850th/857th BS

Pitsenbarger Crew

The crew is shown here at Topeka on 28 May 1944 with their flyover plane "Lucky Strike" (B24J 95911).  They reported to North Pickenham for duty with the daylight 492nd BG but were soon transferred to Harrington following the reorganization of the two Bombardment Groups.  McQuade and Stec were orphaned in place at Harrington, condemned to finish their tour as best they could.  Stec was involved in the James McLoughlin friendly fire incident in September of 1944, but survived and returned to Harrington in January of 1945, only to find that most of the original Pitsenbarger crew had been killed in October (he was in-hospital on the Continent).

Back Row, L-R:
Jack Bliss            - Navigator                (DNB)
Frank Cser            - Bombardier               
Elmer Pitsenbarger    - Pilot                    (DNB)
James Nendel          - Copilot                  (DNB)

Front Row, L-R:
Joe Zwinge            - Radio Operator           (DNB)
Presley Farris        - Engineer                 (DNB)
Curt Anderson         - Waist Gunner
Cyril McQuade         - Waist Gunner
Frank Villelli        - Ball Turret Gunner       (DNB)
Hank Stec             - Tail Gunner              (WIA) with J. McLaughlin crew

Also killed in the October incident were:

Kay E. Lowblad        - MOS 754 (Aircraft Mechanic)   (DNB)
Clarence S. Watson    - MOS 747 (Radio Mechanic)      (DNB)

The incident aircraft was "Sack Time" B24H 42-94841, flown to the UK earlier in the year by the 849th BS of the 490th BG.  It had done it's service in the daylight bombings and was being refitted when the incident occurred.  The crash site pictures tell a by-then familiar story in the Bomb Group - Aircraft hit high ground.  

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For more information on the crash victims, visit the Honor Roll page.

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