Related Pages: David E. Hutchinson  |  Paul B. Batterman  |  Jerome S. Garrison  |  Jack L. Gay  |  Robert C. Ellis

Lt. James W. Knowles Photo courtesy of Ian Knowles, April 2008

351st Sqdn… Crew, as above, joined the 100th Group on 2/8/44.

It is probable that to reduce to a nine man crew Sgt. Cable was shifted to another crew. S/Sgt Herman F. Eckmeyer from the Jack Gay crew flew with the Wallace G. Wilson crew on the 31 Dec 44 Hamburg mission, replacing Lt. Brewin.

From a letter from Norm Graham, Navigator on the P. B. Batterman Crew, dated 24/3/83 we learn:
"Lt Batterman broke his arm riding a bicycle after joining the 100th on 5/10/44 and Jim Knowles was assigned as pilot of the Batterman crew. Zemske & Graham then placed on the crew of Dave Hutchinson. Later, Batterman joined the Hutchinson crew as CP and Tom Fagan as ROG. Finished tour. Ray Stiller, Bob May, Reid Jensen, Leon Hebert and Elmer Hooper stayed with Knowles crew. "

James W. Knowles was the original CP on crew of Jack L. Gay. Lt Knowles first mission with the Batterman crew was 26 Nov 44 to Hamm. Lt. Knowles was replaced as first pilot on the Batterman crew by Lt Stevenson (see Sgt Hooper diary) starting on 20 Jan 45.

We have only two records of Lt Knowles flying as 1st pilot after Dec 31, 1944, one on March 17, 1945 to Plauen flying 42-31530 "QUITTIN' TIME" and another the following day March 18, 1945 flying 44-8503 "BABY BUNTY" LN-A, an a/c from the 350th BS to Berlin. According to S/Sgt Hooper diary, 3-17-45, Plauen, Ger. Knowles was pilot, Lt Brown, a new pilot, flew as co-pilot. Lt. Linn – Bombardier – Levine was waist gunner, Hooper as TG. My best guess for this big lapse of time for Knowles not flying a mission after Dec 31, 1944 is that he may have gone to 351st Sqdn operations…mpf 2006) 

MISSIONS OF LT KNOWLES WITH LT GAY CREW:

Lt Knowles as 1st Pilot with Lt Batterman Crew. (Knowles first mission with this crew was Nov 26, 1944)

CREW FOR 17 MAR 45 

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