Picture source: Jack Shoger, son of Virgil Shoger.

Standing,L-R:
Richard S. Wesson     - Bombardier    ASN 0752728
Armando C. Velarde    - Pilot         ASN 0550855
Harold F.  Powers     - Copilot       ASN 0692815
Carl G.    Taylor     - Navigator     ASN 0692352

Kneeling,L-R:
Armond     Berg       - Gunner        ASN 19148307
Arnold J.  Malaske    - Engineer      ASN 37322214
Lewis D.   Williams   - Gunner        ASN 38274553
Virgil R.  Shoger     - R.O.          ASN 36635272
Wesley B.  Sarles     - Gunner        ASN 33447299
Norman C.  Daniel     - Gunner        ASN 35684921

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

Status: An original 492nd BG crew, they managed 27 missions at North Pickenham before coming to Harrington, an almost unbelievable feat. With only eight missions left for a complete tour, they did not waste much time and completed a tour on the night of 9/10 September 1944. They were quite probably the only crew that ever inserted an agent on their first flight out of Harrington. Powers captained his own crew for seven gas-haul missions.

Agents inserted/attempted:
MR 1809    DZ Donald 27F    (1) Unidentified
MR 2038    DZ Messenger 37B (2) Unidentified
MR 2053    DZ Bob 172       (5) Part of OSS OG Team ADRIAN

Additional Crew Data sources:
Velarde Crew personnel files
Velarde Crew Mission Reports

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)

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