Blackburn crew
CREW #49; 18th Squadron
Mission #1 May 23, 1944 42-94768 B/N 18BS Blackburn
Mission #2 May 24, 1944 42-94766 L/F 18BS Blackburn Crow's Nest
Mission #3 May 25, 1944 41-28840 B/R 18BS Blackburn Smoky
Mission #6 May 29, 1944 42-94768 B/N 18BS Blackburn
Mission #7 May 30, 1944 42-94768 B/N 18BS Blackburn
Mission #9 June 4, 1944 42-94768 B/N 18BS Blackburn
Mission #15 June 12, 1944 44-40482 B/M 18BS Blackburn unknown name
Mission #16 June 14, 1944 42-52755 D/F 18BS Blackburn
Mission #17 June 17, 1944 42-52752 L/E 18BS Blackburn unknown name
Mission #19 June 20, 1944 44-40320 B/N 18BS Blackburn Generator Jennie
Mission #20 June 22, 1944 44-40482 B/M 18BS Blackburn unknown name (deputy lead)
Mission #22 June 24, 1944 44-40267 B/A 18BS Blackburn
June 25, 1944 44-40267 B/A Blackburn Weather Ship,
Mission #47 July 31, 1944 41-29486 B/Z 18BS Blackburn Old 486
Mission #51 August 4, 1944 44-40482 B/B The Dugan Wagon (#2) (scheduled for Blackburn but replaced)
Mission #51 August 4, 1944 44-40461 D/B 18BS Blackburn
Mission #61 August 16, 1944 41-29598 B/U 18BS Blackburn Chesty
Mission #62 August 18, 1944 41-29486 B/Z GH Blackburn Old 486 Major damage
CREW #71; 18th Squadron (as of the transition to B-17s)
Mission #67 September 25, 1944 …….633 C/M 391BS Blackburn
Mission #69 September 27, 1944 44-8185 H/P 391BS Blackburn Lost – MIA
CREW #49; 18th Squadron
BLACKBURN JAMES R (P) (1024) 1 LT 18 O-433454
LITTLE JOHN W (CP) (1024) 2 LT 18 O-700406
MOLLENBERG ERNEST F (N) (1034) 2 LT 18 O-703104
CONKLIN CHARLES D JR (B) (1035) F/O 18 T-123125
BUSHEY HAROLD V JR (AEG) (748) S/SGT 18 36418601
YOUNKER GERALD L (ROG) (757) S/SGT 18 13083616
ESHMAN PAUL O (AG) (612) S/SGT 18 16024723
STARK JOHN A (BG) (611) CPL 18 39277397
DOLLEY HERBERT I (BG) (748) SGT 18 31319732
Mission #1 May 23, 1944 42-94768 B/N 18BS Blackburn
Took off at 0547 hours from Hardstand #17.
Flew position 4-1 in Low Squadron.
Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 0858 hours from 14,000 feet.
"Direct hit on East building."
No damage reported.
Landed 1142 hours.
#1 and #4 generators inoperative. Inspected and repaired.
Blackburn (P)
Little (CP)
Mollenberg (N)
Conklin (B)
Younker (R)
Bushey (E)
Eshman (NG)
Stark (TG)
Dolley (BG)
Clements (G)
Mission #2 May 24, 1944 42-94768 B/N 18BS Blackburn
Took of at 0512 hours.
Flew position 3-2 in High Squadron.
Carried 12 500 lb GP bombs. Brought all bombs back to base.
Landed 1045 hours.
#3 prop governor out; #2 generator out. Inspected and being repaired.
Blackburn, J. R. (P)
Little, J. W. (CP)
Conklin, C. D. (B)
Younker, G. L. (R)
Bushey, H. V. (E)
Eshman, P. O. (NG)
Stark, J. A. (TG)
Dolley, H. L. (BG)
Clements, E. P. (G)
May 24, 1944 Blackburn
Crew Status Report 1000 hours.
Crew #49, 18th Squadron
Blackburn (P) 1 Lt OK
Little (CP) 2 Lt OK
Mollenberg (N) 2 Lt OK
Conklin (B) F/O OK
Younker (R) S/Sgt OK
Bushey (E) S/Sgt OK
Eshman (NG) Sgt OK
Stark (TG) Sgt OK
Dolley (BG) Sgt OK
Clements (G) Sgt OK
Mission #3 May 25, 1944 41-28840 B/R 18BS Blackburn
Took off at 0453 hours.
Flew position 1-3 in Lead Squadron.
Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Dropped on the Secondary target at 0918 hours from 18,200 feet.
No damage reported.
Landed 1056 hours.
Blackburn, J. R. (P)
Little, J. W. (CP)
Conklin, C. D. (B)
Younker, G. L. (R)
Bushey, H. V. (E)
Eshman, P. O. (NG)
Stark, J. A. (TG)
Dolley, H. L. (BG)
Clements, E. P. (G)
Mission #6 May 29, 1944 42-94768 B/N 18BS Blackburn
Took off at 0750 hours from Hardstand #17.
