Boshears crew

 

MISSION LIST

 

CREW #19; 7th Squadron

Mission #1 May 23, 1944 7BS Boshears (Ground spare)

Mission #2 May 24, 1944 42-94818 E/B 7BS Boshears Captain John Silver 

Mission #4 May 27, 1944 41-29598 E/C 7BS Boshears Chesty

Mission #5 May 28, 1944 42-94818 E/B 7BS Boshears Captain John Silver 

Mission #8 May 31, 1944 42-94755 D/D 7BS Boshears Weary Willie

Mission #10 June 6, 1944 42-94908 E/E 7BS Boshears Tiger Rag

Mission #14 June 11, 1944 42-94818 E/B 7BS Boshears Captain John Silver 

Mission #15 June 12, 1944 42-94818 E/B 7BS Boshears Captain John Silver 

Mission #16 June 14, 1944 42-94818 E/B 7BS Boshears Captain John Silver 

Mission #17 June 17, 1944 42-94818 E/B 7BS Boshears Captain John Silver 

Mission #18 June 20, 1944 42-94818 E/B 7BS Boshears Captain John Silver 

Mission #19 June 20, 1944 42-94818 E/B 7BS Boshears Captain John Silver 

Mission #26 June 27, 1944 42-94904 B/P Boshears Belle of the Brawl (ground spare)

Mission #28 June 29, 1944 42-94766 L/F 7BS Boshears Crow's Nest

Mission #30 July 6, 1944 42-94818 E/B 7BS Boshears Captain John Silver 

Mission #32 July 8, 1944 42-94818 E/B Captain John Silver (scheduled for Boshears but replaced)

Mission #32 July 8, 1944 42-52755 D/F 7BS Boshears (Bombs hung up – later jettisoned)

Mission #33 July 9, 1944 42-94818 E/B Boshears Captain John Silver  (Ditched, see below)

 

MISSION AND CREW DETAILS

 

CREW #19; 7th Squadron

BOSHEARS JEROME T (P) (1024) (P) (1024)  2 LT        7              O-751982

BERNARD GEORGE J JR (CP) (1024)               2 LT        7              O-817569

GRONOUSKI JOHN A JR (N) (1034)                2 LT        7              O-703735

SMITH EDWIN S JR (B) (1035)                         2 LT        7              O-697733

HOLDER JOE A (AEG) (748)                              SGT        7              38450093

FLOOD JOHN J (ROG) (757)                              SGT        7              32602045

PONTWOOD NORMAN E (AG) (612)             CPL         7              16017024

BOROWSKI CLAYTON A (BG) (748)              SGT        7              11054832

GEIGER WARREN E (BG) (748)                         SGT        7              32831130

 

                     May 18, 1944 42-94818 Boshears Captain John Silver           

Training flight

Flew last thirty minutes with No. 1 engine feathered. Magneto shielding bared to rain made engine run rough.

 

Mission #1 May23, 1944 7BS Boshears (Ground spare)

Boshears (P)

Bernard (CP)

Grounoski (N)

Smith, E. (B)

Flood (R)

Holder (E)

Borowski (G)

Portwood (G)

VanSolkema (G)

Geiger (G)

 

                     May 24, 1944 Boshears

Crew Status Report 1800 hours.

Crew #19; 7th Squadron

Boshears (P)                         2 Lt         OK

Bernard, G. J. (CP)                2 Lt         OK

Grounoski, J. (N)                  2 Lt         OK

Smith, E. S. (B)                      2 Lt         OK

Flood, J. J. (R)                       Sgt          OK

Holder, J. A. (E)                    Sgt          OK

VanSolkema (G)                    Sgt          OK

Portwood, N. E. (G)              Sgt          OK

Borowski (G)                         Sgt          OK

Geiger, W. E. (G)                   Sgt          OK

 

Mission #2 May 24, 1944 42-94818 E/B 7BS Boshears Captain John Silver 

Took off at 0500 hours from Hardstand #6.

Flew position 2-2 in Lead Squadron.

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

No damage reported.

Landed 1044 hours.

Boshears, J. T. (P)

Bernard, G. J. (CP)

Smith, E. S. (B)

Flood, J. J. (R)

Holder, J. A. (E)

VanSolkema, H. (NG)

Portwood, N. E. (TG)

Borowski, C. A. (BG)

Geiger, W. E. (G)

 

Mission #4 May 27, 1944 42-94815 B/B 7BS Boshears Frivolous Sal

(Stat chart shows 9598 which is on the formation chart with Gardner as pilot.)

Took off at 0847 hours.

Flew position 2-2 in Low Squadron.

