41-28851 “M”

41-28851 The Near Sighted Robin

B-24H-15-DT

A 34^th BG Original.

Flown to England in April 1944 by the J C Smith crew minus Mink but with Maj. Roy E Tavasti, O-401550 as passenger.

MISSION LIST

Mission #1 May 23, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #2 May 24, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #4 May 27, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #5 May 28, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #6 May 29, 1944 41-28851 E/M Stewart The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #8 May 31, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #10 June 6, 1944 41-28851 E/M Hayes The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #14 June 11, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #15 June 12, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #16 June 14, 1944 41-28851 E/M Hayes The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #17 June 17, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #18 June 20, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #21 June 23, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #24 June 24, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #25 June 25, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #28 June 29, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #35 July 14, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #36 July 17, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin (Airborne spare – Aborted)

Mission #40 July 21, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #41 July 24, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #42 July 25, 1944 41-28851 E/M The Near Sighted Robin (scheduled for Smith, J. C., but replaced)

Mission #44 July 27, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #49 August 2, 1944 41-28851 E/M McDermott The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #50 August 3, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #51 August 4, 1944 41-28851 E/M Marks The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #52 August 5, 1944 41-28851 E/M Harmon The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #53 August 6, 1944 41-28851 E/M Tuttle The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #54 August 7, 1944 41-28851 E/M Winsor The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #55 August 8, 1944 41-28851 E/M McDannold The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #56 August 10, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #57 August 11, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #58 August 13, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #59 August 14, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #62 August 18, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin

Mission #63 August 24, 1944 41-28851 E/M Avriett The Near Sighted Robin MIA Interned in Sweden

MISSION DETAILS

Mission #1 May 23, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Etampes Mondesir

Took off at 0527 hours from Hardstand #4.

Flew position 2-1 in High Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Made runs at 0905 hours and 0910 hours but did not drop. Brought all bombs back to base.

"Made 2 runs and did not drop either time."

No damage reported.

Landed 1202 hours.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Mink (BG)

Hall (TG)

Morrison (NG)

Troup (WG)

Mission #2 May 24, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Poix

Took off at 0458 hours from Hardstand #4.

Flew position 2-1 in the Squadron.

Carried 12 x 500 lb. General purpose bombs. Brought back all bombs. Hazy over target, patches of cloud. 10 miles visibility.

No damage to plane or crew.

Landed 1043 hours.

#3 generator out. Inspected and repaired.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Morrison (NG)

Hall (TG)

Mink (BG)

Troup (WG)

May 24, 1944 41-28851 E/M

On 34BG Marshalling Chart on Hardstand #4 at 2140 hours.

Mission #4 May 27, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Metz

Took off at 0847 hours.

Flew position 2-1 in Low Squadron.

Carried 52 x 100 lb. M47-A incendiary bombs. Brought back all bombs. Did not bomb because Lead did not drop bombs.

No damage to the plane or crew.

Landed 1558 hours.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Morrison (NG)

Hall (TG)

Mink (BG)

Troup (G)

Mission #5 May 28, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Lutzkendorf

Took off at 1039 hours from Hardstand #4.

Flew position 2-1 in Low Squadron.

Carried 10 500 lb. GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1500 hours from 21,600 ft. Hits in entire area just East of distillers. Heavy smoke.

No damage to the plane or crew.

Landed 1757 hours.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Morrison (NG)

Hall (TG)

Mink (BG)

Troup (G)

Mission #6 May 29, 1944 41-28851 E/M 391BS Stewart The Near Sighted Robin Politz

Took off at 0757 hours from Hardstand #4.

Flew as an Airborne spare and took Hollowell's place, position 2-2 in Lead Squadron, the 7th Squadron.

Carried 10 500 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1233 hours from 22,200 feet.

Met 6 Ju-88s at Cammir but they turned away from the formation and did not attack.

Landed 1646 hours.

Prop governor inoperative. Inspected and repaired.

