USAAF WWII
Gunner S/Sgt. Herbert J. McPhillips KIA
Hometown:
Squadron: 856th 492nd Bomb Group
Service#
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Ernest L Watson
MACR 7236
Target: aircraft manufacturing facility in Bernburg
Date Lost: 7-Jul-44
Serial Number: #42-95005
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:Dreamer
Location: crashed near Bernburg
Cause: Shot down by fighters w/Watson Crew 8 KIA, 1 POW,
The Watson Replacement Crew arrived at North Pickenham during the month of June. Their transfer order was short a navigator. Perhaps he had been pulled for other duty. On 24 Jun 44, they were assigned to fill the vacant spot of Crew 617 in the 856th BS.
After five short days of in-house training they began flying combat missions. By our count the Watson Crew flew 3 missions plus an aborted one. Aside from not knowing who their navigator was, there was one personnel change on the Crew's roster.
The final mission for the Watson Crew was on 7 Jul 44. The Group's objective was an aircraft manufacturing facility in Bernburg. The Luftwaffe attacked the 492nd from their behind where they didn't have any fighter protection. The air battle turned into a blood-bath as casualties ran high on both sides. The Watson Crew was knocked out of the action along with nine other ships from the 492nd. 8 KIA, 1 POW, MACR 7236.
Only two of the dead could be identified for burial. After the war, one of them was reburied in the Netherlands while the other was returned to the US. The rest of the crew was buried as a group. Today that group is buried together at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St Louis, Missouri.
Crew of 42-95005
2nd/Lt. Ernest L Watson Pilot
2nd/Lt. Richard P. Shepherd Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Clayton J. Newman Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Mark R. Grill Bombardier KIA
S/Sgt. Herbert J. McPhillips Gunner KIA
S/Sgt.George S. Cataldo Radio Op. POW
Sgt. Leslie E. Bowen Gunner KIA
Sgt. Bernard W. Dailey Gunner KIA
Sgt.Grant L. Wells Gunner KIA
Sgt. William W. Eason Gunner KIA
Gunner S/Sgt. Herbert J. McPhillips KIA
Hometown:
Squadron: 856th 492nd Bomb Group
Service#
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Ernest L Watson
MACR 7236
Target: aircraft manufacturing facility in Bernburg
Date Lost: 7-Jul-44
Serial Number: #42-95005
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:Dreamer
Location: crashed near Bernburg
Cause: Shot down by fighters w/Watson Crew 8 KIA, 1 POW,
The Watson Replacement Crew arrived at North Pickenham during the month of June. Their transfer order was short a navigator. Perhaps he had been pulled for other duty. On 24 Jun 44, they were assigned to fill the vacant spot of Crew 617 in the 856th BS.
After five short days of in-house training they began flying combat missions. By our count the Watson Crew flew 3 missions plus an aborted one. Aside from not knowing who their navigator was, there was one personnel change on the Crew's roster.
The final mission for the Watson Crew was on 7 Jul 44. The Group's objective was an aircraft manufacturing facility in Bernburg. The Luftwaffe attacked the 492nd from their behind where they didn't have any fighter protection. The air battle turned into a blood-bath as casualties ran high on both sides. The Watson Crew was knocked out of the action along with nine other ships from the 492nd. 8 KIA, 1 POW, MACR 7236.
Only two of the dead could be identified for burial. After the war, one of them was reburied in the Netherlands while the other was returned to the US. The rest of the crew was buried as a group. Today that group is buried together at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St Louis, Missouri.
