| 2nd Lt Charles E. Harris |
P |
CPT |
5/8/44 |
MAGDEBURG |
| 2nd Lt Manly W. Hall |
CP |
CPT |
27/8/44 |
BERLIN |
| 2nd Lt Lloyd W. Coartney |
NAV |
CPT |
5/8/44 |
MAGDEBURG |
| 2nd Lt John E. Dimel, Jr. |
BOM |
CPT |
5/8/44 |
MAGDEBURG |
| T/Sgt Leighton B. Gaard |
ROG |
XFR |
21 Missions on 4/8/44 then transferred
to Stateside Duty |
| T/Sgt Norman Howden, Jr |
TTE |
CPT |
5/8/44 |
MAGDEBURG |
| S/Sgt Kenneth L. Nowland |
BTG |
XFR |
Completed several missions with this
crew. |
| S/Sgt Joseph H. Blume |
RWG |
CPT |
5/8/44 |
WIA 23/3/44 (BRUNSWICK) |
| S/Sgt Peter R. Zyskowski |
LWG |
WIA |
22/3/44 and on 10/4/44. Recovered &
then transferred |
| S/Sgt Joseph L. Oyler |
TG |
SWA |
10/4/44 |
To USA after recovery.
(MALDEGEM AF (RHEIMS)) |
418th Sqdn. Crew, as above, joined the 100th in March 1944. First
mission on 19/3/44
FOLLOWING IS MISSION LIST OF HARRIS CREW COMPILED IN 1991 BY COL
HARRIS.
HARRIS CREW MISSIONS (MARCH TO AUGUST 1944)
| Nbr |
Date |
Target |
Comments |
Time |
| 01 |
3/19/44 |
NOBALL |
-- |
4:00 |
| 02 |
3/22/44 |
BERLIN |
HIT OVER BERLIN, 88 MM THROUGH WING.
ZYSKOWSKI & BLUME WOUNDED. OXYGEN AND RADIO OUT. RTN ON DECK. |
8:45 |
| 03 |
3/23/44 |
BRUNSWICK |
CENTER OF CITY |
7:30 |
| 04 |
4/1/44 |
LUDWIGSHAVEN |
RECALL |
4:45 |
| 05 |
4/8/44 |
QUACKENBRUK |
-- |
6:15 |
| 06 |
4/10/44 |
REIMS, FR |
FIGHTERS, ZYSKOWSKI WOUNDED. RTN ALONE |
6:00 |
| 07 |
4/24/44 |
FREDERICKSHAVEN |
GREAT VIEW OF ALPS |
9:30 |
| 08 |
4/26/44 |
BRUNSWICK |
-- |
7:45 |
| 09 |
4/27/44 |
FRANCE |
-- |
5:00 |
| 10 |
4/27/44 |
NOBALL |
BIRTHDAY PRESENT TWO MISSIONS |
6:30 |
| 11 |
4/29/44 |
BERLIN |
-- |
9:00 |
| 12 |
5/1/44 |
LEAD CLASSIFIED |
MAJOR FULLER (1ST LEAD |
6:30 |
| 13 |
5/8/44 |
LEAD LA GLACERIE, FR |
COM PILOT UNK |
4:50 |
| 14 |
5/28/44 |
LEAD MAGDEBURG |
MAJOR FULLER DIMEL (BTG SHOT DOWN TWO
FIGHTERS.) |
8:15 |
| 15 |
6/2/44 |
LEAD BOULOGNE NO-BALL |
COM PILOT UNK |
5:15 |
| 16 |
6/6/44 |
LEAD D_DAY NORMANDIE |
CAPT GORSKI |
7:30 |
| 17 |
6/7/44 |
LEAD NANTES |
COM PILOT UNK |
7:15 |
| 18 |
6/18/44 |
LEAD BRUNSBUTTELKOOG |
CAPT GORSKI |
7:30 |
| 19 |
6/20/44 |
LEAD FALLERSKEBEN |
COM PILOT UNK |
7:15 |
| 20 |
6/21/44 |
LEAD BERLIN (BASDORF) |
COM PILOT GORSKI; MAIN GROUP TO RUSSIA;
OUR GROUP A DIVERSION CAPT GORSKI, COMMAND PILOT WOUNDED BY FLAK.
COURTNEY & DIMEL EARN DFC |
9:45 |
| 21 |
7/4/44 |
FRANCE |
-- |
6:15 |
| 22 |
7/7/44 |
MERSEBURG/GOTTINGEN, GERMANY |
-- |
7:14 |
| 23 |
7/8/44 |
LEAD Le LENTE, FR |
CAPT HOWARD |
4:15 |
| 24 |
7/14/44 |
PPF SOUTH FRANCE |
FIRST PATHFINDER MISSION, MAQUIS SUPPLY
DROP |
8:00 |
| 25 |
7/19/44 |
PPF SCHWEINFURT |
LT COL BENNETT |
7:00 |
| 26 |
7/20/44 |
PFF MERSEBURG |
LT COL ROSENTHAL |
8:45 |
| 27 |
7/29/44 |
PFF MERSEBURG |
MAJOR ZELLER |
8:00 |
| 28 |
7/31/44 |
PFF MUNICH |
LT COL KIDD |
8:30 |
| 29 |
8/5/44 |
PFF MAGDEBURG |
LT COL ROSENTHAL
THE END!!!!!!! |
7:30 |
NOTE: CAPT KRETOW WAS THE RADAR OPERATOR ON ALL PATHFINDER MISSIONS
Orders deploying Harris crew to ETO dated 10 Feb 1944. .
