856th BS
Jere Davis Crew

Details: Picture taken just prior to departure from Harrington,Summer 1945.

Row, L-R:
Paul V.   Fluhart       - Copilot        ASN T-65608
Jere L.   Davis         - Pilot          ASN 02063577
Irving L. Adams         - Bombardier     ASN T-134302
Hewitt    Gomez         - Navigator      ASN 02074687

Kneeling, L-R:
James D.  Mazzoni       - Engineer       ASN 13151935
William   Becker        - TTG            ASN 12231389
Joseph J. Alfes         - R.O.           ASN 42001010
Carl D.   Shaw,Jr.      - Gunner         ASN 38491159
James H.  Stafford,Sr.  - Gunner         ASN 34946157
Eugene T. Wells         - Gunner         ASN 11136963

ASNs so-colored for EMs link to their NARA Enlistment Records.

Status: Arrived at Harrington in February 1945, annotated in Special Orders #39 Station 179, on the 20th of that month.  Initially assigned to the 857th BS, they were transferred to the 856th BS on 9 March 1945.  The crew had seven combat missions prior to VE-Day.

Photo and nose art credit: William Becker
Aircraft Details Credit: Tom Brittan

Errata: On long flights, the Radio Operator would read comic books!

Preferred Aircraft: B24D 42-40618 "Air Tramp"

At one time flown as an Anti-Submarine plane in the 479th ASW Group, it was one of the first Carpetbagger aircraft, delivered from BAD 1 on 30 Dec 1943. It survived the peak period and a number of flights to Norway, and was returned to the States with the Jere Davis crew, departing Harrington on 9 July 1945, at 1429 hours, headed for Valley, Wales. 

It had been a favorite of the Decker crew in the early period, and was flown twice by the ill-fated Norton crew in July of 1944.  It was also flown by Hasart, Hendrickson and Swartz that summer, and numerous other 36th/856th pilots during it's long period of service with the Carpetbaggers. 

Below: Becker in front, Gomez behind him and Adams getting on the bicycle,Spring 1945 at Harrington.

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