Jack G. Rolfson Crew

JACK G. ROLFSON CREW - 427th BS
(crew assigned 427BS: 24 July 1942 - photo: 18 July 1943)
(Rolfson was copilot to R.S. Hayes, upgraded to pilot: 05 July 1943)

(Back L-R) Lt Jack G. Rolfson (P), unknown,
Lt Abbott M. Smith, Jr. (B) Capt Louis A. Lame (427th BS Flight Surgeon)

(Front L-R) unknown, unknown, T/Sgt Joe R. Gray (E), S/Sgt Jesse J. Jessee (R),
S/Sgt Robert K. Sink (BTG), S/Sgt Joseph E. Serpa (TG),

other crewmen unidentified at this time

Original Lt Jack G. Rolfson Crew (Mission 55 Crewmen)
Lt Jack G. Rolfson (P), Lt Edward M. Woddrop (CP),
Lt Charles L. Herman (N), Lt Abbott M. Smith, Jr. (B)

T/Sgt James K. Good (E), T/Sgt Dale F. Brandfas (R),
S/Sgt Louis F. Bourdon (BTG), S/Sgt Delvyn Smith (RWG),
S/Sgt William W. Fleming (LWG), S/Sgt Joseph E. Serpa (TG)

Rolfson Missions flown As CoPilot:
Twenty-five missions with the following six Pilots:

1Lt Ralph S. Hayes, Jr. (P) - Twelve missions (15, 17, 18, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 33)
1Lt Donald E. Stockton (P) - One mission (23)
Capt Billy B. Southworth, Jr. (P) - One mission (34)
Maj Glenn E. Hagenbuch - One lead crew mission (36)
Lt Fort W. Lipe (P) - Eight missions (38, 41, 43, 43A, 44, 45, 47, 48)
Lt William G. LeFevre (P) - Two missions (49, 53)

Rolfson Missions flown as 1st Pilot:
Two missions - 55 (29 July 44) and 56 (30 July 44). Co Pilot Lt Edward M. Woddrop

Crew Notes:
Crewmen listed below the photograph are the crew who flew with Lt Rolfson on his two missions as a 1st Pilot with the following exceptions on mission 56: T/Sgt Jesse J. Jessee (R) and S/Sgt Cecil M. May (BTG)

The following crewmen flew with Lt Rolfson during his Co Pilot missions:

Lt Edward M. Woddrop (CP) - No additional missions
Lt Charles L. Herman (N) - Four missions (47, 48, 49, 53)
Lt Abbott M. Smith, Jr. (B) - Ten missions (21, 22, 24, 28, 38, 41, 45, 48, 49, 53)
T/Sgt James K. Good (E) - Sixteen missions (15, 17, 18, 21, 22, 33, 34, 36, 38, 41, 43A, 44, 45, 47, 49, 53)
T/Sgt Dale F. Brandfas (R) - Nine missions (38, 41, 43, 43A, 44, 45, 47, 49, 53)
T/Sgt Jesse J. Jessee (R) - Fourteen missions (15, 17, 18, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 33, 34, 36)
S/Sgt Louis F. Bourdon (BTG) - Three missions (15, 17, 18)
S/Sgt Cecil M. May (BTG) - No additional missions
S/Sgt William W. Fleming (WG) - No additional missions
S/Sgt Delvyn Smith WG) - Seven missions (27, 28, 30, 31, 33, 34, 36)
S/Sgt Joseph E. Serpa (TG) - Six missions (41, 44, 45, 47, 49, 53)

The Lt Ralph S. Hayes, Jr., Lt Fort W. Lipe and Lt William G. LeFevre crews all utilized common crewmen on many of their combat missions. Lt's Lipe and LeFevre, like Lt Rolfson, were originally CoPilots who were upgraded to Pilots. The twelve missions that Lt Ralph S. Hayes, Jr flew as Pilot with Lt Rolfson as his CoPilot were the only combat missions that he flew.

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