E. Barnhart Crew – Assigned 754th Squadron – July 10, 1944

Elvin Barnhart and crew arrived at Horsham in early July 1944.  They flew their first mission nine days later, but were forced to abort due to mechanical difficulties.  Their first credited mission, on July 24th, was part of the Eighth Air Force’s support of the ground troops effort to break out of the St Lo area.  This was known as Operation Cobra and was in close support with the men on the ground.  On this date, no bombs were dropped by any group of the 2nd Bombardment Division as there was a 10/10 undercast and troops on the ground would have been in danger.

The crew completed two more missions in July, and flew a total of eight missions in August.  On the 13th, the entire crew was transferred to the 44th Bomb Group based at Shipdham, about 20 miles west of Horsham.  Elvin Barnhart is shown to have completed 24 combat missions with the 44BG.

An interesting side note: after the war, co-pilot Harry C Stubbs, became an accomplished science fiction author under the pen name Hal Clements.  He was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1998.

Photo Courtesy: James M. Sandoval, Jr