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360th Trojan Crew Joseph E. Trojan, Pilot |
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JOSEPH E. "JAY" TROJAN CREW - 360th BS
(Lt Trojan assigned 359th BS: 22 July 1943)
(Upgraded from CoPilot, 1Lt John W. Farrar Crew, to Pilot: 22 March 1943)
1Lt Joseph E. Trojan (P)(POW), 1Lt Thomas S. Vaughn (CP)(KIA),
1Lt Parley W. Madsen, Jr.(358BS-N)(POW), 1Lt Jack W. Stewart (B)(POW)
S/Sgt Paul H. Prescott (E)(POW/DOW),
S/Sgt Cecil E. Craft (R)(POW),
S/Sgt Joseph R. Sunderlin (BTG)(POW),
S/Sgt Martin A. Semonick (WG)(POW),
S/Sgt Lincoln T. O'Connell (WG)(POW),
S/Sgt Frank W. Bartlett (TG)(POW/WIA)
Crewmen on Lt Trojan's last combat mission on 29 May 1943
Twenty-one dispatched (17 credited) Combat missions flown by 1Lt Joseph E. Trojan:
- As Tail Gunner/Observer: 1Lt John W. Farrar (P) -2 (A) (18 Nov 1942)
- As CoPilot: 1Lt John W. Farrar (P) - 9, 10, 11, 14(A), 17, 18, 20, 21(AS), 23, 25(AS), 27, 28, 29, 35; 1Lt David S. Clifton (P) - 29 (5 Apr 1943); 1Lt Joseph F. Palmer (P) - 31 (17 Apr 43)
- As Pilot: Lt Joseph F. Palmer (CP) - 30 (15 Apr 43) & 31; Lt Arthur C. Way (CP) - 33 (A);
Lt John J. Caselo (CP) - 37, Lt Thomas S. Vaughn (CP) - 39 (A) & 40
(29 May 1943).
- Two Mission 39(A) & 40:1Lt Thomas S. Vaughn (CP); 1Lt Parley W. Madsen, Jr. (N)(358BS crewman); S/Sgt Martin A. Semonick (WG)
- Three Missions 37, 39(A) & 40: S/Sgt Cecil E. Craft (R)
- Four Missions 35, 37, 39(A) & 40: S/Sgt Paul H. Prescott (E)
- Thirteen Missions 2(A),9,10,11,17,18,20,21,23,33(A),37,39(A) & 40: 1Lt Jack W. Stewart (B)
- Thirteen Missions 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 33(A), 35, 37, 39(A) & 40: S/Sgt Joseph R. Sunderlin (BTG)
- Fourteen Missions 9, 10, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 27, 28, 33(A), 35, 37, 39(A) & 40: S/Sgt Lincoln T. O'Connell (WG)
- Fifteen Missions 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 33(A), 35, 37, 39(A) & 40: S/Sgt Frank W. Bartlett (TG).
Crew Note:
1Lt Joseph E. Trojan (P) - CoPilot on the original 360th BS 1Lt John W. Farrar Crew - 14 credited missions. Upgraded from CoPilot to Pilot on orders dated 22 March 1943. First of three credited missions as Pilot on 15 April 1945. Final mission 29 May 1945.
Final Mission:
Mission #40, 29 May 1943, to St. Nazaire, France in original B-17F #41-24602
Yardbird (360BS) PU-A. Was disabled by flak in the target area and was
subsequently hit by attacking FW-190s and ME-109s. Exploded with a burst of fire
when it hit the ground near Pleubian, France. 1Lt Vaughn (CP) was Killed in Action. Other crewmen
made parachute jumps and became POWs. S/Sgt Prescott (E) died of his wounds
on 4 June 1943 while a POW in a German hospital at Paris-Clichy. He is buried
in the Epinal American Cemetery near Vosges, France. S/Sgt Bartlett (WG) was
badly wounded and was repatriated in 1944.
Nicky (DeVito) Desersa, S/Sgt Lincoln T. O'Connell and Helen (Gill) Powers at an event in 1945