857th BS
Ralph L. Smith Crew

The crew are pictured below at Walla Walla AAF in October 1944.

Data from the back of the picture does not match names to faces completely. Names following are taken from Special Orders #351 Station 594,dtd 12Dec44:

Os:
Ralph L.   Smith        - Pilot        ASN 0832068
Raymond H. O'Connor     - Copilot      ASN T-128389
Marvin R.  Edwards      - Navigator    ASN T-132894
Jose G.    Bencomo      - Bombardier   ASN T-7020

EMs:
Harry L.   Fowler       - Gunner       ASN 38555296
Joseph     Henry,Jr.    - Gunner       ASN 37630916
David      Jack         - Engineer     ASN 36676404
Earl H.    Mc Kinney    - Gunner       ASN 37630624
Chester    Rogoza       - Gunner       ASN 36894341
Dominic J. Rossi        - R.O.         ASN 16138523

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

The crew are marked six times in the Late Period Log between 21Feb45 and 09Mar45. Members of the crew participated in Red Stocking Missions between March and April of 1945. Marvin Edwards discussing these operations in a weekly US publication named "FolioWeekly" in October of 2000. On 24Jun45 they were ordered to proceed to Paris,Fr and Weisbaden,GE for matters of OSS concern. Their final appearance in Harrington records occurs on 04Jul45 when the following were designated a crew and transferred to the 94th BG,Station 468. In October of 1945 they were released from this duty in a letter from OSS Hq to the C.O. of the 94th BG.

Ralph L.   Smith        - Pilot        ASN 0832068
Raymond H. O'Connor     - Copilot      ASN T-128389
Marvin R.  Edwards      - Navigator    ASN T-132894
David      Jack         - Engineer     ASN 36676404
Joseph     Henry,Jr.    - Gunner       ASN 37630916

Additional Data Sources:
Ralph Smith Crew Personnel Files

Group-Related Downloads:
"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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