The Roy G. Widstrom crew: 708th Squadron
Rattlesden, undated
| Front Row L-R | |
| Rudolph Palumbo | Radio Operator |
| Al Halpern | Bombadier |
| Roy “Whitey” Widstrom | Pilot |
| Back Row L-R | |
| William “Mac” McQuoid | Tail Gunner |
| Roy “Willie” Williams | Engineer |
| Bob “Junior” Johnston | Ball Gunner |
| Clarence “P.P.” McDonald | Right Waist Gunner |
| Joe “Murph” Woolsey | Co-Pilot |
Original crew, Nov. 1943
| Lt Roy G. Widstom |
| Lt Joseph W. Woolsley |
| Lt Andrew Porter |
| Lt Albert H. Halpern |
| Sgt Roy E. Williams |
| Sgt Rudolph Polumbo |
| Sgt Bernard J. McDonald |
| Sgt Robert E. Johnson AROG |
| Sgt Clarence Brown AG |
| Sgt William J. McQuoid |
Flights with Roy G. Widstrom 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 | 42-31145 | 865 was scratched, took plane assigned to Rozmus |
| #8 (14-Jan-44) | Grand Parc, France | 42-31167 | |
| #10 (24-Jan-44) | Frankfurt, Germany | 42-37866 | |
| #11 (29-Jan-44) | Frankfurt, Germany | 42-37866 | |
| #13 (03-Feb-44) | Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 42-37866 | |
| #14 (04-Feb-44) | Frankfurt, Germany | 42-37866 | |
| #16 (06-Feb-44) | Evreux-Fauville, France | 42-37866 | |
| #19 (13-Feb-44) | Pas de Calais, Marquenville, France | 42-31918 | |
| #20 (20-Feb-44) | Rostock, Germany | 42-31092 | slated 866, 092 was spare |
| #21 (21-Feb-44) | Diepholz, Germany | 42-37866 | |
| #24 (28-Feb-44) | Bois de la Justice, France | 42-31918 | |
| #26 (03-Mar-44) | Berlin, Germany | 42-31095 | |
| #28 (06-Mar-44) | Berlin, Germany | 42-37854 | |
| #31 (11-Mar-44) | Munster, Germany | 42-31918 | |
| #32 (13-Mar-44) | Bois de la Justice, France | 42-37866 | |
| #35 (18-Mar-44) | Munich, Germany | 42-97092 | |
| #40 (27-Mar-44) | Merignac, Chartes, France | 42-37866 | |
| #50 (20-Apr-44) | Cherbourg / Bois de la Justice, France | 42-32080 | |
| #60 (08-May-44) | Berlin, Germany | 42-97646 | PFF #646 |
| #78 (03-Jun-44) | Pas de Calais / Audresselles, France | 42-97634 | PFF #364, Landed at Bury |
| #86 (08-Jun-44) | Nantes, France | 42-32081 | |
| #89 (14-Jun-44) | Florennes, Belgium | 42-32081 | |
| #105 (08-Jul-44) | St.Andre De L’eure / Nogent, France | 42-97803 | |
| #119 (02-Aug-44) | St. Dennis, France | 43-37938 | |
| #191 (31-Dec-44) | Wenzendorf, Germany | 43-37774 | |
| #197 (07-Jan-45) | Paderborn, Germany | 44-8458 | PFF-X #458 |
William J. McQuoid
Albert H. Halpern
Top: Rudolph Palumbo, Clarence Brown, Bernard McDonald. Bottom: Bob Johnston, William McQuoid, Roy Williams
The following was provided by Elaine Balsley, niece of William McQuoid
Bob “Junior” Johnston was a POW. His father wrote to my mother….
August 30, 1945
(Postmarked Sep 8, 1945)
The National Cash Register Company
969 Broad Street
Newark 2, New Jersey
Dear Mrs. McQuoid,
I am taking the liberty of answering your letter addressed to my son Bobbie, who is at this time in a rest camp in Georgia.
There isn’t very much to tell. When the plane left formation, after being hit, they headed for Switzerland, when about six miles from the border, they were hit by another shell, which broke the plane in two. Bobbie lost consciousness and when he came to, he was a German prisoner. He doesn’t recall opening the parachute–all he recalls was the explosion.
Bill was all right until the second shell hit the plane and he was fighting at his post until the second hit. Bobbie said that you should be very proud of him. No one from the plane was saved outside of Bobbie.
If there is anything further you want to know, please write. If possible, we will be glad to answer any of your questions.
Very sincerely,
A. A. Johnston
S/Sgt William James McQuoid, Jr. with his father, William James McQuoid, Sr. at home in the town of Homewood, Pittsburgh, PA
Some photos/information provided by:
- Elaine Balsley
Some information and/or images sourced from the American Air Museum database