36th/856th BS

Jacobson Crew

Picture Location: Harrington

Picture Date: May 1944

Back Row, L-R:
James C. McKenna     - Navigator
Maurice E. Jacobson  - Pilot
Davenport Cleveland  - Bombardier
Norman K. Russell    - Copilot

Front Row, L-R:
Joel K. Carter, Jr.  - Dispatcher
Mitchell T. Hart     - Radio Operator
Seymour B. Chinich   - TailGunner
Robert B. Marriett   - Engineer

Not Present: 
Oliver T. Bonsall    -    (Orphaned)
Jack Dinsmore        -    (Orphaned)

Bonsall and Dinsmore did not fly with the crew, or any crew, until September 1944.

Status: Replacement Crew: Departed Charleston, SC on 20 April 1944, arrived at Harrington in the UK via the Northern route and a Replacement Depot on 10 May 1944.


Above: Shows the header from orders for the crew's ferry plane, B24 42-05237.  Their ferry plane was the first heavy bomber to land on the Continent after D-Day.  The "Normandy Queen" was flown from 19 May through 12 June 1944 with the 791st BS of the 467th BG and had a forced landing in Normandy on 12 June 1944. Repaired, she later flew with the 790th BS (also 467th BG) and was flown to the ZI in June of 1945.

Aircraft Details: Tom Brittan

Errata: Came to Harrington as a ten-man crew - Bonsall and Dinsmore remained at Harrington but flew no combat missions by the end of September 1944.

On the night of 25/26 August 1944 the team inserted Jedburgh Team BASIL.

 

Combat Missions of the Jacobson Crew - 2-17 September 1944

MR	Joes	Cntrs	Pkgs	Target	Aircraft	Location
1875	0	12	7	Museum 9	B24D 42-63775 L	Belgium
1899	6	12	5	Bob 172	B24D 42-63775 L	Near Nancy, France
1959	0	12	10	Peter 17D	B24D 42-63775 L	47° 38’ 15” N  04°  58’ E
2107	0	12	0	Tablejam 14A	B24D 42-63775 L	Denmark
2127	0	12	8	Licensee 5B	B24D 42-63775 L	Central France
2160	0	12	10	Bob 269	B24D 42-63775 L	Western France
2187	0	12	10	Pedlar 2	B24D 42-40768 N	47° 26' N  06° 40' E
2195	4	12	5	Bob 188	B24D 42-63775 L	47° 38’ 15” N  04° 58’ E
2248	0	-	-	Bob 287	B24D 42-63775 L	Western France

By September of 1944, the crew had a favored plane, flying it for 8 of their 9 combat missions to targets as far as Western France and as near as Belgium and Denmark.  Compiling an impressive record of only one incomplete for that month, they dropped 10 agents,96 containers, and 55 packages. Coordinates from John Hook, navigator of the Oling crew, and Mission Reports on file at NARA.

Left to right:
James C. McKenna     - Navigator
Davenport Cleveland  - Bombardier
Loren G. Anderson    - Copilot Walling Crew
Arden B. Walling     - Pilot 
 
Picture Location: Harrington, UK

Picture Date: circa Jun-Sep 1944
 
The Walling crew came in to Harrington as a replacement crew in the summer of 1944, and as a consequence had to stay many more months, as mission tours were soon raised to 50 from the previous 35 missions requirement. 

Photo Credits: Davenport Cleveland

Combat Period: May-Sep '44 (31 missions) four more in the later period, not yet recorded.

Preferred Aircraft: None, flew most B24s present at Harrington and in custody of the 36th BS at the time.