George's Crew


LT Paul George's crew at Davis-Monthan AAB in 1944 prior to deploying to Sudbury. Standing (L to R): Sam Lum (N), Paul George (P), William Long (CP), Jack White (B). Center (L to R): Clark Clifford (TG), Willard Adams (RO), John G. Gazda (NG), James Laws (FE), Ralph J. Lynch, Jr., (BG), Thompson E. Anderson (Top). The ground crew sits in front, but only the crew chief, Ralph Riley (second from left) is identified. (reprinted from the O&W N/L Winter 93)

Swingtime in the Rockies was severely damaged by flak over the target on the June 25th mission to Bourges, FR. The crew flew in "borrowed" aircraft until their aircraft could be repaired. On July 1st the crew was flying #758 on an ill-fated mission to bomb a NO-BALL target near Montlouis-Ferme in France. As LT Paul George flew on to the rally point the aircraft was hit by flak. The resulting damage caused the aircraft to fall from formation. The others had thought the #758 to crash without survivors; however, LT George was able to get control of his aircraft, and the crew (except George) bailed out over Belgium. LT George held the plane steady while his crew jumped. When his turn came he lacked sufficient altitude to jump safely. He managed to belly land the aircraft, then torched it as he left the aircraft. Six of the crewmen managed to elude capture in thanks to the Belgian and French undergrounds. Six of the crewman would be repatriated by late September, the others would be made POW for the duration of the war.

According to the rules of war the individuals repatriated could not return to combat status in the ETO. If shot down a second time they could be executed as spies. Consequently, they were transferred to the Zone Of the Interior (ZOI), also known as the US.

The original co-pilot of this crew did not, apparently, make this mission. He was replaced by Al Kite. It is also known that Al Kite finished his tour as a member of the "Ding Dong Daddie from Dixie" crew of the 834th. LT Lum didn't fly with LT George on the day they were shot down. He was transferred to the Adler crew and was shot down with that crew and spent time in German POW camps. (MACR 6771)


CREW INFO
Name Rank Position First Mission Last Mission Status
Paul E. George 2nd LT Pilot 05/07/44 07/01/44 Transferred to the US
William H. Long 2nd LT Co-pilot 05/07/44 //44  
Sam M. Y. Lum 2nd LT Navigator 05/07/44 08/04/44 POW with the Adler crew
Jack A. White 2nd LT Bombardier 05/07/44 07/01/44 Transferred to the US
James W. Laws S/SGT Right Waist 05/07/44 07/01/44 Transferred to the US
Willard J. Adams S/SGT Radio 05/07/44 07/01/44 Transferred to the US
John Gazda S/SGT Nose 05/07/44 07/01/44 POW
Thompson E. Anderson S/SGT Top 05/07/44 07/01/44 POW
Clifford A. Clark SGT Tail 05/07/44 07/01/44 POW
Ralph Lynch S/SSGT Ball 05/07/44 07/01/44 Transferred to the US
Ralph J. Riley ? Crew chief      
 
MISSION INFO
Mission Date Name ID S/N Type
001 05/07/44 Swing Time in the Rockies NJ 42-52607 B24H
002 05/08/44 Bad Boy NC 41-29472 B24H
004 05/11/44   NJ 42-52607 B24H
005 05/20/44 Swing Time in the Rockies NJ 42-52607 B24H
006 05/23/44 Swing Time in the Rockies NJ 42-52607 B24H
008 (abort) 05/25/44 Swingtime in the Rockies NJ 4x-xx607 B24H
009 05/27/44 Swing Time in the Rockies NJ 42-52607 B24H
011 05/29/44 Swing Time in the Rockies NJ 42-52607 B24H
012 05/30/44 Royal Flush TL 4x-xx740 B24H
015 06/06/44 Swing Time in the Rockies NJ 42-52607 B24H
018 06/07/44 Swing Time in the Rockies NJ 42-52607 B24H
020 06/11/44   NJ 42-52607 B24H
022 06/14/44   NJ 42-52607 B24H
023 06/15/44 Swing Time in the Rockies NJ 42-52607 B24H
028 06/22/44 Swing Time in the Rockies NJ 42-52607 B24H
029 06/24/44 Swing Time in the Rockies NJ 42-52607 B24H
030 06/25/44 Swing Time in the Rockies NJ 42-52607 B24H
031 06/25/44 Gunga Din ND 41-29505 B24H
032 06/27/44 Baby Shoe PR 4x-xx991 B24H
035 06/30/44 Semi-Eager PL 42-52695 B24H
036 07/01/44   PN 42-52758 B24H

 
Created 04/11/99 Modified 12/23/16

Copyright © 1998-2024, 486th Bomb Group Association.