850th/857th BS
Darby Crew
The Darby crew are pictured here at Mountain Home, spring of 1944. The plane (B24-H 42-94885), was left with the 490th BG at Eye. In the handwriting of the crew Navigator, those pictured are listed as:Standing, L-R:
James O. Feemster - Engineer
Joseph O'Sullivan - Bombardier
Phillip J. Guilfoil - Copilot
James A. Darby - Pilot
Robert M. Johnson - Navigator
Sheldon E. Cannon - Nose Gunner (Orphaned)
Kneeling, L-R:
Oren M. McMillion - Asst Engineer
Frank G. Zern - Radio Operator
Stanley W. Gooder - Tail Gunner
Mitchel C. McDonald - Ball Turret Gunner (Orphaned)According to notes left in a copy of the Squadron History by John Walker, an 850th Line Chief, the two orphans were returned to the 490th BG, with Cannon reported to have flown with the Fogelberg crew out of Eye, UK.
Picture and names credit: The Johnson Family.
Combat Period: May-Sep 1944
Status: Original 490th BG crew, arrived at Harrington at the end of May 1944. Zern was removed from flight duty in mid-August. After Dickerson replaced Willard Smith with Darby as Operations Officer, the remainder of the crew finished out their tours with Smith.
Preferred Aircraft: B24J 42-50600 G "The Wolf Wagon"
Missions from July 1944 (All French targets) Mission Reports.
Pilot MR# Date Target Aircraft Darby
819
2
Ventriloquist 26
B24J 42-50600 G
Darby
883
5
Percy 19C
B24J 42-50600 G
Darby
901
6
Percy 20
B24H 41-29600 M
Darby
953
9
Fred 5
B24J 42-50600 G
Darby
969
10
Francis 1
B24J 42-50600 G
Darby
1017
12
Ian 1A
B24J 42-50600 G
Darby
1106
18
Permit 3
B24J 42-50600 G
Darby
1119
19
Shipwright 6
B24J 42-50600 G
Darby
1166
21
Permit 1A
B24J 42-50600 G
Darby
1176
23
Singlet 3
B24J 42-50600 G
Darby
1209
24
Percy 13
B24J 42-50600 G
Darby
1245
26
Diplomat 8
B24J 42-50600 G
Darby
1278
28
Giles 9
B24J 42-50600 G
Darby
1327
30
Footman 25C
B24J 42-50600 G
The aircraft had arrived at Nutts Corner, Ireland in mid-June of 1944 and had been named by the flyover crew; at Harrington it carried no name.
Aircraft Details Credit: Tom Brittan
