McAllister crew
NOTE: For a long article by McAllister on their trip to England, see MM March 1988, pages 15-18.
MISSION LIST
CREW #27; 7th Squadron Captain John Silver
Mission #1 May 23, 1944 42-94799 E/J 7BS McAllister The Paper Doll
Mission #5 May 28, 1944 42-94799 E/J 7BS McAllister, Tavasti (CA) The Paper Doll (lead)
Mission #8 May 31, 1944 42-94799 E/F 7BS McAllister The Paper Doll (deputy lead)
Mission #10 June 6, 1944 42-94919 E/R 7BS McAllister
Mission #15 June 12, 1944 42-94930 E/S McAllister
Mission #16 June 14, 1944 42-94930 E/S 7BS McAllister (deputy lead)
Mission #17 June 17, 1944 44-40276 E/D 7BS McAllister (deputy lead)
Mission #19 June 20, 1944 44-40276 E/D 7BS McAllister
Mission #23 June 24, 1944 44-40454 E/G 7BS McAllister Betta Duck (lead)
Mission #25 June 25, 1944 44-40454 E/G
7BS McAllister Betta Duck (lead)
Mission #30 July 6, 1944 44-40276 E/D 7BS McAllister (lead)
Mission #32 July 8, 1944 44-40276 E/D 7BS McAllister (Squadron lead)
Mission #37 July 18, 1944 44-40267 B/A McAllister Weather Ship
Mission #38 July 19, 1944 44-40454 E/G 7BS McAllister Betta
Duck
Mission #40 July 21, 1944 44-40323 L/N 7BS McAllister Sunshine Rose
CREW #29; 7th Squadron (as of July 28, 1944)
Mission #48 August 1, 1944 44-40276 E/C 7BS McAllister
Mission #50 August 3, 1944 44-40420 E/A 7BS McAllister (lead)
Mission #53 August 6, 1944 44-40461 D/B 7BS McAllister.
Mission #55 August 8, 1944 44-40276 E/C 7BS McAllister
Mission #58 August 13, 1944 44-40454 E/B
7BS McAllister Betta Duck (lead – Target #5)
Mission #64 September 17, 1944 43-38353 E/A 7BS McAllister (lead)
Mission #69 September 27, 1944 43-38416 E/C 7BS McAllister
Mission #73 October 5, 1944 43-38416 E/C 7BS McAllister
Mission #76 October 9, 1944 43-38380 L/B McAllister – Brophy Wing Monitor aircraft
Mission #77 October 14, 1944 43-38353 E/A 7BS McAllister
Mission #79 October 17, 1944 43-38353 E/A 7BS McAllister MIA
MISSION AND CREW DETAILS
CREW #27; 7th Squadron Captain John Silver
McALLISTER WALTER L (P) (1024) 1 LT 7 O-441022
WHITED RICHARD L (CP) (1024) 1 LT 7 O-1293688
BALDEA ELI JR (N) (1034) 2 LT 7 O-703163
KINNY JACK A B) (1035) 2 LT 7 O-684169
SMITH ROBERT C (AEG) (748) SGT 7 35048367
SEARS REEDY (ROG) (757) SGT 7 34507119
DOMINO JOSEPH F JR (AG) (612) SGT 7 33599945
COON WILLIAM C JR (BG) (611) CPL 7 16160658
GRAFF OTTO R (BG) (748) SGT 7 32765713
ENGLEHART RAY (Crew chief) (passenger for the flight to England)
Mission #1 May 23, 1944 42-94799 E/J 7BS McAllister The Paper Doll
Took off at 0524 hours from Hardstand #1.
Flew Lead of High Squadron
Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Made two runs at 0858 hours and 0912 hours but did not drop bombs. Brought all bombs back to base.
"Lead Squadron short. 3rd Squadron direct hit on E. building."
No damage reported.
Landed 1200 hours.
