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 358th Henderson Crew
John F. Henderson, Pilot
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JOHN F. HENDERSON CREW - 358th BS
(crew assigned 358BS: 04 Feb 1944 - photo: 06 Feb 1944)
(Upgraded from CoPilot, Merle R. Hungergford Crew, to Pilot: 20 December 1943)

(Back L-R) 1Lt Woodrow W. Monkres (B)(POW), 1Lt Warren S. Wiggins (N)(POW),
1Lt John F. Henderson (P)(POW)(1), 2Lt Calvin S. Brothers (CP)(2)

(Front L-R) T/Sgt Robert E. King (R)(3); S/Sgt Mike C. Milliff (TG)(POW);
S/Sgt Stanley J. Moody (WG)(4); Sgt Norman L. Shuhart (WG)(POW);
T/Sgt William H. Simpkins, Jr. (E)(POW); S/Sgt Richard C. Miller (BT)(POW);
Sgt Paul Kistulentz (R)(5)



JOHN F. HENDERSON CREW - 358th BS
(L-R) 2Lt Warren S. Wiggins (N), Sgt Edward Ruppel (BT), S/Sgt William H. Simpkins, Jr. (E),
T/Sgt Forrest L. Vosler (R), 2Lt John F. Henderson (P), 2Lt Walter J. Ames (CP),
Sgt Ralph F. Burkart (WG), Sgt Gratz (TG) 2Lt Woodrow W. Monkres (B)



JOHN F. HENDERSON CREW - 358th BS
(Back L-R) 2Lt Warren S. Wiggins (N), 2Lt Woodrow W. Monkres (B),
2Lt Walter J. Ames (CP), 2Lt John F. Henderson (P)

(Front L-R) Sgt Edward Ruppel (BT), T/Sgt Forrest L. Vosler (R),
S/Sgt William H. Simpkins, Jr. (E), Sgt Gratz (TG), Sgt Ralph F. Burkart (WG)

(POW) - 24 February 1944 Mission #112 to Schweinfurt, Germany in 358th BS B-17G #42-32562 (no name) (VK-A). Flak burst blew of the #2 engine as it was leaving the target area.

  1. Henderson (P) - Flew four missions (83, 84, 85, 86) as the Capt Merle R. Hungerford Crew CoPilot. Upgraded from CoPilot to Pilot on 20 December 1944 and flew nine missions as 1stPilot with five different CoPilots: (90, 98, 101, 102, 104, 105, 109, 110, 112).
  2. Brothers (CP) - 2Lt K.D. Crook (CP-POW) was the substitute for Brothers
  3. King (R) - Sgt C.S. Maple (R-POW) was the substitute for King
  4. Moody (WG) - Sgt V.W. Powell (LWG-POW) was the substitute for Moody
  5. Kistulentz (R) - was not on 24 Feb 44 mission
On 20 December 1943 Mission #90 to Bremen, Germany, B-17 Jersey Bounce, Jr. piloted by Lt. Henderson, was forced to ditch in the North Sea. S/Sgt Forrest L. Vosler (R) was awarded the Medal of Honor for his exploits on that mission. All crewmen were rescued and returned to Molesworth.

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[photo from the 303rdBGA Archives]
[Researched by 303rdBGA Historian Harry D. Gobrecht]