COMMENTS & NOTES
MEMO 1:
CREW
Lt Charles E.Harris P CPT 5/8/44 MAGDEBURG
Lt Manly W.Hall CP CPT 27/8/44 BERLIN
Lt Lloyd W.Coartney NAV CPT 5/8/44 MAGDEBURG
Lt John E.Dimel,Jr. BOM CPT 5/8/44 MAGDEBURG
T/Sgt Leighton B.Gaard ROG XFR Flew 21 Missions- 4/7/44 then transferred to Air Force communications unit in France)
T/Sgt Norman Howden,Jr TTE CPT 5/8/44 MAGDEBURG
S/Sgt Kenneth L.Nowland BTG XFR Completed 14 missions with this crew.
S/Sgt Joseph H.Blume RWG CPT 5/8/44 MAGDEBURG
WIA 22/3/44 ORANIENBURG/BERLIN (PURPLE HEART)
S/Sgt Peter R.Zyskowski LWG WIA 22/3/44 ORANIENBURG/BERLIN (PURPLE HEART)
WIA 10/4/44 RHEIMS (PURPLE HEART) recovered & then 'transferred
S/Sgt Joseph L.Oyler TG SWA 10/4/44 RHEIMS (PURPLE HEART ( Returned To USA after recovery)
Crew,as above, joined the 100th in March 1944.First mission on 19/3/44 418th Sqdn.
T/SGT H.H. GREENFIELD TOOK OVER AS ROG AFTER JULY 4, 1944
S/SGT R.L. SCHELLIN TOOK OVER AS BTG ON JUNE 2, 1944
S/SGT W.R.HEATHMAN FLIES AS REPLACEMENT FOR BLUME ON MARCH 23 & 31, 1944
S/SGT JIM MACK (FROM ROSENTHAL CREW) FLIES AS REPLACEMENT FOR BLUME FROM APRIL 1-10, 1944
S/SGT JOHN RYBAK TAKES OVER LWG POSITION ON APRIL 24, 1944
S/SGT ART TIRRELL TAKES OVER AS TG ON APRIL 24, 1944
See C.E.Harris correspondence in 418th file.
FOLLOWING IS MISSION LIST OF HARRIS CREW COMPILIED IN 1991 BY COL HARRIS.
HARRIS CREW
MARCH TO AUGUST 1944
# DATE TARGET COMMENT FLT TIME
1 3/19/44 NOBALL 4:00
2 3/22/44 BERLIN HIT OVER BERLIN, 88 MM
THROUGH WING. ZYSKOWSKI &
BLUME WOUNDED. OXYGEN AND
RADIO OUT. RTN ON DECK. 8:45
3. 3/23/44 BRUNSWICK CENTER OF CITY 7:30
3/31/44 LUDWIGSHAVEN (RECALLED)
4. 4/1/44 RECALL 4:45
5. 4/8/44 QUACKENBRUCK 6:15
4/9/44 POSEN (RECALLED)
6. 4/10/44 RHEIMS, FR. FIGHTERS, ZYSKOWSKI
WOUNDED FOR 2ND TIME.
RTN ALONE. 6:00
7. 4/24/44 FRIEDRICHSHAFEN GREAT VIEW OF ALPS 9:30
8. 4/26/44 BRUNSWICK 7:45
9. 4/27/44 FRANCE 5:00
10. 4/27/44 NO-BALL BIRTHDAY PRESENT TWO MISSIONS 6:30
11. 4/29/44 BERLIN 9:00
12. 5/1/44 LEAD CLASSIFIED MAJOR FULLER (1ST LEAD) 6:30
13. 5/8/44 LEAD LA GLACERIE, FR. COM PILOT UNK 4:50
14. 5/28/44 LEAD MADGEBURG MAJOR FULLER.. DIMEL (BTG)
SHOT DOWN TWO FIGHTERS.. 8:15
15. 6/2/44 LEAD FR. NO-BALL COM PILOT UNK 5:15
16. 6/6/44 LEAD D_DAY NORMANDIE CAPT GORSKI 7:30
17. 6/7/44 LEAD NANTES COM PILOT UNK 7:15
18. 6/18/44 LEAD BRUNSBUTTELKOOG CAPT GORSKI 7:30
19. 6/20/44 LEAD FALLERSLEBEN COM PILOT UNK 7:15
20. 6/21/44 LEAD BERLIN (BASDORF) COM PILOT GORSKI;
MAIN GROUP TO RUSSIA;
OUR GROUP A DIVERSION, CAPT GORSKI,
COMMAND PILOT WOUNDED
BY FLAK. COURTNEY & DIMEL EARN DFC. 9:45
21. 7/4/44 GIEN, FRANCE 6:15
22. 7/7/44 GOTTLINGEN, GER 7:14
23. 7/8/44 LEAD Le LENTE, FR. CAPT HOWARD 4:15
24. 7/14/44 PPF SOUTH FRANCE FIRST PATHFINDER MISSION,
MAQUIS SUPPLY DROP. 8:00
25. 7/19/44 PPF SCHWEINFURT LT COL BENNETT 7:00
26. 7/20/44 PFF MERSEBURG LT COL ROSENTHAL 8:45
27. 7/29/44 PFF MERSEBURG MAJOR ZELLER 8:00
28. 7/31/44 PFF MUNCIH LT COL KIDD 8:30
29. 8/5/44 PFF MAGDEBURG LT COL ROSENTHAL 7:30
THE END !!!!!!!
