LT Austin's Crew, 833rd. Standing (L to R): Harry N. Solley (TG), Richard Chapman (Arm/BG), Albert E. Baysinger (NG), G. G. "John" Beshore (FE/Top), Eulee "Lee" Byrd (WG), Malcom J. Barron (RO/Chaff/WG). Front (L to R): Richard B. Crout (B), Cyril M. Pinkava (N), Charles T. Smith (CP), George B. Austin (P). (submitted by George Austin). Photographed in Subury England 1944. As flight engineer of my crew, I remember all of my fellow crewmembers very well and their positions, rank, etc. Sometimes those that had narrow escapes wished to forget all about it, and get on with their lives after returning to New Jersey (via boat); I was one. After completing the A-1 form prior to take off (I never erased the names from my memory) I checked to make sure it was correct before handing it over to the ground crew chief. I'll never forget the look on his tired face after our hydraulic system was shot out over France, which I repaired over open bomb bay doors without a parachute on at approximately 17,000 ft. SGT Silva was truly a hero (the ground crew chief - our crew chief). Our ship was always ready to go in tip-top shape. They worked by those dim GI flashlights all during the dark hours many times. We all stayed together as a team and finished that way. As flight engineer I do not recall ever hearing a swearing of words, we just looked at each other and understood. I said the 23 Psalm during and before each mission, which was taught to me at the age of 12. I never saw my fellow crewmembers again after our last mission to big "B". - G. G. "John" Beshore |
CREW INFO | |||||
Name | Rank | Position | First Mission | Last Mission | Status |
George B. Austin | Pilot | 06/15/44 | Completed tour. | ||
Charles T. "CT" Smith | Copilot | 06/15/44 | Completed tour. | ||
Cyril M. Pinkava | Navigator | 06/15/44 | Completed tour. | ||
Richard B. Crout | Bombardier | 06/15/44 | Completed tour. | ||
G. G. "John" Beshore | FE/Top | 06/15/44 | Completed tour. | ||
Malcolm J. Barron | R/O/G/Chaff | 06/15/44 | Completed tour. | ||
Albert E. Baysinger | Nose/Observer | 06/15/44 | Completed tour. | ||
Richard Chapman | Ball | 06/15/44 | Completed tour. | ||
Eule Byrd | AFE/G | 06/15/44 | Completed tour. | ||
Harry N. Solley | Tail/Observer | 06/15/44 | Completed tour. | ||
Joseph Silva | SGT | Crew Chief | Completed tour. |
MISSION INFO | |||||
Mission | Date | Name | ID | S/N | Type |
023 | 06/15/44 | PK | 4x-xx561 | B24H | |
024 | 06/16/44 | PK | 4x-xx561 | B24H | |
025 | 06/17/44 | PK | 4x-xx561 | B24H | |
026 | 06/20/44 | Baby Shoe | PR | 4x-xx991 | B24H |
029 | 06/24/44 | Lady from Hell | PH | 42-52681 | B24H |
031 | 06/25/44 | PH | 42-52681 | B24H | |
035 | 06/30/44 | PH | 42-52681 | B24H | |
036 | 07/01/44 | Lucky Lady | PD | 4x-xx523 | B24H |
037 | 07/02/44 | Lady from Hell | PH | 42-52681 | B24H |
038 | 07/04/44 | PH | 42-52681 | B24H | |
041 | 07/08/44 | NN | 4x-xx483 | B24H | |
042 | 07/09/44 | Lady from Hell | PH | 42-52681 | B24H |
043 | 07/12/44 | PH | 42-52681 | B24H | |
046 | 07/18/44 | Lucky Lady | PD | 4x-xx523 | B24H |
050 | 08/01/44 | PF | 43-37875 | B17G | |
055 | 08/06/44 | PA | 43-37820 | B17G | |
059 | 08/11/44 | PF | 43-37975 | B17G | |
060 | 08/13/44 | PF | 43-37875 | B17G | |
062 | 08/15/44 | PF | 43-37875 | B17G | |
066 | 08/25/44 | Rack n Ruin | NT | 43-37899 | B24H |
067 | 08/26/44 | The Chariot | PP | 43-38034 | B17G |
069 | 08/30/44 | Honeychile | PN | 43-38029 | B17G |
070 | 09/01/44 | Lady V | PK | 43-37856 | B17G |
071 | 09/03/44 | The Last Roundup | TG | 43-37927 | B17G |
072 | 09/05/44 | The Chariot | PP | 43-38034 | B17G |
073 | 09/09/44 | Vermont Maid/Cupcake | ND | 43-38246 | B17G |
075 | 09/11/44 | xx | nnn | B17G | |
079 | 09/19/44 | Snow White | NR | 43-38136 | B17G |
080 | 09/21/44 | Lady V | PK | 43-37856 | B17G |
081 | 09/25/44 | Lady V | DK | 43-37856 | B17G |
082 | 09/26/44 | The Last Roundup | TG | 43-37927 | B17G |
084 | 09/28/44 | PR | 42-97968 | B17G | |
087 | 10/05/44 | Ruthie Bee | DD | 44-6314 | B17G |
088 | 10/06/44 | NN | 43-38137 | B17G | |
Completed 34 Missions |
Created: 04/27/00 | Modified: 12/23/16 |
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