Flew position 2-2 in Low Squadron.
Carried 10 500 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1235 hours from 21,000 feet.
No damage reported.
Landed 1639 hours.
#4 generator inoperative. Inspected and repaired.
Blackburn, J. R. (P)
Little, J. W. (CP)
Dorseth (N) (from crew #51)
Younker, G. L. (R)
Bushey, H. V. (E)
Eshman, P. O. (NG)
Stark, J. A. (TG)
Dolley, H. L. (BG)
Clements, E. P. (G)
Mission #7 May 30, 1944 42-94768 B/N 18BS Blackburn
Took off at 0655 hours from Hardstand #17.
Flew position 3-1 in Lead Squadron.
Carried a K-24 camera.
Carried 6 1000 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1105 hours from 22,100 feet.
Slight damage reported.
Landed 1249 hours.
#3 & #4 voltage regulators inoperative. Inspected & repaired.
Flak damage: Slight. Nose turret; leading edge between #3 & #4 engines.
Blackburn (P)
Little (CP)
Conklin (B)
Younker (R)
Bushey (E)
Eshman (NG)
Stark (TG)
Dolley (BG)
Clements (G)
Mission #9 June 4, 1944 42-94768 B/N 18BS Blackburn
Took off at 1606 hours from Hardstand #17.
Flew position 3-3 in the one 34th BG Squadron on this mission.
Carried 12 500 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 2016 hours from 22,850 feet.
No damage reported.
Landed 2224 hours.
#2 Generator out. Inspected and repaired
Blackburn (P)
Little (CP)
Conklin (B)
Younker (R)
Bushey (E)
Dolley (BG)
Stark (TG)
Eshman (NG)
Clements (G)
Mission #15 June 12, 1944 44-40482 B/M 18BS Blackburn unknown name
Took off at 0522 hours.
Flew position 1-3 in Low Squadron.
Carried 52 100 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 0907 hours from 21,500 feet.
No damage reported.
Landed 1126 hours.
Blackburn (P)
Little (CP)
Zemelman (N)
Younker (R)
Bushey (E)
Dolley (BG)
Stark (TG)
Eshman (NG)
Clements (G)
Mission #16 June 14, 1944 42-52755 D/F 18BS Blackburn
Took off at 0346 hours.
Flew position 2-2 in Low Squadron.
Carried 52 100 lb bombs. Brought all bombs back to base.
Slight battle damage reported.
Landed 0922 hours.
Blackburn (P)
Little (CP)
Conklin (B)
Younker (R)
Bushey (E)
Dolley (BG)
Stark (TG)
Eshman (NG)
Clements (G)
Mission #17 June 17, 1944 42-52752 L/E 18BS Blackburn unknown name
Took off at 1638 hours.
Flew position 4-2 in Lead Squadron.
Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 2022 hours from 17,500 feet.
Slight battle damage reported.
Landed 2251 hours.
Blackburn (P)
Little (CP)
Zemmelman (N)
Younker (R)
Bushey (E)
Dolley (BG)
Stark (TG)
Eshman (NG)
Clements (G)
June 20, 1944 44-40421 B/F Blackburn
Took off at 0925 hours for the Holbrook Range.
Landed 1036 hours.
Mission #19 June 20, 1944 44-40320 B/N 18BS Blackburn Generator Jennie
Took off at 1755 hours.
Flew position 3-2 in Group B (18th)
Carried 52 100 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 2058 hours from 23,000 feet.
No battle damage reported.
Landed 2149 hours.
No Crew Loading List available.
Mission #20 June 22, 1944 44-40482 B/M 18BS Blackburn unknown name (deputy lead)
Took off at 1426 hours from Hardstand #13.
Flew Deputy Lead, position 1-2 in High Squadron.
Carried 52 100 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1920 hours from 20,500 feet.
Minor damage reported.
Landed 2200 hours.
Blackburn (P) (a write-in, taking over Crew #43)
Lain (CP)
Orr (N)
Zick (N2) (a write-in)
Mollenburg ( ) (a Write-in third Navigator?)
Rankin (B) (a write-in)
Oyster (R)
Hubler (E)
Puska (BG)
Snyder (TG)
Denter (NG)
Wolf (G)
June 23, 1944 42-50585 L/G Blackburn Small Change II
Took off at 1540 hours on a test hop.
Landed 1629 hours.
Mission #22 June 24, 1944 44-40267 B/A 18BS Blackburn
Took off at 0430 hours.
Flew in High Squadron.
Carried 52 100 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 0817 hours from 22,000 feet.
No damage reported.
Landed 1016 hours.