Carried 51 100 lb M47-A bombs. Brought all bombs back to base.

Landed 1558 hours.

Boshears (P)

Bernard (CP)

Grounoski (N)

Flood (R)

Holder (E)

Van Solkema (NG)

Portwood (BG)

Borowski (TG)

Geiger (G)

 

Mission #5 May 28, 1944 42-94818 E/B 7BS Boshears Captain John Silver 

Took off at 1044 hours from Hardstand #6.

Flew position 4-2 in Low Squadron.

Carried 10 500 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1502 hours from 21,000 feet.

Slight damage reported. 2 holes, cable, aileron.

Landed 1754 hours.

Boshears (P)

Bernard (CP)

Grounoski (N)

Holder (R)

Flood (E)

Van Solkema (BG)

Portwood (G)

Borowski (TG)

Geiger (G)

Dubuque (LW) (from crew #50, 18th Squadron)

 

Mission #8 May 31, 1944 42-94755 D/D 7BS Boshears Weary Willie

Took off at 0757 hours.

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

The mission was Recalled.

Landed 1214 hours.

Boshears (P)

Bernard (CP)

Grounoski (N)

Smith (B)

Holder (E)

Flood (R)

Van Solkema (BG)

Portwood (G)

Borowski (TG)

Geiger (G)

 

Mission #10 June 6, 1944 42-94908 E/E 7BS Boshears Tiger Rag

Took off at 0231 hours.

Flew position 2-2 in 2nd Squadron.

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

No damage reported.

Landed 1042 hours.

Tachometer out. Inspected and repaired.

Boshears, J. T. (P)

Bernard, C. J. (CP)

Smith, E. S. (B)

Holder, J. A. (E)

Flood, J. J. (R)

Geiger, W. E. (G)

Van Solkema, H. (G)

Borowski, C. A. (G)

Portwood, N. E. (G)

 

Mission #14 June 11, 1944 42-94818 E/B 7BS Boshears Captain John Silver 

Took off at 0445 hours.

Flew position 2-2 in High Squadron.

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

No battle damage reported.

Landed 1038 hours.

Boshears (P)

Bernard (CP)

Smith (B)

Flood (R)

Holder (E)

Borowski (G)

Portwood (G)

VanSolkema (G)

Geiger (G)

 

Mission #15 June 12, 1944 42-94818 E/B 7BS Boshears Captain John Silver 

Took off at 0508 hours.

Was to fly position 2-2 in High Squadron, but took over 2-1 position when J C Smith had to abort.

Carried 6 250 lb delayed action bombs, 2 – 12 hr., 1 – 24 hr., 1 – 36 hr. and 2 – 72 hr. delay. Dropped on Primary at 0913 hours from 22,000 feet.

No battle damage reported.

Landed 1108 hours.

Boshears (P)

Bernard (CP)

Smith (B)

Flood (R)

Holder (E)

Borowski (G)

Portwood (G)

VanSolkema (G)

Geiger (G)

 

Mission #16 June 14, 1944 42-94818 E/B 7BS Boshears Captain John Silver 

Took off at 0326 hours.

Flew position 2-2 in High Squadron.

Carried 52 100 lb bombs. Dropped on TO at 0809 hours from 19,500 feet.

No battle damage reported.

Landed 0944 hours.

Boshears (P)

Bernard (CP)

Gronouski (N)

Flood (R)

Holder (E)

Borowski (G)

Portwood (G)

VanSolkema (G)

Geiger (G)

 

Mission #17 June 17, 1944 42-94818 E/B 7BS Boshears Captain John Silver 

Took off at 1643 hours.

Flew position 2-2 in High Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 2022 hours from 18,900 feet

No battle damage reported.

Landed 2255 hours.

Boshears (P)

Bernard (CP)

Gronouski (N)

Flood (R)

Holder (E)

Borowski (G)

Portwood (G)

VanSolkema (G)

Geiger (G)

 

Mission #18 June 20, 1944 42-94818 E/B 7BS Boshears Captain John Silver 

Took off at 0504 hours.

Flew position 2-2 in Low Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Dropped on Primary at 0915 hours from 22,500 feet.

No battle damage reported.

Landed 1145 hours.

Boshears (P)

Bernard (CP)

Gronouski (N)

Flood (R)

Holder (E)

Borowski (G)

Portwood (G)

VanSolkema (G)

Geiger (G)

 

Mission #19 June 20, 1944 42-94818 E/B 7BS Boshears Captain John Silver 

Took off at 1743 hours.

Flew position 2-2 in Group A (7th)

Carried 52 100 lb bombs. Dropped on Primary at 2053 hours from 23,200 feet.