Slight damage reported. Left aileron, air scoop #2 engine, left wing leading edge.

Stewart, James A. (P) 2 Lt. O-116638

Korf, Robert S. (CP) 2 Lt. O-816501 (not the regular Co-Pilot)

Stellmach, Robert E. (N) 2 Lt. O-704085

Woodrich, Robert E. (B) F/O T-123257

Magietto, Hector R. (R) Sgt 32686136

Serna, Leonard G. (E) S/Sgt 39537299

Hartman (NG)

Adney, Orville E., Jr. (BG) Cpl 39559631

Charbonneau, Yvon A. (TG) Sgt 32863093

Barbera, Roger A. (WG) Cpl 12215591

(ranks shown are as of overseas deployment)

Mission #8 May 31, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Jemelle, Belgium

Took off at 0756 hours.

Carried 6 1000 lb bombs. Brought all bombs back to base.

The mission was Recalled.

Landed 1231 hours.

Changing handle, Left Gun nose turret; clutch stripped. Repaired with auxiliary changing handle.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Morrison (NG)

Hall (TG)

Mink (BG)

Troup (WG)

Mission #10 June 6, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Hayes The Near Sighted Robin Caen (First of three D-Day missions)

Apparently was a ground spare with the Avriett crew ready, but was taken over and flown by the Hayes crew which was originally scheduled to fly “2768.”

Took off at 0321 hours.

Flew position 2-1 in 2nd Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Brought all bombs back to base.

No damage reported.

Landed 1051 hours.

#2 Generator out. Inspected and being repaired.

Hayes, Marvin G. (P) F/O T-122252

Anderson, Lloyd (CP) 2 Lt. O-817368

McPherson, Henry S. (B) 2 Lt. O-698028

Gibbons, Alvin J. (E) T/Sgt 39908817

Bowers, Cecil G. (R) T/Sgt 37505759

Rockey, Robert R. (G) S/Sgt 39131123

Murphy, R. P. (G) S/Sgt

Dufelmeier, Arthur J. (G) S/Sgt

Gray, Richard L. (G) S/Sgt 33408719

Mission #11 June 6, 1944 41-28851 E/M unused ground spare

On Hardstand #4.

Mission #14 June 11, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Fleurs

Took off at 0441 hours.

Flew position 2-1 in High Squadron.

Carried 24 250 lb GP bombs. Brought back all bombs to base due to 10/10 cloud coverage of target.

No battle damage reported.

Landed 1045 hours.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Mink (BG)

Hall (TG)

Morrison (NG)

Troup (WG)

Mission #15 June 12, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Beauvais

Took off at 0507 hours.

Was to fly position 2-1 in Lead Squadron, but ABORTED.

Carried 24 250 lb bombs. Returned early at 0620 hours due to the pilot being sick. Brought all bombs back to base.

Carried a K-24 camera to record the strike but got no pictures due to aborting.

No damage reported.

Landed 0633 hours.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Mink (BG)

Hall (TG)

Morrison (NG)

Troup (WG)

Mission #16 June 14, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Hayes "The Near Sighted Robin" Cambrai Epinoy

Took off at 0326 hours.

Flew in position 2-1 in High Squadron.

Carried 52 100 lb. Bombs. Dropped bombs on TO at 0807 hours from 19,000 ft.

No damage to the plane or crew.

Landed 0944 hours.

Hayes, M. G. (P)

Anderson (CP)

Maw (N)

Bowers (R)

Gibbons (E)

Gray (G)

Gillespie (G)

Rockey (G)

Dufelmeier (G)

Mission #17 June 17, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Laval

Took off at 1642 hours.

Flew position 2-1 in High Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb. Bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 2022 hours from 18,700 ft.

No damage to the plane or crew.

Landed 2312 hours.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Mink (BG)

Hall (TG)

Morrison (NG)

Troup (WG)

Mission #18 June 20, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Misburg

Took off at 0503 hours.

