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427th Cook Crew Harry S. Cook, Pilot

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HARRY S. COOK CREW - 427th BS
(crew assigned 427BS: 22 June 1944 - photo: 1 July 1944)

(Back L-R) 2Lt Werner G. Warmuth (B-POW), 2Lt Ralph E. Page (N-POW),
2Lt Frederick H. Mason (CP-POW), 1Lt Harry S. Cook (P-KIA)

(Front L-R) Sgt William W. Duggan (WG)(1), S/Sgt Forrest W. Howell (R-POW),
S/Sgt Robert F. Eaglehouse (BT-POW), Sgt Clifford J. Fisher (WG)(2),
S/Sgt Joseph L. Slight (E-KIA), Sgt John L. Smalley (TG-POW/Repr)

(KIA-POW) On 15 August 1944 - Mission #229 to Wiesbaden, Germany in B-17G #42-102432 Tiny Angel (427BS) GN-U. Formation subjected to heavy attacks by FW-190s and ME-109s - the "Abbeyville Kids". Nine 303rd BG(H) B-17s were shot down. Tiny Angel exploded and crashed near Malberg, Germany. Most of the crew parachuted. Sgt Smalley's leg was shot off. He became a POW and after being treated by German doctors was repatriated back to U.S. hands. Crewmen, except for Mason (CP - 15 missions) and Joyce (WG - 28 missions) were on their 17th mission. Substitute Waist Gunner was S/Sgt Jess Joyce (KIA), from the Lt John W. Gallagher, Jr. Crew.

1. Duggan (WG) - Flew 14 missions with the Cook crew. Removed from combat after the 9 Aug 44 mission.
2. Fisher (WG) - Flew 2 mission with the Cook crew. Removed from combat after the 18 July 44 mission. Crew size reduced to nine men.

[photo courtesy of Ralph E. Page]
[Researched by 303rdBGA Historian Harry D. Gobrecht]