The Joseph R. Thornbury crew: 710th Squadron
Location unknown, undated
Assigned SO67, 27 Mar 1944
| Standing L-R: |
| Sgt Stanley Saviski |
| Sgt Lloyd Roach |
| S/Sgt Harry Smith |
| Sgt Harold Kiehn, RWG; |
| S/Sgt George Stratos |
| Sgt Dante Rich |
| Front L-R: |
| Lt George Filush |
| Lt. Joseph Thornbury |
| F/O Albert E. Cowey |
| Lt. Dominick Padula |
The Thornbury crew, probably at Ardmore AAB before transit to England
The Thornbury crew arrived at Rattlesden on March 16 and were assigned to the 710th Squadron on the following day (Special Order No. 67, 17 Mar 44; 447bg Ref B0558-0989). Within two weeks they had completed orientation and were flying combat missions.
Flights with Joseph R. Thornbury 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 |
| #41 (28-Mar-44) | Chartres, France | 42-97135 | |
| #42 (01-Apr-44) | Ludwigshafen, Germany | 42-31154 | |
| #43 (08-Apr-44) | Rheine, Germany | 42-31144 | |
| #44 (09-Apr-44) | Warnemunde, Germany | 42-31902 | |
| #45 (10-Apr-44) | Diest Schaffen, Germany | 42-31217 | |
| #46 (11-Apr-44) | Arnimswalde, Poland | 42-31217 | |
| #47 (13-Apr-44) | Augsburg, Germany | 42-107021 | MISSING |
On April 13, the group experienced intense flak en-route to the target, forcing some planes to abort and return to base. Over the target itself, a Messerschmitt factory in northern Germany, the formation again encountered heavy flak, and several more aircraft were severely damaged. Three of those, including Thornbury’s 42-107021 — less than a month old — were able to make Dubendorf Airfield in Northern Switzerland.
The group’s summary report of the mission gives little in the way of detail:
42-107021 with the Thornbury crew on board, photographed after landing at Dubendorf, Switzerland on April 13, 1944. Note left inboard engine feathered and shut down.
During their internment, the crew was quartered in and around Davos, Switzerland. Lts Joseph (Ray) Thornbury and George Filush escaped in September 1944. Dante Rich also escaped. The rest of the crew was repatriated in 1945.
Details of the internment and escapes are included in One Lucky Bastard by Elwyn “Stub” Warfle.
Combat Missions (previously compiled)
| No. | Date | Target | Aircraft | |
| 1 | 41 | 3/28/44 | CHARTRES | 42-97135 |
| 2 | 42 | 4/1/44 | LUDWIGSHAFEN (Recalled) | 42-31154 Shack Happy |
| 3 | 43 | 4/8/44 | RHEINE | 42-31144 Miss America |
| 4 | 44 | 4/9/44 | WARNEMUNDE | n/a |
| 5 | 45 | 4/10/44 | DEIST SCHAFFEN | 42-31217 |
| 6 | 46 | 4/11/44 | ARMINSWALDE | 42-31217 |
| 4/12/44 | Recalled | |||
| 7 | 47 | 4/13/44 | AUGSBURG | 42-107021 |
Some photos/information provided by:
- Ed Maul