William H. Breed Crew

WILLIAM H. BREED CREW - 360th BS
B-17F Shak Hak #42-2967 (PU-G)
(original crew assigned 360BS: 15 July 1942 - photo: 14 Oct 1942)
(Flew from USA to England in Oct 1942 in Shak Hak)

(Back L-R) Capt William H. Breed (P)(KIA), 2Lt Harry T. Sample, Jr (CP)(KIA),
1Lt Homer R. Allen (N)(KIA), 2Lt Homer N. Santerre (B)(KIA)

(Front - not in order) T/Sgt Stanley Putala (E)(KIA), T/Sgt Joseph M. Herbert (R)(KIA),
S/Sgt Samuel D. Easter (AE/RWG), S/Sgt James H. Lentz (TG)(KIA),
S/Sgt Mathias A. Kuffel (BTG)(KIA)

(Ranks and Grades at time of last combat mission)

Seven Dispatched (6 credited) combat missions flown by 1Lt William H. Breed:
1 (17 Nov 1942), 2, 4, 6 Failed to take-off), 9, 10, 16 (16 Feb 1943)

Three B-17Fs flown by 1Lt William H. Breed on his seven dispatched combat missions:

42-2967 (P) Shak Hak (360BS) PU-G - 4 credited missions [1, 2, 6 (Failed to take-off- Non credited), 9 and 16]. One mission (#11) flown with another crew for a total of 5 credited missions. Named by 1Lt Breed crew at Kellogg Field, Battle Creek, MI. At Kellogg Field 7 Sept to 13 Oct 1942. Departed Kellogg Field on 13 Oct 1942 and arrived at Molesworth, England on 24 October 1942. S/Sgt (Later T/Sgt) William C. Fluke (360BS Operations Unit Staff) flew as a passenger on the overseas flight.
41-24567 Beats Me (360BS) PU-J - Mission 4 - MIA on mission #11, 23 January 1943 (7th mission)
41-24579 (P) Thumper (360BS) PU-F - Mission 1 - Crash landing on mission #11, 23 January 1943 (8th mission)
(P) See Nose Art Photos --- (FTO) Failed to take off

Crew Notes - Original members of the 1Lt Breed crew:

1Lt William H. Breed (P)(KIA) - All 6 credited missions flown as First Pilot. Was KIA on 16 February 1943 (Mission 16). Name on Wall of Missing Brittany American Cemetery in France. Received a posthumous promotion from 1Lt to Captain following mission 16.
2Lt Harry T. Sample (CP)(KIA 5 credited missions flown - all with 1Lt Breed (1, 4, 9, 10, 16) KIA on 16 February 1943 (Mission 16). Name on Wall of Missing Brittany American Cemetery in France. Substitute CoPilot, 1Lt Louis M. Schulstad, used on mission #2.
1Lt Homer R. Allen (N)(KIA) - 5 credited missions flown - all with 1Lt Breed (1, 2, 4, 9, 16). KIA on 16 February 1943 ( Mission 16). Name on Wall of Missing Brittany American Cemetery in France. Substitute Navigator, Capt Deadman, used on mission #10.
2Lt Homer N. Santerre (B)(KIA) - 6 credited missions flown: 5 with 1Lt Breed (1, 2, 4, 10, 16); 1 with Capt Jacob W. Fredericks (15). KIA on 16 February 1943 (Mission 16). Name on Wall of Missing Brittany American Cemetery in France. Substitute Bombardier 2Lt Earl J. Dumont used on mission #9
T/Sgt Stanley Putala (E)(KIA) - 7 credited missions flown: 6 with 1Lt Breed (1, 2, 4, 9, 10, 16); 1 credited mission flown with Major Richard D. Callaway as Right Waist Gunner. KIA on 16 February 1943 (Mission 16). Name on Wall of Missing Cambridge American Cemetery in England
T/Sgt Joseph M. Herbert (R)(KIA) - 7 credited missions flown: 6 with 1Lt Breed (1, 2, 4, 9, 10, 16); 1 credited mission flown with Capt Lewis E. Lyle and Lt Col Charles E. Marion (Mission 12). KIA on 16 February 1943 (Mission 16). Name on Wall of Missing Brittany American Cemetery in France.
S/Sgt Mathias A. Kuffel (BTG)(KIA) - 5 credited missions flown: 4 with 1Lt Breed (4, 9, 10, 16); 2 dispatched (1 credited) mission with other Pilots - Major Richard D. Callaway (mission 8) and 1Lt George J. Oxrider, 358BS (Mission 12 aborted). KIA on 16 February 1943 (Mission 16). Name on Wall of Missing Brittany American Cemetery in France. Substitute Ball Turret Gunner, S/Sgt Allan E. Magee, used on two missions (1, 2).
S/Sgt Samuel D. Easter (LWG) - 3 credited missions flown with 1Lt Breed (1, 2, 4). No missions with other Pilots. Substitute Left Waist Gunner, S/Sgt Roy C. Loken (LWG)(KIA), used on three missions (9, 10, 16). Also flew on one mission as Right Waist Gunner (4).
S/Sgt James H. Lentz (TG)(KIA) - 7 credited missions flown: 6 with 1Lt Breed (1, 2, 4, 9, 10, 16). 1 credited mission flown with Major Richard D. Callaway (Mission 8). KIA on 16 February 1943 (Mission 16). Name on Wall of Missing Brittany American Cemetery in France.
Right Waist Gunners - The 1Lt Breed crew had no regularly assigned Right Waist Gunner. The following four substitutes were used:
- S/Sgt Charles L. Roth (RWG/TG)(POW) - 9 credited mission flown: 2 with 1Lt Breed (1, 2); 7 credited missions with other Pilots as Radio Operator (3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11). Became a POW on 23 January 1943 (Mission 11 to Lorient, France), 1Lt Joseph E. Haas (P) (358BS) in B-17F 41-24567 (360BS) PU-J. Crashed at La Chez, France (7 KIA 3 POW).
- S/Sgt Roy C. Loken (RWG)(KIA) - 4 credited missions flown - all with 1Lt Breed - Right Waist Gunner (4), As Left Waist Gunner (9, 10, 16). KIA on 26 February 1943 (Mission 16). Name on Wall of Missing Brittany American Cemetery in France.
- Sgt Michael J. Halpin (RWG)(KIA) - 2 credited missions flown - both with 1Lt Breed (10, 16). KIA on 26 February 1943 (Mission 16). Name on Wall of Missing Brittany American Cemetery in France.
- Sgt Billie L. Staner (RWG) - 5 credited missions flown: 1 with 1Lt Breed (9); 4 with other Pilots as a Waist Gunner (4, 5, 7, 11).

Mission Note:
26 February 1943 (Mission 16) to St. Nazaire, France in B-17F 42-2967 Shak Hak (360BS) PU-G with 1Lt William H. Breed, Pilot. Was shot down by German fighters and ditched in the Brest Peninsula, northeast of Brest, France. All ten crewmen were killed in action and bodies were not recovered. (Missing Air Crew Report 15116)

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