858th BS
Velarde Crew
Standing,L-R:
Richard Wesson -
Bombardier
Armando Velarde - Pilot
Harold Powers - Copilot
Carl Taylor - Navigator
Kneeling,L-R:
Armond Berg -
Gunner
Arnold Malaske - Engineer
Lewis Williams - Gunner
Virgil Shoger - Radio Operator
Wesley Sarles - Gunner
Norman Daniel - Gunner
Picture courtesy of Paul Arnett, via Jack Shoger, son of Virgil Shoger.
Status: An original 492nd BG crew, they managed 27 missions at North Pickenham before coming to Harrington, an almost unbelievable feat. With only eight missions left for a complete tour, they did not waste much time and completed a tour on the night of 9/10 September 1944. Consequently, it is not surprising we do not have a picture of the crew. Not all flew the same number of missions at Harrington, the following numbers being compiled from our records:
Velarde - Seven B24, one C-47
Taylor - Seven
Bowland - Four
Wesson - Seven
Malaske - Eight
Shoger - Eight
Williams - Seven
Sarles - Six
Berg - None
Daniel - NoneConsidering the above, it seems likely that Berg and Daniel were shipped off to a replacement center shortly after arriving at Harrington.
Preferred Aircraft: N/A
