National WWII Glider Pilots Association

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FIFTY GLIDERS TO BASTOGNE → Mission #1117

Compliled by the Research Team

50 Glider Pilots flew with no co-pilots to deliver ammunition and supplies to the 101st, Patton's 4th Armored Division and the 82nd Airborne Division on 27 December 1944: They actually flew in rows of two tugs and two gliders side by side. Glider pilots by Chalk number (take-off order):


Glider pilots by Chalk number (take-off order):

RANK FIRST NAME LAST NAME ASN CHALK # GLIDER # SQUADRON
1st Lt. Richard K. FORT 0-447399 Chalk 01 91
Tug #01 Crew: - P-Capt William M Sammons, CP- 1st Lt Boleslaw Sienkiewicz, RO- , CC-

F/O F. Duke JARVIS T-128219 Chalk 02 91
    
2nd Lt. Morris Albert GANS T-121147 Chalk 03 91
Tug #03 Crew: - P-1st Lt Robert F Ingram, CP- 2nd Lt Melvin J Bailey, RO- , CC-

F/O Claude A. BERRY T-128202 Chalk 04 91
    
F/O Harold Martin LOOMIS T-60756 Chalk 05 91
    
F/O Eric RAFTER T-122726 Chalk 06 91
    
F/O Robert R. BISCH T-126040 Chalk 07 91
    
F/O Charles A. BALFOUR T-738 Chalk 08 91
    
2nd Lt. Delfort T. SUMMERS T-60843 Chalk 09 91
    
F/O Ivan BURTON T-125087 Chalk 10 91
Tug #10 Crew: - P-, CP- 2nd Lt Robert F Schillinger, RO- , CC-T/Sgt Harry T Cullen

2nd Lt. Roy William SAMPLE T-662 Chalk 11 91
    
F/O John W. BURNETT T-126045 Chalk 12 91
Tug #12 Crew: - P-1st Lt James F Hurley (captured), CP-2nd Lt Lester J Epstein (captured and murdered) , RO-S/Sgt Harry A Kortas , CC-S/Sgt Marion B McCarter
Glider hit by small arms fire and flak that went thourgh his tail section. Was still able to control the glider for landing.

2nd Lt. John Drew HILL T-120657 Chalk 13 91
Tug #13 Crew: - P-2nd Lt Foseph Frys, CP- , RO- S/SgtWilliam M Connarn, CC- S/Sgt Alex Jakush

2nd Lt. Herbert B. BAILEY 0-402350 Chalk 14 92
Tug #14 Crew: - P-Capt Thomas Corrigan, CP- , RO- , CC-

2nd Lt. Frank Joseph HYNES 0-669426 Chalk 15 92
    
F/O Joseph Brendan MONKS T-123854 Chalk 16 92
    
F/O Edward T. CARRELL T-123372 Chalk 17 92
    
2nd Lt. Bless R. RUSK 0-716076 Chalk 18 92
    
2nd Lt. Frank Simon. ARMI Jr. T-128157 Chalk 19 92
    
F/O Kenneth W. AVERY T-128199 Chalk 20 92
Tug #20 Crew: - P-1st Lt Harry G Gutherless, CP-, RO- , CC-

F/O Jack D. HANCOCK T-128087 Chalk 21 92
Tug #21 Crew: - P-1st Lt Martin H Skolnick, CP-2nd Lt Fredrickson, RO-Sgt Vaughn , CC- Sgt Gonzales C-47 downed

2nd Lt. Hollis W. JONES T-128089 Chalk 22 92
Jones hit by a 20mm round but was able to land in the LZ
Tug #01 Crew: - P-, CP- , RO- , CC-

F/O David H. SILL T-123871 Chalk 23 92
    
2nd Lt. Albert S. PACETTA T-121372 Chalk 24 92
Tug #24 Crew: - P-1st Lt Crawford D Kinney, CP- 2nd Lt Harrel R Sullivan, RO- , CC-T/Sgt John Young

F/O Elisha B. PAGE T-121770 Chalk 25 92
    
2nd Lt. Charles L. BREMA T-396 Chalk 26 93
Tug #26 Crew: - P-Capt James B Murrow, Jr., CP- 2nd Lt Robert A Nelson, NAV- 1st Lt William E Alexander, RO- , CC-

1st Lt. Lloyd CLARK 0-432652 Chalk 27 93
Tug #27 Crew: - P-1st Lt SJames D Beebe, CP-, RO- , CC-

