Jack P. Rencher Crew

JACK P. RENCHER CREW - 358th BS
(Assigned 358th BS: 07 August 1944)
(Upgraded from Co Pilot on Werner G. Goering Crew to Pilot: 22 November 1944)

Pick-up crews utilized on each 1st Pilot mission
See Capt Werner G. Goering Crew

Thirty-five Combat missions flown by 1Lt Jack P. Rencher:
As Co Pilot: Werner G. Goering Crew - Twenty five missions - 232 (25 Aug 1944), 233, 235, 238, 239, 244, 245, 246, 249, 250, 252, 255, 259, 260, 262, 263, 265, 267, 269, 272, 273, 274, 275, 279 & 284 (9 Dec 1944)
As CoPilot: (with three other Pilots) - Five missions - 1Lt Donald D. Stark (P) 231; 2Lt Rufus W. Grisham, Jr (P) 251 & 254; 2Lt Richard D. Greenbaum (P) 285 & 288
As 1st Pilot: - Five missions -
277 (26 Nov 1944) Altenbecken, Germany
286 (12 Dec 1944) Mersburg Germany,
287 (18 Dec 1944) Koblenz, Germany
289 (23 Dec 1944) Ehrang, Germany
290 (24 Dec 1944) Merzhausen, Germany
For mission dates and targets see the missions list.

Lt Rencher, October 1944 - 358th BS Operations Quonset Hut in back
1Lt Jack P. Rencher - Pilot with extraordinairy qualifications: Lt Rencher was an experienced B-17 Pilot before being assigned to the Goering crew as CoPilot. Pilot Werner G. Goering was a nephew of Luftwaffe Commanding General Hermann Goering. Lt Rencher had over 1,000 B-17 Pilot hours flying at the Yuma AFB Gunnery School. Was selected for a volunteer assignment as the Werner G. Goering crew CoPilot after an extensive USAAF investigation to find a Pilot who they considered to be uniquely qualified to fly as Goering's CoPilot over Nazi Germany. Was upgraded from CoPilot to Pilot on orders dated 22 November 1944 and completed five missions as a 1st Pilot. Combat tour completed on 24 December 1944.

Crewmen utilized by 1Lt Jack P. Rencher on his five 1st Pilot combat missions:
One mission (277) in B-17G 42-107206 Old Black Magic 359BS (BN-R)
Four missions (286, 287, 288, 290) in B-17G 43-38462 Teddy's Rough Riders 358BS (VK-I)

Pilot: 1Lt Jack P. Rencher (WGG) (277, 286, 287, 289, 290)
CoPilot: 2Lt Joe T. Kunkel (277); 2Lt William H. Cox (286); 2Lt Harold D. Fletcher (287); 2Lt Robert L. Erickson (289); 2Lt Jerome Milman (290)
Navigator: 2Lt Ralph S. Feezel (277); 2Lt Anthony J. Boland (286, 289, 290); 1Lt Ben Star (287)
Togglier: S/Sgt George K. Reimche (277, 286, 287, 289, 290)
Engineer: S/Sgt John R. Work (277); T/Sgt Vergil A. Shaw (286); T/Sgt Orall R. Gustafson (WGG) (287, 289, 290)
Radio Operator: Sgt Robert S. Ludington (277); T/Sgt Paul J. Bzik (286, 287); T/Sgt William J. LaPerch (289); T/Sgt Chester Brodzinski (WGG) (290)
Ball Turret Gunner: Sgt Edward P. Kudder (277); S/Sgt Marvin T. Johnson (286, 287); S/Sgt Clarence W. Houseman (WGG) (289, 290)
Waist Gunner: Sgt Murray W. Wade (277); S/Sgt Jack E. Martin (286); S/Sgt Robert L. Huck (287); S/Sgt Marvin T. Johnson (289, 290)
Tail Gunner: Sgt Lyle H. Cox (277); S/Sgt Walter E. Hammond (286, 287); S/Sgt Weldon T. Mahan (WGG) (289, 290)

(WGG) Original crewmen on the Werner G. Goering Crew

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