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359th Stouse Crew
Harold L. Stouse, Pilot
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HAROLD L. STOUSE CREW - 359th BS
B-17F The Duchess #41-24561 (BN-T)
(original crew assigned 359BS: 24 June 1942)

(Back L-R) Capt Harold L. Stouse (P), 1Lt William J. Neff (acft maint),
1Lt Squire T. O'Connor (CP), 1Lt Jesse H. Elliott (N)(WIA), 2Lt Jack W. Mathis (B)(WIA/KIA)

(Front L-R) T/Sgt Eldon Audiss (E), T/Sgt Donald R. Richardson (R),
S/Sgt Theron S. Tupper (WG), Sgt John A. Garriott (BT), S/Sgt Calvin H. Owen (TG)(INJ)

(Ranks and Grades at time of last combat mission)
Crewmen in above photo are those that flew together from USA to England in October 1942
Not in photo: S/Sgt Houston B. Brown (WG) - Did not fly overseas with his Stouse crewmen.



HAROLD L. STOUSE CREW - 359th BS
(photo 14 May 1943 by Quentin R. Porter)

(Back) M/Sgt John A. Dougherty (E), M/Sgt Donard R. Richardson (R),
T/Sgt Richard C. Fortunak (LWG), T/Sgt John A. Garriott (BT),
T/Sgt Calvin H. Owen (TG), T/Sgt Houston B. Brown, Jr. (RWG)

(Front) Capt Harold L. Stouse (P), 1Lt Squire T. O'Connor (CP),
1Lt Daniel A. McColl (N), 1Lt Rhude Mark Mathis (B)

Combat missions flown by Capt Harold L. Stouse:

  • With Original combat crew - Seventeen dispatched (16 Credited)
    1 (17 Nov 1942), 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 16, 17, 20, 21, 23, 24, 29(A), 31 (17 Apr 1943)
    Following mission 31, the Stouse Crew received orders returning them to the USA to take part in special assignments in the 3rd Air Force Training Command which was training replacement crews.

  • 27 October 1944 Return to Molesworth as a 360th BS Lead Crew Pilot and Operations Officer - Sixteen dispatched (15 Credited) missions
    267 (4 Nov 1944), 268, 271, 272(SLC), 278(SLC), 284(SLC), 286(SLC), 294(LC)(Ph), 317(SLC), 322(LC)(Ph), 326(LC)(Ph), 330(LC)(Ph), 338(LC)(Ph), 342(LC)(Ph), 349(LC), 357 (DLC)(10 April 1945)
    (A) Two Non Credited aborted missions:
       #29 - 5 Apr 43 - (2:01 flight hours) - #1 engine manifold pressure dropped to 15" and feathered #3 engine oil cooler out.
       #317 19 Feb 1945 - Mechanical problem
    (LC) Group Lead crew -- (SLC) Squadron Lead crew -- (Ph) See Combat Missions - Lead crew photos
B-17Fs flown by Capt Harold L. Stouse - As an 359BS original crew Pilot:
  • 41-24561 (P) The Duchess (359BS) BN-T - Missions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 16, 17, 20, 24, 29(A), 31. Original B-17F Flown from the USA to Molesworth by the Capt Stouse crew in October 1942. Completed 59 combat missions. On 31 March 1944 The Duchess was the oldest operational B-17F in the 8th Air Force.
  • 42-5177 (P) Fast Worker Mk II (359BS) BN-U - Mission 8
  • 41-24609 (P) Holy Mackerel (359BS) BN-Q - Mission 10
  • 41-24635 (P) The '8' Ball Mk II (359BS) BN-O - Mission 12
  • 41-24605 (P) Knockout Dropper (359BS) BN-Q - Missions 21, 23
B-17Gs flown by Capt Harold L. Stouse - As a 360BS Pilot:
  • 43-38563 Jackie - (360BS) PU-H - Mission 271
  • 43-38451 (No name) (360BS) PU-D - Mission 267
  • 44-6523 (No name) (360BS) PU-A - Mission 268
PFF B-17Gs flown by Capt Harold L. Stouse - As a 360BS Lead Crew Pilot and CoPilot:
  • 44-8125 (P) Sparky (360BS) PU-Y - Missions 284, 294, 322, 326, 330, 342, 349
  • 44-8038 (No name) (427BS) GN-Z - Mission 272
  • 44-8439 (No name) (360BS) PU-Z - Mission 278
  • 44-8495 (No name) (427BS) GN-Y - Mission 286
  • 44-8552 (No name) (360BS) PU-X - Mission 317(A)
  • 44-8564 (No name) (360BS) PU-Z - Mission 338
  • 44-6517 (No name) (360BS) PU-F - Mission 357
    (P) See Nose Art Photos
Crew Notes:
 Original Capt Stouse Crewmen
  • Capt Harold L. Stouse (P) - First two missions flown as Lead Crew CoPilot with Maj Eugene A. Romig as Pilot. Other missions (1 through 31) as First Pilot. Returned to USA following mission 31 and returned to Molesworth on 27 Oct 1944 as a 360BS Lead Crew Pilot and Operations Officer. Missions 272, 284, 294, 322 flown as a Lead Crew CoPilot. Others flown as a Lead Crew Pilot. Completed his 35 mission combat tour with credits for lead crew missions) flying a total of 33 dispatched (31 credited missions) on 10 April 1945 (Mission 357).

  • 1Lt Squire T. O'Connor (CP) - Flew on 18 dispatched (17 credited) 359BS missions: 14 dispatched (13 credited) 359BS missions with Capt Stouse (All 359BS Stouse missions except three (1, 2, 17) and four credited missions with other Pilots (1, 11, 15, 28). Last mission on 17 April 1943 (Mission 31) and returned to USA.

