J. Miller's Crew

(left to right): Russell Bashline, Lyle Corbit, Edward Murphy
James Chadd, James Simon, "Pappy" West, Freeman Hill, William G. McIlvaine

When we agreed to fly "001" it already had a reputation as a "jinx" airplane, with over 400 hours on the engines, and was the only ship available. Being anxious to get started, we actually flew it on SEVEN missions, but the airplane broke down before we reached the I.P., so we only got credit for FOUR out of the seven. Though, returning on three engines from long periods alone over Germany, (literally at the mercy of any fighter), and truly sitting ducks, we fortunately nursed it home. At that point our reputation in the squadron was at a nadir.

Major Newman somehow secured a new airplane for us, #337891, belatedly named "Old Man's Folly", and from then on, we became element and later deputy leaders, with good marks.

New Years eve, 1944 was cold and rainy when we heard noise outside our Nissen hut. Some person or persons had been stealing our heating oil from a drum, which was attached to and positioned horizontally on the side of the hut. We had to beg crew chiefs for old engine oil which we       carried laboriously from the flight line in small containers to fill the drum. As this time we were going to catch whoever it was, we darkened the interior of the hut, (blackout conditions, remember?) and rushed out both doors with flashlights to confront the thief.

I shall never forget that GOLD OAK LEAF on Major Newman's hat! And, apologetically, we asked him, "Sir, can we be of any assistance???" (So much for catching a thief!)

- James C. Simon

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