Clinard's Crew

First row left to right: James Farris (N), Ralph Clinard (P), Ivor Nichols (B), Robert Samuels (CP). Back Row left to right: Richard Kimmeth (TG), Gerald Ryan (RO), James Castleman (BG), Lloyd Wilkinson (WG), and Fred Martin (NG). Not identified in the photo is Robert Mitchell (FE). (photo courtesy of John Farris, son of James).

LT Clinard flew his first mission on June 14th with the Coats crew.  LT Nicholls alternated between pin-point navigator, dead reckoning navigator and bombardier.  LT Farris completed his tour with the Hendricks crew ahead of the Clinard crew.

Gerald Ryan preceded his crew to the US following the completion of their of duty, and spent Thanksgiving Day 1944 crossing the Atlantic in a former Italian liner (SATURNIA/USS FRANCIS Y. SLANGER?).  After completing leave, Gerald reported to school in Reno, NV, to learn celestial navigation between January and February 1945.  He was transfered to Karachi, India, arriving on March 17th. He was promptly put into a radio operator school in Buddhagaya, India.  Following VE Day, Gerald was transferred back to Karachi and served as the radio operator/navigator on trips from Khartoum, Sudan and Egypt, to Kummins, China.  He was discharged from active duty on December 14, 1945.
CREW INFO
Name Rank Position First Mission Last Mission Status
Ralph L. Clinard 2nd LT Pilot 06/14/44 11/04/44 Completed tour.
Robert M. Samuels 2nd LT Copilot 06/20/44 11/04/44 Completed tour.
James R. Farris LT DR Navigator 06/20/44 10/15/44 Completed tour.
Ivor D. Nicholls 2nd LT Navigator 06/20/44 11/04/44 Completed tour.
Fred A. Martin SGT NG/Armorer 06/20/44 10/15/44 Completed tour.
Robert S. Mitchell SGT Flight Engineer 06/24/44 11/04/44 Completed tour.
Gerald N. Ryan SSGT Radio Operator 06/20/44 10/14/44 Completed tour.
Lloyd L. Wilkinson SGT Waist 06/14/44 10/15/44 Completed tour.
James L. Castleman SGT Ball 06/20/44 11/04/44 Completed tour.
Richard Kimmeth SGT Tail 06/20/44 09/17/44 Unknown
 
MISSION INFO
MISSION DATE NAME ID S/N TYPE
026 06/20/44   TR 44-40300 B24H
027 06/21/44 Gremlin's Roost TS 41-29601 B24H
029 06/24/44 Pandora's Box TN 42-52714 B24H
030 06/25/44 Lady Lightnin' TO 42-52760 B24H
032 06/27/44   TD 42-52712 B24H
033 06/28/44 Black Panther TG 42-52664 B24H
036 07/01/44   TR 44-40300 B24H
037 07/02/44 Old 486 DA 41-29486 B24H
041 07/08/44 Aquaria TK 42-52545 B24H
043 07/12/44   PA 42-52639 B24H
046 07/18/44 Old 486 DA 41-29486 B24H
049 07/21/44   PA 42-52639 B24H
050 08/01/44   TN 43-38145 B17G
056 08/07/44   NC 43-37966 B17G
059 08/11/44 Pursuit of Happiness TH 43-37931 B17G
063 08/16/44 Lady V PK 43-37856 B17G
065 08/24/44 Pursuit of Happiness TH 43-37931 B17G
066 08/25/44 Pursuit of Happiness TH 43-37931 B17G
068 08/27/44 Pursuit of Happiness TH 43-37931 B17G
070 09/01/44 Pursuit of Happiness TH 43-37931 B17G
072 09/05/44 Pursuit of Happiness TH 43-37931 B17G
073 09/09/44 Pursuit of Happiness TH 43-37931 B17G
074 (aborted) 09/10/44 The Last Roundup TG 43-37927 B17G
075 09/11/44   TC 43-37910 B17G
077 09/13/44 Pursuit of Happiness TH 43-37931 B17G
078 09/17/44 Pursuit of Happiness TH 43-37931 B17G
079 09/19/44 Pursuit of Happiness TH 43-37931 B17G
080 09/21/44 Pursuit of Happiness TH 43-37931 B17G
083 09/27/44 The Prowler TK 43-37937 B17G
090 10/09/44 Pursuit of Happiness TH 43-37931 B17G
091 10/14/44 Pursuit of Happiness TH 43-37931 B17G
092 10/15/44 Pursuit of Happiness TH 43-37931 B17G
093 10/17/44   TE 43-37939 B17G
095 10/19/44 Pursuit of Happiness TH 43-37931 B17G
096 10/22/44   TP 43-37992 B17G
099 10/30/44 Pursuit of Happiness TH 43-37931 B17G
100 11/02/44 Pursuit of Happiness TH 43-37931 B17G
101 11/04/44   TC 43-37910 B17G

Completed 35 Missions
 
Created 09/10/99 Modified 12/23/16

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