No battle damage reported.

Landed 2215 hours.

No crew loading list is available for this mission, but it was most likely the same as for the morning mission.

 

Mission #26 June 27, 1944 42-94904 B/P Boshears Belle of the Brawl (ground spare)

 

Mission #28 June 29, 1944 42-94766 L/F 7BS Boshears Crow's Nest

Took off at 0518 hours.

Flew position 2-2 in High Squadron.

Carried 10 500 lb bombs. Dropped on Primary at 0938/20 hours from 23,825 feet.

No battle damage reported.

Landed 1217 hours.

Liason receiver inoperative. Inspected and repaired.

Boshears (P)

Harmon (CP)

Gronouski (N)

Smith, E. (B)

Flood (R)

Holder (E)

Borowski (G)

Portwood (G)

VanSolkema (G)

Geiger (G)

 

                      July 2, 1944 L-4 ….630 Boshears

Took off at 1549 for a local flight in the group’s L-4 serial ending 630.

Landed 1608 hours.

 

Mission #30 July 6, 1944 42-94818 E/B 7BS Boshears Captain John Silver 

Took off at 0600 hours.

Flew position 2-2 in High Squadron.

Carried 20 250 lb bombs. Dropped on Primary at 0911/30 hours from 25,000 feet.

Slight battle damage reported.

Landed 1026 hours.

Boshears (P)

Winsor (CP) (a Write-in)

Gronouski (N)

Smith, E. (B)

Flood (R)

Holder (E)

Borowski (G)

Portwood (G)

VanSolkema (G)

Geiger (G)

 

Mission #32 July 8, 1944 42-94818 E/B Captain John Silver (scheduled for Boshears but replaced)

Mission #32 July 8, 1944 42-52755 D/F 7BS Boshears

Took off at 0422 hours

Flew position 2-2 in Lead Squadron, but like moved up to position 2-1 when Smith Aborted.

Carried 20 250 lb bombs.

Bombs hung up on the racks and were jettisoned later 10 at 5038N-0100E at 0822 hours from 20,000 feet and 10 at 5228N-1223E at 0921 hours from 5,000 feet.

Landed 0951 hours.

Boshears (P)

Bernard (CP)

Gronouski (N)

Smith, E. (B)

Flood (R)

Holder (E)

Borowski (G)

Portwood (G)

VanSolkema (G)

Geiger (G)

 

Mission #33 July 9, 1944 42-94818 E/B Boshears Captain John Silver 

Took off at 1012 hours.

Flew position 2-2 in Lead Squadron, C Group.

Bomb load is not recorded but failed to drop due to weather.

Failed to return. Ditched in the channel during return.

Boshears (P)

Bernard (CP)

Gronouski (N)

Smith, E. (B)

Flood (R)

Holder (E)

Borowski (G)

Portwood (G)

VanSolkema (G)

Geiger (G)

 

B-24H 42-94818 E/B Captain John Silver Missing in Action mechanical failure. Ditched in the English Channel. With 7BS. Pilot: Boshears.

Missing Air Crew Report # 7802. 7 Killed in Action, 3 Returned to Duty.

KIA BOSHEARS JEROME T (P)                       1 LT            7          O-752651        MEDFORD OR

KIA BERNARD GEORGE J (CP)                        2 LT            7          O-817569        FREEPORT ME

RTD GRONOUSKI JOHN A (N)                        2 LT            7          O-703735

RTD SMITH EDWIN S JR (B)                           2 LT            7          O-697733

KIA HOLDER JOE A (TT)                                  T/SGT        7          38450093        ARKADELPHIA AR

RTD FLOOD JOHN J (R)                                    T/SGT        7          32602045

KIA BOROWSKI CLAYTON A (BT)               S/SGT         7          11054832        DUDLEY MA

KIA GEIGER WARREN E (WG)                        S/SGT         7          32831220        ERIE NY

KIA PORTWOOD NORMAN E (TG)               S/SGT         7          16017024        McCOOK NE

KIA VAN SOLKEMA HOWARD (NG)           S/SGT         7                                  BYRON CENTER MI

 

BERNARD GEORGE J is listed on the Wall of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery.

BOROWSKI CLAYTON A is listed on the Wall of the Missing at Ardennes American Cemetery.

BOSHEARS JEROME T is listed on the Wall of the Missing at Ardennes American Cemetery.

GEIGER WARREN E is listed on the Wall of the Missing at Normandy American Cemetery.

HOLDER JOE A is listed on the Wall of the Missing at Ardennes American Cemetery.

PORTWOOD NORMAN E is listed on the Wall of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery.