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427th Gallagher Crew John W. Gallagher, Jr., Pilot |
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JOHN W. GALLAGHER, JR. CREW - 427th BS
(Assigned 427BS: 08 May 1944)
1Lt John W. Gallagher, Jr. (P), 2Lt Peter Bitel (C),
1Lt Troy W. Hibbard (N), 1Lt Weyman J. Tow
T/Sgt William V. Lynn (E),
S/Sgt Nicholas F. Kail (BTG),
S/Sgt Jess Joyce (WG)(KIA),
S/Sgt John Soltero (WG),
S/Sgt Werner L. Jacques (TG)
Note: Crew had no Radio Operator when they were assigned to the 427th BS
1Lt John W. Gallagher, Jr. thirty-eight dispatched (34 credited) combat missions:
155(A) (19 May 44), 156, 159, 160, 161, 164, 165, 166(Spare), 169, 170, 171, 173, 175, 176, 177, 178,
180, 181, 182, 187, 188, 190, 192, 193, 194(A), 195(AS), 196, 197, 198, 201, 203, 205, 206, 208, 209(A), 210, 211(AS), 212 (25 July 44). None of the assigned crewmen flew with 1Lt Gallagher on mission 155.
(A) No-Credited abortive missions --- (AS) Credited abortive sortie - no bombs dropped
(Spare) Spare B-17 - not required - returned to Molesworth
For mission dates and targets see the missions list.
Crew Notes:
- 1Lt John W. Gallagher, Jr. (P) - First three missions as CoPilot with combat orientation Pilots. Others as 1st Pilot. Combat tour completed on 25 July 1944.
- 2Lt Peter Bitel (CP) - Did not fly on missions 156 & 159. Upgraded from CoPilot to Pilot on orders dated 29 July 1944. Flew one mission (216) as 1st Pilot on 1 Aug 1944 to complete his combat tour.
- 1Lt Troy W. Hibbard (N) - Thirty-one missions with 1Lt Gallagher (156 thru 201, 205 & 206). Substitutes used on eight missions. Flew with other Pilots on three missions (155, 203 & 207). Combat tour completed on 19 July 1944.
- 1Lt Weyman J. Tow (B) - Thirty-one missions with 1Lt Gallagher (156 thru 193, 195 thru 201, 205 & 206). Mission 203 flown as Navigator. Substitutes used on eight missions. Flew with other Pilots on two missions (194 & 207). Combat tour completed on 19 July 1944.
- T/Sgt William V. Lynn (E) & S/Sgt Nicholas F. Kail (BTG) - Thirty-five missions with 1Lt Gallagher (156 thru 210). Substitutes used on three missions. Combat tour completed on 29 July 1944.
- S/Sgt Werner L. Jacques (TG) - Thirty-five missions with 1Lt Gallagher (156 thru 182 and 190 thru 212). Substitutes used on three missions including two by S/Sgt Soltero (187 & 188). Flew with another Pilot on mission 216. Combat tour completed on 11 Aug 1944.
- Waist Gunners utilized:
- S/Sgt Jess Joyce (WG) - Twenty-seven missions with 1Lt Gallagher (156 thru 176, 182 thru 192, 196 thru 198, 203, 208 thru 212). Flew two missions with other (Pilots (223, 229). Was KIA on mission 229, 15 August 1944 to Wiesbaden, Germany, 1Lt Harry S. Cook Pilot.
- S/Sgt John Soltero (WG) - Twenty-Four missions with 1Lt Gallagher (156 thru 175, 177 thru 181, 193 thru 195, 201, 205 & 206. Flew as Tail Gunner on missions 187 & 188. Flew two missions with other Pilots (222 & 223). Last mission on 8 August 1944. Only one Waist Gunner used on twenty-five missions after mission 175 on 7 June 1944
- Radio Operators utilized (Four other substitutes used)
- T/Sgt James J. Sullivan (R) - One mission with 1Lt Gallagher (156) and thirty-one missions with other Pilots. Combat tour completed on 31 May 1944.
- S/Sgt Joseph R. Gervais (R) - Sixteen missions with 1Lt Gallagher (159 thru 177, 180 thru 182). Flew fifteen missions with other Pilots as a Photographer (101, 102, 103, 104, 107, 109(A), 110, 111, 112, 113, 115, 116, 118, 122). Combat tour completed on 22 June 1944.
- S/Sgt David Glass (R) - Seventeen missions with 1Lt Gallagher (178, 187, 188, 192 thru 210). Flew eighteen missions with other Pilots. Combat tour completed on 23 July 1944. The 1Lt Gallagher crew had no Radio Operator when assigned to the 427th BS on 8 May 1944.