The Robert C. Stevenson crew: 711th Squadron
Photo in Pyote, Texas
Assigned SO72, 17 Apr 1944
| Standing L-R: |
| T/Sgt Kenneth L. Ramey |
| S/Sgt Albert A. Acuna |
| T/Sgt Loran B. Heeb |
| S/Sgt Russell T. Hatchett |
| S/Sgt Jack D. Keller |
| S/Sgt William Levitisky |
| Kneeling L-R: |
| Lt Abel W. Dahlgran |
| Lt Robert C. Stevenson |
| Lt Erwin A. Smith |
| Lt Gordon T. Todd |
Lt. Robert Stevenson: Killed in action on 29 April 1944 during his Combat Orientation flight with the Elmer Johnson crew in 42-97501.
The crew was placed with John Sollars for many missions before Dahlgran was promoted to First Pilot.
“Old Scrapiron” was a nickname Stevenson earned during training, and their assigned aircraft 42-31582 Ol’Scrapiron was named in his honor.
| 4/17/44 | 711th Sqdn, Rattlesden |
| Missions flown: varies by crew member | |
Mission tally written by T/Sgt Loran B. Heeb. The crew did not always fly complete so may not match all other crew members.
|
Lt. A.W. Dahlgran, Pilot |
Lt. Kurtis Brown, Co-pilot |
Lt. Irwin Smith, Navigator |
Lt. Gordon Todd, Bombardier |
|
Sgt. Kenneth Ramey, ROG |
Sgt. Loran Heeb, ENG |
Sgt. Jack D. Keller, TG |
Sgt. Russell Hatchett, BTG |
On leave in London: Albert Acuna, (uncertain), Loran Heeb and Russell Hatchett.
Lucky bastard Club certificates for Loran Heeb (above) and Jack Keller (below).
Here are the details for the missions flown by Jack Keller. Because crews did not fly every mission together as a complete crew, whay follows may not match the exact mission record of every other member of the original Stevenson crew.
| #1 April. 27-1944Le Culot, Belgium
Weather- Fair Air Field |
4:45 Combat
A/C #297501 |
18000 Feet
Togglier 500# GP Bomb |
|
| #2 May 1-1944
Marquenville, France Weather- Bad Rocket Site |
6:30 Combat
A/C #237871 |
Recall
Tail Gunner 1000# GP Bomb |
|
| #3 May 7-1944
Berlin, Germany Weather- PFF City |
9:00 Combat
A/C #297392 |
23750 Feet
Tail Gunner Incendiary Bomb |
|
| #4 May 8-1944
Berlin, Germany Weather- PFF Air Field |
8:30 Combat
A/C #297179 |
26000 Feet
Tail Gunner 500# GP Bomb |
|
| #5 May 9-1944
Leon/Athies, France Weather- Good Air Field |
5:00 Combat
A/C #297179 |
22000 Feet
Tail Gunner 500# GP Bomb |
|
| #6 May 30-1944
St.Pol/ Siracourt, France Weather- Fair V-1 Launch Site |
5:00 Combat
A/C #238052 |
25000 Feet
Tail Gunner 1000# AP Bomb |
|
| #7 May 31-1944
Hamm, Germany Weather- Excellent Marshaling Yard |
6:30 Combat
A/C #238052 |
25000 Feet
Tail Gunner 1000# GP Bomb |
|
| #8 June 2-1944
Wimerex, France Weather- Good Air Field |
5:00 Combat
A/C #238052 |
21000 Feet
Tail Gunner 500# GP Bomb |
|
| #9 June 5- 1944
LeTourquet, France Weather- Good Beach Defense |
5:10 Combat
A/C #238052 |
23000 Feet
Tail Gunner 500# GP Bomb |
|
| #10 June 6- 1944- D Day #1
Cane, France Weather- Fair City |
6:20 Combat
A/C #238052 |
16800 Feet
Tail Gunner 500# GP Bomb |
Juno & Sword Beaches – Sure glad to be in the air, not on beach, GOD BLESS all those young men on landing!