McAllister (Pilot)
Wackwitz (Command Pilot) (34th BG Commander)
Conley (CP) (from another crew or from Group Staff)
Jorgenson (in the CP spot but he was a Navigator)
Baldea (N)
Kinney (B)
Sears (R)
Smith, R. (E)
Carroll (BG)
Graff (TG)
Domino (NG)
Coon (WG)
May 24, 1944 McAllister
Crew Status Report
Crew #27, 7th Squadron
McAllister (Pilot) 1 Lt OK
Whited, R. L. (CP) 1 Lt OK
Baldea, E. (N) 2 Lt OK
Kinney, J. A. (B) 2 Lt OK
Sears, R. A. (R) S/Sgt OK
Smith, R. C. (E) S/Sgt OK
Domino, J. F. (NG) Sgt OK
Graff, O. R. (TG) Sgt OK
Carroll, G. H. (BG) Sgt OK
Coon, W. C. (G) Sgt OK
Mission #5 May 28, 1944 42-94799 E/J 7BS McAllister The Paper Doll
Took off at 1036 hours from Hardstand #1.
Flew Lead of Low Squadron.
Carried 10 500 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1500 hours from 20,000 feet.
Slight damage reported.
Landed 1755 hours.
McAllister (P)
Tavasti (Command Pilot)
Whited (normally Co-pilot, flew as Tail gunner)
Jorganson (N2/NG) (from crew #33)
Baldea (Navigator)
Kinney (Bombardier)
Sears (Radio Operator/RW)
Smith (Engineer/LW)
Domino (Top Turret gunner)
Coon (Right Waist gunner)
Carroll (Ball Gunner)
Mission #8 May 31, 1944 42-94799 E/F 7BS McAllister The Paper Doll
Took off at 0755 hours.
Flew Deputy Lead of 7th Squadron.
Carried 6 1000 lb bombs. Brought all bombs back to base.
The mission was Recalled.
Landed 1241 hours.
"G" box in need of checking. Inspected and repaired.
McAllister (P)
Brophy (Command Pilot)
Whited (CP)
Baldea (N)
Jergenson (PN)
Kinney (B)
Sears (R)
Smith (E)
Domino (G)
Graff (G)
Carroll (G)
Coon (G)
Mission #10 June 6, 1944 42-94919 E/R 7BS McAllister
Took off at 0229 hours.
Flew Lead of 2nd Squadron.
Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Brought all bombs back.
No damage report.
Landed away at Staneykds.
Nose turret charging chain broken. Replaced.
McAllister, W. L. (P) Capt.
Brophy, W. C. (Command Pilot) 1 Lt.
Baldea, E. L. (N) 2 Lt.
Jorgensen, W. L. (N) 2 Lt.
Whited, R. L. (CP) 1 Lt.
Kinney, J. A. (B) 2 Lt.
Smith, R. C. (E) S/Sgt.
Sears, R. A. (R) S/Sgt.
Domino, J. F. (AG) S/Sgt.
Carroll, G. H. (G) S/Sgt.
Mission #15 June 12, 1944 42-94930 E/S McAllister
Took off at 0505 hours.
Flew Lead of Lead Squadron.
Carried 24 250 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 0909 hours from 21,600 feet.
No damage reported.
Landed 1106 hours.
McAllister (P)
Wackwitz (Command Pilot) Col.
Whited (CP)
Baldea (N)
Joegenson (PN) Primary Navigator
Ritchie (B)
Sears (R)
Smith (E)
Carroll (G)
Graff (G) (spelled as Grath)
Coon (G)
Mission #16 June 14, 1944 42-94930 E/S 7BS McAllister (deputy lead)
Took off at 0331 hours.
Flew Deputy Lead, position 1-2 in High Squadron.
Carried 52 100 lb bombs. Dropped on TO at 0808 hours from 19,000 feet.
No battle damage reported.
Landed 0936 hours.
