Newell Crew – Assigned 754th Squadron – May 1944

The Newell crew arrived at Horsham St Faith in the latter part of May 1944. Unlike many crews, their arrival is not listed in the group records. Their crew list was derived from a crew loading list for the June 18th mission to Watten. It appears that most of the crew completed their mission in September – all are listed in 754th Squadron records as having received the Distinguished Flying Cross that month. Bombardier John Wynn received that award in October.

The following is an excerpt from pilot Henry Newell’s diary:
“…a trip of 1,200 miles all over water and we arrived OK eight hours after take off. Left Iceland on the morning of May 4 & landed at Nutts Corner No. Ireland. Took two weeks training in Ireland & then was assigned to 458th Bomb Gp. at Norwich, England. I flew my first mission June 14 & Sept. 11 I flew my 32 which was to be my last. Three mo. later I had to fly 3 more. Flew my 35 on Dec. 4. And then was put on DS with a troop carrier outfit and flew courier between London & Paris. Enjoyed it very much as I was flying a C47. Left England Jan. 7, 1945 went to Preswick, Scotland and left there Jan. 8 on a C-54 after stops in the Azores and Burs_____ we arrived at Washington National airport at 2 o’clock Thursday morning Jan. 11, 1945. Spent 21 days at home then went to Miami, Fla. Where I spent 10 days & was re-assigned to Harlingen, Texas. From there to Buckley Fld. Denver, Colo. Was put on inactive status Oct. 18 & arrived home Oct. 19, 1945. Was in the Army 3 yr 5 mo. Was away from home 3 yr.”

Henry Newell is credited with 35 missions flown, but only 32 as pilot. Current records indicate that he flew three missions (not as pilot) in late November, early December 1944. It is likely that his crew had completed their missions at this time as they are all listed as having received the DFC in September upon completion of a combat tour. Newell is listed as a gunner on November 25, 1944 flying with the crew of 1LT William E. Swartz (original co-pilot on Capt Lockridge’s crew). On this same mission and aircraft was 1Lt Harold E. Brice flying as co-pilot. On November 26th, Newell flew as co-pilot with 1Lt Bartholomew Catanzaro (formerly the co-pilot on 1Lt George P. Bradley’s crew) on the mission to Bielefeld, Germany. Newell flew his 35th and last mission on December 4, 1944, but it is unknown with whom or in what capacity. He returned to the U.S. in January 1945.

Courtesy of the Newell Family

B-24H-20-FO 42-95018 J Z5  Old Doc’s Yacht