Manter's crew was among the augmentation crews of the early period. They flew their first mission in March of 1944, and by early August of that year they had put in 35 combat missions. Special Orders #187 issued from 8th AF Composite Command authorized their return to the Zone of the Interior on 8 August 1944. In the above picture the enlisted are wearing their training helmets, one of the few pictures of this piece of gear that we have. Additionally, the officers are in the front row, kneeling, a reversal of the customary crew picture.

Crew Composition: The men in this picture have not been individually identified and we rely here on orders and mission reports for their names.

Harold E.    Manter         - Pilot       ASN 0804479
Floyd E.     Cross          - Copilot     ASN 0806635
Victor G.    Caldwell       - Navigator   ASN 0673724
Alexander F. Marshall       - Bombardier  ASN 0678442

Howard F.    Andrews        - Gunner      ASN 6929751 
John P.      Garwood        - R.O.        ASN 19077717
Ralph E.     Wolfgang       - Engineer    ASN 35564640
William F.   Varndell       - Gunner      ASN 6890827 

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

Preferred Aircraft: B24D 42-40987