F/O Frank W. ANDUX T-1076 Chalk 28 93
Tug #28 Crew: - P-1st Lt Byron Myers, CP- 1st Lt Robert L Sakrison , RO- , CC-

2nd Lt. Mack (NMI) STRIPLIN T-123875 Chalk 29 93
    
(POW) F/O Harold Ken RUSSELL T-121277 Chalk 30 93
Tug #30 Crew: - P-Capt Edward Nachowitz, CP-1st Lt Edward L Willimas, NAV-1st Lt Robert W Nelson, RO-Sgt John M McCann, CC-T/Sgt Vernon J Brasch C-47 downed

(POW) F/O Paul O. HOWER T-60736 Chalk 31 93
    
(POW) F/O George Wallace JUNEAU T-60743 Chalk 32 93
    
(POW) 2nd Lt. Frank W. HOBART T-60734 Chalk 33 93
    
F/O Narcisco Munoz MONJE T-124260 Chalk 34 93
Tug #34 Crew: - P-Capt Jake Cratty, CP- , RO- , CC-

F/O Herbert W. BALLINGER T-128200 Chalk 35 93
Tug #35 Crew: - P-1st Lt Phillip C Hecker, CP- , RO- , CC-

F/O Albert Sehman BARTON T-121301 Chalk 36 93
Tug #36 Crew: - P-1st Lt Ernest Turner (Ain't Miss-behavin), CP- , RO- , CC- C-47 downed

F/O J.B. (IO) HARDIN T-128216 Chalk 37 93
    
(POW) F/O Richard W. BLAKE T-128116 Chalk 38 93
Tug #38 Crew: - P-Captain Wilton C. Smith, CP- 2nd Lt. Arthur A. Calderwood, NAV-Michael A Whitfill, RO- T/Sgt. Floyd E. McConnel, CC- S/Sgt. Anthony T. Piraino

(KIA) 2nd Lt. Raymond G. SCHOTT T-864 Chalk 39 94
    
2nd Lt. Henry H. NOWELL T-275 Chalk 40 94
    
(POW) F/O Pershing Y. CARLSON T-1111 Chalk 41 94
    
(POW) 2nd Lt. George S. FREEMAN T-120715 Chalk 42 94
    
(POW) F/O Velton J. BREWER T-124195 Chalk 43 94
    
(KIA) 2nd Lt. Douglas C. BLOOMFIELD 0-713071 Chalk 44 94
    
(POW) F/O Emmett M. AVERY Jr. T-125079 Chalk 45 94
    
(POW) F/O Francis L. CARROLL T-125088 Chalk 46 94
Tug #47 42-100910 Crew: - P-1st Lt Earnest Oscar Foster (KIA), CP-2nd Lt Lewis Green (KIA), NAV-1st Lt. Michael Brady (KIA), RO-S/Sgt Robert E Thompson, CC-T/Sgt Theodore W Mrenosco

(POW) F/O Clifton H. KIZER T-128127 Chalk 47 94
Tug #47 Crew: - P-1st Lt Kent Maynard, CP- , NAV-F/O Roderick MacDougall, RO- , CC-

(KIA) F/O Gerald D. KNOTT T-128038 Chalk 48 94
    
(POW) F/O Verbon E. HOUCK T-128124 Chalk 49 94
Tug #49 Crew: - P-1st Lt Alan J Maeder, CP- 2nd Lt. Lee W Dahman, RO- Cpl Robet L Holste, CC- T/Sgt. Robert Londo

