Posted:
By: Win Bryson
On: 10/24/2003
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Ward,
1. The only direct info I have relating to your Dad is from the 10-7-44 401BG Mission to Politz. Hopefully, this may "lead" to other connections.
2. Politz was "tough" mission - George Menzel's book "Portrait of a Flying Queen" has a chapter about it, and so does a book called "Castles in the Air".
3. According to the Mission Report, there were four "boxes" of formations, one behind the other, that would fly over and bomb the target, one after the other. Flak was listed as heavy and accurate. "A"-box was 457BG planes; "B"-box was 351BG planes; "C"-box was 401BG planes and "D"-box was a composite of planes from all three Groups. The 401BG lost 5-crews that mission - one of which was "deputy lead", just behind and to the right of your Dad's plane - the A.J. Nelson crew.
3. You Dad is listed in the Mission Report as lead-crew pilot of the High Squadron (in "C"-box). Aboard was Maj. De Jonckheere, Hi Sq. C-Flight Leader.
4. The Loading List for the Mission lists your Dad's crew thus: in a/c #42-38600 (IN-Y): pilot, 1st.Lt. E.W. Coleman; Co-pilot, E.T. Jonckheere; Nav., 1st.Lt. H.E. Kron; Bomb., K.K. Stout; Radio, T/Sgt.C.A. Carmon; Top Turret; T/Sgt. T.A. Lindholm; Waist Gun., S/Sgt. W.D. Kidman; Waist Gun., E.W. Anderson, and "V". 2nd.Lt. W.W. Strong. Maybe some of these crew members (or kin) are reachable for more direct info.
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