Walter J. Schlecht Crew

WALTER J. SCHLECHT CREW - 427th BS
(crew assigned 427BS: 26 Oct 1944 - photo: Drew Field, FL, Sep 1944)

(Back L-R) S/Sgt Arlis F. Warburton (TG/WG), 1Lt Harley L. Hansen (B),
T/Sgt Joseph R. Hradisky (R), 2Lt Merlin A. Tanner (N), 1Lt Walter J. Schlecht (P)

(Front L-R) 2Lt Walter J. Ferrari (CP), T/Sgt Ara H. Hedison (E),
S/Sgt William J. Herod (WG/TG), S/Sgt Raymond A. Hosknell (BT)

(Ranks and grades at time of last combat mission)

Thirty seven dispatched (35 credited missions flown by Walter J. Schlecht:
271(10 Nov 44), 273, 274, 275, 277, 278, 279, 280(A), 281, 282, 283, 284, 287, 288, 290, 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 297, 298A, 299, 301, 304, 306(AS), 308, 310, 312, 313, 314(A), 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320 (22 Feb 45)
(A) Non-Credited aborted missions -- (AS) Credited abortive Sortie - no bombs dropped on target. For mission dates and targets see the missions list.

Crew Notes: - Missions flown with the Schlecht Crew and with other Pilots

1Lt Walter J. Schlecht (P) - Had a combat Orientation Pilot on missions 271 & 273. Other missions flown as 1st Pilot and Aircraft Commander. Combat tour completed on 22 February 1945.
2lt Walter J. Ferrari (CP) - With Schlecht crew - 30 credited missions as CoPilot (all but missions 271, 273, 317, 318 & 319); As CoPilot with the 427th Ackerman Crew (273); As lead crew Tail Gunner/Observer, Capt Charles A. Callahan (P) (303); Upgraded from CoPilot to Pilot on orders dated 28 February 1945. Flew two missions as a Combat Orientation First Pilot with 2Lt Francis B. Chuba on the crew's 2nd & 3rd missions. (323 - 25 Feb 45 & 324 - 26 Feb 45). Combat tour completed on 26 February 1945.
1Lt Harley L. Hansen (B) - With Schlecht Crew - 17 credited missions (271 thru 279, 281, 283, 288, 290, 292 thru 298A); With four other Pilots - 8 missions (282, 284, 291, 302, 306, 318, 326); As Lead Crew Bombardier - 5 missions (319, 323, 334, 342, 350). Completed combat tour on 3 April 1945.
T/Sgt Ara H. Hedison (E) & T/Sgt Joseph R. Hradisky (R) - Flew on all of Lt Schlecht's missions. No missions with other Pilots. Combat tours completed on 22 February 1945.
S/Sgt Raymond A. Hosknell (BTG) -With Schlecht crew - 30 missions (271 thru 290, 298A thru 320). With four other Pilots - 5 missions: as BTG 325, 331 & 331, as WG (339), as TG (342). Combat tour completed on 21 March 1945.
S/Sgt William J. Herod (WG/TG) & S/Sgt Arlis F. Warburton (TG/WG) - Flew on all of Lt Schlecht's missions. No missions with other Pilots. Missions 271 thru 290 (14 credited missions) - S/Sgt Herod as Waist Gunner and S/Sgt Warburton as Tail Gunner. Missions 291 thru 319 (21 credited missions) - S/Sgt's Herod and Warburton switched crew positions with Herod as Tail gunner and Warburton as Waist Gunner. Combat tours completed on 22 February 1945.

Schlecht Crew's Favorite B-17G #42-102411 Miss Lace (427BS) (GN-P)
The Schlecht Crew was dispatched in Miss Lace on fifteen missions - 279, 280(A), 281, 282, 283, 284, 287, 291, 293, 295, 296, 297, 302, 304, 308. Miss Lace flew her last and 79th combat mission on 18 March 1945 with the Lt Robert W. Krohn Crew when she was damaged and landed at a Soviet Airfield at Warsaw, Poland. She was repaired and flown, with Soviet Insignia, by the Soviet Air Force 45th Long Range Division. The name of Miss Lace, and the nose art, was inspired by the sexy lady Miss Lace in the WWII Milton Caniff comic strip.

[photo courtesy of Walter J. Schlecht]
[Researched by Historian Harry D. Gobrecht]