42-52738 Wilson

B-24H-15-FO

 

A 34BG Original

 

(The name Wilson has been associated with this plane but that was the Bombardier’s name, perhaps the plane's name as well but maybe not.)

 

MISSION LIST

Mission #1 May 23, 1944 42-52738 L/O Wilson (unused spare)

Mission #2 May 24, 1944 42-52738 L/O 391BS Eastman Wilson

Mission #3 May 25, 1944 42-52738 L/O 391BS Eastman Wilson

Mission #4 May 27, 1944 42-52738 L/O 391BS Eastman Wilson

Mission #5 May 28, 1944 42-52738 L/O 7BS Holmes Wilson (Airborne spare)

Mission #6 May 29, 1944 42-52738 L/O 391BS Eastman Wilson  

Mission #11 June 6, 1944 42-52738 L/O 391BS Eastman Wilson

Mission #12 June 6, 1944 42-52738 L/O 391BS Eastman Wilson

Mission #13 June 7, 1944 42-52738 L/O 391BS Eastman Wilson Shot down over Mendlesham on return.


MISSION DETAILS

Mission #1 May 23, 1944 42-52738 L/O Wilson (unused spare)

 

Mission #2 May 24, 1944 42-52738 L/O 391BS Eastman Wilson

Flew position 4-2 in Low Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 0921 hours from 21,000 feet. Observed hits on a hanger.

No damage reported.

#3 generator out. Inspected and repaired.

Eastman H. D. (P)

Arthaud, P. W. (CP)

Wilson, E. D. (B)

Kruse, F. F. (R)

Mucha, G. M. (E)

Baird, E. C. (BG)

McClosky, B. V. (TG)

Van Horne, L. (NG)

Irwin, E. J. (G)

Harper, T. N. (G) (from crew #64)

 

Mission #3 May 25, 1944 42-52738 L/O 391BS Eastman Wilson

Took off at 0505 hours.

Flew position 2-3 in High Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Dropped on the Secondary Target at 0921 hours from 18,000 feet.

No damage reported.

Landed 1104 hours.

Eastman H. D. (P)

Arthaud, P. W. (CP)

Wilson, E. D. (B)

Kruse, F. F. (R)

Mucha, G. N. (E)

Baird, E. D. (BG)

Jones, G. B. (NG) (from Crew #60)

McClosky, R. V. (TG)

Irwin, E. J. (G)

 

Mission #4 May 27, 1944 42-52738 L/O 391BS Eastman Wilson

Took off at 0832 hours.

Flew position 4-2 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 10 500 lb bombs. Jettisoned all bombs.

No damage reported.

Returned early because of leak in #3 oil line.

Landed 1552 hours.

Sortie.

Eastman (P)

Arthaud (CP)

Wilson, E. (B)

Kruse (R)

Mucha (E)

Baird (BG)

Stancati (TG) (from crew #20)

Van Horne (NG)

Irwin (G)

NOTE: McClosky, B. V. (TG) (Was replaced on this mission because he was drunk.)

 

Mission #5 May 28, 1944 42-52738 L/O 7BS Holmes Wilson

Took off at 1047 hours from Hardstand #18.

Flew as Airborne spare. Returned early when unneeded.

Carried 10 100 lb GP bombs. Brought all bombs back to base.

No damage reported.

Landed 1408 hours.

Holmes (P)

Granger (CP)

Grezlak (N)

Gibbs (R)

Ivey (E)

Jenson (NG)

Peterson (BG)

Berry (TG)

Weaver (G)

 

Mission #6 May 29, 1944 42-52738 L/O 391BS Eastman Wilson 

Took off at 0743 hours from Hardstand #18.

Flew position 3-3 in High Squadron.

Carried 10 500 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1232 hours from 22,500 feet.

Landed 1657 hours.

Slight flak damage: Right landing gear tire change.

Eastman (P)

Arthaud (CP)

Topping (N) (from crew #65)

Kruse (R)

Mucha (E)

Van Horne (NG)

Baird (BG)

McClosky (TG)

Irwin (G)

 

Mission #11 June 6, 1944 42-52738 L/O 391BS Eastman Wilson

Took off at 0611 hours from Hardstand #18.

Flew position 2-3 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Due to 10/10 clouds, brought all bombs back to base.

No damage reported.

Landed 1230 hours.

Eastman (P)

Arthaud (CP)

Wilson (B)

Wilson (B)

Mucha (E)

Kruse (R)

Baird (BG)

Irwin (TG)

Van Horne (NG)

McCloskey (G)

 

Mission #12 June 6, 1944 42-52738 L/O 391BS Eastman Wilson

Took off at 1716 hours.

Flew as Airborne Spare.

Carried 12 500 lb bombs. No drop report.

Aborted due to weather. Could not find the formation.

No damage report.

Landed 2137 hours at A.B.

Eastman (P)

Arthaud (CP)

Wilson, E. (B)

Wilson,  (B)

Mucha (E)

DKruse (R)

Baird (BG)

Irwin (TG)

Van Horne (NG)

McCloskey (G)

 

Mission #13 June 7, 1944 42-52738 L/O 391BS Eastman Wilson Spare. Shot down over Mendlesham on return.

Took off at 1712 hours.

Flew as Airborne Spare. Flew the mission but the position is not known.

Carried 12 500 lb GP bombs. No drop report due to being shot down.

Shot down and crashed on base, into the Personal Equipment Building.

Eastman (P)

Arthaud (CP)

Mead (B) (from crew #16)

Kruse (R)

Wilson,  (B)

Mucha (E)

Baird (G)

Van Horne (G)

Irwin (G)

 

B-24H 42-52738 L/O Wilson Shot down over Mendlesham on return and crashed (into the Personal Equipment Building?). With 391BS. Pilot: Eastman. 9 Killed , 1 bailed out and Returned to Duty. Salvaged with battle damage. (There is some confusion in the records about just who was on the plane that day.)

KIA EASTMAN HAZEN D (P)                         2 LT            391      O-687012        ID

KIA ARTHALD PAUL W (CP)                         2 LT            391      O-817371        OK

KIA MEAD LEROY W                                       2 LT            4          O-698030        SHARON OK

KIA WILSON ELMER D (B)                              2 LT            391      O-698068

KIA MUCHA GEORGE (E/TT)                          T/SGT        391      13006740        PA

KIA KRUSE ROBERT F (R)                               T/SGT        391      32674261

KIA BAIRD EVERETT C                                    S/SGT         391      39179807

KIA KLINE CHARLES D                                    SGT            391      13070469

KIA VAN HORNE LESLIE                                 S/SGT         391      13083785        PA

RTD IRWIN EDWIN J                                        S/SGT         391     

NOTE:    Irwin also spelled Erwin in some places.

 

The crew loading lists do not include Minge, Wilson, or Kline, but does include Lt. Mead.

(Minge, the Navigator, did not fly this mission and survived the war. Wilson & Kline apparently did fly the mission and were killed.)

 

ARTHALD PAUL W is buried at Cambridge American Cemetery, C-1-55.

EASTMAN HAZEN D is buried at Cambridge American Cemetery, C-4-55.

MUCHA GEORGE is buried at Cambridge American Cemetery, A-6-25.

VAN HORNE LESLIE is buried at Cambridge American Cemetery, A-3-22.