NOTE: CAPT KRETOW WAS THE RADAR OPERATOR ON ALL PATHFINDER MISSIONS
BTG'S who flew with the C.E. Harris crew..
NOWLAND K.L. SGT BTG 3/19/1944 MARQUISE, MIMMOYEQUES 73 91 133
NOWLAND K.L. SGT BTG 3/22/1944 ORANIENBURG (BERLIN) 73 6986 134
NOWLAND K.L. SGT BTG 3/23/1944 BRUNSWICK/ WAGGUM 73 107011 135
NOWLAND K.L. SGT BTG 3/28/1944 CHATEAUDUN/ EVREUX 73 107011 138
NOWLAND K.L. SGT BTG 3/31/1944 LUDWIGSHAFEN/RECALLED 73 106989 139
NOWLAND K.L. SGT BTG 4/1/1944 LUDWIGSHAFEN 73 106989 140
NOWLAND K.L. SGT BTG 4/7/1944 QUAKENBRUCK (SCRUBBED) 73 106989 141
NOWLAND K.L. SGT BTG 4/8/1944 QUACKENBRUCH 73 106989 142
NOWLAND K.L. SGT BTG 4/9/1944 KRZESINKI (POSEN) 73 106989 143
NOWLAND K.L. SGT BTG 4/10/1944 RHEIMS/ CHAMPAGNE 73 10986 144
SCHELLIN R.L. S/SGT BTG 6/6/1944 FALAISE/OUISTREHAM 73 106986 -132
SCHELLIN R.L. S/SGT BTG 6/7/1944 NANTES (BRIDGES) 73 106986 -135
SCHELLIN R.L. S/SGT BTG 6/18/1944 BRUNSBUTTELKOOG 73 106986 -141
SCHELLIN R.L. S/SGT BTG 6/20/1944 FALLERSLEBEN 73 106986 -143
SCHELLIN R.L. S/SGT BTG 6/21/1944 BASDORF & RUHLAND 73 106986 -144
SCHELLIN R.L. S/SGT BTG 7/4/1944 GEIN (RECALLED) 73 106986 152
SCHELLIN R.L. S/SGT BTG 7/7/1944 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG 73 37636 155
SCHELLIN R.L. S/SGT BTG 7/8/1944 CLAMECY-JOLGYN 73 37636 156
SCHELLIN R.L. S/SGT BTG 6/2/1944 BOULOGNE 73 106986 -128
ROG'S who flew with the C.E. Harris crew..
GAARD L.E. T/SGT ROG 5/8/1944 BERLIN & LaGLACERIE 73 106986 112
GAARD L.E. T/SGT ROG 5/28/1944 MAGDEBURG 73 106986 -124
GAARD L.E.. T/SGT ROG 6/2/1944 BOULOGNE 73 106986 -128
GAARD L.E. SGT ROG 3/19/1944 MARQUISE, MIMMOYEQUES 73 91 133
GAARD L.E. SGT ROG 3/22/1944 ORANIENBURG (BERLIN) 73 6986 134
GAARD L.E. SGT ROG 3/23/1944 BRUNSWICK/ WAGGUM 73 107011 135
GAARD L.E. SGT ROG 3/28/1944 CHATEAUDUN/ EVREUX 73 107011 138
GAARD L.E. SGT ROG 3/31/1944 LUDWIGSHAFEN/RECALLED 73 106989 139
GAARD L.E. SGT ROG 4/1/1944 LUDWIGSHAFEN 73 106989 140
GAARD L.E. SGT ROG 4/7/1944 QUAKENBRUCK (SCRUBBED) 73 106989 141
GAARD L.E. SGT ROG 4/8/1944 QUACKENBRUCH 73 106989 142
GAARD L.E. SGT ROG 4/9/1944 KRZESINKI (POSEN) 73 106989 143
GAARD L.E. SGT ROG 4/10/1944 RHEIMS/ CHAMPAGNE 73 10986 144
GREENFIELD H.H. T/SGT ROG 6/6/1944 FALAISE/OUISTREHAM 73 106986 -132
GREENFIELD H.H. T/SGT ROG 6/7/1944 NANTES (BRIDGES) 73 6986 -135
GREENFIELD H.H. T/SGT ROG 6/18/1944 BRUNSBUTTELKOOG 73 6986 -141
GREENFIELD H.H. T/SGT ROG 6/20/1944 FALLERSLEBEN 73 6986 -143
GREENFIELD H.H. T/SGT ROG 6/21/1944 BASDORF & RUHLAND 73 6986 -144
GREENFIELD H.H. T/SGT ROG 7/4/1944 GEIN (RECALLED) 73 6986 152
GREENFIELD H.H. T/SGT ROG 7/7/1944 BOHLEN/MERSEBURG 73 636 155
GREENFIELD H.H. T/SGT ROG 7/8/1944 CLAMECY-JOLGYN 73 636
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LLOYD W. COARTNEY, 90
BORN 20 AUG 1919
DIED 21 JAN 2010
NAV,418thBS,
2nd lt. Charles E Harris crew
CPT 8/5/44 MADGEBURG
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Letter to Paul West
12105 Amhassador Drive
#533
Colorado Springs, CO 80921-3642
November 18, 1993
Dear Paul:
Was good seeing you again in Little Rock. But you were so busy that we really didn't have a chance to chat. Next time! I'm sure you know, though, how much we appreciate your interest and what you're doing for the hundredth.
