36th/856th

Reinhard Crew

Picture courtesy of Jim Burgess

Crew Details: The crew apparently arrived at Harrington before the reorganization of 13 August 1944, as they are listed in Special Orders prior to that date. Despite their late arrival, the pilot is listed for 12 combat missions, and the rest of the crew for one or two less before operations switched to gas-haul missions in late September of 1944.  From the back of the picture, signatures are:  Garrett originally came in with the Wroten crew, but was transferred to the Reinhard crew in December of 1944 when night bombing missions called for nine-man crews.

Os:
Myron A. Reinhard, Jr.     - Pilot
Robert F. Fisher           - Copilot
Harold C. Clark            - Navigator
Raymond H. Bennett, Jr.    - Bombardier

EMs:
Charles E. Burgess         - Dispatcher
Benjamin F. Garrett        - Air Gunner
Thomas L. Owen             - Radio Operator
Maurice G. McGinley        - Engineer
James K. Reed              - Tail Gunner

Combat Missions Sample (September 1944):

Pilot	#	OK	Failed	Joes	C	Pkgs	Date	DZ	A/C
Reinhard	1824	1	0	0	12	7	1	Tom 35B	B24D 42-40992 H
Reinhard	1912	1	0	0	12	7	5	Bob 335	B24D 42-40618 E
Reinhard	1940	1	0	0	12	9	6	Dick 93B	B24D 42-40618 E
Reinhard	1987	1	0	0	12	7	8	Messenger 236	B24D 42-63775 L
Reinhard	2051	1	0	5	12	7	10	Bob 172	B24D 42-40618 E
Reinhard	2140	0	1	0	0	0	12	Tablejam 26	B24D 42-40992 H
Reinhard	2155	1	0	0	12	0	13	Bob 225A	B24D 42-40992 H

The record indicates no clear preference for a single aircraft. Six out of seven completions was a very good accomplishment for a fairly new crew. All targets in red were French, Tablejam targets were always Danish.  During 1945, the crew often flew the plane pictured, B24 42-52508, better known as she is painted "Libra".

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