406th/858th BS
Rabbitt Crew
Standing, L-R:
Clinton H. Rabbitt - Pilot
Ernest G. Asbury - Copilot
Floyd M. Olson - Navigator
Donald E. Leinhauser - BombardierKneeling, L-R:
Nicholas Rasnak - Dispatcher
Steve C. Sianis - Radio Operator
Meyer Tauger - Tailgunner
Arthur Bogusz - EngineerNames and Picture Credits: Clinton Rabbit
Status: Augmentation crew, they flew their first mission in March '44 out of Alconbury, the last of their 35 total in early August of that year.
Claim to Fame: On Mission #259 in a mountainous area in the south of France, the wingtips brushed the mountain in a tight turn and brought home pine branches in the wing! Though many others would claim similar close calls, Rabbitt's was the first, and the only known one, to bring back the proof, waking their C.O. in the early morning hours of 28 April 1944 to show him the branches.
From block 11 of the Mission Report:
Preferred Aircraft: B24D 42-63975 G "B'rer Rabbit"
July 1944 missions of the crew
Pilot MR# Date Target Aircraft Rabbitt 814 2 Percy 19 B24D 42-63975 G Rabbitt 842 4 Saint 4A B24D 42-63975 G Rabbitt 879 5 Donald 87 B24D 42-63975 G Rabbitt 914 7 Peter 16G B24D 42-63975 G Rabbitt 941 8 Digger 43 B24D 42-63975 G Rabbitt 976 10 Frederick 6 B24D 42-72871 A Rabbitt 982 11 Wheelwright 156 B24D 42-63975 G Rabbitt 1029 14 Stationer 137B B24D 42-40362 P Rabbitt 1076 16 Digger 41 B24D 42-72871 A Rabbitt 1098 17 Diplomat 8 B24D 41-23682 R Rabbitt 1194 23 Francis 2A B24D 41-23682 R Rabbitt 1226 25 Marksman 25 B24D 42-40987 Z Rabbitt 1262 28 Stationer 164 B24D 42-63975 G Rabbitt 1250 27 Felix 4 B24D 42-63975 G Rabbitt 1336 31 Scientist 115A B24D 42-63776 N All targets shown here were French.
Aircraft Information: Tom Brittan