Blackburn (P) (a write-in, taking over Crew #43)
Lian (CP)
Orr (N)
Mollenberg (N2)
Rankin (B) (a write-in)
Oyster (R)
Hubler (E)
Puska (BG)
Snyder (TG)
Denter (NG)
Wolf (G)
Mission #24 June 25, 1944 (no plane) Blackburn (Ground Spare)
Blackburn (P) (a write-in, taking over Crew #43)
Lian (CP)
Orr (N)
Mollenberg (N2)
Puska (BG)
Snyder (TG)
Denter (NG)
Wolf (G)
June 25, 1944 44-40267 B/A Blackburn Weather Ship,
Took off at 1459 hours.
Landed 1739 hours.
Blackburn, James R. (P) Capt O-433454
Lian, Elmer T. (CP) 1 Lt O-386909
Orr, Curtis E. (N) 1 Lt O-703295
Mollenberg, Ernest F. (N2) 2 Lt O-703104
Pearce, Robert C. (B) 1 Lt O-684190
Oyster, John H. (R) T/Sgt 33452904
Huebler, Robert G. (E) T/Sgt 32720094
Snyder, Albert W. (G) S/Sgt 13133963
Denter, John J. (G) S/Sgt 32856371
Wolf, John E. (G) S/Sgt 13075161
Mission #47 July 31, 1944 41-29486 B/Z 18BS Blackburn Old 486
Took off at 0905 hours.
Flew Lead of High Squadron.
Carried 6 500 lb bombs and 2 Smoke bombs. Dropped on Primary at 1310 hours from 23,600 feet.
No battle damage reported.
Landed 1557 hours.
Blackburn (P)
Young (Command Pilot) Capt
Lian (CP)
Orr (N)
Mollenberg (N)
Pearce (B)
Oyster (R)
Huebler (E)
Snyder (G)
Denter (G)
Wolf (G)
August 2, 1944 42-94873 B/O Blackburn
Took off at 1707 hours on a local flight.
Landed 1728 hours.
Mission #51 August 4, 1944 44-40461 D/B 18BS Blackburn
Mission #51 August 4, 1944 44-40482 B/B The Dugan Wagon (#2) (scheduled for Blackburn but replaced)
Blackburn (P)
Lian (CP)
Orr (N)
Pearce (B)
Mollenberg (N)
Huebler (E)
Oyster (R)
Genter (NG) (probably should be Denter)
Wolf (G)
Snyder (TG)
Mission #61 August 16, 1944 41-29598 B/U 18BS Blackburn Chesty
Blackburn (P)
Lian (CP)
Orr (N)
Mollenberg (N)
Pearce (B)
Oyster (R)
Huebler (E)
Snyder (TG)
Denter (NG)
Wolf (G)
Mission #62 August 18, 1944 41-29486 B/Z GH Blackburn Old 486
Took off at 0606 hours.
Flew Lead of Low Squadron.
Carried 6 500 lb GP bombs. No drop report as they landed away from base.
Major damage
Landed at Dunsfold.
Blackburn (P)
Lian (CP)
Orr (N)
Mollenberg (N)
Pearce (B)
Oyster (R)
Huebler (E)
Snyder (TG)
Denter (NG)
Wolf (G)
CREW #71; 18th Squadron (as of the transition to B-17s)
Blackburn (P)
Lian (CP)
Orr (N)
Pearce (B)
Oyster (R)
Huebler (E)
Denter (NG)
Snyder (TG)
Wolf (G)
Mission #67 September 25, 1944 …….633 C/M 391BS Blackburn
Mission #69 September 27, 1944 44-8185 H/P 391BS Blackburn Lost – MIA
B-17G 44-8185 H/P Mean Kid Missing in Action Ludwigshaven by flak. #2 engine and trailing edge of the left wing on fire. Stayed in formation 2-3 minutes while up to 3 crewmembers bailed out. Made 90 degree turn and jettisoned bombs while at least one more crewman bailed out. Made another 90 degree turn going into a steep dive, apparently trying to put out the fire. Last seen apparently under control, holding altitude with #2 engine feathered but still on fire. Crashed Stromburg, Germany. Pilot: Capt. Blackburn. Missing Air Crew Report # 9367. 11 Prisoner of War.
POW BLACKBUN JAMES R (P) CAPT 4 O-433454 15
POW LIAN ELMER T (CP) 1 LT 4 O-386909 14
KIA ORR CURTIS E (N) 1 LT 4 O-703295 HOUSTON TX 12
POW PEARCE ROBERT C (B) 1 LT 4 O-684190
POW HUEBLER ROBERT O (TT) T/SGT 4 32720094 12
POW OYSTER JOHN B (R) T/SGT 4 33452904 12
POW WOLF JOHN E (WG) S/SGT 4 13075161 13
POW STELLMACH ROBERT E (N) 1 LT 391 O-704085
POW BURTON HOWARD C (Com P) MAJ HQ O-364882 13
POW DAVIS WALTER (Mickey Op) 2 LT 94BG O-677189 1
POW DENTER JOHN J (NG) S/SGT 4 32856371 11
NOTE: Orr is also listed in one source as POW.