42-52707 Open Season

B-24H-15-FO

 

A 34BG Original

 

(Had a picture of a rabbit on the nose, which the crew nick-named “Bugs Bunny.”)

 

MISSION LIST

 

                     May 25, 1944 42-52707 D/P Lewis Open Season (P. Mission)

Mission #4 May 27, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Wright Open Season

Mission #5 May 28, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Johanson Open Season

Mission #7 May 30, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Lewis Open Season (one chart shows 9555 but Armstrong aborted in that plane.)

Mission #8 May 31, 1944 42-52707 D/P 7BS Hollowell Open Season

Mission #11 June 6, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Lewis Open Season

Mission #12 June 6, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Lewis Open Season

Mission #14 June 11, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Lewis Open Season

Mission #15 June 12, 1944 42-52707 D/P 7BS Alexander Open Season (Airborne spare)

Mission #16 June 14, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Lewis Open Season

Mission #17 June 17, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Lewis Open Season

Mission #18 June 20, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Lewis Open Season

Mission #19 June 20, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Timblin Open Season

Mission #20 June 22, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Lewis Open Season

Mission #22 June 24, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Lewis Open Season

Mission #23 June 24, 1944 42-52707 D/P 7BS Alexander Open Season

Mission #24 June 25, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Lewis Open Season

Mission #25 June 25, 1944 42-52707 D/P 18BS Hart Open Season

Mission #27 June 28, 1944 42-52707 D/P Open Season (scheduled for Lewis but replaced)

Mission #28a June 29, 1944 42-52707 D/P Open Season salvaged with non-battle damage, following a Taxiing accident.

 

MISSION DETAILS

42-52707 Open Season Flown to England by Lewis crew arriving at Mendlesham on May 12, 1944. (Next to last crew to arrive.)

Lewis, William                      2Lt          O-750633                Pilot

Klier, Herbert J.                     2Lt          O-819118                Co-Pilot

Gillespie, George F.              2Lt          O-703626                Nav

Mead, LeRoy W.                  2Lt          O-698030                Bomb.

McBlaine, Robert J.             S/Sgt      16143059                Engr.

Stolz, John J.                         S/Sgt      12083418                Radio Op.

Camden, William J, Jr.          Sgt          33634223                Gunner

Pilcher, Gerald R.                  Cpl          17028724                Gunner

Bynum, Edward M.              Sgt          34707101                Gunner

Wooten, John R.                  T/Sgt      15073168                Crew Chief

 

                     May 25, 1944 42-52707 D/P Lewis Open Season (P. Mission)

Took off at 0859 hours.

Landed 1118 hours.

 

Mission #4 May 27, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Wright Open Season

Took off at 0836 hours.

Flew position 1-3 in High Squadron.

Carried 10 500 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1357 hours from 21,900 feet.

Damage reported as slight to none.

Landed 1610 hours.

#1 Prop governor stuck. Inspected and repaired.

Wright (P)

Scales (CP)

Hildebrand (N)

Hudson (R)

Jones, D. (E)

Biksey (BG)

Starks (TG)

Devine (NG)

Baldwin (G)

 

Mission #5 May 28, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Johanson Open Season

Took off at 1025 hours from Hardstand #10.

Flew position 4-1 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 10 500 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1500 hours from 22,000 feet.

Slight damage reported.

Landed 1801 hours.

#2 and #4 generators inoperative. #3 Turbosupercharger will not get over 35". Inspected and repaired.

Johanson (P)

Griffis (CP)

McWay (N)

Lombardo (B)

Trotter (R/LW)

Copeland (E/RW)

Sadowsky (BG)

Andrianola (TG)

Hunter (NG)

Sabbath (TT)

 

                     May 29, 1944 42-52707 D/P Lewis Open Season

Took off at 1512 hours on a Local flight.

Landing time not recorded on this date.

 

Mission #7 May 30, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Lewis Open Season

Took off at 0701 hours from Hardstand #10.

Flew position 1-3 in High Squadron.

Carried 6 1000 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1110 hours from 23,300 feet.

No damage reported.

Landed 1310 hours.

#2 & #3 turbosuperchargers ran away at altitude; check interphone system. Inspected & repaired.

Lewis (P)

Klier (CP)

Gillespie (N)

Stoltz (R)

McBlaine (E)

Camden (NG)

Chaple (BG)

Bynum (TG)

Pilcher (G)

 

Mission #8 May 31, 1944 42-52707 D/P 7BS Hollowell Open Season

Took off at 0758 hours.

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

The mission was Recalled.

Landed 1152 hours.

#2 Generator out; Pilot's air speed indicator inoperative; top turret heater out. Inspected and repaired.

Hollowell (P)

Weddell (CP)

Priddy (N)

Parker (B)

Thomas (R)

Gray (E/LW)

Logan (G)

Stonefield (G)

Kittridge (G)

Davis (G)

 

Mission #11 June 6, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Lewis Open Season

Took off at 0620 hours from Hardstand #10.

Flew position 2-2 in High Squadron.

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

No damage reported.

Landed 1228 hours.

#2 carburetor air temperature out; #2 generator inoperative. Inspected and repaired.

Lewis, W. (P)

Klier, H. (CP)

Mead, L. W. (B)

McBlaine, R. J. (E)

Stoltz, J. J. (R)

Camden, W. (AG)

Pilcher, S. (G)

Bynum, E. (G)

Chaple, R. (AE)

 

Mission #12 June 6, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Lewis Open Season

Took off at 1709 hours.

Flew position 3-3 in High Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Brought all bombs back.

Landed 2400 hours at Rattlesden.

