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. |