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 360th Armfield Crew
John M. Armfield, Pilot
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JOHN M. ARMFIELD CREW - 360th BS
(crew assigned 360BS: 01 Dec 1944 - photo: Alexandria AB, LA, fall 1944)

(Back L-R) Cpl James M. Lemon, Jr. (FE), Cpl Donald L. Haynes (RO),
Cpl Edward F. Goggin (WG), Cpl Richard D. Elliott (WG),
Cpl RJ Prozenski (BT), Cpl Jesse W. Davis (TG)

(Front L-R) 2Lt John M. Armfield (P), 2Lt Dudley V. Marten (CP),
2Lt James L. Stewart (N), 1Lt Theodore W. Mishtal (B)

[photo courtesy of John M. Armfield]



JOHN M. ARMFIELD CREW - 360th BS
B-17G Idaliza #42-97546 (PU-E)

(Back L-R) 1Lt Theodore W, Mishtal (B)(4), 1Lt James L. Stewart (N)(3),
2Lt Dudley V. Marten (CP)(2), 1Lt John M. Armfield (P)(1)

(Front L-R) S/Sgt Donald L. Haynes (R)(6),
S/Sgt Edward F. Goggin (WG/BTG)(8), S/Sgt Richard D. Elliott (BTG)(7),
T/Sgt James M. Lemon, Jr. (E)(5), Sgt Jesse W. Davis (TG)(9)

(Officer ranks and EM Grades as of last combat mission)

Lt John M. Armfield thirty four combat missions:
287 (18 Dec 44), 288, 291, 293, 294, 296, 299, 300, 303, 304, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 314, 315, 326, 327, 318, 319, 320, 322, 328, 329, 330, 332, 333, 336, 337, 338, 340, 344, 351 (4 Apr 45). Lt Armfield had no non-credited combat mission abortions.

Crew Notes:

  1. 1Lt John M. Armfield (P) - First five missions as CoPilot with combat orientation Pilots. Completed combat tour (34 missions) on 04 April 1945.

  2. 2Lt Dudley V. Marten (CP) - Six Missions (287, 293, 294, 296, 301 & 351) as CoPilot with other Pilots. 26 missions as the Lt Armfield crew CoPilot. Three missions (332, 340 & 344) flown with substitute CoPilots. Lt Marten was upgraded from CoPilot to 1st Pilot on 24 March 1945. Flew three missions (332, 344 & 345) as Pilot. Completed combat tour (35 missions) on 04 April 1945.

  3. 1Lt James L. Stewart (N) - First 26 missions with Lt Armfield Crew . Six missions with other Pilots (301, 333, 340, 345, 348, 357). Completed combat tour (32 missions) on 10 April 1945.

  4. 1Lt Theodore W. Mishtal (B) - First 9 missions with Lt Armfield Crew. Eleven missions with other pilots (301, 304, 308, 310, 321, 325, 330, 334, 348, 360, 363). Completed 20 combat missions. Last mission (#363) on 20 April 1945. Lt Armfield Crew, after mission 303, flew with substitute Bombardiers or Toggliers.

  5. T/Sgt James M. Lemon, Jr. (E) - Flew 6 missions with other Pilots (301, 356, 357, 358, 359 & 360). Lt Armfield crew had substitute Engineers on 6 missions (317, 318, 319, 320, 322 & 330). Completed combat tour (34 missions) on 15 April 1945.

  6. S/Sgt Donald L. Haynes (R) - Flew all but one mission (301) with Lt. Armfield Crew. Completed combat tour (34 missions) on 23 March 1945. See: Don Haynes' Mission Log.

  7. S/Sgt Richard D. Elliott (BTG) - Flew his first 6 missions with the Lt Armfield Crew (287, 288, 291, 293, 294 & 296). Crew flew with substitute Ball Turret Gunners on other missions. S/Sgt Elliott flew his last 20 missions - (313, 316, 322, 325, 326, 330, 331, 331, 332, 336, 337, 340, 341, 345, 347, 351, 255, 357, 359, 360 & 361) with other Pilot as a German speaking "Spot Jammer", "Voice Interpreter"," Y-Operator" or "Radio Control Measures" crewman. Completed 26 missions on 16 April 1945.

  8. S/Sgt Edward F. Groggin (WG/BTG). Flew his first 22 missions as a Waist Gunner when crew size was 9 men. Crew had substitute BTGs on 16 missions. Crew size reduced to 8 men (mission 322 - 24 Feb 1945) deleting the remaining Waist Gunner position. S/Sgt Groggin flew his final 12 missions as the crew's Ball Turret Gunner. All mission except 301 flown with the Lt Armfield crew. Completed 34 missions on 04 April 1945.

  9. Sgt Jesse W. Davis (TG). Lt Armfield crew had substitute Tail Gunners on 7 missions (304, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312 & 314). Sgt Davis flew all but one mission (301) with the Lt Armfield Crew. Completed 28 missions on 04 April 1945.

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