Following is edited Oct.27, 2005 letter from Albert P. Lochra (ROG) to Jack O'Leary:
"On the first two missions and probably the third, our Pilot was Capt. Charles Robbs and our co-pilot was Orville K. Broyles (he preferred "BUTCH"), our Navigator was James J. Hawley and the Bombardier was Robert V. Gildea. Others were Clarence Henderson, Engineer; Anthony Cheffo, Ball Turret; Frank Kopus, Waist Gunner; Harold E. Johnson, Tail Gunner; and Albert P. Lochra, Radio. Either at our Third mission or certainly by the fourth, Capt. Robbs was pulled from the crew with Broyles replacing him as first pilot. Broyles soon received his silver bar as a First Lieutenant. Also, at the same time, Lt. Gildea was pulled and placed into a pool of Group Bombardiers. (Gildea told me at the Pittsburgh (100th BGF) Reunion that he completed six missions) Capt. Robbs was promoted to Major and became C.O. of a Squadron (Editors note…Al rode over on his bike to congratulate Major Robbs at his promotion…Al thought it was the 418th BS originally but after our conversation, couldn’t be sure which Squadron area he rode to on that day 60 years ago). Replacements as co-pilot of our plane were multiple; but I believe a Lt. Thomas J. Slaven flew several and perhaps another co-pilot flew more than one mission with us (Jan 4, 1945 while returning from training mission at Thorpe Abbotts, crashed A/C338523 (GLORY BOUND) on landing. 2nd Lt Ivan Rosenbaum and 2nd Lt Thomas Slaven were both injured in the crash and hospitalized. Upon recovery, Lt Slaven would become a fill in CP; he flew on Lt Streich Crew until they completed their tour in Feb 45 and then became CP on Lt Broyles Crew.). Similarly, Gildea was replaced by a series of Toggaliers and/or Bombardiers the names of whom I have no recollection. But the other members of the crew remained intact. On an occasion or two, we had a Radar Technician flying with us, one of whom, John W. Disher (from 1st Lt Harold S.Bucklew Crew), was killed during a subsequent mission (March 18,1945 to Berlin) with another crew…." (Editors Note Reference the Edward P. "Duke" Gwin Crew page for summary of Spot Jammer Disher & crew)