to the 305th Bomb Group Official caption on image: "(GPR-83-9305) (18-6-43) (Brig. Gen. Armstrong..."
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Three B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 94th Bomb Group are attacked by a Nazi Fighter aircraft during a mission. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A-62641 USAF: Nazi fighter plane attacking Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" during a bomb run over enemy installations somewhere in Europe, 10 September 1944. 100th[sic] Bomb Group, 3rd Bomb Division. U.S. Air Force Photo.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 102 T HE

Description: INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 111 T HE

Description: AIRFIELD

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 39 T HE

Description: AIRFIELD

Notes: The 34th Bomb Group flying B-24s joins with other 3rd Bomb Division units (386th Bomb Group, 387th Bomb Group, 487th Bomb Group) flying B-24s to attack Etampes/Mondesir German airfield. This is the first mission for 34th Bomb Group. 2nd Bomb Division was made up of 44th Bomb Group, 93rd Bomb Group, 389th Bomb Group, 392nd Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Group, 448th Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Group, 458th Bomb Group, 466th Bomb Group, 467th Bomb Group, 492nd Bomb Group. 3rd Bomb Division was made up of 386th Bomb Group, 387th Bomb Group.

A formation of B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group enroute to Europe. Printed caption on reverse: '71049 AC- A formation of Consolidated B-24 "Liberators" of the 2nd Bomb Division, roars over Europe en route to the target area. 24 November 1944. US Air Force photo.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation
Three B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 94th Bomb Group are attacked by a Nazi Fighter aircraft during a mission. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A-62641 USAF: Nazi fighter plane attacking Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" during a bomb run over enemy installations somewhere in Europe, 10 September 1944. 100th[sic] Bomb Group, 3rd Bomb Division. U.S. Air Force Photo.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Division
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Combat organisation

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 474 T HE

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 357 T HE

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18216616
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33574325
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 3555092
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier, Navigator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: L.O.N.I. League of Nations, Incorporated
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 18th Bomb Squadron
Nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-28851) nicknamed "The Near Sighted Robin" of the 34th Bomb Group.
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: The Near Sighted Robin
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Group 7th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Problem Child
  • Unit: 491st Bomb Group 853rd Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (4Z-V+) nicknamed "Wolves Inc." of the 791st Bomb Squadron, 467th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '467th B.G., 4Z-V+.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Wolves Inc.
  • Unit: 467th Bomb Group 789th Bomb Squadron 791st Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 392nd Bomb Group 578th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

Compiled by Gary L. Ferrell, 34th BG Archivist 

Date
Changes
Sources

Mission details added courtesy of Diane Elizabeth Reese from 457th Bomb Group Mission Documents. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham, 8th Air Force missions research database / Stan Bishop's 'Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces', the Combat Chronology of the US Army Air Forces and the work of Roger Freeman including the 'Mighty Eighth War Diary'.

364: Gallery (2 items)