Flew position 2-2 in Low Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 0914 hours from 22,320 ft. No bombs outside the target area.

Two large fires were visible upon arrival at the target.

A Convoy was seen just off the enemy coast on the return trip that seemed to be escorted by E-Boats.

Slight flak damage to the plane. Crew uninjured.

Landed 1127 hours.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Mink (BG)

Hall (TG)

Morrison (NG)

Troup (WG)

Mission #21 June 23, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Coulommiers

Took off at 1603 hours.

Flew position 2-1 in Low Squadron (493BG supplied Lead and High Squadrons.)

Carried 52 100 lb Frag bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 2011 hours from 19,700 feet. Made three runs.

No damage reported.

Landed 2232 hours.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Mink (BG)

Hall (TG)

Morrison (NG)

Troup (WG)

Mission #23 June 24, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Beaumetz les Aires, Crepieul

Took off at 1633 hours.

Flew position 2-1 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 24 x 250 lb general purpose bombs. Dropped bombs at 1943 hours from 22,400 ft. Bombs fell to the left of the target.

No damage to the plane or crew.

Landed 2110 hours.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Mink (BG)

Hall (TG)

Morrison (NG)

Troup (WG)

Mission #25 June 25, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Estemay, Etamps Mondesir

Took off at 1533 hours.

Flew position 2-1 in High Squadron.

Carried 6 x 1000 lb bombs. Dropped the bombs at 1943 hours from 20,700 feet.

No damage to the plane or crew.

Landed 2240 hours.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Mink (BG)

Hall (TG)

Morrison (NG)

Troup (WG)

Mission #28 June 29, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Fallersleben

Took off at 0517 hours.

Flew position 2-1 in High Squadron.

Carried 10 x 500 lb general purpose bombs. Dropped the bombs on the primary target at 0939/15 hours from 23,800 ft.

Minor flak damage to the plane. Crew uninjured.

Lost the #3 engine on the bomb run. Flak in the target area was accurate and heavy.

At 0941 hours near the Rally Point, 2 miles from the target, saw a B-24, probably from 493BG on fire in the bomb bays. It dove down, then spiraled to the ground. No chutes were seen.

Landed 1209 hours.

#3 engine failure. Inspected and changing engine.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Mink (BG)

Hall (TG)

Morrison (NG)

Troup (WG)

Mission #35 July 14, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Montdidiers

Took off at 1632 hours.

Flew position 2-1 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 20 x 250 lb bombs. Dropped the bombs on the primary target at 2018 hours from 22,600 ft.

No damage to the plane or crew.

Landed 2216 hours.

Flak in St. Saen area from 4-8 guns which were accurate to altitude but didn’t track.

At the target, flak was barrage type, inaccurate probably due to chaff.

Observed activity on the runways and dispersal areas of the Denain airfield.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Mink (BG)

Hall (TG

Morrison (NG)

Troup (WG)

Mission #36 July 17, 1944 41-28851 E/M Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Neuvy sur Loire

Took off at 0702 hours.

Flew as Airborne Spare. Aborted: mechanical; cylinder blown on #3 engine.

Carried 5 x 1000 lb bombs. Returned early and landed away from the base so there is no record of whether the bombs were jettisoned or brought back.

Landed 1005 at Levenham. No record of the return to Mendlesham.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Mink (BG)

Hall (TG)

Morrison (NG)

Troup (WG)

July 20, 1944 41-28851 E/M no pilot listed

Landed 1635 hours coming from Lavenham.

Mission #40 July 21, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Walldura and Weilbach (targets of opportunity)

Flew position 2-1 in Low Squadron.

Carried 10 x 500 lb bombs. Dropped the bombs 30 miles South of Hamburg through a “putrid overcast” at 0950 hours from 25,500 ft.

No damage to the plane or crew.

