The Harold L. Kreuzer crew: 709th Squadron
The Kreuzer crew at Harvard with 42-39874 Wichita Witch. During 1944, this nose art was covered and the aircraft renamed Queen Patsy by members of the Skinner crew.
| Standing L-R: | |
| Lt. Harold L. Kreuzer | P |
| Lt. Lawrence P. Koenig | CP |
| Lt. Clyde V. Collins | B |
| Lt. Bert H. Lynn | N |
| Kneeling, order uncertain: | |
| Sgt Joseph R. Rossi | ENG |
| Sgt Robert V. Tompkins | ROG |
| Sgt Earl E. Barry | WG |
| Sgt Anthony J. Shidek | WG |
| Sgt Robert G. Gordon | BTG |
| Sgt Frank L. Lanman | TG |
| 11/43 | Harvard AAB, Nebraska |
| 11/43 | in transit by air |
| 11/43 – 4/44 | 709th Sqdn, Rattlesden (Original crew) |
| Missions Flown: 24 | |
Flights with Harold L. Kreuzer listed as Pilot
These lists are NOT limited to officially credited Combat missions, and may include Aborts, returns and non-takeoff occurrences as well.
| 447th Mission (Date) | Target | Plane Number | Notes |
| #3 (31-Dec-43) | Cognac, France | 42-39886 | |
| #5 (05-Jan-44) | Merignac, France | 42-37855 | Ret’d / on other SQ list |
| #11 (29-Jan-44) | Frankfurt, Germany | 42-31188 | ABORT Oxygen out |
| #12 (30-Jan-44) | Brunswick, Germany | 42-31207 | |
| #13 (03-Feb-44) | Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 42-39874 | |
| #14 (04-Feb-44) | Frankfurt, Germany | 42-38052 | Not attack |
| #15 (05-Feb-44) | Romilly-sur-Seine, France | 42-39874 | swapped planes with Skinner |
| #17 (08-Feb-44) | Weisbaden, Germany | 42-31519 | |
| #18 (10-Feb-44) | Brunswick, Germany | 42-31519 | ABORT |
| #19 (13-Feb-44) | Pas de Calais, Marquenville, France | 42-31519 | |
| #20 (20-Feb-44) | Rostock, Germany | 42-31225 | |
| #22 (24-Feb-44) | Rostock, Germany | 42-31225 | |
| #23 (25-Feb-44) | Regensburg, Germany | 42-39886 | ABORT Personnel |
| #35 (18-Mar-44) | Munich, Germany | 42-31225 | |
| #36 (20-Mar-44) | Frankfurt, Germany | 42-31225 | |
| #40 (27-Mar-44) | Merignac, Chartes, France | 42-31225 | |
| #41 (28-Mar-44) | Chartres, France | 42-31225 | from Spares |
| #42 (01-Apr-44) | Ludwigshafen, Germany | 42-31225 | |
| #43 (08-Apr-44) | Rheine, Germany | 42-31225 | |
| #44 (09-Apr-44) | Warnemunde, Germany | 42-31217 | |
| #45 (10-Apr-44) | Diest Schaffen, Germany | 42-39886 | |
| #46 (11-Apr-44) | Arnimswalde, Poland | 42-31188 | ABORT Gas leak; T/O and landed, then T/O again in same plane |
| #47 (13-Apr-44) | Augsburg, Germany | 42-31184 | MISSING |
On 13 April 1944 the group encountered extremely heavy flak over the target area. Three badly damaged aircraft, including the Kreuzer crew in Old Crow dropped from the formation and headed for Switzerland. All three reached Dubendorf Airfield, and were interned.
From MACR 4295 for A/C 42-31184
| Pilot | 2Lt Harold L. Kruezer | INT |
| Copilot | 2Lt Lawrence P. Koenig | INT |
| Navigator | 2Lt Bert H. Lynn | INT |
| Bombardier | 2Lt Clyde V. Collins | INT |
| Top Turret | T/Sgt Joseph R. Rossi | INT |
| Radio Operator | T/Sgt Robert V. Tompkins | INT |
| Ball Turret | S/Sgt Robert G. Gordon | INT |
| Left Waist | S/Sgt Earl E. Berry | INT |
| Right Waist | S/Sgt Anthony J. Shidek | INT |
| Tail Gunner | S/Sgt Frank L. Lanman | INT |
Several internees and Swiss guards. At front left is believed to be co-pilot Larry Koenig.
(Photo courtesy of Ed Maul)
Combat Missions (previously compiled)
| No. | Date | Target | Aircraft |
| 1 | 12/24/43 | NOBALL NO. 50 DROINVILLE | 42-31206 Journey’s End |
| 2 | 1/5/44 | MERIGNAC | 42-37855 |
| 3 | 3/27/44 | MARIGNAC CHARTRES | 42-31225 Scheherazade |
| 4 | 12/31/43 | COGNAC | 42-39886 |
| 5 | 1/7/44 | LUDWIGSHAFEN | 42-32145 Hi-Jinx |
| 6 | 1/24/44 | FRANKFURT | 42-31108 Devil’s Mate |
| 7 | 1/29/44 | FRANKFURT | 42-31188 Dead Man’s Hand |
| 8 | 1/30/44 | BRUNSWICK | 42-31207 |
| 9 | 2/3/44 | WILHELMSHAVEN | 42-39874 Wichita Witch |
| 10 | 2/4/44 | FRANKFURT | 42-38052 |
| 11 | 2/5/44 | ROMILLY | No. 137 (?) |
| 12 | 2/8/44 | WEISBADEN | 42-31519 |
| 13 | 2/10/44 | BRUNSWICK | 42-31519 |
| 14 | 2/13/44 | NOBALL NO.S 110, 78 | 42-31519 |
| 15 | 2/20/44 | TUTOW | 42-31225 Scheherazade |
| 16 | 2/24/44 | ROSTOCK | 42-31225 Scheherazade |
| 17 | 2/25/44 | REGENSBURG | 42-31534 |
| 18 | 3/18/44 | MUNICH | 42-31225 Scheherazade |
| 19 | 3/20/44 | FRANKFURT | 42-31225 Scheherazade |
| 20 | 4/1/44 | LUDWIGSHAFEN | 42-31225 Scheherazade |
| 21 | 4/8/44 | RHEINE | 42-31225 Scheherazade |
| 22 | 4/10/44 | DIEST SCHAFFEN | 42-39886 |
| 23 | 4/11/44 | ARNIMSWALDE | 42-31188 Dead Man’s Hand |
| 24 | 4/13/44 | AUGSBURG | 42-31184 Old Crow |
Some photos/information provided by: