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427th Henderson Crew
Grover C. Henderson, Pilot
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GROVER C. HENDERSON CREW - 427th BS
(Assigned 427BS: 23 August 1943 - CoPilot Edward M. Woddrop Crew)
(Upgraded from CoPilot, Edward W. Woddrop crew, to Pilot: 03 February 1944)


Grover C. Henderson crew as 1st Pilot
Lt Grover C. Henderson (P), Lt Darwin D. Sayers (CP),
Lt George L. Arvanites (N), Lt F.E. Umpress, Jr. (B)

S/Sgt Lowrey A. Weed, Jr. (E), T/Sgt Leo Cohen (R),
S/Sgt James R. Teno (BTG), S/Sgt Edgar A. Wright (WG),
S/Sgt Tofil P. Kotel (WG), S/Sgt James E. LaFrenier (TG)

Mission flown by Lt Grover C. Henderson:
As CoPilot: Edward M. Woddrop crew - 15 missions - 70 (16 Sept 43), 71, 72(AS), 73, 74, 76, 77, 79(A), 80, 81, 82, 86(A), 90, 93, 95 (5 Jan 44); Three Other Pilots - 3 missions - 88, 89, 101
As 1st Pilot: Nine missions - 103, 104(A), 105(Spare), 108, 109, 110, 112, 113, 115 (2 Mar 44)
(A) Non-Credit Aborted mission -- (AS) Credited abortive sortie -- (Spare) Non-credited spare B-17 returned to Molesworth. For mission dates and targets see the missions list.

Crew Note:
All crewmen flew on all of the nine Lt Henderson 1st Pilot missions with the following exception:

  • S/Sgt Tofil P. Kotel (WG) - Flew on five missions with Lt Henderson (103, 105(Spare), 108, 109, 110. Did not fly on four missions (104(A), 112, 113, 115) where substitute Waist Gunners were used.

[Researched by Historian Harry D. Gobrecht]