856th BS
Davis Crew
Back Row, L-R:
Paul V. Fluhart - Copilot
Jere L. Davis - Pilot
Irving L. Adams - Bombardier
Hewitt Gomez - Navigator
Kneeling, L-R:
James D. Mazzoni - Engineer
William Becker - Top-Turret Gunner
Joseph J. Alfes - Radio Operator
Carl D. Shaw, Jr. - Gunner
James H. Stafford, Sr. - Gunner
Eugene T. Wells - Gunner
Picture Location: Harrington
Picture Date: Summer 1945
Status: Arrived at Harrington in February 1945, annotated in Special Orders #39 Station 179, on the 20th of that month. Initially assigned to the 857th BS, they were transferred to the 856th BS on 9 March 1945. The crew had seven combat missions prior to VE-Day.
Photo Credit: William Becker
Errata: On long flights, the Radio Operator would read comic books!
Preferred Aircraft: B24D 42-40618 "Air Tramp"
At one time flown as an Anti-Submarine plane in the 479th ASW Group, it was one of the first Carpetbagger aircraft, delivered from BAD 1 on 30 Dec 1943. It survived the peak period and a number of flights to Norway, and was returned to the States with the Davis crew, departing Harrington on 9 July 1945, at 1429 hours, headed for Valley, Wales.
It had been a favorite of Decker's in the early period, and was flown twice by the ill-fated Norton crew in July of 1944. It was also flown by Hasart, Hendrickson and Swartz that summer, and numerous other 36th/856th pilots during it's long period with the Carpetbaggers.Aircraft Details Credit: Tom Brittan
