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 360th Wilson Crew
William M. Wilson, Pilot
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WILLIAM M. WILSON CREW - 360th BS
(crew assigned 360BS: 11 June 1944)

(Back L-R) Captain William M. Wilson (P)(1), 1Lt Victor L. Howard (CP)(POW)(2),
1Lt Jack H. Benford (B)(KIA)(4), 1Lt Robert Blumenthal (N) (3)

(Front) T/Sgt William J. Kuczewski (E)(5), T/Sgt Robert D. Means (R)(6),
S/Sgt Donald G. Case (BTG)(7), S/Sgt Emil S. Sabuda (WG)(8),
S/Sgt John H. Roberts (WG)(9), S/Sgt George N. Sauer (TG)(9)

(crewmen not in photo order)

Crew Notes:
  1. Capt William M. Wilson (P) - 30 missions - #183 6/18/44 to #263 10/26/44. 1st two missions as CoPilot and Lead Crew Pilot for last 16 missions. (No Lead Crew Photos)
  2. 1Lt Victor L. Howard (CP) - 29 missions - #185 6/19/44 to #248 9/26/44 16 missions with Wilson Crew. 12 missions with other Pilots. Upgraded from CoPilot Pilot mission #236 9/5/44. Last 4 missions as Pilot. POW - Last Mission #248 9/28/44 to Madgeburg, Germany in B-17G #43-37930 (No name) - 1 KIA & 8 POW
  3. 1Lt Robert Blumenthal (N) - 30 missions #184 6/19/44 to #248 9/28/44. 25 missions with Wilson Crew. 5 missions with other Pilots. Became a Lead Crew Navigator.
  4. 1Lt Jack H. Benford (B) - 23 missions #184 6/19/44 to #248 9/28/44. 11 missions with Wilson Crew. 12 missions with other Pilots. KIA - Last mission #248 9/28/44 to Madgeburg, Germany. 1Lt James T. Hahn Crew in B-17G #42-97805 (No name) - 6 KIA & 3 POW
  5. T/Sgt William J. Kuczewski (E) - Not on original assigned crew but probably in crew photo. 33 missions #14 14/25/44 to #196 7/5/44. Wilson Crew Engineer on 9 missions. Substitute Engineers used on other Wilson Crew missions. Flew 24 missions with other Pilots including: James W. Bowen Crew - 3 missions; Edgar C. Miller Crew - 4 missions; 11 missions with Max A. Christian Crew; 3 missions with Earl N. Thomas Crew; 3 missions with other pilots.
  6. T/Sgt Robert D. Means (R) - 30 missions #184 6/19/44 to #271 11/10/44. With Wilson Crew on 24 missions and 6 missions with other Pilots
  7. S/Sgt Donald G. Case (BTG) - 30 missions #184 6/19/44 to #271 11/10/44. With Wilson Crew on 25 missions and 5 missions with other pilots.
  8. S/Sgt Emil S. Sabuda (WG) - 30 missions #184 6/19/44 to #270 11/9/44 With Wilson crew on 27 missions and 3 missions with other Pilots
  9. S/Sgt George N. Sauer (TG) - 30 missions #184 6/19/44 to #266 11/2/44. With Wilson Crew on 25 missions and 5 missions with other Pilots
  10. Sgt John H. Roberts, Jr. (WG) - Original crewmen. Deleted from crew before crew's first mission when crew size changed from 10 to 9 men. Flew no 303rd BG(H) missions.

[photo courtesy of Andy Blumenthal]
[Researched by 303rdBGA Historian Harry D. Gobrecht]