Walter J. Carney Crew

WALTER J. CARNEY CREW - 359th BS
(crew assigned 359BS: 13 June 1944 - photo: June 1944)

(Back L-R) 2Lt Albert R. Taylor (N), 2Lt James A. Hickey (CP)(P),
2Lt Thomas E. Cooney (B), 1Lt Walter J. Carney (P)

(Front L-R) T/Sgt Albert. Foster (R), S/Sgt William Encinas (WG),
S/Sgt Emil Kayrallah (BTG)(B/O-POW-KIA), S/Sgt Clarence E. Howe (TG),
Sgt Jackson L. Henderson (WG), T/Sgt Harold L. Turner (E)

[Ranks and Grades at time of last combat mission]

Thirty-seven dispatched (36 credited) combat missions flown by 1Lt Walter J. Carney: 187 (21 June 1944), 189, 190, 191, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 204, 235, 237, 238(AS), 244, 246, 247, 251, 252, 254, 255, 259, 264, 265, 266, 268, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 280, 282, 283, 284 (9 December 1944).
(A) No-credited aborted missions - (Flight time 04:00) Failed to find formation
(AS) Credited abortive sortie - Did not drop bombs. Bombs wouldn't release electrically or mechanically
For Mission dates, targets and Mission Reports, see Combat Missions.

Eighteen B-17Gs flown by 1Lt Walter J. Carney on his thirty-seven dispatched combat missions

42-97781 (P) The '8' Ball Mk III (359BS) BN-D - Mission 187
42-97284 (P) Ain't Misbehaven (359BS) BN-S - Missions 190, 191, 197, 198, 201(A), 202, 204
42-107206 --- Old Black Magic (359BS) BN-R - Mission 195
42-31483 (P) Bonnie-B (359BS) BN-B - Mission 199
42-31423 --- Jigger Rouche (427BS) GN-M - Mission 203
42-31830 (P) Marie (359BS) BN-M - Mission 235
44-6076 (P) Liberty Run (359BS) BN-Y - Mission 237
43-37537 (P) Queen of Hearts (359BS) BN-Q - Mission 238 (AS)
42-39875 (P) Buzz Blonde (427BS) GN-S - Mission 244
42-97944 (P) Daddy's Delight (359BS) BN-I - Mission 247
43-38258 (P) Forget Me Not Olly (358BS) VK-H - Missions 251, 252, 272
42-102484 (P) Heller's Angel (359BS) BN-H - Missions 254, 255, 259, 273
44-6309 (P) Duchess' Granddaughter (359BS) BN-T - Mission 264
43-38608 (P) Lucille (359BS) BN-E - Missions 265, 266, 268
42-102960 --- (No name) (359BS) BN-H - Mission 189
43-38604 --- (No name) (359BS) BN-H - Mission 246
43-38764 --- (No name) (359BS) BN-C - Missions 274, 275, 277, 280, 282, 283, 284
43-38197 --- (No name) (427BS) GN-U - Mission 286
(P) See Nose Art Photos
Aircraft Note: Crew had no regularly assigned B-17. An unusual number of B-17s flown

Crew Notes:

1Lt Walter J. Carney (P) - All missions flown as First Pilot. First mission (187) flown with an experienced combat orientation CoPilot - 2Lt William G. Moyer on his 31st combat mission. Mission 251 flown as First Pilot with the 2Lt Charles D. Haynes crew on their first combat mission. Completed 37 dispatched (36 credited) mission combat tour on 9 December 1944 (Mission 284).
2Lt James H. Hickey (CP) - Flew on all of the 1Lt Carney missions except for 6 missions (187, 251, 268, 274, 283, 284). Flew on three missions as CoPilot with other Pilots (245, 274(LC), 285(LC). Upgraded from CoPilot to Pilot on orders dated 5 December 1944. Flew on one mission as First Pilot (284). Completed 35 mission combat tour on 11 December 1944 (Mission 285) and was transferred to fly P-51 fighters with the 360th FS/356th FG at Martlesham-Heath, England and flew 16 P-51 combat missions from 11 March to 18 April 1945.
S/Sgt Emil Kayrallah (BTG) - Flew on all of the 1Lt Carney missions except for 9 missions (190, 191, 251, 276, 277, 280, 282, 283, 284) and 5 missions with other Pilots (267, 297, 298A, 298B). Was killed by Germans after bailing out in Belgium and becoming a POW on his 32nd credited mission (#300) on 10 January 1945 to Bonn, Germany in B-17G 44-6502 (No name) 359BS) BN-G, 1Lt Cecil J. Gates, Pilot (Missing Aircrew report 11573)
Sgt Jackson L. Henderson (WG) - Flew on one mission with the 1Lt Carney crew (190). Deleted from crew when crew size was changed from 10 to 9 men. Flew on no other 303rd BG(H) combat missions.

Other crewmen: All missions flown with 1Lt Carney except as noted below. Additional missions flown with other Pilots as indicated below. All completed their 35 mission combat tours.

Crewman	Missions not flown with 1Lt Carney	Missions flown with Other Pilots	Last Mission
2Lt Albert B. Taylor (N)	247, 251, 252, 254, 255, 259, 268, 280	245, 261, 270,271, 278, 285	11 Dec 44
2Lt Thomas E. Cooney (B)	187, 190, 191, 195, 197, 198, 199, 201(A), 202, 203, 204, 251, 268, 275	229, 231, 233, 234, 236, 251, 253, 258, 269, 275, 285, 286	12 Dec 44
T/Sgt Harold L. Turner (E)	231	None	09 Dec 44
T/Sgt Albert A. Foster (R)	251, 283	285	11 Dec 44
S/Sgt William Encinas (WG)	251, 284	245, 267	06 Dec 44
S/Sgt Clarence E. Howe (TG)	187, 251, 284	187, 267	06 Dec 44

Mission Notes:

Mission 204, 16 July 1944, to Munich, Germany in B-17G 42-97284 Ain't Misbehaven (359BS) BN-S. B-17 was badly damaged over Munich. Lt Carney was able to fly his B-17 to an airfield at Galera, Italy. The B-17 was transferred to the 301st BG(H), 15th AF at Lucera, Italy on 22 July 1944. Lt Carney received letters of commendation from L/Gen Spaatz, James H. Doolittle and M/Gen Robert C. Williams for a job well done by a combat Pilot. L/Gen Spaatz wrote: "The fact that you have shown expert airmanship and a great deal of determination in bringing your badly damaged aircraft across the Alps and to a friendly base in Italy has been brought to my attention. I wish to commend you for this display of perseverance in saving valuable government property and personnel. Such an example is indicative of a high state of morale and will be an inspiration to other combat crews finding themselves in similar circumstances." Substitute crewmen on mission 204 was Sgt Raymond Tartaglia (Tog) for 2Lt Thomas E. Cooney (N).
Mission 259, 18 October 1944, to Cologne, Germany in B-17G 42-102484 Heller's Angel (359BS) BN-K. Was one of five 303rd BG(H) B-17s to land in continental Europe. Lt Carney landed in Brussels, Belgium.

[photo courtesy of Walter J. Carney]
[Researched by 303rdBGA Historian Emeritus Harry D. Gobrecht]