406th NLS
Franke Crew

We have two pictures taken (probably stateside) in dress uniform.


And one taken at Harrington:

Standing, L-R: 
 Robert A.     Messler      -    Navigator   ASN 02076847
Arthur H.     Franke       -    Pilot       ASN 0784872
Arthur H.     White        -    Copilot     ASN 02067261
Seymour       Goldstein    -    Bombardier  ASN 02069675

 Kneeling, L-R: 
 Richard G.    Garrett      -    R.O.        ASN 37702542
Theophilus A. Crosby       -    Engineer    ASN 32941246
Marion J.     Bouzis       -    Gunner      ASN 37357635
Lewis E.      Shuck        -    Gunner      ASN 33514888
John A.       Suthoff      -    Gunner      ASN 38496566
William H.    White        -    Gunner      ASN 36591217

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

Mascot: In a note of the picture, Richard Garrett reports that "Skipper" was given to a British doctor when the crew left the U.K. Information from John Dienst, Curator Emeritus of the Stillwater Airport Memorial Museum.

Photo credit and names: John Dienst

Late arrivals at Harrington, they did not fly a combat mission until the night of 17/18 April 1945. 

Additional Data Sources:
 Franke Crew Personnel Files

Group-Related Downloads:
406th NLS Air Crew Card Index
406th NLS Squadron RZI Card File
 AAFRH-21 "AAF Aid to European Resistance"
 Air Power History Article
 Allied Leaflets Index
 Aerospace Historian Article
 "Carpetbaggers" by Parnell
 Cheddington(Station 113)
 Night Leaflet Squadrons Operations reports (Jun44-Jul45)
"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:
"Secret Squadrons of the 8th" by Carty (leaflet squadron portion only)
 "Leaflet Operations during the 2nd WW" by James M. Erdmann

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