859th BS
Howard Davis Crew

Standing, L-R: 
Eugene F.  Marifko    - Engineer      ASN 36814226
Donald J.  Cottrell   - Gunner        ASN 36597023
Albert L.  Sharps     - Gunner        ASN 31109356
William K. Hatch      - Gunner        ASN 34765472
William C. Long       - R.O.          ASN 16136427
Victor H.  Brooks     - Gunner        ASN 17123736

Not in Picture:
Thomas L.  Wroe       - Dispatcher    ASN 35100752

Picture and IDs from Roy Tebbutts collection, not dated. The picture is more than likely a stateside picture from one of the mid-continent stops prior to going overseas. The crew flew out of Leuchars, Scotland before coming to Harrington, and most members flew six missions each for Bernt Balchen's 'Ball Project' during the months of August and September 1944. The Copilot, James Black, flew only three missions at Leuchars and did not report in to Harrington with the rest of the crew. When General Spaatz ordered the cessation of the Ball Project, the crew was in limbo for a couple of weeks, but arrived at Harrington from the 2nd BD in mid-October of 1944 sans a Copilot. The Brandenburg, Bledsoe and Shager crews who had also served at Leuchars, all arrived on the same set of orders, and all as replacement crews for the many men who had completed tours during the busy summer period.

Additional crew data sources:
Howard Davis Crew Personnel Files
Ball Project Mission Reports
Ball Project Historical Report
Scandinavian Carpetbagger

Group-Related Downloads:
"Carpetbaggers" by Parnell
"They Flew by Night" editor Robert Fish
Serial Number Index of B24s


Available on Request:
"Spies,Supplies & Moonlit Skies Vols 1&2" by Ensminger (On disk $12ea - $10ea via Paypal)

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