36th BS

McKee Crew

Picture Details: Don Fairbanks

Back Row, left to right:
William G. McKee                -    Pilot
Norman O. Stoll                 -    Navigator
Robert R. France                -    Bombardier
Everett E. Harwell              -    Copilot

Front Row, left to right:
Charles D. Fairbanks            -    Tailgunner
Joe D. Saylor                   -    Dispatcher
Richard W. Fogelsonger          -    Radio Operator
Edd H. Cuplin                   -    Engineer

Not shown:
Pete G. Pasvantis           - Gunner    (Orphaned)
William G. Dickinson        - Gunner    (Orphaned)  

Picture Location: Harrington

Picture Date: Spring 1944

Status: Augmentation Crew, arriving at Alconbury in mid-December 1943. Pasvantis and Dickinson were probably left with the 482nd BG, the first BG the crew was assigned to.  Neither shows up in further orders at Alconbury through the middle of February 1944. McKee returned to Harrington in 1945 to fly a second tour, his missions at that time have not been fully researched.

First Mission as a Crew: 5 Feb 44

Combat Period: Jan-Jul 1944 (30 missions)

McKee	330	2-May-44	Liontamer 1	42-63788 C
McKee	356	6-May-44	Marksman 20	42-63788 C
McKee	379	7-May-44	Stockbroker 13	42-63788 C
McKee	373	7-May-44	Stockbroker 5B	42-63788 C
McKee	412	9-May-44	Tom 52	42-63788 C
McKee	446	16-May-44	John 74A	42-63788 C
McKee	473	29-May-44	Osric 26	42-63788 C
McKee	498	30-May-44	Marksman 35	42-63788 C

Above: May 1944 data for the crew, sorted on mission and date.  A clear preference for the D-model "788-C" never painted with nose art but fondly referred to as "C for Charlie" by the crew.  An old ASW plane, it was scrapped in March of 1945. No picture available.
 
Close Calls: 
Several missions encountered enemy aircraft but the crew evaded successfully. On mission #649, 4/5 June '44, #2 engine was lost approaching the DZ but the mission continued.

Aircraft Details: Tom Brittan
Picture Credits: Don Fairbanks

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