Standing, L-R;
Robert L.  Sanders      - Bombardier        ASN 0697738
Robert     Callahan     - Navigator         ASN 0703088
John M.    Cronan       - Co-Pilot          ASN 0792686    (DNB)
William E. Huenekens    - Pilot             ASN 0493048    (DNB)

Kneeling, L-R;
Carl R.    Adams        - Engineer          ASN 37654395   (DNB) 
Lorain D.  Leichty      - R.O.              ASN 35546183
Marvel H.  Loy          - Gunner            ASN 39131718   (Orphaned)
Douglas R. Chandler     - Gunner            ASN 18168211
Randall G. Sadler       - Gunner            ASN 18116863

Not in the picture:
Robert W.  Davenport    - Gunner            ASN 32766625   (Orphaned)

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

This crew was broken up when Huenekens, Cronan, and Adams were killed on a night-training flight over the UK. Crew members believed they had been attacked by an intruding night fighter, but this has never been substantiated. The Tower Log reveals no enemy aircraft in the area, and it is known that rumors quickly circulated that the night fighter was actually a Spitfire, but this possibility has never been substantiated either. Callahan, Sanders, and Sadler were also aboard but survived. The daring jump of Callahan and Sanders using a single parachute became famous, earning Callahan a Silver Star. Sadler receieved burns but returned to duty within a few weeks. All three survivors received the Purple Heart.

"I recall two of them had missed their cross-country flight that night 
because they were in town at the pubs, and by the time they had walked 
back to base, their plane and crew were destroyed.  That was probably 
Leichty and Chandler.  There was a lot of crying that night in our tent." 

Silas Stamper, 1998 Carpetbagger Reunion.

Single-chute article from "Stars and Stripes" Robert M. Johnson collection, dated 12 July 1944.

Picture Credit: Ewen Sinclair.

Crash Aircraft: B24-H 42-95321

Additional Crew Data sources:
Huenekens Crew Personnel Files

 Group-Related Downloads:
"Carpetbaggers" by Parnell
"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:
Group Mission Reports Jan-Sep44 (On disk $12ea - $10ea via Paypal)
"Chronology of SOE Operations with the Resistance In France During WWII" by Foot & Boxhall
"Spies,Supplies & Moonlit Skies Vols 1&2" by Ensminger (On disk $12ea - $10ea via Paypal)

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