788th/859th BS

George Johnson Crew (1st)

 

Standing, L-R:
George T. Johnson        - Pilot
Edward J. Donnelly       - Copilot
Robert R. Ricketts       - Navigator
Michael A. Baldino       - Bombardier

Kneeling, L-R:
Kenneth Thompson         - Engineer
Roy L. Korrot            - Engineer
Russell K. Bond          - Radio Operator
Joseph Gagliardo         - Gunner        (Orphaned)
Arne A. Moilanen         - Engineer
Russell W. Dolbeare      - Gunner        (Grounded at Rackheath)

Picture Credits: Russell K. Bond - letter to Ben Parnell dtd 25Nov92.
Combat Period: Jul-Aug 1944 

Status: Original 788th crew, later broken up; only Moilanen remained with Johnson when the 859th was sent on Detached Service with the 15th AF.  Due to early combat losses, Ricketts was transferred to the Driscoll crew when the squadron was sent to Harrington.  Baldino, Thompson and Bond flew later with the Dillon crew. Donnelly later became a pilot in his own right. 

Preferred Aircraft:  B24H 42-95231 J

Data from July 1944 indicate the following for the crew:

Pilot	MR#	Date	Target	Aircraft
George Johnson	1026	14	Stationer 175	B24H 42-95231 J
George Johnson	1115	18	Hermit 4A	B24H 42-52711 G
George Johnson	1154	20	Ian 8	B24H 42-95231 J
George Johnson	1258	28	Stationer 165	B24H 42-95231 J

All targets were French for these missions. The last recorded mission of this plane was on 30 September 1944.  By December it was at BAD 2, and then drops from sight.

Aircraft Details Credit: Tom Brittan

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