Sortie2ADB-24Bombed Primary
“Wee Willie”.
Mission 962 · 20 April 1945
Serial
44-50600
B-24H
Fuselage Code
YM
Squadron
409th
Ted's Traveling Circus
Duration
4:10
Aboard
8
men
The crew.
§ 8 aboard
Name
Position
Serial
Hometown
On this flight

CaptEdward L. McGuire
“Ted”
Pilot
Station 1
O-392667
Shreveport, Louisiana
Completed his tour
Returned
→

2LtVictor H. Hanf
Co-Pilot
Station 2
O-8266262
—
Returned
→

T/SgtCornelius J. Leach
“Bill”
Engineer / Top Turret
Station 5
42056289
—
Returned
→

S/SgtDonald M. South
“Don”
Radio Operator
Station 6
31305999
—
Returned
→

S/SgtWilliam H. Gardner
“Shorty”
Waist Gunner
Station 8
33710942
—
Completed his tour
Returned
→

S/SgtEdward S. Powell
“Ed”
Waist Gunner
Station 8
33805719
—
Returned
→

S/SgtBarney C. Eller
Tail Gunner
Station 9
34828795
—
Returned
→

S/SgtTheodore F. Szajna
“Snafoo”
Nose Gunner
36164043
—
Returned
→
The flight.
§ Ship’s Record
The Day
Time in the air4:10
Took off fromHardwick (Sta. 104)
Landed atHardwick (Sta. 104)
The Record
ResultBombed Primary
Record confidenceValidated against a source
Formation
Flew with409th Squadron
Fuel & Equipment
H2X scope photoNo
Notes.
§ From the Record
Muhldorf. McGuire technically completed his required combat tour on this mission, as did most of his crew. Waist gunner Gardner had fallen one mission behind the crew, prompting McGuire to volunteer for one final mission (M36). Form 5: 4:10 co-pilot, 4:10 pilot.