Winfred's Bombing Missions
| Mission | Date | 8th AAF # | Target | BG/BS/Mission# | Letter # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
144 |
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|
150 |
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The Tolley Crew's Compilation from 1980
At the 8th Air Force Reunion held in Hollywood, FL in 1980, the first crew of the Hoo Jive reunited for the first time since the war’s end. It was revealed that three of the crew (Winfred Maxwell, Sam Rainer, and Everett Vogan) had each kept notes of the crew’s missions in 1944. It was decided they would each copy their notes so they could be combined into one document which would be shared with the group. Everrett Vogan created the combined document which is presented below.
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The Guimon Crews' Missions
After the Tolley Crew* (Winfred’s) transferred to the 389th BG 564th BS at the end of March 1944, Lt. Michael J. Guimon would pilot the next crew that laid claim to the “HOO JIVE”. This second crew consisted of: 2nd Lt. Lloyd T. Smith – co-pilot, 2nd Lt. J. J. Simms – navigator, 2nd Lt. H. H. Bakes – bombardier, T/Sgt. Richard Merrill Dean – R.O., T/Sgt. S. R. Romagnuolo – engineer, S/Sgts. Jack Weaver, D.D. Thompson, R. M. Kirkwood, and B. L. Doherty – gunners. They would fly a total of 31 missions (16 on the “HOO JIVE”) between February 11 and June 11, 1944. They flew the ‘HOO JIVE” on March 23 & 26, April 1, 8, 9, 12, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, & 27; and May 2, 7, 8, & 9, 1944.
* The Tolley Crew records their last two mission with the 453rd as being on March 24th and March 26th. It is possible they flew the ‘HOO JIVE” on the 24th but report that engines #1 & #4 had been shot out and the most flak holes yet. They also report flying on March 26th but do not specify that they flew the “HOO JIVE”. Tom Britton’s research showing the Guimon crew flew the “HOO JIVE” on March 26th may be more accurate.
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The Huntoon Crews' Missions
Charles Roundtree Huntoon was the last pilot of the Hoo Jive. On the crews 25 1/2 mission they were hit by flak and lost three engines but managed to make an emergency landing in Sweden on August 25, 1944. There they set out the remainder of the war in Europe.
More will be posted soon on this crews’ missions.