36th/856th BS

Ellis Crew

Back Row, left to right:
Neil G. Ellis        - Pilot
Glen L. Stanislaus   - Copilot
Eugene Polinsky      - Navigator
Herbert Goff         - Bombardier

Kneeling, left to right:
Ray Green            - Engineer
Ray Orwasky          - Radio Operator
Pedro Pereda         - Tail Gunner
Cecil Waters         - Dispatcher

Not Shown:
Salvatore A. Luciano - Gunner     (Orphaned)
Roy C. Koons         - Engineer   (KIA June 1944)
Louis J. Hartman     - Bombardier

Errata: Goff did not have a regular crew, flying with a number of 36th BS pilots.

Picture Location: Harrington
Picture Date: Spring 1944

Close Calls: Though suffering no mission casualties as a crew they had a number of close calls, the following extracts are from their mission reports:

MR 287 - "A/C almost clipped tail at Compeigne"
MR 724 - "Friendly fire, heavy A.A., twenty miles due south of London"
MR 767 - "Came in on 3 engines because of loss of oil pressure on #2 engine"
MR 887 - "At 0204 a 4-engine single-fin plane, either a Sterling or FW200, crossed our course at 90 degrees"

Among other things, the MRs of this crew give a rare mention of the "Buncher" beacons, used for navigation inside the UK.  On his Captain's Report of MR 791 Ellis reports that "Letter not as briefed, Base Buncher beacon flashed '9M9' should have been '9L9'."

Status: Augmentation Crew - ferried B24J 42-99988 to the UK on the Southern Route, leaving Morrison Field, Florida in mid-December 1943.

Combat Period: April-August 1944 35 Missions

Preferred Aircraft: B24D 42-40992 "Red Ball Express"

Flown from 15 Feb 44 to the end of the war, she was an Ex-93rd BG plane whose custody was given to the 36th/856th BS for the duration.  Returned to the Zone of the Interior on 9 July 1945, piloted by Donald Heran.

Aircraft Details: Tom Brittan

 

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