788th/859th BSs
George Johnson Crew (1st)

 

Standing, L-R:
George T.  Johnson         - Pilot          ASN 0802573
Edward J.  Donnelly        - Copilot        ASN 0687562
Robert R.  Ricketts        - Navigator      ASN 0808143
Michael A. Baldino         - Bombardier     ASN 0686404

Kneeling, L-R:
 Kenneth L. Thompson        - Engineer       ASN 15332864
Roy L.     Korrot          - Engineer       ASN 13153013
Russell K. Bond            - R.O.           ASN 16132715
Joseph     Gagliardo       - Gunner         ASN 12158982 (Orphaned)
Arne A.    Moilanen        - Engineer       ASN 36408726
Russell W. Dolbeare        - Gunner         ASN 16034708 (Orphaned)

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

Picture Credits: Russell K. Bond - letter to Ben Parnell dtd 25Nov92.
Combat Period: Jul-Aug 1944

Status: Original 788th crew, later broken up; only Moilanen remained with Johnson when the 859th was sent on Detached Service with the 15th AF. Due to early combat losses, Ricketts was transferred to the Driscoll crew when the squadron was sent to Harrington. Baldino, Thompson and Bond flew later with the Dillon crew. Donnelly later became a pilot in his own right.  

Preferred Aircraft: B24H 42-95231

Leaflets carried/delivered:
USF-127

Additional Data Sources:
 George Johnson Crew Personnel Files
 George Johnson Crew Mission Reports

Group-Related Downloads:
 AAFRH-21 "AAF Aid to European Resistance"
 Allied Leaflets Index
 "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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