#1 turbosupercharger fluctuates. Inspected and repaired.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Mink (BG)

Hall (TG)

Morrison (NG)

Troup (WG)

Mission #41 July 24, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin St. Lo area

Flew position 2-1 in High Squadron.

Carried 52 x 100 lb bombs. Brought back all the bombs. Weather was 10/10 overcast at the target, clear over the channel.

Flak was encountered at 1240 ½ hours from an accurate 4 gun battery. No damage to the plane or crew.

A B-24 from 34BG Lead Squadron was hit by flak, spun down and exploded. No chutes were seen.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Mink (BG)

Hall (TG)

Morrison (NG)

Troup (WG)

Mission #42 July 25, 1944 41-28851 E/M The Near Sighted Robin (scheduled for Smith, J. C. but changed)

Mission #44 July 27, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Brussels and Ghent

Flew position 2-1 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 6 x 1000 lb bombs. Dropped on the primary at 0828 hours from 21,300 ft.

Reported heavy tracking flak in Brussels at 0828 hours and a mobile 4 gun flak battery at Ghent at 0834 hours.

The plane received slight flak damage. Crew was uninjured.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Mink (BG)

Hall (TG)

Morrison (NG)

Troup (WG)

Mission #49 August 2, 1944 41-28851 E/M McDermott The Near Sighted Robin Foret de St. Seans

Flew as Airborne Spare.

Carried 24 250 lb general purpose bombs which were all brought back. Only one of the three spares was needed.

This plane aborted at Buncher 19 at 6,500 ft. with a gas leak.

McDermott, Myron D. (P) 2 Lt. O-809018

Durrett, Stanley M. (CP) F/O T-61615

Booth, Richard T. (N) 2 Lt. O-699921

Ferguson, Kenneth R. (B) 2 Lt. O-694910

Roberts, Charles Jr. (R) Sgt 15394150

Welsh, David S. (E) Sgt

Brauks, Wallace G. (NG) 17073803

Hudson (TG)

Palmer, Jay W. (BG) S/Sgt 20312729

Wingfield, Paul L. (G) Cpl 33538050

(ranks shown are as of overseas deployment)

Mission #50 August 3, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Brussels

Flew position 2-1 in Low Squadron.

Carried 20 x 500 lb bombs. Dropped the bombs on the primary target at 1930 hours from 22,100 ft.

No damage to the plane or crew.

Saw smoke coming from East of the canal and bomb hits West of the canal and some hits direct on target. Observed 40 barges parked in rows.

At the target the tracking flak was high and to the left.

At 1946 hours, encountered flak from a mobile 4 to 6 gun battery, about 20 bursts in all, again high and to the left, these on a track between Ghent and Laharen.

There is a leak in the oxygen system someplace in the plane, don’t know where but suspect in the waist area.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Mink (BG)

Morrison (NG)

Troup (WG)

Mission #51 August 4, 1944 41-28851 E/M 4BS Marks The Near Sighted Robin Hemmingstedt

Flew position 2-3 in High Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Dropped the bombs on Husum Airfield at 1432 ½ hours from 16,600 ft. The bombs dropped onto the hangars.

No damage to the plane or crew.

Ten minutes after bombing a B-24 was observed turning back toward the enemy coast. Unit identified. No chutes were seen. The plane had no markings except a plain white tail.

Marks, Joseph F. (P) 2 Lt. O-809985

Turko, Walter (CP) 2 Lt. O-817552

Goetsch, Forest L. (N) 2 Lt. O-703726

Merwin, Theodore (B) 2 Lt. O-698031

Wood, John R. (R) Sgt 35596341

Neel, William (E) S/Sgt 14036635

Nolan, Eugene E. (NG) Sgt 16070105

Cole, Theodore D. (BG) Sgt 39294081

Cresiski (G)

Funk (F) (Photographer and apparently replaced the regular tail gunner.)

