Billy M. Goolsby Crew

BILLY M. GOOLSBY CREW - 359th BS
B-17G #42-39769 Missmanooki (359BS) BN-P

(crew assigned 359BS: Oct 1943 - photo: 20 Nov 1943)

(Back L-R) 1Lt Billy M. Goolsby (P), 1Lt John N. Savage (CP)(P).
2Lt Paul E. Towberman (N), Capt Richard R. Bowen (B)

(Front-L-R) T/Sgt Chester W. Greenhalgh (R), T/Sgt Donald Bumgarner (E),
S/Sgt William Chraniuk (BTG), S/Sgt Harry J. Rothrock (LWG),
S/Sgt Frank Z. Cueto (RWG), S/Sgt William A. Strobel (TG)

[Ranks and grades at time of last combat mission.]

Thirty-three dispatched (30 credited) mission flown by 1Lt Billy M. Goolsby:
82 (16 Nov 1943), 83, 84, 85, 87, 88, 90, 92, 93, 97, 98, 99, 101, 103, 106(A), 108, 109, 110, 111, 112(A), 115, 116, 122(LC), 124, 125, 128, 130(LC), 132, 140(LC), 142(LC), 154(LC), 160(LC), 161(LC) (27 May 1944). (LC) Lead Crew mission
(A) Three non credited aborted missions:
  #84 (5:32 flight time) Could not keep up with the formation. Turned back just off enemy coast
  #106 (1:04 flight time) #1 engine failure
  #112 (1:33 flight time) #1 engine failure - no oil pressure
For Mission dates, targets and Mission Reports, see Combat Missions.

Eighteen B-17s flown by 1Lt Billy M. Goolsby on his 36 dispatched combat missions:

42-39769 (P) Missmanooki (359BS) BN-P - Missions 82, 88
42-5257 (P) Miss Bea Haven (359BS) BN-S - Missions 83, 84 (A)
42-31117 Lonesome Polecat (359BS) BN-L - Mission 85
42-31655 (P) Aloha (360BS) PU-J - Mission 87
42-31213 (P) Pistol Packin Mama (359BS) BN-Z - Mission 90
42-3448 (P) (No name) (359BS) BN-W - Mission 92
42-3029 (P) Wallaroo (359BS) BN-N - Mission 93
42-31314 (P) Scorchy (359BS) BN-M - Missions 97, 98, 106 (A)
42-31483 (P) Bonnie-B (359BS) BN-B - Missions 99, 132, 142
42-31386 (P) Sky Duster (359BS) BN-W - Missions 101, 103
42-5854 (P) Alley Oop (360BS) PU-C - Mission 108
42-5306 (No name) (359BS) BN-Q - Missions 109, 111, 112 (A)
41-24605 (P) Knockout Dropper (359BS) BN-R - Missions 110, 128
42-31168 (P) Dear Mom (359BS) BN-M - Missions 115, 116, 125, 130
42-31830 (P) Marie (359BS) BN-N - Mission 124
42-97272 (P) Duchess' Daughter (359BS) BN-T - Missions 140, 154
42-31574 Ole George (358BS) VK-G - Mission 122
42-97058 (P) Scorchy II (359BS) BN-V - Missions 160, 161
(P) See Nose Art Photo

Crew Notes:

