406th NLS
Richards Crew

The crew members in the picture are unidentified except for Harold W. Pitcher, Engineer, second from the left, back row. Picture Credit: Doug Pitcher. Names transcribed from POM orders. Picture Location: Walla Walla, WA, prior to POM. Extrapolating from their 3x5 cards, (Air Medal awards) they probably arrived at Cheddington in the Dec44-Jan45 timeframe.

Os:
Louis P.   Borosch    - Bombardier        ASN T-5592
Joseph W.  Ginter     - Navigator         ASN T-131831
Hilburn F. Richards   - Pilot             ASN 0721862
Emmett L.  Risz       - Copilot           ASN 0928707

EMs:
Alfred N.  Hinson     - Gunner            ASN 14193927
Aldis J.   McGill     - Gunner            ASN 36899316
Harold W.  Pitcher    - Engineer          ASN 16111844
John R.    Railton    - Gunner            ASN 39577032
Walter E.  Schub      - Gunner            ASN 31378435
William J. Walsh      - R.O.              ASN 33788895

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

Additional Crew Data sources:
Richards Crew 3x5 cards
Richards Crew Personnel Files

Group-Related Downloads: 
406th NLS Air Crew Card Index 
406th NLS Squadron RZI Card File
AAFRH-21 "AAF Aid to European Resistance"
Air Power History Article
Allied Leaflets Index
Aerospace Historian Article
"Carpetbaggers" by Parnell
Cheddington (Station 113)
Night Leaflet Squadrons Operations reports (Jun44-Jul45)
"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:
"Secret Squadrons of the 8th" by Carty (leaflet squadron portion only)
"Leaflet Operations during the 2nd WW" by James M. Erdmann

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