(ranks shown are as of overseas deployment)

Mission #52 August 5, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Harmon The Near Sighted Robin Halberstadt

Flew position 2-3 in High Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb general purpose bombs. Dropped the bombs on the primary target at 1247 hours from 23,800 ft. Bombs on the target area, spread a little to the right.

No damage to the plane or crew.

At 1139 hours, observed 8 to 10 barrage ballons. At 1141 hours, observed smoke screens at Wesermunde and Itgehoe. At 1153 hours, 5 miles Northeast of Wesermunde we encountered meager but accurate flak. The bombardier saw Terry’s ship hit by flak with #4 engine catching fire. Terry pulled out of formation and lost altitude. The fire seemed to go out and he seemed to be under control. Six chutes were seen coming from this plane. While watching Terry’s plane, the bombardier also observed a P-51 crash at 1200 hours. (Note: “The Near Sighted Robin,” plane 851, was flying left wing, position 2-3, in Terry’s element, who was flying position 2-1, or lead of that second element. Plane 209, a silver ship named “The Wrangler,” was flying on Terry’s right wing in position 2-2. This mission folder contains a photo of Terry’s plane shortly after being hit, with #4 engine on fire. This same photo also shows “The Near Sighted Robin” and “The Wrangler” in their wing positions on either side of Terry’s plane, but higher, since Terry has lost altitude.)

Harmon (P)

O’Brien (CP)

Baun (N)

Lindia (B)

Davy (R)

Stiver (E)

Cannon (NG)

Pignanelli (TG)

Riley (BG)

(I do not have full name, rank & serial number as this was a replacement crew, not on the original deployment list.)

Mission #53 August 6, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Tuttle The Near Sighted Robin Foret de St. Saens, Val des Jones, La Briqueterie

Flew position 2-1 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 20 250 lb general purpose bombs. All bombs brought back. The whole Group did not bomb. Target obscured by 10/10 undercast.

No damage to the plane or crew. Crew loading lists were not in the file but Tuttle’s regular crew is listed below.

Tuttle, Donald E., Jr. (P) 2 Lt. O-686475

Strong, Earl (CP) 2 Lt. O-700566

Gullage, Francis (N) 2 Lt. O-703737

Lambert (B)

Chatoin, Leonard (R) Sgt 39407262

Henry, Glenn E. (E) Sgt 36802491

Marshall, William L. (NG) Sgt 18090293

Touhill (TG)

Pell, Charles W. (BG) Sgt 15338699

Havron, William R. (G) Sgt 36737361

(ranks shown as of overseas deployment)

Mission #54 August 7, 1944 41-28851 E/M Winsor The Near Sighted Robin Remilly

Flew as an airborne spare but apparently did fly the mission, filling in position 2-2 in the Low Squadron.

Carried 20 500 lb bombs. All bombs were brought back due to 8/10 cloud coverage of the target area.

The plane did receive slight flak damage.

At 1030 hours, encounter flak from Liege in 3 gun bursts. 3 ships were hit. One feathered #4 engine (not on fire), and dropped his bombs at 1038 hours. Another B-24 with #2 engine feathered and on fire, pulled out of formation, lost altitude and headed out on course 360 degrees. The lead ship was seen to pull out of formation in a steep glide (no fires seen), pulled out and that was the last we saw of this ship. (Note: The lead ship, 44-40323, piloted by Erwin was MIA on this mission. The other damaged ships made it back to base.)

Winsor (P)

Kless (CP)

Bigelow (N)

Nash (B)

Buckley (R)

Moreney (E)

.…..rald (NG) (name on crew loading list not readable)

Lowghran (BG)

Peters (G)

(I do not have full names, rank & serial numbers. This was a replacement crew.)

Mission #55 August 8, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS McDannold The Near Sighted Robin Monte Gournay, La Briqueterie

Scheduled to be flown by Avriett’s crew but Avriett and McDannold swapped planes for some reason and Avriett flew 9599 instead and McDannold flew 8851.

Flew position 2-1 in High Squadron.