Lewis (P)

Kiley (CP) (or is this still Klier?)

Gillespie (N)

McBlaine (E)

Stoltz (R)

Chappelle (G)

Bynum (G)

Camden (G)

Pilcher (G)

 

Mission #14 June 11, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Lewis Open Season

Took off at 0448 hours.

Flew position 2-3 in Low 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 1034 hours.

Lewis (P)

Klier (CP)

Gillespie (N)

Hartman (B)

Stoltz (R)

McBlaine (E)

Camden (NG)

Bynum (TG)

Chaple (BG)

Pilcher (G)

 

Mission #15 June 12, 1944 42-52707 D/P 7BS Alexander Open Season

Took off at 0534 hours as Airborne spare

Flew the mission, taking position 2-3 in High Squadron when Marks aborted.

Carried 24 250 lb bombs. Dropped 14 bombs at 0915 hours from 21,800 feet. Jettisoned 6 bombs and brought 4 bombs back to base.

No damage reported.

Landed 1211 hours.

Alexander (P)

Carlson (CP)

Crowe (N)

Owens (R)

Howarter (E)

Rutka (G)

Deatherage (G)

Lucyek (G)

Seifert (G)

 

Mission #16 June 14, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Lewis Open Season

Took off at 0412 hours.

Flew position 4-3 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 52 100 lb bombs. Dropped on secondary target at 0759 hours from 18,000 feet.

Slight battle damage reported.

Landed 0930 hours.

Lewis (P)

Klier (CP)

Gillespie (N)

Stoltz (R)

McBlaine (E)

Camden (NG)

Bynum (TG)

Chaple (BG)

Pilcher (G)

 

Mission #17 June 17, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Lewis Open Season

Took off at 1657 hours.

Flew position 4-3 in Low Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 2023 hours from 17,000 feet.

No battle damage reported.

Landed 2314 hours.

Lewis (P)

Klier (CP)

Gillespie (N)

Stoltz (R)

McBlaine (E)

Camden (NG)

Bynum (TG)

Chaple (BG)

Pilcher (G)

 

Mission #18 June 20, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Lewis Open Season

Took off at 0451 hours.

Flew position 2-3 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 0914 hours from 23,300 feet.

Slight damage reported.

Landed 1146 hours.

Lewis (P)

Klier (CP)

Gillespie (N)

Stoltz (R)

McBlaine (E)

Camden (NG)

Bynum (TG)

Chaple (BG)

Lawler (G) (a write-in, no assigned crew)

 

Mission #19 June 20, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Timblin Open Season

Took off at 1804 hours.

Flew position 4-2 in Group C (4th)

Carried 52 100 lb GP bombs. Brought all bombs back to base.

Aborted - mechanical.

No battle damage report.

Landed 2059 hours.

No Crew Loading List available.

 

Mission #20 June 22, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Lewis Open Season

Took off at 1504 hours.

Flew position 4-2 in Low Squadron.

Carried 52 100 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1918 hours from 19,100 feet.

No damage reported.

Landed 2206 hours.

Lewis (P)

Klier (CP)

Gillespie (N)

Jackovich (B)

Stoltz (R)

McBlaine (E)

Chaple (BG)

Bynum (TG)

Camden (NG)

Wolf, R. F. (G) (a write-in)

 

Mission #22 June 24, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Lewis Open Season

Took off at 0449 hours.

Flew in Lead Squadron.

Carried 52 100 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 0817 hours from 19,000 feet.

No damage reported.

Landed 1009 hours.

Lewis (P)

Klier (CP)

Gillespie (N)

Jackovich (B)

Stoltz (R)

McBlaine (E)

Chaple (BG)

Bynum (TG)

Camden (NG)

Wolf (G) (a write-in)

 

Mission #23 June 24, 1944 42-52707 D/P 7BS Alexander Open Season

Took off at 1638 hours.

Flew position 4-2 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 24 250 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary. Fair hits.

No damage reported.

Landed 2105 hours.

Alexander (P)

Carlson (CP)

Gross (N)

McKeon (B)

Owens (R)

Howarter (E)

Rutka (BG)

Deatherage (TG)

Lucyk (NG)

Seifert (G)

 

Mission #24 June 25, 1944 42-52707 D/P 4BS Lewis Open Season

Took off at 0422 hours.

Flew with the 34th BG Squadron, flying with two 493rd BG Squadrons.

Carried 52 100 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 0826 hours from 19,400 feet.

Slight damage reported.

Landed 1048 hours.

Lewis (P)

Baskin (CP) (from Crew #51)

Gillespie (N)

Jackovich (B)

Stoltz (R)

McBlaine (E)

Chaple (BG)

Bynum (TG)

Camden (NG)

Lowler (G) (a write-in)

 

Mission #25 June 25, 1944 42-52707 D/P 18BS Hart Open Season

Took off at 1544 hours.

Flew position 4-2 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 6 1000 lb bombs. Dropped on the Secondary at 2022 hours from 19,500 feet.

Minor damage reported.

Landed 2228 hours.

Hart (P)

Gallagher (CP) (a write-in)

Steiner (N)

Danhaver (B)

Stanbach (R)

Cannock (E)

Rielly (BG)

Mixon (TG)

Hall (NG)

Roe (G)

 

Mission #27 June 28, 1944 42-52707 D/P Open Season (scheduled for Lewis but replaced)

Suffered a taxiing accident at Mendlesham, damage level 5 out of 5. Plane salvaged.

No pilot listed.

 

                       June 29, 1944 42-52707 D/P Open Season salvaged with non-battle damage, following a Taxiing accident the day before.