Crew of 42-95005
2nd/Lt. Ernest L Watson Pilot
2nd/Lt. Richard P. Shepherd Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Clayton J. Newman Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Mark R. Grill Bombardier KIA
S/Sgt. Herbert J. McPhillips Gunner KIA
S/Sgt.George S. Cataldo Radio Op. POW
Sgt. Leslie E. Bowen Gunner KIA
Sgt. Bernard W. Dailey Gunner KIA
Sgt.Grant L. Wells Gunner KIA
Sgt. William W. Eason Gunner KIA
USAAF WWII
Gunner S/Sgt. Herbert J. McPhillips KIA
Hometown:
Squadron: 856th 492nd Bomb Group
Service#
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Ernest L Watson
MACR 7236
Target: aircraft manufacturing facility in Bernburg
Date Lost: 7-Jul-44
Serial Number: #42-95005
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:Dreamer
Location: crashed near Bernburg
Cause: Shot down by fighters w/Watson Crew 8 KIA, 1 POW,
The Watson Replacement Crew arrived at North Pickenham during the month of June. Their transfer order was short a navigator. Perhaps he had been pulled for other duty. On 24 Jun 44, they were assigned to fill the vacant spot of Crew 617 in the 856th BS.
After five short days of in-house training they began flying combat missions. By our count the Watson Crew flew 3 missions plus an aborted one. Aside from not knowing who their navigator was, there was one personnel change on the Crew's roster.
The final mission for the Watson Crew was on 7 Jul 44. The Group's objective was an aircraft manufacturing facility in Bernburg. The Luftwaffe attacked the 492nd from their behind where they didn't have any fighter protection. The air battle turned into a blood-bath as casualties ran high on both sides. The Watson Crew was knocked out of the action along with nine other ships from the 492nd. 8 KIA, 1 POW, MACR 7236.
Only two of the dead could be identified for burial. After the war, one of them was reburied in the Netherlands while the other was returned to the US. The rest of the crew was buried as a group. Today that group is buried together at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St Louis, Missouri.
Crew of 42-95005
2nd/Lt. Ernest L Watson Pilot
2nd/Lt. Richard P. Shepherd Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Clayton J. Newman Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Mark R. Grill Bombardier KIA
S/Sgt. Herbert J. McPhillips Gunner KIA
S/Sgt.George S. Cataldo Radio Op. POW
Sgt. Leslie E. Bowen Gunner KIA
Sgt. Bernard W. Dailey Gunner KIA
Sgt.Grant L. Wells Gunner KIA
Sgt. William W. Eason Gunner KIA
Gunner S/Sgt. Herbert J. McPhillips KIA
Hometown:
Squadron: 856th 492nd Bomb Group
Service#
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Ernest L Watson
MACR 7236
Target: aircraft manufacturing facility in Bernburg
Date Lost: 7-Jul-44
Serial Number: #42-95005
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:Dreamer
Location: crashed near Bernburg
Cause: Shot down by fighters w/Watson Crew 8 KIA, 1 POW,
The Watson Replacement Crew arrived at North Pickenham during the month of June. Their transfer order was short a navigator. Perhaps he had been pulled for other duty. On 24 Jun 44, they were assigned to fill the vacant spot of Crew 617 in the 856th BS.
After five short days of in-house training they began flying combat missions. By our count the Watson Crew flew 3 missions plus an aborted one. Aside from not knowing who their navigator was, there was one personnel change on the Crew's roster.
The final mission for the Watson Crew was on 7 Jul 44. The Group's objective was an aircraft manufacturing facility in Bernburg. The Luftwaffe attacked the 492nd from their behind where they didn't have any fighter protection. The air battle turned into a blood-bath as casualties ran high on both sides. The Watson Crew was knocked out of the action along with nine other ships from the 492nd. 8 KIA, 1 POW, MACR 7236.
Only two of the dead could be identified for burial. After the war, one of them was reburied in the Netherlands while the other was returned to the US. The rest of the crew was buried as a group. Today that group is buried together at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St Louis, Missouri.
Crew of 42-95005
2nd/Lt. Ernest L Watson Pilot
2nd/Lt. Richard P. Shepherd Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Clayton J. Newman Navigator KIA
2nd/Lt. Mark R. Grill Bombardier KIA
S/Sgt. Herbert J. McPhillips Gunner KIA
S/Sgt.George S. Cataldo Radio Op. POW
Sgt. Leslie E. Bowen Gunner KIA
Sgt. Bernard W. Dailey Gunner KIA
Sgt.Grant L. Wells Gunner KIA
Sgt. William W. Eason Gunner KIA
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