| 1ST LT |
GLEN S. VAN NOY |
P |
POW |
17-Aug-43 |
Regensburg |
| 2ND LT |
JAMES B. EVANS |
CP |
POW |
17-Aug-43 |
Regensburg |
| 1ST LT |
KENNETH G. ALLEN |
NAV |
POW |
17-Aug-43 |
Regensburg |
| 1ST LT |
WILLIAM H. COUCH |
BOM |
POW |
17-Aug-43 |
Regensburg |
| T/SGT |
WILLIAM R. STEWART |
TTE |
POW |
17-Aug-43 |
Regensburg |
| COL |
WILLIAM L. KENNEDY |
RWG |
POW |
17-Aug-43 |
Regensburg (See notes) |
| S/SGT |
GEORGE P. GINEIKIS |
RWG |
EVA |
5-Nov-43 |
Gelsenkirchen
(Replaced by Col. Kennedy) |
| T/SGT |
WILLIAM W. CRABB |
LWG |
POW |
17-Aug-43 |
Regensburg |
| S/SGT |
JAMES D. GIBSON |
ROG |
POW |
17-Aug-43 |
Regensburg |
| S/SGT |
JOE F. HRUSKOCY |
BTG |
POW |
17-Aug-43 |
Regensburg |
| S/SGT |
SAMUEL J. CUSMANO |
TG |
POW |
17-Aug-43 |
Regensburg |
349TH CREW #5, A/C #42-30042 (OH NAUSEA) MACR #682
Col. Kennedy was an armor and gunnery expert flying as an observer
prior to his return to the U.S. He flew in place of George P Gineikis, the
regular Right waist gunner.
MISSIONS OF LT GLEN VAN NOY CREW: (from Paul Andrews
appendix in Luck of the Draw. . mpf)
| NBR |
DATE |
TARGET |
A/C NBR |
A/C NAME |
NOTE |
| 01 |
25/06/43 |
BREMEN |
230259 |
DAMIFINO II |
|
| 02 |
26/06/43 |
LeMANS |
230259 |
DAMIFINO II |
|
| 03 |
28/06/43 |
ST. NAZAIRE |
230259 |
DAMIFINO II |
(lost one engine) |
| NC |
04/07/43 |
La PALLICE |
230259 |
DAMIFINO II |
(returned early, spare a/c) |
| NC |
10/07/43 |
Le BOURGET |
230259 |
DAMIFINO II |
(returned early, hatch came off ball turret) |
| 04 |
14/07/43 |
HAMBURG |
25867 |
ALICE FROM DALLAS |
|
| 05 |
24/07/43 |
TRONDHEIM |
230259 |
DAMIFINO II |
|
| 06 |
25/07/43 |
KIEL |
230088 |
SQUAWKIN HAWK |
|
| 07 |
12/08/43 |
WESSELING |
230259 |
DAMIFINO II |
|
| NC |
15/08/43 |
MERVILLE & LILLE |
230259 |
DAMIFINO II |
(returned early, spare a/c) |
| 08 |
17/08/43 |
REGENSBURG |
230042 |
OH NAUSEA |
(shot down, ditched in the Med. ) |
An eyewitness (either Owen D. Roane or John R Justice) gave
following report:
"B-17 #042 was seen to be in trouble a few minutes before target No 4 engine was flaming, but it
continued in formation, dropped its bombs on the target and did not pull
away until it reached the Alps near Munich At this place #2 engine was feathered and A/C pulled away and
disappeared around the side of a mountain. It was flying at about 10,000
feet when last seen and was being pursued by a JU 88 No chutes were seen."
This information from crewmember, after the war:
According to Bill Crabb: they lost one engine (fighter attack) just after crossing enemy Coast early in mission and a second at the target realized they probably could not reach Africa but at no time did they consider Switzerland. Ran out of ammo although he had 1100 rounds for one gun and 900 for the other (flew ball turret because he fit better than Hruskocy, the regular BTG man)
Bill Couch had size 13 shoes or bigger. Was in stocking feet when
picked up and Germans said they had no shoes in Italy big enough for him
Of Col Kennedy, Crabb Says," He was due to return stateside to help train
aerial gunners And was along for 1st hand experience " "He kept squeezing
off one round at a time and I remember thinking, My God! a short burst is
one thing but this is ridiculous."
Had one bomb hang up over target and tried to release it over a small
Airfield near Brenner pass but it wouldn't go. Later released it manually
over Mediterranean. Dropped to 500 ft and threw out everything not nailed down
"even my GI shoes" Just north of Naples turned for Sicily because at
briefing had been told Sicily would fall that day It did.
About 90 miles from Sicily lost a third engine Van Noy shut down remaining engine
and made the most beautiful landing he ever made. "He never could land an
Airplane except when it really counted." Ship floated about an hour and a
half. Picked up next morning by Germans in a flying boat.
Cusmano reported:
Got out 2 five man dinghies and a smaller one -lots of rations, radio, etc.
Raised radio mast with balloon and sent S O S Only mission on which
42-30042 reached target was this one It had had 7/8 Abortions . Original ship (42-30002) was named "Damn
IF I Know" and was having PFF installed. Was in POW Camp 17B Krems,
Austria with many other 100th Gp men. George P Gineikis went down on 5
Nov.1943 - mission to Gelsenkirchen and it is believed he was an evader.
Cusmano later visited him in Vets Hosp. in Battle Creek. Later heard he had been discharged
with a disability pension.
DITCHED 60 MILES OFF SICILY ON THE 17 AUG 43 MISSION TO REGENSBURG/
NORTH AFRICA. VAN NOY MADE A PERFECT WATER LANDING, PROMPTING A CREW
MEMBER TO REMARK, "VAN NOY NEVER COULD LAND A PLANE EXCEPT WHEN IT REALLY
COUNTED." THIS WAS PROMPTED BY HIS RETURN FROM ST. NAZAIRE WITH AN ENGINE
OUT ON 28 JUN 43. "OH NAUSEA"
FLOATED FOR 90 MINUTES BEFORE SINKING AND THE ENTIRE CREW WERE PICKED UP
BY THE GERMANS. |