• MEALEY, Michael C, Pilot – POW 13 Oct 44 Mealey
  • JENSEN, Phillip A, Co-Pilot
  • HARTMAN, George, Navigator
  • ARIEFF, Ellis, Bombardier – DED 9 Dec 44 THE BUZZER
  • SOMMERS, Thomas W., Tail Gunner – POW 13 Oct 44 Mealey
  • WELCH, Eugene H., Lt Waist – Radio/Op – POW 13 Oct 44 Mealey
  • ADAMS, Luther P, Rt Waist
  • LUCHSINGER, Gilbert W., Top Turret – POW 13 Oct 44 Mealey
  • MOGLE, Floyd H., Nose Gunner – EVD 13 Oct 44 Mealey
  • WILHITE, Alfred J, Ball Gunner – POW 13 Oct 44 Mealey

719th Squadron

719logoDavid Councill was the original C.O. from July ‘43 to 8 December ’43 when he and his crew were lost during the movement overseas. Most of the 719th officer and NCO staff were among the 14 men lost aboard Councill’s aircraft. This placed the 719th in dire straits in January ’44. Arthur B. Swan took over as C.O. and began sorting things out in January ’44. He served as the C. O. until he received a serious combat wound on 23 April ‘44. Charles E. Harton from the 717th Squadron was selected to be the acting commander until Art Swan could reassume the position. When Swan was promoted to higher echelon, Harton continued as the acting C.O. until July ‘44. Harold R. Loughran, a lead crew pilot from the 717th became the 719th C.O. in July ‘44 and remained through September ’44. In September ‘44, William Allen became the C.O. and remained so until May ‘45.

41-28866

A replacement ship replacing her namesake. Downed on the mission to Vienna, Austria, on 13 October ‘44 with Mealey’s crew aboard. (Mealey changed his name to O’Malley after the war.) Also aboard was the Flight Surgeon Capt. Leslie Caplan. Capt. Caplan and 8 others were taken POW. The navigator and the nose gunner — both having suffered broken legs during the parachute jump — were rescued by Partisans and were returned to hospitals in Italy. 9 POW, 2 EVD. MACR 9317. After the war, Capt. Caplan received national honors for his medical treatment to POWs during imprisonment and a long death march.

Pictures of Nancy Jane [#2]

Nancy Jane

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