White Crew

Photos and details courtesy of Mr. Russell Davis and Mr. Gabriel Gratkowski

8/44 - 11/44 RTU, Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas
11/44 - 12/44 Lincoln AAF, NE - Camp Kilmer, NJ
12/07/44 - 12/14/44  In Transit, by ship Ile de France
12/14/44 - 07/45 710th Squadron, Rattlesden, UK
Missions flown: 30
Assigned Aircraft: 42-97819 - destroyed in 2/21/45 hardstand accident
44-8502 - "Always Available"

Standing, L-R: T/Sgt. Cliff Conine, ENG; T/Sgt. Fred Bubeck, ROG; S/Sgt. Donald Olsen, BTG; S/Sgt. Gabriel Gratkowski, WG/TG; S/Sgt. Irvin Crone, TG
Kneeling, L-R:  Lt. Stanley White, P; Lt. Alan Kronschnabel, CP; Lt. Russell Davis, N; T/Sgt. Ronnal Tobey, Armorer/Togglier

  No. DATE TARGET AIRCRAFT COMMENTS
1 193 1/2/1945 ST. WENDEL 44-6595 (Slick Chick) Wing fire, bailed out over Verdun, France.  All returned safely
2 204 1/20/1945 HEILBRONN 43-39054 (Jersey Bounce)  
3   205 1/21/1945 MANNHEIM 43-39054 (Jersey Bounce)  
4   208 2/3/1945 BERLIN 43-38905  
5   209 2/6/1945 CHEMNITZ 42-97819  
6   211 2/14/1945 WESEL 42-97819  
7   212 2/15/1945 COTTBUS 42-97819  
8   214 2/16/1945 WESEL 42-97819  
9   215 2/20/1945 NURNBERG 42-97819  
10   217 2/23/1945 CRAILSHEIM 44-8502 (Always Available)  A/C 42-97819 was one of six aircraft destroyed in the 
 hardstand explosion on 21 February 1945
11   222 3/1/1945 ULM 44-8502 (Always Available)  
12   223 3/2/1945 DRESDEN 44-8502 (Always Available)  
13   224 3/3/1945 BRUNSWICK 44-8502 (Always Available)  
14   226 3/8/1945 FRANKFURT 44-8502 (Always Available)  
15   227 3/9/1945 FRANKFURT 44-8502 (Always Available)  
16   232 3/15/1945 ORANIENBURG 44-8502 (Always Available)  
17   233 3/17/1945 RUHLAND 44-8502 (Always Available)  Mid-air collision (wx), elevator damaged, returned safely to base
18   235 3/19/1945 ZWICKAU 43-39194  
19   237 3/21/1945 WILHELMSHAVEN 44-8502 (Always Available)  
20   238 3/22/1945 ESSEN 44-8502 (Always Available)  
21   242 3/30/1945 HAMBURG 44-8502 (Always Available)  
22   244 4/3/1945 KIEL 44-8502 (Always Available)  
23   245 4/4/1945 KIEL 44-8502 (Always Available)  
24   248 4/8/1945 PLAUEN 44-8502 (Always Available)  
25   249 4/9/1945 NEWBURG A/F 44-8502 (Always Available)  
26   250 4/10/1945 BRANDENBURG 44-8502 (Always Available)  
27   251 4/11/1945 INGLOSTADT 44-8502 (Always Available)  
28   252 4/14/1945 ROYAN AREA 44-8502 (Always Available)  On 15 April, Lt. Kronschnabel flew his first mission as 1st Pilot
 with a new crew.
29   257 4/20/1945 NEURUPPIN 44-8502 (Always Available)  
30   258 4/21/1945 INGLOSTADT 44-8502 (Always Available)  

 

L-R: 
Gabriel Gratkowski 
Cliff Conine
Donald Olsen
Irvin Crone
Fred Bubeck
Ronnal Tobey

at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas, Fall 1944

Crew reunion, August 1994, Denver
L-R: Russell Davis, Fred Bubeck, Ronnal Tobey, Al Kronschnabel, 
Gabriel Gratkowski, Stanley White, Donald Olsen

August 1994
Russell Davis and Cliff Conine