The crew was transferred in to Harrington from Station 143 on 6 May 1945, and were declared Operational on 19 May 1945. A better picture would obviously be highly desired. Members of the crew are identified as the following.

Data transcribed from Special Orders #126 dtd 6 May 1945.

Os, L-R standing:
Charles A.   Hall,Jr.       - Bombardier     ASN 0785104
John J.      Lonsky         - Pilot          ASN 0821514
George D.    Bansch         - Navigator      ASN 02077162
Charles J.   Williamson     - Copilot        ASN 0837753

EMs, L-R standing:
Harry U.     Boyd           - Gunner         ASN 34339902
Leonard D.   Pagnotto       - R.O.           ASN 31263249
Edward M.    McCabe         - Engineer       ASN 35634633
Paul B.      Morgan         - Gunner         ASN 17096788
John J.      Jorgenson      - Gunner         ASN 37683629
Donald H.    Faith          - Gunner         ASN 13189694

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

Theirs was a short stay, on 8Jul45 the crew and probably some passengers departed from
Station 179 in B24 42-51217 at 0720 hours, bound for the Zone of the Interior.

Additional Crew Data Sources:
Lonsky 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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