36th/856th BSs
 Leichman Crew

A picture would be most appreciated!

Names transcribed from Special Orders #224 dtd 11Aug44 Station 594

Os:
William W. Leichman        - Pilot            ASN 0822493
George W.  Greenway        - Copilot          ASN T-2685
Hugh C.    Butler          - Navigator        ASN 0723573
Bruno C.   Gambucci        - Bombardier       ASN 0717986

EMs:
Henry C.   Brown           - R.O.             ASN 16129430
Alvon E.   Luke            - Gunner           ASN 37574162
Luther J.  Oman            - Engineer         ASN 38421620
 Roman J.   Rozmierski      - Gunner           ASN 12135125
Paul A.    Newman          - Gunner           ASN 33742256 (Orphaned)
Harry E.   Weir            - Gunner           ASN 35236346 (Orphaned)

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

The Leichman crew arrived at Harrington in time to be members of the 36th BS for exactly two days prior to the reorganization of 13 August 1944. Before the cessation of Carpetbagger missions in mid-September of 1944 they flew six missions. Their six missions in September of 1944,shown below,yield a five out of six success rate, very good for a beginning crew at Harrington. All targets were French. Clearly the plane preferred was B24H 42-50444, which had a very short lifespan at Harrington,being crashed at the A-73 Roye/Amy France airfield on 21 September 1944,while on a gas-haul mission (Piloted by Reilly.)

Pilot MR# OK  Fail Cntrs Pkgs Day  DZ Aircraft
 Leichman  2041  1  0  12  10  09  Percy 13J  B24H 42-50444 A
 Leichman  2070  1  0  12  10  10  Glover 7  B24H 42-50444 A
 Leichman  2114  1  0  12  10  12  Bob 267  B24H 42-50444 A
 Leichman  2183  1  0  12  10  13  Wrestler 7  B24H 42-50444 A
 Leichman  2218  1  0  12   7  16  Marc 19  B24H 42-50444 A
 Leichman  2232  0  1   0   0  17  Bob 269  B24H 42-50444 A



 

 


Leichman's (short crew) gas-haul missions were seven, the last on 30 September 1944.
Sometime after the end of September 1944 the crew was transferred to the 859th BS and departed with that squadron on 17Dec44 bound for Italy,never to return.

Additional data sources:
 Leichman Crew Mission Reports
 Leichman 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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