406th/858th BSs
Rivers Crew

Rivers original crew was broken up in early 1944, and he flew ten missions prior to having a crew of his own, with Stapel and Munn. Before the service he had been an accomplished Alaskan bush pilot.  He is pictured below with the Stapel crew, standing, far right. It is doubtful if a picture of his crew will surface.  Names below are taken from MR 1521. Rivers flew 39 missions prior to the draw-down in Sep44. From 20Sep44 through 27Mar45, he shows in the Late Period Log an additional 21 times. On the night of 9/10 August 1944, they delivered Jedburgh Team Alec to the Ventriloquist 56 DZ.

DATA BELOW DOES NOT PERTAIN TO THE CREW ABOVE EXCEPTING Rivers.

Os:
Russell G.  Rivers     - Pilot            ASN 0886140
I'Lone L.   Norman     - Copilot          ASN 0680061
Edgar J.    Bethart    - Navigator        ASN 0805244
Thomas J.   Loftus     - Bombardier       ASN 0668982

EMs:
Cuyler D.   Leach      - R.O.             ASN 32723181
Donald F.   Menser     - Engineer         ASN 13134720 *
Stanley E.  Nickelson  - Gunner           ASN 16083219
William     Price,Jr.  - Gunner           ASN 35652624

* Menser's surname displays as "ME#SER" in the NARA record.

EM ASNs so-colored link to their NARA Enlistment Record.