<%@ Language=JavaScript %> 857th BS - Edwards Crew

857th BS
Edwards Crew

Picture Credit: Jim Bain

The Edwards crew arrived at Harrington on 13 December 1944 as a replacement crew for the later departures of the summer crews. They are pictured here with the aircraft they ferried to the UK, B24 43-95576. On a training flight over France, their plane crashed near Lyon, France on 6 February 1945. All aboard save Burt were killed, Cathers (Gunner) was not on the flight. The bombardier in the above is known only as "Stewart", he was replaced by Edwin London before the fatal mission.

Standing, L-R:
Charles H. Edwards             - Pilot        ASN 07195920    (DNB)
Merrill A. Burt                - Copilot      ASN 02062978   
Edwin      London              - Bombardier   ASN T-128655    (DNB)
Gerard L.  Roy                 - Navigator    ASN 02065189    (DNB)
Kneeling, L-R:
James D.   Matthews            - Engineer     ASN 38506486    (DNB)
James O.   Mellotte            - R.O.         ASN 14136535    (DNB)      
John T.    Stuckey             - Gunner       ASN 38389577    (DNB)
Mose C.    Boren,Jr.           - Gunner       ASN 19106534    (DNB)
Allan W.   Cathers             - Gunner       ASN 42072365   
R.G.       Wolfersberger,Jr.   - Gunner       ASN 36466780    (DNB)

ASNs so-colored for EMs link to their NARA Enlistment Records.

Crash Aircraft: B24H 41-29505 "Gunga Din"

Aircraft Details Credit: Tom Brittan & Serge Blandin

Sally Shannon, a cousin of James Matthews, provided a wealth of detail and photos
for this page. Hidden in the back of a folder a collection of three pinup cards was
found, view them here.

Additional Crew Data sources:
 Edwards Crew Personnel Files
 Edwards Crew Honor Roll cards
Edwards Crew Accident Report
 Edwards Crew Miscellaneous

Group-Related Downloads: 801st
 "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:
 "Spies,Supplies & Moonlit Skies Vols 1&2" by Ensminger (On disk $12ea - $10ea via Paypal)

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