McAllister (P)
Whited (CP)
Baldea (N)
Jorgenson (PN)
Ritchie (B)
Sears (R)
Smith (E)
Carroll (G)
Graff (G)
Coon (G)
Domino (G)
Mission #17 June 17, 1944 44-40276 E/D 7BS McAllister (deputy lead)
Took off at 1640 hours.
Flew Deputy Lead, position 1-2 in High Squadron.
Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 2022 hours from 18,500 feet.
No battle damage reported.
Landed 2247 hours.
McAllister (P)
Whited (CP)
Baldea (N)
Jorgenson (N)
Ritchie (B)
Sears (R)
Smith (E)
Graff (G)
Domino (G)
Coon (G)
Carroll (G)
Mission #19 June 20, 1944 44-40276 E/D 7BS McAllister
Took off at 1740 hours.
Flew Lead of Group A (7th).
Carried 52 100 lb bombs. Dropped on Primary at 2055 hours from 23,000 feet.
Reported Major battle damage.
From Tavasti’s after mission report: The lead ship (McAlister) was hit by flak in the Bombay just as bombs were away. Due to the great amount of gasoline spraying in the Bombay, all electrical units, radios, generators, inverters and heated suits were turned off. As a result, no strike report was relayed by lead ship of lead group. An accurate survey of damage was extremely difficult so lead ship left formation while returning to England. After all gasoline had drained from the #3 fuel cells, #3 engine was lost as cross-feed hose was damaged. #3 was feathered for the return flight to base, but unfeathered shortly before landing to provide hydraulic pressure for gear, flaps and brakes, as it seemed unadvisable to operate the auxiliary hydraulic pump with great amounts of liquid gasoline and fumes present in bombay.
Landed at 2234 hours.
No Crew Loading List available.
McAlister (P)
Tavasti (Command Pilot)
Jorgeson (PN)
June 23, 1944 44-40461 D/G McAllister
Took off at 1741 on a local flight.
Landed 1829 hours.
Mission #23 June 24, 1944 44-40454 E/G 7BS McAllister Betta Duck (lead)
Took off at 1631 hours.
Flew Lead of Lead Squadron.
Carried 24 250 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary from 23,000 feet. No time given. Results poor.
No damage reported.
Landed 2108 hours.
McAllister (P)
Tavasti (Command Pilot)
Whited (CP)
Baldea (N)
Jorgenson (N2)
Ritchie (B)
Sears (R)
Smith (E)
Carroll (BG)
Graff (TG)
Domino (NG)
Coon (G)
Mission #25 June 25, 1944 44-40454 E/G
7BS McAllister Betta Duck (lead)
Took off at 1530 hours.
Flew Lead of High Squadron.
Carried 6 1000 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1943 hours from 20,500 feet.
No damage reported.
Landed 2238 hours.
McAllister (P)
Brophy (Command Pilot)
Whited (CP)
Baldea (N)
Jorgenson (N2)
Ritchie (B)
Sears (R)
Smith (E)
Carroll (BG)
Graff (TG)
Domino (NG)
Coon (G)
Mission #30 July 6, 1944 44-40276 E/D 7BS McAllister (lead)
Took off at 0520 hours.
Flew Lead of High Squadron.
Carried 20 250 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 0910/10 hoursb from 25,000 feet.
No damage reported.
Landed 1029 hours.
McAllister (P)
Brophy (Command Pilot)
Nelson (CP) (normally on the McDannold crew) (Whited had been moved up to pilot his own crew.)
Baldea (N)
Jorgenson (N2)
Ritchie (B)
Sears (R)
Smith (E)
Carroll (BG)
Graff (TG)
Domino (NG)
Coon (G)
Mission #32 July 8, 1944 44-40276 E/D 7BS McAllister (Squadron lead)
Took off at 0415 hours.
Flew Lead of Lead Squadron.
Carried 20 250 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 0801/15 hours from 23,000 feet.
No damage reported.
