Status: A ferry crew, reportedly going straight to Leuchars when they arrived in the UK, to fly with Balchen's 'Ball Project' during August and September of 1944. Each crew member flew a minimum of seven combat missions there, delivering supplies to the Norwegian Resistance, before the end of September 1944. The crew were then transferred to Harrington, and were again transferred (to the MTO) in December of 1944. Johnston stayed at Harrington and was MIA when the Blume crew went down in February of 1945.
Names transcribed from Special Orders #178, dtd 14Oct44, Station 179.
Os:
Robert E. Brandenburg - Pilot
ASN 0701878
Donald G. Chancey - Copilot
ASN T-62915
Donald P. Jones - Bombardier
ASN 0717064
John V. Deaver - Navigator
ASN 0718496
EMs:
Leonard Handler - Engineer
ASN
12120513
James A. Higgins - R.O./WG
ASN
38203417
Marvin E. Andrews - Gunner
ASN 37528695
William F. Hopper - Gunner
ASN
16043853
Howard S. Johnston - R.O./WG
ASN
33030032 (FOD)
Hugh H.
Webster - Engineer
ASN
32846552 (Orphaned)
ASNs so-colored for EMs link to their NARA Enlistment Records.
Additional Crew Data Sources:
Brandenburg Crew personnel files
Brandenburg
Crew mission reports (Leuchars only)
Ball Project MR Index
Group-Related Downloads:
801st/492nd Personnel Mission
Report Index
(Jan-Sep44)
AAFRH-21 "AAF Aid to European
Resistance"
"Carpetbaggers" by Parnell
"They Flew by
Night" editor Robert Fish
Serial Number Index of B24s
Station 179 Operations Log
(handwritten Apr44-Jul45)
Station
179 Operations Log (transcribed
Sep44-Jul45)
Available on Request:
"Spies,Supplies & Moonlit
Skies Vols 1&2" by Ensminger
(On disk $12ea - $10ea via Paypal)