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 358th Morningstar Crew
Thomas Morningstar, Pilot
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THOMAS H. MORNINGSTAR CREW - 358th BS
(crew assigned 358BS: 29 May 1944)

2Lt Thomas H. Morningstar (P)(POW), 2Lt Fred H. Patterson (CP)(POW),
2Lt Richard O. Kinder (N)(POW) - (front, 2nd from left), 2Lt Bernard D. Dooley (B)(POW)

S/Sgt Ted J. Schutz (E)(POW), S/Sgt Fred G. Hartman (R)(POW),
Sgt Philip Bruno (WG), Sgt John H. Grob (BTG)(POW),
Sgt Bart M. Casillas (TG)(POW), Sgt Robert G. Schuster (WG)(POW)

crewmen are not in order




THOMAS H. MORNINGSTAR CREW - 358th BS
(crew assigned 358BS: 29 May 1944 - photo: 9 June 1944)

Twelve credited June 1944 combat missions flown by 2Lt Thomas H. Morningstar:
176-6/08 to Orleans, Fr, 177- 6/10 to Mantes/Bougeumaie, Fr, 178-6/12 to Cabrai/Epinoy, Fr,
179-6/13 to Eureux, Fr, 180-6/14 to Coulommiers, Fr, 181-6/15 to La Possonnietre, Fr,
182-6/16 to Juvincourt, Fr, 183-6/18 to Hamburg, Gr, 184-6/19(AM) to Fiefs, Fr,
185-6/19 (PM) to Fiefs, Fr, 186-6/20 to Hamburg, Gr, 187-6/21 to Berlin, Gr.

Seven B-17Gs flown on the 2Lt Thomas H. Morningstar twelve combat missions:

  • 42-97085 (No name) (358BS) VK-B - Missions 176, 177, 182
  • 42-31739 Pugnacious Peter (358BS) VK-P - Missions 178, 184
  • 42-32037 (No name) (358BS) VK-F - Missions 179, 186
  • 42-38154 (No name) (358BS) VK-E - Mission 180
  • 42-107002 Mairzy Doats (358BS) VK-A - Missions 181, 187
  • 42-97622 Paper Dollie (358BS) VK-K - Mission 183
  • 42-31224 Hell in the Heavens (358BS) VK-F - Mission 185
Crew Notes:
  • 2Lt Thomas H. Morningstar (P) - Five Missions flown as CoPilot with 2Lt Campbell Miller as Pilot (176, 177, 178, 179, 180), Seven missions flown as First Pilot (181,182, 183, 184,185,186,187)
  • 2Lt Fred H. Patterson (CP) - Stood down on five missions (176, 177, 178, 179, 180), Seven missions flown as the 2Lt Morningstar Crew CoPilot (181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187)
  • Sgt Philip Bruno (RWG) - Flew on the 2Lt Morningstar crews first nine missions (176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184). Crew size reduced from 10 to nine men with deletion of the second Waist Gunner. Sgt Bruno did not fly on the crew's last three missions (185, 186, 187) and flew on no more 303rd BG(H) missions.
  • Other Crewmen - Flew on all twelve of the 2Lt Morningstar Crew missions.

Mission notes:

  • Mission 180 - Credited abortive sortie. Bombs not dropped.
  • Mission 182 - Credited abortive sortie. Was out of the Squadron formation over the target and didn't drop bombs
  • Mission 187 - Dropped bomb early due to a bomb rack malfunction. Was hit hard by flak and was not flying with it's assigned Squadron formation on the bomb run. Was not observed leaving the Squadron formation. B-17 crashed near Techin, Germany. Entire crew parachuted safely and became POWs (Mission Aircrew Report 6538)

[photo courtesy of Helen R. Dooley]
[Researched by 303rdBGA Historian Harry D. Gobrecht]