SECRET
GRENIER FIELD
MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
STA. 16, NAW, ATC
(OPERATIONS ORDERS)
NO 14
10 February 1944
EXTRACT
1. The following named crew WP by air in the aircraft as indicated
below at the proper time from Grenier Field, 'Manchester, New Hampshire,
via North Atlantic Route to the European Theater of Operations, London,
England, reporting upon arrival to the Commander, 8th Air Force Service
Command, Air Transport Command Terminals of Arrival British Isles, for
further assignment and duty with the 8th Air Force.
X PROVISIONAL BOMB GROUP
Shipment No. FX_ BJ
Project No. 92419-R
APO No. 12760-RJ-55
B-17G – Crew #55 - #42-31895
Pilot: 2nd Lt. Charles E. Harris, 0-749162
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Manly W. Hall, Jr., 0-755578
Navigator: 2nd Lt. Lloyd W. Coartney, 0-698264
Bombardier: 2nd Lt. John E. Dimell, Jr., 0-685073
Engineer: Sgt. Norman (NMI) Howden, Jr., 11114810
Radio Operator: Cpl. Leighton B. Gaard, 19203172
Arm. Gunner: Sgt. Joscph H. Blume, Jr., 3Z767743
Career Gunner: Sgt. Joscph L. Oyler, 15354702
Career Gunner: Sgt. Peter R. Zyskowski, 32741614
Career Gunner: Sgt. Kenncth L. Nowland, 12169351
This is a permanent change of station.
ln lieu of subsistence a flat per diem of seven dollars ($7. 00) is
Authorized for travel and for periods of temporary duty enroute to final
destination when, necessary for officers and flight officers, in
accordance with existing law end regulations. Payment of mileage is not
authorized. Such times as the individual is billeted and subsisted, as
outlined in WD Memorandum K- 35-2-42, September 30, 1942, his per diem
will be suspended.
A flat per diem of seven dollars ($7. 00) is authorized for enlisted
men for travel and for periods of temporary duty enroute to final
destination in accordance with existing law and regulations, if travel is
performed by air. For travel by rail and for periods of delay enroute to
final destination, monetary allowance, in lieu of rations and quarters is
prescribed in accordance with AR 35-4520.
SECRET
Letter to Paul West 18-Nov-93
Dear Paul:
Was good seeing you again in Little Rock. But you were so busy that we
really didn't have a chance to chat. Next time! I'm sure you know, though,
how much we appreciate your interest and what you're doing for the
hundredth.
Our crew is trying to "resurrect" the Bastille Day (July 14) parachute
mission to the Maquis. It was our first Pathfinder mission with Mike
Crete. My Navigator, Lloyd Coartney (who was with us in Little Rock) said
that "Big Pete" Peterson flew with us that day as the second navigator;
that the PFF went o~ the blink shortly after take-off, and that he and
Pete dead reckoned the mission nearly the entire way due to weather. As we
descended thru the overcast they had it figured that there should be a
lake to our right. There was! We then headed for the open field where the
Maquis were waiting This was just west of the Alps. We made a dry run on
the field to make sure we were right, then a 360 and dropped on the next
approach. We're sure that we were the first ones in as there were no signs
of prior chutes. I do remember glancing down and seeing all those brave
guys down there. As I remember, we dropped from about 600 feet.
What none of us can remember is who was our Command Pilot. Having the
PFF, (and Big Pete), we think it must have been a 13th Wing lead. Which
brings up, was John Bennett with us? remember very well that he was with
us on the July 19 mission to Schweinfurt, but p. 130-131 of "Century
Bombers" tells that the Frenchman- Lt Jean Vallion-- flew with Bennett on
the 14th. I'm sure we'd remember him if he'd been with us. So, if we
weren't with Bennett, why did we have PFF and a second Navigator?? Just
possibly you have the answer.
I think that I sent you some mission sheets last year, but I have no
record, so am enclosing copies of the few I have.
Have rambled on enough. Dare say you get many requests like this, but
you asked for it!!! If you ever get out this way, be sure and let me know.
We're living in a beautiful retirement center (Liberty Heights), We have
guest apts. here which we'd be glad to reserve for you. As I write I'm
looking out on the AF Academy. We're on the east side of the Valley; the
Academy is on the west side- about a 15 minute ride for us, as we can cut
straight across. There's a lot to see and do here. Lt Gen. "But" Clark, a
prior Supt. of the Academy, is here with us. He was the Senior Officer in
Stalag 3; was shot down in '42 while flying a Spitfire with the RAF.
All the best,
Chuck Harris
|
