857th/858th BSs
Pittman Crew

The crew are shown above in the USA prior to departure to the ETO.  Names matching faces are from an Association newsletter.

Back Row,L-R:
Leverett C. Downing     - Engineer          ASN 11102782
Stanley     Rosenthal   - Bombardier        ASN 0783159
Lloyd       Pittman     - Pilot             ASN 0830693
Glenn       Weddle      - Copilot           ASN 02063733
Jerome      Zwerdling   - Navigator         ASN T-133036

Front Row,L-R:
J.C.       Cox         - Gunner             ASN 38514947
Ralph      Brauker     - Gunner             ASN 36459542
Paul       Kessie      - Gunner             ASN 35898888
Bob        Lubovich    - R.O.               ASN 37572109
Mason      Thatcher    - Gunner             ASN 36837193

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

The crew appear 23 times in the Late Period Log. Shortly after VE-Day they left for Trondheim,Norway to deliver NORSO troops. Approaching the Norwegian coast, engine trouble developed and they chose to land on a small island that had a runway built for German fighters (Herdla). There are two pictures if the abandoned craft B24 42-94836 with civilian islanders looking it over:

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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