Landed 0909 hours.
McAllister (P)
Hershenow (Command Pilot)
Nelson (CP)
Baldea (N)
Jorgenson (N2)
Ritchie (B)
Sears (R)
Smith (E)
Carroll (BG)
Graff (TG)
Domino (NG)
Coon (G)
Mission #37 July 18, 1944 44-40267 B/A McAllister Weather Ship
Took off at 0410 hours on a Weather mission.
Landed 0704 hours.
Mission #38 July 19, 1944 44-40454 E/G 7BS McAllister Betta
Duck
Took off at 0539 hours.
Flew Lead of Low Squadron.
Carried 6 500 lb GP lb bombs. Dropped on the Secondary at 0958 hours from 22,500 feet.
Slight flak damage.
Landed 1152 hours.
McAllister (P)
Baldea (N)
Jorgenson (N2)
Ritchie (B)
Sears (R)
Smith (E)
Carroll (BG)
Graff (TG)
Domino (NG)
Coon (G)
Brophy (CA)
Mission #40 July 21, 1944 44-40420 E/J (scheduled for McAllister but replaced)
Mission #40 July 21, 1944 44-40323 L/N 7BS McAllister Sunshine Rose
Took off at 0601 hours.
Flew Lead of Low Squadron.
Carried 6 500 lb bombs. Jettisoned bombs in Germany near bridge at 1041 hours from 24,000 feet.
Landed 1300 hours.
McAllister (P)
Burton (Command Pilot)
Champion (CP) (new regular co-pilot)
Baldea (N)
Jorgenson (N2)
Ritchie (B)
Sears (R)
Smith (E)
Carroll (BG)
Graff (TG)
Domino (NG)
Coon (G)
July 27, 1944 McAllister
Last listing as Crew #27; 7th Squadron
CREW #29; 7th Squadron (as of July 28, 1944)
McAllister (P)
(CP)
Jorgenson (N)
Baldea (N)
Ritchie (B)
Sears (R)
Smith, R. C. (E)
Domino (NG)
Graff (TG)
Carroll (BG)
Coon (G)
Mission #48 August 1, 1944 44-40276 E/C 7BS McAllister
McAllister (P)
Champion (CP)
Jorgenson (N)
Baldea (N)
Ritchie (B)
Sears (R)
Smith, R. C. (E)
Domino (NG)
Graff (TG)
Carroll (BG)
Coon (G)
August 2, 1944 44-40420 E/A McAllister
Took off at 1907 hours on a local flight.
Landed 1942 hours.
Mission #50 August 3, 1944 44-40420 E/A 7BS McAllister (lead)
McAllister (P)
Champion (CP)
Jorgenson (N)
Baldea (N)
Ritchie (B)
Sears (R)
Smith, R. C. (E)
Domino (NG)
Graff (TG)
Coon (G)
Brophy (CA)
Note: Carroll flew this mission with the R. L. Whited crew.
Mission #53 August 6, 1944 44-40461 D/B 7BS McAllister.
Crew loading lists not available.
Mission #55 August 8, 1944 44-40276 E/C 7BS McAllister
McAllister (P)
Jorgenson (N)
Baldea (N)
Ritchie (B)
Sears (R)
Smith, R. C. (E)
Domino (NG)
Graff (TG)
Carroll (BG)
Coon (G)
Brophy (CA)
Mission #58 August 13, 1944 44-40454 E/B
7BS McAllister Betta Duck (lead – Target #5)
McAllister (P)
Champion (CP)
Jorgenson (N)
Baldea (N)
Ritchie (B)
Sears (R)
Smith, R. C. (E)
Domino (NG)
Graff (TG)
Carroll (BG)
CREW #29; 7th Squadron (at the transition to B-17s)
McAllister (P)
Champion (CP)
Baldea (N)
Ritchie (B)
Sears (R)
Smith, R. C. (E)
Domino (NG)
Graff (TG)
Carroll (BG)
Mission #64 September 17, 1944 43-38353 E/A 7BS McAllister (lead)
Took off from Hardstand #1 at 0640 hours.
