788th/859th BS
Gilpin Crew
One of three supplementary crews for the 788th,they arrived at Harrington on 2 June 1944 and flew their first combat mission as a crew on 16/17 July to the Fireman circuit in France. On the night of 4/5 August 1944,on return from a mission, their craft hit severe turbulence and the Dispatcher was thrown out of the plane having fallen through the Joe hole. He remains an MIA of the group, although his status was changed to "Finding Of Death" following war's end.
Standing, L-R:
Henry E. Gilpin - Pilot
ASN 0697112
Russell J. Lauzon - Copilot
ASN 0816846
Forbis W. Eubank - Bombardier
ASN 0706825
Joseph L. La Pointe - Navigator
ASN 0712850
Kneeling, L-R:
Leander O. Dahlke - R.O.
ASN 37285116
Harold J. Wersell - Gunner
ASN
35540548
Eugene A. Ruh -
Engineer ASN 36806405
Eugene Michalak - Dispatcher ASN
36636021
(FOD)
ASNs so-colored for EMs link to their NARA Enlistment Records.
Picture Credit: Rene
Defourneaux via Eugene Ruh.
Name Credits: Henry
Gilpin and Russell Lauzon
Errata: After the loss of Michalak, Eugene Paik, formerly of the Ewart crew, filled his place. Paik had been wounded in daylight bombing missions with the 788th at Rackheath but recovered and returned to duty by early August of 1944. By the end of September 1944, the crew had fallen short of a tour, and were sent on Detached Service to the 15th AF in the MTO in December 1944.
