406th/858th BSs
Rabbitt Crew
Standing, L-R:
Clinton H. Rabbitt - Pilot
ASN 0802457
Ernest G. Asbury - Copilot
ASN 0691385
Floyd M. Olson - Navigator
ASN 0755232
Donald E. Leinhauser - Bombardier
ASN 0689533
Kneeling, L-R:
Nicholas Rasnak
- Gunner
ASN
32387269
Steve C. Sianis - R.O.
ASN
33193260
Meyer Tauger -
Gunner
ASN
12185100
Arthur Bogusz - Engineer
ASN
16108322
ASNs so-colored for EMs link to their NARA Enlistment Records.
Names and Picture Credits: Clinton Rabbit
Status: Augmentation crew, they flew their first mission in March '44 out of Alconbury, the last of their 35 total in early August of that year.
Claim to Fame: On a mision to a mountainous area in the south of France, the wingtips brushed the mountain in a tight turn and brought home pine branches in the wing! Though many others would claim similar close calls, Rabbitt's was the first, and the only known one, to bring back the proof, waking their C.O. in the early morning hours of 28 April 1944 to show him the branches.
From block 11 of the Mission Report #259:
Preferred Aircraft: B24D 42-63975 G "B'rer Rabbit"
The plane had noseart on both sides:
Leaflets:
MR 1226
ZF-9s
MR 1408
USF-130s
Agents:
MR 0526 DZ Cord 1
(4) No Drop
MR 0550 DZ Cord 1
(4) Sussex Teams Vis and Marbot (2ea)
MR 0842 DZ Saint 4A (1)
Paul V. Martineau
Additional Crew Data Sources:
Rabbitt Crew Personnel Files
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)
Redirect to: Crews Main Agents
