The Chilton crew (team 10-7) at Drew Air Field, November, 1944. Front (L to R): LT Robert G. Chilton (P), LT William T. Mayfield (CP), LT John J. Stanilonis (B), LT Gerald Fitzgerald (N). Standing (L to R): S/SGT Malcolm Falterman (FE/Top), CPL Thomas J. Schuster (RO/G), CPL Harold K. Hawkins (ARO/G), CPL Bert M. Clinkston (A/G), CPL Kenneth R. Dockery (AA/G).
With its required missions complete and 29 additional hours logged in its training record, LT Robert G. Chilton's training bomber team 10-7 received the honorary flight line title "Crew of the Week," CAPT F. H. Schott, Flight Section 1 operations officer, said yesterday.
Selected on the strength of its record and reports from officer and enlisted instructor personnel, LT Chilton's crew already has completed 174 flight hours in its training. The crew's necessary requirements had been completed when it had flown only 145 hours.
High altitude formation flights, in which Crew 10-7 excells all others with 29 hours and 30 minutes, were one of the issues which helped it gain the outstanding rating. Principal point in its favor before the board, however, was the fact that it had completed all its missions ahead of other units inthe section, CAPT H. M. Hennington, D Flight Commander said.
"The ability of LT Chilton and his crew was plainly shown last week," CAPT Hennington pointed out, "when it was selected as the lead ship in a six plane formation making a round trip to Havanna. The crew has been outstanding in every respect, and I knew from early in its training that it was only a matter of time before it would be chosen outstandin."
Because it was named "Crew of the Week," LT Chilton's crew now will be extended the privilege of naming the destination of one of its "remaining over-night" cross-country flights. Members of the crew will be extended special passes enabling them to visit the nearest city where they land.
[Reprinted from the Drew Field Echoes, November 24, 1944]