|
| #11 June 6- 1944- D Day #2
Lisieux, France Weather- Good City |
6:00 Combat
A/C #238052 |
16000 Feet
Tail Gunner 100# GP Bomb |
Juno & Sword Beaches – Lord what a sight, unbelievable. Support Gen. Dempsy 2nd Army, Canadians & English. |
| #12 June 7- 1944
Nantes, France Weather- Fair Rail Bridge |
8:00 Combat
A/C #238052 |
22000 Feet
Tail Gunner 100# GP Bomb |
|
| #13 June 11- 1944
Le Touquet ,France Weather- Poor Marshaling Yard |
4:30 Combat
A/C #238052 |
23000 Feet
Tail Gunner 250# GP Bomb |
|
| #14 June 14- 1944
Florennes/Juzain, Belgium Weather-Excellent Air Field |
4:30 Combat
A/C #238052 |
18000 Feet
Tail Gunner 500# GP Bomb |
|
| #15 June 15- 1944
Misburgh, Germany Weather-PFF Oil |
8:00 Combat
A/C #238052 |
25000 Feet
Tail Gunner 500# GP Bomb |
|
| #16 June18-1944
Misburgh, Germany Weather-PFF Oil |
7:30 Combat
A/C #210706 |
19000 Feet
Tail Gunner 500# GP Bomb |
|
| #17 June 19-1944
St.Jean D’Angely, France Weather-PFF Marshaling Yard |
8:30 Combat
A/C #238052 |
20000 Feet
Tail Gunner 1000# GP Bomb |
|
| #18 July 18-1944
Cuxhaven, Germany Weather-PFF Air Field |
7:00 Combat
A/C #231582 |
1800 Feet
Tail Gunner 500# GP Bomb |
My Original Crew – We named “Ol’Scrapiron“ |
| #19 July 20-1944
Merseburgh, Germany Weather-Fair Oil |
8:20 Combat
A/C #231582 |
25000 Feet
Tail Gunner 500# GP Bomb |
|
| #20 July 24-1944
St. Lo, Aera, France Weather-Poor German Lines |
6:20 Combat
A/C #231582 |
19000 Feet
Tail Gunner 100# GP Bomb |
|
| #21 Aug. 4-1944
Ostend, Belgium Weather-Good Air Craft Factory |
3:15 Combat
A/C #239882 |
24000 Feet
Togglier 1000#GP Bomb |
|
| #22 Aug. 11-1944
Belfort, France Weather-Excellent Marshaling Yard |
8:40 Combat
A/C #231582 |
15000 Feet
Formation Control Lead Tail Gunner 100# GP Bomb |
Pilot Cap. Barret |
| #23 Aug. 13-1944
Seine River Area Weather-Good Marshaling Yard |
5:45 Combat
A/C #231582 |
18000 Feet
Formation Control Lead Tail Gunner 100# GP Bomb |
Pilot Cap. Duke |
| #24 Aug. 15-1944
Handorf, Germany Weather-Good Air Field |
5:00 Combat
A/C #297083 |
25000 Feet
Formation Control Lead Tail Gunner 500# GP Bomb |
Pilot Cap. Brown |
| #25 Oct. 26-1944
Hannover, Germany Weather-PFF Oil |
6:10 Combat
A/C #231582 |
26000 Feet
Tail Gunner 500#GP Bomb |
Hit in head with plexi-glass |
| #26 Nov.6-1944
Neumunster, Germany Weather-PFF Air Field |
7:10 Combat
A/C #297572 |
23000 Feet
Tail Gunner 250#GP Bomb |
Hit in head with plexi-glass |
Loran Heeb; Flight Engineer, Top Turret Gunner
Some photos/information provided by:
- Mr. Jack Keller
- Family of Loran Heeb