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 358th Ames Crew
Walter J. Ames, Pilot
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WALTER J. AMES CREW - 358th BS
(Lt Ames assigned 358BS: 26 Nov 1943)
Upgraded from CoPilot to Pilot 27 March 1944)

Original Lt Ames Crew
2Lt Walter J. Ames (P)(1), 2Lt Ernest F. Howell (CP)(2),
2Lt Grover C. Williams (N)(3), 2Lt William D. Campbell (B)(4)

Sgt Jerome H. West (E)(5), Sgt Edward J. Lesser (R)(6),
S/Sgt Edward Ruppel (BTG)(7), Sgt Robert L. Stone (LWG)(8A),
Sgt Frank L. Strickland (LWG)(8B), Sgt Sheldon A. Stanford, (RWG)(9),
S/Sgt Kendall H. McFarland (TG)(10)

1Lt Ames 18 Dispatched Combat Missions as Pilot:
129 (27 Mar 44), 130, 131(AS), 132, 134, 138, 141, 145(S), 146, 150, 151, 152, 153, 155, 157, 164, 169, 170 (4 June 1944)
(AS) Credited Abortive Sortie - no bombs dropped. (S) Non credit mission - Flew as a spare B-17 and returned to Molesworth when spare not needed.

Original Crew Notes - Combat missions flown:

  1. 2Lt Walter J. Ames (P) Flew on 31 missions: 13 as CoPilot with five different Pilots, 83 (16 Nov 1943), 84, 87, 88, 93, 94(AS), 98, 101, 102, 104, 120, 121, 122 (8 March 1944); Upgraded to Pilot and flew Six missions with his original crew with Lt Howell (CP) (129, 130, 131, 132, 134, 138); 12 additional missions as Pilot with many different crewmen (141, 145, 146, 150, 151, 152, 153, 155, 157, 164, 169, 170). Last missIon #170 on 4 June 1944
  2. 2Lt Ernest F. Howell (CP) - Flew on 15 missions: 6 with Lt Ames (P) (129, 130, 131, 132, 134); Upgraded to Pilot and flew 8 missions (140, 141, 142, 147, 150, 154, 155)
  3. 2Lt Grover Williams (N) - Flew on 14 missions: 8 with Lt Ames (P); 8 With Lt Howell (P). Transferred to 15th AF on 23 May 1944
  4. 2Lt William D. Campbell (B) - Flew on 12 mission: 4 with Lt Ames (P) - (129, 130, 131, 134); 8 with Lt Howell (P) Transferred to 15th AF on 23 May 1944
  5. Sgt Jerome H. West (E) - Flew on 14 missions: 6 With Lt Ames (P) (129, 130, 131, 132, 134, 138, 141); 8 with Lt Howell (P). Transferred to 15th AF on 23 May 1944
  6. Sgt Edward J. Lesser (R) - Flew on 30 missions: 6 with Lt Ames (P); 8 with Lt Howell (P); 16 with other Pilots. Last mission #186 on 20 June 1944.
  7. S/Sgt Edward Ruppel (BTG) - Flew on 30 missions: 6 with Lt Ames (P) (132, 134, 138); 3 with Lt Howell (140, 146, 147); 10 with other Pilots (83, 84, 85, 86, 90, 98, 123, 125, 126, 131). Last mission #138 on 20 April 1944
    1. Sgt Robert L. Stone, Jr (BTG/LWG) - Flew on 30 missions: 6 with Lt Ames (P) 8 with Lt Howell (P); 16 with other Pilots. Last mission #195 on 30 June 1944.
    2. Sgt Frank L. Strickland (LWG) - Flew on 3 missions with Lt Ames (P) (129, 130, 134) and removed from flying Status.
  9. Sgt Sheldon A. Stafford (RWG) - Flew on 30 missions: 6 with Lt Ames (P); 8 with Lt Howell (P); 16 with other pilots. Last mission #195 on 30 June 1944
  10. S/Sgt Kendall H. McFarland (TG) - Flew on 14 missions; 6 with Lt Ames (P); 7 with Lt Howell (P) (140, 141, 142, 146, 147, 154, 155); 1 with another Pilot (125). Transferred to 15th AF on 23 May 1944.

[Researched by Historian Harry D. Gobrecht]