Back Row
L-R:
Vernon D. Howe
- Copilot
Hal M. Harrison - Pilot
Francis F. Snowden
- Navigator
Joe P. Sowder
- Bombardier
Kneeling
L-R, not yet named but most probably:
Harry E. Siewart
- Dispatcher
Frank J. Scigliano - Radio Operator
George E. Larson
- Engineer
Leo P. Babik
- Tailgunner
Status: Composite Augmentation Crew: Formed from prior ASW pilot, ferry-over Officers, transferred Enlisted and former ASW Enlisted. Harrison first appears in Special Orders from Alconbury, 3 Nov 43, along with many others of the cadre who were going TD to RAF Tempsford to fly
two missions each and to learn the method that S.O.E. had developed for the deliverance of supplies. He was one of the earliest to fly, and one of the earliest to leave Harrington, his last mission with the Carpetbaggers, #19 for him, 21 if he flew with the RAF,
occurred on 10 May 1944. He was probably pro-rated for his Anti-Submarine hours as were other men from the cadre.
Though Babik, Larson and Scigliano probably followed him from the former ASW Group, Siewart
was picked up in a transfer from the 406th BS in mid-December of '43. His Copilot ferried over with Merrill, and Sowder and Snowden came in from Withrow's crew, which was broken up.
Picture Location: Harrington
Picture Date: Spring 1944
Errata: The Mission That Never Was. Taking off from Harrington on the night of 25/26 April 1944, the mission was aborted before reaching the French Coast when the GEE box went out. Carrying three agents and a cargo load that wasn't specified, to a destination that wasn't specified, Harrison returned, filing a mission report that states he turned back because of "the character of the load". The report is not numbered and does not appear in the daily report to O.S.S. headquarters in London.
Combat Period: Jan-May 1944
Preferred Aircraft:
B24-D 42-40768 "Pistol Packin' Mama"
Aircraft Details:
The plane
was a former 389th BG and did not come to the Group until 7 March 1944. Though many others would fly it, Harrison flew it most often for the brief period he was at Harrington. In for the war, the plane was diverted on return many times, did duty on detachment at Lyon in a non-tactical role and was flown for some of the late-period missions to Norway in April of 1945. On 9 July 1945 it left Station 179 for the last time, piloted to the Zone of the Interior by Kuntz, stopping at Prestwick first on the long leg home to be scrapped. Any insights on the history of the plane prior to Harrington, especially pictures, would be most appreciated.
36th/856th
BS
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