• BEAM, John B., Pilot – POW 12 April 44 Beam
  • DEER, Noble E., Co-Pilot – POW 12 April 44 Beam
  • BURNHAM, Donald W, Navigator – KIA 12 Apr 44 Beam
  • MASSEY, Roy H., JR, Bombardier – POW 12 April 44 Beam
  • FREAY, Harold L., Flight/Eng – POW 12 April 44 Beam
  • BURGESS, Gerald F., Flight/Eng
  • ERICKSON, Eugene L, R/Op – POW 12 April 44 Beam
  • SMITH, Edward C, Tail Gunner – KIA 12 April 44 Beam
  • REPETA, Henry S, Ball Gunner – KIA 12 April 44 Beam
  • THARPE, Harold D, Photo – KIA 12 April 44 Beam

716th Squadron

716logoJohn A. Silverstein (changed his name after the war to John (Jack) Steele) was C.O. from June ‘43 to July ’44. He was followed by Charles E. Harton from July ‘44 to November ’44. Harton had served as the acting C.O. for the 719th squadron while Swan was in the hospital recovering from wounds during May ‘44 to July ‘44. Lloyd M. Bentsen (who became a U.S. Senator from Texas, U. S. Treasurer after the war, and U.S. Vice Presidential Candidate) was the C.O. from November ‘44 until February ’45. Robert Johnson took over from mid-‘45 to V.E. Day in May ’45.

Blind Date

An original cadre ship acquired on 9 November ’43 and assigned to Kennelly’s crew who flew her overseas in December ’43. Crew chief was Joseph C. Gaus. On the 14 January ’44 Mostar mission, five men of Isgrigg’s crew bailed out, and the rest of the crew nursed ship #54 back home to Grottaglie. On 12 April ’44, she was downed on the Wiener-Neustadt, Austria mission with Beam’s crew aboard — 4 KIA and 6 POW. MACR 4034 (final mission); MACR 2398 (Isgrigg’s crew.)

Pin It on Pinterest