36th BS

Mead Crew

Picture Details: Various contributors

Back Row, left to right:
Charles G. Shull                - Group Bombardier
Walter L. "Cricket" Garnett     - Navigator
Ernest Holzworth                - Copilot
Benjamin Mead                   - Squadron Ops/Pilot

Front Row, left to right:
Unidentified                    - ?
Neil D. Richards                - Gunner
William C. Jesperson            - Engineer
Joel Williamson                 - Radio Operator

Picture Location: Harrington

Picture Date: Spring 1944

Status: Irregular crew, after the Williams crew went down in late December of 1943 Mead was promoted to a squadron position, limiting his combat missions. Richards and Jesperson, originally members of the Schreiner crew, were transferred to Balchen's unit at Leuchars and rejoined with that crew.  In September of 1944 they were shot down by Russian AA crews over Murmansk where the crew was seeking safe harbor because of engine troubles.  In the incident, only the command pilot was killed, all others eventually being evacuated to Scotland by ship and the RAF.

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