Our crew is trying to "resurrect" the Bastille Day (July 14) parachute mission to the Marquis. It was our first Pathfinder mission with Mike Crete. My Navigator, Lloyd Coartney (who was with us in Little Rock) said that "Big Pete" Peterson flew with us that day as the second navigator; that the PFF went on the blink shortly after take-off, and that he and Pete dead reckoned the mission nearly the entire way due to weather. As we descended thru the overcast they had it figured that there should be a lake to our right. There was! We then headed for the open field where the Marquis were waiting This was just west of the Alps. We made a dry run on the field to make sure we were right, then a 360 and dropped on the next approach. We're sure that we were the first ones in as there were no signs of prior chutes. I do remember glancing down and seeing all those brave guys down there. As I remember, we dropped from about 600 feet.
What none of us can remember is who was our Command Pilot. Having the PFF, (and Big Pete), we think it must have been a
13th Wing lead. Which brings up, was John Bennett with us? Remember very well that he was with us on the July 19 mission to Schweinfurt, but p. 130-131 of "Century Bombers" tells that the Frenchman- Lt Jean Vallion-- flew with Bennett on the 14th. I'm sure we'd remember him if he'd been with us. So, if we weren't with Bennett, why did we have PFF and a second Navigator?? Just possibly you have the answer.
I think that I sent you some mission sheets last year, but I have no record, so am enclosing copies of the few I have.
Have ramble on enough. Dare say you get many requests like this, but you asked for it!!!
If you ever get out this way, be sure and let me know. We're living in a beautiful retirement center (Liberty Heights), We have guest apts. Here which we'd be glad to reserve for you. As I write I'm looking out on the AF Academy. We're on the east side of the Valley; the Academy is on the west side- about a 15 minute ride for us, as we can cut straight across. There's a lot to see and do here. Lt Gen. "But" Clark, a prior Supt. Of the Academy, is here with us. He was the Senior Officer in Stalag 3; was shot down in '42 while flying a Spitfire with the RAF.
All the best,
Chuck Harris
Orders deploying Harris crew to ETO dated 10 Feb 1944..
SECRET
GRENIER FIELD
MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
STA. 16, NAW, ATC
..
(OPERATIONS ORDERS )
NO…………………………………..14
10 February 1944
EXTRACT
1. The following named crew WP by air in the aircraft as indicated below at the proper time from Grenier Field, 'Manchester, New Hampshire, via North Atlantic Route to the European Theater of Operations, London, England, reporting upon arrival to the Commander, 8th Air Force Service Command, Air Transport Command Terminals of Arrival British Isles, for further assignment and duty with the 8th Air ~orce.
X PROVISIONAL BOMB GROUP
Shipment No. FX_ BJ
Project No. 92419-R
APO No. 12760-RJ-55
B_L7g - Crcw #55 #42-31895
Pilot 2nd .Lt. Charles E.,Harris 0-749162
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt.Manly W. Hall, Jr. 0-755578
Navigator 2nd Lt. Lloyd W. Coartney 0-698264
Bombardier 2nd Lt. John E. Dimell, Jr. - 0-685073
Engineer Sgt..Norman (NMI) Howden, Jr. 11114810
Radio Operator. Cpl. Leighton B. Gaard 19203172
Arm. Gunner Sgt. Joscph H. Blume, Jr. . 3Z767743
Career Gunner Sgt. Joscph L. Oyler 15354702
Career Gunner Sgt. Pctcr R, Zyskowski 32741614
Career Gunner Sgt. Kenncth L. Nowland 12169351
This is- a Permanent change of station.
Ln lieu of subsistence a flat per diem of seven dollars ($7.00) is Authorized for travel and for periods of temporary duty enroute to final destination when, necessary for officers and flight officers, in accordance with existing law end regulations. Payment of mileage is not authorized. Such times as the individual is billeted and subsisted, as outlined in WD Memorandum K- 35-2-42, September 30, 1942, his per diem will be suspended.
A flat per diem of seven dollars ($7.00) is authorized for enlisted men for travel and for periods of temporary duty enroute to final destination in accordance with existing law and regulations, if travel is performed by air. For travel by rail and for periods of delay enroute to final destination, monetary allowance, in lieu of rations and quarters is prescribed in accordance with AR 35-4520.
SECRET
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MEMO 2: