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427th Cardwell Crew
Burt J. Cardwell, Pilot
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BURT J. CARDWELL CREW - 427th BS
(Assigned 427BS: 09 February 1943)
(Upgraded CoPilot on Lt Armand F. Burch Crew to Pilot: 15 August 1943)


Lt Burt J. Cardwell (P), Lt Edward M. Woddrop (CP),
Lt John D. Noblin (N), Lt Byron K. Butt (B),

T/Sgt Benjamin Barlow (E), T/Sgt John J. Mulholland (R),
S/Sgt Robert K. Sink (BTG), Sgt Robert M. Cooney (LWG),
S/Sgt Charles C. Baggs (RWG), S/Sgt Robert W. Arnold (TG)

(Ranks and Grades at time of last mission with Lt Cardwell)

Missions flown by Burt J. Cardwell:
As CoPilot (1Lt Armand F. Burch crew) - Twenty-two dispatched missions (22 (12 March 1943), 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29(AS), 30(AS), 31, 32(AS), 33(A), 34, 35, 36(A), 40, 41(A), 42(A), 43, 49, 50, 53, 54 (26 July 1943)
As 1st Pilot - Nine dispatched missions (58 (15 Aug 43), 59, 60, 62, 63, 64, 65(AS), 66(AS), 68 (7 Sept 43)
(A) Aborted - non credit mission (AS) Abortive Sortie - Credited mission
For mission dates and targets see the missions list.

Crew Notes:

  • 1Lt Burt J. Cardwell (P) - Thirty-one dispatched missions as shown above.
  • 1Lt Edward M. "Woodie" Woddrop (CP) - Former RCAF Sergeant Pilot who transferred to the 303rd BG(H) in July 1943. Flew on two missions with the Lt Jack G. Rolfson crew (55, 56(A) and eight missions with the Lt Burt J. Cardwell crew (58, 59, 60, 63, 64, 65(A), 66(AS), 68). Upgraded from CoPilot to First Pilot 9 Sept 1943. Flew fifteen missions as a 1st Pilot. Twenty five mission combat tour completed on 5 December 1944. Signed up for six additional missions which he flew as a Lead Crew Pilot. Was promoted to Captain. Was killed following a B-29 training mission after WWII when he walked into a revolving prop.
  • Lt John D. Noblin (N) - Dispatched on 21 missions with the Lt's Burch(P)/Cardwell(CP) crew and six missions with the Lt Cardwell Crew (58, 59, 60, 62, 63, 64).
  • Lt Byron K. Butt (B) - Dispatched on 18 missions with the Lt's Burch (P)/Cardwell (CP) crew and one mission (59) with the Lt Cardwell Crew. Was replaced by Lt Leonard B. Bierman as Bombardier on seven missions (60 thru 68). Substitute Bombardier used on mission 58.
  • T/Sgt Benjamin Barlow (E) - Dispatched on 19 missions with the Lt's Burch (P)/Cardwell(CP) crew and seven missions (60 thru 68) with the Lt Cardwell crew. Substitute Engineer used on missions 58 & 59.
  • T/Sgt John J. Mulholland (R) - Dispatched on seven missions with the Lt Cardwell crew (60 thru 68). T/Sgt George W. Ashworth (R) was used on two Lt Cardwell crew missions (58, 59) and previously was dispatched on twenty-two Lt's Burch (P)/Cardwell (CP) crew missions.
  • S/Sgt Robert K. Sink (BTG) - Dispatched on eight Lt Cardwell crew missions (58 thru 66). Substitute BTG used on mission 68.
  • S/Sgt Robert M. Cooney (LWG) - Dispatched on eight Lt Cardwell crew missions (59 thru 68). Substitute LWG used on mission 58.
  • S/Sgt Charles C. Baggs (RWG) - Dispatched on five Lt Cardwell crew missions (60 thru 65). Substitute RWGs used on four missions (58, 59, 66, 68).
  • S/Sgt Robert W. Arnold (TG) - Dispatched on all nine Lt Cardwell crew missions (58 thru 68).

[Researched by Historian Harry D. Gobrecht]