Carried 12 x 250 lb bombs with 6 to 24 hour delayed fuses. Dropped the bombs on La Briqueterie at 1305 hours from 21,500 ft.

Bombs seen to fall in woods at the end approximately of the target.

There was inaccurate flak off to the left just as the ship turned off the target, about 16 bursts.

No damage to the plane or crew.

McDannold (P)

Nelson (CP)

Kosmatka (N)

Amerman (B)

Gifford (R)

Stanberry (E)

Murphy (NG)

Byers (BG)

Kelly (G)

(I do not have full names, rank & serial numbers. A replacement crew.)

Mission #56 August 10, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Sens

Flew as an airborne spare but flew the mission with the Lead Squadron (18 Sq.) in position 4-4, “Tail End Charlie.”

Carried 24 x 500 lb bombs. Dropped bombs at 1033 hours from 11,700 ft. on a fuel dump North of Sens.

“Our pattern fell past the target in a field just beyond some buildings beyond the target.”

The “B” group (391^st Sq.) had a close pattern. Tank burning with black oil smoke rising up to 4 to 5,000 ft.

No damage to the plane or crew.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Mink (BG)

Hall (TG)

Morrison (NG)

Troup (WG)

Mission #57 August 11, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Tousus Lenobles, Orleans

Flew position 1-3 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 52 x 100 lb bombs. Dropped bombs on the Toussus Airfield at 1205 hours from 23,000 ft. Good pattern on the target.

One ship (with 493BG?) dropped bombs behind the Bomb Line.

No damage to the plane or crew.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Morrison (NG)

Hall (TG)

Troup (W)

Mission #58 August 13, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Various Buzz-bomb sites

Flew in Low Squadron as Lead of the second element of target group 5.

Carried 52 x 100 lb bombs. Dropped bombs at assigned target at 1318 hours from 17,200 ft. Bombs hit fields over and to the right of the target. Practically no damage to the roads. Encountered flak at 1315 hours at Gassicourt, 4 bursts of 5 guns, low and right, heavy, meager.

Plane received minor flak damage. Crew uninjured.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Hall (TG)

Morrison (NG)

Troup (WG)

Mission #59 August 14, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J. C. The Near Sighted Robin Saintes

Flew position 2-1 in High Squadron.

Carried 12 x 500 lb general purpose bombs. About an hour from the target the cylinder head on #3 engine blew out. Lost altitude and so dropped behind the formation.

Picked a target outside the bomb line and dropped bombs at 1018 hours from 13,500 ft. on the main road from Nantes to Parthenay. Four bombs hit in train down the road.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Hall (TG)

Morrison (NG)

Troup (WG)

Mission #62 August 18, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Smith, J.C. The Near Sighted Robin Roye Amy Airfield

Flew position 1-3 in Low Squadron.

Carried 52 x 100 lb bombs. Dropped on the primary target at 0957 hours from 21,500 feet.

The plane suffered slight battle damage, about 50 flak holes in the fuselage and wings, but the crew was uninjured.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Hall (TG)

Morrison (NG)

Troup (WG)

Mission #63 August 24, 1944 41-28851 E/M 7BS Avriett The Near Sighted Robin Keil, Hemmingstadt

Flew position 3-1 in Low Squadron.

Carried 12 M-17 500 lb bombs. Dropped bombs on primary target at Kiel.

At 1135 hours, 41-28851 feathered #4 engine which was smoking. It left the formation turning to the right and dropping 5,000 ft. No chutes were seen. When last seen the plane was heading toward Sweden. The plane landed on a small grassfield called Sövde, around 30 miles east of Bulltofta with the entire crew still on board. The plane and crew were interned in Sweden. Missing Air Crew Report 8461.

