Ferry Aircraft: The crew are shown above with the B24 they ferried to the U.K., B24J 44-10597 "The Brat".

Standing, L-R:
George M.   Snyder     - Bombardier        ASN 0718157
Lawrence    Berkoff    - Pilot             ASN 0823270    (KIA)
Vincent D.  Woods      - Navigator         ASN 0723725

Kneeling, L-R:
Joseph C.   Tedesco    - Gunner            ASN 33784508   (Orphaned)
John D.     Duer       - Tailgunner        ASN 35174816
Arthur T.   Marrese    - Gunner            ASN 12180907   (Orphaned)
Alphonse J. Rinz       - Engineer          ASN 36595132
Daurel W.   Transtrum  - Dispatcher        ASN 39921706

Not shown:
John H.     Webb       - Copilot           ASN 0771174
George F.   Williams   - R. O.             ASN 37567442

Picture Location: Topeka
Picture Date: July 1944

Status: Replacement crew, they arrived at Harrington just in time for the reorganization of 13 August 1944.  Having only one observer mission behind him, Berkoff and crew took off for the Ventriloquist 61B DZ on the night of 8 September 1944 but almost immediately had mechanical difficulties and did not make it out of the UK. In the accident Berkoff was killed, but the others managed to bail out. The crash occurred near Folly Road, Lambourn. We are grateful to Todd Berkoff, great-nephew of Lawrence Berkoff for the very extensive research he has accomplished regarding this crew.  In 2003 Todd was instrumental in getting a review of the Berkoff incident and Lawrence Berkoff was as a result posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his skillful avoidance of the village of Lambourn which cost him his life.

Crash Aircraft:   B24H 42-52767 "My Gal Eileen"  Ex-487th BG

Crew-Specific Downloads:
Incident details
Berkoff Crew Mission Reports
Berkoff Crew Personnel Files

Universal Downloadable Data Sources:
801st/492nd Personnel Mission Report Index(Jan-Sep44)
AAFRH-21 "AAF Aid to European Resistance"
"Carpetbaggers" by Parnell
"They Flew by Night" editor Robert Fish
Serial Number Index of B24s
Station 179 Operations Log (handwritten Apr44-Jul45)
Station 179 Operations Log (transcribed Sep44-Jul45)

Available on Request:
Group Mission Reports Jan-Sep44 (On disk $12ea - $10ea via Paypal)
"Chronology of SOE Operations with the Resistance In France During WWII" by Foot & Boxhall
"Spies,Supplies & Moonlit Skies Vols 1&2" by Ensminger (On disk $12ea - $10ea via Paypal)

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