  • 1Lt Jesse H. Elliott (N)(WIA) - Flew on 17 dispatched and credited 359BS missions: 14 dispatched and credited 359BS missions with Capt Stouse (All 359BS Stouse missions except three (23, 29, 31) and three credited missions with other Pilots (11, 14, 22). Credited with destroying a German ME-109 on 27 Jan 1943 (Mission 12) and received the DFC Medal. Was wounded (not seriously) on 18 March 1943 (Mission 24) which was his last combat mission and returned to USA.

  • 1Lt Jack W. Mathis (B)(WIA)(KIA) - Flew on 14 dispatched and credited 359BS missions: 12 dispatched and credited 359BS missions with Capt Stouse (All Stouse 359BS missions except five (2, 3, 17, 29, 31) and two missions with other Pilots (11, 22). Wounded and died from wounds on 18 March 1943 (mission 24) which was his last combat mission. His body was returned to Molesworth. Received a posthumous Medal of Honor award. This was the first Medal of Honor awarded to an 8th AF Combat Crewman.

  • T/Sgt Eldon Audiss (E) - Flew on 16 dispatched and credited 359BS missions: 15 dispatched and credited 359BS missions with Capt Stouse (All Stouse 359BS missions except one (29) and one missions with another Pilot (14). Last mission on 18 March 1943 (Mission 24) and returned to the USA.

  • T/Sgt Donald R. Richardson (R) - Flew on 18 dispatched (17 credited) 359BS missions: 15 dispatched (14 credited) 359BS missions with Capt Stouse (All Stouse 359BS missions except two (7, 16) and three missions with other Pilots (16, 28, 30). Last mission on 17 April 1943 (Mission 31) and returned to the USA.

  • S/Sgt John A. Garriott (BTG) - Flew on 20 dispatched (19 credited) 359BS missions: 17 dispatched (16 credited) 359BS missions with Capt Stouse (All 359BS Stouse missions) and three dispatched and credited missions with other Pilots (22, 28, 30). Last mission on 17 April 1943 (Mission 31) and returned to the USA.

  • S/Sgt Theron S. Tupper (WG) - Flew on 20 dispatched (19 credited) 359BS missions: 16 dispatched (15 credited) 359BS missions with Capt Stouse (All 359BS Stouse missions except one (29(A) ) and four dispatched (3 credited) missions with other Pilots (11, 14(A), 28, 30). Last mission on 16 April 1943 (Mission 30) and returned to the USA.

  • S/Sgt Houston B. Brown (WG) - Did not fly with the Stouse crew from the USA to Molesworth in October 1942. Flew on 21 dispatched (20 credited) 359BS missions: 16 dispatched (15 credited) missions with Capt Stouse (All Stouse missions except one (1) and five dispatched and credited missions with other Pilots (11, 14, 22, 28, 30). Last mission on 17 April 1943 (Mission 31).

  • S/Sgt Calvin H. Owen (TG)(INJ) - Flew on 21 dispatched (19 credited) 359BS missions: 16 dispatched (15 credited) 359BS missions with Capt Stouse (All Stouse missions except one (16) and five dispatched (4 credited) missions with other Pilots (11, 14(A), 22, 28, 30). Was injured on 4 Feb 1943 (Mission 14) with frozen feet and hands. Last mission on 17 April 1943 (Mission 31) and returned to the USA.

  • 1Lt William J. "Bill" Neff 359BS Engineering Officer. Flew overseas from the USA to Molesworth with the Capt Stouse crew. Flew on three 303rd BG(H) combat missions as a volunteer to better understand problems of combat crewmen. (Missions 33, 37, 61).
Substitute Crewman after death of 1Lt Jack W. Mathis
  • 1Lt Rhude Mark Mathis, Jr. (B). Was waiting at Molesworth for the return of B-17F The Duchess and his brother, 1Lt Jack W. Mathis, after mission 24 on 18 March 1943. His brother was killed on mission 24 and 1Lt Rhude Mark Mathis obtained permission to transfer to the 303rd BG(H). He completed four combat missions with the 359th BS:
    1. 17 April 1943 (Mission 31) - Capt Harold L. Stouse (P) in B-17F 41-24561 The Duchess (359BS) BN-T in which his brother was killed.
    2. 04 May 1943 (Mission 33) - 1Lt Fort W. Lipe (P) in B-17F 42-29520 (427BS) GN-O
    3. 13 May 1943 (Mission 34)
    4. 14 May 1943 (Mission 35) - Capt Ross C. Bales (P) in B-17F 42-5243 FDR's Potato Peeler Kids (359BS) BN-P. The entire Capt Bales crew was killed on mission 35 to Kiel, Germany when the B-17 crashed at sea. 1Lt Rhude Mark Mathis, Jr. name appears on the Wall of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery at Margraten, Netherlands.

Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, Galveston, TX

Mathis Brothers Remembered:
(See: 303rd BG Memorials)
  • The San Angelo, TX airfield was named Mathis Field in honor of the two brothers. It was dedicated with a beautiful airport plaque and display in the terminal entry-way on 21 July 1988. San Angelo, TX was the home town of the Mathis brothers.
  • Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, TX - Mathis Sports and Fitness Center
  • Mighty Eighth AF Museum, Pooler, Ga. - 8th AF MOH Gallery for Jack Mathis
  • USAF Museum, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio - MOH plaque for Jack Mathis
  • Futtock AFB, Omaha, NE - MOH plaque for Jack Mathis
  • Mathis Headquarters Building - RAF Molesworth, England in honor of Jack Mathis
  • Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, Galveston, TX - Plaque honoring Jack Mathis and other Texas MOH awardees

[photo from the 303rdBGA Archives]
[Researched by Harry D. Gobrecht, 303rdBGA Historian Emeritus]