Avriett (P)

Soler (CP)

Scherr (N)

DeHaan (B)

Kaiser (R)

Campbell (E)

Longmire (TG)

Friedel (BG)

Holmes (WG)

Jackson (Photographer)

B-24H 41-28851 E/M The Near Sighted Robin With 7BS. The plane left formation with #4 engine feathered and smoking. Last seen head for Sweden. Interned after landing at the airfield at Sovde, Sweden. Pilot 1 LT Giles C. Avriett. Missing Air Crew Report # 8461. 10 crewmembers Interned in Sweden. (See 2nd 34th BG History p.29).

INT AVRIETT GILES C (P) 1 LT 7 O-559006 34

INT SOLER JOHN V (CP) 2 LT 7 O-816609 31

INT SCHEER FREDERICK J (N) 2 LT 7 O-808152 31

INT DeHAAN BENJAMIN F (B) 2 LT 7 O-696223 29

INT KIASER RAWOND J (R) T/SGT 7 36599289 34

INT FRIEDEL JAMES H (BT) S/SGT 7 34120292 33

INT CAMPBELL ROBERT O (E) T/SGT 7 34538625 34

INT LONGMIRE JACK D (TG) S/SGT 7 39036216 32

INT HOLMES LILBURNE E JR (WG) S/SGT 7 38235411 35

INT JACKSON FREDERICK A (F) S/SGT 18 36851941 16

The following account of “The Near Sighted Robin” in Sweden was supplied by Ingemar Melin.

1 LT BARRICK was leading a small group that repaired a number of B-24s and B-17s that had force landed at Sövde airfield during the summer of '44. He was one of the Assistant Engineering Officers of the interned Americans that belonged to the repairing and maintenance group based at Bulltofta during 1944-45. The group consisted of USAAF-pilots, -navigators, -engineers, -radio operators and -gunners, all crewmen from force landed Amarican bombers that came to Sweden.

One of the planes was "The Near Sighted Robin." See below part of a technical report written by Lt. Barrick in November 1944 that contains details from the repairing of “The Near Sighted Robin.”

"...the worst headache of the whole job was B-24 "Near Sighted Robin". This airplane had major damages from flak, and a right waist window had been thrown out, smashing the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer. We estimated a long job, after surveying the battle damage, but we had a bit of bad luck when we tried to taxi it out of a mud hole to a ramp. The nose wheel had been previously damaged due to the Swedes moving the aircraft without a guide bar for the nose wheel, resulting in the nose wheel collapsing and causing major damage to the nose structural members. The aircraft was jacked up, a new nose wheel assembly installed and moved to the ramp.
The sheet metal crew removed all damaged parts, replacing plexi-glass with sheet metal and structural members salvaged from wrecked aircraft at Malmo. Another B-24 with approximately the same damage at Malmo, took one month for eight of ABA's highly trained men to complete. Whereas four men, Brandt, Gooding, McDaniels and Thompson under the direction of Lt. Grosscup completed their job in two weeks time.

On this same aircraft, No.4 engine was changed, including the electrical wiring and junction box. Both vertical stabilizers were removed and repaired. The horizontal stabilizer was replaced. The wiring to the No.1 and No.2 superchargers were shot through in two places resulting in many difficulties for all of us, especially T/Sgt. Marcotte our electrician..."

"..on the 13th of October when the group were finished with their work on the planes they all, except for four men, left for Malmö. Due to supercharger problems on "Near Sighted Robin" we four stayed until the 16th October when the job was finished..."

1 January 1945

A report, from the U.S. Embassy in Sweden listing the planes presently interned in Sweden, shows B-24H 41-28851 in flyable condition at Vasteras. Previous location shown as Sovdeborg.

1 April 1945

A report from the U.S. Embassy in Sweden listing the planes presently interned in Sweden shows B-24H 41-28851 in fair condition, location not specified.

After the European war ended in May 1945, 41-28851 was returned to the United Kingdom and later flown back to the United States.

23 August 1945

B-24H 41-28851 arrives at Stillwater, OK for postwar salvage, just one day short of a year after flying its last combat mission and being interned in Sweden.