1Lt Billy M. Goolsby (P) - Mission 87 flown as combat crew orientation CoPilot with members of the 2Lt William A. Purcell crew. Missions 98 and 99 flown as CoPilot with a Squadron Lead Crew Pilot. Missions 122, 140, and 161 Group Lead Crew CoPilot. Missions 130, 142, 154 and 160 flown as a Lead Crew Pilot. All other missions flown as a First Pilot. Completed 30 mission combat tour on 27 May 1944 (Mission 161).
1Lt John N. Savage (CP)(P) - Flew on 13 dispatched (11 credited) mission as the 1Lt Goolsby crew CoPilot (82, 83, 84(A), 85, 88, 92, 93, 97, 101, 103, 106(A), 108, 109). Upgraded from Co Pilot to Pilot on orders dated 12 January 1944 and flew on 22 Dispatched (20 credited) missions as First Pilot (110, 111(A), 112, 113, 115, 116, 121, 122, 123, 124, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 139, 140, 142, 151 (Failed to T/O), 152. Completed 30 mission combat tour on 12 May 1944 (Mission 152). See: 359BS Savage crew web page
2Lt Paul E. Towberman (N) - Flew on 17 dispatched (14 credited) missions with the 1Lt Goolsby crew (82, 83, 84(A), 85, 90, 92, 93, 97, 99, 101, 103, 106(A), 108, 109, 110, 111, 112(A) ) and two credited missions with other Pilots (113, 121). Completed 16 credited missions on 16 March 1944 (Mission 121).
Capt Richard R. Bowen (B) - Flew on 10 dispatched (9 credited missions with the 1Lt Goolsby crew (82, 83, 84(A), 85, 88, 90, 92, 93, 97, 98) and three missions with other Pilots (101, 103, 104). Upgraded to a Lead Crew Bombardier and flew on 18 Lead crew missions (113, 118, 129, 138, 153, 159, 164, 166, 181, 186, 187, 199, 201, 207, 213, 216, 223, 224). Promoted to Captain following mission 153 on 13 May 1944. Completed 30 mission combat tour on 9 August 1944 (Mission 224).
T/Sgt Donald Bumgarner (E) - Flew on 30 dispatched (27 credited) missions with the 1Lt Goolsby Crew (All Goolsby missions except 85, 87, 101 ) and 4 missions with other Pilots (138(LC), 146(LC), 187, 189). Completed 31 mission combat tour on 22 June 1944 (Mission 189).
T/Sgt Chester W. Greenhalgh (R) - Flew on 31 dispatched (28 Credited missions with the 1Lt Goolsby Crew (All Goolsby missions except 87 and 122) and 6 credited missions with other Pilots (146(LC), 167, 176(LC), 178, 182, 185). Completed 34 mission combat tour on 19 June 1944 (Mission 185).
S/Sgt William Chraniuk (BTG) - Flew on 27 dispatched (25 credited) missions with 1Lt Goolsby Crew (All Goolsby missions except 83, 94(A), 85, 87, 88, 161) and 8 credited missions with other Pilots (86, 138(LC), 146(LC), 171, 172, 174, 175, 176). Completed 33 mission combat tour on 8 June 1944 (Mission 176).
S/Sgt Frank Z. Cueto (RWG) - Flew on 28 dispatched (25 credited missions with 1Lt Goolsby Crew (All Goolsby missions except 82, 85, 87, 108, 160) and 5 credited missions with other Pilots (138(LC), 146(LC), 157(LC), 162, 172). Completed 30 mission combat tour on 6 June 1944 (Mission 172).
S/Sgt Harry J. Rothrock (LWG) - Flew on 32 dispatched (29 credited) missions with 1Lt Goolsby Crew (All Goolsby missions except 87). Mission 85 as Engineer - others Waist Gunner. Flew on one credited missions with another Pilot (138(LC) ). Completed 30 mission combat tour on 27 May 1944 (Mission 161).
S/Sgt William A. Strobel (TG) - Flew on 29 dispatched (26 credited) missions with the 1Lt Goolsby Crew (All Goolsby missions except 87, 103, 122, 130) and 7 credited missions with other Pilots (146(LC), 157(LC), 172, 176(LC), 178, 179, 180). Completed 33 mission combat tour on 14 June 1944 (Mission 180).

Mission Notes:
Mission 130 - 28 March 1944 to Dijon/Longvic, France in B-17 42-31168 Dear Mon (359BS) BN-M. 1Lt Billy M. Goolsby, Lead Crew Pilot and Capt Louis M. Schulstad Lead Crew CoPilot - Received a 22 April 1944 Commendation letter from B/Gen Robert B. Williams, Commanding General 1st Bomb Division. Interpretation of strike attack photos resulted in the following tabulated percentage of the total bombs identified: Bombs within 500 feet of A.P. - 24%; Bombs within 1,000 feet of A.P. - 68%; Bombs within 2,000 feet of A.P. - 100% . The exemplary teamwork exhibited by the crew, 359th BS, lead aircraft of the group formation, is reflected in the remarkable results obtained. It is gratifying to note that 2Lt George R. Schoner, Navigator and 2Lt William H. Hoover, Bombardier have again demonstrated a high degree of skill and coordination of a combat team. All other members of the crew were mentioned in the Commendation See: Mission 130 Lead crew photo

Mission 129 - 27 March 1944 to Chartres, France in B-17F 41-24605 Knockout Dropper (359BS)(BN-R) 1Lt John N. Savage, on his 12th mission after being upgraded from the 1Lt Goolsby Crew CoPilot to First Pilot. Flew as Pilot on the 75th, and last mission of Knockout Dropper - The first 8th AF B-17 to complete 75 combat missions. Was one of the original 303rd BG(H) B-17s. Flew first mission on 10 November 1942. Crew Chief M/Sgt Buford G. Pafford
[photo from the 303rdBGA Archives]
[Researched by Harry D. Gobrecht, 303rdBGA Historian Emeritus]