Flew Lead of 34 C Group.
Carried 24 260F bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1037 hours from 19,000 feet.
No damage reported.
Landed 1207 hours.
McAllister (P)
Champion (CP)
Baldea (N)
Ritchie (B)
Sears (R)
Smith, R. C. (E)
Domino (NG)
Graff (TG)
Carroll (BG)
Brophy (CA)
Mission #69 September 27, 1944 43-38416 E/C 7BS McAllister
McAllister (P)
Champion (CP)
Jorgenson (N)
Baldea (N)
Ritchie (B)
Sears (R)
Smith, R. C. (E)
Domino (NG)
Graff (TG)
Carroll (BG)
Mission #73 October 5, 1944 43-38353 E/A (scheduled for McAllister but replaced.)
Mission #73 October 5, 1944 43-38416 E/C 7BS McAllister
McAllister (P)
Champion (CP)
Jorgenson (N)
Baldea (N)
Ritchie (B)
Sears (R)
Smith, R. C. (E)
Domino (NG)
Graff (TG)
Carroll (G)
Mission #76 October 9, 1944 43-38380 L/B McAllister – Brophy Wing Monitor aircraft
This aircraft was not included on the crew loading lists.
Mission #77 October 14, 1944 43-38353 E/A 7BS McAllister
McAllister (P)
Champion (CP)
Jorgenson (N)
Baldea (N)
Ritchie (B)
Sears (R)
Smith, R. C. (E)
Domino (NG)
Graff (TG)
Carroll (BG)
Mission #79 October 17, 1944 43-38353 E/A 7BS McAllister MIA
Mission #79 October 17, 1944 B-17G 43-38353 E/A Lili Marlene With 7BS Missing in Action Cologne flak. At 0915 hours there was a small fire in #1 engine. Some crews reported seeing trailing vapor which would indicate the wing tanks were on fire. After 3-5 minutes the plane peeled out of formation and into a shallow dive in an apparent attempt to put out the fire. Following this maneuver black smoke issued from the engine (#1). When last seen, it was trailing smoke, but seemed under control and holding altitude at 17,000 feet. At 1012 hours, near Liege, a B-17 was observed flying at 12,000 feet with #1 engine on fire and escorted by 5 P-51 fighters. This could possibly be the same aircraft. Crashed Ahrweiler, Germany. Pilot: Capt. McAllister. Missing Air Crew Report # 9468. 1 Killed in Action, 9 Prisoner of War including George H. Carroll, wounded in parachute. See 34th Bombardment Group (H) 1941-1945 pp. 43-44 were George Ritchie tells in a story titled The Not So Great Escape about his experience as a Prisoner of War following this mission and his eventual escape.
POW McALLISTER WALTER L (P) CAPT 7 O-441022 24 BALTIMORE MD
POW CHAMPION ANDREW S (CP) 1 LT 7 O-796306 18 MAYWOOD NJ
POW BALDEA ELI JR (N) 1 LT 7 O-703163 24 EAST CHICAGO IL
POW RITCHIE GEORGE J (B) 1 LT 7 O-697760 27 FLUSHING NY
POW SMITH ROBERT C (E/TT) T/SGT 7 35048367 24 WELLINGTON OH
KIA SEARS REEDY A (R) T/SGT 7 34507119 24 FRANKLIN TN
POW CARROLL GEORGE H (BT) S/SGT 7 38387965 25 GILBERT LA
POW COON WILLIAM C JR (WG) SGT 7 16160658 19 ANN ARBOR MI
POW GRAFF OTTO R (TG) S/SGT 7 32765713 24 KEANSBURG NJ
POW DOMINO JOSEPH F JR (NG) S/SGT 7 33599945 23 PERKASIC PA