(POW) F/O Mike SHEFF T-121279 Chalk 50 94
    




Bold underline = DID NOT MAKE IT TO LZ    
KIA
   
POW

Alphabetical by Last name

RANK FIRST NAME LAST NAME ASN CHALK # GLIDER # SQUADRON
F/O Frank W. ANDUX T-1076 Chalk 28 93
2nd Lt. Frank Simon ARMI Jr. T-128157 Chalk 19 92
F/O Kenneth W. AVERY T-128199 Chalk 20 92
F/O Emmett M. AVERY Jr. T-125079 Chalk 45 94
2nd Lt. Herbert B. BAILEY 0-402350 Chalk 14 92
F/O Charles A. BALFOUR T-738 Chalk 08 91
F/O Herbert W. BALLINGER T-128200 Chalk 35 93
F/O Albert Sehman BARTON T-121301 Chalk 36 93
F/O Claude A. BERRY T-128202 Chalk 04 91
F/O Robert R. BISCH T-126040 Chalk 07 91
F/O Richard W. BLAKE T-128116 Chalk 38 93
2nd Lt. Douglas C. BLOOMFIELD 0-713071 Chalk 44 94
2nd Lt. Charles L. BREMA T-396 Chalk 26 93
F/O Velton J. BREWER T-124195 Chalk 43 94
F/O John W. BURNETT T-126045 Chalk 12 91
F/O Ivan BURTON T-125087 Chalk 10 91
F/O Pershing Y. CARLSON T-1111 Chalk 41 94
F/O Edward T. CARRELL T-123372 Chalk 17 92
F/O Francis L. CARROLL T-125088 Chalk 46 94
1st Lt. Lloyd CLARK 0-432652 Chalk 27 93
1st Lt. Richard K. FORT 0-447399 Chalk 01 91
2nd Lt. George S. FREEMAN T-120715 Chalk 42 94
2nd Lt. Morris Albert GANS T-121147 Chalk 03 91
F/O Jack D. HANCOCK T-128087 Chalk 21 92
F/O J.B. (IO) HARDIN T-128216 Chalk 37 93
2nd Lt. John Drew HILL T-120657 Chalk 13 91
2nd Lt. Frank W. HOBART T-60734 Chalk 33 93
F/O Verbon E. HOUCK T-128124 Chalk 49 94
F/O Paul O. HOWER T-60736 Chalk 31 93
2nd Lt. Frank Joseph HYNES 0-669426 Chalk 15 92
F/O F. Duke JARVIS T-128219 Chalk 02 91
2nd Lt. Hollis W. JONES T-128089 Chalk 22 92
F/O George Wallace JUNEAU T-60743 Chalk 32 93
F/O Clifton H. KIZER T-128127 Chalk 47 94
F/O Gerald D. KNOTT T-128038 Chalk 48 94
F/O Harold Martin LOOMIS T-60756 Chalk 05 91
F/O Narcisco Munoz MONJE T-124260 Chalk 34 93
F/O Joseph Brendan MONKS T-123854 Chalk 16 92
2nd Lt. Henry H. NOWELL T-275 Chalk 40 94
2nd Lt. Albert S. PACETTA T-121372 Chalk 24 92
F/O Elisha B. PAGE T-121770 Chalk 25 92
F/O Eric RAFTER T-122726 Chalk 06 91
2nd Lt. Bless R. RUSK 0-716076 Chalk 18 92
F/O Harold Ken RUSSELL T-121277 Chalk 30 93
2nd Lt. Roy William SAMPLE T-662 Chalk 11 91
2nd Lt. Raymond G. SCHOTT T-864 Chalk 39 94
F/O Mike SHEFF T-121279 Chalk 50 94
F/O David H. SILL T-123871 Chalk 23 92
2nd Lt. Mack (NMI) STRIPLIN T-123875 Chalk 29 93
2nd Lt. Delfort T. SUMMERS T-60843 Chalk 09 91






SERIALS

50 GLIDERS SERIAL
GLIDER PILOT NARRATIVES

The SITUATION

23-24 Dec. Bundles From The Sky
C-47 Battle_Damage


26-27 Dec. Gliders

27 Dec. The Final Drop



the Murder of Lt. Epstein


Harold Russell’s Escape


Headquarters, 440th Report 1944


SERIALS



AMERICAN GLIDER PILOTS INVOLVED IN THE ARDENNES (BASTOGNE PULSE AND REPULSE) OP.







map

Courtesy National Archives /
NWWIIGPA Collection<

Aerial Photo of gliders in the snow covered fields





Photos of some of the men
from the 10 Glider mission:

F/O Warren deBEAUCLAIR, Chalk 2



2nd Lt. Joseph A. PURCELL, Chalk 5



F/O Charles F. SUTTON, Chalk 10



F/O O. B. BLESSING, Chalk 10






Courtesy of the National Archives / NWWIIGPA Collection

This is Chalk #3 flown by 2nd Lt. Morris Albert Gans, Chuck Berry’s glider #4 was next in line for take off.





Photos of some of the men
from the 50 Glider mission:

F/O Herbert W. BALLINGER, Chalk 35



F/O Albert Sehman BARTON Chalk 36



F/O Claude A. “Chuck” BERRY, Chalk 04

F/O Claude A. “Chuck”


F/O Richard W. Blake, Chalk 38, POW



F/O BURNETT, Chalk 12



F/O Francis L. CARROLL, Chalk 46, POW



F/O Edward T. CARRELL, Chalk 17



F/O Mack STRIPLIN, Chalk 29






Chart covers 23, 26, and 27 December for the 50th WING only
Seal
                          

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