788th/859th BSs
Driscoll Crew

Harold     Pantis          - Navigator    ASN 0687898



Aircraft above: 42-7423 "Drip"

Shown above at Wendover AAB, Utah as a 9-man crew, in January 1944 as crew W-21 of the 467th BG, the Driscoll crew have been identified in this picture as follows:

Back Row, L-R:
Kenneth L. Driscoll    - Pilot        ASN 0800851            
Edward D.  Halpin      - Copilot      ASN 0750790
Harold     Pantis      - Navigator    ASN 0687898    (POW w/ 467th BG)
Joseph E.  Fox,Jr.     - Bombardier   ASN 0684148

Kneeling, L-R:
George H.  Brannan     - Gunner       ASN 14142695   (KIA w/467th BG) 
James      Bridges     - Engineer     ASN unknown
Robert     Brink       - R.O.         ASN 11052128
James W.   Wright      - Gunner       ASN 34392506 
Blair G.   Henry       - Gunner       ASN 32732244

Missing from Picture:
Richard C. Creighton   - Gunner       ASN 39277316    (KIA w/ 467th BG)

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

George Brannan and Richard Creighton were KIA on a daylight mission 8 May 1944. Harold Pantis became a POW on the same day. Robert Ricketts was assigned as Navigator of the crew three days later when the Driscoll crew were attached to the 801st BG.  Driscoll's crew thus began at Harrington not having to orphan anyone as many other crews had to do.

Picture and Names Credit: Ken Driscoll
Combat Period: May-Aug 1944 (at Harrington)

Errata: A near-perfect drop record for 30 missions, only two missions were not completed.

Preferred Aircraft: B24H 42-95262 Reportedly named "Varga Belle" when it belonged to a previous Bomb Group, it was transferred to the MTO on 18 December 1944, flown there by Robert Brandenburg and crew.

Data from July 1944 indicate the following for the crew: